International Mother Language Day observed on 21st February
The International Mother Language Day is observed every year on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism in the world.
International Mother Language Day
Every year on February 21, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day to encourage linguistic, cultural, and multilingualism variety. The aim of the celebrations is to preserve traditional knowledge and cultures through sustainable methods and support multilingualism in societies.
Theme of International Mother Language Day
The theme of the 2023 International Mother Language Day, “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education” aligns with recommendations made during the Transforming Education Summit, where an emphasis was also placed on Indigenous people’s education and languages.
Significance of International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. UNESCO encourages and promotes multilingual education based on mother tongue or first language. It is a type of education that begins in the language that the learner masters most and then gradually introduces other languages. This approach enables learners whose mother tongue is different from the language of instruction to bridge the gap between home and school, to discover the school environment in a familiar language, and thus, learn better.
History of International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002.
On 16 May 2007 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/61/266 called upon Member States “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. By the same resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism and named the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to serve as the lead agency for the Year.
First nuclear plant of North India to be built in Haryana
First nuclear plant of North India in Haryana: The first nuclear power plant in North India would be built in Gorakhpur, Haryana, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
First nuclear plant of North India in Haryana
The first nuclear power plant in North India would be built in Gorakhpur, Haryana, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh. He claimed that one of the major accomplishments under Prime Minister Narendra Modadi’s leadership would be the installation of nuclear and atomic energy plants across the nation, which had previously been largely restricted to states in the south like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well as western Maharashtra.
First nuclear plant of North India: Key Points
According to Singh, the Center has unanimously approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in an effort to boost India’s nuclear capability.
The Department of Atomic Energy is also allowed to join forces with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to get funding for the opening of nuclear power plants.
Haryana’s Gorakhpur In the Fatehabad area of Haryana, the Anu Vidyut Pariyojana’s (GHAVP) Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) with two units, each with a capacity of 700 MWe, is currently being built.
Of the entire monies allotted, $20,594 Cr. have been spent as of today.
Khalistan Tiger Force and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force declared as terrorist organisations
Construction of first nuclear plant of North India in Haryana
The Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department (HI&WRD) has commenced the construction of a water duct from Tohana to GHAVP to meet operational cooling water requirements, and the project is going well.
Other main plant structures, such as the fire water pump house, safety-related pump house, fuel oil storage area, ventilation stack, overhead tank, switchyard control building, safety-related and non-safety-related tunnel and trenches, retaining walls, and garland drain, are being built in a good manner.
India – Egypt hold 3rd ‘Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism’ meeting in New Delhi
The third meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was conducted on February 16, 2023, in New Delhi.
India has been collaborating with numerous countries and organizations to counter global terrorism at various levels. Egypt is one such country with whom India has constantly worked to combat terrorism. The third meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was conducted on February 16, 2023, in New Delhi.
More About The Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism:
The Indian side of the meeting was spearheaded by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while the Egyptian side was led by Mohamed Fouad Ahmed, Director, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.
During the discussion, the two nations discussed their counterterrorism priorities and steps taken to combat terrorism while also reviewing the threats posed by terrorist organizations both internationally and in their particular countries and regions.
Last year during the special meeting of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 3rd No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing both countries deliberated about how to proceed in addressing the issues posed by virtual currencies, unmanned aerial systems, and terrorists’ use of the internet for terrorist propaganda.
The two sides agreed during the discussion that concerted action against all the terrorist entities designated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was necessary. Recently, the UNSC has listed Abdul Rehman Makki, a terrorist with ties to Pakistan, as a global terrorist, marking a significant victory for India’s diplomatic efforts.
Capacity building to combat terrorism:
Additionally, to strengthen their bilateral counter-terrorism collaboration, the two sides also agreed to take further steps including training and capacity-building efforts, exchanges of good practices, and information sharing among others. A discussion of multilateral counterterrorism cooperation, including in the United Nations and the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), was also held during the meeting.
El-Sisi’s Visit to India:
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president of Egypt, visited India last month as the Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day. During his visit, the two countries held a number of discussions and deliberations regarding economic cooperation, trade and investment, agriculture, and defence cooperation, among others.
As per the information provided by MEA, India’s current investment in Egypt is more than USD 3.15 billion with bilateral trade of approximately USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22.
India would also encourage its businesses to take advantage of the investment prospects in Egypt. In this regard, the Egyptian side is considering the possibility of allocating a specific area of land in the Suez Canal Economic Zone for the Indian industries (SCEZ).
Recent years have seen an unparallel expansion of the bilateral ties between Egypt and India. Their relationship will be further enhanced via cooperation in the areas of trade, health, defence, space, and education.
Former IAS BVR Subrahmanyam appointed new NITI Aayog CEO
Former IAS officer BVR Subrahmanyam was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog.
Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog
Former IAS officer BVR Subrahmanyam was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog. The former Commerce Secretary takes over from Parameswaran lyer, who has been named as the Executive Director of World Bank. Subrahmanyam will take over from current CEO Parameswaran Iyer who will join World Bank as executive director in Washington DC. Subrahmanyam’s appointment as NITI Aayog CEO was announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Mr. Subrahmanyam’s appointment is for two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post.
About the BVR Subrahmanyam
Subrahmanyam, a 1987 batch IAS of Chhattisgarh cadre, retired as commerce secretary in September 2022. During his year-long stint at the department of commerce, Subrahmanyam played a key role in strategising the road map to a record $422 billion merchandise exports, as the economy struggled to get out of the post-Covid slump last year.
He also steered at least half a dozen free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. During his tenure in the commerce department, India signed two trade deals — with the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. Considered an internal security expert, Subrahmanyam had held the post of chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir earlier.
What is NITI Aayog?
NITI Aayog is developing itself as a state-of-the-art resource centre with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable it to act with speed, promote research and innovation, provide strategic policy vision for the government, and deal with contingent issues. The Government has replaced Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India). A cabinet Resolution issued today gave details of the new institutions.
Qatar lifts ban on frozen seafood from India
Qatar has lifted its temporary ban on the import of frozen seafood from India, paving the way for enhanced export and improved bilateral relations with the West Asian country.
Qatar has lifted its temporary ban on the import of frozen seafood from India, paving the way for enhanced export and improved bilateral relations with the West Asian country, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.
More About This Development:
According to the statement, the ban was imposed last year in November just ahead of the FIFA World Cup following the alleged detection of Vibrio cholera from a few consignments from India.
China Also lifted the suspension of Indian seafood exports:
Earlier this week, on February 14, Beijing lifted the suspension of 99 Indian seafood-processing exporters after acknowledging India’s assurance over source control. MPEDA along with other agencies had played a crucial role in getting lifted Beijing’s suspension of a total of 110 units since December 2020.
India’s Increasing Seafood Exports:
The lift on the suspension of the 99 seafood processing units was done on February 14 and is expected to raise India’s export of marine products by 5 per cent to 10 per cent in the next financial year.
Chairman of The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA): D.V. Swamy.
UN Social Development Commission elects Ruchira Kamboj to preside its 62nd session
Ruchira Kamboj, India's permanent representative to the UN, has been chosen to serve as the commission's chair during the 62nd session.
UN Commission for Social Development
Ruchira Kamboj, India’s permanent representative to the UN, has been chosen to serve as the commission’s chair during the 62nd session. At the opening session of the 62nd session of the UN Commission for Social Development this week in New York, Kamboj was chosen as chair by acclamation. Also, it chose Thomas Lammar of Luxembourg, Jon Ivanovski of North Macedonia, and Carla Mara Carlson of the Dominican Republic to serve as the 62nd session’s vice chairs.
Key points UN Commission for Social Development
On the final day of its 61st session, the Commission for Social Development forwarded four draught resolutions to the UN Economic and Social Council for consideration.
One of the proposed resolutions centred on achieving full employment and decent work for everybody to reduce inequality and hasten the COVID-19 pandemic’s recovery was adopted by consensus.
The UN Economic and Social Council would decide that the priority theme for the 62nd session of the Commission will be “Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” and the Commission approved this text during its final meeting of the 62nd session.
Who is Ruchira Kamboj ?
Ruchira Kamboj is an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1987 batch, who currently serves as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since August 2022.
Indian Overseas Bank Launched Electronic Bank Guarantee Scheme
Public sector Indian Overseas Bank has launched the facility of issuance of e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) scheme in association with the National e-Governance Services Ltd.
Public sector Indian Overseas Bank has launched the facility of issuance of e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) scheme in association with the National e-Governance Services Ltd. The e-BG is an instrument issued by the city-headquartered bank in which the bank undertakes to guarantee a specific amount against the non-fulfillment of some action/performance of the applicant.
Indian Overseas Bank Launched Electronic Bank Guarantee Scheme- Key Points
The main features of the e-BG are completely paperless mode with digital stamping and digital signature.
Real-time issuance of e-BG would make it available for the beneficiary instantly leading to timesaving which in turn would fast-track all the business purposes for which it is issued.
The Indian Overseas bank is one of the pioneers in launching the Bank Guarantee through digital mode. As o,f date only a few banks have the facility of issuance of e-BG.
Following the path to achieving the vision mission statement 2021-2026 to provide the best banking solutions through digital experience for customer delight.
The bank has introduced and implemented the electronic-bank guarantee scheme.
About Indian Overseas Bank
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is an Indian public sector bank based in Chennai. It has about 3,214 domestic branches, about 4 foreign branches, and a representative office. The bank was founded in February 1937 by M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettyar with twin objectives of specializing in foreign exchange business and overseas banking, it has created various milestones in Indian Banking Sector.