The following notes are the summary of the PIB. These are the Government of India’s official notification and hence are very important. Please read them with caution as these notes will give you a good insight about the last one year’s government activities. Such things and policies of the government, certain relevant issues or even an iota of understanding on these issues can be really useful in writing the Mains as well as Essay paper. The other parts are coming up. BIBLIO CHEERS..!!!!
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Scientific Research to be the Engine for ‘Make in India’ in Years to Come
Scientific research in the country is to make the engine for ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ in years to come.
The focus of the present government will be to take scientific research to the field for implementation, for industrial progress.
Ø India today is definitely a more happening place in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) than the West.
Ø The Modi government has already announced a package of incentives to Indian-origin STEM researchers so that they could get competitive salaries in India.
Ø Many private sector companies have already succeeded in wooing back to India talented scientists.
Ø This is reflecting well on India’s image as a country with innovation and STEM-based entrepreneurship.
“Ministry of Science & Technology (BIRAC and CSIR) would work with State Industry Development Corporations for enabling deployment of technology benefitting SMEs”.
Ø The spurt in the number of India’s intellectually talented students turning to the pure sciences has been noticed worldwide.
Ø Recently, the widely respected US think tank, Brookings Institution, has revealed in a report that 8 of the top10 cities worldwide in terms of sending STEM scholars to the United States on F-1 visas are in India.
These cities are: Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune.
Ø Falling world oil prices will not distract India’s commitment to seeking breakthroughs in making renewable energy harnessing and its affordable adoption in everyday life
Solar power
Ø Drive the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to push the frontiers of research into renewable energy research, particularly solar power.
Ø Prime Minister Modi, himself a great backer of solar energy research, development and adoption in everyday life, has instructed not to be distracted from the pursuit of the ultimate goal of having a fossil fuel free economy.
Ø This is definitely good news for the Environment as the present dependence on non-renewable forms of energy is killing us all and would be disastrous for the future generations”
The total renewable energy potential from various sources is conservatively estimated at 2.5 lakh MW. According to United Nations, India has achieved less than 12.5 percent of the potential. As for solar power, he said, the potential is “unlimited”.
Ø “In solar power the present trend is to think in terms of Gigawatts and not Megawatts because that would lead to prices dropping.
Ø In Germany, the government is encouraging house owners to rent out their rooftops so that more and more solar power can be harnessed for feeding into the grid.
Ø This policy needs to be incorporated into our national policy”.
Milestones: 2014-15
The Ministries of S&T and Earth Sciences have had a most fruitful 2014
Ø Congratulated all scientists, researchers, technicians and administrative staff of government laboratories and foundations who have made“Mangalyaan”and other milestones possible
Ø The Indian private sector should also be congratulated because it is functioning in many start up fields and competing with established players in the West.
Ø In the past 20 years many Indian companies based on biotechnology, biological sciences and other fields have attracted world recognition
The following are the achievements of the Department of Science and Technology
Cutting-edge Technology:
Ø Make in India. India is a partner in the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA
Ø 70% of India’s contribution will be in kind, in the making of quality mirrors and engineering in India. Partners: USA, Japan, Canada, China and India.
Ø High performance computing resource of 800 TFLOPS has been commissioned for weather and climate modeling.
Ø It is the most powerful machine in the SE Asia.
Supercomputing for the future:
Ø India has mounted an ambitious “National Supercomputing Mission (NSM):
Ø Building Capacity and Capability “with the aim of building Exascale computing with a total budget outlay of Rs 4,500 Crore over 7 years (jointly with Department of Information Technology).
Understanding Climate Change and Saving the Himalayan Ecosystem:
Ø National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
Tsunami Early Warning System at ESSO-INCOIS designated as Regional Tsunami Service Provider (RTSP) for providing advisories to all Indian Ocean Rim countries.
Ø India only country capable of providing advisories for both tsunamigenic zones:
Ø Makran coast and Andaman-Sumatra sub-duction zone.
Cyclone Prediction. Remarkable improvements: Recent events such as Thane, Phailin, and Helen and Hudhud.
Modeling Monsoon: A dynamic model employed to predict quantitative precipitation associated with the southwest monsoon.
Helping Recovery of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) heavy weight torpedo ‘VARUNASTRA’.
The support and participation by Vessel Management Cell of MoES ESSO-NIOT and crew of Sagar-Nidhi vital.
Make in India in High-end S&T:
Ø Deployed first Sub-surface Ocean Moored Observatory in the Arctic.
Ø ESSO-NCAOR and the ESSO-NIOT successfully deployed IndARC, the country’s first multi-sensor moored observatory in the Kongsfjorden fjord of the Arctic, roughly half way between Norway and the North Pole.
Ø This is a testimony to the capabilities of India in designing, developing and installing underwater observatories.
Investing for our future talent
Ø New thrust in Human Resource Development. Indian Scientists teach and train in Scale.
Ø International Scientists to teach in India.
Ø Opportunities for attracting Overseas Indian Scientists to return to India.
Enhanced Innovation Ecosystem:
Ø Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council now supports nearly 300 companies, 100 young entrepreneurs.
Ø Biotechnology Translational research and industry academia partnership are being promoted through 3 Biotech clusters, 8 Biotech Parks and 13 Bioincubators.
Rotavirus vaccine indigenously developed
Ø The developed Rotavirus Vaccine at $1 per dose has been cleared for market license.
Decoding the Wheat Genome
Ø 15 countries joined hands to complete this huge task of decoding 17,000 million bases.
Ø Indian Scientists participated in Decoding Chromosome 2A.
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) provides significant technological interventions in many areas of economic and social importance which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors.
Ø CSIR has 90% of US patents granted to any Indian publicly funded R&D organization.
Ø CSIR licenses 13.86% of its patents - above global average.
National Capacity Building and in some areas, global leadership
Ø Example: CSIR technology provides gasoline with less than 0.3% benzene.
Ø A 0.60 MMTPA plant is being constructed at Reliance Refinery in Jamnagar. First in world.
Novel Broad Spectrum Confocal Microscope
§ Under CSIR-CGCRI and NMITLI programme a Broad Spectrum Confocal Microscope, world class ‘Made in India’High-end Product based on Supercontinuum Light Source.
§ Paved the way for India’s presence in global photonics research.
Strategic Sector:
Ø DHVANI, a state-of-the-art marksmanship training system and Drishti Systems, airport visibility measuring tools.
Ø KrishiShakti, an indigenous diesel engine tractor.
Just Announced: Indian Neutrino Observatory
Ø A major high-tech Make in India initiative and a new-thrust in High-Energy Experimental
India to Join Global High¬ End Scientific Club Soon
INO, India now on a threshold to join the global high-end scientific Neutrino club and its way has been cleared with the Union Cabinet clearing the Neutrino Observatory, INO
Ø According to Prof. Naba K. Mondal, Project Director of the India-based Neutrino Observatory and Inter Institutional Centre for High Energy Physics it would open up avenues for experiments in high energy physics.
Ø It may be noted that the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the project on December 26 last year, at an investment of Rs. 1,500 crores.
Ø It will be funded jointly by Department of Science and Technology and Atomic Energy, while the Infrastructure will be creatted with the help of Tamil Nadu government.
India will also seek international participation in the project, so that it turns out to be an international hub for high-end research like the CERN in Geneva.
Ø Indian participation in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project will continue.
Ø Dr. Mondal said with the closure of the Kolar Gold Field project this kind of high-end physics projects were not undertaken here in the past
Ø Hence the global community had to be convinced that India is sincere in this regard.
“Now with the formal approval for the project we will really want to open the space for the international community, to come and participate in the experiments or even propose new experiments.
Ø The experiment that we are doing is only the first experiment.
Ø There can be other experiments like on the dark matters.
So India would like to invite the international community to come here and join us and participate so that this centre becomes a global hub for such things.”
Ø The underground project, which will come up near Pottipuram village in Theni district on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border will comprise a complex of caverns – the main cavern, which will house the current detector will be 130 meters long, 26 meters wide and 30 meter high.
Ø There will be two smaller caverns to be used for setting up experiments for neutrino double detector and dark matters, said Prof. Mondal.
Ø The complex will be approached by a 2-kms long tunnel.
The Inter Institutional Centre for High Energy Physics will come up in Madurai, about 110 kilometers from the Observatory.
Ø “The Neutrino that we are going to detect is there anyway.
Ø We will only detect and study its properties. Light from the Sun, stars and galaxies are there always.
Ø When you put a telescope, you detect it. Here also the Neutrinos are coming, we are only putting the detector underground
Ø We have to put it underground, because in the surface, there are other interactions, which will completely submerge the Neutrino event.
Ø That’s why we have to go deep underground, where other particles get absorbed and we can measure the Neutrino.”
Prof. Mondal said, any apprehensions about the project’s impact on habitation in or around the village was unfounded.
PM's remarks at dedication of ICICI's Digital Village to the Nation
Banks should create one lakh Swachhta entrepreneurs within a year
Ø Banks can become agents of social transformation
Ø Called upon banks to create one lakh "Swachhta Entrepreneurs" within a year, to make the "Swachh Bharat" vision a sustainable reality.
Ø The function also marked 60 years of the ICICI group.
Ø The Prime Minister urged ICICI Bank to adopt a social charter of such tangible goals.
Ø He said many times one institution takes the lead and others follow, generating momentum towards a good cause.
Spoke of Akodara Village in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, chosen by ICICI Bank as a digital village
Ø Akodara had a cattle hostel, which had contributed immensely to improving incomes and cleanliness in the village.
Ø Rural development could emerge as a powerhouse of economic development for the country.
Ø Congratulating ICICI Bank and the people of Akodara for creating a cashless economic system.
Ø He said banks in India should actually compete for achieving maximum cashless transactions, as this would be the best solution to the problem of black money.
People in India had a propensity towards saving, but this was targeted towards gold.
Ø The challenge for banks was to assure people that a bank account would ensure easy access to their savings whenever required.
Ø If banks were able to do so, they could emerge as agents of social transformation.
Ø Earlier, Akodara village of Sabarkantha District in Gujarat was formally dedicated as a digital village by the Prime Minister.
Reconstitution of Empowered Committee regarding setting up of Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication (FAB) manufacturing facilities in the country
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved to reconstitute the Empowered Committee to setup the Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication (FAB) projects
Background
Ø The Government had in 2011 constituted an Empowered Committee to identify technology and investors and to recommend incentives to be provided to set up two FAB facilities in the country.
Ø The setting up of Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication units is a critical pillar required to promote Electronics System Design and Manufacturing in India which will stimulate the flow of capital and technology, create employment opportunities, help higher value addition in the electronic products manufactured in India, reduce dependence on imports, and lead to innovation.
Direct sale of bio-diesel by manufacturers/suppliers other than OMCs
Ø Govt gave its approval for amending the Motor Spirit (MS) and High Speed Diesel (HSD) control order for Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices
Ø The amendment will allow private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and Joint Ventures (JVs) of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) authorized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) as dealers and give marketing/ distribution functions to them for the limited purpose of supply of bio-diesel to consumers.
Further, the investment and production conditions (as applicable) specified in the Marketing Resolution will also be relaxed and a new clause added to give marketing rights for Bio-diesel (B100) to the private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and JVs of OMCs authorized by the MoP&NG for direct sales to consumers.
Ø Background MoP&NG announced a Bio-diesel Purchase Policy, effective from 1.1.2006, to encourage production of bio-diesel in the country for blending it with diesel with the objective of increasing energy security and meeting other emission and environment objectives.
Ø Under this Policy, OMCs are to buy Bio-diesel (B100), meeting fuel quality standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), at a uniform price, as decided by the OMCs from time to time, for blending with HSD to the extent of five percent, at identified purchase centres across the country.
PSU OMCs under the MoP&NG have been actively pursuing the bio-diesel programme and entered into MoUs and formed JVs for cultivation of bio-fuels species on revenue wasteland and degraded lands in the State.
Ø These JV companies have been formed with the objective of increasing production and marketing of Bio-diesel in the country.
Ø They have sought permission to undertake activities like sourcing, trading, supply, distribution, marketing etc. of Bio-diesel to consumers.
As the price of diesel is already deregulated and determined by the market, there is no economic justification in preventing private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and JVs of OMCs authorized by the MoP&NG from selling biodiesel directly to consumers subject to their product meeting prescribed BIS standards.
National Livestock Mission (NLM) to Ensure Quantitative and Qualitative Improvement in Livestock Production
National Livestock Mission (NLM) launched in FY 2014-15 shall ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders.
Ø The Sub-Mission under NLM on Fodder and Feed Development will try to address the problems of scarcity of animal feed resources, in order to give a push to the livestock sector making it a economically viable enterprise for India, and also to harness its export potential.
Ø The biggest impediment to growth of dairy and livestock productivity is the large-scale prevalence of animal diseases like FMD, PPR, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza etc, which adversely affect the productivity.
Ø Taking into account the fact that effective control of a number of animal diseases requires national strategy; the existing scheme of livestock health has been strengthened.
Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP) which was under implementation in 221 districts since August, 2010, was extended to all the remaining districts of Uttar Pradesh and all the districts of Rajasthan during 2013-14 thus covering 313 districts as of now.
Ø It has been decided that FMD-CP will be extended to whole of India during 12th Plan subject to availability of funds and vaccine.
Ø Increase in milk production has to be achieved by increasing productivity of the milch animals rather than increase in the number of animals.
Ø In order to encourage farmers to produce more milk, effective system of milk collection has to be ensured so that the farmer is assured of selling his produce at a profitable price which can be ensured by putting in place effective procurement systems connecting milk producers.
Steps are needed to reduce wastage of milk by expanding the cold chain infrastructure in the rural areas to collect and preserve milk till such time it is collected for sale or taken for processing.
Ø Systematic planning has to be done for location of bulk milk coolers so that farmers from neighbouring villages can easily access them.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been initiated by the Department with the aims to conserve and develop Indigenous Breeds in a focused and scientific manner.
Ø Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focused project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan.
Ø During 2014-15, Rs.150.00 crore has been allocated for development, preservation and conservation of indigenous breeds.
Government is also proposing to establish “Rashtriya Kamdhenu Breeding Centre” for development, conservation and preservation of Indigenous Breeds as a Centre of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds (37 Cattle and 13 Buffaloes) in a holistic and scientific manner with the aim of enhancing their productivity and upgrading genetic merit.
Ø As concerned with fisheries production, with a production of 9.58 million tonnes in 2013-14, India has maintained its position as a second largest producer of fish in the world contributing 5.7 percent of the total fish production globally.
Ø Keeping this in view, the Government is now focusing on Blue revolution in the sector.
Ø Blue revolution means an intensive and sustainable growth in fish production providing for food and nutritional security, employment and improved livelihood.
“FASTag”, the Brand name for ETC services on Highways
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has decided to roll out Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) program in the country under the brand name “FASTag”.
Ø ETC entails payment of highway tolls electronically without needing to stop the vehicle at the toll plazas.
Ø The unique number of the RFID Tag affixed on the wind shield of the vehicle will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated “ETC” lanes of plazas and appropriate amount as per the class of vehicle will be automatically deducted from the account of the user.
Ø The dedicated ETC lanes will have colour coding for distinct identity recognized as “FASTag lanes”.
ICICI Bank and Axis bank, engaged for providing Central Clearing House (CCH) services, would distribute RFID based “FASTag” through their franchises/agents and at points of sales near the toll plazas.
Ø Road users can enrol and get “FASTag” affixed on their vehicles at designated toll plaza locations or Point of Sale (POS) stations of Axis bank and ICICI bank.
Ø Such type of highway tag brands are common in developed countries and are known by different names like“Eazee Pass”, “SunPass” in the US, “e-Pass” in Australia, “Salik” in Dubai etc.
New Initiatives/ Developments of Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Ministry of Food Processing Industries is concerned with the formulation and implementation of policies for Development of food processing industries in the country.
Ø Food processing sector plays a vital role in reduction of wastages of agri-horti produce, enhancing shelf life of food products, ensuring value addition to agricultural produce, diversification of agriculture.
Ø Employment generation, Enhancing the incomes of farmers and export of agro & processed foods.
Ever since the new government has taken over, the following key developments have taken place in the Ministry of Food Processing:
Ø Special fund of Rs. 2000 crore set up in NABARD, which was announced in the Budget of 2014-15 to provide affordable credit to Agro-processing units.
Ø Reduction in excise duty from 10% to 6% for Food Processing machinery announced in the Budget 2014-15
Ø Help desk “Investors Portal” has been set up to assist the prospective investors/ entrepreneurs to facilitate investments in the Food Processing sector.
Ø Skill Development initiative taken by the Ministry in consultation with National Skill Development Council and identified 7 sectors ( Bakery, Dairy, Grain Processing, Poultry, Refrigeration, Packaging, Quality Control) with the help of reputed industry partners to train 10,000 persons in the next 12 months.
Ø E monitoring of National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) - Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched.
WAY FORWARD
Ø Explore new scheme for infrastructure and cluster development of perishables.
Ø Facilitate solutions to industries for the issues related to FSSAI.
Ø Ministry is committed to facilitate and act as a catalyst to attract investments from within India and abroad into Food Processing sector.
Collective Efforts by the Government, Cooperatives and Private Sector Needed for Sustainable Dairy Development
Dairy Vision 2025
The Agriculture Minister pointed out that India is the largest producer of milk since 1998 and accounts for about 17% of the world milk production.
Ø The value of output of milk increased from Rs.1,15,970 crore in 2006-07 to Rs.3,05,484 crore in 2011-12, an increase of 163% during XI Plan.
Ø The average growth in milk production in the country in the last decade was 4.2% as against World average of 2.2% indicating a healthy trend.
The effort of the Department in the dairy sector are concentrated on providing backward linkages like breed improvement initiatives, animal health
Ø AIl services and promotion of dairy activities and forward linkages in terms of market access with emphasis on building up cooperative infrastructure, revitalization of sick dairy cooperative federations and creation of infrastructure in the States for production of quality milk and milk products.
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) provides technical support in all these activities for overall development of Dairy Sector, especially in the Operation Flood areas.
Ø In spite of India’s position as highest producer of milk, productivity of our bovines is very poor.
Ø It is only 1525.20 Kgs/year as compared to the world average of 2,159 Kgs/year.
Ø Milk production and productivity can be increased by genetic upgradation of animals through scientific breeding, balanced nutrition and effective livestock health.
The Government of India has launched National Dairy Plan to give further fillip to dairy activities and to meet the increasing demand for milk and milk products through enhanced productivity.
