DAILY PIB 7TH NOVEMBER 2022

• Lunar eclipse: Lunar Eclipse occurs on a full moon day when the earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon and when all the three objects are aligned. . A lunar eclipse can occur only when the Moon is full. A lunar eclipse usually lasts for a few hours. At least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, but total lunar eclipses are rare. It is safe to look at a lunar eclipse.

A total lunar eclipse will occur when the whole moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth and the moon appears red and the partial lunar eclipse occurs when only when a part of the moon comes under shadow of the Earth.

• Air Quality Early Warning System(AQEWS): The system has been developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, under MoES. The AQEW system uses data of stubble burning incidents from the past 15 years to predict the date and place of the next burning.

It can also forecast the level of pollutants like particulate matter (PM) 2.5, PM10, and dust, other than stubble burning.

Presently the system monitors and forecasts two types of pollutants – PM2.5 and CO (Carbon Monoxide).

• National Bioenergy Programme: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases.

The National Bioenergy Programme will comprises of the following sub-schemes:

• Waste to Energy Programme: Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues to support setting up of large Biogas plant.
• Biomass Programme: Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse)
• Biogas Programme:to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

• National Geoscience Award: The Ministry of Mines invites nominations for the National Geoscience Awards-2022 for contributions in the field of fundamental/applied geosciences, mining, and allied areas. The awards, instituted in 1966 and given annually, are an initiative of the Ministry of Mines to encourage geoscientists for striving toward excellence.

NGA is the highest award in the field of earth sciences.The award is given for work done in the past 10 years.

• Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization & Evaluation (SPACE) facility: DRDO launched Hull Module of Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization & Evaluation (SPACE) facility at kochi.  It is a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems developed for use by the Indian navy onboard various platforms, including ships, submarines and helicopters.

This will allow quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers.The uniqueness of this facility lies in the specially designed submersible platform, which can be lowered up to depths of 100 meters using a series of synchronously operated winches.