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Daily Current Capsules - 24th May 2019

Science and Technology
India adopts new standard definition of Kg, kelvin, mole and ampere
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the new definition of four base units and about CGPM)
What's the NEWS
  • India joined several nations across the world in implementing the new definition of four of the seven base units - kilogramme, kelvin, mole and ampere. With this, the definition of the base units will change in the national records, including in the textbooks.
General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM)
  • The resolution to redefine four of the seven base units was passed by representatives of 60 countries including India at the 26th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), which was held from November 13-16, 2018 in Versailles, France. The resolution was scheduled to come into force on May 20, 2019.
  • The CGPM is the highest international body of the world for accurate and precise measurements. It comprises 60 countries and 42 Associate Members.
Know! more about it
  • The definition of the base units, also known as the International System of Units (SI), has been changed from being linked to artefacts to being based on the fundamental constants on nature.
  • Overall, the definition of seven base units including second, metre, kilogram, ampere, Kelvin, mole and candela has been changed.
  • The key aim behind redefining the system units is to enable worldwide coherence of measurements.
  • The new change in the definitions will result in uniform and worldwide accessible SI system for international trade, high- technology manufacturing, human health and safety, protection of the environment, global climate studies and the basic science underpinning these.
  • The International System of Units (SI) was established in 1960 and has been updated several times to account for development in measurement technology.
  • The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the main executive body of CGPM has the responsibility of defining the International System of Units (SI).
Space Awareness
ISRO missions for next 10 years
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the upcoming missions of ISRO ) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS
  • Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently announced for its upcoming mission over next 10 years. Apart from much awaited and ambitious Chadrayaan-2 some other mega missions will be conducted.
  • Among these seven mega missions ISRO has defined XPoSat and Aditya-L1 missions only. India's second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, will be flight ready by May end. ISRO has recently declared that the spacecraft will be launched in July 2019.
Know! more about the announcement made by ISRO
  • Apart from XPoSat and Aditya-L1 missions, other four undefined missions are Mangalyaan-2, Venus mission, Lunar Polar Exploration and Exoworlds.
  • The XPoSat, or the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, is a dedicated mission to study polarisation which is scheduled for launch next year.
  • Xposat to study cosmic radiation in 2020, Aditya L1 to the Sun in 2021, Mars Orbiter Mission-2 in 2022, Lunar Polar Exploration or Chandrayaan-3 in 2024 and Exoworlds, an exploration outside the solar system in 2028.
  • Know! more about XPoSat and Aditya-L1
  • Xposat payload was developed by Raman Research Institute. "The spacecraft will carry Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) payload which will study the degree and angle of polarisation of bright X-ray sources in the energy range 5-30 keV. The satellite has a mission life of five years.
  • Aditya L1, the Sun mission, may play a key role in understanding and predicting climate change on Earth. The payloads will study the solar corona. The launch may happen by mid-2020 and will be placed in ‘libration orbit', which is about 1.5 million km from Earth.
  • Xposat will be a five-year mission, carrying a polarimeter instrument made by Raman Research Institute to measure cosmic radiation. The spacecraft will be placed in a circular 500-700km orbit.
  • Indian mission would land in South polar region on Moon, which is an unexplored place till date.
  • Chandrayaan-2 will carry 13 Indian payloads and one passive experiment from NASA.
  • Chandrayaan-2 costs about `800-crore. It'd orbit around the moon and perform the objectives of remote-sensing the moon.
Defence/Bilateral Relations
Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise - SIMBEX-2019
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SIMBEX) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • After completion of naval exercise IMDEX-19, Indian Naval ships INS Kolkata and INS Shakti would participate in annual bilateral naval exercise between India and Singapore - SIMBEX-2019. This naval exercise is scheduled from May 16 to May 22, 2019.
  • Along with INS Kolkata and INS Shakti, Indian long range maritime patrol aircraft Poseidon-8I (P8I) will also participate in SIMBEX-19.
  • On the other side of Singapore, RSN ships Steadfast and Valiant, maritime patrol aircraft Fokker-50 (F-50) and F-16 fighter aircraft will participate.
  • Know! more about SIMBEX 2019
  • It is aimed to extend the bridges of friendship through cultural, economic and maritime interactions with countries of east and south-east Asia.
  • SIMBEX-19 will also relieve two month long deployment of INS Kolkata and INS Shakti in South and East China Seas.
  • SIMBEX-19 will start with various warfare games/trainings, conferences, courtesy calls to dignitaries of RSN navy, sporting events and deck reception onboard INS Kolkata.
  • It will include maritime combat exercises like firing on aerial/ surface targets, advanced aerial tracking, coordinated targeting exercises and tactical exercises on surface/ air scenarios.
Know! the genesis of SIMBEX
  • SIMBEX was started from year 1993; it has grown in tactical and operational complexity. Over the time it has grown from traditional anti-submarine exercises to more complex maritime exercises such as advanced air defence operations, anti air/ surface practice firings, tactical exercises, etc.
  • Over the years SIMBEX has stood the test of time in demonstrating the nation's commitment to enhance maritime cooperation between the two navies and bolster bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Disaster Management
India chosen as Co-chair of Consultative Group of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about GFDRR ) + Mains ( GS III disaster management)
What's the NEWS
  • India was chosen as the Co-chair of the Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020.
Know! more about it
  • The decision was taken unanimously during the meeting of the GFDRR in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 6th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • The move came after India expressed its interest to Co-chair the Group during its last meeting in October 2018.
  • India's claim was supported by its consistent progress in disaster risk reduction in the country and its initiative to form a coalition on disaster resilient infrastructure.
  • This will be the first time that India will co-chair the CG meeting of GFDRR. India became a Member of the Consultative Group (CG) of GFDRR in 2015.
Know! the significance of it
  • The move will enable India to work with the member countries and organisations with an aim to advance the disaster risk reduction agenda during the period it holds the position.
  • India will pursue a focused agenda and will take forward the ongoing work streams of GFDRR.
  • The "Disaster Resilient Infrastructure" (DRI) will be a central theme for India's engagement with the GFDRR partners and stakeholders.
Know! about Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)
  • The GFDRR is a global partnership that facilitates the developing countries to better understand the natural hazards and climate change and reduce their vulnerability towards them.
  • The Facility works on a grant-funding mechanism that supports disaster risk management projects across the globe. The funding is managed by the World Bank.
  • It provides technical assistance, helps in capacity building and enables analytical work to help vulnerable nations improve resilience and reduce disaster risk.
  • The Facility is currently working with over 400 local, national, regional, and international partners.
  • GFDRR also works to implement the "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction" by helping countries to integrate disaster risk management and climate change adaptation together towards development strategies and investment programs.
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