OSAC - (Odisha Space Application Centre) has proposed to help law enforcement agencies detect illicit cannabis cultivation using remote sensing & artificial intelligence technologies.

 

♦ The proposal - high-resolution satellite imagery may be used for detecting cultivation of hemp (a variety of cannabis).

♦ Apart from developing mobile-based applications (mobile app) for field-level officials, OSAC has also proposed to make a mechanism for citizen reporting through a mobile app

♦ The state of Odisha is one of the leading cannabis-producing states in the country of India.

♦ Cannabis is grown in forest regions of  Boudh, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Angul and districts.

♦ Although law enforcement agencies have intensified their raids, it is difficult to trace the cultivation on a real-time basis.

 

A recent NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) analysis found that asteroid 16 Psyche could be made entirely of metal and is worth an estimated 10,000 quadrillion US dollars, floating between Mars and Jupiter.

 

♦ Asteroid 16 Psyche is located between Mars and Jupiter, 370 million kilometres from the ground, and Psyche has a diameter of 140 miles.

♦ Unlike other asteroids made up of rocks or ice, the dense and metallic object of Psyche may be the nucleus of an earlier planet that failed to develop.

♦ The recent research of Psyche `s structure through the Hubble Space Telescope and ultraviolet observation gives a clearer sight.

♦ In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into LEO-low Earth orbit and is still operational.

♦ Psyche may be a rare asteroid consisting almost entirely of iron(Fe) and nickel(Ni) that is close to the centre of the earth. More than ten thousand quadrillion US dollars will be worth of iron.

♦ Ultraviolet ( UV) light reflected by Psyche was the same as the way iron absorbs sunlight.

 

The Psychology mission`s primary objective is to launch it in 2022 to thoroughly research this asteroid and confirm the scientists` hypotheses. The first mission to study this metallic asteroid will be this mission. In early 2026, Psyche`s spacecraft will land on an asteroid. Since the composition of Psyche is very close to the centre of the earth itself, its analysis would also provide an insight into the violent history of collisions and accretion that created it on earth.

 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM has approved Rs.1810.56 crore for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project located on river Sutlej which is situated in Shimla &Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. 

 

♦ This Hydro Power project will generate 758.20 million units of electricity annually.

♦ This project is being implemented by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) basis with active support from India`s and State Government.  

♦ The MoU of this project was signed with the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh during Rising Himachal, Global Investor Meet.

♦ The government of India is also supporting this project by providing grants of Rs. 66.19 crore for enabling infrastructure, which has helped in reducing power tariff. 

♦ The Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within 62 months.   

♦ The power generated from the project will provide Grid stability and improve the power supply position.

♦ The project would also reduce 6.1 lakh Tons of carbon dioxide from the environment annually, thus contributing to an improvement in air quality. 

♦ The project`s construction activities will result in direct & indirect employment to around 2000 persons and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the state.

♦ Himachal Pradesh will benefit with free power worth around Rs. 1140 crore from Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project, during Project Life Cycle of 40 years.  

♦ The Project Affected Families will be provided with 100 units of free electricity per month for ten years.

♦ SJVN has forayed into the fields of Renewable Energy, Power Transmission, and Thermal power generation.

♦ SJVNL has envisaged Internal Growth Targets of total installed capacity from all sources of 5000 MW by 2023, 12000 MW by 2030, and 25000 MW by the year 2040.