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Daily Current Capsules 22nd February 2022

Prelims Factoids
Exercise Eastern Bridge -VI

What's the NEWS

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) are scheduled to participate in a bilateral exercise named Eastern Bridge-VI from 21 to 25 February 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
  • This would be the sixth edition of the exercise. It will provide an opportunity to enhance operational capability and interoperability between the two Air Forces.
  • Participation of IAF and RAFO in this exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Defence and Security/GSIII
PRESIDENT'S FLEET REVIEW

What's the NEWS

  • The Hon'ble President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces reviewed the Indian Navy Fleet at Visakhapatnam on 21 Feb 22.
  • With the theme ‘75 years in Service of the Nation,' Indian Navy showcased its latest state-of-art indigenously built combat platforms during the 12th edition of the Fleet Review
  • After a 21-Gun Salute and Ceremonial Guard of Honour, the President embarked on the Presidential yacht, INS Sumitra, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel designated as the Presidential yacht.

Know! about the 12th naval fleet review

  • A fleet review is usually conducted once during the tenure of the President
  • Naval fleet review means that the President is taking stock of the Indian Navy's capability including a display of all types of ships.
  • The idea is to showcase not all the navy's ships, but every type of ship - and the kind of capabilities it has at that time.
  • President Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will be reviewing over 60 ships and submarines, and 55 aircraft.
  • So far, 11 Presidential Fleet Reviews have been conducted since Independence, of which two have been International Fleet Reviews, in 2001 and 2016
  • In terms of significance, the navy's Presidential review is second only to the Republic Day Parade

Defence and Security/GSIII
Umbrella scheme of Border Infrastructure & Management (BIM)

What's the NEWS

  • The Central Government has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme of "Border Infrastructure and Management" (BIM) over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26, at a cost of Rs.13,020 crore.
  • Ministry of Home Affairs under guidance of Union Home Minister,is committed to improving border infrastructure and management.
  • This decision will strengthen the border infrastructure for improving border management, policing and guarding the borders.

Know! about BIM scheme

  • The BIM scheme will help in the creation of infrastructure such as construction of border fence, border flood lights, technological solutions, border roads and Border Outposts (BOPs)/Company Operating Bases (COBs) to secure the Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-China, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders.
  • India's border with Pakistan is 3,323 km long, including about 775 km of the Line of Control. The length of border is 4,096 km with Bangladesh, 3,488 km with China, 1,751 km with Nepal, 699 km with Bhutan, 1,643 km with Myanmar.
  • The government has been taking many initiatives that include expeditious construction of fencing, floodlighting and roads along its borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar, and construction of strategic roads along its borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan.
  • The government has also deployed hi-tech electronic surveillance equipment on international borders and constructed additional BOPs.

Governance/GSII
Launching of Rural Connectivity GIS Data in Public Domain


What's the NEWS

  • Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati launched Rural Connectivity GIS Data in Public Domain

Know! more about it

  • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched in the year 2000, with an objective to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations throughout the nation.
  • Later on upgradation and consolidation of through routes and major rural links was also included as its objective to give fillip to the rural economy.
  • Since inception, 7.83 lakh Km roads have been sanctioned and 6.90 lakh Km have been constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 2.69 lakh crores.
  • As part of the implementation of PMGSY, GIS data for 800,000+ rural facilities as points, 1 Million + habitations and 25,00,000+ km of rural roads have been collected and digitised using GIS platform developed for the scheme.
  • The collected rural connectivity GIS data will be available to the public.
  • NRIDA, the nodal implementation agency of PMGSY scheme will be signing MoU with 3 renowned GIS Firms & collaborating with Gati Shakti for releasing the Rural Connectivity GIS Data in Public Domain.
  • Gati Shakti is a national master plan and digital platform to plan and execute infrastructure projects in India to reduce logistics costs and enhance infrastructure.
  • NRIDA is collaborating with Gati Shakti with an objective to exchange the data for the better planning and implementation of both the schemes.

National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA)

  • The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December, 2000 and has now been under implementation for over two years.
  • It is a hundred percent Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which primarily aims to provide all weather road connectivity to over 1.60 lakh eligible unconnected habitations at an estimated investment of about Rs. 60,000 crore.
  • The works are executed by the State Governments and monitored by the Ministry of Rural Development through the National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) set up for this purpose.

Prelims Factoids
World Day Of Social Justice
What's the NEWS

  • The World Day of Social Justice was observed on February 20, 2022. This year's theme is achieving social justice through formal employment.

Know! about it

  • The day is aimed at raising voice against social injustice and address the issues of illiteracy, religious and physical discrimination, poverty, race and ethnicity.In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly had declared this day as World Day of Social Justice. The global goals are a universal call for social justice that seek to address poverty and inequality to leave no one behind.

Science and Technology/GSIII
Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate

What's the NEWS

  • As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Government of India is holding a week-long commemoration titled Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate simultaneously at 75 locations across the country.
  • The event will display the country's scientific legacy and technology prowess that has helped find solutions to defence, space, health, agriculture, astronomy, and other sectors.

The programmes have been grouped under four themes.

  1. first theme is - from the annals of the history of Science and Technology and this section traces the contributions of founders of modern science and institutions of national importance to nation-building.
  2. Second theme is Milestones of Modern Science and Technology,
  3. third will be Swadeshi Paramparik Inventions and Innovations and
  4. the fourth theme will be Transforming India.
  • The programme will not only motivate the young children but also the common citizens.
  • This week-long event will apprise the people about the scientists who have played an important role in making India self reliant.
  • It will culminate with a grand valedictory function which will coincide with the National Science Day, celebrated on 28th February in remembrance of Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman's path-breaking discovery of the Raman Effect in 1930.
  • This event is jointly organised by Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, CSIR, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Indian Council of Medical Research, AICTE and DRDO under the leadership of the office of the Principal Scientific Officer to the Government of India and the Ministry of Culture.
  • Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organization of DST with a mandate to promote science communication in the country, is the coordinating agency.

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