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The Embassy of India held a ceremony in Haifa, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Haifa. This event marks the liberation of Haifa by Indian soldiers from the Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers during World War I against the forces of the Ottoman Empire.
Centenary of the Battle of Haifa
On September 23, 1918, Indian soldiers were vital in securing the city of Haifa. In honour of this victory, the Indian Army recognises September 23 as Haifa Day every year, paying tribute to the Mysore, Hyderabad, and Jodhpur Lancers. During a visit to Israel, the Indian Prime Minister unveiled a plaque remembering Major Dalpat Singh, fondly known as the ‘Hero of Haifa.’ To further remember and respect the valiant Indian soldiers who participated in the battle, the Indian government renamed the Teen Murti Memorial in Delhi to Teen Murti-Haifa Memorial.
AAPOORTI Mobile App
In an effort towards digitization, the Ministry of Railways has introduced the ‘AAPOORTI’ mobile app, a part of the ‘Indian Railways e-procurement system (IREPS)’. The app provides users with information related to e-tendering and e-auction activities involved with Indian Railways. For its outstanding contributions to IT initiatives for transparency in organizations, the Central Vigilance Commission awarded the system under the “Vigilance Excellence Awards-2017”.
Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX-2018)
The ISRO Chairman, addressing the 6th edition of the biennial Bengaluru Space Expo encouraged the country’s industry to invest significantly in space business. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in cooperation with ISRO and the Department of Space, the event encourages dynamism in the Indian Space Ecosystem.
Bharat Ke Veer Trust
The ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ trust, launched by actor Akshay Kumar, has been officially recognised as a trust by the government. It provides aid to families of paramilitary personnel who have been killed in action. The Bharat Ke Veer initiative offers a digital platform through which donors can contribute to the cause, with all contributions now exempted under section 80G of Income Tax Act 1961.
2nd World Hindu Congress
Chicago is set to host the 2nd World Hindu Congress (WHC) on the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893. The Congress aims to provide a platform for Hindus worldwide to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good.
1893 World’s Parliament of Religions
The 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago was a landmark event in fostering interreligious dialogue worldwide. The gathering marked the first formal assembly of representatives from Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.
Tsunami mock Exercise IOWave18
In preparation for potential natural disasters, India, along with 23 other Indian Ocean nations, participated in a large-scale tsunami mock exercise known as IOWave18. This exercise was orchestrated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, with coordination from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The NDMA is an agency attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs, tasked with coordinating response to natural or man-made disasters. It also conducts capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. The agency works closely with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to ensure an encompassing approach to disaster management.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
The NDRF is a government unit created specifically to respond to natural and man-made disasters. It operates under the guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which lays down policies, plans, and guidelines for effective disaster management.
