GK Snapshots on 17 December 2021

50th Vijay Diwas – 16th December 2021

Vijay Diwas is annually observed across India and Bangladesh on December 16th to commemorate the victory of Indian armed forces against Pakistan in the 1971 Indo Pak War, also known as the 1971 Liberation War.

The day also pays homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to the nation.

• 16th December 2021 marks the celebration of the 50th Vijay Diwas (Swarnim Vijay Diwas), the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 Liberation War.

• The year 2021 was celebrated as the Swarnim Vijay Varsh to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan.

Bangladesh:

Bangladesh celebrates the 16th December as ‘Bijoy Dibos’ (Day of Victory) to mark its formal independence from Pakistan.

• Ram Nath Kovind, The President of India participated in the events of Bangladesh’s 50th Victory Day celebration at Dhaka, Bangladesh as a Guest of honour.

History of 1971 Liberation War:

i.The India Pakistan war of 1971 was the outcome of the liberation war of East Pakistan.

ii.The war which started on 3rd December 1971 came to an end after 13 days on 16th December 1971.

iii.Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Army general of Pakistan along with his 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered before the Indian Army and Mukti-Bahini led by Lieutenant General Jagit Singh Aurora.

iv.The Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the instrument of surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

v.The war resulted in the creation of Bangladesh and the signing of the Simla Agreement with Pakistan on Kashmir.

Note: This was the biggest ever military surrender after World War II.

India Hosts 8th Indian Ocean Dialogue – December 15

On 15th December 2021 India hosted the 8th Edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue virtually with the assistance of the Indian Council for World Affairs and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretariat.

• The dialogue was jointly hosted by the External Affairs Ministry and Indian Council of World Affairs.

Theme – Post Pandemic Indian Ocean: Leveraging Digital Technologies for Health, Education, Development and Trade in IORA Member States.

Key Highlights:
i.The Dialogue comprises 4 Sessions which focuses on the Health, Education, Development and Trade sectors that ensures digital inclusion and bridging the digital device.
ii.The Dialogue also highlighted new digital needs and innovative approaches for achieving the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

HAL signs biggest order of Rs 2,400cr with BEL for LCA fighters

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Rs 2,400 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for development and supply of 20 types of systems for LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) 83 Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft programme .

• The duration of the contract is 5 years i.e. from 2023 to 2028.

• Notably, this is HAL’s biggest order on any Indian company thus boosting the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign.

Key Points:
i.Under this pact, there is supply of critical avionics, Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), flight control computers and night flying LRUs.It is related to Digital Flight Control Computers, Air Data Computers, Weapon Computers, LRUs related to Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Head Up Display.
ii.The order for supply of these systems will be executed by two units of BEL at Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Panchkula (Haryana).
iii.All items will be delivered by BEL to HAL in a ready-to-board condition.
iv.Deliveries under 83 Tejas Mk1A order to the Indian Air Force (IAF) will commence from 2023-24.
iv.These fighter aircrafts will be equipped with indigenous flight control computers, air data computers which would also be supplied by BEL under this contract.
 

IMF Announces Global Debt Record as $226 Trillion in 2020

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the Global debt raised a record $226 trillion in 2020 as the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and a deep recession.

• Global debt rose by 28 percentage points to 256 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020

Key Highlights:
i.IMF’s latest Global Debt Database figures the 2020’s debt as the largest 1-year debt surge since World War II. ii.According to IMF, the public debt rose from 70 percent of GDP in 2007 to 124 percent of GDP in 2020 and the private debt rose at a moderate pace from 164 percent to 178 percent of GDP in 2020.

iii.The gap between the global financing divide and COVID-19 Pandemic is demanding strong, effective international cooperation and support for the developing countries.

Challenge: To create a right mix between fiscal and monetary policies in an environment of high debt and rising inflation.

Army Chief Gen Naravane takes charge as Chairman of CoSC

The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund (MM) Naravane, was appointed as the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC). The CoSC comprises the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. He succeeded General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) passed away in an accident in Tamil Nadu.

Note- General Bipin Rawat took charge as the 1st CDS of India on 31st December 2019.

• MM Naravane is the Senior most of the Chiefs of all Three Armed forces – Army, Navy & Air Force.

i.MM Naravane took over as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff in 2019, previously served as Vice Chief of the Army and prior to that headed the Eastern Command of the Army which takes care of India’s border with China.

‘Rewinding of First 25 years of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’ book authored by SS Oberoi Launched

The book titled ‘Rewinding of First 25 years of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’ authored by S S Oberoi, the former adviser at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was launched by Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary of MeitY.

• The book consists of life experience, challenges working as an advisor under the MeitY.

i.S. S. Oberoi is a retired adviser in the Department of Electronics (DoE).
ii.He was the first head of the Software Development Agency and the first adviser of Information Technology. Note – Faqir Chand Kohli, the 1st CEO of TCS is known as the “Father of Indian IT Industry”

iii.In 1987 he conducted the first major Software Export Promotion Campaigns, ‘Software India’, jointly with the Indian Embassy in the United States (US).
iv.He coordinated the Super Computer Program of the Government and also worked with the Governing Council of C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).

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