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Sea Turtles in India There are five species of sea turtles in Indian waters — Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green and Olive Ridley. IUCN Status of these turtles are Hawksbill- Critically endangered Green turtle- Endangered Leatherback- Vulnerable Loggerhead- Vulnerable Olive Ridley- Vulnerable Mostly these turtles are found on the eastern coast of the Country. Often turtles are confused with tortoises. The major difference between the tortoise and sea tu
Mount Mayon It is an active stratovolcano in the Philippines region Stratovolcano , also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash The volcano is the centrepiece of the ALBAY biosphere reserve and Natural Park on its own. Mount Mayon lies in the Pacific ring of fire region, a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions oc
Mission Innovation The initiative was launched in the Cop21 UNFCCC in 2015. India is a member nation of the global initiative The objectives of the initiative are, To accelerate public and private clean energy innovation To address climate change, Make clean energy affordable to consumers, and Create green jobs and commercial opportunities It will help in achieving India’s INDC of increasing the share of clean and renewable energy in the energy basket
National Institutional Ranking Framework The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the MHRD and launched in 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology involves various parameters for ranking universities and institutions such as Teaching, Learning and Resources. Research and Professional Practices. Graduation Outcomes. Outreach and Inclusivity. Perception.
Assumption Island - Seychelles Assumption Island is one of the 115 islands constituting the Seychelles archipelago. India signed a pact to develop Assumption Island, during PM Modi’s visit to Seychelles in 2015. Ironing out the earlier differences, India has now signed a revised agreement with Seychelles. Assumption Island is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian navy. The agreement will enable India to help Seychelles build military inf
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended the introduction of the HPV vaccine in the UIP. NTAGI is an advisory body that recommends vaccines for India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a group of more than 150 viruses. It is usually harmless and goes away by itself. However, some types cause papilloma or warts in parts of the body. HPV spreads by skin-to-skin contact and is the most
Objectionable Content The Ministry of Electronics and IT has highlighted that around 1300 social media URLs were blocked or removed in the last year. These were based on the recommendation of a government committee to deal with “objectionable content”. The Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 and the Indian Penal Code provide for dealing with “objectionable content” posted online. Blocking is a sovereign power that is given to the government by virtue of Section 69A
Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) - IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME As part of the National Immunisation Day observed on 28 January, PPI programme for 2018 was launched. More than 17 crore children of less than 5 years across the country will be given polio drops. The polio virus causes paralysis, known as acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). This is characterised by sudden muscle weakness and fever in one or more limbs. India reported its last polio case in 2011 and is also declared polio-free by WHO in 20
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Union Finance Ministry as a part of the reforming process about to initiate a performance review for public sector banks. These reforms will be under the RBI’s Prompt Corrective Action (PCA). The PCA is invoked when certain risk thresholds are breached, there are three risk thresholds which are based on Asset quality. Profitability. Capital and the like. The third threshold is the maximum tolerance limit, which has set NPA at over 12% and a
Port Antsiranana, Madagascar As part of Mission Sagar, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered Port Antsiranana, Madagascar on 27 May 2020. INS Kesari carried a consignment of COVID-related essential medicines for the people of Madagascar. ‘Mission Sagar’ builds on the excellent relations existing between the two countries to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant difficulties. The deployment also resonates with the vision of our Prime Minister of Security and Growth for
United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award Major Suman Gawain, an Indian Army officer who served as a women peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in 2019 is being awarded the prestigious “United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award” on 29 May 2020. She will receive the award from the UN Secretary-General Mr Antonio Guterres during an online ceremony being organised at the UN Headquarters, New York on the occasion of
Jal Marg Vikas Project – Inland waterways JMVP was announced by the union government to enable commercial navigation of at least 1500 tonne vessels on the Ganga River. The project envisages the development of a waterway between Allahabad and Haldia (NW-1) on the Ganga River. It includes the development of fairways, multi-modal terminals, strengthening of open river navigation techniques, conservancy works, and modern river information system. The project is funded by the World Bank
First investment for NIIF Recently a Dubai-based marine firm DP World has partnered with NIIF to create an investment platform for ports, terminals, transportation and logistics businesses in India. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is set up to function as a major platform in India for attracting foreign investments to fund stalled infra projects. The NIIF is being operationalized by establishing three Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under the SEBI Regulations.
Dam Safety India hosted the International Dam Safety Conference at Thiruvananthapuram. Central Water Commission is organizing the event in association with the Kerala state government. Dam safety conferences are an annual events under the Dam Safety Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) project, the conferences will be conducted in DRIP states. The key recommendations emerging from the deliberations of the conference will be circulated to stakeholders as well as policy makers for imp
Funaria hygrometrica Scientists have identified a type of moss that can efficiently absorb a large amount of lead, providing a green alternative for decontaminating polluted water and soil. Funaria hygrometrica is the moss which uses phytoremediation, it is known to grow well in sites contaminated with metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Phytoremediation is a method that uses photosynthesising organisms to clean up soil or water contamination. The Moss cells can absorb lead up to 74 per ce
Urban heat islands Rapid urbanisation combined with changes in land use patterns leads to warming of urban spaces compared with surrounding non-urban areas this is called the urban heat island effect. Urban migration, concrete jungles, a decrease in dense vegetation and cultivable land area, and encroachments in water bodies will influence urban heat islands. For instance, Delhi is 4-12°C warmer due to the urban heat island effect.
‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced the launch of the ‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme, saying it would help secure employment for skilled workers who have returned. The State is the first to devise such a work plan. After such workers requiring employment are identified, the government will contact factory and workshop owners and contractors overseeing infrastructure projects such as road and bridge construction. &nb
Saksham Saksham is a capacity-building program under the Ministry of Rural development. It is a training module which focuses on the use of Remote Sensing and GIS tools for project planning and monitoring components like watersheds, groundwater and geohydrology. **It is not to be confused with project Saksham of the Railway Ministry. Project Saksham It is the nation’s largest time-bound “Upskilling” exercise for its employees to boost their efficiency. Under Project
SECURE The Ministry of rural development has adopted the Software for Estimate Calculation Using Rural Rates for Employment (SECURE). It aims to improve the quality of work by detailing of technical specifications, tasks and workflows. All estimates under MGNREGS will be generated with the use of SECURE (software) from the Programme’s Management Information System with effect from 1st April, 2018.
D10 club The British government has approached the US with the prospect of creating a 5G club of 10 democracies, including India, amid growing security concerns related to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. A so-called 'D10' club of democratic partners, including G7 countries – UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Japan and Canada – plus Australia, South Korea and India will aim to create alternative suppliers of 5G equipment and other technologies to avoid relying on China.
Bug Bounty Programme It has a goal to partner with security researchers and the Indian developer community to test the security effectiveness of Aarogya Setu and also to enhance its security and build users’ trust. It is aimed at encouraging the Indian developer community to find security flaws in the app and get rewarded Rs 1 lakh.
