Daily Current Capsules - 20^th August 2019

Defence
'No First Use' Nuclear Policy of India
Rajnath Singh's tweet has started a fresh debate about ‘No first use' doctrine

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about No First Use doctrine) + Mains ( GS II India's foreign policy and bilateral relations)
Know! all about 'No First Use' Nuclear Policy of India

• This doctrine states that India will not be the first to launch a nuclear weapon but retained the right to retaliate in the condition of an atomic attack.
• The Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh has given major hints about a possible review of Vajpayee's 'no first use' of nuclear weapons and said it will depend on circumstances in future.
• India had announced its nuclear doctrine in 1999 in which it had declared a 'no first use policy' i.e. India will not be the first country to launch a nuclear weapon but retained the right to retaliate in response to an atomic strike.
• No first use' (NFU) is basically a pledge or a policy by a nuclear power country for not to use nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons. This concept of ‘No first use' is also applied to chemical and biological warfare.
• India conducted five nuclear tests and became a nuclear weapon state during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister in 1998. Few days later Pakistan had conducted six tests. Soon after that India brought out its nuclear doctrine in 1999 that had ‘no first use' policy.

Government Schemes/ India's diaspora
54th Edition of Know India (KIP) Programme
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about KIP) + Mains ( GS II India's diaspora)
What's the NEWS

• 40 Indian Origin youth have taken part in 54^th Edition of Know India (KIP) Programme. This edition is scheduled from 1^st August to 25^th August, 2019. Punjab and Harayana are partner states for this edition.
• These 40 participants are from 9 countries, namely Fiji (7), Trinidad & Tobago (7), Mauritius (7), Guyana (6), Suriname (5), Myanmar (3), South Africa (2), Israel (2) and Reunion Island (1) out of which 26 are female and 14 are male.

Know! about KIP

• Know India Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs is a three-week orientation programme for diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields e.g. economic, industrial, education, science & technology, communication & information Technology, culture.
• KIP provide a unique forum for students & young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations & experiences and to develop closer bonds with the contemporary India.
• KIP aimed to engage and make students and young professionals of India Diaspora in age group of 18-30 years. It was launched in 2004. It is 25-day orientation programme organized by Union Ministry External Aairs (MEA) in partnership with one or two States including visit to States for 10 days

Know! about Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY)

• Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojna (PTDY) is a important initiatives of Government of India providing the elder generation in Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in the age group of 45-65 year an opportunity to reconnect with their root.
• The Programme is available for those PIOs residing in Girmitiya countries (Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, T&T, Jamaica, South Africa)

VP Naidu departs for 5-day visit to Baltic nations

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the Baltic nations) + Mains ( GS II India's foreign policy)
What's the NEWS

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu emplaned for a five-day visit to Lithuania Latvia and Estonia with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties with the three Baltic nations
• Naidu is the first high-level dignitary from India to visit the three countries.

Know! more about the visit

• The visit takes place in the context of increasing political engagement, as well as intensified trade and commercial ties. The visit of Vice President to the three Baltics countries is to advance India's outreach to the important countries in the region.
• This visit will also provide an opportunity to brief the Baltic countries and get their views on enhanced opportunities for cooperation, thus further strengthening our existing friendly ties. Notably, India and Baltic countries have historical connect and common linguistic roots.
• The cutting edge technology and innovation ecosystems of the Baltic countries complement India's huge market and appetite for these technologies.

Infrastructure development
SC clears Chardham highway project, connecting four holy places in Uttarakhand
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about chardham + role of high powered committee) + Mains 8 GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS

• Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the Chardham highway project, which will connect four holy places of Uttarakhand through 900-km all-weather roads.
• The apex court also asked the Union Environment and Forest Ministry to form the high-powered committee by August 22 to look into environmental concerns.
• A bench comprising Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Surya Kant modified an earlier order of National Green Tribunal by constituting a fresh high-powered committee.
• The Supreme Court added representatives from Physical Research Laboratory, Wildlife Institute of India and Defence Ministry to the new high powered committee. The top court asked the committee to submit its recommendations within four months.

Know! the role of high powered committee

• The court said, the committee shall hold quarterly meetings thereafter to ensure compliance and may suggest any further measure after each review meeting. It said, the committee shall consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valleys.
• The committee will also suggest the areas in which afforestation should be taken and the kind of saplings to be planted. In case of non-survival of any sapling, further plantation should be done and compensatory afforestation should be ten times the number of trees cut

Know! about Char Dham Highway

• It is a proposed two-lane (in each direction) express National Highway in state of Uttarakhand. The two lane highway will have a minimum width of 10 metre.
• The proposed Char Dham Expressway National Highway project will connect 4 holy places in Uttarakhand states viz.- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri
• Project includes 900 km national highways which will connect whole of Uttarakhand state.

Prelims Factoids
Palani prasadam, Kerala betel vine, Mizo shawl get Geographical Indication tags
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the GI tag and about the products)
What's the NEWS

• A temple ‘prasadam' from Tamil Nadu, a woven fabric and a colourful shawl from Mizoram and a betel vine from Kerala are the latest products to have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the government.
• The GI under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recently registered four new GIs. Palani Panchamirtham from Palani Town in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu, Tawlhlohpuan and Mizo Puanchei from the State of Mizoram and Tirur betel leaf from Kerala are the latest additions to the list of registered GIs
• A GI product is recognised as originating from a specific geographical origin possessing qualities or reputation related to its origin. The GI tag is exclusive and a similar item originating from a different location is not allowed to use it.

Know! more about these products

• Palani Panchamirtham, an ‘abisega prasadam' from Palani Town is one of the main offerings to Lord Dhandayuthapani Swamy, the presiding deity of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, situated in Palani Hills, Palani Town in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu.
  

• Tawlhlohpuan, a compactly woven fabric from Mizoram, is known for warp yarns, warping, weaving and intricate designs that are made by hand, the release said. Tawlhlohpuan, which holds high significance in the Mizo society, is produced throughout the Mizoram - Aizawl and Thenzawl town being the main centres of production.
  
  

• The second product originating from Mizoram extended the GI status is the Mizo Puanchei, a colourful Mizo shawl considered essential by most women from the State and a common costume in Mizo festive dances and official ceremonies. The weavers insert the designs and motifs by using supplementary yarns while weaving to create this beautiful and alluring textile
• Tirur betel vine from Kerala, which is mainly cultivated in Tirur, Tanur, Tirurangadi, Kuttippuram, Malappuram and Vengara block panchayaths of Malappuram District, is valued both for its mild stimulant action and medicinal properties.
  
  

• Though it is commonly used for making pan masala for chewing, it has many medicinal, industrial and cultural usages and is considered as a remedy for bad breath and digestive disorders
• GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen and the DPIIT has been taking initiatives to promote and market GI products.

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