PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS NATIONAL FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARDS 2024

• A total of 15 awards are given in the category of Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife, Registered Nurses and Midwife, and Registered Lady Visitor.

National Florence Nightingale Award:

 Establishment: 

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards were instituted in the year 1973 by the Indian government.
• Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, Cash Award of Rs.1,00,000/- and a medal.

Aim: 

• The primary objective of these awards is to acknowledge and appreciate the remarkable work of nurses across India. The awards encourage and motivate nurses to continue their dedicated service and strive for excellence in patient care.

Recognition: 

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards are considered one of the highest honors in the nursing profession in India. They highlight the significant role nurses play in the healthcare system and recognize their selfless commitment to saving lives and promoting well-being.

Eligibility

• The award is given to outstanding Nursing personnel employed in Central, State/UTs, Private, Missionary and Voluntary Organizations.
• Apart from the Nursing Personnel working in the State, Central, Autonomous institutions, the Nursing Personnel working in Private, Missionary and Voluntary Organizations are also eligible for the National Florence Nightingale Nurses Award and their application may also be forwarded after considering it in State Level Selection Committee in accordance with the laid down procedure, subject to their fulfilling the requirements.

Florence Nightingale:

• She was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. 
• Nightingale was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. 
• She spent many hours in the wards, and her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded established her image as the “Lady with the Lamp.” 
• Her efforts to formalize nursing education led her to establish the first scientifically based nursing school—the Nightingale School of Nursing, in London.
• International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12, commemorates her birth and celebrates the important role of nurses in health care.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi remembers Swami Vivekanand on 132nd anniversary of Chicago speech

• Shri Modi said that Vivekananda introduced India’s ages old message of unity, peace, and brotherhood, which continue to inspire generations. 

Swami Vivekananda

• Influenced by Western esotericism, he was a key figure in introduction of Indian darsanas (teachings, practices) of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world, and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century.
• In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint, and his birthday, 12th January is celebrated as National Youth Day.
• Universal Brotherhood Day is observed on 11 September, on the day when Vivekananda delivered his first speech at the Parliament of the World''s Religions Chicago in 1893 and addressed the American people and his audience as "Sisters and brothers of America".
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the "maker of modern India."

Contributions in national movement

• National consciousness: Though Vivekananda never gave any political message, through his speeches and writings he infused the youth with a sense of pride in India''s past and faith in India''s future thereby contributing to the concept of nationalism in colonial India.

Societal contributions

• Represented Hinduism: In 1893, Swami Vivekananda leapt into fame at the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago and stressed on the need for a healthy balance between spiritualism and materialism.
• Neo-Hinduism: He envisaged a new culture for the whole world where the materialism of the West and the spiritualism of the East would be harmoniously blended to produce happiness for mankind.
• For vulnerable sections: He denounced the socials evils prevalent in Hindu society of the time including caste system, rituals and superstition. He attacked the tacit approval to the oppression of the poor by the rich.
• Ramakrishna Mission (1897): To achieve its objective, the Mission opened various charitable schools, hospitals, orphanages, libraries, etc., in different parts of the country.

Intellectual contributions

• Literary works: Vivekananda blended humour with his teachings, and his language was lucid. His Bengali writings testify to his belief that words (spoken or written) should clarify ideas, rather than demonstrating the speaker (or writer''s) knowledge. Example: Sangeet Kalpataru (1887), Karma Yoga (1896), etc

The Chicago Speech

• On September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World''s Religions.
• His opening words "Sisters and Brothers of America" received a standing ovation and set the tone for his speech.

Key points from his address include:

• Universal Tolerance: Vivekananda emphasized the importance of tolerance and acceptance of all religions, emphasizing that all paths lead to the same truth.
• Hinduism''s Acceptance of Diversity: He spoke about how Hinduism embraces diversity in beliefs and practices and highlighted the Hindu concept of "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti," which means "Truth is one, the wise call it by various names."
• Yoga and Meditation: Vivekananda introduced the Western audience to the concept of yoga and meditation as tools for spiritual growth and self-realization.
• Interconnectedness of All Religions: He emphasized that all religions are different paths to the same God and encouraged people to see the commonalities between them.

Impact

• Swami Vivekananda''s Chicago speech had a profound impact on both the Western and Indian worlds:
• It brought attention to Hinduism and Indian spirituality, paving the way for the Western interest in yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophy.
• Vivekananda''s message of religious tolerance and universal acceptance remains relevant in today''s multicultural world.
• His teachings inspired the formation of the Vedanta Society and the Ramakrishna Mission, which continue to promote his ideals and serve humanity.

IAF AIRCRAFT SET COURSE FOR EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE VII AT OMAN

Participants:

• Indian Air Force (IAF): Deploying MiG-29s, Jaguars, and C-17s.
• Royal Oman Air Force (ROAF): Hosting and participating in the exercise.

Exercise Components:

• Aerial Maneuvering: Complex aerial maneuvers to practice and improve air combat skills.
• Air-to-Air Operations: Exercises involving aircraft engaging each other in the air.
• Air-to-Ground Operations: Simulations and training on attacking ground targets from the air.
• Logistical Coordination: Managing and coordinating logistical support and operations.

EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE

• The Eastern Bridge exercise is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman. 
• The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and to improve operational capabilities and interoperability. 
• The first Eastern Bridge exercise was held in 2009.

Objectives:

• Interoperability: Enhance coordination and operational synergy between the Royal Oman Air Force and the Indian Air Force.
• Training and Skills Improvement: Focus on improving tactical and operational skills through joint training missions.
• Strategic Cooperation: Strengthen strategic cooperation and mutual understanding between the two air forces.