Ø Dairy Vision 2025 has been planned to take stock of the current situation across the dairy value chain and evolve strategies for increasing productivity and profitability of the farmers, identify potential opportunities for Public Private Partnership, identify and resolve key policy constraints and provide a platform to showcase innovations and success stories.
Ø Collective Efforts by the Government, Cooperatives and Private Sector Needed for Sustainable Dairy Development
Emphasizes On Efficient Water Management through convergence of Resources of Various Ministries
Efficient water management of water resources can be achieved through the convergence of resources/programmes of various Ministries/Departments.
Ø “India Water Week 2015” function was organized by Ministry of Water Resources
Ø Water conservation, groundwater re-charge and rainwater harvesting by adopting appropriate technologies and funding mechanisms, have to be undertaken in and outside watershed development projects, with the resources of Ministries of Rural Development, Agriculture, Water Resources, Urban Development and Power etc.
Enhancing productivity of water using micro-irrigation, supplemental and deficit irrigation is possible only through combined efforts of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Power
Ø Marginal changes in irrigation practices will not be enough to increase productivity.
Ø To increase growth in irrigated agriculture, efficiency of the existing systems is to be enhanced; water so saved should be utilized to increase irrigation intensity and farming practices improved with modern inputs and technologies.
Adverse effects of climate change on freshwater systems will aggravate the impacts of other stresses, such as population growth, changing economic activity, land use change and urbanization
Ø Since the supply is projected to be limited and erratic the only way to balance the water demand-supply gap is through management of the resource in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner
Ø Heavy subsidies in electricity consumed for agriculture have tended to encourage wasteful use of energy and also wasteful use of water.
Ø This has also encouraged farmers to overdraw water from deep aquifers, thus causing water quality deterioration in many cases.
Ø Despite huge significance of ground water in agriculture growth, it is heading for crisis and needs urgent understanding and attention, he added.
Food security is of supreme national importance for maintaining social harmony, equity and national integrity of India.
Ø Given the growing population and income of the country, the challenge is to manage the competitive demands on water for industrial, household and energy purposes while meeting the food security targets
Union Agriculture Minister emphasises about the potential of ‘neem’ coated urea
The launching of ‘Neem’ coated urea organised by KRIBHCO, emphasised on the maximum use of neem coated urea for increase of production and reduction in production cost.
Ø ‘Neem’ coated urea is helpful in reducing the pollution of water, soil and air.
Ø India have to import about 70 lakh ton of urea every year, which affects the foreign exchange.
Ø Plants cannot absorb nitrogen found in urea to its maximum extent as a result a large component of it goes waste.
Ø By increasing the utility factor of nitrogen (through ‘neem’ coated urea), the consumption of urea can be reduced
India has been using neem over the centuries in one way or the other.
Ø ‘Neem’ is a true friend of farmers from ancient times.
Ø KRIBHCO has developed neem coated urea, by mixing ‘neem’ oil in urea, which is being used by various farmers across the country and they are benefitted by it.
By using neem coated urea the utility capacity of nitrogen can be increased by 10 to 15%. By balanced use of fertilizers, the health of soil can be sustained over a long period
Restriction on production of Neem coated Urea removed
Chemcials and Fertilizers Minister says there would neither be increase in Urea price nor change in subsidy
Ø The Government has taken steps to encourage production and availability of fortified and coated urea in the country.
Ø In this regard, the cap / restrictions to produce Neem coated urea has been removed.
Ø Neem coated urea will not only increase crop yields but also lower input cost to farmers.
Ø It will also reduce imports of precious fertilizers as well as reduce ground and soil pollution.
India is using only 60 lakh mt neem coated urea which can be increased to full demand of 310 lakh MT in the country.
Ø Neem coated urea is costly by 5% compared to plain prilled urea but it reduces Nitrogen loss by more than 10%, thereby incurring a net savings of Rs. 13.5 per bag for farmers.
Ø Due to higher nitrogen use efficiency, the use of nitrogen coated urea can also eliminate import of urea resulting in huge foreign exchange savings. Presently, India is importing about 71 lakh MT urea.
Ø Additionally, farmers will also get advantage of better yield, less pest attack due to less use of urea which will also ensure better NPK use ratio and balanced use of fertilizers.
There is adequate availability of fertilizers in the country and there is no shortage anywhere.
Cooperative Leadership and Training are Essential for Stable Economy and Inclusive Development
Cooperative leadership and training are essential for stable economy and inclusive development in the present age of globalisation when the Indian economy is passing through an era of competitiveness.
Ø Efficient management of human resources are the bedrocks for the development of cooperatives.
Ø For this, the training programmes of cooperatives have to be dove-tailed to the hour of the day
Government have received proposals for opening cooperative management institutes from North Eastern Region like Sikkim, Mizoram, Tripura and states of Chattisgarh and Jharkhand
Ø Government is keen to strenthen cooperative education and training in these states and all efforts will be made to provide sufficient funds and other resources in this regard.
Ø National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) provides encouragement and financial assistance to cooperatives from primary level to national level and also provides them with technical guidance including computerization skills.
Ø NCDC implements ICDP (Integrated Cooperative Development Projects) in selected districts.
Ø NCDC released Rs 405.70 cr for 19 projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
NABARD is playing an important role as an advisor to provide core banking solution to cooperative banks.
Ø NABARD also gives technical/technological infrasture and Human Resources training to state and district level cooperative banks.
Ø Agriculture cooperative credit contributes 16.9%, fertiliser production 29%, weaver cooperatives 54% and sugar production 40% towards the Indian economy.
JBIC Survey Ranks India as No. 1 Destination for Future Investments
In July 2014, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) conducted a survey of 1000 companies for Japanese manufacturing sector.
Ø Based on this research, India has been ranked as the No.1 destination for future investments followed by Indonesia (ranked No.2) and China (ranked No.3).
Ø In October 2014, the number of Japanese companies in India had reached 1209, which is 13% higher over the same period last year with a CAGR of 13.67% (for the last five years (2010 to 2014)).
Some Japanese companies are seriously contemplating their future investment plans in India amounting to about Rs 75,000 crores (approx. US$12 billion) in next 2-3 years.
Ø During the period June 2014 to September 2014, FDI inflow from Japan amounted to US$ 618 million against US$ 273 million for the corresponding period in 2013.
Ø FDI inflow of US$103.14 million took place in October 2014.
