IIT Guwahati researchers develop techniques for rapid evaporation of droplets

 IIT Guwahati researchers develop advanced techniques for rapid evaporation of droplets. According to the team, the method is aimed at controlling the life-time of droplets containing suspended nanoparticles. Suspended nanoparticles are magnetically active, thereby enabling the flexibility of being under control in a magnetic forcing environment.

The research has been published in "Soft Matter", a highly reputed journal belonging to the Royal Society of Chemistry.

"The research revealed that the mixing between two droplets can be attenuated significantly under the actuation of the magnetic field. This novel method showed a significant enhancement of around 80 per cent in the overall mixing time between the droplets in comparison to the case where no external force is applied," said Pranab Kumar Mondal, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati.

"The research outcomes could be potentially beneficial in the area of biomedical diagnostics, whereby rapid and efficient mixing between fluids is of utmost importance. In addition to that, this research also revealed that the magnetic field can be successfully used in altering the lifetime of a droplet containing suspended magnetic nanoparticles," he said.According to the team, the research has shown that the evaporation rate of the droplet can be successfully controlled by varying the applied magnetic field frequency.

"The inferences drawn from this study could have far-reaching implications ranging from biomedical engineering to surface patterning.

"With the advent of miniaturization, effective transfer of mass between species has attracted significant attention of global communities because of its wide range of industrial applicability. In particular, rapid evaporation and mixing between droplets has extensive range of engineering applications such as biological sample diagnostics, ink-jet printing, surface patterning and many more," Mondal said.

Source: Hindustan Times, 18/02/21

Large hydro projects risk Himalayan communities

 The Uttarakhand tragedy is a moment to review support for Himalayan dams and construction-based economy.The impact of the February 7 flash floods in Uttarakhand is still being estimated while rescue and relief operations remain challenged and the death toll rises. The tragedy has brought into sharp focus the environmental risks to the Himalayan people and to the region’s development. This is a moment for all our decision-makers in state governments, courts and Parliament to review their support for Himalayan dams.In recent years, the central government’s unconditional push on renewable energy (RE) has motivated the Himalayan states to seek RE status for the hydropower sector. In March 2019, the Cabinet granted this status to all hydropower projects, effectively removing the earlier policy distinction between projects up to 25 MW and larger ones. This decision came after the standing committee of the ministry of power observed that Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of hydropower stations “is even lesser than solar projects” and that the “net effect of hydro projects has always been positive for the surrounding”.

This position signals grave risks for all Himalayan communities, as it could make this ecologically sensitive region the densest hydropower zone in the world. As the committee report shows, the reassessment of large dams as RE has been done with the sole aim of attracting energy finance for hydropower development in the Himalayan region, stated to be “abundant” in water resources.

Globally, climate policy debates now take energy transition as a given. The spatial aspects of this ongoing global energy transition, especially the participation of state governments in electricity decarbonisation, are crucial to understand. Energy transition policies and projects are creating new “clean energy” geographies and new energy politics around RE.

India’s re-engagement with large hydro is one such regional dynamic. It has drawn small, border Himalayan states into global and national climate and energy discourses. As the representative of Uttarakhand stated to the parliamentary committee, “Solar energy, wind energy or any other form of renewable energy is always going to be smaller. For us, as a state in the Himalayas, hydro is our main stake.”

The ambitions of the Indian Himalayan states to seize the energy transition narrative illustrates what climate scholars identify as a shift from “burden-sharing to opportunity-sharing” in climate policies. The parliamentary committee report details several attempts by state representatives to persuade national policymakers to recognise that India’s energy transition pathways necessarily include the politically delegitimised and ecologically damaging large hydro.

Governments anticipate a number of developmental benefits of energy transition such as cheaper, reliable energy for economic development, revenues from export of “green” fuel, access to international development finance, and increased local business opportunities. These are referred to as “co-benefits” in climate policy discourses. Co-benefits are crucial to justify the exemptions, concessions and incentives given upfront by states to attract private investments for large-scale RE projects. These discourses have been applied to policymaking in the “Himachal model” of private hydro-development. The state’s policies guarantee purchase of power, easy and cheap land transfers and exemptions from local consent.

The hydro sector is still dominated by public sector units due to their access to long-term finance and State guarantees.

Despite several policy changes, the share of the private sector has remained low as compared to private investments in the coal power sector. The committee report shows the Himalayan state representatives and the hydropower bureaucracy stating unambiguously that the RE status and accompanied incentives are needed to attract private investments to the sector. The RE tag is a means to create new investment opportunities in the hydro sector for financial elites and energy capital.

The social and environmental risks of large dams are well-documented. Although the committee’s report records that “geological surprises” resulting from weak Himalayan geology, “lack of technology or expertise, natural calamities like landslides, floods, and cloud bursts etc cause severe setbacks in construction schedules”, the committee didn’t see these as problems that require in-depth examination. Instead, the report dedicates its attention to reducing the financial risk to existing and potential dam-builders.

In an effort to attract investments from the private sector that is reluctant to venture into “remote” Himalayan locations, government agencies are willing to undertake construction of “enabling infrastructure” at public cost. Himalayan road construction, that has a serious impact, should be seen as an integral part of incentivising private hydro-development in this region.

The standing committee report is an excellent example of the opportunistic use of RE and how the development of private hydro-finance overtakes the assessment of social and environmental risks of dams.

Manju Menon and Kanchi Kohli are with the Centre for Policy Research

Source: Hindustan Times, 19/02/21

Quote of the Day February 18, 2021

 

“Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them.”
Napoleon Bonaparte

“सम्पन्नता धन के संग्रह में नहीं होती, बल्कि उसके उपयोग में होती है।”
नेपोलियन बोनापार्ट

Economic & Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 56, Issue No. 7, 13 Feb, 2021

Editorials

Illusion of Democracy in Financial Markets

Comment

Economic Worth of Homemakers

From the Editor's Desk

Do Normative Values Need an Address?

Gopal Guru

From 50 Years Ago

From 50 Years Ago: Baggage Allowance: Status Symbols for U-Sector

H T Parekh Finance Column

What Is Stopping the Obvious? - Regulating Renewable Energy Investment in Developing Countries

Avinash Persaud

Commentary

Framework for India’s Long-term Strategy for Curbing Climate Change

Karan Mangotra, Ritu Ahuja, Thomas Spencer, Will Hall

Reorganisation of J&K and Anxiety in Jammu - One Year After

Rekha Chowdhary

Impact of the Kerala Congress(M) on the Left Democratic Front

Dimpi V Divakaran

Need for Local Access Points for Central Administration of Identity Cards

Tarun Arora, Katie Pyle

Book Reviews

Regional Dynasties in Medieval Bihar - Unearthing New Historical Narratives

Ratnakar Tripathy

Civilisation Mongering and Right-wing Culturalism

Silva Lieberherr

The Craft and Lifeworld of Artist and Art in Society - Story of an Ethnography

Aparna Rayaprol

Perspectives

Untangling Policy Mishaps - How to Make Policies More Effective during a Pandemic

Mausumi Das, Sabyasachi Kar

Special Articles

Achieving Sustainable Healthy Food Systems - The Need for Actual Food Consumption Data for Measuring Food Insecurity and Its Consequences

Uma Lele, Sambuddha Goswami, Mesfin Mergia Mekonnen

Gendered Desire in Kerala - Affect and Assemblages as Development Indicators

Meena T Pillai

Hostile Takeovers - A Comparative Analysis of India and the United States

Mayank Kataria, Eshvar Girish

Discussion

Theory and the Possibility of ‘Dalit Studies’

Saurabh Todariya

Current Statistics

Current Statistics

Letters

Gender in Malayalam Films

Bijitha P

What Should Be the US’s Climate Strategy?

Adfer Rashid Shah

Appointments/Programmes/Announcements

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Current Affairs – February 18, 2021

 

INDIA

3^rd edition of Indian Sign Language Dictionary launched

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot on February 17, 2021 virtually released the third edition of the Indian Sign Language Dictionary. The Dictionary has been brought out by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous Institute under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. The new dictionary contains 10 thousand terms of everyday use including academic, legal, administrative, medical, technical and agricultural terms.

Cabinet approves Amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to amend the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The amendments include authorizing District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the Juvenile Justice Act, in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability.

Mallikarjun Kharge granted recognition as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has accorded recognition to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha with effect from February 16. Kharge was named Congress leader in the House to succeed Ghulam Nabi Azad whose term has ended.

Ethiopian Deputy PM Demeke Mekonnen Hassen arrives on 4-day visit

Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen arrived in New Delhi on February 16, 2021. Hassen will inaugurate the new Chancery and Residence at Ethiopian Embassy in New Delhi along with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

No contempt case against Rajdeep Sardesai, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court’s public relations department on February 16, 2021 clarified that the court had not initiated any criminal contempt proceedings against senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. It clarified that information on the court’s website showing the case status was placed “inadvertently” and “appropriate action to rectify the same is under process”.

PM addresses first-ever virtual Nasscom India Leadership Forum

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17, 2021 addressed the first-ever virtual Nasscom India Leadership Forum. He exhorted the country’s burgeoning startup ecosystem to move beyond focusing on the valuations and exit strategy and rather create world-class institutions.

Economy & Corporate

Cabinet approves PLI scheme for telecom and networking products

The Union Cabinet on February 17, 2021 approved a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth Rs 12,195 crore for telecom and networking products. The eligibility for the scheme will be subject to achievement of a minimum threshold of cumulative incremental investment and incremental sales of manufactured goods net of taxes. Financial Year 2019-20 will be treated as the Base Year for computation of cumulative incremental sales of manufactured goods net of taxes. The scheme will be operational from April 1, 2021.

Cabinet approves signing of trade agreement between India and Mauritius

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius which is aimed at liberalizing norms to boost two-way commerce. The India-Mauritius CECPA will be the first trade Agreement to be signed by India with a country in Africa. The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural Persons, Telecom, Financial services, Customs Procedures and Cooperation in other Areas.

PM inaugurates Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 143-km long Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline and Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) on February 17, 2021. CPCL is a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation. He also laid the foundation stone of Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam.

Govt approves proposals worth over Rs 363 cr in food processing sector

The Union Food Processing Industries Ministry on February 17, 2021 cleared 20 projects worth Rs 363.4 crore under two central government schemes. The proposed projects have been cleared for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Cluster (APC) and the scheme for Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). The government will provide a grant-in-aid of Rs 102.91 crore for these projects. A decision in this regard was taken in the Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC) meeting chaired by the Food Processing Industries Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Armed forces: Enhanced financial powers for capital procurement approved

Cabinet on February 17, 2021 approved enhanced delegation of Financial Powers under Capital Procurement to levels below Vice-Chief of Armed Forces. Under Other Capital Procurement Procedure of Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020, financial powers up to Rs 100 crore has been delegated to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Services Command and Regional Commanders, Indian Coast Guard. Powers up to Rs 200 crore has been delegated to Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Material, Air Officer Maintenance, Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff and Additional Director General Indian Coast Guard.

Ministry of Earth Sciences invites suggestions on blue economy policy

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft blue economy policy in the public domain, inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders, including industry, NGOs, academia and citizens. The draft policy document outlines the vision and strategy that can be adopted by the government to utilise the oceanic resources in the country.

Sri Lanka to re-acquire Trincomalee port oil tanks leased out to Indian Oil

Sri Lanka will re-acquire the World War II-era oil storage tanks leased out to Indian Oil Corporation in the eastern port district of Trincomalee. Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that talks with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo on this issue concluded on February 14. Sri Lanka in 2003 had leased out 99 oil tanks to the IOC for 30 years for an annual payment of USD 100,000. The IOC was also given one third share of the Sri Lankan government entity, Petroleum Storage Limited.

World

“Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021” exercise held in the Indian Ocean

India joined Iran and Russia in a two-day navy exercise dubbed “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021” in the northern part of the Indian Ocean on February 16-17, 2021.

IIM-Ahmedabad launches centre for transportation and logistics research

 Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad established a Centre for Transportation and Logistics, co-chaired by Dr Debjit Roy and Dr Sandip Chakrabarti, faculty at the institute. Through the centre, the institute aims to facilitate research in transportation, logistics, and allied areas.

IIM-A Director Dr Errol D’Souza said that the goal of the centre would not only be to find ways of reducing transportation and logistics operating costs, but also to promote social inclusion and to address environmental sustainability issues.

The IIM-A Centre for Transportation and Logistics plans to organise a series of webinars, workshops and panel discussions periodically throughout the year. The centre will also have rolling opportunities for postdoctoral research and distinguished visiting scholar positions.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr Debjit Roy, faculty and one of the co-founders of CTL at IIMA said, “Our objective behind establishing the CTL is to contribute to improving the efficiency of multi-modal transportation systems and supply chain logistics, thereby promoting economic growth and fostering sustainable development. We have faculty coming in from across the institute that have joined the centre as members. A group of internationally-acclaimed professors with outstanding research accomplishments from North American, European and Asian universities have joined the centre’s research advisory committee for providing guidance in centre development and supporting a range of academic activities.”

Recently, the Centre for Transportation and Logistics organised a virtual inauguration with a panel discussion on the topic “Trends and Innovations in Transportation and Logistics” with distinguished panelists spanning academia, industry, and government.

Source: Indian Express, 17/02/21

UGC asks varsities to encourage students to take ‘cow science’ exam

 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities to “encourage” students to enrol for the Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan Exam slated to be held later this month.

In a letter to the vice-chancellors of all universities, UGC Secretary Prof Rajnish Jain said, “I write this to request you, to give wide publicity to this initiative and encourage students to enroll/register themselves for this examination.”

He also asked universities to inform colleges affiliated to them about the exam.

The letter comes days ahead of the exam, scheduled to be held online on February 25. The nationwide exam is being conducted by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, an agency established for protection of cows under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It will be conducted in four categories – primary level (up to Class 8), secondary level (Class 9 to 12), college level (after Class 12) and for general public.

Apart from English and Hindi, the exam will be conducted in 10 regional languages — Gujarati, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu and Odia.

Earlier, the Aayog had uploaded a 54-page “reference material” for those who want to appear in the exam. The material described cow dung as “antiseptic”, “tooth polish” and having “anti-radioactive” properties.

The document, which went viral soon after it was uploaded, is no longer available on the Aayog’s website.

On January 5, the Aayog had announced its plan to conduct a nationwide online examination on cow science to “infuse curiosity” among people about the importance of cows, and to “sensitise and educate” them.

In a statement, the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had said, “Certificates will be given to all. Successful meritorious candidates will be given prizes and certificates…”

Source: Indian Express, 18/02/21