Intermodal Stations to come up in 15 cities ; DPR being prepared for pilot projects at Nagpur and Varanasi

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)  has conducted detailed pre-feasibility studies for setting up Intermodal Stations  at  Nagpur and Varanasi,  and the development of DPRs for this is in final stages of completion. Fifteen  cities across the country have been prioritized for development of IMS of which Nagpur and Varanasi  have been selected as pilot projects.

Intermodal Stations  are terminal infrastructure which integrate various transportation modes like rail, road, mass rapid transit system, bus rapid transit,inland waterways , auto-rickshaws, taxis and private vehicles etc, so that people can move from one mode to another seamlessly, with minimum use of automobiles.  In most cities today, transport hubs like bus  terminals, railway stations and others are located far from each other, so inter-modal transfers  create pressure on the already congested roads. By bringing the different transport modes at one point, IMS will reduce congestion on roads and also vehicular  pollution.   IMS will also aid in city decongestion by encouraging the use of public transportation and  by effectively using ring roads and National Highways for entry and evacuation of inter-city bus traffic.

Intermodal Stations  are being planned in an integrated manner along with road network development through new connecting roads, bridges, flyovers etc. The stations will cater to passenger volumes for the next 30 years and will have world-class amenities like FOBs with travellators, subways, common waiting rooms, clean toilets and restrooms, integrated public information systems, modern fire-fighting and emergency response services, convenience stores, lifts and escalators, adequate circulation space and commercial establishments.

Multiple benefits exist in developing inter-modal stations over standalone terminals:

Aggregated footfall: Inter-modal stations witness higher footfall than disaggregated transport terminals

Improved passenger experience: Facilities are better managed due to collaboration of multiple entities and commercial development is driven by aggregated footfalls. In addition, passengers do not need to spend time and money to transit between terminals.

Sharing of resources: Shared infrastructure like FOBs, waiting rooms, concourses, public conveniences leads to reduced investment and land requirement. This lowers the investment requirements while increasing the overall synergies in the system

Development of inter-modal stations will also give a boost to  commercial development and economic activity in cities, which can significantly alter the socio-economic profile of the development area.

The implementation and operation of the IMS  will be done by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) between Ministry of Road Transport & Highways through National Highways Authority of India , Ministry of Railways and respective State Governments. Members of the SPV will  provide paid up capital or land as part of their equity contribution to the SPV. MoRTH / NHAI will  fund the construction of the terminal infrastructure including railway infrastructure, ISBT, common areas (concourse, waiting rooms, transport retail), parking and other station facilities. Indian Railways / State Government will provide the land for construction of the IMS.  Construction and O&M will be bid out to a private concessionaire on a hybrid annuity model (HAM). The commercial development rights will be bid out on a PPP mode, post commencement of operations of the IMS. The returns from commercial development will be used to recover the construction costs.

International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 2018

The two day international conference on Sustainable Biofuels is jointly being organized by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Biofuture platform. The event is bringing experts and delegates from 19 countries together in Sustainable Biofuels sector to take stock of current knowledge, share information and best practices, and build consensus on the actions most needed to move forward.

Event will enable different countries to exchange their experience and share best practices for development and commercialisation of advanced bio fuels.

Government of India to host this International Conference on behalf of Mission Innovation and Bio future Platform.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology as a nodal agency coordinating and steering the activities of Mission Innovation in India by Government of India.  Mission Innovation India unit has been set-up last year by DBT at ICGEB, New Delhi. DBT has in past taken lead in ushering R&D in advanced biofuels and has set up four large Bioenergy Research Centres

New bacteria named after Kalam by NASA

Solibacillus kalamii has been found only on the International Space Station and not on Earth.

In great news for India, scientists at NASA have named a new organism discovered by them after the much-loved A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Till date, the new organism — a form of bacteria — has been found only on the International Space Station (ISS) and has not been found on earth!

Researchers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the foremost lab of NASA for work on interplanetary travel, discovered the new bacteria on the filters of the International Space Station (ISS) and named it Solibacillus kalamii to honour the late President, who was a renowned aerospace scientist.

Water on the Moon

Water on the Moon Analysis of data from India’s Chandrayaan­I and NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows water is widely distributed across the Moon, contradicting earlier studies. This could help as it could be used as drinking water by astronauts or converted into hydrogen and oxygen to make rocket fuel.

India admitted to Australia Group

India on Friday joined the Australia Group, saying the membership will be mutually benefitcial.

 The Ministry of External Aairs (MEA) said India’s entry into the group, which aims to prevent proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, would ensure a more secure world. 

“The Australia Group decided to admit India as its 43rd participant. India would like to thank each of the participants. Its entry would be mutually benefi­ cial and further contribute to international security and non­proliferation objectives,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, praising the role of the former head of the group Jane Hardy. 

Earlier, in a separate statement, the Australia Group said India’s membership would help to counter the “spread of materials, equipment and technologies that could contribute to the development or acquisition of chemical/biological weapons.”

 Diplomats said the entry is a show of support from the international community for India’s non ­proliferation records. 

 “India’s entry into the Australia Group shows our export controls and safeguards for biological and chemical agents, equipment and technologies meet the benchmarks established by the international community,” said Rakesh Sood, a former Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Disarmament and Non­Proliferation. 

India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016 and the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) last year.  

Urban Heat Island

  causes , solutions ,pdf , mitigation ,ppt ,case study , upsc , urban heatland wikipedia

What is Urban Heat Island ?
                

The Urban Heat Island is an urban area that is significantly warmer than its surroundings rural area due ti its Human activities. This effect is known as urban heat island effect.

Reasons for the Formation of Urban Heat Island 

1. Concentration of heavy vehicular and industrial pollution in urban Areas.
   
   
2. Discharge of greenhouse gases (CHG.) in substantial amounts, which trap the outgoing infrared radiations. 
   
   
3. Tall buildings and other Infrastructure which obstruct the flow of wind is, consequently obstructing the transfer of Heat. 
   
   
4. Lack of vegetation in urban areas which acts as heat and carbon sink. 
   
   
5.  Majority of urban surfaces are composed of metals, glass, concrete or asphalt. These materials have high heat-retaining capacity during the day and emit this heat out during the night. 
   
   
6. The inability of water to penetrate the above materials makes the urban landscape behave as desert landscape. 

Effects of UHIs 

1. UHI have the potential to directly affect the health of urban  residents. UHI witness prolonged heat waves which result in  higher fatalities due to heat stroke,exhaustion heatcramps, etc. 
   
   
2. UHI have varied effects on biodiversity. The variation In temperatures adversely affect local species and promote the invasion of alien species.
   
   
3.  The raised temperature may elevate the temperature of local water bodies causing the aquatic animals to undergo thermal stress and shock. 
   
   
4. The increased temperatures provide fertile breeding ground for insects, which bring a host of diseases along with them. 
   
   
5. UHI create a spike in energy consumption duo to higher use of refrigerated air  conditionals. 
   
   
6. UHI can alter load weather conditions arch as wind, Humidity,  and rainfall. 

Mitigation Strategies 

1. The effects of UHI can he diluted to some Extend  by applying  techniques to maintain a large albedo. Larger albedo means higher  ability to reflect radiations. The buildings and ether dark Surfaces (asphalt) could be painted with a light colour or with a high reflective coating. 
   
   
2. Green roofs (roofs with plants and vegetation) on top of buildings help lower down the temperature and compensate to some extent for the loss of vegetation. Beside green roof, roof sprinklers in reducing temperature of evaporation. 
   
   
3. Increasing area wider natural vegetation and reclaiming waste lands to develop green belts may also help in reducing the effects of UHl.
   
   
4. While deciding urban architecture, wind flow should be given priority. Urban architecture should be least detrimental to natural Wind flow. 

Several important schemes for development of women and children are being implemented by WCD Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing various schemes/programmes for empowerment of women and development of children across the country. The details of those schemes are as follows:

For Women empowerment:

1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), a comprehensive programme is being implemented to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of women over a life-cycle continuum.
2. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), {erstwhile Maternity Benefit Programme} has been contributing towards better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
3. Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training.

4. Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme, promote community participation through involvement of Student Volunteers for empowerment of rural women.

5. National Creche Scheme to provide day care facilities to children of age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women who are employed.

6. Rastriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly procedure to bring about their socio-economic development.
7. Swadhar Greh to provide relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.

8. Ujjawala, a Comprehensive Scheme for prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

9. Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence. Under this scheme, 2 new proposals have been received and 2 sanctioned in Himachal Pradesh during last three years.

10. Schemes of One Stop Centre (OSC) and Women Helpline (WH) are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counseling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.

11. Gender Budgeting Scheme is being implemented as a tool for mainstreaming gender perspective at various stages of planning, budgeting, implementation, impact assessment and revisiting of policy/programme objectives and allocations. The Scheme helps in strengthening of institutional mechanisms and training of various stakeholders so as to mainstream gender concerns in Central and State Governments.

For Child Development

12. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is being implemented through States/UTs with the aim of holistic development of children upto 6 years of age and to meet nutritional needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers.

13. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now Child protection Services) is being implemented through the State Government/UT Administrations to create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children in need of care and protection in urban and semi-urban areas.

14. National Nutrition Mission (NNM): The Government of India has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) commencing from 2017-18.  The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries.  The programme through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Scientists identify four new balsam species

Throwing fresh light on the uncharted biodiversity in India’s north­eastern region, researchers from the University of Calicut in Kerala have reported the discovery of four new species of balsam from various locations in Arunachal Pradesh.  The team came across the new species while scouring the Eastern Himalayas as part of an expedition supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the International Association for Plant Taxonomy, Slovakia. Commonly known as jewel weeds because of the diverse colour of the owers, balsams are distributed throughout the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, South East Asia, Africa and Madagascar. The genus is called  Impatiens, signifying the impatient nature of the fruits which explode when touched. The researchers have published their ndings in the international journals Phytotaxa and Webbia.  Reported from Pongchan, Impatiens haridasanii was named after Haridasan, former scientist, State Forest Research Institute, Arunachal Pradesh, for his contribution to the taxonomy of the north­eastern States. The species is characterised by small yellow owers and hairy leaves. Impatiens pseudocitrina, discovered in Anjaw district, sports bright yellow owers with small red spots on the throat and a long spur at the back. The species name denotes the similarities with I. citrina. A magnicent species discovered from the Lower Dibang valley, Impatiens nilalohitae grows to a height of more than one metre and has dark purple owers with pale yellow throat and green stalk. The name  nilalohitae denotes the dark purple colour in Sanskrit.  Another spectacular balsam, I. roingensis, was found growing in Roing and Upper Siang. The plant has clustered white owers with yellow patch on the mouth and hooked spur.  According to the authors, road widening works, deforestation and other development activities are posing a threat to the natural habitat of the new species.  The researchers have also reported the rediscovery of another species  I. agastyamalayensis from the Western Ghats after a gap of more than a century.  India is home to more than 230 balsam species.  Earlier, scientists had reported the discovery of Impatiens arunachalensis, a critically endangered species, from the Upper Siang district. Another balsam species Impatiens walongensis has been reported from Anjaw district.  

Electoral bonds for political donations notified

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday outlined the basic contours of the electoral bonds scheme announced during the 2017 Budget, including their denominations, validity, and eligibility of the purchasers.  “Electoral bonds would be a bearer instrument in the nature of a promissory note and an interest free banking instrument,” the Minister said in the Lok Sabha. “A citizen of India or a body incorporated in India will be eligible to purchase the bond.”  

Electoral bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples of 1,000, 10,000, 10 lakh, and 1 crore from any of the specified branches of the State Bank of India. “The purchaser will be allowed to buy electoral bonds only on due fulfilment of all the extant KYC norms and by making payment from a bank account,” Mr. Jaitley said.

 “It will not carry the name of the payee.” The bonds, aimed at increasing transparency in political funding, will have a life of 15 days during which they can be used to make donations to registered political parties that have secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last election to the Lok Sabha or Assembly. 

 The bonds shall be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the months of January, April, July and October, with an additional 30 days to be specified by the Central government in the year of a general election.  “The bond shall be encased by an eligible political party only through a designated bank account with the authorised bank,” he said.  

Four ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanets discovered

 Scientists have discovered four new ’hot Jupiter’ extrasolar planets orbiting dwarf stars. Using telescopes of the Hungarian ­made HAT South Exoplanet Survey, they found four dwarf stars known as HATS­50, HATS­51, HATS­52 and HATS­53. 

2 new ginger species found in the northeast

Scientists have discovered two new species of ginger in easternmost districts, Ukhrul in Manipur and Tuensang in Nagaland, both bordering Myanmar. Hedychium chingmeianum, the species discovered in Tuensang district, is an epiphytic plant and grows on tall trees, while  Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis was found growing in rock crevices, boulders and humus rich soil in the Shirui Hills, where the highest peak stands at an elevation of 2,938 metres. 

 Both the plants are from the family of Zingiberaceae, to which the commonly found ginger (Zingiber ocinale) belongs.

 Two Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists, Nripemo Odyou and Dilip Kumar Roy, found the plant  Hedychium chingmeianum, growing on tree trunks at Chingmei village in Tuensang district. 

The plant, with reddish stems and creamy white owers, was brought to the regional centre of BSI, Shillong, and cultivated there.  Paper published A paper on the discovery was published earlier this year in Telopea, an international Journal of Plant Systematics. “Most of the species under the genus  Hedychium have medicinal properties. 

It is yet to be ascertained whether the newly discovered species  Hedychium chingmeianum has medicinal properties or not,” Mr. Odyou told The Hindu. He said that out of 44 taxa, 31 species and 13 varieties of genus  Hedychium found in India, only five are reported in south India. 

The remaining species are all found in the northeast. The species Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis was discovered by Biseshwori Thongam and Bipin Konsam of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development. The species has beautiful oval­ shaped pink owers which appear in June ­July. 

It was during a trip to Ukhrul hills that Dinabandhu Sahoo, director of the IBSD, spotted this species.  

The scientists named the species after Mr. Dinabandhu Sahoo

New night frog species found in western Ghats

Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi was discovered in the Western Ghats

A new frog from Kerala is the latest contribution to the spurt in amphibian discoveries across India: scientists have just discovered the Mewa Singh’s night frog, belonging to a genus endemic to the Western Ghats, from Kozhikode’s Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary.

  According to a scientific paper published on December 26 in  The Journal of Threatened Taxa (an international journal on conservation and taxonomy), the new night frog  Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi is light brown in colour with an o­ white underside, and sports faintly wrinkled skin with prominent granular projections. 

 Since many frogs in the genus  Nyctibatrachus look similar, scientists from institutes, including the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Pune, Maharashtra) and the Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) used both physical characteristics as well as genetic methods to conrm the frog as a new species.  Using tissue samples of 10 collected specimens, the scientists analysed portions of two genes and found that it varied enough from other closely ­related species to make the Mewa Singh’s night frog a different species. 

They also found that the frog’s genetically closest relatives are the Athirappilly night frog (found south of the Palakkad Gap in Thrissur and Idukki) and the Kempholey night frog (found in the northern Western Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka). ‘Interesting species’ Morphologically, the Mewa Singh’s night frog can be distinguished from these similar ­looking and genetically close relatives by several physical characteristics, including the pattern of its webbed fingers and toes. 

The frog has been named after wildlife scientist Mewa Singh, in honour of his contributions to behavioural ecology and primate studies. The new frog is currently known only from Peruvannamuzhi in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, where the scientists found it in a small stream running along the Peruvannamuzhi dam.

  “It is an interesting species because of this currently­ known restricted distribution,” says author Sanjay Molur of ZOO. What is unusual is that the frog’s genetically closest relative — the Athirappilly night frog — is found far away and across the Palakkad gap, says Mr. Molur. “Hence the species is also unique from a genetic perspective,” he says.  Frogs in the genus Nyctibatrachus, commonly known as night frogs, are found only in the Western Ghats mountain range. 

The addition of the Mewa Singh’s night frog to this group brings the total number of night frogs to 36

29th Dec Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam 2017

Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

• Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) is a two tired defence shield which aims to destroy enemy ballistic missiles.
• The BMD consists of two interceptor missiles, the Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) and the Advanced Area Defence (AAD) missile.
• PDV/Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor is capable of destroying missiles at exo-atmospheric (high) altitudes of 50–80 km.
• PDV is a two stage supersonic missile fuelled by solid motor in 1st stage and liquid fuelled in 2nd stage.
• AAD/Ashvin Advanced Defense interceptor is capable of destroying missiles at endo-atmosphere (low) altitudes of 15-30 kilometers.
• AAD is a single-stage supersonic solid fuelled interceptor missile.
• The Ballistic Missile Defence shield is expected to be achieved by 2022.
• AAD was recently successfully test-fired from a test range in Odisha.

Clean Authority of Telangana

• Telangana government is set to introduce “Clean Authority of Telangana” to deal with solid waste, waste water and polluted air in all the urban areas across the State.
• It is an exclusive authority modeled on the lines of a similar body in Japan.
• It will ensure enforcement of measures aimed at containing the harm caused through solid waste, waste water and polluted air to human health.

LDF -Mobile App

• Union Ministry of Agriculture has launched Livestock Disease Forewarning –Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App).
• The app is developed by ICAR to provide early warning about diseases like Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Brucellosis etc.
• It will also provide information about clinical samples for the diagnosis in case of the epidemic.
• It will be beneficial for the consumers and stakeholders engaged in disease control programmes.

The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

• Parliament has recently passed “The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017”.
• The Bill establishes the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• The Institute aims to provide high quality education and research focussing on the themes of petroleum, hydrocarbons and energy.
• The Institute is required to maintain a fund which will be credited with the funds that it receives from the central government, fees and money received from any other sources (grants and gifts). 
• The accounts of the Institute shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor- General of India.
• The bill declares the Institute as an Institution of National Importance (INI). 

Home Ministry’s Directive to NGOs

• The Home Ministry has recently directed all NGOs, business entities and individuals who receive funds from abroad to open accounts in any of the 32 designated banks.
• The banks are integrated with Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• The directive is issued under the powers conferred upon the central government under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010.
• It is expected to provide a higher level of transparency and hassle-free reporting compliance.

Public Financial Management System (PFMS)

• PFMS, earlier known as Central Plan Schemes Monitoring System (CPSMS), is a web-based online software application.
• It is launched with the objective of tracking funds released under all Plan schemes of GoI, and real time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
• It is integrated with the Core banking system which helps to monitor the flow of funds.
• It has been envisaged that digitization of accounts shall be achieved through PFMS.
• It is developed and implemented by the Office of Controller General of Accounts.

FAME II

• FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] was launched in 2015.
• Its objective is to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and Manufacturing eco-system.
• The phase I of FAME expires on March 31, 2018.
• In phase II, the government is targeting a fully (100%) electric fleet for public transport, including buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws.
• The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments i.e. 2 Wheeler, 3 Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4 Wheeler Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses.
• It has 4 focus areas i.e. Technology development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging Infrastructure.

Source: The Hindu, PIB

28th Dec Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam 2017

Mahadayi River Dispute

• There have been ongoing protests in Karnataka on the issue of sharing of Mahadayi river waters.
• Mahadayi river originates in Karnataka before flowing into Goa where it is called Mandovi.
• Karnataka is seeking release of 7.56 tmcft water by Goa from the river for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, , which is being opposed by Goa.
• The project involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi river, to divert water to the Malaprabha which meets drinking water needs of the north Karnataka districts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkot and Gadag.
• Goa is of the view that it has no problem in providing "reasonable and justified" amount of 0.1 TMC of water to Karnataka for its drinking needs.
• The matter is pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.

Pod Taxi Project

• A high-level panel has recommended inviting fresh bids for India’s first pod taxi project.
• The projected Rs. 4,000-crore scheme, also known as Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), is to start off with the 12.3 km Delhi-Gurugram pilot corridor on public-private partnership basis.
• PRT is an advanced public transport using automated electric pod cars to provide a taxi-like demand responsive feeder and shuttle services.
• It is for small groups of travellers and is a green mode of uninterrupted journey.
• The automated people mover (APM) standards in the US constitute the minimum requirements for an acceptable level of safety and performance for the PRT.

Atal Tinkering Labs

• Niti Aayog brainchild Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has selected additional 1,500 schools across the country to establish Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).
• ATLs are play workspaces fitted with state-of-the-art technologies like 3D printers, robotics, sensor technology kits, Internet of things (IoT), miniaturised electronics.
• The labs are designed to spur the spark of creativity, and go beyond regular curriculum and text book learning.
• AIM will enhance the coverage of ATLs to over 98 per cent smart cities and 93 per cent districts.
• The addition of these schools will give a major boost to realise the vision of the mission to cultivate one million children in India as the innovators of tomorrow.

Kerala Tourism App

• Kerala Tourism has launched a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based inventory of around 1,000 festivals in the State.
• It is a geo-coded, user-friendly web application, offers the user a comprehensive platform that maps listed festivals to their respective venues.
• It details each festival’s legend, origin, popularity, duration, associated celebrations, rituals, and directions to the venue, along with the name of a contact person for further queries.
• It also includes details such as the annual festivities at the various shrines, boat races, Theyyams, music and dance festivals, and sporting events.
• Among them are lesser known events such as the Shadow Puppetry Festival, Malabar River Festival, Manaveeyam Queer Fest, Oachira Kali, Splash-Wayanad, Ananthapuri Chakka Mahotsavam, and Malabar International Kite Festival.

Indian Science Congress

• The 2018 edition of the Indian Science Congress will be held at Manipur University, Imphal, in March.
• Since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, the ISC was traditionally the first public function the Prime Minister addressed in the calendar year.
• It had to be postponed due to “security problems.”
• The congress sees several students, Nobel Laureates and scientists from India’s science academies in attendance.
• In recent years, the Science Congress has also got flak for being a forum that promoted pseudo science, such as in 2014, when a session on mythology and Vedic-era airplanes was a highlight.

Source: The Hindu, The Indian Express & PIB

27th Dec Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam 2017

LiDAR to monitor Air Quality

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is currently focussing on its surface-level monitoring of air quality of Delhi-NCR.
• However, in “later stages”, it is also planning to take up vertical monitoring by using advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) devices.
• LiDAR is a monitoring system for mapping and modelling in -micro-topography, forestry, agriculture, meteorology and environmental pollution-
• LiDAR projects laser beams towards the sky.
• Subsequently, the interplay of light with the objects falling on its path through absorption, reflection, scattering help determine the composition of suspended particulates.
• Elastic Backscatter LiDAR and Raman LiDAR are used in monitoring air pollutants vertically.
• The CPCB and IMD had used the Elastic Backscatter LiDAR during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the data was utilised in 3D modelling and forecasting during the games.

Memristors & AI                                       

• Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computing systems that can learn and progressively improve performance on tasks by considering examples.

• Researchers have recently developed a new type of neural network chip that can dramatically improve the efficiency of teaching machines to think like humans.
• It improves a typical neural network’s capacity and reduces the required training time.
• They have been created in the past with larger optical components.
• Now the researchers have created their system using memristors.
• Memristors are a special type of resistive device that can both perform logic and store data.
• This contrasts with typical computer systems, where processors perform logic separate from memory modules.
• Hence they require less space and can be integrated more easily into silicon-based electronics.

BND-4201

• Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND-4201) is India’s first home-grown high purity gold reference standard recently launched.

• It will be the reference material for gold of ‘9999’ fineness i.e gold that is 99.99% pure.
• It will be beneficial to the consumers and public at large to ensure purity of gold.
• Once the BND’s of other purity gold are made available in the market, jewellers will move towards more instrumental methods.
• The conventional fire assay methods for testing are not only time consuming but also not environment friendly as poisonous gases are released.
• This will also be useful for Collection and Purity Testing Centres to certify the purity of gold deposits under the gold monetisation scheme.

CAMPA Rules

• Compensatory and Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill envisaged the creation of a permanent Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• The Bill establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under each State.
• The Bill allows the States to access nearly Rs.42,000 crore, mostly collected from industrial projects as penalties, from CAMPA and channel it into afforestation projects.
• More than a year after the Union government brought in the law, it is yet to frame rules to get the money disbursed.
• While States are getting money, it continues to be under an “ad hoc” mechanism whereby the Centre disburses it on a needs-basis.
• Also a year after the law came into being, the disbursal this year has dropped to a three-year low.

$318 Million Loan Agreement

• The Government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the World Bank today signed a $318 million loan agreement for the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project.
• The project is to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies, improve water management practices, and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers.
• More than 160,000 ha of currently partially irrigated lands will come into full irrigation under this project.
• The project will rehabilitate and modernize about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems.
• Paddy is the dominant crop occupying 34% of total cropped areas, whereas fruits and vegetables are grown on 11% and pulses and oilseeds on 14% of total cropped areas.
• By helping farmers’ access modern technologies, linking them to markets, and providing postharvest management support, the project will enable farmers to shift from a mono crop paddy system to mixed cropping.
• The project will support smallholder producers adopt new conservation technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Sustainable Sugar Initiative (SSI).
• They reduce average water usage by 35% and increase yields by 22% per ha.
• The loan has a 5-year grace period, and a maturity of 19 years.