Electrification of Railways Was Unveiled:
The newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui portion of the Northwest Railway Line was unveiled by the Minister of Railways, marking the first train on this electrified route from Dhigawara Station in Alwar District, Rajasthan.
Highlights:
♦ By December 2023, Indian Railways has set a target to complete the electrification of its wide-gauge network. About 66% of the broad-gauge lines have been electrified.
♦ The electrification level of the railway is 18065 kilometres. Compared with 2009-2014, the electrification level increased by 371% in 2014-20.
Speed: 100% electrification will eliminate train detention caused by the traction change (pull or pull the body on the surface) from diesel (electric) to diesel (or vice versa), thereby achieving seamless train operation.
Capacity: It will help railways increase line capacity due to the higher speed and higher traction capacity of electric locomotives.
Safety: An improved signal system would increase the safety of train operations.
Less economic burden: Electric traction is cheaper and more efficient compared to diesel traction, since electric traction trains are 50 percent cheaper than diesel.
Seamless movement: For suburban services, which require higher acceleration and braking functions to start and stop regularly, electric multi-units (EMU) are suitable.
Create employment opportunities: Direct jobs will be translated into around 20.4 million working days in the electrification construction process, which will significantly encourage employment.
Energy security: A complete transition to electric traction would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels by approximately 2.83 billion litres per year and thereafter reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Energy bill saving: Electric locomotives have lower maintenance costs compared to diesel locomotives and can save Rs 13,510 crore in fuel costs per year.
Sustainability: Reduce the carbon footprint since the environmental cost of electric traction per ton-kilometer is lower than that of diesel traction.
India Become Pharmacy Of The World:
India is finding its own self-reliance for growth and production. Though there are at least five pharmaceutical companies involved in the production of vaccines in India, the Pune Serological Institute has been selected at the University of Oxford as a mass producer of the Covishield vaccine produced by Astra Seneca. In order to meet demand, the government has enabled a large Covid-19 vaccine development and distribution ecosystem.
Highlights:
♦ A rupee stimulus plan was announced by the Indian government. For the Covid Suraksha project, 9 billion Rufus will be used to encourage the production of indigenous vaccines.
♦ From pre-clinical research to clinical development, production, and regulatory deployment, the focus of the Covid-19 vaccine development mission is end-to-end and all available funds and funds will be incorporated to promote product development.
♦ Supporting the implementation of universal unified agreements, internal and external quality control systems, training, data management systems, regulatory submissions, and certification would be another significant objective.
♦ The grant will be awarded to the Indian Ministry of Vaccine Research and Development Biotechnology for COVID-19 and will ensure that it is quickly implemented into the public health system under the presumption that all regulations and permits are complied with.
♦ So far in academia and industry, the biotechnology department has funded a total of 10 candidate vaccines. Five candidate vaccines are in the clinical testing process so far.
♦ On December 4, ambassadors from 100 countries are expected to arrive in Pune to visit the Indian Serum Institute and Genova Biopharma. The position of India as a "world pharmacy" has been recognised by Sweden.
♦ Sweden is committed to expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of health and life sciences, in view of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, B Systems, a Luxembourg-based firm, is collaborating with India to manufacture portable vaccine cooling equipment to solve the problem of the distribution of vaccines in India.
♦ It should be noted that on 19 November, Prime Minister Modi held a virtual summit with Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, during which he stressed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
###Bonda Tribe Sees Rise in Distress Migration Due To Covid:
The Bonda tribe of Odisha saw a rise in the number of Covid-induced migrants killed. The Bonda people are an especially vulnerable tribal group known away from the mainstream for their secluded life.
Bondas:
-They are mainly forest dwellers.
-Matriarchal society-women are more willing to marry younger men.
-Women wear semi-naked clothing and wear different kinds of rings and necklaces on their arms, while men wear dangerous bows and arrows, a special dress style.
-Language-Remo, an Oceanian language belonging to the Mundari group.
Highlights:
♦ In India, 8.6 percent of the total population reflects the tribal population. In about 15 percent of the geographic area of the nation, tribal people live.
♦ Some of these groups are, according to the following criteria, declared especially vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG).
♦ The Primitive Tribal Groups (PTG) were established as a separate category in 1973 by the Dhebar Council, and the growth of these tribal groups is relatively slow.
♦ In 2006, PTG was renamed as a` especially vulnerable tribal group` by the Indian government. 75 tribal groups are listed as PVTG by the Ministry of the Interior. In 18 states and the A&N Islands, PVTG is based in UT. The largest number among the 75 PVTGs listed is Orissa (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12).
♦ In particular, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the` Creation of Specially Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)` plan for them.
♦ A variety of livelihoods are used by PVTG, such as food gathering, non-timber forest products (NTFP), hunting, livestock raising, transfer planting, and handicrafts. Their livelihoods mostly rely on forests.
♦ Odisha is the biggest tribal population group in India and has 62 tribal groups. Bonda, Biho, Chuktia Banga, Didai, Dungaria Kandha, Hill Karia, Juan, Kutia Kant, Langa So Ra, Rhoda, Mankildia, Podi Boyan and Sola are 13 of these PVTGs.
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