Environment
India Joins High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People

Relevance IN - Prelims (about HAC for nature and people) + Mains (GS II bilateral relations+ international organisations)
What's the NEWS

• India officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30x30.
• HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south; European, Latin American, Africa and Asia countries are among the members.
• India is the first of the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to join the HAC.
• India's announcement comes in the lead up to a high-level biodiversity meeting, hosted by China.
• The virtual meeting to take place October 11-15 will tackle key aspects of the biodiversity treaty to be finalized in 2022.
• The global 30x30 goal is currently a centrepiece of the treaty.
• India's decision to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which was initiated at the "One Planet Summit" in Paris in January 2021
• This coalition aims to promote an international agreement to protect at least 30 % the of world's land and ocean by 2030.
• The aim of the coalition is to gather as many governments as possible, targeting in priority those that can influence current negotiations on the adoption of the target.

High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People

• The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People is an intergovernmental group of 70 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica and France and by the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair, championing a global deal for nature and people with the central goal of protecting at least 30 percent of world's land and ocean by 2030.
• The 30x30 target is a global target which aims to halt the accelerating loss of species, and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.

Prelims Factoids
Exercise Ajeya Warrior
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about EXERCISE AJEYA WARRIOR)
What's the NEWS

• The 6^th Edition of India - UK Joint Company Level Military Training EXERCISE AJEYA WARRIOR has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand and will culminate on 20 Oct 2021.
• The exercise is part of an initiative to develop inter-operability and sharing expertise with friendly foreign nations.
• During this exercise, an Infantry Company from Indian Army and an equivalent strength from UK Army would be sharing their experiences gained during the conduct of various military operations in their respective countries and during overseas engagements.
• The joint military training would culminate with a grueling 48 hours exercise to validate the performance of both the Armies in conducting joint military operations in a semi-urban environment.

Prelims Factoids
Mosquirix or RTS,S/ASO1

Know! about the vaccine

• Mosquirix is the First vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of Malaria.
• This vaccine effective against the deadliest malaria parasite 'Plasmodium Falciparum'.
• It is also the First Malaria Vaccine to be given by 3 countries in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi) through their child immunization programmes.
• It is the first for malaria that has been approved for widespread rollout.
• The trial of the vaccine has been carried out in countries of three countries of Africa.
• This vaccine, when taken along with antimalarial drugs, reduces the chances of hospitalisation or death in young children.
• Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease that is transmitted to people through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Miscellaneous
North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the role of NERCRMS)
What's the NEWS

• North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
• The society is dedicated towards the transformation of far flung rural areas of North Eastern Region (NER) of India through different livelihood initiatives.
• The society, so far has covered four states of NER viz. Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Manipur and Meghalaya
• The society, since 1999, has formed 8,403 SHGs (Self Help Groups) and 2,889 NaRMGs (Natural Resource Management Groups) in 2,532 villages benefiting 1,18,843 households through its project- North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).

The society adopted a holistic approach of development with two broad focus areas i.e.

• Social mobilization, organization and capacity building to tap and realize the great latent potential of the communities by employing time tested their traditional value systems and culture, and
• Intervene with the economic and social activities and infrastructure with predominant thrust on income generating activities to achieve economic transformation.

The strategy adopted to achieve the goals is:

• Capacity building of communities and participating agencies:
• Economic and livelihood activities:
• Social sector development:
• Rural Roads and Rural Electrification
• Community-based Bio-diversity Conservation & Communication:

Government Schemes
National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NDLM)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying unveiled the National Digital Livestock Mission Blueprint at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), at Anand.

Know! about NDLM

• The livestock sector is poised for a major leap after implementation of NDLM, a digital platform being developed jointly by DAHD and NDDB on the foundation of the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
• The aim is to create a farmer-centric, technology-enabled ecosystem where the farmers are able to realize better income through livestock activities with the right information
• The bedrock of NDLM will be the unique identification of all livestock, which will be the foundation for all the state and national level programmes including domestic and international trade.
• The farmers will be able to effortlessly access the markets, irrespective of their location or holdings through this digital platform as a wide-range of stake-holders will be connected in this ecosystem.
• This system will also include robust animal breeding systems, nutrition, disease surveillance, disease control programmes and a traceability mechanism for animals and animal products.

Social Issues
Government Issues Guidelines For PM Cares For Children Scheme

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PM CARES for Children Scheme.) + Mains ( GS II government welfare schemes for vulnerable section)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the detailed guidelines for PM CARES for Children Scheme.

Know! about PM CARES for Children Scheme.

• Prime Minister on 29th May, 2021 had announced comprehensive support for children who have lost both their parents due to COVID 19 pandemic.
• The objective of the scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children who have lost their parent(s) to COVID pandemic, in a sustained manner, enable their wellbeing through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.
• The PM CARES for children scheme inter alia provides support to these children through convergent approach, gap funding for ensuring education, health, monthly stipend from the age of 18 years, and lump sum amount of Rs. 10 lakh on attaining 23 years of age.
• The eligible children shall be enrolled from 29.05.2021 which is the date of announcement by the Prime Minister to 31.12.2021 to avail benefits of PM CARES for Children Scheme.
• The Scheme is expected to continue till the year when every identified beneficiary shall turn 23 years of age.

The eligibility criterion for the scheme will cover all children who have lost

• Both parents or
• Surviving parent or
• legal guardian/adoptive parents/single adoptive parent due to COVID 19 pandemic, starting from 11.03.2020 the date on which WHO has declared and characterized COVID-19 as pandemic till 31.12.2021, shall be entitled to benefits under this scheme.
• Child should not have completed 18 years of age on the date of death of parents

Science and Technology
Laser-based clad coating technology (LCCT)
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the role of LCCT)

• Indian Scientists have developed a unique laser-based clad coating technology (LCCT) that provides improved protection to the boiler parts in thermal power plants.
• It can enhance life of boiler parts by 2- 3 times compared to currently use surfacing technologies.
• It has been found that this technology is suitable, not only for boiler parts of thermal power plants but also for any engineering application involving high temperature erosive and corrosive environment.
• Laser cladding is a technique for fusing a coating material on a substrate.
• It allows materials to be deposited accurately, selectively, and with minimal heat input into the underlying substrate.
• This process allows for property improvements of the surface of a part, including better wear resistance, thus allowing for the repair of damaged or worn surfaces.
• The LCCT has been developed with a meticulous fusing of a Nickel-based soft matrix with hard metallic carbide particles of (tungsten, chromium, or vanadium) on steel parts by employing a high-power laser integrated into a multi-axis robot with process monitoring and control.

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