India has demonstrated great resilience in Face of Global Energy Crisis

  Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, in a media event held on 9th September 2022, witnessed signing of contracts for 31 Discovered Small Fields (DSF) blocks under DSF bid round-III and 4 CBM blocks under CBM bid round-V awarded to 14 E&P domestic companies.

During the event, Minister also unveiled the logo for India Energy Week (IEW) 2023, the Ministry’s flagship event taking place from 6th-8th February 2023 in Bengaluru, India.

In the Open House following the Contract Exchange event, the Minister highlighted the following:

• India has demonstrated great resilience in the face of global energy crisis;

• Government of India has taken several measures to minimize and mitigate the volatility of global crude oil and gas prices. Fuel price rise in India have been contained in comparison to exponential rise in developed countries. Most of the developed nations have witnessed significant inflation rise in Gasoline price by almost 40% during July 21 to Aug’22, while in India, gasoline price has reduced by 2.12%;

• The gas price of all the major trading hubs has seen massive increase during July 21 to Aug’22. Henry Hub of USA has seen increase of 140%. JKM Marker has seen increase of almost 257% and UK, NBP has increased by 281%.  While in India CNG and PNG prices has been increased by only 71%.

• Even on LPG front, In the past 24 months, Saudi CP price (our import benchmark) almost increased by 303%. During the same period, the LPG price in India (Delhi) increased by less than a tenth of that figure i.e 28%

• under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government has been undertaking various initiatives to attract more E&P investment to increase self-reliance in the energy sector;

• India’s move towards a ‘gas based economy’ by connecting Indian consumers through the City Gas Distribution, enhancing regasification capacities, expanding pipeline networks and setting up CNG stations;

• Achievement of 10% blending of ethanol in petrol in May 2022, ahead of the November 2022 deadline, setting up of 2G refineries to make ethanol, and a host of other initiatives, is a symbol of Government’s resolve towards just energy transitions. The Green Hydrogen Mission, under which the Ministry is facilitating setting-up pilot scale and commercial scale green hydrogen manufacturing plants by refineries is a part of this commitment;

• The significance of the various social welfare schemes like the Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojna and its role in ending energy poverty, ensuring social upliftment and as a catalyst of social change cannot be emphasized enough.

On India Energy Week 2023, Minister stated that it would be a flagship event of the Ministry, and also the first major Energy event once India takes over G20 Presidency. The event will provide an unprecedented opportunity for regional and international leaders and CEOs to come together for strategic policy and technical knowledge sharing for energy justice and energy transitions

**********

More than tenfold increase in share in ‘domestic transportation of small passenger vehicles(cars)’

  Railways, being a cleaner mode of transportation, not only helps automobile industry to quickly transport bulk volumes over long distances, but also gives opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint. Automobile traffic over Indian Railways has witnessed a tremendous growth during the recent past. This growth in automobile traffic has been the result of various initiatives viz. availability of specialized privately owned wagons. On the basis of the issues raised by the stakeholders in the automobile industry, including Society for Indian Automobiles Manufactures (SIAM), the Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) policy has been liberalized from time to time. It allows automobile manufacturers to own their wagons specialized for their needs.

To accommodate SUV cars, new design of auto-carrier wagons is under finalization in RDSO in addition to existing BCACBM wagons.

To facilitate loading /unloading of automobiles, design-modification to the existing NMG wagons is also under execution (NMGH and NMGHS) based on the suggestions received from investors/logistics providers.

Also, for increasing short lead traffic, freight rate has been revised for NMG/BCCNR and BCACM wagons upto -1200 km. More terminals are being opened up for automobile traffic as per demands of the industry.

Presently, Indian Railway has a fleet of 90 NMG rakes. In addition, 43 BCACBM rakes have been inducted by approved Train Operators under AFTO scheme.

 

 

Number of rakes loaded

2019-20

1,599

2020-21

2,681

2021-22

3,344

2022-23 (till Aug)

2,206

 

Comparison with last year:

 

Number of rakes loaded

2021-22

2022-23

April

270

369

May

123

392

June

284

443

July

317

494

August

320

508

 

Therefore, volume of transportation of small passenger vehicles(cars) by railways has increased by 68% YoY during the first five months of the current FY.

Modal share in ‘domestic’ transportation of ‘passenger vehicles (cars)’*:

2013-14: 1.50%

2014-15: 2.08%

2015-16: 3.62%

2016-17: 4.13%

2017-18: 4.50%

2018-19: 7.06%

2019-20: 11.17%

2020-21: 14.71%

2021-22: 16.00%

* These are estimates based on transportation of cars only. Domestic traffic of 2-wheelers and commercial vehicles have not been taken into account.

***
 

What is “SETU” initiative by GoI.

In a bid to connect Indian startups with the US-based investors, SETU programme (Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling) has been launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.  SETU will act as a bridge between American and Indian companies. The start-up will help entrepreneurs in upskilling, transforming and leveraging the success stories of the Indian diaspora in the US.

SETU will be a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. It aims to create around 100,000 jobs through start-ups.

The initiative would connect startups in India to US-based investors and startup ecosystem leaders with mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialisation.

SETU is designed to break geographical barriers between mentors based in the US who are willing to invest in entrepreneurship and sunrise startups in India. The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative MAARG, or the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth programme, which is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.

The portal has been developed with the idea to be made accessible from every corner of the country to connect with a mentor. A mentor will offer human intelligence in guiding the startups.

What is "SETU" initiative by GoI.

In a bid to connect Indian startups with the US-based investors, SETU programme (Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling) has been launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.  SETU will act as a bridge between American and Indian companies. The start-up will help entrepreneurs in upskilling, transforming and leveraging the success stories of the Indian diaspora in the US.

SETU will be a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. It aims to create around 100,000 jobs through start-ups.

The initiative would connect startups in India to US-based investors and startup ecosystem leaders with mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialisation.

SETU is designed to break geographical barriers between mentors based in the US who are willing to invest in entrepreneurship and sunrise startups in India. The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative MAARG, or the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth programme, which is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.

The portal has been developed with the idea to be made accessible from every corner of the country to connect with a mentor. A mentor will offer human intelligence in guiding the startups.

World Suicide Prevention Day

 World Suicide Prevention Day

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) organizes World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), which is observed every year on September 10 and is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The occasion shows the world’s dedication to raising awareness of suicide prevention.

The WSPD 2022 theme, “Creating hope through action,” emphasizes the importance of taking action as a community to address this pressing public health issue. Suicide prevention in the region is a responsibility shared by all of us, including our families, friends, coworkers, educators, religious leaders, medical professionals, elected officials, and governments.

Objectives 

The main objective of this day is to increase global awareness of suicide prevention. Promoting stakeholder cooperation and self-empowerment are goals that will help avoid self-harm and suicide. These can be accomplished by enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals and other key players, spreading encouraging and educational messages to the general public and vulnerable populations like young people, and promoting open dialogue on mental health at all levels of society—at home, at school, at work, etc. People who are thinking about or touched by suicide are also urged to share their experiences and get support from a professional.

Hope Through Action

People who commit suicide or attempt suicide have an adverse influence on their family, communities, and societies as a whole. The COVID-19 has further enhanced associated risk factors for suicide, such as loss of employment or financial resources, abuse or trauma, mental and substance use disorders, and obstacles to receiving medical care. More over half of those polled in Chile, Brazil, Peru, and Canada one year after the pandemic’s start said that their mental health had gotten worse.

Cheetahs to make a comeback in India.

Cheetahs that went extinct in India back in 1952 are now set to make a come back to the country. The Centre has launched an action plan under which 50 cheetahs will be introduced in India in the next five years.

As a part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the extinct spotted cat species in the country, the first batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa is expected to reach India in October this year, said officials as quoted by news agency PTI.

The wildlife experts team from South Africa visited India to inspect the holding facility where the cheetahs will be released 

For the first time, the animals are being sent to India where its population has become extinct in the early 1950s, Fraser said, adding that the last confirmed was seen in 1953.

During the flight to India, the cheetahs will be fully awake in their transport crates and would be tranquilized to keep them calm.

After reaching India, the cheetahs would be released from their transport crates into a holding facility for the Indian team to monitor their health and to ensure that they are hunting again before releasing them into the reserve which will be their final destination.

Cheetahs to make a comeback in India.

Cheetahs that went extinct in India back in 1952 are now set to make a come back to the country. The Centre has launched an action plan under which 50 cheetahs will be introduced in India in the next five years.

As a part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the extinct spotted cat species in the country, the first batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa is expected to reach India in October this year, said officials as quoted by news agency PTI.

The wildlife experts team from South Africa visited India to inspect the holding facility where the cheetahs will be released 

For the first time, the animals are being sent to India where its population has become extinct in the early 1950s, Fraser said, adding that the last confirmed was seen in 1953.

During the flight to India, the cheetahs will be fully awake in their transport crates and would be tranquilized to keep them calm.

After reaching India, the cheetahs would be released from their transport crates into a holding facility for the Indian team to monitor their health and to ensure that they are hunting again before releasing them into the reserve which will be their final destination.

Self-Improvement Month

If you’re reading this, then chances are that you are looking for some way to improve your life. Maybe you need help with personal development or maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a new job or volunteering at an organization. Whatever your reason for wanting to make changes in your life, it’s important that we keep our eyes open and try new things so we can be successful in achieving our goals.

Without encouragement, it is difficult to change.

Without encouragement, it is difficult to change. You need to believe in yourself and think that you can improve your life by making positive changes. The first step is believing that you can improve for the better—that’s because it will make all the difference. If you do not believe that things can get better, then no one else will either.

If someone says they are going through hard times or struggling with something difficult right now, try giving them some words of encouragement as a way of showing them how much strength there is inside themselves despite their circumstances (or lack thereof). This could mean saying something like “I know what it’s like when things keep getting worse instead of better.” Or maybe even just “I’m sorry about everything happening right now.” These small gestures go a long way towards helping those around us feel supported during times when we feel isolated from others’ understanding due to our own struggles.

You are most likely to succeed if you focus on one change at a time.

The key to success is to focus on one change at a time. This can be as easy as focusing on improving your diet, or it may be more complex—it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish and how long it will take for you to reach your goal.

For example: If you want to lose weight, then focus on eating healthier food and making more exercise a part of your daily routine. Once that’s accomplished and needs adjusting (such as adding more fruits or vegetables), move onto the next step by increasing the amount of exercise in your schedule again until all of these changes have been completed successfully.

Changing your life takes time and daily effort.

Changing your life takes time and daily effort. You can’t change a habit overnight, nor can you expect to change your lifestyle or attitude overnight.

You have to commit to making positive changes in the way you think and act for them to stick. This includes changing negative beliefs about yourself and others, as well as changing other people’s perceptions of you—for example, by doing something nice for someone else instead of taking advantage of them.

The changes you make will have an impact on other people, so talk to them about what you are doing.

Make sure you have a support network:

You can’t do it alone! You need people who believe in you and want to help support your goals.

Be honest with yourself:

Don’t let yourself get discouraged by results because they won’t always be immediate or easy to achieve; this is just another step in the process of self-improvement.

You are more likely to change your behavior if you write down your goals and track your progress toward them.

If you want to make changes in the way that you live your life, it’s important to write down your goals. The more specific and detailed they are, the easier it will be for you to stay focused on achieving them.

You can use a notebook or spreadsheet as a place where you put down all of the things that matter most to you—including what motivates each goal and any additional details about how long until completion or other deadlines associated with achieving each goal (if applicable). Then once per month or so (depending on how often progress is made toward those goals), go back through this list of ideas and see where there are still opportunities for improvement or new additions which may help bring about change faster than otherwise would be possible otherwise.”

Sometimes people need a second or third try before they can achieve their goals.

Change is a process that can happen gradually if we give ourselves permission to not be perfect.

It’s okay to fail. You don’t have to make every mistake in the world, but you do need to take risks and learn from them. If you’re going through a difficult time, it may feel like everything is stacked against you, but remember: You’re stronger than that! Don’t let anyone else dictate what your limits are; set boundaries for yourself so that everyone around you knows where they stand with respect toward how much weight/pressure/stressors they bring into your life (and vice versa).

You can’t change everything at once! Change takes time and effort—you might not see results right away on day one of starting something new at work; sometimes there are things we need practice doing before learning how good our new skills actually feel like coming out of our mouths (or fingers). Make sure whatever goal(s) this month has been focused on has been well-thought out beforehand so as not waste valuable resources unnecessarily trying out half-baked ideas prematurely – because even though change doesn’t happen overnight…it does happen eventually 

Conclusion

If you are ready to start changing your life and make some changes in your life, then this is the right time. Start now.

