• The Indian Army’s special forces — the ones mandated to operate behind enemy lines — are looking for specialised drones that can provide 3D imagery of the terrain to launch operations.
• The Ministry of Defence came out with the request for proposal (RFP) for such UAVs which will be processed as per the fast-track procurement procedure under the “emergency procurement”.
• The RFP is part of the tendering process seeking commercial and technical bids from suppliers. Some 750 such drones are needed. “The current volatile situation along the northern borders warrants expeditious procurement of operational equipment,” the RFP document said.
• The Army is looking for UAVs that can provide round-the-clock surveillance with ability to scan the target area and provide a processed 3D scanned image of the target to execute special missions. The MoD wants to keep out any Chinese parts and has asked the vendor to provide NATO stock number (NSN) for each item provided by a foreign maker.
• This equipment will be deployed for situational awareness and short-range surveillance that will enable the special forces to execute pin-point precision strikes during direct action tasks.
• The Army wants the UAV to be about 2 kg in weight and be operable by one person. The UAV needs to have an endurance of 30 minutes and be able to operate indoors and in GPS-denied area.

About Drones:

• Drones or Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft with no on-board crew.
• The ‘drones’ can range from remotely piloted to fully automated, which means that it relies on a system of sensors and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) detectors to calculate its movement. It can fly at a controlled level of height and speed for a long period of time.

New Drone Rules, 2021

• The Central Government on 25th August 2021 has promulgated liberalised ‘The Drone Rules, 2021’ replacing the erstwhile Unmanned Aircraft System Rules 2021 (“Prior Rules”), to regulate the use and operation of Drones or Unmanned Aerial System (“UAS”) in India.
• The Rules are based on the principles of “trust, self-certification and non-intrusive monitoring” by reducing the extent of regulatory control.
• The strict requirements under the Prior Rules like certificate of conformation, certificate of maintenance, operator permits, import clearance, authorization of R&D etc., have been abolished under the Rules.

• Prime Minister inaugurated 75 Digital Banking Units (DBU) in 75 Districts on 16th October with the aim of financial inclusion. In line with this Bank of Baroda (Bank), a public sector bank opened 8 DBUs to sync with the Government’s initiative.
• The Bank of Baroda’s 8 DBUs have been opened in Indore, Kanpur Dehat, Karauli, Kota, Leh, Silvassa, Vadodara, and Varanasi.
• Previously, on the day of the inauguration, IDFC had launched DBUs at Kendujhar in Odisha and Dimapur in Nagaland.
• These DBUs will offer digital and paperless services with full security. Two modes i.e. self-service and digital assistance zone will be used to cater the needs and preferences of a vast cross-section.
• “In line with the Government of India’s vision for a Digital India, the Digital Banking Units being launched today will help more people access digital banking products and services conveniently & securely and will play a key role in promoting financial literacy and financial inclusion in a digital manner.
• At Bank of Baroda, we have been on a digital transformation journey. This far-reaching initiative will ensure that the benefits of digital banking reach citizens across the length and breadth of our country,” Sanjiv Chadha, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda said.

What is Digital Banking Unit (DBU)? 

• DBUs are specialized branches for delivering digital banking products. It will be totally paperless and will also act as a digital financial literacy center. There will be hassle-free bank account opening opportunities for the citizens through e-KYC/Video KYC. People will be able to withdraw and deposit their money 24*7.
• The DBUs will provide a comprehensive range of digital products and services on the liability and the asset side, including the opening of savings accounts, fund transfers, end-to-end digital processing of loans, internet banking, digital grievance redressal, ATMs, and services related to government-sponsored schemes.

• Tech giant Apple called on its global supply chain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use a holistic approach to decarbonization.
• Apple also announced new initiatives and investments aimed at promoting climate solutions for communities and decarbonizing the global economy.
• “Fighting climate change remains one of Apple’s most urgent priorities and moments like this put action to those words,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
• “We’re looking forward to continued partnership with our suppliers to make Apple’s supply chain carbon neutral by 2030. Climate action at Apple doesn’t stop at our doors, and in this work, we’re determined to be a ripple in the pond that creates a bigger change,” he added.
• According to Apple, its worldwide corporate operations have been carbon neutral since 2020, and the company is laser-focused on achieving its ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral throughout its entire global supply chain and the life cycle of every product.
• As part of Apple’s supplier engagement, the company is partnering with its worldwide supply chain to urge accelerated action to achieve carbon neutrality for their Apple-related corporate operations, it added.
• Additionally, the company encourages suppliers to address greenhouse gas emissions beyond Apple production.
• The company is also offering a suite of free e-learning resources and live training through its “Clean Energy Programme” that will help suppliers meet their commitments and go even further.
• This will also allow work closely with its suppliers and local partners to identify effective solutions for renewable energy and carbon removal.
• Moreover, customers in the US can now play a role in decreasing the carbon footprint of iPhones with Clean Energy Charging.
• Starting this month, the feature is available in the US through iOS 16 that will look at the source of electricity during expected charge times in order to optimise for cleaner energy sources such as solar or wind, according to a report.

GUJARATI NEW YEAR 2022:

• Gujarati New Year or Bestu Varas is celebrated a day after Diwali, which falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Kartik month. It is also called Varsha-Pratipada or Padwa.
• This year due to Solar Eclipse on October 25, Vikram Samvat 2079, or Gujarati New Year 2022, will start on October 26. The day is celebrated with great fervour across the state of Gujarat.

HOW IS BESTU VARAS CELEBRATED?

• On this auspicious day, businessmen and traders start their new account books after closing the old one. In Gujarati culture, it is called Chopda.
• Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in Chopda Puja with the belief that it would help make the new year more prosperous and profitable. Devi Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, is also worshipped during the day
• During the ritual, ‘Shubh’ and ‘Labh’ are written on the new account books which mean ‘auspicious’ and ‘benefit’, respectively.
• A swastika is also made at the beginning.
• After praying to the deities for a prosperous year, devotees take part in the celebrations.

GUJARATI NEW YEAR 2022: SIGNIFICANCE AND TRADITION

• Gujarati New Year or Bestu Varas coincides with Govardhan Puja. According to legends, it is believed that Lord Krishna convinced the people of Gokul to not make abundant offerings to Lord Indra. He taught the people, who were mostly farmers and shepherds, that their true ‘dharma’ was towards the hills and cattle which gave them supplies and resources. The people then started praying to Govardhan Hill and the cows.
• Lord Indra did not take this well and unleashed his wrath upon the people. He flooded Gokul with incessant rains which continued for seven days and seven nights. Following this, Krishna lifted the Govardhan Parvat with his little finger to provide shelter and protection to the people and the cattle. Indra then realised his mistake and apologized. The tradition to perform Govardhan Puja is believed to have continued and is celebrated to this day.

• The Lawrence School, Sanawar, in association with Uniwizard Career Fairs, organised The Global Career Fair 2022 for the students of Class IX, X, XI and XII on its premises.
• More than 400 students interacted with the representatives from 40 universities from several countries, including Australia, Canada, Dubai, India, Scotland, Switzerland, UK and the USA.
• The representatives from 40 highly ranked universities have gathered there to help students to find the best university.

About The Lawrence School, Sanawar:

• The Lawrence School, Sanawar, is the oldest private boarding school in Himachal Pradesh near Solan city. Established in 1847, its history, influence, and wealth have made it one of the most prestigious and oldest schools in Asia.
• It is located in the Kasauli Hills, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
• The school, founded by Sir Henry Lawrence and his wife Honoria, is one of the oldest surviving boarding schools.
• It is situated at a height of 1,750 metres and spread over an area of 139 acres, heavily forested with pine, deodar and other conifer trees.

• The construction of a large number of hydropower projects leading to environmental degradation, climate change, increasing landslides and frequent road blockades are the major poll issues in the reserved Kinnaur Assembly constituency, bordering Tibet.
• The construction of hydropower projects has resulted in climate change and incidents of cracks developing on the walls of houses in nearby villages due to digging for tunnels, says RS Negi, convener of the Him Lok Jagriti Manch, a retired IAS officer.
• In 2018, the state government gave the approval to set up the 804-megawatt Jangi-Thopan Powari Hydro Electric Project, which has become a major point of discontentment among the locals with campaigns protesting against hydel projects in their area.
• People are also upset over sloppy implementation of the Forests Right Act (FRA) and an inordinate delay in the grant of ‘nautor’ land.
• The process of giving land on lease under the Forest Rights Act has been initiated as per the 2002 list but still over 6,600 cases are pending. Other issues are bad roads, drying up of springs, impact of climate change on crops, especially apple, and drug abuse among the youth.
• This tribal constituency has produced the maximum number of civil services officers in proportion to population. The electorate here is politically mature and quite capable of gauging the mood of the nation.
• Kinnaur remains snowbound during the winter and elections in the constituency were traditionally held in May or June, after the government had already been formed.

• World Polio Day 2022 is observed every year on October 24 to raise awareness about the polio vaccination and eradication of polio from every corner of the world. The day is observed to commemorate the progress made by the world towards polio eradication.
• The day to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease, and to celebrate the many parents, professionals and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable.

Theme:

• This year, the overarching theme of World Polio Day is “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children” The theme urges the world to acknowledge the progress made in the battle to eradicate polio in children and the work to provide a healthier future for mothers.

History:

• World Polio Day was established in 1985 by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who was the lead medical researcher of the team that developed a vaccine against polio. He developed the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which first came into use in 1955.
• This was further developed as the oral polio vaccine by Albert Sabin, which came into use in 1961. Today, the polio vaccines are recommended all over the world, particularly for children under the age of five, who are the most vulnerable to the infection.

• The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) deep in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that it might have flown across the international border from India’s Desert National Park (DNP).

About Great Indian Bustards:

• Science Name : Ardeotis nigriceps
• It is one of the rarest birds in the world and is the State bird of Rajasthan
• Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.

Habitat:

• It inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands with scattered short scrub, bushes and low intensity cultivation in flat or gently undulating terrain.
• Birds congregate in traditional less disturbed grassland patches to breed during mid-summer and monsoon.

Conservation Efforts:

• It is listed as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small population that has undergone an extremely rapid decline owing to a multitude of threats including habitat loss and degradation, hunting and direct disturbance.
• It is listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby, according to its highest degree of legal protection from hunting.

Objective:

• To make available quality medicines, consumables and surgical items at affordable prices for all and reduce out of pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.
• To popularize generic medicines among the masses and eliminate the notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.
• Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of JanaushadhiKendras.

Implementing Agency:

• Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
• PMBI was established in December, 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India.

History:

• Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 across the country.
• In 2015, the Jan Aushadhi Scheme was revamped as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY).
• In 2016, it was again renamed as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

• Disarmament Week is celebrated from October 24 to 30 each year. One of the key goals of the United Nations is to achieve world peace. To that end, the organisation marks October 24 to October 30 as Disarmament Week each year. Disarmament Week seeks to promote awareness and a better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance.
• In the week, there would be an extensive discussion about safeguarding people from the dangers of guns. Countries have been observing disarmament week each year in an effort to create a more secure and safe world. In order to reduce crises and violent conflicts around the world, the UN has been instrumental in the disarmament of nuclear weapons.

History:

• Starting on 24 October, the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the week-long annual observance was first called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly’s 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). In 1995, the General Assembly invited governments, as well as NGOs, to continue taking an active part in Disarmament Week (resolution 50/72 B, 12 December 1995) in order to promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament issues.
• The United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) was established in 1952. It was tasked with creating proposal documents for treaties to regulate and reduce the number of armed forces and weapons possessed by nations.