Prelim Snippets 04-10-2019

1.World Animal Day

Why in News?
  • World Animal Day is internationally celebrated every year on 4 October to mark a day to raise awareness about the protection of animals all over the globe.
About:
  • World Animal Day is celebrated across the globe on 4th October every year.
  • This day is dedicated to spread awareness and improve welfare standards of animals around the world.
  • The aim is to educate the world and recognise animals as sentient beings and pay full regard to their welfare.
  • World Animal Day is internationally celebrated every year on 4 October, on the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, to educate humans about how their actions impact animals and create awareness about the protection of animals all over the world.
  • World Animal Day was initiated by cynologist Heinrich Zimmermann. He organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March, 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany.
  • The date for the same was moved to 4 October in 1929.
  • Today, World Animal Day is led and sponsored by UK-based animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation.

2.Indo-Mongolian Joint Exercise- Nomadic Elephant

Why in News?
  • 14th edition of Indo – Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Nomadic Elephant-XIV, being conducted over a period of 14 days, will commence from 05 Oct 2019 at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
About the Exercise:
  • It is an Annual Military Training Exercise that takes place alternatively in India and Mongolia every year.
  • Nomadic Elephant-XIV is aimed at training troops in counter insurgency & counter terrorism operations under United Nations mandate.
  • The Joint Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and military relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the armies of both the nations to share their experiences & best practices and gain mutually during the joint training.
  • Last year the exercise took place at Five Hills Training Area, Ullanbaatar, Mongolia

3.Indo Maldives Joint Exercise-Ekuverin

Why in News?
  • Tenth edition of the Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force will be organised from 07 to 20 October 2019 at Aundh Military Station in Pune, Maharashtra.
About the Exercise:
  • The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin (meaning ‘Friends’ in the Dhivehi language) since 2009.
  • It is an annual exercise that has been held alternatively in India and Maldives .
  • The major focus is on enhancing interoperability between the two forces for carrying out counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a semi-urban environment under the United Nations mandate.
  • Since India shares very close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial ties with the Maldives, Exercise Ekuverin will assist in further strengthening of these ties between the two nations.
  • The last exercise was held in 2018 at Northern Area Headquarters, Lh. Maafilaafushi of Maldives.

4.INDO-KAZAKHSTAN Joint Exercise KAZIND – 2019

Why in News?
  • The Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2019 between India and Kazakhstan has started recently at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand and continues till 15th October 2019.
About the Exercise:
  • Exercise KAZIND-2019 is the fourth edition of an Annual Military Exercise which is conducted alternatively in Kazakhstan and India.
  • The aim of this exercise is to conduct company level joint training with emphasis on counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain.
  • During the exercise, aspects of emerging trends of global terrorism and hybrid warfare have also been included.
  • The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation further fostering bilateral relations between the two nations.
  • Last year the exercise took place at Otar region, Kazakhstan.

5.Shaheen Falcon

Why in News?
  • Drone cameras are threatening Nilgiris wildlife, especially the Shaheen Falcon which is known to be very aggressive around unmanned drones.
About Shaheen Falcons:
  • It is one of the fastest birds in the world and are thriving in the Nilgiris.
  • The Shaheen Falcon is a non-migratory sub-species of the peregrine falcon, is known for reaching speeds in excess of 300 km an hour while diving to capture prey.
  • They are listed as being “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
  • The Shaheen is found in South Asia from Pakistan across to India and Bangladesh in the east and to Sri Lanka,Central and South-Eastern China, and northern Myanmar.
  • In India, it has been recorded in all states mainly from rocky and hilly regions. The Shaheen has also been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

6.Vande Bharat Express (Train 18)

Why in News?
  • Home Minister flagged off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Katra(J&K) which he termed it as a big gift for Jammu and Kashmir’s development.
About Vande Bharat Express:
  • Vande Bharat Express is an energy efficient and first locomotive-less train in the country.
  • It is India’s first indigenously built engineless semi-high speed train. Earlier, it was known by the name Train 18.
  • It has been built by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in a record time of 20 months.
  • The train is a 100% ‘Make in India’ project and is claimed to be built at half the cost of a similar train set that is imported.
  • Special Features of the train:
    • It is energy-efficient as its coaches is fitted with LED lights. Coaches will have automatic doors and retractable footsteps.
    • It will be inter-connected with fully sealed gangways along with a GPS-based Passenger Information System, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment and Bio toilets.
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