PIB Summary- 20th September, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

National Technical Textiles Mission

Why in News?
The Ministry of Textiles recently cleared 23 strategic research projects worth around Rs 60 crores in Specialty fibres, Sustainable Textiles, Geotextiles, Mobiltech and Sports textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

About Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are defined as Textile material and products manufactured primarily for their Technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.
• The Technical textiles include textiles for automotive applications, medical textiles (e.g., implants), geotextiles (reinforcement of embankments), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection), and protective clothing (e.g., heat and radiation protection for fire fighter clothing, molten metal protection for welders, stab protection and bulletproof vests, and spacesuits).

Significance and Potential Applications of Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are being used globally for last several decades. These materials have provided innovative projects.
• Even while Technical Textiles have been extensively used in developed as well as many developing countries, India has yet to capitalize the technical, economical and environmental benefits on large scale.
• The Various parts of India are subjected to floods and environmental degradation. In some of the terrains, the flood management and control can rely on Technical Textiles tubes, containers and bags.
• The Technical Textiles have been found to perform better than concrete as water protection component because of permeability, flexibility and ease of underwater placement.

About National Technical Textiles Mission

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the establishment of a National Technical Textiles Mission to help India position itself as a “global leader“ in technical textiles.
• The Cabinet has approved a total outlay of Rs 1,480 crore for the project, which will be implemented over four years (2020-2024) and aims to promote research, export and skill development in this sector.
• An Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles will be set up for export promotion of technical textiles and ensuring 10% average growth in exports per year upto 2023-24.

Objectives

• The main aim is to get India the highest position in Technical Textiles at a global level
• This mission also aims at improving the penetration level of the technical textiles in the country. It must also be noted that the penetration level of technical textiles is low in India at 5-10%, against 30-70% in advanced countries. 
• The authorities aim at increasing the global market for Indian technical textiles
• To simplify the objectives of the mission, it has been divided into four component as well
• The Mission will focus on the usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including strategic sectors.

INSPIRE Awards

Why in News?
Recently, the 9th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), has commenced.

About INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Award

• It is aligned with the ‘Start-up India’ initiative and is being executed by DST (Department of Science and Technology) with National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST.
• In accordance with this, students are invited from all public and private schools nationwide, regardless of the educational boards (national and state).
• They would receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each so they could create prototypes of the ideas they submitted for the programme.
• As a next step, they competed at respective District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC) and State Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC) and finally National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC).

Aim
To motivate students to become future innovators and critical thinkers.

Objectives

• To encourage a culture of creativity and inventive thinking among schoolchildren by aiming for one million unique ideas/innovations with scientific and societal implications.
• To use science and technology to address societal challenges while fostering the development of tomorrow’s sensitive, accountable, and innovative leaders.

About INSPIRE Scheme

• One of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s flagship initiatives is the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) programme.
• Its goal is to inspire young people in the nation to pursue science in a creative way, to draw talent to the subject at a young age, and to create the crucial human resource pool needed to strengthen and grow the country’s scientific and technology system and research and development foundation.
• Since 2010, the INSPIRE programme has been effectively implemented by the Indian government. The programme has five components and is available to students between the ages of 10 and 32.