Showing posts with label GENERAL STUDIES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GENERAL STUDIES. Show all posts

Thursday, January 14, 2016

MYSORE Gears up to Host 103rd Indian Science Congress

University of Mysore is all set to host   the prestigious 103rd edition of  Indian Science Congress from January 3 to 7, 2016 at its campus. The theme of ISC this time is “Science & Technology for Indigenous Development in India,” The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Congress at 10 am at the Amphitheatre on January 3, 2016.  

   
100 eminent scientists and 400 senior scientists are delivering  30 plenary talks on subjects like Nano Science, Space Science, Technology & Applications, Diabetes, Evolution: The Frontiers, Atomic Energy, Safe water and sanitation, Diseases and drug development, Public-Private  partnership for the Swachh Bharat Mission Initiative.

There will be 400 senior scientists, 400 plenary speakers and 100 eminent speakers delivering talks throughout the five days of ISC. On the opening day (January 3) Bharat Ratna Prof C.N.R. Rao will deliver the Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya Lecture on ‘Doing Science in India,’

Noble Laureates Prof Arthur B. McDonald, USA, Prof. Dan Schetman, Israel, Sir John Gurdan, UK, Prof Serge Haroche, France, Prof David J Gross, USA and Fields Medalist Prof. Manjul Bhargava will be the speakers on January 3 at a special panel discussion on the topic Science and Technology: Present and Future .

There will be 28 awards that will be presented by Prime Minister Shri.  Narendra Modi at the inauguration ceremony. Some of the awards include six gold medals to Nobel Laureates, ISCA Best Oral Presenter, ISCA Best Poster, ISCA Young Scientists, C.V. Raman Birth Centenary Award.

As part of Indian Science Congress, the Children Science Congress will be inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Prof. John B. Gurdon, (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012) on January 4 at 10 am at the Amphitheatre, Manasagangothri. Children Science Congress is organized as part of ISC to provide an unique opportunity to children to use their Scientific temperament and knowledge and to quench their thirst for creativity by conducting Scientific experiments. It generally comprises of a three days event which encourages children to visualize science and stimulate their Scientific temperament by giving the school children a unique platform to showcase their innovation and creativity in Scientific projects. 

The 5th Women’s Science Congress will be inaugurated by HRD Minster Smt Smriti Zubin Irani at the Crawford Hall on January 4, 2016. Women’s Science Congress intended to showcase the contribution of women in Science and Technology. Renowned women scientists will be delivering lectures in this session. 

The  9th Science Communicators Meet is an initiative for Science communicators for professional growth, this Sammelan will focus on the theme “Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India”. This meet  will have three sessions and will be inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Prof. Dass Shecthman on January 4 at 3 pm.
The Indian Science Congress Mega Expo “Pride of India-Frontier Science & Technologies” is the major attraction during the five day event that will end on January 7, 2016.  

Science Exhibition
 Pride of India Expo organised by MM Activ Sci Tech Communications is spread over an area of 15000 sqm and over 180 organisations are participating in it. Pride of India expo has some major attractions like Hall of Pride, Vigyan Jyot and Genesis . 

Hall of Pride (HoP)  is the most revered segment of PoI Expo. This specially created pavilion is dedicated to the eminent personalities related to science and technology who have contributed immensely towards the progress and welfare of the nation. Some of the personalities portrayed in the earlier editions of HoP are Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, Shri G. D Birla, Prof. Satish Dhawan, Shri Acharaya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya etc. At the 103rd Indian Science Congress this prestigious hall will be dedicated to Hon’ble Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Genes is is a one day symposium which is organized concurrent to the ISC with complimenting theme to the main science congress. The objective is to bring scientists, industrialists, academicians and policy makers on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities. The theme of XIV Genesis has been aptly chosen as “Realising the Make in India Mission through Indigenous Development – Role of MSME” keeping in view the focal theme of this year’s congress.

Vijyan Jyot-- the flame of knowledge – it is a novel initiative of MM Active which was initiated in the year 2010. The aim is to introduce pure science as a career choice amongst the youth and encourage them to opt for this career, thus preparing scientists and innovators for the future. The Vigyan Jyot is inspired by the vision 2020 of our former President Dr. A.P.J  Kalam of making India a powerful and prosperous  nation by reaching the benefits of science and technology to every Indian and enriching the quality of life.

The Pride of India exhibition is open to the general public on all the five days. The cultural events will be held in the evenings from 7 pm to 8.30 pm from January 3 to 6 pm.

The Indian Science Congress is being hosted in Karnataka after 13 years and in Mysuru after 34 years cultural events will be held from January 3 to January 6, 2015. The Food Courts will cater to the taste buds of the scientists.

The preparations are in full swing as the whole of Manasagangotri campus is geared up to receive nearly 15,000 delegates from all over the country and abroad.

National Monuments Authority (NMA)

The National Monuments Authority is a quasi judicial body which is empowered to make recommendations to the Central Government for grading and classifying centrally protected monuments and protected areas declared as of national importance. The NMA makes recommendations for grant of permission for repair, renovation and construction within the prohibited area (100 meters) and the regulated area (100 to 300 meters) of the notified limit of the ASI protected monuments. The Authority (NMA) works through 32 Competent Authorities in all the States and Union territories. The Authority also oversees the working of these notified Competent Authorities. The most important function of the Authority is to oversee the preparation of monuments specific heritage bye-laws in respect of 3686 ASI protected monuments. 

Keeping in view the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India regarding "e-governance" and "ease of doing business" the National Monuments Authority had undertaken the project of developing its online web portal called "NOC Online Application Portal and Processing System (NOAPS)". The Portal has been designed by NIC and incorporates state of the art technology. The Portal has utilized the technology and expertise of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), who are in the process of mapping all 3886 ASI protected monuments. They are also developing a user friendly mobile app., which can be downloaded free of cost by an applicant and can be used to upload the geo coordinates of his plot with the prohibited/regulated area of the monument. The whole online system will automatically inform the applicant about the permissible height and other restrictions regarding the proposed construction activity. 

The tangible or built heritage in the form of monuments and archaeological remains is a legacy handed over to us by our ancestors. The National Monuments Authority has a duty to preserve and protect this valuable heritage so that it could be passed on to the future generations. With rapid urbanization, the monuments are facing tremendous pressure of increased construction activity. The NMA is mandated to regulate such construction activity within the vicinity of the monuments, which at the same time should also not unduly inconvenience the general public. The development and launch of this online web portal is a step in that direction. 

Fact sheet On Street light national programme (SLNP)

SLNP scheme- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched 100 cities National Programme on 5th January to convert conventional street and domestic lights with energy efficient LED lights. Under Street Light National Programme (SLNP), replacement of 3.5 crore conventional street light will result in saving of 9,000 million units annually. Total cost savings of municipalities every year will be Rs 5,500 crore.  Keeping future generations in mind, the revolutionary step is taken to conserve as much energy as possible. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has been designated as the implementing agency. The initiative is part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country.
Objective of SLNP Programme
The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a public sector body of Government of India are implementing the programme. The main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.

http://pibphoto.nic.in/documents/rlink/2015/sep/i201592401.jpgEESL Service Model

EESL replaces the conventional street lights with LEDs at its own costs and consequent reduction in energy and maintenance cost of the municipality is used to repay EESL over a period of time. The contracts that EESL enters into with Municipalities are typically of 7 years duration where it not only guarantees a minimum energy saving but also provides free replacements and maintenance of lights at no additional costs to the municipalities. The service model enables the municipalities to go in for the state of the art street light with no upfront capital cost and repayments to EESL are within the present level of expenditure. Thus there is no additional revenue expenditure required to be incurred by the municipality for change over to smart and energy efficient LED street lights.

Status of SLNP Programme

http://pibphoto.nic.in/documents/rlink/2015/sep/i201592402.jpgThe installation of LED bulbs is completed in 6 ULBs namely Vizag, Jhalawar, Mt. Abu, Pushkar, Neelimarna and Agartala. 2,07,000 street lights have been replaced in these places. Installation is in progress in 88 ULBs in Delhi, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh to replace 9.3 lakh lights. 302 Urban local bodies (ULBs) have enrolled in the Street Light National Programme till 7th September 2015. The target is to installs 15 lakh LEDs by March 2016. SLNP has finalized agreements with 90 municipalities.
STATUS OF SLNP AS ON 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2015
Overall Targets
Overall target of no of street lights to be replaced
3.5 crore
Expected overall annual energy savings
9000 million KWh
Expected reduction of installed street light load
1500 MW
Expected annual cost reduction of ULBs
Rs. 5,500 crore
Annual estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions
6.2 million tonnes of CO2

Achievements till date
 No of street lights replaced
2.80 lakh
No of ULBs where work in progress/ complete
86/14 = 100
Estimated annual energy savings
72 million KWh
Estimated reduction of installed street light load
11.9 MW
Estimated cost reduction of ULBs annually
Rs. 43.88 crore
Estimated annual estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions
64,190 tonnes of CO2

Safety of LEDs - They are completely safe and do not represent any hazard to the human eye. When compared to CFLs, LEDs do not have mercury and therefore, have no negative impact on environment. The LEDs procured under the DELP scheme are run through series of stringent quality tests

Lumen intensity of LED vs incandescent bulb - LEDs have no gases, filaments or any moving parts to fatigue. A 7W LED procured under DELP gives the same and in most cases better lumen intensity and brightness than a 60W Incandescent Lamp. The lumen output of a 60 Watt incandescent bulb is 450 lumens. Whereas, the lumen output of a 7 watt LED bulb, offered as part of the DELP scheme, is 600 lumens. The proportion of lumens that falls in an area from an LED light source is greater than that of a conventional light source.

Advantages of LED

LED(under DELP)
CFL
ICL

Watt
7
14
60

Energy Efficiency
88%
50%
0%
Annual cost saving in the electricity bill (per bulb)
INR 160-400
INR 85.5
NIL
Life expectancy (Hrs)
25,000
8,000
1,200
Free of cost Warranty
3 Years
1 Year
NIL
















Monday, November 9, 2015

Full List of State Birds of India 2015


StateCommon nameBinomial nomenclature
Andhra PradeshIndian rollerCoracias benghalensis
Arunachal PradeshGreat hornbillBuceros bicornis
AssamWhite-winged wood duckAsarcornis scutulata
BiharIndian rollerCoracias benghalensis
ChhattisgarhBastar hill mynaGracula religiosa peninsularis
GoaBlack-crested bulbulPycnonotus flaviventris
GujaratGreater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
HaryanaBlack francolinFrancolinus francolinus
Himachal PradeshWestern tragopan (Jujurana)Tragopan melanocephalus
Jammu and KashmirBlack-necked craneGrus nigricollis
JharkhandAsian koelEudynamys scolopaceus
KarnatakaIndian rollerCoracias benghalensis
KeralaGreat hornbillBuceros bicornis
Madhya PradeshAsian paradise flycatcherTerpsiphone paradisi
MaharashtraYellow-footed green pigeonTreron phoenicoptera
ManipurMrs. Hume's pheasantSyrmaticus humiae
MeghalayaHill mynaGracula religiosa peninsularis
MizoramMrs. Hume's pheasantSyrmaticus humiae
NagalandBlyth's tragopanTragopan blythii
OdishaIndian rollerCoracias benghalensis
PunjabNorthern goshawkAccipiter gentilis
RajasthanGreat Indian bustardArdeotis nigriceps
SikkimBlood pheasantIthaginis cruentus
Tamil NaduEmerald doveChalcophaps indica
TelanganaIndian rollerCoracias benghalensis
TripuraGreen imperial pigeonDucula aenea
UttarakhandHimalayan monalLophophorus impejanus
Uttar PradeshSarus craneGrus antigone
West BengalWhite-breasted kingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
Puducherry (UT)Asian koelEudynamys scolopaceus
Lakshadweep (UT)Sooty ternOnychoprion fuscatus
Delhi(NCT)House sparrowPasser domesticus