ARCHIVES

GS-2

National Conference for awareness of National Academic Depository

(Topic: Human Resource and development)

National Academic Depository

• Establishment of a National Academic Depositoryis a step towards the Digital India vision of the PM— Government intends to establish a digital depository of academic awards to be known as National Academic Depository (NAD) on the pattern of securities depository.
• Union Minister called upon all participants to resolve to target year 2017 to roll out use of National Academic Depository.
• Securities depositories in the country have already made dematerialization of the financial securities and have been ensuring the safety of the financial wealth of the investors.
• System can now be replicated for the educational awards- high time the academic awards are verified and authenticated, accessed and retrieved in a digital depository.
• Union Minister emphasised upon 3 things, change in mindset, absorbing ‘tried, tested and trusted technology’ and thus enhancing transparency and authenticity.

Help-

• NAD would help in validating the authenticity of these awards and ensuring their safe storage and easy retrieval.
• Maintaining academic awards in a digital depository would provide benefit to educational institutions, students and employers by enabling online access and retrieval
• Eliminate fraudulent practices such as forging of certificates and mark-sheets and facilitate validation. NAD would be available online 24X7 for quick accesses of the stakeholders.

50th International Literacy Day

(Topic: Human Resource and development)

About- President of India conferred Saakhar Bharat Awards 2016 on 50^th International Literacy Day at the national level function in New Delhi

Saakshar Bharat Awards – 2016

• Saakshar Bharat Awards were instituted to encourage a healthy competition for better performance among the programme implementing and support agencies.
• Awards also recognize the achievements and invaluable contributions of functionaries and volunteers in the field of adult education and skill development. Each Award carries a trophy and a certificate.
• A documentary film, ‘Saakshar Gram – Adarsh Gram’was screened at the event. It highlighted the activities relating to achieving 100 percent literacy in Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana villages covered under Saakshar Bharat districts.

What can be done to overcome illiteracy?   

• Achieving universal literacy is not possible without mass participation. If we follow the principle of ‘Each one, teach one’ success can be achieved in this direction.
• India continues to have a large population of illiterates- time for us to identify the critical areas that need to be addressed.
• Joint action by Government and Non- Government organizations is necessary so that we can generate momentum to achieve hundred percent literacy
• Literacy movement is a continuous cycle as regular follow up is necessary to not only make people literate but also keep them literate.
• To dream for a mission – ‘Saakshar Bharat, Samarth Bharat’and work with a motto of ‘Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat’.
• Must consider important sensibilities like financial literacy, legal literacy, and electoral literacy; through this we can achieve empowerment of people.
• Launch of Global Alliance for Literacy, to mobilize investment and promote innovative initiatives, with a focus on gender and new information and communication technologies.

Mandi and Sindhudurg: Cleanest Districts in India 

(Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising)

About- Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, released the ‘Swachh Survekshan’ for rural India, revealing Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) and Sindhudurg (Maharashtra) as the cleanest districts in India.

A total of 22 hill districts and 53 plain areas were assessed under the Gramin Swachh Survekshan launched in May 2016.

Mandi was judged as the cleanest district in “Hills” category and Sindhudurg as the cleanest in the “Plains” category, with districts of Sikkim, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Nadia (West Bengal) and Satara (Maharashtra) featuring at the top of the index.

The Ministry had commissioned Quality Council of India (QCI) to carry out the assessment. Each district has been judged on four distinct parameters. Maximum weightage was placed on accessibility to safe toilets and water.

Parameters to judge sanitation status include-

• Households having access to safe toilets and using them (toilet usage, water accessibility, safe disposal of waste) (40%)
• Households having no litter around (30%)
• Public places with no litter in the surrounding (10%)
• Households having no stagnant wastewater around (20%)

‘Job Fair for Divyangjans’ Inaugurated

(Topic: Social justice and empowerment)

By: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment was inaugurated by Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment

Steps taken-

• A lot of initiatives have been taken by the Government of India for the welfare of Divyangjans and weaker section of society during past two years. Many types of scholarship for Divyangjans have been started since 2014-15. More than 2000 special camp have been organized to distribute tools kits to them.
• About 30 private sector companies and Industries are participating in this special job fair for Divyangjans. Based on their requirements these companies and industries are making assessments of Divyangjans to give them employment.
• Apart from this, the Divyangjans will be given information relating to various such employment schemes, trainings and scholarships being offered by the Government of India.
• Many reputed organizations viz. NHFDC, VRCH, NSIS, Skill Council for Disabled, DSFDC, PNB, IDBI and SBOH etc, have put up their stalls in the fair to enlighten Divyangjans about their programme and schemes.
• During the job fair, Tools kits will be distributed to them and they will also be provided with the information about wage employment, Self Employment and Skill Development.

Launch of the biggest Leprosy Case Detection Campaign in the country

(Topic: Social justice and empowerment)

About- In line with the vision of PM of India to eradicate Leprosy from India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the biggest Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) in the country across 149 districts of 19 states/UTs.

Objective of the campaign- Early detection of leprosy in affected persons so that they can be saved from physical disability and deformity by providing them timely treatment and thus, also halting the transmission of disease at the community level.

Highlights of campaign-

• This fortnight-long campaign will cover 1656 blocks/urban areas of these districts and screen a total of 32 crore people for leprosy. For this purpose, 297604 teams comprising of one lady ASHA worker and one male volunteer each would visit every house in their allotted area and screen all the family members for leprosy.
• The states and UTs covered in this campaign are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Delhi and Lakshadweep. The districts having a prevalence rate of more than one case per 10,000 populations in any of the last three years have been included in this campaign.

LCDC-

• Leprosy Case Detection Campaign is a unique initiative of its kind in the world where each and every member of the targeted population will be examined by the search team constituting of one male and one female volunteer at household level.
• House to house visits will be done by the search team as per the micro plan prepared for the local area to detect hidden and undetected leprosy cases.
• First LCDC was launched during March-April 2016 in 50 districts of 7 states namely Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh wherein a population of about 6.8 crores was covered. During this campaign 65427 suspected cases were identified out of which 4120 were later confirmed.

First Ever ‘Incredible India Tourism Investment Summit’ being organized by M/O Tourism

(Topic: Promotion for tourism)

About- “Incredible India Tourism Investment Summit (IITIS) – 2016” is being organized by the Ministry of Tourism from September 21 to 23, 2016.

Initiative of- Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

IITIS is a platform for domestic and international investors to meet project owners from across Indian states and the private sector.

Highlights of the Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit (IITIS)-

• Participation from more than 27 Indian states
• Around 600 investable projects from across the country and from across various sectors of tourism
• Participation from 140 investors from 70 companies
• There will be 21 seminars across the two days with some leading industry leaders and covering states presentations and thematic sessions.
• B2B-B2G meetings pre-fixed online
• Event Road Shows done- USA, UAE, Thailand, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Gujrat, Mumbai, Bhopal

GS-3

Visit of Indian Warships—Kenya

(Topic: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate)

About- In a demonstration of India’s commitment to its ties with Kenya and to promoting maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, Indian Naval Ships Kolkata and Aditya have arrived at Mombasa on a three day visit. The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command and are on a two month deployment to the Western Indian Ocean.

