Prelim Booster News

Discussion
3-July-2019
 UGC approves new initiative STRIDE to boost
research culture
Why in News > UGC has approved a new initiative - Scheme
for Trans-disciplinary Research for India’s Developing
Economy (STRIDE) to boost research culture in the country.
About
• The scheme will strengthen research
culture and innovation in colleges and
Universities.
• STRIDE will help students and faculty to
contribute towards India’s developing
economy with the help of collaborative
research.
• The initiative will provide support to
research projects that are socially
relevant, locally need-based, nationally
important and globally significant.
 UGC approves new initiative STRIDE to boost
research culture
• STRIDE will also support research capacity building as
well as basic, applied and transformational action
research that can contribute to national priorities with a
focus on inclusive human development.

About University Grants Commission (UGC)

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) came into
existence on 28th December, 1953 and became a
statutory organization of the Government of India by an
Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination,
determination and maintenance of standards of
teaching, examination and research in university
education.
• The head office of the UGC is located in New Delhi.
 Japan Resumes Commercial whaling

Why in News > Japan has resumed its commercial whaling after 30 years.
• Japan has now withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) so is no longer subject to its rules.

About International Whaling

Commission
• It is an international body set up by
the terms of the International
Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling (ICRW).
• It provides for the proper
conservation of whale stocks and thus
makes possible the orderly
development of the whaling industry".
 Japan Resumes Commercial whaling

• The IWC allows non-zero whaling

quotas for aboriginal
subsistence and also member
nations may issue 'Scientific
Permits' to their citizens.
• The main duty of the IWC is to
keep under review and revise as
necessary the measures laid
down in the Schedule to the
Convention which governs the
conduct of whaling throughout
the world.
KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ)
 KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ)
Why in News > The DMZ has come into the spotlight
with Donald Trump becoming the first serving
American President to visit the area.
About
• The Korean Demilitarized Zone
(DMZ) is a region 4 km wide and
240 km long, dividing the Korean
Peninsula into the North Korea and
South Korea. 
• The DMZ was created after the
1953 Korean War Armistice
Agreement, which ended the
Korean War. 
 KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ)

• The site where the Armistice was signed is called

the Joint Security Area (JSA), located 53 km to the
north of Seoul.
• It continues to be the venue where successive
peace discussions concerning the region are
conducted, including the recent meeting between
Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
 Other major international borders of –

• Durand Line - Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• Radcliffe Line - India and Pakistan, India and
Bangladesh
• MacMohan Line - India and China
• 49th Parallel, Medicine Line – U.S and Canada
• Maginot line, Siegfried Line – France and Germany
• Hindenburg Line - Germany and Poland.
• 17th Parallel - North Vietnam and South Vietnam.
 Question

The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to [2014 -

I]
a) solve the problem of minorities in India
b) give effect to the Independence Bill
c) delimit the boundaries between India
andPakistan
d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal
 Question

(c) The Radcliffe Line is a boundary demarcation

line between India and Pakistan upon the Partition
of India. The Radcliffe Line was named after its
architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
 Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Why in News > Jal Shakti Abhiyan for Water
Conservation Launched.

About
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a campaign for
water conservation and water security.
• It is a time-bound, mission-mode
campaign that would focus on 1,592
“water-stressed” blocks in 257
districts.
• The campaign will run through citizen
participation during the monsoon
season, from 1st July, 2019 to 15th
September, 2019. 
 Jal Shakti Abhiyan

• The campaign is a collaborative effort of various Ministries

of the Government of India and State Governments, being
coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and
Sanitation (DDWS).

• Government will implement the following five important

water conservation interventions in water stressed blocks
–
1. water conservation and rainwater harvesting,
2. renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks,
3. reuse of water and recharging of structures,
4. watershed development and
5. intensive afforestation.
 Jal Shakti Abhiyan

• The conservation efforts will be supplemented by

initiatives like developing block and district water
conservation plans and 'krishi vigyan kendra
melas' to promote efficient water use for irrigation
and better crop choices.
 Strum Ataka
Why in News > India signs ₹200 crore anti-tank
missile deal with Russia.

About
• India has signed a deal with
Russia for buying ‘Strum
Ataka’ anti-tank missiles for
its fleet of Mi-35 attack
helicopters.
• The deal for acquiring ‘Strum
Ataka’ anti-tank missiles was
signed with Russia under the
emergency clauses. 
 Strum Ataka

Other Info.
• The IAF has earlier acquired the Spice 2000 guided
bombs and various other bombs and missiles
under these provisions to equip itself with sudden
war.
• The Army is also acquiring the Spike-LR Anti-Tank
Missiles from Israel and Igla-S Very Short Range
Air Defence Systems (VSHORAD) from Russia
under the same provisions.