PIB 27th February

Contents:

1. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
3. Biofuel from microorganisms
4. Diagnostics for Asymptomatic Malaria
5. Mission Purvodaya in the steel sector
6. 1000 Springs Initiatives

INDIAN NATIONAL CENTRE FOR OCEAN INFORMATION SERVICES

• The institute is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• INCOIS prioritises requests for specific services from its diverse user community that ranges right from fishermen to offshore oil exploration industries
• Algal Bloom Information Service (ABIS) has been developed by  INCOIS, which provides timely information on harmful algal blooms, which are detrimental to coastal fisheries and also tend to induce respiratory problems within the coastal population from time to time.   

What is Algal bloom?

• An algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, and is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from their pigments.
• The term algae encompasses many types of aquatic photosynthetic organisms, both macroscopic, multicellular organisms like seaweed and microscopic, unicellular organisms like cyanobacteria

PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA

• The main objective of this Scheme is creation of processing and preservation capacities and modernisation/ expansion of existing food processing units with a view to increasing the level of processing, value addition leading to reduction of wastage.
• MoFPI is implementing PMKSY and the period of implementation is 2016-20 with a total outlay of Rs 6,000 crore.
• The PMKSY has seven component schemes viz; Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, and Human Resources and Institutions.

BIOFUEL FROM MICROORGANISMS

• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) developing a method to improve the growth rate and sugar content of a marine microorganism called Synechococcus

However, some bacteria, such as the cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), too can perform photosynthesis and produce sugar by fixing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

• The yield of sugars from cyanobacteria could potentially be much higher than that of land-based crops.
• Unlike plant-based sugars, cyanobacterial biomass provides a nitrogen source in the form of proteins.
• Cyanobacteria are found in both fresh and marine waters.
• Using marine cyanobacteria could be better as freshwater is increasingly getting scarce.

DIAGNOSTICS FOR ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA

• Light microscopy and protein immunoassay-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used in the diagnosis of Malaria, in mass screening and treatment programs for the diseases, and in surveillance of malaria control measures. 
• They, however, miss out about 30-50% of low-density infections, which typically have less than two parasites/microlitre and are frequently observed in asymptomatic carriers who serve as “silent” reservoirs of the infection capable of transmitting the disease through mosquitoes
• In a new study, a team of researchers led by Dr. V. Arun Nagaraj of Institute of Life Sciences and Mr. Srinivasa Raju of Jigsaw Bio Solutions Pvt. Ltd used a new concept of genome mining that identifies identical multi-repeat sequences (IMRS) distributed throughout the malaria parasite genome and successfully targeted them to develop what is called a “ultra-sensitive” qPCR assay for malaria diagnosis.
• India has developed a National Framework for eliminating malaria by 2030 and to achieve this goal, identifying the asymptomatic carriers in the endemic areas and clearing their infections are very much important.
• The new finding could help in this. DBT’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council funded the project. (Vigyan Samachar)

MISSION PURVODAYA IN THE STEEL SECTOR

• Mission Purvodaya in steel sector envisions to create an integrated steel hub in Eastern India.
• With abundance of raw materials, strategic geographical location and strong and developing connectivity, Odisha is well poised to be the heart of this eastern steel hub.
• In Odisha, Kalinganagar will be developed as the epicenter of Mission Purvodaya. Working together with the Odisha Govt. central ministries and industry, Steel Ministry aims to make Kalinganagar, a vibrant hotspot of global steel industry.

1000 SPRINGS INITIATIVES

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister  launched the “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments” at a programme in Bhubhaneswar (Odisha).
•  He also launched “1000 Spring Initiatives” and an online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the Springs on the occasion.
• ‘1000 Springs Initiative’ aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities living in difficult and inaccessible part of rural areas in the country.
• It is an integrated solution around natural springs. It includes provision of infrastructure for piped water supply for drinking; provision of water for irrigation; community-led total sanitation initiatives; and provision for water for backyard nutrition gardens, generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the tribal people