Operation Kaveri launched to evacuate Indians from Sudan
India initiated Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens from the unrest-stricken Sudan.
India initiated Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens from the unrest-stricken Sudan. As per External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s tweet, the operation is currently in progress, and roughly 500 Indians have already arrived at Port Sudan.
Operation Kaveri: Key Points:
Operation Kaveri is the latest evacuation operation initiated by India to rescue its citizens and friendly nations’ citizens from war zones.
The Ministry of External Affairs had announced the standby status of two C-130s aircraft and INS Sumedha for the safe evacuation of stranded Indians in Sudan.
Official data states that there are roughly 4,000 Indians in Sudan.
The evacuation operation follows talks held by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Both countries had offered their “practical support on the ground” during the talks.
About The Sudan Crisis:
Sudan is currently experiencing a violent power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across the country. This conflict arose due to a dispute over an internationally supported plan to establish a new civilian government, four years after the overthrow of authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir and two years after a military coup. Both sides are accusing each other of obstructing the transition, resulting in widespread violence and instability.
Sudan: Important Facts:
Capital: Khartoum
Currency: Sudanese pound (SDG)
Region: North Africa
President: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (Chairman of the Sovereignty Council)
Official language: Arabic, English
Other languages: Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
Population: approximately 44 million
Major religions: Islam, Christianity, Traditional African Religions.
G20 Park: Delhi’s Waste-to-Wonder Concept Aligns with PM’s Vision for a Sustainable Future
India has put forward a proposal to construct a G20 park in Delhi that will serve as a representation of global unity on the path of development.
India has put forward a proposal to construct a G20 park in Delhi that will serve as a representation of global unity on the path of development. According to sources, PM Modi has been closely monitoring the park’s concept development. The park, which will be located at the Shanti Path and Ring Road junction, will be based on the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” The sculptures in the park will depict the national animals and birds of the G20 countries and will be created using the “waste to wonder” concept. Each sculpture will be made from scrap and other waste materials sourced from the New Delhi Municipal Council’s yards and other agencies. Lalit Kala Academy will be responsible for promoting and creating the artwork projects. The metal art pieces used in each sculpture will have dimensions of 5-7 feet by 4-5 feet.
According to officials, the idea of a G20 park enhances Delhi’s identity as a city that values art and culture. Artists from various Indian states, including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Haryana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh, are currently working on creating national birds and animals of different G20 countries. These include the Indian peacock, Brazilian jaguar, American bison, Chinese red-crowned crane, Saudi Arabian camel, Korean magpie, Australian emu, Canadian gray jay, Russian brown bear, and Mexican golden eagle. The artwork projects are part of the Waste to Wonder Art Camp.
A team of well-known national-level artists with experience in waste-to-wonder projects has conceptualized, designed, and curated the art pieces for the G20 park. Each piece will be carefully crafted by hand and given a high-quality finish to demonstrate that waste can be transformed into something remarkable. To prevent theft or damage, each piece will be securely installed on a base platform. An information plate will be placed next to each piece, detailing the animal, its appearance in real life, and its significance to the country it represents. The details of the artists involved in creating the piece will also be displayed.
About the G20:
The G20 comprises 19 countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States—as well as the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
RBI imposes Rs 44 lakh penalty on 4 co-op banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied penalties of Rs 44 lakhs on four cooperative banks for violating various norms.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied penalties of Rs 44 lakhs on four cooperative banks for violating various norms. The penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with their customers, the RBI said.
The Penalised Banks Are:
Chennai-based The Tamil Nadu State Apex Co-operative Bank was penalized Rs 16 lakh for failing to transfer eligible amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed period and failing to report a fraud to NABARD within the prescribed timeline.
Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank was penalized Rs 13 lakh for not transferring the eligible amount to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed period and transferring the same with delay.
Janata Sahakari Bank, Pune, was penalized Rs 13 crore for non-compliance with directions on ‘Interest Rate on Deposits’.
Baran Nagrik Sahkari Bank, Baran, Rajasthan was penalized Rs 2 lakh for violating certain norms.
Bengaluru is all set to witness Zero Shadow Day today across the city
On Tuesday, April 25, Bengaluru, India's technological hub, is poised to witness a unique celestial event known as "Zero Shadow Day," according to the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).
On Tuesday, April 25, Bengaluru, India’s technological hub, is poised to witness a unique celestial event known as “Zero Shadow Day,” according to the Astronomical Society of India (ASI). During this event, any vertical objects in the city will not cast any shadows, due to the sun’s position directly overhead. The phenomenon is expected to occur at around 12:17 PM and will last for a brief period. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Koramangala, Bengaluru, has made arrangements to observe the event, while citizens across the city are also geared up to witness it.
