PIB Analysis 30th June 2020

Gaganyaan

Context

Union minister of state, atomic energy and space recently said that the launch of India’s first human space mission “Gaganyaan” will not be affected by COVID pandemic and preparations are being carried in the right direction.

Details

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the training of four Indian astronauts in Russia had to be halted.
However,the opinion of Chairman ISRO and the scientific team is that there had been kept a “cushion” both in the training programme and launch deadline.
The training of astronauts has now been resumed and the launch is scheduled to take place as planned, before the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in 2022.

About Gaganyaan Mission

Gaganyaan will be India’s first manned space mission.
GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, which has the necessary payload capability for this mission, will be used to launch Gaganyaan.
The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400km.
Though the first Indian to go into space was Rakesh Sharma in 1984 but the spacecraft in which he went was not Indian.

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Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1635154

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Mobile soil testing lab

Context

To give further boost to the Soil Testing facility in the country for promoting appropriate use of fertilizers, (National Fertilizers Limited) NFL has launched five Mobile Soil Testing Labs.

Details

These labs will test the soil samples at the doorstep of farmers free of cost.
They are loaded with the latest soil testing equipment, and shall be used for macro and micro nutrient analysis of soil.
In addition to this, these Mobile Labs are also equipped with Audio-Video systems to educate farmers on various agricultural topics.

Macro and Micro Nutrients

Plants obtain most of the nutrients they need from the soil, although some are obtained via photosynthesis.Macronutrients are required in large quantities as compared to micro nutrients.

Macronutrients:

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (primary macronutrients)

Calcium (Ca) ,Magnesium (Mg) and Sulfur (S) (secondary macronutrients)

Micronutrients are also essential for plant growth and development but are needed only in trace amounts, compared to their macro-counterparts. The seven critical micronutrients are:
- Boron (B)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Iron (Fe)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Copper (Cu)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
- Chlorine (Cl)

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1635134

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Gold Nanoparticles

Context

The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the Goa University (GU) have successfully synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using Antarctic bacteria through a non-toxic, low-cost, and eco-friendly way.

Benefits of Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs)

These GNPs can be used as a composite therapeutic agent in clinical trials, especially in anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The GNPs displayed enough anti-bacterial properties by inhibiting the growth of Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) that can cause cancer.
GNPs are found to be effective in biomedical research.
GNPs are found to have greater solar radiation absorbing ability than the conventional bulk gold, which makes them a better candidate for use in the photovoltaic cell manufacturing industry.
GNPs have unique optical properties and can thus be used for therapeutic imaging.
As nano-carriers, GNPs are capable of transferring various drugs to target diseased cells of the human body.
Applications in therapeutic use including detection and diagnosis of diseases, bio-labeling, and targeted drug delivery.
GNPs are also found to be useful in the electronics industry. Scientists have constructed a transistor known as NOMFET (Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field-Effect Transistor) using GNPs.
These NOMFETs can now facilitate better recreation of certain types of human cognitive processes, such as recognition and image processing and have their application in artificial intelligence.

Nanotechnology and Nanoparticles(NPs)

Nanotechnology creates new and novel materials through controlled manipulation at a size range of 1 nm (nanometer) to 100 nm (1 nm equals to 10-9 m).
NPs are those materials that are at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometres. NPs have a high surface-to-volume ratio and they can provide tremendous driving force for diffusion, especially at elevated temperatures.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide variety of potential applications in the fields of biomedical, optical and electronics research.

NCPOR and GU have resorted to environmentally acceptable green chemistry procedures to reduce gold ion to GNPs using Antarctic bacteria.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1635079

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Government Bans 59 mobile apps

Context

The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps.

Concerns

Over the last few years, India has emerged as a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space.
There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians.
Also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country.
Government received several reports about misuse of some mobile apps for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India and hence required emergency measures.

The Government also received recommendations from The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs for blocking these malicious apps.

The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) had also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues.

This move will safeguard the interests of Indian mobile and internet users and will ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1635206

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PM FME Scheme

Context

Minister for Food Processing Industries launched the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme.

Target

The Scheme would generate a total investment of Rs 35,000 crore and generate 9 lakh skilled and semi-skilled employment
It will also benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training, better exposure and formalization.
Launched with a view to provide financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises

Challenges faced by the unorganised food processing sector challenges

Lack of access to modern technology & equipment
Limited training and access to institutional credit
Lack of basic awareness on quality control of products
Lack of branding & marketing skills

Owing to these challenges, the unorganised food processing sector contributes much less in terms of value addition and output despite its huge potential.

These challenges limit their performance and their growth.

Details of the PM FME scheme

It is a “Centrally Sponsored scheme” to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.
The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODODP) approach to reap benefits of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.
However, units producing other products would also be supported. Support for common infrastructure and branding & marketing would be for ODOP products.
The Scheme also places focus on waste to wealth products, minor forest products and Aspirational Districts.
Financial support in the form of credit-linked capital subsidy.
Support would also be provided for development of common infrastructure including common processing facility, lab, warehouse, cold storage, packaging and incubation center.
Support for marketing & branding would be provided to develop brands for micro units and groups.
The Scheme also places special focus on capacity building and research.

All the processes of the Scheme would take place on an (Management Information System) MIS including applications by entrepreneurs, their processing, approval of various projects by the States and MoFPI, release of grant and other funds and monitoring of the project.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1635088

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PM SVANidhi Portal

Context

The Government recently launched PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi “PM SVANidhi” Portal. Leveraging on the digital technology solutions, the portal provides for an integrated end to end IT interface to users for availing benefits under the scheme.

Details

It is an integrated IT platform to provide an end-to-end solution for scheme
The portal will facilitate multiple scheme functions viz. loan application flow, Mobile App, e-KYC of applicants, integration with UIDAI, Udyamimitra, NPCI, PAiSA, lenders, States, ULBs and other stakeholders, calculation of digital incentives and payment of interest subsidy etc.

About PM SVANidhi Scheme

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a Special Micro-Credit Facility Scheme - PM SVANidhi ,for providing affordable loans to street vendors.
This scheme will go a long way in enabling them to resume work and earn livelihoods.
Over 50 lakh people, including vendors, hawkers, thelewalas, rehriwala, theliphadwala etc. in different areas/ contexts are likely to benefit from this scheme.
The vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.
The scheme provides for escalation of the credit limit on timely/ early repayment of loans to help the vendor achieve his ambition of going up on the economic ladder.
It is for the first time that MFIs/ NBFCs/ SHG Banks have been allowed in a scheme for the urban poor due to their ground level presence and proximity to the urban poor including the street vendors.
The scheme incentivises digital transactions by the street vendors through monthly cash back.
SIDBI is the scheme implementation partner for PM SVANidhi.