PIB Summary- 7th October, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Exercise Ajeya Warrior

Context: The 6th edition of the Indo-UK joint military exercise Ajeya Warrior has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.

Important Facts about Exercise Ajeya Warrior

Just like similar army exercises, through the Ajeya Warrior exercise, India and the UK armies try to enhance interoperability with each other.
The first military training took place in 2013. The second and third editions of the Ajeya Warrior exercise took place in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
The Ajeya Warrior 2021 is the latest edition that is taking place in October 2021 at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. The previous (fifth) edition took place in the UK in 2020.

Aim of the Exercise

1. Train the soldiers of each army in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
2. To strengthen strategic ties between India and the UK.
3. To gain operational experience from the joint military training.

India and the UK Defence Cooperation

India and the UK have been strategic partners since 2004. A few important points to note about the defence cooperation between both nations are:

1. In 2015, to intensify defence cooperation, Prime Ministers of both countries agreed on a new Defence and International Security Partnership
   • This included coordination in cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and maritime security.
2. In 2018, both countries signed 10 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) which included:
   • MoU on cyber-relationship framework
   • MoU on safe nuclear energy use
   • MoU on sharing of criminal records
3. Both nations facilitate institutionalised dialogues mechanisms that cover various spheres including defence:
   • Strategic Dialogue at NSA-level
   • Defence Consultative Group at Defence Secretary-level
   • Cyber Dialogue
   • CounterTerrorism Dialogue
4. At all the three services level, joint exercises and wide-ranging exchanges between the three services are conducted regularly.

Other Exercises Between India & the UK

Konkan Exercise

1. It is a joint military exercise between the navies of India and the UK.
2. It was introduced in 2004.
3. The latest Konkan Exercise took place in 2021.
   • It took place on the English Channel.
   • INS Tabar participated from the Indian side.

Indradhanush Exercise

1. It is a joint military exercise between the air forces of India and the UK.
2. Two nations held the fifth edition of the Indradhanush exercise on 24th February 2020. It took place at Air Force Station, Hindan (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh).
3. The theme of Indradhanush-2020 was Base Defence and Force Protection.

High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People

Context: India joined the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People.

About the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

• It is a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30×30.
• HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south; European, Latin American, African and Asian countries are among the members.
• India is the first of the BRICS bloc to join the HAC.
• HAC is an intergovernmental group co-chaired by Costa Rica and France and by the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair, championing a global deal for nature and people with the central goal of protecting at least 30 percent of world’s land and ocean by 2030.
• The 30×30 target is a global target which aims to halt the accelerating loss of species, and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.
  • Currently, an estimated 15% of the world’s land and 7% of the ocean are protected.
  • In order to achieve the goal of protecting at least 30% by 2030, there is a need to double the current land protections and more than quadruple current ocean protections.

National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)

Context: National Digital Livestock Mission blueprint unveiled by the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

About the Mission

• The National Digital Livestock Mission was unveiled with an aim to create a farmer-centric, technology-enabled ecosystem for livestock.
• NDLM is a digital platform being developed jointly by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on the foundation of the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
• The idea is to harmonise programmes across the country in order to create an ecosystem that is conducive for growth of the sector.
• The bedrock of NDLM will be the unique identification of all livestock, which will be the foundation for all the state and national level programmes including domestic and international trade.
• The farmers will be able to effortlessly access the markets, irrespective of their location or holdings through this digital platform as a wide-range of stakeholders will be connected in this ecosystem.
• This system will also include robust animal breeding systems, nutrition, disease surveillance, disease control programmes and a traceability mechanism for animals and animal products.

PM Cares For Children Scheme

Context: Government issues Guidelines For PM Cares For Children Scheme.

Details

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the detailed guidelines for PM CARES for Children Scheme.
• The PM had announced comprehensive support for children who have lost both their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2021.
• The objective of the scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children who have lost their parent(s) to COVID pandemic, in a sustained manner, enable their wellbeing through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.
• The PM CARES for children scheme inter alia provides support to these children through convergent approach, gap funding for ensuring education, health, monthly stipend from the age of 18 years, and lump sum amount of Rs. 10 lakh on attaining 23 years of age.
• The eligibility criterion for the scheme will cover all children who have lost
  • Both parents or
  • Surviving parent or
  • Legal guardian/adoptive parents/single adoptive parent due to COVID 19 pandemic, starting from 11.03.2020 the date on which WHO has declared and characterized COVID-19 as pandemic till 31.12.2021, shall be entitled to benefits under this scheme
  • Child should not have completed 18 years of age on the date of death of parents
    

Aerosol Pollution in the Central Himalayan Region

Context: Dust transport from NW India, Pakistan & Arabian Sea – main aerosol sources in central Himalayan region.

Details

• According to a study conducted by researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, mineral dust, biomass burning, secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate from northwest India and Pakistan, polluted cities like Delhi, the Thar Desert, and the Arabian Sea area, and long-range transported marine mixed aerosols are the main sources of aerosols in the central Himalayan region.
• This dust transport and forest fires are the main sources of total suspended particles (TSP), particularly in pre-monsoon period (March-May) when TSP concentration peaks in the region.
• With a unique role in the Asian climate, the Himalayan region is considered a vulnerable environment.
• There was predominance of mineral dust in spring and summer and biomass burning and secondary sulfate in winter.
• The transported marine mixed aerosol source was mainly associated with SW monsoon air masses during the summer season.

Aerosol Pollution

• Aerosol pollution refers to particles in the air emitted by vehicles and factories that burn fossil fuels.
• This pollution contributes to asthma, bronchitis, and long-term irritation of the respiratory tract, which can lead to cancer.
• Aerosols can be tiny droplets, dust particles, bits of fine black carbon, and other things, and as they float through the atmosphere they change the whole energy balance of the planet.