IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-01

Third warmest March in 121 years recorded over India: IMD

Source: Indian Express

News

• India recorded its third warmest March in 121 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated in its monthly report for March 2021.

Third warmest March

• The monthly maximum temperature recorded over the country last month was 32.65 degrees Celsius versus a normal of 31.24 degrees (reference with 1980-2010), making March 2021 also the warmest since 2011 over the country.
• The minimum and mean temperatures recorded over India last month were also above normal, the IMD mentioned in its report.
• Both the day and night temperatures during the second half of March showcased an increasing trend, especially over parts of central India and Rajasthan. The overall increase in temperatures was observed on a day-to-day basis and was not due to any particular weather.
• But what is worrying is the below normal rainfall reported in March, with the country clocking a deficiency of 45.2 per cent. Generally, convective activities begin in March and sporadic thunderstorms are reported from most parts of the country.
• In all, seven western disturbances crossed the extreme northern regions of India. These eastward propagating wind systems, originating from the Mediterranean Sea, cause rain or snowfall along its path. Normally, there are four such systems recorded in March.
• Due to active western disturbances, the western Himalayan regions, mainly over Jammu and Kashmir, received widespread rain and snowfall, in March. Some of these systems also brought hail and thunderstorms over parts of central India.
• With these consecutive western disturbances, heat conditions over north India, particularly Delhi, Punjab and neighbouring regions, remained in check.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-02

e-Committee Supreme Court of India calls for comments suggestions and inputs on the draft vision document for its 3rd phase of eCourts project.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• In another major initiative the eCommittee Supreme Court has prepared the draft vision document  for Phase III of the eCourts Project under the auspices of the Supreme court of India.

Objectives: The objectives of the eCommittee include:Interlinking of all courts across the country; ICT enablement of the Indian judicial system; Enabling courts to enhance judicial productivity, both qualitatively and quantitatively; Making the justice delivery system accessible, cost-effective, transparent and accountable; and Providing citizen-centric services.

E-Courts Project 

• E-Courts Project is a mission mode project undertaken by the Department of Justice, Government of India.
• The eCommittee Supreme Court of India released the Draft Vision document for Phase III of the aforementioned e-Courts Project.
• The eCommittee of the Supreme Court has been overseeing the implementation of the eCourts Project, conceptualized under the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005”.
• The eCommittee has evolved in terms of its roles and responsibilities over the last fifteen years.
• A solid foundation for the objectives of the eCommittee has been substantially achieved in the first two phases of the Project.
• Phase III of the eCourts Project in India is rooted in two central facets access and inclusion.
• Phase III of the eCourts Project envisions a judicial system that is more easily accessible irrespective of geographical distances, efficient and equitable for every individual who seeks justice, makes more efficient use of human and other resources, and absorbs the latest technology for a positive environmental impact.

Vision for Phase III is sought to be built on four building blocks

• Core Values: Phase III must strive for a modern judicial system, governed by core values of trust, empathy, sustainability and transparency which, while simplifying procedures, will maximise the positives of technology and minimise its risks and challenges.
• Whole-of-system approach: Phase III must aim to make processes more efficient across all three components of dispute management i.e. dispute avoidance, containment and resolution. Each of these components will require technological integration with different institutions.
• Adoption frameworks: Phase III must focus on building strong adoption frameworks. Such frameworks must include behavioural nudges, adequate training and skill set development, feedback loops, along with the requisite mandate of law.
• Governance framework: From a governance perspective, while numerous judicial decisions have validated the use of technology in judicial processes, Phase III must address the accompanying administrative structures.

The key goals and strategy of Phase III prioritise the creation of a core digital infrastructure that can enable the development of services for dispute resolution by the judiciary and services of solutions for dispute containment and resolution by the ecosystem.

Opening Ceremony of Multinational Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• Multinational Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021(Front Runner of Peace) commenced on 04 April 2021 at Bangabandhu Senanibas, Bangladesh to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark glorious 50 years of liberation.
• Indian Army contingent of 30 personnel are participating along with contingent of Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army and Bangladesh Army from 04 Apr to 12 Apr 2021.

Aim: The aim of the exercise is to strengthen the procedures and enhance interoperability amongst neighbourhood countries to ensure robust peace keeping operations in the region.

The armies of all the participating nations will share their valuable experiences and refine their drills & procedures in Peace keeping operations.

• Military observers from USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also be in attendance throughout the exercise.

Quad navies participating in France-led exercise in eastern Indian Ocean region.

Source: Indian Express

News

• Months after navies of the member nations of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the Quad, participated in Malabar wargaming exercise in November, navies and aircraft of India, the US, Japan and Australia are participating in yet another exercise, along with the French military, in the eastern Indian Ocean region this week.

La Pérouse exercise

• The La Pérouse exercise is taking place from April 5 to April 7 and is being led by the French Navy.
• Exercise La Pérouse will witness complex and advanced naval operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea and will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies.
• The first edition of the La Pérouse joint exercise, initiated by France in 2019, included ships from Australia, Japan and the USA.
• The Embassy of France in India had said in a statement in March that this year, for the first time, India is also joining this initiative for a large-scale five-country naval exercise that will provide an opportunity for these five like-minded, high-end naval forces to develop closer links, sharpen their skills, and promote maritime cooperation throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• Indian Navy said that its participation in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with friendly navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.
• INS Satpura, with its helicopter, INS Kiltan, along with P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, are participating for the first time in multi-lateral maritime exercise La Pérouse, being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region.
• Indian Navy ships and aircraft will exercise at sea with ships and aircraft of French Navy (FN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and United States Navy (USN) during the three day exercise at sea.
• France and India will hold a large-scale Varuna bilateral exercise in the Western Arabian Sea which will involve the French aircraft carrier battle group in the coming months.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-03

DRDO develops Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard naval ships from missile attack

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack.

New three variants

• Defence Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ), a DRDO laboratory, has indigenously developed three variants of this critical technology namely Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR) meeting Indian Navy’s qualitative requirements.
• The successful development of Advanced Chaff Technology by DLJ is another step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Indian Navy conducted trials of all three variants in the Arabian Sea on Indian Naval Ship and found the performance satisfactory.
• Chaff is a passive expendable electronic countermeasure technology used worldwide to protect naval ships from enemy’s radar and Radio Frequency (RF) missile seekers.
• The importance of this development lies in the fact that very less quantity of chaff material deployed in the air acts as decoy to deflect enemy’s missiles for safety of the ships.
• The DRDO has gained the expertise to meet the futuristic threats from adversaries.
• The technology is being given to the industry for production in large quantities.

45 forest fires in 24 hrs, Uttarakhand reaches out to Centre

News

• With over 1,000 incidents of forest fire reported over the last six months, including 45 in the last 24 hours alone, Uttarakhand reached out to the Centre for helicopters and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) even as Chief Minister held an emergency meeting of state government officials.

Forest fire

• According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), over 12,000 Forest personnel have been deployed for fire-fighting operations.
• Forest Department data show that 1,028 incidents of forest fire affected over 1,359 hectares since October 1, 2020 after the rains mainly in the districts of Nainital, Almora, Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal.
• At least five people and seven animals are reported to have been killed in these fires.
• The Chief Minister attributed most of these fires to “deliberate” acts by “mischevious elements” although officials said the burning of crop residue in farms may also be a factor.