Prelim Bits 15-03-2018

Indian-based Neutrino Observatory

• The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project was granted environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
•  The initial goal of INO is to study neutrinos
• Neutrinos are subatomic particles produced by the decay of radioactive elements and are elementary particles that lack an electric charge.
• The site of INO is in the West Bodi Hills of Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu.

• The project includes

(a) Construction of an underground laboratory and associated surface facilities at Pottipuram in Bodi West hills

(b) Construction of an Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector for studying neutrinos

(c) Setting up of National Centre for High Energy Physics at Madurai, for the operation and maintenance of the underground laboratory, human resource development and detector R&D along with its applications.

Energy transition Index

• The Index is released by World Economic Forum.
• The report titled "Fostering Effective Energy Transition", ranks countries on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.
• The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank.
• India has been ranked at 78^th among 114 countries on the Energy Transition Index.
• India is ranked lower than its emerging market peers like Brazil and China.
• However the report stated that India has taken "bold measures" to improve energy access, energy efficiency, and to improve the deployment of renewable sources of energy.

Blue economy

• The government is implementing a Central Plan Scheme on “Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries”.
• Its vision is to achieve economic prosperity of the country and the fishermen through utilization of full potential of water resources for development of fisheries in a sustainable manner.

• In addition, in 2017, Government has notified the ‘National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017’ (NPMF).
• The policy provides guidance for promoting ‘Blue Growth Initiative’ which focuses on ushering ‘Blue Revolution’ (NeeliKranti).

‘Citizen Services’ app

• The app was launched by National Crimes record Bureau on its 33^rd Inception Day.
• It is a bouquet of 9 police related services, for the citizen. 
• The services will provide smooth interface between Citizens and Police.
• Features of the app

1. Citizens can file complaint and check its status it once the app is made available in the CCTNS platform.
2. SOS provision is available to send emergency message to friends and family
3. Locate Police Station feature to know about nearby police station details and route to approach using GPS technology.
4. Vahan Samanvay stolen vehicle Registration feature to verify the status of stolen/recovered vehicles, before purchase, re-registration, claim settlement etc..
5. Talash/ Missing Person (Lost persons Registration) a web link in the App to provide a link to NCRB website displaying missing persons/ unidentified dead bodies and unidentified persons.

• The App is developed by in house team of NCRB.
• The Mobile App was tested & certified by CERT-In empanelled Company as per the compliance of MeitY directions.

North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme

• In 2017, Government of India approved North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) for the period of 2017-18 to 2019-20
• The scheme is completely funded by the central government.
• The funds under the scheme, will be distributed among eight North Eastern States
• The distribution of funds will be on the basis of well-defined criteria on certain parameters e.g. Area, Population, Human Development Index, Road density, etc.
• The new scheme will broadly cover creation of infrastructure under following sectors:-

1. Physical infrastructure relating to water supply, power, connectivity and specially the projects promoting tourism;
2. Infrastructure of social sectors of education and health.

• In addition the scheme will also cover the projects that promote tourism.
• The scheme will act as a catalyst in overall development of the region.

Cyber Gram Project for Digital Literacy of Minority Communities

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched a pilot project for minority Cyber Gram for digital literacy in a minority dominated village Chandauli in Alwar district of Rajasthan.
• The Ministry mainstreamed the Cyber Gram project with the Multi-sectoral Development Program in the year 2014-15 as a special initiative.
• The aim of the initiative is

1. To provide hands on training in computers for students from minority community
2. To enable them to acquire basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to become digitally literate
3. To actively involve them in knowledge based activities, access financial, social and government services and to use internet for communications.

• The initiative covers students of Class VI to Class X belonging to notified minority communities residing in minority concentration areas indentified under Multi-sectoral Development Program (MsDP).
• Minority communities include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.
• The project is being implemented through Common Service Center (CSC) e-governance India Ltd-a company under Department of Electronics and Information Technology with support of States/UTs.

Map of the Day

Europe Water Bodies

• A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake drain, with steep land on three sides which are found in Norway.
• If the geological formation is wider than it is long, it is not a fjord. Then it is a bay or cove.
• North Sea is a rich source of petroleum resource. The Brent crude from North Sea is an important global crude benchmark.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard