PIB Summary- 29th June, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

DRDO Transfers MR-MOCR to Indian Navy

Context

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

About Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket:

• Developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur, India.

Purpose:

• The MOC technology aims to obscure radar signals by creating a microwave shield around platforms and assets, thus reducing radar detection.

Mechanism:

• Utilizes special fibres with a diameter of a few micrometers and unique microwave obscuration properties.
• When fired, the rocket forms a microwave obscurant cloud in space that spreads over a sufficient area with adequate persistence time, creating an effective shield against hostile threats with Radio Frequency seekers.

Variants:

• DRDO has developed three variants: Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR), and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR).

Testing Phases:

• Phase-I Trials: Successfully conducted from Indian Navy ships, demonstrating the blooming and persistence of the MOC cloud in space.
• Phase-II Trials: Demonstrated and cleared by the Indian Navy, achieving a Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction of an aerial target by 90 per cent.

Bhuvan Panchayat geoportal 4.0

Context

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology will launch two Geoportals, Bhuvan Panchayat (Ver. 4.0) and the National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM Ver. 5.0), on 28th June in New Delhi.

About Bhuvan Panchayat Geoportal 4.0:

Purpose:

• An online platform for geospatial data and services to support the integration of space-based information into governance and research initiatives, extending to Gram Panchayat level planning.

Development:

• Developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under ISRO.

Features:

• Enables visualization, analysis, and sharing of web map service (WMS) services for all thematic data products generated at a 1:10,000 scale under the Space-based Information Support for Decentralized Planning (SISDP) project.

What is the National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) Portal?

Purpose:

• Provides a comprehensive, uniform, structured, multi-scale geospatial database for situational assessment and effective decision-making during disasters or emergency situations.

Functionality:

• Acts as a national-level geo-portal to offer space-based information amalgamated with DSS tools and services of disaster forecasting organizations.
• Facilitates value addition by addressing all natural disasters in all phases for effective Disaster Risk Reduction in the country.
• Will serve as a Disaster Recovery and Data Provider node for the Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER) being established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi.