Discussion on the National Coal Index, 3D Printing and National Commission for SC
National Coal Index
About:
- NCI was rolled out in June 2020, while the base year kept is Financial Year 2017-18.
- It is a price index which reflects the change of price level of coal in a particular month relative to the fixed base year.
- Prices of coal from all the sales channels of coal, including import, as existing today are taken into account for compiling the NCI.
- The amount of revenue share per ton of coal produced from auctioned blocks would be arrived at using the NCI by means of defined formula.
Sub-Indices: NCI is composed of a set of five sub-indices:
Three for Non-Coking Coal and two for Coking Coal.
- The three sub-indices for Non-Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Non-Coking Coal and the two sub-indices for Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Coking Coal.
- Thus, indices are separate for Non-Coking and Coking Coal.
- As per the grade of coal pertaining to a mine, the appropriate sub-index is used to arrive at the revenue share.
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Based on the utility, Coal are of two types: Coking Coal:
Non-Coking Coal: · These are coals without coking properties. · Use:
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The Price is notified by:
(1) Non-Coking coal – Coal India Limited fixes notified prices for each grade (uniform for both regulated and non-regulated sector).
(2) Coking Coal – Subsidiaries of Coal India Limited notified the prices.
Significance:
(1) The Coal Index is the base indicator for the purpose of taxation.
(2) This Index will be helpful for future calculation of upfront amount and intrinsic value of mine.
(3) This index can be basis for calculation of annual escalation (monthly payment)
3D Printing
About:
3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), is an innovative technology that is swiftly revolutionizing global manufacturing processes.
This groundbreaking technique constructs three-dimensional objects by sequentially layering materials under precise computer control. The process entails the layering of materials such as plastics, composites, or bio-materials to produce objects with varying shapes, sizes, rigidities, and colours. In contrast to conventional subtractive methods, 3D printing provides significant design flexibility, minimized waste, and the capability to manufacture intricate geometries.
Types of 3-D Printing Technology:
The most commonly used 3-D printing technologies are:
- Ink-jet Printing: It uses inkjet technology to selectively deposit liquid photopolymer materials layer-by-layer which are cured with UV light. It offers high resolution and surface quality.
- Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM): A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off.
- The nozzle is heated to melt the material and lays down the melted material in thin layers on the build platform.
- Stereolithography (SLA): A laser is used to selectively cure a tank of liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer.
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): A high-power laser is used to fuse small particles of plastic, metal, ceramic or glass powders into a mass representing the desired 3D shape.
- Electronic Beam Melting (EBM): Uses an electron beam in a vacuum environment to melt and fuse metallic powder particles layer by layer.
- Commonly used for titanium alloys in aerospace and medical implants.
- Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM): Layers of adhesive-coated paper, plastic or metal laminates are successively glued together and cut to shape with a knife or laser cutter.
- Digital Light Processing (DLP): Similar to stereolithography but with a digital light processing chip controlling the light source, enabling faster build times.
Processes involved in 3-D Printing:
- 3D Model Design – The process begins with creating a 3D model of the object using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The model is sliced into layers.
- Machine Preparation – The 3D printer is loaded with the required raw materials like plastic filament, resin, metal powder etc. based on the printing technology used.
- Printing Materials – Unlike inkjet and laser printers, a 3D printer does not use liquid ink or solid powder. It deposits layers of molten plastic, metal wire, or powder and fuses them with the existing structure using adhesives or ultraviolet light.
- Layer-by-Layer Printing – The 3D printer deposits and fuses together material layer-by-layer as per the design file. The build platform lowers and the process is repeated until the object is formed.
- Post-Processing – Printed objects may require additional steps like cleaning, smoothening, baking, and polishing. Support structures are removed.
- Quality Checks – Printed objects are checked for dimensional accuracy and compliance with design specifications. Defects may require re-printing.
- Application – The final 3D printed part can then be put to functional use or for other applications like prototyping, education, art and so on.
- Materials: A range of materials are used for 3D printing including plastics like ABS, PLA, nylon, photopolymers, metals including titanium, aluminium, steel, gold, silver, alloys, ceramics, paper, wax, and even food materials like chocolate.
Initiatives in India in the field of 3D Printing:
- National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing: Formulated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in 2021, lays down a strategic roadmap to foster 3D printing research, skill development, manufacturing and global partnerships.
- Key goals:
- Enable 100 innovative 3D printing startups.
- Develop 50 India-centric technologies by 2025
- Train 5,000 skilled workers by 2024
- Samarth Udyog: This Industry 4.0 initiative by the Ministry of Heavy Industries aims to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, including the adoption of 3D printing.
