Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 15th March 2019

Defence
Twin Success for Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about MPATGM)

What's the NEWS
• In a major boost for Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired indigenously developed, low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) for the second time in the ranges of Rajasthan desert.

Know! about the successful trial of MPATGM

• MPATGM is incorporated with advanced features including state-of-the-art Imaging Infrared Radar (IIR) Seeker with integrated avionics.

• The first test was conducted on 13th March 2019. In both the missions, the missiles hit the designated targets precisely at different ranges. All the mission objectives have been met
• MPATGM incorporates advanced features, including, image infrared radar seeker with integrated avionics

• Indian defence scientists have scored a twin success in demonstrating the effectiveness of the Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).
• This follows the hat trick of sharp tests carried out on the short range guided Pinaka weapon system early in the week.

• Both these weapons, developed indigenously by scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), were tested in the deserts of Pokhran in Rajasthan.
• They enhance the hit and destruction capacity of the armed forces in short distance battle situations considerably.

• The MPATGM missile incorporates many advanced features, including, image infrared radar (IIR) seeker with integrated avionics.

Know! more about MANPATS
• Man-portable anti-tank systems (MANPATS or MPATS) are shoulder-launched anti-tank rockets.

• They are typically unguided weapons and are a threat to armored vehicles, low-flying aircraft (especially helicopters), and field fortifications.
• Generally MANPATS fall into three distinct categories. The first consist of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead operated by a single soldier.

• The second is a firing system onto /into which a rocket is loaded, operated by a single soldier.
• The third are manufactured prepacked and issued as a single unit of ammunition with the launcher discarded after a single use.

Indo-Bangladesh joint Military Exercise Sampriti - 2019

Relevance IN - Prelims( about Sampriti) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS
• Exercise Sampriti-VIII, a joint Indo-Bangladesh military exercise which witnessed participation of a company group of 9th Battalion the Rajputana Rifles from the Indian Army and the Company of 36 East Bengal Battalion, Bangladesh Army concluded at Tangail, Bangladesh

Know! more about the exercise
• The exercise was the 8th edition in the Sampriti series, which started in 2009.

• Exercise Sampriti strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies.

• It is the fourth Indo-Bangladesh exercise at Tangail, Bangladesh and compliments number of other exchanges and exercise between the two forces.
• The commanders and staff officers of both sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue suitable operational orders to the joint field training components who executed these orders on ground in simulated realistic situations.

• The joint training culminated in a validation exercise conducted at Bangabandu Senanibas Cantonment, Tangail in which subunits of both armies executed the plans.

NITI Aayog
First Workshop on India Energy Modelling Forum Held
Relevance IN - Mains ( GS III energy conservation and energy security )

What's the NEWS
• The NITI Aayog and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the first workshop on development of the India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF), which has been envisaged as a pan-stakeholder platform for debating ideas, scenario-planning & discussing the India's energy future.

• The two-day workshop, being held with the support of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), was organized under the Sustainable Growth Pillar of the India-U.S. Strategic Energy Partnership.

Know! more about the forum India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF)

• The IEMF seeks to provide a platform for leading experts and policy makers to study important energy and environmental issues and ensure induction of modelling and analysis in informed decision making process.

• The Forum aims to improve cooperation and coordination between modeling teams, the Government of India, knowledge partners and think-tanks, build capacity of Indian institutions, and identify issues for joint modeling activities and future areas of research.
• The panelists particularly laid focus on bridging the rural-urban divide and factoring in energy pressures from the informal economy within models.

• There was a need expressed to ensure that holistic perspective of energy consumption and ground realities must be inducted to produce practical and feasible energy models, converging land and water use patterns within energy models.
• The shift towards electric mobility, an increasing emphasis on mainstreaming of renewable energy options and overarching environmental concerns were also stated as key factors for determining India's energy future.

• The workshop included extensive discussions about the framework of an India Energy Modelling Forum and its institutional, coordination and funding mechanisms.

Health and Family Welfare
Health Ministry takes stock of the public health measures for controlling West Nile Virus
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about WNV)

What's the NEWS
• A section of the media has reported that a seven year old boy from Malappuram District of Kerala is suffering from a West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease, mostly reported in the continental United States.

Know! all about WNV
• West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States.
• It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.
• There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick.
• About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.
• About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.

Security Challenges
China places hold on listing Azhar as designated terrorist
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about UNSC role) + Mains ( GS II international organisations + GS III security challenges)

What's the NEWS
• China has again blocked the bid to designate Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Azhar Masood as a global terrorist in the United Nations Security Council 1267 list.
Know! more about the proposed bid
• The proposal was moved by France the UK and the US on February 27, on the backdrop of Pulwama Terror Attack.

• Just before the deadline of the objections was about to end, China which is the permanent member of the United Nations Permanent Council led the objection.
• Implications of the listing by the 1267 Sanctions committee

• The 1267 and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee was established under the UNSC resolution 1267.
The listing would have resulted in:
• Assets freeze The Asset Freeze mandates all states to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.

• Travel ban The travel ban implies preventing the entry of designated individuals into or transit by all states through their territories

• Arms embargo Arms embargo requires all states to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their ag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related material of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities.

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following statements
1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired indigenously developed, low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) for the first time in the ranges of Rajasthan desert.
2. West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease, mostly reported in the dense regions of African continent.
3. The 8th edition of exercise Sampriti which was started in 2009 is a joint Indo-Bangladesh military exercise which witnessed participation of a company group of 9th Battalion the Rajputana Rifles from the Indian Army and the Company of 36 East Bengal Battalion, Bangladesh Army concluded at Tangail, Bangladesh

Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 2 and 3
b. 3 only
c. 1 and 3
d. 2 only

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