26 Oct 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Blue Beaches
2. 7th AIMMAF, 2022
3. Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji

1. Blue Beaches

Syllabus – GS 3, Environment, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Prelims – Minicoy Thundi Beach, Kadmat Beach, Blue Beaches.

Context – Blue Flag certification to two Indian beaches of Lakshadweep – Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach.

Details –

• The coveted international eco-label “Blue Flag” has been granted to two new beaches of Lakshadweep – Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach. This reflects India’s commitment to conserving and protecting the pristine coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic development of the resources. 
• There are now 12 beaches in the country certified under Blue Flag Certification. 
• The other beaches of India in the list include – Ghoghla – Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri – Karnataka, Rushikonda – Andhra Pradesh, Eden in Puducherry, Kovalam in Tamil Nadu, Golden – Odisha, Radhanagar – Andaman & Nicobar, Kappad – Kerala and Shivrajpur – Gujarat.
• The Blue Beaches need to meet the 33 criteria laid down by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). 

About FEE – 

• The Foundation for Environmental Education was established in 1981. It is one of the world’s largest environmental organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries.
• FEE accords the globally recognised eco-label – Blue Flag Certification. There are a series of strict environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria that are to be met and maintained to qualify for this honourable award. 
• The aim is to provide sustainability in the tourism sector through environmental education, environmental protection and other sustainable development practices.

2. 7th AIMMAF, 2022

Syllabus – GS 2, International Relations; Regional Groupings involving India or affecting India’s interests.

Prelims – 7th AIMMAF, 2022.

Context –  7th ASEAN – India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held virtually.

Details –

• 7th AIMMAF, 2022 was co-chaired by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• Agriculture Ministers of Cambodia, Indonesia,  Brunei Darussalam,  Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines also participated in the meeting.
• Shri Tomar reiterated the Prime Minister’s vision of keeping ASEAN at the centre of India’s Act East Policy.
• Close regional cooperation with ASEAN is important to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for the agriculture sector in the region. 
• The progress in the implementation of various programs and activities under the Medium Term Action Plan of ASEAN-India Cooperation (Year 2021-2025) was reviewed in the meeting. 
• The meeting also welcomed the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations.
  • India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992. Mutual interest led ASEAN to invite India to become its full dialogue partner during the fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in 1995. India also became a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996.
• India is committed to enhancing its cooperation with ASEAN in food security, nutrition, climate change adaptation, nature-friendly agriculture, digital farming, value chain, food processing, agricultural marketing and capacity building.

Read more about India’s Act East Policy in the linked article.

3. Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji

Syllabus – GS 1, Important Personalities.

Prelims – Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji.

Context – The Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji on his Jayanti.

About Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji –

• Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwar Ji was a great revolutionary saint of Jainism. He was born on 26th October 1870 in Vadodara, Gujarat. He worked relentlessly for the welfare of the masses and contributed immensely to education, the eradication of social evils, the welfare of women and their upliftment. 
• He is well known as the founder of Parshwanath Jain Vidyalaya which he founded in 1927 at Varkana Village, Pali district, Rajasthan. 
• He laid emphasis on education and inspired Jains to build more educational institutions. He founded Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya (at Mumbai, Vadodara, Pune), Atmanand Jain College (at Ambala, Malerkotla) and other educational institutions.
• He supported Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent movement for the independence of India. He died on 22nd September 1954 at Byculla, Mumbai.
• Acharya Ji lived a life of non-violence, solitude and renunciation, and made constant efforts to spread faith in people towards these ideas.

October 26th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here

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