RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan readies plan to auction 46 cancelled mining blocks

After the amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, about 46 mineral bearing blocks are set to be cancelled and the mines department has issued orders to analyse the status of the each block for either auction or exploration.

If exploration is done as per the rules by the previous title holder, then the blocks can be set aside for auction. If there was no exploration, then the same be carried out up to the level where as per MEMC Rules for giving composite licence.

The blocks pertain to leases where reconnaissance permits or prospecting licences were granted, but mining leases could not be obtained by the block owners due to lack of various approvals.

In a boost to hydrocarbon exploration in the state, land owners can now lease their plot for 15 years without having to go for land conversion. They will have to only inform the tehsildar. Earlier, companies in the hydrocarbon sector had to acquire the land from the owners hampering the speed of exploration.

The norms were changed by the revenue department to fast-track exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the state.

Rajasthan contributes 22% of the crude oil produced in the country while Bombay High accounts for 40%. About 1.22 lakh barrels of oil and 4-5 million cubic metre gas are produced in the state. Agarwal said that 14 petroleum exploration leases and 13 mining leases have been awarded in the state which will add further depth to the sector in the state.

In the financial year 2020-21, the royalty revenue from the petroleum production reached to Rs 1904.79 crore against Rs 3320.10 crore in 2019-20.

INTERNATIONAL

Oscar Awards 2021 Was Announced

The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, additionally recognised as the Oscars Award, took area in Los Angeles on April 25, 2021. The award is presented yearly with the aid of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 2021 Oscars honoured the fine films of 2020 and early 2021.

American drama ‘Nomadland’ won most honours with three awards. Chloe Zhao, who directed “Nomadland”, used to be crowned satisfactory director, and with this, she grew to become the only 2nd female to claim the title and the first female of coloration to win that award. Indian film personalities Irrfan Khan and Bhanu Athaiya have been honoured in the “In Memoriam” montage showcased at the event.

First Asian Woman to Win Best Director Oscar Zhao

The Chinese born filmmaker Chloe Zhao has grown to be the first Asian lady to win the Best Director at the Academy Awards. She won the award for her film Nomadland.

Nomadland gained three main awards namely Best Director, Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Picture. The film is about a lady who leaves town after her husband dies. She additionally becomes houseless as sole enterprise closes down. Then, She lives in a van and travels round the US.

NATIONAL

Research on Janani Suraksha Yojana

A worldwide group of researchers has determined that the cash given under the Janani Suraksha Yojana is much less than the complete costs of facility-based childbirth, in terms of each monetary and actual costs. They have also observed that less than 50 per cent of eligible women take advantage of the scheme due to bad infrastructure at the hospitals.

Instead of monetary benefits, the use of maternal healthcare amenities is mostly pushed via the grass-root stage community fitness people recognised as ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists), researchers said.

The researchers advocated that it is of utmost importance to address indispensable gaps around first-rate of care at the public fundamental healthcare facilities.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention underneath the National Health Mission launched through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2005.

It is being applied with the goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by merchandising institutional shipping among pregnant female particularly with vulnerable socio-economic repute i.e. girls from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL households.

Groundwater Depletion May Reduce Winter Cropping Intensity

Groundwater depletion might also decrease wintry weather cropping intensity with the aid of 20% in India.

India positioned as 2nd largest producer of wheat in the globe, with over 30 million hectares in India committed to producing this crop.

Some of the necessary iciness plants (Rabi crops): wheat, barley, mustard and peas.

But with extreme groundwater depletion, the cropping intensity or the quantity of land planted in the winter season may also minimize by up to 20% by means of 2025

The worldwide team studied India’s three predominant irrigation kinds on wintry weather cropped areas: dug wells, tube wells, canals, and additionally analysed the groundwater information from the Central Ground Water Board.

Single Crystal Blade Technology by DRDO

The Single Crystal Blade Technology was developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). The agency has delivered sixty such blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. A very few international locations in the world possess this technology. They are the UK, USA, Russia and France.

The helicopters want practical and compact aero engines to function in extreme conditions. To acquire this, Single Crystal Blades are essential. The Single Crystal blades are made of nickel-based outstanding alloys. These alloys have the capacity to withstand high temperatures. The science is to be used in helicopters.

Usually, metallic alloys are used in making blades. Different metals in the alloy produce specific grains whilst solidifying, thereby developing grain boundaries. A grain boundary defined as an interface between 2 grains or crystals.

The boundaries lead to creep that are in the blades.

Benefits of Single Crystal Blade Technology: The blades created beneath this technology have more extended lifestyles and extra corrosion resistance.