Daily Current Capsules
11,12 and 13 October 2023
Mera Yuva Bharat
- The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)
- Mission – to serve as an overarching enabling mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development and provide equitable access to youth to actualize their aspirations
- The primary objective of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is to make it a whole of Government platform for youth development.
- Under the new arrangement, with access to resources & connection to opportunities, youth would become community change agents and nation builders allowing them to act as the Yuva Setu between the Government and the citizens.
- It seeks to harness the immense youth energy for nation-building.
Know! more about MY Bharat
- Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body will benefit the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in the National Youth Policy.
- In case of programme components specifically meant for adolescents, the beneficiaries will be in the age group of 10-19 years.
The establishment of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) would lead to:
- Leadership Development in the Youth:
- Better alignment between youth aspirations and community needs.
- Enhanced efficiency through Convergence of existing programmes.
- Act as a one stop shop for young people and Ministries.
- Create a centralized youth data base.
- Improved two-way communication to connect youth government initiatives and activities of other stakeholder that engage with youth.
- Ensuring accessibility by creating a physical ecosystem.
Know! also about
National Youth Policy, 2014
- The National Youth Policy, 2014 (NYP-2014) reiterates the commitment of the entire nation to the all-round development of the youth of India, so that they can realize their full potential and contribute productively to the nation-building process.
Know! also about Meri Maati Mera Desh
- Recently, a web portal of the Department of Youth Affairs, yuva.gov.in, hosted a nation-wide program called “Meri Maati Mera Desh” in which 50 million young people participated.
- It helped to plant 23 million saplings to create Amrit Vatikas pan-India.
India has assumed the position of Vice Chair in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
- The 23rd Council of Ministers of IORA met in Colombo as Sri Lanka assumed the chairmanship from Bangladesh.
- The Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of IORA.
- India has assumed the Vice Chair in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the next two years
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM) attended the 23rd Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)The meeting was hosted by Sri Lanka, the current IORA Chair.
- It was held under the theme of theme of “Strengthening Regional Architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity”.
- Dr. Jaishankar said that India would endeavour to give practical shape to the IORA Outlook for Indo-Pacific (OIP). With India’s initiative, the IORA OIP was adopted in 22nd Council of Ministers held in Dhaka last year.
Know! about IORA
- The IORA, an intergovernmental organization established in 1997, comprises 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners hailing from regions surrounding the Indian Ocean.
- From its inception with 14 member states, the membership has expanded to 23 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- IORA has 10 dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Turkey, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
- IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015.
- The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius.
11th Traffic Expo and Smart Mobility Conference
Three Indigenously developed technologies, i.e.,
- CMOS Sensor based Camera for Industrial Application
- Thermal Sensor Camera for Intelligent Transportation System-(TvITS)
- Online Sucro Crystal Imaging System (OSIS)
These technologies have been launched at the 11th Traffic Expo and Smart Mobility Conference.
Some details of the technologies:
- The CMOS Sensor based Camera for Industrial Vision Applications (iViS): Indigenous technology for automated inspection and identification of objects. It supports AI based applications employing Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques.
- Thermal Sensor based Camera (TvITS): AI powered thermal sensor based smart vision camera for road traffic applications. It can provide data of stationery as well as of moving objects with high accuracy even in complete dark environment in all weather conditions. The modular design provides ease of operation and changing of lenses as per need.
- Online Sucro Crystal Imaging System (OSIS): It is a system developed using the industrial camera for measurement of crystal size in sugar industries. It is very important quality parameters which is required by the sugar industries.
Source
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1967035
9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20)
- Prime Minister inaugurated the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
- The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India’s G20 Presidency.
- The theme of the 9th P20 Summit is “Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
- The event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries.
- The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit on 9-10 September 2023.
- The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects – Transformation in People’s Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating SDGs; and Sustainable Energy Transition.
India’s G -20 Presidency
- India holds the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
- The 43 Heads of Delegations- the largest ever in G20- participated in the final New Delhi Summit in September this year.
Source
Arctic puffins
- A hybrid species of Atlantic puffins that formed in the last century was recently discovered by scientists.
- The hybrid group formed when two of three subspecies of Atlantic puffins began mating six generations ago, around 1910
Know! about Atlantic Puffin
- It is a species of small seabird in the auk family.
- It’s the only puffin species found in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Scientific Name: Fratercula arctica
- It is found on rocky coasts in the Northern Atlantic Ocean during the breeding season and on the open ocean in the non-breeding season.
- It is a migratory species, spending most of the time traveling back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, returning every breeding season to its native breeding areas.
- Sixty percent of the individuals inhabit the coast of Iceland during the breeding season.
- They fly through the air like most birds, but they also “fly” through the water, using their wings as paddles.
https://news.yahoo.com/atlantic-puffins-making-comeback-devastating-190000900.html
Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (IMI 5.0)
- Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 5.0), the flagship routine immunization campaign of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will conclude all 3 rounds on 14th October 2023.
- IMI 5.0 ensures that routine immunization services reach the missed-out and dropped out children and pregnant women across the country.
- This year, for the first time the campaign is being conducted across all the districts in the country and includes children up to 5 years of age (Previous campaigns included children up to 2 years of age).
- IMI 5.0 campaign aims to enhance immunization coverage for all vaccines provided under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) as per the National Immunization Schedule (NIS).
- Special focus is on improvement of Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage with the aim of Measles & Rubella elimination by 2023 and use of U-WIN digital platform for Routine Immunization in pilot mode across all districts in the country.
Know! about Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- UIP is one of the largest public health programmes targeting close of 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually.
- It is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions and largely responsible for reduction of vaccine-preventable under-5 mortality rate.
Total of 12 vaccine-preventable diseases are covered against which free immunization is provided:
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Measles
- Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B
- Rotavirus diarrhoea
- Pneumococcal Pneumonia and
- Japanese Encephalitis
What is the difference between UIP and Mission Indradhanush?
- The Mission Indradhanush aims to cover all those children who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.
- India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provide free vaccines against 12 life-threatening diseases, to 26 million children annually.
Source
Setu Bandhan Scheme
- Centre has approved seven bridge projects worth 118 Crore 50 lakh rupees in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme.These projects will enhance connectivity and boost economic growth across all sectors.
- The Setu Bandhan works have been introduced to improve inter-state connectivity, especially on the rural areas at the borders where state roads do not get the required attention.
Source
Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
- The forest department started the inaugural jungle safari at the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
Know! about Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
- Established in 2013, MHTR encompasses the area of Mukundra Hills National Park, Darrah Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary, and part of Chambal Sanctuary (from Garadia Mahadev to Jawahar Sagar Dam).
- It was a protected hunting ground of the erstwhile rulers of Kota.
- It is spread across 4 districts– Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.
- The park is situated in a valley formed by two parallel mountains, Mukundra and Gargola.
- It is located on the eastern bank of the Chambal River and is drained by its tributaries.
Source
Gaza Strip
- Israel recently ordered a full siege of the Gaza Strip and vowed to obliterate Hamas after its all-out offensive entered the next phase.
Know! about Gaza Strip
- The Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
- The territory takes its name from Gaza, its main city.
- It forms the smaller of the two Palestinian territories — the other being the West Bank.
- It is bordered by Israel to the north and east and Egypt to the south.
- It is a 41km (25-mile) long and 10 km wide territory.
- It has a temperate climate, with mild winters, and dry, hot summers.
- It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. More than 2 million people live in the territory.
- The population is predominantly Palestinian, with the majority being Sunni Muslims.
Know! the History of GAZA
- After Israel declared its statehood in 1948, Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades
- Israel then gained control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after its victory in the 1967 Six-Day War against its Arab neighbours.
- For the next 38 years, Israel controlled the strip and enabled the construction of 21 Jewish settlements.
- In 2005, under international and domestic pressure, Israel withdrew around 9,000 Israeli settlers and its military forces from the Gaza Strip, leaving the enclave to be governed by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which also controlled parts of the occupied West Bank.
- Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organisation, currently governs the Gaza Strip.
- It took control in 2007 after it won elections there the year before. Since then, no elections have been held.
- Hamas, unlike the Palestinian Authority, doesn’t recognize Israel’s right to exist.
- Israel has maintained a land, air and sea blockade on Gaza since 2007.
Know! also about
Operation Ajay
- India launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indians from Israel as the conflict escalated with Israel retaliating against Hamas’s attack
- Israel has declared war against Hamas and set up a war cabinet
- India being a strategic partner of Israel condemned the Hamas attack and PM Modi expressed solidarity with Israel.
Yom Kippur War 1973
- Hamas carried out the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, resulting in over 2,000 casualties on both sides.
- The Yom Kippur War was an armed conflict fought from 6 to 25 October 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria.
- The majority of combat between the two sides took place in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights—both of which were occupied by Israel in 1967
- The war began on 6 October 1973, when the Arab coalition jointly launched a surprise attack against Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur
- Israel and its Arab neighbors were unable to reach a compromise over the occupied territories.
- With negotiations stalled, Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israeli forces on October 6, 1973 in the Sinai and the Golan Heights in an effort to regain territory they had lost during the 1967 war.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
- The Union Cabinet approved the amendment of the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (‘MMDR Act’) for specifying rate of royalty in respect of 3 critical and strategic minerals, namely, Lithium, Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
- Recently, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment act, 22023 was passed by the Parliament, which has come into force from 17th August, 2023.
- The Amendment, among other things, delisted six minerals, including Lithium and Niobium, from the list of atomic minerals, thereby allowing grant of concessions for these minerals to private sector through auction.
- Further, the amendment provided that mining lease and composite license of 24 critical and strategic minerals including Lithium, Niobium and REEs (not containing Uranium and Thorium), shall be auctioned by the Central Government.
- This approval of the Union Cabinet of specification of rate of royalty will enable the Central Government to auction blocks for Lithium, Niobium and REEs for the first time in the country.
- Royalty rate on minerals is an important financial consideration for the bidders in auction of blocks.
Critical minerals
- Critical minerals have become essential for economic development and national security in the country.
- Critical minerals such as Lithium and REEs have gained significance in view of India’s commitment towards energy transition and achieving net-zero emission by 2070.
- Lithium, Niobium and REEs have also emerged as strategic elements due their usages and geo-political scenario.
- Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles.
- Demand for these minerals is growing quickly as clean energy transitions gather pace.
- The types of mineral resources used vary by technology. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are crucial to battery performance.
- Rare earth elements are essential for permanent magnets used in wind turbines and EV motors.
- Electricity networks need a huge amount of aluminium and copper, the latter of which is the cornerstone of all electricity-related technologies.
Source
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966595
National Event on launch of new standardised Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children
- A new standardised Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children (Protocol) was launched by Union Minister of Women and Child Development
- The Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children has been jointly prepared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India.
- The protocol will be a core component of the efforts by MoWCD to reduce malnutrition through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0.
- The protocol clearly describes the process of assessing and caring for malnourished children through the Anganwadi and medical ecosystem.”
- The key steps, explained in the protocol, include, Growth Monitoring & Screening, Appetite Test for SAM children, Medical Assessment, Decision-making regarding level of care, Nutritional Management, Medical Management, Nutrition, Health Education & counselling including WASH practices, Home Visit by AWW and Referral, Duration of Monitoring and Follow-up Care.
Source
World Sight Day
- World Sight Day observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event meant to draw attention to blindness and vision impairment.
- Objective – to create awareness about Visual impairment among the masses
- This year it falls on 12th October.
- LOVE YOUR EYES AT WORK is the theme of this year.
- This World Sight Day, our focus is on helping people understand the importance of protecting their vision in the workplace and calling on business leaders to priorities the eye health of workers, everywhere.
- The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is the nodal department to look after all the development agenda of Persons with Disabilities of the country.
Source
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966565
Changes notified in Production Linked Incentive Scheme for White Goods
- The government tightened its oversight over the selected applicants under the Production Linked Incentive for white goods by coming out with a revised formula for calculating the value of production for captive use, sales to group companies and related parties.
Know! about White Goods
- White goods are large home appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
- They are large consumer durables for the house which were traditionally available only in white.
- Even though you can purchase them today in a wide range of different colors, they continue being called white goods.
- White goods are known for their durability and longevity, as they are designed to withstand the demands of daily use.
- The term may also refer to white fabrics, especially linen or cotton – articles such as curtains, towels, or sheets that historically used to be made of white cloth.
- In the beverage industry, white goods are colorless spirits, such as vodka or gin.
Know! also about Brown Goods
- They are relatively light electronic consumer durables such as computers, digital media players, TVs and radios.
- Unlike large household appliances (white goods), brown goods are more focused on entertainment, communication, and convenience.
- These devices often have electronic components, and their primary function is to provide audio, video, or data-related services.
Source
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966755
A-HELP programme
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Jharkhand
- A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) and has already initiated across different States/UTs including Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand.
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched the novel initiative through an MoU signed between DAHD and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India.
Know! about A-HELP
- A-HELP will act as a “Livestock Resource Person“ for the designated area/village.
- The selected person will serve as a last-mile extension worker providing 24×7 services at the doorstep of farmers.
- She will sensitise livestock owners on ear-tagging, registration on the Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH), scientific health management of livestock, basic sanitation and hygienic practices.
A-HELP is like ASHA
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying came up with a new band of community-based functionaries; named A-HELP to fill this void by utilising the existing cadre of Pashu Sakhis under DAY-NRLM, which is a cadre of community animal care providers.
- The A-HELP training was undertaken using a “consortium” approach with DAHD, NRLM, and NDDB on board to have a complete approach towards livestock health, welfare, and women’s empowerment to make it a sustainable model.
Source
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966475
Indian Army test-fires extended-range BrahMos cruise missile
- The BrahMos Missile Regiment of the Indian Army has test-fired a land-attack version of extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (BrahMos ER) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 10 October
- The missile has not yet been inducted, and the Indian Army will consider inducting it based on the outcomes of the test
- The missile will go through additional trials before being inducted into the Indian Army.
- The tests took place near the eastern seaboard archipelago
- BrahMos ER is an improved variant of baseline BrahMos
- The estimated range of the extended variant is 72% (between 450 and 500 km) more than the baseline version range of 290 km.
- The BrahMos ER is developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture (JV) between Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPO Mash) and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Know! about BrahMoS
- BRAHMOS is a universal long range supersonic cruise missile system that can be launched from land, sea and air.
- BRAHMOS has been jointly developed by DRDO, India, and NPOM, Russia.
- The system has been designed with two variants for Anti-Ship and Land-Attack roles.
- BRAHMOS Weapon Systems has been inducted and is operational with the Indian Navy (IN) as well as the Indian Army (IA).
- Developed as a joint venture between India and Russia, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or from land platforms.
India’s defence Exports
- As the Make in India initiative expands, India’s defence exports have skyrocketed to an all-time high, touching nearly the ₹16,000 cr mark in FY 2022-23.
- India had managed to successfully expand its exports with sale of major defence systems including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Akash air defence systems and artillery guns to a friendly country.
- India is also gearing up to manufacture BrahMos missiles in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow from March next year (Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor)
Source
https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2023/10/indian-army-test-fires-extended-range.html
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