Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Kargil victory was symbol of India’s might: Narendra Modi

News

• Prime Minister said victory in the Kargil war was a symbol of India’s might and its security will remain impregnable with dedication of the armed forces.

     Kargil War

• The Kargil War, also known as theKargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LOC). In India, the conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay  which was the name of the Indian operation to clear the Kargil sector

Beyond News

• Speaking at an event marking 20th anniversary of Kargil war, Prime Minister said some countries were resorting to proxy war to spread terrorism and that time has come for united global efforts to deal with it.
• Prime Minister said the nation’s security has been impregnable and it will remain so.
• Prime Minister said modernisation of defence forces was a key priority for his government.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

India’s promised health units yet to take off in Nepal

News

• India had agreed to build hundreds of health centres after the 2015 earthquake destroyed them in Nepal but not a single unit has been built so far, Nepali officials have told.

Beyond News

• The Indian government had agreed to give a grant of $150 million for building health units in Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Rasuwa, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Gorkha, Nuwakot, Kavrepalanchowk and Kaski districts. These districts were among the worst affected by the earthquake.
• Nearly 1,000 health centres were destroyed across Nepal during the devastating earthquake of April 2015 and rebuilding work for the same was agreed during the donors’ conference held subsequently.
• As a result of lack of infrastructure, many health centres in remote mountains of Nepal continue function from damaged structures in difficult conditions.
• Officials said that a detailed project report is yet to be prepared for the much required health units of the Himalayan country which has been unable to address its crucial health requirements after the 2015 earthquake.

U.S. approves sales worth $125 million to support Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets

News

• Days after the meeting between President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pentagon notified the Congress of its decision to approve military sales worth $125 million that would result in 24×7 end-use monitoring of the F-16 fighter jets of 

Beyond News

• Pakistan has used the F-16 fighter jets against India, the latest being in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike inside Pakistan by India.
• According to the statement, Pakistan had requested a continuation of technical support services, US government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support to assist in the oversight of operations in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 programme.
• In its notification, the Pentagon asserted that the proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
• The aircraft order by Pakistan was designated as “Peace Drive I”, continuing with a long tradition of naming the F-16 international sales programmes with the word “Peace”.
• The programme raised the total number of F-16s ordered by Pakistan to 54. The Pakistan Air Force received its first F-16, in the block 15 F-16A/B configuration, in 1982. The country has been operating the Lockheed Martin aircraft since 1963, when it received C-130B airlifters.

IAF gets first batch of 4 Apache attack helicopters from US

News

• S. aerospace major Boeing handed over the first four of the 22 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force while another batch of four choppers will be delivered next week.

Beyond News

• The delivery of the first batch of the AH-64E Apache helicopters to the IAF at the Hindan air base came nearly four years after a multi-billion dollar deal for the choppers was sealed.
• The AH-64E Apache is one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, and is flown by the US Army. The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters.
• Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. This will be its first fleet of attack choppers.
• The company has delivered more than 2,200 Apaches to customers around the world since the aircraft entered production and India is the 14th nation to select it for its military.
• The AH-64E has the latest technology insertions, maintaining its standing as the world’s best attack helicopter.
• The AH-64E Apache for the Indian Air Force completed successful first flights in July 2018. The first batch of Indian Air Force crew began their training to fly the Apache in the US in 2018.
• It is the only available combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement. For the AH-64 E, this includes greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding.
• It is uniquely suited to meet the commander’s needs, including reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack – in both land and littoral environments – all without reconfiguration.

WHO recommends use of innovative HIV drug

News

• Based on new evidence assessing benefits and risks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of the HIV drug dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential.

Beyond News

• Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception.
• But new data from two large clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of DTG and efavirenz (EFV) in Africa have now expanded the evidence base. The risks of neural tube defects are significantly lower than what the initial studies may have suggested.
• DTG is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs. It also has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance, which is important, given the rising trend of resistance.
• In 2019, 12 of the 18 countries surveyed by WHO reported pre-treatment drug resistance levels exceeding the recommended threshold of 10%.
• All the above findings informed the decision to update the 2019 guidelines, WHO noted.
• In 2019, 82 low- and middle-income countries reported to be transitioning to DTG-based HIV treatment. The new recommendations aim at helping more nations improve their HIV policies.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Corpn.: no waste to be sent to dumpyards after Dec. 2020

News

• Chennai Corporation has permitted 18 firms to start biodegradable waste processing services for onsite home composting.

Beyond News

• The civic body has permitted 12 firms to recycle non-biodegradable waste generated by residents and traders. At least 4,000 locations across the city will soon get decentralised waste processing facilities of the Corporation, offering services free of cost. However, the 30 private agencies will offer waste processing services for a fee.
• Chennai Corporation generates 5,200 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day in the 15 zones covering 426 sq km of the city. The civic body has developed waste processing facilities in parks, playgrounds, burial grounds and OSR lands, for handling 650 tonnes of waste every day.
• In addition to the private agencies, micro-composting centres have been proposed at 28 locations.

