INDRA NAVY 2018

         Key Facts:

• Initiated in 2003 and it is 10th edition of exercise.
• INDRA NAVY exercise has matured over the years with increase in scope, complexity and level of participation.
• The primary aim of the exercise is to increase inter-operability amongst the two navies, develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.
• The thrust of exercises at sea would be on Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), Air Defence drills, Surface Firings, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and tactical procedures.
• Exercise INDRA NAVY-18 would help to further strengthen mutual confidence and inter-operability and also enable sharing of best practices between both the navies.
• The exercise will be yet another milestone in strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two navies and will serve to reinforce the long standing bond of friendship between the countries.

         [Prelimns fact: INS Ranvir-guided missile destroyer, INS Satpura-an indigenous frigate, INS Kadmatt-an indigenous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette].

Ex Aviaindra 2018

         Highlights:

• The inaugural IAF-RFSAF Ex AVIAINDRA was conducted in 2014.
• AVIAINDRA-2018 is the second in the series of bilateral joint exercise between IAF-RFSAF. The exercise is planned in two phases.
• The exercise is unique wherein the foreign participant does not bring its air assets.
• In Russia, the IAF pilots flew alongside their Russian counterparts in RFSAF aircraft at Lipetsk from 17 Sep 18 to 28 Sep 18.
• In India, the RFSAF pilots will fly alongside their Indian counterparts in the IAF aircraft, which are common to both Air Forces.

Aspirational Districts

        About Aspirational Districts:

          Launched in January 2018, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative aims to remove this heterogeneity through a mass movement to quickly and effectively transform these districts.

        Core Strategy:

• The broad contours of the programme are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors), and Competition among districts driven by a spirit of mass Movement.
• With States as the main drivers, this program will focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure progress, and rank districts.

        Selection of districts:

             The 117 districts were identified from 28 states, at least one from each state, in a transparent manner by a committee of Senior Officers to the Government of India, in consultation with State Officials using a composite index of key data sets that included deprivation enumerated under the Socio-Economic Caste Census, key health and education sector performance and state of basic infrastructure.

       Institutional framework

• This programme is a policy priority of Government of India. NITI Aayog anchors the programme with support from Central Ministries and the State Governments.
• While NITI Aayog is steering the initiative in 30 districts, various central ministries oversee 50 districts besides the Ministry of Home Affairs, which focuses on 35 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts.
• Officers at the level of Joint Secretary / Additional Secretary have been nominated to become the ‘Central Prabhari Officers’ of each district.
• States have appointed state-nodal and Prabhari officers. An Empowered Committee under the Convenorship of the CEO, NITI Aayog will help in the convergence of various government schemes and streamlining of efforts.

       Focus areas

• The Government is committed to raising the living standards of its citizens and ensuring inclusive growth for all.
• To enable optimum utilization of their potential, this program focuses closely on improving people’s ability to participate fully in the vibrant economy. Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure are this programme’s core areas of focus.
• After several rounds of consultations with various stakeholders, 49 key performance indicators have been chosen to measure progress of the districts.
• Districts are aspiring to first catch-up with the best district within their State, and subsequently aspire to become one of the best in the country, by competing with, and learning from others in the spirit of competitive & cooperative federalism.

1st International Conference on Sustainable Water Management

Theme: ‘Sustainable Water Management’.

Highlights:

Experts & Delegates from reputed organisations from both within India and from other countries will be taking part in the event to deliver their experience and expertise in the use of state of art technology to the stakeholders for sustainable development of water resources.

The aim of the Conference is

• to foster the participation of and dialogue between various stakeholders, including governments, the scientific and academic communities, so as to promote sustainable policies for water management,
• to create awareness of water-related problems, motivate commitment at the highest level for their solution and thus promote better management of water resources at local, regional, national and international levels.