Post on 11-Oct-2020
ETEN Enlightens -Daily Current Capsules (Prelims Prep. Prominence) 24th August 2018
Science & Technology
CSIR tech to make combat aircraft Tejas 20% lighter
The use of the complete home-grown technology will reduce the number
of parts of the light combat aircraft by 40%, the number of fasteners by
50%, and the time on the assembly line by 30%
WHAT
Technology indigenously developed by a government laboratory for
manufacturing carbon components will make India’s light combat
aircrafts 20% lighter.
Enlighten about the technology
The technology developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research - National Aerospace Laboratory (CSIR-NAL) uses
indigenously developed carbon fibre, which is pre-impregnated with the
organic polymer ‘resin’, to make complex parts like fin, rudder, wing
spars and fairings in a single mould.
For making the composite material, this pre-impregnated carbon fibre is
autoclaved or treated under extreme heat and temperature.
The autoclaving technology has also developed by CSIR-NAL.
The material is then moulded into complex components of the aircraft.
This reduces the number of parts used in the aircraft as well as the
number of fasteners needed to assemble it
The use of the complete home-grown technology will reduce the number
of parts of the light combat aircraft by 40%, the number of fasteners by
50%, and the time on the assembly line by 30%.
The composite technology is critical of the fourth generation fighter
aircraft.
The composite material is sturdier than aluminium, more heat resistant,
the wear and tear is less and corrosion
The laboratory has received an order for 20 sets of parts for the aircrafts
worth more than ~100 crore from the government owned aerospace
company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). CSIR-NAL has now
transferred the technology to manufacturing partner Tata Advanced
Materials Limited (TAML), Bengaluru.
The project began with two technology demonstrator aircrafts and then
five prototype aircrafts.
NITI Aayog NITI Aayog launches 5 Thematic Reports on Sustainable Development
in Indian Himalayan Region
WHAT
Recognizing the uniqueness of the Himalayas and the challenges for
sustainable development, NITI Aayog had set up 5 Working Groups
(WGs) in June 2017 to prepare a roadmap for actions in 5 thematic areas.
The reports discuss the significance, the challenges, the ongoing actions
and a future roadmap.
Earlier in June 2017, the NITI Aayog had set up 5 Working Groups to
prepare a roadmap for actions in 5 thematic areas that are quite significant
for the Himalayas. These areas were:
Inventory and Revival of Springs in Himalayas for Water Security
Sustainable Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region
Transformative Approach to Shifting Cultivation
Strengthening Skill & Entrepreneurship Landscape in Himalayas
Data/Information for Informed Decision Making
These working groups were constituted after the NITI Aayog recognised
that mountains require specific solutions for resilience building that
address socio-economic and environmental challenges in the mountain
setting.
Inventory and Revival of springs in Himalayas for Water Security
Challenges - Nearly 30 percent of springs, crucial to water security of
people, are drying and 50 percent have reported reduced discharge.
Spring Mapping and Revival by using 8 steps protocol be taken up across
Himalayan States in phased manner.
Call for action - Setting up of Mission on Spring Water Management in
Himalayas.
Sustainable Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region
Challenge: Himalayan Tourism is growing annually at 6.8 percent and
has created huge challenge related to solid waste, water, traffic, loss of
bio-cultural diversity etc. With the projected arrival of tourists to more
than double by 2025, urgent actions will be needed to address issues of
waste management and water crisis.
Apply carrying capacity concept to all major tourist destinations;
implement and monitor tourism sector standards and apply performance
based incentives for States.
Call for action: Setting up of a Himalayan Authority for coordinated and
holistic development of entire Himalayan region and launching of
“Himalaya Calling: An Awareness to Action Campaign” as people’s
movement.
Transformative Approach to Shifting Cultivation
Challenge: In the north eastern States, thousands of the households
continue to practice slash and burn (Shifting Cultivation) which needs to
be addressed in view of ecological, food and nutritional security.
Assessment of nature and extent of Shifting Cultivation area, improved
policy coherence, strengthened tenurial security and improved access to
related programs are means to transform shifting cultivation.
Call for action: Setting up of National Mission/Program on Transforming
Shifting Cultivation in North Eastern States.
Strengthening Skill & Entrepreneurship Landscape in Himalayas
Challenge: Unskilled workforce remains a challenge for the mountains as
well that need high priority to address migration of youths.
Strengthening of skill and entrepreneurship will require focus on
identified priority sectors where mountains have advantage, investment in
trainers, assessors and training centers in industry partnership.
Call for action: Demand driven network of skill and entrepreneurship
development Centers in Himalayan States is required along with
consortium of institutions of high learning for mountain specific research
and technology.
Data/Information for Informed Decision Making
Challenge: Challenges related to data availability, data authenticity,
compatibility, data quality, validation, user charges for Himalayan States
need addressal for informed decision making at different levels of
governance.
Having a Central Data Management Agency for Himalayas to provide
data with high fidelity scenario while addressing data sharing, access,
authenticity and comparability issues will help in addressing data related
issues.
Call for action: Linking with the Hindukush Himalaya Monitoring and
Assessment program (HIMAP) and Setting up of Central Data
Management Agency for Himalayan Database at GB Pant National
Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development.
The call for actions include setting up of a Himalayan Authority for coordinated
and holistic development of entire Himalayan region and launchingof “Himalaya
Calling”: An Awareness to Action Campaign as people’smovement.
Ministry of Women and Child Development Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) - Month Of
September
Celebrating the Poshan Maah will give an early thrust to Poshan
Abhiyan
WHAT
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India
organized an orientation workshop for various stakeholders participating
in the Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) being celebrated in the
month of September.
Organising Partners
NITI Aayog and officers of partner ministries as well as other
organizations including UN.
The Workshop focused on sensitizing the line Ministries, States/UTs and
District level functionaries and partners on various aspects of Rashtriya
Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) being celebrated during the
month of September across the Country as part of Jan Andolan
under POSHAN Abhiyaan.
The primary objective of the celebration of Poshan Maah is to take the
messages of POSHAN to the grass root level.
The programme- an initiative of WCD Ministry and NITI Aayog is
supported by 18 line Ministries/Departments/Government Organizations.
The programme focuses on 8 themes – Antenatal Care, Optimal
Breastfeeding (Early & Exclusive), Complementary Feeding, Anemia,
Growth Monitoring, Girls-education, diet, right age of Marriage, Hygiene
& Sanitation, Food Fortification.
POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)
It was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8thMarch, 2018 from
Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
The programme through use of technology, a targeted approach and
convergence strives to reduce the level of Stunting, Under-nutrition,
Anemia and Low Birth Weight in Children, as also, focus on Adolescent
Girls, Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers, thus holistically
addressing malnutrition.
POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to ensure service delivery and interventions by
use of technology, behavioural change through convergence and lays-
down specific targets to be achieved across different monitoring
parameters over the next few years.
To ensure a holistic approach, all 36 States/UTs and 718 districts will be
covered in a phased manner by the year 2020. The Jan andholan intends
to give prominence to nutrition at the highest level in the country.
Ministry of Tourism
President inaugurates International Buddhist Conclave 2018
6th International Buddhist Conclave on the theme, “Buddha Path – The
Living Heritage”.
WHAT
The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the
“International Buddhist Conclave (IBC), 2018”
Organising Ministry
The 4 days long Conclave has been organized by the Ministry of Tourism
in collaboration with the State Governments of Maharashtra, Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh from 23rd – 26th August, 2018 at New Delhi and Ajanta
(Maharashtra), followed by site visits to Rajgir, Nalanda and Bodhgaya
(Bihar) and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh).
Enlighten about the conclave
The President also launched the Ministry of Tourism website on
important Buddhist sites - indiathelandofbuddha.in
The Ministerial level delegation from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar
and Sri Lanka are participating in the conclave.
The delegates from 29 countries are participating in the International
Buddhist Conclave: - Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia,
Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Lao
PDR, Malaysia, Mangolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Russia, Singapore,
South Korea, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand,
UK, USA and Vietnam.
The Conclave features presentations by the Ministry of Tourism and State
Governments, Panel discussion between scholars and monks and B2B
meetings between the foreign and Indian tour operators.
The Ministry has also organized an ‘Investors’ Summit’ during the
Conclave to attract investments in developing world class infrastructure
at Buddhist sites.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has been organizing the
International Buddhist Conclave biennially.
