Indo Israeli joint venture firm to provide service support for Indias MRSAM missiles (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Israeli Aerospace Industries(IAI) and India's Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), firms owned by their respective Governments, have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to form a joint venture firm for extending long-term product support services for Indian Armed Forces.
- Aimed at providing life-cycle support for the Indo-Israeli Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), this joint venture furthers the long-standing cooperation between India and Israel in the field of Defence.
About MRSAM:
- MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system that provides protection against a variety of aerial platforms. The MRSAM is used by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces.
- The system includes an Advanced Phased Array Radar, command and control shelter, mobile launchers and interceptors with an advanced RF seeker.
- MRSAM is jointly developed by IAI and India's Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with India and Israel for India’s Armed Forces.
- The MRSAM missile is capable of taking down multiple aerial targets such as jets, drones, helicopters, and incoming missiles, within a 70km range.
Way Forward:
- The venture is to have its headquarters in New Delhi and will provide technical and maintenance support for MRSAM and its related systems.
India Centre for Lab grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) proposed to be established at IIT Madras
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- It is proposed to establish an India Centre for Lab grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras with the estimated cost of Rs. 242.96 crores over 5 years.
Background:
- In Union Budget 23-24, a five-year research grant for one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) was announced to encourage the indigenous production of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) machinery, seeds and recipe.
- It has been decided to give this project to IIT- Madras after a joint determination of its capabilities by a joint committee of Government, export promotion council and Industry representatives.
Aim:
- The aim of this project is to provide, in mission mode, technical assistance to the industries, and entrepreneurs in the country, in promote indigenous manufacturing of both Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure and High Temperature (HPHT) systems along with the recipes for expanding the Lab Grown Diamond (LGD) business at the upstream end.
Economic aspect:
- Lab grown diamonds are produced through 2 technologies, namely High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition. India is one of the leading producers of lab grown diamonds using CVD technology.
- As per industry estimates, India’s share in global trade in the financial year 2021-22 was 25.8. However, India to depend on other countries for the supply of critical machinery components and ‘seeds’, which are the raw material for producing synthetic diamonds.
- Good quality lab-grown diamonds with qualified certification, produced from the developed equipment and process parameters will attract many foreign customers increasing the export volume of lab-grown diamonds and scalability of production.
- Research efforts would make the technology available for startups at affordable cost, increase employment opportunities, increase exports of LGD thus play a significant role in fuelling India’s economic growth.
Gems and Jewellery sector:
- The Gems and Jewellery sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy, contributing around 9% to India’s total merchandise export.
- Over the past decade, there has been several positive developments in the Gem & Jewellery sector globally. One of the major technological developments in this sector has been Laboratory-grown diamonds (LGD).
Demand of LGD:
- Besides the jewellery industry, lab-grown diamonds are used in computer chips, satellites, 5G networks as they can be used in extreme environments due to their potential to operate at higher speeds while using less power than silicon-based chips.
- LGD has vast application in field of defence, optics, jewellery, thermal & medical industry.
- Globally, the market stood at $1 billion in 2020, the lab-grown diamond jewellery market is expected to rapidly rise to $ 5 billion by 2025 and exceed $ 15 billion by 2035.
“Jaipur Declaration” adopted at the 18th World Security Congress
(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
Why in news?
- The 18th UIC World Security Congress, jointly organized by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the International Union of Railways (UIC), conclude with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration by the attendees.
- The conference brought together experts, stakeholders, and delegates from around the world to discuss the latest developments and best practices in railway security, focusing on the theme of "Railway Security Strategy: Responses and Vision for Future."
Jaipur declaration:
- The “Jaipur declaration” outlined an actionable agenda for UIC to explore innovative approaches that can help global Railway organizations achieve their long-term goal of safety and security.
- The declaration highlighted the commitment of UIC to work towards providing a more safe and secure rail network acrossthe globe, by also fully activating the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and African regional assemblies by 2025.
About UIC:
- The UIC (Union International Des Chemins) or International Union of Railways established in 1922 is headquartered in Paris. It is the worldwide professional association representing the railway sector for research, development & promotion of rail transport.
- Members are invited to take a proactive role in the UIC working groups and assemblies where the railways’ position on regional/worldwide issues is shaped.
- Active participation in the working groups is a unique opportunity to voice opinions and benefit from the weight of the railway sector at a coordinated worldwide level.
- The Security Platform of UIC is empowered to develop and formulate analysis and policy positions on behalf of the global rail sector in matters relating to security of persons, property and installations.
About Railway Protection Force (RPF):
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) is the prime security and law- enforcement organization in the field of Railway Security in India.
- Constituted as a federal Force in the year 1957, RPF is responsible for security of railway property, passenger and passenger zones.
- RPF personnel serve the Nation and go the extra mile in their line of duty embodying its tagline “SEWA HI SANKALP”- “A PROMISE TO SERVE”.
- The Railway Protection Force enhanced passenger security in lndia through various initiatives such as Operation NanheFarishte for rescue of children and Operation AAHT for rescuing women and children from the clutches of traffickers.
