11 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 5th India - Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment
2. Detection of Coronal Mass Ejection
3. NCRB

1. 5th India – Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment

Syllabus: GS II, Bilateral Agreements involving India

Mains: Challenges and Opportunities of the India-Canada bilateral trade.

Context: The 5th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment commenced between India and Canada in New Delhi. 

Highlights of the Dialogue:

• The two countries will work towards further strengthening the robust trade and economic partnership.
• There has been a strong sense of satisfaction over the recovery of bilateral trade after the economic contraction as a result of the pandemic with an increment of 12% growth rate in the bilateral trade.
• Discussions were held to highlight the growth of two-way Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) that adds to the deepening of economic and trade ties. 
• Measures to create an investor-friendly business ecosystem will be adopted by both countries. 
• Enhanced partnerships and cooperation will be witnessed in the areas such as agro-products, chemicals, footwear, textiles, automobiles, energy, electronics, minerals, metals, urban development, information technology and tourism.
• India – Canada bilateral centre will be set up for dedicated science and technology activities between the two countries. 
• The countries decided to work towards affordable healthcare as India is a partner for Canada in supplying quality and affordable pharmaceutical products, especially generic medicines. 
• Both sides agreed to re-launch the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement considering an interim agreement which is also called the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA).
• EPTA will be in consonance with the norms of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
• Canada agreed to speed up the assessment of the request for the Conformity Verification Body (CVB) status to APEDA. This will facilitate the export of Indian organic products. 

Significance:

• This dialogue will provide a sustainable momentum to build linkages and strengthen cooperation across sectors to extract the full potential of trade and investment between India and Canada.
• The Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment is a significant institutional mechanism for forging bilateral trade in broad avenues boosting the economic cooperation between both countries.

Explore more about India- Canada Relationship in the linked article.

2. Detection of Coronal Mass Ejection

Syllabus: GS III, Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology 

Prelims: Facts about Coronal Mass Ejection

Context: A simple technique of separating the constant background of the Solar corona unleashing the nitty-gritty of corona dynamics, has been developed by Indian researchers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in association with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (an autonomous institute under DST). 

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): These are dynamic structures in the Solar Corona that act as the driving force of space weather near Earth’s space. 

Read more about Coronal Mass Ejection in the linked article.

What was the Challenge?

• It is a difficult task to identify the Coronal Mass Ejection through the radial distances in the images taken in the traditional coronagraphs.
• The density of the outermost layer of the atmosphere of the sun decreases with the distance radially outwards. 
• As the intensity of the corona observed in white light depends on the density of particles in the atmosphere, it decreases exponentially. 
• If the contrast between the constant corona and transient CMEs is not high, the detection of CME becomes challenging. 

About the new method:

• The new method developed by the Indian researchers has been named Simple Radiant Gradient Filter (SiRGraF).
• This method is capable of separating the background revealing the dynamic corona. 
• This method eliminates the constant background and brings out the transient corona along with the reduction in the radial decrease in intensity.
• Therefore, this method offers a better field view of the CMEs facilitating their identification.

Image Source: earthmagazine.org

3. NCRB

Syllabus: GS III, Challenges to Internal Security through Communication networks

Prelims: About NCRB

Mains: Role of NCRB in formulating the strategy to maintain law and order. 

Context: The National Crime Records Bureau celebrated its 37th Foundation day  inspiring all agencies involved in the maintenance of law and order in the country.

Read in detail about NCRB in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

March 11th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here