Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 12th March 2019

Defence
Twin Success for Guided PINAKA

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PINAKA) + Mains ( GS II security challenges)

What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) today successfully test fired the Guided PINAKA from Pokhran ranges.

• The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.

• In both the missions, the weapon systems impacted the intended targets with high precision and achieved desired accuracies.

• Telemetry Systems tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. All the mission objectives have been met.

• The indigenously developed Guided Pinaka by DRDO will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.
Know! more about Pinakha
• Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.

• The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 75 km for Mark-II, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds.
• The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising enemy positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers

National
Idukki's Marayoor Jaggery gets GI tag
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Idukki's Marayoor)

What's the NEWS
• The Marayoor jaggery, the traditional and handmade product from Idukki district, has finally received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from central government.
• Produced in Marayoor, this jaggery is made from sugarcane and no chemicals are added during the manufacturing process. Workers from Onakkallur, a village in Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu, are engaged in the production of the Marayoor jaggery.

Know! all about Marayoor jaggery
• The Marayoor jaggery got the GI status after two years of effort by the Agricultural department. The GI tag will provide more windows of opportunity to the traditional sugarcane farmers in Marayoor

• The Marayoor Jaggery largely produced in the regions of Marayur and Kanthallur grama panchayats of Kerala has got the GI tag.

• Geographical Indication Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin.
• Geographical Indication act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.

• Marayur Jaggery Marayoor in the Idukki district of Kerala is known for its tensive sugarcane cultivation.
• In the regions of Marayur and Kanthallur, more than 2500 acres of land is under sugarcane cultivation.

• The peculiar geographical location of Marayoor amid the forests of the Western Ghats gives the sugar cane a distinct geographical identity.
• The local people have integrated the age-old tradition have imparted age-old specialized skill to make Marayur Jaggery a distinct product in itself.

• The distinct features of the Marayur Jaggery are high sweetness with less saltiness, high content of iron and less sodium. The produce is free of impurities and the sugar cane fields are free of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

International Relations
14thCII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships
Relevance IN - Mains ( GS II international relations)

What's the NEWS
• Ministry of Commerce & Industry will be organising the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave ON India-Africa Project Partnerships, in association with Confederation of Indian Industry and EXIM Bank of India in New Delhi from March 17-19, 2019.

Know! more about the conclave
• The event will mark the deepening of India-Africa economic and business ties and pave the way for a whole range of cross-border project partnerships.

• The annual Conclave, since its inception in 2005, brings senior Ministers, policy makers, officials, business leaders, bankers, technologists, start-up entrepreneurs and other professionals from India and Africa on a common platform in a spirit of partnership.
• More than 31senior Ministers from 21 African countries apart from business delegates from 37 countries would be participating at this event.

• The Conclave will mark the pre-eminence of India-Africa partnership in the area of ‘South-South Cooperation', at a time when the global economy is faced with intractable challenges that stem from rising protectionism and trade conflicts.
• The India-Africa bilateral partnership is augmented by India's ascendency as the fastest growing major economy, as well as Africa's new economic dynamism illustrated by some of the Sub-Saharan economies which are among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world.

• The Conclave coheres into the Indian Government's broader vision of long-term engagement with Africa.
• The Government of India's unflinching commitment to expanding the canvas of India-Africa economic partnership which is evident from the increase in bilateral trade between India and Africa by nearly 22% from last year touching USD 62.66 billion in the year 2017-18.

• The Conclave is expected to see the participation of 400 plus delegates from Africa and around 300 delegates from India. The B2B meetings at this Conclave are expected tobe held on more than 500 project proposals from Africa.

Vice President concludes his visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the tour outcomes + Mains GS II - international relations)

What's the NEWS
• The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu visited the Republic of Paraguay from 5-7 March 2019 and the Republic of Costa Rica from 7-9 March 2019.

• This was the first high-level visit from India to both these countries.

Paraguay Highlights
• Shri Naidu applauded Paraguay's decision to join the International Solar Alliance soon, an initiative by India and France, aimed at combating the threats of climate change and global warming.

• Shri Naidu urged Paraguay to facilitate the convening of the next round of expert level discussions between MERCOSUR and India to take forward the shared agenda of the expansion of the Preferential Trade Agreement.

Costa Rica highlights
• The visit of Vice President to the Republic of Costa Rica was the first ever high-level visit from India to the nation.

Honorary Doctorate from University for Peace
• The Vice President was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the University for Peace founded by the United Nations for his contribution "to the Rule of Law, democracy and sustainable development in India".

• The university has stated that the degree of "Doctor Honoris Causa"( Doctor of Philosophy) was conferred on the Indian Vice President recognising his contribution to the Rule of Law, democracy and sustainable development in India.
• Shri. Venkaiah Naidu is the first Indian to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Peace.

Know! about University of Peace
• The University of Peace was established in accordance with the Resolution 35/55 passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980.
• The main campus of the University of Peace is located in Costa Rica, a country of Central America.

• The University of Peace aims to be a forward-thinking, transformational and inspirational educational institution dedicated to the goals of quality teaching, research and service for serving humanity in building a peaceful world.

• The stated mission of the University of Peace is to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting, among all human beings

Know! about MERCOSUR
• Mercosur, officially Southern Common Market is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994.

• Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela is a full member but has been suspended since December 1, 2016.
• Associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname. Observer countries are New Zealand and Mexico.

• Mercosur's purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. It currently confines itself to a customs union, in which there is free intra-zone trade and a common trade policy between member countries.

National Affairs
Pulse Polio Programme 2019

Relevance IN - Prelims( about polio and other similar initiatives by the government )

What's the NEWS
• In order to sustain polio eradication drive from the country, government on Saturday launched Pulse Polio programme for 2019.

Know! all about the programme

• President of India Ram Nath Kovind, launched the program by administering polio drops to children less than five years old, at the Rahstrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

• More than 17 crore children of less than five years across the country will be given polio drops as part of the drive.

• Universal Immunization Programme is focusing to protect children from more diseases than ever before and has introduced several new vaccines like Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, and Measles-Rubella vaccine in the recent past
• To provide additional protection to our children, Government has also introduced the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine into its routine immunization program

• Along with Universal Immunization Programme of the country, the government has also launched Mission Indradhanush to accelerate the goal to achieve more than 90% full immunization coverage.

• More than 3.39 crore children and 87 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated through Mission Indradhanush drives

• The government claimed that strengthening of immunization programme has contributed significantly to the decline of Infant Mortality Rate from 39 in 2014 to 32 per 1000 live births in 2017.

• The polio eradication programme in India aims to protect children from the crippling disease by conducting two nationwide mass polio vaccination campaigns and two to three sub-national campaigns each year.

• The last reported cases of wild polio in India were in West Bengal and Gujarat on 13 January 2011.

• On 27 March 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared India a polio free country.
Know! about Polio
• Polio also known as poliomyelitis is a highly contagious viral disease caused due to the attacks the nervous system and children younger than 5 years old are more likely to contract the virus than any other group.
• Poliovirus usually spreads from person to person through infected faecal matter entering the mouth.
• Poliovirus also spreads by food or water containing human faeces and less commonly from infected saliva

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following statements
1. The indigenously developed Guided Pinaka by DRDO in collaboration with ISRO will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.
2. Polio also known as poliomyelitis is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused due to the attacks the nervous system and children younger than 5 years old are more likely to contract the virus than any other group
3. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay Uruguay and Venezuela are the full time member of MERCOSUR

Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 and 3
b. All
c. None
d. 2 and 3

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