Ministry of Defense signs contract with Mumbai-based Mazakan Dock and Ship Builders Ltd to build Indian Coast Guard's first training vessel
- The Ministry of Defense on October 17 signed a contract with Mumbai-based Mazakan Dock Ship Builders to build a training ship for the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of Rs 2,310 crore.
- It will be the first specialized training base with integrated helicopter capabilities. It will provide basic maritime training to 70 Coast Guard and other international training officers to prepare emerging mariners on multi-dimensional maritime aspects.
- Equipped with advanced and modern hi-tech surveillance systems, this training vessel will ensure the security of coastal and offshore assets while providing deep insight and expertise to Indian Coast Guard personnel on challenges at sea.
- Most of the equipment and supplies will be sourced from domestic manufacturers including MSMEs. The scheme will generate substantial employment in three years.
- While fulfilling the objectives of 'Self-Reliance India', the agreement will help boost domestic shipbuilding capacity and develop maritime economic capabilities.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a high-level meeting with ISRO scientists. India's first manned space program 'Kaganyan' was discussed.
- The meeting also discussed the next phase of India's space projects. Then Prime Minister Modi was briefed about the 'Kaganyan' project.
- Gaganyaan, India's first manned space mission, is in full swing. The Gaganyaan project is to undergo 20 tests before launch.
- Three more unmanned spacecraft are to be launched and tested. Scientists said that on October 21, the test vehicle of Kaganyan project will be tested in space.
- After that PM Modi imparted various knowledge to ISRO scientists. That means the Kaganyan project to send humans into space should be implemented by 2025. By 2035, an Indian space station should be set up exclusively for India.
- And by 2040 India should send an astronaut to the moon. Work hard to achieve these goals.
- Charts for the study of the Moon in the space sector should be developed and implemented gradually.
- India's next generation rocket, the NGLV, should be given special attention for setting up a new space launch pad, research centers, etc., Prime Minister Modi instructed.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the third edition of Global Maritime India Summit 2023 today (17.10.2023) through a video presentation. The Prime Minister also released a draft action plan for India's Ocean Blue Economy Vision 2047.
- In line with this future plan, aligned with India's Maritime Blue Economy Vision 2047, Rs. The Prime Minister inaugurated projects worth more than 23,000 crores and dedicated various projects to the country and laid foundation stones for new projects. The summit provides an excellent platform to attract investments in the country's maritime sector.
- Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed everyone to the 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023.
- The first Maritime India Summit was held in Mumbai in 2016. A second Maritime Summit will be held via video in 2021.
- In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that homosexuality is not a crime in India, unlike in Western countries. At the same time there was no place in the law for gays to marry.
- But, from time to time there were reports of man and man and woman and woman getting married. In this situation, the demand for legalization of same-sex marriage in India also got stronger among the LGBTQ community.
- In this situation, many cases were filed in the Supreme Court insisting that same-sex marriage should be legally recognized. A five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices SK Kaul, SR Bhatt, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha was hearing the petitions. In this, the central government argued against same-sex marriage.
- The investigation was completed on May 11 last while the investigation was ongoing. The judgment was adjourned without specifying a date and the 5-judge constitution bench delivered the judgment today.
- Judges have given a different verdict. Disapproving of the central government's view that homosexuality is associated with urban life, Chief Justice Chandrachud also denied that marriage is a stable structure.
- Pointing out that various reforms have been brought in marriage laws, the Chief Justice said that they can be brought according to law. Stating that if the Special Marriage Act is repealed, it will take the country back to the pre-liberation period, he said that the central government's argument that the court should not interfere in same-sex marriages is rejected. He said that gays have the freedom to live peacefully in society and choose who they want to live with.
- Justice Kaul, Justice Bhatt and Justice Narasimha have also given a different verdict. The Supreme Court did not legalize same-sex marriage due to a dissenting ruling by the justices. At the same time, since the Supreme Court has already ruled that homosexuality is not a crime in India, the Supreme Court has instructed the government to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.
- Arindam Bagshi, who has been serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to the UN and Permanent Representative to other international organizations in Geneva.
- Following this, the names of G-20 Joint Secretary Nagaraj Naidu and Mauritius' Dudar Nandini Singla are being considered as the new Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