Features of a Healthy Lifestyle

 

What is healthy
lifestyle?


A healthy lifestyle, put simply, is a way of life that
lowers your risk of developing serious illnesses or shortens your life
expectancy. Many dangerous illnesses can be averted by adopting certain
practices and avoiding others, even though we cannot completely prevent all
diseases.

 

What are the essential
features of a healthy lifestyle?

 

A healthy diet


 • Eating a variety of foods in the right amounts and
sticking to a calorie intake that supports maintaining a healthy body weight
are both components of a balanced diet. Although everyone’s situation is
different, as a basic guideline, this should contain:

• A third of your daily dietary intake should consist of at
least five pieces of fruit and vegetables. According to data, those who achieve
this threshold have a lower risk of some malignancies and heart conditions.

• Starchy foods, especially those made with whole grains,
which have higher fibre and nutritional contents than white grains. Whole
grains have been found to support good gut bacteria and lower the risk of a
number of malignancies, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

• Lean proteins are crucial for cellular repair and offer a
variety of vitamins and minerals, notably fish, eggs, and white meat.

• Dairy products and products derived from them, which are a
good source of calcium and protein.

• Saturated fats in moderation.

 

Physical activity

 

The World Health Organization advises all adults to engage
in regular physical activity, including at least two sessions per week of
weight-bearing exercise, in addition to at least thirty minutes of moderate
aerobic activity daily. Being physically fit helps prevent secondary prevention
(i.e., the worsening of symptoms) of diseases like cardiovascular disease, certain
malignancies, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis.

 

Healthy body weight

 

The importance of maintaining a healthy body weight for
overall health and illness prevention cannot be overstated. Body mass index
(BMI), a measurement of body fat based on height and weight, is a valuable tool
for determining if a person’s weight is healthy. A BMI score of 18.5 to 24.9 is
considered normal; a score of 25.0 to 29.9 suggests an individual is
overweight; and a score of 30 or higher denotes obesity. BMI score and disease
risk are positively connected, with higher scores indicating a higher risk of a
number of diseases, such as:

• Diabetes type 2

• Heart condition

• Liver disease

• Hypertension

• Mood issues

• Reproductive disorder

• Cancer risk

 

Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of disease.

 

Tobacco use
 

There is no degree of tobacco usage or smoking that is
considered safe. Therefore, never having smoked is correlated with the best
health outcomes.

Eight million individuals per year pass away from smoking-related
illnesses, with smoking being directly responsible for 70% of lung cancer
cases. The esophagus, mouth, throat, pancreas, stomach, and liver are just a
few of the numerous bodily parts where it can cause cancer. Smoking harms the
heart’s tissue and circulation, raising the risk of vascular disease,
myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

 

Moderate alcohol intake

 

One to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for
women constitute a moderate intake of alcohol. Consuming alcohol at these
amounts raises the likelihood of bad health effects. For instance, excessive
consumption can boost blood triglycerides, which raises the risk of heart
attack and stroke. Additionally, it can cause heart arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy,
and excessive blood pressure.

WORLD PHYSICAL THEARPY DAY

 

WORLD PHYSICAL THEARPY DAY-
SEPTEMBER 8, 2002

 

Every year on September 8, there is a celebration of World
Physical Therapy Day. In order to keep people healthy and fit, it is important
to raise awareness of the vital role that physical therapists and treatments
for chronic pain play in society. Physical therapists work to repair lost or
damaged functionality, treat an injury or deformity, and instruct patients
about healthy lifestyle choices. Numerous illnesses, including cancer, fibromyalgia,
muscular dystrophy, and osteoarthritis, are associated with chronic pain,
including low back pain, cervical and thoracic discomfort, shoulder pain, and
headache issues.

 

5
FACTS ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY THAT WILL AMAZE YOU

 

Established in Canada

Physiotherapy was used to treat thousands of soldiers in
Canada during World War I; in fact, it was frequently used as the first line of
protection.

It can eliminate the
need for surgery

According to
research reported in the “Annals of Internal Medicine” in April 2015,
physical therapy can help people with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a lower
back discomfort caused by a narrowing of the spine, avoid surgery

Physiotherapy and
physical therapy are the same

Many people mistakenly
believe that physical therapy and physiotherapy are two different things.
However, while this may be true in some other nations, in Canada, these two
terms are interchangeable
.

