• Swarna Jayanti Fellowships have been awarded to 14 Scientists associated with projects containing innovative research idea and with potential of making impact on R&D in the respective disciplines.

• The scientists, selected for the award through a rigorous three-tier process, will be allowed to pursue unfettered research with freedom and flexibility.
• The Swarna Jayanti Fellowships scheme was instituted by Government of India to commemorate India's fiftieth year of independence. Under this scheme, a selected number of young scientists, with proven track record, are provided special assistance and support to enable them to pursue basic research in frontier areas of science and technology.
• The awardees are supported by Department of Science & Technology, for fellowship and research.
• This will cover all the requirements for performing the research and include a fellowship of Rs 25,000/- per month as well as a research grant of 5 lakh Rupees for 5 years in addition to their salary.
• Out of the 443 applicants, 14 scientists have been finally selected this time for this scientist specific fellowship.

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Lai Haraoba Festival)
What's the NEWS

• In Tripura, Lai Haraoba, a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri meitei communities since ancient times, began in Agartala

• The five day long festival is jointly organised by Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, Puthiba Lai Haraoba Committee and Puthiba Welfare & Cultural Society, Agartala.
• The festival aims to uphold tradition and cultural values of Meitei community.
• Lai Haraoba is celebrated through oral literature, music, dance and rituals. A cultural troupe from Manipur has also come to take part in festival.
• They will be performing various cultural and traditional musical skits including Manipuri martial arts, folk music and folk dances during the festival.

Economic Development
Commerce and industry minister inaugurates NSE knowledge hub in New Delhi
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Knowledge Hub ) +Mains ( GS III economic development)
What's the NEWS

• Commerce and Industry & Railways Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Knowledge Hub, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered learning ecosystem that will assist the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.

Know! more about it

• The Knowledge Hub created by NSE will fill in these gaps and help the financial sector to move into the future.
• The NSE Knowledge Hub will enhance skills and help academic institutions in preparing future-ready talent for the financial service industry.
• It is also available on mobile and attempts to bring together world class content and learners through this state- of- the- art and future- ready platform.

Way Forward

• The use of AI will ensure that the skill upgradation is affordable and accessible and helps in the creation of a workforce that is adequate for the requirements of the sector
• AI and Machine Learning will contribute USD 1 trillion by 2035 and this is a good beginning by NSE to tap the potential of AI and use it as a tool to create a workforce in the BFSI sector in India

Science & Technology
Farmer's Science Congress
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Farmer's Science Congress) + GS III (Steps taken by the government for doubling the farmer's income)
What's the NEWS

• The Farmer's Science Congress was inaugurated for the first time in the 107 years of history of the Indian Science Congress, highlighting the importance of farmer's innovations and their scientific validity.

Know! more about it

• It is for the first time in the history of Indian Science Congress that a farmer centric event has been organized, which is a big encouragement for the farmer's community.
• Farmers Science Congress was organized as a part of the ongoing 107th Indian Science Congress at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. Around 120 innovative farmers from across the country are participating in Farmers Science Congress and showcase their products.
• The benefits for farmers from such a platform and said that innovators from different parts of the country can share their experiences and learn from each other.
• Scientist-farmer interactions can boost innovations to the next level and this can benefit the people in general

Know! the steps taken by the government

• ICAR has developed 56 models of integrated farming, which will be promoted with NABARD by linking them to the Rural Development programmes
• Farmers Innovation Fund and Innovation Centres will be set up to encourage innovations made by progressive farmers.
• To encourage organic farming, 45 types of organic farming systems have also been developed in niche areas.
• To reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, ICAR are developing Nano fertilizers and nano pesticides to promote organic farming.
• To improve rural bio-economy and attract youth to agriculture, a programme named Arya is being implemented.
• Till now over 5000 youth have been brought into this programme in which they have been trained to be entrepreneurs

Space Awareness
ISRO signs pact with astrophysics institute to set up optical telescopes
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the agreement signed and about NETRA) + Mains (GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Space Research Organisation has inked a pact with Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to pave the way for collaboration in establishing optical telescope facilities under Project ‘NETRA' for tracking space objects. T
• The agency has also tied up with NIT-Karnataka to set up a regional academic centre for space to promote research in space technology.

