5 Dec 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. A New Design for President’s Standard and Colour and the Indian Navy Crest
2. NHAI, Maha win Guinness Book of World Records
3. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

1. A New Design for President’s Standard and Colour and the Indian Navy Crest

Syllabus – GS3, Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 

Prelims – A New Design for President’s Standard and Colour and the Indian Navy Crest.

Context – The President, Ms Draupadi Murmu approved the introduction of a new design for the President’s Standard and Colour for the Navy.

Details –

• A new design for the President’s Standard and Colour and the Indian navy Crest was unveiled in Visakhapatnam on the occasion of Navy Day (4th December).
• The former design of the President’s Standard and Colour for the Indian Navy was instituted on 6th September 2017. The design comprises one horizontal and vertical red band intersecting at the centre and the National Emblem inserted at their intersection. The National Flag was at the upper left canton adjacent to the staff and a Golden Elephant was at the lower right canton on the fly side. This design was inspired by the erstwhile Naval Ensign.
• The Indian Navy adopted a new Naval Ensign on 02 Sep 2022, and the new design of the President’s Standard and President’s Colour awarded to the Indian Navy incorporates this change. The new design of the President’s Standard and Colour is comprised of three main constituents – the National Flag in the upper left canton adjacent to the staff, the State Emblem underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in Golden Colour on the upper right canton on the fly side, and a Navy Blue – Gold Octagon below the Golden State Emblem. 
  • The Octagon has twin golden octagonal borders, encompassing the golden National Emblem (Lion Capital of Ashoka – underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in blue Devnagri script) resting atop an anchor; and superimposed on a shield. Below the shield, within the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon, on a Navy Blue background, is inscribed the motto of the Indian Navy ‘Sham No Varunah’ in golden Devanagari script. The Golden State Emblem signifies ‘Power, Courage, Confidence and Pride’ whilst the Navy Blue – Golden Octagon shape draws inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rajmudra or the Seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and represents the eight directions (four cardinal and four intercardinal), symbolising the Indian Navy’s maritime outreach.

Image Source – PIB

• The new crest of the Navy does away with the symbolic nautical rope which was there in the earlier crest, a change already introduced in the new ensign.
• The President’s Standard and the Colour are awarded to static and mobile formations of the Indian Navy, respectively, to acknowledge their distinguished and meritorious service.
• The Indian Navy was the first among the three Services to be awarded the President’s Colour on May 27, 1951, by then President Rajendra Prasad.
• The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was the first Naval Combatant Squadron to be honoured with the President’s Standard.

2. NHAI, Maha win Guinness Book of World Records

Syllabus – GS3, Infrastructure – Roads. 

Prelims – Guinness Book of World Records won by NHAI and Maha.

Context – NHAI, Maha win the Guinness Book of World Records.

Details –

• The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has congratulated NHAI and Maha Metro for winning the Guinness Book of World Records award.
• The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MAHA-METRO) have created a world record for constructing the longest Double Decker Viaduct spanning with Highway Flyover and Metro Rail Supported on a single column. The length of the Double Decker Viaduct is 3.14 km. The award was given to the project for its construction in Nagpur.
• The project has already bagged records from India Book and Asia Book. 

3. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

Syllabus – GS2, Government Policies and Interventions.

Prelims – Foundation Day of DRI.

Context – 65th Foundation Day Celebrations of DRI.

Details –

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is the apex anti-smuggling intelligence and investigation agency under the aegis of the CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs).
• The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 65th Foundation day Celebrations of DRI. It was constituted on 4th December 1957.
• The minister released the “Smuggling in India Report, 2021-22 “ which analyses trends such as the smuggling of gold, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, wildlife, etc., commercial frauds and international enforcement operations and cooperation. As per the Smuggling in India report 2021-22 released by the Finance Minister, ‘The use of dark net, cryptocurrency and social media platforms to solicit customers and sell drugs, have also been newer developments that have necessitated the evolution of new tactical tools for drug law enforcement’.
• DRI destroyed more than 44,000 kg of drugs during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in 14 destinations in the country which is an exceptional show of performance and strength of DRI.
• The Founding Day celebrations were also followed by the 8th Regional Customs Enforcement Meeting (RCEM) for effectively engaging with partner customs organisations and international agencies like the World Customs Organization, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Read the previous PIB articles here.

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