ETEN Enlightens-Daily current capsules (Revision Modules) – 01st June 2018

Department of Atomic Energy

Enlighten about the Ministry

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is a department directly under

the Prime Minister of India with headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra,

India.

DAE has been engaged in the development of nuclear power technology,

applications of radiation technologies in the fields of agriculture,

medicine, industry and basic research.

DAE comprises five research centres, three industrial organisations, five

public sector undertakings and three service organisations.

It has under its aegis two boards for promoting and funding extramural

research in nuclear and allied fields, mathematics and a national institute

(deemed university).

It also supports eight institutes of international repute engaged in research

in basic sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, cancer research and education.

Enlighten about the events round the year

The Second Unit (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project

(KKNPP) went into commercial operation on March 31, 2017.

With this the installed nuclear power capacity has become 6780 MWe.

India has signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh

in April this year along with two more complementary Agreements.

We are collaborating with our Russian and Bangladeshi partners on

establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

A 4.6 Meter Ship Borne Terminal (SBT) developed by DAE was integrated

on a ship and deployed in Deep Sea.

The SBT successfully tracked the ISRO launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 during

Cartosat-2E mission

DAE has developed a low-cost handheld 12-channel Tele-ECG machine

which records all 12 ECG channels simultaneously and sends the report

generated to the mobile phone of a doctor for advice.

The device is suited for diagnostic purposes at remote rural locations,

saving crucial time normally required to shift the patient to a diagnostic

centre.

Recently, a litchi processing plant was established at ICAR-National

Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), Mushahari, Muzaffarpur for extension

of shelf-life of this perishable, popular fruit.

Demonstration of this technology has enthused the local bodies for

taking forward the technology for the farmers in a big way. Extension of

shelf life for this product will also encourage exports.

In the frontier science area, DAE is establishing a small underground

research laboratory in one of the uranium mines for pursuing research

on dark matter. This will enthuse scientists from all generations.

Department of Space

Enlighten about the Department

DoS is a department formed in 1972 responsible for administration of the

Indian space program under PMO

It manages several agencies and institutes related to space exploration and

space technologies.

Headquarters-Antariksh Bhavan, Bangalore, Karnataka

Preceding Department- Ministry of Energy Sources

Child Department- Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

ISRO under DoS management on 1 June 1972.

Indian space program under the DoS aims to promote the development

and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic

benefit of the country.

It includes two major satellite systems, INSAT for communication,

television broadcasting and meteorological services, and Indian Remote

Sensing Satellites (IRS) system for resources monitoring and

management.

It has also developed two satellite launch vehicles, Polar Satellite Launch

Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV),

to place IRS and INSAT class satellites in orbit.

Department of Space manages the following agencies and institutes

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – The primary research and

development arm of the DoS.

Antrix Corporation – The marketing arm of ISRO.

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.

National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki.

North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC), Umiam.

Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali.

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST),

Thiruvananthapuram – India's space university.

ORGANISATION UNDER DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), 1969

National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) , 1992

Indian Institute If Space Science And Technology (IIST), 2007

Enlighten about ISRO

ISRO is the space agency of the Government of India headquartered in

the city of Bengaluru.

Its vision is to "harness space technology for national development while

pursuing space science research and planetary exploration."

Formed in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National

Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in 1962 by the

efforts of independent India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and

his close aide and scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized space activities in India.

It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime

Minister of The Republic of India

Enlighten about the events round the year

PSLV – C37 and C38

In 2017 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 104

satellites, in a single launch, onboard PSLV-C37 on February 15, 2017

and

31 satellites, in a single launch, on-board PSLV-C38 on June 23, 2017.

These satellites include – Two Indian Cartosat-2 series satellites, two

Indian Nano-Satellites, one Nano satellite from Indian University and 130

foreign satellites from 19 countries, viz. Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech

Republic, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan,

Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UAE, UK and

USA.

The Cartosat-2 series satellites are placed in a sun synchronous orbit

with a designed mission life of 5 years.

The main objective of these satellites is to provide high resolution

images of earth’s surface at sub-meter resolution (Black & White image)

and at 2 meter resolution (4-band coloured image).

The images obtained from these satellites are useful in variety of

applications requiring high resolution images, which include

cartography, infrastructure planning, urban & rural development, utility

management, natural resources inventory & management, disaster

management.

GSLV Mark -II

India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-II (GSLV-F09)

successfully launched the 2230 kg South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) into its

planned Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on May 05, 2017.

