GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 2
Topic: International Relations
Opening Ceremony held for INDO-USA Joint Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2017
Context:
- Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2017, a joint military exercise between Indian and US armies commenced at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, USA.
Keypoints:
- The US contingent was represented by Company of 5th Infantry Battalion from 20 Infantry Regiment of the US Army while the Indian side was represented by soldiers of Gorkha Rifles from the Surya Command.
- During the two week long exercise soldiers from both countries will hone their tactical skills in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations under a joint brigade headquarter.
- Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.
- Experts from both sides will hold detailed discussions to share their experience and expertise on varied operational topics.
GENERAL SUDIES PAPER 3
Topic: Skill Development
Vice President of India lays Foundation Stone for the first Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI) in Hyderabad
Context:
- First Regional Vocational Training Institute which is the first of its kind for the State of Telangana boosting skill development opportunities among women ready to contribute to the country’s workforce.
Keypoints:
- Setting up of RVTI in Hyderabad is one defining step towards women empowerment.
- Through skill development we will not only empower our own country and its industries but also contribute to economies across the world.
- There is a huge demand for skilled workforce world over and it is the right that we reap our demographic dividend and bridge this demand supply gap.
- Country is facing an acute shortage of trainer and teachers and under skill development initiatives, it is a delight to see that the country now had more avenues for training of trainers.
- Skill training exclusively for women is being provided through the network of 11 Central Government Institutions and 1408 State Women ITIs and Women Wings in General ITIs.
- 30% of the seats in general ITIs in most of the States are also reserved for Women.
- RVTI-Hyderabad once established in its new permanent building, around 1000 trainees would be trained here every year.
- This RVTI is expected to cater to the vocational training needs of 480 women annually in regular courses under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and Craft Instructor’s Training Scheme (CITS) and around same number of candidates would be trained under various short term courses in skill areas having a high market demand.
- The courses identified to be run in this Institute are Fashion Design & Technology, Architectural Assistantship, Cosmetology, Front Office Assistant, Secretarial Practice (English), Food and Beverages Service Assistant.
- From the venue of the event, Vice President e-inaugurated and launched training at 5 PMKKs and dedicated these centres to the people of India.
- Five PMKKs which are e-inaugurated today from Hyderabad are located at Etah (Uttar Pradesh), Phulpur (Uttar Pradesh), Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) and Dhar (Madhya Pradesh).
Topic: Environment
30th Anniversary of Montreal protocol and 23rd World Ozone Day Celebrated
Context:
- PAN-India Awareness Campaign reaches out to nearly 28 lakh students in the country
Keypoints:
- The strength of the active collaboration between the government, industries and all stakeholders in the implementation of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) phase-out programme in the country, was highlighted along with the importance of individual awareness and the strength of collective action.
- The Minister also laid special emphasis on the role played by children in ensuring the success of such campaigns.
- The 23rd World Ozone Day theme – “Caring for all life under the Sun”.
- A pan-India awareness campaign launched by the Environment Ministry on the occasion to carry out the active partnership of States through schools and academic/research institutions spread across the country.
MONTREAL PROTOCOL: A BRIEF BACKGROUND
- The year 2017 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
- The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful global environmental treaties, the implementation of which has not only led to the phase-out of around 98% of ozone depleting chemicals, but also averted more than 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
- The Montreal Protocol is the only environmental treaty which enjoys universal ratification of 197 UN member countries.
India’s role in the Kigali negotiations:
- During the Kigali negotiations, India piloted the concept of two base lines and a differentiated phased down time schedule to factor in the needs of developing countries.
- This was the first time in the Montreal Protocol that the concept of two baseline has been adopted both for developed and developing countries.
- On India’s initiative, energy efficiency was included for the first time in the Montreal Protocol as an agreed finance solution while phasing down HFCs.
- India has consciously chosen a path for most environment-friendly and energy efficient technologies, while phasing out Ozone Depleting substances, unlike many of the developed countries.
- India is among the few countries globally and a pioneer, in some cases, in the use of non-ODS low Global Warming Potential (GWP) technologies.
Comments