Aimed at-

• Enhancing bilateral ties, strengthening the existing bonds of friendship and reinforcing cooperation in maritime security between India and Kenya.
• During the visit, the warships will interact with the Kenyan Defence Forces on professional issues, aimed at enhancing co-operation and sharing nuances of naval operations including combating threats of maritime terrorism and piracy.
• In addition to professional interactions, the ships, during their stay in harbour, will undertake a plethora of activities, including official calls and cultural events.
• The ships would also be open to public for onboard visits during the stay at Mombasa

India and Kenya-

• India and Kenya have historical maritime trading links. The sizeable Indian diaspora settled in Kenya is a testimony of our strong cultural linkages.
• The signing of the India-Kenya Trade Agreement in 1981, under which both countries accorded Most Favoured Nation status to each other, set the foundation for strong and vibrant trade relations. Bilateral relations between the two countries have since been progressively stepped up through economic, military and diplomatic cooperation.
• Healthy state of naval cooperation is evident from frequent port visits by Naval ships, hydrographic survey by Indian survey ships and training of Kenyan Naval personnel in India.
• Current visit seeks to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and Kenya and underscore India’s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries of the region.

India-Kazakhstan’s Joint Exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK-16”

(Topic: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate)

About- As a part of India’s continued efforts to strengthen Indo-Kazakhstan relations, troops of Indian & Kazakhstan Army are presently engaging in a joint exercise ‘PRABAL DOSTYK – 16.

‘Prabal Dostyk’ meaning ‘Robust Friendship’ will be a significant step towards fostering military as well as diplomatic ties between both countries.

Indian Army is being represented by platoon strength. The Kazakhstan Army contingent comprise of platoon from Special Operating Force’s Unit. A pioneering endeavour with the Kazakhstan Army, the exercise is being conducted in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan

Aim-

• To enhance interoperability while undertaking Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations in rural & semi-urban environment under the umbrella of United Nations.
• Exercise will be conducted in two stages; first stage will be to familiarize with each other’s tactics, drills, weapons & equipment, whereas in the second stage troops of both the armies will graduate to jointly execute a helicopter borne operation in a simulated environment. Combat battle drills and physical fitness will be the focal point of the exercise.

GRSE hands over fast attack craft “TIHAYU” to Indian Navy

(Topic: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate)

About- Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC), “TIHAYU” built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata was handed over to the Indian Navy.

GRSE-

• GRSE had earlier built and delivered ten (10) WJFACs to the Indian Navy during 2009 to 2011, which are proving well in service.
• Indian Navy has placed order for four more of these WJFACs as ‘Follow-on’ ships. The first ship of the ‘Follow-on’ Series of WJFACs INS Tarmugli was commissioned into Indian Navy on May 2016.
• Second FAC TIHAYU has been delivered by GRSE. These ships are a further improved version of Fast Attack Crafts earlier built by GRSE for Indian Navy. The ship has an efficient hull form developed by the in-house Design Centre of GRSE and proved by extensive model testing, to achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots.
• Named after an island in the Andaman, “Tihayu” is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems powered by marine diesel engines generating 2720 KW of power. It is also fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm Gun, to provide Artillery fire support during attack missions.

Indian warship Trikand visits Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

(Topic: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate)

About- In a demonstration of India’s commitment to its ties with Tanzania, Indian Naval Ship Trikand has arrived at Dar Es Salaam on a three day visit, as part of its deployment to the East Coast of Africa and Island nations in the Western Indian Ocean. The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command and is on a two month long deployment to the Western Indian Ocean.

Aim-

• Enhancing bilateral ties, strengthening the existing bonds of friendship and reinforcing cooperation in maritime security between India and Tanzania.
• During the stay in harbour, various activities including official calls, cultural events and professional interaction between the two navies are planned.
• Ship would also be open to public for onboard visits, during its stay at Dar Es Salaam

India and Tanzania-                    

• India and Tanzania have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations, driven by shared ideologies and genuine desire for South-South cooperation.
• Frequent visits by high level delegations including Heads of State have added much depth to bilateral relations.
• Growing defence cooperation between the two countries is evident by the increasing frequency of port visits by naval ships, cooperation in the field of hydrography and training support.
• Last such visit by IN ship to Tanzania was in March 2016 when Indian Naval ship Sutlej visited Dar Es Salaam as part of Survey deployment.