Hansa Jivraj Mehta Hansa Jivraj Mehta a social activist who served in the constituent assembly from 1946-1949, was a Padma Bhushan awardee. She was a member of the Fundamental rights sub-committee, the advisory committee and the provincial constitutional committee. Hansa Mehta’s most significant contribution to the constituent assembly debates was in trying to make the Uniform Civil Code(UCC) a justiciable part of the constitution. She also served as a member of the UN sub-committ
Credit scores A credit score determines how creditworthy a person is and helps banks and financial institutions decide on loans. In India, the scores are issued by credit reporting agencies such as CIBIL, Equifax, Experian, Etc. These agencies are regulated by the RBI and collect data from banks on their loans and come up with credit scores through use of algorithms. The data is updated frequently. Credit scores in India range from 300-900. A credit report may be obtained for free once a y
NASA’s Kilopower Project NASA has invented a small nuclear reactor Kilopower, It can generate a reliable power supply by using the uranium-235 reactor core. This power system could provide up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power enough to run two average households continuously for at least 10 years. This reactor will be used for electronic propulsion systems and for providing safe and plentiful energy for future robotic and human missions to Mars and beyond.
5G technology Union telecom ministry had announced that 5G technology will be rolled out in 2020. 5G promises ultra-reliable, very fast speeds and high bandwidth mobile connectivity and supports massively interconnected devices spread across wide areas like the Internet of things (IoT). This would entail accelerating the BharatNet programme for deploying connectivity infrastructures.
Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) At present, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a three-member body, with one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (EC). Under Article 324(2) of the Constitution of India, the President of India is empowered to appoint the CEC and the ECS. Article 324(2) also empowers the President of India to fix from time to time the number of Election Commissioners other than the CEC. When any other election commis
Automated ocean pollution observation system The Union government has planned to set up an automated ocean pollution observation system. These systems will be installed in coastal areas of West Bengal, Goa, Mumbai, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai. It will help keep a tab on ocean pollution levels apart and provides insights on how the marine system is changing. It is an initiative under National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Eart
Accessible India Campaign (AIC) It is a nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier-free and conducive environment for differently abled all over the country. For creating universal accessibility for differently abled persons the campaign has been divided into three verticals: Built Environment. Transport. Information &
UN Environment Management Group (EMG) The EMG is a UN system-wide coordination body on environment and human settlements. Its members include the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and other specialized agencies, programmes and organs of the UN. Representatives of intergovernmental bodies, civil society and international non-governmental organizations can be invited to contribute. The EMG works through technical meetings, Issue Management Groups and task force
Export control regime Australia Group Recently the Australia Group admitted (2018) India as its 43rd participant. India’s entry would contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives. The Australia Group (AG) is an informal forum of countries which, seeks to ensure export controls over development of chemical or biological weapons. By this AG nations would fulfil their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conv
Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) About CIPET Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) was established in 1968 by the Government of India with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Chennai. The main objective of setting up this specialized institute was to develop manpower in different disciplines of Plastics Engineering & Technology as no similar institute was in existence in the c
Malimath Report Justice Malimath Committee or The Committee on Reforms of the Criminal Justice System was constituted by the Home Ministry in 2000. The committee submitted its report in 2003 and made recommendations on crime investigation and punishment. The recommendations were never implemented. It is now going to be revisited by the government. One of its key recommendations is admissibility of confessions made before a police officer as evidence in a court of law. Other recommendati
Sholas The Sholas are a mosaic of montane evergreen forests and grasslands. They are found only in high altitude (>1500 metres above sea level) regions within the tropics and are limited to the southern part of the Western Ghats. They are characterised by undulating grassland patches, interspersed with thickets of stunted evergreen tree species. A recent study has indicated that timber plantations, expanding agriculture and the spread of invasive species reduced two-thirds of the shoals
Nilgiri Pipit Nilgiri Pipit (Anthus nilghiriensis) is a bird endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, southern India. It occurs on grassy upland slopes interspersed with bushes and trees, mainly above 1,500 m, and is commonest over 2,000 m. It is listed as “Vulnerable” in IUCN red list category. It feeds mostly on creeping grass in valleys, but nests in marshy grasslands with slightly taller grasses and sedges, particularly near streams. I
Sangeet Natak Academy The Sangeet Natak Akademi was set up in 1953 for the promotion of performing arts. The Sangeet Natak Akademi is an Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Culture. It acts at the national level for the: Promotion and growth of Indian music, dance and drama; Maintenance of standards of training in the performing arts; Revival, preservation, documentation and dissemination of materials as well as instruments relating to various forms of music, dance and drama.
National Logistics Plan Recently Union government has introduced an ambitious national logistics plan to allow seamless movement of inputs and finished goods across the country. This government aims to come out with the most cost-effective method to transport goods by 2035 to provide a competitive edge to the Indian industry. The logistics division in the commerce department is in talks with logistics providing ministries of railways, roadways, shipping, inland waterways and civil avi
Lalit Kala Akademi Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Fine Arts) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture. It has headquarters in New Delhi and regional centres in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Shimla. Lalit Kala Akademi is the nodal agency of the Government of India to promote an understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the country. The Akademi conducts international exhibitions on contemporary art in New Delhi every three years. It also
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 under the ministry of health and family welfare. It aims to ensure free comprehensive and quality antenatal check-ups for pregnant women for ensuring safe pregnancy. The programme is carried out across India with the participation of private doctors.
Operation Digital Board The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) recently passed a resolution to take steps toward Operation Digital Board. The idea of Operation Digital Board is aimed at providing better digital education in all schools. These steps will be on the lines of Operation Blackboard of 1987, which was started with the purpose of providing minimum basic facilities to all primary schools. This will offer new opportunities and ways of teaching and learning in schools. CABE i
Invasive mussel spreads in backwaters An invasive mussel native to the South and Central American coasts is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala, elbowing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the livelihoods of fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries. The rapid spread of the Charu mussel (Mytella strigata) may have been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017, according to a paper published in the Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries.
Farthest known galaxy NASA has spotted the farthest known galaxy in the universe, a primitive cluster of stars just 500 million years old. The galaxy was named SPT0615-JD. Preliminary analysis suggests that the galaxy is less than 2,500 light-years across. A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems. A galaxy is held together by gravity. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, also has a supermassive black hole in the middle.
UMANG App UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is envisaged to make e-governance. It is developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to drive Mobile Governance in India. It provides a unified approach where citizens can install one application to avail of multiple government services. The app services include Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). Etc.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958) The Union government has tabled amendments to Ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains active in the parliament. The Lok Sabha passed the amendments to the Act, but the Bill is yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha. The Act originally instituted conservation measures and banned construction activities near protected monuments. The amendment now allows carrying out public works within the 100 m prohibited zo
FDI in single-brand retail The Union government has decided to allow 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in single-brand retail trading through the automatic route. The single-brand retail chain is expected to sell all its products under only one label across its store, for example Burger King, KFC, Levis. If an MNC operates a single-brand retail chain, the product must also be sold under the same brand name globally. The MNC must also source 30 per cent of its purchases for the b
Orange Passports and LOTUS mark on PASSPORT Ministry of External Affairs has decided to offer an orange-coloured passport to travellers who require an emigration check. By this ECR status would be issued a passport with an orange-coloured, non-ECR status will continue to get blue passports. ECR status As per the Emigration Act, 1983, certain categories of Indian passport holders require obtaining an ‘Emigration Clearance’ for going to certain countries. Emigration, as per
Chiru Goat Chiru goat is also known as the Tibetan antelope. It is native of China (Tibet, Xinjiang region) and India (North Eastern Ladakh region) and is regionally extinct in Nepal. Its numbers and distribution have decreased sharply as a result of commercial hunting for the underfur for the making of shawls. In India, it is killed for making of the famous Shahtoosh shawls, which is renowned for its quality from Srinagar. In 2017, it has been included in “Near Threatened”
Aadhaar Face Authentication The Unique Identification Authority of India has decided to enable Face Authentication for validating Aadhaar cards from July 2018. Currently, the UIDAI provides two modes of biometric verification: fingerprint authentication and iris authentication. Face authentication will be allowed only in fusion mode along with one more authentication factor either fingerprint or iris or OTP to authenticate an Aadhaar number holder. Face authentication will only be al
LEADS Index Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) index is a composite indicator to assess international trade logistics across states and Union territories. It is based on a stakeholders’ survey conducted by Deloitte for the Ministry of commerce and industry. Gujarat topped the first-of-its-kind index, and Punjab and Andhra Pradesh took the second and third positions, respectively. The index is loosely based on the World Bank’s biannual Logistics Performance Inde
Kala Azar India has missed the 2017 deadline for the elimination of Kala Azar. Elimination is defined as reducing the annual incidence of Kala Azar to less than 1 case per 10,000 people at the sub-district level. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasites. It is transmitted to humans through infected sandflies. It is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia. T
International termination charges (ITC) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) cut termination charges for international incoming calls to Landline and wireless connections. International termination charges (ITC) are payable by an international long-distance operator (ILDO), which carries calls from outside the country, to an access provider in the country in whose network the call terminates. ITC is one of the sources of foreign earnings for the country.
North Koel reservoir A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation for the completion of the North Koel reservoir project. Part of the fund for this project is derived under PMKSY’s LTIF- Long term Irrigation Fund and the rest from the state government's contributions. The project is situated on North Koel River, a tributary of the Sone River. It will provide irrigation to most backward and drought-pro
SAREX – 18 It is a joint search and rescue exercise between India and Japan to help increase mutual understanding in Anti-Piracy operations. During the exercise, helicopters of the Japan and Indian Coast Guard will perform cross-landing operations to improve compatibility between the two forces at Chennai. Japanese coast guard ship “Tsugaru”, a patrol vessel with helicopters will participate in this exercise.
Pratyush Pratyush is an array of computers recently unveiled in India. It can deliver a peak power of 6.8 petaflops. One petaflop is a million billion floating point operations per second and is a reflection of the computing capacity of a system. The machines will be installed at two government institutes: the 4.0 petaflops HPC facility at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune & 2.8 petaflops facility at the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast, No
Mankidia Tribe Mankind is one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha. They critically depend on making rope with small fibre that’s richly available in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). They were denied habitat rights inside the STR under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. So they would now be deprived of the non-timber forest produce. This is because the State Forest Department has objected
Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) It is responsible for command, control and operational decisions regarding India's nuclear weapons programme. The organisational structure of NCA includes Political Council and Executive Council. Executive Council is headed by the National Security Advisor and Political Council is headed by Prime Minister. The Executive Council gives its opinion to the Political Council, which authorises a nuclear attack when deemed necessary. This kind of organisat
NASA’s Mission to explore Ionosphere NASA has announced two missions to explore the little-understood area of 96 km above Earth’s surface. The two missions Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) and Ionospheric Connection Explorer(ICON) will team up to explore the ionosphere. ICON will be in low-Earth orbit, at 560 km above Earth, like a close-up camera while GOLD will be in a geostationary orbit over the Western Hemisphere, about 35,398 km above the planet&rsquo
Labelling organic products The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued regulations that required food companies selling organic produce to get certified by either authority. Certificate issuing authorities will be National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) or the Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India). Companies could also get a voluntary logo from the FSSAI that marked their produce as ‘organic.’ It will be implemented from July 2018, a
Nayachar Islands Nayachar is a newly emerged island with a mangrove ecosystem in the middle estuary of the Hooghly River in West Bengal. This land mass was created in the Indian Sunderbans by river silt deposits, and remained largely submerged, rising occasionally above the water level. Till 1990 it was completely barren, with hardly any plant or animal species, at present there are 151 animal species on the island, making it a rare case in ecology. The natural succession of species on the is
India builds state-of-the-art training facility for Ugandan defence forces The Indian Association Uganda (IAU), in association with the Indian Military Advisory and Training Team there, handed over a state-of-the-art military training facility to Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF). The war game centre, named ‘INDIA’, was inaugurated by Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda The centre was conceptualised by the Indian Military Team and constructed by
Mizoram grants ‘industry’ status to sports The northeastern state of Mizoram has accorded ‘industry’ status to sports. The Cabinet cleared the Sports and Youth Service department’s proposal to recognise sports as an ‘industry’ in the state. The idea was first proposed in 2019 as part of the state sports policy by the ruling Mizo National Front government. According to him, the main aim of the decision is to professionalise sports in the state. &ldq
The IMD via UMANG App The UMANG mobile app (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is a Government of India all-in-one single, unified, secure, multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app, powered by a robust back-end platform providing access to high impact services of various organizations (Central and State). Prime Minister of India launched the UMANG App in 2017 to bring major government services on a single mobile app, with a large
‘ReSTART’ policy Factoring the hardships faced by the MSMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Andhra Pradesh government has come up with a ?1,110-crore ‘ReSTART’ policy boost. This is to provide some relief at a time when the economy has come to a standstill, severely affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands dependent on MSME sector. In Andhra Pradesh alone, around one lakh MSMEs provide employment to more than 10 lakh people. The ReSTART package in
Agappe Chitra Magna Agappe Chitra Magna is a magnetic nanoparticle-based RNA extraction kit for use during testing for detection of COVID-19. The RNA extraction kit was developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, an Institute of National Importance of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, an in vitro diagnostics manufacturing company based in Cochin. Advantages The commercial la
Alternative dwarfing genes in wheat can eliminate rice crop residue burning In India, close to twenty-three million tonnes of leftover rice residues are annually burnt by farmers to get rid of the straw and prepare their fields for sowing wheat, which is the next crop, resulting in air pollution. Also, dry environments pose a challenge for the germination of wheat varieties with short coleoptiles. To overcome these problems, Scientists at Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), a
Bomb Cyclone It’s a weather term that applies to a massive winter storm that struck off the U.S. Southeast, the storm has dumped freak snow in this region. This storm will usually stay out to sea and blow with high winds gusts exceeding 100 kmph. Bomb cyclones draw air from Polar Regions after they leave it means extra cold Arctic air this is based on polar vortex. Storm intensity is measured by central pressure the lower the pressure, the stronger. A storm is considered a “bom
Milk under price stabilisation fund To create additional domestic demand for milk the agriculture ministry has sought inclusion of the milk under the Price Stabilisation Fund scheme. If milk is included in the Price Stabilisation Fund, it would enable states to distribute milk through the public distribution system. The Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) was set up under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Famers Welfare (DAC&FW) and later transferred to the Department of Cons
National Tobacco Control Policy The Union government is planning to propose a policy for enforcing various provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products. As of now Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003), lies with the States/Union Territories. At present, there is a National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) with one objective of ensuring effective implementation of the provisions under COTPA, 2
Tabby's star Tabby’s star is the “most mysterious star in the universe” as it kept dimming and brightening irregularly, following no pattern. Officially called KIC 8462852, the star is 1,000 light years away from the Earth and 1,000 degrees hotter than the Sun. There was a 20% decrease in brightness and the dip lasted from five to 80 days. A recent report showed that the dimming is caused by ordinary dust particles, the majority of them at a size less than one microme
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) The IPCC is an international body for the assessment of climate change, it was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The IPCC reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate-related data or parameters.
Cryosphere Cryosphere refers to the frozen part of the earth's surface. It might be comprised of snow, river and lake ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice shelves and ice sheets, and frozen grounds. This region plays a major role in the Earth’s climate system through its impact on the surface energy budget, the water cycle, and sea level. It is a fundamental control of the physical, biological and social environment over a large part of the Earth’s surface. The cryosphere is a
Ozone Depletion Scientists have observed for the first time that levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are declining, resulting in less ozone depletion. There has been an international ban on chlorine-containing human-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Measurements show that this has resulted in about 20% less ozone depletion during the Antarctic winter than there was in 2005. Stratospheric ozone protects life on the planet by absorbing potentially harmful ultraviolet radiatio
No Development Zone The River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 provides that the bank of River Ganga, its tributaries or the active flood area of them shall be a construction free zone. It also prohibits the construction of any structure for residential or commercial or industrial or any other purposes. The National Green Tribunal has been directed to identify and demarcate the flood plains of river Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao. Once the demarcation o
Zojila Tunnel It is an upcoming project in J&K that aims at providing all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. The project has been approved on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. It holds strategic and socio-economic significance, given the fact that the region of Leh has limited connectivity due to the threat of avalanches. The project will be executed by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRT&H).
The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 It seeks to amend the Negotiable Instruments Act, of 1881. A negotiable instrument is a document that promises payment to a specified person. E.g Cheque The Act defines promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques. It also specifies penalties for bouncing of cheques and other violations with respect to such negotiable instruments.
WAG12 The loco is named WAG12 with Number 60027. It was a proud moment for Indian Railways, as it became 6th country in the world to join the elite club of producing high horse power locomotives indigenously. It is the first time, a high horsepower locomotive has been operationalised on a broad gauge track in the world. The locomotive has been produced under Make in India programme. The Madhepura factory is the largest integrated Green Field facility built to the highest standards
National Test Abhyas Context Union Human Resource Development Minister launched an AI-powered mobile app called the ‘National Test Abhyas'. About National Test Abhyas The App has been developed by NTA to enable candidates to take mock tests for upcoming exams such as JEE Main, NEET under the NTA’s purview. The app has been launched to facilitate candidates’ access to high-quality mock tests in the safety and comfort of their homes since there was a demand
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913-1996) Context The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, paid homage to Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, former President of India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (May 19, 2020) on his Birth Anniversary. He paid floral tributes in front of the portrait of Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. About Neelam Sanjiva Reddy He was one of the foremost political leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He participated in various freedom struggles against the British and was imprisoned seve
Keoladeo National Park It is Located in Bharatpur district, the eastern part of Rajasthan. The park is spread over nearly 30 sq. km which comprises many artificial and seasonal lagoons. Keoladeo attracts several migratory birds that make the region their breeding and wintering grounds. It is a UNESCO World Heritage and also a Ramsar site. The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that was spotted here till about the turn of the century. It habitat for nearly 365 species of
Ujh multipurpose project The Central Water Commission (CWC) has finalised a detailed report on Ujh multi-purpose project. The project is to come up in the Kathua district and will store around 0.65 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from Ujh (a tributary of Ravi). It will irrigate 30,000 hectares and produce over 200 MW of power. India has planned this project under the mandates of Indus water treaty (IWT) CWC Central Water Commission is a premier Technical Organization of
Spike missile Spike anti-tank-guided missiles from Israel. This is because of the decision of the defence ministry to procure world-class missiles from the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) by 2021. Spike is a man-portable "fire and forget missile built by Israel's state-run firm, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which can hit moving targets such as a tank. It allows the soldier who fires the missile to quickly move for cover. Barak missile India
Humpback Whale The humpback whale is one of the four species of baleen whales occurring in Indian waters. Characteristic baleen plates and paired blowholes help distinguish baleen whales from toothed whales. These whales strain huge volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates to capture food Humpback Whales migrate annually from the summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator. They are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny sh
NABARD The Parliament has recently passed the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The Bill seeks to amend the NABARD Act, 1981 which establishes NABARD by transferring the agricultural credit functions of RBI and refinance functions of the then Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC). The amendment bill seeks to increase the authorised capital of the Bank to 30,000 crore rupees from 5,000 crore rupees. Currently the Central gov
Classical Language Status Maharashtra government has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Culture for granting classical language status to the Marathi language. As of now, six languages i.e. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia and Sanskrit have been given the status of classical languages. The criteria adopted for the eligibility of a language for granting classical language status are High antiquity of its early texts/ recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years; A body o
Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Jagdishpur-Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) project is also known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga. The 2,655 km project aims to connect the eastern states to the national gas grid. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal are the beneficiary states. The project will usher in Industrial development in East India by supplying environmentally clean natural gas to fertiliser and power plants, refineries, steel plants and other
Swayam Prabha The Swayam Prabha is a group of 32 DTH channels devoted to telecasting of high-quality educational programmes on a 24X7 basis using the GSAT-15 satellite. The channels cover higher education, and school education and assist the students (class 11th & 12th) prepare for competitive exams. The contents are provided by IITs, UGC, IGNOU, NCERT and NIOS. Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of UGC maintains the web portal
Cerberus-Trojanware Malicious software called Cerberus is stealing financial data such as credit card details by luring people with COVID-19-related information, the Central Bureau of Investigation has warned states, Union territories and agencies after receiving Interpol inputs. The Trojan virus contacts smartphone users via text messages and asks to click on a link saying it will provide COVID-19 updates. When clicked, the link installs a malicious application on their phones, which extr
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Context A high-profile potential vaccine for COVID-19 being tested by researchers at Oxford University failed to protect vaccinated monkeys from being infected by the virus. However, the test animals appeared to be protected from pneumonia. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 The vaccine candidate, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, being tested is a weakened form a common cold virus (adenovirus) that affects chimpanzees but has been neutered to prevent replication in humans. Reports of the candidate
