PSLV C-42
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C42 of the ISRO has recently launched two earth observation satellites of the United Kingdom.
- The two satellites are NovaSAR and S1-4 , weighing 450kg each.
- They were launched in to ‘Sun Synchronous Orbit’, which is usually used for imaging, reconnaissance and weather forecasts.
- NovaSAR is a S-band synthetic Aperture radar satellite, intended for forest mapping, land use, and ice cover monitoring as well as flood and disaster monitoring.
- S1-4 is a high-resolution optical earth observation satellite that will be used for surveying resources, environment monitoring, urban management, and disaster monitoring
- In PSLV C-42, the core alone version without six strap-on motors were used.
- It is the 44th launch of polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).
Eyerovtuna
- Eyerovtuna is India's first commercial remotely operated vehicle (ROV) underwater robotic drone.
- The robotic drone,can be navigated up to a depth of 50 meters to take real-time HD video images.
- It will be helpful to examine ship hulls or undersea cables or bridge moorings, eliminating the need for costlier and riskier manual inspection by divers.
- It was tested for the first time in India's first solar ferry in Kerala’s Vaikom.
- It can be put to uses ranging from inspections of ship hulls, ports, dams and nuclear power plants, to search and rescue, naval mine detection and ocean studies.
- It will be used by the laboratory of DRDO.
Chiller Star Labelling Programme
- A Chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression cycle.
- Chillers are used extensively for space conditioning of buildings and for industrial process cooling applications.
- It is energy intensive system and contribute to more than 40% of total energy consumption in commercial buildings.
- Chiller Star Labelling rogramme was recently launched by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
- It envisages providing star rating to chillers interms of its energy performance.
- Through this programme, it is estimated that more than 500 million units of electricity would be saved along with reduction of Greenhouse Gas emission (GHG) of 0.5 million-ton equivalent by 2019.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was set up under the provisions of Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
- Its mission is to assist in developing policies with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian Economy.
- Energy Conservation Act provides for regulatory and promotional functions of BEE.
- BEE is responsible for
- Create awareness and disseminate information on energy efficiency and conservation
- Promote innovative financing of energy efficiency projects
- Give financial assistance to institutions for promoting efficient use of energy and its conservation
- Prepare educational curriculum on efficient use of energy and its conservation
- Implement international co-operation programmes relating to efficient use of energy and its conservation.
Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
- Central Information Commission (CIC) in its recent report has highlighted that Rs.12,000 crore of MPLADS remains unspent.
- CIC has aksed Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman to come out with a legal framework to ensure accountability of parliamentarians and political parties for their obligations under the scheme.
- The MPLADS allots Rs.5 crore per year to each Member of Parliament (MP) to be spent on projects of their choice in their constituency.
- Lok Sabha MP has to choose a gram panchayat from the constituency he/she represents and the Rajya Sabha MP chooses it from the state he/she represents.
- MPs cannot pick villages which belong to themselves or their spouses.
- The scheme is funded and administered through the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- Projects are to be recommended to and implemented by the district-level administration.
UN and Rakhine
- UNHRC and UNDP has recently been given permission for the first time to enter northern Rakhine to access local conditions in the state since last year.
- It is the first step of the UN's confidence building measures.
- More than 7,00,000 rohingya muslims fled the northen rakhine region.
- UNHCR will publish a report about its investigations into atrocities against rohingyas.
Nahargarh Biological Park
- Nahargarh Biological Park is part of Nahargarh sanctuary in Jaipur.
- It is located in the foot hills of Aravalli.
- The park is known for breeding centre of lions.
- State's first lion safari was recently inaugrated in this park.
Source: PIB, The Hindu