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Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)

Recently, India’s 1st winter scientific expedition to the Arctic has been flagged off from the MoES headquarters in New Delhi. It is a Central Sector umbrella scheme. Implemented by – Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa. Objectives – To promote long-term scientific programmes in the polar region and the surrounding oceans that have potential societal, strategic and

25 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

Noma

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has added the health challenge noma to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD). It is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face. Origin - Greek word “nom?”, meaning ‘to devour’, as noma eats away facial tissue and bones if not treated early. It is also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis. Susceptible population – Children aged 2-6 years old. Sp

25 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Migration and Development Brief

The latest Migration and Development Brief reveals a continuing growth in remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in 2023, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. The brief is a biannual report. Prepared by – The Migration and Remittances Unit, Development Economics (DEC). Released by – World Bank. Objectives – To provide the information about migration and remittance flows and related policies over the

25 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

United Earth Amazonia prize

The United Earth Amazonia prize is a "Green Nobel" prize that recognizes environmental work in the Amazon rainforest. The prize highlights projects that help preserve and protect the rainforest and its biodiversity. The prize was instituted by Marcus Nobel, a Swedish-American businessman based in Portland, Oregon. The prize was inaugurated last year without any monetary reward, but it is set to expand its scope in 2024.

25 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

World Intellectual Property Indicators 2023 Report

According to the report of WIPI, 2023 global patent applications has been increased. In 2022, applicants based in China filed around 1.58 million patent applications, followed by the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Germany. The WIPI report also includes India as a star performer and secured the 40th position out of 132 countries.

25 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

INSUQUICK

Drug firm USV and bio-tech company Biogenomics have launched INSUQUICK, India's 1st biosimilar Insulin Aspart recently. InsuQuick is a rapid-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels and treats diabetes mellitus in children over 2 years old. It is a 'Make in India' product.

25 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Wild Orchids

Epiphytic orchids found in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are dying out because of deforestation in their natural habitat. Orchids – A diverse group of flowering plants with vibrant and intricate flowers which belong to the family Orchidaceae. Range – Tropical rainforests, mountains, and even deserts. Distribution – India has over 1200 species of Orchids, 388 are endemic to India while 128 are endemic to the Western Ghats. The hot-s

24 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

FDI in India

Tamil Nadu ranks 4th in attracting FDI in the period between Oct 2019 and September 2023, after Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. The total FDI inflow includes equity inflow, equity capital of unincorporated bodies, re-invested earnings and other capital. A foreign direct investment (FDI) refers to purchase of an asset in another country, such that it gives direct control to the purchaser over the asset.

24 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

Martian Moon eXploration (MMX)

It is a space exploration mission led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) expected to reach Martian orbit in 2025. It is a mission to travel to Mars and survey the red planet’s 2 moons - Phobos and Deimos and finally collect material from its surface before returning to Earth by 2029.

24 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Algae-assisted Carbon capture

IIT Jodhpur’s innovative technology uses algae-assisted fuel cells to capture carbon dioxide, treat wastewater and generate power. It is an indirect method for converting CO2 into carbonates and then use it for algal growth. Aim – To generates power, algae biomass and treats water by utilising algae-assisted MFC for flue gas carbon capture. Flue gas the gas produced from the flue or chimneys of thermal power stations and other industrial plants

23 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

A Touchscreen

Between 2007 and 2013, capacitive touchscreens overtook resistive touchscreens in the consumer electronics market. Invention – The 1st touch screen was invented in 1965 by E.A. Johnson of U.K, a capacitive device. Function – It is a surface that combines 2 functions To receive inputs for a computer (say, tapping on an app) To display the output (launching the app). Working – It consists of

23 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023 

The 5th edition of the LEADS annual exercise provides insights into improvement of logistics performance at State/UT level. Basis – Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of World Bank. Unlike LPI that relies entirely on perception-based surveys, LEADS incorporates both perception and objective data. Launched in – in 2018 Objectives – To assess the performance of logistics eco-system across States and Union Territories (UTs) and to 

22 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

Astrashakti 2023

India demonstrated the firepower of the indigenous Akash missile system during the recent exercise ‘Astrashakti 2023’. Astrashakti - It literally means power of weapons. It is an air force exercise that held at Suryalanka Air Force Station in Andhra Pradesh. Aim – To serves as a platform to showcase the advanced capabilities of indigenous weapon systems. To underscore India's commitment to exporting its home-grown weapon s

22 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Yak (Bos grunniens)

A recent study found that the oldest record ever of a yak being domesticated by humans has been found in Bangga, a settlement in Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. Yaks are large, sturdy mammals native to Tibet and China, but can also be found in Mongolia, Nepal, and Central Asia. Habitat - Alpine meadow, alpine steppe, and desert steppe & they are herbivorous in nature. Types – Domesticated Yak & Wild Yak. Conservation – IUCN - Do

