National
President of India presents Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard
⇒ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 27, 2022.
Background:
» The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard (later the Viceroy’s Bodyguard) in 1773.
- As the President of India’s own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.
- This distinction was conferred on the President’s Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service.
- Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.
» On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard.
- Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment. Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner.
- Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.
» The President’s Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen.
International
7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIMMAF) on Agriculture and Forestry
⇒ The 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIMMAF) on Agriculture and Forestry was held virtually on 26 October 2022.
Co-chaired by:
The meeting was co-chaired by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
Participation:
Agriculture Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam also participated in the meeting.
Discussion:
» In the meeting, the progress in implementation of various programs and activities under the Medium-Term Action Plan of ASEAN-India Cooperation (Year 2021-2025) was reviewed.
- The meeting also welcomed the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations. In the meeting, the commitment to ASEAN-India cooperation in agriculture and forestry was reaffirmed.
- It was said in the meeting that in order to mitigate the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring a seamless flow of safe and nutritious agricultural products to ASEAN and India; It is necessary to take continuous measures under ASEAN-India cooperation for the implementation of post-pandemic recovery.
- Union Minister Shri Tomar committed to enhance India’s cooperation with ASEAN in food security, nutrition, climate change adaptation, digital farming, nature-friendly agriculture, food processing, value chain, agricultural marketing and capacity building.
9th edition of the India-Sweden Innovation Day
⇒ Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the 9th edition of the India- Sweden Innovation Day through virtual mode on 27 October 2022.
» Union Minister said, Indo-Swedish companies must support start-ups from both sides, and undertake collaborative research and human resource exchange. He said that collaborative research and joint StartUps ecosystem will help build a shared future by harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation for social good.
» Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that in April 2019, India and Sweden announced the India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research & Development Programme.
- The Joint programme co-funded by the Indian Department of Science & Technology and Sweden’s Innovation Agency – Vinnova brings together the world class excellence of Sweden and India to address challenges in the area of Smart Cities and Clean Technologies and Digitalization / Internet of Things.
Theme:
The event was themed ”Accelerating Green Transition-India Sweden Innovation Partnership”, under which both the countries discussed the prospects of accelerating green transition via innovation and by harnessing the power of climate-positive technology, next-generation digitalization.
Organized by:
The day-long event was organised in association with the Embassy of India to Sweden & Latvia, Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
- India Sweden Innovation Day 2022 was hosted by India Unlimited.
Participation:
The event was a massive success with over 1,000 participants from across the globe. About 350 esteemed delegates attended the Innovation Day 2022 in person while more than 700 marked their presence online.
Highlights:
- The main highlight of the event was the implementation of the partnership, principles of co-funding, co-development, co-creation towards mutual benefits, and making full use of complementary strengths.
- The 9th India Sweden Innovation Day also encompassed comprehensive sessions with relevant stakeholders in domains such as sustainable urban development and safe transportation, life science, energy, environment, health, and science and technology.
- Swedish Energy Agency earmarked an additional 25 million over 4 years for research and innovation collaboration with India.
- The partnership covers several areas, including smart cities, transportation and eMobility, energy, clean technologies, new materials, space, circular and bio-based economy, and health and life sciences.
- The India-Sweden Innovation Partnership bridges institutions, R&D intensive industries and creative entrepreneurs to address global challenges in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Important Day
Infantry Day
⇒ Infantry Day is commemorated on 27 October every year to acknowledge the contributions of Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.
This day has a unique significance for the Nation, as it was on this day in 1947 that Infantry-men from the Indian Army became the first troops to land at Srinagar airport, an act which turned back the invaders from the outskirts of Srinagar and saved the state of Jammu and Kashmir from a Pakistan backed tribal invasion.
To observe the 76th Infantry Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 27, 2022 attended the ‘Shaurya Diwas’ programme organised by the Indian Army in Budgam.
‘Shaurya Diwas’ celebrations in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir was to commemorate the 75th year of air landed operations of Indian Army at Budgam Airport in 1947, which ensured the first civil-military victory of Independent India.
Background:
- On October 27, 1947, the Indian Army was inducted by the Indian Air Force at Budgam Airport to evict Pakistani forces from J&K, a day after the ‘Instrument of Accession’ was signed between Maharaja Hari Singh and Republic of India.
- 27th October is, hence, celebrated as ‘Infantry Day’.