Kanheri Caves: Only Centre with Continuous Progression of Buddhist Faith and Architecture

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima (16 May 2022), Union Minister of Tourism & Culture inaugurated various amenities at ancient Kanheri Caves.

About Kanheri Caves

The Kanheri caves comprise of more than 110 different rock-cut monolithic excavations and one of the largest single excavations in the country.
These excavations were primarily undertaken during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism but also have several examples of the Mahayana stylistic architecture as well as few printings of the Vajrayana order.
Evidence from Inscription: The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs in the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana ruler Vasisthiputra Pulumavi.
Travellers’ Account: Kanheri was mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers. The earliest reference of Kanheri is ascribed to Fa-Hein who visited India during 399-411 CE and later by several other travellers.
Importance: Its importance is heightened by the fact that it is the only centre where a continuous progression of Buddhist faith and architecture is observed as an unbroken legacy right from 2nd century CE (cave no. 2 stupa) to 9th century CE are observed here.
Patronage: Kanheri flourished under the patronage of Satavahana, Traikutakas, Vakatakas and Silaharas and through donations made by the wealthy merchants of the region.

The da Vinci glow

On May 19, 2023, a glimpse of the Da Vinci glow was witnessed. It is a phenomenon that can happen around sunset when a crescent moon is on the horizon, but the outline of a full moon is visible.

About da Vinci glow

Named after Leonardo da Vinci: This phenomenon is named after the legendary Renaissance artist and scientist, Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci, in the 16th century, became the first person to describe this spectacle, intertwining his artistic perception with scientific curiosity.
Sky Retains A Touch Of Darkness: During the Da Vinci glow time, the sky retains a touch of darkness but is not completely devoid of light.
Emanates From Light Reflected By The Earth: This enchanting glow, also known as earthshine, emanates from light reflected by the Earth onto the moon's surface, making the lunar night an astounding 50 times brighter than a typical full-moon night on Earth.
Provided A Deeper Understanding: Although da Vinci's original explanation had flaws, subsequent advancements in technology and lunar missions have provided a deeper understanding of the da Vinci glow, enhancing the appreciation of this celestial phenomenon.

Third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit

On 22 May, 2023, during the third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit, India unveiled a 12-step initiative to strengthen collaborations with Pacific Island nations.

The inaugural meeting of the Forum for FIPIC was convened by the Indian Prime Minister in Fiji in 2014, followed by the second meeting in Jaipur in 2015, where various initiatives were announced for promoting development and well-being.
Initiatives Announced By India: The initiatives announced by India include the FIPIC SME Development Project, solar projects for government buildings, provision of desalination units for drinking water, supply of sea ambulances, establishment of dialysis units, setting up of 24x7 emergency helpline, Jan Aushadi Kendras, and Yoga centers.
India’s Earlier Support: India has supported Fiji and Papua New Guinea by providing indelible ink for their general elections and organizing healthcare initiatives such as the Jaipur Foot Camp in Fiji, where customized prosthetic limbs were provided to approximately 600 Fijians.
India has also extended Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Pacific Island countries and provided assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic by supplying vaccines and medical supplies.
UN Development Partnership Fund: In 2017, India established the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, focusing on supporting sustainable development projects tailored to the specific needs and demands of developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and small Island developing states (SIDS).

Panch Karma Sankalp

On May 22, 2023, at the end of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways' (MoPSW) Chintan Shibir in Munnar, Kerala, the 'Panch Karma Sankalp' was announced.

The five major announcements made during the event were as follows:

MoPSW will provide 30% financial support for the promotion of Green Shipping.
Under the Green Tug Transition Programme, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, VO Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port, and Deendayal Port, Kandla will procure two tugs each.
Deendayal Port, Kandla, and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin will be developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
A Single Window Portal will be designed to facilitate and monitor river and sea cruises and their bookings.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, will become smart ports by 2024.

Regulation of Global Methane Emissions

Recently, a study conducted by researchers revealed that only approximately 13% of global methane emissions are regulated, despite methane being responsible for at least 25% of current global warming.

Key findings of the research are:

Limited knowledge: The researchers found that there is limited knowledge regarding the effectiveness of existing policies, as estimations are often used instead of actual measurements.
Adopted in Three Regions: The findings showed that 90% of identified national policies were adopted in three regions namely North America (39%), Europe (30%), and the Asia Pacific (21%).
Methane emissions are currently increasing at a rate faster than any time since the 1980s.
Satellites to Monitor Methane Emissions: The researchers suggest that using technologies like satellites to monitor methane emissions can assist policymakers in measurement, verification, compliance, and detection of significant emitters.
Policies Tend To Be Less Stringent: While there has been a gradual increase in methane policies globally since 1974, policies targeting fossil methane emissions from coal, oil, and gas sectors tend to be less stringent compared to those addressing biogenic methane sources, particularly in the waste sector.
Introducing Policies With Broader Coverage: The study emphasize the importance of introducing policies with broader coverage, mitigation solutions for major sources, and measurable objectives to achieve a significant reduction in methane emissions.
To meet the 1.5°C objective of the Paris Agreement, man-made methane emissions should be reduced by at least 40 to 45% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.

