UDAAN 500+ Science & Technology Current Affairs Yearly Magazine

UDAAN 500
PLUS
FOR PRELIMS 2022
CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 2021 to January 2022
covering
+
SCIENCE 500
& TE CH days
ONE
STOP
SOLUTION

+91-7007-931-912

Courses offered by OnlyIAS
Prelims Mains
Test series Video Lectures Series Test series Video Lectures Series Optional
DPP CPSB DMP CSM PSIR

PRAYAS 60 Days Rigorous
Current Aﬀairs Test Tejas _ Crash Course plan PSIR QUEST Sociology
Series (CATS) PSIR Optional
PRAGYAAN UPSC CSAT Expert Mains- Full Length Geography
(Mock Test Free) Program(UCEP)
Hindi Litrature
Prelims+Mains Interview
Test series Video Lectures Series Online Offline
IDMP PRAARMBH Online Mocks Offline Mocks

(Foundation Batch)
“Mai OnlyIAS platform ko thank “

IR k liye mje OnlyIAS k IR k “
The Hindu aur Indian Express
you bolna chahti huin. Inka jo notes se kaafi help mili. Jo ek bada challenge ata hai tou
editorial Discussion ka video unka PSIR ka notes hai, that usk liye sabse badhya hai
daily ata hai, usne bhut help was wonderfully helpful for apna OnlyIAS ka channel,
kiya mera current affair cover me. Bahut sara section maine editorial discussion hota hai
krne k liye........Iss platform IR ka OnlyIAS k notes se cover usme bus terminology english
ka aap use karye yadi apko kiya. “ me use hoti hai baaki sab jo
editorial samjhne me problem sumit sir hai pura hindi me he
aati hai aur apki understand- bolte hai tou wo araam se aap “
ing comprehensive ho jayegi. “ easily samjh sakte hai.
Jagarati Awasthi Satyam Gandhi Gaurav Budania

UPSC CSE 2020 UPSC CSE 2020 UPSC CSE 2020
AIR-02 AIR-10 AIR-13
+91-7007-931-912

OnlyIAS UDAAN PLUS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
PREFACE
Dear aspirants, OnlyIAS team is ecstatic to present this book to you, which is certainly
going to be your best companion in your preparation.
This book has been designed by considering the issues and challenges students face
during Prelims preparation. While preparing this book, our team was aiming to solve as
much problems as possible. For example, students are many a times so confused about
what to study and what not in current affairs section, which news is relevant and which
news is to be ignored, how much in depth we should go for any topic, what kind of
questions UPSC asks from particular topic, how to link static with current etc.
This book is an honest attempt to solve these problems and to help students perform
better in exam, save time in preparation and get rid of various confusions which they
basically come across.
Right from the number of pages, to what topic to be covered, our team has done research
on every aspect to make it the finest version of itself. Covering everything comes with a
limitation of retention power, relevancy, possibility of revision, too many pages which
makes it beyond bulky and ultimately lot of time consumption of students for not so
important things adding to that a kind of distracted paths.
This book is an attempt to make your preparation to the point, relevant, based on UPSC
ongoing trend and pattern, revision friendly, and most updated.
OnlyIAS team wish you all the best for your preparation with all humility and
humbleness and we are hopeful that this book will do wonders for you. Keep reading.
Sumit Rewri and team
Note: We are also publishing UDAAN 2.0 series, which will cover your static along with
contemporary developments. You can expect best of the results if you cover that quick and
comprehensive revision series named UDAAN 2.0
Note: Although our team has tried best, yet if any important issue we found which needs updating we
will do the same and current issues of last few months will be updated and a supplementary of few
issues will be compiled and will be released soon.
To join courses, Click here 1 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

OnlyIAS UDAAN PLUS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DISCRETE AURORAS ON MARS ............................................ 19

1. GENERAL SCIENCE ............................................................. 4
CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL (CST) TESTING
EINSTEINIUM .................................................................................4 FACILITY ........................................................................................ 19
HARLEQUIN ICHTHYOSIS .........................................................4 ENCELADUS .................................................................................. 19
SILVER ANTIMONY TELLURIDE .............................................4 NAUKA ............................................................................................ 20
PASTUERELLA MULTOCEDA ...................................................4 JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE ....................................... 20
ZEOLITES ..........................................................................................4 HUBBLE TELESCOPE ................................................................ 20
NEAR-SURFACE SHEAR LAYER ..............................................5 GEO-IMAGING SATELLITE - EOS-03 .................................. 20
FEW-ELECTRON BUBBLES .......................................................5 BERESHEET 2 .............................................................................. 20
GAMMA IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGY.................................5 SUBORBITAL FLIGHT ............................................................... 20
BARIUM .............................................................................................5 CST-100 STARLINER ................................................................ 21
HELIUM CRISIS FOR INDIA .......................................................6 INSPIRATION4 ............................................................................ 21
2D-ELECTRON GAS (2DEG) ......................................................6 HYCEAN WORLDS ...................................................................... 21
NANOBODIES ..................................................................................6 NASA’S VIPER MISSION ........................................................... 21
POSITRON EXCESS PHENOMENON ......................................6 CHANG’E-5 PROBE..................................................................... 21
DETECTION OF DARK ENERGY ............................................ 22
2. SPACE ..................................................................................... 7
LANDSAT 9 .................................................................................... 22
MUKUNDPURA METEORITE ....................................................7 SC120-LOX .................................................................................... 22
RECOILING BLACK HOLE ...........................................................7 LEONIDS METEOR SHOWER ................................................. 22
HELIOPHYSICS MISSIONS .........................................................7 FASTEST SPINNING WHITE DWARF ................................. 23
ACTIVE MATTER SYSTEMS .......................................................8 GSAT-7 SATELLITES ................................................................. 23
NGC 2808 ..........................................................................................8 NASA’S DART MISSION ............................................................ 23
AXIOM MISSION 1 (AX 1) ...........................................................8 DHAWAN-1 ................................................................................... 24
STARDUST 1.0.................................................................................8 MAGNETAR ................................................................................... 24
NEUTRINOS AND STAR DEATH ..............................................9 NEA SCOUT ................................................................................... 24
WOLF–RAYET (WR) STARS ......................................................9 BAIKAL-GVD ................................................................................. 24
SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY ..................................................9 CRITICAL NOISE TREATMENT ALGORITHM ................. 24
TIANWEN-1: CHINA'S MARS MISSION ............................. 10 OSCAR 1 (ORBITING SATELLITES CARRYING
HOPE: UAE MARS MISSION .................................................... 10 AMATEUR RADIO) ..................................................................... 25
GEO-SPATIAL DATA .................................................................. 10 VIKAS ROCKET ENGINE .......................................................... 25
ASTEROID APOPHIS .................................................................. 11 CHEMICALLY PECULIAR STARS .......................................... 25
NASA’S INSIGHT LANDER....................................................... 11
3. TECHNOLOGY.................................................................... 26
AMAZONIA-1 AND 18 SATELLITES .................................... 11
ARKTIKA-M SATELLITE .......................................................... 12 ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS ........................................... 26
SOLID FUEL DUCTED RAMJET TECHNOLOGY ............... 12 COLLABCAD SOFTWARE ........................................................ 26
MOST DISTANT QUASAR P172+18 .................................... 12 MUON G–2 VS STANDARD MODEL ..................................... 26
SPACE HURRICANES................................................................. 13 LARGE HADRON COLLIDER BEAUTY (LHCB)
ASTEROID 2001 FO32 .............................................................. 13 EXPERIMENT ............................................................................... 26
NISAR............................................................................................... 13 FAST RADIO BURSTS ................................................................ 26
HUMANS IN SPACE POLICY FOR INDIA - 2021 .............. 14 ULTRAVIOLET-C TECHNOLOGY .......................................... 27
NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 (NLS1) GALAXY .................. 14 SOFT ROBOTS OR ACTUATORS ............................................ 27
ADITYA-L1 SUPPORT CENTRE ............................................. 14 LIFI NETWORK ............................................................................ 27
NASA'S INGENUITY MARS HELICOPTER ......................... 14 SMALLEST MAN-MADE FLYING STRUCTURE ............... 27
RESPOND PROGRAMME ......................................................... 15 QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION ........................................... 28
ZHURONG ROVER ...................................................................... 15 SMART SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT
BLACK HOLE’S MAGNETIC FIELD ....................................... 15 LIMITER ......................................................................................... 28
MERGER OF THREE BLACK HOLE....................................... 16 EXPERIMENTAL ADVANCED SUPERCONDUCTING
NEO-01............................................................................................ 16 TOKAMAK (EAST) ...................................................................... 28
TIANHE MODULE ....................................................................... 16 NEW DOPPLER RADARS IN MAHARASHTRA: IMD ..... 28
PINK MOON 2021 ....................................................................... 17 ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING ............................................... 28
CREW-2 MISSION ....................................................................... 17 QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT ............................................... 29
LATEST FINDINGS ABOUT VENUS ..................................... 17 AQUAMATION ............................................................................. 29
OSIRIS-REX MISSION ................................................................ 17 DIGITAL EMBOSSING TECHNOLOGY ................................ 30
YAOGAN SATELLITES .............................................................. 17 UV-C DISINFECTION TECHNOLOGY .................................. 30
LUNAR ECLIPSE .......................................................................... 17 SOLID-STATE BATTERIES ...................................................... 30
THE UNICORN.............................................................................. 18 ALGAN/GAN HIGH ELECTRON MOBILITY
DAVINCI PLUS AND VERITAS ............................................... 18 TRANSISTORS .............................................................................. 31
CIBER-2: COUNTING OF STARS............................................ 18
4. COMMUNICATION ........................................................... 31
ENVISION MISSION ................................................................... 18
PASIPHAE SURVEY .................................................................... 18 NATIONAL INTERNET EXCHANGE OF INDIA ................ 31
NEW SHEPHARD ROCKET SYSTEM ................................... 19 5G TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................... 31
SHENZHOU-12............................................................................. 19 ALTIMETER .................................................................................. 31
6G ...................................................................................................... 32 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE (2-DG) ............................................... 45

