Current Affairs 6th November 2018

Updated : 06-Nov-2018

Current Affairs 6th November 2018 - Important Highlights

• Night trial of Agni-I ballistic missile  conducted by - India
• Location tracking devices, emergency buttons mandatory for new public service vehicles by- Government
• USITC rules against anti-dumping duty on PTFE resin from  - India, China 
• Ministry of Food Processing Industries issues guidelines for Operation Greens on - 5th November 2018
• Indian Coast Guard launches new Offshore patrol vessel - ICGS Varaha
• India, South Korea signed MoUs for strengthening cooperation in field of - Tourism and sports
• Union Home Ministry releases Rs 113 crore to 6 Border States for development on - 5th November 2018
• US exempts India, China from its sanctions for buying Iranian oil on - 5th November 2018
• India’s nuclear submarine INS Arihant completes first ‘deterrence patrol’ on - 5th November 2018

Current Affairs 6th November 2018 - Details

Night trial of Agni-I ballistic missile  conducted by - India

India has effectively completed night user trial of Agni-I short ranged nuclear capable ballistic missile. The trial flight was accomplished by Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command off Abdul Kalam Island in Bay of Bengal, off the coast of the Indian state of Odisha. The trail was 2nd known night-time test of Agni-I since its 1st such successful test in April 2014.
More about Agni-I missile

• Agni-I is short-range nuclear proficient surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It is 1st missile of the Agni series released in 1983.
• It was established by premier missile development laboratory of Defence Research Development Laboratory in association with Research Centre Imarat and united by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.
• It weighs about 12 tonnes and is 15m long. It is fabricated to transfer payload of above 1 tonne (both conventional and nuclear warhead).
• It is single stage missile powered by solid propellants. It can hit target 700 kilometres away. Its strike range is extendable by reducing its payload. It can be fired from either road or rail mobile launchers.
• It is loaded with sophisticated navigation system which make sure it hit the target with accuracy and precision.
• The missile already has been initiated into armed forces. It is also claimed to be a part of India’s
  least trustworthy deterrence under No first to use policy.

Location tracking devices, emergency buttons mandatory for new public service vehicles by- Government

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways alerted that all new public service vehicles, excluding auto rickshaws and e-Rickshaws, registered on and afterward January 1st, 2019 will have to be mandatorily fitted with Vehicle Location Tracking and Emergency Buttons. 
In case of older public service vehicles, registered up to December 31st, 2018, the particular State Governments will notify the date by which these vehicles have to install VLT Device and Panic Buttons. 
The Vehicle Location Tracking device creators would support in providing the back-end services for monitoring the device with an aim to make sure safety of passengers especially females.
Operational procedure for implementation of VLT cum Emergency buttons 

• The Ministry has passed an advisory to all the states for this.
• The States are needed to make sure execution of this order and check fitment and functional status of the Vehicle Location Tracking device in the public service vehicles at the time of checking of the vehicles for fitness certification.
  Command and Control Centres will be formed by the State/ Vehicle Location Tracking builders/any other agency authorised by the State Government.
• These centres will deliver information to the ‘VAHAN’ data base of the State with regard to the over speeding device “healthstatus”.
• The details of each Vehicle Location Tracking device will be uploaded on the VAHAN database by the Vehicle Location Tracking device producers using its protected authenticated access.
• The Vehicle Location Tracking device producers will install the Vehicle Location Tracking devices in public service vehicles and register the devices along with details of vehicle on the equivalent backend systems in real-time.
• Vehicle Location Tracking device creators will get their devices tested for conformity of production every year following the 1st certification from the testing agencies as per to the Rule126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

USITC rules against anti-dumping duty on PTFE resin from  - India, China 

The United States International Trade Commission governed against putting an anti-dumping duty on the import of an artificial fluoropolymer from India and China. The fluoropolymer is an important ingredient in the non-stick coating for pans and other cooking utensils.
It is non-reactive, due to the power of carbon-fluorine bonds and thus, it is often utilised in containers and pipework for corrosive chemicals. When used as a lubricant, polytetrafluoroethylene decreases friction, wear and energy consumption of machinery. It is also normally used as a graft material in surgical intercessions as well as used as a coating on catheters.
The United States International Trade Commission noted in its governing that polytetrafluoroethylene
resin from India and China were traded in the United States at less than fair value. 
Key Highlights

