Vice President Releases a Book “Ambedkar Awakening India’s Social Conscience”

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Meghdut

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled “Ambedkar Awakening India’s Social Conscience” authored by Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission at a function here today. Addressing on the occasion, he said that Dr Jadhav has done a tremendous favour to an entire generation of M.Phil and PhD students who may wish to write about Dr Ambedkar and be bounded by the sheer volume of primary material that may have to be scanned, because its all been put there in one volume.

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National Skill Development Agency (NSDA)

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Meghdut

The National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) is an autonomous body, with functions, inter-alia, including, taking all possible steps to meet skilling targets as envisaged in the 12th Five Year Plan and beyond and coordinating and harmonizing the approach to skill development in the country. The Agency has undertaken a number of activities, inter-alia, including facilitating the operationalisation of National Skills Qualification Framework; setting up of a committee for rationalisation of Central Government Schemes on skill development; commencing work on creating and maintaining a national database relating to skill development including development of a dynamic labour market informational system and creating online education resources. NSDA is also engaging with States Skill Development Missions for enabling them to converge efforts across State Ministries and advising them to develop their plans for increasing vocational training capacity in the State.
NSDA is an agency that is mandated to coordinate the skilling effort of the Government of India (GOI). NSDA has informed that a target of skilling 73.42 lakh persons was set for the year 2013-14 by GOI Ministries and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and 49.16 lakh persons have been skilled till December, 2013.

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Approval for the continuation of the Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector scheme

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Meghdut

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of the “Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector” scheme with an outlay of Rs.960 crore in the 12th Plan with some modification as recommended by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).

Component wise and year wise break up of outlay for the 12th Plan is as under:

Component 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Total
1 Plantation Development and Extension 123.56 130.21 144.15 152.66 176.41 726.99
2 Strengthening Research 15.85 20.68 22.90 24.73 27.04 111.20
3 Technology Up-gradation and Market Development 10.47 9.58 10.08 11.03 12.09 53.25
4 Human Resource Development 5.90 6.54 6.74 6.89 6.99 33.06
5 Infrastructure Development 4.18 5.64 5.56 5.42 4.70 25.50
6 Statistical Services, Information Services and Governance Programme —- 2.99 2.36 2.41 2.24 10.00
  Total 159.96 175.64 191.79 203.14 229.47 960.00

The main objective of the scheme is to enhance natural rubber production and productivity.  This would be through expanding planted area, accelerating rubber plantation development programmes in non-traditional regions including the North-East, intensifying research to evolve appropriate technologies for rubber cultivation, processing and end product manufacturing and transferring technology through training and extension services.

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Achievements of the Ministry of Science & Technology During 2013

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Meghdut

Following are the salient features of the initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences during the year 2013:

 Sh. S. Jaipal Reddy inaugurated “Weather Services of IMD on Mobile”  138th Foundation Day of IMD Celebrated 

Union Minister for science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy inaugurated the “Weather Services of IMD on Mobile” in a glittering function organised to mark the 138th Foundation Day of India Metrological Department (IMD) here in New Delhi today. Dr. Shailesh Nayak , Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences , Dr L. S. Rathore, DGM, IMD and other senior officers of IMD were present on the occasion.

 Nowcasting of Weather 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences operationalized its location specific nowcasting weather services through Earth System Science Organization (ESSO)-IMD across the country. This includes the web based inputs. Under this service activity, that covers 117 urban centres currently on experimental basis, nowcast of severe weather (Thunderstorms; heavy rainfall from lows/depressions over the land) in 3-6h range is issued. Origin, development/movement of severe weather phenomena are regularly monitored through all available observing systems (Automatic Weather Stations-AWSs; Automatic Rain Gauges-ARGs; Doppler Weather Radars-DWRs; Automatic Weather Observing Systems-AWOS; satellite derived wind vectors, temperature, moisture fields etc.) are assimilated to generate predictions (prepared both in text as well as in graphical form) on 3h time range. Web GIS rendering of the nowcast products is implemented for enhanced spatial representation of the severe weather intensities associated with warnings.

Proposals invited from Indian Researchers to Carry Out Study in Geology and Related Subjects. 

The Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences invited proposals from Indian researchers working in national research Institutes, Universities and other Govt. organizations to carry out core related studies in Geology, Geochemistry, Petrography, Geochronology, Palaeo-magnetism, Rock mechanics, Hydrogeology, Palaeo-environment, Microbial and related studies. The last date of submission in prescribed format was  31st May, 2013.

The proposal was a follow up of the major scientific programme initiated by ESSO-MoES with National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI), Hyderabad to understand the mechanism of Reservoir- Triggered Seismicity (RTS) in the Koyna Warna region, Maharashtra. A significant component of the programme includes, drilling a set of 4 boreholes initially, each going down to about 1500 m depth. The first borehole in Koyna was completed, while further work underway. The cores of both the basalt pile and the underlying basement granitoids retrieved from the borehole form a valuable database and offer a unique opportunity to carry out a wide spectrum of scientific investigations.

 IMD Predicted Normal Southwest Monsoon Seasonal Rainfall during 2013

IMD predicted that in the year 2013 their will be a normal Southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole i.e. 96 to 104% of Long Average. during  June to September. This was announced by the Union Minister of Earth Sciences & Science and Technology Shri S.Jaipal Raddy at a Press conference on  25th April, 2013 in NewDellhi . The prediction was found correct.

LS Rathore Elected as Member of Executive Council of WMO 

Dr Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General of Meteorology & Permanent Representative of India with WMO was  elected as Member of Executive Council of WMO during the 65th Executive Council of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) meeting currently being in progress at Geneva.

Dr Laxman Singh Rathore, DG IMD & Permanent Representative of India with WMO Elected As CO-Vice Chairman of Intergovernmental Board of Climate Services (IBCS) 

Dr Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General of Meteorology & Permanent Representative of India with World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was again  elected as Co-Vice Chairman of Intergovernmental Board of Climate Services (IBCS) during its first meeting held at Geneva during 1st to 5th July 2013. Dr. Rathore was recently elected as member of the Executive Council of the WMO and has earlier served a term as Vice President of Commission of Agriculture Meteorology. Anton Eliassen, Director General, Norway Meteorological Institute has been elected as Chair and Dr Linda Makuleni, South Africa is the other Co-Vice Chair.

With the appointment of Rathore, India, who is championing the cause of developing nations is poised to play a crucial role in implementation of Global Framework of Climate Service (GFCS). WMO launched GFCS as key outcome of World Climate Conference (WCC)-3 aiming to enables better management of the risks of climate variability and change and adaptation to climate change, through the development and incorporation of science-based climate information and prediction into planning, policy and practice on the global, regional and national scale. The four priority areas of the GFCS are Agriculture and Food Security, Disaster Risk Reduction, Health and Water.

Prediction of Cyclone Phailin

India Meteorological Department (IMD) gave a clear picture of cyclone “Phailin” in the bay of Bengal well in time in October 2013 which helped in saving millions of life in the costal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

 

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Achievements of The Department of Atomic Energy During 2013

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Meghdut

Following are the salient features of the initiatives taken by the Department of Atomic Energy during the year 2013:

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Governments of Maharashtra and Odisha for Setting up Directorate of Radiation Safety (DRS) 

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had entered into an agreement with two State authorities of Maharashtra and Odisha for formation of State level Directorate of Radiation Safety for strengthening the regulator control on medical diagnostic X-ray facilities. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed last month, first with the Aditional Chief Secretary, Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra on January 18, 2013 and the second one with Principle Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department to set up Directorate of Radiation Safety (DRS) in the respective States.

With these, AERB has signed MoUs with a total of 10 States (Kerala, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha) of which DRS in Kerala and Mizoram are already functioning. Government of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are in the process of signing MoUs shortly.

