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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 19 August 2021

::NATIONAL::

Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme

In order to boost domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS).

About:

The scheme would run for the duration of five years and envisages setting up of 6-8 Greenfield Defence Testing Infrastructure facilities that are required for defence and aerospace related production.
The projects under the scheme will be provided with up to 75 per cent Government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’.

Key highlights:

Scheme to boost domestic defence & aerospace manufacturing.
Rs 400 crore outlay to create state-of-the-art testing infrastructure in partnership with industry.
Scheme was launched by RM in May 2020.
Project consultant/officer can be contacted for clarification.

Kigali Amendment

The Union Cabinethas given its approval for ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by India, adopted by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on October, 2016 at 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held at Kigali, Rwanda.

Benefits:

HFC phasedown is expected to prevent the greenhouse gas emissions, helping prevent climate change and would benefit the people.
The industry producing and consuming Hydrofluorocarbons will be phasing out Hydrofluorocarbons as per the agreed schedule under and transition to non-HFC and low global warming potential technologies.

Implementation strategy and targets:

National strategy for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons as per the applicable phase down schedule for India will be developed after required consultation with all the industry stakeholders by 2023.
Amendments to the existing legislation framework, the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules to allow appropriate control of the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons to ensure compliance with the Kigali Amendment will be done by mid-2024.

Major Impact, including employment generation potential:

Hydrofluorocarbons. phasedown is expected to prevent the emission of up to 105 million tonne of carbondioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
Implementation of HFC phase down under the Kigali Amendment through the adoption of low-global warming potential and energy-efficient technologies will achieve energy efficiency gains and carbon dioxide emissions reduction - a "climate co-benefit,"
HFCs phrase down implementation will involve synergies with on-going government programmes and schemes of the Government of India with the objective to maximize the economic arid social co-benefits, besides environmental gains.
There would be scope for domestic manufacturing of equipment as well as alternative non-HFC and low-global warming potential chemicals to enable the industry to transition to the low global warming potential alternatives as per the agreed HFC phase down schedule. In addition, there would be opportunities to promote domestic innovation for new generation alternative refrigerants and related technologies.

Details:

Under the Kigali Amendment; Parties to the Montreal Protocol will phase down production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons, commonly known as HFCs.
Hydrofluorocarbons were introduced as non-ozone depleting alternative toHydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, they have high global warming potential ranging from 12 to 14,000, which have adverse impact on climate.
Recognizing the growth in use of HFCs, especially in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, reached agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) held in October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to add HFCs to the list of controlled substances and approved a timeline for their gradual reduction by 80-85 per cent by the late 2040s.
India will complete its phase down of HFCs in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047.
All amendments and adjustments of the Montreal Protocol, prior to the Kigali Amendment have Universal support.

Background:

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, is an international environmental treaty for protection of the Ozone Layer by phasing out the production and consumption of man-made chemicals referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS). The stratospheric ozone\ layer protects humans: and the environment from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 19 June 1992 and since then has ratified the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. Though the present approval of the Cabinet, India will be ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons.
India has successfully met the phase out targets of all the Ozone Depleting Substances as per the Montreal Protocol Schedule

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::INTERNATIONAL::

United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress

The Global Geospatial Information Community was sensitized about the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) to be organized by India in October 2022.

About:

The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) every four years with the objectives of enhancing international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.
The first UNWGIC was organized by China in October 2018.
The UNGGIM has entrusted the responsibility of organizing the second UNWGIC to India during October 2022. India will organize the event as a part of the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (Celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence)".

Ebola Virus

Recently, Ivory Coast recorded its first Ebola Virus casein nearly 3 decades.

About:

Ivory Coast or Cote d’Ivoire (Capital:Yamoussoukro) is part of Western Africa and largest exporter of Cocoa beans.
Ebola Virus Diseases, also known as EbolaHaemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and primates.
First discovered in 1976, Ebola is a zoonotic disease spreading from wild animals to human and through direct human population contact.

::ECONOMY::

GAUREX

National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) launched agri-index futures contract GAUREX.

About:

GAUREX is a price based index tracking the price movement in the futures contracts of its underlying i.e. Guar Seed and Guar Gum Refined Splits on a real-time basis.
It is India’s first sectoral index in agri-commodities basket.
India is the world’s largest Guar producer accounting for 80-85% of the world’s output. Rajasthan is the country’s top producer.
NCDEX is a leading agricultural commodity exchange in India.

::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Visceral Leishmaniasis

Indian researchers have developed a non-invasive, easy to administer, cost-effective, and patient compliant potential therapeutic strategy against Visceral Leishmaniasis.

About Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL):

It is a complex infectious disease transmitted by the bite of female Phlebotomine sandflies.
It is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions annually, making it the second mostcommon parasitic killer after malaria.
The conventional treatment therapy of VL mainly involves painful intravenous administration,which imposes many treatment complications, including prolonged hospitalization, high cost,and high risk of infection.

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