1. Union Minister V. Muraleedharan attends Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa
Tags: place in news Summits
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan who was on an official visit to Senegal from October 24-25, attended the 8th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Dakar.
Being held annually since 2014, the Dakar Forum has become a key event for decision-makers involved in Africa. This is the first time that India is participating in the Forum at a Ministerial level.
During the visit on 24th and 25th of this month, Mr. Muraleedharan interacted with the Indian community in Dakar and greeted them on the occasion of Diwali celebrations.
On the eve of National Unity Week, Mr. Muraleedharan was joined by the Indian community in forming a Unity Chain to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
India and Senegal relationships
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at the Ambassadorial level in 1962. The bilateral trade between India and Senegal was $ 1.65 billion in 2021-22.
Major items of export from India include textiles, food items, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
Major items of import from Senegal are phosphoric acid and raw cashew.
Senegal
It is located in the western most point in Africa. It is also called the gateway to Africa.
It is rich in phosphates of lime and aluminium phosphates minerals.
Capital: Dakar
Currency: CFA Franc
President: Macky Sall
2. Government to set up NIA offices in all states by 2024; Amit Shah
Tags: place in news Summits Person in news
Addressing the two day (27-28 October 2022) Chintan Shivir at Surajkund, Haryana on 27 October 2022, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that National Investigation Agency (NIA) will set up its branches in all the State’s by 2024.
The Chintan shivir which has been organized by the Union Home Ministry is being attended by Chief Ministers of the States, Home Ministers of States and Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Union Territories .
NIA was set up by the Government of India in 2009 after Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008. It is the premier counter - terrorist agency in India.
3. 12th World Hindi Conference to be held in Nadi, Fiji in February 2023
Tags: place in news Summits
The Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has announced at an event in New Delhi on 27 October 2022 that the 12th World Hindi Conference will be held in Nadi, Fiji from 15-17 February 2023.
The event is being organised by the External Affairs Ministry, Government of India and the Government of Fiji. The event will be used to promote Hindi as a global language.
Why Fiji?
It is for the first time that Fiji will be hosting the conference. English, Fijian and Fijian Hindi are the three official languages of Fiji.
Around 30% of the Fijian population is of Indian descent and majority of them speak Hindi.
Effort to make Hindi a UN language
Speaking at the event the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said efforts are on to get Hindi recognised as an official language at the United Nations (UN) and progress has been made in that direction but it will take some time.
He said that Hindi is being used by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The UN Secretariat is using Hindi language in its use in social media and newsletters.
However Hindi is not the official language of the UN.
The UN has six official languages: English, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and French.
World Hindi Conference
The first world Hindi conference to popularize Hindi as a global language was held in Nagpur in 1975. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India.
S.NO | Year | Place | Country |
1 | 10-12 January 1975 | Nagpur | India |
2 | 28-30 August 1976 | Port Louis | Mauritius |
3 | 24-28 October 1983 | New Delhi | India |
4 | 2-4 December 1993 | Port Louis | Mauritius |
5 | 4-8 April 1996 | Port of Spain | Trinidad and Tobago |
6 | 14-18 September 1999 | London | United Kingdom |
7 | 5-9 June 2003 | Paramaribo | Suriname |
8 | 13-15 July 2007 | New York City | United States of America |
9 | 22-24 September 2012 | Johannesburg | South Africa |
10 | 10-12 September 2015 | Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh /India |
11 | 18-20 August' 2018 | Port Louis | Mauritius |
12 | 15-17 February 2023 | Nadi | Fiji |
Hindi Diwas:
Every year 14 September is observed as Hindi Diwas in India. On this day in 1949 the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of the country.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
Prime Minister: Frank Bainimarama
4. Union Ministry of Home Affairs will organize a Chintan shivir of Home Ministers in Haryana
Tags: place in news Summits State News
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs will organises a two day (27-28 October 2022) Chintan Shivir at Surajkund, Haryana. The Chintan shivir will be presided by the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address the Chintan Shivir through video conferencing on October 28, 2022.
Who will participate in the Chintan Shivir
Home Ministers of all States and Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Union Territories have been invited to participate in the two-day Chintan Shivir.
State Home Secretaries, Director Generals of Police and Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organizations will also participate in the Chintan Shivir.
Objective of the Chintan Shivir
- The objective of the two-day Chintan Shivir is to prepare an Action Plan for the implementation of "Vision 2047" and ‘Panch Pran’ announced in the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
- In the conference of Home Ministers, development of eco-system for cybercrime management, modernization of police forces, increase in usage of IT in criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed.
- The role of ‘Nari Shakti’ is important to achieve the goal of 'Developed India by 2047' and special emphasis will be given to the safety of women and creating a safe environment for them.
- The aim of the Conference is also to facilitate national policy making and better planning and coordination in the above mentioned areas.
5. Global Leaders Commit US$ 2.6 Billion At World Health Summit To End Polio
Tags: Summits National News
Global leaders announced USD 2.6 billion funding for the 'Global Polio Eradication Initiative' (GPEI) 2022-2026 strategy to eradicate polio at the World Health Summit in Berlin.
World Health Summit (WHS)
It is an international health conference.
It aims to strengthen exchanges, promote innovative solutions to health challenges, establish global health as a major political issue, and promote dialogue on global health in the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
What is Polio?
Polio is a potentially fatal viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system.
There are three types of polio virus-
Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1)
Wild Polio Virus 2 (WPV2)
Wild Polio Virus 3 (WPV3)
All three types are similar depending on the symptoms and can cause paralysis and death.
The virus spreads from person to person mainly through the 'faecal-oral route' or through contaminated water or food.
6. Dehradun to host 3-day “Akash for Life” Space Conference in November
Tags: Environment place in news Summits State News
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said that the 3-day “Akash for Life” Space Conference will be held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand from 5-7 November 2022.
ISRO and all major scientific ministries and departments of the government of India in collaboration with Vijnana Bharati will organize this National conference. Vijnana Bharati is a dynamic Science Movement with a Swadeshi Spirit, interlinking traditional and modern sciences on the one hand, and natural and spiritual sciences on the other hand.
The Government of India is organizing a campaign “Sumangalam'' across the country for finding solutions to the environmental issues with an Indian perspective based on traditional knowledge .
Panchmahabhoot
In a blend of the modern and the traditional knowledge, the government of India is going to organise five national conventions across the country on the Panchmahabhoot- the five elements for solving environmental issues for the betterment of society.
In the traditional knowledge system the human body or the universe is made of Panchmahabhoot. It consists of Aakash, Vaayu Jal, Prithvi and Agni.
The government of India is organising the first conference based on Panchmahabhoot-Akash or Space in Dehradun.
7. Government to organise Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi
Tags: place in news Summits State News
The government of India will organize ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ from 16th November to 19th December 2022 in Varanasi (Kashi). This was announced by the Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with the Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting , Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L. Murugan in New Delhi
Aim of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’
The main aim of the ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam is to rediscover, reaffirm and celebrate the age-old links between Tamil culture and Kashi that have existed since centuries.
The broader objective is to bring the two Knowledge and Cultural traditions closer, create an understanding of our shared heritage and deepen the people-to-people bond between the regions.
The Sangamam to be organised under the overall framework and spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat” will create a bridge between ancient India and contemporary generation.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
It has been launched by the Government of India to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.
The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connection in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.
The Union Ministry of Education is the nodal ministry for the programme.
8. 10th Heads of Missions Conference starts in Kevadia, Gujarat
Tags: place in news National Summits
The Ministry of External Affairs is organizing its 10th Heads of Missions Conference in Kevadia, Gujarat, from 20-22 October 2022. The Conference will bring together 118 Heads of Indian Missions (Ambassadors and High Commissioners) from all over the world.
The conference is always presided over by the Union External affairs Minister and this year S.Jaishankar presided over the meeting.
The event is a platform for the government to brief the country's top diplomats on ways to promote India's interests abroad.
This year Prime Minister Modi who was on a two day (19-20) Visit to Gujarat also participated in the meeting.
Difference between Ambassador and High Commissioner
Every country appoints a senior diplomat to a foreign country to represent the government in that country. The senior diplomat is called Ambassador or High Commissioner.
High Commissioner
If the country is a member of the Commonwealth and sends its diplomat to a fellow Commonwealth country then the senior diplomat will be called as High Commissioner. For eg. India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, as both the countries are members of the Commonwealth.
Ambassador
If the senior diplomat is appointed to a non-commonwealth country then he/she is called as Ambassador. For eg. India’s ambassador to Russia, United States of America, and France etc. These countries are not members of the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth is an association of Independent countries who were once part of the British Empire. However there are some countries like Rwanda, Mozambique, Gabon and Togo who were never part of the British Empire but still are the members of the Commonwealth.
At present 56 countries are its members and the monarch of Britain is the head of the Commonwealth.
9. National Conference on Tourist Police Scheme held in New Delhi
Tags: place in news Summits
The Union Ministry of Tourism in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) organised the National Conference on Tourist Police Scheme in New Delhi on 19 October 2022.
The conference was addressed by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister for Tourism G. Kishan Reddy and others.
Status of Tourism in India
According to the Tourism Statistics 2022 released by the Union Ministry of Tourism;
- The total number of domestic tourists in 2021 was 677.63 million as compared to 610.22 million in 2020, an increase of 11.05 percent.
- Tamilnadu received the maximum number of domestic tourists (140.65 million) followed by Uttar Pradesh (86.12 million).
- Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, the number of Foreign Tourists visiting India during 2021 decreased to 1.52 million as compared to 2.74 million in 2020, registering a negative growth of 44.5%.
- The favourite destination of the foreign tourists in 2021 was Tamilnadu (1.26 million tourists) followed by Maharashtra (1.23 million).
- India received maximum foreign tourists from the United States of America followed by Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Nepal.
- In 2021, foreign exchange earnings from tourism were US $ 8.797 billion as compared to US$ 6.959 billion in 2020, registering a positive growth of 26.4%.
10. 14th World Spice Congress to be held on 16-18 February in Maharashtra
Tags: Summits National News
The 14th World Spice Congress (WSC), organised by Spices Board India in association with various trade and export farmers will be held on 16-18 February at CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Important facts
Organised by Spice Board India, this biennial event is the premier forum that brings together the global spice industry to deliberate on the problems and prospects in the spice sector.
The event will deliberate on aspects such as production, processing, value addition, quality and safety, trade and supply chain management of spices in the new normalcy.
The Spice Board is organising the World Spice Congress as G20 during India's G20 Presidency for the period from December 2022 to November 2023, with a greater focus on further strengthening India's trade ties with the G20 countries.
14th World Spice Congress Theme - ‘Vision 2030: SPICES’ (Sustainability– Productivity – Innovation – Collaboration- Excellence and Safety)."
About World Spice Congress
It is a conglomerate of the global spice industry, which in its three decades long presence has become the most appropriate forum to deliberate upon the concerns and views of the sector.
It is organised under the leadership of the Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
It was established in 1990.
Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) is the premier organisation for the development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices.
