PIB Summary- 29th October, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Indian Army and Air Force Contingent Departs for India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise

Context
Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent consisting of 120 personnel left for Kazakhstan to participate in the 7th edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘KAZIND-2023’.

• The exercise will take place at Otar, Kazakhstan from October 30 to November 11, 2023
• The joint exercise between India and Kazakhstan was initially known as ‘Exercise PRABAL DOSTYK’ in 2016
• The exercise was upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed ‘Exercise KAZIND’ after the second edition
• This year, the exercise has been further upgraded to a bi-service exercise with the inclusion of an air force component.
• Both sides will practice counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a UN mandate.
• Contingents will jointly rehearse various tactical drills such as raid, search and destroy operations, small team insertion and extraction operations, and counter unmanned aerial system operations.
• ‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’ will enhance the bond between the two armies.

16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023 concludes today

Context
The 16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023 was held in New Delhi.

• The event was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), and supported by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
• The Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs emphasized the importance of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and discussed the challenges surrounding its implementation.
• He stressed the convenience and efficiency of smart cards as a payment method for commuters and mentioned the government’s efforts to implement the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).
• Effective fare collection systems were identified as crucial for a viable transport system, and the potential of using nearby real estate to improve the financial viability of transport projects was discussed.
• The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) was addressed, with an emphasis on their role in reducing emissions and the importance of investing in EV infrastructure, especially in urban areas.