22 June 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

June 22nd, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. MoU between India and Fiji
2. Indian Navy - US Navy: Carrier Strike Group Passage Exercise
3. Toycathon 2021
4. Why do new virus waves happen?

1. MoU between India and Fiji

Context:

India and Fiji signed MoU for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

Details:

  • The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of Dairy Industry Development, Rice Industry Development, Root Crop Diversification, Water Resources Management, Coconut Industry Development, Food Processing Industry Development, Agriculture Mechanization, Horticulture Industry Development, Agricultural Research, Animal Husbandry, Pest and Disease, Cultivation, Value Addition and Marketing, Post-Harvest and Milling, Breeding and Agronomy.
  • India distributed about 7 tonnes of seeds of 14 varieties of fruits and vegetables as requested by Fiji, as a grant from the Government of India, for the livelihood restoration of communities affected by Cyclone Yasa.
    • Cyclone Yasa had struck Fiji in December 2020. It was one of the most powerful storms to hit the island nation and left two dead and hundreds of buildings damaged.

2. Indian Navy – US Navy: Carrier Strike Group Passage Exercise

Context:

The Indian Navy is participating in a Passage Exercise with a US Navy Carrier Strike Group.

Details:

  • Indian Naval Ships Kochi and Teg along with P8I and MiG 29K aircraft are participating in a Passage Exercise with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan during its transit through Indian Ocean Region on 23 and 24 Jun 2021.
  • The Indian Naval warships along with aircraft from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will be engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the Carrier Strike Group.
  • The two-day exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship and cooperation by demonstrating the ability to integrate and coordinate comprehensively in maritime operations.
  • High tempo operations during the exercise include advanced air defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and anti-submarine exercises.
  • The participating forces will endeavour to hone their war-fighting skills and enhance their interoperability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.
  • The Indian Air Force will also take part in operational engagements with the US Navy during the Carrier Strike Group’s current deployment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The exercise will be carried out south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the western seaboard, over two days.

Also read: India – US Relations


3. Toycathon 2021

Context:

Union ministers jointly inaugurated Toycathon 2021 grand finale.

Details:

  • Toycathon 2021 is an inter-ministerial initiative organized by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with support from All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • Toycathon 2021 is a unique opportunity for Students, Teachers, Start-ups and Toy experts/professionals in India to submit their innovative toys/games concepts and win large number of prizes worth Rs. 50 lakhs.

Know more about Toycathon in PIB dated Jan 5, 2021.


4. Why do new virus waves happen?

NITI Aayog’s Member for Health has explained why new waves happen.

There are four elements leading to the formation of a new wave:

  1. Behaviour of the virus: The virus has the capacity and ability to spread.
  2. Susceptible host: Virus keeps looking for susceptible hosts for it to survive. So, if we are not protected either via vaccination or by previous infection, then we are a susceptible host.
  3. Transmissibility: The virus can become smart enough where it mutates and becomes more transmissible. The same virus which used to infect three hosts becomes capable of infecting 13. This factor is unpredictable. No one can pre-plan to fight such mutations. The change of the very nature of the virus and its transmissibility is an X factor and no one can predict when and where it may happen.
  4. Opportunity: ‘Opportunities’, which we give to the virus to infect. If we sit and eat together, crowd, sit in closed areas without masks, then the virus gets more opportunities to spread.

The Member said that even though behaviour and transmissibility of the virus are not in our hands and cannot be controlled, the other two factors, susceptibility and opportunities for infection are under our control. Hence, the only way to prevent another wave is by following all the recommended covid-appropriate behaviours and decreasing susceptibility to infection.

Read previous PIB here.

June 22nd, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

Related Links
UPSC Mains Exam Government Exams
List of Joint Military Exercises of the Indian Army
Mucormycosis
Food Corporation of India (FCI)
UNAIDS

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