International
15th summit between India and the European Union
The 15th summit between India and the European Union will be held via video conference on July 15
The leaders are expected to reiterate their determination to promote effective multilateralism and a rules-based multilateral order, with the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core.
The summit will be an opportunity to strengthen the EU-India strategic partnership based on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom and rule of law.
The leaders will discuss ways to boost cooperation in areas of security, climate, environment, trade and investment, digital economy and connectivity.
Operation Samudra Setu concluded
The Operation Samudra Setu, which was launched by the Indian Navy on May 5 as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas by sea during the Covid-19 pandemic has been completed.
3,992 Indian citizens have been brought back to their homeland by sea.
Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock), Airavat, Shardul and Magar (Landing Ship Tanks) have participated in the operation which lasted over 55 days traversing more than 23,000 kilometers.
Ships used for the operation were specially provisioned and the Sick Bay or the clinic onboard was especially equipped with Covid-19 related equipment and facilities.
National
India Global week 2020
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of India Global week via video-conference.
- #BeTheRevival: India & A Better New World brings together over 5,000 global participants across +75 sessions and +250 speakers for incisive global discussion and lively debate over three invigorating days.
- To Explore business, strategic and cultural opportunities, understand the challenges and make informed decisions as we look ahead to a better, brighter future beyond COVID-19.
Deadline for distribution of free food grains under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission extended
- States/UTs can complete distribution of remaining free food grains and whole gram allocated under AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme by 31st August 2020
- Under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Package, 5kg of free food grains per person and 1 kg of free whole gram per family has been distributed to migrant labourers, stranded and needy families, who are not covered under NFSA or State scheme PDS cards.
- The states and UTs have lifted 6.39 LMT of food grains. States and UTs have distributed 2,32,433 MT of food grains to 2.24 crore beneficiaries in May and to 2.25 crore beneficiaries in June,2020.
- Around 20 million tonnes of foodgrains have been earmarked for free distribution to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) cardholders up to November in the country.
Draft rules framed for the implementation of the Code on Wages Act, 2019
- It guarantees minimum wages to all, defines how the wages will be calculated and prescribes a national floorwage for all States.
- It subsumes the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
- According to the draft rules, the basis for calculating the minimum wage would be a standard working class family of one earning worker, a spouse and two children, a net intake of 2,700 calories per day each, 66 metres of cloth per year, rent expenditure equal to 10% of the food and clothing expenditure, fuel, electricity and other miscellaneous expenses of 20% of minimum wage and expenditure on children’s education, medical care, recreation and contingencies amounting to 25% of minimum wage.
Six bridges constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in J&K
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh e-inaugurated six major bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) close to the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The two bridges on the Tarnah Nallah in Kathua district and four bridges located on Akhnoor-Pallanwala road in Akhnoor in Jammu district
Army asks soldiers, officers to uninstall 89 apps
- Army has directed all its officers and soldiers to delete their Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as 89 apps from their mobile phones by July 15.
- Citing security considerations and leakage of sensitive data, the Army said those who do not follow the order will face strict action.
Mongolian Kanjur Manuscripts
- The Ministry of Culture has taken up the project of reprinting of 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur under the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM).
- Mongolian Kanjur, the Buddhist canonical text in 108 volumes is considered to be the most important religious text in Mongolia.
- In the Mongolian language ‘Kanjur’ means ‘Concise Orders’- the words of Lord Buddha in particular.
- It is held in high esteem by the Mongolian Buddhists and they worship the Kanjur at temples and recite the lines of Kanjur in daily life as a sacred ritual.
- The Kanjur are kept almost in every monastery in Mongolia.MongolianKanjur has been translated from Tibetan.
- The language of the Kanjur is Classical Mongolian.
- The Mongolian Kanjur is a source of providing a cultural identity to Mongolia.
- During the socialist period, xylographs were consignd to flames and monasteries were bereft of their sacred scriptures.
- During 1956-58, Professor Raghu Vira obtained a microfilm copy of the rare Kanjur manuscripts and brought them to India. And, the Mongolian Kanjur in 108 volumes was published in India in 1970s by Prof. Lokesh Chandra, former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).Now, the present edition is being published by the National Mission for Manuscripts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; in which every volume will have a list of contents indicating the original title of the sutra in Mongolian.
- Historical interaction between India and Mongolia goes backcenturies. Buddhism was carried to Mongolia by Indian cultural and religiousambassadors during the early Christian era. As a result, today, Buddhists form the single largest religious denomination in Mongolia. India established formal diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955.Since then, the overwhelming relationship between both the countries has now reached a new height. Now, the publication of Mongolian Kanjur by the Government of India for the Government of Mongolia will act as a symbol of cultural symphony between India and Mongolia and will contribute to furtherance of bilateral relations during the coming years.
- National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was launched in February 2003 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.It has the mandate of documenting, conserving and disseminating the knowledge preserved in manuscripts.
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