• DEFCOM seminar, jointly organised by the Corps of Signals and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has evolved over the years to become a landmark symposium for collaboration between the Indian armed forces, academia, research and development organisations, and the Industry on aspects pertaining to Information and Communications Technology.
• DEFCOM 2019 theme, "Communications as a Decisive Catalyst for Jointness".

• DEFCOM Objective - to enhance defence communications.
• The need for the three services to be able to seamlessly communicate with each other from the strategic to the tactical level
• DEFCOM over the years played the crucial role in promoting collaboration between the armed forces and the industry in the Information and Communications Technology domain.

• The Joint Doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces (JDIAF), 2017 states; " The nature of war demands that the Services fight as an integrated cohesive force. Rapid advances in technology necessitate, forces on land, sea and air to reinforce and complement each other to achieve the objectives set forth.
• In order to realise this vision the first and probably most significant step is building the ability to seamlessly communicate with each other from the strategic to the tactical level. Aligned with this central precept, DEFCOM 2019 is being held on the seminal topic, "Communications as a Decisive Catalyst for Jointness.
• The aim of DEFCOM 2019 is to collaborate with all stakeholders, including HQ Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, DRDO, academia and the Industry on theways, means and ends to leverage Communications as a Decisive Catalyst for Jointness.

Science and Technology
CSIR conducts Whole Genome Sequencing of over 1,000 Indians for Biomedical Applications

Relevance IN - Prelims (about genome sequencing + achievements made by CSIR in this) + Mains ( GS III Science and technology)
What's the NEWS

• The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has conducted Whole Genome Sequencing of 1,008 Indians from different populations across the country.

IndiGen Genome project ( Objective)

• The whole genome data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of Precision Medicine.
• The outcomes of the IndiGen will have applications in a number of areas including predictive and preventive medicine with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases,
• The IndiGen initiative was undertaken by CSIR in April 2019, which was implemented by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
• This has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and computational analysis at population scale in a defined timeline.

Benefits of genome sequencing

• The ability to decode the genetic blueprint of humans through whole genome sequencing will be a major driver for biomedical science.
• The benefits of this initiative include epidemiology of genetic diseases to enable cost effective genetic tests, carrier screening applications for expectant couples, enabling efficient diagnosis of heritable cancers and pharmacogenetic tests to prevent adverse drug reactions.
• IndiGenome card IndiGen and mobile application launched
• The IndiGenome card and accompanying IndiGen mobile application that enables participants and clinicians to access clinically actionable information in their genomes.
• The outcomes of the IndiGen will be utilized towards understanding the genetic diversity on a population scale, make available genetic variant frequencies for clinical applications and enable genetic epidemiology of diseases.
• The whole genome data and knowhow for the analysis of largescale genomic data is expected to enable evidence and aid in the development of technologies for clinical and biomedical applications in India.

Role of CSIR

• CSIR has led human genomic sciences in India and has made major contributions in understanding the "Indian Genome Variation".
• CSIR contributed towards the first personal human genome in India and in understanding ancestral population in India and early migrations that led to what we know today on distinct ethnic groups.
• CSIR also pioneered the application of genomics in clinical settings in the area of rare genetic diseases in India by means of DNA/Genome based diagnostics and interaction with large number of clinical collaborators.

Know! about genome sequencing

• Genome sequencing is ostensibly the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time.
• This entails sequencing all of an organism's chromosomal DNA as well as DNA contained in the mitochondria and, for plants, in the chloroplast. In practice, genome sequences that are nearly complete are also called whole genome sequences

Environment Conservation
Trans-boundary wildlife conservation 'peace park'

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the trans-boundary wildlife conservation 'peace park' + Mains (GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• India, Nepal and Bhutan have drafted a memorandum of understanding to create a trans-boundary wildlife conservation 'peace park'
• The process is in its final stage. The MoU is currently going back and forth among the countries for final changes

Know! about the trans-boundary park

• The proposed Park will include biodiversity-rich landscapes in adjoining areas of the three countries
• The trans-boundary parks present a fundamental shift in which wildlife conservation is done. From a species focused approach, it is moving to a landscape based approach
• There is already one trans-boundary Protected Area in India and Bhutan, which includes the Manas landscape of Assam, and the new tripartite park will be an extension of this
• This initiative was taken by India keeping in view the migratory wildlife species such as elephant
• The process started this year, with the idea that wildlife species, their movement and conservation should not be interrupted by political boundaries.
• This project will maintain the natural connectivity of wildlife species, undisturbed by political boundaries.
• The project will also help the local communities through ecotourism. It will also maintain the traditional and cultural continuity of villages that share similar traditions from time immemorial, but have been separated by the political boundary. In this sense this park will be a harbinger of peace in the area
• The process, although started by the MoEF&CC, has to involve the Ministry of External Affairs, given the multinational nature of the project.

Human Resource Development
Tamannaan aptitude test for Class 9, 10 students to be launched by CBSE & NCERT
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Tamanna) + Mains (GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What's the NEWS

• In a bid to help students make the right career choices, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have launched an online aptitude test called as ‘Tamanna' (Try And Measure Aptitude And Natural Abilities).

Know! more about Tamanna

• Tamanna is an aptitude test that aims at helping students of Class 9 and 10 make a better choice of subjects, eventually helping them in making an informed decision while choosing subjects in Class 11 and 12.
• In short, the CBSE (Know your aptitude) KYA exam will assess a student's weaknesses and strengths in academics.
• Under the aegis of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi have developed Tamanna - an Aptitude Test for Senior School Students to enable stakeholders knowing the aptitude of students of classes IX and X"
• The registration process for KYA will begin from January 29, 2020 on its official website - cbse.nic.in
• Students can appear for the test using the school's log-in id on any working day.
• Tamanna provides information about strengths of students and there is no pass or fail in this test.
• It should be taken voluntarily by interested students and must not be used to impose any subject, courses of study and/or vocations etc. on the students.
  
  

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