Union Health Ministry rolls out country’s first suicide prevention policy

• It is the first of its kind in the country, with time-bound action plans and multi-sectoral collaborations to achieve reduction in suicide mortality by 10% by 2030.
• The strategy broadly seeks to establish effective surveillance mechanisms for suicide within the next three years.
• It aims to establish psychiatric outpatient departments that will provide suicide prevention services through the District Mental Health Programme in all districts within the next five years.
• It also seeks to integrate a mental well-being curriculum in all educational institutions within the next eight years.
• It envisages developing guidelines for responsible media reporting of suicides, and restricting access to means of suicide.
• The stress is on developing community resilience and societal support for suicide prevention.
• While the strategy is in line with the WHO’s South East-Asia Region Strategy for suicide prevention, it says it will remain true to India’s cultural and social milieu.
• In India, more than one lakh lives are lost every year to suicide, and it is the top killer in the 15-29 years category.
• In the past three years, the suicide rate has increased from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1,00,000 population.
• The most common reasons for suicide include family problems and illnesses, which account for 34% and 18% of all suicide-related deaths.

Rajasthan government departments spar over party at night in wildlife sanctuary

• It is located about 12 km from Jaipur.
• The sanctuary has been named Nahar, because it falls under Nahar Village (Nahad village).
• It encompasses a large area of 720 hectares and is situated under the Aravalli range.
• It is home to 285 species of birds, Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, sloth bear, hyenas, panthers, deer, crocodiles etc.
• Nahargarh Biological Park (NBP) is famous for the lion safaris.
• It has now become a convenient breeding centre of lions.

Nahargarh Fort:

• Nahargarh Fort was made by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as a defence mechanism for the Jaipur city.
• It is a magnificent fort offering panoramic views of the Pink City.

Army issues RFPs for ballistic shields and body-worn cameras

• The ballistic shields should have a minimum indigenous content of 50% and the manufacturer should provide a 60 months warranty for the ballistic shield and 24 months for the harness.
• The shield should have a service life of five years.
• The shield should be of ambidextrous design with height not less than 860 mm and width not less than 520 mm.
• The weight should not be more than 20 kg plus 5%, including ballistic view port and accessories attached to the shield.
• It should be provided with support harness to enable hands-free carriage of ballistic shield while ensuring unhindered usage of personal weapon and balanced weight distribution once fully worn.
• Emergency financial powers were granted to the armed forces by the Defence Ministry in the past on three occasions; post the Uri surgical strikes in 2016, the Balakot air strike in 2019 and the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
• Under the FTP route, the forces can procure weapons systems upto ₹300 crores on an “urgent basis without any further clearances to cut short the procurement cycle”.
• Three tranches of EPs were executed under which 68 contracts worth ₹6,000 crores were placed and the fourth EP for indigenous equipment is underway.

Qatar signs world''s ''longest'' gas supply deal with China

• QatarEnergy will send four million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from its new North Field East project to China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).
• The deal “marks the longest gas supply agreement in the history of the LNG industry”.
• Asian countries led by China, Japan and South Korea are the main market for Qatar’s gas, which is increasingly being sought by European countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• North Field is at the centre of Qatar’s expansion of its liquefied natural gas production by more than 60% to 126 million tonnes a year by 2027.
• North field accounts approximately 10% of the world''s known reserves.
• China is the first country to seal a deal for North Field East.

Retired IAS officer Arun Goel takes charge as Election Commissioner

• View of Constitution:
  • The power to appoint the CEC and the ECs lies with the President of India under Article 324(2) of the Constitution, which states that “the President shall fix the number of ECs in a manner he sees fit, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament”.
  • Thus, Article 324(2) left it open for the Parliament to legislate on the issue.
• Procedure:
  • But, in the absence of any Parliamentary law governing the appointment issue, the ECs are appointed by the government of the day, without pursuing any consultation process.
  • There is no concept of collegium and no involvement of the opposition.
• Tenure: The Commissioners are appointed for a 6-year period, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Qualification: There are no prescribed qualifications for their appointment, although convention dictates that only senior (serving or retired) civil servants, of the rank of the Cabinet Secretary or Secretary to the GoI or an equivalent rank, will be appointed.

Coast Guards to get 2 vessels from GSL for effective pollution monitoring and response

• Pollution Control Vessels would be a new generation Special Role Vessel, equipped with the most advanced and sophisticated equipment, capable of performing multifarious roles of Indian Coast Guard, with prominent being combating marine pollution at extended ranges from the coastline.
• The PCVs will be equipped with state-of-art technology, advanced & highly sensitive pollution control equipment, navigation and communication equipment, sensor and machinery.
• Ships will be capable of carrying out dedicated oil spill response operations for containment, recovery, separation and dispersal of pollutants.
• The vessel will be fitted with latest pollution control equipment including two flush type side sweeping arms enabling it to contain oil spill whilst in motion.
• Advanced software would assist in predicting the spread of the complex oil spill pattern and Dynamic Positioning System will enable the vessel to be maneuvered in restricted areas with precision.
• The vessel is being designed to recover the lightest to the most viscous oil at the rate of 300 tons per hour.
• The vessels are also equipped with fire-fighting and salvage systems.

Department of Fisheries celebrates ''World Fisheries Day''

• World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21st November every year to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders throughout the world.
• It started in 1997 where “World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers” met at New Delhi leading to formation of “World Fisheries Forum” with representatives from 18 countries and signed a declaration advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies.
• The event aims to draw attention to overfishing, habitat destruction and other serious threats to the sustainability of our marine and freshwater resources.
• The celebrations serve to focus on changing the way the world manages global fisheries to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY):

• It is a flagship scheme focused on the development of the fisheries sector and doubling the incomes of fishers and fish farmers.
• It is announced as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in May 2020.
• The scheme is an Umbrella scheme for various other government initiatives and projects by the Government in the fisheries sector.
• The scheme aims for the adoption of ‘Cluster or Area-based Approaches’ and ultimately creating fisheries clusters through backward and forward linkages.
• The scheme targets enhancement in fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne and increase fisheries export earnings to 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25.
• The scheme also envisioned generating employment opportunities through seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation and to bring new interventions such as fishing vessel insurance, support for upgradation of fishing vessels/boats, integrated aqua parks, e-trading/marketing, etc.

Largest South Asian film market- Film Bazaar inaugurated by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur

• The initiative organised on side-lines of 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities.
• It was created and organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
• It was started in 2007.
• Every edition witnesses increased national and international participation.
• It becomes the converging point for film buyers and sellers from all over the world.
• The focus is on discovering, supporting and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production and distribution.
• The Bazaar also facilitates the sales of world cinema in the South Asian region.

Jitendra Singh to inaugurate e-governance meet in J-K''s Katra on Nov 26

• Theme: "Bringing citizens, industry and government closer".
• Presented by: Department of Administrative reforms & Public Grievances (DAR&PG) presents National Awards every year during National conference on e-Governance.
• Objective: To recognize and promote Excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
• Who are conferred the awards?
  • The Award recognizes some of the best Government to Government (G to G), Government to Citizen (G to C), Government to Business (G to B) initiatives taken by government departments.
  • It also recognizes initiatives in Start-ups, Academic Research Institutions as well as initiatives in adopting emerging technologies.
• Categories:
  • It will be presented under 5 categories of the NAeG Scheme - 2022 to 18 e-Governance initiatives at Central, State and District levels, Academic & Research Institutions and Public Sector Undertaking.
  • This includes 9 Gold and 9 Silver Awards.

Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of International Committee for Weight and Measures

• The CIPM is a supreme international committee which functions under the authority of General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM).

General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM):

• CGPM is a highest intergovernmental international organisation created as diplomatic treaty called Meter Convention signed on 20th May 1875 in Paris.
• It is responsible for development and implementation of International Systems of Unites, universally abbreviated as SI, its wide dissemination; make necessary modifications time to time for the advancement of science and technology.
• Advancement of Industry in the country is directly dependent on the state of its metrology capabilities.
• This year CGPM has adopted 7 important resolutions including new SI prefixes ronna (10²⁷), quetta (10³⁰), ronto (10-²⁷) and quecto (10-³⁰).
• With this nomenclature**, mass of the electron (1 quectogram) and weight of earth (1 ronnagram) can be expressed easily in SI units.**
• At present, CGPM is represented by 64 member countries and meets every 4th year at International Bureau of Weight and Measure (BIPM), France.
• The CIPM advises and recommends the amendments, changes, alterations to the SI to the CGPM for formal adoption.
• It can also pass resolutions and recommendations about the basic units of measurements, if needed, at its own authority.
• The primary objective of the CIPM, comprised of 18 members from 18 member states (nations), is to promote international harmonization of SI, meets annually, deliberate reports sent by its 18 Consultative Committees (CCs), among other matters brought to its notice as per mandate.
• Each member of the CIPM takes the responsibility of Chairmanship of one CC.

India’s Standards of Weights and Measures Act:

• The Government of India enacted the “Standards of Weights and Measures Act” for the first time in 1956 to ensure that every citizen has access to uniform standards of weights and measures those are traceable to the SI units.
• During the year 1957, India became member of the CGPM.