Tag: science and technology

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Cabinet Approves Scheme to Boost Biotech Manufacturing

Syllabus: Science and Technology Source: Th Context: The Union Cabinet approved the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) to drive a biotech manufacturing revolution, akin to the IT sector’s transformation in the 1990s.   Aim:  The BioE3 Policy aims to revolutionize biotechnology in India by boosting sustainable bio-manufacturing across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, …

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India’s Space Programme: Key Updates Since Chandrayaan-3

Syllabus: Science and Technology: Space Source: TH   Key Achievements Post-Chandrayaan-3:   Bottlenecks in the Indian space sector: Access to Capital: Limited funding for downstream companies, as upstream activities receive major investments. Human Resource Constraints: A need for technically inclined marketing personnel, but they tend to prefer established businesses with market-level salaries. Monopolization: High capital requirements …

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FASTags

Source: LM  Context: New rules for FASTags, effective from August 1, mandate that FASTags older than five years must be replaced, and KYC updates are required every three years. The rules aim to improve toll payment processes and reduce congestion. Key updates include linking vehicle details (registration and chassis numbers) with FASTags, verifying databases, and …

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GROWTH-India telescope

Source: HT Context: India’s first fully robotic telescope, the GROWTH-India telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh, captured a building-sized asteroid as it approached Earth. The telescope, part of a joint venture by IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, tracked the asteroid’s rapid movement, causing background stars to appear as streaks. This …

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Expanding the Space Economy

Syllabus: Science and Technology Source: PIB Context: Union Budget 2024-25 proposes to set up ₹1000 crore venture capital fund for the space economy   What are venture capital funds?  A venture capital fund is a type of investment fund that pools money from various investors to invest in early-stage, high-potential start-ups and small businesses. These …

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Challenges in implementing National Quantum Mission

Syllabus: Science and Technology: Quantum computing Source: IE Context: A new report, surveying the existing capabilities of India in the field of Quantum technology, has found that countries like China and the United States have a huge head start over India.   What is Quantum Computing? Quantum computing is a new way of computing that uses …

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Source: TH Context: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first human electroencephalogram (EEG), pioneered by German physiologist Hans Berger.   What is EEG? EEG stands for electroencephalography, combining “Electro” for electricity, “encephalo” for the brain, and “graphy” for representation. It is an instrument that measures brain electrical activity generated by neurons, essential in …

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MV Sea Change

Context: The MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells, was launched in San Francisco. It can travel 300 nautical miles and operate for 16 hours before refuelling.   What are hydrogen fuel cells?  Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, …

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GM Crops: Balancing Food Security and Environmental Impact

Syllabus: Science and Technology Source: DW Context: Genetically modified (GM) crops are touted as a solution for global food security, especially in the face of climate change. The current “gene revolution” uses genetic editing to improve crop resilience, aiming to support a growing population and combat climate-induced agricultural challenges.   What is a GM Crop? …

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Freshwater Diatom

 Source: DST  Context: Researchers from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have discovered a new genus of freshwater diatom in the rivers of the Eastern and Western Ghats.   What are Diatoms? Diatoms are a type of microscopic algae belonging to the phylum Bacillariophyta. They are characterized by their intricate silica cell walls, which form …

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AI in drug development

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH   Context: AI has significantly enhanced the efficiency and speed of drug development, a traditionally costly and time-consuming process.   AI Tools in Drug Development: AlphaFold 3 and RoseTTAFold All-Atom: Developers: AlphaFold is developed by DeepMind, a Google company, and RoseTTAFold by the University of Washington. Functionality: These …

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Total solar eclipse  

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: IE  Context: A total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This type of solar eclipse is a rare event for any particular spot. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, once a place on Earth witnesses a total solar eclipse, it will be about …

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Usage of Embedded SIM for Machine-to-Machine Communications

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: PIB  Context: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on the ‘Usage of Embedded SIM for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communications’ following a request from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The recommendations aim to streamline the regulatory framework for M2M embedded SIM (eSIM) in India, especially for applications …

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AI Tool Predicts Neem Fruit Metabolite Content

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH    Context: Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Biotechnology have developed an Artificial Intelligence-based tool to predict the metabolite content in neem fruits, specifically azadirachtin, which is used as a biopesticide. The AI model analyses images of neem leaves and fruits to classify them as having either …

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