TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Reintroduction of Cheetah 2. International Engineering Technology Fair (IETF) 2023 3. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023 4. International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED) 5. KAVACH 2023
Syllabus – GS3, Ecology and Environment; Wildlife Conservation
Prelims – Reintroduction of Cheetah in India.
Context – Announcement for the translocation of 12 cheetahs from South Africa to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
Details–
- Shri Bupendra Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the translocation of 12 cheetahs from South Africa to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. The introduction of cheetahs back to India will help in restoring the nation’s natural heritage.
- The ministry has taken various initiatives in the areas of wildlife conservation like Project Cheetah, the LIFE concept and its sustainability, green growth namely green credit, Mishti for the conservation of mangroves, Gaj Utsav, etc.
- The fastest land animal in the world – the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. The aim of the cheetah reintroduction project is to grow healthy meta-populations in India that allow the cheetah to execute its functional role as a top predator.
- An MoU was signed between the Republic of Namibia and GoI in July 2022 for cheetah conservation following which, in a historic first wild-to-wild intercontinental translocation, eight cheetahs were translocated from Namibia to India on September 17, 2022. Post the mandatory quarantine period, the cheetahs have been released into the larger enclosure in a phased manner.
- As per the Action Plan for Cheetah Introduction in India, annually 10-12 cheetahs are required to be transported from African countries for the next 5 years at least. In this context, the Government of India initiated bilateral negotiations with the Republic of South Africa in 2021 for cooperation in the field of Cheetah conservation. The negotiations were successfully concluded with the signing of an MoU with the Republic of South Africa in January 2023.
- As per the MoU, 12 cheetahs (5 females and 7 males) will be imported from South Africa to India on 18 February 2023. The translocation of 12 cheetahs from South Africa to Kuno National Park is being undertaken by the Indian Air Force.
Also read – Re-introduction of Cheetah In India.
2. International Engineering Technology Fair (IETF) 2023
Syllabus – GS3, Science and Technology; Awareness in field of IT
Prelims – 25th Edition of IETF (16-18 February 2023).
Context – The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the IETF, 2023 in New Delhi.
Details –
- Addressing the IETF, 2023 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the President said that this year, the event is not only a celebration of India’s growth story in the engineering and manufacturing sector, but also a testimony to the nation’s collaboration with the best in the world in advanced technologies.
- IETF 2023 is a multi-sector industry event, which provides an ideal platform for a Country Pavilion to showcase its technological strengths and capabilities in select sectors of industry in an exclusive area.
- The IETF 2023 will showcase innovations through focused and concurrent shows in select industry sectors – advanced building technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), capital machinery, digital gaming, fluid power, factory & plant maintenance, healthcare, industrial automation & robotics, modern logistics solutions, metal and metallurgy, surface coating, and water & solid waste management – where companies from India and overseas would display latest products and technologies in exclusive pavilions.
- Over 500 companies from 25 countries are expected to participate in this event.
3. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023
Syllabus – GS1, Indian Culture
Prelims – Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav
Context – Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023 at Azad Maidan, Mumbai.
Details –
- The festival was inaugurated by the Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, 2023 is being held at Azad maidan, Mumbai (11 -19 February).
- The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is organised by the Ministry of Culture every year in different states of India to promote National Unity and integrity through cultural exchange.
- The festival was held in Madhya Pradesh in 2019, in Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana in 2022.
- All the seven zonal Cultural Centres and academies under the Ministry of Culture, GoI are participating in this event.
- The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is a celebration of India’s cultural diversity and a tribute to the country’s artistic heritage. It celebrates the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.
- Folk and tribal artists from all over India are set to entertain and inspire the audience with their enthralling performances. Also, craftsmen from all the states of the country are invited for their art and craft sale-cum-exhibition for which stalls have been installed.
4. International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED)
Syllabus – GS3, Disaster and disaster management.
Prelims – ICED
Context – The Central Water Commission (CWC) enters into MoA with IIT, Roorkee for the development of ICED under the DRIP Scheme.
Details –
- A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Central Water Commission and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) for establishing the International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED).
- The International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED) will be developed under externally funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II and Phase III. This MoA will remain valid for ten years or till the duration of the DRIP Phase-II and Phase-III Scheme, whichever is earlier, from the date of signing.
- The formation of the International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED) will empower ‘Make in India’ in dam safety, plus augment advanced research and developing technologies and application products
- This International Center of Excellence for Dams will be focusing on different safety and rehabilitation aspects of Dams, like Hydrological, Hydraulic, Structural, Geotechnical, seismic safety evaluation, and reservoir sedimentation & silt control, etc. This centre is being developed to create manpower having sufficient background and expertise in the area of Dam Safety.
- The ICED is being set up at a cost of Rs. 109 Crore, being borne by the Department of Water Resources, Ganga Rejuvenation & River Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
5. KAVACH 2023
Syllabus – GS3, Internal Security; Basics of Cyber Security
Prelims – Kavach 2023
Context – Launch of KAVACH, 2023 in New Delhi
Details –
- KAVACH 2023 is a unique national hackathon jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, AICTE, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, I4C (MHA) to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and common citizens.
- It aims to advance India’s cyber preparedness by finding robust, secure and effective technological solutions.
Also read – Cyber Security.
Read the previous PIB articles here.
February 16th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here
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