UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Sept 29

GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 3

Topic: Science and Technology 

India International Science Festival 2017: ‘Science for New India’

Objective:

• To instill scientific temper among the masses and showcasing India’s contribution in the field of S&T over the years.

Keypoints:

• India has made significant strides in scientific and technological development.
• For example: India became the first nation to reach Mars in its maiden attempt.
• India is facing various challenges and opportunities. Some of these important challenges are in the key sectors of clean water & energy, food, environment, climate, and healthcare.
• It is important to translate the scientific knowledge into innovations through start-ups and industry so as to facilitate India to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth in the coming decades.
• This goal can be achieved, through developing scientific temper among the masses and by strengthening India’s science and technology institutions & furthering their basic research.
• India has declared 2010-20 as the ‘Decade of Innovation’.

About the Festival:

Major Activities during the Festival will be:

1. Special Thematic Session on ‘Deep Ocean Research’

2. Science & Technology Minister’s Conclave

3. Sensitizing Youth to Flagship Programs of Government (SYPOG)

4. Science Village: Parliament to Panchayat’’

5. National Meet on ‘Social Organisations and Institutions’: ‘Transforming India through Science & Technology’

6. Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s Conclave

7. National Science Teachers Workshops (Focusing North East States)

8. Industry Academia Interaction

9. Mega Science, Technology & Industry Expo

10. India International Science Festival

11. Grassroots Innovators Summit

12. National Start-up Summit

13. Round Table Meet on Mass Communication

14. World Record attempt will be made in “Largest Biology Lesson”

15. National Level Competitions – Ideas for Bharat Nirman

16. Outreach Programme in R&D Labs

17. Satellite Seminars

18. Cultural Events

Initiatives by Indian Government

• The Govt of India is launching a National Mission on Deep Ocean Research which will bring in huge economic benefits by harnessing the ocean resources (water, energy and minerals).
• The Scientific departments and Ministries of the Government of India have active international collaboration in science and technology both at the bilateral and regional level.
• India is engaged in R&D cooperation with more than 44 countries across the globe including advanced, emerging and developing nations.
• The S&T Ministers Conclave at IISF-2017 will provide an opportunity to exchange the scientific and technological priorities of the participating countries that can help to develop a roadmap for S&T cooperation.
• The focus will be on capacity building through mechanisms such as fellowships, internships, twinning, training, data sharing, joint projects and technology transfer. The development and deployment of affordable and innovative technologies that provide solution to societal problems will also be a common agenda for the Conclave.

‘Science for New India’

• This aims to provide a platform to young students, scientists and technocrats from across India for the exchange of knowledge & ideas in the line of flagship programs like ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Swasth Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, ‘Smart Cities’, ‘Namami Gange’, ‘Unnath Bharath Abhiyan’, etc.

Science Village program

• This is linked with the Pradhan Manthri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to reach out to the rural masses and propagate science to the extent of seeking scientific solutions to the diverse challenges facing our society, particularly rural India.
• Each Member of Parliament will nominate 5 students from class 9th – 11th and 1 teacher from their adopted village.
• The Science Village will thus demonstrate a mass representation from the rural parts of India and a continuation of the democratic process: ”Parliament to Panchayat”.
• The prime goal of the science village is to give exposure to the students from rural India and make them aware of India’s achievements in the frontier areas of science & technology.

Game Changers Driving Science for New India

• Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s Conclave titled “Game Changers Driving Science for New India” would be organized to promote and encourage science education and entrepreneurship among the women.
• The aim of the program is to develop new entrepreneurship and also explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology among the women.

Industry

• The Industry – Academic Institutional tie-ups in R&D and achieving improved efficiency in production and manufacturing.
• Representatives from industry and academia will also have a good opportunity to discuss the changing trends on management principles, scientific advancement and technological assimilation in industry and economy.

‘Innovation Exhibition’

• National Innovation Foundation (NIF) will be organising the ‘Innovation Exhibition’, which aims at providing a common platform for various stakeholders—from innovators, students, and researchers to policy makers.
• The special focus will be given to those which could be diffused socially and generate employment.

Topic: Environment

NMCG to use latest Geo-Spatial Technologies for Namami Gange Programme

Context:

• Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation urged officials of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and Survey of India to work in an integrated manner and make optimal use of latest geo-spatial technologies to rejuvenate river Ganga.

Objective:

• Achieving the objective of monitoring of pollution in river Ganga.
• NMCG also strives to achieve GIS mapping of the entire Ganga river basin for effective execution and decision-making.

Keypoints:

• Officials to come up with a water quality monitoring app and work in the direction of developing a water testing kit that can be distributed to people.
• The geo-spatial and crowd sourcing technologies like Bhuvan Ganga app must be used effectively to evoke a mass movement and as many people as possible should be involved in clean Ganga movement.
• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), which is a part of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been supporting NMCG to use geospatial technology for water quality monitoring, hydrological monitoring and evaluation, geomorphological monitoring and evaluation, bioresources monitoring and evaluation, comprehensive geospatial database, develop mobile application for enabling community participation and to co-ordinate necessary linkages with other agencies.