November 2024
Download PDFDaily Current Capsules 16th June 2022
Defence
Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II, successfully tested
- India successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II missile - an indigenously-developed nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile - as part of the Army's user trial from a test range off Odisha coast
- This test-firing of the short-range ballistic missile comes less than 10 days after the Army had conducted a routine test of its nuclear-capable Agni missile.
- The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision.
- Developed by DRDO, Prithvi-II is a single-stage missile - nine-metres tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled and powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.
- It is a state-of-the-art missile with a strike range of 350 km and is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilograms of warheads.
- It uses Advanced Inertial Guidance System (AIGS) with a manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target with high accuracy.
- Prithvi is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
- Inducted into India's armed forces in 2003, it was first used by the Indian Air Force as the primary user, and the variant has been inducted into the Army as well since then.
- It is capable of carrying nuclear weapons and attacking even at night being launched from a mobile launcher.
- The Strategic Forces Command has conducted the night trials of Prithvi II in full operational configuration multiple times successfully in the past as well.
Skill based bachelor degree programme for Agniveers
- The Union Cabinet on 14th June, 2022 approved an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces called AGNIPATH and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.
- AGNIPATH allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.
- The AGNIPATH scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.
- In order to enhance the future career prospects of our Agniveers, and equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector, the Ministry of Education is to launch a special, three year skill based bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognize the skill training received by them during their tenure in the defence establishments.
- Under this programme that has been designed by IGNOU and will also be executed by them, 50 % of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training - both technical and non-technical - received by the Agniveer, and the remaining 50 % will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects
- This programme is aligned with UGC norms and with the National Credit Framework / National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) as mandated under the National Education Policy 2020.
- It also has provision for multiple exit points - Undergraduate Certificate on successful completion of the first year courses, Undergraduate Diploma on successful completion of the first and second year courses, and Degree on completion of all the courses in three year time frame.
- The framework of the programme has been duly recognized by the concerned regulatory bodies - All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and UGC.
- Degree will be awarded by IGNOU as per UGC nomenclature (BA; B. Com.; BA (vocational); BA (Tourism Management), and will be recognized both in India and abroad for employment and education.
- Army, Navy and Air Force will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with IGNOU for implementation of the scheme.
Science and Technology
Heteroprotein film
What's the NEWS
- Scientists have developed ultra-thin heteroprotein films with excellent thermal, mechanical and pH stability which can pave the way for expanding applications of thin films in biomedical and food packaging industries.
- These films are much thinner as compared to the other protein or plastic films.
- They are soft and thin and have the advantage of being more flexible than the other films.
- An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, has successfully developed ultrathin monolayer protein films consisting of two globular proteins: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (Lys).
- They used the technique called using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique which gives the films thickness in the order of nanometer.
National Schemes
Bharat Gaurav Train
What's the NEWS
- The first service of the theme-based Bharat Gaurav Train from Coimbatore North to Sainagar Shirdi started its journey on 14-06-2022.
- With this, Southern Railway becomes the first zone in Indian Railways to get the first Registered service provider under the ‘Bharat Gaurav" Scheme and commence the operations of the maiden service from Coimbatore North to Sainagar Shirdi.
- Indian Railways had launched the operation of theme-based Bharat Gaurav train in the month of November 2021.
- The objective of this theme is to showcase India's rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, through Bharat Gaurav Trains.
- This scheme also aims to leverage the core strengths of the professionals of the tourism sector to run theme-based trains to tap the vast tourist potential of India.
TEAM CL