Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 9th May 19

MCQ

Russia conducted Vostok-2018 (East-2018) military exercise in central and eastern Russian military districts
India and China also participated

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(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

Russia will be conducting Vostok-2018 (East-2018) military exercise in central and eastern Russian military districts from September 11 to 15, 2018.
In this military exercise participation of units from the Russian Army, Air Force and Navy will be involved. More than 300,000 troops, 36,000 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, armoured infantry vehicles, over 1,000 military aircraft, two naval fleets and all its airborne units will participate in this military exercise.
China and Mongolia will also participate in Vostok 2018. It is expected that it will be the biggest war games ever conducted by Russia since Zapad-81 (West-81) exercise. Zapad-81 was conducted by the Soviet Union in 1981 which had seen involvement about 100,000 to 150,000 troops.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is on discussion with ONGC to merge its subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) with itself.
HPCL is owned by Central Govt now after ONGC gave its 51% to CG

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(D) None

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is on discussion with ONGC to merge its subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) with itself. HPCL is owned by ONGC. The Centre has transferred its 51% stake in HPCL to ONGC for Rs. 36,915 crore, in early 2018. HPCL owns 17% stake in MRPL while its parent ONGC holds a majority 71.63% stake in the company.
The company is to invest Rs.75,000 crore over five years across its business segments namely refinery expansion, marketing, renewables and R&D and joint ventures. HPCL plans to expand capacity at its Visakhapatnam and Mumbai refinery.

MCQ

Innovation Cell and ARIIA are launched by

Ministry of HRD
Ministry of Commerce & industry
NITI Aayog
None

The Innovation cell, an initiative of the Ministry, has been established at the premises of All India Council for Technical Education with a view to foster the culture of innovation in all Higher Education Institutions across the country. About Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) Govt. of India is introducing ‘Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA)’ to systematically rank education institutions and universities primarily on innovation-related indicators.
ARIIA ranking will certainly inspire Indian institutions to reorient their mindset and build ecosystems to encourage high-quality research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
More than quantity, ARIIA will focus on the quality of innovations and will try to measure the real impact created by these innovations nationally and internationally.

MCQ

Recently an MoU was Signed Between Department Of Biotechnology And _________to deepen cooperation in support of clean energy innovations to accelerate the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of clean energy technologies.

IEA
IAEA
UNFCCC
UN-DESA

The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as serving as an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors.
The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its member states, but also works with non-member countries, especially China, India, and Russia. The Agency’s mandate has broadened to focus on the “3Es” of effectual energy policy: energy security, economic development, and environmental protection. [1] The latter has focused on mitigating climate change.
The IEA has a broad role in promoting alternate energy sources (including renewable energy), rational energy policies, and multinational energy technology co-operation.
IEA member countries are required to maintain total oil stock levels equivalent to at least 90 days of the previous year’s net imports. At the end of July 2009, IEA member countries held a combined stockpile of almost 4.3 billion barrels (680,000,000 m3 ) of oil.

MCQ

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

It supports international cooperation to promote sustainable development for all, having as a foundation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015.
It was created after Paris Summit 2015

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(D) None

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the United Nations General Assembly.
UN DESA assists countries around the world in agendasetting and decision-making with the goal of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges. It supports international cooperation to promote sustainable development for all, having as a foundation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015.
In providing a broad range of analytical products, policy advice, and technical assistance, UN DESA effectively translates global commitments in the economic, social and environmental spheres into national policies and actions and continues to play a key role in monitoring progress towards internationally agreed-upon development goals. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group

Maharashtra’s Mahabaleshwar has become the wettest place in India last year, leaving behind Meghalaya’s Cherrapunji.
Godavari starts from this hill station

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(D) None

Maharashtra’s Mahabaleshwar has become the wettest place in India this year, leaving behind Meghalaya’s Cherrapunji. India Meteorological Department (IMD) data revealed that the hill station in the state of Maharashtra received a staggering 5661.6 mm rainfall this season till now, much more than Cherrapunji’s 4735 mm.
Cherrapunji holds two Guinness world records for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in a single year, 26,471mm (1,042.2 in) of rainfall between August 1860 and July 1861 and the maximum amount of rainfall in a single month (9,300mm) in July 1861.

Exercise Peace Mission 2018, the joint military exercise of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), ended in Kazakhstan
This is the first time India and Pakistan participated in the exercise.

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(C) Both
(D) None

Exercise Peace Mission 2018, the joint military exercise of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), ended in Russia. Eight-member states participated in this joint training on combating terrorism. The exercise began on August 24 at the firing ranges in Chebarkul. This is the first time India and Pakistan participated in the exercise.
India, China, Kazakhstan and Russia showcased their armoured and mechanised forces while Pakistan has sent only Special Forces personnel. The Indian delegation was led by Lt. Gen Satish Dua, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:
Founded on: 15 June 2001
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Members: 8 member states
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), or Shanghai Pact, is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO, it meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation.
Military exercises among members are also regularly conducted to promote coordination against terrorism, and to maintain regional peace and stability.

MCQ

Brasilia Declaration is regarding

Climate change
Sustainable development
Species conservation
Road safety

India’s Performance: Since 2008, India has maintained questionable distinction of being world number one in road crash deaths. In 2015, India became a signatory to Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety, where it committed to reduce 50% of its road crash deaths by 2020. But even after 2015, full scale of problem in India is still unacknowledged. As per Indian government data on road accidents, road crashes kill about 1,50,000 people each year. Although WHO report argues that numbers are understated and that India might be losing more than 2,99,000 people each year.