The launch of GSLV was its eleventh and took place from the Second

Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR),

Sriharikota, the spaceport of India.

This was the fourth consecutive success achieved by GSLV carrying

indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage.

GSLV Mk-III

The first developmental flight (GSLV MkIII-D1) of India's heavy lift launch

vehicle GSLV Mk-III was successfully conducted on June 05, 2017 from

Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota with the launch of GSAT-

19 satellite.

This was the first orbital mission of GSLV MkIII which was mainly

intended to evaluate the vehicle performance including that of its fully

indigenous cryogenic upper stage during the flight. Weighing 3136 kg at

lift-off, GSAT-19 became the heaviest satellite launched from the Indian

soil.

GSAT-17

On June 29, 2017, GSAT-17 became India’s third communication satellite

to successfully reach orbit in two months. GSAT-17 was launched by the

European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.

Space Seminar

A two-day International Seminar on Indian Space Programme: "Trends

and Opportunities for Industry" was organized in New Delhi.

The seminar was organised by Indian Space Research Organisation

(ISRO), Antrix Corporation Limited (the commercial arm of ISRO), in

coordination with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and

Industry (FICCI).

The Two-day conference deliberated on the best practices, pursuit of the

ongoing discussion process to support further work of India's Space

Sector and facilitate to arrive at a coherent framework, where in India's

Space Sector can start expanding the domestic and global opportunities

through enhanced partnerships and collaborations.

AstroSat

India's multi-wavelength space telescope completed two years in orbit

during the year and has successfully accomplished the difficult task of

measuring X-ray polarisation.

In a paper published in ‘Nature Astronomy’, the team documented the

results of their eighteen-month study of the Crab pulsar in the Taurus

Constellation and measured the variations of polarisation as this highly

magnetised object spins around 30 times every second.

This landmark measurement puts up a strong challenge to prevailing

theories of high energy X-ray emission from pulsars.

MoUs

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ISRO

Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Indian Space

Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space and the Council of

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical Laboratory

(NPL), Ministry of Science and Technology, in New Delhi

The MoU provides for time and frequency traceability services to ISRO

by CSIR-NPL.

Mars Orbiter Mission

Mars Orbiter Mission successfully completed three years in its orbit on

September 24, 2017, surviving well beyond its designed mission life of

six months.

All Scientific payloads continue to provide valuable data of Mars surface

and its atmosphere. Mars Colour Camera on-board MOM has acquired

more than 700 images of Martian surface.

MOM atlas is published and updates on MOM images are regularly

provided on ISRO website.

The observations drawn by scientists have been published in 20 scientific

papers in peer reviewed journals.

NISAR

ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/NASA are jointly working on

the development of Dual Frequency (L&S band) Synthetic Aperture

Radar Imaging Satellite named as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar

(NISAR).

The L-band SAR is being developed by JPL/NASA, while ISRO is

developing S-band SAR.

The L & S band microwave data obtained from this satellite will be useful

for variety of applications, which include natural resources mapping and

monitoring; estimating agricultural biomass over full duration of crop

cycle; assessing soil moisture; monitoring of floods and oil slicks; coastal

erosion, coastline changes and variation of winds in coastal waters;

assessment of mangroves; surface deformation studies, ice sheet

collapses and dynamics.

Ministry of Textiles

Enlighten about the Ministry

The Ministry of Textiles is responsible for the formulation of policy,

planning, development, export promotion and regulation of the textile

industry in India. This includes all natural, artificial, and cellulosic fibers

that go into the making of textiles, clothing and Handicrafts.

First Mega International trade event-“Textiles India 2017”

The first ever mega international trade event for the textile sector was

organized in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 30 June, 2017 - 2 July, 2017 to

showcase the incredible strength and range of India’s textile and

handicrafts industry.

Following institutional mechanisms have been set up to give effect to

the recommendations of conferences and roundtables during Textiles

India 2017

An inter-ministerial steering committee to oversee implementation of a

Knowledge Network Management System (KNMS) for exchange of

knowledge amongst academia, farming community and the industry on

the productivity of natural fibres and diversification of their bye-

products

An Inter-Ministerial Synergy Group on Man-Made Fibre (MMF) to

formulate policy interventions to enhance growth and competitiveness

of MMF industry in India

A Task Force on Textiles India to steer follow-up action on various

outcomes of Textiles India 2017 for growth of the textiles sector

Powerloom Sector

“PowerTex India” has been launched on 1st April, 2017, with an outlay

of Rs. 487 crores for three years to support 44 lakh workers/weavers.

