Scientists Selected for Swarna Jayanti Fellowships:
The Department of Science and Technology - DST has selected 21 scientists to participate in the 2020 Swarna Jayanti Scholarship.
Highlights:
♦ Scientists selected for this award will be allowed to carry out unfettered research freely and flexibly in accordance with the expenditures approved in the research plan.
♦ The Swarna Jayanti Scholarship Program is established by the government. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of India`s independence.
♦ It provides specialist help and support to selected young scientists who have a good track record and enables them to engage in basic research in the frontier fields of science and technology.
♦ Under the plan, the winners will receive support from DST, which will cover all requirements for performing research and will include Rs scholarships. 25,000/- per month for five years.
♦ In addition, DST also provides support to the winners by providing them with a five-year research grant of 500,000 rupees. In addition to the salary received from his alma mater, a fellowship is also provided.
♦ In addition to fellowships, grants for equipment, computing equipment, consumables, emergency expenses, domestic and international travel, and other special requirements (if any) are also covered based on the results.
♦ Scholarships are aimed at specific scientists rather than specific institutions. They are very selective and have strict academic monitoring.
Viability Gap Funding Scheme Approved by The Cabinet:
Union Cabinet approves Continuation and Revamping of the Scheme for Financial Support to Public-Private Partnerships(PPP) in Infrastructure Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme.
Highlights:
♦ The approval has been given to continue the scheme till 2024-25 with a total outlay of Rs.8100 crore.
♦ The Revamped Scheme is principally identified with the presentation of the accompanying two sub-plans for mainstreaming private cooperation in social framework:
♦ Sub-scheme 1: caters to social sectors like wastewater treatment, water supply, solid waste management, health and education, etc.
♦ These undertakings face bankability issues and helpless income streams to provide food completely to capital expenses.
♦ The tasks qualified under this class ought to have in any event 100% operational cost recuperation.
♦ Sub-scheme 2: will support demonstration/pilot social sector projects. The undertakings might be from the wellbeing and instruction areas where there is at any rate 50% operational cost recovery.
♦ The scheme aims to advance PPPs in social and financial framework prompting the productive making of resources and guaranteeing their legitimate activity and upkeep and make the monetarily/socially fundamental ventures economically reasonable.
♦ The plan would be valuable to people in general everywhere as it would help in the production of foundation for the nation.
###GAIL Completes Kochi-Mangaluru Pipeline:
Kochi – Mangaluru natural gas pipeline project is ready for commissioning. The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
Highlights:
♦The 444-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline was launched in 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 29.15 billion.
♦The project will be put into use in 2014.
♦However, due to opposition in terms of security and commercial reasons, land prices are the main obstacle, so the cost of the project has almost doubled to 57.5 billion rupees.
♦The 1st phase of the project was put into use in the Kochi Metropolitan Area in August 2013.
♦GAIL India has completed the last 540 meters of the sinister extension of the Chandragiri River in northern Kerala.
♦The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
♦Kuttanad is the main connection point of the pipeline, from which the pipeline branches to Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
Significance of the project:
With the commissioning of the pipeline, the demand for natural gas in Kerala is expected to increase from the current 60 million cubic meters to 800-90 million cubic meters per year. Through tax alone, the country can make a profit of 100 billion rupees, which can profit from it. In addition, huge environmental benefits are also expected. The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
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