26 June 2024 PIB
Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket 2. International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 3. Swachh Survekshan 2024 4. Central Electronics Limited (CEL) gets Mini Ratna status 5. Hydrogen generation from methanol and formaldehyde combination
1. Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket
Syllabus: GS-3, Defence and Security
Prelims: Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket, DRDO
Context:
DRDO handed over a Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket to the Indian Navy.
Details:
- Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC) obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets, thus reducing radar detection.
- It is a niche technology developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur.
- Special fibres with diameters of a few microns and unique microwave obscuration properties have been assembled in the medium-range chaff rocket.
- The rocket, when fired, forms microwave obscurant clouds in space spreading over a sufficient area, with adequate persistence time, thus creating an effective shield against hostile threats having Radio Frequency seekers.
2. International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Syllabus: GS-1, Social Issues; GS-2, Health
Prelims: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Mains: Drug abuse in India – impacts, measures to counter
Context:
26th June is observed as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking:
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 7th December 1987, decided that the 26th of June of every year would be recognised as International Drug Day (another name for International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking.)
- The theme for International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2024 is “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.
Read more on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the link.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan:
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction in the country, which coordinates and monitors all aspects of drug abuse prevention, assessment of the extent of the problem, preventive action, treatment and rehabilitation of users, and disseminating information.
- The ministry has initiated the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) which is currently operational in all districts of the country intending to create awareness about the ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with a special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools and reaching out into the community and garnering community involvement and ownership of the Abhiyaan.
- Till date, 1+ crore people have been sensitised to substance use including 3.50+ Crore Youth and 2.32+ Crore Women.
Also read: National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)
3. Swachh Survekshan 2024
Syllabus: GS-2, Governance
Prelims: Swachh Survekshan 2024
Context:
3rd quarter (Q3) of the 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan 2024 launched.
Details:
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launches the 3rd quarter (Q3) of the 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan 2024.
- The 3rd phase of the survey will focus on evaluating the entire value chain of waste management at Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs).
Swachh Survekshan:
- The Swachh Survekshan is a report released by the Government of India as a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- A Swachh Survekshan report is released after a thorough survey to monitor the performance of each state in terms of sanitisation.
Read more about the Swachh Survekshan in the link.
Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs):
- Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) are entities that generate waste in large quantities.
- A considerable increase in municipal solid waste can be seen due to the rising urbanization and lifestyle changes.
- As per MoHUA, it is estimated that nearly 30 to 40% of waste in a city is generated by BWG.
- The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016 defines BWG as entities with an average waste generation rate exceeding 100 kgs per day, including all streams of waste.
- The rule intends to reduce the management and financial burden on urban local bodies (ULB), restrict waste from entering landfills and reduce air, soil and groundwater pollution as well as the city’s carbon footprint.
- Bulk waste generators like residential and commercial complexes, central govt. ministries, public sector undertakings and private bodies, social infrastructure like hotels, universities, railway and bus stations, airports are required to segregate waste at source, ensure scientific processing of bio-degradable waste to produce manure and biogas by setting up composting units on their premises.
- The BWGs are to also store separately Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste.
- Given their significant share in the total waste generation, the actions of the BWGs play a crucial role in determining the future of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, which targets to make the cities garbage-free.
Also read: Swachch Bharat Abhiyan
4. Central Electronics Limited (CEL) gets Mini Ratna status
Syllabus: GS-3, Economy
Prelims: Central Electronics Limited (CEL), Mini Ratna companies
Context:
Central Electronics Limited (CEL) was awarded the Mini Ratna status by the government.
Central Electronics Limited (CEL):
- Central Electronics Limited is a Govt. of India enterprise under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology.
- It was established in 1974, with the objective of commercially exploiting indigenous technologies developed by National Laboratories and R&D Institutions in the country.
- It is a pioneer in the country in the field of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV).
- It has also developed axle counter systems and other products that are being used by the Indian Railways.
- The company’s vision is to be India’s most trusted company in the areas of Renewable Energy and Strategic Electronics.
Read more about Mini Ratna companies in the linked article.
5. Hydrogen generation from methanol and formaldehyde combination
Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology
Prelims: Hydrogen generation methods
Context:
Researchers at IISER Tirupati developed an efficient method of hydrogen generation from a methanol and formaldehyde combination for moving towards a ‘Hydrogen economy’.
Details:
- Researchers have developed an innovative synthetic method to produce hydrogen gas from a mixture of methanol and paraformaldehyde under mild conditions.
Significance:
- This method has proven particularly effective for the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes and the combination could be a promising hydrogen carrier, paving the way for advancements in chemical synthesis and sustainable energy solutions.
- Methanol and paraformaldehyde, both produced on a large scale, have emerged as viable candidates for hydrogen carriers.
- Their abundance and widespread manufacture make them valuable for the storage and transportation of hydrogen, offering significant advantages over free hydrogen itself.
Read previous PIB articles here.
| Related Links | |||
| Dark Patterns in Advertising | PM-KISAN | ||
| Namami Gange Programme | Tele-MANAS | ||
| Index of Industrial Production | Skill India Mission | ||
Comments