Daily PIB 14th August 2023

STEREO spacecraft: The pair of STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft were launched on October 25, 2006, from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

The two spacecraft were situated in Sun’s orbit, STEREO-A (“Ahead”) and STEREO-B (“Behind”).The dual-spacecraft mission accomplished its major goal by delivering the first-ever stereoscopic view of our star. It will synthesize its views with those from Nasa’s and the European Space Agency’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).Its distance from Earth changes throughout the flyby, it will optimize its stereo vision for different-sized solar features at different times, akin to adjusting the focus on a several million-mile-wide telescope.It will allow scientists to understand how a coronal mass ejection’s (CME) magnetic field evolves on its way to Earth. 

Vindhyagiri frigate: President of India will launch Vindhyagiri frigate at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.It is named after a mountain range in Karnataka. 

It is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates. These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.Under the Project 17A programme, four ships by Mumbai-based Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) are under construction.The project’s first five ships were launched by MDL and GRSE, between 2019-2022.These ships have been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.As much as 75% of the orders for equipment and systems of Project 17A ships are from indigenous firms, including MSMEs. 

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan: In the light of the National Education Policy, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme has been launched as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).It covers government and government-aided institutions of the States and UTs.It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). 

The scheme focuses on equity initiatives and gender inclusion by providing adequate opportunities to underprivileged groups, and it promotes the inclusion of women, minorities, SCs/STs/OBCs, and specially-abled people in higher education, which will help to increase the GER.It would provide the facilities to the institution for upgrading the physical and digital infrastructure and also for the conversion of single-stream higher education institutions (HEIs) into multiple streams institutions. To ensure greater access to education, there is the significant importance of technology in bridging the language barrier between teachers and students, creating digital libraries, popularizing language learning as well as introducing the Open distance learning (ODL) programs. 

Urea Gold: Normal urea contains 46% of a single plant nutrient: Nitrogen or N. Urea Gold has 37% N plus 17% sulphur (S).It aims at two things. The first is to deliver S along with N.  

Indian soils are deficient in S, which oilseeds and pulses – the country is significantly import-dependent in both – particularly require. 

The second is to improve the NUE of urea. Coating of S over urea ensures a more gradual release of N. By prolonging the urea action, the plants stay greener for a longer time – reducing the frequency of application and use of Urea, say, only two bags (against three), for an acre of paddy or wheat.RCF is yet to commercially introduce Urea Gold or reveal any pricing details.