GUJARAT
• President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Gandhinagar
President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 10th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation awards were also distributed by the President on the occasion.
The event will provide a platform to the innovators for building the linkages with potential stakeholders whose support can improve the prospects in the coming years for the betterment of the society.
FINE is a unique initiative of the Office of the President of India to recognize, respect and reward grassroots innovations and foster a supportive ecosystem.
President Kovind awards National Grassroots Innovators. For innovations in new varieties of agriculture crops, Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh has been awarded lifetime achievement award.
First prize in Veterinary, Herbal medication for coccidiosis was presented to Periyasami Ramasami of Salem, Tamil Nadu.
INTERNATIONAL
• Indo-Oman joint military exercise commence
A joint military exercise between India and Royal Army of Oman commenced at Jabel regiment headquarters, Nizwa, Oman.
Exercise Al Nagah 2019 will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other’s military as also facilitate in tackling the worldwide phenomenon of terrorism.
A 60-member strong Indian Army contingent, based in northern command headquarters at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, is taking part in the military exercise ‘Al-Nagah III.
The exercise is scheduled to end on March 25 at Jabel Al Akhdar mountains.
• India-Africa joint field training exercise to kick off on March 18
A 10-day long Africa-India Joint Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-19) between the Indian Army and 16 African nations will be conducted in Pune from March 18 to 27.
As many as 10 personnel will participate in the joint exercise which will be conducted at two locations in Pune’s Foreign Training Node at Aundh Military Station and College of Military Engineering in Kirkee.
The aim of the exercise is to train the participating contingents in Humanitarian Mine Assistance (HMA) and Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) under the United Nations Charter.
In addition to the participating nations from the African continent, officers from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar would attend the exercise as Observers.
• Special Olympics World Games 2019 makes history
Special Olympics World Games 2019 which are being held from March 14 to March 21 in UAE, has made history by welcoming a record-breaking 200 nations ahead of the Games.
Of the 200 nations, 195 will compete in the Games and five will observe.
It is a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement.
It is being held in West Asia for the first time. 7,500 athletes will take part in 24 Olympic-style sports over seven days.
Saudi Arabia will send female athletes for the first time, with 14 women participating.
• India ranks 16th in terms of highest number of impacted species in hotspots
India was ranked 16th in the world in terms of highest number of impacted species in biodiversity-rich zones (also known as hotspots) due to human actions.
In India, 35 species affected on an average in biodiversity-rich zones.
Malaysia ranks first among countries with highest number of impacted species (on an average 125 species).
Southeast Asian tropical forests — including those in India’s Western Ghats, Himalaya and north-east — are among the ‘hotspots’ of threatened species.
NATIONAL
• NITI Aayog and USAID organised IEMF
Niti Ayog in association with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the first workshop on the development of the India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF). The workshop was organized under the Sustainable Growth Pillar of the India-U.S. Strategic Energy Partnership.
IEMF aims to improve cooperation and coordination between modelling teams, the Government of India, knowledge partners and think-tanks, build the capacity of Indian institutions, and identify issues for joint modelling activities and future areas of research. The workshop featured eight expert sessions which saw discussions around the various aspects of setting up an India-centric energy modelling platform and was attended by various central government ministries and agencies.
• India sets aspirational target for engineering exports at USD 200 bn by 2025
India can achieve a three-fold “aspirational” increase in its engineering exports to reach $200 billion by 2025, if concerted efforts are made by the government and industry to develop a conducive ecosystem, and ensuring inputs at competitive prices, according to an EEPC India-Deloitte strategy paper.
India’s engineering exports, which contribute 25 per cent to the overall merchandise shipments, are projected to touch about $80-82 billion in the current financial year ending March 31.
• Over 12 Indian states banned e-cigarettes
Following an advisory from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued in 2018, Twelve states across India have banned Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes.
States of Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Jharkhand have taken steps to ban the use of ENDS.
ENDS, more commonly known as e-cigarettes or “vapes” in India, are products that produce an aerosolized mixture containing flavored liquids and nicotine that is inhaled by the user.
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