Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announces Panch Karma Sankalp at Chintan Shibir held in Kerala.

Panch Karma Sankalp

• Ministry - Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
• The ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ includes 5 major announcements
• MoPSW to provide 30% financial support for the promotion of Green Shipping.
• Under the Green Tug Transition Programme
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Port,
  • VO Chidambaranar Port,
  • Paradip Port and
  • Deendayal Port,
  • Kandla will procure two tugs each;
• Deendayal Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin to be developed as Green Hydrogen Hub.
• Single Window Portal to facilitate and monitor river and sea cruises.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin to become Smart Port by next year.

Green Tug Transition Programme

• This programme will convert all tugboats into Green Hybrid Tugs in India.
• A tug boat or tugs are marine vessels that manoeuvre ships by pushing or pulling them, mostly using tow lines.
• They tug ships in circumstances where the ships cannot or does not move using its own power like in narrow harbours, canals, etc.
• Green Hybrid Tugs will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems.
• These Green hybrid tugs will subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen).
• The initial target was to start working of green tugs in all major ports by 2025.
• Atleast 50% of all the tugs are likely to be converted into Green tugs by 2030.

The 3rd summit of FIPIC held in Papua New Guinea

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC)

• It was launched during PM Modi's visit to Fiji in 2014.
• Objective – To expand India’s strategic and commercial interests in the pacific regions through Pacific Island Countries.
• FIPIC includes 14 of the island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
• These countries have large exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and offer promising possibilities for fruitful cooperation.

The Union Cabinet approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023.

National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

• Vision – To emerge as the global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices by achieving 10-12% share in the expanding global market over the next 25 years. 
• Accelerated growth path with a patient-centric approach
• Policy is expected to help the Medical Devices Sector grow from present $11 Bn to $50 Bn by 2030.
• It approved establishment of 157 nursing colleges to create a cadre of skilled professionals.
• Mission
  • Access & Universality
  • Affordability
  • Quality
  • Patient centered & Quality Care
  • Preventive & Promotive Health
  • Security
  • Research and Innovation

Strategies to Promote Medical Device Sector

• Medical devices sector will be facilitated and guided through a set of strategies that will be cover 6 broad areas of policy interventions:
• Regulatory Streamlining - The policy enhances the role of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) along with designing a coherent pricing regulation. 
• It will also create a single window clearance system for licensing of medical devices.
• Enabling Infrastructure - The establishment of large medical device parks under the National Industrial Corridor Program and National Logistics Policy 2021 under the ambit of PM Gati Shakti.
• Facilitating R&D and Innovation - It aims at establishing Centres of Excellence in academic and research institutions, innovation hubs, ‘plug and play’ infrastructures.
• Attracting Investments in the Sector - Along with existing schemes it encourages private investments, series of funding from Venture Capitalists, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) are planned.
• Human Resources Development - For skilling, reskilling and upskilling of professionals in the medical device sector with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Brand Positioning and Awareness Creation - The policy envisages the creation of a dedicated Export Promotion Council for the medical sector.

Papua New Guinea

• Papua New Guinea lies in the southwest Pacific, just south of the equator and northeast of Australia.
• The country is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the point of collision of several tectonic plates.
• It is prone to volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves.
• Most of the terrain is covered by tropical rain forest.

Launch of INDUS-X to promote partnerships between India and U.S. is scheduled in Washington ahead of PM’s visit

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

INDUS-X

• It will be launched under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).
• It will promote partnerships between two countries defence innovation ecosystem.
• It focused on advancing high-tech cooperation.