Home » Current Affairs Date: 29 November 2022

Current Affairs Date: 29 November 2022

National

Dashboard of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt of India

⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology, Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched Dashboard of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt of India, on 15 September 2022.

    • The Dashboard has been launched for countrywide monitoring and feedback to ensure effective implementation of projects, schemes, scholarships and fellowships funded by DST.
    • Dashboard is an institutional mechanism of the DST to drive the process of building, harnessing as well as augmenting and monitoring the statistical and data analytical capabilities of the Department.
Launching the dashboard, the Union Minister said:
    • Through the Dashboard, details of each of the schemes and programmes for any group in every State can be accessed on a real time basis and remedial measures, if any, can be taken promptly.
    • He said, impact analysis of the schemes and scholarships both age wise and gender wise for SC/ST/OBCs and General Castes is embedded in the Dashboard for suggesting reformative measures to states, if any.
    • DST Dashboard is a good beginning and efforts would be made in future for a Common Dashboard for all Science Ministries and Departments.
    • In the last five years, over Rs 20,000 crore were disbursed by DST to 2,768 Agencies in 35 States/UTs and every single minute detail is available on the Dashboard.
    • Data & Strategy Units (DSUs) creates different dashboards for different target groups and these dashboards have helped DST in taking evidence-based decisions.
About DSU:
    • Data & Strategy Unit (DSU) is assisted by an Expert Advisory Group consisting of eminent data scientists from academia, public and private sector institutions.
    • DSU also provides opportunity to budding data scientists by engaging them as interns.
    • Ministries/Departments were advised to set up a Data & Strategy Unit as a central unit to steer the development and implementation of an action plan or data strategy to improve their data preparedness levels in general and reach DGQI 5.0 scores by December, 2022 in specific.
    • Apart from data analysis and creating dashboards, Data & Strategy Unit of DST is also engaged in creating awareness on data by organising training programmes and workshops.
    • DSU also invites eminent data scientists and data champions for lectures and interactions with the scientists, data officers and other officials of DST.

MoU between Indian Navy and Amity University Uttar Pradesh

⇒ A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between the Indian Navy and Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP) on 15 Sep 2022.

About MoU:

The MoU has been concluded to establish academic linkages between the Indian Navy and Amity University.

As per provisions of the MoU, Amity University will conduct customised courses for the Indian Navy in niche domains, such as, 5G Technology and lot, Control System Integration, AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Cryptology, Data Science, Big Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Computer Networks, Anti Drone Warfare, Cyber Warfare Security, Automation, Surveillance and Tracking etc.

Significance:
    • These endeavours will also contribute towards grooming ‘Scholar Warriors’ who can think better and adopt to the future challenges of conflict in all domains.
    • In addition, the participation of Naval personnel in these customised courses is expected to enhance the educational qualifications, skill base and core competencies of serving Naval personnel thereby enhancing prospects of ‘in-service career benefits. In addition, these courses will ensure better placements of Naval personnel upon superannuation from Service.

26th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

⇒ The 26th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was chaired by the Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman in Mumbai on 15 September 2022.

The Council inter alia deliberated on the following:
    • Early Warning Indicators for the economy and our preparedness to deal with them
    • Improving the efficiency of the existing Financial/Credit Information Systems
    • Issues of governance and management in Systemically Important Financial Institutions including Financial Market Infrastructures
    • Strengthening cyber security framework in financial sector
    • Common KYC for all financial Services and related matters
    • Update on Account Aggregator and next steps
    • Issues relating to financing of Power Sector
    • Strategic role of GIFT IFSC in New Aatmanirbhar Bharat,
    • Inter-regulatory Issues of GIFT-IFSC, and
    • Need for utilisation of the services of Registered Valuers by all Government Departments.

» The Council also took note of the preparation in respect of financial sector issues to be taken up during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.

International

6th edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22)

⇒ The sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22) hosted by Indian Navy commenced in the Bay of Bengal on 11 September 2022.

    • The Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022, JIMEX 22 concluded on 17 September 2022 in the Bay of Bengal.
Participation of Ships:

Indian Naval ships led by Rear Adm Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Izumo and Takanami led by Rear Adm Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four, participated in the week-long exercise.

    • The Indian Navy was represented by three indigenously designed and built warships- Sahyadri, a multi-purpose stealth frigate and Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes Kadmatt and Kavaratti.
    • Additionally, Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay, Fleet Tanker Jyoti, Offshore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship borne helicopters were also participating in the exercise.
Key Points:
    • JIMEX 22 involved two Phases- exercises at sea and a harbour phase at Visakhapatnam.
    • JIMEX 22 witnessed some of the most complex exercises undertaken jointly by the two navies.
    • Both sides were engaged in advanced level anti-submarine warfare, weapon firings and Air Defence exercises.
    • Shipborne helicopters, fighter aircraft and submarines also participated in the exercise.
    • IN and JMSDF ships replenished each other at sea under the agreement on Reciprocal Provision for Supply and Services (RPSS).
    • JIMEX 22 consolidated the high degree of interoperability that exists between maritime forces of the two countries, through complex exercises in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.
Background:
    • This edition marks the 10th anniversary of JIMEX, which began in Japan in 2012.
    • It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of establishing of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

Important Day

National Engineer's Day

⇒ India observes Engineer’s Day on September 15 as a mark of remembrance and tribute to Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Engineer’s day is also celebrated in Sri Lanka and Tanzania every year on September 15.

History:
    • In 1968, the Government of India decided to mark the birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya to remember the work of one of the greatest minds of Indian soil. India has been celebrating Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineer’s Day since 1968.
About Vishveshvarya:
    • Vishveshvarya is also known as the father of Indian Engineering because of his enormous contributions and innovations in the field of engineering and development of society.
    • He was honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1955.

Death

Former Cabinet Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. S. Samy Vellu

⇒ Former Cabinet Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. S. Samy Vellu passed away on 15 September 2022in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was 86.

    • Samy Vellu was the first Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee from Malaysia.

Samy Vellu was appointed Malaysia’s Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia, with ministerial rank. He was the second longest serving minister in the country during his time, after Rafidah Aziz.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

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