Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 22 Sep 2023
- 4 min read
Omega Blocking
The recent devastating floods in Libya can be attributed to the occurrence of an Omega atmospheric blocking event.
- Omega blocking is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when a high-pressure system gets trapped between two low-pressure systems, creating a pattern that resembles the Greek letter omega (Ω).
- It can cause extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, depending on the location and season.
- These events are difficult to predict and can cause significant damage and loss of life.
- They have been linked to past extreme weather events, including the Pakistan floods in 2011, extreme rainfall in northwestern Iran in 2008, and heatwaves in France and Germany in 2019.
Read More: Climate Change: A Roadblock to Economic Growth
Indian Visa Service Suspended in Canada
As diplomatic tensions between India and Canada escalate, the Indian government has suspended visa services in Canada, affecting a range of travelers and sparking questions about the future of diplomatic relations.
- Indian-origin Canadians with valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards or valid long-term Indian visas are not affected by the visa service suspension.
- OCI cardholders have lifetime entry privileges into India, allowing them to live and work in the country indefinitely.
- Canadians who possess valid Indian visas will not be impacted by the suspension. Their visas remain valid until further notice.
- Canada has not yet imposed restrictions on Indian visa applicants but may consider reciprocal measures in response to the current situation.
Read More: India and Canada Ties at a Downturn, The Khalistan Shadow on India-Canada Ties, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
SIMBEX 2023
Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay and Kavaratti and submarine INS Sindhukesari arrived in Singapore to participate in the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), 2023.
- This exercise has been conducted since 1994 and holds the distinction of being the longest naval exercise that the Indian Navy has conducted with another country.
- In addition to naval vessels, the exercise also includes the participation of the Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I.
- Other Exercises between the two countries include exercise Bold Kurukshetra, Trilateral Maritime Exercise SIMTEX (With Thailand) and exercise Agni Warrior (Army).
Read More: Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, India-Singapore Relations
Mobile Application and Web Portal for General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Recently, the Mobile Application and the Web Portal for GCES, developed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was launched.
- The aim is to transform agricultural practices across the nation.
- The portal and the app provide a comprehensive repository of yield estimation including village wise GCES plan and plot details where the crop cutting experiments are conducted.
- Geo referencing is one of the key features of the mobile application, which enables the primary worker to draw the boundary of the experimental plot and upload photos of the plot as well as of the crops through it.
Read More: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Digital India