• The United States International Trade Commission declared that no anti-dumping duty orders will be released on the imports of polytetrafluoroethylene resin from China and India, as a result of its negative purposes.
• The counsel for the foreign exporters in this proceeding, Dharmendra Choudhary, informed that an anti-dumping order would have been released without this remarkable success at United States International Trade Commission.
• The counsel said that the federal American body usually sides with the United States domestic industry. He said that given the tremendously paltry success rate of foreign exporters in United States International Trade Commission proceedings, this exceptional victory of Indian polytetrafluoroethylene exporters is all the more notable.
• The decision is supposed to oblige as a springboard for the Indian polytetrafluoroethylene exporters to cement their position in the United States market. 
• Without the orders, polytetrafluoroethylene imports from India would have been subject to an
  antidumping duty of 22.78%.
• In addition, the Indian polytetrafluoroethylene exporters would also have been imperilled by a costly and time-consuming yearly cycle of administrative review of the anti-dumping order.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries issues guidelines for Operation Greens on - 5th November 2018

The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries on November 5th, 2018 permitted the operationalisation strategy for Operation Greens.  The Operation Greens was declared in the Budget speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of Rupees 500 crores to stabilise the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato crops. It will make sure availability of Tomato, Onion and Potato crops throughout the nation round the year without price instability.
Assistance and eligibility 

• The pattern of assistance will include of grants-in-aid at the price of 50% of the entitled project cost in all areas, subject to maximum Rupees 50 crores per project. 
• Qualified Organisation who will be qualified to take part in the program would comprise State Agriculture and other Marketing Federations, Farmer Producer Organizations, cooperatives, companies, Self-help groups, food processors, logistic operators, retail and wholesale chains; and central and state governments.
• The claimant fulfilling the entitlement criteria under the plan is needed to submit the online application on “SAMPADA” portal of the ministry attaching therewith complete documents.
  Major Objectives
• To enhance value realisation of Tomato, Onion and Potato farmers by targeted interventions to fortify Tomato, Onion and Potato production clusters and their Farmer Producer Organisations.
• Price stabilisation for producers and consumers by appropriate production planning in the Tomato, Onion and Potato clusters.
• Reduction in post-harvest losses by formation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agro-logistics, and formation of suitable storage capacity involving consumption centres.
• Rise in food processing capacities and value addition in Tomato, Onion and Potato value chain.
  Setting-up of a market intelligence network to gather real time information on demand and supply and price of Tomato, Onion and Potato crops.

Indian Coast Guard launches new Offshore patrol vessel - ICGS Varaha

Indian Coast Guard initiates new Offshore patrol vessel ‘ICGS Varaha’ at L&T Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai. It is 4th in the series of 98 M Offshore patrol vessels outlined and assembled indigenously by Larsen & Toubro.
More about ICGS Varaha

• It is equipped with advanced technology navigation and communication instrument, sensor and
  machinery.
• Its weapon power consists of One 30mm and Two 12.7mm guns with fire control system.
• It has been intended to attain maximum speed of 26 knots and has durability of 5,000 nautical miles.
• It also fitted with an Integrated Bridge System, Automated Power Management System, Integrated
  Platform Management System, and High-Power External Fire Fighting system.
• It can transport 1 twin engine helicopter and 4 high speed boats, including 2 inflatable boats, for boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.
• It will also be enabling of transporting pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.
  Did you know?
  In March 2015, Union Defence Ministry had presented contract to Larsen & Toubro for building 7 Offshore patrol vessels awarded. The 1st and 2nd ships of this project already have been distributed to Indian Coast Guard and are currently based in Western Coast and Eastern Coast of India and 3rd Offshore patrol vessel will be delivered in primary 2019. The shipyard will deliver all 7 ships by March 2021.

India, South Korea signed MoUs for strengthening cooperation in field of - Tourism and sports

India and South Korea inked 2 MoU for solidifying assistance in field of Tourism and sports during the visit of the 1st Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jung-sook, to India. 1st Lady Kim was the Chief Guest at the Deepotsav programme held by UP and at the ceremony of the new Memorial of Queen Suriratna (Heo Hwang-ok) in Ayodhya.
MoU on cooperation in the field of Tourism and sports

• The Union Ministry of Tourism inked a MoU with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea for fortifying collaboration in the field of Tourism.
•   Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons and Do Jong-hwan, South Korean Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sports signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
• Another Memorandum of Understanding was inked by Minister of State of Youth Affairs and Sports
  Rajyavardhan Rathore and the Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan.
• To increase bilateral cooperation in tourism sector and exchange of data related to tourism.
• To inspire cooperation between tourism shareholders including hotels and tour operators with exchange programs for assistance in human resources development.
• To inspire investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors with exchange visits of tour operators and media for promotion of two-way tourism.
• To encourage safe, honourable and sustainable tourism with exchange of coaches, athletes, experts Exchange of scientific and methodical materials and dual training for athletes and officials.
• Involvement in sports event, seminars, symposia and conferences.

Union Home Ministry releases Rs 113 crore to 6 Border States for development on - 5th November 2018

purpose The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on November 5th, 2018 issued Rupees 113.36 crores to Six Border States under the Border Area Development Programme to advance the condition of people living in these isolated sites.
These Six Border States are Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
With this, so far, the Home Ministry has issued a sum of Rupees 637.98 crores during 2018-19 to states
having International Border. These funds were in totalling to Rupees 1100 crore released in 2017-18 for the all-round development of villages situated along the International Border in 17 states.
Border Area Development Programme

• The BADP was initiated in the year 1986-87 for balanced development of border areas of States bordering Pakistan namely, J&K, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan and then it was extended to all the land borders.  
• Nowadays, the Border Area Development Programme covers 111 border districts in 17 states to complete special development requirements of border population with a emphasis on the people living within 50 kms of the International Border.
• The 17 states are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, HP, J&K, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
• The Border Area Development Programme schemes consist building of primary health centres, schools, and supply of drinking water, community centres, and drainage to enable sustainable living in border areas.
• It includes advancement of sports activities in border areas, promotion of rural tourism and border tourism, and safety of heritage sites.
• As many as 61 model villages are being established under the Border Area Development Programme to recover the quality of life for the border population.

India’s nuclear submarine INS Arihant completes first ‘deterrence patrol’ on - 5th November 2018

Indian PM Narendra Modi on November 5th, 2018 declared that India’s 1st indigenous nuclear submarine ‘INS Arihant’ has successfully accomplished its “1st deterrence patrol"
The expansion indicates the underwater warship has finished its maiden long-range mission with live
nuclear-tipped missiles. On the event, PM Narendra Modi congratulated all people complicated in the
process, especially the crew of INS Arihant for the great achievement.
Key Highlights

• The 6,000 tonnes INS Arihant was under development for 3 decades under a highly classified program, comes under the direct control of the Nuclear Command Authority led by Prime Minister Modi.
• Succeeding the successful completion of its deterrence patrol INS Arihant can now be measured a fully functional underwater ballistic missile delivery platform. 
• The ballistic missile submarine is a planned asset as it can fire city destroying missiles from anywhere in the sea and continue undetected for a long duration. 
• It can also snitch closer to the coast of an enemy country and fire ballistic missiles far-deep into their territory, which otherwise cannot be touched by land-based short ranged ballistic missiles.

US exempts India, China from its sanctions for buying Iranian oil on - 5th November 2018

The USA on November 5th, 2018 provisionally exempted 8 nations, including India from the Unite States approvals for buying Iranian oil.  Talking during a press conference in Washington, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared the list of the nations that are temporarily exempted from the approvals. The nations include India, China, Japan, Italy, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.
The main aim of the US is to famish the Iranian regime of the revenue it utilises to fund violent and
destabilising actions throughout the Middle-East and around the world.
Key Highlights

• 2 among the relieved 8 nations have already completely finished imports of Iranian crude oil and will not resume as long as the United States approves regime remains in place.
• The United States is seeking to continue negotiations to get all of the countries to bring down their crude imports from Iran to nil.
• More than 20 importing countries have already zeroed out their imports of crude oil, taking above One million barrels of crude every day off the market.
• The Iranian regime, since May to till date, has vanished more than USD 2.5 billion in oil revenue.
• Besides this, 100% of the revenue Iran receives from the sale of oil will be seized in foreign accounts.
• Iran would only be capable to utilise the money for humanitarian trade/bilateral non-sanctioned goods.