1. ASEAN agrees to admit Timor- Leste as its 11th member
Tags: Summits International News
The 10 nations group Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit Timor- Leste as its 11th member. This was declared by the ASEAN after its summit meeting held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on 11 November 2022 Timor- Leste applied for membership of the ASEAN in 2011.
The other members of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Timor- Leste will be initially granted an observer status at a high level ASEAN meeting and it will take years before it becomes a full member of the ASEAN group.
The country would be the first new member of the regional grouping in more than two decades, since Cambodia was admitted in 1999.
Timor- Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta welcomed the decision, saying a membership would strengthen wider diplomatic relations with ASEAN's partners and will help attract more foreign direct investment in the country.
Timor- Leste
It was earlier called East Timor and was a Portuguese colony till 1975 .After the Portuguese left it was occupied by Indonesia. The people of Timor- Leste waged a freedom struggle to gain Independence from Indonesia.
In the 1999 United Nations supervised referendum the people of Timor-Leste voted for Independence from Indonesia.
It was officially recognised as an independent country by the United Nations in 2022, making it Asia's youngest country.
Capital of Timor- Leste: Dilli
Currency: Dollar
President: Jose Ramos-Horta
2. India announces additional contribution of ‘$ 5 million’ to ASEAN-India science and technology fund
Tags: Science and Technology Summits International News
The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 12 November 2022 announced an additional contribution of USD 5 million to the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Fund (AISTDF) to enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.
The announcement came during the three-day visit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to Cambodia for ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.
ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF)
ASEAN-India Science & Technology Collaboration formally started in 1996 with the establishment of the ASEAN India S&T working group (AIWGST).
Initially, the collaborative S&T projects and activities between India and ASEAN were supported through ASEAN India Fund (AIF).
In 2008, a dedicated ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF) with an equivalent amount of USD 1 million was established jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Science and Technology (DST) to support Research and Development projects and associated project development activities.
The AISTDF was enhanced to an equivalent amount of USD 5 million through an announcement by the Prime Minister of India on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Malaysia in November 2015.
3. Per capita income rose in real terms by 33.4% since enactment of NFSA: Center inform Supreme Court
Tags: National Government Schemes
The Central government on 11 November 2022, informed the Supreme Court that the per capita income of the population in India has increased in real terms by 33.4 per cent since the enactment of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Union government said this rise in per capita income of people has taken a large number of poor households to higher income class.
The affidavit was filed in response to a Supreme Court ordered comprehensive survey of migrant labourers who faced extreme hardship and loss of jobs during corona induced lockdown in 2020.
Main points of the government response
- The overall national ceiling under NFSA is 81.4 crore beneficiaries and a few states are yet to reach their state ceiling.
- Actual national coverage is nearly 79.8 crore as on August 31. Under NFSA ceiling, there is still scope for adding approximately 1.6 crore beneficiaries for Antyodaya Anna Yojana and priority households categories.
- About 4.7 crore ration cards, which is equivalent to about 18-19 crore individuals, have been added in the last 8 years (2013-2021) under NFSA.
National Food Security Act 2013(NFSA)
The Public distribution system in India is covered under the National Food Security Act 2013. It was implemented on 10 September 2013.
- It covers all the State and Union Territories in India.
- The scheme is administered by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution.
- The Act provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds of the population.
- Food Grains are provided to beneficiaries in two categories, Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH).
- The Antodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries get 35 kg of foodgrains per month and the Priority Household gets 5kg per person per month.
- The beneficiary gets rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse cereals at Rs 1 per kg.
Per capita Income
It is used to determine the average income of a person of a country. It is calculated by dividing the National income of a country by its population.
The Per capita Income of India in 2021-22(on Net National Income basis) was Rs 91481.
Source National Statistical Office
4. Cochin Shipyard to build India's first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel in Varanasi
Tags: place in news National National News
The Cochin Shipyard on November 11 signed an MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India to build the country's first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran ship for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Important facts
The shipyard also signed another MoU for construction of six electric catamaran ships for Uttar Pradesh and two ships for Guwahati.
The MoU was signed in Varanasi in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several other dignitaries.
The air-conditioned hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel will have a seating capacity of 100 passengers. It will be deployed in Varanasi after trial in Kochi.
The air-conditioned electric hybrid vessels, designed for short-distance travel in riverine waters, will have a seating capacity of 50 passengers.
These vessels will contribute significantly in reducing the pollution level in the national waterways.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways -Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister for Heavy Industries - Mahendra Nath Pandey
UP Chief Minister - Yogi Adityanath
5. Cochin Shipyard to build India's first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel in Varanasi
Tags: place in news National National News
The Cochin Shipyard on November 11 signed an MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India to build the country's first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran ship for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Important facts
The shipyard also signed another MoU for construction of six electric catamaran ships for Uttar Pradesh and two ships for Guwahati.
The MoU was signed in Varanasi in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several other dignitaries.
The air-conditioned hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel will have a seating capacity of 100 passengers. It will be deployed in Varanasi after trial in Kochi.
The air-conditioned electric hybrid vessels, designed for short-distance travel in riverine waters, will have a seating capacity of 50 passengers.
These vessels will contribute significantly in reducing the pollution level in the national waterways.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways -Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister for Heavy Industries - Mahendra Nath Pandey
UP Chief Minister - Yogi Adityanath
6. Country's longest river cruise will run from Varanasi in January 2023
Tags: National National News
The Union Government has proposed to start the world's longest river cruise between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Dibrugarh in Assam by January 2023.
Important facts
The 50-day cruise will set sail from Varanasi on 10 January and cover 4,000 km, passing through Kolkata and Dhaka before reaching Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district of Assam on 1 March.
The name of the cruise is Ganga Vilas, which will sail from Varanasi to Dibrugarh in a longest river journey of 50 days covering 27 river systems and visit over 50 tourist sites including World Heritage Sites.
This will be the largest river cruise by a single river ship in the world and will put both India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world.
Development of coastal and river shipping including cruise services is one of the priorities of the government and more such services will be introduced to tap the vast potential of the country in this sector.
The cruise is run on a PPP model with an MoU signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Antara Luxury River Cruises and JM Baxi River Cruises.
River cruises are already operating on National Waterway-1 (NW-1 Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly), National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) and National Waterway-3 (West Coast Canal).
7. Country's longest river cruise will run from Varanasi in January 2023
Tags: National National News
The Union Government has proposed to start the world's longest river cruise between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Dibrugarh in Assam by January 2023.
Important facts
The 50-day cruise will set sail from Varanasi on 10 January and cover 4,000 km, passing through Kolkata and Dhaka before reaching Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district of Assam on 1 March.
The name of the cruise is Ganga Vilas, which will sail from Varanasi to Dibrugarh in a longest river journey of 50 days covering 27 river systems and visit over 50 tourist sites including World Heritage Sites.
This will be the largest river cruise by a single river ship in the world and will put both India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world.
Development of coastal and river shipping including cruise services is one of the priorities of the government and more such services will be introduced to tap the vast potential of the country in this sector.
The cruise is run on a PPP model with an MoU signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Antara Luxury River Cruises and JM Baxi River Cruises.
River cruises are already operating on National Waterway-1 (NW-1 Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly), National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) and National Waterway-3 (West Coast Canal).
8. India, Cambodia sign 4 MOUs in the areas of culture, wildlife & health
Tags: International Relations International News
On November 12 India and Cambodia signed 4 MoUs in areas of health, technology, biodiversity conservation and preservation of ancient buildings.
Important facts
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar holds a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 12.
The two had extensive discussions on bilateral relations including human resources, mining and development projects.
Cambodia also stressed on enhancing cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach the goal of "a mine-free Cambodia by 2025".
Four memorandum of understanding (MoU)
MoU between the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur for digitalisation of Cambodian heritage sites.
MoU regarding reintroduction of tigers in Cambodia between the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia for Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management.
MoU between the Ministry of Health and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine.
MoU on Financing Agreement on the Preservation of Wat Raja Bo Pagoda Paintings in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
9. India, Cambodia sign 4 MOUs in the areas of culture, wildlife & health
Tags: International Relations International News
On November 12 India and Cambodia signed 4 MoUs in areas of health, technology, biodiversity conservation and preservation of ancient buildings.
Important facts
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar holds a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 12.
The two had extensive discussions on bilateral relations including human resources, mining and development projects.
Cambodia also stressed on enhancing cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach the goal of "a mine-free Cambodia by 2025".
Four memorandum of understanding (MoU)
MoU between the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur for digitalisation of Cambodian heritage sites.
MoU regarding reintroduction of tigers in Cambodia between the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia for Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management.
MoU between the Ministry of Health and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine.
MoU on Financing Agreement on the Preservation of Wat Raja Bo Pagoda Paintings in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
10. Western Air Command Commanders’ Conference held at New Delhi
Tags: Defence National News
Western Air Command Commanders' Conference was held in New Delhi on 10 and 11 November 2022.
Important facts
The chief guest of the conference was Air Chief Marshal VR Chowdhary, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
VR Choudhary stressed on the need to maintain operational preparedness, ensure serviceability of assets and physical and information security.
Speaking on the occasion, he directed all the commanders present to ensure operational readiness of all platforms, weapon systems and assets at all times.
Air Command in India
The Western Command, headquartered at New Delhi, looks after the Ladakh sector, among other areas.
There is a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at several points in eastern Ladakh.
The Air Force has seven commands (Western, Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, Central, Training and Maintenance).
