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October 15th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
North East Expo 2019
Context:
The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region presided over as the chief guest for the North East Expo 2019 organised in New Delhi.
About the North East Expo 2019:
- Organised by: All India Women’s Education Fund Association (AIWEFA)
- As part of the event, the campaign ‘Khadi Goes Global’ has been initiated.
- It brings together all the eight states of northeast India to create a platform with the North East handloom, handicrafts and the farm sector, at the Expo.
- The Expo will provide a platform for entrepreneurs from the eight northeast states to open up trade and commerce with ASEAN and BIMSTEC nations through Tea Diplomacy and Khadi Diplomacy.
- The Northeast is the largest tea producing region of the country and a sizeable quantity of khadi is also produced there.
- It will include panel discussions, back-to-back meetings, art, culture, food stalls, and stalls on northeast handlooms and handicrafts. This event also aims to identify and carry out the preservation of the distinctive arts of the different tribes of the North East.
- The objective of panel discussions is to analyse the current state of unique food products, handlooms and handicrafts from the North East region.
- The panel will further look to understand its contribution to the local economy, identify issues and challenges concerning their sustainability and outline measures needed for strengthening and promoting the unique ecosystem globally.
- AIWEFA will also introduce two new awards:
- The Prime Minister’s Award for Master Weaver
- Master Craftsperson for the Year
About the AIWEFA:
- Founded in 1929 by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Sarojini Naidu, Aruna Asaf Ali and Lady Irwin.
- Chief objective: Helping women to empower themselves.
- Its main work focuses on promoting education for women in India.
- It established the Lady Irwin College in New Delhi in 1932.
- It has been conferred with the Special Consultative Status (ECOSOC) by the UN.
- It also has observer status with UNFCCC.
- It also engages research in educational materials, providing housing for women teachers in rural areas, encouraging publication of textbooks, initiating schemes for vocational training, increasing awareness on social, legal, political and economic matters.
Release of two diagnostic kits developed under ‘Make in India’ initiative by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Context:
Two diagnostic kits developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, namely the Bluetongue sandwich ELISA (sELISA) and the Japanese Encephalitis lgM ELISA kit for the control of Swine and Detection of Antigen, were released.
Details:
- This indigenous technology will not just help save foreign exchange as the newly developed kits cost ten times lesser than the imported ones but also has the potential to earn foreign exchange.
- As compared to the commercial kit available in the market at a price of Rs. 52,000; the ICAR-IVRI developed one is available for the farmers at a minimal price of Rs. 5,000 only.
- The Japanese Encephalitis lgM ELISA Kit is helpful for assessing the active infection of (Japanese Encephalitis) JE virus in the swine population which predicts the outbreak of JE in humans. More on Japanese Encephalitis at the linked article.
- With the Bluetongue sandwich ELISA kit, the Bluetongue Virus can be controlled with the vaccination of susceptible animals, vector control and quarantine of infected animals with good management practices.
- The Bluetongue (BT) virus is an insect-transmitted viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants that includes camelid species.
- The disease is widespread among sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes and camels in the country.
About ICAR – IVRI:
- Established in 1889, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) is one of the premier research institutions dedicated to livestock research and development.
- The institute has a major mandate of research, teaching, consultancy and technology transfer activities.
- It plays an important role in quality control and potency testing of immunobiologicals to various stakeholders with a good liaison with industry.
Mandate of IVRI:
- To conduct research, provide postgraduate education and transfer of technology in all areas of animal sciences with emphasis on animal health and production.
- To act as the national referral centre for veterinary type cultures, disease diagnosis, biologicals, immunodiagnostics, etc.
- It is located in Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP.
National Security Guard (NSG)
Context:
The 35th Raising Day Ceremony of the National Security Guard (NSG) was held at its headquarters in Manesar in Gurugram, Haryana.
About the NSG:
- The National Security Guard is a Special Forces unit under the Ministry of Home affairs.
- It is a special response unit chiefly for counterterrorism and anti-hijacking operations.
- Functions:
- Neutralising terror threats
- Handling hijacking situations
- Post blast investigations (PBI)
- Bomb disposal
- Engaging and neutralising terrorists in specific situations
- Hostage rescue
- Origins:
- The NSG was formed in 1986 by an act of Parliament, the National Security Guard Act, 1986.
- The decision to form such a unit was taken in 1984, hence 1984 is taken as the raising year.
- The NSG is headed by a Director-General, who is an IPS officer.
- It is a task-oriented force and modelled on the SAS of the UK and the GSG – 9 of Germany.
- It has two complementary elements:
- Special Action Group (SAG) – comprising Army personnel
- Special Ranger Group (SRG) – comprising personnel drawn from the state police forces and the Central Armed Police Forces.
- NSG Motto: “Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha”
- They are also called ‘Black Cats’.
- NSG operations: Blue Star (1984), Black Thunder (1988), Ashwamedh (1993), Vajra Shakti (2002), Black Tornado/Cyclone (2008 Mumbai terror attack, 26/11)
Meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC)
Context:
The Ministry Of Shipping Organizes the 17th Meeting of Maritime States Development Council.
Details:
- The Minister for Shipping announced that the Shipping Ministry is working on a plan to develop a National Grid for Ports based on synergy between the major and minor ports in the country.
About MSDC:
- MSDC is an apex advisory body for the development of the maritime sector and aims to ensure integrated development of major and non-major ports.
- The MSDC was constituted in May 1997 to assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new minor ports by the respective maritime states either directly or through captive users and private participation.
- Further, MSDC also monitors the development of minor ports, captive ports and private ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with major ports and to assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/IWT and make suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers.
Authorized World Skills India Training Centers (AWSITC)
Context:
The Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), announced the launch of 14 Authorized World Skills India Training Centers (AWSITC) across 9 cities in India, for the Media and Entertainment sector.
About the AWSITC:
- The new institutes are being set up for advanced skill training of candidates in the media and entertainment sector, not just to compete in the WorldSkills and IndiaSkills competitions buts also to further develop the skilling eco-system for training candidates for the international market.
- They are set up in partnership with the MESC (Media & Entertainment Skill Council).
- They will help the candidates to enhance their skills as per the global standards and the training programs will be designed as per the NSQF level (National Skills Qualifications Framework), which will be industry linked. All candidates will get hands-on training on live projects.
- Certification courses of 9 months to 36 months duration on graphic design technology, 3D Digital Game and Print Media technology will be offered at the centres.
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October 15th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
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