National
Financial aid for indigenous development of Hydrogen Sensing & Analysis Technology
⇒ 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 announced financial aid of Rs 3.29 crore to a Hydrogen StartUp from Maharashtra for indigenous development of Hydrogen Sensing & Analysis Technology on 19 August 2022.
Dr Jitendra Singh presided over the signing of an MoU between Technology Development Board under DST and M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Maharashtra to support the manufacturing of Hydrogen sensors indigenously.
Dr Jitendra Singh said:
» The Hydrogen Startup funding is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) launched on India’s 75th Independence Day, last year from ramparts of the Red Fort.
- NHM aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub. This will help in meeting the target of production of 5 million tonnes of Green hydrogen by 2030 and the related development of renewable energy capacity.
» The company is developing an indigenous cutting-edge hydrogen analysis sensor for new age applications.
- The development is also related to the universal miniaturised core sensor designs for leak detection and/ or analysis of hydrogen. The patented hydrogen gas sensor and analyser is based on a core sensor; which has been conceptualised, developed, manufactured and serviced entirely in India.
» The major quality of these sensors is that they do not face any cross interference from other combustible or reducing gases; can function in air as well as inert/ vacuum background and can perform analysis from 1ppm to 100% pure Hydrogen.
- The sensor has several unique and path breaking features such as Minimum detection: Parts Per Million (PPM) range; Maximum detection: 100% Pure Hydrogen; Instant response within 3 seconds; low power consumption for core sensor operation. Portable detectors can operate continuously upto 36 hours on single charge; non-corrosive; long life of 5 years etc.
» With this technology, India can easily penetrate the global market to complement domestic demand through their Made in India products.
» As per NITI Aayog’s report titled ‘Harnessing Green Hydrogen: Opportunities for Deep Decarbonisation in India’ Hydrogen will provide a pathway to accelerate the emergence of a green hydrogen economy, which is critical for India to achieve its net-zero ambitions by 2070.
Second phase of Grameen Udyami Project
⇒ To augment skill training in tribal communities for their inclusive and sustainable growth, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in partnership with Seva Bharti and Yuva Vikas Society, launched the second phase of Grameen Udyami Project in Ranchi, on 20 August 2022.
» Under the initiative, the endeavour is to multiskill India’s youth and impart functional skills to them for enabling livelihoods.
- The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) felicitated 165 students under the second phase of Grameen Udyami project.
The phase-II of the pilot project launched in Ranchi was implemented by Yuva Vikas Society, through Seva Bharti Kendra in Ranchi.
- NSDC under the aegis of MSDE supported in setting up of labs and classrooms through Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) in Seva Bharti Kendra Skill Development Center.
The training under the project was conducted in the following Job roles which are relevant to the local economy.
- Electrician & Solar PV Installation Technician
- Plumbing & Masonry
- 2-Wheeler Repair & Maintenance
- IT/ITES with e-Governance
- Farm Mechanization
Objectives achieved under the project:
- Increase in Rural/Local Economy
- Enhance employment opportunities
- Reduce forced migration due to lack of local opportunities
- Conservation of natural resources
About Grameen Udyami:
- The Grameen Udyami Project was launched with the aim to augment skill training in tribal communities for inclusive and sustainable growth.
- Under the initiative, students were upskilled and multi-skilled in order to increase their employability.
- It also focuses on providing employment opportunities in both local and rural economies.
- Grameen Udyami is a unique multiskilling project, funded by NSDC that aims to train 450 tribal students in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
- The project is being implemented in six states— Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
- This concept was crystallized by MoS, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar and tribal MPs.
- Grameen Udyami Yojana is implemented under Sansadiya Parisankul Yojana.
- In the first phase of training, candidates were mobilized from rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
National CSR Awards 2020
⇒ The Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced the winners and honourable mentions of the National CSR Awards 2020.
Based on the submissions by the companies and reports of the independent assessment by CSR experts and the Grand Jury, 20 award winners and 17 Honourable Mentions across the three award categories have been selected.
National CSR Awards 2020: List of Winners and Honourable Mentions
Sports
Inaugural edition of Women's IPL
⇒ The much-awaited Women’s IPL will be starting from March 2023. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has come up with a proposal to host the long-awaited women’s IPL in March 2023 with five teams and 22 matches.
- The inaugural edition and the two following seasons will feature 18 players in each team including six overseas players.
Important Day
World Photography Day
⇒ Every year World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19 to pay homage to the work of photographers and encourage people to take up this skill.
World Photography Day is dedicated to the art, science, and history of photography. The aim of Day is to create awareness, share ideas and encourage people to take up photography.
History:
- In the year 1837, the first photographic process was developed by Frenchmen named Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce. The process was named ‘Daguerreotype’.
- Daguerreotype was an instant success as it provided a relatively inexpensive and accurate way of representing scenes and faces, which earlier had to be drawn or painted by hand. With this, photo studios started popping up across the world.
- On August 19, 1839, the government of France purchased the patent for the invention and gave it as a gift, “free to the world.” Hence, this day was marked as World Photography Day later on.