PAN INDIA ROLLOUT OF COVID-19 VACCINATION DRIVE & MORE ( CURRENT AFFAIRS 15 JAN 2021 )

 ASMI

India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army.

About:

• The weapon is named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect" & “Hard Work”.
  
  
• Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune have designed and developed this weapon.
  
  
• The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper receiver made from aircraft grade Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre.
  

'DIFFICULT FOUR’ COUNTRIES (FOR UK)

On January 11, Chatham House, the century-old UK-based policy institute published a report titled “Global Britain, Global Broker”, proposing a blueprint for Britain’s future foreign policy after Brexit.

About:

• The report groups India on the other side of a “new divide in international affairs — between open societies where citizens have the capacity to fight for their rights and those where these rights are denied”.
  
  
• Along with Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, India is classed as one of the “difficult four” countries, destined to count among the UK’s “rivals” or “awkward counterparts” as it pursues its global goals.
  
  
• The report is “in no way a statement on behalf of the UK government.”

FOREST FIRES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh frequently witnesses forest fires during dry weather conditions. This month, a forest fire which started near Kullu raged for several days before being brought under control.

How fire prone are these forests?

• Except for periods of precipitation in monsoon and winter, the forests remain vulnerable to wildfires. Forest fires are a recurrent annual phenomenon in the state, and most commonly occur in Chir Pine forests.
  
  
• In the summer season, forest fires occur frequently in the low and middle hills of the state, where forests of Chir Pine are common.
  
  
• During the post-monsoon season and in winters, forest fires are also reported in higher areas, including parts of Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi districts, where they usually occur in grasslands.

THIRD PHASE OF PRADHAN MANTRI KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA (PMKVY 3.0)

The third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) will be launched on January 15 in 600 districts across all states of India. The launch will be done by the Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

About:

• Spearheaded by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), this phase will focus on new-age and COVID-related skills.
  
  
• Skill India Mission PMKVY 3.0 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 crore.
  
  
• The 729 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), empanelled non-PMKK training centres and more than 200 ITIs under Skill India will be rolling out PMKVY 3.0 training to build a robust pool of skilled professionals.

NATIONAL INNOVATION PORTAL (NIP)

The Union Minister for Science & Technology dedicated an Innovation Portal, developed by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India to the nation.

About:

• The National Innovation Portal (NIP) is currently home to about 1.15 lakh innovations scouted from common people of the country, covering Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary and Human Health.
  
  
• In terms of domain areas, presently the innovations cover Energy, mechanical, automobile, electrical, electronics, household, chemical, civil, textiles, Farm / cultivation practice, storage practice, plant variety, plant protection, poultry, livestock management, nutraceuticals etc.
  
  
• Innovation Portal is a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and an excellent resource for students, entrepreneurs, MSME’s, Technology Business Incubators (TBI’s) and common people engaged in a variety of occupations.
  

CSIR-NIScPR

The Union Minister of Science & Technology inaugurated a new institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) i.e. CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in New Delhi.

About:

• The new institute has been established consequent to the merger of two prestigious institutes of CSIR namely, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR-NISCAIR) and CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (CSIR-NISTADS).
  
  
• CSIR-NIScPR will serve the society with its core areas of science communication and policy research which has proved to be so important during the Covid19 pandemic.
  
  
• The MISSION of the institute is to promote STI policy studies and science communication among diverse stakeholders.
  

VETERANS DAY

Fifth Indian Armed Forces Veterans Day was celebrated as a recognition of the services rendered by the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Armed Forces, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, OBE who retired on 14 Jan 1953.

About:

• Army commemorates Armed Forces Veterans Day on 14 January each year as a mark of respect and recognition of the services rendered by our veterans.
  
  
• This day also coincides with the retirement date of Field Marshal KM Cariappa, OBE, the first Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.
  
  
• The first Armed Forces Veterans Day was organised on 14 January 2017.
  
  
• The aim is to strengthen the bond between the Ex-Servicemen and the serving personnel. This is also a forum to enhance the satisfaction levels pertaining to issues of pension and welfare of veterans and their Next of Kin.

HISAR AIRPORT

Hisar Airport was inaugurated under RCS-UDAN.

About:

• First flight to the newly constructed Hisar airport in Haryana from Chandigarh was flagged off under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) of the Government of India.
  
  
• The flagging off marks the operationalization of 54th airport under the UDAN scheme. To date, 307 routes and 54 airports including 5 heliports and 2 Water Aerodromes have been operationalized under the UDAN scheme.
  
  
• Belonging to the Government of Haryana, Hisar airport is a public licensed airport that is suitable for 18 seat type aircraft.

PAN INDIA ROLLOUT OF COVID-19 VACCINATION DRIVE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the pan India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16th January, 2021.

About:

• This will be the world’s largest vaccination program covering the entire length and breadth of the country.
  
  
• The vaccination programme will use Co-WIN, an online digital platform developed by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which will facilitate real time information of vaccine stocks, storage temperature and individualized tracking of beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccine.
  
  
• A dedicated 24x7 call centre – 1075 – has also been established for addressing the queries related to COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine rollout and the Co-WIN software.
  
  
• Adequate doses of both COVISHIELD and COVAXIN have already been delivered across the country to all States/UTs with the active support of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.