Defence
Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a conference of the country's top military leadership in Gujarat's Kevadia
• Rajnath Singh joined the military commanders along with the team of Secretary level officers from the Ministry of Defence for deliberations from day two of the conference.
• The Valedictory Session on the third and final day will be chaired by PM Modi along with National Security

Know! about CCC

• The Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC) is a premier brain-storming event of the Military Commanders from the three Services. The three-day event is already underway at Kevadia.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the conference and took note of the situation of Line of Actual Control (LAC) to Line of Control (LoC) till Maritime Boundry along with preparations and welfare.
• The combined apex level military leadership of the country is reviewing the security situation and defence preparedness of the Armed Forces, and deliberating pertinent organisational issues for evolving a joint military vision for the future during the three-day conference from March 4 to March 6.
• In a major change from the past, the scope of the conference this year has been expanded to make it a multi-layered, interactive, informal and informed event with the added participation of about 30 Officers and soldiers of various ranks from the three Services.
• The CCC was held in the national capital in the year 2014. Since then, it has been moved out to different venues across the country.
• In 2015, the conference was held onboard INS Vikramaditya and in 2017 at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun.
• The last edition of CCC was held in 2018 over a period of two days at Air Force Station, Jodhpur.
• There have been several major developments in the Higher Defence Organisation since including the appointment of the first-ever Chief of Defence Staff and the setting up of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), and several important and multifarious issues affecting modernisation and transformation of the Armed Forces are currently under active consideration/ implementation.

Defence
DRDO conducts successful flight test of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of Science and technology)
What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha
• All the subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected. During the test, many new technologies were proven, including Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology.
• The performance of the missile was monitored using the data captured by Electro Optical, Radar and Telemetry instruments deployed by ITR and confirmed successful demonstration of the mission objectives.

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)

• Successful demonstration of Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology has provided DRDO with a technological advantage which will enable it to develop long range air-to-air missiles.
• At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world. During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor.
• Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation.
• The development of SFDR technology will enable India to make its own long-range air-to-air missile, which could mirror the capabilities of the best missiles in this class, like MBDA's Meteor, which the Indian Air Force uses on its Rafales.
• India has been working on the Mark-II version of home grown Astra air-to-air missile, which will have a range of around 160 kilometer.
• The SFDR propulsion system, which was also tested in 2019, is critical for the missile's performance in the terminal phase of its flight towards the target.
• The Meteor missile also depends on its ramjet propulsion for "more energy to maneuver during the endgame of the engagement".
• The ramjet motor [propulsion system] provides the [Meteor] missile with thrust all the way to target intercept, providing the largest No-Escape Zone of any air-to-air missile
• While the DRDO's plan for Astra Mark-II is to mirror the performance of MBDA's Meteor missile, it may take a few more years to reach there,
• The development of the Astra missile began in 2001.
• The Mark-I version of the missile was tested for the first time in May 2003. Since then, Astra Mark-I has been test-fired multiple times, and has been integrated with Su-30 MKI.
• In September 2019, the missile, test-fired from an Su-30MKI of the IAF, hit a target 90 kilometre away.
• The air-to-air missile has already been ordered in large numbers for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
• Last month, the indigenously-designed and developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully launched by the DRDO.
• The VL-SRSAM is capable of neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges.

Know! all about Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet

• The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet is a missile propulsion system that includes a thrust modulated ducted rocket with a reduced smoke nozzle-less missile booster.
• The thrust modulation in the system is achieved using a hot gas flow controller.
• The system utilises a solid fuelled air-breathing ramjet engine.
• The missile system has a range of about 120 kilometres at an altitude of 8 kilometres, with a speed of 2.3-2.5 Mach.
• As per International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), this kind of propulsion system drastically enhances the range with higher average speed.
• The missiles which use such system are also able to carry larger payload due to absence of an oxidiser. Unlike solid-propellant rocket, the Ramjet takes up oxygen from the atmosphere during flight.
• The technology is being developed to power future Indian air-to-air missiles. However, the technology can also be applied to surface-to-air missiles.
• In its current form, the SFDR-based missile first requires to be boosted into a high-altitude trajectory to simulate aircraft-launch conditions. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster fires up and guides the missile through its desired trajectory.
• The development of SFDR technology will enable India to make its own long-range air-to-air missile, which could mirror the capabilities of the best missiles in this class, like MBDA's Meteor, which the Indian Air Force uses on its Rafales.
• India has been working on the Mark-II version of home grown Astra air-to-air missile, which will have a range of around 160 kilometre.
• The SFDR propulsion system, which was also tested in 2019, is critical for the missile's performance in the terminal phase of its flight towards the target.
• The Meteor missile also depends on its ramjet propulsion for "more energy to maneuver during the endgame of the engagement".
• "The ramjet motor [propulsion system] provides the [Meteor] missile with thrust all the way to target intercept, providing the largest No-Escape Zone of any air-to-air missile," the literature on the missile on MBAD website reads.

Tribal Affairs
GI Mahotsav

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

• The, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs inaugurated the Tribes India GI Mahotsav at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) Mussoorie

Know! more about the GI Mahotsav

• The Tribes India GI Mahotsav - Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India is an exhibition of GI tagged products and more than 40 GI registered proprietors and GI authorised users and tribal artisans are participating and showcasing their region-specific products in this event.
• The purpose of the GI Mahotsav is to increase the awareness of these products amongst the Officer-Trainees and sensitize them about the rich cultural heritage of India so that they can in-turn formulate policies that safeguard the interest of GI products in their region.
• Such an event will also provide more marketing opportunities to the registered producers or manufacturers.
• Geographical Indication or GI tagging has acquired even more of an importance over the past few years.
• Registering a geographical indication and seek protection for specific products produced in a particular geographical region encourages the growers & artisans and motivates the marketers to expand their business both nationally & internationally.
• Some of the Make in India products include the world-famous Darjeeling tea, Mysore silk, Chanderi saree, Banarasi brocades, Pochampally, varieties of spices, Orissa Patchitra, Worli painting, Araku valley coffee, Kullu shawls, Jaipur blue pottery, Naga Mircha (also known as bhut jolokia) and many more.

Know! about GI tag

• A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
• Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.

Prelims Factoids
Steel plant in Kendrapada
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the steel plant in Kendrapada district of Odisha - location based questions)
What's the NEWS

• Minister of Steel has extended his congratulations to steel major ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel India and Odisha Government for signing an MoU for setting up a 12 MT integrated steel plant in Kendrapada district of Odisha with an investment of Rs. 50000 crore.

Know! more about it

• This mega steel plant in Kendrapada will bring a new wave of economic development and employment generation in Odisha
• The growth of steel industry in India, particularly in eastern India was discussed.
• The Steel Ministry had earlier launched Mission Purvodaya in steel sector to drive growth of eastern India to make it an integrated steel hub through setting up a steel cluster and greenfield capacity addition.
• The mission is in line with Prime Minister's vision of Purvodaya for driving growth of eastern India, and will contribute to achieving National Steel Policy's envisioned capacity of 300 MTPA by 2030.
• Government of India is committed to provide all kind of facilities for setting up of this mega steel plant.
• The 12 MT steel plant is a culmination of the Government of India's efforts towards bringing in investors for wealth creation and employment generation through supportive policy reforms such as National Steel Policy as well as facilitative infrastructure.
• This ArcelorMittal-Nippon mega steel plant in Kendrapada will benefit from massive infrastructure developments in the region over the past six years such as expansion of Paradip port and setting up of Mahanadi riverine port

Prelims Factoids
India's first Grade- Separated Urban Expressway (Dwarka Expressway)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India's First Grade Separated Urban Expressway - location)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways reviewed the progress of India's First Grade Separated Urban Expressway, Dwarka Expressway (NH - 248BB)
• The 29-kilometre long Expressway, being constructed under the Bharatmala Project and with a cost of Rs.8,662 crore, would be completed before the Independence Day next year.
• It will be the first-ever elevated Urban Expressway in India and will immensely help reducing the air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Know! more about the project

• The Dwarka Expressway would also be the first instance of a project where Tree Plantation of approximately 12,000 trees has been undertaken, keeping protection of the environment in view.
• The project will also provide around 50 thousand direct or indirect employment opportunities.
• Being built in four packages, total length of the Expressway is 29 kilometres out of which 18.9 kilometre length falls in Haryana while remaining 10.1 kilometre length is in Delhi. It starts from Shiv-Murti on National Highway-8 and ends near KherkiDaula Toll Plaza.

It has several unique features.

• This will have longest (3.6 kilometre) and widest (8 lane) Urban Road Tunnel in India. The project's road network will also comprise of four levels, i.e., tunnel / underpass, at-grade road, elevated flyover and flyover above flyover.
• It will also comprise India's first 9-kilometre long 8-lane flyover (34-metre wide) on single pier with 6-lane service roads.
• There will be a fully automated tolling system with 22 lanes toll plaza. The entire project will be equipped with Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).
• The project has a total estimated consumption of two lakh MT of steel, which is 30 times of that of the Eiffel Tower.
• The total estimated consumption of 20 lakh Cum of Concrete is six times of the Burj Khalifa building.

Science & Technology
CSIR Floriculture Mission

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CSIR Floriculture Mission )
What's the NEWS

• The Minister of Science and technology exhorted Scientists of CSIR laboratories across the country to develop the land available at each laboratory to be set up as a model under the "CSIR Floriculture Mission".

