National
ICG Subordinate Officers’ Conclave 2023
⇒ The 6th Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Subordinate Officers’ Conclave was organised in New Delhi on October 26-27, 2023.
Theme:
The theme of the conclave was ‘Towards an Inclusive Approach’.
Key Points:
- It comprised various brainstorming sessions and lectures on a variety of subjects including IT, health, HR, leadership and media sensitisation.
- Subordinate officers from various Coast Guard units across the country attended the event.
- Various MoUs towards enhancing welfare measures for the personnel of Coast Guard were signed.
- The deliberations during the conclave focused on the future inductions in ICG, based on the principles of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, refinement of the HR policies for better and inclusive career growth & modification of operational philosophy through integration of advanced technology to enhance capability and capacity.
16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference cum Expo 2023
⇒ Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the 16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference cum Expo 2023 on 27 October 2023.
During the event, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri shared his thoughts on the major transformation that country has gone through in the field of rail-based rapid transit systems.
- Speaking about the metro rail’s journey in India, he said that in 2014 only 248 kms of metro rail was operational in India. Merely in 9 years, 895 kms of metro lines are operational in 20 different cities. India’s metro network is the 3rd largest in the world. In the next 2 to 3 years our metro network will surpass the operational length of the USA metro network, and become the 2nd largest metro network in the world.
About 16th UMI Conference cum Expo 2023:
» The 16th UMI Conference & Exhibition 2023 was held from 27th – 29th October, 2023 at the Manekshaw Centre, Parade Road, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi.
Organized by:
The 16th UMI Conference & Exhibition 2023 was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and with the support of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
Theme:
The Conference focused on the theme “Integrated and Resilient Urban Transport”.
Key Points:
- It emphasized the design and implementation of efficient, high quality, integrated and resilient Urban Transport systems in the cities. Rapid climate change and its impact on city transport system calls for integrated and resilient transport system to meet the mobility needs of public.
- The innovations have led to a wide range of transport options to emerge, thereby widening the choice available to commuters. The need of the hour is to strengthen the resilience of transport systems right from the planning stage.
Participation:
Senior officers from Central and State Governments, policy makers, Managing Directors of Metro Rail Companies, Chief Executives of transport undertakings, International experts, professionals, academicians and students participated in this event.
Exhibition:
The exhibition, comprising of display of best practices in urban transport in India and aboard, latest urban transport technologies, services and in other related fields, is an important part of the UMI Conference organized every year.
Awards for “Excellence/ best practice projects in Urban Transport”:
In the valedictory session, awards were presented to the winning state / city authorities for “Excellence/ best practice projects in Urban Transport” in the following categories recommended by the Awards Selection Committee and accepted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:
- City with the Best Public Transport System
- City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System
- City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism
- City with Best Record of Public Involvement in its Transport Planning
- City with the Best Green Transport Initiative
- Metro Rail with the Best Multimodal Integration
- Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Services and Satisfaction
- Running trophy for the State / UT, which has Implemented Best Urban Transport
Winners:
- Srinagar Smart City Limited receives award for Best Public Transport System
- Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited awarded for its Innovative Financing Mechanism
- City with Best Green Transport Initiative is Kochi Metro Rail Limited for their Kochi Water Metro project
Click here for the Complete List of Awardees
Launch of 25T Bollard Pull Tug 'Mahabali' in Bharuch
⇒ 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Mahabali’ was launched by Cmde Sunil Kaushik, NM, WPS (Mbi) on 28 October 2023 at M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Bharuch, Gujarat.
Constructed by:
» Contract for construction and delivery of three 25T BP Tug was concluded with M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd (SSPL), an MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of the Government of India.
- These Tugs are built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
- This Tug is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.
Use:
- The availability of Tugs will provide impetus to Operational commitments of IN by facilitating assistance to Naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning and manoeuvring in confined waters.
- The Tugs will also provide afloat firefighting assistance to ships alongside, and at anchorage, and will have capability to conduct limited Search and Rescue Operations.
International
G7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Osaka
⇒ Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, participated in the G7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Osaka, Japan on 28 October 2023.
- Union Minister Shri Goyal made an important intervention on the topic of Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience and gave several suggestions on the issue.
- The Minister encouraged Public-Private partnership, investment in critical infrastructure and the need for innovation and digitalistion of the supply chains.
- During the Session representatives from the governments, private sector and the international organisations like OECD, WTO, etc. also participated. Most of the private sectors shared their positive experiences in developing resilient supply chains.
» Shri Goyal also held bilateral meetings with a few G7 countries, invited countries and a few International organisations such as WTO, on the sidelines of the outreach programs.
» The Group of Seven (G7) Trade Ministers’ Meeting was held in Osaka, Japan from 28-29 October, 2023.
- Trade Ministers of G7 Member States hold an annual meeting with the aim to meet the current global challenges related to Trade and Investment and to set the course for a better future.
Participation in Outreach Program:
Under its Presidency this year for the G7 Trade Ministers meeting, Japan had invited India along with a very few other invitee countries (Australia, Chile, Indonesia, and Kenya) to participate in the outreach program held on 28 October. Apart from them, International organisations such as WTO, ERIA and OECD were also invited.
Contemporary topics:
This year, Japan had selected contemporary topics for the outreach program namely, “How to enhance Supply Chain Resilience” and “Promote Trade and Sustainability- environment, Development and digital, including prospects for WTO MC13”.
About G7:
- The G7 is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, France, Canada and Germany. Additionally, the European Union (EU) is a “non-enumerated member”.
- G7 meetings are organized around shared values of pluralism, liberal democracy, and representative governments. G7 Members constitute 10% of the world’s population but cater to around 40% of World GDP.
Important Day
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas / National Unity Day 2023
⇒ National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated in India every year on October 31, to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas / National Unity Day 2023 was observed on October 31, 2023 to commemorate the 148th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India.
- On this day, ‘Run for Unity’ was held across the country. People from all walks of life participated in this event.
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas-related events in Kevadia, Gujarat. On the auspicious occasion of National Unity Day, Prime Minister participated in the culmination programme of Amrit Kalash Yatra of Meri Maati Mera Desh Campaign.
Background:
- Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was introduced by the Government of India in 2014. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was decided to reinforce our dedication to preserve and strengthen the unity, integrity and security of the nation.
- National Unity Day is celebrated to mark the Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to honour his contribution to India’s Independence and beyond, and most notably during the integration of the princely states in India.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and is popularly known as the ‘Iron Man of India’.
Sardar Patel National Unity Award:
- The Sardar Patel National Unity Award is also presented on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas which recognizes notable and inspiring contributions made by people to promote the cause of national unity and integrity.
- The Sardar Patel National Unity Award is an award by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
- In 2019, Government of India announced this award to recognise the extraordinary contributions towards the unity and integrity of the country.