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Indian Army's All-Women Sailing Expedition
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21 Mar 2025 - 3 min read
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International Relation10-Sep-2025
India Hosts Annual Oceans Law Conference
**Summary of the 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48) in New Delhi** The 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48) was held in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone as it is the first time in nearly 50 years that India has hosted this event. The conference aimed to discuss and explore sustainable and inclusive marine governance in the context of the Indian Ocean, with a focus on developmental priorities of nations in the region. ### Key Highlights: - **Strategic Importance of Indian Ocean**: - Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized the ocean's role in regulating climate, supporting biodiversity, and facilitating global trade. - The Indian Ocean is highlighted as crucial to India’s future in terms of food, water, energy, climate, and security. - **Threats to the Indian Ocean**: - Climate change, sea-level rise, acidification, declining productivity, and increasing cyclones pose significant threats to the region. - **Five Priority Areas for Ocean Governance**: 1. **Livelihood & Food Security**: Sustain fisheries and mariculture. 2. **Regional Cooperation**: Foster South-South solidarity among Indian Ocean Rim nations. 3. **Integration of Knowledge**: Combine traditional practices with modern science in governance. 4. **Climate Resilience**: Use ecosystem-based approaches to protect biodiversity. 5. **Innovative Financing**: Build capacity for ocean research and governance through innovative finance. - **Marine Spatial Planning**: - Emphasis on the need for robust marine spatial planning and frameworks for hazard mitigation to foster sustainable ocean practices. - **Research and Exploration**: - Dr. Ravichandran noted only 5% of oceans have been explored, calling for enhanced research initiatives and international cooperation. - **Call for Global Engagement**: - He urged for greater participation of Indian Ocean states in global forums such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), International Seabed Authority, and the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement. - **Unique Characteristics of the Indian Ocean**: - Highlighted as the only ocean where currents and winds reverse direction every six months, contributing to accelerated warming. - It is predicted that the number of marine heatwave days could increase dramatically from 20 to 220 days annually by the century's end, threatening marine ecosystems. - **International Collaboration**: - The need for collaborative efforts was stressed, not just for regional needs but for global sustainability. ### Organizational Details: - The conference was organized by the Stockton Center for International Law (U.S. Naval War College) and Gujarat Maritime University, supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. - Notable institutions involved included the World Maritime University, Korea Maritime Institute, Japan Institute of International Affairs, National Maritime Foundation, and the University of Copenhagen. ### Concluding Remarks: Dr. Ravichandran advocated for evidence-based, collaborative, and forward-looking policies to ensure a clean, healthy, and resilient Indian Ocean, asserting its necessity for both regional and global contexts. **Important Points**: - India hosted COLP48 for the first time in almost 50 years. - Focus on sustainable marine governance in the Indian Ocean. - Five priority areas were outlined for effective governance. - Urgent need for research and exploration in the largely unexplored oceanic zones. - Call for enhanced engagement of Indian Ocean states at international governance forums. - Emphasis on collaboration for ocean sustainability for future generations.
National and international importance10-Sep-2025
Ministry Launches Gyan Bharatam Mission
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is set to launch the 'Gyan Bharatam' initiative aimed at preserving, digitizing, and disseminating India’s manuscript heritage. Accompanying this initiative will be the inaugural Gyan Bharatam International Conference from September 11 to 13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This significant event will convene over 1,100 participants, including scholars, experts, and cultural practitioners, promoting collaboration and dialogue in preserving and sharing India's manuscript wealth. Key Highlights: - **Launch of Gyan Bharatam**: A national initiative aimed at safeguarding and disseminating India's vast manuscript heritage. - **International Conference**: Scheduled from September 11-13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, focusing on 'Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage'. - **Participation**: The conference will gather more than 1,100 attendees, fostering discussions and future pathways for manuscript preservation and accessibility. - **Press Conference Details**: The initiative was unveiled by Shri Vivek Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, alongside other officials at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. - **Mission Goals**: The 'Gyan Bharatam' initiative will address the identification and documentation of manuscripts, conservation and digital preservation, and global accessibility, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. - **Framework Components**: - Nationwide register for documentation of manuscripts. - Restoration of fragile texts. - Large-scale digitization using AI tools and establishment of a National Digital Repository. - Focus on research, translation, publication, and capacity building for scholars and conservators. - **Global Partnerships**: The initiative aims to bolster international collaboration and incorporate manuscript wisdom into educational systems to enhance India’s position in global knowledge exchange. - **Implementation Strategy**: The 'Gyan Bharatam' will involve a broad coalition of stakeholders including libraries and religious institutions, to ensure longevity in manuscript preservation and accessibility. - **Technology Integration**: The Gyan-Setu AI innovation challenge has attracted over 40 entries aimed at enhancing manuscript digitization and preservation techniques. - **Conference Activities**: The three-day event will feature eight working groups dedicated to various aspects including script decipherment, documentation, and legal frameworks around manuscript preservation. - **Prime Minister's Involvement**: The Honorable Prime Minister will attend the conference on September 12, participating in presentations and addressing the attendees. - **Closing Session**: The valedictory session will be chaired by the Honorable Home Minister of India on September 13, concluding the conference. This initiative underscores India's commitment to celebrating its rich manuscript heritage while integrating modern techniques to ensure that this knowledge is preserved for future generations. It aims to blend traditional wisdom with contemporary technological innovations, thereby enriching India's cultural and educational landscape. In summary, 'Gyan Bharatam' exemplifies India’s dedication to cultural preservation and its ambition to emerge as a global leader in knowledge sharing by harnessing its historical manuscript wealth.
Polity and Governance05-Sep-2025
Modi Addresses Military Leaders Conference
**Summary: Combined Commanders’ Conference Address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi** - **Event Overview**: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the Combined Commanders’ Conference from September 15 to 17, 2025, in Kolkata. This will be his first engagement with top military leadership following the success of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. - **Focus Areas of the Conference**: - Progress on higher defence reforms, particularly the establishment of three integrated theatre commands aimed at improving the operational efficiency and synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force in future conflicts. - Discussion on the lessons learnt from Operation Sindoor, which will influence the evolving military command structure being designed by the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) under Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. - **Theatre Commands**: - The theatre commands, once implemented, will alter India’s warfighting architecture by integrating the armed forces under unified command structures tailored to specific geographical areas. - There had been discussions regarding the structure of these commands during the recent ‘Ran Samvaad’ at the Army War College in Mhow, highlighting differing opinions from the Air Chief and Navy Chief. - **Additional Key Themes**: - The conference will also review the advancements towards self-reliance in defence, emphasizing the development of indigenous weapon systems. - Notably, the Prime Minister had announced ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’ on Independence Day, aiming to establish an indigenous air defense system by 2035. - On August 19, 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, reflecting ongoing efforts in self-reliance and modernization of the armed forces. - **Official Participation**: The Prime Minister will deliver his remarks on the second day, followed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the third day of the conference. - **Conference Frequency**: The Combined Commanders’ Conference is held biannually; this year it was initially planned for April but was rescheduled due to Operation Sindoor. The previous conference took place in 2023 in Bhopal. - **Publication Date**: The article containing this information was published on September 5, 2025. This conference aims to solidify India’s defence reforms while adapting to lessons from recent military operations, furthering the nation’s goal of self-reliance in defence production. **Important Points**: - Prime Minister Modi to address military leadership at Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata (Sept 15-17, 2025). - First address post-success of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. - Focus on integrated theatre commands for enhanced operational efficiency. - Lessons from Operation Sindoor will inform evolving military command structures. - ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’ announced to develop indigenous air defense system by 2035. - CCS approved procurement of 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft for IAF on August 19, 2025. - Conference is biannual; this year's event was rescheduled from April 2025 due to military operations.
National and international importance02-Sep-2025
Sectarian Violence in Syria Increases Concern
**Summary of the Amnesty International Report on Sectarian Violence in Syria** On September 2, 2025, Amnesty International released a statement detailing evidence of systemic executions of 46 members of the Druze minority by Syrian government forces during sectarian violence in July 2025. This violence followed clashes that began on July 13 between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin factions but escalated rapidly, implicating government forces and various tribal fighters in the violence. Key Points: - **Incident Overview**: The clashes commenced on July 13, 2025, and involved Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin factions, drawing in Syrian government personnel and additional tribal fighters. - **Amnesty's Findings**: The findings revealed that Syrian government personnel and affiliated groups carried out extrajudicial executions of 46 Druze individuals, which occurred predominantly on July 15 and 16 in various public locations, including residential areas and a hospital in Sweida city. - **Mass Casualties**: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that over 2,000 people were killed during the violence, with 789 of these being Druze civilians who were "summarily executed." - **Perpetrators**: Amnesty documented that the crimes were executed by armed men in security and military uniforms, some bearing official insignia. At least four individuals visible in videos wore a black patch associated with the Islamic State (IS) group; however, IS has not claimed responsibility for these specific attacks. - **International Human Rights Law Violations**: Diana Semaan, Amnesty’s Syria researcher, characterized the actions of security forces as extrajudicial killings, which constitute a crime under international law. She called for an independent and transparent investigation into these violations. - **Ongoing Investigations**: Amnesty International is also investigating credible reports regarding abductions conducted by Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters amidst the chaos. - **Government Response**: In response to the violence, Syrian authorities established a committee to investigate the events in Sweida, promising to deliver findings within three months and assured accountability for the atrocities, particularly emphasized after the emergence of a video depicting an unarmed man's execution. - **Humanitarian Situation**: Residents in Sweida have expressed grave concerns regarding the humanitarian conditions in the region, which were exacerbated by the ongoing violence that resulted in the road to Damascus being closed for over a month before reopening recently. The findings by Amnesty International reflect a serious breach of human rights and underline the complex and volatile situation in Syria, with inter-sectarian tensions remaining a critical issue. **Important Sentences:** - Amnesty International reported evidence of 46 Druze executions by Syrian government forces during July 2025 sectarian violence. - The violence began on July 13 and escalated quickly, leading to over 2,000 total casualties, including 789 Druze civilians. - Evidence includes verified videos showing armed men in military uniforms executing unarmed individuals. - Diana Semaan stated these actions are considered extrajudicial executions under international law. - Syrian authorities formed an investigative committee to report findings within three months regarding the Sweida violence. - Concerns about the humanitarian situation in Sweida have escalated due to prolonged road closures to Damascus.