In a landmark move to enhance defence cooperation, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) signed two Memorandums of Understanding on Defence Industry Cooperation with the Emirates Defence Companies Council (EDCC) and EDGE Group UAE. This significant development took place during the first-ever India-UAE Defence Industry Partnership Forum held in Abu Dhabi on September 18, 2024.

The historic forum, organised by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Defence, brought together the defence industries of both nations. The event marked a new chapter in the growing strategic partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates.

Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, delivered the opening address and emphasised the immense potential of India-UAE defence cooperation, noting that this seminar marks the beginning of a long journey ahead. He also spoke about the historical relationship between the two countries and how it has progressed to a comprehensive economic partnership.

Four day long mega event World Food India 2024 will begin today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It will see participation from over 90 countries, 26 Indian States and Union Territories, and 18 Central Ministries and allied government bodies. The event promises to be a major convergence of innovation, technology, and sustainability in the food processing sector. Food and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi, Minister for Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu will attend the inaugural ceremony.

In this year’s World Food India, Japan is the partner country and Vietnam and Iran are the focus countries. On the first day today a high-level CEO roundtable will be held which will be co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan. The event will host over 40 knowledge sessions, including thematic discussions, state and country-specific conferences. Industry-led panel discussions with over 100 CXOs of the global agri-food companies will also be held at the mega event. The Reverse Buyer Seller Meet organized by APEDA, MPEDA, and the commodity boards, will see a robust presence of over one thousand buyers. The 2nd edition of the Global Food Regulators Summit hosted by FSSAI is being held in conjunction with World Food India. To broaden the appeal of the mega event, the organizers have launched the Swaad Sutra, a culinary contest showcasing regional dishes from across India.

CSIR in partnership with APCTT-UN ESCAP (Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology), and WAITRO (World Association of Industrial & Technological Research) organized a Conclave on Policy Deliberations for Strengthening South-South Cooperation on 11th September 2024 in online mode. The programme was designed and coordinated by CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) with CSIR-International International S&T Affairs Directorate (CSIR-ISTAD) and hosted by NIScPR.

The Conclave brought together several global institutions and eminent scholars from South countries. Head/Senior experts of major global institutions focusing on South countries: APCTT, WAITRO, ISTIC-UNESCO International Science– Framework for Ethical and Responsible Governance, West Asia North Africa Institute Jorden, UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries gave presentation in this conclave. Experts from various research institutions included National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, CSIR-NIScPR, CSIR-ISTAD, CSIR-IMD (Innovation Management Directorate), Wits Business School South Africa, National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, Computer Science Department-Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, University of Nebraska –Lincoln USA, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, Indian Institute of Science, Department of Science and Technology, Tshwanae Univ of Technology South Africa.

The Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR) on Wednesday at Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), Delhi Cantt, in the presence of Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff.

Major General Manish Luthra, Additional Director General Military Operations (A), signed the MoU on behalf of the Indian Army, while Hemant Sachdev, a dedicated mountaineer and Mt Everest Summiteer, signed it on behalf of the TMR.

This understanding marks a pivotal step in advancing the Indian Army's rescue and survival operations in mountainous terrains. The MoU stipulates that TMR will collaborate with the Indian Army in conducting customised training programs for Army instructors, aimed at improving their ability to mentor troops in avalanche rescue and survival skills.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the development of India's Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), marking a significant milestone in the country's space exploration ambitions.

This advanced rocket system is designed to support India's vision of establishing and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) and achieving a crewed lunar landing by 2040.

The NGLV represents a major leap in India's launch capabilities, boasting a payload capacity three times that of the current LVM3 rocket while only increasing costs by 50%.

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S Somanath said on Wednesday that the ISRO is planning to launch the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) by 2028.

Addressing reporters in the National Capital, S Somnath said, "Chandrayaaan 4 mission is primarily targeted to demonstrate the technology to go to the moon and then come back. The coming back is a highlight of it, landing there has already been demonstrated by Chandrayaan-3. If you have to send a man to space later in 2040, a vision by our PM, we need to have confidence in technology..."

He added, "For the Indian Space Station, yes, there is a timeline for that - the goal given by the Prime Minister is 2035. Our plan here is to launch the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station called BAS-1 by 2028..."

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of schemes of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) to provide remunerative prices to farmers and to control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.

According to an official release, the total financial outgo will be Rs 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission cycle up to 2025-26.

The Government has converged the Price Support Scheme (PSS) & Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes in PM AASHA to serve the farmers and consumers more efficiently. The Integrated scheme of PM-AASHA will bring-in more effectiveness in the implementation which would not only help in providing remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce but also control the price volatility of essential commodities by ensuring their availability at affordable prices to consumers. PM-AASHA will now have the components of Price Support scheme (PSS) ,Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) , Price Deficit Payment Scheme (POPS) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme to support cutting-edge research and development in biotechnology.

Bio-RIDE combines two existing schemes -- Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED) -- with a new component, 'Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry', an official statement said.

The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme Bio-RIDE is Rs 9,197 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme, allocating Rs. 35,000 crore for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26. This significant decision aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and manage price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.

The PM-AASHA scheme consolidates the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) into a unified program to enhance its effectiveness. The integrated scheme will now include the Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). These components are designed to provide better support for farmers and stabilize prices for consumers.

Starting from the 2024-25 season, the procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra at Minimum Support Price (MSP) will cover 25% of national production. This change aims to increase the amount of these crops procured at MSP, reducing the risk of distress sales. Notably, the procurement ceiling will not apply to Tur, Urad, and Masur for the 2024-25 season, as the government plans a 100% procurement of these pulses.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sept 15 that Cambodia’s famed religious and archaeological site Angkor Wat has been named the most photogenic Unesco World Heritage site in Asia by Times Travel.

The prime minister announced this in a text posted on his official Telegram channel, with a list by Times Travel of the Times of India newspaper of the 10 most photogenic Unesco World Heritage Sites in Asia.

Other world heritage sites on the list included India’s mausoleum Taj Mahal; Hampi, the capital of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire; the Great Wall of China in Beijing; Myanmar’s ancient city of Bagan; Indonesia’s Buddhist temple Borobudur; Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay; the historic monuments of Kyoto, Japan; Jordan’s historic and archaeological site Petra; and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.