October 9th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SVAMITVA Scheme
2. IFS Day
3. National Postal Week
4. ‘Calcium Nitrate’ & ‘Boronated Calcium Nitrate’
5. RUDRAM
6. Jal Jeevan Mission

1. SVAMITVA Scheme

Context:

PM to launch the physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme in October.

About SVAMITVA Scheme:

• The scheme was launched on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24th April 2020 by the Prime Minister.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme aiming to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners in rural areas and issue Property Cards.
• The Scheme is being implemented across the country in a phased manner over a period of four years (2020-2024) and would eventually cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the country.

Read more about the SVAMITVA scheme in PIB dated 27 April 2020.

2. IFS Day

Context:

PM greets Indian Foreign Service officers on IFS Day.

About IFS Day:

• IFS Day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011 to commemorate the day the Indian Cabinet created the IFS.

Read more about the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in the linked article.

3. National Postal Week

Context:

India Post commences celebration of National Postal Week from 9^th to 15^th October.

About National Postal Week:

• National Postal Week celebrations start with the World Post Day which is observed on 9^th
• World Post Day is observed to mark the foundation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Berne. It is a specialised UN agency.
• The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries.
• Moving a step ahead, the Department of Posts celebrates National Postal Week undertaking programmes/activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of its role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.
• The schedule for the National Postal Week celebrations are as follows:
  • World Post Day – 9^th Oct
  • Banking Day – 10^th Oct
  • PLI Day – 12^th Oct [PLI – Postal Life Insurance]
  • Philately Day – 13^th Oct
  • Business Development Day – 14^th Oct
  • Mails Day – 15^th Oct
• A number of activities and awareness programmes for these days.

4. ‘Calcium Nitrate’ & ‘Boronated Calcium Nitrate’

Context:

Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers launches an indigenous variety of Calcium Nitrate & Boronated Calcium Nitrate manufactured by Gujrat State Fertilizers and Chemicals (GSFC India Ltd).

Details:

• Calcium Nitrate & Boronated Calcium Nitrate is being manufactured for the first time in India. Till now, it was imported from other countries.
• Last year, around 1.25 lakh metric tons (1,23,000 tons) of Calcium Nitrate were imported into the country.
  • Of this, 76% was imported from China and the rest from other countries like Norway and Israel.
  • The total import value of this 1.25 Lakh Tons is Rs. 225 crores.
  • The GSFC itself imported and sold 4600 MT last year.
• Calcium Nitrate Applications: Calcium nitrate is used as a water-soluble fertilizer in agriculture. In addition, this product is also used in wastewater treatment and to increase the strength of cement concrete.

5. RUDRAM

Context:

DRDO successfully flight tests Indigenously Developed Anti-Radiation Missile (RUDRAM).

Details:

• A new generation Anti Radiation Missile (RUDRAM) was successfully flight tested onto a radiation target located on Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.
• The missile was launched from a SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

RUDRAM:

• RUDRAM is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country for the Indian Air Force (IAF), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The missile is integrated on SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft as the launch platform, having a capability of varying ranges based on launch conditions.
• It has INS-GPS navigation with Passive Homing Head for the final attack.
• The Passive Homing Head can detect, classify and engage targets over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.
• The missile is a potent weapon for IAF for the suppression of enemy air defence effectively from large stand-off ranges.
• Significance: With this, the country has established indigenous capability to develop long-range air-launched anti-radiation missiles for neutralising enemy radars, communication sites and other RF emitting targets.

6. Jal Jeevan Mission

Context:

Goa becomes the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state across the nation by providing tap water connection to every rural household.

Details:

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the aim of the Government is to provide tap water to all households by 2024.

Know more about the Jal Jeevan Mission in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

October 9th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here