INS Tir and INS Sujata will participate in the forthcoming second edition of India Mozambique Tanzania (IMT) Tri Lateral (TRILAT) Exercise, a joint maritime exercise scheduled from 21-29 Mar 24. The first edition of IMT TRILAT exercise conducted in Oct 22, saw participation of INS Tarkash with the Tanzanian and Mozambique Navies.

The current edition of the exercise is planned in two phases. As part of the harbour phase scheduled from 21-24 Mar 24, Naval ships Tir and Sujata will engage with the respective Navies at the ports of Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Maputo (Mozambique). This phase would begin with a Planning Conference followed by conduct of joint harbour training activities like Damage Control, Fire Fighting, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures, Medical Lectures, Casualty Evacuation and Diving operations. The sea phase of the exercise is scheduled from 24-27 Mar 24 covering practical aspects of countering asymmetric threats, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures, boat handling, manoeuvres and firing exercise. A joint EEZ surveillance is also planned during the sea phase. The exercise will conclude with a joint debrief scheduled at Nacala (Mozambique).

During the harbour stay, Indian Naval ships would be open for visitors and partake in sports & cultural exchanges with host Navies. Training visits for sea trainees of 106 Integrated Officers Training Course are also planned at the respective ports.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) on Thursday joined hands with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to conduct awareness programmes across the country to enhance public perceptions on peaceful use of nuclear power and disseminate scientific information.

The memorandum of understanding between NCC and NPCIL, a public sector undertaking, also facilitates a unique opportunity to cadets to visit various facilities of NPCIL, thereby giving a "first-hand experience" on peaceful use of nuclear energy, its technical and technological aspects.

Down Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect a person physically and mentally. It makes communication and social interactions challenging for a person. In Down Syndrome, a person has an extra chromosome or an extra piece of a chromosome. This keeps changing as the person's body and brain develop. Some of the symptoms of Down Syndrome are distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability, and developmental delays. Some of the treatment options available for Down Syndrome are speech therapy, physical exercise and special education. The average life expectancy of a person with Down Syndrome is usually 60 years.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna and India's second-largest government-owned downstream oil producer, proudly announces its continued position as the 5th-ranked company in The Business World Real 500 List of 2024. This accomplishment underscores BPCL's unwavering commitment to excellence and highlights its consistent and robust financial performance in a dynamic operating environment.

Throughout the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, BPCL has demonstrated agility and resilience in navigating through changing times while remaining firmly committed to the strategic path of energy transition. Our physical and financial performance during this period reflects our dedication to maintaining a growth trajectory amidst challenges.

Vaughan Gething was elected first minister of Wales on Wednesday, becoming the first Black leader of a government in the UK. Gething was elected government leader by members of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff, four days after winning the contest to be leader of Wales’ governing Labour Party. He secured 27 of 51 votes in the legislature, the Senedd, where Labour is the biggest party.

Gething, the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, said Wales is now “the first nation anywhere in Europe to be led by a Black person.” “It is a matter of pride for a modern Wales but also a daunting responsibility for me — and one that I do not take lightly,” he told lawmakers.

He said he wanted to lead a country that “can celebrate our differences and take pride in all of those things that draw us together.” Gething will be sworn in once his appointment is approved by King Charles III — a formality.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ministry of Defence has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for health services to ex-servicemen in AIIMS.

The agreement will ensure free-of-cost health services, including emergency care, for ex-servicemen and their family members.

It will be beneficial to more than 30,000 ex-servicemen and their family members.

Lt Gen. Padam Singh Shekhawat, General Officer Commanding, Madhya Bharat Area, expressed his happiness at empathising with AIIMS-R for ECHS.

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is set to unveil the BhashaNet portal at the upcoming Universal Acceptance (UA) Day, in a move towards advancing digital inclusion and promoting linguistic diversity in India.

Scheduled for March 21, the event will take place at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi, marking the collaborative efforts of NIXI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in championing the cause of Universal Acceptance.

According to a press release, this announcement follows the successful partnership between NIXI and MeitY, highlighting their joint commitment to fostering a digitally inclusive environment across the nation.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra government to appoint Bhushan Gagrani, currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, as the new Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On Wednesday evening, the veteran IAS officer, Bhushan Gagrani was appointed as the new Commissioner of BMC. Mr. Gagrani took over from Iqbal Singh Chahal.

Mr. Gagrani is a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service and also the first Chartered Officer (IAS) in the country to secure an All India third rank with Marathi language. He holds Master of Commerce and Master of Arts in History from Shivaji University, Kolhapur; Bachelor of Laws degree from Nagpur University, Master’s Degree in Management from the University of Birmingham in London and a Vidyavachaspati (Ph.D) degree in Management from Mumbai University.

World Forestry Day 2024: Forests are very significant for our daily lives. From the book we read to the air we breathe to the house we build; forests play an irreplaceable role in each of our lives. They bind the soil, they help in water retention, they contribute to the overall ecosystem of the world, and most importantly, they give us the oxygen that we need for survival. Forests are also the greatest source of medicinal plants which can cure a lot of diseases. In short, we cannot live without trees and forests in the world.

However, with time, industrialisation and overpopulation, we have mindlessly cut down trees and done deforestation for our own benefits. This has contributed to global warming and the depleting of resources. It is time to understand that we do not have another planet to go to, and we should take care of the planet we call home.

IPS officer Sanjay Mukherjee has been appointed the new West Bengal Director-General of Police (DGP) by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a day after the election body transferred the State’s current DGP Rajeev Kumar.

Mr. Mukherjee‘s appointment by the ECI also comes after the West Bengal government appointed Vivek Sahay as the new DGP hours after Mr. Kumar was transferred.

In a memo to the State Chief Secretary, ECI secretary Rakesh Kumar said that the Commission approved Mr. Mukherjee’s name for the post of DGP and directed the Chief Secretary to ensure immediate compliance and confirm the same by 5 p.m.