Daily Current Capsules 06^th November 2021

Defence/GS II International Organisations
GOA MARITIME CONCLAVE - 2021

What's the NEWS

• The 3^rd edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) - 2021 is being held from 07 to 09 November 2021 under the aegis of Naval War College, Goa.

GMC Highlights

• The GMC is Indian Navy's Outreach Initiative providing a multinational platform to harness the collective wisdom of practitioners of maritime security and the academia towards garnering outcome oriented maritime thought.
• GMC-21 would build upon the working level deliberations of the Goa Maritime Symposium-21 held earlier in May this year, as the Sherpa event for the Conclave.
• The theme for this year's edition of GMC is "Maritime Security and Emerging Non-Traditional Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies"
• At the GMC-21, Chief of the Naval Staff of Indian Navy would be hosting Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Forces from 12 Indian Ocean littorals, including Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• The GMC aims to bring together regional stakeholders and deliberate on the collaborative implementation strategies in dealing with contemporary maritime security challenges.
• In its third iteration, the Goa Maritime Conclave continues to strive to advance the principle of Collective Responsibility for ensuring safe and secure seas and sustained peace in the Indian Ocean Region.

Governance/GSII
Draft Mediation Bill issued for Public Consultation

 

What's the NEWS

• Government of India has been taking various policy initiatives for promotion and strengthening of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms through amendment in existing laws and by enactments, for facilitating quick disposal of disputes, outside of traditional court systems.

Know! about the bill

• The Bill takes into contemplation the international practice of using the terms ‘conciliation' and ‘mediation' interchangeably.
• Further, it has also become expedient to enact a law in mediation on issues of domestic and international mediation as India is a signatory to the Singapore Convention on Mediation.
• Accordingly, a draft bill with the objective to promote, encourage and facilitate mediation especially institutional mediation for resolution of disputes commercial and otherwise, enforce domestic and international mediation settlement agreements, provide for a body for registration of mediators, to encourage community mediation and to make online mediation as an acceptable and cost effective process and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto has been prepared.

The main features of the Bill are: -

• The draft Bill proposes for pre-litigation mediation and at the same time safeguards the interest of the litigants to approach the competent adjudicatory forums/courts in case an urgent relief is sought.
• The successful outcome of mediation in the form of Mediation Settlement Agreement (MSA) has been made enforceable by law.
• Since the Mediation Settlement Agreement is out of the consensual agreement between the parties, the challenge to the same has been permitted on limited grounds.
• The mediation process protects the confidentiality of the mediation undertaken and provides for immunity in certain cases against its disclosure.
• The registration of Mediation Settlement Agreement has also been provided for with State/District/Taluk Legal Authorities within 90 days to ensure maintenance of authenticated records of the settlement so arrived.
• Provides for establishment of the Mediation Council of India.
• Provides for community mediation.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms

• It is a mechanism of dispute resolution that is non adversarial, i.e. working together co-operatively to reach the best resolution for everyone.
• ADR can be instrumental in reducing the burden of litigation on courts, while delivering a well-rounded and satisfying experience for the parties involved.

ADR is generally classified into the following types:
Arbitration

• The dispute is submitted to an arbitral tribunal which makes a decision on the dispute that is mostly binding on the parties.

Conciliation

• A non-binding procedure in which an impartial third party, the conciliator, assists the parties to a dispute in reaching a mutually satisfactory agreed settlement of the dispute.
• Conciliation is a less formal form of arbitration.

Mediation

• In mediation, an impartial person called a "mediator" helps the parties try to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute.

Negotiation

• A non-binding procedure in which discussions between the parties are initiated without the intervention of any third party with the object of arriving at a negotiated settlement to the dispute

Government Schemes/GSII
Community Resource Persons-Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP)
 

 

What's the NEWS

• As part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', under Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme, 102 Community Resource Persons - Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs) were certified

Know! about SVEP and CRP -EP

• Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), the sub-scheme under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) programme supports the Self-Help Group (SHG) members and their family members to set-up small enterprises in the non-farm sector.
• SVEP develops an eco-system for enterprise development in rural areas consisting of Community Enterprise Fund (CEF) for enterprise funding, Cadre of Community Resource Persons-Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP) for providing Business Support Services which includes preparation of business plans, trainings, accessing loans from Banks etc. and dedicated centre at block level for providing information to entrepreneurs.
• CRP-EPs are selected from the community where the programme is being implemented as they understand the local context and their familiarity with the NRLM eco-system.
• CRP-EPs along with the Block Programme Manager (BPM) and the Mentor are the key human resources at the block level for implementing the programme.
• They play an important role for Orientation of CBOs on Enterprise development, business plan preparation, market linkages and handholding support to entrepreneurs.

Bilateral Relations
India-Bhutan to have seven additional entry/exit points for trade
 

 

What's the NEWS

• The Commerce Secretary Level meeting was held between India and Bhutan on trade and transit issues
• The two sides held extensive discussions on the current trade and transit issues including measures to further strengthen bilateral trade relations and issues of mutual interest, on ways to increase trade connectivity between the two countries.

Through Letters of Exchange (LOE), the following seven additional entry/exit points for trade between India and Bhutan were formalized:-

1. Nagarkata Land Customs Station without commodity restriction.
2. Agartala Land Customs Station as an entry /exit point.
3. Pandu port (Guwahati Steamerghat) as an entry /exit point, subject to cross border control at Dhubri.
4. Jogighopa port as an entry/exit point, subject to cross border control at Dhubri.
5. Asian Highway 48 connecting Torsha Tea Garden in India and Ahllay in Bhutan as an additional route corresponding to the Land Custom Station at Jaigaon.
6. Kamardwisa as an entry/exit point.
7. Birpara as an entry/exit point.

• This will form an addendum to the Protocol of 2016 India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.
• Since 2014, trade between India and Bhutan has more than doubled from USD 484 million in 2014-15 to USD 1083 million in 2020-21.

Defence
DRDO & Indian Air Force carry out successful flight tests of indigenously-developed smart anti-airfield weapon
 

 

What's the NEWS

• Two flight tests of indigenously-developed smart anti-airfield weapon have been carried out jointly by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The two different configurations based on satellite navigation and electro optical sensors have been successfully tested.

Know! more about Electro optical seeker based flight

• Electro optical seeker based flight test of this class of bomb has been conducted for the first time in the country.
• The electro optic sensor has been developed indigenously.
• The weapon was launched by an IAF aircraft from Chandan ranges at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on October 28, 2021 and November 03, 2021.
• Electro optical configuration of the system is equipped with Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker technology enhancing the precision strike capability of the weapon.
• In both the tests, the intended target was hit with high accuracy. The system is designed for a maximum range 100 kilometres.
• The newly adapted launcher ensured smooth release and ejection of the weapon.
• Advanced guidance and navigation algorithms, software performed as per the mission requirements.
• The telemetry and tracking systems captured all mission events throughout the flight. All the mission objectives were achieved.
• Smart anti airfield weapon has been designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in coordination with other DRDO Laboratories and extensive support from IAF.
• Quality and design certification agencies have contributed significantly in its development and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru has carried out weapon integration with the aircraft.

Prelims Factoids
6^th International One Health Day
  What's the NEWS

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India organized a Stakeholder Forum today on the theme ‘Industry and One Health' to celebrate the 6thInternational One Health Day

6^th International One Health Day

• The day aims to highlight interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary engagements as well as multisectoral collaboration as aspects crucial to the implementation of the One Health concept.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research is committed to tackle the emerging challenges in the area of One Health through collaboration and partnerships with all stakeholders including industry players.
• Historically ICAR not only developed technology like animal vaccines but also ensured the reach to grassroots level through active partnerships with companies.
• On this occasion, the Department through the forum, invited all stakeholders to adopt the One Health approach and partake in research and innovation to successfully implement the One Health framework.

International Organisations
Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan
  What's the NEWS

• Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan will be hosted by India on 10th November.

Know! about the dialogue

• The NSA level meeting will be chaired by NSA Ajit Doval.
• Central Asian countries as well as Russia and Iran have confirmed their participation.
• This is the first time all Central Asian countries, not just Afghanistan's immediate land neighbours, are participating in this format.
• Two earlier meetings in this format have been held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019. The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the pandemic.

Environment Conservation/GSIII
Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS)
  What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) on sidelines of climate summit in Glasgow.

Know! more about IRIS

• Infrastructure for Resilient Island States or IRIS is the first major initiative by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) started by India in 2019.
• IRIS seeks to operationalise the CDRI initiative.
• It is aimed at achieving sustainable development through a systematic approach to resilient, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Small island states are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As sea levels rise, they face a threat of being wiped off the map.
• According to CDRI, several small island states have lost 9 per cent of their GDPs in single disasters during the last few years.

 

Prelims Factoids
AYUSHMAAN CAPF

What's the NEWS

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Ayushmaan CAPF' Scheme health cards at the national level in New Delhi.

Know! more about it

• The Home Minister had launched ‘Ayushmaan CAPF' Scheme on pilot basis in the State of Assam on 23rd of January this year to provide health care services to all Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) personnel and their dependents.
• The scheme is a joint initiative of the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and National Health Authority (NHA).
• The health card distribution will be undertaken in all CAPFs and the number of cards distributed will be displayed on the website of Home Ministry on a daily basis.

 

Prelims Factoids
MOLNUPIRAVIR
What's the NEWS

• Researchers have engineered enzymes to enable faster manufacture of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral being developed for the treatment of Covid-19.

Know! about Molnupiravir

• Molnupiravir works by causing viruses to make errors when copying their own RNA, introducing mutations that inhibit replication.
• Manufactured by Merck, the drug was originally developed to treat influenza. It has been submitted to the US FDA for review as a Covid-19 treatment .
• In India, the Optimus Group recently announced the results of phase 3 clinical trials, which found 91.5% of patients given the drug tested RT-PCR negative compared to 43% in the placebo group.
• In the new study, researchers developed a three-step synthesis route, which was 70% shorter and had a seven-fold higher overall yield than the original route, the American Chemical Society said in a press release.

 

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