Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying hands over a “Go Kasht” machine to Project Arth and ENACTUS IIT Delhi students
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
hands over a “Go Kasht” machine to Project Arth and ENACTUS IIT Delhi
students
Shri
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
handed over cow dung log machine, "Go Kasht" machine to
Project Arth and ENACTUS IIT Delhi students here today.
Why is it in news?
Cow
dung log machine is used to manufacture cow dung-based fuel wood in long
log-like shape. A mixture of cow dung and cattle waste (like dried waste paddy)
is inserted in the inlet(hopper) of this machine. The machine then breaks it
down, mixes it, and compresses the mixture in the shape of a log. This log is
then sun dried and can be later used as fuel in various situations.
Highlights
· This machine can process
3000 kg of cow dung every day to produce 1500 kg of cow dung-based logs that
can be used as fuel for the cremation of 5-7 bodies, saving roughly 2 trees in
each cremation. That further means it can help the gaushala to clear roughly
150,000 to 170,000 kg of cow dung every month.
· Using cow dung-based log
machine can help gaushala to cater to their waste management problems, provide
an additional source of employment to its employees or nearby villagers, and
contribute in reducing deforestation.
· It also helps to engage the
non-milking cows in a economical activity, generating funds to support all the
cows in a gaushala.
Textiles Ministry holds National Conference on PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Park (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme
Textiles Ministry holds National Conference on PM Mega
Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Park (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme
13 State Governments present plans of 18 proposals for setting up of PM MITRA
Parks in their respective states
Why is it in news?
A National Conference on PM Mega Integrated
Textile Regions and Apparel Park(PM MITRA) Parks Scheme was organized by
Ministry of Textiles on 4th May, 2022. The conference was inaugurated by Shri
U.P Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles followed by a detailed presentation
on the PM MITRA Parks Scheme by Smt. Shubhra, Trade Advisor, Ministry of
Textiles.
The Conference provided a platform for
making presentation by officials from 13 State Governments, viz., – news Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh
enumerating the contours of the 18 proposals for setting up of PM MITRA Parks
in their respective states. Each state government showcased its strengths in
the textiles sector with a special focus on scheme/policy/benefits/incentives
and basic utilities provided for creating industry friendly ecosystem to
populate the proposed PM-MITRA Parks.
Highlights
· PM MITRA Park will offer the opportunity to
create an Integrated Textiles Value Chain right from spinning, weaving,
processing/dyeing and printing to garment manufacturing etc. at one location
and will reduce logistics cost of Industry.
· The conference also witnessed widespread
participation from the Industry in physical as well as virtual mode leading to
a vibrant Q&A session, followed by the closing session summarizing the
outcomes and elaborating on the way forward of successful scheme implementation.
Status of import of coal for blending in thermal power plants with states reviewed
Status of import of coal for blending in thermal power
plants with states reviewed
shri r. K. Singh advises states to place orders for coal import
domestic coal would be supplied to all gencos in proportion to the coal
received from coal companies
tamil nadu and maharashtra have placed orders for coal import
punjab and gujarat are in the advanced stage of finalising tenders
states need to take actions to ensure coal supply to power plants by ensuring
off-take in rail-cum-road (rcr) mode: power minister
Why is it in news?
Shri. R.K.
Singh, Union Minister of Power & NRE reviewed the status of import of coal
for blending in the thermal power plants with the States. Secretary
(Power) Shri Alok Kumar, Senior officials of the State Governments, and Gencos
were present in the meeting held virtually yesterday. The Minister
highlighted the importance of importing coal for blending in the thermal power
plants, in view of the constraints in domestic coal supply to meet the
increased demand.
Highlights
· The states were advised to place orders for import of
coal for blending purpose so that the additional coal reaches power plants from
the month of May 2022 itself.
· Hon’ble Minister stated that the domestic coal would
be supplied to all GENCOS in proportion to the coal received from coal
companies.
· He further advised the States to increase the output
from the captive mines to meet their coal requirements which will help in
reducing the burden on the linkage coal. He emphasized that States need
to take actions to ensure coal supply to their power plants by ensuring
off-take in the Rail-cum-Road (RCR) mode to meet the shortfall in coal
requirement at their power plants and stated that in the event of States not
lifting the RCR coal it would be de-allocated and offered to other States and
the concerned States would be responsible for any shortages and consequent
power-shortages in their States.
· As per the data presented by CEA in the meeting, it
was noted that the States of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have placed orders for
the import of coal, while Punjab and Gujarat are in the advanced stage of
finalisation of the tenders; and the other States need to put extra efforts to
import the coal for blending at their power plants in time. The States of
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh are in the process of issuing the tenders. Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand have not yet issued tender or
taken any significant actions for the import of coal and were advised to take
necessary actions to ensure coal supply to their power plants.
· The Status of RCR was also deliberated upon and it was
seen that the progress of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West
Bengal, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on lifting the allotted coal was not
satisfactory. These states were advised to expedite lifting this coal, failing
which this RCR coal would be allocated to other GENCOS which need it.
Sweden getting on board India’s Venus mission with payload to explore planet
Sweden getting on board India’s
Venus mission with payload to explore planet
Sweden is getting on board India’s Venus
orbiter mission ‘Shukrayaan’ with a scientific instrument to explore the
planet.
Why is it in news?
Ambassador of Sweden to India, Klas Molin
said Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) is engaged in the venture, its
second collaborative project with the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO).
“IRF’s satellite instrument Venusian
Neutrals Analyzer [VNA] will study how the charged particles from the Sun
interact with the atmosphere and exosphere of the planet”, he told PTI .
Highlights
·
The
VNA would be the ninth generation of IRFs series of miniatured ion and ENA
(Energetic Neutral Atoms) instruments, according to Swedish officials.
·
The
first generation was named SARA (Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser) and was
launched on board the Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 that explored the Moon in
2008-2009.
·
SARA
consisted of two sensors.
·
One
was a detector for energetic neutral atoms and the other was an instrument to
measure the flow of ions in the solar wind.
·
The
instrument studied how the plasma around the Moon interacts with the moon where
the surface is not protected by an atmosphere or a magnetic field, they said.
·
“For
the first time ever, SARA could investigate energetic atoms that are knocked
from the lunar surface when they are hit by the solar wind,” Swedish officials
said.
·
The
SARA experiment was the first collaborative project between IRF and the ISRO.
·
On
collaboration in general with India in the field of space, Mr. Molin said
Sweden has quite a lot to provide, both from its institutions and from space
tech companies.
·
He
said India has a clear ambition to explore the universe, other planets and to
send humans to space.
·
“This
segment includes to a large extent R&D effort, both regarding space
technologies and services.”
·
“The
unique Space Tech Testbed capability at Esrange can also carry out even more
advanced tests of equipment and technologies that should be used in exploration
campaigns”, Mr. Molin said.
·
On
future prospects in the space field between the two countries, the Ambassador
noted that India has recently created National Space Promotion and
Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide a level playing field for private
companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
·
This
is part of reforms aimed at giving a boost to private sector participation in
the entire range of space activities, he said.
·
“The
future is exciting as India is opening the space market for commercial player
participation and easing import- export restrictions, including 100% FDI
allowed in satellite development and deployment.
·
“It
is important to underline that ISRO will remain as the main Indian customer in
the coming years, but the market growth could be exponential,” Mr. Molin said.
·
According
to ISRO officials, the Indian space agency has short-listed 20 space-based
experiment proposals, including from France, for its proposed Venus mission to
study the planet for more than four years.
·
They
include “collaborative contributions” from Russia, France, Sweden and Germany.
·
ISRO
was eyeing June, 2023 for the country’s first mission to Venus.
·
“But
we are currently reviewing this mission timeline due to delays arising from the
pandemic situation,” an ISRO official said.
