18 Nov 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ISRO successfully launched India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket
2. Third 'No Money for Terror' Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing
3. Draft ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022’
4. Fifth Naturopathy Day

1. ISRO successfully launched India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket

Syllabus: GS 3, Science and Technology.

Prelims: Vikram-suborbital rocket.

Mains: Awareness in the field of space.

Context: ISRO launched the first private Vikram-suborbital rocket.

Details:

• In a new beginning for India in its space journey, India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket was successfully launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Vikram-S is developed by Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian space-tech start-up.
• This development has placed India among the frontline space powers of the world and many other aspiring countries will resort to Indian expertise.
• Vikram-S is a single-stage fuel rocket developed to test systems and processes in Skyroot Aerospace’s project before the launch of Vikram-1.
• It can go up to an altitude of 81.5 kilometres and the overall duration of the launch is around 300 seconds only.
• Vikram-S carried three payloads in space (one from a foreign customer).
• It should be noted that Skyroot was the first startup to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for launching its rockets.
• The Union Minister for Science and Technology informed that as a result of space reforms, there are nearly 102 start-ups working in the areas of space debris management, launch vehicle, nano-satellite, etc.

For more information on Vikram-S rocket, read here: Vikram S Rocket

2. Third ‘No Money for Terror’ Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing

Syllabus: GS 3, Security.

Mains: Linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

Context: ‘No Money for Terror’ ministerial conference.

Details:

• The third ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing was held in New Delhi.
• The two-day conference would offer a unique platform for participating countries to discuss the effectiveness of the existing international regime on Counter Terrorism Financing and the steps required to address emerging challenges, particularly advanced technologies.
• It was highlighted by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that “Only a uniform, unified and zero-tolerance approach can defeat terrorism.”
• It was emphasized during the meeting that it is important to break the support networks of terrorists and hit their finance source for the safety of the citizens.
• At times activities like money laundering and financial crimes are also used in terror funding.

Background Details:

• The earlier two conferences were held in Paris in 2018 and Melbourne in 2019.
• About 450 delegates including ministers and heads of organizations like the Financial Action Task Force would attend the conference.
• The conference will work towards strengthening global cooperation to deny finances to terrorists.
• Four sessions of deliberation will be held during the conference, on the following topics:
  • Global Trends in Terrorism and Terrorist Financing
  • Use of Formal and Informal Channels of Funds for Terrorism
  • Emerging Technologies and Terrorist Financing
  • International Cooperation to Address Challenges in Combating Terrorist Financing

For more information on the conference, read here: PIB Summary for UPSC Exam for 12th Nov 2022

3. Draft ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022’

Syllabus: GS 3, Science and Technology; GS 2, Polity

Mains: Awareness in the field of IT and computers.

Prelims: Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022.

Details:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released a draft Bill with the title ‘The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022’.
• The intent behind the bill is to ensure the processing of digital personal data in a way that recognizes both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process personal data for lawful purposes.
• The bill outlines the duties and rights of the citizen (Digital Nagrik). It also mentions the obligations of the Data Fiduciary to use collected data lawfully.
• It is based on the principle of the digital economy.
• It will establish a comprehensive legal framework to govern digital personal data protection in India.

Also read: Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019

4. Fifth Naturopathy Day

Syllabus: Current events of national importance.

Prelims: Naturopathy Day.

Details:

• The fifth Naturopathy Day was celebrated on 18th November across the country.
• The theme of the fifth Naturopathy Day was – “Naturopathy: An Integrative Medicine”. Its purpose was to spread the message of a patient-oriented approach to naturopathic treatment.
• Naturopathy Day is observed every year since 2018. It was the day on which Mahatma Gandhi became a Life Member of the Nature Cure Foundation Trust and signed the deed.
• Mahatma Gandhi is considered the founder of naturopathy in India because it was a result of his efforts that this practice became popular in the country.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

November 18th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here