Prelim Snippets 06-09-2019

1.EX TSENTR 2019

Why in news?
  • Exercise TSENTR 2019 is part of the annual series of large-scale exercises that form part of the Russian Armed Forces’ annual training cycle.
  • Russia holds a major military exercise every year at one of its four military Commands i.e Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre) and Kavkas (South).
TSENTR 2019:
  • This year’s Exercise TSENTR 2019 will be conducted by the Central Military Commission of Russia.
  • Apart from host Russia, military contingents from China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan will also take part in this mega event.
  • The exercise aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practising them in the fight against the scourge of international terrorism thereby ensuring military security in the strategic Central Asian region.
  • The TSENTR-2019 strategic measures will focus on evaluating the level of troop preparedness, the acquisition of the required skills and raising the level of interoperability and demonstrate the readiness of the participating armies.
  • The exercise TSENTR 2019 will comprise two modules. The first module will include counter-terror operations, repelling airstrikes, reconnaissance operations and defensive measures, while the second will focus on offensive operations.

2.World Gold Council

Why in News?

The World Gold Council has recently come up with its latest report which highlights the quantum of gold held by different countries.

About:
  • World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry.
  • It works across all parts of the industry, from mining to investment, and their aim is to stimulate and sustain demand for gold.
  • It is headquartered in London, UK and also have offices in India, China, Singapore, Japan and the U.S.
  • They have launched various products such as SPDR GLD and gold accumulation plans in India and China.

3.Travel and Tourism Competitive Report

Context:

India ranked 34th on world travel, tourism competitiveness index.

About Travel and Tourism Competitive Report:
  • It is a biennial report released by World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • The report ranks travel & tourism competitiveness of 140 economies based on four indicators:
  1. enabling environment;
  2. travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions;
  3. infrastructure;
  4. natural and cultural rankings.
  •  India is ranked 34 in 2019, up 6 places from 2017

4.IMD’s Colour-Coded Alerts

Why in News?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently issued a ‘Red’ alert for Mumbai owing to active weather systems leading to continuous downpour across the city and suburbs.

About:
  • Alerts by the IMD are colour-coded from Green to Red.
  • ‘Green’ stands for ‘No warning’: no action needs to be taken by the authorities, and the forecast is of light to moderate rain.
  • A ‘Yellow’ alert signifies “Watch”, and authorities are advised to “Be updated” on the situation.
  • An ‘Orange’ warning stands for “Alert”, and authorities are expected to “Be prepared”. The forecast during an Orange warning is of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
  • A ‘Red’ alert stands for “Warning”, and asks authorities to “Take action”. The forecast is for extremely heavy rainfall. The IMD, however, clarifies that “Red colour warning does not mean ‘Red Alert’,” and that it only means “take action”.

5.Mid-Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report

Why in News:
  • For the first time, a report has mapped lightning strikes across the country, and the lives they have claimed.
About:
  • It has been prepared by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), a non-profit organisation that works closely with India Meteorological Department (IMD).
  •  The report is part of an effort to create a database that can help develop an early warning system for lightning, spread awareness, and prevent deaths. Between 2,000 and 2,500 people are estimated as killed every year in lightning strikes in the country.

6.Indo–Thai CORPAT

Why in News?
  • 28th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is being held.
About:
  • The Objectives of the Indo-Thai CORPAT are to ensure effective implementation of United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) which specify regulations regarding protection and conservation of natural resources, conservation of marine environment, prevention and suppression of illegal, unregulated fishing activity/ drug trafficking/ piracy, exchange of information in prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and conduct of Search and Rescue operations at sea.

7.India Among Top 10 Nations in Gold Reserves

Why in news?
  • According to the World Gold Council India has surpassed the Netherlands to move into the list of top 10 countries in terms of total gold reserves.
Highlights:
  • According to the World Gold Council, India has gold reserves totalling 2 tonnes, which is marginally higher than the Netherlands’ reserves of 612.5 tonnes.
  • According to the World Gold Council, the U.S.leads the country list with total gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany with 3,366.8 tonnes.
  • In terms of individual countries, India ranks 9th since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) occupies the third position after the U.S. and Germany.
  • India’s entry into the list of top ten countries comes at a time when the quantum of monthly purchases is the lowest in over three years.
  •  India’s gold reserves have grown substantially in the past couple of decades from 357.8 tonnes in the first quarter of 2000 to the current 618.2 tonnes.
  • India’s neighbour Pakistan has seen its standing unchanged at the 45th position with total gold reserves of 64.6 tonnes.

 

 

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