Daily Current Capsules
25th November 2022

UNESCO India Africa Hackathon

What's the NEWS

• The Vice President of India addressed the valedictory session of UNESCO India Africa Hackathon

 

Know! about UNESCO India Africa Hackathon

• UNESCO India Africa Hackathon was inaugurated at Gautam Buddha University with a grand opening ceremony on 22nd November, 2022.
• The UNESCO INDIA - AFRICA Hackathon is an annual 36 hours event that brings together students, educators, teachers, and the research community of India and its African partners to tackle the common challenges faced by their countries and serves as a facilitator for cultural amalgamation.
• The UNESCO INDIA - AFRICA Hackathon provides a suitable platform allowing young innovators to come together and find solutions for social, environmental and technical problems faced by the collaborating nations.
• It serves as the foundation for creating potential start-ups with the potential to transform the world.
• It allows the participating students to unleash their creativity and explore new technologies to solve real-world problems under the guidance of experts - thus, spearheading business innovation in the modern world.

 

India wins the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Vice Presidency and Strategic Management Board (SMB) Chair for the 2023-25 term

What's the NEWS

• India wins the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Vice Presidency and Strategic Management Board (SMB) Chair for the 2023-25 term.
• By securing over 90% of the votes cast by full members of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) during its General Meeting held recently in San Francisco, USA, India's representative, a member of the Indian National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and various technical committees of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS-India), was elected.

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

• It is an international standard setting body that publishes international Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
• Standardization Management Board (SMB) is an apex governance body of IEC responsible for technical policy matters.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• It is the National Standards Body of India under Department of Consumer affairs
• It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 which came into effect on 12 October 2017.
• The Minister in charge of the Ministry or Department having administrative control of the BIS is the ex-officio President of the BIS.
• BIS has 500 plus scientific officers working as Certification Officers, Member secretaries of technical committees and lab OIC's.
• The organisation was formerly the Indian Standards Institution (ISI),

 

EXERCISE NASEEM AL BAHR - 2022 SEA PHASE

 

What's the NEWS

• The Indian Navy's guided missile stealth frigate, INS Trikand, offshore patrol vessel, INS Sumitra, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft, (MPA) Dornier, participated in the 13th Edition of the Indian Navy (IN) - Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) bilateral exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr' (Sea Breeze).

Exercise Highlights

• The exercise was conducted from 19 to 24 Nov 22 off the coast of Oman and had three phases: harbour phase, sea phase and debrief.
• IN Ships Trikand and Sumitra, along with RNO Ships Al Shinas and Al Seeb, sailed for the sea phase
• IN - MPA Dornier, RNO MPA and shore based RAFO fighter aircraft Hawks joined the exercise at sea.
• India and Oman have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations, sharing common cultural values.
• Naval exercises have added strength and substance to these bilateral ties.
• The first IN-RNO exercise was conducted in 1993.
• This year marks 30 years of IN-RNO bilateral exercises.
• INS Trikand, a frontline frigate, is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors.
• INS Sumitra, a multirole offshore patrol vessel

 

PROJECT 15B - Y 12705 (Mormugao)

 

 

What's the NEWS

• Y 12705 (Mormugao), the second ship of Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 24 Nov 22.

Know! about Project 15 B

• The contract for four ships of Project 15B was signed on 28 January 2011.
• This Project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the last decade and the lead ship of the Project - INS Visakhapatnam has already been commissioned into the Indian Navy on 21 Nov 21.

Know! about Y 12705 (Mormugao)

• Designed by the Warship Design Bureau, Indian Navy's in-house organisation; and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai; the four ships of the Project are christened after major cities from all four corners of the country, viz. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
• The keel of Mormugao was laid in June 2015 and the ship was launched on 17 Sep 2016.
• The design has largely maintained the hull form, propulsion machinery, many platform equipment and major weapons & sensors as the Kolkata class to benefit from series production.
• The ship is 163 metres long and 17 metres wide, displaces 7400 tonnes when fully loaded and has a maximum speed of 30 knots.
• Apart from myriad indigenous equipment in the ‘Float' and ‘Move' categories, the destroyer is also installed with under-mentioned major indigenous weapons.

 

 

1. Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore)
2. BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi)
3. Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
4. Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
5. 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)

 

 

• The overall indigenous content of the project is approx. 75%.

 

JOINT HADR EXERCISE SAMANVAY - 2022

 

What's the NEWS

• Indian Air Force is conducting the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise 'Samanvay 2022' from 28 November 2022 to 30 November 2022 at Air Force Station Agra.

Know! about the exercise

• With an aim to assess the efficacy of institutional Disaster Management structures and contingency measures, the exercise will comprise a seminar on Disaster Management, a 'Multi Agency Exercise' involving static and flying displays of various HADR assets and a 'Table Top Exercise'.
• The exercise will see participation by representatives from the ASEAN countries
• Samanvay 2022 will promote a synergistic approach towards HADR by various national and regional stakeholders involved in Disaster Management including the Civil Administration, the Armed Forces, NDMA, NIDM, NDRF, DRDO, BRO, IMD, NRS and INCOIS.
• This multi agency engagement is expected to contribute in the evolution of institutional frameworks for effective communication, interoperability, cooperation and their application for successful conduct of HADR.
• The exercise also aims to provide a unique platform for exchange of domain knowledge, experience and best practices with the participating ASEAN member countries.

 

India: The Mother of Democracy

 

 

What's the NEWS

• Union Education & Skill Development Minister released the book ‘India: The Mother of Democracy' prepared and published by Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)
• The book is an attempt to showcase the democratic ethos ingrained in India since the dawn of civilisation.

Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)

• It is s a captive body of the Ministry of Education, Government of India established by an Administrative Order.
• The body has provided financial assistance to historians and scholars through fellowships, grants, and symposia.
• The ICHR receives grants-in-aid from the Department of Higher Education, grants-in-aid from various Indian states, private donations, and the proceeds of revenues from the sale of publications of the ICHR.
• The ICHR is based in Delhi, with regional centres in Pune (Maharashtra), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Guwahati (Assam).
• Founded:27 March 1972

 

Leith's Soft-shelled Turtle

What's the NEWS

• India's proposal for transferring Leith's Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithi) from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) has been adopted by the Conference of Parties (CoP) to CITES in its 19th Meeting at Panama.

Leith's Softshell Turtle

• It is a large fresh water soft-shelled turtle which is endemic to peninsular India and it inhabits rivers and reservoirs.
• The species has been subject to intensive exploitation over the past 30 years.
• It has been poached and illegally consumed within India.
• It has also been illegally traded abroad for meat and for its calipee.
• The population of this turtle species is estimated to have declined by 90% over the past 30 years such that the species is now difficult to find.
• It is classified as ‘Critically Endangered' by the IUCN.
• The species is listed on Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which gives it protection from hunting as well as trade.

Poaching and illegal trade

• Poaching and illegal trade of protected turtle species is a major challenge in India with seizures of thousands of specimens reported every year.
• Tortoises and freshwater turtles are targeted for the international pet, meat and calipee trade, as well as for illegal domestic consumption in some areas.
• The CITES Appendix I listing of this Turtle species would ensure that legal international trade in the species does not take place for commercial purposes.
• It would also ensure that international trade in captive-bred specimens only takes place from registered facilities and further that higher and more proportionate penalties are provided for illegal trade of the species.
• The listing of the Leith's soft-shell turtle, thereby, strengthens its CITES protection status so as to ensure better survival of the species.
• The 19th meeting of the CoP to CITES is being held in Panama from 14th to 25th November 2022.

Other inclusions

• India's proposal for inclusion of Jeypore Hill Gecko (Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis) in Appendix II and the transfer of Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES have also been adopted by the CoP in this meeting.

 

 

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