November 2024
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GSAT 31
Relevance IN – Prelims(about GSAT 31 and ISRO projects) + Mains GSIII awareness in the field of space
What’s the NEWS
· ISRO Set To Launch GSAT-31 From French Guiana On 6 February Replacing The Ageing INSAT-4CR
Know! more about the launch
· The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned to launch the GSAT-31 communication satellite from the French Guiana on 6 February
· GSAT-31 is a high-throughput communication satellite planned for launch from Arianespace, French Guiana on 6 February and GSAT-31 will replace the fading INSAT-4CR and will be used for high-speed internet, telecommunication services and broadcasting.
· The space agency plans to operationalise the PSLV- C45 in March. which will, in turn, launch the advanced electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT.
· After EMISAT, ISRO will launch the earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 in the PSLV-C46 mission, followed by the radar imaging satellite RISAT 2BR 1 in the PSLV-C47 for reconnaissance and strategic surveillance.
· The 2,600 KG-satellite GSAT-31 will be launched in the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MK III), which is also stated to thrust the second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 in April.
Chandrayaan - 2
· Chandrayaan-2 would be a complete indigenous project and includes an Orbiter, Lander and Rover.
· For the mission to the moon, the spacecraft weighing 3,980 KG would be launched using the GSLV-MK III, which would orbit the moon, studying its conditions while collecting data of the moons surface, minerals and exosphere.
· The spacecraft, after touching the 100-km lunar orbit, will detach the lander,know as “Vikram” which will slowly descent to make a soft landing at a selected spot on the moon.
· The lander will, then, deploy a six-wheeled rover. The instruments in the rover will then observe and study the surface of the moon.
ISRO opens human space flight centre in Bengaluru
Relevance IN – Prelims(about Gaganyaan and ISRO projects) + Mains GSIII awareness in the field of space
What’s the NEWS
· The ISRO aims to send humans to space by December 2021 through its Gaganyaan mission.
Know! more about the Human space mission
· The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled a Human Space Flight Centre at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru
· The Centre is dedicated to developing critical technologies for human space missions.
· The ISRO aims to send humans to space by December 2021 through its Gaganyaan mission.
· A full-scale Gaganyaan crew module model was also unveiled at the Centre
· R. Hutton, who was the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Director, will be heading the Gaganyaan project.
· The Centre will be responsible for end-to-end mission planning, development of engineering systems for crew survival in space, crew selection and training and also pursue activities for sustained human space flight missions
· It will take the support of existing ISRO centres to implement the first development flight of Gaganyaan
· The Rs 10,000-crore mission will involve Indian astronauts taken into space to a height of 350-400 km above the Earth and orbit around the planet for at least a week.
· The space agency plans to hold its first unmanned mission by December 2020 and the second unmanned flight before July 2021 before it can put humans in space.
· India's attempt to reach space by 2022 is about six decades after Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to take a journey into outer space and orbit the earth in 1961.
· The US, Russia and China are the only three nations to have launched human space flights.
Budget 2019: All you need to know about the interim budget
Relevance IN – Prelims (about budget and economic survey facts)
· This time Economic Survey 2019 will not be tabled on the first day of the budget session of the Parliament.
· The document is framed by the economic division of the department of economic affairs under the ministry of finance.
· The Economic Survey reviews the overall state of the economy in the one year and is prepared under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser and presented by the union finance ministry.
· However, this time Economic Survey 2019 will not be tabled on the first day of the budget session of the Parliament as government is presenting an interim budget.
· The survey is not published in the election year as the task of framing the document is given to the government that will take power post the elections.
· The document is framed by the economic division of the department of economic affairs under the ministry of finance and gives a detailed picture of the various sectors of the economy and an overall economic scenario of the country over the years.The document helps in providing an outline for the year ahead.
· The government's sixth and final Budget, which will be an interim one, keeping up with established tradition.
