National
Prime Minister launches 'Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)’ Platform
⇒ The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched ‘Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)’ platform for youth of the country on October 31st, 2023 at Kartavya Path on the National Unity Day.
In a momentous decision on October 11, 2023, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, gave its approval for the establishment of an autonomous body known as “Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat).”
The Vision:
- ‘Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)’ is envisioned as a pivotal, technology-driven facilitator for youth development and youth-led development.
- Mera Yuva Bharat is envisioned with the overarching goal of providing equitable opportunities to empower the youth in realizing their aspirations and contributing to the creation of a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), across the entire spectrum of the Government.
- It envisions a framework where the youth of our country can seamlessly connect with programs, mentors, and their local communities.
- This engagement is designed to deepen their understanding of local issues and empower them to contribute to constructive solutions.
About Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat):
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body will benefit the youth in the age group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in the National Youth Policy. The beneficiaries will be in the age-group of 10-19 years.
- Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is ‘Phygital Platform’ (physical + digital) comprising physical activity along with an opportunity to connect digitally.
Need for such body:
- Role of youth in Amrit Kaal- India’s youth are to play a critical role in defining the future of the nation.
- Establishing a framework for bringing youth from diverse areas under a single platform
- Establishing a new contemporary technology-led platform to engage with the present-day youth
- Ensuring accessibility by creating a phygital ecosystem
Objective:
The primary objective of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is to make it a whole of Government platform dedicated to the advancement of the youth.
Its objectives include:
» Leadership Development in the Youth
- Improve the leadership skills through experiential learning by shifting from isolated physical interaction to programmatic skills
- Investing in youth to make them social innovators, and leaders in the communities
» Better alignment between the aspirations of the youth and the community needs
» Enhanced efficiency through Convergence of existing programmes
» Act as a one-stop shop for young people and Ministries
» Create a centralized youth database
» Improved two-way communication to connect youth government initiatives and activities of other stakeholder that engage with youth
» Ensuring accessibility by creating a phygital Ecosystem – a blend of physical and digital experiences.
7th Edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC)
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 7th Edition of the India Mobile Congress 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on 27 October 2023.
About 7th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023:
India Mobile Congress (IMC) is the largest telecom, media, and technology forum in Asia and was held from 27th to 29th October, 2023
Theme:
The theme of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023 was ‘Global Digital Innovation’.
Aim:
The aim of the IMC 2023 was to strengthen India’s position as a developer, manufacturer, and exporter of key cutting-edge technologies.
Key Points:
- The three-day congress highlighted technologies such as 5G, 6G, Artificial intelligence (AI) and discussed issues pertaining to semiconductor industry, green technology, cybersecurity etc.
- IMC 2023 was attended by over one lakh participants from about 22 countries including about 5000 CEO level delegates, 230 exhibitors, 400 startups, and other stakeholders.
- This year, IMC introduced a startup program – ‘Aspire’. It will foster connections between startups, investors, and established businesses with an aim to catalyse fresh entrepreneurial initiatives and collaborations.
» During the program, the Prime Minister awarded 100 ‘5G Use Case Labs’ to educational institutions across the country. These labs are being developed under the ‘100 5G labs initiative’.
- The ‘100 5G labs initiative’, is an endeavor to realize the opportunities associated with 5G technology by encouraging the development of 5G applications which cater, both to India’s unique needs as well as the global demands.
- The unique initiative will foster innovation across various socioeconomic sectors like education, agriculture, health, power, transportation etc, and propel the country into the forefront of usage of 5G technology.
- The initiative is also a pivotal step for building a 6G-ready academic and start-up ecosystem in the country. More importantly, the initiative is a step towards the development of indigenous telecom technology which is critical for national security.
» The Prime Minister also inaugurated the exhibition at Hall 5 and took a walkthrough Industry leaders also spoke on the occasion.
International
76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia and New WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
⇒ The Seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia was held in New Delhi, India, from 30 October to 2 November 2023.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for South-East Asia on 30 October 2023. He was joined by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) who was present virtually.
- Dr. Mandaviya was also unanimously elected as Chairperson of the 76th session of the regional committee of South-East Asia.
The 76th session of the WHO regional committee for South-East Asia was the annual governing body meeting of WHO at the regional level.
- Health Ministers and senior officials from the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia member countries met in New Delhi to deliberate on priority health issues and to nominate the next WHO regional director for South-East Asia.
- The key issues discussed were accelerating prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, ending neglected tropical diseases, and regional health security.
- A ministerial roundtable was held on strengthening primary healthcare as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage.
New WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia:
» Ms Saima Wazed took office as WHO Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region on 1 February 2024 for a five-year term.
- In this role, Ms Wazed will direct international health work in 11 countries with a population of over 2 billion people.
Key Points:
- Ms Saima Wazed was nominated as the next Regional Director in a vote by the Regional Committee for the South-East Asia on 1 November 2023 in New Delhi, India.
- Ms Wazed was confirmed as the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the South-East Asia by the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, Switzerland on 23 January 2023.
About the new Regional Director:
- Ms Saima Wazed has been an Advisor to the WHO Director-General on Mental Health and Autism since 2019, and a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health since 2014.
- Ms Wazed was designated Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in WHO South-East Asia in 2017.
Important Day
World Occupational Therapy Day 2023
⇒ World Occupational Therapy Day is observed every year on 27 October, and promotes the mission and goals of occupational therapy.
- The day also increases awareness of occupational therapists and their global impact.
Theme:
The theme of World Occupational Therapy Day 2023 was “Unity through Community”.
- This year’s theme promotes our role in working together with others to facilitate participation and community interaction.
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI, observed the World Occupational Therapy Day, through the institutions associated with it by conducting various activities.
History:
- World Occupational Therapy Day was first launched on 27th October 2010.
- The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is the international voice of the occupational therapy profession which globally comprises of 107 national occupational therapy professional organisations.
- World Occupational Therapy Day is the opportunity to heighten the visibility of the profession’s development work and to promote the activities of WFOT locally, nationally, and internationally.
» The Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service (OTGDS) took place on 27 October 2023.
About Occupational therapists:
- Occupational therapists provide treatment to injured or disabled patients. They also work with children who have special needs or need help in acquiring certain skills.
- Occupational therapists make recommendations on types of equipment and home modifications necessary for seniors or those with disabilities.