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Daily Current Capsules - 11th November 2019

Cyber Security
THE ISRAELI SPYWARE PEGASUS
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Pegasus Spyware) + Mains (GS III challenges to internal security through communication network, cyber security)
What's the NEWS
  • Centre sought an explanation from messaging platform WhatsApp, after the Facebook-owned company confirmed that some Indian users of its app came under surveillance using an Israeli spyware.
  • WhatsApp was legally bound under Section 70(B) of the IT Act, 2000 to inform the government about the details of such attacks (on Indian citizens), which they failed to.
  • Indian Computer Emergency Response Team handles malware attack events like these
Know! more about the SPYWARE
  • Israeli company, NSO Group developed the spyware. The Spyware exploited a vulnerability in Whatsapp's video call feature that allowed attackers to inject the spyware on to the phones simply by ringing the number of a target's device.
  • However, NSO said that it sells Pegasus only to Governments and their agencies.
  • The Government says, it is concerned over the breach of privacy of the citizens of India and asked WhatsApp to explain the kind of breach and what is it doing to safeguard the privacy of millions of Indian citizens.
Know! the working of PEGASUS Spyware
  • Pegasus is a spyware that works by sending an exploit link, and if the target user clicks on the link, the malware or the code that allows the surveillance is installed on the user's phone.
  • Once Pegasus is installed, the attacker has complete access to the target user's phone
  • Pegasus delivers a chain of zero-day exploits to penetrate security features on the phone and installs Pegasus without the user's knowledge or permission.
  • A "zero-day exploit" is a completely unknown vulnerability, about which even the software manufacturer is not aware, and there is, thus, no patch or fix available for it.
Government Schemes
Global Exhibition on Services (GES)

Relevance IN - Prelims (about GES and SEPC) + Mains (GS II government policies and interventions for development on various sectors)
What's the NEWS
  • With an aim to engage industry and Governments across the world and to promote greater exchange of trade in services between India and rest of the world, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has created a dedicated platform, the Global Exhibition on Services (GES) which is an annual event.
Know! more about GES 2019
  • The 5th edition of GES 2019 is being held from 26-28 November 2019 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
  • It is an attempt towards escalating the Indian services bar in the global arena by exploring 12 Champion Services Sectors, encompassing participation from 100 countries and hosting sector specific knowledge sessions.
  • India is looking to attract investments and partnerships in strategic areas like aviation and space programme, infrastructure, telecom projects, financial management and accounting
  • Through GES the Government of India seeks to enhance strategic cooperation and develop synergies to strengthen multilateral relationships between all stake holders, tap the potential for services exports and increase FDI inflow.
  • GES 2019 will host focussed knowledge sessions on key Champion Services Sectors and will cater to many B2B, B2G and B2C meetings.
  • In GES 2019 SEPC is also looking to promote eSports. The eSports industry is expected to grow rapidly and in 2017 worldwide revenue generated in eSports market amounted to USD 655 million.
Know! about SEPC
  • SEPC is an export promotion council set up by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India in 2006 as an apex trade body to facilitate service exporters of India.
  • SEPC actively contributes to the formulation of policies of Government of India and acts as an interface between the services industry and the Government. It has a membership base of 4800 members from the 14 service sectors.
Environment Conservation
Indian Air quality Interactive Repository or IndAIR

Relevance IN - Prelims (about IndAIR) + Mains (GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS
  • Indian Air quality Interactive Repository or IndAIR, CSIR-Neeri's web facility that was launched has archived approximately 700 scanned materials from pre-internet era, 1,215 research articles, 170 reports and case studies, 100 cases and over 2,000 statutes to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation in the country.
  • The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) along with the CSIR has launched India's first web repository documenting air quality studies done in the last 60 years.
IndAIR
  • The IndAIR has archived approximately 700 scanned materials from pre-Internet era (1950-1999), 1,215 research articles, 170 reports and case studies and 100 cases.
  • It aims to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation.
  • Such a repository on air pollution is one of the first in the world.IndAIR will help the academicians understand the issue better and also enable policymakers to frame legislation that encourages development.
Defence
Def-Connect

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Def-Connect) + Mains (GS III defence)
What's the NEWS
  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is organising ‘Def-Connect' to showcase the accomplishments of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and construct a strong outreach towards the potential future entrepreneurs of the defence sector.
Know! more about the iDEX
  • The conference aims to bring together all stakeholders of the iDEX ecosystem i.e. MoD, iDEX selected startups, Partner Incubators, Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), Nodal agencies (Indian Army, Navy, Airforce), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Indian Ordnance Factories (IOFs), MSMEs and Industry associations to showcase the growth of the defence ecosystem in the country and recognise the infinite potential of the MSMEs/startups for future growth of the defence sector in the country.
  • More than 350 startups & innovators working on various defence technologies are expected to participate in the event.
  • The event would lead to better interaction & bridging the gap between the stakeholders and will be a precursor for Startup showcase during the forthcoming DefExpo 2020, to be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow from February 5-8, 2020.
Bilateral Relations
PM inaugurates Integrated Check Post and flags off 1st batch of pilgrims at Kartarpur Sahib corridor

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the terms and conditions of Kartarpur corridor) + Mains (GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Integrated Check Post and flagged off first batch of pilgrims at Kartarpur Sahib corridor in Gurdaspur.
  • Integrated Check Post would facilitate, Indian Piligrims to visit to Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib in Pakistan.
  • India has signed the Agreement with Pakistan on the 24th of October 2019 on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Zero Point, International Boundary, Dera Baba Nanak.
  • It may be recalled, the Union Cabinet passed a resolution on 22 November 2018 to celebrate the historic occasion of 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji in a grand and befitting manner, throughout the country and across the globe.
  • The Union Cabinet also approved the building and development of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the International Boundary, to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, round the year, in a smooth and easy manner.
Provisions made for facilitation of Pilgrims
  • The 4.2 Km four lane highway connecting Dera Baba Nanak from Amritsar - Gurdaspur Highway is constructed at a cost of Rs 120 Cr.
  • The state-of-the-art Passenger Terminal Building is on 15 acres land. The fully air conditioned building akin to an airport has over 50 immigration counters for facilitating about 5000 pilgrims a day.
  • It has all the necessary public amenities like kiosks, washrooms, child care, first aid medical facilities, prayer room and snacks counters inside main building.
  • The Agreement signed with Pakistan on the 24th of October provides a formal framework for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
The highlights of the Agreement are: -
  • Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor;
  • The travel will be Visa Free;
  • Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport;
  • Persons of Indian Origin need to carry OCI card along with the passport of their country;
  • The Corridor is open from dawn to dusk. Pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return on the same day;
  • The Corridor will be operational throughout the year, except on notified days, to be informed in advance;
  • Pilgrims will have a choice to visit as individuals or in groups, and also to travel on foot;
  • India will send the list of pilgrims to Pakistan 10 days ahead of travel date. Confirmation will be sent to pilgrims 4 days before the travel date;
  • The Pakistan side has assured India on sufficient provision for ‘Langar' and distribution of ‘Prasad';
  • The pilgrims may have to necessarily register themselves online on the portal prakashpurb550.mha.gov.inand exercise their choice to travel on any day.

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