Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary today. In a tweet, Mr. Modi said, he is greatly admired for his contribution to the nation as a scientist and as a President who struck a chord with every section of society.

Defence Ministry is organising the 12th edition of the prestigious Biennial Defence Exhibition - DefExpo 2022 - in Gandhinagar, Gujarat starting from October 18 to 22. This mega defence exhibition is focusing on Land, Air, Naval and Homeland Security systems.

The seminars during the event will be held at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar in a hybrid format, enabling the speakers as well as the audience to participate virtually. AIR correspondent reports, these will be streamed worldwide.

President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated ‘PARAM KAMRUPA’ Supercomputer facility and a high-power active and passive component laboratory of SAMEER at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati on the first day of her visit to the State. The Param Kamrupa, one of its kind supercomputers in the North East region, installed under the National Supercomputing Mission.

In the same function, the President virtually inaugurated Dhubri Medical College and Hospital, and laid foundation stone for Zonal Institutes of National Institute of Virology at Dibrugarh in Assam and Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh.

In a big accolade for the Narendra Modi government's Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has termed it a 'logistical marvel' considering the sheer size of the country.

IMF's Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs Department , Paolo Mauro said that while there is a lot to learn from countries across the globe, India's DBT scheme is quite impressive. Mauro said that the way DBT programme that seeks to help people who are at low-income levels reach hundreds of millions of people is a logistical marvel.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described India as a bright spot on the dark horizon. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that India deserves to be called a bright spot on this otherwise dark horizon because it has been a fast-growing economy, even during these difficult times. She was replying to a question on her expectations from India just days before it takes over the presidency of G20.

Ms. Georgieva was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington. She said, most importantly, India's growth is underpinned by structural reforms. 

Ministry of Law and Justice is organising an All India Conference of Law Ministers and Law Secretaries from today at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. Law Ministers and Law Secretaries from States and Union Territories will participate in the three-day-long conference. The keynote address will be delivered by Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju tomorrow.

Ministry of Law and Justice said this initiative will provide a forum for discussion on a variety of topics relating to India's legal system so that policymakers may develop a road map for the country's future. It said this event will provide a platform for exchange of ideas and an opportunity to various States and Union Territories to exchange their best practices.

INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea, also known as Port Elizabeth in South Africa to participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies. The harbour phase of IBSAMAR VII includes professional exchanges such as damage control and fire-fighting drills, and interaction among special forces.

The Indian Navy is represented by the Teg class guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and the personnel from the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS).

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur launched the World Anti-dopping Agency (WADA) Athlete Biological Passport Symposium - 2022 in New Delhi today. The event is being jointly organized by National Anti-Dopping Agency and National Dope Testing Laboratory for the first time in the country and will run till Friday.

Talking to the media about the measures taken by the governmemt to address the challenge of dopping, Mr Thakur said that at the anti-dopping front, the government has tied up with the National Forensic Science University and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India so that nutrition supplements can be tested and its information can be shared with the athletes. He said, the symposium will not only benefit the country but the world also.

The Offshore Security Exercise, ‘Prasthan’ in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off Kakinada was conducted by  Eastern Naval Command on Wednesday. The Half Yearly Exercise was conducted in the KG basin to validate SOPs, address various contingencies and strengthen the command & control organisation towards Maritime Security.

The exercise is coordinated by the Indian Navy and involves all stakeholders in the maritime domain, including oil and gas operators, the State Marine Police, Dept of Fisheries and the Indian Coast Guard, etc.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022. It seeks to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, the decision will improve governance, enhance transparency and accountability in the Multi State Cooperative Societies. He said, election authority will be set up to ensure fair, free and timely elections.

AIR correspondent reports that the proposed amendments covering major areas of operation and management will go a long way in strengthening the co-operative movement in the country.