Project NETRA

• Under the Rs 400-crore NETRA' project, an early warning system is being set up in space to detect debris and other hazards that could pose a danger to Indian space assets like satellites and experimental platforms.
• Like other space powers, NETRA will give the country its own capability in space situational awareness.

Know! more about agreement

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ISRO and IIA for space cooperation in space situational awareness and astrophysics was signed
• The MoU will boost tie-up between ISRO and IIA in setting up optical telescope facilities for space-object tracking, studies related to space weather, asteroids and other near earth objects
• In another development, ISRO has set up a regional academic centre for space at the National Institute of Technology (NIT-K) at Surathkal in Karnataka's southwest Dakshina Kannada district.
• Under this the centre will conduct joint research and development in space technology applications to meet the needs of space programmes.
• ISRO will provide Rs 2 crore grant annually to NIT for R&D projects and promotional activities through the year.
• A joint policy and management committee will guide the centre in optimal utilisation of the research potential, infrastructure, expertise and experience of the space agency and the autonomous institute.
• Intellectual property rights generated in projects will be jointly owned by ISRO and NIT.

Environment Conservation
Kochi to host global meet on marine ecosystem
3^rd International Symposium on Marine Ecosystems Challenges and Opportunities (MECOS3)
Relevance IN - Prelims (about MECOS3) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The year 2020 is the time for the 3^rd International Symposium on Marine Ecosystems Challenges and Opportunities (MECOS3) organized by the Marine Biological Association of India (MBAI).
• Eminent marine scientists, oceanographers, fisheries researchers and marine biotechnologists from across the globe are expected to participate in the third international symposium on marine ecosystems - challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) in Kochi from January 7 to 10.

Know! more about MECOS-3

• Organised by the Marine Biological Association of India, MECOS-3 will serve as a platform for discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and an unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.
• The four-day meet, which will be held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, assumes significance in the backdrop of the recent spate of cyclonic storms and other climatic phenomena in the Arabian Sea.
• The meet will also focus on the UN's sustainable development goal-14 (life under water), development of small-scale fisheries, recent developments in aquaculture, eco-labelling and green fishing technologies.
• The symposium is aimed at reviewing the concerns involved in marine ecosystem and formulating strategies for the better and sustainable utilisation of marine wealth by enhancing livelihood options

Need to Conserve the Maine Ecosystem

• Healthy oceans, coasts and related ecosystems are crucial for economic growth and food production.
• Billions of people worldwide, especially the world's poorest, rely on healthy oceans to provide jobs and food, underscoring the urgent need to sustainably use and protect this natural resource, he said.
• However, numerous issues such as depletion of resources, marine pollution, extreme weather conditions and rising sea surface temperature, among others, pose a threat to the sustainable utilisation of marine resources
• The symposium would come up with a roadmap to deal with these issues.

Know! about Marine Biological Association of India

• The Marine Biological Association of India was established in the year 1958 to serve the cause of promotion of research on adana seo mersin escort ankara escort sohbet hatti canli bahis marine sciences in the Asia -Pacific region

Infrastructure Development
BEE Notifies New Energy Performance Standards for Air Conditioners

Relevance IN - Prelims (about BEE and ISEER) + Mains (GS III infrastructure development- energy security + environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Central Government in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has notified new energy performance standards for Room Air Conditioner (RACs) on 30th October 2019.
• The 240C default setting has been made mandatory from Jan 1, 2020 for all room air conditioners covered under the ambit of BEE star-labelling program
• Additionally, the Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) as per the new standards will range from (3.30 - 5.00) for split and (2.70 - 3.50) for window air conditioners, which will be applicable from 1st January 2021 onwards.
• All brands and types of star labelled room air conditioners, which are rated from one star to five star, based on their relative energy efficiencies and manufactured, commercially purchased or sold in India, shall ensure default setting of temperature in the room air conditioners at twenty-four degrees Celsius with effect from the 1st January 2020."
• ISEER (Indian Seasonal Energy efficiency ratio) is the energy performance index used for Room Air Conditioners (RACs) and its assessment is based on the bin hours defined in ISO 16358.

Know! about BEE

• BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is assisted in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
• BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organization to identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the energy conservation act.

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