National
Mobile App 'Mausam Bihar'
⇒ Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra on the sixth floor of Sardar Patel Bhawan and inaugurated the mobile app Mausam Bihar on 27 May 2023.
Developed by:
The mobile application “Mausam Bihar” has been developed by “Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra”, Planning and Development Department, Government of Bihar.
- The mobile App has been developed to disseminating customised Weather information, forecast and advisories directly to end users.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that through the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra, the work of weather forecasting is being done better till the panchayat level.
- By increasing this to the rajasw village level, the farmers of each village will be able to take proper advantage of it. Having accurate information about the weather forecast will facilitate farmers in the state, as well as sowing of seeds and harvesting of crops, etc. will be done at the right time.
In this function, Dr. CN Prabhu, Senior Scientist and Joint Director (Technical) of Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra said that automatic weather station at every block level and Varsha-Mapak Kendra at panchayat level has been established.
- Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra will remain functional for 24 hours.
- The Indian Meteorological Department has 19 automatic weather stations established in Bihar.
- 487 Sewa Kendra centers have been set up by the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra, from which accurate information regarding the weather will be available.
Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Arunish Chawla said that Bihar is the first state in India to develop such a mobile app.
- Bihar has become the second state in India after Karnataka to receive meteorological data up to the panchayat level.
NCC Horse Show 2023
⇒ The prestigious NCC Horse Show 2023 was organised at Delhi Cantt in New Delhi on 17 January, 2023.
Best Rider Trophy:
Under Officers Kapil Sharma and Shaksi Tanwar were declared winners of the Best Rider Trophy in boy and girl categories respectively.
» The Quartermaster General of Indian Army Lt General Rajinder Dewan gave away the trophies and prizes to the deserving winners.
About NCC Horse Show:
- The NCC Horse Show is held every year to adjudge the best rider among the boy and girl cadets of the Remount and Veterinary Units (R&V).
- The best rider competition at the All-India level was introduced in the year 1967.
- The basic aim of the competition is to promote a sense of participation, equestrian skills and mastery in horsemanship.
International
21st Edition of India France Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘VARUNA’ – 2023
⇒ The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France – Exercise ‘VARUNA–2023′ commenced on the Western Seaboard on 16 January 2023.
- Exercise VARUNA 2023 was conducted over five days from 16 to 20 January 2023.
While the bilateral exercise between the two navies were initiated in 1993, it was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001 and has become a hallmark of India – France strategic bilateral relationship.
Participation:
- This edition witnessed participation of indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters and MiG29K fighter aircraft.
- The French Navy was represented by the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, frigates FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne and maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique.
Key Points:
- The exercise witnessed advanced air defence exercises, tactical manoeuvres, surface firings, underway replenishment and other maritime operations.
- Units of both navies endeavoured to hone their war-fighting skills in maritime theatre.
- In this exercise, both the units enhanced their interoperability to undertake multi-discipline operations in the maritime domain and demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the region.
Important Day
2nd Foundation Day of CSIR-NIScPR
⇒ CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi celebrated its 2nd foundation day on 13th January 2023.
- On this special occasion, a number of scientific publications were released. Special Issue of the Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research (JSIR) focused on ‘Industry 4.0: A Way Forward for Self-Reliance and Sustainability’ was released.
- TRL Assessment Bulletin, a book titled ‘Science & Technology Quiz: Celebrating AzaadiKaAmritMahotsav’, a Flip-book titled ‘Treasure of Indian Traditions’ was also released in presence of dignitaries of the function.
» The names of winners of the SVASTIK Photography Contest were announced on the occasion. This competition was organized in the year 2022.
SVASTIK Photography Contest:
CSIR-NIScPR in association with MyGov had organised a photography contest on the theme “Indian Architectural Heritage through Your Lens”.
- In response to the call, 442 design ideas were received from across different parts of India.
The following 5 entries were adjudged as the prize winners:
Winners:
- Angshuman Paul
- Tarang kumar Patoliya
- D G Fredrick Sindhanai
Consolation Prize:
- Yogiraj Brahmbhatt
- Pratibha Seth
About NIScPR:
- NIScPR is one the constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
- CSIR-NIScPR came into existence on 14th January 2021 with the merger of two internationally acclaimed CSIR Institutions namely CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR-NISCAIR) and National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (CSIR-NISTADS).
- Since then, CSIR-NIScPR has been able to direct its activities towards becoming a globally respected institution in the domain of Science Policy research and Science Communication, using the rich legacy spanning around 100 years and a robust inherent capability of erstwhile institutions.
148th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD)
⇒ 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 delivered the Keynote Address on the occasion of 148th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi on 15 January 2023.
Addressing on the occasion, the Union Minister said entire country will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network by 2025 to predict extreme weather events more accurately.
- IMD has taken pro-active steps to increase the Radar Network from mere 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023 and will add 25 more in next 2-3 years.
» Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated 4 Doppler Weather Radar Systems to the Western Himalayan States of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
IMD has augmented Doppler Weather Radar network in HP, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and J&K which will help further to predict extreme weather events more accurately.
4 Doppler Weather Radar Systems:
- Dr Jitendra Singh and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh jointly inaugurated two Doppler Weather Radars at Murari Devi and Jot in Himachal Pradesh.
- Dr Jitendra Singh and Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand jointly inaugurated Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Surkandaji in Uttarakhand covering 100 kms of radius.
- Dr Jitendra Singh and Shri Manoj Sinha, LG, UT of Jammu and Kashmir jointly inaugurated DWR at Banihal Top, with a range of 100 kilometers.
» Dr Jitendra Singh also dedicated 200 Agro Automated Weather Stations to the Nation.
- He informed that Under Agro-Meteorological Services, it is targeted to establish 660 District Agro Meteorological Units (DAMUs) by 2025 and increase from 3,100 blocks in 2023 to 7,000 blocks in 2025.
» The Minister also released eight publications of the IMD and gave away awards to school children and also felicitated the best performing offices and officers of IMD.
About IMD:
- IMD has the legacy of maintaining weather and climate records.
- The IMD is monitoring & predicting the weather since its inception 148 years ago on 15 January, 1875, in the background of tropical cyclone hitting Calcutta in 1864, and the subsequent famines in 1866 and 1871 due to the failure of the monsoon.
- During 148 years of its existence, the department has served the cause of safety and wellbeing of Indian population against weather related hazards and helped in the economic development of the country.