Daily Current Affairs 22 July 2023 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 22 July 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Steel Slag Road Technology
Source: PIB
GS III: Science and Technology
Overview
- News in brief
- About Steel Slag Road Technology
- Surat gets India’s first steel slag road
- Scope for India
News in Brief
- Recently, the Union Minister of State for Steel participated in the industry meet held on 18th July 2023 organized under the ‘One Week One Lab’ program of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).
- He said that the ‘Waste to Wealth’ vision is being realised in large part because of CSIR-CRRI’s Steel Slag Road technology.
About Steel Slag Road Technology
- The SIR created the technology as part of a research initiative in partnership with:
Image by jodeng from Pixabay - Ministry of Steel
- The Government of India
- Four major steel manufacturing companies in the country
- ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel
- JSW Steel
- Tata Steel
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam
- This technique allows:
- The efficient disposal of around 19 million tonnes of steel slag generated in the nation
- The large-scale use of waste steel slag in steel plants
The process
- A steel furnace’s byproduct, slag, is created while the furnace burns at 1,500–1,600 degrees Celsius.
- It is regarded as an impurity and takes the form of molten flux material.
- The molten material is put into slag pits to cool and then goes through a customised process to become stable steel slag aggregates.
The advantages of steel slag roads
- Around 30% less expensive than traditional pavement
- More durable and resistant to erratic weather
Surat gets India’s first steel slag road
- The first road constructed using steel slag road interpretation technology in Surat, Gujarat, has gained national and international recognition for its technological brilliance.
- Its construction at the ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel Hazira facility utilised about 1 lakh tonnes of steel slag aggregate.
- This road was built without the use of any natural ballast of any type.
- A kilometre-long section of the six-lane public road can be found at Hazira Industries, which also has the AM/NS facility.
- Steel slag aggregate was created by turning piles of steel trash onto the building site about a year ago.
- Early in March, the road’s sixth and last lane, which has a three-lane to-and-from carriageway on either side, was finished.
- Heavy-duty trucks from global corporations with locations in the industrial park on the outskirts of Surat are now using the road.
- Every day, more than 30 heavy-loaded vehicles utilise the road.
- To measure load-induced deformation, and stress and strain in the pavement areas, the steel slag road has been constructed using:
- Instrumented test sections
- Comprising strain gauges
- Pressure cells
- Displacement gauges
- Thermocouples
Cost-effective and environmentally friendly
- The use of processed steel slag in road building, according to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities, paves the door for sustainable waste management and lessens reliance on perishable natural materials.
- This procedure is consistent with India’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 for building resilient infrastructure through inclusive and sustainable industrialization and green technologies, which calls for reducing GHG emissions and carbon footprint in road construction activity.
- As a byproduct of the steel industry that is processed and transformed into aggregate material for use in construction, steel slag road doesn’t involve blasting, drilling, or crushing.
- When it comes to how these roads would affect automobiles, experts claimed that the effect on tyres will be minimal.
Scope for India
- The vast amount of steel slag produced as a byproduct of the steel industry in India offers a tremendous opportunity for the nation.
- India is the second-largest producer of steel in the world, and the nation now generates roughly 19 million tonnes of steel slag as solid waste, a number that is expected to rise to 60 million tonnes by the year 2030.
- Huge mounds of steel slag have accumulated around steel mills as a result of the lack of effective disposal procedures, which has led to increased levels of water, air, and land pollution.
- One tonne of steel manufacturing produces around 200 kilogrammes of steel slag.
India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Talks
Source: PIB
GS II: International Relation
Overview
- News in Brief
- About the talk
Why in News ?
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in India for an official visit, a year after he became President of the Island nation that witnessed its worst economic crisis last year.
News in Brief
- Sri Lanka occupies a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) Vision.
- partnership is enduring and beneficial to the common people of two countries and the larger Indian Ocean Region.
