13 Sep 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Pitch Black Exercise 2022
2. JIMEX-22
3. XR Startup Programme
4. Inactive & Non-existent RUPPs

1. Pitch Black Exercise 2022

Syllabus – GS 3,  Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Prelims – Exercise Pitch Black 22

Details –

• The IAF (Indian Air Force) contingent participating in Exercise Pitch Black 22 has flown back after successfully participating in the multinational exercise.

About Pitch Black Exercise 2022

• This multinational exercise was hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
• This exercise involved 17 nations, with approximately 100 aircraft and 2500 personnel.
• For the first time aircraft from Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea participated in the exercise.
• The exercise is a biennial three-week multinational large force employment exercise conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal. RAAF Base Amberley was also included this year.
• The IAF included four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft.

2. JIMEX-22

Syllabus – GS 3, Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Prelims – 6th Edition of JIMEX (Japan India Maritime Bilateral Exercise)

Context – Commencement of the 6th edition of JIMEX-2022.

Details –

• The 6th edition of JIMEX started in the Bay of Bengal.
• The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships include Izumo – a helicopter carrier and Takanami – a Guided Missile Destroyer. 
• Three indigenously designed & built warships, Sahyadri – a multi-purpose Stealth Frigate & Anti Submarine Warfare Corvettes Kadmatt and Kavaratti represent the Indian Navy (IN). Also, Jyoti – Fleet Tanker, Sukanya – Offshore Patrol Vessel, Ranvijay – Guided Missile Destroyer, MIG 29K Fighter Aircraft, Shipborne Helicopters, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft will participate in JIMEX 22.
• This bilateral exercise will be conducted in two phases – exercises at sea and harbour phase at Visakhapatnam.

Also read: Types of Warship: Brief History and Indian Navy Warships.

About JIMEX –

• JIMEX is a series of maritime exercises that started in 2012. It is conducted by the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force.
• Its fifth edition was held in the Arabian Sea in 2021.
• This exercise is a part of ongoing efforts between the two navies to ensure safe & secure international shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region. JIMEX exercise is to fortify the long-standing bond of friendship between India and Japan.

3. XR Startup Programme

Syllabus – GS 3, Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Prelims – XR Startup Programme (Extended Reality).

Context – Launch of XR Startup Programme.

Details –

• XR Startup programme is a collaboration between Meta and MeitY Startup Hub (MSH).
• The programme aims to accelerate India’s contribution towards building the foundations of the metaverse and encourage the development of Extended Reality (XR) technologies in India. XR includes AR – Augmented Reality & VR- Virtual Reality.
• This programme will support 40 early-stage startups working in developing XR technologies and will receive grants of Rs 20 lakhs each. Through this programme, startups will get mentorship in a range of domains including R&D.
• The XR Startup programme will be implemented by four institutions – IIIT Hyderabad, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Rangpo, Sikkim, IIT – Delhi and GUSEC (Gujarat University Startup & Entrepreneurship Council).

4. Inactive & Non-existent RUPPs

Syllabus – GS 2, Governance – Government Policies and Interventions. 

Prelims – RUPPs (Registered Unrecognised Political parties)

Context – Inactive and Non-Existent RUPPs.

Details –

• 253 RUPPs are declared inactive by the Election Commission of India, under Section 29A of the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA) 1951. These 253 RUPPs have not contested a single election either to the General Assembly or the Parliament Election 2014 & 2019. 
• 86 non-existent RUPPs have been deleted from the list of the register of RUPPs and are not now entitled to have benefits under the Symbols Order, 1968.
• This action against (253+86)  339 non-compliant RUPPs takes the number to 537 defaulting RUPPS since May 2022. 

RUPPs (Registered Unrecognised Political Parties) –

• The newly registered parties are considered RUPPs.
• The parties that have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become a state party are considered RUPPs.
• The parties that have never contested elections since being registered are also called RUPPs.
• RUPPs do not enjoy the benefits given to a recognised political party such as the allocation of party symbols, access to electoral rolls, time on state-owned radio & TV channels for political broadcasts, etc.

Read previous PIB here.

September 13th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here