What is Zero Shadow Day:
Zero Shadow Day is a rare and unique phenomenon that occurs at different times in different locations on Earth. During this brief period, the sun is precisely overhead at noon without any tilt. Normally, the sun’s position is slightly tilted to the north or south and not directly overhead. The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) explains that on Zero Shadow Day, “the Sun’s declination will be equal to the latitude twice – once during Uttarayan and once during Dakshinayan. On these two days, the Sun will be exactly overhead at noon and will not cast a shadow of an object on the ground.”
Zero Shadow Day occurs twice a year in locations between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, such as Bengaluru. In Bengaluru, it will take place on April 25th and August 18th.
Union Minister Sonowal inaugurates the technology arm of Shipping Ministry in TN
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who inaugurated the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) at the Discovery Campus of IIT, Madras.
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who inaugurated the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) at the Discovery Campus of IIT-Madras. The centre will enable Make In India tech solutions for the sector and propel overall growth. The Discovery Campus was set up in February 2018 on 163-acre area of the IIT Madras, and is located at Thaiyur, about 36 km from the main campus at Guindy.
The NTCPWC, the technology arm of Union Shipping Ministry will be expanded to include world-class multifunctional maritime laboratories in the areas of climate change, marine robotics, marine informatics and analytics, smart modelling and simulation. A maritime innovation hub, which will act as core of breeding ecosystem for fostering startups and innovation in the nation, will be setup at the NTCPWC.
About the NTCPWC
The NTCPWC will enable #MakeInIndia tech solutions for this important sector and give impetus to growth of our ports, waterways and coastal communities. NTCPWC with a mandate to bring cutting-edge technology to the port and waterways sectors was established under the ambitious Sagarmala programme at a cost of Rs 77 crore. This “role model” centre will provide solutions to challenges in the maritime sector through scientific support, education, applied research and technology transfer at the local, regional, national and international levels.
The NTCPWC-IIT Madras, Discovery Campus spread over four acres, has about five state-of-the-art labs. Notable among them is the ‘Sedimentation Management and Test Basin,’ which is a large shallow water facility for ports and waterways and marine information and communication laboratory where iVTMS and e-navigation products are developed.
Gujarat celebrates 20 years of PM Modi’s Swagat Initiative
CM Bhupendra Patel has declared the last week of April as "Swagat Saptah" in commemoration of the completion of 20 years of the SWAGAT initiative
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has declared the last week of April as “Swagat Saptah” in commemoration of the completion of 20 years of the “State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology” (SWAGAT) initiative, which was launched by Narendra Modi during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2003. As part of this initiative, a technology-based system was developed to address grievances, and on the last Thursday of each month, the Chief Minister personally listens to the complaints of citizens in the presence of relevant officials.
More about the celebrations of 20 years of PM Modi’s Swagat Initiative:
To mark the occasion, the Chief Minister’s office trained village panchayat sarpanches, talatis, newly-appointed mamlatdars, and taluka development officers. On April 27, the last day of the celebration, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will conduct an online Swagat event, which will be attended by Narendra Modi virtually.
Significance of the Swagat initiative:
Over the past twenty years, the Swagat initiative has successfully resolved the grievances of numerous citizens in Gujarat and has received recognition at both national and international levels. Notably, it was honored with the United Nations’ Public Service Award in 2010.
BRO puts up signboard describing Mana as ‘First Indian Village’
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has installed a signboard at the entrance of the Mana village in Uttarakhand to declare as the "first Indian village."
Mana village in Uttarakhand, which was previously recognized as the last Indian village, will now be acknowledged as the “first Indian village.” The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has installed a signboard at the entrance of the border village to declare Mana’s updated status. This decision comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s assertion that Mana was the first village in the country, and all border villages should be recognized as such. PM Modi, who visited Mana in October last year, stated that areas that were previously viewed as the end of the country’s borders should now be viewed as the beginning of the country’s prosperity.
Vibrant Villages Programme: Northern border of India
The Vibrant Villages Programme is designed to uplift the standard of living for residents in selected border communities.
The programme aims to develop a total of 2967 villages situated in 46 blocks of 19 districts located on the northern border of India.
The programme covers border communities in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The goal is to develop infrastructure, provide basic amenities, and enhance the overall living conditions in these villages.
The programme will focus on providing better access to healthcare, education, and clean drinking water.
The Vibrant Villages Programme will also aim to promote rural tourism and generate employment opportunities in the border communities.
This programme aligns with the government’s vision of improving the standard of living in rural areas and promoting inclusive growth.