PIB Summary- 20th December, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

‘AGNI P’- Ballistic Missile

Why in news?

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni P’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha on December 18, 2021.

About Agni P (Prime) Missile:

• Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class (under IGMDP – Integrated Guided Missile Development Program).
• This is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
  (i) Canisterised means the missile is capable of launch at short notice through improvements in its storage and handling features.
• It is the smallest and lightest of the Agni missiles and weighs less than half as much as the Agni- missile.
• It was designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the successful launch of the missile is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence.’

Agni missile family:

• It is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India
• Agni series of missiles include from 1 to 4 and Agni -V.
• Agni missiles that India has are – Agni-1 with a 700-km range, Agni-2 with a 2,000-km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to over 3,500 km range
• Agni-5 is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.

About Ballistic Missile:

• A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
• They are launched directly into the upper layers of the earth’s atmosphere.
• They travel outside the atmosphere, where the warhead detaches from the missile and falls towards a predetermined target.
• They are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target.
• Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.
• An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi)[1] primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery.
• They can be launched from aircraft, ships and submarines, and land.

Golden Peacock Environment Management Award

Why in news?

The Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), under the Ministry of Steel has been awarded with the prestigious Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the year 2021 in the Steel Sector by the Institute of Directors.

Key points:

• SAIL has been the winner of this award for successive three years.
• This bears testimony to the efforts made by the Company for sustainable and environmentally responsible steel making.
• SAIL is sensitive to global concern for climate change. Its initiatives include:
  (i) Reduction of carbon footprint,
  (ii) Deployment of state-of-the-art environment friendly technology,
  (iii) R&D initiatives in association with academic institutes of repute for resource efficiency,
  (iv) Creation of carbon sinks by massive plantation drives,
  (v) Gradual shift to LED lighting,
  (vi) Enhancing share of renewable energy
  (vii) Upgrading of pollution control facilities,
  (viii) Water conservation efforts with aim to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge,
  (ix) Efficient handling of different solid wastes (viz. process waste, hazardous waste, canteen/township waste),
  (x) Carbon sequestration through afforestation,
  (xi) Eco-restoration of mined out area

About Golden Peacock Environment Management Award:

• It is the coveted and prestigious recognition that an organization could strive to win for environment management. 
• It was instituted in 1998 by World Economic Forum (WEF).
• It has a meticulously defined and transparent selection criteria and is determined by a highly elaborate and independent assessment process.
• The award encourages the corporates to enhance their environmental performances.