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Daily Current Capsules - 30th December 2019

Defence
Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of four star General


Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CDS + Mains ( GS III Security challenges and their management in border areas )
What's the NEWS
  • In a landmark decision with tremendous reform in higher defence management in the country, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief.
  • The Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
Know! more about it (CDS)
  • The Chief of Defence Staff, apart from being the head of the Department of Military Affairs, will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
  • He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Raksha Mantri on all tri-Services matters.
  • The three Chiefs will continue to advise RM on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services.
  • CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.
As the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, CDS will perform the following functions:
  • CDS will administer tri-services organisations.
  • Tri-service agencies/organisations/commands related to Cyber and Space will be under the command of the CDS.
  • CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri and Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA.
  • Function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.
  • Bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office.
  • Implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan (DCAP), and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans (AAP), as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP).
  • Assign inter-Services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated budget.
  • Bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services aimed at augmenting combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
BENEFITS
  • It is expected that this reform in the Higher Defence Management would enable the Armed Forces to implement coordinated defence doctrines and procedures and go a long way in fostering jointmanship among the three Services.
  • The country would be benefitted by coordinated action on greater jointmanship in training, logistics and operations as well as for prioritisation of procurements.
Internal Security
Cabinet grants Ex-post facto approval to amend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations

Relevance IN - Prelims (about BEFR + about ILP ) + Mains ( GS III internal security)
What's the NEWS
  • The Union Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval to the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 issued by the President of India under clause (2) of article 372 of the Constitution to amend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations (BEFR), 1873.
  • The notification will extend BEFR to the State of Manipur to give its indigenous people protection from the provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 and make necessary changes in the said Regulation.
Know! about Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations (BEFR), 1873.
  • Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, the British framed regulations restricting the entry and regulating the stay of outsiders in designated areas. This was to protect the Crown's own commercial interests by preventing "British subjects" (Indians) from trading within these regions.
  • In 1950, the Indian government replaced "British subjects" with "Citizen of India". This was to address local concerns about protecting the interests of the indigenous people from outsiders belonging to other Indian states.
  • An ILP(inner line permit) is issued by the state government concerned. It can be obtained after applying either online or physically. It states the dates of travel and also specifies the particular areas in the state which the ILP holder can travel to.
Know! more about IPL
  • ILP is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to grant inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. Visitors are not allowed to purchase property in these regions.
  • Currently, the Inner Line Permit is operational in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. In addition to these, Meghalaya, Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Leh also require Indian citizens to have a permit before they enter.
  • It has been issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and the conditions and restrictions vary from state to state.
Bilateral Relations/Defence
49th border co-ordination conference between Director Generals of BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held in New Delhi

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the border co-ordination defence) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • Border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh held Directors General level talks from 25th Dec 2019 to 30th Dec 2019 in New Delhi.
Know! more about it.
  • The items for agenda items for talks related to all issues related to the border including but not limited to smuggling of drugs, gold, fake currency, cattle, action against remnant of Indian Insurgent Groups, construction of fence within 150 yards of IB, developmental works within 150 yards of IB, deaths and injuries to civilians and BSF personnel along the IB, death/injuries to Bangladesh civilians, human trafficking and illegal immigration.
  • Both sides expressed their satisfaction over the deliberations in the conference, which was meaningful and cordial, reflecting the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.
  • Both sides agreed for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken in the conference.
  • DG level talks between India and Bangladesh has been continuing since long.
  • The talks are held twice every year - once in India and once in Bangladesh.
  • The talks follow the methodology of border level coordination conferences.
  • This time the talks were held in New Delhi as per schedule. India and Bangladesh share civilizational heritage and host of factors that span virtually the entire spectrum of interaction that is possible for neighbours to have.
  • Keeping the above mentioned facts in focus the Border Guarding Forces of both the countries have established robust systems through which co-operation in Border Guarding and Border Management is being ensured.
Infrastructure Development
Odisha Governor Dedicates Bolangir LPG Bottling Plant To Nation

Relevance IN - Prelims (about The LPG bottling plant of BPCL)
What's the NEWS
  • Odisha Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal dedicated the new LPG bottling plant of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at Barkani in Bolangir district to the people of the nation.
Know! more about it
  • With the growth of LPG demand, the Bolangir bottling plant aims to cater to the need of LPG customers in 14 districts of Western Odisha.
  • The plant will help in the economic development of the region and generate job opportunity for locals.
  • It helps in curbing pollution and save women from diseases caused by smoke.
  • The LPG bottling plant of BPCL which is second such facility to be operational in the State after a plant in Khurda, is considered to be a milestone for western Odisha.
  • Balangir LPG Bottling plant will also help create new opportunities for young entrepreneurs and provide direct & indirect employment opportunities for local youth.
  • Set up at a cost of Rs 103 crore by BPCL, the plant has a capacity to produce 42 lakh cylinders per year. It will help supply LPG cylinders to the consumers in 14 districts of Odisha
LPG bottling plant
  • It is a factory where liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is filled into the bottles or cylinders.
  • After that these cylinders go to the various storages or distributors. It can be filled by bulk LPG through tank trucks or a pipeline. The plant receives empty cylinders or new empty cylinders to fill it with LPG.
Know! about BPCL
  • It is a Maharatna oil and gas company, it functions under the control of the Government of India.
  • This public sector unit was established in 1976, with its headquarters located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has two refineries in the country located in Mumbai and Kochi.

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