CSIR Floriculture Mission

• Recently, CSIR Floriculture Mission has been approved for implementation in 21 States and Union Territories of India wherein available knowledgebase in CSIR Institutes will be utilized and leveraged to help Indian farmers and industry re-position itself to meet the import requirements.
• This Mission is being implemented in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Directorate of Floriculture; Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC); Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce; Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED); Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Universities.

What's the need and benefits of Floriculture Mission

• Despite the fact that India has diverse agro-climatic and edaphic conditions, and rich plant diversity, it shares only 0.6 % of global floriculture market.
• At least 1200 million USD worth of floriculture products are being imported by India every year from different countries
• Farmers have little knowledge about floriculture which can give 5 times more return than the traditional crops.
• Floriculture has the potential to provide employment to a large number of people through nursery raising, floriculture farming, entrepreneurship development for nursery trade, value addition and export
• The CSIR Floriculture Mission is expected to create opportunity for entrepreneurship development in floriculture .
• Infusion of latest technologies in the field of floriculture can be successfully led by CSIR.
• The mission will focus on commercial floral crops, seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing.
• Some of the popular crops include Gladiolus, Canna, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Lilium, Marigold, Rose, Tuberose etc.

CSIR's Societal Portal along with the Android App

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan also launched CSIR's Societal Portal along with the Android App.This portal has been developed by CSIR Team with the help of MyGov Team.
• The Portal is to facilitate the public to submit the societal problems that can be resolved using S&T interventions.
• This is the first step in terms of seeking inputs on challenges and problems being faced by different stake holders in society.

Science & Technology
The ‘Sanklan' of IISF-2020
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about outcome of IISF-2020 in the form of a scientific report Sanklan -highlights)
What's the NEWS

• CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) organized a ceremony to bring out the outcome of IISF-2020 in the form of a scientific report "Sanklan"in New Delhi

Know! about IISF

• IISF is not only an annual event, but it has now become a science movement. "In 2015, it was started as a small beginning and the very first IISF was organized in IIT Delhi.
• IISF is an initiative of Govt. of India which is organized jointly by DST, DBT, MoES, CSIR and Health Ministry.
• VijnanaBharati (VIBHA) is the catalyst behind this science festival.
• IISF is a vibrant expression of science and technology of India which connects the world also.
• It is a unique program because it brings students, teachers, scientists, innovators, artisans, farmers, diplomats, policy makers and even S&T Ministers together to discuss the challenges and solutions.
• IISF is a platform which allows each and every section of the society whether it be a farmer, artisan, villager or a scientist or policy maker.
• India International Science Festival offers many different forms of engagement such as, lectures, dialogues, panel discussions and debates; through hands-on demonstrations, shows, exhibitions, and workshops; in form of science-related theatre, etc.
• The goal of the science festival is to engage citizens with science to inculcate scientific temper as the end result.
• IISF was launched in 2015 and IISF 2020 was the sixth edition.
• This grand virtual festival gathered more than a lakh people across the globe during 22-25 December 2020.
• IISF began on 22 December 2020, the birthday of Srinivas Ramanujan, the world-renowned Indian mathematician and culminating on 25 December 2020, the birthday of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee who added the phrase "Jai Vigyan" with "Jai Jawan... Jai Kisan".
• The theme for this year's festival was ‘Science for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Global Welfare' which showcased the contribution of scientific and technological endeavors to realize the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission.
• In IISF 2020, five (05) Guinness World Records were also made.
• These records were the largest science festival (2000 approx. per day at peak hour), Sun-dial device making (5000 Students), Online Hand Hygiene lesson and Activity (30,000 Students), Applying Protective Masks and Taking an Oath Online (30,000 Students) and Nutrition and Health Lesson (35,000 Students).

VijnanaBharati (VIBHA)

• Swadeshi Science Movement was started in Indian Institute of Science- (Bengaluru) by a few eminent scientists under the guidance of Prof. K I Vasu.
• This movement gradually gained momentum and emerged as an organization with national presence. In 1991(Oct 20-21) at the Nagpur meet, it was decided, to launch the Swadeshi Science Movement at all India Level and named it as Vijnanabharati.
• Vijnanabharati has units in 22 states across the country and contacts in 4 states.
• It is working in 11 different areas through autonomous institutions, independent organizations & also as project entities.

The foundation principle of VIBHA

• As a vibrant movement for the development of Swadeshi Sciences
• As a dynamic Science Movement with a Swadeshi Spirit, interlinking traditional and modern sciences on the one hand, and natural and spiritual sciences on the other hand
• As a Swadeshi Movement with modern sciences adapted to national needs.

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