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Daily Current Capsules - 13th September 2019

Defence
Indo-Thailand Joint Military Exercise Maitree - 2019

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Exercise Maitree)
What's the NEWS
  • Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 between India and Thailand will be conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya) from 16-29 Sep 2019.
Know! all about Exercise Maitree
  • Indian and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) comprising 50 soldiers each will participate in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various counter terrorism operations in their respective countries.
  • Exercise MAITREE is an annual training event which is being conducted alternatively in Thailand and India since 2006.
  • Notably, in the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, Exercise MAITREE with Thailand is a significant in terms of the security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of changing facets of global terrorism.
  • The scope of this exercise covers company level joint training on counter terrorism operations in jungle and urban scenario.
  • The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army (IA) and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) which in turn will further foster defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the two nations.
Social Justice
Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails
Relevance IN - Mains ( GS II social justice +important aspects of governance, government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
What's the NEWS
  • Two day National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their Protection' organized by BPR&D
Know! more about the conference
  • The Bureau of Police Research and Development is organizing a two-day National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their Protection'
  • The conference enumerated various challenges in the field of correctional services and the need for a conscious policy to improve prison systems and associated human resources.
The Prison System in India
  • The prison administration in the country since independence has been a matter of intense debate on various forums.
  • Even the Supreme Court of India has expressed its concern over the conditions of prisons. Therefore, there is a need to ensure safety and security of the prisoners, improve the condition of living of prisoners and to convert the prison as a centre of reformation.
  • The Prison system should not be allowed to aggravate sufferings during the process of imprisonment. There is need to reform convicts and rehabilitate them back into the society.
Challenges
  • Challenges associated with prison reforms such as overcrowding in prisons, large number of under-trials, inadequate prison infrastructure, criminal activities and radicalization in jails, safety of women prisoners and their young children, along with shortage of funds and staff for proper prison administration.
Steps taken by the government
  • Various steps taken by the Central Government over the last ten years to improve the conditions of prisons, such as fast track courts and Lok Adalats, both of which would reduce pendency and the number of under-trials, thus reducing the burden on the prison system.
  • The Scheme for Modernization of Prisons - a Central Government scheme with an outlay of 1800 crore rupees that aims to create 199 new jails, 1572 additional barracks and 8568 prison staff quarters.
Way forward
  • There is immense scope for NGOs and civil society organizations in the aftercare and rehabilitation of convicts, the civil society participation in the field should be encouraged.
  • Public participation in correctional services is critical for strengthening the efforts towards reformation of prisoners
Government Policies and Interventions
There should be "One Nation One Standard" similar to "One Nation One Constitution" and "One Nation One Ration Card"
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about one nation one standard) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
What's the NEWS
  • Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan exhorted that similar to "One Nation One Constitution" and "One Nation One Ration Card" there should be "One Nation One Standard".
One Nation One Standard (the ongoing inception process)
  • A meeting was held with all stakeholders, Regulators and officials to review the ‘Process of Making Standards' and also deliberate on improving the implementation and enforcement of the set Standards.
  • The purpose of setting standards and enforcing them is not intended to bring back ‘'inspector raj'' but to ensure that quality products are made available for all consumers across the country.
  • Indian Standards should be set as per global benchmarks and just like other countries enforce their standards on imported products.
  • Similarly, foreign goods coming into India should also comply with Indian standards.
  • This should be done on a reciprocal basis for International goods and a system should be put in place for effective monitoring and checking to ensure that they are effectively enforced.
How to achieve the One Nation One Standard (know! the process)
  • Currently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the only national body that frames standards. It has come out with over 20,000 standards for various products and services so far. There are also about 50-odd agencies that have framed about 400 standards in the Country
  • For "One Nation One Standard" it is important that BIS is empowered. Since the BIS is a National Standards body, residuary powers are vested with BIS, all other standard making bodies must work in coordination with BIS.
  • There are multiple standards in the country for single product/service and the purpose is to converge such standards with the BIS which is a recognised national body for standardisation in India
  • The BIS frames standards and cannot regulate its implementation. The concerned department should monitor or a separate regulator needs to be set up the idea which has been mooted by the government think tank Niti Aayog
  • The departments have their own standards. For example, the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has set standards on food, while Automobile Research Organisation of India makes standards for the automobile sector.
  • These standards need to be converged with BIS and redesignate them as one. This will help in easy implementation and monitoring of standards
  • The entire process will take time and it will depend on how soon other agencies are willing to converge with BIS.
  • Once they are ready, their standard will be redesignated. For example, if FSSAI converges its standards, then its products would be known as BIS/FSSAI
Fact check
  • The standard set for Bullet Proof Jackets in India is higher than global benchmarks and India is only the 4th country in the world to have such a standard after USA, Germany and UK. The standard has been set after due consultations with stakeholders and it is now being exported to several countries under the ‘'Make in India'' initiative.
  • NITI Aayog is currently working on a draft Medical Devices Bill which will help to tackle the problem of non-standard medical devices coming into the market. It was stated that devices of 23 categories are regulated and notified under drugs and the attempt is to do this on a comprehensive scale.
Defence
DRDO successfully flight-tests indigenously developed low weight, fire & forget Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
What's the NEWS
  • In a major boost for Indian Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM) in the ranges of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Know! more about MPATGM
  • The missile was launched from a man portable Tripod launcher and the target was mimicking a functional tank.
  • The missile hit the target in top attack mode and destroyed it with precision. All the mission objectives were met.
  • This is the third series of successful testing of MPATGM. The missile is incorporated with state-of-the-art Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced avionics.
  • The test paves the way for the Army to have developed 3rd generation man portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile indigenously.
Government Schemes
PM Modi launched National Animal Disease Control Programme

Relevance in - Prelims ( about the national animal disease control programme) + Mains ( GS III inclusive growth and issues arising from it + farmer's welfare
What's the NEWS
  • Taking a step closer towards realising the electoral promise of doubling farm income by 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for eradicating the foot and mouth disease and brucellosis in livestock.
Know! more about the programme
  • The project, which will cost Rs.12,652 crores for a period of five years till 2024, will be funded entirely by the government.
  • The programme, launched in Mathura, aims to control the livestock diseases by 2025 and eradicate these by 2030.
  • The programme aims at vaccinating over 500 million livestock including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs against the FMD.
  • The programme also aims at vaccinating 36 million female bovine calves annually in its fight against the brucellosis disease
  • Prime Minister also launched the National Artificial Insemination Programme and simultaneous
  • The PM also launch the nationwide workshops in Krishi Vigyan Kendras in all the 687 Districts of the country on the topic of vaccination, disease management, artificial insemination and productivity
  • The National Artificial Insemination Programme was launched on sidelines with ‘Swachhta Hi Seva' Programme, 2019 and National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) at Mathura.
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