·
“Future
launch opportunity is either in 2024 or 2026.“
·
It
was noted that optimal launch window (when Venus is closest to the Earth) comes
about every 19 months.
·
Of
the Indian and international payload proposals it received in response to an
announcement of opportunity for novel space-based experiments to study Venus,
ISRO has short- listed 20 and they are currently under review.
·
The
one already selected, according to French space agency CNES, is France’s VIRAL
instrument (Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gas Linker) co-developed with the
Russian space agency Roscosmos, and the LATMOS atmospheres, environments and
space observations laboratory attached to the French national scientific
research centre CNRS.
·
Scientific
objectives of ISRO’s Venus mission are investigation of the surface processes
and shallow subsurface stratigraphy; and solar wind interaction with Venusian
Ionosphere, and studying the structure, composition and dynamics of the
atmosphere, according to ISRO.
·
The
payload capability of the proposed 2500-kg satellite, planned to be launched on
GSLV Mk II rocket, is likely to be 175 kg with 500W of power.
·
The
proposed orbit is expected to be around 500 x 60,000 km around Venus.
·
This
orbit is likely to be reduced gradually, over several months to a lower apoapsis
(farthest point).
PM addresses the inaugural session of ‘JITO Connect 2022’
PM addresses the inaugural
session of ‘JITO Connect 2022’
“India is now moving beyond ‘probability and potential’ and performing a bigger
purpose of global welfare”
“Today the country is encouraging talent, trade and technology”
“Aatmnirbhar Bharat is our path as well as our resolve”
“Work for EARTH - Environment. Agriculture, Recycle, Technology and Healthcare”
Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of Jain
International Trade Organisation’s ‘JITO Connect 2022’ today via video
conferencing.
Why is it in news?
Addressing
the gathering, the Prime Minister noted the spirit of ‘Sabka Prayas’ in the theme of today’s programme and said today the
world is considering India's development resolutions as a means of achieving
its goals.
Be
it global peace, global prosperity, solutions related to global challenges or
strengthening of the global supply chain, the world is looking toward India
with great confidence. “I have just returned after informing many European
countries about India's resolution for the ‘Amrit
kaal’” he added.
Highlights
· The Prime Minister said
whatever may be the area of expertise, area of concern and whatever may be
the differences of opinion of the people, they are all united by the rise of
New India.
· Today everyone feels that
India is now moving beyond ‘probability and potential’ and performing a bigger
purpose of global welfare.
· Reiterating his earlier
assertion of clean motives, clear intention and favourable policies, he said
today the country is encouraging talent, trade and technology as much as
possible.
· Today the country is
registering dozens of startups every day, creating a unicorn every week, he
said.
· The Prime Minister said
ever since the Government e-Marketplace i.e. GeM portal has come into
existence, all the purchases are done on one platform in front of everyone.
· Now people from remote
villages, small shopkeepers and self-help groups can directly sell their
products to the government.
· Today more than 40 lakh
sellers have joined the GeM portal, he informed. He also talked about
transparent ‘faceless’ tax assessment, one nation-one tax, productivity linked
incentive schemes.
· The Prime Minister said our
path and destination for the future are clear. “Aatmnirbhar Bharat is our path
as well as our resolve. Over the years, we have worked continuously to create
every necessary atmosphere for this.”
· The Prime Minister urged
the gathering to work for EARTH. He elaborated that ‘E’ means the prosperity of the Environment. He urged them to also
discuss how they can support the efforts to make at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district by August 15 next year. ‘A’ means to make Agriculture more
profitable and invest more and more in natural farming, farming technology
and the food processing sector. ‘R’
means emphasising Recycling and the circular economy, working for Reuse, Reduce
and Recycle. ‘T’ means taking
Technology to as many people as possible. He urged the audience to consider
how they can make other advanced technology like drone technology more
accessible. ‘H’ means -Healthcare,
he said that today, the government is doing a lot of work for the arrangements
like healthcare, and medical colleges in every district in the country. He
asked the gathering to think about how their organization can encourage this.