What is the News ?

India maintains its position at the 40th rank among 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index for the year 2023..

Facts About:

• Published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Serves as a valuable tool for governments worldwide to evaluate the impact of innovation on social and economic development in their nations.
• The India Launch of GII 2023 is being virtually hosted on September 29, 2023, by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WIPO.

Key Insights:                        

• The Global Innovation Index relies on a diverse dataset, incorporating 80 indicators from international public and private sources, offering a comprehensive view of innovation beyond conventional measures.
• Top 5 countries in the ranking include Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom (4th), and Singapore (5th).
• India is recognized among the 21 economies that have consistently outperformed in innovation relative to their level of development for the 13th consecutive year.
• The report highlights India, Iran, the Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, and Indonesia as economies within the GII top 65 that have made significant ranking improvements over the last decade.
• Within the Central and Southern Asia region, India secures top positions in categories such as Human capital and research (48th), Business sophistication (57th), and Knowledge and technology outputs (22nd).
• Prominent indicators for India encompass ICT services exports (5th), Venture capital received (6th), Graduates in science and engineering (11th), and Global corporate R&D investors (13th).

What is the News ?

Recently, the Chief Minister of Tripura inaugurated an e-cabinet system in Agartala, aimed at advancing digital infrastructure and enhancing the digitization of government services and information.

Facts About:

• The e-Cabinet system is a robust software portal designed for State Governments to facilitate electronic and online Cabinet meetings.
• It has been developed by the National Information Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
• Tripura is now the fourth state, and the second in the Northeast region, to implement the e-cabinet system, following in the footsteps of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Features:

• Enhances the utilization of technology in meetings and reduces paper consumption.
• Streamlines workflow activities for meetings, covering pre-meeting, during the meeting, and post-meeting phases.
• Offers a user-friendly interface designed for smart tablets, ensuring a smooth user experience.
• Incorporates a secure push and pull mechanism to safeguard sensitive Cabinet matters.
• Establishes an institutional memory and knowledge repository, facilitating quick searches and retrieval of information.
• For virtual meetings, eCabinet seamlessly integrates with the Bharat VC solution of NIC.

Benefits and Impact of eCabinet:

• Substantial savings in paper, fuel, and manpower resources.
• Real-time data updates.
• Enhanced information accessibility, promoting coordinated actions.
• Improved decision-making processes and swift retrieval of meeting decisions and action taken.
• Enables virtual participation of Ministers in Cabinet proceedings.

What is the News ?

The recent claims made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, connecting the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory to the Indian government, have drawn attention to the intelligence-sharing coalition known as the 'Five Eyes' (FVEY).

Facts About:

• This multilateral intelligence-sharing network involves more than 20 agencies from five predominantly English-speaking nations:

                   Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

• It encompasses both surveillance-based activities and signals intelligence (SIGINT).
• The intelligence documents shared among member countries are labeled as 'Secret—AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US Eyes Only,' which gives rise to the group's name, 'Five Eyes.'

Background of the Alliance:

• The origins of this alliance between the U.S. and the U.K. date back to the Second World War when they collaborated to counter the Cold War Soviet threat.
• These two nations, renowned for their code-breaking achievements during World War II, established cooperation in sharing intelligence related to various forms of signals, including radio, satellite, and internet communications.
• Following the war, in 1946, the alliance formalized through an agreement focused on signals intelligence.

This agreement, originally named the British-U.S. Communication Intelligence Agreement (BRUSA) and now known as the UKUSA Agreement, was signed between the U.S. State-Army-Navy Communication Intelligence Board (STANCIB) and the British London Signal Intelligence Board (SIGINT).

• Initially, its scope was limited to 'communication intelligence matters only,' involving the unrestricted exchange of intelligence products across six areas: traffic collection, acquisition of communication documents and equipment, traffic analysis, cryptanalysis, decryption and translation, and the acquisition of information regarding communication organizations, practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Over time, the alliance expanded to include 'second party' countries, with Canada joining in 1948, and Australia and New Zealand becoming part of the alliance in 1956.

What is the News ?

Recently, the government of Gujarat has instituted a prohibition on the planting of Conocarpus trees in both forested and non-forested areas, citing concerns regarding their detrimental effects on the environment and human well-being.

Facts About:

• The Conocarpus tree is a flowering plant belonging to the Combretaceae family.
• It is categorized as an invasive mangrove species.
• These trees bloom during the winter season, releasing pollen into their surroundings.
• In India, public authorities have commonly used Conocarpus for landscaping purposes, including road medians, roadsides, and public gardens.
• In the Arabian Peninsula, it has been employed to combat desert storms and pollution.
• This tree is renowned for its year-round dark green leaves and its ability to thrive in harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures.
• It exhibits adaptability, even in areas with high salinity.
• The Conocarpus tree absorbs a significant amount of water from the soil, posing a threat to groundwater levels.
• Its extensive root system can damage communication cables, drainage lines, and drinking water pipelines.
• This species is native to various regions in North and South America, as well as parts of Africa.

What is the News ?

The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has made a plea to the diamond industry, urging them to halt the importation of rough diamonds.

Facts About:

• GJEPC serves as the apex organization representing India's Gem and Jewellery industry, operating under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
• Primary Role: The Council's primary mission is to introduce Indian gem and jewellery products to global markets and facilitate their exports.

It achieves this by furnishing its members with crucial information on foreign trade inquiries, trade regulations, tariff rates, and updates on jewellery fairs and exhibitions.

• Location: Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, GJEPC maintains a presence through regional offices nationwide, boasting a membership exceeding 7,500.

Additional Functions:

• Collaborating in international jewellery showcases.
• Encouraging countries to explore opportunities for cooperation in the supply of rough diamonds, colored gemstones, and finished jewellery.
• Identifying potential partners and buyers in international markets through buyer-seller meetings.
• Administering the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme as India's Nodal Agency.
• Advocating for export-related matters with the Government, Ministries, Regulatory Authorities, and Agencies.
• Conducting image-building campaigns via international advertisements, publications, and audio-visuals.
• Establishing training institutes across six cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Surat, Jaipur, Varanasi, and Udupi) to impart manufacturing skills and promote technical and design excellence.
• Initiating the establishment of Jewellery Parks throughout the country.