Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Scientists have discovered a new fungus species named Trichoglossum syamviswanathii in Kerala. This species, belonging to the family Geoglossaceae, was found in the Bambusetum of the KFRI Field Research Centre in Thrissur. It’s named after Syam Viswanath, a former director of KFRI. The discovery highlights the rich …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite was successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit. PACE aims to study how climate change impacts ocean phytoplankton blooms, which are crucial for the marine food web. Additionally, it will investigate …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru has successfully conducted the first test of a solar-powered “pseudo satellite” called HAPS (High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite), a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). HAPS can fly at altitudes of 18-20 km, remain airborne for months or even years, and …
Continue reading “The high-altitude pseudo satellite vehicle (HAPS)”
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Researchers at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) have developed a new image-correction technique to enhance the study of cold atoms, particularly those at absolute zero temperatures. This technique eliminates 50% of unwanted interference fringes in images, crucial for understanding the quantum mechanics properties of cold atoms. Traditional …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Scientists at CERN are advancing plans for a multibillion-euro project to construct a larger and more potent particle collider called the Future Circular Collider. Estimated to cost around 16 billion euros, the collider aims to commence operations by 2040
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Hindustan Times Context: Kerala is preparing to introduce ‘infexnTM’, India’s first genomics-based test for diagnosing infectious diseases, through a collaboration between IIT-Bombay-based HaystackAnalytics and NIMS Medicity. ‘InfexnTM’ is designed to detect bacterial and fungal infections, as well as antimicrobial resistance genes, and can be performed within hospital settings. This …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Phys.Org Context: Researchers have identified a new species of nematode, called Steinernema adamsi, that could be used to control crop pests in warm, humid regions. These nematodes belong to the Steinernema family, known for their use in agriculture to combat insect parasites without pesticides. The nematodes are efficient insect …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Business Line Context: The Indian government has launched the SARATHI portal to assist insurance companies in reaching out to farmers and rural populations with tailored insurance products, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The SARATHI portal, or Sandbox for Agriculture, Rural Security, Technology, and Insurance, aims to …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The Indian Cabinet has approved the “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY),” a central sector sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada aimed at formalizing the fisheries sector and supporting micro and small enterprises within it. Key Highlights of the scheme:
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Context: TH Context: Some experts are proposing the creation of a new hurricane category, Category 6, to account for increasingly intense tropical storms driven by climate change. Currently, the Saffir-Simpson scale, with five categories, tops out at Category 5, but storms with winds exceeding 192 mph would qualify for the …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, will be awarded to former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Choudhary Charan Singh, along with Green Revolution pioneer M.S. Swaminathan, making this year’s list the longest-ever announced in a single year. The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award, …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TOI Context: The Ministry of Tourism has included the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora Caves in its Swadesh Darshan Scheme II, aimed at developing sustainable tourism destinations in India
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Governance Source: TH Context: A parliamentary committee underscores the importance of launching the next phase of the Smart Cities Mission, focusing on tier-2 cities near state capitals. About SCM: The SCM (Smart Cities mission) was launched in 2015, with the expressed objective of promoting cities that provide core infrastructure …
Continue reading “Evaluation of Smart Cities Mission: Parliamentary Committee”
GS2/GS3 Paper Syllabus: Governance/ Statutory and non-statutory bodies Source: TOI Context: The Supreme Court has criticized the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for frequently issuing ex parte orders without hearing affected parties and imposing substantial damages amounting to crores of rupees. What are Ex-Parte orders? They are those that can be granted without waiting …
Continue reading “National Green Tribunal (NGT) and its functioning”
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Indian Constitution Source: Sansad Context: Department-related Parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice has reviewed legal aid under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. What is the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act of 1987? It aims to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker …
