Discussion about the Kavach, Composite Water Management Index and PUSA 2090

KAVACH

Recently, the Indian Railways has designated ₹4,000 crore within the Signalling and Telecom budget section, encompassing ₹2,000 crore allocated under the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) specifically for implementing Kavach

About Kavach System:

• It is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
• Kavach was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railway (IR) in collaboration with Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, HBL Power Systems Ltd and Kernex Microsystems.
• It adheres to Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) standards and acts as a vigilant watchdog over the existing signaling system, alerting the loco pilot when approaching a ‘red signal’ and applying automatic brakes if necessary to prevent overshooting the signal.
• The system also relays SoS messages during emergency situations.
• It is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well the tracks, that talk to each other using ultra-high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.
• Since 2016, the railways have been carrying out field tests for Kavach on passenger trains.
• Applications:
  • It has been designed to assist locomotive pilots in avoiding Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) and overseeding.
  • The system can alert the loco pilot, take control of the brakes and bring the train to a halt automatically when it notices another train on the same line within a prescribed distance.
  • The device also continuously relays the signals ahead to the locomotive, making it useful for loco pilots in low visibility.
  • It also controls the speed of the train by an automatic application of brakes in case the loco pilot fails to do so.
  • It helps the loco pilot in running the train during inclement weather conditions such as dense fog.

Components of Kavach:

Within the Kavach setup, designated railway stations along the intended route for deployment consist of three essential components.

• First Component: The first component involves the incorporation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology into the tracks.

RFID employs radio waves to identify objects or individuals and utilizes electromagnetic fields to automatically read wireless device information from a distance without physical contact or line of sight.

• Second Component: The locomotive, serving as the driver’s cabin, is equipped with RFID readers, a computer, and brake interface equipment, comprising the second component.
• Third Component: It encompasses radio infrastructure, such as towers and modems, strategically installed at railway stations to support the system’s functionality.

Challenges in Deployment:

Its deployment cost is ₹50 lakh per kilometer, with limited coverage of approximately 1,500 km currently, posing a challenge in comprehensive implementation across the 68,000 km rail network

Composite Water Management Index

• About:
  • The National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has developed the CWMI in 2018 to enable effective water management in Indian states in the face of this growing crisis.
  • The report is being prepared in association with 3 ministries – Water Resources, Drinking Water & Sanitation, and Rural Development.
• Objectives of the Index:
  • To bring about much-required improvements in water resource management and conservation in India in a coherent and collaborative manner.
  • It will be a public platform that provides an annual snapshot of the water sector status and the water management performance of the different states and UTs in India.
  • It will measure both the overall progress made by states in water management and the incremental improvement in performance across time.
• Significance of the Index:
  • It is meant to foster a culture of evidence and data-backed policy-decisions for sustainable and efficient management of water resources.
  • The Index is expected to promote the spirit of ‘competitive and cooperative federalism‘ in the country.
  • The data included in the Index will be made publicly available to researchers and entrepreneurs to drive innovation in the sector.
  • The collection and compilation of this strategic dataset is a big step towards addressing the country’s projected water risk and shortfall.
• Themes and indicators of the Index:

 The Index comprises 9 themes (each having an attached weight) with 28 different indicators covering –

• • Groundwater and surface water restoration,
  • Major and medium irrigation,
  • Watershed development,
  • Participatory irrigation management,
  • On-farm water use,
  • Rural and urban water supply, and
  • Policy and governance.

Government initiatives for Water Management in India:

• Atal Bhujal Yojana
• Jal Shakti Abhiyaan
• National Water Policy, 2012
• National Aquifer Mapping and Management Program

PUSA 2090

It is a cross between Pusa-44 and CB-501, and matures in 120-125 days (compared to 155-160 days for Pusa 44), offering a shorter duration with similar high yields. It aims to address the issue of stubble burning in regions like Punjab and Haryana

Significance of PUSA 2090:

• It matures in a shorter duration of 120-125 days while maintaining comparable yields, addressing the core issue of stubble burning.
• It combines the high yield attributes of Pusa-44 with the quicker maturation cycle of CB-501, making it a promising alternative.
• It has undergone testing at the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project and has been identified for cultivation in regions like Delhi and Odisha.
  • Farmers in regions where Pusa-2090 has been tested have reported promising yield results

Conclusion:

With the SC emphasizing the need to cease stubble burning in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the discussion surrounding Pusa-2090 rice variety from its ability to provide an alternative to the problematic long-duration Pusa-44 variety