Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Paryatan Parv 2019) + Mains ( GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.)
What's the NEWS

• On the occasion of the nationwide "Paryatan Parv 2019" the Ministry of Tourism launched the Audio Guide facility Audio Odigos for 12 sites of India(including Iconic Sites).

• 26^th MoU under the ‘Adopt a Heritage, Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan' scheme of Ministry of Tourism has been exchanged for development of Tourism Amenities.
• The project aims to develop synergy amongst all stakeholders and involves active participation of local communities / players to promote ‘responsible tourism'.
• Ministry of Tourism's scheme "Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan", is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Governments / UT Administrations.
• It aims at involving public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.

• Audio Guide: Audio Odigos, launched for the benefit of the tourists. Audio guide odigo offers Government of India verified content, with visuals & voice over support.
• With Audio Odigos, tourists will now enjoy a more enriching experience and take back historical insights of the Indian culture and heritage.
• The Audio Odigos app contains an inbuilt map of the site for a smooth navigation during the tour.
• Listeners will be offered various versions of history like Synopsis, Detailed History and Podcasts.
• The audio can be chosen in their preferred language & version of the history. Audio Odigos is now available for download on all Android and iOS supported mobile phones.
• Audio Guide facility Audio Odigos can be used in 12 sites that includes Amer Fort, Rajasthan, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Purana Quila, Humayun's tomb, Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh, Somnath and Dholavira, Gujarat, Khajuraho, Madhya pradesh, Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu and Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar.

• The Ministry of Tourism is organising a nationwide event Paryatan Parv 2019 from 2nd to 13th October 2019.
• The Delhi leg of the Parv is to be organized from 2^nd to 6^th October 2019
• The idea of Paryatan Parv is to propagate the message of ‘Dekho Apna Desh', to encourage Indians to visit various tourist destinations of the country and also to spread the message of ‘Tourism for All'.
• Paryatan Parv 2019 is dedicated to 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. M/s Ashok Events, ITDC is the event manager of the Ministry of Tourism for the event.

• Tenth edition of the Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force will be organised from 07 to 20 October 2019 at Aundh Military Station in Pune, Maharashtra.

• The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends' in the Dhivehi language since 2009.
• The 14 days Joint Exercise held alternatively in India and Maldives focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two forces for carrying out counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a semi-urban environment under the United Nations mandate.
• The focus of the exercise will be on sharing of best practices and acquainting each other with the operating procedures being followed while undertaking counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
• The last exercise was held in 2018 at Northern Area Headquarters, Lh. Maafilaafushi of Maldives.
• India shares very close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial ties with the Maldives and Exercise Ekuverin will assist in further strengthening of these ties between the two nations.

What's the NEWS

• 14^th edition of Indo - Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Nomadic Elephant-XIV, being conducted over a period of 14 days, will commence from 05 Oct 2019.
• The exercise will be conducted from 05 Oct 19 to 18 Oct 19 at Bakloh (Himachal Pradesh)

Know! about Nomadic Elephant-XIV

• Nomadic Elephant-XIV is aimed at training troops in counter insurgency &counter terrorism operations under United Nations mandate.
• The Joint Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and military relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the armies of both the nations to share their experiences & best practices and gain mutually during the joint training.
• The joint training aims at evolving various tactical drills in counter-terror environment like Convoy Protection Drill, Room Intervention Drills, Ambush/ Counter Ambush Drills, while jointly conducting counter terrorist operations under UN mandate.
• The joint training will also lay emphasis on conducting operations by a cohesive subunit, comprising of troops from both the armies, in an adverse operational conditions thus enhancing the interoperability between the two armies.
• The training planned by both the contingents will go a long way in capacity building for conducting joint operations by the two armies.

India Kazakhistan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the military exercise KAZIND 2019)
What's the NEWS

• The 4^th edition of annual military exercise KAZIND 2019 between India and Kazakhstan army commenced at Pithoragarh.

Know! about Exercise KAZIND

• The aim of exercise is joint training of troops in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism operations in both Jungle and Mountainous terrain. Exercise KAZIND 2019 can be termed as a facade of long standing strategic ties between India and Kazakhstan.
• As part of exercise, important lectures, demonstrations and drills related to counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations will be conducted. Both the Armies will also share their valuable experiences in countering such situations and also refine drills and procedures for joint operations whenever the need so arises.
• The culmination of exercise will be done on 15 Oct 2019 with a 72 hour exercise which will showcase the joint skills of soldiers while conducting Counter Terrorism and counter insurgency operations.

Good Governance
PRAKASH portal launched by the Coal Ministry for transparency and better coordination in coal supplies to power plants
Relevance IN - Prelims (about PRAKASH Portal) + Mains (GS III Infrastructure development -energy + GS II Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications
What's the NEWS

• The Power Ministry has recently launched PRAKASH (Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony) portal.
• The Portal aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders viz - Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Coal India, Railways and power utilities. This is an important step in ensuring adequate availability and optimum utilization of coal at thermal power plants.

The Portal is designed to help in mapping and monitoring entire coal supply chain for power plants, viz -

• Coal Stock at supply end (mines),
• coal quantities/ rakes planned,
• coal quantity in transit and
• coal availability at power generating station.

The portal makes available following information on a single platform -

• Coal company will be able to track stocks and the coal requirement at power stations for effective production planning
• Indian Railways will plan to place the rakes as per actual coal available at siding and stock available at power stations.
• Power stations can plan future schedule by knowing rakes in pipe line and expected time to Reach.
• Stock at power generating station
• Ministry of Power /Ministry of Coal/ CEA/ POSOCO can review overall availability of coal at thermal power plants in different regions

Social Justice & Empowerment
‘Walkthan' for Senior Citizens to mark International Day of Older Persons

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Walkthan + steps taken by the government for the welfare of senior citizens) + Mains (GS II Social Justice + Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry for Social Justice & Empowerment flagged off a "Walkthan" for older persons and senior citizens to mark the International Day of Older Persons
• The Walkthan was organised by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in collaboration with Confederation of Senior Citizens Association of Delhi

Know! the steps taken by the Ministry for the welfare of senior citizens

• Ministry has initiated many new programmes and schemes for the welfare of senior citizens.
• The Ministry felicitates senior citizens and older persons by conferring ‘Vayoshreshtha Samman' every year on the eminent senior citizens and institutions in many categories in recognition of their services towards the cause of the elderly persons.
• In the year 2017 the Ministry has started "Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana" under which physical aids and assistive living devices viz. wheel chairs, hearing aids, spectacles, support stickset care distributed to the older persons of below poverty line category.
• On the International Day of Older Persons, every year since 2005 the mass awareness event "Walkthan" is being organised by NISD.
• The event has a great value for awareness about welfare of Senior Citizens and giving a life of dignity to elderly persons.
  
  

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