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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