Daily PIB 18th August 2023

Floodwatch App: This app gives information related to the flood situation and forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public. The in-house developed user-friendly app has readable and audio broadcast and all the information is available in 2 languages, viz. English and Hindi. Other feature of the app includes real-time flood monitoring. The app also provides flood forecast at nearest location where users can check the flood advisory at the station nearest to them on the Home Page itself. The app will also provide State-wise/Basin-wise Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) which can be accessed by selecting specific stations, state wise or basin wise from the dropdown menu. 

UDGAM Portal: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently launched a Centralised Web Portal, UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation), for the public to search for their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place. Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT), Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS), and participating banks have collaborated on developing the portal. The portal will enable users to either claim the deposit amount or make their deposit accounts operative at their 

respective banks. Customers can register on the ‘Udgam’ platform using their mobile number. 

SAMUDRA App: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) launched a new mobile application called SAMUDRA for seafarers and the fishing community. Smart Access to Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories (SAMUDRA) application offers comprehensive information on all ocean related services. It is a cutting-edge tool helping users to navigate the marine domain with confidence on their safety, and profitable fishing operations. It embodies the institute vision and mission in serving the nation with ocean data, information, and advisory services. It will catalyse sustainable ocean activities, thus enabling a way forward for the Blue Economy, 

It empowers users with real-time updates and critical alerts on oceanic disasters such as tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, and swell surge alerts, for the individuals and communities to stay informed and take necessary precautions towards the protection of lives and property.It will be especially beneficial to the fishing community as it disseminates Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories which will guide them to the probable fish aggregation locations. 

It is currently serving in English, soon eight coastal languages are proposed to be included soon.  

Urban 20 Summit: The U20 was established in 2018 to generate discussions among G20 members on urban issues and was first chaired and hosted by the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.U20 is a city diplomacy initiative and strives to establish a lasting practice of engagement among cities to develop a collective message that emphasises the role of cities in taking forward the sustainable development agenda. U20 is an engagement group under the larger intergovernmental forum of G20 and plays a vital role in contributing perspectives, concerns, and ideas from cities to inform and enrich the overall G20 negotiations. The U20 brings together mayors from G20 cities under a common framework and coordinates a joint 

position to inform the discussions of national leaders. 

For this year, the leadership was handed over to Ahmedabad as the 2023 Chair from the city of Jakarta (Indonesia) – the Chair for 2022.