Green Nobel Prize Prafulla Samantara He is the Green Nobel Prize winner and environmental activist. Green Nobel Prize The Green Nobel, also known as the Goldman Environmental Prize, is the gift awarded to six environmental activists every year. The six environmental activists are selected from the six geographical regions on the planet (Central and South America, North America, Island nations and Islands, Europe, Africa, and Asia). The award identifies environmental activist
Section 54 in the Disaster Management Act, 2005 Punishment for false warning.—Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with a fine. Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one yea
Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) A recent medical technique, known as less invasive surfactant administration (LISA), has been started at J.K. Lon Government Children’s Hospital here for treatment of lung disease or respiratory distress syndrome among premature babies. The procedure started initially for newborn children with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams, has yielded encouraging results. Most of the premature babies admitted to the hospital’s neona
Wayanad's giant jackfruit enters the Guinness record A massive jackfruit, weighing over 52 kg and 117 cm long, is eyeing to enter the Guinness record book. The fruit was found in a private plantation at Kappattumula in nearby Mananthavady and is likely to replace the existing Guinness record of the heaviest jackfruit globally. Another giant jackfruit, weighing 51.500 kg, from Kollam, is also vying for the record books. To date, the world's heaviest jackfruit according to Guinnes
Colour-Coded Weather Warning-IMD It is issued by the IMD whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life. Warnings are updated daily. 4 colour codes are: 1. Green (All is well): No advisory is issued. 2. Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day a
Biodegradable metal implants Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram both autonomous institutes under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) have jointly developed new generation Iron-Manganese based alloys for biodegradable metal implants for use in humans. Benefits of biodegradable implants Biodegradable materials (Fe, Mg, Zn, and polym
BPDS and POMID disinfectant sprays Scientists at CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, have developed two mobile indoor Disinfection Sprayer units. These units can be used for cleaning and disinfecting pathogenic micro-organisms effectively, especially in hospitals. Called Battery Powered Disinfectant Sprayer (BPDS) and Pneumatically Operated Mobile Indoor Disinfection (POMID), these units can be used to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces su
Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ The depression over southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) intensified into a deep depression in the same afternoon, into a cyclonic storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN)’ in the same evening over the central parts of south BoB. It further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm about 990 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1140 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1260 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).
MicroRNA- Why does old age makes it more difficult to fight COVID-19 A group of tiny RNA — that is supposed to attack the SARS-CoV-2 when it infects human bodies — diminishes with age and in people with chronic health problems, which may explain why older individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to Covid-19. MicroRNAs play a big role in controlling gene expression, and are a frontline defence when viruses invade. According to a study pub
Make masks at home with cotton and silk Across the world, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced governments into mandating the use of face masks. The general public has been advised to use cloth masks and not hoard N95 and surgical masks which are reserved for healthcare workers. Cotton and Chiffon The number and size of particles in air were measured before and after passing through the fabric. One layer of cotton along with two layers of chiffon showed the highest filtrati
National Migrant Information System (NMIS) National Migrant Information System (NMIS) - a central online repository on Migrant Workers - was developed by NDMA to facilitate their seamless movement across States. The government of India has allowed the movement of migrant workers by buses and ‘Shramik’ special trains to enable them to travel to their native places. In order to capture the information regarding the movement of migrants and facilitate the smooth movement
LiFi Light-fidelity (LiFi) is a technology used for free-space communication using visible and near-visible light. It is similar to Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), a technology for wireless local area network communication using microwaves. Microwaves can pass through walls while transmitting signals whereas visible and near-visible light cannot pass through walls. Thus it makes LiFi signal network more secure. Scientists have recently added a new layer of security to LiFi. Light bounces off fro
New Ginger Species Scientists have discovered two new species of Ginger in Manipur and Nagaland. They were found in easternmost districts bordering Myanmar. Both the plants are from the family of Zingiberaceae, to which the commonly found Ginger (Zingiberofficinale) belongs. The species discovered in Nagaland, is an epiphytic plant and grows on tall trees. The species from Manipur was found growing in rock crevices, boulders and humus rich soil in the Shirui Hills.
Night Frogs Frogs belongs to the genus Nyctibatrachus are commonly known as night frogs. They are found only in the Western Ghats mountain range. Scientists have recently discovered new night frog “Mewasinghi”, belonging to Nyctibatrachus from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kozhikode. It is found in a small stream running along the Peruvannamuzhi dam. It is closely relative to Athirappilly night frog (found south of the Palakkad Gap in Thrissur and Idukki) and the Kempholey night
Ant Species in Andaman Scientists have discovered the new species Tetramoriumkrishnani and Tetramoriumjarawa in Havelock Island, a part of the Andaman archipelago. The ant species are endemic to the Andaman Islands. They dwell in leaf litter in the evergreen forests of the Island.
INLCU L57- Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK-IV class INLCU L57 is commissioned into the Indian Navy on 15 May 2020 at Port Blair. INLCU L57 is the seventh Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK-IV class to be inducted into the Indian Navy. The ship has been indigenously designed and built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The commissioning of INLCU L57 is yet another manifestation of the country’s indigenous design and ship-building capability. About INCLU L57
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 have been commissioned. The ICGS Sachet, the first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) has been designed & built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment. Indian Coast Guard is the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world
Chitra GeneLAMP-N The Chitra GeneLAMP-N was developed by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram The Chitra technology uses a method called Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The objective, like that of the gold-standard RT-PCR tests, is the same: to detect the presence of viral RNA. Both achieve this via a series of chemical transformations. The LAMP method is said to be faster but is a relatively newer techno
Poumai Naga Tribe The Poumai Naga is one of the major Naga tribes in the northeastern state of Manipur in India. The Poumai predominantly live in the Senapati District of Manipur, though there are villages in Nagaland state. The Poumai speak their own language, Paula, and are generally Christians. They celebrate Thounii Festival
6.5-km two-lane tunnel road to Wayanad gets the nod The government has given the nod for a ?658-crore two-lane tunnel road in the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi corridor that would run parallel to the landslip-prone Thamarassery pass that links Kozhikode to Wayanad. The 6.5-km tunnel will be the third longest in the country. The largest tunnel in India is the Chenani-Nashri tunnel (Patnitop tunnel) which runs 9.28 km. Approach roads and a 70-metre bridge over the Iranjipuzha river are pa
Perumon bridge and Naluchira bridge The Cabinet has also given the nod for a 39.9-crore Perumon bridge across Ashtamudi Lake in the Kollam district. The proposed bridge will link Perumon and Munrothuruthu. The 34.39 crore Naluchira bridge across the Pampa river to link Thottappally and Naluchira in Alappuzha district has also got approval.
