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By admin: Aug. 1, 2022

Indo-Oman joint military exercise commences in Rajasthan

Tags: Defence

The joint military Exercise  AL NAJAH -IV between contingents of Indian Army  and the Royal Army of Oman is starting from 1 August at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Important facts

• It will take place from August 1 to 13. It is the fourth edition of Exercise  AL NAJAH -IV.

• The joint military exercise aims to enhance the level of bilateral defence cooperation between the both countries.

• A 60-member team of the Royal Army of Oman has reached the exercise site.

• The Indian Army will be represented in the exercise by soldiers from 18 Mechanized Infantry Battalions.

• The previous edition of this exercise was conducted in March 2019 in Muscat.

The scope of the exercise

• Professional interaction, mutual understanding of exercises and procedures, establishment of joint command and control structures and elimination of terrorist threats.

• It will focus on counter-terrorism operations, regional security operations and peacekeeping operations under the United Nations Charter, besides conducting joint physical training programmes, tactical exercises, techniques and procedures.

India's Joint Military Exercise with other countries

• Mitra Shakti - India & Sri Lanka

• Maitree Exercise - India & Thailand

• Yudh Abhyas    - India and US

• Vajra Prahar - India and US

• Garuda Shakti - India & Indonesia

• Nomadic Elephant - India & Mongolia

• Shakti Exercise - India & France

• Surya Kiran - India and Nepal

• SIMBEX - India and Singapore

• CORPAT - India and Thailand

About Oman

• Sultan - Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

• Capital - Muscat

• Official Language - Arabic

• Official Religion - Islam

• Currency - Omani rial

India, Vietnam 3rd edition army exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022” begin at Chandimandir in Haryana

Tags: Defence International News

The third edition of the Vietnam-India bilateral military exercise "EX WINBEX 2022" is being held at Chandimandir from August 1 to 20, 2022.

Important facts

• It is a sequel to the bilateral exercise conducted earlier in Vietnam in 2019 and marks a major milestone in the strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Vietnam.

• Both the countries share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. 

• Vietnam is an important partner in India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision.

• India has a rich legacy of deploying troops in UN missions and has excellent capabilities to provide UN peacekeeping training, including best practices for training potential UN peacekeepers at tactical, operational and strategic levels.

• The joint exercise will also provide an opportunity to the soldiers of both the countries to learn about each other's social and cultural heritage.

• The Indian Army is represented by soldiers from 105 Engineer Regiment.

• The theme of Ex VINBAX - 2022 - employment and deployment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team as part of United Nations Contingent for Peacekeeping Operations.

India and Vietnam

• The two countries signed a "Joint Vision" document to "significantly increase the scope and scale" of bilateral ties by 2030 during the recent visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam.

• Both countries are listed among the fastest growing economies in Asia and both aim to enhance peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through multi-faceted cooperation.

• As emerging economies and important countries, there is a broad convergence of interests with regard to creating alternative supply chains in Asia.

• They are equally concerned about China's aggressive and expansionist policies in the Indo-Pacific.

• The two countries have also shared a comprehensive strategic partnership since 2016 and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership.

• The two countries have also cooperated in UN peacekeeping, ship visits and bilateral exercises.

• The two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support, the first of its kind that Vietnam has signed with any country.

Indian weightlifter Achinta Shuli lifts record 313 kg to win gold medal in Commonwealth Games

Tags: Sports News

Indian young player and weightlifter Achinta Shuli has made the entire nation proud by winning a gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Important facts

• This is India's third gold medal in the current Games.

• Earlier, Mirabai Chanu had won a gold medal in the 49kg event.

• 19-year-old Jeremy Lalrinnunga, competing in the 67kg category, also lifted gold medals in snatch and clean and jerk by lifting a total of 300kg.

• Shuli, who comes from West Bengal, created a new Commonwealth Games record by lifting a total of 313 kg.

Achinta’s Snatch Round

• 1st attempt - 137kgs

• Second attempt - 140 kgs

• Third attempt - 143 kg

Six medals in Commonwealth 2022 so far

• So far all six medals in Commonwealth 2022 have been taken to India by lifters.

• Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Achinta Shuli won gold medals. 

• Sanket Mahadev Sargar and Bindiyarani Devi won silver medals.

• Apart from this, Gururaja Pujari was successful in winning the bronze medal in the 61 kg weight category.

Centre forms task force to monitor Monkeypox situation in country

Tags: National News

The Central Government has constituted a task force to monitor and provide guidance on expansion of diagnostic facilities in the wake of monkeypox cases in India and to explore the possibility of vaccination for it in the country.

Important facts

• The decision was taken during a meeting on 1 August which was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Additional Secretary (PMO) and other senior officials.

• The team will be headed by Dr V K Paul, who is the member (Health) of NITI Aayog. 

• So far, four cases of monkeypox have been reported in India, three in Kerala and one in Delhi.

• A young man with monkeypox-like symptoms died in Kerala last week, prompting state Health Minister Veena George to launch a high-level investigation.

• Aa per the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 78 countries.

• According to the WHO, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis – a virus that spreads from animals to humans.

• The symptoms of Monkeypox usually present with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and can lead to a variety of medical complications.

Kindly also see the post dated 15th and 25th July 2022.

Ex- Philippines President Fidel Ramos dies at 94

Tags: Person in news International News

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos died on 31 July at the age of 94 due to complications of COVID-19.

Important facts

• Ramos, the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, was said to be the driving force behind investor confidence in the country.

• It was during his time that the Philippines was recognized as an emerging economy.

• It was during his time that the Philippines was identified as a booming "tiger economy", The Manila Times reported.

• Prior to becoming president, Fidel Ramos also served as Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the government of then-President Corazon Aquino.

• Apart from this, he was also the Defence Secretary.

• Ramos, a former military general, trained in the US, also participated in the Korea and Vietnam Wars.

• Ramos led a national police force and was instrumental in bringing down the notorious Marcos regime.

About Philippines 

• The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia.

• It got complete independence on 4 July 1946 after the Second World War.

• It is the country with the fifth longest coastline in the world.

• The Philippines is the second largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, after the United States.

• Capital - Manila

• Currency - peso

ITBP DG Sanjay Arora appointed as Delhi Police Commissioner

Tags: Person in news

The central government on 31 July appointed Sanjay Arora, a 1988-batch Tamil Nadu cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as the new Commissioner of the Delhi Police. 

Important facts

• Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal SL Thosen took over the additional charge of Indo-Tibetan Border Police from his batchmate Sanjay Arora on 1 August.

• Sanjay Arora will replace Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner. Rakesh Asthana, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was appointed in July 2021.

• Sanjay Arora was the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Special Task Force, where he achieved significant success against the Veerappan gang, for which he was awarded the Chief Minister's Gallantry Medal for this gallant action.

• After being trained by the NSG in 1991, Arora was instrumental in forming a special security group to provide security to the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu during the days of LTTE activity.

• Arora, who holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur, served ITBP on deputation as Commandant from 1997 to 2002.

• He commanded a battalion of ITBP in Matli, Uttarakhand from 1997 to 2000.

• He has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2004, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2014, Police Special Duty Medal, Antrik Suraksha Padak and UN Peacekeeping Medal.

• The Delhi Police works under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Parliamentary panel reviews Goa’s uniform civil code

Tags: State News

A parliamentary committee reviewed Goa's Uniform Civil Code. Some members of the committee believe that it contains some strange and outdated provisions related to marriage.

Important facts

• The Goa Civil Code, applicable to citizens of all religions and origins of the coastal state, is at the centre of discussion amid calls for a uniform civil code across the country.

• States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have proposed to implement Uniform Civil Code.

• Members of Parliament's Standing Committee on Law Personnel Affairs, headed by Sushil Kumar Modi, had visited Goa in June and reviewed the civil code there.

Goa Civil Code

• In 1867, Portugal enacted a Portuguese civil code, and in 1869 it was extended to the overseas provinces of Portugal (which included Goa).

• It is considered a Uniform Civil Code.

• Generally, the Goa Civil Code is far more gender-justifiable than other laws in the country.

• The law does not recognize bigamy or polygamy, including by Muslims.

• The law provides for compulsory registration of marriage before a civil authority, ensuring that the wife is an equal heir and entitled to half of the "common property".

• The parents have to compulsorily share at least half of the property with their children including daughters.

What is a Uniform Civil Code?

• Uniform Civil Code means one law for the whole country, which is applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.

• Article 44 of the Constitution talks about securing a Uniform Civil Code for every citizen of the country.

• Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).

• Article 37 of the Constitution makes it clear that the DPSP "shall not be enforced by any court"but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.

• The Supreme Court for the first time directed the Parliament to frame a uniform civil code in the year 1985 in Shah Bano case.

England beats Germany 2-1 in UEFA Women Euro 2022 final

Tags: Sports News

The England women's football team made history late on 31 July and became the UEFA Women's European Champion.

Important facts

• In the final of this competition, popularly known as Euro 2022, England defeated 8-time champions Germany 2-1 in extra time and became the fourth team to win the title as hosts.

• Earlier, Norway (1987), Germany (1989, 2001) and Netherlands (2017) have won the Euro title as hosts.

• This final match was played at the famous Wembley Stadium in London.

• In the match, both the teams gave equal competition to each other from the beginning and kept the defence strong.

• Neither team could score in the first half. In the second half, Alla Toon scored in the 62nd minute to give England a 1-0 lead.

• Lena Magul scored for Germany in the 79th minute to level the match.

• The hero of England's victory was Chloe Kelly, who scored a goal in extra time to give England a decisive 2-1 lead.

• England's team last reached the final in 2009 and then Germany won the title by defeating them.

UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

• The Women's Euro or UEFA European Women's Championship, established in 1984, is the top competition for women's football featuring teams from the UEFA Confederation.

• The tournament was started in 1984 with four teams: Sweden, Italy, Germany and Norway.

• From 1997, the Women's Euro expanded to an eight-team tournament and later in 2009 to a twelve-team competition.

• Four more teams were added from 2017 onwards.

• The initial winner of the tournament was Sweden, and in 1987 the second edition was won by Norway.

5G spectrum auction ends with record bids worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore. Jio top bidder

Tags: Economics/Business National News

The biggest ever spectrum auction in India ended on August 1. The seven-day auction saw record sale of 5G telecom spectrum worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Important facts

• In this auction, billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani's company Jio made the highest bid to consolidate its leading position.

• As per provisional figures, a total of Rs 1,50,173 crore bids were placed.

• This auction amount of 5G spectrum capable of offering extremely high-speed mobile internet connectivity is almost double the Rs 77,815 crore 4G spectrum sold last year.

• This amount is three times as against Rs 50,968.37 crore received from 3G auction in 2010.

• Reliance Jio made the highest bid for radio waves offering connectivity at speeds nearly 10 times faster than 4G.

• It was followed by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Limited.

• Adani Group has bought 26 MHz spectrum to set up a private telecom network.

What is Electromagnetic Spectrum?

• Signals are needed to connect cell phones and wireline telephone equipment from one end to the other.

• These signals are carried over the airwaves, which are required to be sent on specified frequencies to avoid any kind of interference.

• The central government owns all publicly available assets, including airwaves, within the geographical boundaries of the country.

What is 5G technology?

• The fifth generation mobile network is called 5G.

• The 5G network will operate in the millimetre-wave spectrum (30-300 GHz) which can send huge amounts of data at very high speeds.

• It is the newest upgrade in Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.

• Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G have been tested to exceed 20 Gbps (gigabit per second).