Prelim Bits 01-02-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies - iCET

National Security Advisor of India and his American counterpart to launch the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

• The US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is a platform to accelerate strategic convergence and policy alignment.
• iCET aims to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the 2 countries.
• This initiative was unveiled by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2022 Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo.
• The iCET will be spearheaded by the National Security Council of both the United States and India.
• The iCET is expected to remove barriers in technology transfers and co-production in the areas of critical and emerging technologies

The next iCET meeting will take place in New Delhi in late 2023.

• They also signed a new Implementation Arrangement for a Research Agency Partnership between the National Science Foundation and Indian science agencies.
• It helps to expand collaboration in a wide range of areas and to build a robust innovation ecosystem between the 2 countries.

References

1. The Hindu - Doval-Sullivan launch tech talks in the U.S.
2. Mint - NSA and US counterpart launch US-India Initiative iCET

Visakhapatnam

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh announced that ‘Visakhapatnam’ will be the new capital of the state.

• Visakhapatnam is a coastal city, often called “The Jewel of the East Coast” located on the east coast of India.
• The city was named ‘Visakhapatnam’ after the god of Valour - Vishakha.
• The port city hosts one of the major ports in India.
• It is also home to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
• Historically, the city was part of several kingdoms such as Kalinga, Vengi, Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara.

• Capital of AP - Andhra Pradesh was bifurcation in 2014 into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• The former state capital, Hyderabad, became part of Telangana, but would serve as the two states’ joint capital for 10 years.
• In 2015, Amaravati was proposed to be the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
• In 2020, a proposal to trifurcate the state capital was floated.
  1. Visakhapatnam as executive capital
  2. Amaravati as legislative capital
  3. Kurnool as the judicial capital
• In 2021, Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered the state government to develop Amaravati as the sole capital within 6 months.
• The Andhra Pradesh government obtained a partial stay on the order from the Supreme Court.
• In January 2023, Vishakhapatnam is announced as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The AP government is about to host a Global Investors Summit in March at Vishakhapatnam.

The city will also host the G20 Summit Working Group Committee later in March.

References

1. IE - Visakhapatnam will be Andhra’s capital
2. Hindustan Times - Visakhapatnam will be new capital of AP

Trishakti Prahar

The Army conducted a joint training exercise ‘Trishakti Prahar’ in North Bengal close to the strategic ‘Siliguri’ corridor.

• The Trishakti Prahar exercise is a joint training exercise between the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
• The exercise enabled rehearsal and coordination amongst them for quick movement and employment of forces across North Bengal.
• It was designed to test the Security Forces' ability to fight using the most modern tools and weapons in a networked, integrated environment.
• A Fire Power Exercise aimed at synergising the firepower assets of the forces to orchestrate an integrated battle was also held.

Siliguri corridor

• The Siliguri corridor, also called Chicken’s neck, is a stretch of land located in West Bengal.

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• Geostrategic significance - The narrow stretch of land is about 20-22 km wide.
• The Siliguri corridor connects the Northeast India to the rest of the country.
• It shares borders with Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh in the south.
• It is also very close to the India-Tibet-Bhutan trijunction at the Doklam plateau, where Indian and Chinese troops saw a stand-off in 2017.

References

1. The Hindu - Army conducts joint exercise near Siliguri corridor
2. Live Mint - Indian Army organises exercise ‘Trishakti Prahar'