SURYA KIRAN-XVI (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” between India and Nepal will be conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi (Nepal), from 16 - 29 December 2022.
About Surya Kiran-XVI:
- Exercise “SURYA KIRAN” is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare & counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and HADR under UN mandate.
- The 15th edition of Indo-Nepal joint military training exercise Surya Kiran was held in September 2021, at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
Key Highlights:
- The two armies, through these contingents, shall be sharing the experiences gained during the conduct of various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries.
- The joint exercise would focus on evolution of combined drills for planning and conduct of tactical operations at unit level in counter terrorism operations and disaster response mechanism in general and role of armed forces in management of disaster.
- During the exercise, participants will be training together to develop inter-operability and share their experience including Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations and also on Humanitarian Relief operations.
Way Forward:
- The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Public servants can be found guilty of graft on circumstantial proof: SC
(GS Paper 2, Judicicary)
Why in news?
- Recently, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the demand and acceptance of bribe or illegal gratification by a public servant can be inferred by a court on circumstantial proof in the absence of direct evidence.
What was the issue before the SC?
- The Bench was answering a reference on the question whether public servants could be convicted for corruption under Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and 13 (1)(d)(i) and (ii) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) in the absence of direct oral or documentary evidence due to unavailability of the complainant owing to his death or for any other reasons.
- The prosecution can prove its case of corruption with the help of any other witness, oral or documentary evidence or circumstantial evidence in cases in which the complainants have turned hostile. The trial would not abate or result in an acquittal.
Key Highlights:
- It said if a bribe-giver offers to pay illegal gratification without there being any demand from the public servant and the latter simply accepts the offer and receives the payment, it would be a case of “acceptance” under Section 7 of the PC Act.
- On the other hand, if the accused public servant makes a demand for a bribe and accepts the payment, it would be a case of “obtainment” and an offence under 13 (1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the PC Act.
- But both the offer by the bribe-giver and the demand and acceptance of the illegal gratification have to be effectively proved by the prosecution as a fact.
- The SC Bench interpreted that a court of law could use its discretion to make a “presumption of fact” of the offer made and bribe demanded or accepted by an accused official based on the material on record.
Valid Concerns:
- The Bench, said the “stink of corruption” has a “pervasive impact” on the efficient administration and governance of the country.
- Corrupt officials have a demoralising effect on honest public servants. Corruption by public servants has become a “gigantic problem”.
- Large-scale corruption retards nation-building activities and everyone has to suffer on that count.
IAF holds exercise in North East amid LAC tension with China
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Days after the clash between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) started a two-day exercise over the eastern sector.
Details:
- The exercises, for which India had earlier announced a NOTAM (no-fly zone) over the North East for December 15-16, are being held from Indian Air Force (IAF) bases Tezpur, Chhabua, Jorhat in Assam and Hashimara in West Bengal.
- The exercise involves all IAF combat aircraft close to the front line and other resources deployed in the region.
Key Highlights:
- Frontline aircraft including Sukhoi-30MKI and Rafale jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are taking part in the exercise.
- All forward air bases and some Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) of the IAF in the North Eastern Region are also included in the exercise.
- The IAF’s Sukhoi fighter jets are stationed at Tezpur airbase, while a squadron of Rafale fighter jets is stationed at Hasimara.
- Apart from this, Apache helicopters and transport aircraft are stationed in Jorhat. Helicopters and military transport aircraft are also participating in this two-day exercise.
Background:
- Before the recent clash between India and China in the Yangtse area near Tawang, Chinese drones had moved very aggressively towards the Indian positions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh forcing the Indian Air Force (IAF) to scramble its fighter aircraft deployed in the region.
- The Chinese military has been behaving aggressively over issues in the Yangtse in the vicinity of the Holydip and Parikrama area on the LAC where the Chinese side has been opposing Indian positions.
Way Forward:
- The Indian Air Force will conduct this exercise for the purpose of testing military preparedness.
- The purpose of the exercise is also to test the combat capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
GalaxEye plans to launch world's first multi-sensor satellite for earth observation
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- GalaxEye, a spacetech start-up in Karnataka's Bengaluru, has raised 3.5 million dollars in fresh funding as it aims to launch the world's first multi-sensor satellite for earth observation.
Key Highlights:
- The company aims to launch its own small satellite constellation, which, once fully operational, will provide global coverage in under 12 hours.
- The data fusion technology developed in-house by the firm will bring insights and data from space, enabling satellite constellations to perform all-weather imaging at all times without atmospheric interference typical of single-sensor satellites.
About GalaxEye:
- Founded in 2020, GalaxEye is the brainchild of several entrepreneurs emerging from Avishkar Hyperloop, a team of scientists brought together via global competition organised by Elon Musk’s aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company SpaceX.
