Current Affairs 03-07-2020

Ministry of Defence approves 33 new fighter Jets :

what is in news?

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved deals worth ₹38,900 crores.

About the deal :

• These include procurement of 21 MiG29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), upgrade of 59 MiG29s, and acquirement of 12 Su30 MKI aircraft.
• The other deals include Pinaka ammunition, armoured vehicle BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radio for the Army, Long Range Land Attack MissileSystems of over 1,000 km range and Astra Beyond Visual Range airtoair missiles for the Navy and the IAF, all of which will be procured domestically and worth an estimated ₹31,130 crores.

What is LRLACM?

• The Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) demonstrated critical cruise missile technologies such as aerodynamic configuration, vertical launch using solid booster, thrust vector control system, booster separation, in-flight wing deployment, in-flight engine start and long range way-point navigation system.

What is Software Defined Radio(SDR)?

• The Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a secure indigenous system with legacy communication support and secure digital voice/data communication for Naval application with 3-channel (2V/UHF band and 1HF band) and 4-channel (2V/UHF band and 2L-band) system for tactical communication and single-channel operation in V/UHF (Manpack role) and UHF band (Handheld role).

Nirbhay :

• The Nirbhay, a subsonic longrange land-attack cruise missile, with a range of over 1,000 km, had been under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for sometime . The LRLACM will be an upgraded derivative of the Nirbhay.

Pinaka :

• Pinaka is an all-weather, indirect fire, free flight artillery rocket system. It provides a unique capability to accurately deliver a devastatingly lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets such as exposed enemy troops, armored and soft skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, fuel and ammunition dumps.

MiG 29 :

• The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 66 MiG-29s in 1985 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase.
• Indian MiG-29s were used extensively during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir by the Indian Air Force to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000s attacking targets with laser-guided bombs.

Su-30MKI :

• The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.

Astra :

• Astra is an all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing.
• Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets at a distance of 10 km (6.2 mi) and long-range targets up to a distance of 110–160 km (68–99 mi)

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):

What is in news?

The Government of India said it was studying an international tribunal’s ruling that the Italian marines accused of killing two fisherman in the waters off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012, held “immunity” and would face a trial in Italy, not India.

About:

• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by shooting at fishing boat “St. Antony” and should pay compensation to the victims’ families, the boat owner and crew members.
• In its submissions, India had called on the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
• UNCLOS tribunal to “adjudge and declare that it [PCA] has no jurisdiction with respect to the case submitted to it by Italy”.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):

• The  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the  Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982.
• The Law of the Sea Convention denes the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
• The Convention, concluded in 1982, replaced four 1958 treaties. UNCLOS came into force in 1994, a year after Guyana became the 60th nation to ratify the treaty.
• As of June 2016, 167 countries and the European Union have joined in the Convention.
• It is uncertain as to what extent the Convention codies customary international law

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

What is in news?

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in New Delhi has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports over the death of a sevenyearold girl in Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district, and has sought a detailed report into the incident from the authorities

About :

National commission for protection of child rights :

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body, was set up in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, an Act of Parliament (December 2005), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
• The NCPCR emphasizes the principle of universality and inviolability of child rights.
• The commission also recognizes the tone of urgency in all the child-related policies of the country. Thus, policies define priority actions for the most vulnerable children. This includes focus on regions that are backward or on communities or children under certain circumstances, and so on.

Commission’s mandate

• The Commission’s Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to induct transgenders as Assistant Commandants (ACs ):

What is in news?

The Union Home Ministry has sought suggestions from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to induct transgenders as Assistant Commandants (ACs), directly appointed gazetted officers.

About :

• The ACs are recruited through exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Ministry recently sought comments from the CAPFs on draft rules for “incorporating the issues on transgender as
• Third gender along with male/female in the Rules of CAPF (AC) Examination, 2020."

Asadha  Poornima :

What is in news?

The Buddhist festival of Asadha Poornima would be celebrated on a larger scale this year, with President Ram Nath Kovind scheduled to inaugurate events the International Buddhist Confederation’s secretary general Dhammapiya said

About :

• The auspicious day of Asadha Poornima which falls on the first full moon day of the month of Asadha as per Indian sun calendar is also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand. It is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Poornima or Vesak.
• The day marks Buddha's first teaching after attaining Enlightenment to the first five ascetic disciples (pañcavargika) on the full-moon day of Asadha at ‘Deer Park', Ṛiṣipatana in the current day Sarnath, near Varanasi, India. This teaching of Dhamma Cakka- PavattanaSutta (Pali) or Dharma chakra Pravartana Sutra (Sanskrit) is also known as the First Turning of Wheels of Dharma and comprised of the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path.
• The Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa) for the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day lasting for three lunar months from July to October, during which they remain in a single place, generally in their temples dedicated to intensive meditation. They are served during this period by lay community who also observe Uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts and meditate under the guidance of their teachers.
• The day is also observed as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to their Gurus.
• As the leading Buddhist world body the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), is once again leading the collective aspirations of Dhamma followers worldwide by putting together a grand celebration to commemorate this very auspicious day.

C. Rangarajan has been conferred the P.C. Mahalanobis Lifetime Achievement Award:

What is in news?

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor C. Rangarajan has been conferred the P.C. Mahalanobis Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to official statistics. Dr. Rangarajan was given the award on June 29, Statistics Day, at a function held in virtual mode.

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972)

• He is considered the father of modern statistics in India, founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), shaped the Planning Commission (which was replaced by the NITI Aayog on 1st January 2015) and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.
• He introduced innovative techniques for conducting large-scale sample surveys, calculated acreages and crop yields, using the method of random sampling.
• He also devised a statistical method called ‘Fractile Graphical Analysis’, used to compare socio-economic conditions of varied groups.

'Three Ws' of West Indies cricket, passed away

What is in news?

Legendary batsman Everton Weekes, the last of the famed 'Three Ws' of West Indies cricket, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 95.

About :

• Weekes played 48 Tests between 1948 and 1958, scoring 4,455 runs at an average of 58.61. His highest Test score was 207.
• Barbadian Weekes was part of a feared postWorld War II West Indies team which also featured Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott.
• Worrell passed away in 1967 and Walcott in 2006. All three had been born within a mileandahalf of each other over an 18 month period.
• The national stadium in Bridgetown is named the Three Ws Oval.
• When Weekes hit 162 and 101, he became the first to reach the three figure mark at the fabled venue after India’s independence.

National Permit regime

What is in news?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification for amendment to National Permit regime under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 for promoting tourism across the country.

About:

• The Ministry is in the pursuit of providing seamless movement to the tourist passenger vehicles after the success of goods carriage vehicle under National Permit Regime.
• This motive has culminated into a new set of rules, which henceforth will be known as, “All India Tourist Vehicles Authorization and Permit Rules, 2020”  published vide GSR 425( E) dated 01 July 2020 for public and stakeholders consultation, which shall go a long way in promoting tourism across the States in our country on one side, while enhancing the revenue of State Governments.
• The same was discussed in the 39Th Transport Development Council Meeting and was appreciated and concurred by the state participants.

Motor Vehicles Act, 1988:

• The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is an Act of the Parliament of India which regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles.
• The Act came into force from 1 July 1989.
• It replaced Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 which earlier replaced the first such enactment Motor Vehicles Act, 1914.
• The Act provides in detail the legislative provisions regarding licensing of drivers/conductors, registration of motor vehicles, control of motor vehicles through permits, special provisions relating to state transport undertakings, traffic regulation, insurance, liability, offences and penalties, etc.
• Implementation of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MV Act) and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVRs) comes under the purview of State Governments.

Indra Mani Pandey

What is in news?

Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey has been appointed as the next Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.

About:

• Mr Pandey, a 1990 batch IFS officer is presently additional secretary in the External Affairs ministry.
• The Permanent Mission is the diplomatic mission that every member state deputes to the United Nations, and is headed by a Permanent Representative, who is also referred to as the “UN ambassador”.

Red coral kukri

What is in news?

A "very rare" Red Coral Kukri snake was spotted in the Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri.

About:

• Red Coral Kukri is a nocturnal non-venomous reptile feeding on insects and worms.
• It gets its name from its red orange colour and its teeth, which are shaped like Nepali "khukri" to break eggs.
• The reptile was first sighted in Dudhwa in 1936 and even its zoological name "oligodon Kheriensis" finds its roots in its Kheri-specific location.
• Sightings of this brightly-coloured snake are rare - it was seen last year for the first time after a gap of almost 82 years. This is only the fourth sighting of the Red Coral Kukri snake in the last couple of years - which in itself is a marked increase from earlier sightings.

Interpol

What is in news?

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump and has requested the Interpol to issue a “Red Notice” and detain him and others who they believe carried out the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3 this year.

About:

• The International Police Organisation is commonly known as Interpol.
• It is an international organization facilitating international police cooperation against cross-border terrorism, trafficking, and other crime.
• All decisions regarding the activities of INTERPOL are made by the General Assembly which is it’s ’s supreme governing body which meets annually.
• It is ‘NOT’ a unit or part of united nation system. It is an independent international organization.
• HQ: Lyon in France.
• Founded in: 1923.

Interpol Notices:

It issues 8 type of notices (7 of which are colour-coded) which are in the form of alert/requests allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.

• Red Notice: To seek the location and arrest of a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition. It is the "closest instrument to an international arrest warrant."
• Blue Notice: To locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.
• Green Notice: To warn about a person's criminal activities if that person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety.
• Yellow Notice: To locate a missing person or to identify a person unable to identify himself/herself.
• Black Notice: To seek information on unidentified bodies.
• Orange Notice: To warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing an imminent threat and danger to persons or property.
• Purple Notice: To provide information on modus operandi, procedures, objects, devices or hiding places used by criminals.
• Interpol-UNSC Special Notice: To inform Interpol's members that an individual or an entity is subject to UN sanctions.

Accelerate VIGYAN (AV) Scheme

What is in news?

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched a new scheme called ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ to provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs and workshops across the country.

About:

• The primary objective of this inter-ministerial scheme is to encourage high-end scientific research and prepare scientific manpower, which can lead towards research careers and knowledge-based economy.
• Accelerate Vigyan will initiate and strengthen mechanisms for identifying research potential, mentoring, training and hands-on workshop on a national scale.
• The scheme is sub-divided into two components: ‘ABHYAAS’ and ‘SAMMOHAN’.

Drug discovery hackathon 2020

What is in news?

Union HRD Minister and Health Minister jointly launched the Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020.

About:

• The objective of this Hackathon is to identify drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 by in-silico drug discovery through the hackathon and follow up by chemical synthesis and biological testing.
• Drug Discovery Hackathon is first of its kind national initiative for supporting drug discovery process. It is an online competition and anybody from anywhere in the country or world can participate.
• It is a joint initiative of MHRD, AICTE and CSIR and supported by partners like CDAC, MyGov, Schrodinger and ChemAxon.
• In this initiative, HRD Innovation cell and AICTE will focus on identifying potential drug molecules through the Hackathon while CSIR will take these identified molecules forward for synthesis and laboratory testing.