Current Affairs - March 2020 to May 2020

Month May 2020 Type Defence

22 Current Affairs were found in Last Three Months for Type - Defence

Defence 1. A new Explosive Detection device called RalDer-X launched during National Workshop on Explosive Detection in . It can detect explosives that are in pure form and also those that are added with contaminants. It is also capable of detecting explosives at a distance. It can also detect several other elements that are non-explosive in nature, such as narcotics. 2. As per report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - continues to be world’s second-largest arms importer, just behind Saudi Arabia. India accounts for 9.2% of total global arms imports during 2015-2019, while Saudi Arabia registered 12%. Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and China are top 5 arms Importers. In Terms of Arms Exports, India ranks 23rd, with .2% share of total global arms expors and Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Mauritius as India's biggest clients. US is top Arms Exporter, followed by Russia. 3. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, has approved procurement of 83 more advanced Mk1A version of Tejas aircraft from HAL. Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is indigenously designed by Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Proposal will now be placed for consideration of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). 4. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved optimisation of over 9300 posts in Military Engineering Service, in line with recommendations of Lt General Shekatkar Committee. Committee had recommended this, to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of Armed Forces. 5. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats C-451 and (IBs) C-450. Sachet is first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard (Ltd). 6. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched draft of new Defence Procurement Procedure 2020, which aims to increase Indigenous Content ratio to boost indigenous manufacturing. Ratio is percentage of content of defence equipment built in India. Draft proposes increasing Indigenous Content (IC) stipulated in various categories of procurement by about 10% to support the ‘Make in India’s initiative. For instance, Indigenous Content Ratio of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is 75.5%. Procedure has introduced Buy Global category, with minimum 50% indigenous content on cost basis of total contract value. Procedure introduced Leasing as a new category. This is to replace huge initial payments with periodical rental payments. A new system has been introduced for software procurement, as software requires more frequent updates. 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled India's First Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL) developed by DRDO's Hyderabad based Research Centre Imarat (RCI). It is capable of processing over 1000 samples in a day for COVID-19 Infection. 8. Defence Minsiter Rajnath Singh approved Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with outlay of 400 crores, for creating state-of- the-art testing infrastructure for domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing sector. It would run for the duration of five years and envisages to 6 - 8 new test facilities in partnership with private industry. Projects under the scheme will be provided with up to 75% government funding and remaining will be borne by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV), whose constituents will be private entities and State Governments. 9. Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), Ministry of Defence and eGov Foundation signed MoU for Online Management of Cantonment Boards. Services will be delivered under a cloud-based platform DIGIT (Digital Infrastructure for Governance, Impact & Transformation), under program named e-Chhawani. 10. Foundation Stone for Missile Park AGNEEPRASTHA laid at INS Kalinga, to capture glimpses of Missile History of INS Kalinga since its inception in 1981. A 2 MW Solar Photovoltaic Plant was also commissioned at INS Kalinga. Govt aims to achieve 100 GW of solar power by 2022. 11. INLCU L57 has been commissioned into Indian Navy, as seventh Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK-IV class to be inducted into Indian Navy. It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). 12. In order to help fight unemployment generated due to COVID-19, and amid rising patriotism, is considering ToD (Tour of Duty). ToD is a 3 year internship for youths to work as officers and soldiers. ToD is for persons who do not wish to take defence services as a career, but still want to experience adventure and thrills in armed forces. Earnings made by the individual under the scheme has been made tax free. Also, these candidates are to be given preferences in public sector jobs and also in post-graduate courses. ToD model is similar to short-service commission that allows to serve for 10 to 14 years. 13. India secured a defence deal with Armenia, to supply 4 Swathi weapon locating radars. India has beaten competing bids from Russia and Poland for the deal, as a boost for Make in India Initiative. These radars can provide accurate location of enemy weapons within 50 km range. 14. India signed agreement with Israel to procure 16, 479 Light Machine Guns named Negev, for Rs 880 crores. 15. Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft into recently resurrected No 18 Sqn, the “Flying Bullets” at Air Force Station Sulur. The Squadron is the first in the IAF to induct this platform. Tejas Mk-1 FOC is a single engine, light weight, highly agile, all weather multi role fighter aircraft capable of air-to-air refueling. 16. Indian Air Force shelved 3 projects worth INR 8000 crores, amid Central Government pushing for Make in India. Projects include buying 20 additional Hawk Planes from UK, 30 Jaguar fighter planes from US and 38 trainer aircrafts. 17. Indian Army will convert 61st , the only horse serving cavalry in the world, into a regular armoured regiment with tanks. The jaipur based largely ceremonial unit, will now be formed into a combat force. There are oppositions to the steps claiming that the step will destroy glorious tradition of the regiment. 61st cavalry was raised in 1953, by amalgamating horse mounted cavalry units in princely states of India. Soldiers in cavalry are armed with Lancers. Teen Murti Memorial was erected in New Delhi to honour the lancers. The memorial was erected during British Raj, to commemorate heroic role played by Jodhpur, Hyderabad and Mysore during Battle of Hafia. Lancers represented British during . Hafia Day is celebrated by Indian Army on September 23, to honour the regiment. 18. Indian Coast Guard conducted 9th edition of national level search and rescue exercise ‘SAREX-2020’ based on theme Harmonization of Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue (HAMSAR), in Goa. 19. Indian Navy launched Mission Sagar, to extend helping hand to Indian Ocean Region Nations amid COVID-19 pandemic. Indian Naval Ship Kesari departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide Food and medical aid Items. 20. Indian Navy launched Operation Samudra Setu, as an effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas. Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa and Magar are enroute to port of Malè, Maldives to commence evacuation, Under Phase-1. 21. Supreme court cleared permanent commission for women officers in Indian Navy, contrary to Govt’s policy of 1991 and 1998 which lifted statutory bar on induction of women officers in Navy. 22. US approved Torpedoes lightweight missiles and Harpoon air-launched missiles sales to India, for 155 million USD. Top

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