22 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

Ketamine

Ketamine is an illegal recreational anaesthetic drug that has been listed as a hallucinogen by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. It is used to treat mental health treatments like depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

22 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Mount Vinson

Kerala’s Shaikh Hassan Khan now scales Mount Vinson in Antarctica recently to spread awareness of climate change happening in Antarctica. Mount Vinson, also known as Vinson Massif, is the highest mountain in Antarctica and one of the 7 Summits, which are the highest peaks on each of the world's 7 continents. Mount Vinson is located in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, about 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole. It was discovered in 1935 by Americ

22 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-4)

The 4th unit of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-4) started controlled fission chain reaction and thus became critical recently. It is a nuclear power plant situated in Gujarat. It is the 2nd of 16 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) of 700 MW. It is operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

22 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Sun Goddess Particle

High-energy ‘sun goddess’ particle ‘from nowhere’ collides into Earth. Amaterasu It is one of the most powerful cosmic rays slamming into Earth and has been named Amaterasu after the Japanese sun goddess. These ultra-high energy particle passes atmosphere smoothly without any deflection by magnetic fields. Spotted by - Telescope Array observatory in Utah, a collaboration of the United States, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Belgium to observe cosmic rays. En

21 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB)

Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) programme launched in partnership with India. TIWB is a capacity-building programme, helping countries in building tax audit capacity. TIWB is a joint initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). TIWB Programmes complement the efforts of the international community to strengthen co-operation on tax matters and contribute to the domestic reso

21 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

Electron rocket

Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket from its launch site on the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand recently. The Electron is a two-stage, partially reusable rocket designed to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit. It is the world's most frequently launched small rocket.

21 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Krutrim

Krutrim Si Designs, the artificial intelligence (AI) venture of Ola co-founder recently unveiled Krutrim. Krutrim is India’s own AI’ model & a family of Large Language Models, including Krutrim base and Krutrim Pro. Krutrim has joined the increasingly-competitive AI race dominated by players such as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI.

21 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Hydrogen cyanide in Enceladus

Scientists have found evidence of a key ingredient for life and a powerful source of energy that could fuel it on Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus. They analysed data from NASA’s Cassini mission and found confirmation that hydrogen cyanide, a key life molecule, exists on the icy moon.

21 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Wisent (European wood bison)

Ukraine war could wreck efforts to save and rewild Europe’s great wild bovid. The wisent once roamed across Europe at the end of the last ice age was almost wiped out by 1927 from Europe. Conservation efforts in its last remaining strongholds, including Ukraine and Russia, have raised hopes of a revival. Threats - Rapid environmental change and hunting by humans. Hunting caused range loss in the north and east of the wisent’s distribution, while land u

20 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

Bharatiya Antariksh Station

Bharatiya Antariksh Station, 1st module of India’s planned space station will be launched by 2028. It will be operated by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

20 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out a flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator recently. Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator is an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

20 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Zero Coupon Zero Principle Bonds

“A Bond is a fixed income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower.” In simpler words, bond acts as a contract between the investor and the borrower. Mostly companies and government issue bonds and investors buy those bonds as a savings and security option. These bonds have a maturity date and when once that is attained, the issuing company needs to pay back the amount to the investor along with a part of the profit. This kind of dealing with bonds

19 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

Chandrayaan 4

Chandrayaan-4 is a lunar sample-return mission planned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will be the 4th mission in the Chandrayaan program. The mission is expected to launch in 4 years.

19 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023

According to the 5th edition of Global Status Report on Road Safety, road fatalities dropped globally, but India sees a rise. Launch year – 2009 Released by – World Health Organisation (WHO) Objectives – To describe the road safety situation in United Nations (UN) Member States and assess the changes with a particular focus on the evolution of the burden and responses since 2010. Data source – Based on survey

18 December, 2023 GS-III Economic Issues

Budgett Frog

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) have identified that peptides (short protein) produced from Budgett’s frog can combat enzymes of disease causing pathogens. Other common names are Hippo Frog and the Freddie Kruger Frog. Scientific name - Lepdibatrachus laevis Habitat – In inland waters in Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. Growing condition – Being carnivorous, they mainly feed on other frog

18 December, 2023 GS-III Biodiversity & Environment

Barracuda boat

India’s fastest solar-electric boat Barracuda sets sail for sustainable future. The solar-electric boat is named after the swift, long fish, Barracuda. The boat can be deployed even in the rough seas as a workboat to ferry up to 12 passengers and cargo. Engineered to navigate through waves towering up to 4 metres, the Barracuda excels in challenging marine environments. The boat offers a noise-free, vibration-free, and pollution-free journey. The 14-metre-long, 4.4-metre-wide

18 December, 2023 GS-III S&T

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