- India and the World
Virtual Summit 2021: India-Finland
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland Ms Sanna Marin participated in a Virtual Summit held on March 16, 2021.
This Summit was held to discuss bilateral issues along with other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest such as education, investment, emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, innovation, quantum computing and 5G/6G.
Both national leaders expressed their views on the probability for both Finland and India to team-up in undertaking developmental activities in Africa.
Quick Fact: Currency of Finland: Euro; Capital city: Helsinki
- International Affairs
International Solar Alliance joined by Italy
Italy signed a framework agreement with India on March 17, 2021 to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), as informed by the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
The amendment to the framework agreement had opened the membership in the Solar Alliance to all the members of the United Nations.
ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental alliance comprising 121 countries. The establishment of the alliance was initiated by India.
Quick Fact: The ISA Framework Agreement was signed by Ambassador of Italy, Vincenzo De Luca.
- National News
India becomes the 5th country in the world to commission a Nuclear Missile Tracking Vessel
INS Dhruv is one of the largest warships to be built at an Indian Yard.
After China, US, Russia and France, India becomes the 5th country to possess such a tracking vessel.
It is rumored to monitor the Indian Ocean bed.
Quick Fact: The INS Dhruv was constructed at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam at a cost of INR 275 crore under the Make in India initiative.
- National News
World’s Highest Railway Bridge: Chenab Bridge, Jammu & Kashmir
By connecting two ends of the main ‘arch’ of the Chenab Bridge, Indian Railways have got this bridge the title of World’s Highest Railway Bridge.
This bridge is being built over the Chenab river and is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France and is 1.315 kms long.
Three agencies with extensive experience in building rail lines are involved in this project. They are IRCON, KRCL and Northern Railway.
Quick Fact: This bridge is contracted to be built by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) at a cost of INR 12000 Crores.
- National News
Beating Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, Gautam Adani becomes world’s Biggest Wealth Gainer in 2021
As per the recent Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Adani Group’s chairman, Gautam Adani was pronounced as the biggest wealth gainer in the world in 2021. He was followed by Google co-founder Larry Page.
He is currently the 26th richest person in the world with USD 50 billion.
The shares of some of Adani group’s conglomerate have doubled while others have gained 79% or more.
Quick Fact: Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon and Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla.
- Miscellaneous
India’s Power Elite: Caste, Class and Cultural Revolution, to be released in April 2021
Written by Sanjaya Baru, India’s Power Elite is all set to be released in April by Penguin Random House India.
This book exposes the emerging dynamics of political, cultural and economical power in contemporary India.
It reveals a thorough analysis done to disclose the fault lines and power struggles dominating the various powers in our country’s institutions.
Quick Fact: Sanjaya Baru served as secretary-general of FICCI from september 2017 to April 2018. The Accidental Prime Minister is one of his most famous books.
- Sports Affairs
India’s first Fencer to qualify for Olympics: Bhawani Devi
Through the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) method, Tamil Nadu’s Chandalava Anandha Bhawani Devi, aged 27, becomes the first fencer to qualify for Olympics.
She bagged a place for the Tokyo Olympics at the World Cup in Hungary.
According to Press Trust of India, she occupies one of the available two slots based on her 45th ranking.
Quick Fact: She has been trying for the Olympics since 2012. Sagar Lagu is her trainer.
- International News
European Union decides to adopt the ‘Sinatra Doctrine’ to counter China’s growing influence in Europe
In light of China’s increasing aggressiveness to undermine European unity through a ‘divide and rule’ policy continues, the CEE member countries have decided to accept their own way to deal with the increasing threat of Beijing’s influence, known as the ‘Sinatra Doctrine’.
The doctrine will mainly be based on two pillars: continuation of cooperation with China in regard to addressing global challenges and strengthening EU’s sovereignty by protecting its tech sectors.
The contradiction between the ultimate outcome and Beijing’s economic promises has been a major reason for the resentment that the CEE member countries share with China.
Quick Fact: The name ‘Sinatra Doctrine’ was taken from the song My Way which was popularized by Frank Sinatra.
