National
AIM – NITI Aayog launches ATL Sarthi
⇒ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) – NITI Aayog launched ATL Sarthi, a comprehensive self-monitoring framework to strengthen the ever-growing ecosystem of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).
About ATL Sarthi:
» As the name suggests, Sarthi is a charioteer and ATL Sarthi will enable the ATLs to be efficient and effective.
Four Pillars:
The initiative has four pillars ensuring the performance enhancement of ATLs through regular process improvements like a self-reporting dashboard known as ‘MyATL Dashboard’ and Compliance SOPs for schools to ensure financial and non-financial compliances, on-ground enablement of ATLs in collaboration with relevant local authorities through Cluster-based Approach and providing ownership to schools to analyze their performance through Performance-Enablement (PE) Matrix.
- The ATL Cluster aims at providing a self-sustainable model for enablement and monitoring wherein the ATLs and local authorities work in tandem with each other on-ground to form clusters of 20-30 ATLs in a particular region. These ATLs can learn from each other through training, collaborations, events and best practices.
- As a pilot, AIM executed ATL Sarthi with different partners in regions like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat.
Background:
- Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design thinking mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
- As of date, AIM has funded 10,000 schools to establish Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).
- AIM is continuously strengthening this ecosystem by developing tools and framework to enhance the performance of ATLs and achieve the desired objectives. ATL Sarthi is one such initiative in this direction.
Prestigious President’s Colour to INS Dronacharya
⇒ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious President’s Colour to INS Dronacharya, the Gunnery School of the Indian Navy, at Kochi on March 16, 2023.
- The Gunnery School has evolved over a period of time to become an institution of international repute providing training on all facets of gunnery and missile warfare. In recognition of the Gunnery School’s yeoman service to the nation, the President’s Colour was awarded to INS Dronacharya.
- The Nishaan was received by ‘Nishaan Adhikari’ Lt Cdr Deepak Skaria at the ceremony on behalf of INS Dronacharya.
» The President’s Colour or the Nishan is considered the highest honour that the Supreme Commander, President of India, bestows on a unit for its exceptional service to the Nation.
About INS Dronacharya:
- INS Dronacharya is entrusted with the training of officers and sailors of the Navy, Coast Guard and friendly foreign maritime forces on all aspects of gunnery and missile warfare.
- Training of Officers and sailors to deliver ordnance on target effectively is the core focus of INS Dronacharya. It forges sea warriors and equips them with the professional acumen and unyielding spirit to man our powerful warships.
- The unit is also the nodal centre for training of Sagar Prahari Bal and Navy’s centre for training in constabulary operations for several Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Nations.
- The unit is also the training authority for drill and ceremonials in the Navy and Coast Guard.
- INS Dronacharya was designated as the Centre for Excellence in Gunnery and Missile Warfare in 2004.
- The unit is affiliated with the Indian Army School of Artillery in the spirit of joint Manship.
Manufacturing and marketing licenses for the commercial use of Prussian blue insoluble formulations
⇒ Manufacturing and marketing licenses for the commercial use of Prussian blue insoluble formulations, developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, have been granted to Scott-Edil Pharmacia Ltd, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh and Skanttr Lifescience LLP, Ahmedabad, Gujarat by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
Developed by:
The drug has been developed by the industry based on the technology of Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, a laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Key Points:
- The drug will be available under the trade name of Pru-DecorpTM and PruDecorp-MG.
- The formulations are used for decontamination of Cesium & Thallium.
- It is one of the critical medicines listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for radiological and nuclear emergencies.
International
13th Joint India Singapore Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2023
⇒ The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise from 06-13 March 2023 at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
- For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post Exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming.
- Hosted by the Indian Army, the exercise involved soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and an Armoured Brigade of Indian Army.
Major Activities:
- The ten-day long joint training that commenced on 05th March fostered common understanding of mechanised warfare in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post.
- Both contingents not only learnt about each other’s operating drills and procedure, but also exchanged ideas and best practices being followed in a modern combat zone.
Background:
- Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is conducted under the ambit of the bilateral arrangement for the joint Army Training and exercises between the Singapore Army and the Indian Army.
- First conducted in 2005, this exercise underscores the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both countries and enhances cooperation between the two armies.
4th Table Top Exercise under Colombo Security Conclave
⇒ Indian Coast Guard Region (North East) conducted the fourth edition of Table top exercise under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave in Kolkata from March 14 to 16, 2023.
Participation:
Apart from the Indian Coast Guard, representatives of member nations of Colombo Security Conclave – Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius – along with observer countries – Bangladesh and Seychelles – were participated in the exercise.
Discussion:
Discussions were held on topics pertaining to challenges in maritime domain such as tackling threats from anti-national elements, marine pollution response, search & rescue and damage control at sea.
About Colombo Security Conclave:
- The Colombo Security Conclave was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
- The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member and Bangladesh & Seychelles participating as observer countries.
- The Conclave underlines regional cooperation and shared security objectives concerning all littoral nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It aims to make maritime security, marine pollution response and maritime search & rescue priorities for the region.
» Coordination amongst maritime neighbours holds the key for maritime safety and security in the IOR.