The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the recruitment of domestic workers.
The important aspects of the MoU are:
Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) will be held at Aundh Military Station and College of Military Engineering, Pune from 18 March to 27 March 2019. The modalities for the IAFTEX were discussed in the conference held between 23-24 January 2019. The conference saw attendance from delegates of Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Uganda, Niger and and Zambia.
The important features of the IAFTX are:
The coast guards of India and Japan undertook disaster control, search and rescue exercises off the coast of Yokohama in Japan. India had hosted the Japanese ships for the exercise last year and this time Japan is hosting the exercise. ICGS Shaunak is the main Indian ship taking part in the drills.
ICGS Shaunak is an Offshore Patrol Vessel of Indian coast guards. This 105-meter vessel is capable of carrying a twin-engine light helicopter and five high-speed boats including two quick reaction inflatable boats for swift boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.
It was the first time in history that all women contingent of Assam Rifles, which is one of the oldest paramilitary forces of India, took part in the Republic Day parade this year. Major Khushboo Kanwar, 30, lead a contingent of the Assam Rifles. It was also being the first time that a woman officer was leading the Army Services Corps in the 2019 Republic Day parade. Captain Shikha Surabhi from the Corps of Signals, performed bike stunts alongside her team mates.
The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the amendments to the framework on currency swap arrangement for SAARC member countries. The amendments incorporate a standby facility of USD 400 million. This stand-by facility enables India to provide a prompt response to the current request from SAARC member countries for availing the swap amount exceeding the present limit prescribed under the SAARC Swap Framework.
SAARC Swap Framework: The Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries was formulated with the intention to provide a line of funding for short term foreign exchange requirements or to meet the balance of payments crises till longer-term arrangements are made or the issue is resolved in the short-term itself. It was approved by the Government of India on March 1st, 2012. Under the framework RBI offers swaps of varying sizes to each SAARC Member countries depending on their two months import requirement, not exceeding US$ 2 billion in total, in USD, Euro or INR.
Benefits to SAARC and India:
The agreement has enabled India to strengthen its ties with the SAARC countries together with improving financial stability in the region. This agreement also bolsters the credibility of India among the SAARC countries. Together with enhancing India’s economic influence in the region, the agreement strengthen regional integration and inter-dependence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum, Yaad-e-Jallian Museum (museum on the Jallianwala Bagh and World War I), the Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence, and Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art within the Red Fort complex.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum:
The Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort was inaugurated to mark the Netaji’s 122nd birth anniversary. This Museum on Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army showcases different artifacts related to Netaji and Indian National Army which includes a wooden chair and sword used by the Netaji, medals, badges and uniforms. The museum in the Red Fort complex is also important for the fact that INA trails were held within the Red Fort complex.
Yaad-e-Jallian Museum:
The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum provides an authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened on April 13, 1919. The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum will also showcase the heroism, valor and sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during World War-1.
Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence :
The Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence portrays the historical narrative of 1857 war of independence, showcasing the valor and sacrifices made by Indians during the period.
Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art :
The Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art showcases Indian art works from 16th century till India’s independence.
President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2019 to 30 awardees. The awards were conferred during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being held at Varanasi. The winner of this prestigious award includes Gita Gopinath chief economist of IMF, Nihal Singh Agar, founding president of VHP in Australia and Rames Chotai, former president of Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre in Canada.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. The awards are conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin or an organization or institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, who has made a significant contribution in any one of the following fields:
Usually, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are conferred by President during the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
The Bloomberg Innovation Index analyses each country in a range of areas including education, research and development, and manufacturing before coming up with a list of the 60 most innovative countries. The countries are ranked on the basis of their overall ability to innovate considering seven-equal weighted metrics such as research & development intensity, manufacturing value-added, productivity, high-tech density, tertiary efficiency, researcher concentration, patent activity.
The ranking of the various countries under the index are:
India stood at 47th place in research & development intensity, 54th place in manufacturing value-added, 58th place in productivity, 29th place in high-tech density, 51st in tertiary efficiency, 59th in researcher concentration and 36th in patent activity.
Bloomberg Innovation Index published top 60 economies out of 95 economies analysed for the ranking process for the year 2019 based on a score from 0-100 on the basis of seven equal-weighted metrics.
BSNL has signed a partnership agreement with the French company Be-Bound to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks.
The working of technology is explained below:
This technology was first introduced in France and it is also being tested in some of the African countries. In India, BSNL is in talks with some apps to implement the technology.
The government of India has announced the Padma Awards 2019. The 112 prominent personalities honoured with the Padma Awards include comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards.
Padma Awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities:
Padma Awards were instituted by the government of India in 1954 to be awarded to citizens of India in recognition of distinguished contribution in the sphere of activities such as industry, literature, science, sports, medicine, social service, education and public affairs. The awards are nnounced on the eve of Republic Day. The recipients of these awards can also include foreigners who have contributed in various ways to India.
The 2019 Bharat Ratna award has been bestowed upon former President Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika. Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika. Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika were awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously.
Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017. A veteran congressman, Pranab Mukherjee had held various key portfolios like Finance, Defence and External Affairs as Union Minister. He is the outstanding statesman of the present time.
Nanaji Deshmukh laid great emphasis on education as a social worker. The first Saraswati Shishu Mandir was established by him at Gorakhpur in 1950. He was a member of RSS and also served as general secretary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Bhupen Hazarika was a playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam, widely known as Sudhakantha. He mainly wrote and sang in the Assamese language. His works were marked by humanity and universal brotherhood and have been translated and sung in many languages. He also served as a channel to introduce the culture and folk music of Assam and Northeast India to Hindi cinema at the national level.
India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour, Ashoka Chakra was awarded to Lance Naik Nazir Wani posthumously. he award was presented by President Ram Nath Kovind was received by Wani’s wife and mother at the Republic Day celebrations held at Rajpath. Lance Naik Nazir Wani also holds the distinction of being the first Kashmiri to be conferred the Ashoka Chakra.
Ashoka Chakra is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield and it is peacetime equivalent of Param Vir Chakra which is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice in the battlefield.
On Republic Day, flag hoisting ceremonies and parades by armed forces and school children are held in different parts of the country. The grandest and most important of these parades is held at Rajpath in New Delhi, which showcases a multi-hued image of the country’s rich cultural heritage and military prowess.This parade is presided over by the President of India who is the being the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Awards such as the Paramvir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Vir Chakra are presented to gallantry award winners.
Cyril Ramaphosa was invited by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during the G20 summit which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was especially chosen for this occasion because India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who had very close association with the people of South Africa. Moreover, both India and South Africa are the part of Non Aligned Movement in which newly independent countries united in a common struggle against colonialism, discrimination etc.
Note: The 2019 celebration will be special as this year will mark the 150th birth anniversary of ‘Father of the Nation’.
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