• The Department of Women and Child Development, in collaboration with other state departments and civil society, has framed a policy document for children in the State called “PRARAMBH- the Odisha State Policy for Children, 2022 “.
• The state cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister on Friday approved the State Policy for Children, 2022 that pledges to ensure and fulfill the rights of children, particularly in the areas of protection, survival and health, education and development.
• The policy envisions the best interest of children by means of a blueprint which focuses on children’s right to survival, protection, physical health, including mental health, upholding the right to education, participation and other milestones required to achieve their optimal development. For this policy, and in line with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), childhood includes the period from conception till 18 years of age, the statement issued by the government said.
• The policy will further strengthen the state’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring rights of children in the state and will significantly improve the overall wellbeing of children.
• The Policy for Children will stimulate, systematise and coordinate actions between the related departments and organizations working for children.
• One of the guiding principles of the policy also emphasises the protection and well- being of children from adverse or exceptional circumstances, affected by climate-induced natural disasters, orphaned, disabled, or with special needs, require additional protection, care and support from the state and society to lead a dignified life and to realise their full potential.

About:

• The European Union has proposed a policy — called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism — to tax products such as cement and steel, that are extremely carbon intensive, with effect from 2026.
• BASIC, a group constituting Brazil, India, South Africa and China, and therefore large economies that are significantly dependent on coal, has reiterated their right to use fossil fuel in the interim during their countries’ eventual transformation to clean energy sources.

What is a carbon border adjustment tax?

• It 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. As a trade-related measure, it affects production and exports.
• There is the risk that it becomes a protectionist device, unduly shielding local industries from foreign competition in so-called ‘green protectionism’.
• If implemented as planned, EU importers will have to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid in the EU, if the goods had been produced locally.
• The price of the certificates would be calculated according to the auction prices in the EU carbon credit market. The amount of certificates required would be defined yearly by the quantity of goods and the embedded emissions in those goods imported into the EU.

About:

• Theme:
  • Theme of the two-day event is ‘boardrooms to Community-ESG, Carbon Neutrality, Operational Safety, Greener Solutions’.
• The Conclave aims to promote sustainability in the management of the entire life cycle of chemicals.
• Initiative:
  • It is being organized jointly with United Nations Environment Program and International Council of Chemical Associations with support of Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system.
• It was established in 1972.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Indian Chemicals Council (ICC):

• It was established in 1938.
• It is the apex national body representing all branches of the Chemical Industry in India such as Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, Plastics & Petrochemicals & Petroleum Refineries, Dyestuffs & Dye-intermediates, Fertilizers & Pesticides, Specialty Chemicals, Paints etc.
• The Indian Chemical Council is dedicated to the growth of the Indian Chemical Industry.
• The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has authorised all ICC offices (Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai) to issue the CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN for the exporters.
• ICC also has two initiatives – Responsible Care and Nicer Globe.

• Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the country is spearheading a new wave of socioeconomic prosperity fueled by cutting-edge technology and innovation.
• Speaking after inaugurating the GeoSmart India 2022 Summit in Hyderabad, he said the country is advancing towards an era of sustainable development right from the grassroots level and aimed at eradicating poverty, combating climate change, and improving business and living standards.
• The theme for this year’s conference is #geospatialbydefault: Empowering Billions, and is being co-hosted by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing and the Indian Society of Geomatics.
• Stating that Geospatial information, has emerged as a key tool for development in the country, he said the government released the guidelines for geospatial data paving way for its usage across various sectors of the economy.
• Stating that the need for water, especially clean water, is at an all-time high, the minister said the country is facing severe water crisis that is becoming a critical issue and the Government has taken numerous steps to address the issue.
• About 2500 representatives from about 500 government, private, organisations working on geospatial technology and date have attended the three-day summit.

About GeoSmart India

• GeoSmart India is an interactive and collaborative platform that demonstrates the collective and shared vision of the Indian geospatial community.
• It showcases how geospatial and emerging technologies can have a disruptive impact on Indian businesses, government, and society.

