Current Affairs 14 October 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 14 October 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Indian Army Signs Mou With Eleven Banks For Agniveer Salary Package

Source : PIB
GS III : Internal Security

What is discussed under Indian Army Signs Mou With Eleven Banks For Agniveer Salary Package?

1. Agnipath scheme
2. About MoU

Why in News ?

The Indian Army has signed an MoU with 11 banks for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrollment.

Key Facts

• The Indian Army has signed historic MoU with 11 Banks viz State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrollment.
• The features and benefits offered under Agniveer salary package are similar to defence salary package.
• The banks have offered soft loans to exiting Agniveers to promote and enhance their entrepreneurial skills.

Agnipath Scheme

• The Agnipath initiative, which was unveiled on June 14, calls for the hiring of young people between the ages of 17 and a half and 21 for a four-year period with the option of keeping 25% of them for an additional 15 years.
• The government raised the maximum age to 23 for recruitment in 2022.
• Those selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.
• The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers to be recruited this year.
• The armed forces will have “a younger, fitter, diverse profile” to face future challenges.
• Enrolment will be undertaken through an online centralised system
• Payments : Agniveers will be paid a customised package of Rs 30,000 per month with a fixed yearly increment.
  • In addition, risk and hardship, dress and travel allowances will be paid.
  • On expiration of their engagement period, agniveers will get a one-time Seva Nidhi package that includes their monthly contribution as well as a matching contribution from the government.
• Skill Training : The degree programme will provide Agniveers the chance to pursue the civilian careers of their choice by recognising the in-service training they have earned as credits toward graduation.
  • Skills training will make up 50% of the credits needed for a graduate degree.
  • Rremaining 50 per cent credits will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics etc
  • The curriculum complies with the National Credit Framework, National Skill Qualification Framework, and University Grants Commission (UGC) standards as required by the new National Education Policy (NEP).

SCO-RATS Against Terror Groups In Afghanistan

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

What is discussed under SCO-RATS Against Terror Groups In Afghanistan?

1. About the discussion
2. Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)

Why in News ?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) recently voted on cooperative actions by member nations to fight threats presented by transnational terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan. 

Key Facts

• The choice was made during a meeting of the RATS council that India hosted in its capital.
• The SCO-RATS Council decided to plan and carry out a cooperative border operation utilising the resources of the border services of the responsible authorities of the SCO member states.
• Expert groups were authorised to work on border cooperation and preventing the use of the Internet by terrorists, separatists, and extremists.
• The meeting also decided to organise a military exercise called Solidarity- 2023.
  • The exercise will take place in China.

Indian Railways Electrification

Source : PIB
GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

What is discussed under Indian Railways Electrification?

1. Indian Railways Electrification
2. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification

Why in News ?

Indian Railways has embarked upon an ambition plan of electrification of its complete Broad Gauge network which would not only result in a better fuel energy usage resulting in increased throughput, reduced fuel expenditure but also savings in precious foreign exchange.

Key Facts

• During the FY 2022-23, till September 2022, Indian Railways has achieved 851 Route Kilometers (RKMs) as compared to 562 RKMs during the corresponding period of FY 2021-22.
• It is 51.4% more than the previous year figures of the corresponding period. The target set for electrification during this Financial Year is 6500 RKMs.
• It is worth mentioning that record electrification of 6,366 RKMs was achieved in Indian Railways’ history during 2021-22.
• Earlier, highest electrification was 6,015 RKM during 2020-21.
• Out of 65,141 RKM of BG network of IR (including KRCL), 53,098 BG RKM have been electrified, which is 81.51% of the total BG network.

Indian Railways Electrification

• Indian Railways will run entirely on electricity by 2024 according to an announcement made by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on January

  

  27, 2020.

• Indian Railways has set a target to complete Electrification of its Broad gauge network by December 2023.
• Indian Railways will be the first railroad to run entirely on electricity in such a scenario.
• Additionally, by 2030, Indian Railways wants to have a zero-emission network.
• India uses 25 KV 50 Hz AC traction on its electrified tracks. 

Reason for Electrification

• To reduce the carbon footprint
• 50 per cent cheaper and efficient than diesel
• Operational and maintenance cost is less
• Subsequent reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions

Central Organisation for Railway Electrification

• The electrification work is being done by the Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE).
• It was founded in 1961.
• The headquarters of CORE is located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot Website for AFBCWF

Source : PIB
GS II : Internal Security; Welfare Schemes

What is discussed ?

1. Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF)

Why in News ?

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot website for contribution to the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF) at a function organised at the National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi.

Key Facts

• Need for Website : Government has initiated a large number of welfare schemes for the soldiers killed or disabled during active

  

  combat operations, there has been a strong public sentiment and requests from citizens, corporate heads, banks and industry captains to contribute to the cause of welfare of the soldiers and their families.

• The website will enable people to contribute online directly into the fund.
• A certificate of online contribution can also be downloaded.
• However, the conventional systems of donations will continue and donate through a Demand Draft drawn in favour of AFBCWF

Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF)

• The AFBCWF is a Tri-Service fund, which is utilised for grant of immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers/sailors/airmen who lay down their lives or get grievously injured in active military operations.
• AFBCWF originally came into existence through “The Gazette of India : Extra Ordinary” Notification.
• The objective of this fund is to provide financial support to Battle Casualties of Indian Army, Indian Navy & Indian Air Force, their Next of Kin (NoKs)/ dependents etc.
• There is no upper limit of contribution towards this fund.

INS Arihant Successfully Sires SLBM

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

What is discussed under INS Arihant Successfully Sires SLBM?

1. INS Arihant

Why in News ?

Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).

Key Facts

• The test is significant for the SSBN programme, a crucial element of  India’s nuclear deterrence capability.

  

• The missile tested to a predetermined distance hit the target region in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy.
• The weapon system’s operational and technological specifications have all been verified.

INS Arihant

• India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile-capable submarine, INS Arihant, is part of the SSBN programme.
• Arihant was launched on 26 July 2009.
• Arihant has four vertical launch tubes, which can carry 12 smaller K-15 missiles or four larger K-4 missiles.
• An 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor[22] with enriched uranium fuel powers the vessel.

K-4 is a nuclear capable Intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile range of range of about 3,500 km. Code names K-15 or B-05 also known as Sagarika is an Indian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 750 kilometres.

Sub-surface ballistic nuclear 

• Sub-surface ballistic nuclear : a nuclear-powered submarine carrying and launching ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons.

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