COASTAL DEFENCE EXERCISE ‘SEA VIGIL 21’ COMMENCES
A major exercise to test military readiness at sea along the coastline of the country starts. This is the second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defence exercise “Sea Vigil-21” will be conducted on January 12 and 13.
The two-day exercise involving all stakeholders, states and Central government agencies will set the tempo of operations, including “transition from peace to conflict”.
The exercise is a build-up towards the next step and level exercise called “Tropex” (Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise), which is expected to be conducted at month-end or early February.
Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries and Customs, state governments and other agencies of Centre and state are coordinating.
The exercise, inaugural edition of which was conducted in January 2019, will be undertaken along the entire 7,516-km coastline and Exclusive
Economic Zone of India.
It will involve all 13 coastal states and Union Territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.
Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ is expected to provide a realistic assessment of our strengths and weaknesses and thus will help in further strengthening maritime and national security.
The exercise is being coordinated by the Indian Navy. The entire coastal security set up was reorganised after the 26/11 terror attack at Mumbai which was launched using the sea route.
Assets of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Customs and other maritime agencies will participate in the exercise.
NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME IN J&K
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved an ambitious plan to promote industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
The Indian government has allocated 28,400 crore rupees for industrial development planned for Jammu and Kashmir. The funds to be utilized to enhance the industrial sector in the region until 2037.
The main purpose of the plan is to create employment opportunities, thereby promoting economic development, and promote the development of industry and service industries. In turn, this will attract new investment.
The plan is ambitious because it attracts large and small industrial sectors. The plan provides the following incentives: The plan will provide 30% of capital investment incentives in the region.
It will provide 50% investment incentives in Zone B. This includes investments in manufacturing and construction. The maximum rewards are Rs 5 crore for Zone A and Rs 7.5 crore for Zone B.
The plan will provide 7-year annual interest rate subsidies for loans up to 5 billion rupees for a period of 7 years. The incentives related to the goods and services tax will be 300% of the qualified value of the actual investment.
The amount of reward provided should not exceed one-tenth of the amount of eligible reward. The plan is expected to attract substantial investment and provide 4.5 lacs direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region.
So far, the central government has invested a total of 11.23 billion rupees as part of the industrial policy in Kashmir.
JIGMET DOLMA AT 4TH POSITION IN DHAKA MARATHON 2021
Jigmet Dolma from India secured the fourth position in the Dhaka Marathon 2021. Jigmet Dolma is an SPO of Ladakh police.
In the marathon, Hicham Lakohi of Morocco came first in the elite competition of the marathon in men’s category while Angela Jim Asunde from Kenya won the women’s category in the same event.
In the full marathon, among the SAARC and local runners, Bahadur Singh of India became the champion in the men’s category and Pushpa Bhandari of Nepal became the champion in the women’s category.
The marathon was organized to commemorate the return of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Pakistan jail to Bangladesh in 1972.
The full marathon covered 42.19 kilometres while the half marathon covered 21.09 kilometres. Athletes from all over the world including India, Morocco, Kenya, France, Nepal, Ethiopia among others participated in various categories of the event.
Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan inaugurated the event at Dhaka Army Stadium.
BANGLADESH CHOSEN AS ‘COUNTRY IN FOCUS’: IFFI
Bangladesh has been chosen as the ‘Country in Focus’ for the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The festival will be held at Goa from January 16 to January 24, 2021.
The Country in Focus is a special segment that recognizes the cinematic excellence and contributions of the country. This section at the 51st IFFI will showcase four films from Bangladesh.
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), is being held annually since 1952, in Goa. The event is organised jointly by the Directorate of Film Festivals (under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa.
- Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina
- Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.
- President of Bangladesh: Abdul Hamid.
WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX RELEASED BY FAO
Food Price Index of the Food & Agriculture Organization – FAO averaged 107.5 points in December 2020, which is an increase of 2.3 points from November 2020. This is the 7th consecutive month of growth.
The food price index was established in 1996 as a public good. The Price Index is a public good in order to help monitoring the development of the global agricultural market.
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) is a measure of the monthly changes in the international price of a basket of food. It measures changes in a basket of grains, oilseeds, dairy products, meat, and sugar. The Base period is 2014-16.
Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN), leading international efforts to eradicate hunger globally. On October 16, World Food Day is observed every year globally. Celebrate this day to mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of FAO in 1945.
India issued a commemorative rupee coin of 75 denominations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of FAO (October 16, 2020). It is one of the United Nations food aid organizations based in Rome (Italy).
Its sister institutions are the World Food Program and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
JAY SHAH NAMED AS REPRESENTATIVE OF BCCI TO ICC
Jay Shah has been named as the official representative of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meetings. Shah is the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He will replace BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who was currently representing India at the ICC Board, but he suffered a heart condition recently and had to be admitted to hospital where he underwent primary angioplasty.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the governing body for cricket in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.
It is a consortium of state cricket associations and the state associations select their representatives who in turn elect the BCCI Chief.
Its headquarters are in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Grant Govan was its first president and Anthony De Mello its first secretary.
- President of BCCI: Sourav Ganguly.
- Headquarters of BCCI: Mumbai, Maharashtra
NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY MONTH OF 2021
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways observes the National Road Safety Week every year in the second week of January.
However, in 2021, the Government has decided to observe National Road Safety Month instead of National Road Safety Week.
Accordingly, the National Road Safety Month will be observed from 18th January, 2021′ to 17th February’ 2021.
During this period nation-wide various activities will be conducted throughout the country in association with the Central/ State Governments/ UT administrations, and other stakeholders.
NATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2020: 12TH JANUARY
National Youth Day is celebrated in India every year on 12 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
The day was declared by the Government of India in 1984 while the event was first celebrated in 1985.
The main aim behind this is to make sure that the students across the country can be encouraged to learn about the life, the ideas and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and apply them in their lives.
In 2021, we are observing 158th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand (12 January 1863). The theme for National Youth Day 2021 is ‘Channelizing Youth Power for Nation Building‘.
Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission on 1 May 1897. In 1898, he established Belur Math.