Advanced Light Helicopters Inducted at INS Dega

In News: The induction ceremony of ‘322 Dega Flight’ was held with three indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) MK III helicopters flying into Naval Air Station, INS Dega.

Context:

  • With the induction of these Maritime Reconnaissance and Coastal Security (MRCS) helicopters, the East Naval Command got a major boost towards enhancing the capabilities of the force.
  • These helicopters, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, are state-of-the-art flying machines and constitute a major step in our quest for “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
  • INS Dega is a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.
  • ALH MK III helicopters:
    1. Modern surveillance radar and electro-optical equipment – to undertake the role of maritime reconnaissance.
    2. It provides long-range Search and Rescue, both by day and night.
    3. It is fitted with a heavy machine gun to undertake constabulary missions.
    4. A removable Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) – to airlift critically ill patients.
    5. It is an all-weather aircraft.

Ministry of Defense – A Revamp in 2020

In News: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released an E-booklet titled ’20 Reforms in 2020’, highlighting the major reforms undertaken by Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2020.

Context:

Reforms undertaken are as follows:

  1. Chief of Defence Staff & Department of Military Affairs:
    • The post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was created to increase efficiency & coordination among the Armed Forces and reduce duplication.
    • Department of Military Affairs (DMA) was established to ensure improved civil-military integration.
  2. AatmaNirbharta in Defence:
    • To promote ‘Make in India’ in defence sector, a list of 101 defence items was notified, while Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 was unveiled in 2020.
    • Corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was approved for greater efficiency and productivity. There was an unprecedented push towards new technology developments within India.
    • In November 2020, Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile, indigenously designed & developed DRDO, hit bulls eye at medium range and medium height, while indigenously built Pinaka rocket system cleared test of 45-60 km range.
  3. Increased Defence Exports:
    • The value of total defence exports rose from Rs 1,941 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 9,116 crore in 2019-20.
    • Also, for the first time, India figured in the list of defence equipment exporting nations, as the exports expanded to more than 84 countries.
  4. Modernisation & increased transparency in Defence Acquisition:
    • There was 10 per cent budget increase in 2020-21 over the previous year.
    • To encourage start-ups, a provision was introduced for procurement as Buy Indian-IDDM, while leasing for non-mission critical requirements was introduced for the first time.
  5. Defence Acquisitions:
    • First five Rafale fighter aircraft arrived in India in July 2020 adding firepower to the arsenal of the Indian Air Force.
  6. Reforming Defence R&D:
    • To promote innovation by young minds, five Young Scientists Laboratories of DRDO were launched in 2020 in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
    • DRDO has joined hands with the private sector in design & development and identified 108 Systems & Subsystems for the industry to design, develop and manufacture.
  7. Digital Transformation:
    • Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA) started online Pre-Delivery inspection to address security threats.
    • Armed Forces Tribunal began digital hearing for the first time.
  8. Strengthening border infrastructure:
    • World’s longest Atal tunnel above 10,000 feet, at Rohtang on the Leh-Manali Highway was inaugurated in 2020. It provides all weather connectivity to the northern borders.
    • Zojila pass, situated on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway, was opened almost a month ahead of schedule in April 2020.
  9. Stree Shakti in Armed Forces:
    • Ten streams of Indian Army were opened for giving Permanent Commission to Short Service Commission (SSC) Women officers, while women pilots of Indian Navy were operationalised for the first time.
    • All Sainik Schools were thrown open for girl students from academic session 2020-21.
  10. Reforms in NCC:
    • It was decided to give preference to NCC cadets in employment in Central Armed Police Forces.
    • Youth Exchange Programme Allowance for NCC cadets was increased from Rs 100 per day to Rs 750 and the number of countries was increased from 10 to 15.

Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar assumes Charge as Director General Naval Operations

In News:

  • Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as Director General Naval Operations.
  • The Flag Officer is a specialist in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
  • Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar is a recipient of the AtiVishishtSeva Medal and VishishtSeva Medal for distinguished service.

FSSAI’s World Food Safety Day

In News:

  • Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare virtually attended the Word Food Safety Day celebrations organized by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  • This year’s World Food Safety Day theme is ‘Safe Food for a healthy tomorrow’.
  • It was stated that, as food chains become longer, complex and globalized, contamination of food leading to food borne diseases is a growing concern, costing us almost 15 billion USD annually. By 2030, food borne diseases are expected to rise to 150 to 177 million annually.
  • The minister highlighted that the government’s flagship initiative ‘Eat Right India’ needs to be turned into a national movement in order to transform the food ecosystem of the country by ensuring safe, healthy and sustainable food for everyone.

Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen – Phase 2, makes steady progress

In News: The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria reviewed the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) under the Department of Drinking water and Sanitation.

Context:

  • The Mission has been making steady progress amidst the grave challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.   
  • The phase -2 of SBM was announced by Prime Minister in February, 2020.
  • The phase -1 concluded in October 2019 with grand declaration of the Nation as Open Defecation Free.
  • The Phase -2 emphasizes upon the sustainability of achievements under phase -1 and to provide adequate facilities for Solid/Liquid & plastic waste management in rural India.
  • The Gobardhan yojana was started in year 2018 to effectively implement the vision to provide an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution for disposal of cow dung and organic farm waste at village level.
  • The state of Chhattisgarh has taken a lead in planning such projects.
  •  With all the efforts ahead soon many success stories shall be available for emulation by gram Panchayats all over India, told the officials.

E-Committee of Supreme Court releases Draft Model Rules

In News: The e-Committee, Supreme Court of India has released the Draft Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings and has invited inputs, feedback and suggestions on it from all the stakeholders. 

Context:

  • The e-Committee of Supreme Court of India along with the Department of Justice, Government of India is working under the National Policy and Action Plan for implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary.
  • Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, Supreme Court Judge is the Chairperson of e-Committee.
  • To imbue greater transparency, inclusivity and foster access to justice, the e-Committee has undertaken the project of live streaming of court proceedings on priority.
  • A sub-committee consisting of judges of the Bombay, Delhi, Madras and Karnataka High Courts was constituted to frame model live streaming rules. The sub-committee has held extensive deliberations.
  • It took into account the principles enunciated in the decision of the Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi v Supreme Court of India, (2018) – including the concerns of privacy and confidentiality of litigants and witnesses.
  • These model rules provide a balanced regulatory framework for live streaming and recording of court proceedings.

12,000 MW CPSU phase-II Solar project scheme

In News: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), a PSU, has extended the bid submission date of the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) scheme phase-II for setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected solar projects with viability gap funding (VGF).

Context:

  • As part of central government’s target to achieve a cumulative capacity of 100 GW Solar PV installations by the year 2022, IREDA had invited proposals for setting up of Grid (including Mini & Micro Grid) Connected Solar PV projects anywhere in the country.
  • This is to be done on “Build Own Operate” (B-O-O) basis for an aggregate capacity of 5,000 MW under Phase-II (Tranche-III).
  • The CPSUs are required to submit their responses and the successful bidders are to be selected. MNRE had appointed IREDA as the implementing Agency for the scheme.
  • A VGF is provided to cover the cost difference between domestic and imported solar cells and modules. VGF will be released in two tranches.
  • Under the scheme, the power produced by the government producers can be used on payment of mutually agreed usage charges of not more than Rs. 2.45/unit for self-use or use by Govt./ Govt. entities, either directly or through DISCOMS.
  • The maximum permissible VGF is Rs. 55 lakh per megawatt. The actual VGF to the Govt producer will be decided through bidding process using the VGF amount as a bid parameter to select the project developer.
  • The maximum permissible VGF amount will be reviewed from time to time, by MNRE, and will be reduced if the cost difference comes down.

Online relay reading of Girish Karnad’s autobiography

In News:

  • To pay tributes to playwright and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad on his death anniversary on June 10, a Dharwad-based theatre group will attempt an unique initiative.
  • ‘Abhinaya Bharati’ will hold an online reading of the autobiography of Karnad in Kannada named ‘Aadaadta Ayushya’ (Life moves on while playing).
  • Having conducted various theatre-related programmes on virtual platforms during the lockdown, the theatre group began the preparations.

China hosts ASEAN Foreign Ministers

In News: China is hosting Foreign Ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries, with Beijing pushing for closer economic cooperation and aligning COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Context:

  • Chinese officials have stepped up criticism of the Quad — India, Australia, Japan and the United States grouping and of Washington in particular.
  • Deepening economic cooperation, particularly following the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal, would be China’s focus, as it grapples with disputes over the South China Sea.
  • Recently, China and the Philippines have clashed over the presence of Chinese vessels near a disputed reef, while Malaysia alleged the intrusion of 16 Chinese aircraft into its airspace.
  • The framing of the Quad as “an Asian NATO” by Beijing has been criticised by the group’s members. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had described the using of words such as “Asian NATO” as “a mind game which people are playing”.

ASEAN:

  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an economic union comprising 10 member states in Southeast Asia – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • It is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • It promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.

FDA conditionally approves controversial Alzheimer’s drug

In News: The U.S.’s pharma regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), made a much anticipated ruling, in conditionally approving the use of an Alzheimer’s drug, called Aducanumab, the first such approval since 2003.

Context:

  • The drug, which goes by the brand name Aduhelm, has been granted ‘accelerated approval’, meaning it will need to verify expected clinical benefits in a new trial.
  • The drug’s approval had become controversial, with growing pressure from those impacted by the debilitating degenerative brain disease on one hand and opposition from many in the scientific community who were not convinced that the drug had demonstrated efficacy in trials, on the other.
  • Aducanumab is based on the amyloid hypothesis of the disease — that plaques made of beta amyloid peptide (a type of protein) form in the patient’s brain leading to cognitive decline and problems with thinking. The drug supposedly binds to beta amyloid molecules and removes them. The drug, a monoclonal antibody, is given monthly via injection to patients who suffer from early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Maldives wins UNGA election

  • In a first for the Maldives, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was elected the President of the UN General Assembly for 2021-22.

New eco-friendly process enhances fatigue life of Aluminum alloy used

In News: Indian Scientists have developed an environmental-friendly process, which can provide excellent corrosion resistance to the high-strength aluminium (Al) alloys extensively used in aerospace, textile, and automotive applications. It involves an electrochemical method for the production of an oxide film on the metallic substrate.

Context:

  • High-strength aluminium (Al) alloys are extensively used in aerospace, textile, and automotive applications owing to their low density and high specific strength.
  • Aerospace components need resistance against wear, corrosion damages, and enhanced fatigue life.
  • The widely used technique for Al alloys to improve corrosion resistance called hard anodizing (HA) process is an electrolyte-based coating deposition.
  • It involves sulphuric/oxalic based electrolytes, which emits not only toxic fumes but are also hazardous to handle during processing.
  • In order to cater to the growing demand for cleaner industrial processes, an environmental-friendly process called micro-arc oxidation (MAO) has been developed. The process which involves an alkaline electrolyte is capable of providing better wear and corrosion resistance compared to the HA process.
  • MAO is a high-voltage driven anodic-oxidation process, which through an electrochemical method, produces an oxide film on a metallic substrates.
  • ARCI team has further designed and developed a duplex treatment of shot peening (process used to modify the mechanical properties of metals and alloys) followed by MAO coating deposition.
  • Systematic investigations conducted at ARCI have shown that the duplex treatment has led to the remarkable enhancement in aerospace Al alloys’ fatigue life while retaining the outstanding corrosion and wear resistance of MAO coating.
  • The efficacy of duplex treatment has been validated for different Al alloys and extended to impart superior corrosion fatigue life.
  • To cater to the aerospace segment, extensive research has been carried out at ARCI, and the high-cycle fatigue life of aerospace Al alloys under plain and simultaneous corrosion environments could be significantly improved.
  • The process with necessary modifications can be used for wear, corrosion, thermal, and fatigue and corrosion-fatigue life enhancement of a variety of components made out of Al, Mg, Ti, Zr, and their alloys.