24 Jun 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. GEMCOVAC Vaccine
2. INS Sunayna
3. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
4. INS Tarkash
5. INS Trishul

1. GEMCOVAC Vaccine

Syllabus: GS-2-Health

Prelims: Covid Vaccines, GEMCOVAC

Mains: Pharma industry in India, Indigenously-manufactured vaccines for Covid

Context: Union Minister launched GEMCOVAC® -OM, an Omicron-specific mRNA-based Booster vaccine.

What is GEMCOVAC?

• In June 2023, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved an mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine called GEMCOVAC-OM manufactured by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.
• It is a thermostable vaccine and does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for other approved mRNA- based vaccines.
• GEMCOVAC-OM is the first mRNA-based vaccine in India. 

Read more on GEMCOVAC in the linked article.

2. INS Sunayna

Syllabus: GS03-Security

Prelims:  Saryu-class patrol vessel

Mains: Combined Maritime Forces

Context: INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya.

Details:

• INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya in June 2023 towards strengthening bilateral ties with maritime neighbors on the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga. 
• On the occasion of International Day of Yoga on 21 June, a joint Yoga session was conducted onboard with the participation of Indian Navy personnel and Kenyan Defence Forces.
• A Maritime Partnership Exercise was conducted between the two navies. 
  • The crew of both Indian and Kenya Navy conducted drills in Firefighting & Damage Control, boarding exercises, asymmetric threat simulations and VBSS during the harbor phase. 
  • A HADR capsule was also conducted onboard the Kenya Navy.
• In line with the Indian Navy’s social outreach activities and community wellbeing, provisions were distributed to an orphanage at Mombasa.
• INS Sunayna also undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Kenya Naval Ship Jasiri.

INS Sunayna:

• INS Sunayna is the second Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.
• It was designed and constructed indigenously by the Goa Shipyard Limited.
• It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties.
• It was commissioned in 2013.

3. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)

Syllabus: GS03-Renewable Energy

Prelims: IREDA

Context: IREDA opens Paperless Business Centre at East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi.

Read more about IREDA in the linked article.

4. INS Tarkash

Syllabus: GS03-Security

Prelims: Talwar-class frigate

Mains: Soft power diplomacy

Context: Indian Naval Ship Tarkash made a port call to Muscat, Oman in June 2023.

Details:

• During the visit, the ship undertook myriad activities in support of the GOI initiative ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ as part of 9th International Yoga Day 2023.

About INS TARKASH:

• INS Tarkash is the second Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy. 
• It was built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2012.
• It was deployed as part of Operation Rahat which was an operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Yemen during the 2015 military intervention by Saudi Arabia.

5. INS Trishul

Syllabus: GS03-Security

Prelims: International Yoga Day 

Context: INS Trishul made a port call at Toamasina, Madagascar in June 2023.

Details:

• As part of the theme ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’, 9th International Yoga Day was celebrated during the port call.
• INS Trishul, the second of the Talwar class frigates, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 2003. The ship is fitted with a state-of-the-art weapon and sensor package and carries a multi-role helicopter.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

June 24th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here