• The PM gifted Kangra miniature paintings to US President Joe Biden; Kinnauri shawl to the Indonesian President and a Kanal brass set, an art typical to Mandi and Kullu in Himachal, to Spain.
• Kangra miniature paintings generally depict ‘Shringar Rasa’ (love) on a natural, organic backdrop. The art originated in a small hill state ‘Guler’ in the first half of the 18th century when a family of Kashmiri painters trained in the Mughal Style of painting sought shelter at the court of Raja Dalip Singh of Guler.
• The Kanal brass set he presented to Spain is a large, straight brass trumpet, over a metre long, played in parts of the Himalayan India.
• An art from Mandi and Kullu, it is used on ceremonial occasions, such as the processions of village deities.

• As many as 27,371 birds have been found in the general fortnight counting of migratory birds in the Pong wetland on the foothills of the district.
• The wildlife wing of the state Forest Department completed its counting last evening and estimated the arrival of 70 species.
• The department has deployed two wildlife teams in each wildlife range along with experts in bird counting, monitoring and research.
• As per official information, the annual count will be held at the end of January when it is believed that the highest number of birds are at the wetland, also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar.
• The bar-headed species is the largest in number that throngs the Pong wetland from other countries. Migratory birds from Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet, China, Pakistan and Iraq throng the wetland on the onset of every winter making this man-made water body eco-friendly. These birds return to their native countries in March on the onset of spring season. The wildlife authorities used to undertake an estimation count of these winged visitors fortnightly.
• According to Reginald Royston, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Hamirpur, the main five species of migratory birds which arrived till November 16 in the Pong Wetland are bar-headed goose (4,271), common coot (5,656), northern pintail (3,531), common teal (3,102) and common pochard (1,802). He said that the samples for bird flu were being collected to check symptoms of bird flu but, no mortality had been found in the wetland so far.
• “Drone surveillance is being undertaken to monitor birds and to check poaching. Apart from this, preparations for the Pong Bird Festival will start next month which will include bird counting exercise, bird ringing and awareness camps,” he said.

• The navies of India, Japan, Australia and the US concluded the 26th edition of the multinational maritime exercise ”MALABAR 22” in the seas off Japan. This edition also marked the 30th anniversary of the exercise and was hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
• The Indian Navy was represented by Eastern Fleet ships Shivalik and Kamorta led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
• The Malabar series of exercises began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the US and gained further prominence after the navies of Australia and Japan joined the drills.
• The sea phase of ”MALABAR 22” was conducted over a period of five days near Yokosuka and witnessed live weapon firings, surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills and tactical procedures. Another highlight of the sea phase was the conduct of the ”War at Sea” exercise which enabled all four navies to consolidate interoperability and hone their tactical skills.
• The high-tempo exercise saw the participation of eleven surface ships, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with its integral air elements, along with four long-range maritime patrol aircraft, integral helicopters and two submarines. The exercise also involved the exchange of ‘Sea Riders’ between various participating ships.
• Apart from operational drills and exercises, the bilateral logistics support agreements between the participating countries were validated during this edition of exercise Malabar.
• The exercise helped enhance understanding of each other’s’ operational methodologies and ability to cooperate to tackle myriad maritime challenges, the Ministry of Defence said.

• Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar has been invited by Election Commission of Nepal as International Observer for the forthcoming elections to Nepal’s House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly.
• Elections are scheduled in Nepal on 20 November for the Federal and Provincial elections to elect 275 members of the Federal Parliament and 550 seats of the seven Provincial Assemblies.
• Rajiv Kumar will be leading a delegation of ECI officials as State guest in Nepal from 18 to 22 November.
• During his visit Kumar would be visiting polling stations at Kathmandu and areas around.
• ECI also has a similar International Election Visitors Program where members from other Election Management Bodies are invited to experience firsthand our General and Assembly Elections held periodically.
• ECI’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) has by far trained more than 2200 officers from 109 countries of whom 70 officers from Nepal have also been trained as part of capacity building initiatives.
• A capacity building program for 25 officials from Election Commission of Nepal is also scheduled to be held from 13 to 24 March 2023 at IIIDEM.
• Representatives from Election Commission of Nepal participated in the recently held International Conference hosted by ECI on Conference on ‘Role, Framework & Capacity of EMBs’ as a follow on to the Summit for Democracy’.
• ECI would be hosting two more International conferences on the theme of “Inclusive and Accessible elections” as also “Technology in elections” as part of Cohort activities under “Summit for Democracy – Year of Action”.
• ECI had been chairing the Association of World Election Bodies, which is the world’s largest international organization in the field of election management – since Sept 2019 to October 2022.
• ECI has now been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for the term 2022 to 2024 thus globally acknowledging ECI’s presence and efficient conduct of Elections in world’s largest democracy.

