Daily Quiz #16 UPSC Prelims Marathon – September 19, 2019

Explanation: Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for Exploration and Research is the oldest unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Under the Atomic Energy Act, passed by the Govt. of India on April 15, 1948 and followed by the creation of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) on August 10, 1948, AMD was created on July 29, 1949 as ‘Rare Minerals Survey Unit’ with headquarter in New Delhi. It was renamed first as ‘Raw Materials Division’ and then as ‘Atomic Minerals Division’ in 1958. Its headquarter was later shifted to Hyderabad in1974. In keeping with its growing stature as one of the country’s leading scientific organizations involved in multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted exploration-cum-analytical-cum research activities, the ‘Division’ was rechristened as a ‘Directorate’ on July 29, 1998 on the eve of its stepping into the ‘Golden Jubilee’ Year. AMD commenced its operations on October 3, 1950 with a nucleus of 17 Geoscientists which has grown to 2354 personnel (in all categories) as on 01.11.2016. The principal mandate of the unit was to carry out geological exploration and discover mineral deposits required for Atomic Energy power program of the country. Professor D.N. Wadia, FRS, a doyen among Indian geologists guided the exploration program of the Directorate till 1970 as ‘Geological Advisor’ of the department. The unit saw Dr. P.K. Ghosh as its first Director appointed in 1957.

Explanation: Earth Observation Satellites of ISRO has been successfully able to establish many operational applications in the country. Both at Central and State level, there are large number of users who utilise space based inputs for various purposes. Some of the important missions of ISRO, in terms of IRS series of satellites that has enabled unique applications of space based imaging are, Cartosat-1 & 2, Resourcesat-1 & 2, Oceansat-1 & 2, Risat-1, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL, Scatsat, INSAT series, and host of other satellites. ISRO is in the verge of realising next generation of these satellites, as part of continuity of missions, to ensure that the user community is continuously benefitted from space inputs for sustainable development and good governance.

Explanation: The New Frontiers Program represents a critical step in the advancement of solar system exploration. The missions in the program will tackle specific solar system exploration goals identified as top priorities by consensus of the planetary community as reported in New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy in July 2002.
This first decadal study was conducted by the Space Studies Board of the National Research Council at NASA’s request. NASA’s goals were to:
•Examine the “big picture” of solar system exploration today – what it is, how it fits into other scientific endeavors, and why it is a compelling goal;
•Perform a broad survey of the current state of knowledge about our solar system;
•Obtain an inventory of the top-level scientific questions that should provide the focus for solar system exploration in the next decade; and
•Generate a prioritized list of the most promising avenues for flight investigations and supporting ground-based activities.
The high-priority scientific goals identified by the study related to the exploration of Venus, Jupiter, the south polar region of the Earth’s Moon including the Aitken Basin, Pluto and other Kuiper Belt objects, and comets. Learn more about the New Frontiers Program recommended mission candidates in the NRC’s report, opening new frontier space. Missions supporting under this program: Juno, New Horizons and OSIRIS-Rex.

Explanation: Nano Technology is a knowledge-intensive and “enabling technology” which is expected to influence a wide range of products and processes with far-reaching implications for national economy and development. The Government of India, in May 2007, has approved the launch of a Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) with an allocation of Rs. 1000 crore for 5 years. The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission. Capacity-building in this upcoming area of research will be of utmost importance for the Nano Mission so that India emerges as a global knowledge-hub in this field. For this, research on fundamental aspects of Nano Science and training of large number of manpower will receive prime attention. Equally importantly, the Nano Mission will strive for development of products and processes for national development, especially in areas of national relevance like safe drinking water, materials development, sensors development, drug delivery, etc. For this, it will forge linkages between educational and research institutions and industry and promote Public Private Partnerships. The Nano Mission has been structured in a fashion so as to achieve synergy between the national research efforts of various agencies in Nano Science and Technology and launch new programmes in a concerted fashion. International collaborative research efforts will also be made wherever required.

Explanation: DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.
Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. Presently, the Organisation is backed by over 5000 scientists and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel. Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in several such technologies.