Dharma Guardian 2023 (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Recently, the 4th edition of joint military exercise, “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN”, between India and Japan is being conducted at Camp Imazu in Shiga province, Japan from 17 February to 02 March 2023.
- It is an annual training event with Japan, is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of current global situation.
- The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi urban/urban terrain.
Key Highlights:
- Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and an Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution.
- The joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN Mandate, in addition to developing inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
- The training will focus primarily on high degree of physical fitness and sharing of drills at the tactical level.
- During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of establishing integrated surveillance grids, including employment of aerial assets.
Way Forward:
- “Exercise Dharma Guardian” will further enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces, furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Indian Railways launches Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service (Joint Parcel Product of Railways and India Post)
(GS Paper 3, Infrastructure)
Why in news?
- Indian Railways and India Posts have formally launched Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service, Joint Parcel Product of Railways and India Post.
Details:
- It is an initiative of partnership between Indian Railways and India Posts in providing seamless logistics for the services sector in the country. This is in compliance with the Budget Announcement of FY 2022-23.
- It has been started, on the four sectors -Delhi to Kolkata; Bangalore to Guwahati, Surat to Muzaffarpur and Hyderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin. However, total 15 sectors have been planned to be covered in the first phase.
- The highlights of this service are Total logistic Service: Pick-Up and Delivery at customer premises, Palletization -Transportation through covered and sealed boxes, Semi-mechanized handling, Time tabled service, Insurance at 0.05% of the declared value of the cargo for loss, damage and deterioration, Integrated Parcel Way Bill.
- Joint Marketing Teams between Posts and Railways have been made to take this initiative forward. Doing away with the slab system of pricing is an innovation herein.
Salient Features for Customers:
- Door step Pick-Up and Delivery: India Post will pick up the consignment at the doorstep of the customer and transport to the Railway Station (first mile activity) and at the destination railway station, India Post will transport the consignment from the station to the destination address and deliver the consignment at the doorstep of the addressee (last mile activity).
- Flexibility of Quantum of Load: There is no fixed obligation of loading as party can book small load of 100 kg also.
- Time Tabled Service: Parcel Train operated under JPP Scheme is a time tabled train with scheduled departure and arrival of Train at Originating, intermediate and Destination stations which
- Safe Transmission: Indian Railways will provide intermediate transmission between origin and destination railway stations (middle mile activity), in secured sealed boxes, ensuring safe and secured passage through time tabled trains.
- Insurance: Dept. of Post offers third party insurance facility at an affordable rate of 0.03% of cargo value to the customers availing JPP Service.
- Affordable Tariff: First mile and last service charges at Rs 6/- per kg gives competitive and cost effective solution to the customers in comparison to existing road rates.
- Single Point of Contact: India Post will be the single point of contact for the customer for the despatch of consignment from pick up till delivery.
- Mobile Application: A mobile app is being developed where customers availing JPP service can book the consignment with online payment facility and also can track the status of consignment with live tracking facility.
Background:
- Earlier, a Pilot weekly service was launched on 31st March 2022 from Surat to Varanasi by attaching a VPU to Tapti Ganga Express.
- After the Budget announcement in 2022-23, proof of concept has been conducted on the textile segment from Surat and now after conducting 99 trials on single Parcel Van mode and 16 trials on full train load mode, Railways have decided to launch this combined initiative across the network.
Deep-sea mining may disrupt whale communication, study finds
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- Noise produced by mining the seabed for nickel, cobalt and other metals for the green energy transition could interfere with whales' ability to navigate the ocean depths and communicate with one another, according to a recent study.
- The study argues that more research is needed to assess the risk deep-sea mining could pose to large marine mammals, although researchers did not collect field data themselves.
Why it matters?
- Potato-sized rocks filled with battery metals blanket vast swathes of the ocean floor at depths of 4 to 6 kilometers (2.5 to 3.7 miles). Several companies have proposed to essentially vacuum those nodules from the seabed and process their metals for use in electric vehicle batteries.
- The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a Jamaica-based United Nations body, may approve deep-sea mining for international waters as soon as this summer. Leaders in France, Fiji, Canada and Germany have voiced concerns about the practice.
Ongoing project:
- Supporters of deep-sea mining say it would lessen the need for large mining operations on land, which are often unpopular with host communities.
- The Metals Company Inc (TMC.O) and others are pushing ahead with plans to extract these nodules from the Clarion Clipperton Zone, an ocean region in the northern Pacific where the ISA has granted 17 seabed mining exploration licences.
- An estimated 22 to 30 cetacean species, including endangered blue whales, live in the area.
Way Forward:
- Previous research on ocean noise has found whales can suffer negative effects from deep-sea mining. One study found man-made noise could increase the risk of humpback whale mothers being separated from their calves because their normal vocalisations are quiet.
- Far more research is needed to determine how deep sea mining could affect aquatic ecosystems.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020 and 2021
(Miscellaneous)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (UBKYP) 2019, 2020 and 2021, were presented at Meghdoot Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
Details:
- Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy of Music, Dance and Drama, and the apex body of the performing arts in the country, in the meeting of its General Council in November 2022 selected 102 artists (including three joint awards) of India who have made a mark as young talents in their respective fields of performing arts for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020 and 2021.
- 19 artists from the North East region of the country have won the award which shows the changed circumstances of the region.
About Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:
- The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, given to artists up to the age of 40 years, was introduced in the year 2006 with the objective of identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of the performing arts and giving them national recognition early in their life, so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields.
- The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs 25,000/- (Rupees twenty-five thousand only), an Angavastram and a plaque.
Ustad Bismillah Khan:
- The legendary shehnai player, Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of India's most celebrated classical musicians.
- He brought Shehnai to the center stage of Indian classical music with his concert in the Calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937.
- He was a recipient of many honors and awards. These include: Padma Vibhushan (1980), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma Shri (1961), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1956) etc.
- In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan became the third classical musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