The Government has set up Japan Plus, a special management team, to facilitate Japanese investors.
Ø The team is actively interacting with Japanese companies and handholding them through various approval processes, as and when required. '
Ø Also, the issues related to the State Government of Rajasthan concerning Sojitz, working for Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), has been resolved.
Ø One of the mandates of Japan Plus is to help develop Japanese Integrated Industrial Parks.
Ø For this, discussions are going on with Japanese companies and the State Governments concerned.
Idukki in Kerala Becomes the First District of India with Complete Rural Broadband Coverage
The Minister for Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the launch of the high speed broadband for the entire Idukki district of Kerala.
Ø With the commissioning of the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), the Idukki district of Kerala has become the first in India to be connected with the high speed broadband for all the areas of the district.
Ø Currently the District has a total of eight (8) Block Offices & 53 Gram Panchayats of which 8 Block Offices & 52 Gram Panchayats have been connected on Optical Fibre and one Gram Panchayat
BSNL has made exceptional efforts in connecting this Gram Panchayat and now Broadband Internet as well as Mobile services are also available here. For the first time all villages under this Panchayat would be connected through Mobile phones and internet.
Ø The establishment of NOFN would open up new avenues for Access service providers such as Telecom Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, and Cable TV operators, Content Providers etc. to launch next generation services and spur creation of local employment opportunities in a big way.
Recommendations of High Level Committee on restructuring of FCI
High Level Committee (HCL) on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) has submitted its report to the Government.
Ø It was submitted by Shri Shanta Kumar, Chairman of the Committee to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi
Ø The HCL was set up by the Government on 20th August, 2014.
The major issue before the Committee was how to make the entire food grain management system more efficient by reorienting the role of FCI in MSP operations, procurement, storage and distribution of grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
Executive Summary of the report is as follows-
Backdrop
Ø Government of India (GoI) set up a High Level Committee (HLC) in August 2014 with Shri Shanta Kumar as the Chairman, six members and a special invitee to suggest restructuring or unbundling of FCI with a view to improve its operational efficiency and financial management.
Ø GoI also asked HLC to suggest measures for overall improvement in management of foodgrains by FCI
Ø To suggest reorienting the role and functions of FCI in MSP operations, storage and distribution of foodgrains and food security systems of the country; and to suggest cost effective models for storage and movement of grains and integration of supply chain of foodgrains in the country.
The HLC had wide consultations with various stakeholders in its several meetings in different parts of the country.
Ø It also invited comments through advertisements in newspapers and electronic media.
It is against that backdrop, one has to see how far FCI has achieved its objectives, what the current situation on foodgrain front, what are the new challenges with regard to food security, and how best these challenges can be met with a reoriented or restructured institution like FCI.
Ø FCI was set up in 1965 (under the Food Corporation Act, 1964) against the backdrop of major shortage of grains, especially wheat, in the country.
Ø Imports of wheat under PL- 480 were as high as 6-7 MMT, when country's wheat production hovered around 10-12 MMT, and country did not have enough foreign exchange to buy that much quantity of wheat from global markets.
Self-sufficiency in grains was the most pressing objective, and keeping that in mind high yielding seeds of wheat were imported from Mexico.
Agricultural Prices Commission was created in 1965 to recommend remunerative prices to farmers, and FCI was mandated with three basic objectives:
(1) To provide effective price support to farmers;
(2) To procure and supply grains to PDS for distributing subsidized staples to economically vulnerable sections of society;
(3) keep a strategic reserve to stabilize markets for basic foodgrains.
How far FCI has achieved these objectives and how far the nation has moved on food security front?
The NSSO's (70th round) data for 2012-13 reveals that of all the paddy farmers who reported sale of paddy during July-December 2012, only 13.5 percent farmers sold it to any procurement agency
Ø Diversions of grains from PDS amounted to 46.7 percent in 2011-12
Ø This indicates that India has moved far away from the shortages of 1960s, into surpluses of cereals in post-2010 period
Ø But somehow the food management system, of which FCI is an integral part, has not been able to deliver on its objectives very efficiently.
The benefits of procurement have not gone to larger number of farmers beyond a few states, and leakages in TPDS remain unacceptably high.
Ø Needless to say, this necessitates a re-look at the very role and functions of FCI within the ambit of overall food management systems, and concerns of food security.
Major Recommendations of HLC:
On procurement related issues
Ø HLC recommends that FCI hand over all procurement operations of wheat, paddy and rice to states that have gained sufficient experience in this regard and have created reasonable infrastructure for procurement.
Ø These states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab
FCI will accept only the surplus (after deducting the needs of the states under NFSA) from these state governments (not millers) to be moved to deficit states.
Ø FCI should move on to help those states where farmers suffer from distress sales at prices much below MSP, and which are dominated by small holdings, like Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam etc.
Ø This is the belt from where second green revolution is expected, and where FCI needs to be pro-active, mobilizing state and other agencies to provide benefits of MSP and procurement to larger number of farmers, especially small and marginal ones.
Ø DFPD/FCI at the Centre should enter into an agreement with states before every procurement season regarding costing norms and basic rules for procurement.
Three issues are critical to be streamlined to bring rationality in procurement operations and bringing back private sector in competition with state agencies in grain procurement:
(1) Centre should make it clear to states that in case of any bonus being given by them on top of MSP, Centre will not accept grains under the central pool beyond the quantity needed by the state for its own PDS and OWS;
(2) The statutory levies including commissions, which vary from less than 2 percent in Gujarat and West Bengal to 14.5 percent in Punjab, need to be brought down uniformly to 3 percent, or at most 4 percent of MSP, and this should be included in MSP itself
(3) Quality checks in procurement have to be adhered to, and anything below the specified quality will not be acceptable under central pool.
Quality checks can be done either by FCI and/or any third party accredited agency in a transparent manner with the help of mechanized processes of quality checking.
Negotiable warehouse receipt system (NWRs) should be taken up on priority and scaled up quickly.
Ø Under this system, farmers can deposit their produce to the registered warehouses, and get say 80 percent advance from banks against their produce valued at MSP.
Ø They can sell later when they feel prices are good for them.
Ø This will bring back the private sector, reduce massively the costs of storage to the government, and be more compatible with a market economy.
Ø GoI (through FCI and Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA)) can encourage building of these warehouses with better technology, and keep an on-line track of grain stocks with them on daily/weekly basis.
