The Daily Brief – 6th September 2019

The Centre has selected IIT, Kharagpur for implementing the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) initiative of setting up a Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI). An amount of Rs.125 crores for the financial year 2019-20 has also been allotted for this purpose. The objective of SATHI is to extend help to academic institutes in the neighbouring regions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a keynote address at the ‘Seoul Defence Dialogue 2019’, during his three-day visit to South Korea. The theme of the Defence Dialogue was ‘Building Peace Together: Challenges and Vision’. The Dialogue was launched in 2012. He also held talks with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeongdoo to boost bilateral defence ties, particularly in enhancing cooperation between the defence firms of the two countries and extending logistical support to each other’s navies.

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent charge), Prahlad Singh Patel flagged off Leh’s first ever Mobile Science Exhibition (SCIENCE EXPLORER) of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) for the entire Ladakh Region. The NCSM jointly with the Department of Science &Technology (DST) simultaneously carried out the national launch of 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) buses for Aspirational Districts of India. The MSE programme was originally launched as Mobile Science Museum (MSM) in 1965.

The 15^th edition of Yudh Abhyas, a joint military training exercise between India and United States (US), will be conducted at the Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, US from 5^th to 18^th September 2019. It will provide the opportunity to train the armed forces of both the countries in an integrated manner at the Battalion level with joint planning at the Brigade level. The first edition of Yudh Abhyas was conducted from 16^th to 26^th May, 2002 in Agra, India.

Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Sunil Arora has taken over the charge of the Chairperson of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) from Daniel Constantin Barbu of Romania. The 1980-batch IAS officer will have a term of two years from 2019-21. Sunil Arora is currently serving as the 23^rd Chief Election Commissioner of India. Established in October 2013, AWEB is a multilateral platform for election management bodies from across the world to share best electoral practices.

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announced a blanket ban on all types of single use plastic products in the ministry as well as PSUs, including Food Corporation of India (FCI) from 15^th September. Moreover, the department has distributed cloth bags to employees to reduce consumption of single use plastics.

Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) organised the national conference on ‘India-Africa Partnership in a Changing Global Order: Priorities, Prospects and Challenges’ in New Delhi. Africa has become an important trade and investment partner for India with a bilateral trade of $62.66 billion in 2017-2018. With an investment of $54 billion, India is the fourth largest investor in Africa.