The Daily Brief – 3rd December 2019

soma-roy-burman-inside-Main — Soma Roy Burman

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India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital. In this regard, India signed a bilateral agreement – the Annual Haj 2020 Agreement – with Saudi Arabia for next year’s pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister in Jeddah. An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, e-MASIHA health facility, e-luggage pre-tagging providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be provided to two lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its Emissions Gap Report 2019 on 26^th November, 2019. As per it, the global greenhouse gas emissions have grown by 1.5% every year over the last decade and to stay within relatively safe limits, emissions must decline sharply by 7.6% every year, between 2020 and 2030. The Earth’s average temperature may rise by 3.2 degrees Celsius. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have reached an all-time high of 55.3 gigatons.
The 13^th South Asian Games (SAG), formerly known as the South Asian Federation Games, are being conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal from 1^st December to 10^th December, 2019. During the event, 2715 athletes will compete for 1119 medals, including 319 Gold in 26 game categories. India is represented by 487 athletes. The SAG is a biennial multi-sports event held among the athletes from South Asia. The first South Asian Games were hosted by Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984.
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed on 2^nd December every year. The event is organized by the United Nations’ General Assembly and is being celebrated since 1986. The day is focuses on eradication of contemporary forms of slavery like trafficking in persons, child labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage and forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. The UNGA had approved the Convention for Suppression of Traffic in Persons and of Exploitation of Prostitution of Others on 2^nd December, 1949. A new legally binding protocol was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in order to strengthen the efforts being made globally to eliminate forced labour.
Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-VII, a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka, commenced on 1^st December, 2019 at the Aundh Military Station in Pune. It aims to enhance interoperability and operational efficiency amongst the armies of both countries. The MITRA SHAKTI is an annual training programme that has been conducted between both countries since the year 2012.
The first ever Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) between India and Japan was held in New Delhi. During the meet, the countries discussed about boosting defence and security ties with each other, apart from several other issues where they shared mutual interest. The ministerial meeting is a precursor to the annual summit where the prime ministers of both the countries will meet in Guwahati, Assam in December 2012. The Indian delegation at the Ministerial Dialogue was led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while Japan was represented by Defence Minister Taro Kono and Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
A National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal in Gujarat is being proposed to be established by the Government of India. In addition to displaying salvaged materials from shipwreck sites in the Indian Ocean waters, the museum will also be used as an independent research centre for archaeology of boat building and reconstruction of maritime history as well as materials traded. In India, the shipwrecks studies were initiated in the Sunchi Reef near Goa in 1989.
Soma Roy Burman
Soma Roy Burman has been appointed by the Government of India as the 24^th Controller General of Accounts (CGA). She became the 7^th woman to hold the post of the CGA. During her three decade long career, she had occupied different positions in ministries such as Finance, Home Affairs, Information & Broadcasting, Human Resource Development, Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Industry. The office of the CGA is the principal advisor to the Government of India on accounting matters. It is the central accounting and reporting agency for the government and is responsible for maintaining and managing a transparent management accounting system.