connect to current -daily current capsules 19th february 2019
TRANSCRIPT
Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 19th February 2019
Defence EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI-2019
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about the exercise)
What’s the NEWS
Fighter jets and helicopters hit targets during day and night. It was for the
first time, the Advanced Light Helicopter and the Akash were deployed in
a military exercise
A mega exercise, EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI-2019 involving 140
fighter jets and attack helicopters, in a repower demonstration was held
close to the border with Pakistan at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI-2019
In the Vayu Shakti exercise, the IAF showcased firepower capability of
indigenously-developed platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and efficacy of Akash surface-
to-air missile and Astra air-to-air missile.
The IAF also deployed the upgraded MiG-29 fighter jet in an air-to-
ground role during the exercise. A total of 137 aircraft including Sukhoi-
30s, Mirage 2000s, Jaguars, Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27, Mig-29, IL78,
Hercules and AN-32 aircraft participated
For the First time, the ALH and the Akash were deployed in a military
exercise.
Vayu Shakti and Gagan Shakti
Vayu Shakti and Gagan Shakti are two important exercises held by
Indian Airforce.
Exercise Vayu Shakti demonstrtaes the IAF’s ability to strike targets on
the ground such as enemy convoys and tanks, radar stations, railway
yards and military headquarters.
The other important dimension of air power, air-to-air combat is out into
display at another exercise of IAF called Gagan Shakti.
Social Issues Women and Child Development Three important initiatives on women’s safety conceptualized by the
WCD Ministry launched
Relevance IN – Prelims( about these initiatives) + Mains (GS II Social issues,
government policies and interventions
What’s the NEWS
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has conceptualized
several initiatives to promote safety of women in their living spaces,
working spaces and the public spaces.
Three of these important initiatives will be launched jointly by the Home
Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh and WCD Minister, Smt Maneka Sanjay
Gandhi in New Delhi .
Know! about these initiatives
Panic Button
The idea of having a panic button was conceptualized in collaboration
with the Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments were asked to
put in place a dedicated Emergency Response Centre through which the
entire system will be operated.
The emergency message coming out of the above modes, will trigger a
response from the emergency response centre through a team of trained
personnel who can handle emergency requests of various kinds and get
the necessary relief services launched.
For Women and children, 112 India App provides a special SHOUT
feature which alerts registered volunteers in the vicinity of victim for
immediate assistance.
The emergency response system was soft launched in Himachal Pradesh
and Nagaland recently and is being launched in 14 more states on
19.02.2019.
SCIM portal under Safe City Project
In order to provide safety for women in public spaces, the Government
has identified eight cities for implementation of Safe City project.
The 8 major cities which have been chosen are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai. Detailed
projects for this have been prepared jointly by the municipal bodies and
the local police authorities.
The projects include creation on ground assets & resources and mindset
safety of women. Some of the key features of the safe city project
include:
a. Identification of sensitive hot spots in each city, b. Installation of CCTV surveillance covering the entire hot spot. c. Automated number plate reading machines to be deployed in extremely
sensitive areas. d. Intensive patrolling in vulnerable areas beyond the identified hot spots. e. Improving street lighting and public toilet facilities for women. f. Others like setting up women help desks in police stations, augmentation
of women support centres etc.
Safe City Implementation Monitoring (SCIM)
All the above measures would be coordinated through an Integrated
Smart Control Room in the city.
An online Safe City Implementation Monitoring (SCIM) portal has been
developed by MHA which will also be launched
SCIM will facilitate online tracking of deployment of assets and
infrastructure created under the Safe City projects.
SCIM facilitates an evidence based online monitoring system. SCIM also
creates a digital repository of assets, infrastructure and social outreach
programs, as well as best practices achieved in each City.
DNA Analysis Facilities in States
In view of the complaints of delay in cases of sexual assault
investigations, it was proposed that dedicated DNA analysis facilities
should be created in the forensic science laboratories on a mission mode.
Timely testing of DNA samples from the crime scene is the quickest
process of obtaining forensic evidence in cases of sexual assault on
women.
In the initial phase, dedicated DNA analysis facilities have been
sanctioned for the forensic science laboratories located at Chennai,
Madurai, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Know! more initiatives taken by the ministry
A separate women safety division in the Home Ministry
The One Stop Centre Scheme, funded through the Nirbhaya Fund, is
being implemented by the WCD Ministry and 314 centres have started
working across the country.
Women Helpline has been made operational in 31 states/ UTs and
assistance has been provided to over 25 lakh women.
Fast track special courts for cases of sexual assaults are also being
established in collaboration with Ministry of Law
India Pharma 2019 & India Medical Device 2019 Inaugurated
Relevance IN – Prelims( about India Pharma 2019) + Mains (issues relating to
development and management of social sector relating to health
What’s the NEWS
The 4th edition of India’s biggest Global Conference on Pharmaceuticals
and Medical Devices has been inaugurated
The event is being organized by Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, along with Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
The theme of ‘India Pharma 2019’ is ‘Enabling Quality Affordable
Healthcare & that of ‘India Medical Device 2019’ is ‘Accelerating
Growth to Achieve Universal Healthcare’.
Know! more about the conference
This conference is an endeavour of this Government to provide
affordable, quality healthcare to citizens of the country and also to
encourage ‘Make in India’ while promoting the growth and development
of Indian Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry.
Drug regulators participating in the conference include those from over
30 countries including Russia, Kenya, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi
Arabia & Uzbekistan participated in the event.
Besides this, the event also saw participation of drug regulators from 15
states across India. Senior Government officials from Government of
India and State Government and Industry stalwarts from Pharmaceutical
& Medical Device sector also graced the event.
'International Vision Zero Conference’
Relevance IN – Prelims( about Vision Zero conference) + Mains (GS II Social
issues, government policies and interventions, development process and the
development industry
What’s the NEWS
The three days Conference on the VISION ZERO and its relevance to
Occupational Safety and Health has been inaugurated
The Conference has been organized by Directorate General Factory
Advice and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Ministry of Labour and
Employment, German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), Germany in
association with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and
International Social Security Association - Manufacturing, Construction
and Mining.
Know! more about the conference
The concept of ‘Vision Zero’ is fast gaining international acceptance and
is expected to leverage the efforts of the Government of India to raise
the occupational safety and health standards in the country so as to
improve the occupational safety and health situation.
The concept of Vision Zero is based on four fundamental principles viz.
life is non-negotiable, humans are fallible, tolerable limits are defined by
human physical resistance, and people are entitled to safe transport and
safe workplaces.
The Vision is based on principles of Controlling Risks, Ensuring Safety
and Health in Machines, Equipment and Workplaces and Skill
Upgradation of Workforce.
The conference provides a forum for promoting safety and health at work
by exchanging knowledge, practices and experience.
Infrastructure Development
PCS1X Maritimee-Commerce Portal
Regional Maritime Safety Conference
Relevance IN – Prelims( about PCS1X) + Mains (GS III infrastructure
development + economic developments
What’s the NEWS
The ministry of shipping has launched PCS1x at the Regional Maritime
Safety Conference
Know! about PCS1x
PCS1x is an upgraded version of the e-commerce portal Port
Community System(PCS).
It has been developed in record time by the Indian Ports Association,
based on feedback from stakeholders using PCS.
PCS has played a vital role in enhancing ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the
maritime sector by facilitating a transparent and paperless system for
electronic submission of trade document, resulting in faster turnaround
time and dwell time.
Digitization in EXIM trade, of which PCS is a part, has played a major
role in improving India’s world ranking in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ .
In World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index India’s position stood at
100 in 2017, registering an improvement of 30 points over 2016.
It subsequently rose to 77thrank the following year. This is primarily due
the ranking in Trading Across Border parameter which improved to 80
from 146 last year.
PCS Ix is a new generation system with a user-friendly interface that
brings together various stakeholders of the maritime sector, and
facilitates Government-to-Business, Business –to-Government and
Business-to-Business transactions within the required legal framework.
PCS enables trade to have an improved communication with the customs
as they have also embarked on an Application Programming Interface
(API) based architecture, thereby enabling real time interaction.
It provides Single Window platform for maritime industry and
authorities, a user-friendly mobile application for stakeholders, event
based notification and alerts
Prelims Practise Question
Consider the following statements
1. Exercise Gagan Shakti demonstrates the IAF’s ability to strike
targets on the ground and the other important dimension of air
power, air-to-air combat is out into display at another exercise of
IAF called Vayu Shakti.
2. PCS Ix is a new generation system with a user-friendly interface
that brings together various stakeholders of the maritime sector,
and facilitates Government-to-Business, Business –to-
Government and Business-to-Business transactions within the
required legal framework.
Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
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