- Make in India 2.0: As part of its Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, the government plans to position India as a global 3D printing hub.
- Partnerships with Global Institutes: The government has collaborated with organizations like Applied Materials to establish cutting-edge 3D printing research centres.
- Defence Initiatives: The defence sector has recognized 3D printing’s benefits for component production. DRDO and BEL are actively using the technology.
- Healthcare advances: The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) initiated a 3D printing grand challenge to develop localised healthcare solutions.
- Skilling Programs: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and central and state governments have launched programs to train youth in 3D printing. PM Kaushal Kendras offer training
Benefits of 3D Printing
- Customised Production: 3D printing easily creates customised products tailored to individual needs rather than mass-standardised products. It enables affordable personalisation and tool-less manufacturing.
- Complex Geometries: Intricate shapes and complex internal structures like lattices, and honeycombs that enhance strength and functionality can be 3D printed. These are impossible to manufacture otherwise.
- On-Demand Local Production: Digital inventories and distributed 3D printing reduce shipping costs, delays, carbon emissions and the need for global supply chains. Spare parts can be printed on-site.
- Material Savings: Additive 3D printing deposits only required material minimising waste. Scrap can be recycled into filament, powder or feedstock.
- Democratised Manufacturing: 3D printing grants access to affordable, quality manufacturing capabilities to individuals, startups, and small firms. Reduces barriers of expensive tools, moulds and dedicated factories.
- Rapid Design Iteration: The ability to swiftly 3D print design prototypes enables faster innovation cycles, improvements and performance optimisation before finalising the design.
- Education and Training: 3D printing develops creative design thinking and spatial skills. Student engagement and understanding of concepts like design, engineering, arts, and mathematics improve.
- Supply Chain Resilience: On-site 3D printing of parts using digital inventories reduces supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, pandemics, and natural disasters. It strengthens localised manufacturing capacity
National Commission for SC
About:
The NCSC is a constitutional entity established to prevent the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and to advance and safeguard their social, educational, economic, and cultural interests.
Background:
- Special Officer: Initially, the constitution stipulated the appointment of a Special Officer as per Article 338, known as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- 65th Amendment Act, 1990: This amendment modified Article 338, replacing the single-member system with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- 89th Amendment Act, 2003: Article 338 underwent an amendment, leading to the replacement of the former National Commission for SC and ST by two distinct Commissions starting from the year 2004:
- National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
Composition:
- The NCSC comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three additional Members.
- These positions are filled through the President’s appointment, indicated by a warrant under his hand and seal.
- Their conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the President
Functions:
- Monitoring and investigating all issues concerning the safeguards provided for the SCs under the constitution.
- Enquiring into complaints relating to the deprivation of the rights and safeguards of the SCs.
- Taking part in and advising the central or state governments with respect to the planning of socio-economic development of the SCs.
- Regular reporting to the President of the country on the implementation of these safeguards.
- Recommending steps to be taken to further the socio-economic development and other welfare activities of the SCs.
- Any other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and advancement of the SC community.
- The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian Community as it does with respect to the SCs.
- Till 2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this responsibility by the 102ndAmendment Act of 2018.
- A key monitoring activity performed by the Commission pertains to the setting up of special courts for the speedy trial of offences under the Civil Rights Act and the Atrocities Act.
- It also monitors the case disposal rates of these courts. Over the years, the Commission has conducted several on-the-spot inquiries into complaints of atrocities
Powers:
- The Commission is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure.
- For Investigation and Inquiry, the Commission is vested with powers of a civil court having authority to:
- Summoning and requiring the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath
- Requiring the discovery and production of any document
- Receiving evidence on affidavits.
- Requisitioning any public record from any court or office
- Issuing summons for the examination of witnesses and documents.
- Any other matter as determined by the President.
Duties for Other Backward Classes and Anglo-Indian Community
- The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian Community as it does with respect to the SCs as the President of India may order/specify to it under clause (1) of Article 340.
- Note: Till 2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment Act of 2018
Role:
- Collection of Statistics: It compiles and analyses statistics related to cases under the Civil Rights Act of 1955 and the Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989.
- Courts of special jurisdiction: The establishment of special courts for the fast trial of violations under the Civil Rights Act and the Atrocities Act is a crucial monitoring activity carried out by the Commission.
- Monitoring the disposal record: It also keeps track of the case disposition rates in these courts. Several on-the-spot investigations into allegations of atrocities have been performed by the Commission over the years