PIB Summary- 24th August, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Tilapia Aquaculture Project

Why in News?
Inspired by Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Technology Development Board (TDB) has extended support to the Tilapia Aquaculture Project with Israeli Technology.

• Technology Development Board (TDB) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched in 2020 to bring about Blue Revolution through the sustainable development of the fisheries sector over a period of five years (2020-2025).
• It is an umbrella scheme to develop the fisheries sector with a total outlay of Rs. 20050 crores.

It has two components

• The Central Sector Scheme (CS) component with a non-beneficiary-oriented scheme and a Beneficiary oriented scheme (Central Assistance for General Category – 40%; SC/ST/Women – 60%).
• A Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component also with a non-beneficiary-oriented scheme and Beneficiary oriented scheme. The different break-ups of funding are: Central Assistance for Northeastern States – 90%, Other States – 60%; and UTs – 100%.

The areas expected to be covered by the PMMSY are:

• Fish production
• Fisheries productivity
• Quality of fisheries and aquaculture sectors
• Post-harvest infrastructure and management
• Modernization of value chain
• Welfare of the fishers and fish farmers
• Fisheries management framework

The objectives of the PMMSY are

• Develop fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
• Harness the potential of fisheries sector in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner
• Efficient use of land and water resources to enhance fish production and productivity.
• Modernize value chain considering post-harvest management and quality improvement.
• Double fishers and fish farmers’ incomes
• Generate employment in the fisheries sector.
• Enhance fisheries sector’s contribution to overall agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and exports.
• Provide social, economic and physical security to fish farmers and fishermen.
• Develop a robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.

What is Aquaculture?

• The term “aquaculture” broadly refers to the raising of aquatic organisms for any economic, recreational, or societal purpose in artificial aquatic settings.
• In various kinds of water settings, including ponds, rivers, lakes, the ocean, and man-made “closed” systems on land, plants and animals are bred, raised, and harvested.

Purposes

• Food production for human consumption,
• Rebuilding of populations of threatened and endangered species,
• Habitat restoration,
• Wild stock enhancement,
• Production of baitfish, and
• Fish culture for zoos and aquariums.

What is Tilapia?

• One of the most successful and widely traded fish foods in the world is tilapia, sometimes known as aquatic chicken.
  • Because of its fast development and simple cultivation, tilapia has gained commercial popularity throughout the world and earned the moniker “aquatic chicken.”
• Tilapia can be raised in ponds or cage systems, salt or brackish water, and in a number of other aquaculture conditions.

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile

Why in News?
Recently, Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

About VL-SRSAM

• For the deployment of Indian Naval warships, VL-SRSAM has been created and developed cooperatively by three Defense Research and Development Organization facilities.
• The missile is capable of destroying a variety of close-range aerial threats, including sea-skimming targets.
  • Sea skimming is a technique many anti-ship missiles and some fighter or strike aircraft use to avoid radar and infrared detection.

Design

• The missile is intended to hit fast-moving aerial targets with a range of 40 to 50 km and an altitude of roughly 15 km.
• Its design is based on the Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile known as the Astra.
  • The Defence Research and Development Organization created the Astra (“weapon”) air-to-air all-weather beyond-visual-range active radar homing missile for India.
  • A Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missile is an air-to-air missile that can engage targets at distances of at least 20 nautical miles.

Features of VL-SRSAM

• Cruciform wings: They are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and give the projective a stable aerodynamic posture.
• Thrust Vectoring: It is the ability to change the direction of the thrust from its engine, control the angular velocity and the attitude of the missile.
  • Thrust is the force which moves an aircraft through the air.
• Canisterised system: The inside environment is controlled, thus making its transport and storage easier and improving the shelf life of weapons.