Study Material

Revised Series Of Wholesale Price Index (BASE 2004-05=100) To Reflect Better Price Trends

Headline inflation in India is measured in terms of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the Office of the Economic Adviser, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion is entrusted with the task of releasing this index.

Q. What is the importance of WPI?

• WPI is an important statistical indicator, as various policy decisions of the Government, like inflation management, monitoring of prices of essential commodities etc., are based on it.
• It is one of the key variables for monetary policy changes by the Reserve Bank of India.
• In addition to its role as a policy variable, WPI is also used by various departments for arriving at the escalation costs of various contracts. 

Q. What was the reason behind changing base year of WPI?

In order to capture the structural changes happening in the economy, the base year of WPI needs to be updated. The Office of the Economic Adviser undertook the work relating to revision of the existing series of WPI (base 1993-94=100), which not only addressed the issue of change in base year, but also revised the entire commodity basket and the weighting diagram so as to better reflect the price trends in economy. The revised series of WPI was officially launched on 14 September, 2010 by the Ministry for Commerce & Industry.

Q. What are the main features of new series of WPI?

• A representative commodity basket comprising 676 items has been selected in the new series (base 2004-05=100) as against 435 in the old series (base 1993-94=100) and weighting diagram has been derived for the new series consistent with the structure of the economy.
• There has been a substantial increase in the number of quotations selected for collecting price data for the above items. The number of price quotations for the new series is 5482 whereas in the old series, it was 1918.
• The changes were made on the basis of the recommendations of the Working Group headed by Professor Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission.
• Many new items have been included in the new series basket such as flowers, lemon and crude petroleum in Primary Articles and Ice cream, canned meat, palm oil, readymade/instant food powder, mineral water, computer stationary, leather products, scooter / motorcycle tyre, polymers, petrochemical intermediates, granites, marbles, gold and silver, construction machinery, refrigerators, computers, dish antenna, transformer, microwave oven, communication equipments (telephone instruments), TV sets, VCD, washing machine and auto parts in Manufactured Products.
• There has been a substantial increase, both in terms of the number of commodities and its geographical coverage, in the revised series of WPI (base 2004-05=100), as compared to the earlier revisions undertaken so far. This would, undoubtedly, disseminate the more realistic and reliable data, facilitating better decision making and policy intervention.
• The revised series of WPI (base 2004-05=100) has also addressed the issue of flow of regular data. The NIC unit has developed an online data transmission mechanism, whereby, the manufacturing units can supply price data through internet. Also, an arrangement has been made with National Sample Survey Office (Field Operations Division) to get price data on regular basis. These measures have improved the flow of price data. The launch of the new series of WPI with base year 2004-05 on September 14,
  
  
  A comparative statement of weights, no of items and no of quotations between the old series and new series at Group level is as below:

Major Group / Group	Weight	No. of items			No. of Quotations
2004-05		1993-94	2004-05	1993-94	2004-05	1993-94
All Commodities	100.00	100.00	676	435	5482	1918
I. Primary Articles	20.12	22.02	102	98	579	455
II. Fuel & Power	14.91	14.23	19	19	72	72
Manufactured Products	64.97	63.75	555	318	4831	1391

 

General Science 

Cell

Cells are small compartments that hold all of the biological equipments necessary to keep organisms. Cells carry out all the basic functions of life: growth, metabolism and reproduction.

Cell Theory :

The term cell was coined by Robert Hooke in 1665. In 1838 matthias schleiden, German botanist proposed the idea that all plants consists of cells. In 1839, The Eodor Schwann a German zoologist asserted that all plant and animals are made up of cells. This finding forms the basis of cell theory.

Components of Cell :

• In the living organisms there are two types of cellular organizations.
• If we look at very simple organisms like bacteria and blue-green algae, We will discover cells that have no defined nucleus, these are prokaryotes cells.
• The cells which have definite nucleus are known as eukaryote.

Cell membranes :

It is like a plastic bag with some tiny holes that bag holds all of the cell pieces and fluids inside the cell and keeps foreign particles outside the cell. The holes are there to let some things move in and out of the cell. Compounds called proteins and phospholipids make up most of the cell membranes the phospholipids make the basic bag.

Cytoplasm :

It is the fluid that fills a cell. Scientists used to call the fluid proto plasm.cytoplasm contain many specialized cell called organ cells. Each of these organ cells performs a specific function for the cell.

Cell organells :

Organells are living part of the cell have definite shape, structure and functions. To keep their function different from each other these organelles use membranes bound little structure with in them selves. Some of the important organells are :

• Endoplasmic reticulum : It is a network of tulsular membranes connected at one end to the nucleus and on the other to the plasma membranes.
• Ribosomes : It synthesis protein, and ER sent these protein in various part of the cell. Where as SER helps in the manufacture of fats.
• Golgi apparatus : it is found in most cell. It is another packaging organelle like the endoplasmic reticulum. It gathers simple molecules and combines them to make molecules that are more complex.
• Lysosomes : It is a kind of waste disposal system of the cell. It helps to keep the cell clean by digesting any foreign material.
• Mitochondria : It is known as the power house of the cell. The energy required for various chemical activities headed for life is released by mitochondria in the form of ATP (adenosine-tri-phosphate) molecules.
• Centrioles : It is a micro-tubular structure; centrioles are concerned with cell division. It initiates cell division.
• Plastids : These are present only in plant cells. There are two types of plastids:-chromoplastes (colour plastides) and leucoplast (white or colourless plastids)

Some important facts regarding cells:

• Nerve cells in animals are the longest cells.
• Smallest human cell is red blood cell.
• Largest human cell is female ovum.
• The single largest cell in the world is of an ostrich.
• The smallest cells are those of the mycoplasma.
• Every minute about 3 millions cells in our body die.
• Sieve tube in plants and the mature mammalian red blood cells do not have a nucleus.
• The red blood cell carries respiratory gases.

Source: Various Internet site 

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy In India

Overview

• Nuclear energy contributes about 4.1% of power generation in India. The share of nuclear energy is expected to reach 9% by 2035.
• Currently, there are 6 nuclear power plants generating about 4120 MW Power Station.
• The largest nuclear power station in India is located in Tarapur, Maharastra. The largest research reactor is the Dhruva at the Babha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai.
• Currently India uses two types of reactors for power production: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). Additionally the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is under experiments at the Madras Kalpakkam.
• The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) is the sole company authorised to set up nuclear power plants in India.

Availability of Nuclear Materials

• Australia has the largest reserves of Uranium in the world. Canada, which has the second largest reserves, is the largest exporter of Uranium.
• India has limited availability of Uranium reserves in the country (about 1% of world availability).
• The primary source of Uranium in India are the Jaduguda mines in Jharkhand. Uranium is extracted in the form of “Yellow Cake”.
• However, Thorium is widely available in the world. Worldwide, Thorium is about three times as abundant Uanium.
• India has about 25% of the world’s reserves of Thorium.
• In India, Throium is commonly found in the form of the mineral Monazite in the beach sands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The waiver of restrictions on nuclear fuel supply by the Nuclear Suppliers Group in Sep 2008 has increased India’s opportunities for importing nuclear fuel (esp. Uranium).
• India now has nuclear supply agreements with France (Sep 2008), the US (Sep 2008), the EU Nov 2009), Canada (Nov 2009) and Russia (Dec 2009).

Governmental Bodies In Nuclear Energy

Department of Atomic Energy

• The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) functions directly under the Prime Minister. The Department was established in 1958.
• The DAE is responsible for all nuclear technology in India, including nuclear power and nuclear research.
• The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) function under the DAE. The Commission was established in 1948, but moved to the Dept. of Atomic Energy in 1958.

 Heavy Water Board

• Established 1969, headquarters Mumbai
• Responsible for production of heavy water (D2O)
• Operates six heavy water plants in the country:
  Kota (Rajasthan)
  Baroda (Gujarat)
  Hazira (Gujarat)
  Thal (Maharashtra)
  Talcher (Orissa)
  Munuguru (Andhra Pradesh)
  Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu)
• India is the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy water.

Nuclear Fuel Complex

• Established 1971, location Hyderabad.
• Responsible for enrichment and supply of nuclear fuel for all nuclear power plants in the country.
• Also responsible for manufacturer of reactor core components.
• The NFC processes both Uranium concentrates (for nuclear fuel) and Zirconium (for reactor components).

Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.

• Established 1967, headquarters Singhbhum (Jharkhand)
• Responsbile for extraction and processing of uranium
• It primary responsibility is the extraction of Thorium (in the form of monazite) for use in nuclear industry.
• All five uranium mines are located in Singhbum district of Jharkhand
  Jaduguda mine - oldest mine, commissioned 1967
  Bhatin mine
  Narwapahar mine -0 latest mine, commissioned 1995
  Turamdih mine
  Banduhurang mine - only open pit uranium min
• India produces about 300 tonnes a year of uranium

Indian Rare Earths Ltd.

• Established 1950, headquarters Mumbai
• Responsible for extraction of minerals from beach sands
• It primary responsibility is the extraction of Thorium (in the form of monazite) for use in nuclear industry.
• Operates four mineral extraction units
  Aluva (Kerala)
  Chavara (Kerala)
  Manavalakurichi (Tamil Nadu)
  Chatrapur Orissa)

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

• Established as the Atomic Energy Establishment Trombay in 1957. Located in Mumbai
• It is India’s first and primary nuclear research facility
• Site of CIRUS reactor (Canada-India-US Research)
• Developed Dhruva reactor (1958) - largest research reactor in the country