Exercise Cambrian Patrol

What's the NEWS

• A team from 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) which represented the Indian Army at the prestigious Cambrian Patrol Exercise at Brecon, Wales, UK from 13th to 15th October 2021 has been awarded Gold medal.

Know! about the Exercise

• Ex Cambrian Patrol organised by the UK Army is considered the ultimate test of human endurance, team spirit and is sometimes referred as the Olympics of Military Patrolling among militaries in the world.
• The Indian Army team participated in the event and competed against a total of 96 teams which included 17 international teams representing Special Forces and prestigious Regiments from around the world.
• This year, out of 96 participating teams, only three international patrols have been awarded a gold medal till phase 6th of this Exercise.

Prelims Factoids
Exercise Yudh Abhyas

• The 17^th Edition of Indo - US joint training exercise "EX YUDH ABHYAS 21" commenced at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) on 15 October 2021
• 300 US Army soldiers belonging to First Squadron (Airborne) of the 40th Cavalry Regiment and 350 soldiers of 7 MADRAS Infantry Battalion Group of Indian Army are participating in the exercise.
• The 14 days training schedule includes activities on joint training in a Counter Insurgency / Counter Terrorism environment under United Nations mandate.

Prelims Factoids
Joint Military Exercise 'Mitra Shakti' Culminates in Ampara (Sri Lanka)

• The 8^th Edition of joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, Exercise MITRA SHAKTI which was conducted from 04 - 16 October 2021, culminated at Combat Training School, Ampara.
• Exercise Mitra Shakti, based on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in semi urban terrain is the largest bilateral exercise being undertaken by the Sri Lankan Army and it forms a major part of India and Sri Lanka's growing defence partnership.
• During the past 14 days, both the contingents displayed great enthusiasm and professionalism while practising joint drills, executed as part of the exercise.

Social Issues
e-Shram Portal

What's the NEWS

• In less than two months, more than 4 crores (40 million plus) workers have registered at the e-Shram portal.
• Workers in diverse occupations such as construction, apparel manufacturing, fishing, gig and platform work, street vending, domestic work, agriculture and allied, transport sector have registered at the portal.
• All unorganized workers including migrant workers can now take the benefits of various social security and employment-based schemes through registration at the e-Shram portal.
• As per the latest data, the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are at the fore front of this initiative with highest number of registrations,
• The largest number of workers registered is from agriculture and construction, given the sheer volume of these two sectors in employment generation in India.
• After registration at e-SHRAM Portal, the unorganised workers shall receive a digital e-SHRAM card and they can update their profiles/ particulars through portal or mobile app.
• They will have a Universal Account Number (on eSHRAM Card) that will be acceptable across the country and now they will not be required to register at different places for obtaining social security benefits.
• If a worker is registered at the e-Shram portal and meets with an accident, he/she will be eligible for Rs 2.0 Lakh on death or permanent disability and Rs 1.0 lakh on partial disability.

Defence
Seven new defence companies, carved out of OFB

What's the NEWS

• Seven new defence companies, carved out of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), were dedicated to the Nation at a function organised by Ministry of Defence
• To enhance functional autonomy, efficiency and unleash new growth potential & innovation, Government had decided to convert OFB from a Government Department into seven 100 per cent Government-owned corporate entities as a measure to improve self-reliance in the defence preparedness of the country.

The seven new Defence companies are:

1. Munitions India Limited (MIL)
2. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVANI)
3. Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWE India)
4. Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) (Troop Comfort Items)
5. Yantra India Limited (YIL)
6. India Optel Limited (IOL) and
7. Gliders India Limited (GIL).

Benefits

• These companies have commenced business from October 01, 2021.
• These new companies would play an important role in import substitution
• The decision to convert OFB into seven defence companies will provide autonomy to these companies and improve accountability & efficiency in the functioning of 41 factories under them.
• The new structure will help in overcoming various shortcomings in the existing system of OFB and provide these companies incentive to become competitive and exploring new opportunities in the market including exports, while safeguarding the interests of the employees.
• The objective of this restructuring is to transform Ordnance Factories into productive, and profitable assets; improve expertise in product range; increase competitiveness; improve quality; enhance cost-efficiency and ensure self-reliance in defence preparedness

International Organisations
International Energy Agency invites India to become full-time member

What's the NEWS

• International Energy Agency (IEA) has invited India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, to become its full-time member - a proposal if accepted will require New Delhi to raise strategic oil reserves to 90 days requirement.

International Energy Agency (IEA)

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation
• It acts as a policy adviser to its member states, as well as major emerging economies to support energy security and advance the clean energy transition worldwide
• It is best known for the publication of its annual World Energy Outlook
• The IEA was founded in 1974 by industrialised countries - within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - in response to the oil embargo of 1973
• IEA is made up of 30 member countries and eight associate nations.
• Four countries are seeking accession to full membership - Chile, Colombia, Israel and Lithuania.
• According to IEA, a member country must maintain "crude oil and/or product reserves equivalent to 90 days of the previous year's net imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply."
• India's current strategic oil reserves equal 9.5 days of its requirement.
• A member of IEA has to show "a demand restraint programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%."
• India has the fastest-growing energy market in the world.

India's strategic oil reserves

• Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), a Government of India Special Purpose Vehicle, has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with total capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) at 3 locations, namely (i) Vishakhapatnam, (ii) Mangaluru and (iii) Padur.
• As per the consumption pattern of 2019-20, the total capacity is estimated to provide for about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement.
• In addition, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the country have storage facilities for crude oil and petroleum products for 64.5 days, thus the current total national capacity for storage of crude oil and petroleum products currently is 74 days.
• Under Phase II of the SPR Programme, the Government has given ‘in principle' approval in June 2018 for establishing two additional SPR facilities with total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT at two locations namely (i) Chandikhol in Odisha (4 MMT) and (ii) Padur in Karnataka (2.5 MMT).
• As per the consumption pattern of 2019-20, 6.5 MMT SPR capacity is estimated to provide for about additional 12 days of India's crude oil requirement.

Space Awareness
OneWeb likely to use ISRO's platforms for 2022 launches

What's the NEWS

• OneWeb had entered into an arrangement through Letter of Intent with NewSpace India Ltd. the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to use PSLV and the GSLV-MkIII as potential platforms to launch OneWeb's satellites in India from 2022.
• OneWeb, which already had 322 satellites in orbit, will use India-built PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the heavier GSLV-MkIII (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) as potential platforms to launch OneWeb's satellites in India from 2022.

Know! about ONEWEB

• OneWeb (legally Network Access Associates Ltd) is a global communications company building a capability to deliver broadband satellite internet services worldwide.
• The company was founded by Greg Wyler in 2012 and launched its first satellites in February 2019.
• It entered bankruptcy in March 2020 but emerged from the bankruptcy proceedings and reorganization in November 2020 with a new ownership group, led by the Government of the United Kingdom and Indian multinational company Bharti Global, each holding 42% of the company equity and board.

Prelims Factoids
Lukha river

What's the NEWS

• A detoxing pilot project has brought a river back from the dead, by the Meghalaya government

Know! about the pilot project

• The Lukha - "reservoir of fish" in the local Pnar language - was considered toxic beyond redemption a decade ago.
• The Meghalaya Pollution Control Board had in its 2012 investigative report blamed the contamination on acid mine drainage and run-off from the coal mines.
• The pilot project to rejuvenate the Lukha by using algae to remove toxic contents from the water has become a success.
• The detoxification process is called phycoremediation.
• Phycoremediation has improved the pH level of a critical stretch of the river.

Know! about Lukha river

• The Lukha river is in the East Jaintia Hills district where most of Meghalaya's rat-hole coal mines are located.
• The Lukha, draining the southern part of East Jaintia Hills, is fed by the Lunar river, its main tributary and numerous streams from the hills of the Narpuh Reserve Forest. The river flows into Bangladesh.

Index/Report
Global Climate Risk Index 2021

What's the NEWS

• The Global Climate Risk Index 2021, published annually by 'Germanwatch', was released.
• This is the 16th edition of this index.
• The figures for the United States have not been included in the index for the year 2021.

Know! the findings of the Index

• India is ranked 7th in the Global Climate Risk Index-2021.
• The floods caused by excess rainfall killed about 1,800 people and caused about 1.8 million people to flee.
• 11.8 million people were affected by the intense monsoon season and caused an estimated US$10 billion in economic losses.
• A total of 8 tropical cyclones hit India, out of which Cyclone Fani (May 2019) caused maximum damage.
• Himalayan glaciers, beaches and deserts in India have been affected by global warming.
• Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Bahamas were the most affected countries in the year 2019.
• For the period 2000 to 2019, Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti are at the top.
• In the year 2019, storms and their direct effects (rainfall, floods and landslides) were the major causes of loss and damage.
• In the year 2019, six out of the ten most affected countries were affected by tropical cyclones.
• The number of severe tropical cyclones will increase with every tenth of the global average temperature rise.

Global Climate Risk Index 2021

• The index provides an analysis of the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the effects of weather-related events caused by climate change.
• Extreme weather events tend to affect the poorest countries more because they are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of exposure, have less immunity and require more time to rebuild.

Environment
Single Use Plastic

What's the NEWS

• India will ban most single-use plastics by next year as part of its efforts to reduce pollution
• India's central government announced the ban in August this year, following its 2019 resolution to address plastic pollution in the country.
• The ban on most single-use plastics will take effect from July 1, 2022.
• In 2019, a multi-ministerial plan was prepared by the central government to make India free of single-use plastics by 2022.

Single Use Plastic

• Disposable items (grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws etc.) that are used only once before being thrown away or sometimes recycled, are called single use plastics.

Strategy to ban 'Single Use Plastic'

• This is a three-pronged strategy.
• In the first category, plastic sticks used in balloons, flags, candy, ice cream and ear buds and thermocol used in decoration will be removed.
• In the second category, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery such as chopsticks, spoons, straws and trays; Membranes used in the packing of sweet boxes ; Invitation letter; This would include the removal of cigarette packets and plastic banners less than 100 microns in thickness.
• It is proposed to ban this category of items with effect from 1st July, 2022
• In the third category, the removal of non-woven bags of thickness less than 240 microns would be included.

Social Issues
Global Hunger Index (GHI)

What's the NEWS

• Recently, the Global Hunger Index - 2021, an annual index that measures and reviews the hunger situation comprehensively at the global, regional and national levels, was released.
• India has been ranked 101 out of a total of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2021.

Global Hunger Index (GHI)

• Issuer: Jointly by Ireland-based 'Concern Worldwide' agency and Germany's 'Welt Hunger Hilfe' organization

GHI Severity Scale

1. Low - 9.9
2. Moderate - 10.0 to 19.9
3. Serious - 20.0 to 34.9
4. Alarming - 35.0 to 49.9
5. Extremely Alarming - 50.0

Calculations based on four component indicators

• Undernutrition
• Child wasting (weight less than height)
• Child stunting (low height for age)
• Child Mortality Rate

India's performance

• India is among 31 countries where hunger has been identified as severe.
• Pakistan has been placed at 92nd, Nepal at 76th and Bangladesh at 76th position.
• Reasons for such poor performance include poor maternal health, poor sanitation, food insecurity, poverty, loss of livelihood after COVID.

Economy
Small Finance Bank

What's the NEWS

• Reserve Bank of India issued a small finance bank license to a consortium of fintech companies BharatPe and Centrum Financial Services Limited.

Know! about Small Finance Bank (SFB)

• Small Finance Banks (SFBs) can be promoted by individuals, corporates, trusts or societies.
• These are governed by the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and other relevant statutes.
• These are established as public limited companies in the private sector under the Companies Act, 2013.
• They are required to open at least 25% of their banking outlets in unbanked rural centres.
• Banks with a small finance bank license can provide basic banking services for acceptance of deposits and loans.
• The objectives of setting up a small finance bank are to provide financial inclusion to those sections of the economy which are not being served by other banks, such as small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small scale industries and institutions in the unorganized sector, etc.
• Existing Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Local Area Banks (LABs) can apply to become Small Finance Banks.
• Foreign shareholding will be allowed in these banks as per the rules of FDI in private banks in India.

Prelims Factoids
BPCL launches automatic refueling technology 'U-Fill' for customers

What's the NEWS

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) - a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has announced the launch of "U-Fill"

Know! about U-Fill

• The U-Fill offer has been launched in 65 cities across India and will soon be launched across the country.
• U-Fill functionality does not require any app download, payment is app agnostic (i.e. customer can use any payment app already downloaded on his/her phone like GPay, PayTM, PhonePe etc.)
• Real time via SMS QR and Voucher Codes are provided and accepted at all BPCL fuel stations where the functionality is enabled.
• The technology provides the customer with the control of refueling as well as touchless pre-payment solution.
• There is no need to check for zero before refueling or the final reading, the dispensing unit will automatically dispense the exact amount of fuel.
• It aims to improve customer turnaround time (TAT) at fuel outlets and enhance transactional transparency, thereby enhancing the retail-like experience.

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