National Science Day (NSD) : Raman Effect

CONTEXT: 

On the occasion of National Science Day (NSD), 28th February 2021, Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted how science technology and innovation (STI) would impact our future in education, skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world. 

CV Raman

 

Key Points: 

Background: 

• The National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28th of February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’.  
• On this day, Physicist CV Raman announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.  
• The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 1987. 

Aim:  The day is aimed at spreading the message of the importance of science and its application in human life.

 

Theme for NSD 2021: ‘Future of Science and Technology and Innovation (STI): Impact on Education Skills and Work'. 

 

The 30 percent increase in the budget of Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 would provide stimulus to S&T infrastructure resources in the country. 

 
NSD Awards: 

• The National S&T Communication Awards, Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) awards, and SERB Women Excellence Awards and conferred Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for outstanding work in science media and journalism. 
• It released, the first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians abroad. 
• NSD 2021 also conferred an appreciation shield to National S&T database developers. 
  

 

 

SERB Women Excellence Award: 

• It is a one-time award given to women scientists below 40 years of age and who have received recognition from any one or more of the following national academies such as Young Scientist Medal, Young Associate etc. 
• These women researchers will be supported with a research grant of Rs.5.00 lakh per annum for a period of 3 years. 
• Women Scientists who have received the award earlier are not eligible to apply again. 

 

What is Raman Effect? 

 

• Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy discovered by renowned physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928. 
• In 1930, he won the Nobel Prize for this remarkable achievement and became the first Indian Nobel Prize in Science. 
• Raman Effect is a change in the light intensity that occurs when a light beam is distorted by molecules. 
• When a beam of light cuts off a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical computer, a small fraction of light appears on the sides other than that of the (incoming) incident. Most of this diffused light is constant. 
• A small part, however, has a different wavelength of radiation than that of incident light; its existence is a result of the Raman Effect. 

 

UPSC Prelims Based Questions: 

 

What is theme of National Science Day 2021? 

What is phenomenon of Raman Effect? 

What is the background of celebration of NSD on February 28th? 

 

Source : PIB