 It dates back
thousands of years

Hippocrates,
the founder of Western medicine, is credited with creating physiotherapy, and
it’s astonishing to learn that he used water therapy to cure his patients, that
continues to be in use today!

 

WHY PHYSICAL
THEARPY DAY IS IMPORTANT

 Respecting
physical therapists

 It is
commemorated to spread awareness of the vital role that physical therapists and
treatments for chronic pain play in helping people stay healthy and fit.

 Overcoming
obstacles with physical therapy

 Physical
therapy can help a person participate more actively in everyday activities
despite any physical restrictions. a great way to maintain your health
throughout your life.

 Age-related
issues are better managed

 As people
age, they may develop osteoporosis or arthritis, or they may need to have a
joint replacement. Physical therapists are experts at guiding patients through
the recovery process following joint replacement surgery and managing arthritic
or osteoporotic conditions conservatively.

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY- SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

 

Every year on September 8, International Literacy Day is
celebrated to bring attention to and concern for literacy issues that exist
both locally and globally. The United Nations  Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, established International Literacy Day in
1966 “to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of
dignity and human rights,” and it returns responsibility for the problems
of illiteracy to local communities where literacy begins, one person at a time.

 

HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

Despite significant improvements in literacy rates during
the more than 50 years since the first International Literacy Day, illiteracy
is still a major issue on a global scale. It is estimated that more than 750
million adults worldwide are illiterate. No country or culture on earth is
immune to the affliction of illiteracy, including the United States, where an
estimated 32 million Americans lack basic literacy skills.

 

What is literacy, exactly?


Literacy is described as
“the quality or state of being literate: educated…able to read and
write” in the Miriam-Webster Dictionary. You probably spend a lot of time
reading online, so it 
may come as a surprise to hear that there are people
living and working in your 
area who are unable to read not
only this post but also books, menus at restaurants, traffic signs, voting
ballots, instructions, prescription bottle labels, and cereal boxes.


Can you picture surviving in today’s world without the
fundamental skills of reading and writing? The goal of International Literacy
Day is to eradicate illiteracy in every local community around the globe.


 The idea for International Literacy Day was initially
proposed during the Tehran, Iran-hosted “World Conference of Ministers of
Education for the Eradication of Illiteracy” in 1965. In the year that
followed, UNESCO took the initiative and established September 8 as
International Literacy Day, with the main objective being “…to remind
the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals,
communities, and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more
literate societies.” One year later, the world community took up the
challenge of eradicating illiteracy by taking part in the first International
Literacy Day.

 

TRADITIONS
OF THE DAY

A gift that is frequently taken for granted is literacy. In
our daily lives, reading is crucial. Being unable to read or write makes it
difficult to get around and prevents you from enjoying a wide variety of
things.


On International Literacy Day, groups and people step up
and use their literacy to support and encourage those who are having
trouble reading and writing. Volunteers from the community, including students
and working adults, tutor local children, donate books to local libraries, and
sponsor a student’s tuition and education to help them succeed in life.


To plan and carry out the best strategies for the abolition
of illiteracy, institutions, government- and international organizations hold
think tanks and debate forums in addition to organizing grassroots literacy
campaigns. They additionally hold fundraising events. Every year, a theme is
chosen for International Literacy Day as a means of raising public awareness of
a particular subject.

 

Role of Small Scale Industries(SSI) in India.

In a developing country like India, the role and importance of small-scale industries is very significant towards poverty eradication, employment generation, rural development and creating regional balance in promotion and growth of various development activities.

It is estimated that this sector has been contributing about 40% of the gross value of output produced in the manufacturing sector and the generation of employment by the small-scale sector is more than five times to that of the large-scale sector.

This clearly shows the importance of small-scale industries in the economic development of the country. The small-scale industry have been playing an important role in the growth process of Indian economy since independence in spite of stiff competition from the large sector and not very encouraging support from the government.

The following are some of the important role played by small- scale industries in India.

Employment generation:

The basic problem that is confronting the Indian economy is increasing pressure of population on the land and the need to create massive employment opportunities. This problem is solved to larger extent by small-scale industries because small- scale industries are labour intensive in character. They generate huge number of employment opportunities. Employment generation by this sector has shown a phenomenal growth. It is a powerful tool of job creation.

