12 Oct 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. International Olympic Committee (IOC)
2. BRICS International Competition Conference 2023
3. National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR)
4. Sagar Maitri
5. Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0
6. NTPC Limited

1. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Prelims: International Olympic Committee

Context:

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session to be held in Mumbai on 14 October.

Details:

• The IOC session serves as a key meeting of the members of the IOC. 
• Important decisions regarding the future of the Olympic games are made at the IOC Sessions. 
• India is hosting the IOC session for the second time and after a gap of about 40 years. The IOC’s 86th session was held in New Delhi in 1983.

Read more about the International Olympic Committee in the linked article.

2. BRICS International Competition Conference 2023

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Prelims: BRICS International Competition Conference 2023

Context:

NCLAT Chairperson inaugurated the 8th BRICS International Competition Conference 2023 in New Delhi.

Details:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is hosting the Conference on the theme, New Issues in Competition Law and Policy – Dimensions, Perspective, Challenges, from 11th – 13th October, 2023.  
• The conference has brought together heads and officials of BRICS competition authorities, competition policy experts, representatives of international organisations, and other stakeholders from across continents to enable the exchange of insights on the new and emerging areas of importance in competition law and policy.

3. National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR)

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR)

Context:

The Indian Coast Guard conducted the 21st National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR) meeting in Kolkata.

About National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR):

• Formed in 2002, the NMSAR Board meets annually to discuss policy issues, formulate guidelines/procedures and consider recommendations for reviewing the National Search and Rescue plan.

The Indian Coast Guard is the coordinating and executing agency for Maritime Search and Rescue in Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).

4. Sagar Maitri

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: INS Sagardhwani, DRDO, Sagar Maitri, Vision Sagar

Mains: India’s relations with countries in the IOR

Context:

DRDO’s oceanographic research vessel ‘INS Sagardhwani’ embarks on Sagar Maitri Mission-4 to establish long-term scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries in ‘Ocean Research & Development’.

About Sagar Maitri:

• It is a DRDO initiative that supports the ‘Safety and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ vision to promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects as well as more significant scientific interaction, especially in ocean research among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries. 
• Under the aegis of this policy, DRDO initiated a scientific component named ‘MAITRI (Marine and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative)’, which focuses on establishing long-term collaboration with IOR countries in the field of ‘Ocean Research and Development’.
• In the SAGAR MAITRI programme, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the tracks of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962-65. 
• The missions aim to establish long-term scientific partnerships and collaborations with Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar, the eight IOR countries.
• The first mission under Sagar Maitri was conducted in April 2019 to Yangon (Myanmar). The second mission was held in August 2019 to Klang (Malaysia). The third mission was held in September 2019 to Singapore.
• The current mission (SM-4) plan includes scientific deployments onboard INS Sagardhwani in the Northern Arabian Sea and initiating collaborative research programmes with the Department of Marine Sciences & Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.

INS Sagardhwani:

• INS Sagardhwani is a marine acoustic research ship designed and developed by NPOL, Kochi and constructed indigenously by GRSE Ltd. 
• It was launched in July 1994. 
• The NPOL is involved in studying the ocean environment and other related fields. 
• The vessel has been engaging in extensive oceanic observing missions and research for the last 25 years.

5. Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt Schemes, Health

Prelims: Intensified Mission Indradhanush

Context:

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 will conclude on 14 October 2023.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0:

• IMI 5.0 is being conducted across all the districts in the country and includes children up to 5 years of age.
• Three rounds are being held with a special focus on the improvement of Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage.
• IMI is the flagship routine immunization campaign of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The IMI 5.0 campaign aims to enhance immunization coverage for all vaccines provided under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) as per the National Immunization Schedule (NIS).

Read more about Intensified Mission Indradhanush in the linked article.

6. NTPC Limited

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: NTPC Limited

Context:

NTPC has been recognized as one of the “World’s Best Employers 2023” in the Forbes World’s Best Employers list 2023.

Details:

• NTPC ranked 261st out of the top 700 companies in the world ranking and is the only Indian PSU to figure in the list. 
• Every year Forbes publishes the World’s Best Employers List through independent market research to identify the top 700 companies which offer exciting working and positive environment, opportunities for training and career advancement, employee benefits, employee-centric policies and workplace diversity. 
• Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to create the seventh annual list of the World’s Best Employers this year.

NTPC Ltd:

• NTPC is India’s largest power utility with an installed capacity of 73,824 MW.
• It is India’s largest energy conglomerate with its origins dating back to 1975.
• It became a Maharatna company in 2010.

Read the previous PIB articles here.