Tablet_PC;Akash-2

Dear all,

Welcome.

 

The India's cheap & upgraded version of Tablet PC for providing to the students had included a new chapter in this direction. Akash-2 had been officially launched on 124th anniversary of India's first Education Minister. It is inaugrated by the President Pranab Mukherjee.
On the auspicious occasion, many teachers got connected via Video-conferencing. Akash-2 would also be demonstrated before United Nations on November 28.
As per Newyork Times Blogpost, 1 lakh students would be benefitted at subsidized rate of 1132 INR while it's market value would be 2999 INR. Akash-1 faced some technical glitches, which forced some changes leading to Akash-2.
Delta Computers director told that Akash-2 features would delight the students esp. Educational Software with 1.5 lakhs applications. It's processor capacity is more resulting in less hang over. Also, battery back up would is enhanced to around 3 hours.
Datawind's, manufacturer of Akash, CEO told that new version has 7" display with sensitive touchscreen. It would also be possible in newer version to download You Tube videos & Android applications. More than 55 lakh bookings are made. The company is manufacturing @ 2,000 Tablets per day. Also, it's memory is 2GB which could be increased upto 32 GB.

With regards,

 

M.K.Pachraiya

Coal Pricing&Spectrum

Dear all,
Welcome.

Coal Pricing: The procedure of Coal pricing of pool coal is likely to be renewed. Admixing of Imported coal along with domestic coal had dismayed many States & Electricity generation companies. The States cite price hike resulting in higher elect. rates. Many States had denied acceptance of such coal.
PMO had asked Coal India Ltd. (CIL) to work along with Central Elect. Authority (CEA) to decide upon coal price. A proposal involving calorific value as base for fixing of coal price had come for price pooling model. It is in initial stages.
The Planning commission had told that CIL should fix the value after mixing with the domestic coal so that it doesn't appear costly as of now. As per CIL, Fuel Supply agreement (FSA) amendment is linked with the system of price pooling. If it is sanctioned, 15% of such coal could be given.
The Planning Commission told that Price pooling should be adopted for ensuring Coal supply. Presently, 30 companies had signed for FSA with CIL.

 

2G Spectrum: The re-auctioning of 2G spectrum after cancellation of 122 licenses by Supreme Court being issued earlier was done one day prior to the Diwali festive season. Due to higher spectrum price, telecon. companies are disinterested. The government had sought tenders for 176 blocks of 22 circles. But only 98 blocks of 18 circles were bidded. No bidding for Mumbai, Delhi, Karnataka & Rajasthan was done. As per telecon. minister, only 55% of the Spectrum to be solded was bidded. The aim to curb fiscal deficit by selling of Spectrum had thus failed partially.
The 10 Circles of Western UP had been sold with 9 block sales being assured in Eastern UP circle. Gujarat & Bihar is also enthusiastically bidded with 8 blocks each nearing final stages. Assam's 7 blocks, & 6 blocks each of Haryana, J&K, MP, NE, Odisha, & WB were successfully bidded. Maharashtra's 5 blocks are nearing final stages. Himachal, Kerala, & Punjab's 3 blocks each are sold. Andhra, Tamil Nadu & Kolkata's 4 blocks each are sold too. Fore entire countrywide circle, no bid was made.
It is to note that earlier CAG had pointed that due to non-auctioning of the Spectrum, a loss of revenue worth 1.76 lakh crore rupees took place. As per new bidding, min. 14,000 crores rupees would have to be paid for 5 MHz Spectrum of 22 telecon. circles. This is approx. 7 times higher than previous paid value of 1,658 crores by telecon. companies. Also, License fees had to be paid separately.  

 

With regards,

M.K.Pachraiya

Water-Quality Monitoring Station

Dear all,
Welcome.

Real time Water Quality monitoring station: These are being installed at 10 places for measuring the amount of pollution in the Ganga & Yamuna rivers. At Delhi's Vazirabad & Okhla barrage & from Haridwar to Kolkata at 8 different places, these would be powered by solar energy. The important feature of these is that they would be installed in the rivers.
Two members from CPCB & Delhi Water Board were included in the investigation related to cleaning of the Yamuna River. CPCB Scientist stated that the monitoring station is being installed by a Singaporean company. It is expected to complete within a month. The River Yamuna is mostly polluted in Delhi, whose length is 2% of it's total length. The Panipat's drain no. 2 discharging into the river is the main source of the pollution. It falls through 22 drains & comprises of the domestic & industrial waste. Water Board had installed plant of 2300 MLD capacity whereas 3800-4800 MLD of waste water is generated in the river in Capital.
The High Carbon content pollution reduces the level of oxygen content further & along with bacteria smells foul too.

Standards: British Tames Water Authority had kept the reproduction of fish in the water as the base standard for clear water. As per CPCB scientist, it needs 4 mg of oxygen in a liter of water.

But, it is zero due to water not being released from the barrages (Okhla & Hathinikund). These are also being installed at 8 places at Ganges river, which are as follows:
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1. Haridwar
2. Kannauj
3. Kanpur
4. Allahabad
5. Varanasi
6. Patna
7. Kolkata

With regards,

M.K.Pachraiya