Nasa probe begins search for elusive Earth-Trojan asteroid

OSIRIS-REx, currently on a two-year outbound journey to the asteroid Bennu, will spend almost two weeks searching for evidence of Earth-Trojan asteroids, Nasa said

A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) spacecraft has started searching for an enigmatic class of near-Earth objects known as Earth-Trojan asteroids, which may be lurking in the solar system in places difficult to observe from our planet.

OSIRIS-REx, currently on a two-year outbound journey to the asteroid Bennu, will spend almost two weeks searching for evidence of these small bodies, Nasa said.
Trojan asteroids are trapped in stable gravity wells, called Lagrange points, which precede or follow a planet. OSIRIS-REx is currently travelling through Earth’s fourth Lagrange point, which is located 60 degrees ahead in Earth’s orbit around the Sun, about 150 million kilometres from our planet.
The mission team will use this opportunity to take multiple images of the area with the spacecraft’s MapCam camera in the hope of identifying Earth-Trojan asteroids in the region. Although scientists have discovered thousands of Trojan asteroids accompanying other planets, only one Earth-Trojan has been identified to date, asteroid 2010 TK7.

Scientists predict that there should be more Trojans sharing Earth’s orbit, but they are difficult to detect from Earth as they appear near the Sun on the Earth’s horizon. “Because the Earth’s fourth Lagrange point is relatively stable, it is possible that remnants of the material that built Earth are trapped within it,” said principal investigator Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson.
“So this search gives us a unique opportunity to explore the primordial building blocks of Earth,” Lauretta said. On each observation day, the spacecraft’s MapCam camera will take 135 survey images that will be processed and examined by the mission’s imaging scientists.
The study plan also includes opportunities for MapCam to image Jupiter, several galaxies, and the main belt asteroids 55 Pandora, 47 Aglaja and 12 Victoria, Nasa said. Whether or not the team discovers any new asteroids, the search is a beneficial exercise, researchers said.
The operations involved in searching for Earth-Trojan asteroids closely resemble those required to search for natural satellites and other potential hazards around Bennu when the spacecraft approaches its target in 2018. Being able to practice these mission-critical operations in advance will help the OSIRIS-REx team reduce mission risk once the spacecraft arrives at Bennu.

Isro set to launch record 104 satellites on 15 February

Isro’s PSLV-C37 will launch the 714kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664kg at lift-of

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will carry a record 104 satellites in a single mission on 15 February from the space centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

“PSLV-C37/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission is scheduled to be launched on February 15, 2017 at 9.28 hours IST from SDSC SHAR Sriharikota,” Isro said.
The PSLV, in its 39th flight (PSLV-C37), will launch the 714kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664kg at lift-off. It will be launched into a 505km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Isro said the co-passenger satellites comprise 101 nano- satellites, one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 96 from United States of America (USA), as well as two from India.
The two Indian nano-satellites are Isro’s INS-1A and INS-1B. INS-1A and INS-1B will carry a total of four different payloads from Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) of Isro for conducting various experiments, the space agency said.
Last year, Isro had launched a record 20 satellites at one go. The highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37, a record that Russia set in 2014. The US space agency, Nasa has launched 29.
The 101 international customer nano-satellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation Ltd (Antrix), the commercial arm of Isro and the international customers.
Speaking on the record launch, Isro chairman Kiran Kumar had earlier said the aim was to maximise the capability with each launch and it was not to set a record. “We are not looking at it as a record or anything like that; we are just trying to maximise our capability with each launch, in trying to utilise that launch for the ability it has got and getting the maximum return,” he had said.

KHELEO

Mascot for FIFA Under 17 World Cup India 2017

Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel with President of AIFF Shri Praful Patel here today unveiled the mascot KHELEO for FIFA under 17 World Cup India 2017. The mascot was unveiled during the launch of Mission XI Million programme.

FIFA under 17 world cup to be held in India from 06/10/2017 to 28/10/2017.

India successfully test-fires interceptor missile off Odisha coast

India successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast, achieving a significant milestone in direction of developing a 2-layered Ballistic Missile Defence system

India on Saturday successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast, achieving a significant milestone in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence system. The interceptor was launched from Abdul Kalam Island or Wheeler Island of ITR at about 7.45am.

This mission, termed as “PDV mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of earth’s atmosphere”, said a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) official. “Both, the PDV interceptor and the two stage target missile, were successfully engaged,” he said.
The target was developed for mimicking a hostile Ballistic Missile approaching from more than 2,000 km away was launched from a ship anchored in the Bay of Bengal.
In an automated operation, radar based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy’s ballistic missile. The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming Ballistic Missile.
The PDV that was kept fully ready, took-off once the computer system gave the necessary command for lift-off. The Interceptor guided by high accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception.
Once the missile crossed the atmosphere, the Heat Shield ejected and the IR Seeker dome opened to look at the Target location as designated by the Mission Computer. With the help of Inertial Guidance and IR Seeker the missile moved for interception.

Government appoints Ajay Tyagi as new Sebi chief

Ajay Tyagi will be the ninth Sebi chairman and will be taking over from U.K.Sinha

The government on Friday said it appointed Ajay Tyagi, an additional secretary in the finance ministry, as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

The cabinet appointments committee said Tyagi, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, will serve as the Sebi chief for five years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
Tyagi, who will be the ninth Sebi chairman, will take over from U.K. Sinha, the second-longest serving chief of the capital markets regulator after D.R. Mehta.
Sinha became Sebi chief in 2011 with a three-year term and was later given a two-year extension which was to end on 17 February 2016.
Sinha was later given a further extension until 1 March 2017.
Tyagi will replace Sinha at a time when the Indian capital markets are facing subdued inflows after foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) heavily sold domestic equities and debt in November and December last year.
FPIs, often considered key drivers of the Indian market, pulled out funds worth around $9.5 billion during the two months, following a steep jump in the price of the dollar.

Sebi is currently in the process of organizing the commodity derivatives market, reviving trade on commodity bourses and streamlining norms to avoid default risks after the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) merged with it in September 2015.
Tyagi will have to deal with issues arising from the listings of stock exchanges. While Asia’s oldest bourse, BSE Ltd, listed on the rival National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday, NSE plans to list its shares on BSE early in the financial year beginning 1 April. NSE has filed its share sale prospectus with the regulator as its existing investors look to dilute a 22.5% stake through an initial public offering which could raise as much as Rs10,000 crore.
On 28 January, Sebi instituted a three-tier system to monitor compliance and address conflicts that may arise from one stock exchange listing on another. The final oversight will lie with an independent conflict resolution committee that will be constituted by Sebi, the regulator has said.
The first order monitoring will be done by the listing department of the stock exchange on which another bourse gets listed.
As a second level check, Sebi said, the independent oversight committee of the bourse on which another exchange gets listed will monitor and deal with any possible conflicts.
If the listed exchange is aggrieved, it may appeal to this committee.
Additionally, Sebi will constitute an independent conflict resolution committee which will monitor and review matters on a regular basis. If the listed stock exchange feels aggrieved even with the decision of the independent oversight committee, it may appeal to this Sebi committee, the regulator has said.
On 31 July 2015, Tyagi was appointed to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) central board of directors, replacing finance secretary Rajiv Mehrishi. At the time Tyagi, an additional secretary, was one rung below Mehrishi in the department of economic affairs.
However, after a little more than three months, Tyagi was replaced by Shaktikanta Das, secretary, department of economic affairs, as the government nominee on the RBI board.
Before his appointment in the department of economic affairs, Tyagi was a joint secretary in the ministry of environment, forests and climate change.

First Indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C)

First Indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) in IOC Configuration to be Handed over to IAF During Aero India 2017

The first indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) in IOC configuration shall be handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF), on 14th February during Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka Air base in Bengaluru. This was announced by Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence (R&D), Dr. S. Christopher while addressing the media in Bengaluru today, during the curtain raiser on DRDO’s participation in Aero India-2017.

The Airborne Surveillance System is a game changer in air warfare. The AEW&C System is a system of systems populated with state-of-the art Active Electronically Scanned Radar, Secondary Surveillance Radar, Electronic and Communication Counter Measures, LOS (Line of Sight) and beyond LOS data link, voice communication system and self protection suite, built on an Emb-145 platform, having an air to air refueling capability to enhance surveillance time. A Complex tactical software has been developed for fusion of information from the sensors, to provide the air situation picture along with intelligence to handle identification/classification threat assessment. Battle management functions are built in house to work as a network centric system of Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) node.

Agriculture Growth Rate of 4.1% shows that the government is working seriously for the betterment of the farmers and farming

Agriculture Growth Rate of 4.1% shows that the government is working seriously for the betterment of the farmers and farming: Shri Radha Mohan Singh

Budget manifests government’s commitment to double the farmers income in a span of 5 years: Shri Singh

Budget has provided security coverage to agriculture sector as well as farmers: Shri Singh

Budgetary provision of Rs. 45,250 crore for the year 2016-17 has now been increased by 15.31% to Rs. 51,026 crore for the year 2017-18

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that this time it has become very clear again that the Central Government is working for the villages, the poor and farmers. Shri Singh further added that agriculture growth rate has increased from 2% to 4.1% and it shows that the government is working seriously for the betterment of the farmers and farming. The commitment of the Government to double the income of the farmer in 5 years has been under scored in this budget. Shri Singh said this in an informal talk with journalist in the Ministry. On this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister informed the journalist in detail the provision made for agriculture sector in the budget.

Shri Singh said that this budget manifests government’s commitment to double the farmers income in a span of 5 years. Apart from this, provisions have been made to continue erstwhile schemes. Goals of White and Blue Revolution have been reiterated in this budget. Ambitious schemes have been chalked out to promote the agriculture sector in this budget. For instance, a sum of Rs. 9000 crores have been provided for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana resulting in the enhancement of crop security coverage to the farmers.

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister said that this budget has provided security coverage to agriculture sector as well as farmers. The government has made up its mind to dig one million ponds. This is a praise worthy step. By providing irrigation and fisheries facilities through these ponds, the farmers will be helped to double their incomes.  In the previous year, 5 lakh ponds have been built. Besides, this budget aims to provide 100 employment days to the farmers through MNREGA which is also a praise worthy step.  To promote “per drop more crop”, those areas will also be provided water for irrigation which were earlier deprived of this facility through long term irrigation fund.

Shri Singh informed that budgetary provision of Rs. 45,250 crore for the year 2016-17 was made for Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare which has now been increased by 15.31% to Rs. 51,026 crore for the year 2017-18. The Minister highlighted the following provisions of the Budget:

·        While accelerating the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 40% agricultural area will be brought under the scheme this year. It was 30% in the previous year. Similarly, it will be increased to 50% for the year 2018-19. During the previous year, there was a budget provision of Rs. 5.5 thousand crores which will be increased to Rs. 9000 crore during this year. Simultaneously, an additional sum of Rs. 7.7 thousand crores has also been provided during this year for the dues of previous year.

·        Soil Health Card – for all 648 KVKs, a provision has been made to establish mini soil testing labs. 1000 labs will be activated through local entrepreneurs. Loan related subsidy will be provided for this purpose by the government. 

·        e-NAM – at present, 250 mandis are linked with e-NAM platform which will be increased to 585 mandis. For this purpose, each mandi will be provided assistance upto Rs. 75 lakhs for their basic infrastructures (sanity grading and packaging). In addition to this, it has also been suggested to denotify from APMC Act (Mandi Act) those commodities which are quickly perishable.

·        Dairy is a prominent part of agriculture economy. During year 2016-17, there was a budgetary provision of Rs. 1136 crore for White Revolution which has been increased by 43.8% in the form of Rs. 1634 crore for year 2017-18. Along with this, dairy processing and infrastructural fund will be set up with a sum of Rs. 8000 cr for the modernization of old milk processing units under Operation Flood. This will be completed within a period of 3 years. Initially it will be started with a sum of Rs. 2000 crores.

·        Blue Revolution is one of the priorities of the government. Keeping this in view, the budget provision of Rs. 247 crore for year 2016-17 has been increased by 62.35% amounting to Rs. 401 crore. The MNREGA was given an assurance to make 5 lakh ponds during last year to cope with the problem of drought prevailing in rural areas. During present year, 5 lakh new ponds will also be built up.

·        A sum of Rs. 5189 crore for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna has been increased to Rs.7377 crore. Besides a long term irrigation fund has been set up with a sum of Rs. 20,000 crore for irrigation scheme in previous financial year concerned with NABARD. During this year, it will be doubled in the form of Rs. 40,000 crore.

·        A dedicated micro Irrigation fund with a sum of Rs. 5000 crores will be set up for the achievement of the goal of “per drop – more crop”.

·        Other features in the Budget : The total loan amount of Rs. 9 lakh crore for previous year has been enhanced as Rs. 10 lakh crore this year. In this respect, dedicated efforts will be made for low irrigated areas, eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir.  In addition to this, as per the announcement made earlier by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the waiver will also be provided on loan interest for 60 days.

·        Efforts will be taken to computerize 63,000 PACS being operated by NABARD in the area of cooperatives. This work will be completed within 3 years with an assistance of Rs. 1900 crores.

·        Model contact farming law will be formulated to make improvements in the policies relates to agriculture.