November 2024

Download PDF
Daily Current Capsules - 09th December 2019

Defence
Exercise Hand-In-Hand-2019

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the exercise Hand in Hand)
What's the NEWS
  • The Eighth Edition of India China joint training exercise ‘Hand-in-Hand-2019' commenced at Joint Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya on 07 December 2019.
Know! more about the exercise
  • The People's Liberations Army (PLA) contingent from the Tibet Military Command& Indian Army contingent comprising of one Infantry company alongwith supporting staff are participating in the 14 days long joint training exercise.
  • The exercise aims to enrich both the contingents from each other's experience in counter - terrorism operations. Besides counter-terrorism operations, discussions on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) operations will also be conducted as part of the exercise.
  • The exercise will send a strong signal to the world that both India and China well understand the emerging threat of terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder in countering this menace plaguing the world.
Environment Conservation
India ranks 5th in Global Climate Risk Index 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Global climate risk index and its findings) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS
  • India is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, according to a report released by Environment think tank, Germanwatch.
Know! more about the report findings
  • In the Climate Risk Index 2020, India's rank has worsened from the 14th spot in 2017 to 5th in 2018 in the global ...
  • The southwest monsoon in 2018 severely affected India, the analysis said adding that Kerala was especially impacted where 324 people died because of drowning or being buried in the landslides set off by the flooding-the worst in hundred years.
  • India has also recorded the highest number of fatalities due to climate change and the second highest monetary losses from its impact in 2018 and the second highest monetary losses from its impact in 2018.
  • Over 220, 000 people had to leave their homes, 20 000 houses and 80 dams were destroyed. The damage amounted to US$ 2.8 billion.
  • India east coast was also hit by cyclones Titli and Gaja in October and November 2018. With wind speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, cyclone Titli killed at least eight people and left around 450 000 without electricity.
  • Japan remains the most vulnerable, according to the analysis, because it was hit by extreme weather events in 2018. From 6th to 8th of July, heavy rainfall with more than 200 mm/day was measured.
  • The torrential rainfall resulted in flash floods and mudslides, killing more than 200 people and led to over 5 000 houses being damaged and the evacuation of 2.3 million people. The event caused losses to the tune of US$ 7 billion.
  • From mid-July to the end of August 2018, severe heatwave led to 138 fatalities and in September 2018, Typhoon Jebi made landfall in Japan.
  • Germany experienced the second hottest year in 2018 since records began. The period between April and July 2018 was the hottest ever recorded in Germany, with temperatures 2.9°C above average and led to the death of 1234 people.
Know! about Global Climate Risk Index
  • The Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by environmental think tank Germanwatch which assessed 181 countries and quantified impacts of climate change through economic losses, losses to GDP and fatalities to arrive at a ranking, found Japan to be the most vulnerable followed by Philippines, Germany, Madagascar and India.
  • The Climate Risk Index - based on data from the Munich Re NatCatSERVICE, one of the largest databases on natural catastrophes, has another set of ranking for the period 1999 2018 - which is based on average values over a twenty-year period.
  • In the 1999 to 2018 period Puerto Rico is the most vulnerable followed by Myanmar, Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan. India is ranked 17th under long term vulnerability.
Economic Development
NEFT to be available 24x7 from December 16: RBI
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NEFT and RTGS) + Mains ( GS III economic development)
What's the NEWS
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) facility should be made available by member banks participating in the payment system from December 16 on all days of the year, including holidays.
Know! more about NEFT
  • NEFT is a nation-wide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer.
  • Under this scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in the scheme.
  • With effect from December 16 (00:30 hours), there will be 48 half-hourly batches every day.
  • The settlement of first batch will commence after 00:30 hours, and the last batch will end at 00:00 hours.
  • Currently, fund transfer transactions are settled in batches under NEFT, which operates in 23 half-hourly batches from 8 am to 7 pm on working days.
  • These transactions after the usual banking hours are set to be automated initiated using 'Straight Through Processing (STP)' modes by the banks.
  • The RBI said that the existing discipline for crediting beneficiary's account or returning the transaction (within two hours of settlement of the respective batch) to the originating bank will continue.
  • The RBI had decided not to impose any charge on transactions done through NEFT and RTGS system from July 1, 2019.
  • Earlier, the central bank used to levy minimum charges on the banks for transactions done through NEFT and RTGS system and the banks, in turn, levied charges on their customers.
  • While NEFT is used for money transfers up to Rs 2 lakh, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system is used for large-value instantaneous fund transfers.
Health Sector
World Malaria Report: Despite a dip in cases, India still one of the worst-hit countries
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World Malaria Report) + Mains ( GS II Social issues - issues relating to the development and management of social sectors relating to Health)
What's the NEWS
  • Nineteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India accounted for 85 per cent of the global malaria burden in 2018.
  • Globally 228 million malaria cases were reported in 2018, which is marginally lower than the number of cases in 2017 (231 million), as per the World Malaria Report 2019 released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 4, 2019.
  • Malaria is mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites mainly.
Know! more about the report findings
  • India accounted for a little less than half (47 per cent) of malaria caused by P vivax.
  • Globally P. vivax, caused 7.5 million malarial cases. More than half (53 per cent) were found to be in South-East Asia.
  • While Africa and India saw the maximum dip in malaria cases between 2017 and 2018, they still accounted for 85 per cent deaths.
  • Nigeria accounted for almost 24 per cent of all malaria deaths, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent), the United Republic of Tanzania (5 per cent), and Angola, Mozambique and Niger (4 per cent each).
  • India registered a fall of 2.6 million malarial cases in 2018 as compared to previous year.
  • The country also has one of the lowest funding per person at risk of being inflicted with malaria at just US$0.2.
  • Despite being the highest burden country in the South-East Asia region, India showed a reduction in reported cases of 51 per cent compared to 2017 and of 60 per cent compared to 2016.
  • The estimated burden of malaria, the WHO report says is 6.7 million while only 4 million cases were reported in 2018."
  • India, Indonesia and Myanmar accounted for 58 per cent, 21 per cent and 12 per cent of the total reported deaths in the region, respectively.
  • The major challenges remain decreased funding, treatment failures and vector resistance to pyrethroids, the insectides used against the vectors.
  • The biggest region of concern for the WHO is the African region as it contributes 93 per cent cases to the global burden. This region also accounted for 94 per cent of all malarial deaths
  • Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite in the WHO African region, accounting for 99.7 per cent of estimated malaria cases in 2018
  • Globally, 53 per cent of the P. vivax burden is in the WHO South-East Asia Region, with the majority being in India (47 per cent).
  • P. vivax is the predominant parasite in the WHO Region of the Americas, representing 75 per cent of malaria cases.
Bilateral Relations
India - Maldives Relations

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the projects inaugurated) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih jointly inaugurated several key development projects in Maldives via video conference.
  • These included gifting of Made in India Coast Guard Ship Kaamiyaab to Maldives, launch of RuPay card, lighting up of Male using LED lights, High Impact Community Development Projects, launch of fish processing plants.
Know! more about it
  • Prime Minister said, India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Maldives' India first Policy has strengthened the bilateral cooperation in all sectors.
  • Speaking about the Fast Interceptor Craft Coast Guard Ship Kaamiyaab, Prime Minister said, it would help in enhancing Maldives' maritime security, and promote blue economy and tourism.
  • Prime Minister also expressed happiness at partnering through High Impact Community Development Projects for supporting livelihood of the islands community.
  • Prime Minister said Government is working on building a cancer hospital and cricket stadium in Hulhulmale while work on the water and sanitation project in 34 islands will begin soon.
  • Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to continue partnering with Maldives for strengthening of democracy and development. Prime Minister said both the countries would enhance cooperation for peace and security in Indian Ocean Region.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS