Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 24 Oct 2023

Exercise MILAN 2024

The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise - 2024), to be hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam during Feb 2024, was conducted by the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).

  • MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise incepted by Indian Navy in 1995 at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
  • Starting with the participation of only four countries, viz Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in the 1995 edition, the exercise has since transitioned leaps and bounds in terms of number of participants and complexity of exercises.
  • Originally conceived in consonance with India’s ‘Look East Policy’, MILAN expanded in ensuing years with India’s ‘Act East policy’ and SAGAR Initiative, to include participation from island nations in the Western IOR (Indian Ocean Region) as also IOR littorals.

Read More: Andaman and Nicobar Command

UN's 78th Anniversary

Recently, the World has celebrated the 78th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) on 24th October 2023.

  • United Nations Day is an annual event that commemorates the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. It is celebrated on 24th October to promote awareness and understanding of the UN's goals and achievements.
  • The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in circumstances of the First World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security."
  • The UN has 6 components which were established in 1945 such as the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, UN Secretariat.

Read More: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023

The joint bilateral training exercise between India and Malaysia, "Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023," commenced at Umroi Cantonment, featuring a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment from the Indian contingent and Malaysian Army's 5th Royal Battalion.

  • This exercise, involves establishing a Joint Command Post, integrated surveillance grid, and Joint Surveillance Centre, emphasizing joint force deployment in various environments, intelligence operations, the use of drones and helicopters, casualty management, and logistics.
  • The exercise underscores the strengthening of defense cooperation between the Indian and Malaysian armies, further fostering bilateral relations between the two nations.

Read more: India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation

National Cooperative Exports Limited

The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), established as an umbrella organization for cooperative sector exports, has made substantial progress, receiving orders valued at Rs 7,000 crore.

  • The Union Minister of Cooperation emphasized that a significant portion of export profits, approximately 50%, will directly benefit farmers through the NCEL.
    • The NCEL, an umbrella body for cooperative sector exports registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
  • NCEL is launched in the cooperative sector with 6 objectives of increasing exports, prospering the farmer, changing the crop pattern, providing a global market for organic products, gaining a place for India in the global market for biofuel and strengthening the cooperative sector.

Read more: Promoting Cooperatives in India