Daily Current Capsules
29th October 2022

EXERCISE GARUDA - VII

What's the NEWS

• Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise, named 'Garuda VIl', from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

Know! about the exercise

• In this exercise, FASF will participate with four Rafale fighter aircraft, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a contingent of 220 personnel.
• The IAF is participating with Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Mi-17 helicopters.
• The IAF contingent will also include Combat Enabling Assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C.
• This joint exercise will provide a platform for both the countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability, while also sharing best practices.
• This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise.
• The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively.
• The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.

 

Saras Food Festival-2022

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Rural Development inaugurated "SARAS FOOD FESTIVAL, 2022".
• On this occasion, the Minister also launched the e-commerce portal www.esaras.in for better and more effective marketing of Saras products prepared by women of self-help groups.

Know! about Saras Food Festival-2022

• The Saras Food Festival-2022 has been organized in the national capital by the Union Ministry of Rural Development from 28th October, 2022 to 10th November, 2022
• The Saras Food Festival is a unique example of women's empowerment.
• Women from self-help groups, formed under the flagship program ‘National Rural Livelihoods Mission' of the Union Ministry of Rural Development are participating in this festival.
• This is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Rural Development as an effort to empower women on a large scale.
• About 150 women entrepreneurs and members of self-help groups from 18 states are participating in this event which gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills in the field of food making and introduce people to the food culture of our country.
• These SHG women are proficient in making rural products and preparing traditional dishes of their states.
• Other skilled people across the country are also participating in this grand event.

 

1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival 2022

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Department of Science and Technology, inaugurated the 1stASEAN-India Start-up Festival (AISF) on 27th October 2022 in Bogor, Indonesia
• The successful hosting of the 1st ASEAN-India Startup Festival saw opportunities to further strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation to accelerate the startup economy," he added.

1st ASEAN-India Startup Festival Highlights

• The festival is part of the over-all ASEAN-India Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation program between the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (Govt of India) and is supported under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund (AISTDF) of Govt of India which is jointly contributed by Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The four-day event is being hosted in conjunction with the Indonesia Research and Innovation Expo (INA-RIE) from the 27th until the 30th October 2022 at the Innovation Convention Centre, Cibinong Bogor, Indonesia.
• The AISF is part of a series of events to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India diplomatic relationship.

 

Research Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG)

What's the NEWS

• India Participated in G-20 Research Ministers meeting at Jakarta.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) highlighted that materials for sustainable energy, scientific challenges & opportunities to achieving a sustainable blue economy, biodiversity, and economy would be the major themes and topics of the Research Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) during India's presidency starting from 1st December 2022.

 

Know! about RIIG (Highlights)

• This event is a part of G20 Presidency, i.e Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG), particularly addressing research, technology, and innovation issues by G20 members.
• India is committed to implementing G-20 Research Innovation Initiative Gathering (RRIG) deliverables and seek support on the G-20 research and innovation agenda for India's G-20 presidency next year
• India is partnering in all the global forums, including the construction and establishment of mega-science facilities in India and abroad.
• The 17th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit will take place at November 2022 in Bali.
• G20 2022 Presidency -Indonesia
• G20 2023 Presidency - India

 

Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• India has recently launched policies like Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to disseminate scientific knowledge and also promote science and technology across the ecosystems.
• The Research Ministers meeting has been planned to be held in 1st week of July 2023.

Know! about G20

 

 

• The G20 is a strategic multilateral platform connecting the world's major developed and emerging economies.
• The G20 holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity.
• Together, the G20 members represent more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population.
• Starting in 1999 as a meeting for the finance minister and central bank governors, the G20 has evolved into a yearly summit involving the Head of State and Government.
• In addition to that, the Sherpa meetings (in charge of carrying out negotiations and building consensus among Leaders), working groups, and special events are also organized throughout the year.
• The members of the G20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.
• Each year, the Presidency invites guest countries, which take full part in the G20 exercise.

