Daily Current Affairs 11 August 2020 With Video Lecture

PM Modi inaugurates Optical Fibre Cable connecting Port Blair: What makes Andamans strategically crucial

• In a major step towards boosting connectivity between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the mainland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 2,312-kilometre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) that connects Chennai and Port Blair.
• “From Chennai to Port Blair, Port Blair to Little Andaman and Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, this service has started in large part of Andaman Nicobar from today,” PM said.
• PM Modi had laid the foundation for the project, which will bring high-speed broadband to the islands, on 30 December 2018.
• While the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited executed the project, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited was the technical consultant. The OFC was laid at a cost of around Rs 1,224 crore.
• The PM said that besides boosting connectivity the laying of the under-sea cable will also help tourism, which is a key source of income for the inhabitants of the beautiful islands.
• However, the project is also a reminder of the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and their emergence as a critical archipelago in the Indian Ocean region as India grapples with the consequences of an increasingly aggressive China.

Strategic importance of the Andamans

• The Andaman and Nicobar group has 572 islands, of which 37 are inhabited. Some of these are home to indigenous tribes that have been declared as no-go areas and are closed to nearly everyone except government and defence officials and, in some cases, researchers.
• The spread and location of the islands along the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean make them crucial to India’s maritime security and larger strategic goals. While the southernmost island is some 90 nautical miles from Indonesia, the northernmost island is just 22 nautical miles from Myanmar, both countries that have friendly ties with India.
• But the rapid economic and military rise of China means India has had to up its game in the Indian Ocean.
• The task of protecting the trade routes that straddle past the islands falls on the Indian Navy. Keeping the routes free is important not just for India but for the entire maritime global trade in the Indo-Pacific. That’s why the members of the Quad – India, Australia, Japan and the US – are seeking to work more closely together, especially on the naval front.
• There have been reports that China is conducting surveillance missions near Indian waters under the garb of anti-piracy drives.
• Till about 1980, the islands were not really on the radar of India’s strategic planners, and were little more than an anthropological curiosity.
• But the economic growth in Asia, burgeoning trade via the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) that pass through the Andaman Sea and Malacca Straits, and the emergence of China as a global power have made the islands the centre of attention.
• Two Chinese projects in particular – the China-Burma Economic Corridor and a waterway linking the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea (the latter is still in a proposal state) – have made the Indian strategic community sit up and take notice as Chinese business interest tie-up with the Andaman Sea.
• Incidentally, Japan which had occupied some of the Andaman Islands for more than three years during World War 2, is believed to be interested in developing them.
• Currently, the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command is at the operational heart of India’s strategic and security interests in the Indian Ocean. But with China’s belligerent behaviour in Ladakh and elsewhere, India may consider making the islands a hub for joint exercises with friendly navies from countries such as Australia, the US and France.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launches modernization/ up-gradation of facilities and new infrastructure creation of Defence PSUs and OFB; MoD continues Atmanirbhar Bharat Week Celebrations

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the initiatives of a number of modernisation and up-gradation of facilities as also new infrastructure creation by Defence PSUs and OFB, through digital link here today, as part of the Atmanirbhar Week celebration of the Ministry of Defence. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Y Naik, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary Defence Production Shri Raj Kumar, Vice Admiral Hari Kumar CISC, senior officers from DDP and CMDs and Chairman of DPSUs and OFB participated in the event through video conference links. Addressing them, Shri Rajnath Singh said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan and his 5-I formula of ‘Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure and Innovation’ will put the economy on high growth trajectory.
• He said our government has made timely and thoughtful interventions during Covid-19 times like issuing negative list for import, increase in FDI limits, separate budget for domestic capital procurement and emphasis on indigenization. “The ban on imports of 101 items is a big step towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat. This list of negative items contains not only small items but weapon systems of high and critical technology. More such items will be added to this list shortly which will save crores of rupees in imports.”
• Raksha Mantri said we will take more steps towards, Indigenisation, investment in defence infrastructure and expansion in defence manufacturing capability. These steps will create big opportunities for the Indian defence industry.  In keeping with the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Singh said the Department of Defence Production, Defence PSUs and Ordnance Factories Board have shown great enthusiasm and commitment in ushering in a truly Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• He said, “Defence industry has always been the forerunner of cutting-edge technologies world across and hence self-reliance in Defence is a tall task which needs wholehearted involvement of all to be fruitful.”  “The defence industries have been the force behind the Armed Forces. Today we are proud of our Defence PSUs and OFB for their continued support and sustained efforts towards this,” he added.
• Under upgradation of facilities, Pinaka Rocket Complex at Ordnance Factory Chanda has launched Upgradation of facilities to meet the enhanced requirement of Pinaka and other rockets as well as the Assembly and testing facility for SRCG at OF, Trichy all of which are critical requirements towards defence preparedness. Modernization of facilities at OLF Dehradun will serve the purpose of  manufacturing of high-end Optoelectronic products for T-90 Tanks.
• BEL has launched fully indigenised Maareech Integration facility for manufacturing, integration, and testing of Anti Torpedo Defence System Maareech which has been designed by DRDO.
• HAL has handed over the 500th AL-31FP overhauled engine to the IAF which are mounted on its most lethal frontline fighter aircraft Su-30MKI. It has been done by the Koraput Division of HAK.
• BEML has set up Industrial Design Centre at Bengaluru as part of its new infrastructure creation. The Centre is first of its kind in India, focusing on implementing factors of Industrial Design & Human Factors as a part of developmental strategies for setting the global benchmarking in Industrial Design and Ergonomics in Products. It is proposed to develop this facility further as a national facility and would be offered to the industry in the next stage.       
• Under modernisation of facilities, GRSE has enhanced the capability at its Raja Bagan Dockyard to meet the production requirement for the ongoing prestigious P17A project.        
• New infrastructure has been created in the defence sector in the shape of  foundation laying of Seeker Facility Center (SFC) at BDL, a new modular facility for manufacturing of Missile System (RF Seeker) that will reduce import dependence for seekers and Foundation Laying for Warheads Production Facility at BDL for manufacturing and testing of indigenously developed warheads required for Konkurs-M, Invar, Akash, Astra missiles etc. The facility being modular will cater to all futuristic missile warheads with incremental modifications.
• A new state of art Steel Preparation Shop (SPS) at GSL has been inaugurated today that will enable indigenous construction of high technology Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) hull MCMVs along with other supporting infrastructure for the country.
• MIDHANI under its Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development Policy has set up a state-of-the-art Skill Development Center and christened it as “Center of Excellence – Special Materials”. This facility will primarily focus on Promoting applied research for the development of Special Materials used in aerospace, defence, nuclear, space and other strategic areas.
• Raksha Mantri unveiled these facilities by pressing a remote button. Congratulating the Department of Defence Production MoD, Defence PSUs and Ordnance Factories Board, Shri Rajnath Singh said “ These upgradation/ modernisation/new set-ups will give tremendous benefit in terms of reducing dependency on foreign resources for production as well as further maintenance, upgradation and life time support, all through safe and sound, indigenous hands.”  Shri Singh said, “The spirit demonstrated by the DPSUs and OFB  will usher the nation in a quantum jump to a resilient, Atmanirbhar economy.”       
• As part of Atmanirbhar Week celebrations, various DPSUs and OFB are also organising a series of webinars covering all relevant topics and including the various stakeholders like industry experts, vendors, and academia.

Bangladesh to construct standalone war memorial for Indian soldiers killed by Pak in 1971