In due course, GoI can explore whether this system can be used to compensate the farmers in case of market prices falling below MSP without physically handling large quantities of grain.
Ø GoI needs to revisit its MSP policy.
Ø Currently, MSPs are announced for 23 commodities, but effectively price support operates primarily in wheat and rice and that too in selected states.
Ø This creates highly skewed incentive structures in favour of wheat and rice.
Ø While country is short of pulses and oilseeds (edible oils), their prices often go below MSP without any effective price support.
Ø Further, trade policy works independently of MSP policy, and many a times, imports of pulses come at prices much below their MSP.
Ø This hampers diversification.
HLC recommends that pulses and oilseeds deserve priority and GoI must provide better price support operations for them, and dovetail their MSP policy with trade policy so that their landed costs are not below their MSP.
On PDS and NFSA related issues
Ø HLC also recommends to have a relook at the current coverage of 67 percent of population; priority households getting only 5 kgs/person as allocation; and central issue prices being frozen for three years at Rs 3/2/1/kg for rice/wheat/coarse cereals respectively.
Ø HLC's examination of these issue reveals that 67 percent coverage of population is on much higher side, andshould be brought down to around 40 percent, which will comfortably cover BPL families and some even above that; 5kg grain per person to priority households is actually making BPL households worse off, who used to get 7kg/person under the TPDS.
Ø HLC recommends that targeted beneficiaries under NFSA or TPDS are given 6 months rationimmediately after the procurement season ends.
Ø HLC recommends gradual introduction of cash transfers in PDS, starting with large cities with more than 1 million population; extending it to grain surplus states, and then giving option to deficit states to opt for cash or physical grain distribution.
Cash transfers can be indexed with overall price level to protect the amount of real income transfers, given in the name of lady of the house, and routed through Prime Minister's Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and dovetailing Aadhaar and Unique Identification (UID) number.
This will empower the consumers, plug high leakages in PDS, save resources, and it can be rolled out over the next 2-3 years.
On stocking and movement related issues
Ø HLC recommends that FCI should outsource its stocking operations to various agencies such as Central Warehousing Corporation, State Warehousing Corporation, Private Sector under Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) scheme, and even state governments that are building silos through private sector on state lands (as in Madhya Pradesh)
Ø Many of FCI's old conventional storages that have existed for long number of years can be converted to silos with the help of private sector and other stocking agencies.
Ø Better mechanization is needed in all silos as well as conventional storages.
Ø Covered and plinth (CAP) storage should be gradually phased out with no grain stocks remaining in CAP for more than 3 months.
Ø Silo bag technology and conventional storages where ever possible should replace CAP
Movement of grains needs to be gradually containerized which will help reduce transit losses, and have faster turn-around-time by having more mechanized facilities at railway sidings.
On Buffer Stocking Operations and Liquidation Policy
Ø One of the key challenges for FCI has been to carry buffer stocks way in excess of buffer stocking norms.
Ø During the last five years, on an average, buffer stocks with FCI have been more than double the buffer stocking norms costing the nation thousands of crores of rupees loss without any worthwhile purpose being served
A transparent liquidation policy is the need of hour, which should automatically kick-in when FCI is faced with surplus stocks than buffer norms.
Ø Greater flexibility to FCI with business orientation to operate in OMSS and export markets is needed.
On Labour Related Issues
Ø FCI engages large number of workers (loaders) to get the job of loading/unloading done smoothly and in time.
On direct subsidy to farmers
Ø Since the whole system of food management operates within the ambit of providing food security at a national as well as at household level, it must be realized that farmers need due incentives to raise productivity and overall food production in the country.
Ø Most of the OECD countries as well as large emerging economies do support their farmers.
Ø India also gives large subsidy on fertilizers (more than Rs 72,000 crores in budget of FY 2015 plus pending bills of about Rs 30,000-35,000 crores).
Ø Urea prices are administered at a very low level compared to prices of DAP and MOP, creating highly imbalanced use of N, P and K.
HLC recommends that farmers be given direct cash subsidy and fertilizer sector can then be deregulated.
This would help plug diversion of urea to non-agricultural uses as well as to neighbouring countries, and help raise the efficiency of fertilizer use.
On end to end computerization
Ø HLC recommends total end to end computerization of the entire food management system, starting from procurement from farmers, to stocking, movement and finally distribution through TPDS.
Ø It can be done on real time basis, and some states have done a commendable job on computerizing the procurement operations.
Ø But its dovetailing with movement and distribution in TPDS has been a weak link, and that is where much of the diversions take place.
On the new face of FCI
Ø The new face of FCI will be akin to an agency for innovations in Food Management System with a primary focus to create competition in every segment of foograin supply chain, from procurement to stocking to movement and finally distribution in TPDS, so that overall costs of the system are substantiallyreduced, leakages plugged, and it serves larger number of farmers and consumers.
LCA TEJAS Achieved Yet another Accomplishment
With three consecutive start-ups of its engine after overnight soak in extreme cold(around -15ºC) conditions of Laddakh winter, that too without any external assistance, Tejas, the Indian Light Combat Aircraft has achieved yet another and a rare distinction.
Ø Starting the fighter aircraft under such extreme condition without any external assistance or heating is a technology challenge.
Ø The requirements become further stringent when the starting is to be done three times consecutively with a partially charged battery.
Ø Team LCA led by AERD&C of HAL, and members from ADA, NFTC, IAF, CEMILAC and DGAQA have succeeded in achieving this.
The engine starter is developed indigenously by HAL Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), Bangalore.
Ø Prior to aircraft tests, the Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) was extensively tested on test rig to meet starting conditions across the operating altitudes including Leh (10,700 ft.) and Khardungla (18300 ft.)
Ø The control software of JFS was fine tuned to work at all operating altitudes with no adjustments from cockpit.
New Generation Electronic Warfare Equipment Integrated on Tejas Aircraft
An advance Electronic Warfare suite (EW suite) developed by Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), a DRDO laboratory, flew for the first time onboard the “Tejas-PV1 Light Combat Aircraft”
Ø In addition to the Radar Warner, the EW suite is also equipped with jammer.
Ø It gives to the pilot an additional capability of nullifying the effect of detected Radar threat by appropriate mode of jamming.
Existing EW systems fitted on various combat aircraft are basic EW equipment known as Radar Warner Receiver to provide warning to the aircraft pilot in case of detection of a Radar threat.
Ø After obtaining due flight clearances and certification, the first flight sortie of LCA PV1 with the EW equipment operational, took place
Ø The equipment was noted to be detecting Radar signals operating in and around the flight path.
Ø This warfare suite adds an important capability to our LCA”.
“LCA is the first fighter aircraft of India fitted with a Radar Warner and Jammer equipment with capability for both Radar warning and jamming using a Unified EW Technology.
Over the coming few months, ADA and DARE will be scheduling further sorties to evaluate the system in various signal scenarios”.
Agreement for Commercializing Novel Superabsorbent Hydrogels Technology Signed
National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) an enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and M/s Reliance Industries Limited, Mumbai executed an agreement for commercialization of “A Novel Superabsorbent Hydrogels” technology.
Ø This involves a novel hydrophilic super absorbent polymer indigenously developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to meet the requirements of water productivity in Agriculture.
Ø The scientists had successfully demonstrated the potential of resolving the problem of poor water use efficiency in agricultural crops.
Ø Besides, improved nutrient use efficiency, an array of other benefits have been achieved by using this product.
NRDC is about to execute another agreement with a Chennai based company for the transfer of the same technology.
Ø NRDC has already executed agreements with five companies.
Hydrogel absorbs a minimum of 350 times its weight of pure water at 500C. It exhibits absorbency at high temperatures suitable for semi-arid and arid regions.
Besides, low rate of application it also improves physical properties of soil such as porosity, aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity.
Key Characteristics:
Ø Less affected by the presence of salts in its immediate environment
Ø Improves physical properties of soils and the soil less media
Ø Improves seed germination and the rate of seedling emergence
Ø Improves root growth and density
Ø Helps plants withstand prolonged moisture stress
Ø Reduces nursery establishment period
Ø Reduces irrigation and fertilization requirements of crops with improved input use efficiency
No undesirable effect on the crops raised in the fields treated with hydrogel has ever been observed or reported by the experimenters or the end users, the farmers
“Job orientation of higher education will enable harnessing demographic dividend of the country”
The immense demographic dividend and potential of the youth can be productively channelized for growth and development of the country only when the higher education system is provided a “job orientation”, one that enables the youth to contribute constructively to the growing economy.
Ø Skill upgradation and skill orientation of higher education in the country is a priority area for the government.
Ø A higher education system needs to equip the youth with tools for the job market.
Ø The focus of the government is to empower the youth of the country with productive skills in order to realise their immense potential in nation building.
Reminiscing the levels that higher education in the country touched at Nalanda and Taxila, the Health Minister stated that the government is committed to strengthening and improving higher education in the country to touch the glory it enjoyed in the past.
Ø But merely quality will not be the focus
Ø In a country teeming with a large number of youth, quantity will also be a priority area for the government in its endeavours.
Ø But a balance needs to be struck between quantity and quality of higher education, as generally it is observed that the quality suffers in the quest for quantity.
Ø Both need to be provided in an optimum balance
Numbers are also important, provided they do not lead to deterioration in quality and standard of higher education.
Ø The Health Minister stressed on the need for Skills, Scale and Speed for the betterment of the youth of the country.
Highlighted the need for a sturdy and effective regulatory mechanism
Ø Such a regulatory framework will ensure that the highest standards of quality are met by the higher education system in the country.
Ø In addition, it will also take care that the cost of higher education is not such that it becomes unaffordable and beyond the reach of the common man.
The government is committed to working on a regulatory mechanism which will meet the challenges of providing quality higher education at affordable costs to empower the youth in the country with employment-oriented skills
Call for a five pronged strategy to meet water demand
Stresses on judicious use and inter-linking of rivers
The following strategy is suggested to implement it on a priority basis
(1) Create awareness among the people about the need for judicious use of and conservation of water
(2) Inter-linking of rivers (Ganga – Cauvery)
(3) Recycling and re-use of water
(4) Rain water harvesting
(5) Desalination plants for use of salt water
Ø Water is a scarce resource and every drop of available water needs to be conserved.
Ø Stressing on the need to make rain water harvesting mandatory
Ø Highlighted the need to have check dams at various levels in rural areas.
India has a population of about 17% of the world but only 4% of water resources. In urban areas, while the requirement is 135 litres. per person per day, only about 70 litres are being provided.
Ø The people have to be educated about the advantages of river linking schemes.
Ø Recalled that the inter-linking scheme was enunciated and a task force was set up under Shri Suresh Prabhu’s leadership during the Vajpayeeji’s regime and that the scheme was found technically suitable and financially viable.
Scheme would take care of the long term needs of the people and also address the issues of floods, droughts and shortage of drinking water.
Motivated Teachers Inversely Proportional to Needy Students
“The demand for good motivated teachers at the university level has gone up but the supply for it has gone down
Ø We need to bring about pedagogical changes where one is thinking about the job of the teacher as not a provider of information but as someone who can tell you how to learn.
Ø Assessing children should be driven not by examinations but by competency driven credentialing.
Ø Technology should be helped to grow both parts of the brain.
Children should be evaluated differently and not examined so that a great future musician does not end up in an engineering college without his wish.
Ø There should be improved collaboration between researchers through next-gen high definition Skype or Telepresence for conferences.
Ø Stressing on affordable, inclusive access to higher education by all, he put forth that while combating existing severe faculty shortages, relying on experts globally is essential.
“Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) Multiplexing is a potential technology which requires new fibers and there is room for improvement in the current technology,” .
Ø Redundant IT plants bring overspending and inefficiency.
Ø With digital camera countless sensors and IoT becomes reality.
Ø With improvement in technology, the big data and AI based analysis technique would probably be anticipating our every move!
Ø With wearable devices and augmented reality, early detection of disease risks would be possible and lifestyle and medication, gaming sectors would be benefited.
At a time when ‘selfies’ are a craze amongst the youngsters, Bijendra Nath Jain, Vice-Chancellor, BITS, Pilani spoke about e-attendance being a reality.
Ø By using selfies with smart devices and automated attendance in large classes, face recognition in cloud and analytics on recorded attendance, he transported the audience into a completely digitalized educational institution.
Ø With ERP system using PeopleSoft, multi-campus high-definition video conferencing has also been made possible.
Ø With changing technology trends in internet, speed, reach and security become prime areas of importance and change.