 

Dakar International Forum

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan has recently attended the 8th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa.

 

Know! about the forum

 

• This is the first time that India participated at the Ministerial level in the event.
• It was formerly known as the Dakar Peace and Security Forum.
• It annually brings together many African Heads of State and Government, international partners, as well as multiple actors of Peace and Security.
• It was launched during the 2013 Élysée Summit organized by France.
• The first edition of the forum was held in December 2014 in Dakar under the high patronage of Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal.

 

News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA)

 

What's the NEWS

 

• The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has recently fined the Hindi TV channel News18 India Rs 50,000 for turning a news debate on hijab into a "communal issue" and not adhering to guidelines.

 

Know! about NBDSA

 

• It is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA).
• It serves as a representative of private television news, current affairs and digital broadcasters.
• Funded entirely by its members, the NBDA has 26 news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 119 news and current affairs channels) as its members.
• Various senior members of Indian media organisations serve on its Board of Directors.
• It carries out activities "to promote, protect and secure the interests including the right of freedom of speech and expression of the news broadcasters, digital news media and other related entities".
• The Authority may initiate proceedings on its own and issue notice or take action in respect to any matter which falls within its regulations.
• This can also be through complaints referred to the Authority by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting or any other governmental body, or by anyone else via its website.
• The body includes a Chairperson who is to be an eminent jurist, and other members such as news editors, and those experienced in the field of law, education, literature, public administration, etc. nominated by a majority of the Board.
• Former Supreme Court judge and jurist AK Sikri is currently serving as the Chairperson.

 

 

Floating Trash Barrier

 

 

What's the NEWS

 

• A floating trash barrier (FTB), developed by AlphaMERS Ltd.'s and deployed in eight cities across India to trap trash in water bodies, has won the Cleaning and Restoring India's Water Bodies Challenge.

 

Know! about it

 

• Floating trash barrier could address the serious environmental issue of floating solid waste pollution plaguing India's water bodies.
• The FTB uses the natural flow of water to bring the trash to the riverbank where it is deployed and from there the trash is manually or mechanically removed.
• The FTB is deployed in eight cities - Bengaluru, Chennai, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Mysuru, Thanjavur, Tuticorin and Coimbatore.
• The FTB is said to be successful in cleaning up the Cooum in Chennai and the Musi in Hyderabad.

 

Cleaning and Restoring India's Water Bodies Challenge:

 

• Cleaning and Restoring India's Water Bodies Challenge was conducted by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA).
• The challenge was conducted by the Waste to Wealth Mission - Swachh Bharat Unnat Bharat Mission under the Office of the PSA during November 27, 2020 and February 17, 2021.

 

Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA)

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Estb. By - Government of India in November 1999.
• By the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
• Aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the P.M and the cabinet in matters of Science and Technology.
• Placed under the Cabinet Secretariat in August, 2018.
• Inception - Cabinet rank position/first PSA A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
• The 'Office of the PSA through the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) helps scientific cross-sectoral synergy across ministries, institutions and the industry.

 

Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)

 

• An overarching council that facilitates the PSA's Office to assess the status in specific science and technology domains, comprehend challenges, formulate interventions, develop a futuristic roadmap and advise the Prime Minister accordingly

 

PSA Role

 

• Research collaboration with multiple stakeholders
• Future preparedness in emerging domains of S&T
• Inter-ministerial S&T missions
• Providing an enabling ecosystem for techno-entrepreneurship
• Solving socio-economic challenges through innovation
• Public-private linkages for driving research and innovation
• The Office of PSA supported by the project management team at Invest India, is facilitating the delivery and progress of all Nine national missions under PM-STIAC.

 

The Nine missions under the PM-STIAC initiative

 

1. Natural Language Translation
2. Quantum Frontier
3. Artificial Intelligence
4. National Biodiversity Mission
5. Electric Vehicles
6. Bio Science for human health
7. Waste to wealth mission
8. Deep ocean exploration
9. AGNIi

 

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