29 May 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to South China Sea 2. RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile 3. 76th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers 4. eMigrate Project 5. 77th World Health Assembly 6. Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 7. Home Voting Facility
1. Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to South China Sea
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations, GS-3, Security & Defence
Prelims: INS Kiltan
Mains: India’s engagements in the South China Sea; Sagar Doctrine
Context:
Indian Naval Ship Kiltan visited Muara, Brunei as part of the Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea.
Details:
- The port call included professional interactions, cross-deck visits and cultural exchanges.
- The ship also participated in an IN – RBN Maritime Partnership Exercise. This will enhance understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures to further reinforce interoperability.
- The visit demonstrated India’s commitment to further deepen relations between both maritime nations.
- The successful completion of this port call is a demonstration of India’s commitment to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region in consonance with its ‘Act East’ and SAGAR policies.
- INS Kiltan is an indigenously built anti-submarine Corvette.
2. RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile
Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence
Prelims: RudraM-II air-to-surface missile
Context:
RudraM-II air-to-surface missile successfully flight-tested by DRDO from Su-30 MK-I off the Odisha coast.
About RudraM-II:
- RudraM-II is an indigenously developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system meant for the Air-to-Surface role to neutralise many types of enemy assets.
- Several state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by various DRDO laboratories have been incorporated into the missile system.
- Rudram missile is the first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile designed to target enemy ground radars (surveillance, tracking) and communication stations in Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions.
- The Rudram-II is the latest version after the mark-1 version was tested four years ago by Su-30MKI, the backbone of India’s fighter fleet.
3. 76th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations
Prelims: International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers
Context:
76th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers observed on 29th May.
About the International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers:
- The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, commemorated every year on the 29th of May, is “an international day to honour the life of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace and to pay homage to all the people who have served and continue serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their utmost professionalism, dedication, and courage.”
- Each year on this day, the UN and countries across the globe pay rich tributes to the professionalism, dedication and courage of men and women who have served/ are serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions. This day also honours the memory of the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives for the cause of peace.
- 2024’s theme, ‘Fit for the future, building better together’, is about making sure UN peacekeepers have the tools they need to tackle the most pressing challenges.
India’s Contributions to UN Peacekeeping
- India has a rich legacy of contribution to UN Peacekeepers operations and is one of the largest contributors of troops.
- India has contributed services of approximately 2,87,000 troops to peacekeeping missions.
- Indian Army personnel have operated under difficult, challenging terrain and operational conditions and have displayed exemplary courage and valour, to the extent of making the supreme sacrifice to uphold the UN mandates.
- It is noteworthy that 160 Indian Army soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice to ensure peace across the globe.
- Currently, Indian Armed Forces are deployed across nine countries in peacekeeping missions, namely UNDOF, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNFICYP, MONUSCO, UNMISS, UNIFSA, MINUSCA and MINURSO.
4. eMigrate Project
Syllabus: GS-2, Govt Schemes
Prelims: eMigrate project
Context:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is entered into between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and CSC eGovernance Services India Limited to create a synergy between CSC SPV & MEA to provide the eMigrate services through CSCs in the country.
eMigrate Project:
- eMigrate project is undertaken to assist mainly the blue-collar workers going to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries.
- The project was conceptualized to address issues faced by migrant workers by making the emigration process online seamless and also to bring foreign employers and registered recruitment agents and insurance companies on one common platform aimed at promoting safe and legal migration.
- Over the years, the number of Indians going abroad for employment has been increasing as well as the contribution of remittances sent by them has been significant.
- Under this MoU, eMigrate Portal of MEA would be integrated with CSC’s portal, to provide the following eMigrate services to the citizens through Common Service Centres (CSCs):
- Facilitate registration of applicants on the eMigrate portal through CSCs.
- Facilitation of uploading and processing of the required documents for the applicants on the eMigrate portal through CSCs.
- Facilitate and support booking for medical and other services required by migrant workers or applicants registered on the eMigrate portal through CSC.
- Creating awareness about eMigrate services amongst citizens across India.
5. 77th World Health Assembly
Syllabus: GS-2, Health; International Relations
Mains: India and the WHO, Government programmes and schemes in the health sector
Context:
The Union Health Secretary addressed the Plenary Session of the 77th World Health Assembly.
Details:
- The Union Health Secretary is leading the Indian delegation at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
- The Secretary started his address by highlighting the similarities of this year’s theme, “All for Health, Health for All” with the age-old Indian tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which means the “world is one family”.
- He highlighted various programmes of the government such as Ayushman Bharat, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India’s contribution of 60% of global output for vaccine supply, the Ayush Visa scheme, etc.
India hosts side event on Digital Health at the Assembly:
- India hosted a side event on Digital health which saw participation by the Quad countries.
- The purpose of the event was to emphasize the transformative potential of Digital Public Infrastructure for Addressing Social Determinants of Health.
- It was attended by delegates from over 100 countries highlighting collaborative efforts in advancing digital public infrastructure globally.
- The Secretary highlighted the transformative role of Digital Health in ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare services, contributing to Universal Health Coverage and achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is ‘Good Health and Well-being’.
- He emphasized India’s success in implementing digital public infrastructure at scale such as Aadhaar for digital identities, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for financial transactions and effective health service delivery with Co-WIN during the pandemic.
- UWIN:
- He informed the Assembly that Co-WIN is being transformed into UWIN for the National Immunization Programme.
- It will aid in linking and providing immunization to a record 30 million newborns and mothers every year followed by Anganwadi and school health records.
- The Secretary also addressed a BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting at the sidelines of the WHA.
6. Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024
Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance
Mains: Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024
Context:
The process of granting citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 commences in West Bengal.
Details:
- The process of granting citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 has now commenced in the State of West Bengal, where the first set of applications from the State were granted citizenship by the Empowered Committee, West Bengal.
- Similarly, the Empowered Committees of the States of Haryana and Uttarakhand have also granted citizenship to the first set of applicants in their respective States, under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
- The same was done in Delhi in May 2024.
Background:
- The Government of India had notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on 11th March 2024.
- The Rules envisage the manner of application form, the procedure for processing applications by the District Level Committee (DLC) and the scrutiny and grant of citizenship by the State Level Empowered Committee (EC).
- The processing of applications is done completely through the online portal.
- In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered India up to 31.12.2014 on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution.
Read more on the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 in the linked article.
7. Home Voting Facility
Syllabus: GS-2, Governance
Prelims: ECI, Home Voting Facility
Mains: Inclusion in the electoral process in India
Context:
The facility for voting from the comfort of home for senior citizens above 85 years of age and PwDs with 40% benchmark disability was extended for the first time on a pan-India basis in General Elections 2024.
Details:
- This facility has received an enthusiastic response from voters.
- Voting from home takes place with the involvement of a full contingent of polling staff and security personnel with the secrecy of voting diligently maintained.
- Agents of candidates are also allowed to accompany polling teams to witness the process.
Read previous PIB articles here.
| Related Links | |||
| India Meteorological Department (IMD) | Kyasanur Forest Disease | ||
| Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) | Tele-MANAS | ||
| Index of Industrial Production | Skill India Mission | ||
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