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By admin: Nov. 1, 2024

Dr. Bibek Debroy

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Dr. Bibek Debroy

Why in news:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Indian Economist and Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Dr. Bibek Debroy.   

Who was Dr. Bibek Debroy?

•  He was Chairman of the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council at the time of his passing. Bibek Debroy who helmed Naredra Modi’s vision of Amrit Kaal, an aspirational plan for a prosperous and self-reliant India. 
• Debroy, as the head of the finance ministry’s expert committee for infrastructure classification and financing framework for Amrit Kaal, aimed to make India a high-tech production economy.

Career:

• He was educated in West Bengal’s Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur; Presidency College, Kolkata; Delhi School of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge
• In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Debroy held various academic positions in Presidency College, Kolkata (1979-83), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune (1983-87) and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (1987-93).

Contributions:

• At the federal think-tank , he was instrumental in changing how the Indian Railways, the largest public-sector enterprise, was run. 
• The focus was on minimising the lumbering social cost of running the behemoth through what economists like to call “efficiency gains” from privatisation. 
• In 2017, he co-authored Indian Railways: The Weaving of a National Tapestry, an engaging history of Indian Railways..
• According to the Debroy committee’s estimates, the railways will need capital investment of nearly Rs.50 lakh crore until 2030 for expanding its network and ratcheting up capacity to meet growing requirements of passenger and freight services.
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India-Indonesia joint military exercise 'Garuda Shakti'-2024

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EXERCISE ‘GARUD SHAKTI’-2024

Why in news:

• The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel departed for Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia to take part in the 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24.  The Exercise will be conducted from 1st to 12th of November 2024. 
• The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and an Indonesian contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented by Indonesian Special Forces Kopassus.

Aim of exercise:

• The aim of Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures, enhance mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of both armies. 
•  The Exercise is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.

Features of the exercise:

• The Exercise will involve planning and execution of special operations, orientation to advance special forces skills, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures.
•  Joint Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 will also involve jointly practicing Special Forces Operations in Jungle terrain, strikes on terrorist camps and a Validation Exercise integrating basic and advance special forces skills apart from gaining an insight into the lifestyle and culture of both countries to foster military cooperation.

Significance :

• The Exercise will provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices.
•  It will also act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.

Joint military exercise 'Vajra Prahar-2024' between India and America

Tags: Defence

EXERCISE ‘VAJRA PRAHAR’-2024

Why in news:

• The Indian Army contingent departed today for the 15th edition of India- US joint Special Forces.

Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR-2024:

• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 2nd to 22nd November 2024 at Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in December 2023. 
• This will be the second exercise of the year between Indian and the US Army, the previous being Exercise YUDH ABHYAS 2024, conducted at Rajasthan in September 2024.
• Contingents of both the countries taking part in the joint exercise will comprise 45 personnel each. The Indian Army contingent will be represented by Special Forces units and the US Army contingent will be represented by Green Berets of the US.

Aim of the exercise:

• Aim of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is to promote military cooperation between India and the US through enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics. 
• The exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special Forces Operations in desert/ semi desert environments. 
• The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

Significance:

• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR will enable the two sides to share their best practices and experiences for conduct of joint Special Forces Operations.
• The exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both the countries.

'Kaveri Meets Ganga’ - First Programme under Amrit Parampara festival series

Tags: Environment

Kaveri Meets Ganga’ - First Programme under Amrit Parampara festival series: 

Why in news:

• ‘Kaveri Meets Ganga’ - First Programme under Amrit Parampara festival series being held from 2nd to 5th November 2024 at Kartavya Path and CCR
•  What is the Amrit Parampara festival series?
• The Ministry of Culture is proud to announce the commencement of a special festival series titled Amrit Parampara, a grand celebration to unite India through art and culture.

Aims of the festival series:

• Amrit Parampara aims to celebrate traditional arts and art forms of India with special focus on declining and dying art forms and traditions across performing arts, visuals arts and literature by curating innovative programs anchored in traditional artforms with modern packaging and technology based interactive and immersive experiences. 
• A series of programs under the umbrella campaign Amrit Parampara are planned across various monuments and locations of Delhi in the near future.
• The first programme under the Amrit Parampara Series is ‘Kaveri Meets Ganga’ which is bringing the best of dance and musical traditions from South India to North India and also showcasing artistic traditions from North India in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat. 

Organized by:

• Sangeet Natak Akademi,  Kalakshetra & CCRT, autonomous institutions of the Ministry of Culture are jointly organizing the Kaveri Meets Ganga programme.
• Starting on 2nd November 2024 at iconic locations, including Kartavya Path and CCRT Dwarka, the festival will showcase India’s folk and traditional art forms in a captivating series of performances. ‘Kaveri Meets Ganga’ is also a tribute to the essence of the renowned Margazhi Festival, that takes place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu during the Margazhi month of the Tamil calendar. 

Key Features:

• Audiences will experience everything from Nagar Sankirtan and Govardhan Puja from Braj to Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Bharatanatyam by celebrated artists, and folk traditions such as Panchavadyam and Theyyam from Kerala.
• The Amrit Parampara series has been designed to promote the continuity of India’s cultural legacy through four key pillars: the foundation of Bharatiya Sanskriti, a blend of cultural education and entertainment, the synthesis of diverse ideas, and a multi-sensory experience.
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The Government has approved an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores, for providing Drones under the Scheme ‘Namo Drone Didi’:

Tags: Government Schemes

"NAMO Drone Didi"

Why in news:

• The Government has approved the Central Sector Scheme ‘Namo Drone Didi’ for providing Drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM, with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores.

What is NAMO DRONE DIDI Scheme:

•  The scheme aims to provide drones to 14500 selected Women SHGs during the period from 2024-25 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of liquid fertilizers and pesticides for the present). 

• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released the Operational Guidelines.

The major components of the operational guidelines are as under:

• The Scheme will be governed at the Central level by the Empowered Committee of the Secretaries of Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Department of Rural Development, Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Women and Child Development.

•  Under the scheme, a Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs. 8.0 lakhs will be provided to the women SHGs for purchase of drones as a package.

• The Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) of SHGs/SHGs may raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy) as loan under National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF). Interest subvention @ 3% on the AIF loan will be provided to the CLFs/SHGs.

• The CLFs/SHGs shall also have the option to access loans from other sources/programmes/schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development. 

•  Under the scheme, not only the drones but, drones as a package will be supplied.  

• The package will consists of basic drone with spray assembly for spraying liquid fertilizers and pesticides, Drone carrying box, standard battery set, downward facing camera, dual-channel fast battery charger, battery charger hub, anemometer, pH meter and 1 year onsite warranty on all items.

•  The package also includes 04 spare battery sets, one spare propeller set (each set contains 6 propellers), nozzle set, dual channel fast battery charger, battery charger hub, 15 days training for drone pilot and drone assistant, one year comprehensive insurance, 2 years annual maintenance contract and applicable GST. 

• The additional sets of batteries will ensure continuous drone flying which can easily cover 20 acres in a day.

• One of the members of the women SHGs will be selected for 15 day training comprising of mandatory drone pilot training and additional training for agriculture purpose for nutrient and pesticide application. 

Significance of the scheme:

•  It is envisaged that the initiatives under the scheme will provide sustainable business and livelihood support to SHGs and they would be able to earn additional income for them.

• The scheme will help in infusing advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation for the benefit of farmers.