3 February 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam.

February 3rd, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DefExpo 2020
2. Live attenuated Classical Swine Fever Vaccine (IVRI-CSF-BS)
3. Zonal Cultural Centres
4. Virtual Museums
5. Department of Military Affairs
6. Air Defence Command
7. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
8. Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI)
9. Novel Coronavirus
10. Slump in Sale of Automobiles
11. Fame India Scheme
12. Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019
13. Kisan Rail
14. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
15. Incredible India 2.0
16. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
17. Ujh Multipurpose (National) Project

1. DefExpo 2020

Context:

Prime Minister will preside over the inaugural ceremony of the DefExpo 2020 at Lucknow.

Details:

• This is the 11^th edition of the Biennial Mega Defence Exhibition ‘DefExpo’.
• With over 1000 national and international companies vying to present their wares at the expo, this is the largest DefExpo so far in India.
• The theme of the Expo is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’.
• The aim is to bring the leading technologies in the defence sector under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities for the government, private manufacturers and startups.
• The event will cover the entire spectrum of the country’s aerospace, defence and security interests.
• The sub-theme of the exhibition is ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’ which aligns with the concept of the future battlefield through the application of newer technologies.
• The ‘India Pavilion’ will exclusively showcase the strong partnership between the public and private sectors, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)/Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and innovation ecosystem.
• The DefExpo 2020 is expected to see participation from over 70 countries and will be in line with the biggest of the international defence exhibitions.

2. Live attenuated Classical Swine Fever Vaccine (IVRI-CSF-BS)

Context:

IVRI releases live attenuated Classical Swine Fever (CSF) cell culture vaccine (indigenous strain).

Details:

• Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is one of the most important diseases of pigs causing high mortality with an annual loss of approximately Rs. 4.299 billion.
• A lapinized CSF vaccine (Weybridge strain, UK) is being used in India since 1964 for controlling the disease. The vaccine is produced by sacrificing large numbers of rabbits for each batch.
  • Lapinization refers to the weakening or modification of a virus or vaccine by its serial passage through rabbits.
• The country’s total requirement is 22 million doses per year and hardly 1.2 million doses are produced per year by the lapinized vaccine, as only 50 doses are produced from a single rabbit spleen.
• In order to do away with the sacrificing of rabbits and increase productivity, IVRI had earlier developed a cell culture CSF vaccine by adapting the lapinized vaccine virus in cell culture.
• Since the cell culture vaccine is from a foreign strain (Weybridge Strain, UK), IVRI has further developed a new CSF Cell Culture Vaccine by attenuating an indigenous virulent CSF virus in cell culture. The vaccine virus has very high titre and lakhs of doses can be produced very easily in cell culture and the country’s requirement can be easily fulfilled using this new vaccine.
• The new vaccine is ready for release and commercial production will be completed in less than a year.
• The new vaccine will be part of the Government’s One Health Initiative and result in huge savings as it will nip the spread of the virus at the animal stage so that it does not pass on to the human population.
• Due to a very high titre of vaccine virus, this vaccine would be the most economical CSF vaccine costing around less than Rs 2/- per dose as against Rs 15-25/- of lapinized CSF vaccine and Rs.30/dose (approx.) for an imported Korean vaccine being used in the country.
• Besides, the new vaccine gives immunity for two years as compared to 3 to 6 months of protection under the vaccines currently being used.
• The vaccine is safe, potent, does not revert to virulence and provides protective immunity from day 14 of the vaccination until 24 months studied so far.
• The vaccine has been tested on around 500 pigs at multiple locations.
• The new vaccine has been developed by a team of IVRI scientists.

About Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI):

• Established in 1889, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) is one of the premier research institutions dedicated to livestock research and development of the region.
• It is under the administrative control of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
• IVRI is located in Izatnagar, Bareilly in UP.

3. Zonal Cultural Centres

Context:

Ministry of Culture is preserving and promoting the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the country through its organizations and schemes – Culture Minister

To protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk, traditional art and culture throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).

Details:

To know more about the Zonal Cultural Centres, check PIB dated Dec 9, 2019.

4. Virtual Museums

Context:

Ministry of Culture has developed three Virtual Experiential Museums.

About virtual museums:

• In 2016, the Ministry of Culture was given the task of establishing Virtual Museums in at least 50 locations.
• Subsequently, the Ministry has developed three Virtual Experiential Museums:
  • Man Mahal at Varanasi
  • Ajanta Caves at National Museum, Delhi
  • Humayun Tomb in Delhi
• The last two are under development.
• There is a proposal to develop a National Virtual Experiential Site Museum at Vadnagar, Gujarat.
• About Man Mahal Virtual Museum:
  • Situated at the Man Mahal on the banks of the Ganges near Dashashwamedh ghat, the Museum offers visitors a virtual tour of the ancient city of Varanasi and its cultural and spiritual aspects.
  • It is set up by the National Council of Science Museum (NCSM), under the Union Ministry of Culture.
  • The museum offers visitors the experience of holy ghats, classical music, the weaving of sari, Ram Leela, 3D view of monuments, narrow lanes and betel shops among other heritages of the city.
  • There is a laser light show about the mythology and history of the river Ganga, and guests can also engage in virtual activities such as offering diyas or ringing bells in the river.

About Man Mahal:

• Man Mahal is a palace from the 16^th century.
• Man Mahal Ghat was built in 1600 by Maharaja Man Singh of Amer along with the palace known for its magnificent building with exquisite ornate window carvings and also for an observatory on the roof.
• The observatory was made by the son of Man Singh (Sawai Jai Singh) in 1710, on the terrace of Man Mahal to calculate astronomical and astrological data.
• Jantar Mantar is the highlight of the observatory which is similar to the Jantar Mantar located in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain and Mathura.

5. Department of Military Affairs

Context:

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Secretary was created to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three Services.

Details:

• As per the Second Schedule to Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, the following subjects were allocated to DMA:
  • The Armed Forces of the Union, namely, Army, Navy and Air Force.
  • Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence comprising of Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters.
  • The Territorial Army.
  • Works relating to Army, Navy and Air Force.
  • Procurement exclusive to the Services except capital acquisitions, as per prevalent rules and procedures.
  • Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.
  • Facilitation of restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands.
  • Promoting the use of indigenous equipment by the Services.

6. Air Defence Command

Context:

A study team is preparing the road map for the creation of an Air Defence Command.

Details:

• The purpose of the road map is to come up with a proposal of integrating the Air Defence resources of the different services under a single agency, so as to ensure jointness and optimisation of resources, procedures and communication arrangements.
• Three Joint Logistic Nodes (JLNs) are being established at Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair for logistics integration between the three services.

7. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Details:

To know all about the CDS, his functions and responsibilities, check CNA dated 25^th Dec 2019.

Context:

The Minister of State for Defence informed the Rajya Sabha about the functions of the CDS.

8. Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI)

Context:

DST launches SATHI Initiative for building shared, professionally managed strong S&T infrastructure.

About SATHI:

• To address the need for building shared, professionally managed and strong Science and Technology infrastructure in the country which is readily accessible to academia, start-ups, manufacturing, industry and R&D labs, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched a unique scheme called “Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI)”.
• These Centres are expected to house major analytical instruments to provide common services of high-end analytical testing, thus avoiding duplication and reducing dependency on foreign sources. These would be operated with a transparent, open access policy.
• DST has already set up three such centres in the country, one each at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
• It is planned to set up five SATHI Centres every year for the next four years.
• SATHI will address the problems of accessibility, maintenance, redundancy and duplication of expensive equipment in Indian institutions, while reaching out to the less endowed organizations in need, e.g., industry, MSMEs, startups and State Universities.
• This will also foster a strong culture of collaboration between institutions and across disciplines to take advantage of developments, innovations and expertise in diverse areas.

9. Novel Coronavirus

Context:

High level Group of Ministers will review the management of Novel Coronavirus (also known as Wuhan Coronavirus).

Details:

• The first meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) was conducted to review the preparedness and steps taken by the Ministries of Health, Shipping, External Affairs, Civil Aviation and Home Affairs.
• The members were also apprised of the three cases reported from Kerala, one of which was confirmed on 3^rd Feb 2020.
• Steps taken:
  • Travel Advisory has been revised informing the public to refrain from travel to China and that anyone with travel history in China since 15^th January 2020 and from now on could be quarantined.
  • Further, e-Visa facility for Chinese passport holders has been temporarily suspended, e-Visa already issued to Chinese nationals is also not valid temporarily and the facility for submitting the application online for the physical visa from China is suspended.
  • It has been advised that people having compelling reasons to visit India should contact the Indian embassy in Beijing or consulate in Shanghai or Guangzhou.
  • Instructions to comply with the above travel advisory have also been issued to all national and international airlines operating from China by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• The GOM was also informed about the two Quarantine Centres having 645 persons evacuated from Wuhan. The camps are being maintained by Armed Forces and ITBP. All inhabitants are medically examined on a daily basis.
• The second batch of 330 passengers (including 7 Maldivian citizens) from Wuhan has arrived in India. Of these, 300 (including 7 Maldivian citizens) are housed at ITBP Chawla Camp and 30 are in Manesar. They are being effectively monitored.
• Screening of passengers is ongoing in 21 airports, international seaports and border crossings, particularly with Nepal.
• Universal screening in all flights from Singapore and Thailand besides Hong Kong and China is being done.
• Further, 2815 people are presently under community surveillance in 29 States/UTs.

New update on the Coronavirus:

The third positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient has been reported in Kerala. The patient has a travel history from Wuhan in China. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored.

10. Slump in Sale of Automobiles

Details:

• Some of the steps taken by the Government to counter automotive slowdown can be summarized as under:
  • Reduction in Corporate Tax to 22%
  • Continuation of registration of ICE and EV in future
  • Scrappage policy under consideration
  • Proposed increase in registration of new cars deferred till June 2020
  • Funds worth Rs. 70,000 crores released to PSU banks
  • Linking of repo rate to interest charged for vehicle purchased

Context:

The above information was given in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.

11. Fame India Scheme

Context:

The Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises provided information about the Fame India Scheme in the Rajya Sabha.

About the Fame India Scheme:

• In order to promote the manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles and to ensure sustainable growth, the Department of Heavy Industries formulated a scheme namely FAME India [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India] for the initial period of 2 years commencing from April 2015 (Phase-1).
• Currently, the scheme is in its Phase 2, which started in April 2019 and will continue for 3 years.

For more on the Fame India Scheme, check PIB dated 9^th July 2019 under the heading Fame India Scheme.

12. Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019

Context:

Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 seeks views and suggestions.

Details:

The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 as introduced in Lok Sabha has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee of both the Houses for examination and report.

For more on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, click on the linked article.

13. Kisan Rail

Context:

Indian Railways coming up with Kisan Rail for the development of a national cold supply chain for the transportation of perishable traffic.

Details:

• The Indian Railways will set up ‘Kisan Rail’ through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The Kisan Rail would ensure that perishable goods are transported quickly.
• This was announced in the Union Budget 2020.

14. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

Details:

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana is the flagship outcome-based Skill Training Scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) which aims to train 10 million youths by 2020 pan India both in rural and urban areas.

Know more about the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Context:

The Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship informed the Lok Sabha about the Yojana.

15. Incredible India 2.0

Details:

• The Ministry of Culture and Tourism had launched the ‘Incredible India 2.0’ campaign in the country in September 2017, which marks a shift from generic promotions undertaken across the world to market-specific promotional plans and content creation.
• The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of niche tourism products, including yoga, wellness, luxury, cuisine, wildlife, etc.
• “Find the Incredible You” campaign focuses on the promotion of niche tourism products of the country on digital and social media.
• It focuses on transformative experiences brought alive through unique storytelling in the format of autobiographies of travellers, with the tagline ‘Find the Incredible you’.

Context:

The above information was supplied by the Minister of State (I/c) of Culture and Tourism to the Lok Sabha.

16. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Context:

States/UTs and districts awarded for best performance under PMMVY.

Details:

• In the category of best performance since inception of the Scheme to States/UTs having population of more than 1 crore the first position was awarded to the state of Madhya Pradesh, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana in the third position.
• In the same category among States/UTs having population of less than 1 crore, Dadra & Nagar Haveli is in the first position. Himachal stood second and Chandigarh is at the third position.
• In the District level awards for States/UTs with population of more than 1 crore, the first position went to Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
• In the same category for States/UTs with population under than 1 crore, the first position went to Serchhip in Mizoram.
• The second category of awards was announced for performance by States/UTs during the Matru Vandana Saptah (MVS) held in December 2019.
  • The objective of observing MVS was to increase the implementation of the Scheme and create a healthy competition amongst States/ UTs.
  • The theme of the Saptah was “towards building a healthy nation – Surakshit Janani, ViksitDharini”.
  • Under this, the first position went to Andhra Pradesh among bigger states and Dadra & Nagar Haveli among states/UTs with under 1 crore population.

Also read: Pradhan Mantri Matru (Matritva) Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

17. Ujh Multipurpose (National) Project

Context:

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region chaired a meeting to fast-track the implementation of Ujh Multipurpose (National) Project, Jammu & Kashmir.

About the Ujh Multipurpose (National) Project:

• The project, after completion, will enhance the utilization of waters of Eastern Rivers allotted to India as per the Indus Water Treaty.
• The project is planned to be constructed in Kathua District of J&K on the River Ujh which is a major tributary of River Ravi.

February 3rd, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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