FORCE (‘Fiscal Options and Response to Covid-19 Epidemic’) A group of 50 IRS officers thought it their duty to help the government in this hour of crisis. They prepared a report titled ‘Fiscal Options and Response to Covid-19 Epidemic’, or FORCE, and submitted it to the government. In order to tide over the financial crisis, the report suggested : 1. Raising the highest slab rate to 40% for income above ?1 crore 2. Re-introducing the wealth tax for those wit
BIO International Convention The BIO International Convention is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). India is represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences. The key benefits of attending the BIO International Convention are access to global biotech and pharma leaders via BIO One-on-One Partnering, exposure to industry thought-leaders and networking opportunities. BIO is the largest trade organization in the world that represe
TIR Convention India became the 71st country to ratify the United Nations TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) Convention. TIR Convention is an international transit system under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It came into force in 1975. The TIR Convention facilitates the international carriage of goods from one or more customs offices of departure to one or more customs offices of destination (up to a total of four customs offices departu
Rhododendron Rhododendron is a large genus of flowering plants and is found mainly in Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas and Nilgiris. Some plants of Rhododendron are evergreen and some are deciduous in nature. The species is found in varied habitats from subtropical forests to alpine shrubs, rhododendrons range from dwarf shrubs to large trees. The cold, moist slopes and deep valleys of the eastern Himalayas form a conducive habitat for the luxuriant growth of Rhododendron species
New Green Building Code The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched a code for new commercial buildings in the country. Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017 was developed by the Ministry of Power and BEE. The code sets parameters for builders, designers and architects to integrate renewable energy sources in building design with the inclusion of passive design strategies. It promotes low-carbon growth and leads to 30-50% energy savings by commercial buildings by 2030. In
Cartosat-2 Cartosat – 2 launched through PSLV C-38. Cartosat is a series of earth observation satellites placed in the Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (PSSO). PSLV is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. The imageries from the Cartosat-2 series satellite will useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitor
Operation Swarn Operation Swarn is launched by the Railway Ministry to improve services in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains. Under the project, the Indian Railways will focus attention on 10 key areas — punctuality, cleanliness, linen, coach interiors, toilets, catering, staff behaviour, security, entertainment, housekeeping and regular feedback.
CHAMPIONS portal - MSME Introduction In a major initiative, the Union Ministry of MSME has launched the CHAMPIONS portal. About CHAMPIONS portal CHAMPIONS portal is a Technology driven Control Room-Cum-Management Information System. The system utilising modern ICT tools is aimed at assisting Indian MSMEs march into big leagues as National and Global CHAMPIONS. The CHAMPIONS stands here for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Outpu
UV Radiation and classification UV-C: Short-wavelength. Most harmful but are completely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and does not reach the Earth’s surface. UV-B: Medium-wavelength. Biologically active but cannot penetrate beyond the superficial skin layers. Responsible for delayed tanning and burning. Enhances skin ageing and significantly promotes the development of skin cancer. Exposure to UV-B rays can cause DNA and cellular damag
GI tag for Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting, Telangana’s Telia Rumal Introduction Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag on Tuesday by the Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai. Sohrai Khovar “The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, n
Y2K The Year 2000 problem, also known as the Y2K problem, the Millennium bug, Y2K bug, the Y2K glitch, or Y2K, refers to events related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates beginning in the year 2000. Problems were anticipated, and arose, because many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits – making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. The assumption of a twentieth-century date in such program
Gandhi Peace Prize Context The Ministry of Culture invites nominations for awarding Gandhi Peace Prize every year. The nominations are to be made in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Procedure for the Gandhi Peace Prize which is available in the Ministry of Culture. About the Gandhi Peace Prize The Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted in the year 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This annual award is given to individuals and institut
MERIT Portal ‘MERIT’ - Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency. The portal has been developed by Ministry of Power in association with POSOCO and Central Electricity Authority. It displays extensive array of information regarding the merit order of Electricity procured by States such as daily source-wise power purchases of respective states/UTs. Information available in the Portal shall help State Discoms to optimize their power pro
City Liveability Index The index was launched by the Ministry of Urban Development. The index is for measuring the quality of life in 116 major cities including smart cities, capital cities and cities with a population of above one million each. It accesses cities on a comprehensive set of 79 parameters to capture the extent and quality of infrastructure including the availability of roads, education and health care, mobility, employment opportunities, emergency response, grievance red
SwasthVayu ventilator Context CSIR - National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Bangalore, a constituent of the lab of CSIR has developed a Non-Invasive BiPAP Ventilator in a record time of 36 days to treat COVID-19 patients. About BiPAP Non-Invasive ventilator BiPAP Non-Invasive ventilator is a microcontroller-based precise closed-loop adaptive control system with a built-in biocompatible “3D printed manifold & coupler” with HEPA filter (Highly Efficient Particulat
Bright nights It is a phenomenon in which the night sky is bright enough to read a book even in the absence of moonlight. A new theory says it is due to slow-moving, high-altitude atmospheric waves merging together and amplifying the light from the naturally occurring airglow. The theory says that for every seven nights out of 100 there is a bright night somewhere on the earth.
VAJRA scheme Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched a scheme named 'Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA). Under this scheme, scientists or senior researchers abroad of Indian origin or otherwise can collaborate with Indian faculties for conducting joint research in India. The foreign researchers would receive endowments at par with those in their own countries. The broad areas of research like energy, health, advance material and others woul
NISAR NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite (NISAR) is the world’s most expensive earth imaging satellite. NISAR is dual frequency RADAR, it is an L-band and S-band RADAR. It is the first such satellite using dual frequency RADAR. The S-band is being built by ISRO and L-band by NASA. It is expected that the NISAR satellite will be launched in 2021 from India using the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). One of the main purposes of the mission is to observe
Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) MSCI is the world’s biggest index compiler, with more than $10 trillion in assets benchmarked to its products. Recently it said, China’s local currency shares referred to as China ‘A’ shares would be added to the index. MSCI is closely tracked by global investors and the inclusion of china’s shares will open up investment interest from foreign investors and adds financial credibility. If china continues to gain
CHESS rocket NASA is launching a new CHESS-sounding rocket which will study vast interstellar clouds to understand the earliest stages of star formation. Deep in space between distant stars, vast clouds of neutral atoms and molecules, as well as charged plasma particles called the interstellar medium that may evolve into new stars and even planets. It will measure light filtering through the interstellar medium to study the atoms and molecules within, which provides crucial information
DRUVS and NOTESCLEAN Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS). Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) premier lab, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), has developed an automated contactless UVC sanitisation cabinet, called Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS). It has been designed to sanitise mobile phones, iPods, laptops, currency notes, cheque leaves, challans, passbooks, paper, envelopes, etc. The DRUVS cabinet is having contactles
COVID KAVACH ELISA Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Pune has developed and validated the indigenous IgG ELISA test “COVID KAVACH ELISA” for antibody detection for COVID-19. ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune is the apex laboratory of the country with state-of-art infrastructure and expertise for research in virology. NIV’s competent scientific team successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus from laboratory-conf
MICRODOT TECHNOLOGY Microdot Technology is a process of spraying thousands of microscopic dots onto vehicles or other assets in order to provide a unique identification. Each Microdot carries this unique identification which is registered to the owner but is not visible to the naked eye. Microdot Technology is used in an attempt to combat car theft and has also been used in the recovery of vehicles which have been stolen. Here are some facts on Microdot Technology: Counterfeiting is v
The magnetic field in Uranus Recently scientists have found that Uranus’ magnetic field gets flipped on and off like a light switch every day as the planet rotates. It is based on the data from NASA’s Voyager 2 Spacecraft. Uranus magnetic field is lopsided and tilted 60 degrees from its axis. Thus it causes the magnetic field to tumble asymmetrically to the solar winds. This is quite different from Earth’s magnetosphere since the alignment of Earth’s magn
COMMIT Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new training programme Comprehensive Online Modified Modules on Induction Training (COMMIT) for State Government officials. The objective of this training programme is to improve the public service delivery mechanism and provide citizen-centric administration. COMMIT will be launched in 6 States of Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Ta
Deep Ocean Mission The government of India is all set to launch the ‘Deep Ocean Mission by January 2018 and it will improve India’s position in the ocean research field. Achievements in the field of ocean research: The program on Poly metallic nodules was initiated at CSIR-NIO with the collection of the first nodule sample from the Arabian Sea on board the first Research Vessel Gaveshani on 26 January 1981. India was the first country in the world to have been giv
The Reang of Tripura Reang or Riang are one of the 21 scheduled tribes of the Indian state of Tripura. They speak the Reang dialect of Kokborok language which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin and is locally referred to as Kau Bru. Education has been a pressing concern for the tribe. As per the 2001 census, 66.93% of the Reang population is illiterate. Traditionally, jhum (shifting) cultivation has been one of the primary agricultural activities of the Reang tribe. Howe
China began the mining of combustible ice (natural gas hydrates) The trial mining was conducted at a depth of 237-304 meters undersea in the Shenhu sea (PT) area, about 320 kilometres southeast of Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province. China has set two world records in terms of the total gas output in a month and the daily gas production of 28,700 cubic meters. The latest test adopted a horizontal well drilling technique, the first time it has been used in the natural gas hydrate extraction,
Cobra Lily The incredibly rare Arisaema translucent, more commonly known as the cobra lily, was recently rediscovered in the western Nilgiris after 84 years. They can be found only in a small area measuring less than 10 square kilometres in the Nilgiris. The Toda tribals of the Nilgiris, who know the plant well, have an embroidery motif known as the ‘podwarshk’, which resembles it. The indigenous community could predict the early arrival of monsoon from the
Vaquita Porpoise With an estimated 30 or fewer individuals remaining, the vaquita porpoise — the world's most endangered marine mammal — may go extinct by 2018 if no action is taken to save them, a new study warns. Known as the 'panda of the sea' because of its distinctive markings, the vaquita is endemic to the Upper Gulf of California. Unsustainable fishing practices and illegal wildlife trade driven by demand for the swim bladder, has caused th
Solibacillus kalamii Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the foremost lab of NASA for work on interplanetary travel, discovered the new bacteria on the filters of the International Space Station (ISS) and named it Solibacillus kalamii to honour the late President. Even as it orbits the earth some 400 kilometres above, the ISS is home to many types of bacteria and fungi. These spore formers tend to withstand high radiation and also produce some useful compounds protein-wise which will
Turtle – Threats In an attempt to raise awareness on conservation of tortoise and turtles, and on illegal trafficking, May 23 is celebrated as World Turtle Day. In addition to smuggling, turtles face a variety of man-made issues that threaten their existence. One major threat, as with all other animal species, is habitat destruction. As rivers become more and more polluted, the turtles are beginning to die off at greater rates. The hatchlings are born deformed; adults a
Monkeypox Virus Singapore recently reported the first ever case of the Monkeypox Virus, a rare virus similar to the human smallpox. About Monkeypox Virus: What is It? Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an orthopoxvirus that causes a viral disease with symptoms in humans similar, but milder, to those seen in smallpox patients. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, whereas human monkeypox is endemic in villages of Central and West Africa. The occurrence
Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia)-Murder Hornet The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has arrived in North America. This insect has attacked honeybees: it crawls into hives and rips off the heads of bees in large numbers—making its supervillain nickname, “murder hornet,” feel disturbingly apt. Government agencies and local beekeepers have sprung into action, hoping to eradicate the hornet before it can consolidate a foothold in the continent. Success may lie in
Mattu Gulla growers hope to make profits before the season ends With Udupi district coming under the green zone, prospects have brightened for the growers of Mattu Gulla, brinjal enjoying the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, owing to improvement in transportation and relaxation in lockdown hours. Mattu Gulla is grown by about 150 farmers in Mattu and its surrounding villages, on 129 hectares in the district. This brinjal is known for its unique taste, and a curry prepared from t
China’s experimental spaceship works normally in orbit China's new-generation spaceship launched earlier in the week is working normally in orbit after completing a series of planned operations The experimental spaceship was launched without crew by China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan. So far, the new spaceship has unfolded its solar panels and positioned them towards the sun, deployed its relay antenna and establishe
Phase-2 trial with three drugs offers hope Introduction A phase-2 trial involving participants with mild to moderate coronavirus (COVID-19) illness found no detectable virus within an average seven days of starting treatment with a three-drug regimen compared with 12 days in people in the control group. Samples tested for the virus comprised nasopharyngeal swab, posterior oropharyngeal saliva, throat swab, and stool samples. Clinical Improvement Clinical improvement was also sign
NTPC to provide Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric buses and cars in Leh and Delhi National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has invited Global Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide 10 Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FC) based electric buses and an equal number of Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric cars in Leh and Delhi. The EoI has been issued by NTPC's wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam LIMITED. The move to procure Hydrogen Fuel Cell based vehicles is first of its ki
Ayush Sanjivani application Context Health Minister Sh. Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for AYUSH Sh. Shripad Yesso Naik jointly launched clinical research studies on Ayurveda interventions as an add-on to standard care to COVID-19 situation and Ayush Sanjivani application today at New Delhi. About the Ayush Sanjivani app The Ministry of AYUSH and MEITY has developed Ayush Sanjivani mobile app, for generating data on a large population with a target of 5 million people.
