Daily Current Capsules - 10^th JUNE 2019

Environment Conservation
World Environment Day

Relevance IN - Prelims (about world environment day) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• Since its inception in 1974, the World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 in more than 100 countries.
• The World Environment Day provides an opportunity to broaden the "basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment," according to the United Nations.
• Every year, the World Environment Day is organized around a theme in order to draw attention towards pressing environmental issues.

Know! about the inception of world environment day

• After the Conference on the Human Environment, or the Stockholm Conference in June 1972, the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution in December 1972 to designate June 5 as World Environment Day.
• The date 5 June coincides with the first day of landmark Stockholm Conference. The day was first celebrated in 1974, and since then it is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries and continues to grow to become a global platform for public outreach.

Theme for World Environment Day 2019

• ‘Beat Air Pollution', the theme for World Environment Day 2019, is a call for action call to combat the global crisis and has been chosen by this year's host, China
• The topic invites people to consider how they can change their everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on health, according to the global body.

Know! the Causes of Air Pollution

• The UN says that understanding the different types of pollution, and how it affects our health and environment, will help people take steps towards improving the air around them.

Types of Air Pollution

• Household air pollution caused due to indoor burning of fossil fuels, wood and other biomass-based fuels leads to around 3.8 million premature deaths, mostly in developing countries.
• Industrial and transport pollution have been linked to thousands of premature deaths worldwide annually. Around 24 percent of greenhouse gas emission worldwide come from agriculture, forestry and other land-use.
• Waste burning and dumping release harmful dioxins, methane and black carbon into the atmosphere while volcanic eruptions, dust storms and other natural processes also contribute to global air pollution.

Selfiewith Sapling

What's the NEWS

• On the eve of World Environment Day, Union Environment Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar launched a people's campaign called #SelfiewithSapling, urging people to advocate the cause on social media.

Know! more about it and other such initiatives by the government

• Such initiatives are needed so as to create a carbon sink. Also environmental concerns cannot be addressed solely by government and has to be a people's programme.
• Hawa Aane De: Recently, the Environment ministry released a music video for World Environment Day 2019′s theme of "Air Pollution", song is titled "Hawa Aane De".
• NCAP: In January 2019, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by Centre government with aim to reduce air pollution by 2024.
• According to environment ministry, the committee formed under NCAP has drawn up an action plan for 84 of 102 non-attainment cities, i.e. cities that do not meet the National Air Quality Standard (NAQS) identified under programme.

Defence

Kharga Prahar
Army's training exercise in Punjab ends

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the kharga prahar exercise)

What's the NEWS

• The exercise "Kharga Prahar", which began on May 27, was undertaken in the plains of Punjab by various units and formations of Army's Kharga Corps.

Know! more about the exercise

• Validation of latest operational concepts designed to deliver a swift punitive blow to the adversary were the key features of this exercise
• The components of the Indian Air Force also participated in the exercise.
• The exercise setting also incorporated aspects of joint training wherein para drops from Indian Air Force aircraft were carried out and simulated battlefield air strikes were conducted in support of ground forces,
  
• The exercise was successful in validating many important operational aspects and brought out valuable lessons as also reinforced a high degree of operational preparedness of the Kharga Corps,

Know! about Kharga Corps

• The Indian Army's II Corps, based in Ambala is known as Kharga Corps. It has been stationed at Ambala since 1985.
• If conflict or war breaks out between India and neighbouring Pakistan, in such case it has a mandate to launch offensive attack.

Indian Air Force Inks Rs 300 Crore Deal to Procure Spice Bombs from Israel

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the deal and about spice bomb) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations + GS III security challenges and their management)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Air Force (IAF) signed Rs.300 crore deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli defence firm to procure a batch of SPICE 2000 guided bombs.

Know! more about it

• The order for bombs was placed under Special Financial Powers given by government to armed forces for emergency purchases. The bombs are expected to be supplied within next three months.
• IAF used SPICE bombs for a non-military, pre-emptive strike on terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot region on February 2019.
• Following Pulwama attack in February 2019, government granted emergency powers to all three defence services (Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy) for procuring weapons and military hardware so as to enhance their operational preparedness along border with Pakistan.
• Government also eased certain rules to cut delays in military purchase such as allowing three services to procure required weapons and equipment from a single vendor.

Know! about SPICE 2000

• The SPICE stands for Smart, Precise Impact and Cost-Effective. It is guidance and maneuvering kit manufactured by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
• SPICE can overcome errors in locating target, GPS jamming and also reduces collateral damage.
• SPICE kit adds a sophisticated guidance system that consists of satellite guidance, inertial navigation and electro-optical sensors which can be used for pinpoint accuracy and adds control fins to a conventional unguided bomb (called as free-fall bomb/gravity bomb).
• It is reportedly biggest conventional bomb that can be delivered by IAF and is used on French-origin Mirage-2000 jets.

National
Elephanta festival begins

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the festival and about elephanta cave)
What's the NEWS

• The two-day Elephanta Festival organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) began at the Gateway of India.
• The Elephanta Festival of art and culture commenced at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Know! more about the festival

• The MTDC organises the festival every year to promote tourism and the culture of Mumbai.
• The festival is held on Gharapuri island, which was christened Elephanta by the Portuguese after they found a statue of an elephant on the island.
• The Elephanta Festival was started in 2012 to celebrate not just the heritage site of Elephanta caves but also the culture of our beloved city.
• The annual gala event is organised on Elephanta Island by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). It is promoted by Maharashtra government.

Know! about Elephanta Caves

• They are the rock-cut Caves and were constructed around the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD. They are a collection of cave temples primarily dedicated to Lord Shiv but also have Buddhist caves.
• The island was renamed as Elephanta from Gharapuri (which means the city of caves) by Portuguese after they found a statue of an elephant on island.
• Elephanta Caves is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  
  

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