Current Affairs tit bits

1.Reconstitution of Central Press Accreditation Committee

Central Press Accreditation Committee (CPAC), reconstituted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Function of CPAC: To approve applications for accreditation from the media, both Indian as well as foreign.

2. Scientists from Spain predict that the World’s population to stop growing in 2050

April 8th, 2013 As per the Journal ’Simulation’, scientists from Spain, the world population will stop growing and stabilize by 2050. Scientists from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and the CEU-San Pablo University, both from Spain developed a Mathematical model to confirm this.

This is in conformity with the UN report on world population in 2100 which states that the world population in 2100 will be within a range between 15.8 billion people (high fertility variant) - 6.2 billion (low fertility variant). Now, the figure of low fertility variant by UN is even below current population of 7 billion.

3. Agni-2 Launched : Accurately Hits Target Area 

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), fired the medium range Agni-2 missile propelled by solid rocket propellant system, with a range capability of over 1700 kms utilizing the range facility at Wheelers Island, off the Odisha coast today.

The entire trajectory of the missile was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships.

Agni-2 missile is equipped with state of the art avionics, advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by an innovative guidance scheme.

An SFC spokesman said, the flight “most importantly, conveys our preparedness to meet any eventuality. The mission “fully validated our operational readiness as also the reliability of the systems and the missile.”

What is Agni-2

The Agni-II is a medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) with two solid fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile's Re-entry Vehicle (RV). The Agni's anoeuvring RV is made of a carbon-carbon composite material that is light and able to sustain high thermal stresses of re-entry, in a variety of trajectories.

4. Steps to Reduce Air Pollution in the Country

The Government has taken steps to reduce air pollution in the country particularly in NCR and other metro-politan cities. These include :-

• Bharat stage-IV emission norms have been implemented in 13 mega cities including NCR for new 4-wheelers from 2010.
• Mass emission standards (Bharat Stage III) have been notified for two, three wheelers and diesel driven agricultural tractors from April 1, 2010 throughout the country.
• Stringent Emission Standards have been implemented to regulate emissions from in-use vehicles from October 2004.
• Supply of improved diesel and gasoline.
• Operating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mode public transport in Delhi.
• Introduction of metro in Delhi to promote use of mass public transport system.
• Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards are implementing the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 to restore air quality.
• A mutually time targeted programme is implemented under Corporate Responsibility for Environment Protection (CREP).
• Special drives for prevention and control of pollution in 17 categories of highly polluted industries.

The Government has also issued new emission norms for industries, power stations and diesel operated commercial vehicles. These include:-

• Revision of emission norms for petrol and kerosene driven gensets and emission norms for Genset Diesel Engine.
• Issued Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to 338 defaulting 17 category of highly polluting industries since last 3 years.
• Standards are developed for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and load based standards for particulate matter (PM) including revision of PM emission standard for cement industry.
• BS-IV emission standards have been notified for all the diesel commercial vehicles in 20 cities of the country including NCR and other metro cities.
• The quality of diesel has also been improved to make it commensurate with BS-IV emission norms.
• Most of non-destined buses/trucks are not allowed to enter city premises and are by-passed.
• Heavy duty trucks in cities are allowed to ply only during specific timings.
• In Delhi & some other cities most of the public transport is running on CNG instead of diesel.
15 years old commercial vehicles are not allowed to ply in Delhi since December 1998.
• All the commercial vehicles are required to undertake annual fitness checks & certification.