National
'ATL Marathon 2022-23'- a flagship innovation challenge
⇒ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog opened ‘ATL Marathon 2022-23’- a flagship innovation challenge under AIM’s Atal Tinkering Labs program, on 19 December 2022.
ATL Marathon is a national level innovation challenge for young innovators across India who can solve community problems of their choice, develop innovative solutions in the form of working prototypes or, minimum viable product (MVP).
- The ATL Marathon 2022-23 was for Indian students currently enrolled in school (Class VI to Class XII) both from ATL and non-ATL schools.
Theme:
The theme for ATL Marathon 2022-23 is “India’s G20 Presidency”.
- As India assumed the presidency of the G20, AIM has designed the problem statements based on G20’s working group inspiring recommendations on internationally relevant issues in respective areas of the focus.
- G20 is an intergovernmental forum of world’s major developed and developing nations accounting for 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade, and two-thirds of the world population.
ATL Marathon 2022-23 adopted 8 Themes/Problem statement sectors:
- Education
- Health
- Agriculture
- Environment & Climate Sustainability
- Development
- Digital Economy
- Tourism
- Others (Identify your own problem and solve it)
» Top teams will get an Internship opportunity through the Student Innovator Program with leading corporates & Incubation Centres of India, certificates from AIM, NITI Aayog and many more exciting opportunities.
Gaya and Nalanda selected for development under Swadesh Darshan 2.0
⇒ The Ministry of Tourism has revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a tourist & destination centric approach.
- Gaya and Nalanda have been selected for development under SD2.0 whereas Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi District of Bihar is a site identified for development under PRASHAD Scheme of MoT.
Background:
- Ministry of Tourism (MoT) under its Schemes of Swadesh Darshan, Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Assistance to Central Agencies provides assistance to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies for development of Tourism infrastructure in the country.
- The projects for development under the schemes are identified in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier etc.
Delivery of 5th Scorpene Submarine ‘VAGIR’ to Indian Navy
⇒ The fifth submarine of the Project – 75, Kalvari Class submarines, Yard 11879 was delivered to the Indian Navy today, 20 December 2022.
Project – 75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
- These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
Key Points:
- Launched on 12 November 2020, Vagir commenced the sea trials from 01 February 2022. It is a matter of great pride that she has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines.
- Construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and enhances self-confidence in this field, a notable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.
- The submarine would shortly be commissioned into the Indian Navy and enhance the Indian Navy’s capability.
Inter Services Affiliation of the Mahar Regiment of Indian Army with 8 Squadron of Indian Air Force
⇒ The affiliation of the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army and 8 Squadron of the Indian Air Force was formally signed at a solemn ceremony at Air Force Station Bareilly on 19 December 2022.
- The Ceremony involved a Joint Army – Air Force Guard of Honour and signing of “Charter of Affiliation” by Lieutenant General C Bansi Ponnappa, Adjutant General & Colonel of the Mahar Regiment and Air Vice Marshal MS Deswal, Commodore Commandant, 8 Squadron of the Air Force.
Affiliation of Mahar Regiment and the No 8 Squadron will enable each other to develop a mutual understanding of joint ethos, capabilities and core competencies through common appreciation of military tactical doctrines and concepts in the contemporary military environment.
» The Mahar Regiment of Indian Army was raised on 01 October 1941. No 8 Squadron Air Force is one of the senior most squadrons of the Indian Air Force and was raised on 01 December 1942.
International
6th India-Maldives Joint Staff Talks
⇒ 6th Joint Staff Talks (JST) between India and the Maldives were held in New Delhi on December 20, 2022.
Co-chaired by:
The meeting was co-chaired by Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) Air Vice Marshal Ashish Vohra and Commandant, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Service Corps Brigadier General Hamidh Shafeeg.
Discussion:
Discussions focused on the ongoing and new initiatives under the ambit of existing bilateral defence cooperation mechanism of all the three services and further strengthening the engagements.
Background:
The JST is a forum established to boost defence cooperation between India and the Maldives through annual talks at the strategic and operational levels between HQ IDS & MNDF.