Current Affairs 22nd September 2018

Current Affairs 22nd September 2018 - Important Points

• Ministry of Home Affairs, ISRO sign MoU to modernise Emergency Response on - 20th September 2018
• India puts four more nuclear facilities under - IAEA safeguards
•  International Day of Peace 2018 observed globally on - 21st September 2018
• National Database on Sexual Offenders launched by - Government
• India successfully test fires short-range Prahaar missile on - 20th September 2018 

Current Affairs 22nd September 2018 - Details

Ministry of Home Affairs, ISRO sign MoU to modernise Emergency Response on - 20th September 2018

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the ISRO on September 20th, 2018 inked a MoU for forming the state- of-the-art Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response- ICR-ER in Ministry of Home Affairs.   The Memorandum of Understanding was inked by Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), Sanjeev Kumar Jindal on behalf of Ministry of Home Affairs and Deputy Director, NRSC, ISRO PVN Rao.
Highpoints of the agreement

• Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Indian Space Research Organisation will render its technical expertise for setting up of proposed Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response.
  The project will be performed under overall supervision of the MHA. 
• The planned Control Room is likely to be initiate in next one-and-a-half year.
• The Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response will cater to the need of Disaster Management and Internal Security also. 
• Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response will address the need of receipt of information on near real-time basis.
• It will also address strategic level monitoring, situation alertness, command and control, preparedness and response in the miscellaneous internal security situation and disaster related emergencies. 
• Hence, it will goal to upsurge the operational effectiveness and will be accommodating in rendering timely response during various emergency situations.

India puts four more nuclear facilities under - IAEA safeguards

India has decided to place 4 extra reactors under IAEA protections. It was proclaimed Sekhar Basu,
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission at 62nd General Conference of International Atomic Energy
Agency organised in Vienna, Austria. The 4 reactors comprise 2 Russian-designed Pressurised Light
Water Reactors and 2 Pressurised Heavy Reactors being constructed with Indian technology. With this,
sum of 26 Indian nuclear amenities will be now under International Atomic Energy Agency protections.
More about IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

• International Atomic Energy Agency is an international group that looks forward to encourage the
  peaceful usage of nuclear energy, and to constrain its usage for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
• It was recognized as an autonomous organization in 1957 via its own international treaty, the
  International Atomic Energy Agency Statute.
• Its HQs are in Vienna, Austria. International Atomic Energy Agency serves as international nuclear energy watchdog, autonomous of UNs but reports to both United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
  IAEA Safeguards
• They are system of inspection and verification of peaceful usages of nuclear constituents as part of
  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• These protects mainly restates importance to International Atomic Energy Agency in its central role in advancement of atomic energy for nonviolent usage and prosperity of the mankind while preserving its due support in protections.
• International Atomic Energy Agency protections activities are undertaken by Department of Safeguards, a separate department within International Atomic Energy Agency.

Information Circular 66 is an agreement between International Atomic Energy Agency and member
states provides for conduct of limited protections within member state. Under it, member states identify amenities that are made available for International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards inspection.
Besides, Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1968 needs signatories to become members
of International Atomic Energy Agency and non-nuclear weapons states accomplish comprehensive
safeguards agreements under INFCIRC 153.

International Day of Peace 2018 observed globally on - 21st September 2018

The International Day of Peace was celebrated worldwide on September 21st, 2018 to observe the efforts of those who have worked hard to finish conflict and encourage peace. The International Day of Peace is also a day of end of hostilities.
2018 Theme: “The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”

Important Highlights

• Present year’s theme observes the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is a milestone document in the history of human rights.
• The Announcement was accepted by the UNs General Assembly in Paris on December 10th, 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all countries.
• The Universal Declaration is the most interpreted document worldwide, available in above 500 languages.
• It states in Article 3 that Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and these elements shape the groundwork of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
• The International Day of Peace was recognized in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the UNs General Assembly to accord with the opening session of the assembly, which was organised yearly on the 3rd Tuesday of September.
• The 1st International Day of Peace was celebrated in September 1982.
• In 2001, the General Assembly, by undisputed vote, accepted resolution 55/282, which recognized 21st September as a yearly day of non-violence and cease-fire also.

National Database on Sexual Offenders launched by - Government

 Union Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated India’s National Database of Sexual Offenders. With this,
India became the 9th Country to preserve such thorough database. National Database of Sexual
Offenders will not be accessible for general public but only to law enforcement agencies for effectively
tracking and inspecting cases of sexual offences
 National Database on Sexual Offenders

• National Database of Sexual Offenders is an initiative under National Mission for Safety of Women
  aimed at restricting crimes against children and women.
• It will mostly have database of sexual offenders in the nation imprisoned under charges of rape, gang rape, POCSO and eve teasing 2005 onwards.
• It will have database of crucial details of sentenced sexual offenders including their names, residential address, photographs, fingerprints, DNA samples, Aadhaar numbers and PANs details.
• It will be preserved by National Crime Records Bureau for regular monitoring by State Police. Presently, database has 4.4 lakh entries. State Police will regularly upgrade the database from 2005 onwards.

India successfully test fires short-range Prahaar missile on - 20th September 2018

India on September 20th, 2018 fruitfully test-fired the Indian developed surface-to-surface, short-range tactical ballistic missile Prahaar from the Odisha coast.
The missile has been produced by the DRDO. It was test-fired from launch pad-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, near Balasore. It is proficient of filling the gap between the multi-barrel rocket system Pinaka and medium-range ballistic missile Prithvi.
Key Highlights

• The test was effective, as the missile travelled a range of 200 kilometres before zeroing in on the target,  attaining all mission objectives.
• The missile is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation, guidance and electromechanical actuation systems with an advanced onboard computer.
• It is equipped with an inertial navigation system and is proficient of engaging multiple targets in different directions.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation utilised various tracking radars and electro-optic equipment to track and monitor the trajectory of the missile.
• As a safety measure, 4,494 people residing in 5 villages adjacent to the missile launch site were provisionally shifted by the district administration prior to launch to nearby two shelters with compensation.
• The developed in India Prahaar missile is anticipated to further fortify the defence capabilities of the Indian Army.