- India and Sri Lanka are working on many key projects in several sectors.
- It is to be noted that this marks Wickremesinghe’s first visit to India after being appointed the President of the country
About the talk
- Anti Terrorism Act
- Assured the Tamil parties that the proposed anti-terrorism law would be reviewed.
Image by Akhilesh Sharma from Pixabay - The new Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) will replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979.
- It was introduced as a temporary measure to counter the campaign of separatist violence by Tamil minority militant groups in 1979.
- Assured the Tamil parties that the proposed anti-terrorism law would be reviewed.
- Srilanka and India discussed development initiatives in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, agreements with India on projects focused on renewable energy, water supply, infrastructure development, investment promotion zones and the tourism sector.
- A joint declaration of intent in animal husbandry was signed between the two countries.
- A Memorandum of cooperation was signed for the economic development of projects in Trincomalee district.
- India also handed over the document of energy permit for Sampur solar power project to Sri Lanka.
Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Polity; GS III: Security Forces
Overview
- News in Brief
- About the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023
- Key features
Why in News ?
A parliamentary committee on Defence gave a go-ahead to a Bill that seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in-Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.
About the Bill
- Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 15, 2023.
Image by BedexpStock from Pixabay - It seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations to exercise disciplinary or administrative control over the service personnel under their command, irrespective of their service.
Need for the Bill
- Personnel’s from Army, Navy and Air Force are governed by their own acts and provions Army Act 1950, the Navy Act 1957, and the Air Force Act 1950 respectively.
- But currently inter services joint training established.
- Officer-in-command during these joint training donot have any powers over the other services they belonging to.
- The purpose of the proposed legislation is to provide the commander in chief and officer in charge of inter-services organisations complete disciplinary and administrative authority over all troops working for or connected to such organisations or institutions.
Key features
- Inter-services Organisation
- The central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation which has personnel belonging to at least two of the three services: the army, the navy, and the air force.
- These may be placed under the command of an Officer-in-Command.
- These organisations may also include a Joint Services Command, which may be placed under the command of a Commander-in-Chief.
- Control of Inter-services Organisations
- The Bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of an Inter-services Organisation to exercise command and control over the personnel serving in or attached to it.
- He would be responsible for maintaining discipline and ensuring proper discharge of duties by the service personnel.
- Central Government Role
- The government may also issue directions to such organisations on grounds of national security, general administration, or public interest.
- The central government may notify any force raised and maintained in India to which the Bill will apply.
- This would be in addition to army, navy, and air force personnel.
- Who can be appointed as Commander-in-Chief?
- General Officer of the regular Army: Above the rank of Brigadier
- Flag Officer of the Navy: rank of Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, or Rear-Admiral
- Air Officer of the Air Force: Above the rank of group captain
- Power of Commander-in-Chief
- Exercise all disciplinary and administrative powers vested in
- General Officer Commanding the Army
- Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of a Naval Command
- Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of an Air Command
- Any other officer/authority specified in the service Acts
- Any other officer/authority notified by the government.
- Exercise all disciplinary and administrative powers vested in
- Provision for Commanding Officer
- The Bill provides for a Commanding Officer who will be in command of a unit, ship, or establishment.
- The officer will also perform duties assigned by the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the Inter-services Organisation.
- The Commanding Officer will be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted, or attached to that Inter-services Organisation.
Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres
Source : PIB
GS II : Infrastructure
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres (STAR-C)
Why in News ?
India is considering expanding its solar Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres (STAR-C) initiative, run by the International Solar Alliance, to a number of Pacific Island countries, according to persons aware of the matter.
News in Brief
- The programme aims to boost solar power ecosystems in the poorest countries.
- In the Pacific, it currently runs in Tonga.
- India is looking to expand its diplomatic footprint in a region that has seen increased outreach by China.
- India’s efforts will primarily be focused on economic development, connectivity and climate change.
- The expansion of the STAR-C initiative will form a key part of that outreach.
About Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres (STAR-C)
- What is STAR-C?
Photo by Raphael Cruz on Unsplash - Create a strong network of institutional capacities within ISA Member States in solar Energy.
- Enhance quality infrastructure for the uptake of solar energy product and service markets.
- Majorly focus in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).
- Implementation
- Funding from the Government of France.
- First phase of the STAR C project will focus on
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- East African Community (EAC)
- Pacific Community (SPC)/Pacific Island Forum (PIF)
International Solar Alliance
- It is instituted to connect 121 solar-resource-rich nations for research, low-cost financing and rapid deployment of clean energy.
- It aims to channel $300 billion in 10 years to promote renewable energy projects under a global mega fund for clean energy.
- Further, ISA has also been developing a Common Risk Mitigating Mechanism (CRMM) for de-risking and reducing the financial cost of solar projects in the ISA member countries.
- ISA needs ratification of its framework agreement by 15 member countries to be recognised as intergovernmental and multilateral agency under the United Nations charter.
- The first 15 countries who ratified the agreement would then be founding members of ISA.
- The framework agreement was opened for signatures in the 22nd session of the UN Climate Change Conference held at Marrakech, Morocco in 2016.
- It has recently become a treaty-based international intergovernmental organization with the ratification by Guinea as the 15th country.
Logistics Data Bank Project
Source : PIB
GS III : Infrastructure
Overview
- News in Brief
- Logistics Data Bank Project (LDB)
- Logistic Movement
Why in News ?
Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) held a Logistics Data Bank Project (LDB) Meeting to review the measures taken by Port Authorities to improve port performance.
News in Brief
- Logistics Data Bank Project (LDB) Meeting today to review the measures taken by Port Authorities to improve port performance.
- Highlighted the significance of adopting a holistic approach to improving productivity of ports in order to achieve the USD 2.5 trillion EXIM target by 2030.
- Development of infrastructure on PM GatiShakti principles for adequate last and first mile connectivity, improvement of logistics services and enhancing port capacities to handle requisite trade volumes, etc. to be focused.
Logistics Data Bank Project (LDB)
- This initiative was introduced in 2016 at Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Photo by Tom Fisk - The project’s goals are to employ information technology to improve the efficiency of the logistics industry in India.
- Executing organisation:
- The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation
- Logistics Data Services Ltd. (DLDSL), which is jointly owned (50:50) by the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Trust and Japanese IT services giant NEC Corporation, is carrying out the project.
What are the objectives?
- Every container has an RFID tag attached to it
- It can be read by RFID readers and monitored, making it easier for importers and exporters to keep track of their cargo as it travels.
- As a result, both shippers’ and consignees’ transaction costs have decreased.
- The overall lead time for moving containers has been shortened.
- The entire movement of containers through rail or road until the Inland Container Depot and Container Freight Station reached.
- The service integrates data from agencies all throughout the supply chain to deliver comprehensive, up-to-the-minute information in a single window.
Logistic Movement
- The Union Budget 2023 has doubled the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to States from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore.
- PM Gati Shakti sets the goal of increasing rail freight movement from 27% to 45% by 2030.
- Also freight movement from 1.2 billion tonnes to 3.3 billion tonnes by 2030.
Challenges in Logistic Movement
- Road Transportation
- With 65% of goods moving by road, India’s goods movement is significantly tilted towards this mode of transportation.
- Road traffic congestion, pollution, and logistical costs have all grown as a result of this.
- Challenges in Rail Transport
- Indian Railways face infrastructural challenges such as the lack of necessary terminal infrastructure, maintenance of good sheds and warehouses.
- Increased Transit time.
- Skill Issues
- Access to skilled personnel for primarily labor-intensive procedures
- operations that are difficult and multitasking under growing transport demand.
- Storage and Warehouse
- The best utilisation of warehouses requires careful planning and incurs costs.
