Defence
Indian Army launches a Software for Infrastructure Management

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Infrastructure Management System (IMS)' software)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Army has introduced a software named the "Infrastructure Management System (IMS)' software which was inaugurated by the COAS on the sidelines of the Army Commanders Conference on 28 October 2020.

The scope of the software package developed includes the following

• To automate works initiation, preparation of list and its approval by the MoD.
• To accord administrative approval and monitoring of execution by the CFA.
• To automate availability of CAO pool accommodation, plan vacation, re-allocation and undertake maintenance.
• To automate approval of accommodation allocation/extention for children education ground, special children and Battle/Physical casualty.
• Manage cantonment roads including emergency closure.
• Make land, works and quartering policies available on line.
• Monitor land encroachment

Know! the benefits of automation

• Presently all functions towards infrastructure development and management to include ascertaining availability of land, planning and monitoring of works, environment conservation and responsive quartering policies are carried out manually, which is not only time consuming but is also in-efficient.
• Realising that automation is the key to empowering all stake holders to transform and become efficient, transparent and enhance accountability

Defence
Army launches Secure Application for Internet (SAI)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SAI and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Army has developed a simple and secure messaging application named the "Secure Application for Internet (SAI)".

Know! all about SAI

• The application supports end to end secure voice, text and video calling services for Android platform over internet.
• The model is similar to commercially available messaging applications like Whatsapp, Telegram, SAMVAD and GIMS and utilises end to end encryption messaging protocol.
• SAI scores over on security features with local in-house servers and coding which can be tweaked as per requirements.
• The application has been vetted by CERT-in empaneled auditor and Army Cyber Group.
• The process for filing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), hosting the infrastructure on NIC and working on iOS platform is currently in progress.

Environment
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & adjoining areas
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Commission for Air Quality Management + about EPCA) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• President Ram Nath Kovind has promulgated an ordinance to constitute a Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

Know! the role of the commission

• The commission will work towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the Air Quality Index in the NCR and adjoining areas.
• It will consist of a Chairperson, a representative from the Ministry of Environment, members from the state of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, technical experts from Central Pollution Control Board and Indian Space Research Organization among others.
• The commission will have the powers to take all such measures, issue directions and entertain complaints in order to protect and improve the quality of air in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
• It will also lay down the parameters for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and adjoining areas will have at least three sub-committees including on Monitoring and identification, Safeguarding and Enforcement and Research and Development to suggest measures to curb air pollution in the region.

Know! some past developments

• The Supreme Court had earlier set up a one-man committee under retired Justice Madan Lokur.
• The committee was set up to monitor stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
• Later the committee was suspended as the Government of India informed the Supreme Court that a permanent body will be constituted to handle air pollution caused due to stubble burning in the National Capital Region.
• This permanent body will replace the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.

Know! about EPCA

• The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority was set up in 1986 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The EPCA was constituted with the objective of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing and controlling the environmental pollution in the National Capital Region, under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The EPCA is also mandated to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the city as per the pollution levels.
• The reason why EPCA is an authority, and not just an advisory committee, is because it has powers similar to those enjoyed by the Centre.
• It can issue directions in writing to any person, officer or authority, including for - but not limited to - stoppage of electricity, water and other services.
• If its directions are not followed, it has powers to file criminal complaints (under section 19 of the Act) before courts.
• The EPCA has been empowered to take Suo motu action as well as on the basis of complaints made by any individual, representative body or organisation functioning in the environmental issues sector.
• One of the EPCA's important powers is the redressal of grievances through complaints.

Science & Technology
World's first scientoon book "Bye Bye Corona"on Coronavirus released

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the scientoon and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• A ‘scientoon' is a cartoon communication based on science. Scientoons are meant to inform and sensitize people to science and scientific concepts in an intelligible and interesting way.

Know! more about it

• World's first scientoon book entitled "Bye Bye Corona", written by ‘scientoonist' Dr Pradeep Srivastava, former Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, was released
• The book is published by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
  
  
• The book contains comprehensive information on novel coronavirus pandemic, its symptoms and its prevention through precautions.
• Post its launch in India, the book would soon be released in Brazil under Brazil-India Network program and would possibly be translated into Portuguese language
• Vigyan Prasar is actively publishing popular science books and Bye Bye Corona is a timely publication to understand the pandemic through cartoon characters.
• The scientoon book ‘Bye Bye Corona' is expected to help create wider awareness about COVID-19 cutting across age, language, and national boundaries.

Prelims Factoids
OPERATION MERI SAHELI

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about operation Meri Saheli)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Railways has launched "Meri Saheli" initiative for focused action on security of women across all zones with an objective to provide safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey from starting station to destination station.

Know! all about the initiative

• An initiative of RPF, the Strategy of the entails interaction with lady passengers especially those travelling alone by a team of young lady RPF personnel at the originating station.
• These lady passengers are briefed about all precautions to be taken during the journey and told to dial 182 in case they face or see any problem in the coach.
• The RPF team collects only the seat numbers of the ladies and conveys them to stoppages en-route.
• The platform duty RPF personnel at the stopping stations en-route keep unobtrusive watch over the concerned coaches and berths
• RPF teams at the destination collect the feedback from the identified lady passengers.
• If some distress call comes from a train covered under "Meri Saheli" initiative, the disposal of the call is monitored at the level of senior officers.
• The "Meri Saheli" initiative was started as a pilot project in South Eastern Railway in September 2020 and after getting encouraging response from lady passengers, it was extended to all zones

Science & Technology
SERB - POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SERB-POWER) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of science and technology)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Science & Technology, launched a Scheme titled "SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)", designed exclusively for women scientists
• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has been contemplating to institute a scheme to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories.

Know! more about SERB-POWER

• SERB - POWER Scheme will have two components namely (i) SERB-POWER Fellowship (ii) SERB- POWER Research Grants.

The salient features of each of these are as follows:
A. Salient features of the SERB-POWER Fellowship:-

• Target: Women researchers in 35-55 years of age. Up-to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.
• Components of support: Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income; Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
•  Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.

B. Salient features of the SERB - POWER Research Grants :
a. POWER Grants will empower women researchers by funding them under following two categories:

1. Level I (Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 60 lakhs for three years.
2. Level II (Applicants from State Universities / Colleges and Private Academic Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 30 lakhs for three years.

b. POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG(Science and Engineering Research Board-Core Research Grant) guidelines.

• While a Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose will help in identifying the POWER Fellowship, the existing Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) mechanism will be used to select the POWER Research Grants.
• It is proposed to institute 25 POWER Fellowships annually. A total of 50 Power Grants each will be sanctioned in Level I & Level II per annum.

Significance of empowering the women researchers

• Integration of the gender dimension in research design has gained considerable attention in the global scenario.
• Enhancement of participation and promotion of women in the research workforce is one of the prime priorities of our Government
• DST through the Women Fellowship Scheme had introduced some significant women empowering policies and supported thousands of women researchers in the past.

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