Daily Newspaper Digest: 28 April 2021

About Ladakh Ignited Minds project

• It is collaboration between Indian Army and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
• Its executing agency is National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation, (NIEDO).
• NIEDO will not only mentor and guide the kids and aid their future growth story but will also provide value-based education.
• It is a Centre of Excellence and Wellness which has been conceptualised to secure a better future for the youth of UT of Ladakh.
• It is a full-time residential program to mentor and guide them for a period of twelve months for entrance examinations of various Medical and Engineering Colleges spread across in India.

Significance

• The project is aimed at providing better training facilities to disadvantaged Ladakhi students to give them opportunity to study in niche educational institutes.
• It is based on PM Modi’s vision for Atmanirbharata forward; productive man power with a focus on vocal for local is required.

2. 19th edition of ‘VARUNA-2021’ exercise

(Source- AIR)

Why in the news?

• Recently, the 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ has been conducted in the Arabian Sea.

About VARUNA-2021’ exercise

• It is a bilateral naval exercise between Indian Navy and French Navy.
• It was initiated in 1983 and is the base of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
• It was christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001.
• The 2021 exercise will have high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations etc.
• The exercise will enhance and hone their war-fighting skills to demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.

3. Oxygen enrichment technology

(Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

• The CSIR-CMERI has recently indigenously developed Oxygen enrichment technology may effective for treating COVID-19 patients.

About Oxygen enrichment technology

• It is a device that concentrates the oxygen from the air around us by selectively removing nitrogen to supply oxygen-enriched air.
• The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients, having respiratory diseases, through an oxygen mask or nasal cannula.

Key features

• The unit works on the principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
• It utilizes Zeolite Columns to selectively remove nitrogen from air under certain pressure thereby increasing the Oxygen Concentration.
• This unit can safely be placed in the isolation ward of the hospital for patients who are in dire need of Oxygen.
• It will be providing manufacturing guidance to the technology transferees as well as provide information on raw materials sourcing.
• The unit is capable of delivering medical air in the range of up to 15 LPM with oxygen purity of more than 90%.
• If required, this unit can even deliver up to 70 LPM at a purity of around 30%.

Related Information

About Pressure swing adsorption

• Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is the process by which ambient air passes through an internal filtration system (e.g. a molecular sieve [zeolite granules or membranes]), which has a large enough total surface area to separate nitrogen (N2) from the air, concentrating the remaining oxygen (O2) to a known purity.

About CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute

• It is a premier Mechanical Engineering Research Institute of the country under Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.
• CSIR-CMERI has already invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from Indian Companies / Manufacturing agencies/ MSMEs / Start ups for manufacturing Oxygen Enrichment Units through Technology Transfer.

4. Project DANTAK

(The Hindu)

Why in the news?

• Recently, Project DANTAK is commemorating its Diamond Jubilee (60 years) in Bhutan.

About Project DANTAK

• Project DANTAK was established on April 24, 1961 as a result of the visionary leadership of His Majesty the Third King and then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Objectives

• It was established with the objective of developing roads, telecommunication networks and other such landmark infrastructure-related projects in Bhutan.

Nodal Agency

• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the nodal agency of Project DANTAK.

Key Achievement of the Project

• DANTAK was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in the Kingdom.
• DANTAK completed the road connecting Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang in 1968.
• In the same year, Thimphu was connected to Phuentsholing by DANTAK.
• Some other notable projects executed by the project include the construction of Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway, Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure, Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India House Estate.
• The medical and education facilities established by DANTAK in far flung areas were often the first in those locations.
• The food outlets along the road introduced the Bhutanese to Indian delicacies and developed a sweet tooth in them.
• The famous Takthi Canteen midway between Phuentsholing and Thimphu has been a compulsory stop for travelers.

6. Somalia Crisis

( Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

• Recently, Somalia opposition fighters took up positions in parts of the tense capital, a day after clashes with government troops erupted over the President’s bid to extend his mandate.
• Somalia, already fragile after decades of civil war and an Islamist insurgency, is facing its worst political crisis in recent years after the failure to hold planned elections in February.

Reason behind this Crisis

• Recently, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, best known by his nickname Farmajo, has faced harsh criticism from foreign allies after signing a law approved by parliament which extended his mandate by two years.
• The clashes — mainly in the northern neighbourhoods of Sanca and Marinaya and the busy KM4 crossroads in the centre — began after dozens of opposition supporters marched in protest against Mr. Farmajo’s term extension.

Related Information

About Somalia

• It is an easternmost country of Africa, on the Horn of Africa.
• It extends from just south of the Equator northward to the Gulf of Aden and occupies an important geopolitical position between sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of Arabia and southwestern Asia.

Capital

• The capital, Mogadishu, is located just north of the Equator on the Indian Ocean.