Current Affairs – 2 May 2024
ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC)
A study carried out by the scientists at the Space Applications Centre suggests that the extent of water ice in the northern polar region is twice that in the southern polar region of the Moon.
- Space Applications Centre (SAC):
- A major research and development center of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with two campuses.
- Genesis:
- Established in 1966 as the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES) by Vikram Sarabhai.
- Merged units of ISRO in Ahmedabad in 1972 to form SAC.
- Core Competence:
- Development of space and air-borne instruments/payloads.
- Applications for national development and societal benefits.
- Applications:
- Communication, navigation, and remote sensing needs.
- Contributions to scientific and planetary missions like Chandrayan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission.
- Communication Transponders:
- Developed for INSAT and GSAT satellites, used for VSAT, DTH, Internet, broadcasting, telephones.
- Design and Development:
- Optical and microwave sensors, signal and image processing software, GIS software.
- Earth Observation (EO) Programme:
- Applications in Geosciences, Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, Oceanography, etc.
- Facilities:
- Sophisticated payload integration labs, fabrication facilities, environmental test facilities.
- Image processing and analysis facilities, project management support group, well-stocked library.
- Training Programs:
- Host institution for training programs for students from the Asia Pacific region in satellite meteorology and communication under CSSTE-AP.
Navratna status
Recently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency public sector undertaking company was granted ‘Navratna status’ from the department of public enterprises.
- Navratna Status:
- Introduced by the government in 1997 for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
- Criteria:
- Miniratna-I, Schedule ‘A’ company.
- ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ MoU rating in three of the last five years.
- Composite score of 60 in six performance indicators.
- Net profit of more than Rs 5,000 crore for three consecutive years.
- Average annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore for three years, or annual average net worth over Rs 15,000 crore for three years.
- Benefits:
- Financial Independence: Can invest up to ₹1,000 crore without seeking central government approval.
- Investment Flexibility: Allowed to invest up to 15% of net worth on a single project or 30% of net worth in a year, with a cap of ₹1,000 crore.
- Capital Expenditure: Can incur capital expenditure on purchase of new items or replacements without monetary ceiling.
- Technology Joint Ventures: Permitted to enter into technology joint ventures or strategic alliances.
Project ISHAN
India has kickstarted the process of unifying its four airspace regions into one spanning the entire nation under Project ISHAN.
- Project ISHAN:
- Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management initiative.
- Aims to streamline and enhance air traffic management in India.
- Current Arrangement:
- Indian airspace divided into four FIRs: Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, and a sub-FIR in Guwahati, managed separately.
- Proposed Change:
- Unify four FIRs into one continuous airspace in Nagpur for harmonized air traffic management.
- Airports Authority of India (AAI):
- Statutory body under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
- Formed on April 1, 1995, by merging the National Airports Authority and the International Airports Authority of India.
- Responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure.
- Provides Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS) over Indian Air Space and adjoining oceanic areas.
- Ground installations at all airports and 25 other locations to ensure aircraft operation safety.
Kutch Ajrakh
Recently, the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (CGPDTM) has bestowed the Geographical Indication (GI) certificate upon the traditional artisans of ‘Kutch Ajrakh,’ hailing from the vibrant region of Kutch in Gujarat.
- Kutch Ajrakh:
- Textile craft deeply rooted in Gujarat’s cultural heritage, particularly in regions like Sindh, Barmer, and Kutch.
- Legacy spans millennia, with intricate designs and rich symbolism.
- Craft Process:
- Hand-block printing on treated cotton cloth.
- Utilizes natural dyes, particularly indigo (‘Azrak’) for a bluish effect.
- Traditional prints include blue (sky), red (land and fire), and white (stars).
- Fabrics treated with vegetable and mineral colors, undergoing approximately eight washing cycles.
- History and Origin:
- Introduced over 400 years ago to the region by Sind Muslims.
- Usage:
- Worn by nomadic pastoralist and agricultural communities like Rabaris, Maldharis, and Ahirs.
- Used as turbans, lungis, or stoles, showcasing cultural identity and heritage.
Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) System
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a next-generation torpedo release system.
- Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) System:
- Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Launched from a ground mobile launcher at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
- Features:
- Missile-based mechanism to launch lightweight torpedoes targeting submarines hundreds of kilometers away.
- Extends the conventional range of lightweight torpedoes.
- Particularly useful in immediate action scenarios when enemy submarines are detected.
- System Components:
- Canister-based missile system with advanced subsystems.
- Includes two-stage solid propulsion and precision inertial navigation.
- Carries an advanced lightweight torpedo missile as payload with parachute-based release mechanism.
- Validation:
- Various state-of-the-art mechanisms validated in the test, such as symmetric separation, ejection, and velocity control.
Kankesanthurai Port
India to grant full renovation cost of Kankesanthurai Port in northern Sri Lanka
- Location– It is in Jaffna near Point Pedro, the northernmost point in Sri Lanka.
- Strategic significance– The port is located at a distance of 104 km from Karaikal port, Pondicherry.
- Origin– The port’s harbour has served as an arrival and departure point for pilgrims since classical antiquity and is named after the Sri Lankan Tamil god Murugan.
| Historical sites | About |
| Naguleswaram temple | It is one of the Pancha Ishwarams dedicated to Lord Shiva |
| Keerimalai springs | It is adjacent to Naguleshwaram temple, they believed to possess healing properties. |
| Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple | It is located south of the harbor. |
| Kankesanthurai fort | It was built by Dutch and is a testament to the colonial history of the region. |
| Kankesanthurai lighthouse and beach | The lighthouse is damaged due to Sri Lankan civil war. |
- Port– In 2011, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to revive the port by clearing sunken ships and deepening the harbour.
- Connectivity- This should significantly lower the transit time of goods to and from the east coast of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, and propel economic activity in the north.
- Passenger ship service- It connects Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai port to resume operations from May 13, 2024.
- Aim– To bolster bilateral ties, boosts tourism, and increasing people-to-people relations.
- Cheriyapani– It is a High Speed Craft vessel which is designated for the ferry service.
- Implementation by– Tamil Nadu Maritime Board and Shipping Corporation of India.
- Capacity– 150 passengers.
- Time taken– 110 km in 3.5 hours.
- Renovation project– Sri Lanka has decided to renovate the port with India agreeing to fund the entire project.