Daily Current Capsules 31^st January 2022

International Organisations/GSII
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022
 

What's the NEWS

·         The 2^nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India held on a virtual platform.

ADGMIN meeting highlights

·         The ADGMIN is an annual meeting of Telecom Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries -Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and dialogue partner countries - Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, UK and US.

·         The meeting discussed and deliberated various matters relevant to strengthening regional digital cooperation in the spirit of digital inclusion and integration.

·         Information and Communication Technologies enable and strengthen democratic systems and institutions through enhanced engagement between citizens and the state.

·         Use of ICTs promote free speech, human rights and the free flow of information besides expanding citizens' opportunities to participate in decision-making process and have potential to transform lives of people living in rural areas.

India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022.

·         The Ministers meeting approved the India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022.

·         The workplan includes system for combating the use of stolen and counterfeit mobile handsets, WiFi Access network interface for nationwide public internet, the capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas in the field of Information and Communication Technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication, Cyber Forensics, etc.

·         The ongoing and proposed projects in ICTs, will strengthen collaboration between India and ASEAN by leveraging complementary strengths of each other.

Infrastructure Development: energy/GSIII
REDA and Goa Shipyard Ltd signs MoU for Rooftop Solar Power Projects

What's the NEWS

·         Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to provide its techno-financial expertise to set-up a rooftop solar power project.

·         The two companies are PSUs under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Defence, respectively.

MoU Highlights

·         Under the MoU, IREDA will assist GSL to set-up a rooftop solar power project at the headquarter of the company situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa.

·         IREDA will also extend its techno-commercial expertise to GSL for Environmental & Social (E&S) due diligence of rooftop solar and other RE projects as per the internationally accepted E&S standards.

·         After setting up a rooftop solar power project at its building, GSL will be able to bring down the expenditure on electricity and reduce its carbon footprint as well.

·         The Govt. of India aims to produce 40 GW of solar power through rooftop solar by the end of 2022, and these collaborations will enable us to contribute to meeting the targets set by the Govt. of India.

Business Development and Consultancy division

·         In order to cater to the increasing demand of the RE sector, a dedicated Business Development and Consultancy division was set up by IREDA one and a half years ago.

·         Under the new division, this is the seventh MoU signed by IREDA within the last 14 months to provide its consultancy services for developers of RE and Energy transition.

·         Earlier, IREDA had entered into MoUs with SJVN, NHPC, TANGEDCO, NEEPCO, BVFCL, and THDCIL to extend its Techno-Financial expertise for Green Energy projects.

·         IREDA is looking forward to extending its consulting services to other PSUs and private organisations for the overall growth of the RE sector.

Know! about IREDA

·         Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category - I) Government of India Enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

·         IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987 engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation with the motto: "ENERGY FOR EVER"

·         IREDA has been notified as a "Public Financial Institution" under section 4 ‘A' of the Companies Act, 1956 and registered as Non-Banking Financial Company (NFBC) with Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Objectives of IREDA

·         To give financial support to specific projects and schemes for generating electricity and / or energy through new and renewable sources and conserving energy through energy efficiency

·         To maintain its position as a leading organisation to provide efficient and effective financing in renewable energy and energy efficiency / conservation projects.

·         To increase IREDA`s share in the renewable energy sector by way of innovative financing.

Prelims Factoids
Genus Septemeranthus

What's the NEWS

·         A new genus of a parasitic flowering plant has recently been discovered from the Nicobar group of islands.

Know! about it

·         The genus Septemeranthus grows on the plant species Horsfieldia glabra (Blume) Warb.

·         The parasitic flowering plants have a modified root structure spread on the stem of the tree and are anchored inside the bark of the host tree.

·         The plant was found on the periphery of the tropical forest in one of the biodiversity hotspots referred to as the Nicobar group of islands separated from the Andaman group of Islands by a wide gap of 160 km with heavy tidal flows.

·         The genus Septemeranthus has a distinct vegetative morphology, inflorescence architecture and floral characters.

·         The leaves of the plant are heart-shaped with a very long tip and the ovary, fruit and seeds are ‘urceolate' (earthen pot-shaped). The flowers have five persistent bracts having conspicuous margins.

·         The name Septemeranthus is derived from the Latin word ‘septem' meaning ‘seven', referring to the arrangement of flowers. The genus belongs to the family Loranthaceae, a hemi-parasite under the sandalwood order Santalales and is of widespread importance.

·         Plants which are hemi-parasites are partially dependent on their host plants for nutrition. For instance, the newly discovered plant that derives nutrients from its hosts has green leaves capable of photosynthesis.

 

Health/GSII
Intranasal booster doses

What's the NEWS

·         The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given its approval to Bharat Biotech for trials of its intranasal Covid booster dose in India.

