05 May 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Density inhomogeneity in the Solar Corona
2. PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Scheme
3. Delimitation Commission

1. Density inhomogeneity in the Solar Corona

Syllabus: GS III, Science and Technology, Achievements of Indians in science and technology

Prelims: Solar Corona, Coronal Mass Ejection 

Mains: Discuss the possible causes of coronal heating problems and inhomogeneity in the solar atmosphere. 

Context: A new model has been developed by the scientists of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) for inferring density inhomogeneity in the Solar Corona.

About the Study:

• The scientists have developed a new theoretical model that intends to quantify the inhomogeneity in the density of solar corona.
• This inhomogeneity is inferred as the consequence of turbulence in the electrically conducting plasma which also consists of magnetised fluid. 
• It was observed by the researchers that the electrically conducting magnetised fluid in the form of plasma gives rise to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave-driven turbulence that plays an important role in the heating of the solar corona by millions of degrees. 
• In this model, scientists ascertained that turbulence motion in a fluid is accompanied by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity and it was evident that the MHD waves in the plasma caused the turbulence. 
• As the MHD waves propagate through a medium, it carries energy which is correlated with the inhomogeneity of the medium. 
• The actual cause of coronal heating still remains an area that is ill-defined and needs more research. 

Estimation of inhomogeneity in the solar atmosphere:

• The extent of inhomogeneity in the solar atmosphere can be estimated by determining the density filling factor which involves numerical simulations. 
• The density filling factor can be numerically expressed as a fraction of the volume occupied by the overdense regions with respect to the entire volume of the medium. 
• There are two different methods that have been developed by scientists to quantify the inhomogeneity in the solar atmosphere by using the density filling factor. 
• One of the methods calculates the density filling factor from the area measurement obtained from the simulated data and another method employs the usage of spectroscopic measurements. 

Inference:

• It was inferred that the theoretically estimated values are in agreement with the observed values in the solar corona. 
• The results show that the generation of the MHD wave-driven turbulence increases the filling factor of the solar corona. 
• Therefore, the estimation of the filling factor is crucial for estimating the energy flux in coronal waves, which plays an essential role in the heating of the corona. 

Also get an understanding of Coronal Mass Ejection in the provided link.

2. PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Scheme

Syllabus: GS III, Economic Development, Food Processing and related industries in India

Prelims: PM FME scheme, ODOP

Mains: Evaluation of the key government interventions to promote local indigenous products. 

Context: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has signed an agreement with NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) in order to develop 10 brands selected for 20 products under the One District One Product programme. Moreover, three One District One Product (ODOP) brands were launched under the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Scheme. 

Details:

• Products like Madhurmithas, Anaras, Pind Se, Masala Paste and Lemon Honey have been launched under the brands namely Kashmiri Mantra and Madhumantra. 
• Brand Madhurmithas has introduced Jaggery powder that has been promoted under the ODOP initiative for the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. This product is a sweetener without any chemicals. 
• Brand Anaras represents dried spicy pineapple from the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. It acts as an excellent source of Vitamin C. 
• Brand Pind Se exemplifies a Mango Pickle that replicates the authentic taste of homemade pickle (in Hindi: Ghar ka bana aam ka Achaar). This is a delicacy from the district of Amritsar in Punjab, under the ODOP programme. 

Read more about the PM FME scheme in the linked article.

3. Delimitation Commission

Syllabus: GS II, Polity, Statutory bodies

Prelims: Delimitation Commission

Mains: Analysing the role of the delimitation commission and its significance. 

Context: The Delimitation Commission finalised the order to exercise delimitation in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. 

About the Commission:

• The Delimitation Commission was headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, the Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioner of Jammu & Kashmir as ex-officio members of the Commission. 
• It has made the following recommendations to the Central Government in the final delimitation order: 
  • Provision of at least two members (one of them must be a female) from the Kashmiri migrant communities in the Legislative Assembly and such members may be given power at par with the power of nominated members of the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • The Central Government may consider giving the Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir some representation in the legislative assembly by way of nomination of those representatives. 

Read more about  Delimitation Commission in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

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