Abhimanu

Weekly current affairs Series

Week- IV, Nov 2015

Abhimanu’s IAS Study Group Chandigarh

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

IDBI BANK – FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK

TO RAISE $350 MN VIA GREEN BONDS

IDBI Bank has become the first commercial state-owned bank to raise $350 million via selling green bonds, which are used for clean energy projects. Bond will be of five-year maturity. This is a part of the bank’s medium-term-note programme, set at $5 billion over next few years.

What are Green Bonds

These bonds are structured like ordinary bonds1 but will invest in only those companies and projects that help in reducing carbon footprint.

Projects they invest in

Renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable waste management, sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, clean transportation, sustainable water management and climate change adaptation.

Funds raised by these bonds globally

$12.9-billion raised during the second quarter of 2015, bringing year-to-date totals to roughly $19.2 billion. Last year, fund-raising globally touched a record high of $37 billion.

Indian issuances and fund-raising

YES Bank issued the first-ever green infra bonds in February,2015. It raised Rs 315 crore through the issue of green infra bonds to IFC on a private placement basis. Exim Bank raised Rs 3,330 crore in March via green bond sale.

Analysis

India has embarked on an ambitious target of building 175 gigawatt of renewable energy

1 Bond is a debt instrument used by company to raise

money from the market.

capacity by 2022, from just over 30 gigawatt now. This requires a massive $200 billion in funding. This isn’t easy. Higher interest rates and unattractive terms under which debt is available in India raise the cost of renewable energy by 24-32 per cent compared to the U.S. and Europe. India has big goals in terms of renewable energy installations, but a big hurdle has been financing and the cost of financing. These green bonds are useful to address India’s concern for renewable energy.

RBI GRANTED IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL

TO NPCI TO FUNCTION AS THE CENTRAL

UNIT FOR BHARAT BILL PAYMENT

SYSTEMS

The Reserve Bank of India has decided to grant ‘in principle’ approval to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) in BBPS.

The Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), an integrated bill payment system, will function as a tiered structure for operating the bill payment system in the country with a single brand image providing convenience of ‘anytime anywhere’ bill payment to customers.

As the central unit, NPCI will set necessary operational, technical and business standards for the entire system and its participants, and also undertake clearing and settlement activities.

The present scope of BBPS will include utility bill payments, such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH). Based on the experience, this would be extended to include other types of repetitive payments, like school / university fees, municipal taxes etc. in future.

Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)

Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs) will be authorised operational entities, adhering to the standards set by the BBPCU for facilitating bill payments online as well as through a network of agents, on the ground.

Analysis

Customer will have ease of paying bills and protection from any frauds.

RBI and Government can keep tabs on all payments made in India- to fine tune their

monetary policy and tax policies respectively.

Today there are many first-time borrowers for whom credit score stands at zero and banks find it difficult to take a lending decision. Data from BBPS can help banks take a more informed decision. Banks can also come out with some lending practices and loan products mainly dependent on the BBPS data.

PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES

E-LALA PORTAL

'E-lala’ online portal is to promote business-to-business and trader-to-customer transactions in this already growing virtual world. This portal is developed by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

Objective

Eliminating middlemen and resulting in reduced cost of goods and services.

E-lala’s distinctive features include a speciality corner promoting unique products associated with each city, an inquiry corner enabling consumers post their enquiries for a particular product which will be responded to in 24 hours and an artisans corner enabling artisans and entrepreneurs display their products.

This will enable physical stores to retain their customer base besides additional source of growth in business.

It is a city-based portal with involvement of only local traders, so choosing an object becomes easy for consumers.

Why it is launched: Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which is lobby of offline traders from across country, decided to launch online portal in order to counter increase in number of e –retail websites.

Analysis

Building a website is cheaper than opening a store and you can reach customers online anywhere in the world.

Shopping is easy and comfortable for customers, and you can customize their experience based on past sales and preferences.

This will increase the potential online customer base of retailer.

When you shop online, you can compare offerings and pricing at different stores with the simple click of a button

Online shopping stores are open round the clock of 24/7, 7 days a week and 365 days. It is very rare to find any conventional retail stores that are open 24/7. The availability of online stores give you the freedom to shop at your own pace and convenience

It directly saves the time money of both the retailer and customer.

PMGSY (PRADHAN MANTRI GRAM SADAK

YOJANA) SCHEME COMPLETION

DEADLINE REDUCED TO 2019

The Government has reduced the target date by three years from 2022 to 2019 to achieve complete rural connectivity through all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

This was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country. The programme envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill States, the tribal and the desert areas. It is under the authority of the Ministry of Rural Development and was begun on 25 December 2000. It is fully funded by the central government. Under PMGSY-I, 1, 78,184 unconnected habitations were identified. However, in 15 years of implementation so far, 1, 12,550 habitations (63%) have been connected with PMGSY roads. The States are yet to complete the roads to provide connectivity to about 37% of habitations as per the mandate of the Scheme.

JAN AUSHADHI

‘Jan Aushadhi’ is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in association with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.

Jan Aushadhi stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.

Under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, the State Governments are required to provide space in Government Hospital premises or any other suitable locations for the running of the Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS).

Any NGO/Charitable Society/Institution/Self Help Group with experience of minimum 3 years of successful operation in welfare activities can also open the Jan Aushadhi store outside the hospital premises.

How is the government supporting those opening Jan Aushadhi Stores

The government has charted out certain incentives that would help and facilitate the opening of the stores. The government would provide a financial assistance of up to Rs two lakh to the owners of the store along with a further Rs 50,000 assistance for purchase of computer hardware and other infrastructural support.

As a regular incentive the store owners would have 16 per cent discount on the MRP of the generic medicines. This would be a pure margin on the price of the medicines that would be the profit for the store owners.

Analysis(Benefits and Challanges)

Benefits

This medicine will help poor.

Out of pocket expenditure on health will be decreased and saving will increase.

Increase the coverage of public health system.

It will decrease the mortality rate of country.

It will benefit the pharmaceutical companies from the SMEs sector who produce unbranded generic drugs.

Challenges:

To maintain the quality of medicines.

In India where there are either overcrowded hospitals or no hospital will definitely face the problem of infrastructure.

Over dependence on support from State Government.

Non-prescription of Generic Medicines by the doctors.

To promote awareness among the public.

STATE BANK OF TRAVANCORE

LAUNCHES ‘AFFORDABLE HOUSING

LOAN’ SCHEME

State Bank of Travancore (SBT) has launched a “Housing for All (Urban): Mission 2022” to provide affordable housing to families belonging to the

economically weaker sections/low-income groups in the urban centers. The scheme upholds the spirit of the ‘Swachh Bharath Mission’ by insisting on a toilet for every house that is built.

About this Scheme

The loans will be available for beneficiaries in two segments:

Those with a household annual income of up to Rs. 3 lakh under the economically weaker sections and

Those with a household annual income between Rs. 3, 00,001 and Rs. 6 lakh under the low-income group.

The beneficiaries will be eligible for an interest subsidy of 6.50 per cent provided by the Centre, the spokesman added.

About Housing for All (Urban): Mission 2022

Housing for All by 2022” aimed for urban areas with following components/options to States/Union Territories and cities:-

Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource

Promotion of affordable housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy;

Affordable housing in partnership with Public & Private sectors and

Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement.

Benefits:

Under the Credit Linked Interest Subsidy component, interest subsidy of 6.5 percent on housing loans availed upto tenure of 15 years will be provided to EWS/LIG categories.

The aim of mega housing scheme is to create about 2 crore homes by 2022.

Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Transgenders and economically weaker section will be the main beneficiaries of the scheme.

It will be mandatory for the beneficiaries to include wife or mother’s name while registering under the affordable housing scheme. Houses constructed under the mission would be allotted in the name of the female head of the households or in the joint name of the male head of the houseohld and his wife. 2

Differently-abled persons and older persons will

2 Gender empowerment aspect of the scheme.

also get preferences in allotment of ground floor houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.