• In a significant decision, Bangladesh has decided to construct a monument for the Indian soldiers who died in 1971 during the country’s struggle for independence from Pakistan.
• This comes amid Dhaka’s push to reinforce ties with India notwithstanding recent efforts by Beijing and Islamabad to woo it. Bangladesh War Liberation Minister Mozammel Haque made the announcement on Friday.
• “We are constructing the monument coinciding with the 50th anniversary of our independence,” a ministry spokesman quoted Haque as saying when outgoing Indian high commissioner Riva Ganguly Das met him. The Indian envoy told the minister that “some people are out to spread misleading information purposely to worsen the relations between the next-door neighbours, but Bangladesh-India ties are not so fragile,” informed sources said.
• The Hasina government has selected 3.5 acres in Ashuganj of Brahmanbaria district, bordering Tripura, due to its significance in the Liberation War of 1971. The architectural design will reflect the bond between the neighbours, Bangladesh government officials told.
• “The site that has been selected has historic significance … Indian army fought some decisive battles with the Pakistan Army in 1971 along with our (Bangladeshi) freedom fighters in Ashuganj,” an official said, adding that the construction was expected to start this year and would be completed in the next two years.
• Bangladesh has a National Memorial on the outskirts of Dhaka for all 1971 martyrs, but the proposed one is meant for Indian soldiers alone, another official said. The spirit of 1971 and camaraderie between the Indian Army and its freedom fighters have always been cherished, the official pointed out.
• The Indian envoy is also understood to have requested Haque to take up initiatives for translating books on the Liberation War in Hindi. This would help in wider dissemination of the war among the large Hindi-speaking population in India.
• Bangladesh had earlier felicitated Indian soldiers and veterans, and posthumously honoured former prime minister Indira Gandhi and several other distinguished Indians for their role in the Liberation War.

Indian Army gifts 10 ventilators to Nepali Army

• The Indian Army on Sunday gifted 10 ventilators to the Nepali Army to support its efforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed 75 lives in the Himalayan nation.
• Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the ventilators to Nepal Army chief Purna Chandra Thapa during a ceremony at Nepali Army Headquarters on Sunday, the Indian mission said in a statement.
• The ventilators are designed for a broad range of applications to include advanced invasive or non-invasive respiratory support. Further, due to their compact nature, they are portable and handy in transportation of patients requiring intensive care, the statement said.
• The Indian Army has a long record of extending support to the Nepali Army as a first responder for humanitarian assistance and relief. The gifting of ventilators is part of this continued humanitarian cooperation between the two armies, it added.
• Ambassador Kwatra reaffirmed India’s commitment to provide all necessary help to the people of Nepal in prevailing over the pandemic that has claimed 75 lives and infected 22,972 others.

Chinese new anti-tank missile carrier spotted in mountainous plateau region

• The latest version of anti-tank guided missile carrier vehicle of the People’s Liberation Army was spotted participating in a recent exercise in a mountainous plateau region.
• Footage has appeared of a new Chinese 4×4 multi-role, all-terrain light armoured vehicle used to carry an HJ-10 missile launcher during a live-fire test at the elevation of 4, 500 meters.
• The new missile launcher can reach the maximum design speed in marching, with no need to worry about the rollover accident caused by overspeed. In addition, the new FAW chassis is more cost-effective with a lower price compared to ZBD-04 tracked platform or ZBL-09 wheeled vehicle, so the procurement cost can be reduced to a considerable extent while ensuring equivalent firepower.
• The new multi-missile launcher included two ready-for-launch HJ-10 fire-and-forget missiles which have a stand-off range of 10km and all-weather performance, enabling the weapon to effectively prosecute enemy tank formations.
• According to open sources, the HJ-10 missile is intended to defeat the latest armored targets such as main battle tanks (MBTs), various fortifications and low-velocity aerial targets using a variety of warheads and guidance systems.
• Such wheeled chassis also used as bases for China’s new generation of 155mm and  122mm vehicle-mounted howitzers.

China hold landing drills amid increased U.S. military activity in South China Sea

• The People’s Liberation Army forces reportedly hold massive landing drills amid U.S. recent increased military activities in the South China Sea region.
• Ministry of the National Defense People’s Republic of China said that Ground and naval forces have been on concentrated schedules in amphibious landing and maritime exercises in the past weeks and will continue to do so in the weeks to come, at a time when the US has been frequently conducting provocative military activities near the island of Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
• Ground troops attached to the PLA 74th Group Army, which is based in South China’s Guangdong Province, recently conducted a beach assault in a mock confrontation between offensive and defensive camps in South China’s Hainan Province, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Saturday.
• A brigade boarded landing ships at dusk, started sailing at night and arrived at the frontline in the early morning of the next day. With the help of saturated artillery fire from multiple rocket launcher systems, the landing troops successfully seized the beach, CCTV reported.
• The Marine Corps under the PLA Navy recently also held a sea-crossing landing exercise in Guangdong, which featured amphibious assault vehicles and assault boats, CCTV said in a separate report last week.
• From Tuesday to Thursday and from August 16 to 17, two maritime live-fire drills will be held in waters off Zhoushan, East China’s Zhejiang Province, according to two navigation restriction notices released by China’s Maritime Safety Administration on Thursday.
• China’s first Type 075 amphibious assault ship reportedly embarked on its maiden voyage from Shanghai on Wednesday, and attack helicopters of the PLA Army also recently conducted a series of sea-crossing assault drills on a Navy warship in waters off East China’s Fujian Province.
• Chinese military says that the drills come amid the increasingly frequent provocative military activities made by the US near the island of Taiwan and in waters in the South China Sea.
• The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier was spotted in the East China Sea by commercial satellite on Saturday, and a US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft was also found conducting reconnaissance in the southern part of the Taiwan Straits, according to a Weibo post by Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) on Sunday.
• In the first half of this year alone, the US sent military aircraft to the South China Sea more than 2,000 times, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi revealed during his interview with the Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.

12 Maoists Surrender in Chhattisgarh, 5 of Them Carrying Cash Rewards

• Twelve Maoists, five of them collectively carrying a reward of ₹ 6 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Sunday, police said.
• The cadres turned themselves in before police and the CRPF officials in Dantewada town saying that they were impressed by the rehabilitation campaign being run by the local police and disappointed with the hollow Maoist ideology, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told PTI.
• Dantewada MLA Devti Karma was also present on the occasion, he said.
• Of these ultras, Chanduram Sethiya, who was active as a member of platoon no. 26 of Maoists, was allegedly involved in three Maoist attacks, including in Bhusaras-Chingavarm in 2008, wherein 23 policemen and two civilians were killed, he said.
• Mr Sethiya was carrying a reward of ₹ 2 lakh on his head, Mr Pallava said.
• Four other surrendered ultras- Lakhmu Hemla, Sunil Tati, Manu Mandavi and Maituram Barsa- who were working in different capacities in separate areas of south Bastar, were carrying rewards of ₹ 1 lakh each on their heads, he said.
• The remaining seven Maoists were active as lower-rung Maoist members, he said.
• From them, one Amit Kawasi was allegedly involved in the October 2018 Nilawaya attack, in which three policemen and a Doordarshan cameraman were killed in Dantewada, he said.
• “All 12 ultras said in their statement that they were disappointed with the hollow Maoist ideology, and were impressed by the ”Lon Varratu” (term coined in local Gondi dialect which means ”return to your village”) campaign being run by the police in Dantewada,” Mr Pallava said.
• According to the officer, they will be provided facilities as per the government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, he said.
• Under the ”Lon Varratu” initiative launched in June, the police have been putting up posters and banners in the native villages of Maoists, who carry cash rewards on their head.
• The posters mention the names of rebels and appeal to them to join the mainstream, the police official said. “So far, 82 Maoists, including these 12, have surrendered under the drive,” he added.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 2,312-kilometre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) that connects
2. Chennai and Port Blair
3. Lakshadweep and Port Blair
4. Chennai and Lakshadweep
5. Chennai and Hambantota

ANSWER: A

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan and advised his 5-I formula. The 5-I are
• Innovation, Inclusion, Increment, Illustration, Information
• Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure, Innovation
• Intent, Information, Inclusion, Illustration, Illusion
• Increment, Inclusion, Intent, Innovation, Illustration

ANSWER: B

• Bangladesh War Liberation Minister
• Mustafa Kamal
• Mustafa Jabbar
• Mozammel Haque
• Asaduzzaman Khan

ANSWER: C

• Bangladesh to construct standalone war memorial for Indian soldiers killed by Pak in 1971 at:
• Homna
• Rupasdi
• Astagram
• Ashuganj

ANSWER: D