Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 27^th February  2019

Defence

Twin Success for Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about QRSAM)

What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired indigenously developed Quick Reach Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM) from ITRChandipur, off the Odisha Coast
  

• The two missiles were tested for different altitude and conditions. The test flights successfully demonstrated the robust Control, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Structural performance and high manoeuvring capabilities thus proving the design configuration.
  

• Radars, Electro Optical Systems, Telemetry and other stations have tracked the Missiles and monitored through the entire flights.

Know! about QRSAM

• The indigenously developed state-of-the-art QRSAM will significantly boost the defence capabilities of our armed forces.
  

• The DRDO in June and July of 2017 successfully carried out two development trials of the missile with an aerial target from Odisha.
  

• The missile, which has a strike range of 25 to 30 km, is capable of engaging multiple targets. The missile have radars with search on move capability. The project was sanctioned by the govt in July 2014.
  

India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise Sampriti - 2019

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Sampriti) + Mains (GS II - bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS

• As part of the ongoing India Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military exercise Sampriti-2019 will be conducted at Tangail, Bangladesh from 02 March to 15 March 2019.

Know! more about the exercise

• Exercise Sampriti-2019 is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bangladesh and this will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.
  

• The exercise is aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies.
  

• The exercise will involve tactical level operations in a counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment under the UN mandate.

 

Social Justice

Global initiative ‘World Class'

What's the NEWS 

• Deloitte has announced the launch of its global initiative ‘WorldClass' in India for the empowerment of women.
  

Know! about World Class Initiative

• The initiative aims to support 10 million girls and women by 2030 through education and skills development by align with organisations such as Katha and Pratham in India.
  

• World Class programme in India will focus on improving girls retention rate in school, higher educational outcomes, and skills development for women to access employment.
  

• This programme aims to give a boost to women education since almost 40 per cent of girls aged 15-18 years drop out of school and college, and only 26 per cent of women are employed.
  

• Through the World Class Initiative in India Deloitte aims to fuel India's growth story by aiding India to encash its demographic dividend.
  

• Globally, the World Class initiative seeks to prepare 50 million people by 2030, to be better equipped for the future of work, in-line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Infrastructure Development

Civil Aviation Ministry organising ‘Aviation Conclave 2019' with theme of "Flying for All"

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the conclave ) + Mains ( infrastructure development - airports + investment models

What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in association with Airports Authority of India, AAICLAS and Confederation of Indian Industry, is organizing theAviation Conclave 2019with an overarching theme of"Flying for All"in New Delhi

Know! more about the conclave

• The upcoming Aviation Conclave would deliberate upon taking the Government's agenda to bring new aviation business to India, in particular, drones systems, manufacturing of aircraft in India, financing and leasing of aircraft from India by Indian and foreign airlines, transforming Indian airports into next-gen aviation hubs, and unleashing the air cargo potential by integrating every village of India in global value chains.
  

• This Conclave is about the future of Indian aviation - it bringing together industry leaders, government and regulators for setting the tone and propelling us to realize our Vision-2040
  

• Over 30 industry leaders will discuss and deliberate across 5-key sessions covering theDrone-Ecosystem Policy Roadmap, Roadmap forManufacturing Aircraft and associated equipment, including Regional Transport Aircraft, in India,theProject Rupee Raftaar- Aircraft Financing and Leasing from India, theNational Air Cargo Policy, and theMission to transform Indian Airports into Next-Gen Aviation Hubs.
  

• Indian civil aviation industry is undergoing an unprecedented era of expansion, driven by factors such as low-cost carriers (LCCs), modern airports, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in domestic airlines, advanced information technology (IT) interventions and strong focus on regional connectivity.

 

Science & Technology

Foundation day of Department of Biotechnology

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the announcements) + Mains (GS III awareness in the field of bio technology)

What's the NEWS

• Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day with the theme as "Celebrating Biotechnology: Building Indian as an Innovation Nation".
  

• On the occasion Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan gave away theBiotechnologyResearchInnovation andTechnologyExcellence (BRITE) awards.
  

Announcement of  key missions at the foundation day ceremony

• Atal JaiAnusandhan Biotech Mission - Undertaking Nationally Relevant Technology Innovation (UNaTI), which is expected to transform Health, Agriculture and Energy sectors during the next 5 years.
  

• This mission includesGARBH-ini- A Mission to promote Maternal and Child Health and develop prediction tools for pre-term berth,
  

• IndCEPI- A Mission to develop affordable vaccines for endemic diseases, Development of Biofortified and Protein Rich wheat - contributing to POSHAN Abhiyan,
  

• Mission onAnti Microbial Resistancefor Affordable Diagnostics and Therapeutics andClean Energy Mission- Innovative Technology interventions for Swachh Bharat.

 

Health and Family Welfare

Global health leaders adopt ‘Delhi Declaration' on digital health

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the partnership and Delhi declaration ) + Mains (GS II issues relating to development and management of social sectors relating to health )

Know! about the  4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit

• As part of the high-level summit, the ministers and delegation also adopted the Delhi Declaration on digital health for sustainable development, which called for WHO's leadership in digital health and for it to establish a specific mechanism to centrally coordinate digital health to assist its Member States.
  

• The global intergovernmental meeting on digital health is being hosted by theMinistry of Health and Family Welfarein collaboration withWorld Health Organization(WHO) and theGlobal Digital Health Partnership(GDHP).
  

• The declaration marks India's commitment in maximizing the digital health investments to ensure UHC and realize Ayushman Bharat".
  

• Digital technologies are not just the latest trend - they are a vital tool for strengthening primary care, achieving universal health coverage, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
  

• Telemedicine, remote care and mobile health are helping us transform health by delivering care in people's homes, instead of in hospitals and clinics
  
  

Factoids

Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate National War Memorial

Relevance IN - prelims( about the memorial)

Know! more about the memorial

• The memorial is spread over an area of approximately 40 acres and the memorial honours the fallen soldiers after Independence.
  
• The memorial comprises four concentric circles, namely ‘Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, ‘Tyag Chakra' and ‘Rakshak Chakra'.
  
• The memorial includes a central obelisk, an eternal flame and six bronze murals depicting famous battles fought by Indian Army, Air Force and Navy in Veerta Chakra gallery.
  
• 16 walls have been constructed in the Tyag Chakra for paying homage to the 25,942 battle casualties and their names have been inscribed on granite tablets arranged in a circular pattern, symbolizing the ancient Indian war formation ‘Chakravyuh'.
  
• The National War Memorial pays tribute to soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nation during the India-China war in 1962, Indo-Pak wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971, Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations in Srilanka and in the Kargil conflict of 1999.
  
• After the inauguration of the National War Memorial by the Prime Minister Rose petals were showered by IAF helicopters. a fly-past in ‘Missing Man' formation was also part of the event Bottom of Form
  
• The National War Memorial will be the place for wreath laying for all designated events.
• The flame at the Amar Jawan Jyoti will continue to be there to epitomise what we have since 1971 (Indo-Pak war)
  
• India Gate was constructed by the British in 1931 to honour the sacrifices of the 83,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in World War 1 and the Anglo-Afghan war.
  
• The Amar Jawan Jyoti consisting of the eternal flame, the rifle and the helmet, was built under its arch for the soldiers who died in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

 

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following  statements

1.       The indigenously developed state-of-the-art QRSAM has a strike range of 25 to 30 km, is capable of engaging multiple targets and the  missiles  have radars with search on move capability.

2.       A joint military exercise Sampriti-2019 will be conducted in March is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bhutan  and this will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.

Find the correct statement from the option given below

a.       1 only

b.       2 only

c.        Both

d.       none

 

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