The scheme has components relating to loom upgradation,

infrastructure creation and concessional access to credit.

SAATHI

‘SAATHI’ (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of Efficient Textiles

Technology to Help Small Scale Industries) was launched jointly by

Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Power to provide energy-efficient

powerlooms, motors and rapier kits to small and medium powerloom

units at no upfront cost.

Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL) would procure and provide

these equipments to the workers at no upfront cost and the worker

would repay in installments to EESL over a period of 4 to 5 years.

A toll free helpline No. 1800220017 has been started at Office of the

Textile Commissioner, Mumbai from 01.04.2017, to facilitate

Powerloom weavers.

Dedicated website for Powerloom weavers

A dedicated website www.ipowertexindia.gov.in has been created

whereby Powerloom weavers can apply online for various schemes

under PowerTex India.

The entire process ranging from application and sanction of subsidy has

been made online.

The beneficiary can also track the status of their application in

iPowerTex android Mobile App.

The online portal and Mobile App are operational from 1st December,

2017 on optional basis. Online application will be made mandatory from

1st January, 2018.

Ministry of Textiles has introduced a new Converged Group Insurance

Scheme for Powerloom weavers by clubbing Pradhan Mantri Jeevan

Jyoti BimaYojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna

(PMSBY) for the age group of 18 to 50 years and Aam Aadmi Bima

Yojana(AABY) for the age group of 51 to 59 years, effective from May

2017.

Handloom and Handicraft sectors

Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, the first ever state-of-the-art trade centre

and crafts museum at Varanasi, was dedicated to the public by the

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

Set up on a sprawling 7.5 acres of land, the centre would provide world-

class marketing facilities to the weavers and artisans and would also

boost the tourism potential of Varanasi.

India Handmade Bazaar

an online portal to provide direct market access facility to artisans and

weavers, was launched.

The portal enables weavers & artisans to enter information about their

products for easy understanding of customers/exporters.

Weavers and artisans can access the portal through their registered

mobile number.

Weavers’ Mudra Scheme

It was launched last year to provide concessional credit to handloom

weavers. A similar scheme was launched for handicraft artisans too

Hastkala Sahayog Shivirs

For the first time, a massive outreach programme for weavers and

artisans was organized through Hastkala Sahayog Shivirs.

In the Shivirs, weavers and artisans received assistance in availing

MUDRA loan, supply of looms, accessories and tool kits, Pahchan cards

(ID cards), yarn passbooks and for enrolment of their children for formal

education through NIOS and IGNOU.

MoU with Financial Corporations

An MoU was signed with National Backward Classes Finance

Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Schedule Castes

Finance Development Corporation (NSFDC), to implement schemes of

Government of India for artisans and weavers belonging to OBC and SC

categories in 14 identified clusters, with necessary forward linkages for

income sustainability and enhancement.

Educational facilities to children of handloom weavers

Memorandums of Understanding were signed with IGNOU and National

Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to provide customized educational

services to weavers.

The Ministry of Textiles provides 75% of the fee in case of SC, ST, BPL

and Women weaver families.

Kamala Devi Chattopadhya National Award

Kamala Devi Chattopadhya National Award’ for women weavers was

introduced on on the occasion of International Women’s Day, on March

8.

Pushtaini Hunar Vikas Yojana

It was launched at Institute of Carpet Technology, Badohi to impart

technical and soft-skills training to weavers from traditional carpet-

weaving families.

On the lines of Bunkar Mitra helpline for handloom weavers, a dedicated

helpline for artisans (helpline No. 1800 208 4800) was launched

The helpline provides 24x7 services in seven languages – Hindi, English,

Kannada, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu.

India Handloom Brand

Indian Handlooms got worldwide recognition through India Handloom

Brand (IHB) which guarantees high quality, authentic handloom items

made with organic substances.

Partnerships have been entered into with 100 retail stores to sell

exclusive India Handloom Brand items, out of which 25 retail stores

have started operations.

23 garment manufacturers are working with IHB producers for sourcing

fabrics from IHB-registered weavers.

Leading garment brands have been working with IHB in bringing out a

separate range of garment line using handlooms.

Technical Textiles

Technotex 2017, the 6th International Exhibition and Conference on

Technical Textiles, was held from April 12 - 14, 2017 in Mumbai.

Maharashtra was the host state while Gujarat, Jharkhand and Karnataka

participated as partner states.

Industry from 22 countries such as China, Taiwan, U.S.A., Japan, France,

Ghana, Indonesia and Bangladesh exhibited their products at the

exhibition.

