Daily Current Capsules

01- 02 May 2023

Defence

Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Facility.

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Facility/CFEES) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions )

What’s the NEWS

• Centre of Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), a Delhi-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed a Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Facility.
• It enables upward vertical dissipation of blast effects considerably reducing the blast effect on surrounding utilities.

Why it is needed?

• The Armed Forces find it difficult to stock ammunition as required by them due to non- availability of adequate land as large safety distances are required for ammunition storage structures.
• The safety distances considerably reduce, when ammunition is stored underground.
• The facility can be extensively used by the Armed Forces for storage of all types of ammunition reducing the land footprint requirements in addition to providing enhanced safety of ammunition against aerial attacks or sabotage..

Defence

Air Droppable Container ADC-150

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about ADC-150 and SAHAYAK-NG ) + Mains ( GS III indigenisation of technology)

What’s the NEWS

• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-150’ from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa

Know! about ADC-150

• ‘ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with 150 kg payload capacity.
• The trial was conducted to enhance the naval operational logistics capabilities by providing quick response to meet the requirement of critical engineering stores to ships (under distress), which are deployed more than 2,000 kms from the coast.
• ADC- 150 reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.
• Three DRDO laboratories – Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru – have been involved in the development of ADC-150 container.

Connect the dots – December 2020

Indian Navy Conduct Maiden Flight Trial of SAHAYAK-NG Air Droppable Container

• The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of SAHAYAK-NG’ India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy) off the coast of Goa.
• The trial was conducted by Indian Navy to enhance its operational logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering stores to ships which are deployed more than 2000 km from the coast.
• It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.
• SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I.
• The newly developed GPS aided air dropped container is having the capability to carry a payload that weighs upto 50 kg and can be dropped from heavy aircraft.

Bilateral Relations

ASEAN INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE (AIME-2023)

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about AIME 2023) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral relations and IR)

What’s the NEWS

• Indian Naval Ships Satpura and Delhi arrived at Singapore on 01 May 2023 to participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) scheduled from 02 to 08 May 2023.

Know! about AIME 2023

• The Harbour Phase of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from 02 to 04 May 2023 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from 07 to 08 May 2023 in the South China Sea.
• AIME 2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
• INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate are a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam
• The ships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) being hosted by Singapore.

NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog Releases Compendium on Best Practices in Social Sector 2023

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about the compendium ) + Mains ( GS II Government initiatives

What’s the NEWS

• NITI Aayog released the “Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023” in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
• This compendium includes 75 case studies cutting across 14 key social sectors.
• The case studies have been sourced from all States/ Union Territories and 30 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
• The seventy-five best practices highlight models which are innovative, sustainable, replicable and impactful.
• The aim of this exercise has been to synthesise lessons for the future to expand, enhance and improve life at the grassroots level.

 

Prelims Factoids

EKTA EVAM SHRADHANJALI ABHIYAAN

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan)

What’s the NEWS

• To commemorate the sacrifices and contribution of its Karmyogis in nation building, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is organising “Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan”, a multi modal expedition as a part of 64^th BRO Day Celebrations.

Space Awareness

First test launch of new low-cost star sensor developed from off-the-shelf components successfully conducted

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about Star Berry Sense payload/POEM ) + Mains ( GS III Space Awareness)

What’s the NEWS

• A new low-cost star sensor developed by astronomers from off-the-shelf components was recently launched by ISRO on board PSLV C-55.
• In its first-ever space test, the sensor, which is mounted on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), is performing well, and the initial data has now validated its design as well as its function.

Know! about the low cost star sensor – Star Berry Sense payload

• The StarBerrySense payload developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was launched on 22 April.
• This novel low-cost sensor designed to quickly calculate where the satellite is pointing is being tested in space for the very first time.
• The start sensor designed by the Space Payloads Group at IIA is capable of finding its pointing direction in space by identifying the stars in its field of view.
• This payload is built around the well-known minicomputer RaspberryPi, and the electronics and software were designed in-house
• The advantage of this payload is that it is cost-effective, simple to build, and can be deployed on a wide variety of satellites
• The primary objective was to assess its survivability and performance in space.
• The main function of StarBerrySense is to image the field of view, correctly identify the stars it sees, and calculate the pointing direction.

Know! about POEM

• “StarBerrySense was mounted on ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), which provides a stable platform for our payload to operate from.
• POEM is a unique initiative by ISRO that utilises the spent 4th stage of the PSLV as an orbital platform for carrying out scientific experiments.

Social Issues

International Labour Day 2023

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about International Labour Day)

What’s the NEWS

• International Labour Day is celebrated every year on May 1 across the world to honour the achievements of labourers and workers and to encourage them to be aware of their rights.

Know! about International Labour Day

• International Labour Day is celebrated in more than 80 countries, including India, Cuba, and China.
• People in different parts of the world hold marches on this day to promote the rights of working-class people and to protect them from exploitation.
• Popularly known as ‘May Day’, it has its origins in the labour union movement in the United States in the 19th Century – specifically the eight-hour day movement.
• The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to the late 19th century when workers across the globe began demanding better working conditions, fair wages, and shorter working hours.
• While New York was the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labour Day, Oregon was the first to pass a law on it on February 21, 1887.
• The first International Labour Day was celebrated on May 01, 1890, after the proclamation by the first International Congress of socialist parties in Europe on July 14th 1889 in Paris, France, to dedicate May 01 every year as the ‘Workers Day of International Unity and Solidarity.’

Labour Day in India

• India began celebrating Labour Day on May 1, 1923, in Chennai, and is also known as ‘Kamgar Divas’, ‘Kamgar Din’, and ‘Antrarashtriya Shramik Divas’.
• The day was first observed by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, and is considered a national holiday in the country.

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