• The India MedTech Expo (IMTE), the first-ever Expo of Indian Medtech Industry by the Union Government, is rescheduled and now will be held from 17 to 19 January 2023 at Aerocity Grounds.
• The three days Expo was earlier scheduled from 9 to 11 December 2022. On 30 September 2022, the website of India MedTech Expo (IMTE) was launched and the flyer was released for the event.
• IMTE, a three-day long event is the first edition of India MedTech Expo, organized by Dept. of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, in close association with all the Medical Devices Industry Associations.
• The Expo is planned around the theme “Future of Device, Diagnostics & Digital”.
• According to the Ministry f Chemicals and Fertilizers, the event is organized with an objective to create opportunities to network and explore collaborations both for the sector’s growth in India and its potential contribution globally, by bringing together all the stakeholders.
• These includes PLI participants, start-ups, MSMEs, Innovative entrepreneurs, R&D facilities, Incubators, public and private hospitals, Industry at large, Academia, Research institutions, Investors, State governments, MedTech parks and key Government officials for taking the sector on a forward growth trajectory.
• So far, about 150+ Start-ups, 275+ Indian & International Medical Device companies and MSME units, 50+ Research Institutions, etc. have confirmed their participation in the Expo. Over 376 foreign buyers entries have been received out of which selected 200+ foreign buyers will be hosted for B2B engagement.
• The current market size of the medical devices sector in India is estimated to be 11 Bn USD and the sector in India is at a growth stage with CAGR of 10-12% over the last decade and has the potential to reach $ 50 bn by 2030.
• The proposed Expo will create visibility of medical devices ecosystem to the world and build a brand identity for the Indian MedTech sector.
• IMTE-23 would offer a unique platform to meet and interact with Start-ups, Indian & International Medical Device companies, MSME units & Research Institutions.
• IMTE-23 would feature special Government Regulators, State MedTech Parks, Future Healthcare, R&D and Innovation, Make in India & Start-ups Pavilion, along with parallel thematic Conference sessions.
• Details of the National MedTech Expo 2023 are available

• The Haryana government notified the Electric-Vehicle Policy, under which 12 schemes have been made to encourage electric vehicles (EVs).
• The additional chief secretary of the industries and commerce department, Anand Mohan Sharan, said that the aim of the Electric-Vehicle Policy is to promote the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their components in the state. With the formulation of this policy, research and development in the field of electric vehicles will be encouraged.
• In addition to strengthening the infrastructure, provisions have been made in the policy to reduce the upfront cost of electric vehicles. In this, the buyers of Hybrid EVs will also get incentives.
• Sharan said the department has notified the Haryana Electric-Vehicle Policy-2022, under which 12 schemes have been made live on the website (www.investharyana.in) so that people could take advantage of it.
• The 12 schemes that have been made live to encourage electric vehicles in the Electric-Vehicle Policy include purchase incentives for buyers, charging and battery swapping station scheme, state goods and services tax reimbursement scheme, capital subsidy scheme, employment generation subsidy scheme, electricity duty exemption scheme, stamp duty reimbursement scheme, patent fee reimbursement scheme, r & d incentives, human capacity building excellence centre of excellence scheme, seed, and conversion fund scheme, water treatment incentive scheme.
• All eligible buyers willing to take advantage may visit the website, check details, and may apply for incentives within 45 days from the date the portal has been made live. The policy document and scheme document detailing the terms and conditions for claiming the incentive can be downloaded from the website.