UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 24-08-2024

Sapno ki Udaan

On India's National Space Day, the Ministry of Education and NCERT launched an e-magazine titled 'Sapno ki Udaan.

• Sapno ki Udaan- It is the 1^st edition of e-magazine which marks the 1st anniversary of Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the lunar South Pole.
• Nodal agency- Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• Goal- This initiative aligns with the #NEP2020 goals of making education accessible and equitable, preparing students for 21st-century global challenges.
• Theme- The magazine's 'space' theme reflects the boundless imagination of our children.

National Space Day

• 1st National space day- The Indian government officially declared August 23 as National Space Day marking the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander on the moon.
• Theme- The theme for India’s first National Space Day is ‘Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga’.
• Historic Achievement- In 2023, India became the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to land near the southern polar region.
• Landing site of Chandrayaan-3 would be named ‘Shiv Shakti Point.’
• Technological Advancement- The day celebrates India's progress in space research and exploration.
• Inspiration for Youth- It aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Future Space Missions and Plans

• Chandrayaan 4 and 5- India has announced that Chandrayaan 4 and 5 will follow the success of Chandrayaan-3.
• Gaganyaan mission- India plans to send its first astronaut into space in 2025.
• Long-term goals- By 2035, India aims to establish the Bhartiya Antariksh Station and plans an Indian landing on the moon by 2040.

Reference

1. PIB | Sapno ki Udaan
2. Business Standard | National Space Day

WAVES Summit

India is going to host first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in November 2024 at Goa.

• WAVES - World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is a key forum for promoting discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the Media Entertainment industry.
• Nodal Ministry – Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
• Objective- Bring together industry leaders and innovators to explore opportunities, address challenges, attract trade to India, and shape the future of the sector.
• WAVES Pillars - WAVES brings together a diverse range of stakeholders shaping the future of media and entertainment.
  • Broadcasting & Infotainment
  • Digital Media & Innovation
  • Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics Extended Reality (AVGC-XR)
• Create in India Challenge Season 1 – It will be held at WAVES featuring 25 competitions covering a wide range of disciplines, including animation, filmmaking, gaming, music, and visual arts, in partnership with leading industry associations and organizations.

Key Competitions

• Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcaster, will host The Battle of the Bands and The Symphony of India challenges.
• Battle of the Bands- Focuses on blending modern music with traditional folk.
• Symphony of India- Provides a platform for soloists and ensembles to promote and preserve classical music.
• Animation Filmmakers Competition- It offers mentorship, industry connections, and funding opportunities in animation film making.
  • It is organized by Dancing Atoms, an animation development studio renowned for its powerful storytelling.
• Anime Challenge- It will feature multiple stages across 11 cities and cover categories like Manga, Webtoon, and Anime.
  • It is organized by the Media and Entertainment Association of India.
• The Game Jam- It is a national-level competition aimed at igniting creativity and innovation in India's burgeoning game development industry.
  • It is organized by the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC).
• AI Art Installation Challenge- Focuses on using AI to create interactive art installations.
  • It is organized by Internet and Mobile Association of India.
• WAVES Hackathon (Adspend Optimizer Competition)- It aims to improve ROI and efficiency in digital advertising through innovative solutions.
  • It is organized by Advertising Agencies Association of India.
• Community Radio Content Challenge- It encourages creative programming from community radio stations.
  • It is organized by Community Radio Association.
• The Film Poster Making Competition- Participants are challenged to create handmade, visually striking posters for notable films, fostering creativity, innovation, and a deeper appreciation for film poster design.
  • It is organized by National Film Archive of India -NFDC.
• Handheld Educational Video Game Development Competition- It aims to create engaging devices that help users, especially children, learn math, solve puzzles, and enhance their cognitive skills.
  • It is organized by Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS).
• Comics Creator Championship- It is a competition aimed at fostering comic book creation and culture in India.
• Artists, both amateur and professional, compete by creating comics on given themes using their preferred art styles.
  • It is organized by Indian Comics Association.
• Significance- These competitions offer platforms for creators to gain recognition, mentorship, and global opportunities.
• It aims to enhance India’s position in global animation, gaming, comics, and other creative sectors.
• The participants will contribute to building a database for a proposed National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).

