Daily Current Affairs- 11 September 2014

Strategic Force Command of India successfully test-fired Agni-1 missile

On 11  September 2014, Strategic Force Command (SFC) of India  successfully test-fired nuclear weapons capable ballistic missile Agni-1. 

The missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast. 

Agni-1, having the range capability of over 700-km, was propelled by a solid rocket propellant system. 

Features of Agni-1 missile

• The Agni-1 missile was developed by DRDO in a short span of 15 months after the Kargil conflict to meet the requirements of the armed forces for such a class of missile.
• Agni-I was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur in 1989. 
• It is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1000 kg or a nuclear warhead.
• The recent user trials involved the test firing of upgraded version of Agni-I with better re-entry technology and manoeuvrability.
• This surface-to-surface missile carrying a total payload mass of 1100 kg zeroed in on the pre-designated target  with two-digit accuracy.

What is Strategic Forces Command?

The Indian Strategic Forces Command (SFC), sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA). It is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.

It was created on January 4, 2003 by the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government.

Air Marshal Teja Mohan Asthana became its first commander-in-chief.

Responsibility of Strategic Forces Command (SFC):

• To operationalize the directives of the NCA under the leadership of a Commander-in-Chief who is a three-star rank officer.
• Sole responsibility of initiating the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads, after acquiring explicit approval from the NCA.
• Exact selection of the target area shall be decided by the SFC through a calibrated, cumulative process involving various levels of decision-making, and with formal approval by the NCA.
• The SFC manages and administers all strategic forces by exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets, and producing all contingency plans as needed to fulfill the required tasks.
• Since its inception, the SFC’s command, control and communication systems have been firmly established, and the command has attained a high state of operational readiness.

Assets of Strategic Forces Command (SFC):

The Agni-I and Agni-II ballistic missiles are operational under the SFC, while the Agni-III missile is being inducted.

In September 2012 that Agni-III missiles were operational under the Strategic Forces Command and a user test of rail mobile Agni-III was carried out 21 September 2012.

The SFC carried out the second user trial of rail mobile Agni-III missile on 23 December 2013.

The Prithvi missile inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the first missile to be developed under 

India’s prestigious IGMDP strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence A missile unit of the elite Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully launched a Prithvi missile on 07-January-2014 from the test range at Chandipur.

On 12 September 2010 that to increase its lethal power, India's tri-services strike force is planning to acquire 40 fighter planes capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

The SFC has submitted a proposal to the Defence Ministry for setting up two dedicated squadrons of fighter aircraft which will act as a mini-Air Force.

This will be the first time that the SFC, which at present depends on the Indian Air Force for delivering nuclear weapons under its command, will have its own aerial assets.

India and Bangladesh signed MoU in the field of traditional medicines

On 9 September 2014, India and Bangladesh signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of traditional medicines and homeopathy.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the health sector.

The MoU was signed between the two countries on the sidelines of South-East Asia regional conference of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Dhaka where the traditional medicine was one of the major issues of discussion.

The MoU was signed by Nilanjan Sanyal, Secretary, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturapathy Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathy (AYUSH) on India’s behalf and M M Neazuddin, Health Secretary of Bangladesh.

Key features of this MoU:

• Both nations agreed to exchange all kinds of traditional medicines alongside the experts and physicians for conducting training.
• In both the countries, recognised institutions of will provide scholarships to each other in addition to setting up an academic chair.

This MOU will benefit Bangladesh in the field of education and research of traditional systems of medicine as India is known for its rich ancient system of medicine called ayurveda.

Solar power technology Electrodialysis unveiled in India to desalinate water

On 8 September 2014, a new solar power technology Electrodialysis was unveiled in that can turn undrinkable salty water into clean and filtered drinking water.

This technology was unveiled by the researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The same technology can also be used for disaster relief and for military use in remote locations.

What is Electrodialysis technique?

• Electrodialysis process works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges.
• The electrodes pull the ions out of dissolved salt d from in water as it consists of positive and negative ions.  
• It leaves fresher water at the center of the flow. 
• A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from salty water.
• Unlike reverse-osmosis technology, the use of membranes in Electrodialysis is exposed to lower pressures and can be cleared of salt by simply reversing the electrical polarity.

Application of Electrodialysis in India

Approximately 60 percent of India water reserves contain salty water.

These reserves are located in the area which is not served by an electric grid that could help run conventional reverse-osmosis desalination plants.

If implemented in coastal villages, Small scale Electrodialysis systems with a small set of solar panels, will help to meet needs of a village comprising 2000 to 5000 people for their fresh water demeand.