· The Budget will seek Parliament's nod for spending for four months till a new government is sworn-in. The Budget documents will contain revenue and expenditure projections for the entire 2019-20 fiscal year beginning April 1, but a 'Vote on Account' will seek Parliament nod for the expenditure side.
Index of Eight Core Industries
What’s the NEWS
· The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
· The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 132.1 in December, 2018, which was 2.6 percent higher as compared to the index of December, 2017.
1. Coal production (weight: 10.33per cent)increased by 0.9 per cent
2. Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98per cent) declinedby 4.3 per cent
3. The Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88per cent) increased by 4.2per cent
4. Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04per cent) declined by 4.8 per cent
5. Fertilizers production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 2.4 per cent Steel
6. Steel production (weight: 17.92per cent)increased by 13.2 per cent
7. Cement production (weight: 5.37per cent) increasedby 11.6per cent
8. Electricity generation (weight: 19.85per cent) increased by4.0per centin
Defence
DAC approval for Indigenous construction of Six
Project 75(I) submarines under strategic partnership model
Relevance IN – Prelims( about DAC and strategic partnership model) +Mains GS III security challenges/defence
What’s the NEWS
· The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in a landmark decision approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs. 40,000 crores.
· This is the second project under the MoD’s ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model that aims at providing a significant fillip to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme.
Strategic partnership model
· SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian Strategic Partner, who will collaborate with foreign OEM to set up production facilities in the country.
· The model has a long term vision of promoting India as a manufacturing hub for defence equipment through transfer of niche technologies and higher Indigenous Content thereby enhancing self-sufficiency for meeting the future requirements of the Armed Forces.
· DAC approval would be second such project following indigenous production of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters that was approved in August 2018.
· Construction of six submarines under Project 75(I) will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing eco-system in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as necessary skill sets.
· The DAC also approved the acquisition of approximately 5000 Milan Anti Tank Guided Missiles for the Army.
Environment Conservation
A unique travelogue series ‘Rag Rag Mein Ganga’
launched on Doordarshan
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about the unique series)
What’s the NEWS
· The travelogue series “Rag Rag Mein Ganga” has been made by Doordarshan in collaboration with National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
· The 21 episode series, covering River Ganga’s journey from Gomukh to Gangasagar, has been shot using state-of-the-art techniques including Drone Cameras and Go-Pro Cameras in HD Format.
· The show relays the message of the need of rejuvenating River Ganga while also informing about the efforts of the Government to clean Ganga – presented in a unique and interesting format.
· The quiz show ‘Meri Ganga’ has also been made by DD in collaboration with NMCG.
Energy Sector
PETROTECH-2019
The 13th International Oil & Gas Conference
& Exhibition, to be organised from 10th to 12th February, 2019
Relevance IN – Prelims(about the conference) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure -energy/energy security)
What’s the NEWS
· PETROTECH-2019, the 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, is all set to be inaugurated on February 10, 2019.
Know! more about the conference
· India’s flagship hydrocarbon international conference is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India.
· Over 95 Energy Ministers from partner countries have been invited by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas to participate in the Conference.
· Thethree-day mega event will showcase the recent market and investor friendly developments that have taken place in the India’s oil and gas sector.
· It is expected to see participation of over 86 eminent speakers and 7000 delegates from around 70 countries, including technologists, scientists, planners, policy-makers, management experts, entrepreneurs, service-providers and vendors.
· The PETROTECH 2019 exhibition will focus on development in technologies for exploration & production, process control, refining and pipeline and services, systems, products, oil field hardware, software, analytical instruments, Renewable, R&D, HSE, training and publications of technical literature
Prelims practise question
Consider the following statement
1. GSAT-31 is a high-throughput communication satellite planned for launch and it will replace the fading INSAT-4CR and will be used for high-speed internet, telecommunication services and broadcasting
2. The 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, PETROTECH-2019, being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India
3. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved first ever indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy under the ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model
Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 and 2
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1 ,2 and 3
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