SAMVEG IAS / PCS ,DEHRADUN,Uttarakhand announcement for IAS - 2015

Samveg ias,Dehradun focus on revision before IAS PRE exam

Dear IAS Aspirants 

It is REVISION time .whatever you have prepared well,you should focus to revise the same as many time as possible.Avoid reading fresh material.
first revise the static part focussed way like ..
indian polity and governance
indian and basic geography
modernhistory and art and culture
and then
basic economics and economic survey for current news
current affairs related to environment and science and technology.

* Make strategy for speedand accuracy for CSAT.

Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO)

The Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) addresses holistically various aspects relating to earth processes for understanding the variability of earth system and for improving forecast of the weather, climate and hazards.   The investigations related to polar regions are carried out to understand the impact of climate change.  The ESSO is also responsible for development of technology towards the exploration and exploitation of marine resources in a sustainable way for the socio-economic benefit of the society. 

Some of the major accomplishments during the last one year are as follows:

1.                   Cyclone Prediction:  India, has witnessed a number of tropical cyclones - PHAILIN, HELEN, LEHAR, MAHASEN, MADI, and extreme weather events with heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand and Gujarat. The operational weather forecasts and advisories rendered in respect of these extreme events has received an overwhelming appreciation, and demonstrated quality of such services at par with international agencies or even better in the case of Phailin cyclone.  There has been a remarkable improvement in the prediction of track and landfall of cyclones.  This has been accomplished by virtue of augmentation of observation, both in situ and satellite, for ocean and atmospheric observations, enhanced computing capability and use of dynamical models. The precise forecast of the track and landfall of cyclone, storm surge, high waves and associated rainfall and wind during the Phailin cyclone, helped the government at all levels to effectively respond to the cyclone to save lives.

2.                   Agromet Advisory Services: Extension of biweekly district-level weather forecast and crop specific advisory in local languages to cater to needs of 5.0 million farmers which contributes significantly to the GDP.  Dissemination of AAS services to cover all the 600 agricultural districts of India.

3.                   Monsoon Prediction:  The implementation of the Monsoon Mission and improvement in prediction of forecast of rainfall on different space and time scales.  For the first time, dynamic model was employed on experimental basis to predict quantitative precipitation associated with the southwest monsoon. The long range forecast for the season (June-September) rainfall for the country as a whole was 104-108% against actual rainfall of 106% of LPA for the year 2013. The Mission has adopted the NCEP CFSv2.0 model to identify its strength and weakness and incorporate new physics/parameterization schemes to improve the simulations/prediction skill of the monsoon rainfall. Based on this model, an indigenous climate model has been developed for studying variability and predictability of monsoon on seasonal, inter-annual and decadal time scale.  As a part of these studies, a cloud-physics laboratory at Mahabaleswar has been made functional.  

4.                  High Performance Computing:  High performance computation facilities have been substantially augmented by upgrading the existing 170 Teraflop to 01 Petaflop, which is ranked at 36th position in the world and first in the country.

5.                  International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography:  An International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography has been established at the ESSO-INCOIS, Hyderabad for promotion of capacity building in the countries of the Indian Ocean region, in coordination with IOC / UNESCO. 

6.                  Polar Research:  India successfully commenced operations at the 3^rd Permanent Station “Bharati”, in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.  This will provide a major thrust to studies in the fields of glaciology, atmosphere, paleoclimate and Polar biology.  India has been accorded Observe status in the Arctic Council in recognition of India’s scientific contribution and endeavour in Polar research. India successfully deployed Ocean Observing System in the Arctic water in July, 2014.

7.                  Ocean Survey and Mineral Exploration:  India’s application filed for the allotment of a site (~10,000 sq km) for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides in the Indian Ocean has been approved during the meeting of the International Seabed Authority, Kingston, Jamaica in July 2014. As a part of exploration of ocean mineral and survey program, a series of seven major research cruises of 30 days each have been conducted in the central Indian Ocean Basin for acquisition of marine geophysical data.  Quantum of data collected to date, in the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and South West Indian Ridge (SWIR), include Multi-beam Eco Sounder (MBES) surveys of ~65,000 km2 (area), Magnetic surveys  of ~17,000 km (line) and Gravity surveys of ~9,115 km (line). 

8.                  National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS):  The Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Thriruvananthapuram, Govt. of Kerala, was brought under the administrative control of the ministry with effect from 1.1.2014. The purpose is primarily to strengthen the solid earth research.

9.                  Deep bore holes investigations in Koyna Warna region:  A Research program in the Koyna-Warna region of Maharastra has been launched to address major issues pertaining to the occurrence of earthquakes and their mechanism, by drilling a deep borehole of 6-7 km in a continental earthquake zone, enabling study of physical and chemical changes before, during, and after an earthquake.  Preparatory activities including drilling of 4 boreholes up to 1.5 km have been completed which provided insights on the Deccan volcanism and stress regime, pore fluid pressure and its variations, heat flow and its variations, orientation of faults etc. There are no sedimentary rocks found below the basaltic rocks.  The thickness of basalt rocks at both the sites are about 933 m and 1185 m at Koyna and Warna, respectively, underlining by the granite basement with no sediments in between.  The core retrieved from boreholes revealed a flood basalt pile comprising a number of lava flows, each flow being characterized by a vesicular and/or amygdaloidal layer underlain by fine grained massive basalt.  Flow top breccias has been identified in some flows.

10.              Coastal Vulnerability:  A Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) atlas comprising 157 maps on 1:100000 scales was prepared for nine coastal states and Islands for use by various agencies, primarily in responding to various ocean hazards, viz., Tsunami, Cyclones, and Storm Surges

Population norm for Metro Rail Projects to be reduced to 10 lakhs from the present 20 lakhs

Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and Shri Piyush Goyal dedicate DMRC’s Solar Power Plant to the Nation DMRC to scale up renewable energy use to 20 MW of solar power in 3 years

Urban Development Minister Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today said that keeping in view the growing popularity of and demand for Metro Rail services, government is considering reducing the population norm for financing Metro Projects. He spoke about the need for ‘smart infrastructure’ in urban areas after dedicating to the Nation the 500 MWP Solar Power Plant of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) here today. Minister of Power, Coal and New and Renewal Energy Shri Piyush Goyal was also present on the occasion. The solar power plant, meant to meet part power needs of Dwarka Sector-21 Metro Station was switched on remotely using web link at Metro Bhawan. Shri Naidu further said that National Urban Transport Policy, 2006 is under review keeping in view the imperative need for improving public transport services in urban areas in the context of growing urbanization and attendant challenges. He said that at present, central government is financing Metro Projects in towns/cities with a population of 20 lakhs and above and this norm is proposed to be reduced to ten lakhs. Underlining the need for ensuring ‘energy security’ of the country through reduced dependence on oil imports, both the Ministers referred to the need to scale up speedily renewable energy use through promotion of appropriate technologies based on Prime Minister’s dictum of ‘Speed, Scale and Skill’. The Ministers’ unveiled DMRC’s Solar Power Policy of DMRC which seeks to reach a level of renewable energy use of 20 MW in the next three years. Shri Goyal said that keeping in view the need and ability of DMRC, this goal be reached in one year. Shri Venkaiah Naidu who travelled by Air Port Metro Rail Line this morning, complimented DMRC for increasing the ridership on this line by over 30% per month besides reducing operational losses since it took over the line in July, 2013. He said he has been regularly using this line as it affords ‘no stress, no tension’ travel.

Development Of ADV-USC Technology for Thermal Power Plants as an R&D Project

A new scheme has been introduced in the Union Budget of 2014-15 for `Development of Advanced Ultra Super-Critical (Adv-USC) Technology for Thermal Power Plants` as an R&D Project. The aim & objective of the scheme is to undertake R&D and other aspects of Adv-USC Technology for Thermal Power Plants in order to improve power plant efficiency (to 45 – 46 %), reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and reduce coal consumption, as well as establishing a demonstration power plant of 800 MW capacity based on the developed technology. The overall cost of the R&D Phase is estimated to be Rs. 1554 Crore. For the Financial Year 2014-15, the Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs. 100 Crore for the project.  Initiative to Encourage States to Utilize Wastelands for Setting up Renewable Energy Projects Government has taken various initiatives which includes setting up of Solar Parks on the banks of canals, Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, wind power projects for which the States are encouraged to use land including wastelands depending on availability and resources. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. Further, The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is providing various fiscal incentive such as generation based incentives, accelerated depreciation, concessional excise and customs duties for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the country. Besides providing financial and fiscal incentives, a few other measures to promote renewable energy include: setting up of demonstration projects, preferential tariff for purchase of power generated from renewable sources, intensive resource assessment, development of power evacuation and testing facilities, introduction of Renewable Energy Certification and Renewable Purchase Obligation, etc. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under this Ministry, also provides soft term loan for promotion of renewable energy projects. The Minister further stated that the cost of land in renewable energy projects such as wind farms and solar farms/power plants is of the order of 3 to 5 per cent of total project cost. The new Land Acquisition Act may impact the total cost of renewable energy projects. The Minister further stated that the Act stipulates payment of compensation and Rehabilitation and Resettlement package as per First, Second and Third Schedule of the Act. Under the Act, time frame has been prescribed during which various processes are to be completed. A draft National Land Utilisation Policy has been formulated which inter-alia proposes Land Utilization Zones for the purpose of ensuring optimal utilization of land resources, the Minister added. Grid connected solar power plants of 2596 MW aggregate capacity have been commissioned during the last three years across the country as given below This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.A goal for deployment of grid connected solar power capacity of 20,000 MW by 2022  in three phases has been set under the National Solar Mission  (NSM) as under : §  Phase-I (till 2013) : 1000 MW §  Phase-II (2013-17) : 9,000 MW §  Phase-III (2017-22) : 10,000 MW             The Minister further stated that an aggregate capacity of 1686 MW of grid connected solar power plants was commissioned by end of  NSM Phase-I, and further capacity of 1000 MW has been added during NSM Phase-II  as on 30.06.2014, taking the total solar power generation capacity in the country to 2686 MW as on 30.6.2014.

Promotion of Clean Coal Technologies

Coal washing is one of the practices being promoted as a measure to encourage clean coal technologies and Coal India Limited (CIL) is in the process of setting up sixteen   new coal washeries with a total throughput capacity of 92.1 million tonnes per year through global tendering process.  The construction has already started in 3 washeries. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. The Minister further stated that there are a few research projects supported under Science & Technology ( S&T) Grant of Ministry of Coal and Research & Development (R&D)  fund of Coal India Ltd, to promote Clean Coal Technologies, as given below: 1.   Coal Bed Methane (CBM): (i)                 Coal Bed Methane Recovery and Commercial Utilization (ii)               Development of optimization of CBM recovery process for CO2  sequestration (iii)             Analysis of in-situ stress for CBM exploration in Jharia Coalfield (iv)             Delineation of viable coal mine methane (CMM) /abandoned mine methane (AMM) blocks in the existing and would be mining areas having partly distressed coal  in virgin coal seams (v)               Exploration of CBM in deep seated coal deposits of Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields (vi)             An investigation on adsorption characteristics of Indian coal (vii)           CBM reserves estimation for Indian Coalfields 2.   Shale Gas: (i)     Assessment of prospect of shale gas in Gondwana basin with special reference   to CIL areas. (ii)   Shale gas potentiality evaluation of Damodar basin of India.          3.   Coal Liquefaction: (i)        Development of indigenous catalyst through pilot scale studies of Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) conversion technology.          4.   Coal Beneficiation: (i)        Demonstration of coal dry beneficiation system using Radiometric Technique. (ii)      Demonstration of Cost effective Technology for dry beneficiation of coal by Allair Jig. (iii)    Development of an On-line coal washability analyser. (i) An MoU was entered into by MoC with US Energy Protection Agency (USEPA) on 16 November, 2006 for establishing coal bed methane (CBM)/coal mine methane (CMM) Clearing House in India. Accordingly, the CBM Clearing House was established at Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI), Ranchi in November, 2008. The objective of the Clearing House was to undertake activities to support the mitigation of Greenhouse Emissions from coal mines in India and to act as a repository of methane based information in the country and facilitate formulation of projects for utilization of methane recovered from mines. (ii)        A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 3rd October, 2008 between New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan (NEDO), the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India (MOF/DEA), the Ministry of Coal, Government of India (MOC) and Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd. (MIEL) for joint implementation of a model project for implementation of highly efficient pilot coal preparation technology project for setting up a coal washery with a raw coal throughput capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per annum in Angul District, Block Chhendipada, Odisha. (iii)       Two Studies were instituted by European Union under Energy Dialogue on washability of low volatile medium coking coal; and on exploitation of steeply inclined seams in North Eastern Coalfields of India. (iv)       CMPDIL has entered into an MoU with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia on June 2013 for cooperation in research in various technology related areas including 3D seismic survey for coal exploration, Drill hole geophysical logging and data analysis, Underground mine ventilation, Mine gas capture and utilization, Mine fire prevention and control, Underground strata control, Pit wall and overburden dump stability, Coal quality control, Coal cleaning and preparation, Coal to liquids technology, Coal performance impacts on coal gasification and related syngas technologies, Coal blending for combustion and gasification applications, coal mineral matter, ash and slag properties and their management and utilization, Underground mining technologies and Mine reclamation and rehabilitation, the Minister added

Ebola Virus Disease

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. Although non-human primates have been a source of infection for humans, they are not thought to be the reservoir but rather an accidental host like human beings.

Transmission

Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been noticed among those handling infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope found ill or dead or in the rainforest. Ebola then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced.

Signs and symptoms

EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days.

Diagnosis

Before a patient is diagnosed as infected with EVD, one should rule out malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral hemorrhagic fevers like dengue, yellow fever and kyasanur forest disease etc.

Vaccine and treatment

There is no specific treatment nor is any licensed vaccine for EVD available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. Patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids.

Prevention and control

No animal vaccine against this is available. Routine cleaning and disinfection of pig or monkey farms (with sodium hypochlorite or other detergents) should be effective in inactivating the virus.

If an outbreak is suspected, the premises should be quarantined immediately. Culling of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses, may be necessary to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission. Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease.

As this viral outbreak in pigs and monkeys have preceded human infections, the establishment of an active animal health surveillance system to detect new cases is essential in providing early warning for veterinary and human public health authorities.

In the absence of effective treatment and a human vaccine, raising awareness of the risk factors for Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take is the only way to reduce human infection and death.

India and EBOLA

There is a risk the deadly virus could be imported into the country if the large population of Indians working in the four affected West African nations returns. There are nearly 45,000 Indian nationals living and working in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria - where an outbreak of the disease has killed 932 people. While the risk of Ebola virus cases in India is low, preparedness measures are in place to deal with any case of the virus imported to India. Government has advised against all non-essential travel to the four countries, and authorities will screen travelers who originate from or transit through affected nations, and track them after their arrival in India.
The government will also set up facilities at airports and ports to manage travelers showing symptoms of the disease. State authorities have been instructed to designate hospitals with isolation wards for response to possible cases and to stock personal protective equipment.