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By admin: March 2, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Raisina Dialogue

Tags: Summits National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue on Geopolitics and Geostrategy in New Delhi on 2 March.

An overview of the news:

• The Raisina Dialogue has been organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF, established in 1990). This dialogue will be organised from 2 to 4 March 2023.

• The theme of the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue is “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest.”

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been invited as the chief guest in the inaugural session of the three-day event.

• This year's edition assumes special significance in the backdrop of India's G20 Presidency. The dialogue will have over 2500 participants in person and the proceedings will reach millions across various digital platforms.

• During the last eight years, Raisina Dialogue has grown steadily to establish itself as one of the leading global conferences on international affairs.

• Representatives of more than a hundred countries will participate in this dialogue program (Raisina Dialogue 2023), including ministers, former heads of state and government, military commanders, heads of industry, technology leaders, academicians, journalists, strategic affairs experts and experts. experts are involved.

• In this dialogue program in February 2023, it was in the limelight due to the refusal of the Foreign Minister of Iran to participate in this conference.

Raisina Dialogue:

• It was started in the year 2016.

• Its main objective is to explore possibilities and opportunities for Asian integration as well as better integration of Asia with the rest of the world.

• The headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs of India is located in Raisina Hill (South Block), New Delhi, hence it is known as Raisina Dialogue.

Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates SCO's first International Conference on Traditional Medicine

Tags: Summits

The Union Minister for AYUSH and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal launched the first B2B Global Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Guwahati on 2 March 2023.

An overview of the news:

• Over 150 delegates from 17 SCO (4 virtually) countries and partners attended the opening ceremony.

• Sonowal also inaugurated a four-day expo on traditional medicine in the same premises.

• More than 150 delegates from 17 countries including India are participating in the event.

• It is attended by high-level delegates such as the Health Minister, official representatives and foreign buyers from SCO and partner countries.

• A total of 75 foreign officials and business representatives from 13 countries are participating. Government representatives of China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan have joined virtually.

• Important sessions like 'Know Your Buyer' and 'B2B Meetings' are also planned to discuss specific product-wise, export and import opportunities and deepen economic partnership with enhanced market access in SCO countries.

Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar takes over as Vice Chief of Army Staff

Tags: Defence Person in news

Lt. Gen. M.V. Suchindra Kumar took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 March 2023.

An overview of the news:

• General Officer Suchindra Kumar, Lieutenant General B.S. Raju, who took over the reins of the Jaipur-based Sapta Shakti Command on March 1, 2023.

• Prior to taking over, Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at the Army Headquarters.

• In his recent responsibilities, he has experience in various departments like Intelligence, Operations, Force Structuring, Operational Logistics and Tech Infusion.

• The General Officer has held various staff and instructional responsibilities at home and abroad.

• Suchindra Kumar's military papers have been published in several professional journals.

Chiefs of Indian Services:

• Chief of Defense Staff: Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan (Retd.)

• Army: General Manoj Pandey

• Navy: Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar

• Air Force: Air Marshal VR Chowdhary

Government approves purchase of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft from HAL for IAF

Tags: Defence

The Union Cabinet has approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs 6,828.36 crore.

An overview of the news:

• These aircraft are to be supplied by HAL over a period of next six years.

• The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft and is designed to provide good low speed handling qualities and improved training effectiveness.

• Fully aerobatic this one-seat turbo trainer in the rear has an air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot re-fuelling, running change over and zero-zero ejection seat.

• The aircraft will bridge the shortfall of basic trainer aircraft of the IAF for training newly inducted pilots.

• The purchase will include associated equipment and training aids, including simulators.

• Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft can be upgraded to incorporate the future requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.

• The HTT-40 has approximately 56 per cent indigenous content which will increase to over 60 per cent through indigenization of major components and sub-systems. HAL will involve Indian private industry including MSMEs in its supply chain. The procurement is likely to provide direct employment to around 1,500 personnel and indirect employment to 3,000 people spread across more than 100 MSMEs.

SC made major changes in the appointment process of Election Commissioners

Tags: National News

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court gave an important judgement on 2 March 2023 that the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners would be appointed by the President on the advice of a committee. The committee will consist ofthe Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

An overview of the news:

• A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph, in a unanimous judgement, said the rule would remain in force until Parliament enacts a law on the issue.

• According to the top court, if there is no Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, then the leader of the largest opposition party will be included in the committee on appointment of election commissioners and chief election commissioner.

• The Supreme Court agreed with the petitioners and made five major changes in the process of appointment of Election Commissioners. These are as follows:

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  • The three officers will be appointed by the collegium of PM, LOP and CJI.

  • They can only be removed by impeachment in Parliament, a process similar to the removal of judges of the Supreme Court. Till now, he could be removed by the government.

  • The commission will have a separate budget. Till now, they used to get the share of the Union Budget allocated to the Law Ministry.

  • The Commission will have a separate secretariat like the Parliament.

  • The Commission will have the right to make its own rules wherever there is any vacancy or lack of clarity in the law.

Validity of the New Testament:

• A five-judge constitution bench(Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice CT Ravikumar) unanimously said in its decision that this rule will remain in force until Parliament enacts a new law on the subject.

• According to the apex court, elections in a democracy must undoubtedly be fair and it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure its purity.
  
  

International Yoga Festival 2023 on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh

Tags: Festivals

The International Yoga Festival 2023, organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council on March 1, 2023, was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh.

An overview of the news:

• On March 1, 2023, a grand ceremony was organised for the International Yoga Festival at Yoga Ghat near GMVN Ganga Resort located at Muni Ki Reti. In which the famous Yogacharya of the country guided the Yoga seekers.

• Renowned Yogacharya Padmashree Sivananda and Padmabhushan Rajinikanth were also present on the occasion.

• Sages and sages acquired many methods of yoga on the banks of the Ganges and presented yoga for the welfare of mankind.

• In the coming days this year, two G-20 conferences are to be held in Rishikesh.

Uttarakhand:

• Capital: Dehradun in winter, Gairsain inehradun i summer.

• Governor: Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh

• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami

IAF transport aircraft Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with Japan's Air Self Defense Force

Tags: Defence

The Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri. It was mainly organised from 1st to 2nd March 2023.

An overview of the news:

• This air exercise was organised along with the Indo-Japanese joint military exercise Dharma Guardian.

• The Dharma Guardian air exercise was conducted from 13 February 2023 to 02 March 2023 at Komatsu, Japan.

• An Indian Air Force contingent with a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft participated in Exercise SHINYU Maitri 23.

• The first phase of the exercise involved discussion on transport operations and tactical manoeuvres, followed by the second phase of flying exercises by C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force and C-2 transport aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force of Japan.

• This special exercise provides an opportunity for the respective subject matter experts to interact and deliberate on each other's operational philosophies and best practices.

• This exercise will also enhance mutual understanding and reciprocity between the two countries.

• The heavy lift transport aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force is also participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE and Exercise Cobra Warrior in UK.

Gold mines found in three districts of Odisha

Tags: State News

Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Malik has informed the state assembly that gold mines have been discovered at different places in three districts of the state.

An overview of the news:

• Surveys by Odisha's Directorate of Mines and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have confirmed gold deposits in three districts including Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.

• These gold deposits have been found at four places in Keonjhar district, four places in Mayurbhanj district and one place in Deogarh district.

• It is noteworthy that after the confirmation of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir last month, now the indication of gold reserves in Odisha is an important achievement for the country.

• Surveys were done in these areas of Odisha in the 1970s and 80s. The survey campaign was conducted by the Directorate of Mines and Geology and the GSI. At that time the report of this survey was not made public.

• According to State Mining Minister Prafulla Kumar Malik, GSI had again conducted surveys in these three districts in the last two years.

Major minerals found in Odisha:

• Major mining centres of iron ore:- Gurumahishani, Sulaipat, Badam Pahari (Mayurbhanj district), Keonir and Bonai (Sundergarh).

• Major mining centres of Manganese:- Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Bonai, Kalahandi, Koraput

• Major mining centres of bauxite:- Kalahandi, Raigarh, Kandhamal and Koraput districts.

  • Two huge deposits of high grade bauxite have been found in Bolangir and Sambalpur in Odisha.

  • Panchapattamalli (Koraput district) and Gandhamardan (border area of Bolangir and Bargarh district) areas of Odisha are famous for bauxite production.

• Major mining centres of dolomite:- Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Birmitrapur. It is a mixture of limestone and magnesium.

Odisha:

• Capital: Bhubaneswar

• Governor: Ganeshi Lal

• Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik