11 March 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

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

March 11^th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships.

Context:

Ministry of Commerce & Industry will be organising the 14^th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships, in association with Confederation of Indian Industry and EXIM Bank of India in New Delhi.

Details:

• The Conclave will mark the pre-eminence of India-Africa partnership in the area of ‘South-South Cooperation’, at a time when the global economy is faced with intractable challenges that stem from rising protectionism and trade conflicts.
• The India-Africa bilateral partnership is augmented by India’s ascendency as the fastest growing major economy, as well as Africa’s new economic dynamism illustrated by some of the Sub-Saharan economies which are among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world.
• The knowledge sessions at the Conclave will focus upon the potential areas for bilateral economic and business partnerships, core capabilities of Indian and African enterprises and opportunities for joint ventures thereof, innovative financing of significant development projects, skill development and capacity building.

Significance:

• The event will mark the deepening of India-Africa economic and business ties and pave the way for a whole range of cross-border project partnerships.
• The annual Conclave, since its inception in 2005, brings senior Ministers, policy makers, officials, business leaders, bankers, technologists, start-up entrepreneurs and other professionals from India and Africa on a common platform in a spirit of partnership.
• The Conclave coheres into the Indian Government’s broader vision of long-term engagement with Africa. The Government of India’s unflinching commitment to expanding the canvas of India-Africa economic partnership which is evident from the increase in bilateral trade between India and Africa by nearly 22% from last year touching USD 62.66 billion in the year 2017-18.

The deliberations will be guided by long-term goals and objectives:

1. Scaling up India-Africa bilateral trade volume to USD150 billion in the next few years
2. Encouraging Indian exporters to access the African countries and increase their presence in the region
3. Enabling geographical and product diversification of Indian exports to Africa
4. Enhancing manufacturing exports of Africa by optimal utilisation of Duty Free Tariff Preference scheme and capacity building support from India
5. Expanding Indian investments in areas like infrastructure, agriculture and food-processing, energy, services, IT and knowledge industries.

PINAKA 

Context:

Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the Guided PINAKA from Pokhran ranges.

Details:

• The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.
• In both the missions, the weapon systems impacted the intended targets with high precision and achieved desired accuracies.
• Telemetry Systems tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. All the mission objectives have been met.

About PINAKA:

• Multi-Barrel Rocket System PINAKA, an area weapon system to supplement the existing artillery gun at ranges beyond 30 kms, having quick reaction time and high rate of fire has been accepted by the user after extensive trials.
• There are two variants of PINAKA MBRS:
  • PINAKA Mark – 1: which is unguided system with a range of 40 km.
  • PINAKA Mark – 2: it is the new upgraded guided system with enhanced range of 75 km. Mark – II version is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit.
• It can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds and PINAKA rocket is capable of carrying 100 kg payload for a range of 40 km.
• A single PINAKA battery can neutralise a surface area of 700m X 500m. The system can engage targets with a circular error probability (CEP) of one to two percent of range.

India and Bangladesh, jointly unveil e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh.

• Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh, jointly unveiled e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh, through video conference.
• Both leaders unveiled e-plaques for supply of buses and trucks, inauguration of 36 community clinics, 11 water treatment plants, and extension of National Knowledge Network to Bangladesh.

March 11^th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

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