GSLV Successfully Launches India’s Weather Satellite INSAT-3DR

(Topic: Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life)

About- In its tenth flight (GSLV-F05) conducted, India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, equipped with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), successfully launched the country’s weather satellite INSAT-3DR, into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

INSAT-3D–

• Like its predecessor INSAT-3D which is providing service from orbit since 2013, INSAT-3DR is an advanced meteorological (weather observation) satellite built by India to provide a variety of inputs essential for accurate weather forecasting.
• For this, it is equipped with three payloads (instruments), namely, a Multispectral Imager, Sounder and weather Data Relay Transponder. INSAT-3DR also carries a satellite aided Search and Rescue Transponder that picks up and relays alert signals originating from distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land based users.
• In the coming days, INSAT-3DR’s orbit will be raised from its present GTO to the final circular Geostationary Orbit (GSO) by firing the satellite’s Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) in stages.
• Satellite will be commissioned into service after the completion of orbit raising operations and the satellite’s positioning in its designated orbital slot of 74 degree East longitude in the GSO and in-orbit testing of its payloads.
• Soon after its injection into GTO, the solar array of INSAT-3DR was automatically deployed and the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took control of the satellite.
• In its oval shaped GTO, the INSAT-3DR satellite is now orbiting the Earth with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 169.76 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 36,080.5 km with an orbital inclination of 20.62 deg with respect to the equator.
• Launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota, the spaceport of India. This was the first operational flight of GSLV equipped with CUS and the fourth to carry the indigenous CUS.
• GSLV flight was the third consecutive success achieved by GSLV carrying indigenous CUS and the 2211 kg INSAT-3DR is the heaviest satellite to be launched from the Indian soil.
• At 4.8 seconds before the countdown reached zero, the four liquid propellant strap-on stages of GSLV-F05, each carrying 42 tonne of liquid propellants, were ignited.
• At count zero and after confirming the normal performance of all the four strap-on motors, the 139 tonne solid propellant first stage core motor was ignited and GSLV lifted off.
• Major phases of the flight included the core motor burn-out, strap on burn-out, ignition of the second stage, separation of the core motor together with strap-ons, payload fairing separation, second stage separation, CUS ignition and its timely shut down after satisfactory performance. About seventeen minutes after lift-off, INSAT-3DR was successfully placed in GTO.

CAG Readies to Meet Big Data Challenges- Centre for Data Analytics

(Topic: Information and technology)

About- CAG’s Centre for Data Management and Analytics (CDMA) is going to play a catalytic role to synthesise and integrate relevant data into auditing process.

Help- To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of evidence in the audit process and will be a game changer in the field of public audit.

Aim-

• To build up capacity in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department in Big Data Analytics to exploit the data rich environment in the Union and State Governments.
• Initiative focuses development of in-house capacity covering the entire workforce.

CDMA

• Prior to the setting up of the Centre, the CAG brought out a Big Data Management Policy for the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
• A Task force was set up to study the policy document and recommend its implementation-the Task Force in May 2016 recommended setting up this Centre.
• Centre is to be equipped with latest analytic tools and infrastructure to assist and guide the Data Analytic Groups constituted in all audit offices of CAG across the country through setting up the data management protocols and steering the data analytic capacity of the department.
• Initiative of CAG of India puts it amongst the pioneers in institutionalising data analytics in government audit in the international community. CAG of India is also a member of an international project on ‘Data Analytics’ under the Working Group on IT Audit of International Organisation for Supreme Audit Institutions.

Launch of #Gas4India campaign to promote Natural gas in the country

(Topic: Petroleum and Gas)

About- Union Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas launched #Gas4India campaign

Aim- Promoting the use of gas in the country—Public and private sector companies working in the sector has joined hands to promote the natural gas sector.

#Gas4India-

• It is a unified cross-country, multimedia, multi-event campaign to communicate the national, social, economic and ecological benefits of using natural gas as the fuel of choice to every citizen who uses, or will use in the near future, gas in any way- cook, travel, light their homes, and power their business.
• Campaign includes social engagement via Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, and its official blogsite, as well as hyper local, offline events to directly connect with consumers through discussions, workshops and cultural events.
• Launched the website, Twitter handle, Facebook page and Theme song of the campaign.

Steps taken to promote-

• Country is moving towards the gas-based economy, and it is working to increase the share of gas in the country’s energy basket from the present 6.5%.
• Government has taken initiatives and policy reforms throughout the Gas chain.
• Besides the move to enhance gas production, the Government is promoting nationwide gas grid and setting up gas infrastructure.
• GAIL has already finished the tendering process for gas grid and actual process of laying pipelines will begin soon.
• Government is going to take steps to harness synthetic gas from Coal Bed Methane, and also promoting Bio-CNG and Bio-PNG.
• 3 New LNG terminals are also coming up- India has entered into long term contracts and acquired assets abroad to ensure unhindered supply of gas at reasonable prices. Government has given highest priority to PNG.
• PNG should be taken in mission mode so that environment and health friendly fuel is available to people at the earliest.
• Issues of road cutting fee, Uniform Tax for PNG, provisioning of PNG infrastructure for upcoming Smart cities were discussed.

Indo-Africa ICT Expo-Nairobi, Kenya

(Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth)

About- India’s Telecom Export Promotion Council (TEPC), in conjunction with NASSCOM & ICT Authority of Kenya embarked on the 2nd edition of the Indo-Africa ICT Expo at KICC, Nairobi.

Aim- Enhancing cooperation between African countries and India in the area of ICT technology.

Second edition of the Indo-Africa ICT Expo cum Conference-

• More than 100 ICT companies are participating from India showcasing their latest products and solutions to explore synergies on ground.
• Indo-Africa ICT Expo 2016 is the second edition of the annual event, and is being held in Nairobi from 1st September to 3^rd September 2016.
• Sessions in Conference were aligned with theme of the event “Digital Dreams of Nation”. Event was attended by over 2500 visitors and over 300 conference delegates with a world class speaker panel.
• Expo is designed to be a platform to build synergy among India & African countries to showcase innovative & diversified Products & Services and to bring together thought leaders across the entire ICT value chain to discuss solutions to regulatory and business issues.
• Telecommunication Equipment & Services Export promotion Council (TEPC), India also organizes Buyer Seller Business Meets in New Delhi also where potential buyers from across the globe are invited to meet the telecom equipment and services suppliers of India to develop long term business relations.

Key highlight

• ICT Ministers Round Table Meeting on ‘Digital Dreams of the Developing Nations’, wherein ICT Ministers/Secretaries leading high level Government & business delegations from India, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Malawi participated. Government to Government bilateral talks were also held between Indian Government and official government delegations from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and South Sudan.
• Africa is turning into one of the fastest growing regions in the world, offering huge domestic market potential and growing economically at more than 5% per year.
• Event only reiterates the fact that India and Africa are well on their way to collaborate and become the next global leaders in technology.
• Africa is turning into one of the fastest growing regions in the world, offering huge domestic market potential and growing economically at more than 5% per year. During the last two years, the focus has been on SME sector engagement and a number of the participating delegate companies have achieved their biggest success in Africa.
• Organizer of the event, Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC), India has been set up by the Government of India to promote and develop export of Telecom Equipment and Services from the country.
• TEPC as a Council plays a critical role in furtherance of Telecom exports from India and assists Indian member companies in easy facilitation of their respective exports.
• Council caters to the complete Telecom Ecosystem including Telecom Hardware Manufacturing, Telecom Service Provision, Telecom Software, and Consultancy.
• TEPC recognizes the strengths of building a design-led manufacturing ecosystem for telecom products and the Government is committed to further support in the creation of domestic products and enables manufacturing with high domestic value-addition.
• India is poised for another digital revolution given the massive thrust on “Make in India” initiative & launch of “Digital India”, which creates a large opportunity for ICT sector.