PIB Analysis 28th July 2020

Dare to Dream 2.0

Context

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched its innovation contest ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ on the 5th death anniversary of former President and noted scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Highlights

The scheme is being launched for emerging technologies to promote the individuals & startups for innovation in defence and aerospace technologies in the country after the call for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
The ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ is an open challenge to promote the innovators and startups of the country.
The winners will be decided after due evaluation by an expert committee.
Award money, up to Rs 10 lakh for startup and Rs 5 lakh to individual category, will be given to the winners.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641649

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Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet)

Context

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched a World-Class Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet) Under the Digital India initiative of Government of India.

Highlights

Keeping in mind the spectacular developments in information technology, the traditional libraries of the MoES system will be upgraded into a top-notch Knowledge Resource Centres (KRC).
KRCs will be connected with each other and integrated into the KRCNet portal.
It will be a single point entry to the intellectual world of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
The resources and services of MoES system will be accessible 24X7 through a one point dynamic, updated and integrated KRCNet portal.
A pilot project has been developed at MoES headquarters which will be integrated with other MoES institutes.

Salient objectives of the KRCNet:

Establish a Total Quality Management (TQM) system by securing ISO certification for documenting MoESknowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval and dissemination.
Collect, collate, analyze, index, store and disseminate the intellectual resources, products and project outputs available in MoES headquarter and its institutes.

Develop and maintain an up-to-date meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES headquarter and MoES institutes, including MoES services.
Provide 24X7 access to the subscribed knowledge contents through the KRCNet portal.
Application of information analytical tools & techniques like bibliometrics, scientometrics, big-data analytics, social media analytics etc., for policy formulation, report preparation and information dissemination.
Periodically organize training workshops to popularize usage of electronic journals, databases, digital products, data analytics etc.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641508

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"Mausam” Mobile App

Context

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched a mobile App "Mausam” for the India Meteorological Department.

Highlights

India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences has taken various initiatives in recent years for improvement in dissemination of weather forecast and warning services based on latest tools and technologies.
This mobile app is available both on Play Store and Appstore.
It is dedicated to the general public and designed to communicate the weather information and forecasts in a lucid manner without technical jargons.
Users can access observed weather, forecasts, radar images and be proactively warned of impending weather events.
The mobile app has been designed and developed jointly by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and India Meteorological Department.

The MAUSAM mobile App has the following 5 services:

Current Weather - Current temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction for 200 cities updated 8 times a day. Information on Sunrise/ sunset and moonrise/ moonset are also given.
Nowcast - Three hourly warnings of localized weather phenomena and their intensity issued for about 800 stations, and districts of India by State Meteorological Centres of IMD. In case of severe weather, its impact also is included in the warning.
City Forecast - Past 24 hours and 7 day forecast of weather conditions of around 450 cities in India.
Warnings - Alerts issued twice a day for all districts for the next five days in colour code (Red, Orange and Yellow) to warn citizens of approaching dangerous weather.

The colour code Red is the most severe category urging authorities to take action.
Orange code prompts authorities and the public to be alert.
Yellow code prompts authorities and public to keep themselves updated.

Radar products - Latest Station wise radar products updated every 10 minutes.

The Mausam mobile app will be an important tool for dissemination of weather information and warnings in an attractive and user friendly manner which will meet the requirements of the public.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641501

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BIS Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’

Context

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution launched the Bureau of Indian Standards’ Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ and three portals – the Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals of e-BIS for consumers.

Details

Consumers can check the authenticity of the ISI-marked and hallmarked products and lodge complaints using this app.
The BIS is strengthening its capacity of enforcement by implementation of e-BIS.
It is an integrated portal covering all its functions, enlisting the services of outside agencies for factory and market surveillance and development of mobile app-based and AI-enabled surveillance methods.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith.
It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways by –

providing safe reliable quality goods;
minimizing health hazards to consumers;
promoting exports and imports substitute;
control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization, certification and testing.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641559

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Smart India Hackathon (Software) - 2020

Context

The Prime Minister will address the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon, largest ever online hackathon in the world on August 1, 2020.

Details

The Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2020 (Software) will be held from 1st to 3rd August, 2020.
This hackathon is being organized by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India; All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Persistent Systems and i4c.
This year, more than 10,000 students are competing to solve 243 problem statements from 37 central government departments, 17 state governments and 20 industries.

About Smart India Hackathon

Smart India Hackathon is a unique initiative to identify new and disruptive digital technology innovations for solving the challenges faced by our country.
It is a non-stop digital product development competition, where problems are posed to technology students to suggest innovative solutions.
Students would have the opportunity to work on challenges faced by Government departments and private sector organizations for which they can offer out-of-the-box and world-class solutions.
Three editions of SIH have been conducted successfully.
The first edition of SIH-2017 saw participation of 42 thousand students which substantially increased to 1 lakh in SIH 2018 and later to 2.0 lakh in SIH-2019.
SIH 2020 is even more massive as compared to SIH 2019 and the first round saw participation of more than 4.5 lakh students.
Smart India Hackathon has now evolved into the world's biggest open Innovation model. Moreover, SIH is also one of the best examples of public private partnership.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641530

MCQs based on PIB Analysis

Q.1 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017? (UPSC PYQ)

It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city of our country into Smart Cities in a decade.
It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country.
It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Q.2 Consider the following statements:

The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? ( UPSC PYQ )

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mention your answers in the Comment section !