India France review cooperation in areas of nuclear energy trade (GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- Recently, India and France carried out a comprehensive review of their cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, trade and people-to-people exchanges among others.
Key Highlights:
- The two sides discussed global and regional issues including climate change and energy transition.
- They also exchanged views on topical issues such as India's G20 Presidency, the conflict in Ukraine and the security situation in Afghanistan.
- Both sides reviewed progress on key areas of bilateral cooperation, including on the various institutional dialogue mechanisms between the two countries, civil nuclear domain, on cooperation vis-a-vis the UNSC given the end of India's term, and the people-to-people and cultural sphere.
India-France-UAE trilateral dialogue:
- The Foreign Secretary of India also participated in the Focal Points' Meeting of the India-France-UAE trilateral dialogue.
PM unveils India's biggest helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s helicopter factory, the country's largest chopper manufacturing facility in Tumakuru district of Karnataka.
Background:
- The factory, spread across 615 acres for which the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone in 2016, would initially manufacture Light Utility Helicopters (LUH)).
- It will enable India to meet its entire requirement of helicopters without import and giving much-needed fillip to the Prime Minister's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' in helicopter design, development, and manufacture.
LUH:
- The LUH is an indigenously designed and developed three-tonne class, single-engine multipurpose utility helicopter. Initially, the factory will produce around 30 helicopters per year and can be enhanced to 60 and then 90 every year in a phased manner.
- The factory will be augmented to produce other helicopters such as Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) and Indian Multirole Helicopters (IMRHs).
- It will also be used for maintenance, repair and overhaul of LCH, LUH, Civil Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and IMRH in the future.
Potential of new facility:
- Potential exports of civil LUH will also be catered to from this factory, which is being equipped with state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 standard tools and techniques for its operations.
- The proximity of the factory, with the existing HAL facilities in Bengaluru, will boost the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in the region and support skill and infrastructure development such as schools, colleges and residential areas.
- The factory is fully operational after the establishment of facilities like heli-runway, flight hangar, final assembly hangar, structure assembly hangar, air traffic control and various supporting service facilities.
Way Forward:
- HAL plans to produce more than 1,000 helicopters in the range of 3-15 tonne with a total business of more than Rs 4 lakh crore over a period of 20 years at this facility.
Hillary Clinton announces $50 mn fund for women to tackle climate change
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Recently, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund of 50 million dollars for women to fight climate change in association with the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) founded by late activist Ela Bhatt.
- The fund will empower women and communities to fight climate change and help provide new livelihood resources and education, she said.
Key Highlights:
- She had attended a programme in Ahmedabad to mark 50 years of SEWA as a trade union and paid homage to its founder and renowned social activist Ela Bhatt, who passed away in November 2022.
- During the event, she had said heat caused by climate change poses an additional challenge to women workers in informal sectors and the Global Climate Resilience Fund will help tackle this challenge.
- She said working with SEWA will be the Clinton Global Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Algorand Foundation, Council for Inclusive Capitalism, and the American India Foundation.
About Elaben Bhatt:
- She was a noted Gandhian, leading women’s empowerment activist.
- For her work, Elaben received numerous accolades and was conferred several national and international awards including Padma Bhushan, Magsaysay Award and the Indira Gandhi Sadbhavna Award.
About SEWA:
- SEWA was born out of the Textile Labour Association (TLA) founded by Anasuya Sarabhai and Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 but it could not register as a trade union until 1972 because its members did not have an “employer” and were thus not seen as workers.
- In 1981, after the anti-reservation riots in which the Bhatts were targeted for supporting quotas for Dalits in medical education, the TLA broke up with SEWA.
- As early as in 1974, SEWA Bank was established to provide small loans to poor women.
- It is an initiative that was recognised by the International Labour Organisation as a microfinance movement.
