PIB Summary- 5th December, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Biofortification of Rice

Context:

• Give impetus to set up Fortified Rice manufacturing plants in Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur in Maharashtra: Secretary Food.

Details:

• Rice fortification is the enrichment of the cereal with micronutrients commonly iron, Vitamin B12 and folic acid.
  (i) It aims to provide a nutritional boost to undernourished and vulnerable populations on a mega-scale across geographies.
• The Secretary also focused on promoting solvent extraction plants for manufacturing Rice Bran Oil in the procuring Districts.
• He suggested crop diversification, especially the production of Millets.
  (i) The year 2023 is being declared as the International Year of Millets by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 
• He further emphasized putting up grain-based distilleries for the production of ethanol and thereby promoting Maize cultivation.
• He advised the state to work on the infrastructure of the procurement centres and encouraged the farmers to avail the benefits of various schemes of the Centre.

Key Points:

• The Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution suggested an overall approach including infrastructural improvements, awareness towards the farmer-oriented schemes and highlighted the importance of fortification of Rice in order to tackle the nutritional deficiencies in the country.

Survey Vessel Sandhayak

Context:

• The first of the four Survey Vessels projects, “Sandhayak”, was launched by the Raksha Rajya Mantri in Kolkata.

Highlights:

• The Survey Vessels have been designed and developed by Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited.  
• These survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal & deep-water hydrographic survey of Ports & Harbour approaches and determination of navigational channels & routes.
• The ships are also capable of undertaking surveys of maritime limits and collection of Oceanographic & Geographical data for Defence applications.
• The ships are propelled by two Marine Diesel Engines combined with Fixed Pitch Propellers and fitted with Bow & Stern Thrusters for manoeuvring at low speeds during surveys.
• The ships would be capable of performing roles such as Search & Rescue and Disaster Relief, besides serving as Hospital ships with limited facilities during emergencies.

Indigenous Shipbuilding:

• India has great scope to become an indigenous ship-building hub with the help from the various policies introduced by the centre to help the domestic industry become world-class.
• The launch of the ship reinforces the Government’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding as part of the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’.
• The survey vessels are being built utilising the concepts of ‘Integrated Construction’ and in compliance with applicable provisions and regulations of the Classification Society.
• There is over 80 per cent indigenous content by cost in the production which will also ensure that large-scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units.
• Shipbuilding within the country is expected to generate employment and expertise in the country.

Blue Economy &  Bilateral Ties:

• The blue economy is one of the core dimensions of growth as per the Government’s vision of New India by 2030 and the vessel will be a major contributor towards meeting the initiatives and vision for sustainable development in the maritime domain.
• Also, Sandhayak will ensure safe navigation of not just Indian ships, but of friendly foreign nations in the Indian Ocean Region, strengthening the bilateral ties of India.

Significance:

• The survey ships are equipped with new generation hydrographic equipment and are testimony to the maturity of the country’s indigenous construction capability towards achieving self-reliance.
• The survey ships will contribute to the development of the maritime economy and maritime ties.

President’s Standard

Context:

• The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron, also known as the Killer Squadron, will be awarded the President’s Standard.

What is the President’s Standard?

• The President’s Standard is the highest honour bestowed by the Supreme Commander to a military unit in recognition of the service rendered to the nation.
• It is the same honour as the President’s Colours, awarded to a relatively smaller military unit.
• To mark this occasion, a Special Day Cover along with a commemorative stamp will also be released by the Postal Department.

History of  22nd Missile Vessel Squadron:

• The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was formally established at Mumbai in October 1991 with ten Veer Class and three Prabal Class missile boats.
• The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron is fitted with state of the art weapons and sensors, manned by the youngest and most motivated crew.
• It is the testimony of the Indian Navy and its assurance to the nation against any misadventure by our adversaries.
• It has participated in Op Vijay, Op Parakram and most recently, during the heightened security state following the Pulwama attack deployed within striking distance of the Pakistan coast.
• The squadron prides itself with distinguished battle honours including one Maha Vir Chakra, seven Vir Chakras and eight Nausena Medals which are testimony to the gallant spirit of the Killers.
• The missile vessel squadron has served the country over decades with many heroic achievements.
• The year 2021 marks fifty years since the inception of the Killers who over the past five decades have maintained the capability of delivering a credible offensive punch from the sea.
• The year 2021 is also the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 war and is being celebrated across the country as Swarnim Vijay Varsh.

Border Security Force (BSF)

Context:

57th Raising Day celebrations of the Border Security Force.

What happened?

• On 1 December 1965, India’s first line of defence, the Border Security Force (BSF) was formed.

BSF Details

• The BSF is India’s primary border guarding force.
• This paramilitary force is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces in India.
• Its mandate is to guard the country’s land border during peacetime and also to prevent transnational crime.
• BSF was established as a response to the 1965 war with Pakistan when that country tried to expand its own borders at India’s expense.
• Until that time, the border with Pakistan was guarded by the State Armed Police Battalion. It proved inadequate when faced with Pakistani aggression and this was when the necessity of a specialized armed force for manning India’s borders was realized.
• The Committee of Secretaries recommended that the Border Security Force be established and it came into force on 1 December 1965.
• K F Rustamji, IPS was the first chief and the founding father of the organization.
• The BSF is under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
• It is at present the world’s largest border guarding force.
• Currently there are about 186 battalions and strength of more than 2 lakh personnel.
• It also has an air wing, marine wing, commando units and artillery regiments.
• The organization has its own cadre of officers but the chief is always an Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer.
• The present head is Rakesh Asthana, IPS. The chief of the BSF is designated as Director-General (DG).
• The ethos of the BSF is: “Any task, any time, any where”.
• Its motto is “Jeevan Paryant Kartavya” meaning “Duty Unto Death”.
• Apart from manning and protecting India’s borders, it also engages in relief operations during natural calamities. It also sends personnel for UN missions. It has special battalions for dealing with all types of disasters including Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) disasters.
• Off late, the BSF has also been charged with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism activities in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and northeast India.
• The colorful ceremony at the Wagah Border that is witnessed by many spectators every day is a drill conducted by the BSF.
• Numerous honours and awards have been won by the force. They include army awards like the Mahavir Chakra, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Kirti Chakra, etc.; civil awards like the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, etc.; and police medals like the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service, UN Medal, etc.
• The BSF’s major engagements have been in the Indo-Pakistani war in 1971, Operation Blue Star, Operation Black Thunder, Operation Vijay in the Kargil War, and border skirmishes between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the 2000’s.

• Role:
  (i) During peacetime:
  (a) Promoting a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.
  (b) Preventing smuggling and other illegal activities along the border.
  (c) Preventing trans-border crimes including unauthorized entry into or exit from India.
  (d) Engaging in anti-infiltration.
  (e) Collecting trans-border intelligence.
  (ii) During wartime:
  (a) Defending the assigned sectors.
  (b) Engaging in limited aggressive action against enemy forces.
  (c) Maintaining law and order in enemy territory under army’s control.
  (d) Acting as guides to the army in border areas.
  (e) Guarding POW camps.
  (f) Controlling refugees.
  (g) Controlling refugees.
  (h) Performing special tasks related to intelligence including raids.

Also on this day

• 1886: Birth of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, freedom fighter and revolutionary who established the first Provisional Government of India in Kabul.
• 1913: The Ford Motor Company introduced the first moving Assembly Line  revolutionizing the manufacturing industry.
• 1955: African-American Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus for a white man in Alabama, USA which became a landmark moment in the American Civil Rights Movement.
• 1963: Birth of the state of Nagaland.