Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas observed every two years on January 9th, stands as a testament to the profound impact of the Indian diaspora across the globe. Commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa in 1915, this day honours the overseas Indian community and their significant contributions to India’s development.

Historical Roots and Evolution:

The inception of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2003, under the guidance of then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, marked a pivotal moment in recognizing the global influence of Indian communities. Originally an annual event, it transitioned to a biennial celebration in 2015, adopting a theme-based format to delve into diverse aspects of the Indian diaspora’s role.

Government Initiatives for Overseas Indians:

In parallel with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives to engage with the diaspora actively. From the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana for skill development to the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children and the “Know India Program,” these endeavours aim to strengthen ties and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

Why January 9th?

• January 9th holds historical significance as Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India in 1915, marking the start of his leadership in the Indian freedom movement. As the symbolic “Non-Resident Indian Day,” it recognizes the global exposure of NRIs and their potential to contribute to India’s development.
• Beyond reconnecting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with their roots, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrates their achievements and provides a platform for building an international network.
• The conventions play a vital role in fostering global connections, allowing the diaspora to contribute significantly to India’s progress

ONGC begins first-ever oil production from deep-water block in K-G basin:

Krishna Godavari Basin:

• The Krishna Godavari Basin is a proven petroliferous basin of continental margin located on the east coast of India.
• Its onland part covers an area of 15000 sq. km and the offshore part covers an area of 25,000 sq. km up to 1000 m isobath.
• The basin contains about 5 km thick sediments with several cycles of deposition, ranging in age from Late Carboniferous to Pleistocene.
• The major geomorphological units of the Krishna Godavari basin are Upland plains, Coastal plains, Recent Flood and Delta Plains.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has started crude oil production from its massive deep-sea project in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin, which was hit by multiple delays and deadline extensions over the past few years. It is located around 35 km from the coast of Andhra Pradesh:

• This project is expected to add 7 percent each to India’s current production of oil and natural gas.
• Large projects like KG-DWN-98/2 are critical to the country’s objective of reducing its reliance on oil and gas imports to meet its rapidly growing energy needs.
• India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 percent of its requirement.
• The country is also a major importer of natural gas, as domestic gas output is able to meet around 50 per cent of the demand.
• The Government of India in the interest of meeting the objective of the country’s energy security, decided in 2004 to construct Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) facilities as well as a Special purpose vehicle (SPV) to build and operate the strategic crude reserves.
• Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB), which is a Body Corporate.
• Under Phase-I of SPR program, ISPRL completed the construction and filling of strategic crude oil in underground rock caverns with 5.33 MMT capacity at three locations namely Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT) in Andhra Pradesh and Mangalore (1.5 MMT) & Padur (2.5 MMT) in Karnataka which can be used in emergencies particularly from serious disruptions in global crude oil supply chain.
• Abu Dhabi National oil Company (ADNOC), National Oil Company from UAE, joined the Phase-I of India’s SPR programme.

Understanding the EU’s carbon border tax:

A concerning development for India is the European Union (EU)’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The policy, which intends to tax carbon-intensive products coming into the EU from 2026, is divided into two phases, with the first phase (transitional phase) kicking in from October 1, 2023. There has been constant exchange between the EU and India on the implications of the CBAM.

What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

• In 2021, the European Union (EU) proposed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which would tax very carbon-intensive items such as cement and steel beginning in 2026.
• CBAM is part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”, the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
• A carbon border adjustment tax is a duty on imports based on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the production of the product in question.
• As a price on carbon, it discourages emissions and as a trade-related measure, it affects production and exports.
• The CBAM will enter into force in its transitional phase as of 1 October 2023 and the permanent system will enter into force on 1 January 2026
• If implemented as intended, EU importers will be required to purchase carbon certificates equal to the carbon price paid in the EU if the items had been manufactured locally.
• The certificates’ price would be determined by the auction prices in the EU carbon credit market.
• The number of certificates required would be determined yearly by the quantity of commodities imported into the EU and the embedded emissions in those goods.
• The CBAM would first apply to cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers and electricity imports.

Exploring India’s diverse cultural heritage through GI tags:

Recently, 17 products from across six States/Union Territories got the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. The products ranged from handicrafts such as the Dongaria Kondh shawl from Odisha, to agricultural products such as the Sundarban Honey from West Bengal.

GI tag:

• A GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• Any trader’s body, association, or organisation can apply for a GI tag.
• The applicants need to prove the uniqueness of the item with historical records and a complete breakdown of how the product is made.
• Every GI tag recognises a particular region and product and brings it to the public eye.
• It is important to note that the raw materials for such products do not have to come from that region (unless it is an agricultural tag).
• There are over 500 GI tags as of January 7, 2023. There are 34 classes of products that can get GI tags, — from chemicals and paint to foodstuff, handicrafts, musical instruments, and even firearms and locomotives.
• Handicrafts dominate the list, with over half the GI tags being given to products crafted by skilled artisans.

GI tags across States:

• Tamil Nadu (61) has the highest number of GI tags compared to other States.
• Uttar Pradesh has the second highest number of GI tags (56).
• Karnataka with 48 GI tags is ranked third,
• Kerala with 39 is ranked fourth, and
• Maharashtra with 35 is fifth.

Some famous GI Tags:

• The Coimbatore wet grinder (to make batter for idlis) was given a GI tag under the “manufactured” category.
• Ancient cultural centres such as Banaras (Varanasi) are steeped in culture and tradition. Banaras offers 11 unique crafts and agricultural items (the highest from a single place), including the famous Banarasi paan.
• The heritage city of Mysore, ruled for centuries by the Wodeyars, has 10 unique items, including the special variety of jasmine (Mysore mallige) and the fragrant sandalwood soap.
• Paintings from Thanjavur in Tamil nadu and the Thanjavur’s iconic bobblehead dolls find a place among the five GI tags the city has to offer.

Ugram:

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab and a Hyderabad based private firm launched an indigenous assault rifle named Ugram recently.
• The rifle weighs less than 4 kg with a 500-metre firing range.
• It is designed and developed to meet the operational requirements of the Indian armed forces, Para military forces and state police forces

Countries of Particular Concern:

The US has designated China, North Korea, Pakistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Myanmar as ‘Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in a press statement.

“Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U.S. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998,” the press statement read.

• As part of that enduring commitment, I have designated Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, the DPRK, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom,” the US Secretary of State said in the statement.
• Additionally, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam as ‘Special Watch List countries’ for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.
• Furthermore, Blinken has designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as ‘Entities of Particular Concern’.

International Purple Fest 2024:

In a grand ceremony at D.B Ground in Panaji, Goa, the International Purple Festival kicked off on 08 January 2024, heralding six days of celebration and empowerment for Persons with Disabilities.

• The festival, a collaborative effort between the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, the Directorate of Social Welfare under the Government of Goa, and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• The International Purple Fest 2024 is a global celebration of inclusivity and empowerment.
• The festival aims to promote the rights of people with disabilities and create a platform for them to showcase their talents and abilities.

Key Highlights:

1. Leadership Presence: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant expressed pride in Goa’s unique initiatives for the disabled community, citing praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised inclusivity, lauding the diverse talents of Persons with Disabilities.
2. Disability Information Line (DIL): A milestone was achieved with the launch of India’s first cloud-based IVRS for Disability Information Line (DIL). The 24×7 service offers information on 21 disabilities, accessible through the toll-free number 1800222014.
3. Purple Fest Playbook: The launch of the Purple Fest Playbook provided an overview of the event’s achievements and outlined actions for accessibility before, during, and after the festival.
4. Purple Anthem ‘Dhumal’ The Opening Ceremony featured the Purple Anthem, ‘Dhumal,’ showcasing performances by Persons with Disabilities and renowned creators from the Indian Music Industry, symbolising unity and inclusivity.
5. PURPLE TV BHARAT: A dedicated channel, PURPLE TV BHARAT, was introduced to showcase ideas, success stories, interviews, and achievements of the Person with Disability Community globally.
6. Purple Rain Finale: The festival concluded with the Purple Rain, featuring diverse performances, including the international Mando by children from the National Association for the Blind, traditional Goan folk dance Mussal, classical dance ‘Saraswati Vandana,’ and an engaging performance by Hema Sardesaai.