Contents

1. National Technical Textiles Mission
2. Light House Projects
3. PRAGATI
4. 75th Anniversary of tricolor hoisting at Port Blair
5. Akash Missile System
6. India and Bhutan on Cooperation of outer space.
7. SAHAYAK-NG
8. North East’s first-ever specialized “Ginger” Processing Plant

NATIONAL TECHNICAL TEXTILE MISSION

Focus: GS 3;Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Why in News?

Year End Review 2020 – Ministry of Textiles

About National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of the National Technical Textile mission.
• The Mission would have a four year implementation period from FY 2020-21 to 2023-24.
• A total outlay of Rs 1480 Crore has been finalized by the authorities for this mission.
• A Mission Directorate will be operational in the Ministry of Textiles.
• The mission has been set up in lines with the “Make In India” initiative by the Government of the country.

Please click on this link for detailed explanation about Technical Textiles and National Technical Textile Mission.

LIGHT HOUSE PROJECT

Focus: GS 2; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Why in News?

PM to lay Foundation Stone of Light House Projects under GHTC-India on 1st January 2021.

PM to also distribute PMAY (Urban) and ASHA-India awards

About Light House Project

• The Light House Projects (LHPs) showcase the best of new-age alternate global technologies, materials and processes in the construction sector for the first time in the country at such a large scale.
• They are being constructed under GHTC-India which envisages to provide an ecosystem for adoption of innovative technologies in the housing construction sector in a holistic manner.
• The LHPs are being constructed at Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
• They comprise about 1000 houses at each location along with allied infrastructure facilities.
• These projects will demonstrate and deliver ready to live houses at an expedited pace within twelve months, as compared to conventional brick and mortar construction, and will be more economical, sustainable, of high quality and durability.

About ASHA-India

• Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators – India (ASHA-India) aims to promote domestic research and entrepreneurship by providing incubation and acceleration support to potential future technologies.
• Under ASHA-India initiative, five ASHA-India Centers have been set up for providing incubation and acceleration support.
• The technologies, processes and materials identified through this initiative will provide a major fillip to young creative minds, start-ups, innovators and entrepreneurs.

About PMAY-U Mission

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) Mission has been designed to achieve the vision of “Housing For All by 2022”.
• In order to recognize the outstanding contribution by States, UTs, Urban Local Bodies and beneficiaries, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has introduced annual awards for excellence in implementation of PMAY-Urban.

The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals such as;-

1. Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource,
2. Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy.
3. Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors.
4. Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement.

• The beneficiaries are poor and people living under Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Light Income Group(LIG) categories in the country.
• The scheme is divided into three phases, in the first phase, a total of 100 cities will be covered from April 2015 to March 2017. in phase two, 200 cities will be covered from April 2017 to March 2019 and in the third phase, the leftover cities will be covered from April 2019 to March 2022.

PRAGATI

Focus: GS 2;Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Why in News?

PM chairs 34th PRAGATI interaction

About PRAGATI

• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation), as the name suggests, is aimed at starting a culture of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
• It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
• The platform was launched on March 25, 2015.
• It is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform that is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
• It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States)
• The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies, digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology. It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
• The Prime Minister will hold a monthly programme where he will interact with the Government of India Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals.

75th ANNIVERSARY OF TRICOLOR HOISTING AT PORT BLAIR

Focus: GS 1;Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

Why in News?

PM remembers Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Ji on 75th Anniversary of tricolor hoisting at Port Blair

About 75th Anniversary of Tricolor Hoisting at Port Blair

• Subhash Chandra Bose Ji on December 30, 1943 had hoisted Tricolour for first time on free Indian soil at Cellular Jail of Port Blair during his visit to Andaman and declaring the island as the free territory from the British rule.
• It was much before India attained Independence in 1947.
• On same occasion, he had announced freedom of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (making it first Indian Territory) from the British rule and renamed them as “Shaheed-dweep” (Martyr Island) and “Swaraj-dweep” (Self-rule Island).
• In 2018 PM Modiji renamed the Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Ji Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep
• The island at that time was liberated from British rule by Japan which captured it during World War – II.
• Major General Arcot Doraiswamy Loganadan of Indian National Army (INA) was made the Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Please click on this for detailed explanation about Subhash Chandra Bose Ji

AKASH MISSILE SYSTEM

Focus: GS 3;Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Why in News?

Cabinet Approves Export of Akash Missile System and Creates a Committee for faster Approval of Exports

About Akash Missile System

• Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Akash is country’s important missile with over 96 per cent indigenization. 

• Akash is a Surface-to-Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms.
• The missile was inducted in 2014 in Indian Air Force (IAF) and in 2015 in Indian Army.
• Akash missile part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of surface-to-air missiles.

About Committee for faster Approval of Defence Exports

• Besides Akash, there is interest coming in other major platforms like Coastal Surveillance System, Radars and Air platforms.
• To provide faster approvals for export of such platforms, a Committee comprising of Raksha Mantri, External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisor has been created.
• This Committee would authorize subsequent exports of major indigenous platforms to various countries.
• The Committee would also explore various available options including the Government-to-Government route.

Please click on this for detailed explanation about Other Important Indian Missile System

INDIA AND BHUTAN ON COOPERATION OF OUTER SPACE

Focus: GS 3;Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Why in News?

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Bhutan on Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

About India and Bhutan on Cooperation of Outer Space

• India and Bhutan have been discussing on establishing formal space cooperation. 
• A template for Inter-Governmental MoU for Space cooperation was shared with MEA in November 2017 for further taking up with Bhutan. 
• This draft was further discussed along with other cooperative proposals during the bilateral meeting in February 2020.
• After a few iterations through diplomatic channels, both sides have arrived at a workable draft of the MoU and the same was processed for internal approvals. 
• After obtaining necessary approvals the MoU was signed on November 19, 2020 by both sides and exchanged.

Please click on this for detailed explanation about Outer Space Treaty

SAHAYAK-NG

Focus: GS 3;Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Why in News?

Maiden Flight Trial of SAHAYAK-NG, Air Droppable Container

About SAHAYAK-NG

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy) off the coast of Goa.
• SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I.
• The newly developed GPS aided air dropped container is having the capability to carry a payload that weighs upto 50 kg and can be dropped from heavy aircraft. 
• The trial was conducted by Indian Navy to enhance its operational logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering stores to ships which are deployed more than 2000 km from the coast.
• It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores. 
• Two DRDO laboratories i.e. NSTL, Visakhapatnam and ADRDE, Agra were involved in the development of SAHAYAK-NG container along the industry partner M/s Avantel for GPS integration. 

NORTH EAST’S FIRST-EVER SPECIALIZED “GINGER” PROCESSING PLANT

Focus: GS 3;Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Why in News?

North East’s first-ever specialized “Ginger” Processing Plant in Meghalaya is being revived: Dr. Jitendra Singh

About First-Ever Specialized “Ginger” Processing Plant

• North East’s first-ever specialized “Ginger” Processing Plant at district Ri-Bhoui in Meghalaya is being revived and is likely to become functional in the beginning of 2021.
• The only Ginger Processing Plant of North East India was established around the year 2004 but has remained non-functional for many years.
• Ginger has attained a place of prominence in recent months because of its reported properties as an immunity booster against COVID-19 Virus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also referred to this recently.

About Ginger

• Ginger, (Zingiber officinale), herbaceous perennial plant of the family Zingiberaceae, probably native to southeastern Asia, or its aromatic, pungent rhizome (underground stem) used as a spice, flavoring, food, and medicine.
• The best time for planting ginger on the West Coast of India is during the first fortnight of May with the receipt of pre monsoon showers, while in North-Eastern states, it is during April.
• Ginger grows well in a warm and humid climate and is cultivated from sea level to an altitude of 1500 m above sea level.
• Ginger can be grown both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. 
• Ginger thrives best in well-drained soils like sandy loam, clay loam, red loam, or lateritic loam.
• A friable loam rich in humus is ideal.
• However, being an exhausting crop it is not desirable to grow ginger in the same soil year after year.