·         DCGI's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) gave an ‘in-principle' approval to Bharat Biotech for the 'phase-III booster dose study' for its intranasal Covid vaccine, a first of its kind in India

·         Bharat Biotech is the second company to submit an application for the phase-III trial of the third dose in India.

·         The intranasal vaccines reportedly have the potential to prevent transmission for new Covid-19 variants such as Omicron.

Know! about intranasal vaccines

·         Vaccines are usually given through different routes, with the most common being injectable shots delivered into the muscles (intramuscular) or the tissue just between the skin and the muscles (subcutaneous).

·         Other routes of delivery, especially in some vaccines for infants, include administering the liquid solution orally instead of injecting. In the intranasal route, the vaccine is sprayed into the nostrils and inhaled.

·         Many viruses, including the coronavirus, enter the body through mucosa wet, squishy tissues that line the nose, mouth, lungs and digestive tract triggering a unique immune response from cells and molecules there.

·         Intramuscular vaccines generally fail at eliciting this mucosal response, and instead rely on immune cells mobilised from elsewhere in the body flocking to the site of infection.

·         Experts believe an intranasal vaccine will act against the virus from the time it tries to break the body's barrier, thereby making it more effective than the intramuscular ones in many cases.

·         These vaccines aim to overcome potential difficulties with mass vaccination and reduce the cost by doing away with the need for needles and syringes.

·         Intranasal vaccines are also expected to cut down on the dependence on various trained personnel to administer the vaccine.

State Specific/Prelims Factoids

SilverLine project
What's the NEWS

·         SilverLine, a semi-high-speed railway project that would run trains at 200 km/h between the state's northern and southern ends, has sparked protests across Kerala.

·         The project, which is expected to cost Rs 63,940 crore, is touted as one of the Pinarayi Vijayan government's largest infrastructure projects.

·         Despite the protests taking place across Kerala against SilverLine, the CPI(M)-led government remains firm on implementing the project.
 

Know! about the Project

·         SilverLine is a semi high-speed railway project connecting the state's northern and southern ends at a cost of over Rs 63,000 crore.

·         The proposed 529.45-km line will link Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north, covering 11 districts through 11 stations.

·         When the project is completed, one can travel from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in less than four hours at 200 km/hr. On the existing Indian Railways network, it now takes 12 hours.

·         The deadline for the project, being executed by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), is 2025.

·         KRDCL, or K-Rail, is a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Union Ministry of Railways created to execute big railway projects.

 

Prelims Factoids
IQBAL SINGH KINGRA
  

What's the NEWS

·         The Prime Minister of India has expressed deep grief over the passing away of noted educationist, Baba Iqbal Singh Ji.

Know! about Iqbal Singh Kingra

·         Iqbal Singh Kingra (1926 - 2022) was an Indian socio-spiritual leader of the Sikh community.

·         He was the Founder President of The Kalgidhar Trust, The Kalgidhar Society and Baru Sahib.

·         He was awarded the Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2018 he was bestowed with Shiromani Panth Rattan (precious jewel of the Sikh community) by Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib.

·         In 2022, he was conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government Of India for his contributions in the field of social work.

 

Defence and Security/GSIII
Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft

What's the NEWS

·         In a boost to maritime security, the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft was formally inducted at INS Utkrosh by Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) at Port Blair

Know! about the aircraft

·         The ALH MK III aircraft is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and represents a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of military aircraft.

·         Till date, over 300 of these aircraft have been delivered by HAL and are being flown by the Armed Forces.

·         Amongst its variants, the MK III variant is a maritime role variant encompassing state-of-the-art sensors and weapons that add punch to India's prowess at sea.

·         The ALH MK III aircraft with its glass cockpit, Shakti engines, advanced Maritime Patrol Radar, Electro-optical payload and Night Vision Device will act as a force multiplier in keeping India's far eastern seaboard and Island territories safe.

·         The state-of-the-art aircraft has multirole capabilities including maritime surveillance, support for Special Forces, medical evacuations besides search and rescue roles.

·         Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN)

·         Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command is the head of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the first and only Tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India.

 

Indigenisation of Technology/GSIII
Diving Support Craft (DSC) project

What's the NEWS

·         Keel laying for the first ship of Diving Support Craft (DSC) project was held in virtual presence of representatives from the Indian Navy, at M/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd., Kolkata.

Know! about the DSC project

·         The contract for procurement of Five Diving Support Crafts (Yards 325 to 329) for the Indian Navy was signed in Feb 2021 with M/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd.

·         The ships will be commissioned in the Indian Navy to provide diving assistance for ships inside and close to harbour, for underwater repairs, maintenance and salvage.

·         The ships will be fitted with state-of-the-art diving equipment and tools for performing the diving operations.

·         With all main and auxiliary equipment sourced from indigenous manufacturers, these ships are proud flag bearers of Make in India initiatives of the Ministry of Defence.

 

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