Seamless Policing System on Railways is Need of the Hour: Suresh Prabhu
Seeks Support of Chief Miniters for Foolproof Security System on Railways
Need to Explore the System of Online FIR in Railway Network: Rajnath Singh
Home Minister for National Transport Security Strategy
Ø Country is passing through a very turbulent time and there is a phase of growing crimes and increasing subversive activities and some elements in the society are hell bent upon creating trouble.
Ø Police reforms and strengthening of law and order machinery is one of the top agendas of the Ministry of Home Affairs under the leadership of Shri Rajnath Singh.
The Indian Railways also is the victim of this increasing crime scenario and it is a big challenge for the law and order enforcers to provide security to the travelling public.
Policing in case of Railways is a very difficult job and there are multiple agencies for the same area of focus.
Ø We have Railway Protection Force (RPF), General Railway Police (GRP) and District Police handling security issues pertaining to Railways
Ø Creating a data bank of criminals for which he sought help of Forensic Departments of different State Governments.
Ø This will help in tracking criminals expeditiously and arrest them for trial.
Referring to security of women, that there are several instances of attacks on the modestly of women during travel and it needs special attention of all the concerned agencies.
Ø Railways is contemplating to have a ‘Mahila Vahini’ and proposal for it has already been sent to Finance Ministry and he sought help of Home Ministry in this proposal.
Ø There is a need to have effective intelligence network involving both Central and State agencies so that the necessary information could be shared which will help in preventing crimes.
Emphasized on keeping security agencies prepared to meet any kind of contingency.
Ø The Ministry of Railways has initiated programme on sensitivity training for RPF personnel all over India for improvement in their behavior.
There is also a need to find a mechanism for immediate evacuation and shifting of injured persons from railway premises to hospitals so as to save precious human lives.
Ø Women security is of paramount importance and appreciated the women security mobile application launched by Indian Railways in Mumbai suburban trains.
Ø Ministry is also planning to utilize ex-army personnel in various security related mechanisms.
Along with Railways the security issues in connection with other modes of transport are also important and therefore we may work on ‘National Transport Security Strategy’.
Ø Need to work on creating two tier security systems of Railways in place of three tier security systems so as to make it more effective.
Ø It is the responsibility of all of us to work for ensuring security of the passengers.
Ø Therefore, we have to rise above any prejudice in the interest of the nation and jointly work to evolve an integrated approach on security.
Another area which needs attention is the law and order problems arising out of Maoist/insurgent activities.
Need to Address Problems & Challengs Arrising Out of Carbondioxide Emmission
The Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu released a book “Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization (CCSU)
Ø The book deals with the issue of mitigating climate change concerns arising out of emission of carbondioxide in atmosphere.
Ø The book has been published by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) a Nongovernmental organization which works for sustaining environment with a global vision and a local focus.
Ø Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization(CCSU) is a global response to the challenge of climate change mitigation.
It is an emerging energy technology dealing with capturing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, storing it away in underground reservoir and / or utilizing it by conversion to various food, feedstock and fuels etc.
Ø Ministry of Railways is the biggest consumer of energy in the country.
Ø While it mostly uses electricity and diesel but now using alternate sources of energy like wind, solar, CNG and Bio fuels.
Ø Referring to the energy scenario in the country, while India is making vigorous efforts to use alternate sources of energy like solar energy, wind geo thermal, bio fuels but our dependence on fossil fuel will continue for many years.
Therefore it is imperative that problems and challenges arising out of Carbon dioxide emissions are addressed approximately.
Ø Global efforts in this direction, particularly during last ten years, have raised some optimism that in coming years Carbon Capture and Storage could become a reality and very soon thereafter could even become cost effective.
All efforts have to be mobilized to see that these technologies become relevant for developing economies to adapt.
Ø It is should be the responsibility of developed economies to share the findings of various researches, so that these become affordable for developing economies.
Ø Indian Industry and Research Institutions have also to do and contribute much more than they have been doing so far.
Even though the Carbon Capture and Storage Technology might take some time to be cost effective, it is important that Indian industry consuming coal become responsive towards research and technology development.
Ø There is a need for networking and integrating global efforts in this direction.
Ø Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is among the advanced energy technologies suggested to make the conventional fossil fuel sources environmentally sustainable.
Ø It is of particular importance to coal –based economies.
TERI is committed toward finding innovative solutions for a sustainable future and our latest publication provides a possible climate change solution for energy industry.
Ø Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization will prove beneficial for the readers in their research and academic pursuits.
Ø The climate change concerns arising from combustion and increasing accumulation of green house gases have given rise to the need for development of clean energy technologies; and CO 2 mitigation is one of them.
While increasing use of solar energy for CO2 management is taking place leading to social transformations, among its different options CCSU is receiving attention as an emerging energy technology from both scientific community and policy makers.
Ø Government Approves Augmentation of High Power Short Circuit Facilities and Establishment of New Test Facilities in CPRI With Outlay of Rs.996 Crore
In order to serve the growing needs of Research & Development in the Indian Power Sector including, development of advanced Testing Facilities, Government has accorded investment approval of Rs.996 crore for capital projects of Central Power Research Institute (CPRI).
Ø This will support augmentation of High Power Short Circuit Facilities as well as establishment of new test facilities in existing laboratories of CPRI, located at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkota, Guwahati, Noida and Nagpur.
Ø In addition, a new laboratory will also be established in Western Region at Nasik.
CPRI, with its headquarters at Bengaluru, is an autonomous society under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, Govt of India
Ø It was set up to serve as a National level laboratory for undertaking applied research in electrical power engineering, besides functioning as an independent test and certification authority for electrical equipments and components for ensuring reliability in the power system.
The main facilities proposed to be set up/augmented under the approved projects, include the following:
i. Short Circuit Test Facilities
ii. Transmission Tower Test Facility
iii. Facilities for Switchgear Testing & Development
iv. Facilities for testing of transformer oil
v. Relocation and augmentation of thermal research centre at Nagpur.
vi. Establishment of new unit at Nasikv
vii. Establishment of Phasor Measurement Unit System and Smart Grid Research Laboratory.
The Smart Grid Research Laboratory will provide necessary support for developing Smart Grid Devices needed for Indian Smart Grid Mission and Smart City projects.
The Phasor Measurement Unit System will support the efforts towards Grid Security.
