09 March 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

March 9th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Archives of India
2. COVID-19

1. National Archives of India

Context:

130^th Foundation Day of National Archives of India (NAI).

About the National Archives of India (NAI):

• The National Archives of India is an Attached Office under the Ministry of Culture.
• The NAI acts as the Secretariat of the Indian Historical Records Commission (IHRC) (re-designated as Indian Historical Records Committee in 2011) and the National Committee of Archivists (NCA) to provide guidance in management, administration, preservation and use of records.
  • The IHRC was set up in 1919 and is a high-powered body headed by the Union Minister of Culture and comprises eminent historians, administrators and archivists. However, the NCA is a professional platform of archivists from all States/UTs.
• NAI Origins:
  • The NAI was established on 11 March 1891 at Kolkata as the Imperial Records Department (IRD).
  • Following the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the present building of the National Archives of India was constructed in 1926 which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The transfer of all records from Calcutta to New Delhi was completed in 1937.
  • After independence, the Government of India rechristened IRD as the National Archives of India with the Director of Archives as its head. In 1990, the Director of Archives was re-designated as the Director-General of Archives.
• The NAI is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules, 1997.
• The NAI has a regional office at Bhopal and three Records Centres at Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and Puducherry.
• NAI Mission:
  • To encourage the scientific management, administration and conservation of records all over the country.
  • To foster close relations between archivists and archival institutions, both at the national and international levels.
  • To encourage greater liberalization of access to archival holdings.

To help in developing greater professionalism and a scientific temper among creators, custodians and users of records for proper care and use of our documentary heritage.

2. COVID-19

Context:

Evacuation by India of its citizens and other nationals from COVID-19 affected countries.

Details:

• The Government of India undertook evacuation operations from several countries in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• There were hundreds of Indians stranded in Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the outbreak.
• India engaged with China to safely evacuate its citizens and citizens of other friendly nations on a priority basis.
• Air India operated two special flights for the evacuation efforts which brought back 654 passengers that included 647 Indian citizens.
• The Indian Air Force also evacuated 112 passengers from Hubei province in China. Among these, 76 were Indian citizens. The other nationals evacuated included citizens of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, China, USA, Madagascar and South Africa. The IAF flight had also carried medical supplies which were given as a goodwill gesture to China.
• All the evacuated people were placed in isolation facilities for 14 days. They were tested twice and were found negative for COVID-19, after which they were discharged.
• Air India also evacuated 124 people from the Japanese cruise ship ‘Diamond Princess’ that included 16 Indian nationals. They tested positive for the virus and are now undergoing treatment.
• As it became clear that Iran was also facing a COVID-19 outbreak, the Government started to undertake measures to ensure the safety and security of its citizens in the country. Indian nationals in Iran include pilgrims, students and fishermen. On 7^th March, 108 samples were received from Iran. These samples are being tested at the laboratory of AIIMS. Also, six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents have also been dispatched to enable them to setup a lab. India is expected to undertake operations to evacuate its citizens soon.
• So far, the Government of India has evacuated 890 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Out of these, 842 were Indian citizens and 48 belonged to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.

For the latest updates on the COVID-19 cases in India, check the linked article.

March 9th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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