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Science
and Technology has made significant progress in various disciplines.
For harnessing the nuclear energy for various applications,
capabilities have been built up covering the entire nuclear
cycle. Indian space programme has also made an impressive array
of achievements in successfully utilising various space related
technologies for vital national activities. There has been very
significant expansion in the national S&T infrastructure.
New institutions have been established for Plant Genome Research
and Brain Research, besides strengthening the existing institutions.
Significant developments during the Annual Plan (1998-99) include
design and analysis of coolant channel for the development of
Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR); design, fabrication and
testing of last of the second generation satellites, INSAT-2E;
development and transfer of technologies for low cost nutrient
supplement for malnourished children, injectable Lipsomal Amphotericin
- B drug formulation for treatment of systemic fungal infection
and visceral leishmaniasis and western blot test kit for detecting
HIV I&II antibodies in human serum etc. In addition, technologies
have also been developed for using natural gas/ light diesel
oil instead of coke in iron foundries, reaction bonded silicon
carbide seal rings used in the manufacture of mechanical pumps
and ceramic crucibles used extensively for carbon and sulphur
analysis. Significant achievements have also been made in the
area of scientific and industrial research like completion of
certification tests of the two-seater trainer aircraft - HANSA3,
development of technology for the design of supersonic combustors,
a new anti-malarial drug derived from Artemisinin etc. Efforts
were also made to strengthen the State Councils of Science and
Technology with a view to take up location-specific R&D
programmes. Some of the major achievements of the various S&T
Departments/Agencies during the Annual Plan (1998-99) and the
programmes proposed for the Annual Plan (1999-2000) have been
enumerated briefly in the following paragraphs.
Department
of Atomic Energy (DAE) - R&D Sector
Review
of the Annual Plan 1998-99
The
R&D programmes of the Department of Atomic Energy continue
to be in the area of technology development and capacity building
for achieving self reliance in this important field. Nuclear
tests were conducted at the Pokhran range during the period
May 11-13, 1998. At the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC),
Mumbai, activities towards design and development of AHWR led
to the completion of design and analysis of coolant channel,
preparation of equipment layout for integral test loop and design
of test set-up for integrity testing of fuel assembly. Under
the safety related technology development programme, design
of test set-up & test parameters for component integrity
test facility, redesign of 1 KW turbo expanders by reverse engineering
and fabrication of components, design of cryo heat exchanger
etc. have been completed. In the area of radiological safety,
Whole Body Counter (WBC) design and shield of WBC has been completed.
In addition, development of prototype pocket dosimeters with
digital display and production of radiation beepers using Silicon
diode detectors were completed. A laser machinery laboratory
to be used for nuclear industrial applications was set up for
laser materials processing. Research in frontier areas of physical
sciences led to the completion of optical design of beam line
at Indus-2 and design of relativistic Klystron amplifier. In
the field of chemical sciences, the design and fabrication of
cell for laser photolysis and fluorescence was completed.
The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at Indira Gandhi Centre
for Atomic Research (IGCAR) was operated successfully and the
performance of the carbide fuel was found to be excellent. The
centre has undertaken a major programme relating to R&D
and engineering development of a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder
Reactor (PFBR). The operation of the Large Component Test Rig
(LCTR) was continued for heat transfer experiments. Work on
steam generator test facility progressed well and an experimental
facility for conducting flow induced vibration studies was fabricated.
Fundamental studies for understanding the role of diluents in
the solvent extraction process in fuel reprocessing were carried
out. Thermal ionisation mass spectrometric studies were conducted
on dissolver solution of the spent fuel pallet of FBTR to assess
the burn up level. The Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT),
Indore is setting up a Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) facility,
which will be a unique research setup in the country. The Variable
Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) at Calcutta delivers beams of
nuclear particles for research in nuclear physics and nuclear
chemistry and produces radioisotopes for various applications.
The setting up of superconducting cyclotron made significant
progress during this period. All major steel forgings for main
magnet frame were completed. The purchase order for the main
liquid helium plant has been placed. Detailed design work on
several units for the system has been completed and a 300 Ampere
power supply was fabricated as a prototype for the main magnet
of the superconducting cyclotron. The Atomic Minerals Division
(AMD) which is engaged in radiometric and geological surveys,
exploration, prospecting and development of various mineral
resources needed for the nuclear power programme, carried out
radiometric reconnaissance survey over 9,780 sq. Km. and detailed
surveys over 450 sq. Km. resulting in locating/delineating new
uranium anomalies. Geo-chemical surveys were carried out over
12,165 sq. Km. in different parts of the country which helped
in narrowing down the target areas for undertaking further detailed
surveys. Exploratory drilling aggregating to over 30,000 metre
was carried out to probe/delineate the sub-surface continuity
of uranium mineralisation in different promising sectors.
DAE provides grants to seven aided institutions and promotes
R&D activities in nuclear & allied sciences and engineering
and technology in Universities and institutions through Board
of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) and development of mathematics
through the National Board of Higher Mathematics. Tata Institute
of Fundamental Research (TIFR) has been engaged in basic and
applied research in theoretical & high energy physics, condensed
matter physics, nuclear & atomic physics, chemical sciences,
biological sciences, radio astrophysics etc. Saha Institute
of Nuclear Physics (SINP) has made significant progress towards
setting up of X-ray fluorescence system for material analysis,
rolling machine and evaporation system for preparation of targets
for nuclear and atomic physics experiments and detector doppler
broadening setups in positronium laboratory. The major programmes
at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) was the upgradation/modernisation
of the Tata Memorial Hospital and the setting up of Advanced
Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).
All the infrastructural development of the 1st phase
including 64 residential flats has been completed. The Aditya
Tokamak at the Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) has been significantly
upgraded for undertaking various studies related to high temperature
plasma.
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Annual
Plan 1999-2000
During
the Annual Plan (1999-2000), the major activities of BARC would
include: detailed engineering studies related to AHWR development
programme; refurbishing of CIRUS research reactor; installation
of pilot plant and other related facilities for the nuclear
fuel development programme; design of equipment for augmentation
of test facilities and instrumentation facility for accident
scenarios, containment model and special instruments for safety
related technology development; setting up of mass spectrometer,
preparation systems for mass spectrometry, liquid scintillation
counter, ground water sampling system etc. for upgradation of
isotope hydrology laboratory; commissioning of dual head gamma
camera and procurement of cyclotron and PET scanner etc. Research
in frontier areas of physical sciences would be directed towards
design and fabrication of mirror chambers and high temperature
absorption cell for high resolution beam line at Indus-1. Research
in frontier areas of biosciences would be focussed towards eco-friendly
and sustainable approaches in crop improvement & food preservation
using nuclear and allied techniques.
Major activities envisaged by IGCAR include manufacture and
testing of 1/4 scale sodium pump model and secondary sodium
pump model for component development and sodium technology project;
completion of building works, finalisation of steam-water system,
procurement of materials for steam generator test facility;
completion of structural mechanics laboratory, construction
of experimental facility for core mechanics studies and collaborative
projects with R&D institutions towards engineering development
of PFBR; campus networking with fibre-optic backbone; commissioning
of isotope separation plant etc. Some of the important programmes
envisaged by CAT include commissioning of beam lines and experimental
stations of Indus-1 and operationalisation of magnet field mapping
station for dipole and quadruple magnets and testing of prototype
of the new dipole magnet for Indus-II. The activities under
National Laser programme would include growth and characterisation
of various laser materials, research work on photodynamic effect
of lasers, role of lasers in pain relief, use of lasers in orthopaedics
and urology etc. Under the Indus-II utilisation programme, detailed
design of various components, installation, commissioning &
preliminary characterisation of X-ray optical elements would
be completed. At the VECC, the coil winding machine required
for the construction of superconducting cyclotron is expected
to be delivered, prototype coil as also the main coil will be
wound and the cryogenic welding facility primarily for fabricating
cryogenic transfer lines will be made operational.
The TMC is expected to complete the construction of Cancer Research
Institute (CRI) building, animal house, ward block and service
buildings, besides commissioning of the electrical main receiving
station in the ACTREC project. Consequent upon the shifting
of the CRI to ACTREC site, the existing CRI building would be
suitably modified to cater to the growing needs of the hospital
facilities. The SINP will be procuring a number of equipments
for undertaking characterisation of novel materials at microscopic
levels in the area of condensed matter physics and surface physics
and several other studies/experiments in the areas of opto-electronics,
nuclear reactions, nuclear spectroscopy, structure function
correlation of bio-molecules at the molecular and cellular levels,
high temperature plasma research etc. The Mehta Research Institute
(MRI), Allahabad, would continue its research activities in
the field of mathematics and mathematical physics. In addition,
it would be organising several workshops and conferences namely
SERC school in field theory and condensed matter systems, International
conference on gravitation and cosmology, meeting on commutative
algebra and algebric geometry and workshop for college teachers
on use of computers in physics and mathematics.
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Department
of Space (DOS)
Review
of the Annual Plan 1998-99
The activities of the Department of Space relates to design,
development and operation of satellites and launch vehicles.
INSAT system is an important domestic communication systems
with five operating satellites viz. INSAT-1D, INSAT-2A, 2B,
2C and INSAT-2DT that was acquired from ARABSAT organisation
The total INSAT system continued to provide telecommunication,
television, broadcasting, radio networking, meteorology and
disaster management services. The system has also enabled communication
to and from any part of the country leading to training and
awareness among rural masses on better agricultural practices,
land and water resources management, family planning, health
care and hygiene, disaster warning and rescue operations etc.
The design, fabrication and testing of last of the second generation
satellites, INSAT-2E has been completed for launch on 3rd
April, 1999 by an Ariane Launch Vehicle from Kourou in French
Guyana. The work on next generation INSAT-3 series comprising
five satellites has also been initiated to augment the space
segment capacity of INSAT system to cater to the increased demand.
INSAT-3A and 3B are planned for launch during 1999-2000 with
the launch of INSAT-3B preceding that of INSAT-3A in order to
meet the urgent requirement of extended C-band capacity at the
earliest. The satellite configuration has been finalised and
the subsystem fabrication of INSAT-3B has commenced.
In the field of launch vehicles, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV-C2) entered campaign phase. In addition to IRS-P4 (Oceansat),
PSLV-C2 was prepared to carry two foreign micro satellites -
TUBSAT of Germany and KITSAT of Korea. After completing the
post flight analysis of PSLV-C1 performance deviations, necessary
corrective actions have been incorporated for PSLV-C2 flight.
The deployment mechanism for multiple satellite launch has also
been developed and qualified. Significant progress has been
made in Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch vehicle (GSLV) project.
The qualification test on liquid propellant strap on stage has
been completed. The first cryogenic flight stage has been received
from Russia and positioned in SHAR centre. In order to provide
redundancy for the existing launch pad and also to enable launch
of future advanced launch vehicles, it has been planned to establish
a 'Second Launch Pad' at Sriharikota. The preliminary design
of all the systems has been completed and the site preparation
work has commenced. The contract for turnkey implementation
of the Second Launch Pad has also been concluded.
The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) system comprises a
constellation of four satellites viz. IRS-1B, 1C, 1D and P3.
Data from these satellites is being received by several stations
in USA, Korea, Japan, UAE and Germany under commercial agreement
and agreements for reception have also been concluded for stations
in Ecuador and Saudi Arabia. The unique capabilities of remote
sensing satellites have enabled to take up Integrated Mission
for Sustainable Development (IMSD) which has made substantial
progress in generating locale-specific plans for land and water
resources development. The high spatial resolution data from
IRS-1C and 1D have found new applications in the areas of urban
sprawl mapping, infrastructure planning and other large scale
thematic mapping. Two new projects on Forecasting Agricultural
output using Space Agro-meteorology and Land observation (FASAL)
and Characterisation of Biodiversity at landscape level using
remote sensing and geographic information system data basis
have also been initiated during 1998-99. IRS-P4 (OCANSAT) satellite
carrying sophisticated instruments like colour monitor and Multi
Frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) has completed
all tests successfully. The satellite was prepared for launch
on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C2) on
May 26, 1999. The IRS-P4 will provide valuable information for
oceanographic studies such as ocean biological parameters, sea
surface temperature, atmospheric water vapour content and sea
surface winds etc. Data product system for the IRS-P4 was also
completed and design of data processing and product generation
system for IRS-P5 have been taken up. The work on IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT)
which will provide high resolution stereo images of cartographic
applications and digital terrain modelling has progressed well
and the configuration of the IRS-P6 (RESOURCESAT) is being finalised.
ANTRIX Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of Department
of Space has undertaken a number of export initiatives for space
products and services. ANTRIX has executed a contract with Panamsat
for providing Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) services
to PAS-7 and with Space System Loral, USA for TTC services and
in-orbit test support for their satellite. The network of international
ground stations to receive IRS data is also expanding and additional
ground stations in Ecuador and Saudi Arabia are in various stages
of completion of receiving IRS data.
Annual
Plan 1999-2000
Projects/programmes planned during the Annual Plan (1999-2000)
would include launch of INSAT-2E in April 1999 by an Ariane
Launch Vehicle from Kourou in French Guyana; launch of IRS-P4
(OCEANSAT) by the indigenous launch vehicle PSLV-C2 for oceanographic,
land and atmospheric applications along with a Korean satellite,
KITSAT, and a German satellite, TUBSAT, making a beginning of
marketing of Indian launch services; spacecraft fabrication,
assembly, testing, launch and operationalisation of INSAT-3B;
and the launch of first developmental flight of Geo-Synchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D1) carrying an experimental
satellite G-Sat-1, towards achievement of indigenous capability
to launch INSAT class of satellites in the geo-stationary orbit.
G-SAT-1 satellite would be assembled, integrated and made ready
for GSLV-D1 flight to provide audio broadcasting service and
with the potential to provide TV broadcasting. In addition,
detailed design and procurement of major items for Second Launch
Pad project would be completed.
The thrust of the INSAT programme would be towards completion
of spacecraft and payload fabrication, assembly and testing
of INSAT-3B and INSAT-3A. Most of the spacecraft subsystem fabrication
activities of IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT) for cartographic application
are planned to be completed and significant progress will be
made in payload development for IRS-P5. Under the GSLV project,
completion of the flight hardware realisation and vehicle assembly
and integration etc. leading to the first development of GSLV-D1
have been envisaged. The second flight unit of cryostage (CS2)
from Russia is expected to be received for acceptance and testing
and the work on realisation of test spacecraft for the GSLV
(GSAT-1) would be completed besides undertaking activities to
increase the payload capability of PSLV. The activities of Second
Launch pad project and indigenous cryogenic upper stage (CUS)
would also gather momentum during the year.
In the area of space applications, the Jhabua Development Communication
Project (JDCP) is planned to be expanded to two more districts
of Dhar and Barwani in Madhya Pradesh. The Government of Madhya
Pradesh is expected to take over the running of this project.
The programme is planned to be replicated in other districts/states
of India in a phased manner after evaluation and efforts will
be made to evolve a suitable institutional framework towards
this. It is also planned to expand the Training & Development
Communication Channel (TDCC) with more uplink and new technologies
for distance education and training. The scope of Integrated
Mission for Sustainable Development is also proposed to be enlarged
in a phased.
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