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Dr. Ravi Agrahari’s Classes (Scientist in IIT Delhi, Author of Mc Graw Hill)

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS – TARGET 2018

(AUGUST-2017) By

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari - Scientist in IIT Delhi with the association of DST (GoI) - Author of McGraw Hill Publication of Science & Technology - More than 15 years teaching experiences - Faculty of Enroute IAS (Old rajendra Nagar, N.Delhi)


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Complete currents are compiling in these units

Unit-1: Development of Science & Technology

Unit-2: Energy

Unit-3: Space Technology

Unit-4: Information and Communication Technology

Unit-5: Defence Technology

Unit-6: Robotics and Nanotechnology

Unit-7: Intellectual Property Rights

Unit-8: Particle Physics

Unit-9: Biotechnology

Unit-10: Health and Diseases

Unit-11: Miscellaneous

UNIT-I: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

1. CSIR ranked 9th in the world • India's largest autonomous public research and development organization CSIR has

been ranked ninth in the world.

• The ranking is based on a composite indicator that combines research performance,

innovation outputs and societal impact measured by their web visibility, so as to reflect

scientific, economic and social characteristics of institutions.

• The institute has been ranked ninth amongst a total of 1,207 government institutions,

according to the Scimago Institutions ranking World Report 2017.

(Note: Scimago Institutions ranking is a science evaluation resource to assess worldwide

universities and research focused institutions.)

• In overall global ranking, CSIR stands at 75th position amongst 5250 institutions

world-wide.

UNIT-II: ENERGY

2. Three contracts signed on NPP Three main contracts were signed between state-owned Nuclear Power

Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Russia’s JSC Atoms troy export for priority

design works, working design and supply of the main equipment for stage III of

Kudankulam NPP.

Note: 20 November 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet President Mikhail

Gorbachev signed an inter-governmental agreement on the project, for the construction of two


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reactors.

1. JSC Atomstroy export is a key foreign trade engineering company of State Corporation

“Rosatom” for construction of nuclear power facilities abroad.

Note: The State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom headquartered in Moscow that

specializes in nuclear energy.

2. The Kudankulam NPP was the outcome of an inter-governmental agreement

between the erstwhile Soviet Union and India in 1988.

3. It is the single largest nuclear power station in India. The power station was

envisaged to have six units with total capacity to generate 6,000 MW of

electricity (1,000 MW each).

Note: The capacity of these reactors has not been declared yet, however, it is expected that

the capacity of each reactor will be 1000 MW or 1 GW; thus they would bring the total

capacity of the power plant to 9200 MW or 9.2 GW.

3. Niti Action Agenda`

Niti Aayog has set for the government an ambitious goal of 100 giga watt of clean

energy by 2019–20 and wants financial provision for generation and infrastructure

rather than just capacity creation.

A renewable energy capacity of 100 GW should be achieved by 2019–20 so as to

contribute to achievement of 175 GW target by 2022.

It is a 3–Year Action Agenda unveiled by the Niti Aayog.

1. The Central Electricity Authority monthly report for July 2017, India has 58.3

GW of renewable energy capacity, including 32.5 GW wind power, 13.1 GW

solar power, 4.3 GW small hydro and 8.1 GW biomass.

2. The Agenda stressed on the need for developing storage solutions to boost

use of clean energy in the country.

3. It suggested that the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)

should develop storage solutions within next three years to help bring down

prices through demand aggregation of both household and grid scale batteries.

4. On strengthening the renewable purchase obligations (RPO) system, it

favored creation of a robust market for renewable power by 2019–20 through

effective implementation of RPOs, especially in light of uniform targets.

4. UN opens uranium bank

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN global nuclear watchdog,

opened a uranium bank in Kazakhstan on 29 August 2017, a $150-million facility

designed to discourage new nations from enriching the nuclear fuel.


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The Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank in the city of Oskemen, in eastern

Kazakhstan, will store up to 90 tonnes of the fuel, enough to power a large city for

three years, and sell it to IAEA members if they are unable to procure it elsewhere.

1. Russia has operated a sim`ilar bank since 2010 but the one in Kazakhstan will

be the first one fully owned and operated by the global nuclear watchdog.

2. The IAEA LEU bank, Kazakhstan has made another contribution to

strengthening the global non-proliferation regime.

International Day against Nuclear Tests

The International Day against Nuclear Tests was observed across the world on 29

August with an aim to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear weapon test

explosions or any other nuclear explosions.

The day seeks to promote peace and security world-wide and calls for urgent

need to prevent nuclear catastrophes to avert devastating effects on

humankind, environment and the planet.

1. The International Day against Nuclear Tests was instituted by the United

Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by unanimously adopting resolution in

December 2009.

2. The resolution was initiated by Kazakhstan with support of large number of

sponsors and cosponsors on 29 August 1991.

3. The Day was first observed in 2010 and since then observed annually to

galvanize the necessity of banning nuclear weapon tests.

International Biodiesel Day / World Bio Fuel Day 2017

The International Biodiesel Day (IBD) is celebrated every year on August 10 in a

bid to create awareness about non fossil-fuels (Green Fuels).

The day also honours the research experiments by Sir Rudolf Diesel who ran an

engine with peanut oil in the year of 1893. His research experiment had predicted

that vegetable oil is going to replace the fossil fuels in the next century to fuel different

mechanical engines.

Benefits of Biodiesel

1. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel.

2. It is biodegradable, sustainable, non-toxic environment friendly fuel.

4. On burning, it emits 60% less carbon dioxide (CO2).

5. The energy produced by biodiesel on combustion is approximately 90% of

that of energy produced by petroleum diesel.


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6. Byproducts–methyl esters and glycerine obtained during production of biodiesel

can be used preparation of soaps and other products.

About Biodiesel

1. The Biodiesel is an alternative fuel which can be used in place of fossil fuels.

2. It is manufactured from vegetable oils, recycled grease, algae, and animal fat.

3. It is produced through a chemical process called transesterification, in which

glycerine is separated from the vegetable oil or fat.

World Bio Fuel Day 2017

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) celebrated the World Biofuel

Day 2017 on 10th August 2017.

Government efforts in this regard:

▪ The government will also be coming out with the BioFuel Policy soon.

▪ The policy will take into consideration various facets like Role of Government,

Return on investment, Minimum Assurance etc.

▪ Both the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Petroleum

and Natural Gas will be working towards more utilisation of biofuels.

About World Bio Fuel Day:

Every year 10th August is observed as World Bio-Fuel Day in a bid to create

awareness about non fossil-fuels (Green Fuels).

On this day in 1893, Sir Rudolph Diesel (inventor of the diesel engine) for the

first time successfully ran mechanical engine with Peanut Oil. His research

experiment had predicted that vegetable oil is going to replace the fossil fuels in the

next century to fuel different mechanical engines. Thus to mark this extraordinary

achievement, World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August.

Methanol a clean, cheaper fuel

The government has asked the think-tank NITI Aayog to study the automobile

standards developed in China to use methanol as an alternative fuel.

Methanol as an alternative fuel:

Methanol is a promising fuel for waterways as it is clean, cheaper than fossil fuels and

a good substitute for heavy fuels. India imports methanol from Saudi Arabia and

Iran at present.

Methanol can be blended with gasoline in low-quantities and used in existing

road vehicles, or it can be used in high-proportion blends such as M85-M100 in

flex-fuel or dedicated methanol-fueled vehicles. Technology is also being

commercialized to use methanol as a diesel substitute.


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• Methanol is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer smog-causing

emissions — such as sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and

particulate matter — and can improve air quality and related human health

issues.

• As a high-octane vehicle fuel, methanol offers excellent acceleration and power.

It also improves vehicle efficiency.

MOUs signed for distribution of Energy Efficient appliances

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the Ministry of Power, have

signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oil Marketing Companies

(OMCs) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) for

distribution of energy efficient appliances under the flagship Unnat Jeevan by

Affordable LEDs and appliances for All (UJALA) scheme.

▪ According to the agreement, Oil Marketing Companies- IOCL, BPCL and HPCL

will take up distribution of LED Bulbs, LED Tubelights and energy efficient Fans

from select retail outlets across the country.

About UJALA scheme:

The main objective of the scheme is to promote efficient lighting, enhance

awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help

preserve environment.

▪ The scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL),

a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.

▪ also contribute to the energy security of India.

▪ The scheme is being monitored in a transparent manner through a national

dashboard (delp.in).

▪ The distribution of LED bulbs will happen through DISCOM offices, DISCOM

bill collection centres, designated EESL kiosks, Weekly haat markets, etc.

Why does the 2022 target for rooftop solar seem ambitious?

The government has set itself a target of 100 GW of solar power by 2022, of which

60 GW is to come from utilities and 40 GW from rooftop solar installations.

While the 60 GW target seems achievable, the country is lagging behind on the target

set for rooftop solar.

What is rooftop solar?

Rooftop solar installations — as opposed to large-scale solar power generation plants

— can be installed on the roofs of buildings. As such, they fall under two brackets:

commercial and residential. This simply has to do with whether the solar panels are

being installed on top of commercial buildings or residential complexes.

What are the benefits?


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Rooftop solar provides companies and residential areas the option of an alternative

source of electricity to that provided by the grid. While the main benefit of this is

to the environment, since it reduces the dependence on fossil-fuel generated

electricity, solar power can also augment the grid supply in places where it is erratic.

Rooftop solar also has the great benefit of being able to provide electricity to

those areas that are not yet connected to the grid — remote locations and areas

where the terrain makes it difficult to set up power stations and lay power lines.

What is the potential for rooftop solar in India?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has pegged the market potential for

rooftop solar at 124 GW. However, only 1,247 MW of capacity had been installed

as of December 31, 2016. That is a little more than 3% of the target for 2022, and

1% of the potential.

Why is it not being adopted widely?

▪ One of the major problems with rooftop solar — and what affects solar energy

generation in general — is the variability in supply.

▪ Storage is one solution. Storage technology for electricity, however, is still

underdeveloped and storage solutions are expensive.

▪ Another major reason why rooftop solar is not becoming popular is that the

current electricity tariff structure renders it an unviable option. Many states

have adopted a net metering policy, which allows disaggregated power producers

to sell excess electricity to the grid.

Development of Radiation Technology

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) – Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)

has been actively engaged in R&D work on the technology of preservation and

hygienization of food and agri-products by radiation

Unique advantages of radiation processing are:

▪ Significant increase in shelf life for many products including fruits,

vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, sea foods and meat products.

▪ Effective elimination of harmful bacteria, viruses and insects/pests.

▪ Cold & clean process (No temperature raise or residue); and treatment done

after final packaging (no repacking necessary).

UNIT-III: SPACE TECHNOLOGY

TRAPPIST-1 older than solar system

TRAPPIST-1 is a system of seven Earth-size planets orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf

star about 40 light-years away.


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This is up to twice as old as our own solar system, which formed some 4.5 billion

years ago.

The star is about the size of Jupiter and much cooler than sun.

IRNSS-1H mission unsuccessful

Indian Space Research Organsiation's (ISRO) attempt to launch India's eighth

navigation satellite IRNSS-1H failed on 31 August 2017. Since heat shield did

not open on PSLV-C39, satellite got trapped, thus making the launch unsuccessful.

1. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C39) carrying the 1425-kg navigation satellite

IRNSS-1H blasted off from the second launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra

Pradesh.

2. Since 2013, Isro has launched seven navigation satellites. The last one was

launched on April 28, 2016. Each satellite has a life span of 10 years.

3. The satellite, which was launched today, supposes to replace IRNSS-1A as its

rubidium atomic clocks have failed. It may be noted, the clocks are important

to provide the accurate positional data.

4. The Rs 1,420 crore Indian satellite navigation system NavIC consists of nine

satellites - seven in orbit and two as substitutes (IRNSS-1H and IRNSS-1I).

5. Like its other IRNSS predecessors, IRNSS-1H was supposed to carry two types

of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. The payload will

transmit navigation service signals to the users and they will be operating in

L5-band and S-band.

6. The ranging payload of IRNSS-1H consists of a C-band transponder, which

facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite. IRNSS-1H also

carries Corner Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.

What is Atomic Clock

Atomic clocks are the most accurate time and frequency standards known, and are

used as primary standards for international time distribution services, to control the

wave frequency of television broadcasts and in global navigation satellite

systems such as GPS.

HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SATELLITE

Why in news?

ISRO plans to launch HySIS (Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite) – a earth observation satellite,

using a critical chip it has developed called “optical imaging detector array”.

What is hyperspectral imaging?

• Hyperspectral images provide much more detailed information about the scene than a

normal color camera, which only acquires three different spectral channels corresponding to

the visual primary colors red, green and blue.


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WATER AS PROPELLANT IN CUBESAT

Engineers at Purdue University in the US have designed and tested a

micropropulsion system that uses liquid water as the propellant for orbital

maneuvering of tiny satellites called CubeSats.

How does the water propulsion system work?

• CubeSat will be integrated with FEMTA thrusters. "Film-Evaporation MEMS Tunable

Array", or FEMTA thruster uses capillaries thinner than human hair through which the

propellant water can flow.

• Small heaters located near the ends of the capillaries turn the water into vapor, which, on

escape from these tiny tubes, provides the thrust. Because the capillaries are only about 10

micrometers in diameter, the surface tension of the fluid keeps it from flowing out, even in

the vacuum of space.

• The minuscule capillaries act like valves that can be turned on and off by activating

the heaters

Joint Project between NASA and ISRO

ISRO and NASA are working towards realisation of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture

Radar (NISAR) mission by 2021.

ISRO and NASA have a framework agreement for cooperation in the exploration

and use of outer space for peaceful purposes signed in 2008. Under this

framework agreement, ISRO and NASA have executed an implementing

arrangement for cooperation in NISAR mission, which is valid until 2034 and

provides scope for joint activities on science & applications of NISAR data after the

launch.

About NISAR:

The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is a joint project between

NASA and ISRO to co-develop and launch a dual frequency synthetic aperture radar

satellite.

▪ The satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequency and it is

planned to be used for remote sensing to observe and understand natural

processes of the Earth.

▪ NISAR would provide information about a place more frequently than older

satellites orbiting the Earth at present.

▪ Among the objectives of NISAR are estimation of soil moisture, agriculture and

forest biomass.

▪ It is also designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet’s

most complex processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet


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collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and

landslides.

China uses a quantum satellite to transmit potentially

unhackable data China has demonstrated a world first by sending data over long distances using

satellites which are potentially unhackable, laying the basis for next generation

encryption based on so-called quantum cryptography.

▪ Last year, China launched a quantum satellite into space. Using this satellite,

Chinese researchers at the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS)

project, were now able to transmit secret messages from space to Earth at a

further distance than ever before.

What you need to know about this technology?

The technology is called quantum key distribution (QKD). QKD works by using

photons — the particles which transmit light — to transfer data.

QKD allows two distant users, who do not share a long secret key initially, to

produce a common, random string of secret bits, called a secret key. Using the one-

time pad encryption this key is proven to be secure to encrypt and decrypt a

message, which can then be transmitted over a standard communication

channel.

Significance of this technology:

▪ The encryption is “unbreakable” and that’s mainly because of the way data is

carried via the photon. A photon cannot be perfectly copied and any attempt to

measure it will disturb it. This means that a person trying to intercept the data will

leave a trace.

▪ Any eavesdropper on the quantum channel attempting to gain information of the

key will inevitably introduce disturbance to the system, and can be detected by the

communicating users.

▪ The implications could be huge for cybersecurity, making businesses safer,

but also making it more difficult for governments to hack into

communication.

UNIT-IV: COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Committee constituted to for data protection

The Union Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) has

constituted an expert Committee. The ten-member committee will be headed by

Supreme Court Judge (retired) Justice B N Srikrishna and comprise of members

from government, academia and Industry. The committee will study and identify key


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data protection issues and recommend methods for addressing them. It will also

suggest a draft Data Protection Bill.

What is Big Data?

• Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data – both structured and

unstructured beyond the ability of commonly used software tools to capture, curate,

manage, and process data within a tolerable elapsed time.

Big Data Management Policy, 2016

• It was launched by CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General). It paved the wave for Data

Analytics Centre (first of its kind in the country) National Data Sharing and Accessibility

Policy – 2012

• India joined the Open Government Data Movement through this policy. Consequently, a

website was launched by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to share the data of various

ministries with citizens.

e-RaKAM portal launched

The Union Government has launched e-Rashtriya Kisan Agri Mandi (e-RaKAM)

portal to provide a platform for farmers to sell agricultural produce. e-RaKAM is a

first of its kind initiative that leverages technology to connect farmers from the

smallest villages to the biggest markets of the world through internet

What

1. e-RaKAM is a digital initiative that aims to bring together the farmers, PSUs,

civil supplies and buyers on a single platform to ease the selling and buying

process of agricultural products.

2. Under this initiative, e-RaKAM centres are being developed throughout the

country in a phased manner to facilitate farmers for online sale of their

produce.

3. The farmers will be paid through e-Payment directly into their bank accounts

under the e-RaKAM initiative.

India’s first ‘Internet of Things’ policy: One step closer to Smart and

Digital India

Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has drafted India’s

first ‘Internet of Things Policy’. This policy has been developed with an aim to make the

IoT industry in India to reach the mark of USD 15 billion by 2020 by increasing the

number of connected devices in Indian from the current 200 million to 2.7 billion by

2020.

https://www.iotindiamag.com/2016/07/indias-first-internet-things-policy-one-step-closer-smart-digital-india/

https://www.iotindiamag.com/2016/07/indias-first-internet-things-policy-one-step-closer-smart-digital-india/

http://deity.gov.in/sites/upload_files/dit/files/Revised-Draft-IoT-Policy_0.pdf


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India’s First IoT policy

Two major efforts taken by the Government of India which will lead to a rapid growth of IoT

industry are Smart Cities project and Digital India Program. These two major initiates by

the GOI will definitely boost the IoT industry and pave the way forward for it.

What the policy has in-store for the IoT industry

• Hence as part of this policy, GOI will fund research and development for specific

applications in IoT. Also DeitY plans to initiate an innovative project named

“International IoT Research Collaboration scheme (IIRC)” to get investments from

private sector for R&D.

• In order to support the growth and boost investment in IoT, government will

promote Venture funds, which provide support to organizations in IoT related

domains like memory, processor, sensors, low power devices and solar electronics.

• This policy will be supporting high quality manufacturing of IoT devices in India

without affecting the environment. 100% duty benefit will be available on raw

materials imported for manufacturing IoT devices, thereby helping organization to

maintain their costings.

• Development of Human resource is important for any industry to be successful and

with this objective, DeitY will be responsible for creating an IoT Education and

Awareness program with the aim to develop skill sets required for IoT at various

levels to allow smooth functioning of the industry.

India’s first IoT platform

• Home-grown technology and Internet of Things (IoT) company Smartron unveiled

‘tronX’ – an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered IoT platform that would help make

users’ daily life easier and smarter. Terming it as one of the first global technologies

being developed in India, the company said ‘tronX’ is an intelligent ecosystem that

helps connect a range of devices.

• “Smartron has been working for more than two years on creating a new connected

ecosystem fuelled by AI-powered ‘IoT’ and ‘tronX’ is at the core of this brave new

world”

• To begin with, Smartron announced four verticals that are in the works at its RD

facility and already have built in capabilities that integrate in our lives: ‘tronX

Personal’, ‘tronX Health’, ‘tronX Home’ and ‘tronX Infra’.

• ‘tronX Personal’ offers personalised entertainment, travel, shopping, financial,

health, event, communication and collaboration experiences across devices and

contexts.

• With ‘tronX Health’, the system monitors and manages medical history, insurance

data and offers intuitive and preventive solutions from a range of partners who are

already on board.

http://analyticsindiamag.com/10177-2/


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• ‘tronX Home’ helps control locking mechanisms, security updates, home appliances,

services like water, electricity and payment modules for these services, all available

through a Voice Activated Assistant.

• ‘tronX Infra’ is Smartron’s B2B vertical, offering an AI-assisted system that covers a

range of monitoring and management services, thus increasing productivity and

security for enterprises. Smartron was founded with a vision to build India’s first true

global OEM brand to revolutionise the country’s ecosystem and create experiences

that are on par with global innovations.

ICT Figures 2017

India and China are home to 39 per cent of the 830 million young people

worldwide who use the Internet, according to a UN report. The data released by the

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised

agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), shows that of

the 830 million young people online worldwide, 320 million, or 39%, are in China and

India.