Reference

PIB | Waves Summit

BHISHM Cubes

Recently, the Prime Minister of India presented BHISHM Cubes to the Ukraine government during his official visit.

• BHISHM Cubes- BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes also known as Arokya Maitri Cubes are compact, portable medical units designed to provide first-line care in emergency situations.
• These Cubes are designed to manage various injuries and medical emergencies, making them invaluable in conflict zones or disaster-stricken regions.
• Development- The BHISHM Cubes were developed under Project BHISHM and Project Aarogya Maitri, spearheaded by HLL Life Care and the Ministry of Defence.
• Features- Each BHISHM Cube consists of medicines and equipment for the first line of care for all kinds of injuries and medical situations.
• It also includes surgical equipment for a basic Operation Room that can manage 10-15 basic surgeries per day.
• It can also generate its own power and oxygen in limited amounts.
• Essential medicines and equipment- The cubes are stocked with essential medicines and equipment to treat trauma, bleeding, burns, and fractures, ensuring prompt care for common and urgent medical situations.
• Critical care facility- These cubes provide critical care for 100 survivors for 48 hours, equipped with operation theatres, mini-ICUs, ventilators, blood testing, X-ray machines, and a cooking station.
• Technological Integration- BHISHM Cubes integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to enhance disaster response, coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services during emergencies.

Reference

The Hindu | BHISHM Cubes

Committee of Creditors

The recently Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has issued guidelines for the Committee of Creditors (CoC).

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is the regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings in India. It was established in  2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 .

• Committee of Creditors - It is a group of people representing a company’s creditors during a bankruptcy proceeding.
• It is the higher-level decision-making body in initiating and governing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).
• Formation – It is formed under the regulation 21 of the IBC Code 2016.
• This committee is majorly responsible for a bankrupted company’s future and/or possible reorganization.
• Composition - A committee of creditors consists of both secured and unsecured creditors.
  • Secured creditors are associated with credits backed by collateral. An example of a secured creditor is a bank.
  • Unsecured creditors are associated with credits not backed by collateral. Examples of unsecured creditors are contractors and customers.
• Roles and Responsibilities - All important decisions are finalized after the approval of committee of creditors.
• They are liable to decide about the restoration of the corporate debtor by accepting the resolution plan.
• They Appoint insolvency resolution professionals to manage the insolvency process
• They conduct regular meetings in which the rules are discussed for the working of interim resolution professionals.
• They are responsible for the evaluation and approval of the resolution plan along with the modification, if any required.
• Once the committee of creditors is confident about the practicality and viability of the proposed resolution plan, they can approve it with the mandate of more than 66% of the vote.

References

1. Business Standard | IBBI guidelines for CoC
2. ResurgentIndia | Committee of Creditors

Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)

India and the US have signed two significant agreements as the Indian Defence Minister started his official visit to the US.

• Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)- It is a non-binding pact signed between India and the US to ensure reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defence.
• India is the 18th country to enter SOSA with the US.

Other SOSA partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

• Aim - Strengthen the defence industrial ecosystem of both countries by enhancing supply chain resilience.
• Features - U.S. and India commit to support one another’s priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defense resources.
• US provides India with priority support for critical national defence resources through the Defence Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) mechanism.
• Indian companies to prioritize support for US defence requirements under a government-industry Code of Conduct.
• India will draw up a list of domestic companies that will volunteer to undertake a government-industry Code of Conduct to provide military equipment to the US on priority.
• Benefit – SOSA is a significant step toward greater defence industry collaboration, with potential for future legally binding agreements like the Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement (RDP).
• It will be a key factor in strengthening the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between the two countries.
• SOSA will make it easier for Indian companies to get priority supplies from the US and revitalise the defence industry cooperation between the two countries.
• Memorandum of Agreement on Liaison Officers
  • Facilitates the assignment of Indian Liaison Officers to key US strategic commands.
  • Enhances information sharing and cooperation between the Indian and US armed forces.
• Strategic Commands and Regional Security
  • The deployment of Indian officers in US strategic commands is expected to enhance regional security and international cooperation.
  • The agreements contribute to the broader Indo-US collaboration on industrial, defence, and security issues.

References

1. The Indian Express | SOSA
2. Business Standard | Indo-US defense agreements