Daily Current Capsules 04^th December 2020

Geophysical phenomena
Cyclone Burevi

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Cyclone Burevi + facts about recent cyclones and their naming) + Mains ( GS I Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.)
What's the NEWS

• Seven days after Cyclone Nivar hit the Karaikal coast, another cyclone, Burevi, named by the Maldives, is expected to cross Tamil Nadu's southernmost district of Kanyakumari later this week.
• As a cyclonic storm, Burevi is expected to first cross the Sri Lankan coast near Trincomalee and thereafter, it will trace a west-northwestwards track, reach Gulf of Mannar and inch closer to Indian mainland's southernmost tip.

Cyclone Burevi will not be as strong as Cyclone Nivar

• Developed in the Bay of Bengal, the very severe cyclone Nivar, with wind speeds of 89 to 117 km/hr, had hit near Karaikal on November 25.
• Unstable sea conditions, in the southwest region of Bay of Bengal, continue due to the recent crossing of Nivar. The overall sea conditions currently remain disturbed.
• This is why meteorologists say there is a high possibility that Cyclone Burevi would not strengthen beyond the intensity of a cyclonic storm.
• Due to upwelling caused by Nivar, Cyclone Burevi will have limited intensity
• When such consecutive systems develop in the same region of the ocean, the predecessor system leads to upwelling - the process in which cooler waters from lower ocean surfaces are pushed towards upper ocean surfaces.
• In the absence of warm sea surface conditions, any cyclone, in this case Burevi, will not get enough fuel to intensify further while at sea.
• The IMD has indicated that Burevi will remain a cyclonic storm (wind speed 62 to 88 km/hr) till December 5, before it weakens into a deep depression.

Additional info ( connect to the past cyclone events and Prelims facts about cyclone)
Cyclone Amphan

• Cyclone Amphan (named by Thailand) is a tropical cyclone formed over Bay of Bengal that has intensified and likely to turn into a "super cyclonic storm (maximum wind speed is 120 knots)".
• According to the India Meteorological Department forecast, it made landfall as a very severe cyclone between the Sagar islands of West Bengal and the Hatiya islands of Bangladesh.

The Indian Meteorological Department classifies Cyclones based on their wind speeds.

• When the wind speed is around 31-50 km/hr, it is called depression.
• When the wind speed is between 51-62 km/hr, it is called Deep Depression. Beyond these speeds, the depression becomes storm.

The wind speeds of different storms as follows

• Cyclonic Storm: 63-88 km/hr
• Severe Cyclonic Storm: 89-117 km/hr
• Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: 118-165 km/hr
• Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: 166-220 km/hr
• Super cyclonic Storm: greater than 220 km/hr

Why Is The Bay of Bengal So Prone To Cyclones?

• Tropical cyclones-also called typhoons or hurricanes-are intense water-rotating systems formed by strong winds (of speeds at least 62 kilometres/hour) around low-pressure areas.
• They have a spiral, anticlockwise movement. Additional weather conditions like high sea surface temperature, vertical changes in wind speed inside the spiral, and high relative humidity help cyclones form and intensify.
• Since sea surface temperatures and humidity both directly correlate with chances of cyclone formation, the Bay of Bengal is a more likely target because it gets higher rainfall, and because the sluggish winds around it keep temperatures relatively high: about 28 degrees around the year.
• Warm air currents enhance this surface temperature and aid the formation of cyclones.
• In addition, the Bay receives higher rainfall and constant inflow of fresh water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.

• This means that the Bay's surface water keeps getting refreshed, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, making it ideal for a depression.
• On the other hand, the Arabian Sea receives stronger winds that help dissipate the heat, and the lack of constant fresh water supply helps the warm water mix with the cool water, reducing the temperature.

How tropical cyclones are named

• In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
• After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list
• The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include five more countries in 2018-Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
• The list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD last month, in April, were provided by these countries - 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a list of 169 names of future tropical cyclones that would emerge in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
• The new list of 169 names will begin after Cyclone Amphan.

The role of RSMCs and TCWCs

• Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
• There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
• As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure.
• The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.

Cyclonic Storm NISARGA

• A low pressure over east-central Arabian Sea and the Lakshadweep Islands intensified into a depression and a cyclonic circulation
• A low pressure area is the first stage of any cyclone.
• The cyclone crossed north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts between Harihareshwar town in Maharashtra''s Raigad district and Daman as a severe cyclonic storm
• ''Nisarga'', which means nature and was termed by India's neighbouring country -- Bangladesh.
• The name was accorded in a list formulated by a group of countries.
• IMD recently released a list of cyclone names in April, 2020.
• The new list included the last name from the previous list ''Amphan'' as it remained unused at the time of release.
• After ''Amphan'', ''Nisarga'' name was picked up for the ensuing cyclone.

