Agriculture
Demand Based Tele Agriculture Advisories to farmers

Relevance in - Prelims ( about Demand Based Tele Agriculture Advisories + about the role of ICAR + DIC + IIDS) + Mains ( GS III e-technology in the aid of farmers)
What's the NEWS

• In order to facilitate farmers by providing location specific ‘Demand Based Tele Agriculture Advisories', the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology have signed an MoU on June 9, 2021

Know! about the objective of the scheme

• The objective of the MoU is to integrate the existing Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS) platform of DIC with the proposed KisanSarathi program of ICAR and its implementation through ICAR network to reach a large number of farmers across the country.
• ICAR and DIC have agreed to collaborate to develop and deploy ICT platforms to establish and operate a multi-media, multi-way advisory and communication system for supporting various agricultural activities at local level.

Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS)

• To start with, the Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS) would be deployed at ICAR which is a push-and pull-based system wherein agriculture-related information can be pulled from the farmers using mobile phones.
• IIDS gives an option to farmers to receive individual needs-based information for only those services to which they have subscribed.
• The experts at the back end will have access to the farmers' database while responding to their queries.
• In this manner, experts would be able to understand the problems raised by farmers or field problems in a better way (KYF - Know Your Farmer) and expeditiously provide appropriate solutions to the farmer in a personalized manner.
• Currently the IIDS platform has been deployed in North Eastern states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which would be extended to all over the country with this MoU with ICAR.
• The DIC will be providing the entire technical solution with support for development, hosting and managing the requisite ICT platform.
• The ICAR will be managing & monitoring the entire operations through their extension services network in the form of KrishiVigyanKendras (KVKs), various domain specific research Institutes and network of agricultural universities etc., in a phased manner.

Miscellaneous
New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012
Relevance in - Prelims ( about Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) + the reviving of five closed units of FCIL / HFCL)
What's the NEWS

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister has given its approval for the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for extension of applicability of New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012 read with its amendment dated 7^th Oct 2014 for the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL).

Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL).

• RFCL is a Joint Venture Company consisting of National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Engineers India Limited (EIL) and Fertilizers Corporation of India Limited (FCIL) which was incorporated on 17.02.2015.
• RFCL is reviving the erstwhile Ramagundam Unit of FCIL by setting up a new gas based green field neem coated Urea Plant with the installed capacity of 12.7 Lakh Metric Ton per annum (LMTPA).
• The state-of-the-art gas based RFCL Plant is part of the initiative taken by the Government to revive the closed urea units of FCIL/HFCL in order to achieve self sufficiency in urea sector.
• The start of the Ramagundam plant will add 12.7 LMTPA indigenous urea production in the country
• RFCL has various unique features like latest technology ^{HTER (Halder Topse Exchange Reformer)} to save energy in production of Urea among single train largest capacity Urea plant,
• The facility integrates the world's best technologies aiming to meet the demand for urea in Telangana as well as in the other Southern and central states of India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, etc. The urea produced at RFCL shall be marketed by National Fertilizers Limited.
• Government of India is reviving five closed units of FCIL / HFCL by setting up new Ammonia Urea Plants of 12.7 LMTPA capacity each at Ramagundam (Telangana), Talcher (Odisha), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Sindri (Jharkhand) and Barauni (Bihar) through formation of Joint Ventures of leading PSUs with an investment of about Rs. 40 thousand crore.
• On operationalization of these Plants, indigenous urea production will be increased by 63.5 LMTPA which will reduce the import of urea to that extent

Governance
Conditional exemption to Survey of India from Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021

Relevance in - Prelims ( about Survey of India (Sol) + Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021 + SVAMITVA + Mains ( GS II governance + welfare schemes)
What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional exemption to Survey of India (Sol) from Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021.
• The drone deployment permission has been granted for large scale mapping of inhabited areas of villages under the central government scheme - Survey of villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA).
• This exemption is valid for a period of one year from the date of approval or until further orders, whichever is earlier and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the SOP (issued by DGCA).

SVAMITVA scheme

• The SVAMITVA scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
• The demarcation of Abadi areas (the Abadi area includes inhabitant land, inhabited areas contiguous to Abadi and wadis/basties in rural areas) would be done using Drone Surveying technology, with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Department, State Revenue Department.
• This permission grant will allow Large Scale Mapping (LSM) by Survey of India using drones. The aerial surveillance would generate high resolution and accurate maps to confer ownership property rights.
• Based on these maps or data, property cards would be issued to the rural household owners.
• The digital spatial data/maps created under drone survey will be leveraged for the creation of the spatial analytical tools to support preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
• The images captured through Drones would be processed by Survey of India in its Geographic Information System lab.

Survey of India

• Survey of India, The National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology, is the OLDEST SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVT. OF INDIA.
• The Survey of India is India's central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying.
• Set up in 1767to help consolidate the territories of the British East India Company, it is one of the oldest Engineering Departments of the Government of India.
• It is headed by the Surveyor General of India.
• In its assigned role as the nation's Principal Mapping Agency, Survey of India bears a special responsibility to ensure that the country's domain is explored and mapped suitably, provide base maps for expeditious and integrated development and ensure that all resources contribute with their full measure to the progress, prosperity and security of our country now and for generations to come.

Defence
INDO-THAI COORDINATED PATROL (CORPAT)

Relevance in - Prelims ( about 31stedition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT)
What's the NEWS

• The 31^st edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navyand the Royal Thai Navyis being conducted from 09 - 11 June 2021.
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel and His Majesty's Thailand Ship (HTMS) Krabi, anOffshore Patrol Vessel, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies are participating in the CORPAT.

India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT)

• Towards reinforcing maritime links between the two countries and with an aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for international trade, the two navies have been undertaking CORPAT bi-annually along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2005.
• CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
• It further helps enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and forconduct of SAR operations at sea.
• As part of Government of India's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region towards enhancing regional maritime security.
• This has been through bilateral and multilateral exercises, Coordinated Patrols, Joint EEZ Surveillance, andHumanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy have especially enjoyed a close and friendly relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which have strengthened over the years.
• The 31^st Indo-Thai CORPAT will contribute towards Indian Navy's efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship with Royal Thai Navy.

Space Awareness
North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)
Relevance in - Prelims ( about development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology + North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)
Know! the development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) will assist development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology and will contribute by offering optimum utilization of Satellite Imaging and other Space Technology applications for better accomplishment of infrastructural projects in all the eight States of the North Eastern Region.
• Six out of the eight States of Northeast have already sent their specific proposals for execution by ISRO, while the remaining two States of Sikkim and Assam will send their proposals soon.
• ISRO is already monitoring and Geo-tagging 67 projects at 221 sites in all the 8 States funded by MDoNER/NEC.
• This is first of its kind in the whole country, where there is an institutionalised involvement of ISRO in mapping and sharing of data for developmental projects and can become a model for other States too.
• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is no longer confined mainly to the launching of satellites, but it has been constantly enlarging its role in development activities

North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)

• North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Shillong has received a number of proposals from North Eastern states.
• It would be discussing the feasibility and desirability of all such projects, one by one with each of the States in the next fortnight.
• Once identified, all such projects are likely to be funded jointly by respective States and NESAC.
• North Eastern Region, space technology is now being used in diverse sectors including agriculture, railways, roads and bridges, medical management/telemedicine, procurement of timely Utilization Certificates, disaster forecast and management, weather/rain/flood forecast, etc.
• The North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) is an autonomous organisation under Department of Space at Shillong and provides dedicated service to the North Eastern Region (NER) of India comprising of eight states viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
• North-Eastern Space Applications Centre is a regional space centre established in September, 2000 by joint initiative of Department of space, Government of India and North Eastern Council to expedite the usage of remote sensing technology to discover natural minerals uncovered in the North-Eastern states of India and to promote overall growth of North Eastern states of India using space science and technology.
• The Centre was set up with a vision to play the catalytic role in holistic development of North Eastern Region of India by providing Space Science and Technology support on natural resource management, infrastructure planning, healthcare, education, emergency communication, disaster management support, and space and atmospheric science research.

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