Research in Nuclear Science

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has been pursuing R&D in nuclear science, engineering and advanced mathematics.  The R&D activities are carried out through Research Centres, Aided Institutions under the administrative control of the Department and also through extra mural support through Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS).  The Department has formulated projects under the XII Five Year Plan with emphasis on Research in Nuclear Science.  The outlay provided under XII Five Year Plan (2012-17) R&D Sector is ` 19,740 crore.  During the last three years, the Department has provided adequate financial support under R&D Sector as detailed below, for pursuing research in nuclear science:

2010-11:   1817.07 crore (actual expenditure)
2011-12:   2512.63 crore (actual expenditure)
2012-13:   2940.90 crore (approved outlay)

Nuclear And Radiation Safety Policy of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

In accordance with the Presidential orders dated 15 November 1983, constituting the AERB, the functions of AERB include, as per clause 2(i), development of safety policies in both radiation and industrial safety areas, and further, as per clause 2(vi), evolving major safety policies based on safety criteria, recommended by IAEA and other international bodies, adopted to suit Indian conditions. Accordingly, the safety policies concerning the activities regulated by AERB are enshrined in the high level documents of AERB, namely The Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, the mission statement and the various `Codes` of AERB. These documents include the policies, principles and / or safety objectives that apply to the relevant activity/field and the specific regulatory requirements that are to be followed for fulfilling the same.

The above principles and objectives form the broader policy of AERB for regulation of nuclear and radiation safety in the country.

AERB  already published 141 regulatory documents. AERB`s approach with regard to prioritization for preparation of specific regulatory documents is a dynamic and ongoing process. The 27 balance documents are incorporated in the document development framework established by AERB in accordance with their assigned priorities.

Kudankulam Unit-1 Synchronized to Grid 

The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) was synchronized in the early hours of 22nd October 2013 and is now generating 160 MW electricity. This information was given by Shri V.Narayansamy, Minister of State in the Prime Ministers in New Deli. He  said the power will be further raised to 500 MWe, 750 MWe and 100o MWe in stages. For this at every stage various tests have been conducted and the technical parameters have also been verified. Based on the results of thetests at eachof the stages and with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) clearences, subsequent stages are reached.

With the addition of KKNPP Unit-1 of 1000 MWe capacity, the Nuclear Power contribution in the country will increase from 4780 MWe to 5780 MWe.

KKNPP Unit-1 is the 20th Nuclear Power Station of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), connected to power grid in the country.

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North East Rural Livelihood Project

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Meghdut

North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) is being implemented in four North Eastern States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. NERLP is implemented in Aizawl and Lunglei Districts of Mizoram State, Peren and Tuensang Districts of Nagaland State, South Sikkim, West Sikkim Districts and 15 poorest Panchayat wards of East Sikkim of Sikkim and undivided North and West Districts of Tripura State (now 5 Districts). It will cover three lakh households in 1624 villages in the above mentioned districts.

As the objective of NERLP is to improve livelihoods of the poor, especially that of women and the disadvantaged people in the project area, identification of Districts for the project was done by the State Governments based on social and economic backwardness.

There is no plan to extend NERLP to other Districts except to the newly carved districts out of the existing 8 districts. However, North East Community Resource Management Project for Upland Areas – III, (NERCORMP-III) is sanctioned at the cost of Rs. 540 crore to cover undivided Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Churachandpur & Chandel Districts of Manipur.

As the project has commenced its work recently, it is too early to assess the impact of the project in increasing the per capita income of the Self Help Groups.

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The Government is promoting Organic Farming in India

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Meghdut

The Government is promoting organic farming in the country through schemes like National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and also Network Project on Organic Farming of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Funds allocated under NPOF, NHM, RKVY and HMNEH during 2013-14 are Rs.427.00 lakh, Rs.1215.50 lakh, Rs.14015.00 lakh, and Rs.1162.05 lakh respectively. Besides, ICAR under Network Project on Organic Farming, with lead centre at Project Directorate for Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, is developing package of practices of different crops and cropping system under organic farming in different agro-ecological regions of the country. Presently, the project is running at 13 co-operating centres including State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) spread over 12 states. ICAR institutes including State Agricultural Universities impart training and organize Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) to educate farmers on aspects related to organic fertilizers.

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North East States under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Meghdut

Rs. 852.57 crore allocated for North East States under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Assam (Rs. 440.03 crore) has been allocated highest amount followed by Mizoram(Rs. 132.01 crore). The state wise fund allocation to the north eastern States is given below:

S. No. Name of State Allocation (2013-14) Rs. crore
1 Arunachal Pradesh 32.30
2 Assam 440.53
3 Manipur 40.96
4 Meghalaya 60.89
5 Mizoram 132.01
6 Nagaland 51.90
7 Sikkim 20.20
8 Tripura 74.28
Total 852.57

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) aims at achieving 4% annual growth in agriculture sector by ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. To achieve this end, the States have been given complete flexibility to choose projects for achieving the desired growth in these sectors. Under this scheme Government of India does not fix targets, rather gives complete autonomy to state to customize interventions as per their requirements

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Iran signs landmark nuclear deal with West

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Meghdut

Iran has struck a historic agreement with the U.S. and five other world powers, accepting strict constraints on its nuclear programme for the first time in a decade in exchange for partial relief from sanctions. The deal, signed at  on 24th November 2013, marks arguably the most significant foreign policy achievement of Barack Obama’s presidency, amounting to the most significant agreement between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Iranian revolution.

The move is intended as the first step in a six-month process aimed at a permanent resolution to the decade-old global impasse over Iran’s nuclear programme, and heading off the threat of a new war in West Asia. “While today’s announcement is just a first step, it achieves a great deal,” President Obama said in an address from the White House. “For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear programme, and key parts of the programme will be rolled back.”

The Geneva deal releases just over $4 billion in Iranian oil sales revenue from frozen accounts, and suspends restrictions on the country’s trade in gold, petrochemicals, car and plane parts. In return, Iran undertakes to restrict its nuclear activities. Over the next six months it has agreed to:

  • Stop enriching uranium above 5 per cent, reactor-grade, and dilute its stock of 20 per cent-enriched uranium or convert it to oxide, which makes it harder to enrich further. The medium-enriched uranium, in its hexafluoride gas form, is relatively easy to turn into weapons-grade material, so it is a major proliferation concern.
  • Not to increase its stockpile of low-enrichment uranium.
  • Freeze its enrichment capacity by not installing any more centrifuges, leaving more than half of its existing 16,000 centrifuges inoperable.
  • Not to fuel or to commission the heavy-water reactor it is building in Arak or build a reprocessing plant that could produce plutonium from the spent fuel.
  • Accept more intrusive nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, including daily visits to some facilities.
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Lifetime achievement award to JIRI Menzel at 44th Goa Film Festival

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Meghdut

One of the best known representatives of the ‘New Wave Czech Cinema’, Jiri Menzel will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 44th edition of IFFI. Jiri Menzel has made his mark on the cultural history of his native Czech Republic as a film auteur, theatre director and actor. His films are cherished for their lyrical realism and stylistic boldness. The genteel humanism and comic tone of his work has earned him love and acclaim of film aficionados across the globe.

Born in Prague in 1938, Jiri Menzel majored in film direction from the Prague Film School (FAMU) in 1962. This was the time when the representatives of `New Wave’ in Czech Cinema made their presence felt in the international arena. His career kicked off with a stint as Assistant Director. He worked mainly at the Baranov Film Studios. As a stage director, he was mostly involved with the Drama Club in Prague but he was eagerly invited by numerous European theatres in Zurich, Paris, Berlin and many other places.

Menzel is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a founding member of the European Film Academy. ln 1987, he was a member of the July at the 37th Berlin International Film Festival. He served twice as jury member at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1989 and 1995.

His first movie, “Closely Observed Trains”, was made when he was just 28 and over the 45 years since, he has proved it was not a fluke. This film was an adaptation of the work of the renowned Czech writer, Bhumil Hrabal. With the success of this film under his belt, Menzel started work on another Hrabal’s novel, “Larks on a String”, which was awarded Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1990. His “l served the King of England” is the most awarded of his works including Golden Gladiator Award at the International Film Summer Festival in 2008 and FIPRESCI Prize in the Berlinale in 2007.

Jiri Menzel`s films are subtle, bittersweet comedies as he is of the conviction that ‘good comedy should be about serious things`. With so many kudos to his credit, he is a national hero and international treasure.

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