1. The ITU’s ICT Facts and Figures 2017 also shows a significant increase in

broadband access and subscriptions with China leading the way. The ICT data

shows that youths (15-24 years old) are at the forefront of Internet adoption.

2. In Least Developed Countries (LDCs), up to 35% of individuals using the Internet

is aged 15-24, compared with 13% in developed countries and 23% globally.

4. Digital connectivity plays a critical role in bettering lives, as it opens the door

to unprecedented knowledge, employment and financial opportunities for billions of

people worldwide.

5. Most of the increase in high-speed fixed broadband subscriptions in

developing countries can be attributed to China, which accounts for 80% of all fixed

broadband subscriptions at 10 Mbit/s or above in the developing world.

7. In 2017, the global Internet penetration rate for men stands at 50.9%

compared to 44.9% for women.

Free new-age email service

Rajasthan is the first state in the country to offer free new-age email service for

communication and e-vault for storage of documents. At the launch of Rajasthan

Digifest, 2017 Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said it's a unique initiative to provide

free e-mail and e-vault facility to every citizen of the state.

PROJECT BRAINWAVE

• Microsoft has launched “Project Brainwave” deep learning acceleration

platform for real-time artificial intelligence (AI).


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• The 'Project Brainwave' uses the massive field-programmable gate array (FPGA)

infrastructure.

NHAI LAUNCHES MOBILE APP MYFASTAG AND FASTAG

PARTNER

Recently National Highways Authority of India launched two mobile apps MyFASTag

and FASTag Partner to facilitate Electronic Toll Collection.

• NHAI launched the Electronic Toll Collection program to reduce human

interventions and increase the seamless passage of vehicles on the highway.

However, the biggest hurdle in the implementation of the program was the

cumbersome method of purchase of FASTags and their recharge thereon.

• FASTag is a device which uses RFID technology for making a prepaid

payment directly from the prepaid account.

UNIT-V: DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY

ICGS Shaurya commissioned

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaurya was commission in Vasco, Goa. It is an

offshore patrol vessel designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL). It

will be based at Chennai under administrative and operational control of

Commander Coast Guard Region (East).

1. It is 105-metre long and capable of cruising at a speed of 23 knots. It has a range

of 6000 nautical miles.

2. The ship has capacity to carry twin engine light helicopter and five high speed

boats including quick response interceptor boats for quick boarding operations,

search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.

3. It is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to combat oil spill

contamination.

India’s first private missile production facility

India’s first private sector missile sub-systems manufacturing facility Kalyani Rafael

Advanced Systems (KRAS) plant was inaugurated in Hyderabad, capital of

Telangana. It is joint ventures between India’s Kalyani Group and Israel’s Rafael

Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. It has been established line with the ‘Make in

India’ initiative and Government’s policy to encourage private sector participation in

defence production.

It has invested in designing, developing and manufacturing of weapon systems

including Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) systems and remote weapon

systems.


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It will develop a wide range of advanced capabilities that include command control

and guidance, remote weapon systems, electro-optics, precision guided munitions

and system engineering for system integration.

It will be supplying defence equipment to the Indian Army and also export to South

East Asian countries

Navika Sagar Parikrama

Navika Sagar Parikrama is a project wherein a team of women officers of the

Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini.

This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women

crew.

The project was commenced on Sep 17, 2017. INSV Tarini is the sister vessel of

INS Mhadei. The project is considered essential towards promoting Ocean Sailing

activities in the Navy while depicting Government of India’s thrust for ‘Nari Shakti’.

Tarini was inducted into the Indian Navy on 18 Feb 17. The expedition has been aptly

titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, aimed at promoting women empowerment in the

country and ocean sailing by the Indian Navy. The expedition would inspire the youth

of our nation to develop an understanding of the sea and instill a spirit of adventure

and camaraderie.

Indra tri-services exercise First time, India and Russia are going to conduct Indra tri-services

exercise,involving their armies, navies and the air forces in October 2017 to

further ramp up military ties. It will be for the first time India will participate in a tri-

services exercise with a foreign country with such large scale participation by

Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indra exercise 2017 was held in Russia including in

mountainous Vladivostok region.

UNIT-VI: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ROBOTICS

Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a task

force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for India’s Economic Transformation.

She said driven by the power of big data, high computing capacity, artificial

intelligence and analytics, Industry 4.0 aims to digitise the manufacturing

sector. Smt. Sitharaman said the panel will comprise of experts, academics,

researchers and industry leaders and will explore possibilities to leverage AI for

development across various fields. The task force will submit concrete and

implementable recommendations for government, industry and research institutions.

The task force chaired by Dr. V. Kamakoti, IIT Madras – Chairperson.


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Regular members from the organizations: NITI Aayog, Ministry of Electronics and

Information Technology, Department of Science & Technology, UIDAI and

DRDO

2. NANOMATERIALS: COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND PREVENT

POLLUTION

Globally scientists are developing nanomaterial which can effectively help to

reduce the Carbon Dioxide in the air and trigger bioremediation to get rid of

toxic waste such as dyes, oil spill etc.

• Environment nanotechnology involves use of nanoscale material for addressing

environmental concerns such as bioremediation, water purification, product

recycling and recovery, solid waste management.

• These nanomaterials have unique properties such as chemical reactivity,

electronic properties and antimicrobial activity. Therefore they hold potential to

address issues such as combating Climate Change and reduction of pollution.

Areas where Environment nanotechnology can be used

1. Combating Carbon Emission

• The researchers have developed nanoCO2 harvester, which can suck CO2 from

the atmosphere and convert it into methanol, which can further be used as

vehicular fuel.

• The Nano CO2 Harvester can capture more CO2 than usual and is more efficient

fuel converter.

2. Cleaning Water

• The magnetically charged nanoparticles have been proved potent in researches

to have effectively carried on adsorption process to remove heavy metals and

dyes from the water bodies and they do not readily degrade.

• They can also be used to clean the underground water contaminated with toxic

materials such as arsenic, lead, chromium and mercury. They can also be used to

clean up oil spills by using nanosponges

3. Accelerating Biodegradation (Solid Waste Management)

• The method of converting the organic waste into organic manures and

fertilizers can also be quickened through use of Nanoparticles.

• Thus they can reduce the time consumed in solid waste management and

increases the production of biogas. According to researchers, Iron oxide particles

which are non-toxic can be used for the same.


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World’s smallest surgical robot created Scientists in the UK have developed the worlds smallest surgical robot with low-cost

technology used in mobile phones and space industries. The robot is called

Versius. The robot is controlled by a surgeon at a console guided by a 3D screen in

the operating theatre.

Functions performed by the robot:

It mimics the human arm and can be used to carry out a wide range of procedures in

which a series of small incisions are made to circumvent the need for traditional

open surgery. These include hernia repairs, colorectal operations, as well as

prostate, ear, nose and throat surgery.

UNIT-VIII: BIOTECHNOLOGY

1. India’s first calf born to surrogate cow

India’s first calf delivered by a surrogate or recipient cow through In Vitro

Fertilisation (IVF) technology carried out in a mobile laboratory was born in

Indapur, Pune (Maharashtra). It has been named as “Vijay”. This is for first

time IVF procedure was successfully implemented at farm level with the help of

mobile laboratory. Earlier similar experiment was carried out by the National Dairy

Research Institute (NDRI) at the lab- level.

DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in association with the

Department of Biotechnology recently released the revised Draft Guidelines for

Stem Cell Research, 2017 for comments. The draft guidelines seek to ensure that all

research with human stem cells is conducted in an ethical and scientifically

responsible manner.

• The draft guidelines are applicable to various stakeholders, including individual

researchers, sponsors, and oversight/regulatory committees associated with both

basic and clinical research involving human stem cells. The guidelines will not apply

to research concerning non-human stem cells.

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) associated with the outcome of research on stem

cells may have commercial value. The option of sharing such IPRs should be

indicated in the informed consent form which must be procured before the

commencement of the research.

• A National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy currently

monitors and oversees research activities at the national level. The Institutional

Committee for Stem Cell Research approves and monitors stem cell research (both

basic and clinical research) at the institutional level. These committees will ensure

that review, approval and monitoring process of all research projects related to stem


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cells is carried out in compliance with the national guidelines.