Eleven Focus Incubation Centers (FICs) in Centres of Excellence and in

IITs (Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur & Kharagpur) have been established at a

cost of Rs. 59.35 crore. FICs will provide plug-and-play facility to

potential entrepreneurs to enter technical textiles business.

The Government has also enhanced the rates under Merchandise

Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) on readymade garments and made-

ups from 2% to 4%.

Silk Sector

Production of Import Substitute Raw Silk

The production of import substitute bivoltine silk in the country is

expected to reach around 6,200 MTs in 2017-‘18 as compared to 5,266

MTs in 2016-‘17, registering an increase of 19%. Muga silk has recorded

highest ever production.

Buniyaad machines

The indigenous automatic reeling machines and Buniyad reeling

machines were launched to increase quality and productivity.

Buniyaad machines have also helped in doing away with the regressive

practice of thigh reeling by women.

MoU for Sericulture

An MoU for cooperation in sericulture sector has been signed between

Central Silk Board and Guangxi Agriculture Department, China on July 1,

2017 at Gandhinagar.

The MoU envisages collaboration between the two institutes to

develop disease-resistant species of silkworm seeds.

Cotton Sector

India has acquired the first place in the world in cotton acreage, with an

area of around 105 lakh hectares.

India has emerged the largest producer of cotton in the world, with a

production of 345 lakh bales in 2016-17.

India is also the 2nd largest exporter of cotton.

MSP Operations for Cotton

To ensure remunerative price to cotton farmers, the Government of

India has nominated the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) as nodal

agency to undertake Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations in all

cotton-growing states when prices of seed cotton (kapas) touches the

MSP level.

Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme

A total of 3,504 cases have been approved under Amended Technology

Fund Scheme (ATUFS), with a projected investment of Rs 12,426 crore

against government subsidy of Rs 956.50 crore.

Unlocking potential of North Eastern Region in textiles

The Government of India organized the first ever North East Investment

Summit focusing on manufacturing in textiles and allied sectors at

Shillong to unveil the potential of the region as a global investment

destination.

The Apparel & Garment Centre at Ampati, Meghalaya was inaugurated

by the Union Textiles Minister. The Centre was set up under North East

Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS).

Scheme for Promotion of Geotechnical Textiles in NER

Four new road projects (two in Mizoram and two in Meghalaya)

USTTAD

USTTAD (Upgradation of Skills and Training in Ancestral Arts/Crafts for

Development) project initiated in collaboration with Ministry of

Minority Affairs will encompass 25 handicraft and handloom clusters.

Four one-year Certificate Programmes have been initiated; these are

- Certificate Programme in Fashion Design Development (CPFDD)

- Certificate Programme in Fashion Design and Management (CPFDM)

- Certificate Programme in Application of Information Technology in

Fashion (CPAIT) and

- Certificate Programme in Knitwear Design and Manufacturing

(CPKDM).

Skilling in Textile Sector

As part of the Government's broad focus on Skill Development, Ministry

has been implementing Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), an

employment linked programme for meeting the skill requirement of

textile industry.

More than 4.8 lakh people have been trained during last year of which

74% have been placed.

Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS)

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for a new skill development scheme

covering the entire value chain of the textile sector excluding Spinning &

Weaving in organized Sector, titled "Scheme for Capacity Building in

Textile Sector (SCBTS)" from 2017-18 to 2019-20 with an outlay of Rs.

1300 crore.

The scheme will have National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)

compliant training courses with funding norms as per the Common

Norms notified by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The scheme will be implemented for the benefit of all sections of the

society across the country including rural, remote, LWE affected, North

East, J&K by imparting skills in the identified job roles. Preference will be

given to various social groups, SC, ST, differently abled, minorities and

other vulnerable groups.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

National Sizing Survey of India

A project titled “National Sizing Survey of India” for developing Indian

standard size of apparel has been sanctioned to National Institute of

Technology (NIFT), at a total cost of Rs.31 crore.

Development of Value Added Textile Product

A project titled “Development of Value Added Textile Product From

Different Fibres” in Himalayan Region has been sanctioned to the textile

research association NITRA.

Web-based software system for Collection of Textile Statistical Return

Office of the Textile Commissioner has put in place a web-based

software system - Textile Statistical Return System (TSRS), to collect

necessary data from all textile units.

Around 500 units have been registered on this web portal.

Sources – PIB, Department of Space, Department of atomic energy, Ministry of

Textiles , My Gov