National
Border Security Force (BSF) Mobile App ‘Prahari’
⇒ Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah launched the Border Security Force (BSF) Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi on 29 December 2022.
» In his address, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that the BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance.
- Now jawans can get personal information and information related to accommodation, Ayushmann-CAPF and leaves on their mobiles.
- Be it GPF, Bio Data or grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS) or information on various welfare schemes; now Jawans can get all this information through the app and this app will also connect them with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
» Along with this, he congratulated the BSF Director General Shri Pankaj Kumar and his entire team for the awaited revision and update in 13 manuals which will increase the understanding of operations, administration and training and speed up the work.
Extended Range Version of Brahmos Air
⇒ Indian Air Force successfully fired the Extended Range Version of Brahmos Air Launched missile against a Ship Target from a SU-30MKI aircraft, on 29 December 2022.
- The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region.
Key Points:
- With this, IAF has achieved a significant capability boost to carry out precision strikes from SU-30MKI aircraft against land/ sea targets over very long ranges.
- The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields.
Angul-Balram Rail-link
⇒ Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the Angul-Balram Rail-link on 29 December 2022.
- Coal evacuation from Talcher coalfields got a major boost with inauguration of 14-km-long Angul-Balram rail link, which would enable Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to increase daily despatch of coal to the consumers by about 40 thousand tonne.
- Constructed at a cost of Rs 300 crore, commissioning of the first phase Angul-Balram rail-link, has enhanced the potential of MCL to despatch coal by 10 more rakes daily.
Constructed by:
The rail link has been constructed by MCRL (Mahanadi Coal Railway Limited), a Joint Venture Company (JV) of MCL, IRCON International Ltd and IDCO.
Key Points:
- The Angul-Balram rail link is the first phase of a total 68-km-long Inner Corridor – Angul-Balram-PutugadiaJarapada-Tentuloi — which will cater to the coal mines of Talcher coalfields in Angul district of Odisha.
- The inner corridor is being implemented by MCRL in two phases. In the first phase, 14-km-long Angul-Balram rail link was to be constructed, while in the Phase-II 54-km-long Balram-Putugadia-Jarapada-Tentuloi rail-link would be completed.
- IRCON International Ltd is the implementing agency of this project, being developed at an estimated total cost of Rs 1,700 crore.
Indian Army Inaugurates 1st ever 2-storey 3D Printed Dwelling Unit
⇒ The Indian Army inaugurated its first 3-D Printed House Dwelling Unit (with Ground plus One configuration) for soldiers at Ahmedabad Cantt on 28 December 2022.
Constructed by:
The dwelling unit has been constructed by the Military Engineering Services (MES) in collaboration with MiCoB Pvt Ltd incorporating the latest 3D Rapid Construction Technology.
» Construction work of the dwelling unit measuring 71 sqm with garage space was completed in just 12 weeks by utilising the 3D printed foundation, walls and slabs. The disaster-resilient structures comply with Zone-3 earthquake specifications and green building norms.
- The technique utilises a concrete 3D printer that accepts a computerised three-dimensional design and fabricates a 3-D structure in a layer-by-layer manner by extruding a specialised type of concrete specifically designed for the purpose.
» Ahmedabad based Golden Katar Division of Indian Army has been instrumental in pursuing the project with manifold applications even in operations.
- Indian Army units have already dovetailed 3D printing technology in construction of pre-casted permanent defences and overhead protection meant for operations.
- These structures are currently being validated over a period of one year and can be seen being incorporated in all terrains, the recent being in the UT of Ladakh.
NRDC will undertake Technology Commercialization for benefit of Start-Ups
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that beginning from 1st January, 2023, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) will undertake Technology Commercialization for benefit of Start-Ups.
The Minister Presided over a meeting with Secretary, DSIR and Senior Officials of NRDC at CSIR Centre in New Delhi on 29 December 2022.
» Established in 1953, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) is a PSE, Section 8 Company under DSIR playing a pivotal role in bridging the R&D and Industry.
During the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh said:
- Since inception, NRDC has concluded more than 5000 license agreements representing technologies in almost all industry sectors. It has also facilitated in filing over 2000 patents in India.
- NRDC assists the Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB) of DPIIT for technically evaluating Start-ups for their recognition to avail benefits extended by Government of India and till date over 7500 applications of Start-ups have been assessed.
- NRDC is also associated with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for implementation of their Start-up Scheme from identification of start-ups and hand-holding to product launch.
- NRDC has entered into an MoU with The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for mentoring and monitoring export oriented Agri-based Start-ups.
- Technology Development, Validation and Commercialization Program (TDVC) program is a Grant-in-Aid Scheme for providing financial support to start-ups, incubatees and MSMEs who focus on problem statements of the Indian society and manufacturing industry in the brick & mortar economy.
International
Prime Minister of Israel
⇒ Benjamin Netanyahu was on 29 December 2022 sworn-in as Israel’s prime minister for a sixth time, leading the Jewish state’s most right-wing government to date.
- Netanyahu, 73, already Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister, has the support of 63 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset (Israeli parliament). In the house, 54 lawmakers voted against his government.
- The lawmakers supporting the new government are all right-wing, including Netanyahu’s Likud party supported by the ultra-orthodox Shas, United Torah Judaism, the far-right Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionist Party, and Noam.
Shortly before the confidence vote for Israel’s 37th government, the Knesset elected Likud lawmaker Amir Ohana as its the new Speaker. A former justice minister and public security minister in past governments, Ohana is the Knesset’s first openly gay speaker.