DRONES

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) commonly known as a drone is an aircraft, without a human pilot aboard. Its flight is controlled either remotely or autonomously.

USES OF DRONES:

1. Military- Drones are used in situations where manned flight is considered risky or difficult. They deliver precision strikes; carry out aerial reconnaissance etc, without the need of intrusive military action. 
2. Farming - Farmers can use it to monitor irrigation, plant growth; they can even see if any of the plants are sick, by using infrared technology. This can also enable farmers to make critical decisions about where and when to fertilize, plant or water. 
3. Movie Making- Drones enables creators to achieve the effects easily that would otherwise require lot of wires, spider cam cranes, and crane operators. 
4. Covering the news- In what may become the next trend in journalism; some reporters have already begun using UAVs to capture the news. 
5. Putting out wildfires- Drones are becoming an incredibly useful tool for fire-fighters. 
6. Protecting endangered species- Scientists have been using drones to keep track of a population of endangered animals and finding out ways to increase their number. 
7. Monitoring pollution level- NASA is even using drones to test the makeup of the ozone. In Italy, drones have been used to monitor illegal dumping for years. 
8. Helping in disaster relief-  Drones are used to drop food and medical aid in places where roads become impassable in rainy seasons, or where they might not exist at all. UAVs can prove to be an asset in time-critical situations, such as ski patrollers using beacons on small drones to search for buried avalanche victims. 
9. Sports- Drones are being used to develop everything from game strategy to analyzing athlete performance. Drones have even made an appearance at the Olympics, where they were used to film ski and snowboarding events in Sochi. 
10. Fighting crime- Police and FBI departments in various countries use drones for surveillance and other protection-related activities.

ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic organization of 10 Southeastern countries i.e Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, & Vietnam. 2.It was formed on 8 August 1967, its chairman is Mr. Najib Rajak, headquarter is in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It aims to accelerate the growth, social progress, and socio-cultural evolution in the region. In 2015, ASEAN’s combined nominal G.D.P had grown to more than US$ 2.6 trillion. The next steps by the ASEAN are to create:- 

1. Single market and production base. 
2. Competitive economic region. 
3. Region of equitable economic development. 
4. Region fully integrated into the global economy.

ASEAN is a part of India’s, “Act East Policy” and Myanmar is its launching pad in the region. India is 6th largest investor of FDI in ASEAN with an increase of 48% in the last 5 years. India imports oil and natural gas from ASEAN and exports automobiles and electronic machines to them. India has got a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with ASEAN, which is operational since 2011. The 30th ASEAN summit took place in Manila, Philippines on 29 Apr 2017, in which the ASEAN leaders underscored the importance of India`s cooperation in implementing the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER).

AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

India is an agricultural country, where about 65% of the population are engaged in this sector, but its contribution to the GDP is only 17.9%. This sector remained under developed for a long time. But the Green Revolution changed India into self sufficiency & into an agricultural exporting nation. Now India ranks first in the world in the production of tea and groundnuts. It ranks second in the world in the production of rice, sugarcane, jute and oil seeds. This achievement has been acquired despite the fact that only 30% of the total agricultural land has assured water facility, the balance 70% are based on rains. If the balance of the land also gets adequate water, we will be able to be the No. 1 in the world. 

There are No. Of challenges being faced by agricultural sector, which are:-

1. Lack of Water:  Guaranteed irrigation facility is not available to 70% of agricultural land, without which growth is low. The Supreme Court of India has ordered Interconnectivity of Rivers in Feb ’12. On the completion of the work, India will be able to guarantee food to the World.
2. Soil erosion is eroding away the most fertile top layer of the soil. This could be prevented using suitable methods like afforestation, checking overgrazing and creating scientific drainage.
3. Poor Transportation: Villages are poorly connected by roads. This is resulting in delay in reaching the products to the market.
4. Capital Availability at High Rate. The main suppliers of money to farmers are the money lenders, traders and commission agents; they charge high rates of interest from the farmers and purchase their agricultural produce at very low price.
5. Poor storage facilities at village level are compelling farmers to sell their product immediately after the harvest at the prevailing low market prices. Almost 75% of our vegetables and fruits do not reach the market and perish at village level.

Steps that can be taken by government to improve agriculture

1. Connect the rivers in a phased manner as has been done by Gujarat and MP.
2. Connect the villages by road.
3. Set up chain of research centres for producing high yielding varieties of seeds.
4. Educate farmers by setting up adequate Agriculture colleges and universities.
5. Electrify villages and set up agro based industries so that cash flow to farmers is enhanced.
6. Modernise FCI & State Warehousing Corporation.
7. Ensure efficient crop insurance and Bank loan facility.
8. Provide a very high reliable weather bulletins for farmers.

GLOBAL WARMING

Global Warming is the increase of Earth's surface temperature, due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions. This happens due to burning of fossil fuels or from deforestation. This traps heat giving rise to the earth’s surface temperature.

Greenhouse Effect brings a Number of changes like:-

1. Change in rainfall pattern, drought and fire in some areas & flooding in others.
2. Natural calamities such as flood & hurricane.
3. Melting of the ice caps which results in loss of habitat near the poles. Polar bears and many other species are being considered endangered. 
4. Melting glaciers - significant melting of old glaciers is already observed.The amount of oxygen dissolved in the oceans may decline, with adverse effect on  ocean life.

Some of the suggested Steps to Reduce Global Warming are:-

1. Switching over to cleaner energy e.g. Nuclear Energy.
2. Worldwide Plantation of trees.
3. Follow the environmental policy of ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’.
4. Use of fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce emissions of harmful gases.
5. By walking and cycling for short distance & vehicle pooling for long distances.
6. Using public transport.
7. Switching over to LED bulbs which uses two-thirds less energy and emits 70 percent less heat.

America, which causes global warming the most, has walked out of its commitment of reducing it. Therefore, it is all the more important for the entire world to ensure that the Global Warming is taken care of.

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN INDIA

India’s renewable energy market is showing the first signs of revival as the installed capacity jumped by 12.9% in past 1 year. 

India has the fifth largest power generation portfolio worldwide. The country transitioned from being the world's seventh-largest energy consumer in 2000 to fourth largest one within a decade. 

The Government of India had set targets which will take the total renewable capacity to almost 175 GW by the end of 2022. This includes 60 GW from wind power, 100 GW from solar power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power.

Growth Drivers

1. India is the fourth largest importer of oil and the 15th largest importer of petroleum products and LNG globally. The increased use of indigenous renewable resources is expected to reduce India’s dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels.
2. Wind energy equipment prices have fallen dramatically due to technological innovation, increasing manufacturing scale and experience curve gains.
3. Renewable energy is becoming increasingly cost-competitive compared to fossil fuel-based generation.

INCENTIVES OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLAR ENERGY SECTOR INCLUDE:

1. Exemption from excise duties and concession on import duties on components and equipment required to set up a solar plant.
2. A 10-year tax holiday for solar power projects.
3. Wheeling, banking and third party sales, buyback facility by states.

SOME OF THE ACTIONS COMPLETED BY THE GOVERNMENT SO FAR FOR EASE OF DOING BUSINESS ARE:

1. Real-time registration
2. Payments through 56 accredited banks
3. Online application process for environmental and forest clearances.
4. 14 government services delivered via eBiz, a single-window online portal.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Introduction

The art and science of manipulating and rearranging individual atoms and molecules to create useful materials, devices, and systems is called Nanotechnology. One nanometre is just one-billionth of a meter in size. Physicist Richard Feynman, who discussed this concept first in the year 1959, is called the father of nanotechnology.

Some of the applications of Nanotechnology are:- 

1. Nanoscale additives are used to make baseball bats, tennis rackets, motorcycle helmets, automobile bumpers etc making the parts stronger, and more wear resistant. 
2. Nanoscale additives help resist wrinkling, staining, and bacterial growth in clothes. 
3. Nanoscale thin films on eyeglasses, computer, camera displays, windows and other surfaces makes them water-repellent, resistant to ultraviolet or infrared light and scratch-resistant. 
4. Nano-engineered materials help to minimize carbon dioxide leakage out of carbonated beverages.
5. Sunscreens are utilizing nanoparticles that are extremely effective at absorbing light, especially in the ultra-violet (UV) range. 
6. Used in packaging, like beer bottles, as a barrier, allowing for thinner material, with a subsequently lighter weight, and greater shelf-life. Reduced weight means transportation costs decline. Changing from glass and aluminum - think beer and soda bottles - to plastic also reduces production costs.

Nanotechnology is an emerging and rapidly growing field whose dynamics and prospects pose many great challenges to scientists and engineers.Huge research all over the world is likely to bring out further benefits by use of this technology in diverse fields. 

EDUCATING GIRL CHILD

• There goes a saying 'Educate a man, you educate only that man, but if you educate a woman, you educate the entire family'. It couldn't be truer in a country like ours which is struggling its way out of the grips of social evils like dowry, female foeticide, child marriage & honour killings.

• Benefits of educating girl children are:-

1. The educated women can help in eradicating social evils like dowry, female foeticide, discrimination regarding education of girls, illiteracy and so on.
2. A girl who has had more than six years of education is better equipped to seek and use medical advice, to immunize her children, and to be aware of the importance of sanitary practices.
3. An educated woman can play a more dynamic role in addressing the economic challenges faced by the country.

• Steps taken for girl’s education

1. Awakening programs have been launched by the government for encouraging the girls education.
2. The introduction of TVs in rural areas and the 50% reservation given to females in Panchayats have played a positive role in motivating the society to educate the girls.
3. Several other policies like enhanced subsidy to girl entrepreneurs,various self employment schemes and Self Help Groups of women have resulted in mobilizing and directing the parents to get their daughters educated.

• Thus, for every educated woman, who is able to contribute to the family income, our country takes one more step towards progress. For every educated mother, who teaches her son to respect women, who stands up for her girl child and does not curse her existence, she helps us all take a step closer to living in camaraderie rather than conflict. For every educated young lady, who decides to wait till she's ready to marry and refuses to pay dowry, we lay the bricks for social reform and new thinking. But all these are possible only when a young girl is sent to school to study.