Band-like clouds seen over Sun’s neighbour-Luhman 16A A group of international astrophysicists have identified cloud bands on the surface of Luhman 16A, one of a pair of binary brown dwarfs in the Vela constellation. They have used an idea put forth Indian astrophysicist Sujan Sengupta, who is at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, that the light emitted by a cloudy brown dwarf, or reflected off an extrasolar planet, will be polarised. He suggested that a polari
Nsafe mask IIT-Delhi start-up ‘Nanosafe Solutions’ has launched an antimicrobial and washable face mask ‘NSafe’. The said mask is reusable up to 50 launderings, thus greatly cutting down the cost of use. IIT-Delhi said that the ‘NSafe’ mask is a triple-layered product consisting of : 1.inner hydrophilic layer for comfort, 2.middle layer having antimicrobial activity and 3.outer most layer having water and oil repellent behaviour. &ldquo
Vande Bharat Mission is one of the largest evacuation mission In one of the largest evacuation exercises named Vande Bharat Mission, the government will operate 64 flights between the 7th and 13th of May to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the Coronavirus lockdown. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said that preparations for the operation have commenced and also urged the stranded individuals to stay in touch with the Indian embassies in their countrie
Microwave Oven as Sterilisation unit-COVID-19 Rajat Kumar Panigrahy, Principal of the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Odisha’s Berhampur, has started transforming discarded microwave ovens into Ultraviolet (UV) sanitisation chambers for the disinfection of mobile phones, pens and other small objects carried by medical staff working in COVID-19 hospitals. Transformation of a thrown-away microwave oven into a UV sanitisation chamber costs only 1,200. Any e
Israel isolates Coronavirus antibody The “monoclonal neutralising antibody” developed at the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) “can neutralise it (the disease-causing coronavirus) inside carriers’ bodies The IIBR has been leading Israeli efforts to develop a treatment and vaccine for the coronavirus, including the testing of blood from those who recovered from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. Antibodies in such samples - immune
Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency of certain enzymes (branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex) required to break down (metabolize) the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) [Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine] in the body. The result of this metabolic failure is that all three BCAAs, along with their various byproducts, accumulate abnormally throughout the body. In the classic, severe
Operation Samudra Setu Indian Navy on Tuesday launched 'Operation Samudra Setu' (Sea Bridge) sending naval ships INS Jalashwa and INS Magar to the Port of Malè, Republic of Maldives Operation Samudra Setu will commence evacuation operations from 08 May 2020 as part of Phase-1 INS Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock or LPD) has a full load displacement of 17,521 tonnes and INS Magar (Landing Platform Tank) is an amphibious warfare vessel with a displacement of 5,750
UV Blaster: DRDO develops WiFi-enabled UV disinfection tower The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection tower that can be used for rapid and chemical-free disinfection of infection-prone areas. "UV blaster" is a UV-based area sanitiser designed and developed by Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC), DRDO's Delhi-based premier laboratory. The equipment has six lamps each with 43 watts of UV-C power at 254
Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) FCAs are assets that are valued based on a currency other than the country's own currency. FCA is the largest component of the forex reserve. It is expressed in dollar terms. The FCAs include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Special drawing rights (SDR) The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to sup
Thrissur Pooram For the first time since its inception, Thrissur Pooram will be observed with rituals within the temple premises with just a few participants. This was done in the wake of the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu festival held in Kerala. It is celebrated on the day when the star sign “Pooram” occurs in the Malayalam month of “medam (April-May)”. The festival was t
‘BHARATMARKET’ for retail traders CAIT said the marketplace will integrate the capabilities of various technology companies to provide end-to-end services in the logistics and supply chains from manufacturers to end consumers, including deliveries at home. The e-commerce portal will include nationwide participation by retailers and aims to bring 95 per cent of retail traders on board the platform, who would exclusively run the portal. The initiative has had the active support a
Forex reserves fall $113 mn to $479.45 bn In the previous week, the reserves had increased by $3.09 billion to $479.57 billion. After rising for the past few weeks, the country’s foreign exchange reserves declined $113 million to $479.45 billion in the week to April 24, due to a fall in foreign currency assets, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India. In the previous week, the reserves had increased by $3.09 billion to $479.57 billion. The reserves had touched
Researchers in Canada are using algae to develop CoVID 19 test kits The team collaborated with Canadian integrated energy company Suncor to develop algae as a production factory to make necessary proteins to identify COVID-19 antibodies in someone previously infected with the disease. The researchers noted that one of the limiting factors in developing large-scale serological testing is the ability to make significant quantities of viral proteins on a cost-effective basis. According to th
Kashmir saffron gets GI tag Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir, including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar. The application was filed by the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and facilitated by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and T
Ethnic clashes in the Central African Republic In the Central African Republic, 25 people were killed and 51 others injured in clashes in the northeast part of the country. Between armed groups in Ndele led to the deaths of several civilians. Humanitarian workers, however, said that members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC) had clashed in Ndele the previous day. FPRC last year split into two factions: the Runga ethnic group on one side
Microwave steriliser - ATULYA Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune has developed a microwave steriliser named as ATULYA to disintegrate COVID-19. The virus gets disintegrated by differential heating in the range of 56 degree to 60 degree Celsius temperatures. The product is cost effective solution, which can be operated in portable or fixed installations. This system was tested for human and operator safety and has been found to be safe. Depending upon size and shape of var
Chuni Goswami Former India football captain Chuni Goswami, 82, passed away in Kolkata on Thursday after a prolonged illness. The captain of the 1962 Asian Games gold-medal winning team, Goswami had also represented Bengal in first-class cricket tournaments. Under his captaincy, the Indian football team won gold at the 1962 Asian Games, finished runner-up at the Asian Cup in 1964 and narrowly lost to Burma in Mardeka football six months later. In club football, Goswami always played for M
GI tag to Manipur black rice, Gorakhpur terracotta Introduction Both products have been in circulation for centuries and are important sources of income. Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur and the Gorakhpur terracotta have bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Chinnaraja G. Naidu, deputy registrar, Geographical Indications, confirmed that the GI tag had been given for the two products on Thursday. Chak-Hao The application for Chak-Hao was filed by the Consortium o
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