GS PAPER II NEWS
Remittances to low and middle income countries increased by 7.3%: World Bank
Why in News
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- The World Bank has said that remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to grow by 7.3%, reaching $589 billion in 2021. The World Bank has further stated that, India is the largest recipient of remittances in the world.
Key point
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- The World Bank in its latest report has said that India received $87 billion in remittances in 2021, with the United States being the largest source, accounting for more than 20% of these funds.
- India had received over $83 billion in remittances in the year 2020.
World Bank Report: Key Details
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- The World Bank report also states that, “The ongoing inflows to India (the world’s largest recipient of remittances) are expected to reach $87 billion, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in India during the second quarter.” (Above the global average) as well as a profit of 4.6% – playing a major role in attracting philanthropic flows (including the purchase of oxygen tanks) to the country.
- India is followed by China, Mexico, Philippines and Egypt.
- Remittances to India are projected to increase by 3% to $89.6 billion in 2022, reflecting a decline in total migrant numbers, as a large proportion of returnees from Arab countries still await their return .
- The World Bank has also said that remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to grow by 7.3 percent to reach $589 billion in 2021.
- This return to growth is stronger than earlier projections and follows a resiliency of flows into 2020, when the World Bank’s short information on migration and development projections showed severe global warming due to COVID-19. Despite the slowdown, remittances declined by only 1.7%.
GS PAPER II
BRICS Innovation Action 2021-24
Why in News
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- The BRICS Innovation Action 2021-24, which has been prepared under the leadership of India, was agreed by all the BRICS countries in the 13th BRICS Science and Technology Committee meeting.
Key point
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- The Innovation Action Plan will be a major delivery in the upcoming BRICS Science and Technology Ministerial.
- Scientific Ministries of BRICS countries met on 16 November 2021 to discuss the agenda and related key deliverables for the upcoming BRICS Science and Technology Ministerial Meeting to be held on 26 November 2021.
- India presented the draft manifesto of the ministerial meeting, which highlighted various scientific achievements including thematic meetings and events organized during India’s BRICS presidency.
- The meeting was hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India. The Indian delegation was led by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Adviser to DST and Head of International Cooperation.
- The BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) include the Ministers responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Key to Innovation Programs and Initiatives the BRICS provide a comprehensive vision and advice on the institutional and financial framework for science, technology.
- India is hosting the ministerial meeting this year. Around 20 scientific meetings were held in 2021 along with some of the major events organized by India including BRICS Young Scientist Conclave 2021, BRICS Working Group Meeting on Science, Technology, Innovation Entrepreneurship Partnership, BRICS Working Group Meeting Astronomy.
GS PAPER II
Operation Sankalp
Why in News
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- INS Trikand is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman under Operation Sankalp.
Key point
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- The operation is part of the Indian Navy’s campaign to deploy forward ships to the region for safe trade related movement, building confidence in the maritime community and contributing to regional maritime security.
- The ship entered Manama, Bahrain on 13 November 2021 for a three day Operational Turn Round (OTR).
- During her stay at the port, the ship engaged extensively with various maritime security agencies to enhance cooperation in all aspects of maritime security including training and other mutually beneficial subjects.
- Captain Harish Bahuguna, Commanding Officer, INS Trikand, visited the Joint Marine Forces (CMF) Headquarters in Bahrain on 21 November and called on the Deputy Commander of the CMF, Commodore Edward Ahlgren.
- This port call provided the ship an opportunity to visit the US Coast Guard (USCG) Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) facility named ‘Ship in a Box’.
- It also enabled a better understanding of the SOPs and training practices of other maritime forces, in addition to allowing the ship’s team to interact with the newly formed Task Force (TF 59 – Unmanned Forces), an experimental unit in a niche domain .
- INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art guided missile stealth frigate and is part of the Western Fleet that operates under the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command based at Mumbai.
GS PAPER III
Electronic Warfare System ‘Shakti’
Why in News
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- Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) system ‘Shakti’ has been designed and developed by Defense Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) Hyderabad, a laboratory of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which is capable of detecting and jamming conventional and modern radars. It has been built for the major warships of the Indian Navy.
Key point
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- The Shakti EW system will provide an electronic layer of defense against advanced radar and anti-ship missiles to ensure electronic dominance and survival in maritime warfare.
- This system will replace the previous generation Electronic Warfare (EW) system of the Indian Navy.
- The system has been integrated with Wideband Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) to protect Indian Navy ships against missile attacks.
- The system’s ESM helps to find the precise direction and obstruction of modern radars.
- The system has an in-built radar fingerprinting and data recording replay facility for post-mission analysis.
- The first Shakti system has been installed on INS Visakhapatnam and is being installed on the indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
- Twelve Shakti Systems are being manufactured at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which is being supported by more than fifty MSMEs at a total cost of Rs.1805 crores.
- These systems are set to be placed on-board major warships under production including the P-15B, P-17A and Talwar class follow-on ships.