Samudra Shakti - 23

The 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 is being held from 14-19 May, 2023.

INS Kavaratti (indigenously designed & built ASW Corvette), an Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter are participating in the exercise.
The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, jointness and mutual cooperation between both the navies.
Samudra Shakti -23 will showcase the high level of interoperability between the two navies and their shared commitment towards peace and stability in the region.

Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi Scheme

On 10^th May, 2023, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) launched the ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ scheme.

ECCE Program: It is an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program.
Aim: It aims to create the world's largest universal high-quality preschool network, as envisaged by the National Education Policy.
Focus Areas: It will focus on enhancing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and will target the overall development of children mentioned in the National Curriculum Framework such as:
- Physical and motor development;
- Cognitive development;
- Socio-emotional-ethical development;
- Language and literacy development; and
- Education in the mother tongue, as per the National Education Policy.
Preschool Teaching: It will ensure that every child gets at least two hours of daily, high-quality preschool teaching.
It will ensure that the ECCE material percolates to every Anganwadi in the country through new training methodologies, with the able guidance of officers in the ministry and the participation of state governments and those in communities and civil societies.

SAKSHAM Learning Management Information System

Recently, the Union Health Ministry launched the SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management), a Learning Management Information System (LMIS).

This digital learning platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi.
SAKSHAM is a dedicated and unified platform for providing online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country.
Currently SAKSHAM is hosting more than 200 public health and 100 clinical courses through online mode.
Health professionals can register themselves for these courses on the portal through url:https://lmis.nihfw.ac.in/ and get the certification after undergoing requisite training and qualifying the required assessment criteria.
This digital learning platform will ensure inclusive capacity building of health professionals from primary health centres located in rural and remote areas all the way up to tertiary care and corporate hospitals in metropolitan cities.

First Meeting of National MSME Council

On 10th May, 2023, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises, Government of India, organised the first meeting of the National MSME Council at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The meeting was held with a focus on Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme (RAMP).

The key points of the meeting are:

Objective: The meeting aimed to oversee inter-Central Ministerial/Departmental coordination, Centre-State synergies, and monitor progress on reforms mandated in the MSME sector, including the RAMP programme.
RAMP Programme: The meeting was organized under the Central Sector Scheme "Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance" launched in June 2022.
The RAMP programme aims to improve access to markets and credit, strengthen institutions and governance at the Centre and State levels, enhance Centre-State linkages and partnerships, address delayed payments, and promote green practices in MSMEs.
State Commitment: The representatives from the states/UTs expressed enthusiasm about the RAMP programme and reaffirmed their commitment to making it successful.

35th Edition of Indo-Thai CORPAT

From 3 to 10 May 2023, the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy successfully conducted the 35th edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.

Participants: The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, an indigenously built Landing Ship Tank (Large), and His Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Saiburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate, along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies took part in the CORPAT.
Objectives of Indo-Thai CORPAT: The CORPAT aims to strengthen maritime linkages between India and Thailand and ensure the safety and security of the Indian Ocean for international trade.
Since 2005, the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy have been conducting CORPAT bi-annually to enhance understanding, interoperability, and cooperation between the two navies.
The patrol helps in preventing and suppressing unlawful activities such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, piracy, armed robbery, smuggling, illegal immigration, and enables Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at sea.
SAGAR Vision: The Indian Navy's participation in the Indo-Thai CORPAT is in line with the Government of India's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), which aims to enhance regional maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy actively engages with countries in the region through bilateral and multilateral exercises, Coordinated Patrols, Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Surveillance, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Strong Bonds between India and Thailand: The Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy have a close and friendly relationship that has strengthened over the years.

ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2023

On May 8, the Indian Navy successfully concluded the Sea Phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2023.

Aim: The aim of the exercise was to promote maritime cooperation and enhance trust, friendship, and confidence among the participating navies.
The exercise also aimed to refine procedures, learn best practices, and enhance interoperability with the ASEAN navies.
The Sea Phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2023 took place in the South China Sea.
The exercise saw participation from the navies of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India. (Note: ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization composed of ten countries in Southeast Asia. The member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.)