Mobilisation of resources and entrepreneurial skill:

Small-scale industries can mobilize a good amount of savings and entrepreneurial skill from rural and semi-urban areas remain untouched from the clutches of large industries and put them into productive use by investing in small-scale units. Small entrepreneurs also improve social welfare of a country by harnessing dormant, previously overlooked talent.

Equitable distribution of income:

Small entrepreneurs stimulate a redistribution of wealth, income and political power within societies in ways that are economically positive and without being politically disruptive.

Thus small-scale industries ensures equitable distribution of income and wealth in the Indian society which is largely characterised by more concentration of income and wealth in the organised section keeping unorganised sector undeveloped. This is mainly due to the fact that small industries are widespread as compared to large industries and are having large employment potential.

Regional dispersal of industries:

There has been massive concentration of industries m a few large cities of different states of Indian union. People migrate from rural and semi urban areas to these highly developed centres in search of employment and sometimes to earn a better living which ultimately leads to many evil consequences of over-crowding, pollution, creation of slums, etc. This problem of Indian economy is better solved by small- scale industries which utilise local resources and brings about dispersion of industries in the various parts of the country thus promotes balanced regional development.

Promotes exports:

Small-scale industries have registered a phenomenal growth in export over the years. The value of exports of products of small-scale industries has increased to Rs. 393 crores in 1973-74 to Rs. 71, 244 crores in 2002-03. This contributes about 35% India’s total export. Thus they help in increasing the country’s foreign exchange reserves thereby reduces the pressure on country’s balance of payment.

Supports the growth of large industries:

The small-scale industries play an important role in assisting bigger industries and projects so that the planned activity of development work is timely attended. They support the growth of large industries by providing, components, accessories and semi finished goods required by them. In fact, small industries can breath vitality into the life of large industries.

Role of Small Scale Industries(SSI) in India.

In a developing country like India, the role and importance of small-scale industries is very significant towards poverty eradication, employment generation, rural development and creating regional balance in promotion and growth of various development activities.

It is estimated that this sector has been contributing about 40% of the gross value of output produced in the manufacturing sector and the generation of employment by the small-scale sector is more than five times to that of the large-scale sector.

This clearly shows the importance of small-scale industries in the economic development of the country. The small-scale industry have been playing an important role in the growth process of Indian economy since independence in spite of stiff competition from the large sector and not very encouraging support from the government.

The following are some of the important role played by small- scale industries in India.

Employment generation:

The basic problem that is confronting the Indian economy is increasing pressure of population on the land and the need to create massive employment opportunities. This problem is solved to larger extent by small-scale industries because small- scale industries are labour intensive in character. They generate huge number of employment opportunities. Employment generation by this sector has shown a phenomenal growth. It is a powerful tool of job creation.

Mobilisation of resources and entrepreneurial skill:

Small-scale industries can mobilize a good amount of savings and entrepreneurial skill from rural and semi-urban areas remain untouched from the clutches of large industries and put them into productive use by investing in small-scale units. Small entrepreneurs also improve social welfare of a country by harnessing dormant, previously overlooked talent.

Equitable distribution of income:

Small entrepreneurs stimulate a redistribution of wealth, income and political power within societies in ways that are economically positive and without being politically disruptive.

Thus small-scale industries ensures equitable distribution of income and wealth in the Indian society which is largely characterised by more concentration of income and wealth in the organised section keeping unorganised sector undeveloped. This is mainly due to the fact that small industries are widespread as compared to large industries and are having large employment potential.

Regional dispersal of industries:

There has been massive concentration of industries m a few large cities of different states of Indian union. People migrate from rural and semi urban areas to these highly developed centres in search of employment and sometimes to earn a better living which ultimately leads to many evil consequences of over-crowding, pollution, creation of slums, etc. This problem of Indian economy is better solved by small- scale industries which utilise local resources and brings about dispersion of industries in the various parts of the country thus promotes balanced regional development.

Promotes exports:

Small-scale industries have registered a phenomenal growth in export over the years. The value of exports of products of small-scale industries has increased to Rs. 393 crores in 1973-74 to Rs. 71, 244 crores in 2002-03. This contributes about 35% India’s total export. Thus they help in increasing the country’s foreign exchange reserves thereby reduces the pressure on country’s balance of payment.

Supports the growth of large industries:

The small-scale industries play an important role in assisting bigger industries and projects so that the planned activity of development work is timely attended. They support the growth of large industries by providing, components, accessories and semi finished goods required by them. In fact, small industries can breath vitality into the life of large industries.

MICROPHONES

N kavya

A microphone is a device that translates sound vibrations in the air into electronic signals and scribes them to a recording medium or over a loudspeaker. Microphones enable many types of audio recording devices for purposes including communications of many kinds, as well as music vocals, speech and sound recording.

Types Of Microphone

There are three main types microphones based on construction -:

1. Dynamic/Moving coil. 2. Ribbon. 3. Condenser/ capacitor

1. Dynamic / Moving coil

A microphone in which the sound waves cause a movable wire or coil to vibrate in a magnetic field and thus induce a current.

Key Advantages -:

1. Rugged and able to handle high sound pressure levels, like those delivered by a kick drum.
2. Provide good sound quality in all areas of microphone performance.
3. They do not require a power source to run
4. They are relatively cheap

Key disadvantages -:

Heavy microphone diaphragm and wire coil limits the movement of the assembly, which in turn restricts the frequency and transient response of the microphone
Generally not as suitable as condenser microphones for recording instruments with higher frequencies and harmonics, such as a violin.

Dynamic microphones can be used for many applications, produce an excellent sound and are suitably rugged – great for traveling on the road. They are best avoided when recording high-frequency content on an important recording.

For reliable, everyday tasks you will not find a more multifaceted, trustworthy device than a good quality dynamic microphone.

Ribbon -:

A ribbon microphone, also known as a ribbon velocity microphone, is a type of microphone that uses a thin aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm of electrically conductive ribbon placed between the poles of a magnet to produce a voltage by electromagnetic induction. Ribbon microphones are typically bidirectional, meaning that they pick up sounds equally well from either side of the microphone

Key Adavantages -:

1. Ribbon Microphones are very sensitive and accurate
2. Ribbon microphones have a very low noise
3. Ribbon microphones tend not to pick up lots of background noise
4. Ribbon microphones can be very expensive
5. Ribbon microphones are good to produce a thin and tinny sound

Key disadvantages -:

1. Ribbon microphones can be very large and heavy
2. Ribbon microphones are very sensitive to air movements
3. It is very difficult to achieve a tight polar pattern
4. The ribbon is fragile and susceptible to damage
5. Ribbon microphones are not as popular as dynamic microphones
Ribbon microphones require more maintenance

Ribbon microphones are often described as the most natural-sounding microphones available, and for good reason: they condenser microphones that use a thin ribbon of aluminum foil to pick up sound (instead of a solid diaphragm).

Condenser/ Capacitor Microphones -:

A Condenser capsule is constructed similarly. It consists of a thin membrane in close proximity to a solid metal plate. The membrane or diaphragm, as it is often called, must be electrically conductive, at least on its surface. The most common material is gold-sputtered mylar, but some (mostly older) models employ an extremely thin metal foil.

When sound waves hit the diaphragm, it moves back and forth relative to the solid backplate. In other words, the distance between the two capacitor plates changes. As a result, the capacitance changes to the rhythm of the sound waves. Thus, converted sound into an electrical signal.

Key Adavantages -:

1. They have a Greater Dynamic Range than Ribbon or Dynamic Mics.
2. They Have a Better Frequency Response than Dynamic Mics.
3.They Have a Better Noise Floor than Dynamic or Ribbon Mics.
4. When Hit with Loud Transients, They Generally Sound Snappier than Dynamic or Ribbon Mics.

Key Disadvantages -:

1. The limited number of operating microphones at the same time and place.
2. The limited number of radio channels.
Sound files can use up a lot of computer memory in a device.
3. Voice recognition system software is not as accurate as typing manually.

Condenser microphones are best used to capture vocals and high frequencies. They are also the preferred type of microphone for most studio applications.

Conclusion -:

Microphones are used everywhere, from stage performances, broadcasting, and even talking on the phone. The microphone is a transducer, a machine that changes one form energy to another form of energy. Microphones are an essential part of any audio recording system.