Ahead of Jharkhand Poll, PM Announces 150th birth Anniversary Celebrations of Birsa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the government would celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
Modi urged people to become part of the government campaign. The announcement regarding Birsa Munda will resonate with the people of Jharkhand, where Assembly elections will be held next month in two phases — on November 13 and 20.
The BJP had earlier revealed plans to establish a grand memorial in Sundargarh district of Odisha to honour Munda, a Santhal icon and freedom fighter, on his birth anniversary.
Birsa Munda pronunciation (15 November 1875 – 9 June 1900) was an Indian tribal independence activist, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Presidency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement.
Railway Protection Force Unveils 'Digital Memorial of Valour'
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched the 'Digital Memorial of Valour' in New Delhi, a heartfelt initiative dedicated to honouring the sacrifices of its brave personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
The RPF is an armed force under the operational and administrative control of the Union Ministry of Railways.
It is tasked with protecting and securing railway property, the passenger areas, and the passengers themselves.
Constitution
The RPF was set up as a consequence of The Railway Protection Force Act, 1957.
Oct 29, 2024
Bhubaneswar's Public Transport System Shines at UMI 2024
The 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024 concluded with a valedictory session led by Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This three-day event brought together key stakeholders and experts to discuss advancements in sustainable urban mobility solutions.
The UMI awards recognised excellence and best practices in urban transport across twelve categories.
Bhubaneswar was awarded the title of 'City with the Best Public Transport System' at the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024.
The award was presented to Odisha's Housing & Urban Development Minister, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Manohar Lal.
NCGG Completes 34th Training for Maldivian Civil Servants, Boosting Indo-Maldivian Ties
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) successfully concluded its 34th Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for Maldivian civil servants in New Delhi. The two-week program, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented the second initiative under a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Maldives' Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer. The MoU, effective from 2024 to 2029, aims to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants, reinforcing India's commitment to enhancing governance across the Maldives.
NCGG's training initiatives have supported civil servants from 33 countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka, emphasizing India's commitment to global good governance.
Oct 28, 2024
Centre Appoints 29 Joint Secretaries in Key Government Departments
In a move aimed at strengthening various departments, the Government of India appointed 29 officers as Joint Secretaries across different ministries and sectors. The reshuffle, orchestrated by the Centre, involved officers from a range of central services, including the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), and Indian Revenue Service (IRS), among others. This reshuffle reflects the government's commitment to optimising governance by assigning experienced and specialized personnel to pivotal roles.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 17th Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo-2024 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event, which concluded on October 27, 2024, gathered over 2,000 professionals and academics and discussed the future of urban transport in India. The conference focused on the theme 'Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions,' aimed at enhancing urban mobility through integrated strategies and innovative practices.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Launches the 21st Livestock Census
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched the 21st Livestock Census, which will be conducted until February next (2025) year at a cost of Rs. 200 crore. He emphasised that the collection of precise data is crucial for the government to formulate effective policies aimed at ensuring animal health security and promoting growth in the livestock sector.
The census aims to provide precise data to help formulate effective policies for animal health security and sector growth.
In addition to the census, a USD 25 million 'Pandemic Fund Project' was launched to enhance animal health security and preparedness.
EC Signs Electoral Cooperation Pact with Uzbekistan
The Election Commission of India signed an agreement for electoral cooperation with Uzbekistan's central poll body. This agreement was formalised during Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar's visit to Tashkent, where he served as an international observer for the elections on October 27.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to strengthen and deepen interaction between the two Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
The agreement is designed for the mutual benefit of both democracies.
Both electoral bodies have a history of mutual cooperation, with officials serving as observers in each other's elections.
A four-member delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Khusanova Mukhtabar, participated in India's Lok Sabha elections earlier this year (2024).
Oct 27, 2024
Great Nicobar Island Gains 13th Major Port Status
A quarter century after Kamarajar Port was named the country's 12th major port, the mega International Container Trans-shipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, in the Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal, was notified as the 13th major port. This paves the way for the development of the port, which could prove a game changer for maritime trade in the region.
The ICTP, with a 20m natural draught, will be strategically located on the East-West international trade and shipping route in proximity to transshipment terminals like Singapore, Klang and Colombo.
Oct 26, 2024
Himanshu Pathak New Director General of ICRISAT
The Governing Board of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announced the appointment of Himanshu Pathak as the Director General-designate of the esteemed institute. The announcement was made by Governing Board Chair Professor Prabhu Pingali during an all-staff event held at ICRISAT headquarters in Hyderabad.
ICRISAT is a pioneering international organisation dedicated to improving dry land farming and agri-food systems, addressing hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation affecting 2.1 billion people in dryland regions of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and beyond.
It was founded on March 28, 1972, through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of India and the CGIAR (Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres).