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.
