1. The Indian Navy launched the sixth and last submarine of the Kalvari class submarines under Project-75
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The sixth and last of the French Scorpène-class submarines, Vagsheer, was launched at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
The 'Vagsheer' submarine was commissioned by Mrs. Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, in keeping with the naval traditions of a woman's launch or naming.
This Scorpene class submarine will undergo sea trials for about 1 year, after which it will be inducted into the Indian Navy after successful completion.
INS Vagshir is named after a deadly predatory fish found in the depths of the Indian Ocean.
These submarines have been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in collaboration with France Naval Group in Mumbai.
The first 'Vagshir' submarine was commissioned in the Indian Navy in December 1974 and was decommissioned in April 1997.
The new Vagshir submarine is the latest incarnation of its older version.
The other five submarines to come from the Kalvari class
–INS Kalvari -It was launched on 27 October 2015 and commissioned on 14 December 2017.
–INS Khanderi –It was launched on 12 January 2017 and commissioned on 28 September 2019
–INS Karanj – It was launched on 31 January 2018 and commissioned on 10 March 2021.
–INS Vela - It was launched on May 6, 2019 and commissioned on November 25, 2021.
–INS Vagir – It was launched on November 12, 2020 and sea trials have started from February 2022.
Features of Scorpene class submarines
–The Scorpene class submarines are ensured with enhanced features such as advanced acoustic silencing technology, low radiative noise level, hydro-dynamically optimised shape and the ability to strike the enemy with precision weapons.
–These Scorpene-class submarines can attack the enemy with both torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship missiles, both underwater or on the surface.
–Scorpene submarines can perform a variety of missions, such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance, etc.
Project 75-India
—Project 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene-class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
—Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
2. Russia test-fires ‘world’s most powerful' nuclear-capable missile
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Nearly two months after invading Ukraine, Russia tested the Sarmat missile, a new nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile.
The test was conducted in Palestek, in the southwestern part of Russia.
After the test, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that this missile will make Russia's enemies stop and think.
The Sarmat missile is a new nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile.
It was test-launched for the first time from Plesetsk in northwest Russia and hit targets in the Kamchatka peninsula, nearly 6,000 km (3,700 miles) away.
The missile weighs more than 200 tonnes and can transport more than ten warheads.
As per Russian media, Sarmat is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of 18,000 km.
The missile is 35.3 metres long and 3 metres in diameter.
The long-range missile has been in the works since the 2000s.
Russia's nuclear forces will start taking delivery of the new missile "in the autumn of this year" once testing is complete.
It is among Russia's next-generation missiles that Putin has called "invincible," and which also include the Kinzhal and Avangard hypersonic missiles.
It has the highest tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defence.
The missile can hit any target on Earth.
3. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh to form district level committees to resolve border disputes
Tags: State News National News
After Meghalaya, Assam and its neighbouring state Arunachal Pradesh decided to form District Level Committees for resolving the boundary disputes between the two states in a time-bound manner.
The decision was taken during the second Chief Minister level meeting between both states held at State Guest House, Koinadhora in Guwahati in presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu.
The district committees will undertake joint surveys in the disputed areas to find tangible solutions to the long-pending issue based on historical perspective, ethnicity, contiguity, people’s will and administrative convenience of both the states.
Border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
—Arunachal Pradesh, which was earlier a part of Assam, shares a boundary of roughly 800 km with the state.
—The dispute dates back to the British era when in 1873 the British announced inner line regulation.
—British demarcated planes and frontier Hills, which were later designated as North-East frontier tracts in 1915.
—These northeastern frontiers make up present-day Arunachal Pradesh.
—Administrative jurisdiction was handed over to Assam, the border areas were renamed as Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1954.
—Arunachal Pradesh was declared a Union Territory in 1972 and got statehood in 1987.
—Based on the NEFA committee report, 3648 sq. km of the plain area was transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam’s then Darrang and Lakhimpur districts.
—Arunachal Pradesh refused to accept this notification and it has become a matter of dispute.
—Assam feels that the demarcation as per 1951 notification is constitutional and legal.
—But, Arunachal Pradesh believes that the transfer was done without consultation with its people.
4. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine inaugurated in Jamnagar, Gujarat
PM Modi inaugurated the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) at Jamnagar in Gujarat.
He laid the foundation stone in the presence of Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.
The first of its kind, GCTM will be a global centre for traditional medicine around the world.
The Centre aims to channel the potential of traditional medicine, by integrating it with technological advancements and evidence-based research.
The centre will focus on data, innovation and sustainability and will optimise the use of traditional medicine.
At the centre, the main areas will be research and leadership, evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity and innovation and technology.
It provides recognition of India's contribution and potential in traditional medicine.
it will support efforts to implement the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014-23)
Jamnagar was chosen for the new centre because more than 50 years ago, the world's first Ayurvedic University was established there.
Jamnagar has a quality Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda.
According to WHO estimates, 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine.
5. President Kovind gives assent to Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 and the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022
Tags: National
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During the Budget Session, Parliament passed Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 and Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
—The objective of the Act is to authorise for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records.
—It also provides legal sanction for taking appropriate body measurements of persons who are required to give such measurements which include finger-impressions, palm-print and foot-print impressions, photographs, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples, and their analysis among others.
—The new Act has replaced the Identification of Prisoners Act, of 1920.
Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022
—It aimed at unifying the three existing Municipal Corporations of Delhi into one Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
6. National Cyber Security Incident Response Exercise (NCX India)
Tags: National News
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Recently, the National Security Council Secretariat organised the National Cyber Security Incident Response Exercise (NCX India).
It will be conducted as a hybrid exercise over a period of ten days from 18 to 29 April 2022.
The aim is to train senior management and technical personnel of Government/Critical Sector organisations and agencies on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and responses.
The program is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt of India in association with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI).
It is supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The platform for training is being provided by CyberExer Technologies, an Estonian cybersecurity company.
More than 140 officials will be trained through training sessions, Live Fire and Strategic exercises.
The participants will be trained on various key cyber security areas such as Intrusion Detection Techniques, Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), Vulnerability Handling & Penetration Testing, Network Protocols & Data Flows, Digital Forensics, etc.
7. Government appoints Lt Gen Manoj C Pande as next Chief of Army Staff
Tags: National Popular Defence Person in news
Presently Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Manoj C Pandey has been appointed by the Government as the next Chief of Army Staff.
His appointment to the post will be effective from the afternoon of April 30, 2022.
Born on May 06, 1962, Lt Gen Manoj C Pande was commissioned on December 24, 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) of the Indian Army.
During his long and distinguished service spanning over 39 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments.
The Command appointments of Lt Gen Manoj C Pande include Command of an Engineer Brigade in the Western Theatre, as part of Strike Corps and an Infantry Brigade along with Line-of-Control in Jammu & Kashmir.
Other important Command appointments include a Mountain Division in the high-altitude area of the Western Ladakh and Command of a Corps, deployed along the LAC and in the Counter Insurgency Operations area of Eastern Command.
8. “UDAN” scheme selected for Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
Tags: National Government Schemes
The UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) Scheme has been selected for Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 under the category “Innovation (General) – Central”.
Ministry of Civil Aviation will receive the award on 21st April i.e. Civil Services Day.
A special event has been organised by the Government of India at VigyanBhawan on the occasion of “Civil Service Day” where the representative of the ministry will be facilitated with the award.
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
–Government of India has instituted this scheme in 2006
–its purpose is to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/ Organisations of the Central and State Governments.
–The Scheme was restructured in 2014 for recognizing the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programs, Innovations and Aspirational Districts.
–The Scheme was restructured again in 2020, to recognize the performance of District Collectors towards economic development of the District.
UDAN Scheme
–It was launched under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
–its objective is to develop the regional aviation market.
–It is also known as the regional connectivity scheme (RCS)
–it seeks to improve air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities through revival of unused and underused airports.
–The scheme will be jointly funded by the central government and state governments.
–The scheme will run for 10 years and can be extended thereafter.
9. Visit of Prime Minister of Mauritius to India
Tags: International Relations
Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrived in Mumbai on an eight-day visit to India.
Mr Jugnauth is accompanied by his wife Kobita Jugnauth and a high-level delegation.
He has visited India with an aim to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.
He will attend the inaugural program of Global Centre of Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
After this, on April 20, he will also attend the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in Rajkot.
Bilateral relations between India and Mauritius
–India-Mauritius relationship is very significant for India’s geostrategic policies in the Indian Ocean Region.
–India and Mauritius jointly inaugurated an India-assisted social housing units project in Mauritius.
–both the countries signed a USD 100 million Defence Line of Credit agreement
–in 2019, the main import partners of Mauritius were India (13.85%), China (16.69%), South Africa (8.07%), and UAE (7.28%).
–India has been one of the largest trading partners and exporter of goods and services to Mauritius since 2007.
–India’s exports to Mauritius are largely of petroleum products.
10. Inauguration of 40th 'Hunar Haat’ in Mumbai
Tags: National
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Anurag Thakur inaugurated the 40th edition of the 'Hunar Haat’ in Mumbai.
The 40th edition of Hunar Haat is a credible platform to promote 'Swadeshi' products.
It is being held at MMRDA Ground, Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai from 16th to 27th April, 2022.
Atma Nirbhar Bharat is being strengthened by initiatives like Hunar Haat.
In this 40th edition of Hunar Haat, more than a thousand craftsmen and artisans coming from 31 states have put up 400 stalls."
Tejas Skills Program is a program launched by the Government of India.
Under this initiative India will send skilled manpower to the UAE.
Within a year, 30,000 skilled job-seekers will be sent to the UAE.
About 'Hunar Haat’
–it is an exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the minority communities.
–launched in 2016
–its theme is Vocal for Local.
–organiser - Ministry of Minority Affairs under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme.
–its aim is to provide market exposure and employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts.