- Logistic preferred are not upto the mark.
- Supply Chain Management
- Lack of coordination between various players in the supply chain.
- This includes Inefficiencies, delays, and higher prices are caused by manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
Indravati Tiger Reserve Poaching
Source : Times of India
GS III : Environment
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Indravati Tiger Reserve
Why in News ?
Chhattisgarh Forest Department has so far arrested 3p 9 persons for poaching in Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bijapur, and sent them on judicial remand.
News in Brief
- revealed the whereabouts of the remaining people involved in the killing of a tiger in the Indravati Tiger Reserve.
- The nine accused were already sent to jail under the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972.
- The gang is involved in the poaching of wildlife such as tigers, sloth bears and turtles, posing a grave threat to the wildlife.
About Indravati Tiger Reserve
- It is situated in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
- The Indravati River, which runs from east to west and defines the reserve’s northern border with the Indian state of Maharashtra, is the source of the park’s name.
- Under Project Tiger, Indravati became a national park in 1981 and a tiger reserve in 1983.
- The park derives its name from the Indravati River.
- Northern boundary of the reserve with Maharashtra.
- Indravati National Park is among the most famous wildlife parks of Chhattisgarh.
- Area: 2799 km2
- Got status of a national park in 1981.
- Flora:
- The tropical moist and dry deciduous type with predominance of bamboo, sal and teak.
- The most common tree in the park are teak, lendia, salai, mahua, tendu, semal, haldu, ber and jamun.
- Fauna:
- One of the last populations of the endangered wild Asian buffalo.
- Large predators are represented by tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and dholes or wild dogs.
- The region is mostly Naxal Affected Area.
Standing Committee on Statistics
Source : The Hindu
GS III : Economics
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Pronab Sen Committee
Why in News ?
Government forms new panel to review all NSO data.
- Standing Committee on Statistics replaces the existing committee, which examined economic datasets only; revamp comes after sharp critiques of India’s statistical machinery; new panel to advise government on surveys, identify and plug data gaps.
News in Brief
- This will be chaired by former Chief Statistician and former Chairman of the National Statistical Commission Dr Pronab Sen
- He was also the head of the earlier SCES
- Announced by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Background
- Data quality of surveys were questioned earlier
- Estimates related to poverty, growth, employment, and unemployment should be conducted at regular intervals in a predetermined timely manner and should be of the highest quality.
- All major surveys in India that were conducted post-2011 Census.
- sample frame greatly overstated the percentage of the rural population
About Pronab Sen Committee
- The committee’s mandate is to review the existing framework and address the issues raised from time to time on the
Image by Colin Behrens from Pixabay subject/results/methodology, etc. related to all surveys as presented to the SCoS by MoSPI.
- To advise on survey methodology including sampling frame, sampling design, survey instruments, etc.
- To finalise tabulation plan of surveys; finalisation of survey results.
- The committee’s job is to plan all efforts for data generation and gathering.
- To ensure that all data gathered for MoSPI complies with the rules of good statistics.
- To give instructions on how to conduct pilot surveys or pre-testing, if necessary, before deciding on data collecting schedules.
- Also provide guidance for studying and exploring the availability of administrative statistics.
- The committee can also provide technical guidance to the central and state-level agencies for the surveys.
About Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS)
- Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) that will replace the SCES
- It will have 10 official members.
- Members from various ministries and departments and four non-official members who are eminent academics in the field of statistics.
- Additionally, depending on the situation, it may co-opt up to two extra members.
About Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES)
- The Standing Committee on Economic data (SCES) was established in 2019.
- Aim:
- To examine and unify the ideas, definitions, classifications, and methodology of various economic data published by several ministries and agencies.
- It was presided over by the Chief Statistician of India (CSI)
- Its 27 members represented a range of academic institutions, departments, and ministries.
- The COVID-19 epidemic and other challenges prevented the SCES from submitting its report by the deadline of June 2020.
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