WHY IN NEWS?

World Sight Day is observed on the second Thursday in months of October. In the year 2021, the day was observed on October 14.

About:

• This day is a global event which seeks to draw attention on blindness and vision impairment.
• It was originally started in the year 2000 by the Sight First Campaign of Lions Club International Foundation.
• It is considered as most important advocacy and communication day in the eye health calendar.
• It is observed with the aim of bringing global attention to impairment and blindness.

Theme of the day

The theme of World Sight Day 2021 is ‘Love Your Eyes’.

Background of the day

The first World Sight Day was observed by the Lions Clubs International partnered with blindness presentation organizations in the year 1998. The event was later integrated into VISION 2020, which is a global initiative, coordinated by IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness) Observance of the day is a joint program between WHO and the IAPB. It comprises of professional association, non-government organizations and eye-care institutions & corporations.

Significance of the day

• This day is significant because, there are more than billion people across the globe who cannot see properly as they do not have access to glasses. Out of them, one billion people are suffering with preventable vision impairment.
• Poor or lost eyesight leave long-lasting effects on every aspect of life, such as on daily personal activities, school & work, daily routine and interacting with the community.

WHY IN NEWS?

China launched a three-person crew for a mission of six-month on board the Shenzhou-13 spaceship to its space station on October 16, 2021.

About:

• The crew is planned to set up new record for the time spent in space by Chinese astronauts as China moves for completing the orbiting structure.
• Shenzhou-13 spaceship is carrying three astronauts.
• It was launched by a Long March-2F rocket.
• The spacecraft is expected to complete docking with “Tianhe module” within six hours.
• The mission will continue the work of first three-person crew that already spent 90 days on board.
• First three-person crew conducted two spacewalks and deployed 10-metre (33-foot) mechanical arm before they returned to Earth in mid-September, 2021.

About new three-member crew

New three-member crew comprise of two veterans of space travel namely, pilot Zhai Zhigang aged 55, the only woman on mission- Wang Yaping aged 41 and Ye Guangfu aged 41, who is making his first trip to space.

Activities of crew

The scheduled activities of the crew include:

1. Up to three spacewalks in order to install equipment for expanding station
2. To assessing living conditions in the module and
3. To conduct experiments in space medicine & other fields.

Military Run Space Programme

The military-run space programme of China plans to send multiple crews on the station in next two years in order to make it fully functional. Shenzhou-13 is the fifth mission to the structure, including the missions without crews to deliver supplies. After addition of two more modules named Mengtian and Wentian, Chinese space station will weigh around 66 tonnes.

Future modules

China is due to launch two additional modules before the end of 2020 during the stay of the Shenzhou-14 crew.

WHY IN NEWS?

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic related situation and concerns regarding increasing pollution due to firecrackers during festive season, many states have imposed certain rules on fireworks in the year 2021.

About:

• States have imposed either a complete or partial ban on firecracker sales.
• In these states, government has permitted the sale of ‘green crackers’ instead.

What are green crackers?

‘Green crackers’ are low-emission fireworks that Supreme Court in 2017 had permitted for celebrations to a moderate level during festivals & relaxed the ‘complete ban’ on fireworks. Green crackers were researched and developed by CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute). These crackers are produced with less harmful raw materials and are they suppresses the dust when they are burnt, reducing the emissions.

Do they contain harmful chemicals?

Green Crackers do not comprise of harmful chemicals like arsenic, lithium, barium, and lead. They release water vapour which does not allow the dust to rise. These crackers are believed to cause 30 per cent less particulate matter pollution as compared to traditional crackers.

Scenario in different states

• Rajasthan government banned the sale and use of crackers in the state. Only green crackers would be allowed and there will be restricted timing for bursting crackers during festive season.
• Delhi Pollution Control Committee has completely banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi till January 1, 2022.
• Tamil Nadu urged the governments in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Odisha to seriously consider the sale of green crackers in their territories.

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, the Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was launched.

CRISP-M Tool:

• It will help embed climate information in the Geographic Information System (GIS) based planning and implementation of MGNREGS.
  • GIS is a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information.
• The implementation of CRISP-M will open up new possibilities for rural communities to deal with the issues of climate change.
• This tool will be used in seven states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Rajasthan.

MGNREG Scheme:

• About: It is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world.
• Launch:
  • It was launched on 2^ndFebruary 2006.
  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed on 23^rdAugust 2005.

Objective:

• To guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.

Legal Right to Work:

• Unlike earlier employment guarantee schemes, the act aims at addressing the causes of chronic poverty through a rights-based framework.
• At least one-third of beneficiaries have to be women.
• Wages must be paid according to the statutory minimum wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (now subsumed under Code on Wages, 2019).

Demand-Driven Scheme:

• The most important part of MGNREGA’s design is its legally-backed guarantee for any rural adult to get work within 15 days of demanding it, failing which an ‘unemployment allowance’ must be given.
• This demand-driven scheme enables the self-selection of workers.

Decentralised Planning:

• There is an emphasis on strengthening the process of decentralisation by giving a significant role to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in planning and implementing these works.
• The act mandates Gram sabhas to recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.

WHY IN NEWS?

Central Government has given its approval to invite the expression of interest for installation of pilot 1000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project.

About:

• This pilot project is the joint effort of “Ministry of New & Renewable energy” and Ministry of Power.
• Both the ministries have been working on this in order to provide a road map for installation of energy storage system in India.

Why BESS project is being undertaken?

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be set in a bid to support the ambitious goal of achieving 450 GW renewable energy target by the Ministry of New & renewable energy by 2030.

Who will procure BESS?

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a CPSU working under the Ministry of New & Renewable energy, called for expression of interest to procure 1000 MWh BESS. It will be published with RFS bid document and draft comprehensive guideline for procurement and utilization of BESS.

Final RFS document

On the basis of suggestions and feedback from various stakeholders, final RFS document will be floated in November 2021. Along with the RFS document, final comprehensive guidelines for procurement and utilization of BESS will also be floated as a part of generation, transmission and distribution assets.

Use of energy storage system

As per Ministry, India has planned to use energy storage system under Renewable energy. Energy storage system will be used as grid element in order to maximize the use of transmission system and strengthen grid stability. It will help in saving the investment in augmentation of transmission infrastructure.

WHY IN NEWS?

India and the United States are set to start a 15-day mega military exercise in Alaska from October 15, 2021 in a bid to further deepen bilateral military cooperation between both the countries.

About:

• Year 2021 will mark the 17th edition of the exercise “Yudh Abhyas”.
• Exercise will be conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Alaska.
• It will commence from October 15 and end on 29.

Indian contingent

At the exercise, the Indian contingent will comprise of 350 personnel from an infantry battalion group of Indian Army.

Background

The previous (16^th) edition of the exercise took place in February 2021 in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner.

Significance of the exercise

Exercise Yudh Abhyas is a step towards growing military cooperation between the both the countries. It is carried with the aim of enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between armies of India and USA. It will also focus on combined arms manoeuvres in cold climatic conditions. The primary aim of the exercise if to share tactical level drills and learn best practices from each other.

Major Defence Partner

• United States had designated India as a Major Defence Partner, in June 2016. Both the countries also signed key defence and security pacts in past few years such as ‘Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)’ in 2016.
• LEMOA allows the militaries from both the countries to use each other’s bases for repair & replenishment of supplies and to provide a deeper cooperation.
• Countries also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in the year 2018. COMCASA provides for interoperability between both the militaries as well as provides for sale of high-end technology from the US.
• They signed BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement in October 2020 in order to further boost bilateral defence ties. It provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics & geospatial maps between both the countries.

WHY IN NEWS?

Minister of State of Ministry of Communication, Devusinh Chauhan, launched a Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI Scheme) for Telecom & Networking Products on October 14, 2021.

Why this scheme was launched in telecom sector?

PLI Scheme in telecom sector was launched for realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. This scheme would help in reducing dependence of India on other countries for importing telecom and networking products.

Who launched the scheme?

The PLI Scheme in telecom sector is being launched by DoT with the objective of boosting domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking products. Manufacturing will be boosted by incentivising incremental investments and turnover. This scheme was launched with the total outlay of Rs 12,195 crore.

When it will come into effect?

The scheme is effective from April 1, 2021. Investment made by successful applicants in India in between April 1, 2021 to FY 2024-25 will be eligible. Eligibility is subject to qualifying incremental annual thresholds. Support under the Scheme will be provided for a period of five years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26).

Which companies are eligible?

According to Scheme and Scheme Guidelines, about 31 companies, comprising of 16 MSMEs & 15 Non-MSMEs, have been found eligible are being given approval under the PLI Scheme. Some of the eligible MSME companies are: Coral Telecom Limited, Frog Cellsat Limited, Ehoome IoT Private Limited, GDN Enterprises Private Limited etc. These 31 applicants are expected to invest Rs 3345 crore over a period of 4 years and generate incremental employment to about 40000 people.

WHY IN NEWS?

Global Hunger Index 2021, which is prepared jointly by Irish aid agency called ‘Concern Worldwide’ and German organisation called ‘Welt Hunger Hilfe’, was released on October 14, 2021. The Index termed the hunger level in India as alarming.

About:

Where India has been placed?

• In the index, India has been placed to 101^stposition out of 116 countries.
• In 2020, India’s was positioned at 94^th.
• In 2021 edition, India has been placed behind its neighbour countries Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• GHI score of India has also decreased. It was 38.8 in 2000 but now has been decreased to the range of 28.8 – 27.5 between 2012 and 2021.
• Share of wasting among children increased from 17.1 per cent during 1998-2002 to 17.3 per cent during 2016-2020.

World scenario

In the index, eighteen countries such as China, Brazil and Kuwait, shared the top rank. They got the GHI score of less than five.

How GHI Score is calculated?

GHI score is calculated on the basis of four indicators namely,

1. Undernourishment
2. Child wasting (share of children aged under five who are wasted i.e., those having low weight for their height.
3. Child stunting (children aged under five who are having low height for their age.
4. Child mortality (mortality rate of children aged under five).

Improvement in India

India has improved with respect to indicators like under-5 mortality rate, prevalence of undernourishment and prevalence of stunting among children.

Global Hunger Index (GHI)

GHI is a tool to measure and track hunger across the world, by region as well as by country. It is calculated annually and its results are published in a report issued in the month of October each year.

WHY IN NEWS?

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, launched the ‘MyParkings’ app on October 14, 2021.

About:

• MyParkings App is a first-of-its-kind initiative.
• On this app, people can book parking slots online in areas which are under the jurisdiction of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).

About MyParkings App

• This app was launched with the aim of tackling the issue of congestion of vehicle parking.
• App will inform about total capacity of vehicles which can be parked, used spaces as well as space available for parking in each of the parking site.

Who developed the app?

• App has been developed by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL).
• BECIL is the implementing agency of the app-based smart parking system under the jurisdiction of SDMC.
• BECIL will bear the entire cost of development and maintenance of the app. It will also bear capital cost of the server as well as its allied hardware and software.

Significance of the app

Introduction of the ‘MyParking App’ will ease the process of booking parking slots because through this app citizen will be able to know the availability of slots remotely. Thus, this mobile app will provide a new parking experience for citizens of Delhi. This Smart Parking app is having cashless and paperless transaction mode, which in turn will save tonnes of paper on a daily basis.

Integration with other apps

Newly launched App will also be integrated with FASTag, Vahan App, E-Challan and more such initiatives. BECIL will also run a dedicated call centre as a customer care unit for the citizens in order to address their queries and issues related to the app.

Parking sited under SDMC Jurisdiction

SDMC operates 145 surface parking sites across all if its four zones. It also operates six multi-level parking sites as well as two automated parking sites.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) seminar on ‘Role of Women in Armed Forces’ was organised on October 14, in virtual mode.

About:

• The webinar was addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• During the seminar, defence minister highlighted that government has taken several steps to strengthen the role of women in the security setup in general and armed forces in particular.
• He also noted that, women have been serving in Indian Military Nursing Service with pride for more than 100 years now.
• Indian Army started commissioning women officers from year 1992. Army has now moved to induct women officers in more branches of Army as well.
• Women are also being accepted for permanent commission and will be commanding army units & battalions in near future.
• Host of the seminar

This seminar was hosted by India, highlighting the role of India’s women military officers in UN peacekeeping missions at global level.

Role of women in peacekeeping missions

India has been an active participant in the deliberations on several issues which focuses on women empowerment and gender mainstreaming at different UN bodies. Indian Army has also contributed women officers as Military Observers and Staff Officers apart from forming part of Medical Units which are deployed in UN Missions.

Women Indian Armed Forces Medical Services

Women of Indian Armed Forces Medical Services headed the UN Peacekeeping mission in 1960 in Republic of Congo and assisted in setting a 400-bed hospital. India also created history in the year 2007 by deploying “all-female Formed Police Unit” for UN Peacekeeping in Liberia. In the year 2019, India deployed a Female Engagement Team under the UN Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo.