20 July 2024 : PIB Summary For UPSC

1. Bureau of Indian Standards signs Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru to promote Standardisation

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2034445 )

Topic: GS2 – Governance, GS3 – Indian Economy.

Context

BIS and IISc signed an MoU on July 3, 2024, to establish the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at IISc. This partnership aims to integrate standardisation into academic curricula, enhance R&D, and foster collaboration in standards formulation.The initiative is part of BIS’s broader strategy to work with top Indian institutions.

Analysis of the news:

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, on July 3, 2024, to establish the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’.
• The initiative formalises a strategic collaboration between BIS and IISc to advance standardisation and conformity assessment.
• The BIS Standardization Chair aims to integrate standardisation curricula into academic programs, enhance academic involvement in standardisation activities, and support R&D in the field.
• Key collaborative efforts include:
  • Integrating standardisation topics into IISc’s academic programs.
  • Involving academia in BIS’s national and international standardisation efforts.
  • Providing infrastructure for research and development.
  • Co-hosting seminars, workshops, and conferences.
  • Sharing knowledge and publishing research findings.
  • Exploring Centres of Excellence for standardisation and testing.
• The MoU is part of BIS’s broader strategy to partner with premier institutions like IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and others to enrich standards formulation and innovation.
• BIS Director General Pramod Kumar Tiwari and IISc Director Prof. Govindan Rangarajan expressed optimism about the partnership’s impact on standards development and technology innovation.

Importance of standardisation:

What is standardisation? Standardisation is the process of establishing and applying uniform technical standards to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in products, services, and systems. It involves creating uniform criteria, guidelines, and specifications that facilitate interoperability, reduce variability, and promote efficiency across industries and markets. Importance of standardisation: Consistency and Quality: Standardisation ensures products and services meet consistent quality and safety levels, reducing variability and increasing reliability. Consumer Protection: Standards help protect consumers by ensuring that products and services meet minimum safety and performance criteria. Market Access: Adhering to international standards facilitates access to global markets by meeting requirements and reducing trade barriers. Efficiency and Cost Reduction: Standardisation streamlines production processes, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs through economies of scale. Innovation Facilitation: Standards provide a common framework that can spur innovation by ensuring compatibility and interoperability among new technologies. Regulatory Compliance: Helps organisations comply with regulations and industry-specific requirements, avoiding legal issues and penalties. Improved Communication: Standardization offers a common language for stakeholders, improving communication and understanding across industries and regions. Enhanced Competitiveness: Adopting standards can enhance an organisation’s competitiveness by ensuring high-quality products and services.

Practice Question:  Discuss the significance of standardisation in enhancing product quality and market access. How does it contribute to consumer protection, efficiency, and innovation? (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Raman Research Institute spinoff company’s tunable lasers could lower costs of quantum optics labs

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2034215 )

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

India is advancing its quantum technology capabilities with nexAtom, a spinoff from Raman Research Institute, set to produce cost-effective, multi-channel tunable laser systems. This initiative supports the National Quantum Mission, aims to lower costs for quantum optics labs, and encourages innovation in various fields like medicine and remote sensing.

Analysis of the news:

• India is set to develop its own multi-channel, tunable laser systems crucial for quantum optics, through nexAtom Research and Instruments, a spin-off from the Raman Research Institute (RRI).
• The technology aims to reduce the high costs of quantum optics labs and has applications in medicine, remote sensing, geo-mapping, and space.
• Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, has licensed the technology to nexAtom, which will produce these advanced laser systems.
• The tunable lasers, known as External Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDLs), are vital for quantum research and technology labs, addressing needs in quantum communication, metrology, and more.
• nexAtom’s systems are cost-effective, offering integrated packages or sub-systems, reducing the need for additional auxiliary equipment.
• The National Quantum Mission (NQM), a Rs. 6,000 crore initiative, aims to advance quantum technology in India, with RRI contributing to its ecosystem.
• The development includes a provisional Indian patent for a standalone laser system with frequency tunability and precision control.
• nexAtom’s products also include precision time taggers, ultra-fast seed fibre lasers, and Q-switched fibre and diode lasers for diverse applications.
• The venture aims to enhance India’s scientific ecosystem and encourage entrepreneurship in quantum technology. The company’s success will require skilled engineers and PhDs.