Health
Inaugural session of the India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre) + Mains (GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health)

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare chaired the inaugural session of the annual conference of the India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre - ‘health talks,' under Sweden India Nobel memorial week.

India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre

• The cooperation in the field of health between the two countries has been long standing for which the 10th year celebration took place in 2019
• The India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre was inaugurated by King of Sweden Gustaf the 16th in 2019.
• The India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre is also in the process of setting up a Centre of Excellence at AIIMS Jodhpur on Cancer Care.

Innovation challenge

• India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre virtually announced the winners of the Innovation challenge, that aimed to identify and support innovative solutions that can impact the treatment of non-communicable and communicable diseases and help regress critical problems in the healthcare delivery landscape of India.
• The innovation challenge included a rigorous evaluation process by a panel of experts from AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur, ICMR, The Swedish Trade Commissioners office to India, AstraZeneca, AIM, C-CAMP and other partners. This committee had shortlisted 14 compelling solutions
• The winning start-ups will now work with the India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre platform which will enable faster scale-up, by providing them access to cross-country mentorship, guidance on funding, and ability to ideate with like-minded innovator, access to state-of-the-art incubation centre located within AIIMS Jodhpur campus, their lab facilities and beyond.
• The challenge focused on innovative solutions in 8 challenge areas including Digital Tools/Platforms - Med-Tech, Tele-Medicine, and Artificial Intelligence backed solutions to support new ways of working to improve the efficiencies of healthcare

India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre

• The India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre is a tripartite collaboration between AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur and Swedish Trade Commissioner's office.
• The platform is envisioned to develop an ecosystem of open innovation that start-ups and the healthcare delivery stakeholders can use to collaborate and address current and future challenges in the healthcare sector in India.
• This platform will enable development and scale up of solutions through frugal innovation for affordable and accessible healthcare in line with the objectives of the Government of India.
• The Innovation Centre is an initiative under the MOU of Health between India and Sweden and works under strategic guidance from Government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of Sweden's Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and Embassy of Sweden in India.
• It also has a strong network of ecosystem partners - Atal Innovation Mission, Invest India, AGNII, Start-up India, and, knowledge partners - AstraZeneca, NASSCOM and VINNOVA.

Economy
IFSCA obtains Membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).
What's the NEWS

• The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) obtained membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

• Established in 1994, the IAIS headquartered in Switzerland is a voluntary membership organization of insurance supervisors and regulators from more than 200 jurisdictions, constituting 97% of the world's insurance premiums.
• It is the international standard-setting body responsible for developing and assisting in the implementation of principles, standards and other supporting material for the supervision of the insurance sector.
• The IAIS also provides a forum for Members to share their experiences and understanding of insurance supervision and insurance markets.
• In recognition of its collective expertise, the IAIS is routinely called upon by the G20 leaders and other international standard setting bodies.
• With this membership IFSCA would have access to IAIS's global network and would be able to exchange ideas and information with other global regulators.
• This would help in developing a vibrant global Insurance hub in IFSC at GIFT City.
• Currently, 17 leading Insurance entities are operating from GIFT IFSC undertaking offshore Insurance and Reinsurance business.
• This membership would go a long way in connecting IFSC with global insurance institutions and would facilitate IFSCA in joint development of global insurance business with other global centres.
• Some of the leading members of IAIS are United Kingdom- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), USA- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NIAC), USA- Federal Insurance Office of the Insurance of the United States Department of Treasury (FIO),Singapore- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), India- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

Bilateral Relations
U.S.-India Counternarcotics Working Group

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about about U.S.-India Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG)
What's the NEWS

• The officials of India and United States of America met virtually for the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-India Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG)
• The respective delegations engaged in wide-ranging deliberations focused on increasing collaboration on counternarcotics regulation and law enforcement.

CNWG meeting highlights

• The two sides identified areas for joint action and resolved to continue their close coordination on this important issue.
• The two countries also agreed to enhance their data sharing operations to combat the production, distribution, diversion, and export/import of drugs and precursor chemicals.
• Both sides exchanged views on the broad array of narcotics-related challenges facing India and United States.
• They committed to strengthening their cooperation in curtailing the illegal production, manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, as well as the precursor chemicals used to manufacture them.
• India and United States agreed to enhance their data sharing operations to combat the production, distribution, diversion, and export/import of drugs and precursor chemicals. Both sides agreed to continue these discussions at the CNWG meeting in the spring of 2021.

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