Daily Current Capsules
17th September 2020
International Organisations
India joins Djibouti Code of Conduct as Observer


Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Djibouti Code of Conduct ) + Mains ( GS II International Organisations)
What's the NEWS

• India has joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct as an observer which is expected to provide it a strategic heft in the Indian Ocean region.

Know! more about it

• The Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) is a grouping on maritime issues comprising 18 member states adjoining the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the East coast of Africa.

• The DCOC, established in January 2009, is aimed at the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea
• India joined the DCOC/JA as an observer following a virtual meeting of the grouping
• India joins Japan, Norway, the UK and the US as observers of the grouping.
• India's joining of the grouping comes at a time China has been making concerted efforts to expand its military influence in the Indian Ocean Region.
• As an Observer at the DCOC/JA, India looks forward to working together with DCOC/JA member states towards coordinating and contributing to enhanced maritime security in India Ocean Region

Environment
Global Initiative to reduce Land Degradation and Coral Reef program launched
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 and the initiatives launched) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 countries took place under the Presidency of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Union Minister applauded the launch of Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Coral Reef program at the G20 Environment Ministers meeting.

Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation

• The Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation aims to strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation within G20 member states and globally, taking into account possible implications on the achievement of other SDGs and adhering to the principle of doing no harm.

Coral Reef program

• The Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform is an innovative action-oriented initiative aimed at creating a global research and development (R&D) program to advance research, innovation and capacity building in all facets of coral reef conservation, restoration, and adaptation

Know! other highlights

• G20 consists of 19 individual countries, including the US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Saudi, plus the European Union.
• The Paris accord was adopted by 195 parties at the UN climate conference "COP 21" held in the French capital in 2015 with an aim to reduce the hazardous greenhouse gas emissions.
• Nineteen members of the G20, except the US, have voiced their commitment to the full implementation of the deal.
• The objective of the Paris Agreement is to prevent an increase in global average temperature and keep it well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• United Nations had asked countries to have specific plans for how they intend to cut carbon emissions in line with the science, which says global greenhouse gas emissions must fall 45 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Land Degradation

• Deterioration in the quality of land (its topsoil caused by excessive or inappropriate exploitation)

Desertification
Degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (Not the natural expansion of existing deserts)
Health
Parliament passes the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) + about Institution of National Importance (INI)
What's the NEWS

• The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020 has been passed by Rajya Sabha The Bill was earlier passed in Lok Sabha
• This paves the way to establish a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic institution called the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar, Gujarat, and to confer the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to it.

Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA)

• The ITRA is sought to be established by conglomerating the presently existing Ayurveda institutes at Gujarat Ayurved University campus Jamnagar. This is a cluster of highly reputed institutions
• ITRA will be the first institution with INI status in the AYUSH Sector, and this will enable the institution to be independent and innovative in the matter deciding course content and pedagogy.
• The proposed institute at Jamnagar would have a LLL including the Minister of Ayush, Secretary of Ayush and Secretary of Health & Family Welfare of the Gujarat Government, along with three MPs in which two would be from the Lok Sabha and one from the Rajya Sabha.

Institute of National Importance (INI)

• Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution in India by an act of Parliament of India, an institution which "serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state".
• Institutes of National Importance receive special recognition and funding from the Government of India.

Defence
Postage Stamp released on A-SAT: India's First Anti Satellite Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about A-SAT)
What's the NEWS

• A Customized My Stamp on India's First Anti Satellite Missile (A-SAT) launch was released by Department of Posts on the occasion of Engineers Day

Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti'

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti' from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on 27th March 2019.
• A DRDO developed A-SAT Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill' mode.
• The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters.
• Tracking data from range sensors had confirmed that the mission met all its objectives.
• The entire effort was indigenous which demonstrated the Nation's capability to develop such complex and critical missions.
• With this success, India became fourth nation in the world to possess such capability.

Health
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme)
What's the NEWS

• The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19' was announced on 30 March 2020 for a period of 90 days.
• This was extended for a further period of 90 days i.e. up to 25th Sept, 2020.
• The scheme has now been extended for another 180 days i.e. 6 months.

Know! all about the Scheme

• This Central Sector Scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and therefore at risk of being infected.
• It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19.
• The scheme also covers private hospital staff/ retired/volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/ hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities.
• The insurance provided under this scheme is over and above any other insurance cover being availed of by the beneficiary.
• There is no age limit for this scheme and individual enrolment is not required.
• The entire amount of premium for this scheme is being borne by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The benefit/claim under this policy is in addition to the amount payable under any other policies.
• Ministry of Health and Family welfare has collaborated with the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited for providing the insurance amount based on the guidelines prepared for the scheme.

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