1. Lithium reserves found for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir
Tags: place in news Science and Technology National News
For the first time in the country, reserves of 59 lakh tonnes of lithium have been found in the Reasi district of Jammu division.
An overview of the news:
The Geological Survey of India has discovered lithium deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Currently India is dependent on imports for Lithium, Nickel and Cobalt. This discovery will reduce India's dependence on lithium from other countries.
A report on 51 mineral blocks including Lithium and Gold was submitted to the State Governments during the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting.
Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks are related to gold and other blocks are related to potash, molybdenum, base metals.
These minerals have been found in different districts of 11 states which include Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Lithium:
It is a chemical element with the symbol (Li).
It is a soft and silvery white metal.
It is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element at standard conditions.
It is alkaline and a rare metal.
Lithium has an atomic number of 3 and an atomic mass of 6.941u.
Lithium is one of the key components of rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys, and watches.
Countries with the largest reserves: Chile > Australia > Argentina
2. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal hands over 9th to 10th century Nataraja idol to Archaeological Department official in Chittorgarh Fort
Tags: place in news National News
Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal has handed over the 9th to 10th century Nataraja statue to the Archaeological Department of Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan.
The statue, which dates back to the 9th to 10th centuries, was stolen from the Shiva temple at Badoli in Chittorgarh district in 1998 and sold to a museum in London.
After a long legal process, in the year 2020, it was successful in bringing this statue to India from a private museum in London.
Now this statue will be kept under the protection of the Archaeological Survey Department in Kumbha Mahal.
From the year 2014 till now, 229 idols of ancient importance have been brought back to India by the Government of India.
On this occasion, the Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal has also assured the construction of a ropeway on the Chittorgarh Fort and to connect Chittorgarh with the Bharatmala Yojana.
Chittorgarh Fort
Chittorgarh fort is the largest fort in India. It is located in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
Chittor was the capital of Mewar.
Chittor Fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 21 June 2013.
This fort was built by the Mauryan dynasty king Chitrangad Maurya in the seventh century.
3. Union Cabinet approves naming of Mopa airport in Goa after Manohar Parrikar
Tags: place in news National State News
The Union cabinet in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 January 2023 has given ex-post facto approval for naming the Greenfield International Airport at Goa's Mopa as Manohar International Airport, after former defence minister and Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa on 11 December 2022 had announced that the airport will be named after the late Goa Chief Minister and former Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa from 2000 to 2005, 2012 to 2014 and from 14 March 2017 until his death in March 2019.
Manohar Parrikar was also the Union Defence Minister from October 2014-March 2017.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in January 2020.
Manohar International Airport is the second airport in Goa after Dabolim airport.
4. President Murmu inaugurates the 18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Rajasthan
Tags: place in news National Summits
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 18th National Scout and Guide Jamboree, at Rohat in the Pali district of Rajasthan on 4 January 2023. The President was on a two day (3 and 4 January) visit to the state. The 7 day event is being hosted by Rajasthan after 66 years. Over 35,000 scouts and guides from all over the country are participating in the event.
The first National Scout and Guide Jamboree was held in Andhra Pradesh in 1951. The 17th Jamboree was held in Mysuru, Karnataka in December 2016 -January 2017.
Theme of the Jamboree 2023
Theme of the 18th National Scout and Guide Jamboree: Progress with Peace
What is a Jamboree?
The Jamboree is a National level gathering of the Scouts and Guides conducted once in 4 years or to mark special occasions. The Jamboree gives the Scouts and Guides an opportunity to interact with the youth from different states of India and from abroad. The young people share their customs, food habits, handicrafts, religious practices, culture etc with one another. They live under the canvas for a week and participate in various activities.
For the 18th National Scout and Guides Jamboree over 3500 tents have been erected at the Nimblee village.
Founder of the Scout and Guides movement
The Boy Scout movement was started by Major General Baden Powel of the British Army in 1907.
The girl’s guide’s movement was started by Major General Powel sister’s Agnes Baden Powel in 1910.
Bharat Scouts and Guides Movement
After Independence the Bharat Scouts and Guides was set up in 1950 as a registered society under Societies Registrations Act 1860.
It is a totally voluntary, non-political and secular organisation.
The purpose of the Movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of the local, national and International communities.
Its Headquarters is in New Delhi.
5. Hydrogen blended PNG project starts operation at NTPC Kawas ,Gujarat
Tags: place in news National Science and Technology State News
India’s largest power company NTPC Ltd has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project at Kawas, Gujarat. The piped natural gas (PNG) blended with green hydrogen gas is being supplied through the Gujarat Gas limited piped natural gas (PNG) network in the NTPC Kawas township, Surat.
In April 2022 the NTPC signed an agreement with Gujarat Gas for blending of green hydrogen in the piped natural gas (PNG) to be supplied to the NTPC Kawas Township.
Green Hydrogen refers to the breaking down of the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable sources of energy.
The Central government owned NTPC provides the green hydrogen produced at its 1 megawatt (MW) floating solar project of NTPC Kawas in the Surat district of Gujarat for blending purposes.
Initially, the percentage of hydrogen blending in the PNG shall be around 5% and after successful completion, it will be increased. The Hydrogen blended PNG will be used for cooking purposes.
This is the first project of its kind in the country .This is seen as a first step toward the decarbonization of the cooking sector and self-sufficiency for the energy requirements of the nation.
Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) is India's largest City Gas Distribution (CGD) Company in terms of sales volume, with operation across 43 districts in 6 states and 1 Union territory in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh and Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
It is owned by Gujarat government owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation.
Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
6. Second Phase of Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India begins in New Delhi
Tags: place in news National Government Schemes
The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India will begin from 3- 17 January 2023 in New Delhi . The Union Ministry of Textile is organising the festival.
Over 90 participants from different parts of India the will display a wide variety of sarees like handloom Saris of Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Banaras Brocade, Tussar Silk (Champa), Baluchari, Bhagalpuri Silk, Tangail, Chanderi, Lalitpuri, Patola, Paithani etc
The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India started on 16th December 2022 and concluded on 30th December 2022. The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 16th December 2022, along with Hon’ble Minister of State Smt. Darshana Jardosh and other women parliamentarians.
The event is likely to bring renewed focus on the age-old tradition of Sari weaving and thereby improve earnings of the handloom community.
Union Textile minister: Piyush Goel
7. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Indian Library Congress in Kannur, Kerala
Tags: place in news State News
The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Indian Library Congress at the Collectorate Ground in Kannur, Kerala on 1 January 2023.
The Indian Library Congress has been organized by the People’s Mission for Social Development and Library Council from 1 -3 January 2023 and hosted by Kannur University, Kerala.
Representatives from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar and other states and foreign countries are participating in the Indian Library Congress.
Earlier on 26 December 2022, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his constituencyDharmadamhas become the first complete library constituency in India.
8. PM to address 108th Indian Science Congress to be held in Nagpur
Tags: place in news National Science and Technology Summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) on 3rd January, 2023 through video conferencing. The 108 Indian national Science Congress is being organised by the Indian Science Congress Association from 3-7 January 2023 at the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.
The 107 Indian Science Congress 2022 was held at the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, Karnataka in January 2022.
Theme of the 108th Indian Science Congress 2023: Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment”.
The Congress will hold discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and the role of science & technology in achieving this. A special programme to showcase the contribution of women in science and technology will also be held, which will also witness lectures by renowned women scientists.
Other Programmes at the ISC
Several other programmes will also be organised alongside ISC. Children’s Science Congress will also be organised to help stimulate scientific interest and temperament among children. Farmer’s Science Congress will provide a platform to improve the bio-economy and attract youth to agriculture.
Tribal Science Congress will also be held, which will also be a platform for scientific display of indigenous ancient knowledge system and practice, along with focusing on the empowerment of tribal women.
Indian Science Congress Association
The Indian Science Congress Association owes its origin to the two British Chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. Mac Mahon. It was set up in Kolkata in 1914.
It was their view that scientific research in India would be stimulated if an annual meeting of research workers somewhat on the lines of the British Association for the Advancement of Science could be arranged.
Every year its members meet annually in the first week of January named Indian Science Congress. The first session of the Congress was held in 1914.
9. ISRO, NCES and Andhra University to set up equipment along beaches to predict rip currents and prevent drowning at sea
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with National Centre for Earth Sciences (NCES), Thiruvananthapuram and Andhra University will jointly set up equipment to forecast rip currents at Rushikonda and RK beach of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
According to the state government over 200 people have drowned in sea at various beaches in and around Visakhapatnam during 2012 to 2022 and of these, RK beach in the city accounted for 60 percent of deaths. Majority of the death has been due to the presence of rip currents.
The equipment will be used to inform the local marine and local police to alert visitors in the coastal areas.
Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water which moves from shore towards sea. The rip currents are so powerful that they pull people away from the shorelines towards sea. The majority of people who are pulled away by the rip currents die when they are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to the shore.
Rip currents are found in almost all the beaches of the world.
10. Union Home Minister Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) at Devanahalli, Karnataka
Tags: place in news National State News
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Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) at Devanahalli, Karnataka on 31 December 2022.
This will be the 6th CDTI of the Bureau of Police Research & Development under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the country.
The Devanahalli center of CDTI will serve the forensic needs of the neighbouring States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union Territory of Daman-Diu.
Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI)
There are five functioning Central Detective Training Institutes (CDTI) in the country under the Bureau of Police Research & Development. The first CDTI was set up in Calcutta in 1958. Others are at Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Ghaziabad. The objective of the CDIT is to provide training to the police personnel up to Deputy SSP rank.
The main objective of the in-service training is to improve the standard of crime investigation in this country by familiarizing Police Investigation Officers with the various developments in Forensic Science. They are trained to match the skill and resources of the modern criminal with the aids that the progress of science has placed at their disposal. They are taught to adopt scientific methods and new techniques and processes and enlist the aid of various branches of science.
Director General of Bureau of Police Research & Development: Balaji Srivastatva
