1. CORNER-SHOT WEAPON SYSTEM (CSWS)
A corner-shot weapon system (CSWS), designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is at an advanced stage of being inducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police.
About:
- The CSWS is a special purpose weapon designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune.
- It can engage targets located around the corners as the system bends and captures video feed thus saving soldiers from any surprise counter attack and is best suited for urban, close quarter situations.
Source : The Hindu
2. INDIA HANDS OVER COASTAL RADAR SYSTEM TO MALDIVES
Jaishankar, who was on a two-day visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago, described defence cooperation as a “key pillar of our partnership”, and said the coastal radar system will contribute to enhancing security for the Maldives and the entire region.
- India on Sunday handed over a coastal radar system to the Maldives that will play a key role in enhancing regional security as the two countries launched several development projects being implemented under an aid package worth more than $2.6 billion.
- The expanded coastal radar system was handed over to the chief of the Maldives National Defence Force, Maj Gen Abdulla Shamaal, by external affairs minister S Jaishankar. The system, which comprises 10 radar stations, was built with an Indian grant of $15.8 million. The radar stations are operated by personnel of the Maldives’ Coast Guard.
- Jaishankar, who was on a two-day visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago, described defence cooperation as a “key pillar of our partnership”, and said the coastal radar system will contribute to enhancing security for the Maldives and the entire region.
- He added that the system was a product of the partnership between the external affairs ministry and the Indian Navy for regional security, and an example of India’s “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and “Neighbourhood First” policies.
3. EARTH HOUR
Earth Hour was observed on March 26, 2022 (Saturday) from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.
About:
- It is the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment where people around the globe unite to take a stand against climate change by turning off non-essential lights for one hour.
- Starting out as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, it has come to be observed every year on the last Saturday of March in more than 180 countries uniting millions of people in the effort to decarbonise the planet both collectively and individually.
- The “theme for this year’s global event was "Shape our Future”, highlighting our collective responsibility towards the environment.
Source : All India Radio
4. SAINIK SCHOOLS
Defence Ministry has approved setting up of 21 new Sainik Schools in partnership with NGOs, private schools and State Governments.
About:
- These schools will be set up in the initial round of the Government’s initiative of setting up of 100 new Sainik schools across the country in partnership mode.
- They will be distinct from the existing Sainik Schools.
- These new Sainik Schools, besides their affiliation to respective education boards, will function under the aegis of Sainik Schools Society and will follow the Rules and Regulations for new Sainik schools in partnership mode prescribed by the Society.
- The objectives behind setting up of 100 new Sainik Schools is to provide quality education to the students in tune with National Education Policy and give them better career opportunities, including joining the Armed Forces.
- It also gives an opportunity to the private sector to work hand-in-hand with the Government towards nation building by refining today’s youth to become responsible citizens of tomorrow.
Source : All India Radio
5. BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA
The ten-day mega Red Fort Festival -Bharat Bhagya Vidhata has started at the iconic 17th- century monument Red Fort in Delhi. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the festival.
About:
- Irani recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invocation from the Red Fort to join hands for making a New India.
- The Red Fort mega festival-Bharat Bhagya Vidhata is being organised as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by Ministry of Culture.
- The festival aims to commemorate the heritage of the country and culture of every part of India.
- The festival Bharat Bhagya Vidhata will help everyone to appreciate the diversity of India. More than 70 master craftsmen have displayed their craftsmanship at the venue.
Source : All India Radio
6. COAL SUPPLY
The Union Power Ministry said it would not be possible to supply coal other than on proportionate basis to make up any shortfall.
About:
- The Ministry of Power said it was monitoring the coal supply situation and had taken steps to ensure adequate coal supply and coal stocks based on the domestic coal received from Coal India Ltd. (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) and captive mines.
- As per the decision taken in consultation with State gencos, independent power producers and Central gencos, domestic coal supply would be made proportional to the coal received from CIL/SCCL for all the gencos and it would not be possible to give more coal other than on proportionate basis to make up any shortfall.
- It has issued a circular directing certain actions to be taken on priority to enhance the supply of domestic coal. Firstly, production in captive coal mines allotted to power plants may be maximised to the limit permitted.
- Secondly, it has been decided that a lesser number of rakes would be made available to such power plants where there is slackness in unloading of coal from rakes. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has been asked to monitor the unloading time at power plants.
- Thirdly, many generating companies have overdues (to coal companies) running to several hundred crores of rupees. Such overdues affect the coal firms’ ability to continue supply.
7. SMOKING BAN
As per the estimates of WHO (and the FDA of the US) 1.3 billion people (among the 7.9 billion across the world) who smoke, and 80% of them live in low and middle- income countries.
About:
- A recent article by Dr. Smiljanic Stasha points out that
- smoking causes over seven million deaths every year,
- 6 million young Americans might die because of smoking
- Second hand smoking causes 1.2 million deaths worldwide
- Smoking is one of the world’s leading causes of impoverishment, and
- In 2015, 7 out of 10 smokers (68%) reported that they wanted to quit completely.
- smoking causes over seven million deaths every year,
- And a recent issue of Nature Medicine points out that after the WHO adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, it has been included as a Global Development Target in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD).
- If all the 155 signatory countries adopt smoking bans, health warnings, advertising bans and raise cigarette costs, this sustainable development is indeed possible.
8. CHINA – NEPAL RELATIONS
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Nepal’s top leadership and discussed bilateral relations and mutual cooperation, as the two countries inked nine agreements, including one on the technical assistance scheme for the China-aided feasibility study of the cross-border railway.
About:
- This is the first visit of a high-ranking Chinese official to Nepal since Nepali Congress President Deuba became the Prime Minister in July last year for a record fifth time.
- The two sides signed nine MoUs related to various projects, including one on the cross-border railway, which is an important component of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional connectivity network between Nepal and China.
- One of the agreements is on economic and technical cooperation.
- Under the economic and technical cooperation, China will increase its annual assistance to Nepal from Rs. 13 billion to Rs. 15 billion and will finance some projects that will be mutually agreed upon between the two sides.
- Another agreement is on cooperation on the feasibility study of China-Nepal Power Grid interconnection where China will finance the new alignment of the Ratamate-Rasuwagadhi- Kerung transmission line.
- Both sides also signed a protocol on the safety and health conditions of haylage export from Nepal to China.
- Another agreement is about providing 98% duty free treatment to imported goods in China.
- Another agreement is about the COVID vaccine assistance to Nepal. China will donate an additional 4 million doses of Sinovac to Nepal.
9. NASI BEACHES
About 2.45 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles crawled ashore on the Nasi-II beach of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary along the Odisha coast for laying eggs, marking one of the largest opening day arrivals of turtles at the site.
About:
- Gahirmatha is the world’s largest rookery for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. When the annual spectacle began on Friday, it was a sight to behold.
- Both Nasi-I and Nasi-II beaches are under the jurisdiction of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which conducts missile tests from the nearby Wheeler Island.
- Elaborate arrangements are in place to guard the eggs from dogs and hyenas, which are attracted to the mass nesting sites.
10. KOYNA PROJECT
Delay in the grant of Revised Administrative Approval to an incomplete hydroelectric project in Maharashtra, on which an expenditure of ₹250.03 crore has been incurred, resulted in the funds being lying blocked for more than six years, said the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Compliance Audit.
About:
- The Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Maharashtra government accorded (February 2004) Administrative Approval (AA) of ₹379.78 crore for the construction of 2×40 Mega Watt (MW) hydroelectric project at Koyna Dam Foot on the left bank of the Koyna Dam.
- The report added that the delay in granting Revised AA to the incomplete project, on which an expenditure of ₹250.03 crore had been incurred, resulted in blockage of funds from March 2015.
- Further, the change in power generation method would result in wasteful expenditure of ₹83.53 crore incurred on works already executed.