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By admin: June 6, 2023

What is train ‘Kavach’ and why is it trending after the Odisha train accident?

Tags: National Science and Technology

The Odisha triple-train accident, which resulted in 290 deaths and 1,175 injuries, brought into focus the Kavach initiative that aims to make the Indian Railways safer.

An overview of the news

• The Kavach system has not yet started on the Odisha route.

• Railways confirmed that no 'Kavach' system has been installed in the trains to prevent them from colliding with each other.

• The government is being severely criticized for neglecting railway safety.

Coverage of Kavach

• To prevent incidents of accidents, the government announced in 2022 that it would launch a new avatar of Kavach on a trial basis, initially covering a distance of 2,000 kilometers and then expanding the coverage further.

• Only 1,455 km of railway routes under South Central Railway have been brought under Kavach by January 2023.

• The government plans to expand it from 4,000 to 5,000 km in FY24.

• For reference, Indian Railways has a total route coverage of around 1.03 lakh km.

• A little over 1% of the route of the Indian Railways is protected by Kavach as of now.

What is Kavach?

• Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. 

• It was developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), an Indian Railways department, way back in 2002.

• The Kavach system is designed to prevent collisions of trains – a leading cause of railway accidents in India.

• It is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well as the tracks.

• They communicate with each other using ultra high radio frequency to control the brakes of the trains and also alert the drivers.

• While there have been 58 railway accidents in the last 10 years, the Odisha accident is the deadliest.

• This protection system is aimed at avoiding accidents arising out of driver-related or technical errors, as well as aid drivers (loco pilots) in running the trains safely even in inclement weather conditions.

• It activates the train braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as per the speed restrictions. 

Oil tanker breaks down in Egypt's Suez Canal

Tags: International News

On 4 June, an oil tanker broke down in the Suez Canal, a major global waterway, disrupting traffic and temporarily halting the transit of other ships.

An overview of the news

• As a result of the breakdown, eight other vessels in the convoy were affected by the disruption.

• The Seavigour was part of the north convoy, which moves from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

• The Suez Canal Authority deployed three tugboats to tow the stranded tanker away from the single-lane area.

• The goal was to move the tanker to a double-lane section at the 17 kilometer mark, allowing other vessels to continue their transit.

About Seavigour

• According to MarineTraffic, the Seavigour  is a tanker built in 2016, measuring 274 meters (899 ft) in length and 48.63 meters (159 ft) in width.

Previous Incidents in the Suez Canal

• The recent incident adds to a series of vessels encountering difficulties in the vital waterway.

• Notably, inMarch 2021, the Panama-flagged Ever Given, a massive container ship, blocked the canal for six days, causing significant disruptions to global trade.

About Suez Canal

• The Suez Canal, operational since 1869, serves as a crucial link for oil, natural gas, and cargo transportation.

• The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway running north to south from the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

• This canal separates the continent of Africa from Asia.

• It provides the shortest sea route between Europe and the lands surrounding the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

• The Suez Canal is one of the busiest trade routes in the world. About 12 percent of the world's total trade passes through this canal daily.

Wrangler signs Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador

Tags: Person in news

Ace Turtle Omni Pvt Ltd., a retail company, has selected Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassador for its Wrangler brand. Ace Turtle is the licensee of Wrangler in India.

An overview of the news

• The company aims for significant expansion in the fiscal year 2024.

• Mandhana embodies the company's values and is expected to inspire customers to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their dreams.

• Tuhin Mishra, co-founder and Managing Director of the talent management firm, expressed delight in facilitating the endorsement association between Mandhana and Wrangler.

Mandhana's Achievements

• Mandhana has established herself in international women's cricket and gained a global fan base through her exceptional talent and fearless approach.

• She has received the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award twice for her outstanding performances on the cricket field.

• Smriti Mandhana was the highest bid player, receiving ₹3.4 crore, in the Women's Premier League auctions.

• Starting at a base price of ₹50 lakh, she was eventually bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

UP govt launches 'Elder Line' service to give shelter to elderly homeless

Tags: Government Schemes State News

The 'Elder Line' 14567 service was recently launched by the Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department.

An overview of the news

• The initiative is the brainchild of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare Aseem Arun, who earlier headed the emergency helpline 112.

Objective of the initiative

• The objective of the helpline is to rescue destitute old persons and provide them shelter in old age homes.

• 'Elder Line' 14567 service has been activated, actively responding to distress related to older persons.

Reporting destitute elderly

• Citizens can report about destitute elderly persons on roadsides, bus stations, railway stations, or similar places.

• The team of the Social Welfare Department immediately responds to the reports and ensures that the elderly person is shifted safely to the old age home with dignity.

Availability of Old Age Homes

• Uttar Pradesh currently has 75 old age homes, one in each district.

• These homes accommodate both male and female residents, providing them with necessary amenities and care.

Facilities and Services

• Inmates of the old age homes receive free food, healthcare facilities, and entertainment options.

• Health check-ups are conducted every 15 days by doctors from the Chief Medical Officer's office.

• Each old age home is equipped with an ambulance to address emergency medical needs.

Enriching Lives

• Old age homes organize outings and recreational activities for the residents.

• Trips to places like Akshardham temple in Delhi are arranged, providing a refreshing experience for the elderly.

• Such initiatives enhance their quality of life and create opportunities for enjoyment.

Benefits and Allowances

• The state government has increased the breakfast allowance for elderly individuals in old age homes from Rs 75 to Rs 114 per day.

• Inmates also receive an annual amount of Rs 2,500 for new clothes, Rs 200 per month for additional medicines, and Rs 150 for entertainment purposes.

Pension Scheme Integration

• The social welfare department plans to link the over 6,000 elderly individuals residing in old age homes to the 'Rashtriya Vridhavastha Pension' scheme.

• This integration aims to provide additional financial support to the elderly, offering them some extra pocket money.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin

Tags: International Relations International News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, held discussions with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in New Delhi on 5th June. 

An overview of the news

• The meeting focused on strengthening defence cooperation in various areas, including aligning strategic interests and enhancing security cooperation.

• During the talks, Minister Singh emphasized the significance of the India-US partnership in ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. 

• He expressed India's commitment to closely collaborate with the United States across different domains, aiming for capacity building and further strengthening strategic partnership.

• Both ministers explored opportunities to build resilient supply chains and identified areas for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems.

• Facilitation to enhance cooperation between the defense start-up ecosystems of the two countries was also discussed.

• A roadmap for US-India defense industrial cooperation was agreed upon, which will shape their cooperation in the years to come.

• They welcomed the recent dialogues focused on Defense Artificial Intelligence and Defense Space.

• Regional security issues were also discussed, reflecting their shared interest in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

• The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Defense including Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, Defense Secretary Giridhar Armane and DRDO Secretary and Chairman Dr Sameer V Kamat.

India America relations

Historical Background

• The establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the United States dates back to 1947.

• Both countries share common values of democracy, pluralism and rule of law.

Strategic Partnership

• India and the United States have developed a strong strategic partnership based on shared interests and values.

• The partnership has seen significant growth in various areas including defence, trade and technology.

Defense and Security Cooperation

• Defense cooperation between India and the US has expanded significantly in recent years.

• Both countries engage in joint military exercises, defense equipment cooperation and intelligence sharing.

• Defense ties have been strengthened by the signing of the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Economic and trade relations

• Economic relations between India and America have grown steadily.

• The US is one of India's largest trading partners and bilateral trade has grown over the years.

• Both the countries have signed various agreements to enhance economic cooperation and promote investments.

Technology and Innovation

• India and the US cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation.

• Cooperation has been promoted in areas such as space exploration, clean energy and information technology.

• The US has supported India's initiatives like Digital India and Skill India.

Bangladesh records highest inflation rate in over a decade

Tags: International News

Bangladesh recently experienced its highest monthly inflation rate in over a decade, with inflation reaching 9.94 percent in May. 

An overview of the news

• This rate is the highest since 2010-11 when it was recorded at 10.11 percent. 

• The data was released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). 

• The increase in inflation is primarily attributed to the rise in both food and non-food prices during this period.

• The average inflation rate for the period between June 2022 and May 2023 has risen to 8.84 percent, surpassing the budgetary target of 5.6 percent. 

• In comparison, the inflation rate in April 2023 was reported at 9.24 percent, and in March, it was 9.33 percent. 

• These figures indicate higher inflation compared to the corresponding months in April 2022 (6.29 percent) and March 2022 (6.22 percent).

• To calculate inflation, the BBS has changed the base index from 2005-06 to 2021-22 and adopted a revised methodology for the compilation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) based on the latest 2020 CPI manual of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

People’s Republic of Bangladesh 

• Capital: Dhaka 

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed 

• President: Abdul Hamid

• Currency: Taka 

1st India-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation

Tags: International Relations International News

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently co-chaired the first India-Namibia Joint Commission with Namibian Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek.

An overview of the news

• In his opening remarks, Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the special place Namibia holds in the hearts of Indians.

• He emphasized that India supports Namibian independence and expressed happiness at Namibia's rightful place in the international community.

• Dr. Jaishankar underlined the strong bond between India and Namibia, which is characterized by developmental cooperation, capacity building programs and political solidarity.

• The Joint Commission will assess the progress of India-Namibia relations. In addition, high-level visits and ongoing interactions will strengthen the India-Namibia partnership in the future.

• During his visit, the External Affairs Minister inaugurated the India-Namibia Center of Excellence in Information Technology in Windhoek. The center will contribute to research, cyber security and good governance.

About Namibia

• Namibia is a country located in southwestern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

• It shares borders with Angola, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

• The country's diverse geography includes the Namib Desert along the Atlantic coast, the Kalahari Desert to the east, and the central plateau.

• Namibia gained independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990, becoming the last African country to gain independence from colonial rule.

• Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia.

• Namibia is known for its stunning natural landscapes and diverse wildlife.

• Etosha National Park, located in the north of the country, is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts, offering the chance to see elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos and various bird species.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred with highest civilian honour of Suriname

Tags: Awards International News

Suriname awarded President Draupadi Murmu its highest civilian honour, the Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, on 5 June, making her the first Indian to receive the award.

An overview of the news

• President Murmu was presented with the award by Chandrikaprasad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname.

• He dedicated the award to successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, in recognition of the important role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening the fraternal ties between the two countries.

• During her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Draupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on 4 June.

• In addition, India and Suriname signed four important Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in the fields of health, agriculture and capacity building.

• The agreements were finalized after delegation level talks between President Murmu and President Santokhi.

About Suriname

• Suriname is a country located on the northern coast of South America. It is one of the smallest countries in South America.

• Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname was a plantation colony of the Netherlands that gained its independence on November 25, 1975. 

• President: Chandrikapersad Santokhi

• Capital: Paramaribo

• Official Language: Dutch

• Currency: Suriname dollar

Sarbananda Sonowal flags off maiden International Cruise Vessel, MV Empress in Chennai

Tags: International Relations Defence

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India's first international cruise vessel - MV Empress, from Chennai to Sri Lanka on June 5.

An overview of the news

• This is the launch of the International Cruise Tourism Terminal at Chennai built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crore, ushering in a new era of cruise tourism and maritime trade in the country.

• On the occasion of Environment Day, Sonowal along with the port officials also planted 2,500 saplings at the port.

• The launch of the first cruise service between Chennai and Sri Lanka has opened a new chapter in the cruise tourism sector in the country.

• This is the result of an MoU signed during the Incredible India International Cruise Summit in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/s Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise services.

International Cruise Vessel, MV Empress

• It is a renowned and luxurious cruise ship that operates globally.

• It offers passengers a unique and unforgettable experience on the open seas, combining comfort, entertainment, and leisure.

• The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and safety features, ensuring a secure and smooth journey for all on board.

• Its elegant design and modern amenities make it a preferred choice for travelers seeking a premium cruising experience.

RBI Governor launches financial inclusion dashboard Antardrishti

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das launched a financial inclusion dashboard named 'Antardrishti' on 6 June.

An overview of the news

• The dashboard will provide necessary insights to assess and monitor the progress of financial inclusion by capturing relevant parameters.

• The progress of financial inclusion will be assessed against set parameters through an Antardrishti dashboard. Along with this, it will also help in monitoring.

• With the help of the dashboard, the areas of lack of financial services on a large scale in the country can be detected and then work will be done on the basis of this.

• Currently, the Antardrishti Dashboard will be used internally by RBI.

• Multi stakeholder approach will be adopted for the Antardrishti Dashboard to enhance financial inclusion in future.

Financial Inclusion Index

• The Financial Inclusion Index was launched in 2021 to measure financial inclusion.

• In this, financial inclusion is measured on the basis of access, utility and quality.

• This index also includes information related to banking, investment, insurance and postal services etc. of an area.

• This index ranges from 0 to 100.

• 0 indicates complete financial exclusion, while 100 indicates complete financial inclusion.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Reserve Bank of India was set up under the Reserve Bank of India act 1934. It started functioning from 1 April 1935.

• It was nationalized in 1949 and now the government of India is the owner of RBI.

• It has the power to regulate Banks under the Banking Regulation Act 1949.

• It has the power to regulate the Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the RBI act 1934.

• RBI is also the regulator of the digital payment system under the Payment and settlement act 2007.

• Headquarters of RBI: Mumbai 

• Governor of RBI : Shaktikanta Das