Cleaning Yamuna: U.P., Haryana, DDA, DJB slammed for inaction

News

• A National Green Tribunal-appointed monitoring committee on the issue of cleaning of Yamuna river, in a recent report, has attacked the UP and Haryana governments, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Jal Board for their inaction.
• Experts say that the Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the country.

Beyond News

• The green tribunal-appointed body attacked the Haryana government in the report for their “laxity”.
• NGT may consider reprimanding the officers of the Haryana Pollution Control Board for their inability to discharge their statutory functions and lack of any regulatory vigil or control over 96 industrial pollution and other activities like sand mining and building bunds on the Yamuna.
• There are multiple drains which flow from UP and Haryana into Yamuna and pollute the river.
• NGT had directed setting up of 32 decentralised sewage treatment plants in its judgment dated 13.01.15. Even after four years not a single STP from this list of 32 STPs has yet been set up.
• The monitoring committee also lashed at the DDA over ten projects the latter is working on aimed at restoring the Yamuna floodplain.

Predicting pollution levels using oceans’ memory

News

• Researchers from China and the U.S. have been successful in predicting air pollution levels in northern Indian States.
• The model they have developed shows 75% accuracy in predicting pollution levels, and the prediction can be done even a season in advance.

Findings

• The model takes into account certain climatic patterns related to the ocean which have a regulatory effect on the wintertime air pollution over northern India. Studying these patterns can help predict pollution levels.
• India has been emerging as one of the world’s most polluted countries, with particulate matter PM 2.5 levels spiking more than 999 microgram per cubic metre in parts of Delhi last year.
• Studying a combination of El Nino, Antarctic Oscillation and the anomalies in sea surface temperature during autumn (September-November), can help forecast the pollution conditions in winter (December-February).
• The statistical model developed by the team can also help the government in adjusting policies and strategies for pollution control before winter comes.
• It is known that the aerosol over an area is modulated by meteorological conditions and circulation patterns. Stagnant weather conditions such as low wind speeds and descending air can favour rapid aerosol formation and accumulation. Understanding these climatic factors which influence the wintertime haze pollution can help foresee the future ventilation conditions too.
• Also, the ocean data serves as a memory and large-scale climate patterns like El Nino can tell what the weather conditions and pollution will be, nearly a season in advance
• The team constructed a computer model which incorporates the El Nino and Antarctic Oscillation data for autumn. Climatic data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S for the period 2003- 2018 and the aerosol optical depth observed by various satellites were also used.
• It will help identify if the weather conditions will be favourable or unfavourable for pollution, helping the government frame a more stringent pollution control plan if needed.
• The Antarctic Oscillation does not act directly to influence Indian climate but affects the Indian Ocean Meridional Dipole which in turn plays a role in climatic conditions.

Over 25 million affected by flooding in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, says UN

News

• At least 600 people have been killed and over 25 million others affected by flooding due to the torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and 

Beyond News

• According to the UN’s humanitarian personnel, more than 25 million people have been affected by flooding due to the torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Myanmar, with more than half a million people displaced, our humanitarian colleagues tell us.
• In India, UNICEF is working with the state governments to provide multi-sectoral planning and coordination support in the three worst-affected states of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
• The UN agency said that while many areas remain inaccessible due to damage to roads, bridges and railways, the most urgent needs for children are clean water, hygiene supplies to prevent the spread of disease, food supplies and safe places in evacuation centres for children to play.
• In India, more than 10 million people have been affected across Assam, Bihar, parts of UP and other north-eastern states, including more than 4.3 million children.
• As the situation develops, these numbers are only likely to increase.
• In Assam alone, almost 2,000 schools have been damaged by floodwaters. While parts of India have been suffering from heavy rainfall and flooding, other parts are still reeling from the aftermath of severe heat and water deficit, affecting almost half of the country.
• Last week, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides across Nepal, India and Bangladesh have killed at least 93 children, and put the lives of millions more at risk.
• UNICEF estimated that more than 12 million people, including about five million children, have been affected.
• UNICEF warned that while individual extreme weather events cannot specifically be attributed to climate change, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather – including recent high temperatures, intense rains and slow-moving weather fronts – are in line with predictions of how human activities are affecting the global climate.
• Meanwhile, health-focused relief and development organisation Americares said its chapter in India, Americares India, is organising medical teams to treat survivors of the monsoon rains that have inundated South Asia.
• Beginning next week, Americares India will organise medical teams in three districts in Assam and two districts in Bihar, where continuous rains and contaminated water have heightened health concerns.
• The teams, operated in partnership with local health care organisations, will provide medical care and dispense medications as needed. Americares also plans to deliver hygiene kits.
• Americares India, based in Mumbai, provides emergency medical and humanitarian aid in response to floods, cyclones, earthquakes and other disasters.

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