What's the NEWS

• The central government has recently approved a proposal to set up an agency that will develop sophisticated weapon systems and technologies to improve the potential of the armed forces for space wars.
• This space warfare agency will be known as Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO). This decision was taken by top-most level of government couple of months ago at joint secretary level meeting.

• A senior defence scientist will be headed DSRO who will lead a team of other scientists. The agency is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
• The organization is also charged with finding and implementing defence applications for India's entire spectrum of space technologies.
• The agency would be provided with a team of scientists and would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.
• DSRO will support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA) which comprises members of all three forces.
• The DSA has been set up in Bengaluru under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer and will gradually take over the space-related capabilities of the three forces.

Know! about Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)

• It was established on 23 November 2001 after the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and is located at New Delhi.
• The main objective was to promote synergy among the three Services and to integrate these with the Ministry of Defence
• The organisation has representation from all three services, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDA) and Department of Defence and Department of Finance.

What's the NEWS

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) along with several technologies.

Know! more about the technology demonstrator vehicle

• The DRDO launched a technology demonstrator vehicle to prove a number of critical technologies for futuristic missions from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha
• The missile was successfully launched at 1127 hours and it was tracked by various radars, telemetry stations and electro optical tracking sensors through its course
• The test was undertaken to validate several technologies including the HSTDV
• In the test, a missile with the technology demonstrator vehicle mounted on it is launched and the vehicle is released only after the missile reaches a certain altitude and velocity, one official explained.
• Under this project, DRDO has been developing a hypersonic vehicle that will be powered by a scram-jet engine.
• This is dual-use technology, which when developed, will have multiple civilian applications. It can be used for launching satellites at low cost. It will also be available for long-range cruise missiles of the future
• In scram-jet technology, combustion of fuel takes place in a chamber in the missile at supersonic speeds.
• This is different from a ram jet system where the system collects the air it needs from the atmosphere during the flight at subsonic speeds and the propellants burn in the combustion chamber.

Know! more about Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

• HSTDV is dual-use technology thus with a scramjet engine, HSTDV can cruise at Mach 6 speed and can have multiple civilian applications.
• It can be used for launching satellites at low cost and can also be available for long-range cruise missiles of future.
• In test conducted, a missile mounted with technology demonstrator vehicle is launched and vehicle is released only after missile reaches a certain altitude and velocity.

Tribal Affairs
Tribal Affairs Ministry launches e-governance website DBT TRIBAL to track and fulfil welfare schemes
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DBT Tribal web portal ) + Mains ( GS II welfare schemes for the vulnerable section of the population)
What's the NEWS

• Arjun Munda, the Union minister for tribal affairs, launched e-governance initiatives for welfare schemes for scheduled tribes in the form of two digital portals under the aegis of the ministry - DBT Tribal and NGO Grants Online Application and Tracking System.
• The move is expected to bring the implementation of welfare schemes for scheduled tribes (STs) under the purview of e-governance, with greater efficiency and transparency.
• DBT Tribal web portal will streamline and expedite the process of releasing scholarship grants directly into bank accounts of beneficiary students.

Know! more about DBT Tribal web portal

• The portal provide single common platform to states to upload data related to beneficiaries, raise queries and give feedback.
• It is linked with Aadhaar and the Public Financial Management System, thus help to reduce the chances of duplication of beneficiary and manipulation.
• It is binding on all states and Union territories to upload data on this portal in prescribed format.
• It will enable central government to monitor who are receiving scholarship benefits in which state, district, block or school and how many grievances have been received and addressed.
• It will provide beneficiary data for monitoring purposes as the entire system has been digitized in uniform format.

Know! more about the Ministry of tribal affairs

• The Ministry was set up in 1999 after the bifurcation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the objective of providing more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the most underprivileged of the Indian Society, in a coordinated and planned manner. Before the formation of the Ministry, tribal affairs were handled by different Ministries at different points in time.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal Ministry for overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for development of ST's. To this end, Ministry of Tribal Affairs has undertaken activities that follow from the subjects allocated under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961. and amendment(s) thereafter.

Government Schemes
Government sets target of providing clean drinking water to all by 2024
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the government provisions regarding drinking water provision ) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions for the development of various sections)
What's the NEWS

• The Centre has set a target of providing clean drinking water to all by 2024, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated recently
• The government is formulating a plan to provide clean drinking water to nearly 14 crore households. It includes increasing coverage of piped water to households from current 18 to 100% by 2024.
• Water Status in India Over the years per capita availability of water has fallen drastically. From 5,000 litre per capita availability of water in 1950 we now only have nearly 1,400 litre per capita availability of water.
• Thus even though the population has increased three times since 1950, per capita availability of water has reduced considerably and is about one-third (33%) of that amount now.
• In states like Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal (WB) the coverage of clean drinking water is less than 5%. It is only in Sikkim that 99% of households get tapped water.
• Water falls under the state list of the Constitution and participation of states is crucial to make the mission of providing clean drinking water a success.
• As per the 7th Schedule of Indian Constitution, Water is a State Subject under Entry 17 in State List, thus collective efforts and a public movement is needed to achieve the desired target.

Know! about Jal Ministry

• It has been newly created in the second term of the central government.
• It has been made by reorganising Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which was held by Nitin Gadkari in previous Modi government (2014-2019).
• The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has also been added to it Jal Ministry. This Ministry will cater to many aspects relating to water such ensuring clean water and top class irrigation water facilities for farmers

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