Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PSLV - C51 + about Amazonia-1) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51 carrying Amazonia-1 of Brazil and 18 other satellites lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), over 100 km from Chennai
• The four-stage 44.4 metre tall PSLV, a workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO in its 5^3rd mission, soared into clear sky and every stage performed as programmed
• PSLV-C51 is the 53rd flight of PSLV and 3^rd flight of PSLV in 'DL' configuration (with 2 strap-on motors).
• This was the 78^th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota and the first dedicated commercial launch of PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 Mission

• Amazonia-1, the primary satellite, is expected to be injected into orbit about 18 minutes after lift-off while the 18 co-passenger payloads, including one from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI), also engraved with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• PSLV-C51 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, and the launch was watched among others by Brazilian government officials

• The 18 co-passenger satellites placed in the orbit are -- four from ISRO's Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (three UNITY Sats from consortium of three Indian academic institutes and the SD-SAT from SKI) and 14 from NSIL.
• A copy of Bhagavad Gita in the form of an SD card and a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are part of a nanosatellite that Isro's PSLV-C51 carried to space on Sunday along with Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and other satellites.

The 637-kg Amazonia-1 which became the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India is an optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

Amazonia-1

• It is an optical earth observation satellite that will provide remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
• Weighing 637 kg, it is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under Department of Space.

Government Schemes
'Catch the Rain' campaign

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the campaign ) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS

• The Centre's Jal Shakti Ministry is about to launch a 100-day campaign called ‘Catch the Rain' to promote water conservation in the country.
• The Prime Minister made the statement while addressing this year's second ‘Mann Ki Baat' radio programme.
• In most parts of India, rain starts in May-June. Can we start a 100-day campaign from now on to harvest rainwater, to clean the waters around us?
• With this thinking, a few days from now, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan - 'Catch the Rain' is also being started by the Jal Shakti ministry.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" Awareness Generation Campaign

• National Water Mission's (NWM) campaign "Catch The Rain" with the tagline "Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls" is to nudge the states and stake-holders to create appropriate Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil strata before monsoon.
• It was launched by. the National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
• Under this campaign, drives to make check dams, water harvesting pits, rooftop Rain Water Harvesting System (RWHS) etc; removal of encroachments and de-silting of tanks to increase their storage capacity; removal of obstructions in the channels which bring water to them from the catchment areas etc; repairs to step-wells and using defunct bore-wells and unused wells to put water back to aquifers etc are to be taken up with the active participation of people.
• To facilitate these activities, states have been requested to open "Rain Centers" in each district-- in Collectorates/Municipalities or GP offices.
• During this period, these Rain Centres will have a dedicated mobile phone number and will be manned by an engineer or a person well trained in RWHS.
• This centre act as a technical guidance centre to all in the district as to how to catch the rain, as it falls, where it falls.
• Efforts should be made so that all buildings in the district should have rooftop RWHS and that maximum quantity of rain water falling in any compound should be impounded within the compound itself.
• The basic aim should be that No or only limited will water to flow out of the compound.
• This will help in improving soil moisture and rasing ground water table.
• In urban areas it will reduce water gushing onto roads, damaging them and will prevent urban flooding.
• Under the "Catch The Rain" initiative, all water bodies in the districts are to be enumerated, (checked with revenue records) and encroachments to be removed.
• All District Collectors, heads of institutions like IIMs, IITs, Central Universities, Private Universities, Chairmen of Railways, Air Port Authority, PSUs; DGs of Central Armed Police Force etc having large tracts of lands with them have been requested to take steps to "Catch the Rain".

National Water Mission

• The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) has been prepared by the Government of India, which has been released by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 30th June 2008.
• The main objective of NWM is "conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management"
• The NAPCC has laid down the principles and has identified the approach to be adopted to meet the challenges of impact of climate change through eight National Missions namely,

1. National Solar Mission,
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency,
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat,
4. National Water Mission,
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system,
6. National Mission for a Green India,
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
This Comprehensive Mission Document of "National Water Mission" identifies the strategies for achieving the goals of

• Comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of the impact of climate change on water resource,
• Promotion of citizen and state actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation,
• Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas,
• Increasing water use efficiency by 20%, and
• Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation(DDWS)
• Under the campaign teams of officers from the central government will visit and work with district administration in water-stressed districts, to ensure five important water conservation interventions.

1. Water conservation and rainwater harvesting.
2. Renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks.
3. Reuse and bore well recharge structures.
4. Watershed development and
5. Intensive afforestation

Miscellaneous
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare finalizes products for One District One Focus Product

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about One District One Focus Product (ODOFP).
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in consultation with the Ministry o finalized the products for One District One Focus Product (ODOFP).

One District One Focus Product (ODOFP

• The products have been identified from agricultural, horticultural, animal, poultry, milk, fisheries and aquaculture, marine sectors for 728 districts across the country.
• The list of products have been finalized after taking inputs from the States/UTs and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• These products will be promoted in a cluster approach through convergence of the Government of India schemes, to increase the value of the products and with the ultimate aim of increasing the income of the farmers.
• These identified products will be supported under the PM-FME scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries which provides incentives to promoter and micro-enterprises.
• Many products also include convergence of resources and approach from the other departments. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will support ODOFP from its ongoing centrally sponsored schemes such as MIDH, NFSM, RKVY, PKVY.
• The implementation of ODOFP by State Governments will benefit farmers and provide support for realizing the expectations of value addition and subsequently enhancing agricultural exports.

Science & Technology
National Science Day(NSD 2021)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NSD 2021 - highlights)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare highlighted how science technology and innovation (STI) would impact our future in education, skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world.
• Awards to science communicators and women scientists were also conferred by the Science & Technology Minister on the occasion of National Science Day which is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect on this day every year.
• The NSD celebrations were organized by the National Council for Science Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology
• The theme of the National Science Day 2021, ‘Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work,' becomes all the more important.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan presented the National S&T Communication Awards, Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) awards, and SERB Women Excellence Awards and conferred Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for outstanding work in science media and journalism.

National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians abroad.

• The Minister also released the first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians abroad.
• The database on S&T Awards in India is an excellent source of information about S&T awards presented to R&D professionals in India.
• The database of Indian Origin Academicians is a unique database developed in the country and has a huge information base of about 23,472 Indian academicians and research scholars working in various countries.

Know! more about National Science Day

• It is celebrated every year on 28th February to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect' by Sir C.V. Raman, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.
• The government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in 1986. Since then, theme-based science communication activities are carried out all over the country on this occasion.
• National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST acts as a nodal agency to support, catalyze and coordinate the celebration of the National Science Day throughout the country in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and autonomous scientific institutions associated with the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• NCSTC has supported various programmes countrywide through State S&T Councils & Departments for organization of a range of activities, such as lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc.
• DST also instituted National Awards for Science Popularization in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science and technology communication and popularization as well as inculcating scientific temper among masses.
• These awards are presented every year on National Science Day. The awards consist of a memento, citation, and award money.

Prelims Factoids
Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about GAPIO )
What's the NEWS

• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organized by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), through video conference.

Global Indian Physicians Congress

• Leading experts and delegates of Indian origin from 51 countries across the fields of medicine will convene virtually this year for the "Global the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organized by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO)
• Participants will get the opportunity to learn, network, and discuss various developments and tools that will help them achieve the highest professional standards
• Since its inception in 2011 GAPIO has endeavoured to bring 1.4 million physicians of Indian origin across the world on a single platform to facilitate exchange of knowledge, skills and research
• It is a shining example of the talent and caliber of Indian physicians who have made remarkable contributions in various fields of medicine across the globe.

Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO)

• It was founded by Dr. Prathap C Reddy Chairman Apollo Hospitals Group; Dr. Sanku Rao Past President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and Dr. Ramesh Mehta President of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) in 2009 to bring together doctors of Indian origin working all over the world under one umbrella organization.
• GAPIO was launched in January 2011 to bring together 1.2 million physicians of Indian origin in the world on one professional platform.
• This substantial workforce of physicians is a valuable resource, which can help to mobilize significant developments in the healthcare globally. GAPIO has representation from 32 countries and from 25 States in India.
• GAPIO is a non profit organization and its vision is "Improving Health Worldwide".
• GAPIO stands to empower physicians of Indian origin to achieve highest professional standards, to provide affordable good quality healthcare, to contribute to local and regional community development and thereby help to reduce health inequalities and alleviate suffering globally.

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