59th Raising Day of ITBP
- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is India’s primary border patrol organization with its border with Tibet (China). It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of India, raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
- Nickname: Himveers
- Motto: शौर्य – दृढ़ता – कर्मनिष्ठा (Valour, Steadfastness and Commitment)
- DG ITBP: Surjeet Singh Deswal
New DG of Army Dental Services
- Lt Gen Nanda Kishore Sahoo assumes appointment of Director General Dental Services. During his distinguished career, he has held multiple important appointments including Command of a unit in Kashmir Valley, Command Advisor of Western Central & Southern Commands.
Appointment of President’s Honorary Surgeon
- Lt Gen NS Lamba, Commandant, AMC Centre & College, called on the Hon’ble President of India on 20 Oct after being appointed as Presidents Honorary Surgeon.
Demonstration of successful launch of Anti-Ship Missile by Naval Missile Corvette INS Prabal
- In a demonstration of its combat readiness in strategic sea lanes around India, the Indian Navy on Friday released a video of an anti-ship missile destroying a sinking ship with “deadly accuracy” somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
- The missile was fired by frontline corvette INS Prabal as part of a mega naval drill involving aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and a number of warships, attack helicopters, aircraft and other assets of the Navy.
- An Indian Navy Spokesperson tweeted that the missile homed in on its target, an old ship, hitting with deadly accuracy at its maximum range.
- “#AShM launched by #IndianNavy Missile Corvette #INSPrabal, homes on with deadly accuracy at max range, sinking target ship,” he said.
- Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh on Thursday reviewed the operational preparedness of his force at various shore-based locations a well as at sea.
- He also addressed a select group of combatants of the Navy’s Carrier Battle Group over a broadcast from the INS Vikramaditya, India’s only aircraft carrier, and reviewed the force’s overall combat readiness, officials said.
- In his remarks, Admiral Singh complimented his force for continuously maintaining “peak combat-readiness” and “high tempo” of operations over the past few months, they said.
- The Indian Navy has significantly increased its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, in an attempt to send across a message to China in the wake of escalation in tension between the two countries.
- Giving an overview of the prevailing security situation, the Chief of Naval Staff stated that the Navy would continue to maintain a high-tempo of operations in coming months.
- “He also complimented the Carrier Battle Group and its combatants for accurate and effective weapon firings, which left no doubt about the Navy’s readiness to meet any emergent contingencies,” the Navy said in a statement on Thursday.
- A carrier battle group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number destroyers, frigates and other ships.
- “Indian Navy continues to maintain a high tempo of operations and combat-readiness despite the COVID-19 pandemic by adhering to stringent protocols onboard warships, submarines and aircraft squadrons and bases, and is fully prepared to tackle challenges in the maritime domain,” the Navy said.
China preparing PLA for long haul at LAC, upgrading weapons, logistics
- The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Western Theatre Command (WAC), under which the long and disputed India-China border falls, is commissioning new and precision-based weapons and upgraded winter clothes and permanent barracks for its troops.
- The upgrades come in the backdrop of the months-long stand-off in eastern Ladakh, which has seen both sides amassing troops and equipment along the LAC.
India, Morocco plan to sign defence MoU riding on emerging strategic partnership
- India and Morocco plan to sign MoU on defence cooperation to elevate ties to the next level riding on emerging strategic partnership and expansion in ties over the last few years.
- This was decided when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had a virtual meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco Nasser Bourita on Thursday.
- The Ministers agreed that both sides should expedite the finalisation of the MOU on defence cooperation and the Cultural Exchange Programme so that these can be signed on an early date.
- Both sides agreed that bilateral relations have acquired considerable depth and vitality following the landmark visit of His Majesty Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco in October 2015 for the third India-Africa Forum Summit. Exchange of 23 Ministerial visits and conclusion of over 40 MoUs and Agreements in a range of sectors such as IT, education, culture, agriculture, mutual legal assistance, extradition, etc. since then are a testament to the strong desire on the part of both sides to take bilateral ties to a higher plane.
- Positively assessing the growth in trade and investment relations, the Ministers noted, in particular, the close cooperation in fertilizers, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and ICT sectors, officials said. They further agreed that the MOUs/ Agreements concluded in the last two years in the fields of cyber security, counter terrorism and space provide strong frameworks for building the foundation of a strong and comprehensive relationship, officials added.
- They discussed respective national approaches to deal with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jaishankar thanked Bourita for the Moroccan Government’s support for the repatriation of Indian nationals stranded in Morocco due to the suspension of international flights in the wake of the pandemic. Bourita, in turn, conveyed his Government’s appreciation for India’s facilitation of commercial exports of medicines during this critical time.
- Responding to Bourita’s briefing on the developments in Libya, including at the recent intra-Libyan dialogue in Bouznika, EAM commended Morocco’s resolute and constructive engagement with all the Libyan parties since the beginning of the crisis, and its contribution to the UN efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution through a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people while preserving the country’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
- Bourita congratulated India on its election to the non-permanent seat of the UNSC for the term 2021-2022 and also conveyed the Moroccan Government’s support for India’s permanent membership in an extended United Nations Security Council.
- Both sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing close coordination between the two countries at various international organizations, including the United Nations.
- Jaishankar expressed India’s support to the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General aimed at achieving a realistic, lasting, mutually negotiated and acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue and noted the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco in this direction.
QUICK REVIEW
- Who is appointed as President’s Honorary Surgeon?
- Lt Gen Nanda Kishore Sahoo
- Lt Gen NS Lamba
- Lt Gen S K Saini
- Lt Gen Anil Kapoor
ANSWER: B
- Who is appointed as the new Director General of Army Dental Services?
- Lt Gen Nanda Kishore Sahoo
- Lt Gen NS Lamba
- Lt Gen S K Saini
- Lt Gen Anil Kapoor
ANSWER: A
- Which African nation plans to sign defence MoU with India riding on emerging strategic partnership during the third India-Africa Forum Summit?
- Somalia
- Djibouti
- Nigeria
- Morocco
ANSWER: D
