October 3 2019 : PIB Summary & Analysis

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

October 3rd, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

Vayoshreshtha Sammans

Context:

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Vayoshreshtha Sammans – a scheme of National Awards for senior citizens of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in New Delhi.

About the Vayoshreshtha Sammans:

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment decided to initiate a national awards scheme for senior citizens in 2005.
• The Vayoshreshtha Sammans is conferred upon senior citizens and institutions in recognition for their service to the elderly, especially indigent senior citizens.
• The award scheme was elevated to the level of national awards in 2013 under 13 categories.
• The awards are given every year.
• The awardees are announced on 1^st September and distributed on 1^st October. 1^st October is observed as the International Day of Older Persons.
• The recipients receive a citation, a plaque and a cash award.

About the International Day of Older Persons:

• This day is observed on 1^st October every year.
• It was initiated by the UN in 1990 and the first International Day of Older Persons was marked in 1991.
• The day is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.
• Theme for 2019: The Journey to Age Equality.

KAZIND -2019

Context:

The 4^th edition of the annual military exercise KAZIND between the armies of India and Kazakhstan commenced at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.

About KAZIND:

• The aim of this exercise is joint training of troops in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations in both jungle and mountainous terrains.
• As part of the exercise, lectures, demonstrations and drills related to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations will be conducted.
• Both the armies will also share their valuable experiences in countering such situations and also refine drills and procedures for joint operations whenever the need so arises.
• The current 4^th edition is a 13-day exercise with about 100 soldiers from both sides participating in the event.
• KAZIND is conducted every year with the venue being India and Kazakhstan alternatively.

Exercise Ekuverin

Context:

The 10^th edition of the joint military exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force will be organised in October 2019 at Aundh Military Station in Pune, Maharashtra.

About Ekuverin:

• The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in Dhivehi (Maldivian language) since 2009.
• The 14-day joint exercise is held alternatively in India and the Maldives.
• The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two forces for carrying out counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a semi-urban environment under the United Nations mandate.
• The focus of the exercise will be on sharing best practices and acquainting each other with the operating procedures being followed while undertaking counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

Exercise Nomadic Elephant-XIV

Context:

The 14th edition of the Indo – Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Nomadic Elephant-XIV, will be conducted over a period of 14 days at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

About the Exercise Nomadic Elephant:

• The bilateral exercise is aimed at training troops in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.
• The joint exercise will enhance defence cooperation and military relations between the two nations.
• It is an ideal platform for the armies of both countries to share their experiences and best practices and gain mutually during the joint training.
• The joint training aims at evolving various tactical drills in counter-terror environment like convoy protection drill, room intervention drills, ambush/counter-ambush drills, while jointly conducting counter-terrorist operations under the UN mandate.
• The joint training will also lay emphasis on conducting operations by a cohesive subunit, comprising of troops from both the armies, in an adverse operational conditions thus enhancing the interoperability between the two armies.
• The exercise is an annual event being held since 2006.

National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC)

Context:

The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) has been designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Priority Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy.

Details:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) formally announced the re-designation of the NHSRC as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Priority Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy.
• Previously, NHSRC as a collaborating centre has supported WHO in formulating technical specifications for medical devices such as oxygen concentrators and resuscitation devices and continues to support evaluation of innovations for WHO’s compendium on innovative devices.
• This year in collaboration with WHO’s country’s office, NHSRC developed a guidance document for the Ministry’s free diagnostics initiative to further strengthen the agenda of Universal access to affordable diagnostics.
• NHSRC also works with WHO on development of technical specification of Blood pressure measuring devices, In vitro diagnostics and devices for cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

About the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC):

• Established in 2006, the NHSRC’s mandate is to assist in policy and strategy development in the provision and mobilization of technical assistance to the states and in capacity building for the Ministry of Health.
• It was set up under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) of the Government of India to serve as an apex body for technical assistance.
• The goal of this institution is to improve health outcomes by facilitating governance reform, health systems innovations and improved information sharing among all stakeholders at the national, state, district and sub-district levels through specific capacity development and convergence models.

PRAKASH Portal

Context:

Union Ministers launch PRAKASH portal for transparency and better coordination in coal supplies to power plants.

About the PRAKASH Portal:

• The portal aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders, namely, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Coal, Coal India, Railways and power utilities.
• This is an important step in ensuring adequate availability and optimum utilization of coal at thermal power plants.
• PRAKASH is an acronym for ‘Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony’.
• The portal is designed to help in mapping and monitoring the entire coal supply chain for power plant in:
  • Coal supply at stock end (mines)
  • Coal quantities/rakes planned
  • Coal quantity in transit
  • Coal availability at power generating station
• Benefits of the portal:
  • Coal companies will be able to track stocks and coal requirements at power stations for effective production planning.
  • The Indian Railways will plan to place the rakes as per actual coal available at siding and stock available at power stations.
  • Power stations can plan future schedules by knowing rakes in the pipeline and the expected time to reach stock at power generating station.
  • Ministry of Power /Ministry of Coal/ CEA/ POSOCO can review overall availability of coal at thermal power plants in different regions.
• The present system of an inter-ministerial group which met once a week to review the coal supply situation was found to be cumbersome and faced several issues like scattered information, correctness of data from different organizations, timely availability of data, etc. which often led to difficulties in decision-making.
• The PRAKASH Portal is developed by NTPC (which is an electric power distribution PSU).

Audio Odigos

Context:

The Ministry of Tourism launches an Audio Guide facility App “Audio Odigos” for 12 sites of India (including Iconic Sites).

Details:

• Audio guide Odigo offers the Government of India verified content, with visuals & voice over support.
• With this App, tourists can enjoy a more enriching experience and take back historical insights into Indian culture and heritage.
• The Audio Odigos App contains an inbuilt map of the site for smooth navigation during the tour.
• Listeners will be offered various versions of history like synopsis, detailed history and podcasts.
• The audio can be chosen in their preferred language.
• Audio Odigos can be downloaded on all Android and iOS supported mobile phones.

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