The earlier International Buddhist Conclaves were organized in New
Delhi and Bodhgaya (February 2004), Nalanda and Bodhgaya (February
2010), Varanasi and Bodhgaya (September 2012), Bodhgaya and
Varanasi (September 2014) and in Sarnath/Varanasi and Bodhgaya
(October 2016).
The “ASEAN” was the Guest of Honor during IBC, 2016 and Japan is the
‘Partner Country for IBC-2018.
Economy/Banking India Banking Conclave (IBC) 2018
WHAT
India Banking Conclave (IBC) 2018 was held in New Delhi from 23-24, 2018
Organising agency
It was organised by Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) along with
its knowledge partner and government Think Tank, NITI Aayog.
Objective
The conclave was aimed at making India’s banking sector more adaptable to
face multiple future challenges in the coming years.
Enlighten about India Banking Conclave (IBC) 2018
IBC 2018 focused engaging corporates, law and policy makers of country,
academicians and professionals on common platform to make all stakeholders
share their views on all impending issues including bad debts and non-
performing assets (NPAs) that have been accumulated in unbiased manner.
IBC 2018 aimed to serve as effective platform for varied stakeholders
connected to India’s banking and financial sectors.
Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)
CEPR is network of over 1100 researchers who are based mainly in universities
throughout Europe and collaborate in research and its dissemination.
It was founded in 1983and is based in London, United Kingdom.
It aims to enhance quality of economic policy-making within Europe and
beyond by fostering high quality, policy-relevant economic research and
disseminating it to decisionmakers in public and private sectors. It is funded by
a registered, European charity founded in 1983 by Richard Portes, FBA, CBE.
Art and Culture International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
WHAT
ICOMOS launched Kerala Heritage Rescue Initiative to assess damage to rich
cultural and built heritage sites in flood-devastated Kerala.
ICOMOS is global monument conservation body.
Kerala Heritage Rescue Initiative
The initiative aims at setting up platform for emergency response to cultural
heritage damaged by the floods in Kerala.
ICOMOS will assess damage and risks to rich tangible, intangible, movable and
immovable heritage that has been adversely affected by foods, including
monuments, historic buildings, museum collections and artefacts of important
significance.
It will also create heritage response team and train its members to undertake
damage assessment and emergency measures.
ICOMOS has also approached International Centre for Study of the
Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) to partner in post-
disaster work.
ICCROM based in Rome (Italy) is inter-governmental organisation dedicated to
preservation of cultural heritage worldwide through training, information,
research, cooperation and advocacy programmes.
The Central Government has declared this calamity of ‘severe nature’.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction calls for cultural heritage and its
protection to help in building resilience and enhance ability of the affected
population to participate in its own recovery.
Enlighten about ICOMOS
It is global monument conservation body (nongovernment organisation)
dedicated to promoting the application of theory, methodology and scientific
techniques for conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage across
the world.
It is also advisory body to UNESCO for cultural heritage, in particular for
implementation of World Heritage Convention.
It was founded in 1965 in Warsaw (Poland) as a result of the Venice Charter of
1964. It is headquartered in Paris, France
Report India to grow at 7.5% in 2018, 2019: Moody’s
WHAT
The Indian economy is expected to grow by about 7.5% in 2018 and 2019
as it is largely resilient to external pressures like those from higher oil
prices, Moody’s Investors Service said.
Global Macro Outlook for 2018-19
The run-up in energy prices over the last few months will raise headline
inflation temporarily but the growth story remains intact as it is supported
by strong urban and rural demand and improved industrial activity.
Enlighten about the report
Growth prospects for many of the G-20 economies remain solid, but there
are indications that the synchronous acceleration of growth heading into
2018 is now giving way to diverging trends.
The near-term global outlook for most advanced economies is broadly
resilient, in contrast to the weakening of some developing economies in
the face of emerging headwinds from rising U.S. trade protectionism,
tightening external liquidity conditions and elevated oil prices
Moody’s put G-20 growth at 3.3% in 2018 and 3.1% in 2019.
The advanced economies will grow 2.3% in 2018 and 2% in 2019.
Moody expect the Indian economy to grow around 7.5% in 2018 and
2019
Sources – The Hindu , PIB , Indian Express