News in Shorts: 29 August 2025

Nuakhai Festival

Context: Prime Minister extended greetings of Nuakhai on 28 Aug 2025.

• It is a festival of gratitude, prosperity, and unity.

About

• “Nua” = new, “Khai” = food;  literally means eating newly harvested crops.
• The agricultural harvest festival is celebrated primarily in Western Odisha and parts of Chhattisgarh & Jharkhand.
• Observed a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, usually in August–September.

Significance

• It marks gratitude to farmers and agricultural prosperity.
• It Celebrates new paddy harvest farmers offer the first produce to their presiding deities (especially Maa Samaleswari in Sambalpur).
• A festival of community bonding, unity, and cultural pride.
• Cultural events: folk songs, Sambalpuri dances, traditional attire.

India And Bhutan Sign MoU

Context: India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, followed by the first Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) meeting.

Key Features of the MoU

• Collaboration Framework: Establishes cooperation in agricultural research & innovation, livestock health & production, post-harvest management, and value chain development.
• Knowledge Exchange: Emphasises sharing of knowledge, skills, and expertise between the two countries.
• Shared Commitment: Highlights joint focus on food security, sustainable farming, and rural prosperity.

First Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) Meeting

• Convened immediately after signing of MoU to agree on Terms of Reference and identify priority areas for immediate action.
• Discussion Areas: Agriculture, livestock, agricultural marketing and cooperatives, food processing, seed sector, research and technology collaboration, and capacity building.
• Significance: Both sides underscored the significance of JTWG as a platform for deepening cooperation.

India – Saudi Arabia Joint Defence Committee Meeting

Context: The 7th meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by officials from both sides to review and enhance bilateral defence cooperation.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

• Defence Cooperation: Both sides reaffirmed commitment to deepen bilateral defence ties.
• Progress Review: Evaluated implementation of decisions taken in the previous JCDC meeting.
• Areas of Discussion: Training cooperation, industrial partnerships, maritime collaboration, and joint military exercises.
• Training & Support: India offered training assistance to Saudi Armed Forces; explored cooperation in cyber security, IT, disaster management, and tactical communications.
• Defence Manufacturing: India highlighted indigenous defence production capabilities and proposed joint production and equipment partnerships.
• Institutional Linkages: Both sides agreed to hold regular deliberations to further strengthen cooperation.

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