Govt approves installation of ‘Statue of Knowledge’ dedicated to Ambedkar
On April 13, a 70-feet tall statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar will be unveiled in Latur city, Maharashtra.
On April 13, a 70-feet tall statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar will be unveiled in Latur city, Maharashtra. The unveiling ceremony will take place in the presence of Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ramdas Athawale, along with other dignitaries such as former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Sanjay Bansode.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: More About The Statue:
The statue has been erected in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Park and the ceremony will be held a day before his 131st birth anniversary. The statue will be showered with flower petals from a helicopter on April 14 to commemorate the occasion.
Using fiber as the primary material, a team of 35 artists has been tirelessly working to construct the statue of Dr. Ambedkar. The lead artist, Akshay Halke, has announced that this is the first statue in the world of Dr. Ambedkar to be created in just 20 days, and it is also the first of its kind in the state.
Japanese PM Kishida invites PM Modi to G7 Hiroshima summit
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit after both had a delegation-level talk at Delhi's Hyderabad House.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit after both had a delegation-level talk at Delhi’s Hyderabad House.
PM Modi said that PM Kishida’s visit will be helpful to maintain a momentum of mutual cooperation between India and Japan. He pointed out the importance of leading two significant summits, G20 and G7, by respective countries.
Japan-India Strategic Partnership: Indo-Pacific region.
The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on our mutual democratic values and respect of the rule of law at the international platform, PM Modi said.
He said that the strengthening the partnership between two countries will play an important role in maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Ranging from bilateral relationship, defence, business to digital partnership, PM Modi said both countries held discussions on key matters.
The Prime Minister recalled the deals made with Japan earlier including the ₹3.20 lakh crore worth of Japanese investment to India and said that a satisfactory growth has been observed towards this.
Japanese PM Kishida said, he will announce the new plan on Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) later at a lecture event at the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA). “It gives me great pleasure to be able to unveil my new vision on the soil of India which is our indispensable partner in realising FOIP,” he said.
RBI’s Data Centre And Cybersecurity Training Institute To Come Up In Bhubaneswar
The Governor of the RBI, Shaktikanta Das, initiated the establishment of a "Greenfield Data Centre" and an "Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute" in Bhubaneswar.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das, initiated the establishment of a “Greenfield Data Centre” and an “Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute” in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, during a foundation stone laying ceremony.
More About The New Data Centre and Training Institute:
The new Data Centre and Training Institute, which will cover an area of 18.55 acres, will be able to address the emerging needs of the RBI and the financial sector, according to a statement by the central bank.
Significance of the Data Centre And Cybersecurity Training Institute:
The Governor stressed the importance of enhancing the RBI’s existing computing infrastructure with state-of-the-art facilities for research and capacity building in central banking, technology, and cybersecurity to prepare for the future.
The Governor also acknowledged the vital role played by technology in supporting the activities of the financial sector and the RBI in recent years, particularly in facilitating a robust recovery from the pandemic.
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day 2023 Observed On 23rd March
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day: This day marks the anniversary of the execution of three Indian freedom fighters- Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day 2023
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day is observed in India on 23rd March every year to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of India. This day marks the anniversary of the execution of three Indian freedom fighters- Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.
On this day, people in India observe a two-minute silence to remember the sacrifice of these three great freedom fighters and all the other martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation. The President, the Vice-President, and the Prime Minister of India pay tribute to these great freedom fighters at their respective memorials in Delhi. There is also a tradition of organizing processions, marches and rallies on this day in various parts of the country. Schools and colleges also hold special programs to commemorate the occasion and to educate the students about the sacrifices of the martyrs. The day is a reminder to the people of India about the value of freedom and the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters for the country.
Notably, Martyrs’ Day is also observed in India on January 30 to pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi ji. On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the compound of Birla House.
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day: History
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a revolutionary organization that believed in armed struggle against British colonial rule in India. Their sacrifice inspired a generation of young Indians to fight for the country’s freedom from colonial rule.
Lala Lajpat Rai arranged a peaceful protest against Sir John Simon’s visit to Lahore on October 30, 1928, with the slogan ‘Simon, Go Back.’ Despite the non-violent nature of the demonstration, the Superintendent of Police, James A Scott, ordered the police to use batons to disperse the protesters. Unfortunately, Lala Lajpat Rai sustained fatal injuries during the clash.
