SAREX-2024

Context: Recently, The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 11th edition of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2024) off the Kochi coast. 

Key Details of SAREX-2024

• Theme: Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities Through Regional Collaboration.
• Objectives
• • Facilitate the exchange of strategies for managing large-scale maritime contingencies and improving international cooperation for maritime safety.

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Significance of ICG’s Role

• Leading Maritime Agency
  • The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has become a key organization for managing search and rescue operations in India.
• Promoting Maritime Safety
  • By working with different stakeholders, the ICG has significantly improved safety at sea.
• Supporting the SAGAR Vision
  • Its efforts align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, focusing on regional security and development.
• Strengthening Global Partnerships
  • The ICG’s contributions establish India as a reliable and proactive partner in international maritime activities.

Global Engagement Scheme

Context: Recently, the Government of India launched the Global Engagement Scheme to promote India’s cultural heritage and improve India’s global image.

About Global Engagement Scheme

• It is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture.  
• Objective:
  • Strengthen international relations: Foster people-to-people connections and cultural exchange between India and other countries.
  • Enhance India’s global image: Promote India’s diverse cultural traditions and artistic expressions.
• Key Activities
  • Festival of India (FoI):
    • Organizes cultural festivals in various countries featuring:
      • Folk arts (music, dance, theater, puppetry)
      • Classical and traditional dance
      • Contemporary dance
      • Classical and semi-classical music
      • Theater
    • Provides financial support to participating artists, including folk artists.
  • Grant-in-aid to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies:
    • Supports cultural programs and activities organized by Indian cultural societies abroad.
  • Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists:
    • Objective: Support old and poor artists aged 60 and above who have significantly contributed to their fields.
    • Assistance Amount: Up to Rs. 6000 per month, adjusted with any state artist pension received.

National Seed Congress (NSC)

Context: Recently, the 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024 took place in Varanasi.

Major Announcements

• Seed Parks: Plans for 200 seed parks to boost agricultural leadership in Uttar Pradesh.
• SATHI Portal: Introduction of a portal to enhance seed quality traceability and improve certification systems.
• Rice Fallow Webpage & Atlas: Launch of a tool using geospatial technology to map fallow lands in Eastern India

Key Highlights National Seed Congress (NSC) Event

• Organized by:  The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. 
• Objectives
• • Strengthening Seed Systems: Promoting innovation and partnerships to make seeds more accessible and affordable.
  • Empowering Farmers: Ensuring smallholder farmers have access to high-quality seeds to tackle climate impacts and food security challenges
• Theme: “Fostering Regional Cooperation, Partnerships, and Knowledge in the Seed Sector.”

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India’s Role in the Global Seed Industry

• Leveraging Biodiversity and Research: India’s rich biodiversity and strong research capabilities are driving its emergence as a major player in the global seed industry.
  • The government is promoting the use of advanced technologies and public-private partnerships to develop high-quality seeds that are resilient to pests, diseases, and climate change.
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: India is focusing on sustainable agriculture practices, including the cultivation of climate-resilient crops like oilseeds and millets.
• International Partnerships: India is actively collaborating with other countries, especially in South Asia, to share knowledge and technology in the seed sector.
• Ensuring Quality and Safety: The government is working to strengthen the regulatory framework for the seed industry to ensure quality and safety standards.

Koraga tribal community

Context: The Kerala Revenue Department, through the Scheduled Tribes Development Department’s corpus fund, has launched Operation Smile to provide land titles (patta) to the Koraga community in Kasaragod and Manjeswaram taluks.

About Koraga tribal community

• Habitat: The Koraga tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) found in Kasaragod district (Kerala) and Karnataka.
• PVTG Status: Identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs; currently, there are 75 PVTG communities in India.
  • Categorized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Presidential Order of 1956.
• Language: The Koragas primarily speak Tulu but also have their own independent language.
• Social Structure: Divided into 17 exogamous clans (called Bali).
  • The family is matrilineal, with descent traced through the female line.
  • After marriage, residence is patrilocal.
  • Property is equally divided between sons and daughters.
• Religion and Beliefs: Worshippers of different Bhutas (spirit deities) such as Panjurli, Kallurti, Korathi, and Guliga.
  • Associated with Bhuta Kola, a ritualistic folk dance tradition in Tulu Nadu.

Eklavya’ Digital Platform For Officers’ Training

Context: Recently, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) launched an online learning platform for the Indian Army nicknamed as “Eklavya”.

About Eklavya Digital Platform

• The Eklavya Digital Platform is a military training initiative developed under the aegis of Headquarters Army Training Command, with Army War College as the sponsor agency.
• Aim: To enhance professional education and training for Indian Army officers under the Decade of Transformation (2023–2032) and the 2024 theme: Year of Technology Absorption.
• Development:
  • Developed by the Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), Gandhinagar, with support from the Directorate General of Information Systems.
  • Hosted on the Army Data Network with scalable architecture, allowing seamless integration of training establishments and hosting a variety of courses.
• Knowledge Hub: Features a centralized “Knowledge Highway”, a searchable repository for journals, research papers, articles, and other resources under a single window.

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Significance

• Promotes continuous professional military education.
• Decongests and enriches existing physical courses with contemporary content.
• Prepares officers for specialist appointments and fosters domain specialization.
• Aligns with the Indian Army’s modernization goals under the Decade of Transformation and Year of Technology Absorption.

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