Significance:

• Strategic Partnership: Demonstrates the enduring partnership and strategic collaboration between the Royal Oman Air Force and the Indian Air Force.
• Regional Security: Highlights the commitment of both nations to regional security and stability.
• Shared Expertise: Provides an opportunity for both air forces to share expertise and operational experiences, contributing to improved operational readiness.

 Other bilateral exercises between India and Oman

• Oman is the only country in the Gulf region with which all three services of the Indian armed forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks, enabling close cooperation and trust at the professional level.

1. Naseem Al-Bahr is the naval exercise conducted between both the countries.
2. AL Nagah is the joint exercise between the armies of two countries.
3. Eastern Bridge is the joint exercise between the air forces of two countries.

Oman’s Strategic Significance for India

• Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region and an important anchor for India’s defence and strategic interests.
• Oman is at the gateway of Strait of Hormuz through which India imports one-fifth of its oil imports.
• Oman also provides critical operational support to Indian naval deployments in the Arabian sea for anti-piracy missions.
• Oman also actively participates in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
• India has supplied rifles to Oman. Also, India is considering setting up a defence production unit in Oman.

Trade Connect e-Platform for exports is single window, fast, accessible and transformational: Shri Piyush Goyal

Launch:

• The Trade Connect e-Platform was launched by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi.

Objective:

• To transform international trade by providing a single-window solution for Indian exporters, especially MSMEs, to access new markets and opportunities efficiently.

Features and Functionality:

• Comprehensive Trade Information: Offers near real-time access to crucial trade-related data.
• Market Insights: Provides Product and Country guides, Trade Agreements, and Tariff explorer for leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
• E-Commerce Guidance: Includes a Global E-Commerce Guide to facilitate online market presence.
• Educational Resources: Features EXIM Paathshala to educate exporters and ''Ask an Expert'' for real-time advice from trade professionals.
• Showcasing Products: Source from India section to promote Indian products globally.

Accessibility and Integration:

• Wide Connectivity: Connects over 6 lakh IEC holders, more than 180 Indian Mission officials, over 600 Export Promotion Council officials, and other key stakeholders including DGFT and banks.
• Integration: Compatible with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portals to broaden market access and enhance competitiveness.

Government Support and Future Plans:

• Multilingual Support: Future versions of the platform will be available in Hindi and other regional languages.
• E-Platform 2.0: An enhanced version of the platform is expected before the next trade board meeting, incorporating user feedback.

Economic and Strategic Impact:

• Export Targets: Supports the government''s $1 trillion merchandise and $1 trillion services export targets by 2030.
• Market Expansion: Aims to increase India’s market share globally, enhance competitiveness, and create new partnerships and synergies.

Alignment with Digital India Vision:

• Transparency and Efficiency: Promotes Digital India by offering a transparent, efficient, and user-friendly platform to streamline global trade processes.

5th India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held in Manila

Key highlights

Discussions and Outcomes:

• Bilateral and Multilateral Issues: The meeting involved discussions on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral topics.
• Service-to-Service Interactions: The outcomes of the third Service-to-Service interactions held on September 10, 2024, were reviewed with satisfaction regarding the enhancement of bilateral defence cooperation.

India''s Defence Initiatives:

• Self-Reliance Defence Posture Act: India acknowledged the Philippines'' efforts under this act for modernizing its armed forces and shared its own vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ aimed at boosting indigenous defence capabilities.
• Co-Development and Co-Production: India invited the Philippines to collaborate in the co-development and co-production of defence equipment and sought investments for long-term equity partnerships.

Philippines'' Defence Initiatives:

• The Philippines expressed interest in investing in assured supply chains and appreciated India’s defence industry indigenisation model.

Commitments and Initiatives:

• Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other’s goals of self-reliance in defence production.
• They appreciated the operationalisation of the White Shipping Information Exchange and the forthcoming opening of the Defence Wing at the Indian Embassy in Manila.

Multilateral Cooperation:

• The Philippines was welcomed as a coordinating country for India in the ASEAN Defence Ministers'' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).
• Discussions were held on strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.

India’s Relations with Philippines

• India and the Philippinesare two democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region that share common approach towards the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of a free, open, and stable region.

Political Relations: 

• India and the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1949,shortly after both countries gained independence. (Philippines in 1946 and India in 1947).
• When India launched Look East Policy and intensified partnership with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1992,it also resulted in intensified relations with the Philippines both bilaterally and in the regional context.
• With the Act East Policy (2014), the relationship with the Philippines has diversified further into political-security; trade and industry, etc.

Defence Cooperation: 

• India and the Philippines have a growing defense and security partnership. One of the most significant developments in defence cooperation between India and the Philippines is the BrahMos missile deal, which is expected to be finalised soon.

Bilateral trade between India and Philippines 

• It (in terms of value) increased from USD 1.89 billion in 2015-16 to USD 3.05 billion in 2022-23, crossing USD 3 billion mark for the first time.
• In 2022, an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Custom Matters was signed which would facilitate trade.
• MOU for constitution of JWG on Cooperation in Financial Technology was signed in 2023. This would facilitate partnership between India and Philippines in the fields of digital payments, financial inclusion, fintech and related areas.

Significance of Philippines for India

• Strategic and Security Interests: The Philippines is a key player in Southeast Asia, a region of strategic importance to India.
• The two countries share common interests in maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and countering regional security threats. 
• India’s Look East Policy and its Act East Policy are aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, to enhance regional stability and cooperation.
• Economic Opportunities: The Philippines is an emerging market with potential for trade and investment.
• Both countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, education, and tourism.
• Regional Cooperation: Both countries are members of regional forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asia Summit.
• Their collaboration in these forums is important for addressing regional challenges and promoting economic integration.