Daily Current Affairs 21 October 2023 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 21 October 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Graded Response Action Plan

Source: PIB
GS II: Environment

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. What is a Graded Response Action Plan?

Why in the News?

Sub-Committee for operationalization of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to take stock of air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR.

News in Brief

• Region as well as the weather/ meteorological conditions and air quality forecasts made available by IMD/ IITM
  • The air quality parameters are likely to dip and reach the projected levels of Stage II of GRAP on 23.10.2023 and 24.10.2023, as per the dynamic model and weather/ meteorological forecast provided by IMD / IITM.
• To prevent further deterioration, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of GRAP has taken the call to invoke an 11-point action plan.
• The plan is as per Stage II of the revised GRAP in the entire NCR.
• All actions be implemented in earnest by all the agencies concerned with immediate effect in the entire NCR.
• It is in addition to all Stage-I actions of GRAP already in force.

What is a Graded Response Action Plan

• The GRAP is being implemented in four stages after the AQI touches 201.
• GRAP functions as an emergency response mechanism, triggered by the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
• It brings together various stakeholders, implementing agencies, and authorities to tackle worsening air quality situations in Delhi-NCR.
• The Graded Response Action Plan is divided into four stages

Different Stages

• Stage I – ‘Poor’ Air Quality
  • DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300
• Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality
  • DELHI AQI ranging between 301-400
• Stage III – ‘Severe’ Air Quality
  • DELHI AQI ranging between 401-450
• Stage IV – ‘Severe +’ Air Quality
  • DELHI AQI > 450

Stage I of GRAP 11 Point Action Plan

• Carry out mechanical/ vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling of the identified roads on a daily basis.
• Ensure water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants (at least every alternate day, during non-peak hours) on roads to arrest road dust, especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills.
• Intensify inspections for strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites.
• Ensure focussed and targeted action for abatement of air pollution in all identified hotspots in NCR. Intensify remedial measures for the predominant sector(s) contributing to adverse air quality in each of such hotspots.
• Ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate power Generating sets/ equipment (DG sets etc.).
• Strictly implement the schedule for regulated operations of DG sets across all sectors in the NCR including Industrial, Commercial, Residential offices etc. in accordance with Direction No. 76 dated 29.09.2023.
• Synchronize traffic movements and deploy adequate personnel at intersections/traffic congestion points for a smooth flow of traffic.
• Alert in newspapers / TV/radio to advise people about air pollution levels and Do’s and Don’ts for minimizing polluting activities.
• Enhance Parking fees to discourage private transport.
• Augment CNG/ electric bus and metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service.
• Resident Welfare Associations to necessarily provide electric heaters to security staff to avoid open Bio-Mass and MSW burning during winters.

Stage II of GRAP 12 Point Action Plan

• Mechanical/vacuum-based sweeping of roads to be carried out on a daily basis.
• Ensure water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants (at least every alternate day) on roads to arrest road dust, especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas (before peak hours) and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills.
• Regular inspection and strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites.
• Do not allow coal/firewood including in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants and open eateries.
• Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity/ clean fuel gas-based appliances. Enforce guidelines for the use of anti-smog guns at construction sites.
• Ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage the use of Generator sets.
• Stop the use of Diesel Generators (DG) except for the following emergent and essential services
• Synchronize traffic movements and deploy adequate personnel at intersections/ traffic congestion points for a smooth flow of traffic.
• Alert in newspapers / TV/radio to advise people about air pollution levels and Do’s and Don’ts for minimizing polluting activities.
• Enhance Parking fees to discourage private transport.
• Augment CNG/ electric bus and metro services by procuring additional fleets and increasing the frequency of service.
• Resident Welfare Associations to provide electric heaters during winter to security staff to avoid open Bio-Mass and MSW burning.

Stage III of GRAP 9 Point Action Plan

• Intensified frequency of mechanised/ vacuum-based sweeping of roads.
• Daily water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours, on roads and right of ways including hotspots, heavy traffic corridors and proper disposal of the collected dust in designated sites/ landfills.
• Intensification of public transport services. Introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel.
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) Activities restrictoin
• Industrial operations restriction
• Close brick kilns, and hot mix plants which are not operating on fuels, as in the standard list of approved fuels for NCR.
• Close down operations of stone crushers.
• Ban / Close down mining and associated activities in the NCR.
• State Governments in NCR/ GNCTD may impose restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4-wheelers).

Citizen Charter under GRAP

• People to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles.
• Use technology, and take less congested routes even if slightly longer.
• Regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in your automobiles.
• Avoid dust-generating construction activities during the months of October to January.
• Avoid open burning of solid waste and biomass.

Project UDBHAV

Source: PIB
GS III: Internal Security

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Project UDBHAV
3. United Service Institution of India (USI)

Why in the News?

Minister of Defence Shri Rajnath Singh launched Project UDBHAV during the inauguration of the Indian Military Heritage Festival.

News in Brief

• Raksha Mantri inaugurated the first edition of the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi.
• The two-day festival aims to celebrate India’s rich military culture and heritage, through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling and exhibitions.
• Festival seeks to create a benchmark in the domain of public engagement with military history.
• Public engagement through interaction while adhering to the goals for developing the Armed Forces in the 21st century.

About Project UDBHAV

• Project UDBHAV, is a collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India (USI).
• It is an endeavour to revisit the roots of India’s ancient military thoughts.
• Udbhav means origin or genesis
  • The name acknowledges the vintage scriptures and writings of our Nation.
• It spans centuries in the past.
• Contains profound knowledge that can benefit modern military strategies.
• It will facilitate an in-depth understanding of our knowledge systems and philosophies.
• Also aim to comprehend their enduring connect, relevance and applicability in the modern day.

What is the aim of Project UDBHAV?

• Combine historical knowledge with modern military tactics.
• It aims to create a distinctive and comprehensive strategy to deal with current security issues.
• Through the UDBHAV Indian Army has launched a groundbreaking effort that aims to combine traditional knowledge with modern military education.
• It will facilitate under-explored thoughts and theories related to strategic thinking, statecraft and warfare, foster deeper understanding and contribute to enriching military training curricula.

India’s Ancient Military Thoughts

• Chanakya’s Arthashastra
  • Literature like Chanakya’s Arthashastra underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, alliances and diplomacy.
  • It aligns with modern military practices such as international cooperation and soft power projection.
  • Chanakya’s teachings on statecraft and warfare are studied by various institutions the world over.
• Thirukkural
  • The classical Tamil text authored by Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil philosopher.
  • It advocates ethical conduct in all endeavours, including warfare.
  • This aligns with modern military codes of ethics of just war and principles of the Geneva Convention.
• Ancient Rulers 
  • Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Cholas flourished and expanded in influence, during their times.
• Naval Battle of Saraighat in 1671
  • Example of the use of clever diplomatic negotiations to buy time.
  • Employ psychological warfare, focus on military intelligence and exploit the strategic weakness of the Mughals.
  • Fought between the Ahom Kingdom and the Mughal Empire.
  • Happened on the banks of Brahmaputra. 
  • Ahom Kingdom was led by Lachit Borphukan and the Mughal Empire was led by Raja Ram Singh.
  • Ahoms won this battle
    • In 1672 after the death of Lachit Borphukan Guwahati was taken back by the Mughals in 1679.
  • Again in 1682 the region was taken back by Ahoms in the Battle of Itakhuli.

Indian Military Heritage Festival

Source: PIB
GS III:  Internal Security

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Military Heritage Festival
3. United Service Institution of India (USI)

Why in the News?

Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first edition of Indian Military Heritage Festival.

News in Brief

• The two-day festival aims to celebrate India’s rich military culture and heritage.
• Evolved over the centuries, through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling and exhibitions.
• It will primarily bring forward different understandings and perspectives through panel discussions by eminent scholars, practitioners and serving as well as retired officers.
• Also launched Project Udbhav, a joint collaboration of the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India.

About Military Heritage Festival

• People are largely unaware of the different facets of the military History of India.
• The festival seeks to create a benchmark in the domain of public engagement with military history and heritage through interaction
• Also adhering to the goals for developing the Armed Forces in the 21st century.
• The Festival give a new thrust to the study of Indian military culture, traditions & history.
• It will add tangible value to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
• It also provides a platform for discussing various contemporary issues relating to India and the world pertaining to security, strategy and international relations.
• Showcase military culture through military band performances, including the Army Symphony Band presentation and Brass band displays and a Cultural Gala Evening.
• An exhibition to highlight and celebrate select milestones and achievements in the nation’s long and illustrious military history is being organised in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Heritage, the Ministry of Culture.

Bharat Tex 2024

Source: PIB
GS III: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Bharat Tex 2024

Why in the News?

Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal lauded industry bodies of the textile sector for their initiative in organising Bharat Tex 2024- the world’s biggest-ever textiles event in the world.

News in Brief

• Bharat Tex 2024 Expo is not just an event but a testament to India’s commitment to becoming a global textile powerhouse.
• With innovation, collaboration, and the Make in India spirit at its core, this expo is the embodiment of India’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
• Making products not just for India but for the entire world.
• The industry to build brands that are globally recognised and simultaneously build India is a brand.

About Bharat Tex 2024

• Bharat Tex 2024” is scheduled to be held from 26-29 February 2024 at New Delhi.
• It is envisaged to be the biggest textile event at the global level, with exhibitors and buyers from over 40 countries.
• It would be a comprehensive showcase of the entire textile industry value chain, from India’s rich cultural heritage and textile traditions to the latest technological innovations.
• With over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors from 40 countries, this mega event would include knowledge sessions, seminars and conferences, CEO roundtables, B2B & G2G meetings, besides strategic investment announcements, product launches and collaborations that would redefine the textile industry on a global scale.
• Live demonstrations, cultural events, and fashion presentations will provide an exceptionally creative and engaging environment, providing insights into the realms of textile, fashion, sustainability, and style originating from the heart of India.
• Designer, as well as brand exhibitions, fashion shows, sustainability workshops and expert talks, shall be the other highlights of the event.
• It is being planned as a consolidated and unique platform to position and showcase India’s entire textile value chain and also highlight strengths in fashion, traditional crafts and sustainability initiatives.

Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1)

Source: PIB
GS III:  Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Test Mission
3. About Gaganyaan Mission

Why in the News?

Test flight success of Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) this morning heralds successive sequential trial flights before the final Gaganyaan launch.

News in Brief

• Single engine rocket carrying an early depressurised version of  Gaganyaan Crew Module (CM) to an altitude of around 17 Kilometre followed by final descent using a parachute for its splashdown.
• A critical step in the ISRO journey to launch a crewed human spacecraft through the Gaganyaan mission.
• Way for a series of tests of systems and procedures with the aim of ultimately launching an Indian astronaut into Space, possibly around the year 2025.

About Test Mission

• It tested the safety mechanism that will allow the crew of the Gaganyaan mission to escape the spacecraft in case the mission is aborted due to a malfunction.
• Objective of Mission
  • Test vehicle subsystems are evaluated and demonstrated in flight.
  • Evaluation and flight demonstration of the CES, encompassing several separation mechanisms.
  • Features of the crew module include demonstrating the higher-altitude deceleration mechanisms and their recovery.
• The crew module successfully separated from the launch vehicle and the Indian Navy successfully recovered the module.
• With a rocket based upon the GSLV L40 stage, TV-D1 was to be launched up to 11 km above sea level, where an in-flight abort scenario would be initiated.
• The capsule was expected to then continue another 4–5 km.
• The mission aimed to test the CES’s separation from the rocket, ability to maintain a trajectory leading to a safe distance, and eventual parachute deployment.

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