"Virtual reality centre"

GS PAPER -03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context :

The Chief of the Naval Staff inaugurated the maiden ‘state-of-the-art’ Virtual Reality Centre (VRC) at the Directorate of Naval Design (Surface Ship Group).

Virtual Reality Centre :

This centre would provide major boost to the Indigenous warship design capabilities of Indian Navy, providing impetus to self-reliance and greater fillip to warship construction under “Make in India” initiative of the Indian government.
The project will facilitate collaborative design reviews for continuous interaction between the designers and the end users to improve design and ergonomics onboard warships.

Source :- PIB

‘Display information on 7 common antibiotics’

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues related to Health and Education

Context :

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO ), the apex drug regulator, has asked drug manufacturers to inform consumers about known side effects/ adverse reactions after intake of certain popular antibiotics.

CDSCO Direction :

CDSCO’s move has come after the National Co-ordination Centre of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) had alerted the Union Health Ministry about adverse side-effects of these antibiotics.
These antibiotics include Cefotaxime, Ofloxacin Cefixime, Tranexamic Acid, Quetiapine, Sulfasalazine and Sodium Valproate.

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) :

Pharmacovigilance is defined as the science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects, principally long term and short term adverse effects of medicines.
The CDSCO has a nation-wide Pharmacovigilance Programme for protecting the health of the patients by promising drug safety.
The Programme shall be coordinated by the Indian Pharmacopeia commission, Ghaziabad as a National Coordinating Centre (NCC).
The PvPI was started by the Government of India on 14th July 2010 with the AIIMS New Delhi as the National Coordination Centre for monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in the country for safe-guarding Public Health.

Source :- The Hindu

Modi to get Russia’s highest civilian award

GS PAPER - 03 Awards and Honors

Context :

Russia announced that President Vladimir Putin will confer its highest civilian award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. - – the “Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First,”.

More about the news:

Indian PM will receive the award in appreciation of his contribution to the development of a strong strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the Russian and Indian peoples.
This was the seventh international award Modi has collected in the past few years.
- The others are the Zayed Medal of the UAE (2019), the Seoul Peace Prize, UN Champions of the Earth Award, Grand Collar of the State of Palestine (all in 2018), Amir Abdullah Khan Award of Afghanistan and King Abdullaziz Sash of Saudi Arabia (both in 2016). Four of the awards are from Islamic states.

The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First:

The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First is awarded to prominent government and public figures, prominent representatives of science, culture, art and various sectors of the economy for “exceptional services that contribute to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia”.
It was first awarded by former Russian Tsar ‘Peter the Great’ in 1698 and subsequently discontinued.
In 1998, former President Boris Yeltsin reinstated the honour by a presidential decree.
Previous recipients include Chinese President Xi Jinping, and presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Source :- The Hindu

Plea to remove dual control of Assam Rifles

GS PAPER - 03 INTERNAL SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

Context :

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on a plea seeking directions to remove the dual control of Assam Rifles and bring it under the Defence Ministry.

More about the news :

The petition was filed on the grounds that the administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with the Home Ministry,while the operational control is with the Defence Ministry.
The dual leadership has caused administrative problems and many Assam Rifle personnel were being deprived of promotion due to dual control.
The petitioner in its plea has also said that the objective and functions of Assam Rifles were that of a military and para military force and its categorisation as a police force was arbitrary,unreasonable and in violation of the rights of its personnel.

Assam Rifles :

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a Central Para Military Force (CPMF) along with two other forces — Special Frontier Force and Coast Guard.
However, only the Assam Rifles functions under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry.
The Assam Rifles was formed under the British in 1835 by the name of Cachar Levy and had a number of names — the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891) and Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913), before finally becoming the Assam Rifles in 1917.
At present, it has 46 battalions and fulfils the dual role of maintaining internal security in the North-eastern region and guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border.

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) :

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Major decisions with respect to the significant appointments, issues of national security, defence expenditure of India, are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in India.
The committee comprises the minister of external affairs, the home minister, finance minister, and the defence minister.

Functions :

1. To deal with all defence related issues

2. To deal with issues relating to law and order and internal security.

3. To deal with policy matters concerning foreign affairs that have internal or

external security implications, including cases relating to agreements with other

countries on security-related issues.

4. To deal with economic and political issues impinging on national security.

5. To review the manpower requirements relating to national security and setting up new structures to deal with security-related issues.

6. To consider all cases involving capital expenditure of more than rupees one thousand crore in respect of

Department of Defence Production
Department of Defence Research and Development

7. All matters relating to atomic energy.

8. To consider cases of increase in the firmed up cost estimates or revised cost estimates.

Source :- Business Standard

NASA’s ‘twins study’ highlights effects of spaceflight on body

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the field of Space

Context :

NASA has recently announced the findings of “Twins Study”. The study has been published in the journal Science.

NASA Twins Study :

The NASA’s Twin Study is a comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight
The study was conducted on two identical twins, one of whom spent one year in low-Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station while the other remained on earth.
The Twins Study has demonstrated the resilience and robustness of how a human body can adapt to a multitude of changes induced by the spaceflight environment. It has revealed that long-term space missions are likely to cause major changes to astronauts’ metabolisms, genetics and cognitive performance.

Significance :

The study provided insight into the body’s response to space flight. It showed that long-term space missions are likely to cause major changes to astronauts’ metabolisms, genetics and cognitive performance.
The study will guide future biomedical space research and allow a safer journey to and from Mars. Specifically, the findings could shape NASA’s 2020 mission to Mars — a journey that would take astronauts at least three years.

Source :- The Hindu

Malaysia approves Chinese project after price is slashed

GS PAPER - 92 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.

Context :

Malaysia has reopened a closed Chinese rail construction project after China agreed to slash the price by 30% from the original cost.Under the reworked deal,the 648-km rail link will now cost $10.6 billion.

More about the news:

The concession to Malaysia is part of a broad reassessment of China’s ambitious infrastructure program known as the Belt and Road Initiative, as China has increasingly faced criticism of debt trap diplomacy,for lending huge sums of money to vulnerable countries and then taking over valuable assets when they cannot pay.
Further,China appears to have agreed to the hugely lowered price because it is desperate to present a strong global infrastructure programme at the Belt and Road Forum to be held later this month.

India’s Stand :

India has turned down an official invite from China to attend the second Belt and Road Forum meet.
India had also boycotted the first Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in 2017 after protesting against the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is being laid through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) overriding India’s sovereignty concerns.

Belt and Road initiative :

BRI consisting of the land-based belt, ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’, and ‘Maritime Silk Road’, aims to connect the East Asian economic region with the European economic circle and runs across the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.
BRI is China’s ambitious project announced in 2013.
It covers about 65% of the world population, 60% of the world GDP and over 70 countries in six economic corridors.
China is spending almost $1 trillion to revive and renew the overland and maritime trade links between China, Europe, West Asia, and East Africa through construction of modern ports linked to high-speed road and rail corridors.

India’s Concern :

India argues that the BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project violates its sovereignty because it passes through the part of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that belongs to India.
Debt trap: BRI projects are pushing recipient countries into indebtedness, do not transfer skills or technology and are environmentally unsustainable.
China is planning to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are eagerly pursuing potential BRI projects.
Through OBOR, China is countering the strategies of India in North East region and is promoting its greater presence in North East India, part of which China claims as its own territory. This may have a security impact on India.
Tense bilateral relations with China, deep mistrusts and India’s growing concerns over Chinese hegemonic intentions in South Asia and Indo-Pacific region make it practically unlikely that India will ever consider joining this project.
Military deployment: The fact that the Chinese have begun to deploy 30,000 security personnel to protect the projects along the CPEC route makes it an active player in the politics of the Indian sub-continent. Clearly, this is a case of double standards.

Source :- The Hindu

US lawmakers introduce legislation seeking strengthening of US-India partnership

GS PAPER -02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.

Context :

US lawmakers has introduced a bill called HR 2123 to strengthen US-India strategic

Implications :

If enacted, the legislation would ensure that the US State Department treat India as a NATO ally for the purposes of the Arms Export Control Act.’
It would send a powerful signal that defence sales to India should be prioritised according to US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, which had worked on this important legislation.
This will further allow the US-India partnership to flourish in line with our security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

Need :

India is the world’s largest democracy, a pillar of stability in the region and has shown strong commitments to export control policies. This adjustment to US law will further allow the US-India partnership to flourish in line with the US’s security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) :

North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.
It constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.

Source :-Business Standard

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13th APRIL 2019 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

"Virtual reality centre"

‘Display information on 7 common antibiotics’

Modi to get Russia’s highest civilian award

Plea to remove dual control of Assam Rifles

NASA’s ‘twins study’ highlights effects of spaceflight on body

Malaysia approves Chinese project after price is slashed

US lawmakers introduce legislation seeking strengthening of US-India partnership

"Virtual reality centre"

GS PAPER -03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context :

The Chief of the Naval Staff inaugurated the maiden ‘state-of-the-art’ Virtual Reality Centre (VRC) at the Directorate of Naval Design (Surface Ship Group).

Virtual Reality Centre :

This centre would provide major boost to the Indigenous warship design capabilities of Indian Navy, providing impetus to self-reliance and greater fillip to warship construction under “Make in India” initiative of the Indian government.

The project will facilitate collaborative design reviews for continuous interaction between the designers and the end users to improve design and ergonomics onboard warships.

Source :- PIB

‘Display information on 7 common antibiotics’

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues related to Health and Education

Context :

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO ), the apex drug regulator, has asked drug manufacturers to inform consumers about known side effects/ adverse reactions after intake of certain popular antibiotics.

CDSCO Direction :

CDSCO’s move has come after the National Co-ordination Centre of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) had alerted the Union Health Ministry about adverse side-effects of these antibiotics.

These antibiotics include Cefotaxime, Ofloxacin Cefixime, Tranexamic Acid, Quetiapine, Sulfasalazine and Sodium Valproate.

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) :

Pharmacovigilance is defined as the science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects, principally long term and short term adverse effects of medicines.

The CDSCO has a nation-wide Pharmacovigilance Programme for protecting the health of the patients by promising drug safety.

The Programme shall be coordinated by the Indian Pharmacopeia commission, Ghaziabad as a National Coordinating Centre (NCC).

The PvPI was started by the Government of India on 14th July 2010 with the AIIMS New Delhi as the National Coordination Centre for monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in the country for safe-guarding Public Health.

Source :- The Hindu

Modi to get Russia’s highest civilian award

GS PAPER - 03 Awards and Honors

Context :

Russia announced that President Vladimir Putin will confer its highest civilian award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. - – the “Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First,”.

More about the news:

Indian PM will receive the award in appreciation of his contribution to the development of a strong strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the Russian and Indian peoples.

This was the seventh international award Modi has collected in the past few years.

The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First:

The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First is awarded to prominent government and public figures, prominent representatives of science, culture, art and various sectors of the economy for “exceptional services that contribute to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia”.

It was first awarded by former Russian Tsar ‘Peter the Great’ in 1698 and subsequently discontinued.

In 1998, former President Boris Yeltsin reinstated the honour by a presidential decree.

Previous recipients include Chinese President Xi Jinping, and presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Source :- The Hindu

Plea to remove dual control of Assam Rifles

GS PAPER - 03 INTERNAL SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

Context :

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on a plea seeking directions to remove the dual control of Assam Rifles and bring it under the Defence Ministry.

More about the news :

The petition was filed on the grounds that the administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with the Home Ministry,while the operational control is with the Defence Ministry.

The dual leadership has caused administrative problems and many Assam Rifle personnel were being deprived of promotion due to dual control.

The petitioner in its plea has also said that the objective and functions of Assam Rifles were that of a military and para military force and its categorisation as a police force was arbitrary,unreasonable and in violation of the rights of its personnel.

Assam Rifles :

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a Central Para Military Force (CPMF) along with two other forces — Special Frontier Force and Coast Guard.

However, only the Assam Rifles functions under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry.

The Assam Rifles was formed under the British in 1835 by the name of Cachar Levy and had a number of names — the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891) and Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913), before finally becoming the Assam Rifles in 1917.

At present, it has 46 battalions and fulfils the dual role of maintaining internal security in the North-eastern region and guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border.

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) :

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Major decisions with respect to the significant appointments, issues of national security, defence expenditure of India, are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in India.

The committee comprises the minister of external affairs, the home minister, finance minister, and the defence minister.

Functions :

1. To deal with all defence related issues

2. To deal with issues relating to law and order and internal security.

3. To deal with policy matters concerning foreign affairs that have internal or

external security implications, including cases relating to agreements with other

countries on security-related issues.

4. To deal with economic and political issues impinging on national security.

5. To review the manpower requirements relating to national security and setting up new structures to deal with security-related issues.

6. To consider all cases involving capital expenditure of more than rupees one thousand crore in respect of

Department of Defence Production

Department of Defence Research and Development

7. All matters relating to atomic energy.

8. To consider cases of increase in the firmed up cost estimates or revised cost estimates.

Source :- Business Standard

NASA’s ‘twins study’ highlights effects of spaceflight on body

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the field of Space

Context :

NASA has recently announced the findings of “Twins Study”. The study has been published in the journal Science.

NASA Twins Study :

The NASA’s Twin Study is a comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight

The study was conducted on two identical twins, one of whom spent one year in low-Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station while the other remained on earth.