UNIT-IX: HEALTH AND DISEASES

World’s first plant-based zika vaccine

Scientists from US have developed the world’s first plant-based Zika vaccine that

may be more effective, safer and cheaper than other vaccines against the

mosquito-borne Zika virus. It was developed using proteins derived from Tobacco

plant. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available to combat

Zika

About Zika virus

1. Zika virus is vector borne disease transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the

same mosquito that transmits dengue, West Nile fever, Yellow fever.

2. The virus has been named after Zika forest in Uganda where it was first isolated in 1947.

3. The worldwide Zika threat first emerged in 2015, infecting millions in South America.

4. The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the disease as epidemic and global

health emergency but later revoked it after the outbreak was brought under control.

Second phase of measles-rubella vaccination drive launched in eight states,

UTs

Aiming to eliminate measles and curb instances of rubella by 2020, the Centre

has rolled out the second phase of its measles-rubella (MR) vaccination

campaign in the country. Nearly 3.4 crore children across eight states and union

territories — Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala,

Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu — will be

covered in this stage.

Background:

Under the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, all children in the age group

of 9 months to less than 15 years will be vaccinated in a phased manner across

the nation.

More than 3.3 crore children were vaccinated, reaching out to 97% of the intended

age group. The drive was carried out at schools, community centres and medical

institutes, covering children between the ages of nine months and 15 years.

National Deworming initiative Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched its 2nd round of National

Deworming Day (NDD) 2017 in 33 States/UTs targeting. A total of 7.8 crore children

are targeted in private schools and 3.5 crore out of school children will be covered in

this program through Anganwadi workers and ASHAs.

What you need to know about National Deworming Day?

The NDD program has been launched in 2015 as WHO estimates that 220 million

children below 14 years of age are at risk of STH infections in India. National


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Deworming Day is organised twice in a year covering all the children from 1-19

years of age except the States of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh where deworming

is carried out once in a year. The Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) prevalence in

these two States is less than 20%.

▪ The deworming tablet called ‘Albendazole’ is a safe and efficacious drug for

controlling worm infestation.

▪ During NDD, besides the deworming tablet, various health promotion

activities related to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are also being

organised in schools and anganwadis. This program is being implemented in

close collaboration with Ministry of Human Resource & Development and Ministry

of Women & Child Development.

▪ The first NDD round of 2017 implemented in February covered 26 crore children

with a coverage of 89%.

UNIT-X: MISCELLANEOUS

5 chemicals banned in firecrackers

Ahead of the festive seasons of Dussehra and Deepavali, the Supreme Court has

prohibited the use of five chemicals, labelled as toxic by the Central Pollution

Control Board (CPCB), in the manufacture of firecrackers.

▪ The banned chemicals include antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in

any form whatsoever.

Background:

The order came after the court heard the submissions from officials of the CPCB and

Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation’s (PESO) Firework Research and

Development Centre at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.

About PESO:

Petroleum And Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) was formed to control and

administer the usage of explosives, petrol stations in India. The agency issues

licenses for Operation of Petrol Stations, Licenses to operate Petroleum Product

Transportation vehicles, Licenses for Refineries, Petrochemical Complexes, etc. The

Department is headed by Chief Controller of Explosives and is headquartered at

Nagpur in the State of Maharashtra in India. It functions under DIPP.

Cloud-seeding project of Karnataka takes off at Jakkur Airfield

Karnataka has launched the much-touted cloud seeding project- named

Varshadhare.

Cloud-seeding is a technique employed to increase precipitation in clouds. Experts

say precipitation in clouds has been affected recently due to increase in particulate

matter in the atmosphere, among other factors.


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▪ Cloud-seeding aims at catalysing the process of precipitation, so that rainfall could

be increased by 15-20% in drought-affected areas of the State

▪ Among the problems for successful precipitation in rain-bearing clouds are that

water droplets formed in the clouds are much smaller. Droplets formed in the

clouds are blown away in the wind even before they have the time to reach earth.

Moreover, small droplets do not have the energy to collide and form large droplets

that can come down as rain.

▪ By introducing impurities such as Silver Iodide, Potassium Chloride and

others, the objective is to ensure that the size of the droplets is large enough

to fall down as rain.

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