Question: Which of the following organisation has signed a MoU with Ladakh (UT) to speed up Science & Technology oriented development in that region?
a) CSIR
b) IISc
c) DRDO
d) IIT Delhi
Answer: (a)
Related Facts:-
- On 29 January, 2021 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a MoU with Ladakh (UT) to speed up Science & Technology oriented development.
- It should be known that Ladakh is a recently formed Union territory, which came into being after the abrogation of article 370 of the Indian Constitution on august 05, 2019.
- CSIR has signed an agreement with the Ladakh Administration to accelerate the development by science and technology interventions through local bio-resource utilisation, introduction of cash crops in the region and exploration of natural resources.
- The focus of the collaboration would be on commercialization of endemic and other high-value medicinal, aromatic and nutraceutical plants.
- It will also include specific crops, bio-prospection of endemic microbial and plants diversity.
- Other areas of interest include geophysical mapping, eco-friendly leather processing as well as micro-biological and bio-technological research.
- Under this new agreement different CSIR institutes would initiate research and development, extension and societal projects based on their core competencies.
- In the first phase, extensive knowledge and technological support would be provided through the following six CSIR establishments-
I. Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM),
II. Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology,
III. National Botanical Research Institute,
IV. National Geophysical Research Institute,
V. Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute
VI. Central Leather Research Institute
- The Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine would be the nodal institution.
- Most importantly the CSIR has already made significant contributions to the region by setting up the Centre of Excellence for High Altitude Natural Sciences.
- CSIR also has played its valuable role in the establishment of experimental and demonstration farms of different medicinal, aromatic and nutraceutical plants and crops of Ladakh.
By – Rajesh Tripathi
Links:-
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1693148
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/csir-to-help-speed-up-ladakh-development-205372