1. India’s first Lithium- ion cell manufacturing plant to start its trial run
Tags: place in news National Science and Technology Economics/Business
India’s first Lithium -cell -ion cell manufacturing plant will start its trial run on 16 September 2022. It will be inaugurated by Union minister of state for electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The lithium cell -ion cell manufacturing plant has been set up by the Chennai based Munoth Industries limited (MIL) at Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh.
- MIL has tied up with China-based Tianjin Lishen, BPI and Amprius for technology and the end product for its Lithium cell manufacturing plant.
- MIL will invest Rs 799 crore in three phases.
- In the first phase it will produce lithium-ion cells for the consumer electronics segment such as mobile phones, hearable and wearable devices, followed by an energy storage system and two-and-three wheel electric vehicles.
- According to the company India imports Rs 15,000 crore-Rs 20,000 crore of lithium-ion cells from China, South Korea, Vietnam and Hong Kong. With the establishment of the new facility, it would take care of 60% of India’s requirements.
2. Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to launch Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav
Tags: Government Schemes Science and Technology National News
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will launch Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav, a countrywide mega drive for voluntary blood donation from 17th September to 1st October this year. 1st October is observed as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
According to the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Government plans to set up a database of eligible voluntary blood donors in the country through the nationwide voluntary blood donation drive.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Aim of the Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav :
- According to the Minister the campaign is aimed at increasing awareness about the need for regular non-remunerated voluntary blood donations.
- It would also ensure that different components of blood including packed red cells, plasma and platelets are available, accessible, affordable and safe.
- Along with filling the current capacity of blood banks in the country, the campaign would also help create a repository of blood donors in the country,
- As per the government, in the year 2021, India had 1.25 crore units of blood against the demand of 1.46 crore units. One unit comprises 350 millilitre of blood.
3. Honda motorcycle to launch fully ethanol run two wheelers in 2025
Tags: Economy/Finance Science and Technology
World’s largest motorcycle manufacturer company Honda has announced that it will introduce ethanol-only motorcycles in India in the year 2025.
The Japanese company is the first company in the world to introduce a bike powered by an eco-friendly fuel mixed with bio-ethanol and petrol. It was first introduced in Brazil in March 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Ethanol fuel based Bike :
- Initially Honda will introduce E 20 fuel bikes having a fuel content of 20 percent ethanol mixed with petrol in 2023.
- It will introduce an E100 fuel bike having a fuel content of 100 percent ethanol in 2025.
Biofuels in India :
- Bio fuel is the fuel obtained by mixing hydrocarbon based fuel with agricultural produce. In India, Ethanol obtained from molasses (produced during the production of sugar from sugarcane) is mixed with Petrol.
Target set by government of India :
- Under the national Biofuel policy 2018 as amended in 2022, the government of India has set a target of:
- 10% blending of petrol with ethanol by 2022
- 20% blending of petrol with ethanol by 2025-26
- 10% blending of ethanol with diesel or biodiesel by 2030.
4. Gaganyaan first test flight in 2022: Dr Jitendra Singh
Tags: Science and Technology
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has said that India's first human space-flight mission Gaganyaan is expected to be launched in 2024.
He said that the government had planned the human space flight in 2022 itself to commemorate the 75 years of Independence but due to Covid it couldn't be completed.
The first test flight of the mission is expected this year. The first test-flight will be followed by sending a female-looking spacefaring humanoid robot ‘Vyom Mitra’ in outer space likely next year,
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Gaganyaan Mission :
- The Gaganyaan mission was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech in 2018 with a budget of Rs 10,000 crore.
- Four Indian Air Force pilots have been identified as crew for the mission who are undergoing training in Russia.
- Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) intends to send at least 2 astronauts in low earth orbit in 2024.
Human Space Flight :
- At present only three countries, the United States, Russia and China have the capability to launch manned space missions.
- The first person to go into space was Yury Gagarin of the Soviet Union on 12 April 1961 onboard the Vostok Rocket.
- The first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union on 16 June 1963 onboard the Vostok 6 Rocket.
- Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to go into space. He was part of the Soviet mission aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984.
- Humans who travel in space are called astronauts. The Chinese call them Taikonauts and the Russians call them Cosmonauts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) :
- It was set up on 15 August 1969
- It is India's national space agency.
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Chairman: S.Somanath
5. India’s biggest telecom flagship event DIPA Annual 2022 to be held in New Delhi
Tags: place in news Science and Technology Summits
Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), an apex industry body of digital infrastructure providers will host its Annual Flagship Event on 14 September 2022 at the New Delhi .The event is said to be the biggest event of Telecom industry of the year 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The event is being organised by DIPA with the support of the Department of Telecommunications.
- The Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw will be the Chief Guest and the Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan will be the Guest of Honour.
Theme of the Event 2022 :
The theme of the event is: “Gati Shakti vision for 5G & Beyond”.
6. Vedanta, Foxconn signs MoU with Gujarat government to set up a semiconductor unit in the state
Tags: place in news Economy/Finance Science and Technology
In a boost to the government’s semiconductor mission, Anil Agarwal led Vedanta Group and electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn of Taiwan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Government on 13 September 2022 to set up a FAB manufacturing unit in the state. The manufacturing unit which will include display and semiconductor facilities will be set up near Ahmedabad.
Update on 16 September 2022
The Vedanta Limited has issued a clarification on 16 September 2022 that Volcan Investments would undertake the business of manufacturing semi-conductors and not Vedanta Limited. Volcan Investments is a holding company wholly owned by the Agarwal family trust. It is also the majority shareholder of the London based Vedanta Resources and owns more than 50 percent stake in Vedanta India. However, unlike Vedanta India, Volcan Investments is unlisted.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Railways, Communication, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- A fab (fabrication facility) is short for fabrication plant where raw silicon wafers are processed and turned into integrated circuits.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Joint Venture partners :
- The manufacturing giant Foxconn will be the technical partner in the Joint venture while the oil-to-metals conglomerate Vedanta is financing the project, as it looks to diversify into chip manufacturing.
- Under the Joint Venture , Volcan Investment will hold a majority stake of up to 60%, and the remaining 40% will be held by Foxconn.
- The total investment in the manufacturing unit will be Rs 1, 54,000 crore to set up the facility in Gujarat which is expected to create one lakh job opportunities.
Other Chip manufacturing proposals :
- Vedanta is the third company to announce a chip plant location in India after international consortium ISMC and Singapore-based IGSS Ventures, which are setting up in the southern states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
- The world chip market is dominated by China and Taiwan and India wants to be self-sufficient in this critical technology
India’s Semiconductor Mission :
- On 29 December 2022, the Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, launched the India Semiconductor Mission.
- Under the policy, the government will provide Rs 76000 crore incentives for companies setting up manufacturing facilities in India.
- This was done by the government to encourage companies to set up chip manufacturing plants in India.
What is semiconductor :
- Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. They can be pure elements, silicon or germanium or compounds; gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide.
- They are the basic building blocks that serve as the heart and brain of all modern electronics and information and communications technology products.
- These chips are now an integral part of contemporary automobiles, household gadgets and essential medical devices such as ECG machines.
Fabrication units in India :
- Currently, India has two fabrication facilities (fab).One is Society for Integrated Circuit Technology and Applied Research (SITAR) of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru and a semiconductor laboratory in Chandigarh, which builds silicon chips for strategic purposes like defense and space and not for commercial use.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Vedanta limited :
- It is a multinational company headquartered in Mumbai, India.
- It is in the business of Zinc-Lead-Silver, Iron ore, Steel, Copper, Aluminium, Power, Oil and Gas.
- The Chairman of Vedanta group: Anil Aggarwal
7. Hughes and ISRO launch satellite internet service in India
Tags: Science and Technology
Satellite Internet provider Hughes Communications India (HCI) on September 12 announced the commercial launch of India's first high-throughput satellite (HTS) broadband service operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in the form of Elon Musk-run SpaceX.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Hughes Communications India abandoned its affordable internet project Starlink in the country.
The satellite service aims to expand high-speed broadband across the country, to connect government networks in the most remote areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
About HCI :
HCI is a joint venture of Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), a leading global provider of broadband satellite networks and services, and Bharti Airtel Limited, India's leading communications solutions provider.
It has a combined base of over 200,000 VSATs.
It provides broadband networking technologies, solutions and services.
8. MDL launches 3rd Stealth Frigate of Project 17A ‘Taragiri’
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), which is under the defence ministry, on 11 September launched Taragiri, the third stealth frigate of Project 17A.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The ship is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation Bureau of Naval Design.
The estimated launch weight of the vessel is 3510 tonnes.
The 149.02 Metre long and 17.8 Metre wide ship, is propelled by a CODOG combination of two Gas Turbines and 02 Main Diesel Engines which are designed to achieve a speed of over 28 knots at a displacement of approx 6670 Tons.
The ship is built using an integrated construction methodology that includes hull block construction in various geographic locations, integration and construction at slipways in MDL.
The foundation stone of Taragiri was laid on 10 September 2020 and the ship is expected to be delivered by August 2025.
The total value of Project 17A is around Rs 25,700 crore.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
First Ship of Project 17A :
The first ship of Project 17A, 'Nilgiri', was launched on September 28, 2019, and will undergo sea trials in the first half of 2024.
The second 'Udayagiri' class ship under this project was launched on May 17 this year.
It is expected to commence sea trials during the second half of 2024.
9. PM to inaugurate ‘Centre - State Science Conclave’ on 10th September
Tags: National Science and Technology National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Centre- State Science Conclave on the 10 September at Ahmedabad through video conferencing.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The two day Conclave is being organised at Science City, Ahmedabad on 10 to 11 September 2022.
The conclave will test the adoption and enhancement of state-specific innovations and technologies.
The conclave will strengthen centre-state coordination and cooperation mechanisms to build a strong Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem across the country in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Topics to be discussed :
Science, technology & innovation (STI) Vision 2047
Future Growth Pathways and Vision for STI in States
Health - Digital Health Care for All
Doubling Private Sector investment in Research and Development by 2030
Agriculture - Technological interventions for improving farmers’ income
Water - Innovation for producing potable drinking water
Energy- Clean Energy for All including S&T role in Hydrogen mission
Deep Ocean Mission and its relevance for Coastal States/UTs as well as country’s future economy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
What is ‘Vision 2047’ for the Science and Technology Sector ?
Preparation of action plan and document of vision India 2047 is on underway.
It will aim at achieving new heights of prosperity, providing best facilities in both villages and cities, eliminating unnecessary interference by the government in the lives of citizens and creating the world's most modern infrastructure.
10. DRDO, Indian Army successfully complete six flight-tests of QRSAM system
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army successfully test-fired six flights of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) System from the Integrated Test Area, Chandipur off the Odisha coast on September 8.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The flight tests were conducted by the Indian Army as part of the evaluation trials.
The flight tests were carried out on high speed targets.
These targets were designed for the type of actual threat, in order to assess the capability of the weapon systems in a variety of situations.
This included long-range and medium-altitude targets, short-range targets, high-altitude targets, and targets that were not easily detectable on radar.
The evaluation found the weapon system and its excellent guidance and control to be accurate.
The performance of the system was also confirmed by telemetry, radar and electro-optical tracking systems developed by ITR.
QRSAM weapon system :
It is a short-range Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system.
It is primarily designed and developed by the DRDO to provide a protective shield to the moving armoured columns of the Army from aerial attacks.
This weapon system can operate when moving with search and track capability, and can fire at short halts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) :
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