The launch event of the scheme will also witness the announcement of new eco friendly and sustainable technologies to be used for developing the affordable homes

NATIONAL POLITY

POLICIES

Union Government announces Draft Aviation

Policy-2015

The Union civil aviation ministry has kept all the options open on international flying norms, known as the ‘5/20 rule’3. Three options stated in the draft policy are:

continuing the present norms,

complete abolition from immediate effect and

a credit-based system to replace it.

Proposals

1. The government has decided not to scrap the route dispersal guidelines which mandate airlines to fly to remote areas.

2. More routes will be added up in the Category I (metro) routes as destinations more than 700 km away domestically with annual traffic of 500,000 passengers will also become a part of it.

3. The airlines will need to take the permission of the civil aviation ministry to withdraw existing operations in “north east region, Islands and Ladakh.”

As is the case presently, the airlines will need to deploy at least 10% of the capacity on the metro routes in the North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep (Category-II routes).

3 At present, an airline requires five years of operations and 20 aircrafts in its fleet to go on international routes.

4. Opened up the skies for destinations 5,000 km away from New Delhi thereby helping Europe, Australia, South America among others to operate flights to and from India without any restriction on the number of flights and seats

5. Giving foreign airlines traffic rights to key destinations within seven hours of flying away from India (Gulf region, Middle East and South East Asia) through auction as one of the ways.

At present, countries sign an agreement to decide the flights or seats per week that can fly into each other’s country. “For countries within 5,000 km where domestic airlines have not fully utilised their quota, additional seats above existing rights would be allotted by bidding for a three year period,” said the draft policy.

6. The government will “consider” opening up the skies for these short-haul destinations from 1 April 2020.

7. A regional connectivity scheme, which will come into effect from 1 April 2016, has been framed wherein airfares for a one-hour flight will be capped at Rs 2,500. This will happen through revival of un-served or under-served airstrips. According to the scheme, a regional connectivity fund will be formed by charging 2% cess on air tickets on international and domestic routes excluding the intra-remote areas.

8. The state government concerned will identify potential airstrip on which a low-cost airport can be developed. It will provide a slew of incentives such as free land, concessional power, water and other tariffs; reduce value added tax (VAT) on aviation fuel to 1% or less on these airports. Additionally, the Centre will exempt service tax on air tickets under this scheme and the aviation fuel will be exempt from excise duty.

This could make India a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Asia.

Analysis ( pros and cons)

Firstly, the proposal says that there have to be at least three ground handling agencies including Air India's subsidiary or joint venture at every airport. To this, the association representing ground handlers has written to the ministry saying no airport should have more than three ground handling agencies.

Secondly,The second concern is about the proposal allowing domestic airlines and charter operators to

carry out self-handling. The Association has objected to this saying self handling should be discouraged to prevent airside congestion and subsequent risks. The Association's stand is that the new policy would shake the basis on which investments are made, and hamper the maintenance of heightened security.

Thirdly , If the government decides to go in for open skies, there will be an increase in FDI in airlines from 49% at present to above 50%,

Green Highways Policy NHAI has approved a pilot project submitted by

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)4, Nagpur for undertaking scientific studies on designing greenbelts along national highways. The project will be implemented on a 5 km stretch on NH-7 between Jam and Hinganghat in Nagpur region at an estimated cost of Rs.11.80 crore.

The project will run for 5 years, and during this period various experiments will be conducted in NEERI laboratory to record the impact of greenbelt development.

This project will also assist in developing relevant research infrastructure that may be used for similar studies in future.

About Green Highway Policy

The government launched its Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy 2015, the aim of which is to help the environment, help local communities, and generate employment by planting trees along all the highways in the country. The target for the first year is to plant trees along 6,000 km of highways.

Benefits:

The Green Highway Policy will help in making India pollution free.

It will also help in curtailing the number of road accidents in India.

The vision of the policy is to provide dignified

4 The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) was established in Nagpur in 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases.

employment to local people and communities.

