12 Sep 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

September 12th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. iRAD App
2. Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin
3. National School of Drama

1. iRAD App

Context:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways conducts training programme on the iRAD App.

What is iRAD App?

• iRAD stands for ‘Integrated Road Accident Database’ Project of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• The development and implementation of iRAD has been entrusted to IIT Madras and the National Informatics Centre Services, Inc.
• The app when developed and functional, will enable the stakeholders such as the Police, Transport, Health, etc. to use their mobile phones to collect accident data on the spot.
• Mobile app of iRAD is available for Android platform, and for other platforms like iOS, it will be available shortly according to the Ministry.
• Initially, the proposal will be implemented in six states, namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Later, it will be expanded to cover the whole country.
• The project is proposed on an IT-based system for capturing the spot accident data using mobile app configured for this purpose.
• This data can then be utilised for various purposes like finding the cause of the accident and remedial measures to improve the road infrastructure, to record the accident data for the use of police, health services and other departments concerned.
• Significance: The project is significant as India accounts for about 5 lakh road accidents per annum in which about 1.5 lakh people die and another 3 lakh become disabled.

2. Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin

Context:

Study shows that methane hydrate deposits located in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin are of biogenic origin.

Who conducted the Study?

• Researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

Background of the Study:

• The research team has identified the methanogens that produced the biogenic methane trapped as methane hydrate, which can be a significant source of energy.
  • Methane hydrate is formed when hydrogen-bonded water and methane gas come into contact at high pressures and low temperatures in oceans.
  • Methanogens are microorganisms that produce methane as a metabolic by-product in hypoxic conditions.
• Until recently, there have been only a few investigations of the methanogenic communities associated with methane hydrate-bearing sediments.
• This study has shown that methanogens under these elevated pressure and temperature conditions are well adapted to these conditions and are different in methane-producing activities.
• Understanding of these methane-producing methanogenic communities under such an extreme and pristine environment was very important.
• This study revealed maximum methanogenic diversity in the KG basin, which is one of the prominent reasons to confirm it to be the extreme source of biogenic methane in comparison to the Andaman and Mahanadi basins.

Significance of the Study:

• Methane is a clean and economical fuel. It is estimated that one cubic meter of methane hydrate contains 160-180 cubic meters of methane.
• Even the lowest estimate of methane present in the methane hydrates in KG Basin is twice that of all fossil fuel reserves available worldwide.

Krishna-Godavari Basin:

• An extensive deltaic plain formed by two large east coast rivers, Krishna and Godavari in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining areas of Bay of Bengal in which these rivers discharge their water is known as Krishna-Godavari Basin.
• The KG Basin is a proven petroliferous basin of continental margin located on the east coast of India.
• Its on-land part covers an area of 15000 sq. km and the offshore part covers an area of 25,000 sq. km up to 1000 m isobath.
• The basin contains about 5 km thick sediments with several cycles of deposition, ranging in age from Late Carboniferous to Pleistocene.
• The major geomorphologic units of the basin are upland plains, coastal plains, recent flood and delta plains.
• The site is known for the D-6 block where Reliance Industries discovered the biggest natural gas reserves in India in 2003. The first gas discovery was made in 1983 by ONGC.
• The basin is home to the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (IUCN Status: Vulnerable).

3. National School of Drama

Context:

Actor Paresh Rawal appointed as new Chairman for National School of Drama Society.

To know more about the National School of Drama, check PIB dated Aug 2, 2019 under the headline, National School of Drama.

Read previous PIB here.

September 12th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here