After Lala Lajpat Rai’s death, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, who were young revolutionary freedom fighters, decided to assassinate James Scott. However, they mistakenly identified another superintendent of police, John P. Saunders, and killed him instead.
In an attempt to seek revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev planned to attack the Central Legislative Assembly and prevent the passing of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Act.
On April 8, 1929, they tried to bomb the Central Legislative Assembly but they were caught. As a result, all three were sentenced to death. On 23rd March 1931, they were executed at the age of 23, 24, and 22 respectively.
Bangladesh commissions its first submarine base
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first submarine base of Bangladesh 'BNS Sheikh Hasina' at Pekua in Cox's Bazar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first submarine base of Bangladesh ‘BNS Sheikh Hasina’ at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar. Hailing the newly inaugurated naval base as an ‘ultra modern submarine base’, Prime Minister called the event a proud chapter in the history of Bangladesh navy.
More about Bangladesh’s first submarine base:
This is the first ever full-fledged submarine base of Bangladesh Navy.
Built at a cost of $1.21 billion.
The base can accommodate a total of six submarines and eight warships at a time.
Significance of the submarine base:
It will allow for safe and swift movement of the submarines in case of emergency, as the base is located at the Bay of Bengal.
The Government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with China in September 2019 for the construction of the submarine base.
The government of Bangladesh is working on ‘Forces Goal 2030‘ to transform its military force into a modern organization appropriate for the times.
Pennaiyar River Dispute
The Supreme Court's deadline for the formation of an Inter-State River Water Dispute Tribunal to resolve the disagreement over the Pennaiyar River has elapsed.
Supreme Court Deadline for Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunal over Pennaiyar River Expires
The Supreme Court’s deadline for the formation of an Inter-State River Water Dispute Tribunal to resolve the disagreement over the Pennaiyar River has elapsed, as negotiations have failed to reach a resolution. The Pennaiyar River, also known as Thenpannai, is the second-largest interstate East flowing river basin among the 12 basins lying between Pennar and Cauvery basins. The river flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, allows for the resolution of water disputes through a Tribunal, and its decisions are final and binding, with the same force as an order or decree of the Supreme Court, after its publication in the official gazette of the central government.
Inter-State Water Disputes: Role of Legislation and Water Disputes Tribunal
The legislation enables the Centre to regulate and develop inter-state rivers and river valleys and to declare such regulation and development under the control of the Union by law. When a request is received from any state government in respect of a water dispute, and the Central Government is of the opinion that the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiations, the Central Government must establish a Water Disputes Tribunal within a year. The Tribunal’s decisions are binding on all parties, and the implementation of the scheme is mandatory, ensuring a fair and just resolution of inter-state water disputes.
Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Mission Lifestyle for Environment(LiFE) in Assam
Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated the 'Mission Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) in the state, which is a global mass movement led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated the ‘Mission Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) in the state, which is a global mass movement led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma stated that the initiative aims to encourage an environmentally conscious lifestyle, with a focus on utilizing resources rather than engaging in wasteful consumption.
Significance of the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative:
As part of the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, various week-long activities will be conducted across all districts in Assam.
These activities will target seven identified categories, including energy and water conservation, reducing plastic and e-waste, and promoting healthy lifestyles, according to Sarma.
He emphasized that human actions against nature have caused numerous problems for humanity, plants, and animals.
Due to deforestation, loss of wetlands, and other natural bodies, seasonal changes have become unpredictable, and research suggests that North East India will suffer severe consequences of climate change.
To promote a healthy environment, the state government has cleared over 6,000 acres of land by removing encroachments over the past two years, as stated by the Chief Minister.
What is Mission LiFE:
India’s Mission LiFe is a global initiative that aims to aid the world in combatting climate change and promote a sustainable way of life to attain the United Nations’ set sustainable development goals.
India introduced the concept of LiFE during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021 to promote an environmentally conscious lifestyle that emphasizes “mindful and deliberate utilization” instead of “mindless and wasteful consumption”.
On World Environment Day, June 5th, 2022, India launched the LiFE Global Movement, calling on academics, researchers, and startups worldwide to devise specific and scientific ways to harness the full potential of collective action to address the environmental crisis. The Mission is based on the principles of the P3 model, which stands for Pro Planet People, and it emphasizes a “Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet”.