10 February 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

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Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

Context:

In a boost to energy security of the country, PM dedicated 1.33 MMT Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facility of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL).along with that he also dedicated, ONGC’s S1 Vasishta development project located in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Offshore Basin in Andhra Pradesh. 

About Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL):

• The construction of the Strategic Crude Oil Storage facilities is being managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Engineers India Limited (EIL) is taken as the Project Management Consultant for all three projects.
• To ensure energy security, the Government of India had decided to set up 5 million metric tons (MMT) of strategic crude oil storages at three locations namely, Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur (near Udupi).
• These strategic storages would be in addition to the existing storages of crude oil and petroleum products with the oil companies and would serve as a cushion during any external supply disruptions.

About S1 and Vashista fields:

Location:

• The Vashishta field lies in water depths varying between 500m and 700m and approximately between 31km and 35km from the Amalapuram coast.
• The S1 field is located in water depths of between 250m and 600m, and approximately between 26km and 29km from the Amalapuram coast.

Capacity:

• The Vashishta field is estimated to produce 9.56 billion cubic metres (bcm) over a period of nine years with peak production reaching 3.55 million metric standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd) during the first five years.
• The S1 field is expected to deliver 6.22bcm over a period of eight years with a peak production of 2.2mmscmd for the first five years.

Onshore developments:

• The onshore processing terminal at Odalarevu will be expanded as part of the development to handle fluids from the Vashishta and S1 fields.

3 billionth meal to children in Vrindavan

Context:

The Prime Minister unveil the plaque to mark the serving of 3^rd billionth meal by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, UP.

Background:

• Akshaya Patra serves as an implementing partner of Mid-Day Meal Scheme. 
• In its 19-year journey, Akshaya Patra foundation has served mid-day meals to 1.76 million children in twelve states covering 14,702 schools. In 2016, Akshaya Patra commemorated the serving of 2 billion cumulative meals in the presence of the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
• The Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and State Governments to serve quality, hygienic, and nutritious food to millions of children.

About Mid-Day Meal:

• MDM in schools has had a long history in India. In 1925, a Mid-Day Meal Programme was introduced for disadvantaged children in Madras Municipal Corporation. By the mid-1980s three States viz. Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the UT of Pondicherry had universalized a cooked Mid-Day Meal Programme with their own resources for children studying at the primary stage.
• Presently Mid-Day Meal Scheme is considered to be the largest of its kind programme in the world. The program aims to boost enrolment, attendance, and retention in schools and to improve the health profile of children in the age group of 6-14 years.

Surging Silk, Mega Event

Details of the event:

• Buniyaad Tasar Silk Reeling Machines were distributed to women reelers from tribal areas at a function organised by the Ministry of Textiles and Central Silk Board in New.
• The distribution of the machine is part of total eradication of the age-old practice of thigh reeling and to ensure rightful earning to the poor rural and tribal woman reelers in Tasar silk sector.
• The machine developed by Central Silk Technological Research Institute in association with an entrepreneur from Champa in Chhattisgarh will improve the quality and productivity of Tasar silk yarn and reduce the drudgery of women. It is planned to eradicate thigh reeling and replace it with Buniyaad reeling machine by end of March 2020.
• Woman reelers using the traditional method earn approximately Rs.125/- per day while a Tasarreeler using Buniyaad machine can earn Rs.350/- per day. 
• During the event, best achievers of silk industry across various segments of sericulture were honoured. Awards were also given to the best performing states.
• A mobile application e-cocoon was launched for quality certification in silkworm seed sector.

Context:

The event was organised by Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi.

India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk. India’s silk production capacity is expected to reach about 38,500 tonnes by 2020 from the current level of 32,000 tonnes.

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