Daily News Analysis 24th October 2018

Daily News Analysis (Prelims + Mains) – 24th October 2018

General Study – II

Topic

Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Main Nahin Hum

PM interacts with IT and electronic manufacturing professionals on the occasion of the launch of “Main Nahin Hum” Portal and App.

The portal, which works on the theme “Self4Society”, will enable IT professionals and organizations to bring together their efforts towards social causes, and service to society, on one platform.

It is expected to help catalyze greater collaboration towards the service of the weaker sections of society, especially by leveraging the benefits of technology. Also expected to generate wider participation of interested people who are motivated to work for the benefit of society.

General Study – III

Topic:

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads,Airports, Railways etc.

Sittwe Port

Context: India and Myanmar have signed an important MoU for the appointment of a private Port Operator for the Operation and Maintenance of Sittwe Port, Paletwa Inland Water Terminal and associated facilities included in the Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project in implementation of India’s Act East Policy.

Where is Sittwe located?

• Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State (which has been in the news for the plight of Rohingya Muslims) in south-western Myanmar.
• It is located at the mouth of the Kaladan river, which flows into Mizoram in north-eastern India.

Significance of this port for India:

• India has for years sought transit access through Bangladesh to ship goods to the landlocked north-eastern States.
• At present, the only route to this region from the rest of India is a rather circuitous one through a narrow strip of Indian territory nicknamed the Chicken’s Neck in West Bengal, sandwiched between Bhutan and Bangladesh.
• The new route through Sittwe would significantly lower the cost and distance of movement from Kolkata to Mizoram and beyond.

About Kaladan project:

• The Kaladan project connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border.
• The project was jointly initiated by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal platform for cargo shipments from the eastern ports to Myanmar and to the North-eastern parts of the country through Myanmar.
• It is expected to open up sea routes and promote economic development in the North-eastern states, and also add value to the economic, commercial and strategic ties between India and Myanmar.
• This project will reduce distance from Kolkata to Sittwe by approximately 1328 km and will reduce the need to transport good through the narrow Siliguri corridor, also known as Chicken’s Neck.

General Study – III

Topic

Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

SAGAR Discourse 2.0

• The Vice President addressed the Maritime Conference SAGAR Discourse 2.0, organized by Forum for Integrated National Security, in Panaji, Goa.
• SAGAR Discourse 2.0 is aimed at providing an opportunity for responsible dialogue among like-minded partners on space-related matters of integrated national security covering the non-military elements.
• Outer space is a seminal and defining terrain not only for the contemporary world but also for the future of humans.

About SAGAR Discourse

• SAGAR Discourse is a flagship conference on National Security Governance by Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), a Mumbai based think tank working in the field of integrated national security.
• SAGAR, as envisioned by Prime Minister for cooperation among nation-states, is an acronym for Security and Growth for All in the Region.
• SAGAR Discourse focuses on national security governance in a terrain specific manner telescoping to the wellbeing of people. The imperatives and challenges of national security for all nations revolve around the terrains where the game of governance is played perpetually by governments.
• FINS aims to apply the idea of SAGAR to every terrain of national security that influences governance aimed at human well-being.

Topic

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

3rd Decadal International year of Reefs-2018

The International Year of the Reef is a global campaign launched by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to promote ocean conservation.

With the theme “Reef for Life” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at Bangaram coral Island of Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

About 150 delegates both International and National, are participating in this mega event at Bangaram Island.

Coral Reef

• Coral reefs are built by and made up of thousands of tiny animals—coral “polyps”—that are related to anemones and jellyfish.
• Polyps are shallow water organisms which have a soft body covered by a calcareous skeleton. The polyps extract calcium salts from sea water to form these hard skeletons.
• The polyps live in colonies fastened to the rocky sea floor.
• The tubular skeletons grow upwards and outwards as a cemented calcareous rocky mass, collectively called corals.
• Coral lives a symbiotic life. Inside the sac of each coral polyp lives one-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
• When the coral polyps die, they shed their skeleton [coral] on which new polyps grow.
• The cycle is repeated for over millions of years leading to accumulation of layers of corals [shallow rock created by these depositions is called reef].
• These layers at different stages give rise to various marine landforms. One such important landform is called coral reef.
• Reefs only occur in shallow areas that are reachable by sunlight because of the relationship between coral and algae.
• Coral reefs over a period of time transform or evolve into coral islands (Lakshadweep).
• The corals occur in different forms and colors, depending upon the nature of salts or constituents they are made of.
• In addition to providing corals with essential nutrients, zooxanthellae are responsible for the unique and beautiful colors of many stony corals.
• Small marine plants (algae) also deposit calcium carbonate contributing to coral growth.

Topics for Prelims

SIAL Paris

• The largest international market place for food service professionals.
• Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) has inaugurated a special Indian pavilion in the ongoing mega exhibition for the participating companies.
• Forty-five Indian companies participate in SIAL Paris exhibition.
• SIAL Paris is held every two years, and is famous for culinary demonstrations by famous chefs every day.
• The exhibition is one of the most important get-togethers of buyers and sellers interested in dairy products, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, tinned and preserved foods, semi-processed food products, organic products, health products and food supplements, seafood, and ready-prepared dishes, pet and poultry products and equipment and services.