National
Indian Coast Guard Ship, Saksham
⇒ Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship, Saksham, an Offshore Patrol Vessels at Goa on 16 March 2022.
- Saksham is the fifth in the series of 105-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) class.
About Saksham:
- The 105-meter OPV has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited. It is fitted with advance technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.
- The vessel will be also fitted with a 30-mm 2A42 Medak gun and two 12.7-mm Stabilised Remote-Controlled Gun (SRCGs) with FCS.
- The ship has been equipped with an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Power Management System (PMS) and High Power External fire-fighting (EFF) system.
- The ship is designed to carry a twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats including two inflatable boats for boarding operation, search & rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.
- The ship is also capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to contain oil spill in the seas.
- The ship displaces approximately 2,350 tons (gross registered tonnage) and is propelled by two 9,100 KW diesel engines to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots.
- She has an endurance of 6,000-nautical mile at economical speed.
35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2022
⇒ Governor of Haryana Shri Bandaru Dattatraya and Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela on 20 March 2022. The Mela was opened from 19 March to 4 April, 2022.
- The Mela ground was spread over 43.5 acres of land.
Host:
Surajkund Crafts Mela was jointly hosted by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, External Affairs and Government of Haryana.
Highlights of the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2022:
» This year more than 30 countries participated in the Mela.
- Latin American Countries, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Namibia, Sudan, Nigeria, Equitorial Guinea, Senegal, Angola, Ghana, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Maldives and many more countries participated in it.
Partner nation:
Uzbekistan participated as the partner nation for this year’s Mela.
Theme State:
Jammu & Kashmir was the ‘Theme State’ of the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2022.
- J&K showcased its unique culture and rich heritage through various art forms and handicrafts from the state during the mela.
» Art and culture department showcased traditional and cultural artists like: Kacchi Ghodi, Stick walker, Kalbelia, Behrupia from rajasathan, Kangri Nati from Himachal, Pihu from Assam, Bhangra, Jindua, Jhoomer from Punjab, Chapeli from Uttarakhand, Barsana ki Holi from Uttar Pradesh, Wangia from Meghalaya, Sambhalpuri Odisha, Badhai from Madhya Pradesh, Lawni from Maharashtra and much more.
About Mela:
The Surajkund Crafts Mela was hosted for the first time in 1987 to showcase richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms, and the cultural heritage of India.
About Surajkund:
- Surajkund, the site of popular Surajkund International Crafts Mela is located at a distance of 8 km from South Delhi in Faridabad.
- Surajkund derives its name from the ancient amphitheatre, meaning ‘lake of the sun’ constructed here in the 10th century by Raja SurajPal, one of the Tomar chieftains.
- ‘Suraj’ means ‘Sun’ and ‘Kund’ means ‘pool/lake or reservoir’. The place is built against the backdrop of the Aravalli Mountain range.
CSR Journal Excellence Awards 2021
⇒ The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, addressed the fourth edition of The CSR Journal Excellence Awards held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai on March 20, 2022.
» The Excellence Awards 2021 honour innovative and best practices in the sphere of Corporate Social Responsibility across different categories, recognising responsible leadership from individuals and groups in humanitarian initiatives.
» The Awards honoured contribution to CSR in seven award categories, namely Agriculture & Rural Development, COVID-19 Relief, Education & Skill Training, Environment, Health & Sanitation, Sports and Women Empowerment & Child Welfare.
Awardees:
- Social Transformation Leader Award was given to Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar, former Minister of Finance, Planning and Forests, Government of Maharashtra & current Member of the Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra.
- Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Mr Dilip Vengsarkar, former Indian Cricketer & Administrator.
- Responsible Film Entertainer & Conservationist Award was presented to Mr Sayaji Shinde.
- Mr Madan Bahal, Co-founder and Managing Director, AdFactors PR received Best Practices in PR and Communications Award.
- Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Shri Prakash Amte & Smt Mandakini Amte and Ms Jyoti Mhapsekar, Stree Mukti Sanghatana.
- Youth Icon Award was presented to Mr Raj Mariwala, Director, Mariwala Health Initiative.
- Malvika Iyer received Inspiring Young Changemaker Award.
- Tanmay Bhat received Influencing Youth Icon Award.
International
India Japan Annual Summit 2022
⇒ Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Kishida Fumio, visited to New Delhi from 19-20 March 2022, for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit.
- The Summit was the first physical meeting of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Kishida Fumio.
- This summit marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan and the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.
» India and Japan have multi-faceted cooperation within the ambit of their ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.
- The Summit provided an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in diverse areas as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest; so as to advance their Partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Highlights of the Summit:
» A total of six agreements were signed during the Summit, which covered the domains of cybersecurity, infrastructure development, and urban development.
- An MoU for Seven loans from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) worth Rs 20,400 crores for projects in connectivity, water supply and sewerage, horticulture, healthcare, and biodiversity conservation across India.
- An MoU has been signed, which will work towards bringing in India the “Johkasou” technology by Japanese companies for decentralised wastewater treatment. This technology is used in areas where sewage infrastructure has not yet been developed.
» Japan will invest 5 trillion Yen or Rs 3.2 lakh crores in the next five years in India.
» Sustainable Development Initiative for the North Eastern Region of India
- This includes both ongoing projects and possible future cooperation in various Northeastern states in areas such as connectivity, healthcare, new and renewable energy, as well as bamboo supply chain.
» Prime Minister Modi confirmed India’s participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as an opportunity to further strengthen and broaden trade, investment and people-to-people links between the two countries.
- The previous India-Japan Annual Summit took place in Tokyo in October 2018.