05 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Geological Survey of India to focus on mineral wealth
2. SAMat
3. Extended Range BRAHMOS Land Attack Missile

1. Geological Survey of India to focus on mineral wealth

Syllabus: GS I, Distribution of key natural resources across the Indian sub-continent

Prelims: GSI

Mains: Exploration of mineral wealth in India

Context: The Geological Survey of India celebrated its 172nd foundation day with a key focus on the expansion of mineral resources of the country. 

Delving Deeper:

• The event took place at the headquarters of GSI in Kolkata and the contributions of the premier organisation for Geology were highlighted along with the discussions of having a roadmap to augment the mineral wealth in the country. 
• GSI has played a crucial role in the identification of mineral blocks and expanding vast mineral resources across the country. 
• Discussions have been made to further enrich the mineral exploration process by incorporating latest geoscientific technologies.
• The major goal of GSI intends to establish self-reliance of the nation in the mineral sector.

Image Source: GSI

Exploring the Geological Survey of India:

• The GSI was founded with the primary objective to find coal deposits for railways. 
• It operates under the Ministry of Mines and has six regional offices in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata with unit offices in almost all states of India. 
• Gradually, it has evolved into a repository of geological information along with its extended scope in various fields.
• It functions as the apex organisation for the creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. 

List of activities by GSI:

• Ground surveys
• Air-borne and marine surveys
• Mineral prospecting
• Multidisciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical and geo-environmental studies
• Studies related to glaciology, seismic tectonic study and so on and so forth. 

Read about Major Minerals in India in the linked article

2. SAMat

Syllabus: GS III, Science and Technology- development and their applications

Prelims: About SAMat

Context: The School of Advanced Materials (SAMat) was unveiled for the betterment in the materials research activity.

About SAMat:

• The new building facility has been unveiled to bring together all the materials research activities of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Research which acted as the noted centres for materials research in the country and worldwide. 
• It was inaugurated at the JNCASR campus and has been supported by non-governmental funds. 
• The acronym SAMat depicts the Sanskrit word that means equanimity. And to bring in equanimity to the field of advanced sciences and research the idea of establishing the SAMat building emerged. 
• The JNCASR is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology and an institution deemed to be university. 
• Efforts will be made in the future to enliven the contributions of eminent chemist Prf. CNR Rao who founded the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Research (JNCASR) and was present during the inaugural function of SAMat. 
• As India progresses towards the 100th year of Indian Independence, the activities of JNCASR and SAMat will work in line with India’s ambitions through scientific interventions widening the avenues of research in materials sciences. 
• The broad spectrum of materials research include nano-materials, energy materials, soft materials and biomaterials. 
• Therefore, the foundation of SAMat offers an umbrella structure to bring all materials research activities to one Centre (JNCASR).

3. Extended Range BRAHMOS Land Attack Missile

Syllabus: GS III, Various security forces 

Prelims: Extended Range BRAHMOS Land Attack Missile

Context: The accuracy of the Extended Range BRAHMOS Land Attack Missile was Indian Navy successfully demonstrated by the Indian Navy.

An Overview:

• The India Navy assessed the accuracy of the extended range land attack BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.
• The missile exhibited its extended range trajectory and capability of performing complex manoeuvres. 
• This signifies the remarkable achievement of the Indian Navy and its influence on land operations far away from the sea.
• The BRAHMOS missile and INS Chennai are indigenously built and uphold the visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. 

Also read about Surface to Surface Missile  in the linked article.

BRAHMOS: The Advanced Version

• The advanced version of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile is provided with an increasing strike capability and long range precision.
• The range of this version has been extended from existing 290 km to 350 km. 
• This determines the cutting-edge of Indian missile and ship-building prowess.

About INS Chennai:

• INS Chennai is a Project-15A Guided Missile Destroyer that was commissioned into the Indian Navy at the naval dockyard, Mumbai.
• This represented the warship building capability and defence preparedness of India ensuring maritime security.
• This is regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. 
• It is propelled by four gas turbines accompanied by four powerful gas turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas Configuration (COGAG) which facilitates a speed in excess of 30 knots. 
• COGAG is a propulsion system that involves two gas turbines connected to a single propeller shaft allowing the advantage of having two different power settings that contribute to the fuel efficiency. 
• Its enhanced stealth features result in a reduced Radar Cross Section through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated mast and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks. 
• This stealth destroyer is provided with sophisticated weapons and sensors like surface to surface missile and surface to air missiles. 
• The indigenously developed rocket launchers and torpedo launchers offer anti-submarine warfare features to INS Chennai. 
• Therefore, it is capable of fighting under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

Read previous PIB here.

March 5th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here