Under this policy, every year 1 per cent of the total cost of highway projects will go the Green Highways Fund.

This will provide shade on glaring hot roads during summer, reducing the impact of noise pollution and soil erosion, preventing the glare from the headlights of incoming vehicles

The planting of trees will also help in achieving the country’s forest cover target.

There will be a strong monitoring mechanism in place by using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN satellite systems. Every planted tree will be counted and auditing will be done.

STATES

TAMILNADU

Chenaai selected for Zero TB Cities project

Two cities have been selected for this project one is Lima and other one is Chennai. The project will be formally launched in Chennai in a few months’ time. With the implementation of this project, Chennai may drastically reduce TB mortality, shrink the number of new cases annually and impact TB prevalence in the city in a matter of 3-5 years. The project will be implemented by the Municipal Corporation of Chennai with the Chennai-based REACH and the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) assisting it.

Zero TB Cities project

The Zero TB Cities project began in 2014. It has earnestly embraced the Zero TB Declaration in 2012 that calls for a “new global attitude” in the fight against TB.

The Project is a collaborative effort between Harvard’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and Duke Center for International Development.

the project envisages a comprehensive tuberculosis elimination strategy at the community level by using all the currently available arsenals.

The main goal of the project is to help communities move to zero deaths from tuberculosis in their own way, and create “islands of elimination”, which will reverse the overall tuberculosis epidemic.

The “island of elimination” strategy does not call for any breakthroughs but only requires a change of mindset and better use of methods and tools that already exist.

The project utilizes partnerships between activists, researchers, NGOs and health care providers to provide a comprehensive spectrum of care for people at all stages of the disease.

The very objective of the project is that other cities in India and elsewhere take the initiative in a similar way and tackle their own TB epidemics urgently.

HARYANA

Campaign to free Haryana from TB within five years

According to recent report, India is at rank one in term of total number of deaths due to TB. This disease causes the highest numbers of death in world.

Haryana Govt announced the launch of a campaign to free Haryana of tuberculosis (TB). In collaboration with Medanta. The campaign, will be supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan will be the brand ambassador of the campaign.

The districts to be covered in the first phase include Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat, Palwal and Jhajjar. All 21 districts of Haryana will be covered in the three phases for which five such mobile vans will be rolled out.

About TB

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (tubercle bacillus), is a widespread, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacterium, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air.

INTETRNATIONAL AFFAIRS

THE HUMAN COST OF WEATHER

RELATED DISASTERS REPORT, 1995 - 2015

90% of major disasters have been caused by floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events.

The five countries hit by the highest number of disasters are the United States (472), China (441), India (288), Philippines (274), and Indonesia, (163).

This report is compiled by UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Belgian-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED).

KEY DETAILS FROM THE REPORT

Floods accounted for 47% of all weather-related disasters from 1995-2015.

Storms were the deadliest type of weather-related disaster, accounting for 40% of the global weather-related deaths.

92% of heatwave deaths occurred in high-income countries, with Europe accounting for 90%.

Drought affects Africa more than any other continent.

Asia accounts for the lion’s share of disaster impacts including 332,000 deaths and 3.7 billion people affected. The death toll in Asia included 138,000 deaths caused by Cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar in 2008.

In total, an average of 335 weather-related disasters were recorded per year between 2005 and 2014, an increase of 14% from 1995-2004, and almost twice the level recorded during 1985-1995.

REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE: WMO

According to report released by World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO), 2011 – 2015 declared as warmest five year on record.

Year 2015 is set to be the single hottest ever registered, with planetary temperatures passing the symbolic milestone of 1C above pre-industrial levels.

The reason behind such surface temperature is combination of a strong El Nino and human-induced global warming.

Highlights of 2015

El Nino: The El Nino began in the North Pacific region in the summer of 2014 and spread to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean in 2015. Consistent with typical El Nino impacts, large areas of Central America and the Caribbean recorded below average rainfall. Also, a powerful El Nino event is being witnessed in 2015, which is still gaining in strength. This is influencing weather patterns in many parts of the world and fuelled an exceptionally warm October. Recent Chennai flood are due to El Nino.

Ocean heat and sea level rise: The oceans have been absorbing more than 90 percent of the energy that has accumulated in the climate system from human emissions of greenhouse gases. In the first nine months of 2015, global ocean heat content reached record high levels.

Regional temperatures: Significant warmer than average temperatures were recorded over the majority of observed land areas, especially western North America, large areas of South America, Africa and southern and eastern Eurasia.

Heat waves: A major heat wave affected India in May and June 2015, with average maximum temperatures exceeded 42°C widely and 45°C in some areas. Heat waves affected Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East through the late spring and summer.

Rainfall and drought: Areas of high rainfall included: southern areas of the USA, Mexico, Bolivia, southern Brazil, southeast Europe, areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. 2015 saw exceptional seasonal rainfall totals in several parts of Burkina Faso and Mali.

There were many instances in 2015 of 24-hour total rainfall patterns exceeding the normal monthly mean of rain. While, dry areas included Central America and the Caribbean, northeast South America, parts of central Europe and Russia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and southern Africa.

Tropical Cyclones: Globally, a total of 84 tropical storms formed between January 2015 and 10 November 2015. Hurricane Patricia which made landfall in Mexico on 24 October was the strongest hurricane on record. In the Northwest Pacific basin, 25 named storms were recorded. Six typhoons made landfall over China. Four named storms formed in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Arctic and Antarctic: In 2015, the daily maximum sea ice extent, which occurred on 25 February

2015, was the lowest on record at 14.54 million km. The minimum sea ice extent was on 11 September 2015 when the extent was 4.41 million km2, the fourth lowest in the satellite record.

INDIA RE-ELECTED AS MEMBER OF

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL

India has been re-elected unopposed to the Council of the International Maritime Organization [IMO] under Category B 5 at the 29th session of the Assembly of the IMO held in London.

India has been one of the earliest members of the IMO, having ratified its Convention and joined it as a member-state in the year 1959.

India has had the privilege of being elected to and serving the Council of the IMO, ever since it started functioning, and till date, except for two years for the period 1983-1984.

About IMO:

The IMO is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

It has 171 Member States and three Associate Members.

IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected from the assembly.

The IMO’s structure comprises the Assembly, the Council, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Legal Committee, the Technical Cooperation Committee, and the secretariat, headed by a Secretary-General.

IMO Council plays a crucial role to play in deciding various important matters within the mandate of the IMO, in relation to the global shipping industry, including its work programme strategy and budget.

There are 40 members in council. Ten members are elected for cateogy A, ten members are for

5 Category A includes those countries in council which

are having largest interest in providing international shipping services. Category B includes those countries which are having largest interest in international seaborne trade

Category B and twenty members are for category C.

Analysis

With India’s re-election in IMO, India will continue to engage with the international maritime community to further India’s maritime interests and promote the welfare of its citizens.

This will result in huge savings for India’s EXIM trade and consumers on account of reduced insurance premium and consequently freight costs.

It will improve safety of fishermen and fishing boats, and will also improve the security along India’s coastline.

SOUTH ASIA

SOUTH ASIAN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

EXERCISE

The prevalent geo-climatic conditions as well as increased frequency of natural calamities in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Region, especially in the wake of the recent disasters in the region, calls for enhanced levels of preparedness and risk resilience as well as collaborative action amongst member countries to individually and jointly deal with such disaster situations to prevent loss of lives and assets.

To mitigate the impact of disasters, The South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx) 2015 was concluded in Delhi.

This was the first-ever joint exercise to be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of India.

This exercise has the participation of delegations and rescuers from each of the eight SAARC Nations – India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The key focus of SAADMEx-2015 is to test coordination efforts, create synergy and synchronize efforts to institutionalise regional cooperation on disaster response among the member countries.

Main objective

Strengthen the effective utilization and quick deployment of the Search and Rescue Teams for Disaster Relief and Emergency Response, including Emergency Rapid Assessment Teams;

Information sharing on early warning ;

Management of mass casualties which among others would involve communication breakdown and engineering difficulties;

Receiving of aid / humanitarian assistance as well as its effective and timely distribution;

Management of consular assistance to foreign tourists in the disaster area;

Coordination and information sharing with foreign embassies in the disaster affected country;

Management of media officials and control of information outflow ;

Role of International and local agencies / volunteers and their coordination with government authorities.

Special needs of vulnerable population i.e. women, children and people with disabilities in the disaster area.

South Asia is disaster prone

Over the past forty years, South Asia faced as many as 1,333 disasters that killed 980,000 people, affected 2.4 billion lives and damaged assets worth US$105 billion.

A major threat comes from the fast melting Himalayas. Some of the glaciers in Himalayas are receding more rapidly than the global average.This is also causing increased threats of glacial lake outburst floods in certain countries especially in Bhutan and Nepal. As glaciers melt, flood risks would increase in the near future. However in the later years, the region may be deprived of its precious water resources.

South Asia has a long and densely populated coastline with low-lying islands that are vulnerable to sea level rise. Having a coastline of 12,000 kilometers and a number of islands, the region is highly vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges, tsunamis and sea level rise. Low-lying islands (the Maldives, coastal areas of Sri Lanka and islands of Bangladesh) are vulnerable to sea rise. Major coastal cities like Chennai, Karachi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Cochin are exposed to increased risks of climatic disasters e.g. sea intrusion, tsunami and cyclones.

Landslides in Himalayas, cold waves in plains also worsening the situation.

Recent Nepal earthquake also highlight the disaster prone nature of South Asia, It should be counter with better preparedness and such kind of exercises have the potential to mitigate the possible risk of life.

SCIENCE

INDIA’S SUPERSONIC INTERCEPTOR

MISSILE AAD TEST-FIRED

India test-fired indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

The interceptor, known as Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile.

AAD is a part of Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. It is an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the endo-atmosphere (within the atmosphere) at an altitude of 30 km (19 miles).

Features

Length : 7.5 m (25 ft.)

Weight: 1.2 t (1.2 long tons; 1.3 short tons)

Diameter: Less than 0.5 m (1 ft. 8 in)

Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out the first test in the endo-atmospheric region at 15 kms using Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile on December 6, 2007.

It is equipped with an inertial navigation system, midcourse updates from ground based radar and active radar homing in the terminal phase, hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator.

The interceptor missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars.

About Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme

The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defence system to protect from ballistic missile attacks.

It is a double-tiered system consisting of two interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for high altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception. The two-tiered shield should be able to intercept any incoming missile launched 5,000 kilometers away.

PAD was tested in November 2006, followed by AAD in December 2007. With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after United States, Russia, and Israel.

REGENERATING BONES THROUGH

NANOPARTICLES

A recent study by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru suggests that ‘3D scaffolds’ of graphene composites can be used for bone tissue regeneration as they mimic the environment of the bone. This will be done by ‘strengthening’ Polycaprolactone (PCL) — a biodegradable polymer — by adding graphene.

Why to add graphene in PCL

PCL is biodegradable, it is considered too soft to be used as a bone template.

Graphene has a strength that is more than 200 times that of steel.

The addition of graphene dioxide was found to have increased the strength of PCL by 22 per cent and its capacity to resist deformation by 44 per cent — enough to sustain bone growth, while also being biodegradable.

Arrangement of cells in 3D scaffolds is similar to what is seen inside bone tissue. The purpose of the scaffold is to provide only a temporary home for the regenerating cells. The scaffold should degrade slowly over time allowing for healthy tissue to eventually replace the scaffold.

What is 3D cell culture?

A 3D cell culture is an artificially-created environment in which biological cells are permitted to grow or interact with their surroundings in all three dimensions. This is an improvement over the previous method of growing cells in 2D because the 3D model more accurately models the in vivo6 cells. In general, there are two types of 3D culture method;

6 in vivo is done in the body of a living organism

as opposed to in a laboratory method

Scaffold technique: Scaffold techniques include the use of hydrogels and other materials.

Scaffold free technique: Scaffold free techniques employ another approach independent from the use scaffold. For example: the use of low adhesion plate and micropatterned surfaces.

What is graphene and its other application

Graphene is made of a single layer of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a repeating pattern of hexagons.

Graphene is one million times thinner than paper; so thin that it is actually considered two dimensional.

Graphene’s flat honeycomb pattern grants it many unusual characteristics, including the status of strongest material in the world.

These single layers of carbon atoms provide the foundation for other important materials. Graphite — or pencil lead– is formed when you stack graphene. Carbon nanotubes, which are another emerging material, are made of rolled graphene.

This is used in bikes, tennis rackets and even living tissue engineering.

It can also used in solar cells, transistors, and transparent screens.

NEW SPECIES OF TREE FROG

DISCOVERED

New species of tree frog are discovered in Kadalar in the high ranges of Idukki district.

The new species is named Ghatixalus magnus after its large size making it the biggest known tree frog from the Western Ghats.

Along with the new species, bush frog, named Raorchestes flaviventris also rediscovered that had been evading for the past many decades.

About tree frogs

A tree frog is any species of frog that spends a major portion of its lifespan in trees, known as an arboreal state.

Tree frogs do not normally descend to the ground, except to mate and spawn, though some build foam nests on leaves and rarely leave the trees at all as adults.

Tree frogs are usually tiny, as their weight has to be carried by the branches and twigs in their habitats..

Rhacophoridae or shrub frogs are the tree frogs of tropical regions around the Indian Ocean: Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia east to Lydekker's line. A few also occur in East Asia.

Raorchestes flaviventris

Flaviventris is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family.

It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its common name is the yellow bellied bush frog.

Frogs of India are under threat

More than 20 per cent of frogs and toads — 78 of the 340 species — found in India are under threat. This study is conducted by Zoological Survey of India in 2014. There are 17 species which are ‘critically endangered; 32 are ‘endangered’, 22 are ‘vulnerable’, and the remaining seven are ‘near threatened species’.

Frogs and toads are very sensitive to habitat and climate change and are referred as “bio indicators. Their presence or absence denotes whether a habitat is in good condition or is undergoing change and is under threat.

One of the main reasons behind the diminishing numbers of the amphibians was climate change, widespread deforestation and destruction of the frogs’ natural habitat. Frogs are also captured to be sold off in the global market.

INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED

NUCLEAR-CAPABLE DHANUSH BALLISTIC

MISSILE

India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km from a naval ship INS Subhadra off the Odisha coast

About Dhanush

The missile is a surface-to-surface variant of the Prithvi III missiles.

It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO.

Dhanush has a tested range of around 350 kilometre where it can carry a payload of 1,000 kilograms. It can also carry a 500-kilogram warhead for 600 kilometres and a 250-kilogram warhead for 750 kilometres.

The surface-to-surface missile can also be used as a ship-to-ship warhead, capable of blasting any naval threat

It is 8.5m long missile.

The missile can be used as an anti-naval fleet weapon as well as for destroying land-based targets depending on the range

The Dhanush missile is one of the five nuclear-capable missiles that have been developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

INS Subhadra

INS Subhadra is a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.

The Sukanya-class patrol vessels are large, offshore patrol craft in active service with the Indian Navy. Three lead ships were built by Korea Tacoma, now part of Hanjin Group.

They are capable of being heavily armed and upgraded to light frigates should the need arise.

Two vessels of the class, Subhadra and Suvarna have been used as test beds for installation of the Dhanush ship-based ballistic missile launch system.

INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES N-

CAPABLE PRITHVI II MISSILE

India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial by the army. The missile test was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.

About the missile

Prithvi-II is indigenously developed nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km.

The missile is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines.

It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory.

It is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India’s prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program).

The missile is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads.

It was inducted into India’s armed forces in 2003.

Integrated Guided Missile Programme

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program

(IGMDP) was formed in 1983 with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in missile development & production and today comprises of five core missile programs. The program has given India the capability to produce indigenous missiles in other key areas.

In India IGMDP comprises of following missiles developed by DRDO:

Surface to surface missile: Prithvi

Surface to air medium range missile: Akash

Anti-tank missile: Nag

Surface-to-air short range missile: Trishul

Intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM): Agni

LRSAM SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT-TESTED

Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM), jointly designed and developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and DRDO, has been successfully tested from an Israeli Naval Platform.

Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) has undertaken joint development of missiles viz. Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) for Indian Navy and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) for Indian Air Force with M/s Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Israel.

About the missile:

LRSAM is also called Barak 8 missile in Israel which in Hebrew language means Lightning.

This is used by Indian Navy for its four new Kolkata-class destroyers, seven proposed Project 17A frigates, and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC).

For the LRSAM, DRDO has designed and developed Dual Pulse Propulsion System and other safe arm mechanisms for Solid Propulsion system.

The missile is designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets.

Both maritime and land-based versions of the system exist.

The LRSAM programme consists of Missiles, MFSTAR (Radar), Weapon Control System, Vertical Launcher unit and Two- way data link

KERALA SCIENTISTS DEVELOP

SALTWATER-TOLERANT PADDY

Scientists at the Rice Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Vyttila have developed a new variety of paddy tolerant to saltwater intrusion, a major challenge faced by farmers in the lowlands.

Jyothi is the most popular rice variety of kerala. This is known for its superior grain quality but restricted by lack of saline tolerance.

But now SalTol gene which is present in the Pokkali variety (most salt tolerant), is transferred to Jyothi variety making it more salt tolerant.

The scientists used the introgressive hybridisation technique to move the SalTol gene from Pokkali to the gene pool of Jyothi.

INTERCEPTOR BOAT ICGS C-422

COMMISSIONED

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned an interceptor boat (ICGS C-422) at the Karaikal port. This will enhance the port’s shallow water operational capability along the South Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast.

About this boat:

The Indian Coast Guard has introduced ICGS C-422 to its eastern fleet

The vessel will patrol the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, along the Bay of Bengal

The vessel can undertake multiple operations such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and coordinated operations with the sea and air units

The Coast Guard has around 36 interceptor boats. The ICGS C-422 is the newest and most advanced vessel to join the fleet

M/s. Larsen and Toubro Ltd has developed the ICGS C-422, which is 27.8 metre long

The boat can run at a top speed of 45 nautical miles per hour (85 kilometre per hour)

The vessel has state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment. It also has two engines that allows it to travel for 500 nautical miles

The vessel has a capacity to accommodate one on-board officer and 11 Coast Guard personnel

The boat will join two other interceptors ICGS C-428 and C-415, and two fast patrol boats ICGS Rani Durgavati and ICGS Ameya. All these vessels are based at the Karaikal port.

What are interceptor boats?

Interceptor boats have been designed for coastal defence duties and to perform the following operations:

Day/night coastal patrolling

Surveillance including high-speed interception in anti-terrorist / anti-smuggling / light intensity military operation scenarios

To protect coastal waters, including island territories

The boat has been designed with an aluminum hull and is capable of a maximum sustainable speed of more than 40 knots at moderate sea conditions

DRUG-RESISTANT BUG KLEBSIELLA

CAUSES WORRY IN HOSPITALS

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), a pathogen found in hospitals throughout the developing and developed world.

This pathogen is responsible for causing urinary tract infections, ventilator-acquired pneumonias and blood stream infections (sepsis) and is proving to be fatal in 30 to 40 per cent of the patients who have contracted it usually during a long stay in the hospital, particularly in the intensive care unit

Now third-generation antibiotic carbapanems are failing to treat the Klebsiella pathogen, leading to higher mortality.

Patients such as those suffering from lymphoma or who have undergone transplants are particularly difficult to treat.

The implication of the growing resistance is serious.Higher the level of resistance, higher the mortality.

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