GIGAMESH ..................................................................................... 32 OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS .................................................. 46
QSIM TOOLKIT ............................................................................ 32 TRACHOMA ................................................................................... 46
INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 (IPV6) ...................... 32 CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER AND SHEEP POX DISEASE
WEB 3.0 .......................................................................................... 32 VACCINE ......................................................................................... 46
GITHUB ........................................................................................... 33 WHITE FUNGUS .......................................................................... 47
KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE ............................................... 47
5. POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ..................................... 34
YELLOW FUNGUS ....................................................................... 48
ATAL INNOVATION MISSION - PRIME .............................. 34 PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY MULTISYSTEM
ATL SPACE CHALLENGE 2021 .............................................. 34 SYNDROME (PIMS-TS) ............................................................. 48
ATAL TINKERING LABS ........................................................... 34 INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.................................... 48
VIGYAN JYOTI PROGRAMME ................................................. 34 SICKLE CELL DISEASE .............................................................. 48
NATIONAL AI PORTAL (INDIAAI) ....................................... 34 DELTA PLUS VARIANT............................................................. 49
SUTRA MODEL ............................................................................. 35 ADUCANUMAB ............................................................................ 49
DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT ........................ 35 ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE ................................................................ 49
UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT .................................................... 35 LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS ......................................................... 50
FUND FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME ............................................. 50
(FIRE) PROGRAM ....................................................................... 36 CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ................................................................ 50
I-STEM ............................................................................................. 36 MONKEY B VIRUS ....................................................................... 51
BIOTECH-PRIDE ......................................................................... 36 MONKEYPOX ................................................................................ 51
NORTH EASTERN SPACE APPLICATIONS CENTRE MYOPIA ........................................................................................... 51
(NESAC) .......................................................................................... 37 ZYCOV-D VACCINE ..................................................................... 52
CERT-IN .......................................................................................... 37 MARBURG VIRUS........................................................................ 52
NATIONAL BIO ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR DOG MEDIATED
............................................................................................................ 37 RABIES ELIMINATION ............................................................. 52
INSPIRE AWARDS-MANAK .................................................... 37 HAVANA SYNDROME ............................................................... 53
VISVESVARAYA PHD SCHEME.............................................. 38 FRAGILE X SYNDROME (FXS) ............................................... 53
PLANETARIUM INNOVATION CHALLENGE ................... 38 NIPAH VIRUS ................................................................................ 53
INNOVATIONS FOR YOU ......................................................... 38 DEMENTIA .................................................................................... 54
AI PE CHARCHA........................................................................... 38 WEST NILE VIRUS ...................................................................... 54
CRISP-M TOOL ............................................................................. 38 GLOBAL ROADMAP TO DEFEAT MENINGITIS .............. 54
SWARNA JAYANTI FELLOWSHIP SCHEME ..................... 39 NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE 2021 ....................................... 54
INDIAN SPACE ASSOCIATION ............................................... 39 XENOTRANSPLANTATION .................................................... 55
NATIONAL MISSION ON QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE ......................... 55
AND APPLICATIONS ................................................................. 39 CERVICAL CANCER .................................................................... 55
DBT-STAR COLLEGE MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME ..... 39 MOLNUPIRAVIR.......................................................................... 56
WISER PROGRAM....................................................................... 40 NOROVIRUS .................................................................................. 56
EARTH’S BLACK BOX ................................................................ 40 SWADESH ...................................................................................... 56
SAMUDRAYAN ............................................................................. 40 FOOD FORTIFICATION ............................................................ 57
THIRD ARCTIC SCIENCE MINISTERIAL ............................ 40 COVISHIELD AND COVAXIN .................................................. 57
INDIA SCIENCE AND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP 2021 40 SILICOSIS IN RAJASTHAN ....................................................... 57
CSF & SHEEP POX VACCINE ................................................... 57
6. HEALTH ............................................................................... 41
GENOME MAPPING IN THE INDIAN OCEAN PROJECT
DENGUE.......................................................................................... 41 ............................................................................................................ 58
MALARIA........................................................................................ 41 PRECISION-GUIDED STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE
CANDIDA AURIS.......................................................................... 41 (PGSIT)............................................................................................ 58
DIATOM TEST .............................................................................. 41 INDIGAU: INDIA’S FIRST CATTLE GENOMIC CHIP ...... 58
NEW BACTERIAL STRAINS .................................................... 42 WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST REFURBISHED GENE
INDIAN SARS-COV-2 GENOMIC CONSORTIA BANK INAUGURATED IN INDIA ........................................... 59
(INSACOG) ..................................................................................... 42 WORLD’S FIRST GENETICALLY MODIFIED RUBBER -
BIRD FLU ........................................................................................ 42 ASSAM ............................................................................................. 59
H10N3 STRAIN OF BIRD FLU ................................................ 42 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ............................................................. 59
LUMPY SKIN DISEASE .............................................................. 42 MUD CRAB REOVIRUS .............................................................. 59
HUNTER SYNDROME: MPS II ................................................ 43
7. DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT 60
SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY ............................................. 43
EBOLA ............................................................................................. 43 AKASH MISSILE ........................................................................... 60
EPILEPSY ....................................................................................... 44 LASER DAZZLERS....................................................................... 60
OXYGEN ENRICHMENT UNIT ............................................... 44 LYNX U2 FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM....................................... 60
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER .......................................................... 44 NAVAL INNOVATION AND INDIGENISATION
HGCO19 VACCINE ...................................................................... 44 ORGANISATION .......................................................................... 60
BRUCELLOSIS .............................................................................. 45 LCA TEJAS ...................................................................................... 61
VIRAFIN DRUG ............................................................................ 45 9MM MACHINE PISTOL ........................................................... 61
RAKSHITA ..................................................................................... 61 ZIRCON HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE ........................... 77

S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE ........................................................... 61 AK-203 ............................................................................................ 77
SMART ANTI-AIRFIELD WEAPON ...................................... 62 SANDHAYAK................................................................................. 77
INS VIRAAT ................................................................................... 62 VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE TO AIR
ARJUN MAIN BATTLE TANK.................................................. 62 MISSILE........................................................................................... 77
HELINA AND DHRUVASTRA.................................................. 62 SANT MISSILE .............................................................................. 78
INS UTKROSH............................................................................... 63 PINAKA EXTENDED RANGE SYSTEM ................................ 78
INS SUMEDHA AND KULISH .................................................. 63 SUPERSONIC MISSILE ASSISTED TORPEDO SYSTEM 78
AIR INDEPENDENT PROPULSION ...................................... 63 AGNI P MISSILE ........................................................................... 78
INS KARANJ ................................................................................... 64 PRALAY MISSILE ........................................................................ 79
INS TALWAR................................................................................. 64 ABHYAS .......................................................................................... 79
INDIAN NAVAL LANDING CRAFT UTILITY L58 ............ 64 INS KHUKRI .................................................................................. 79
MILAN-2T ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES ...................... 64 EXTREME COLD WEATHER CLOTHING SYSTEM ......... 80
ICGS VAJRA .................................................................................... 65 LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT PROGRAMME ...................... 80
OFFSHORE PATROL VEHICLES (OPVS) ............................ 65 NAVAL VARIANT OF BRAHMOS MISSILE ........................ 80
FRONT HARD ARMOUR PANEL JACKET .......................... 65 AT4 ANTI-ARMOUR WEAPON .............................................. 80
ADVANCED CHAFF TECHNOLOGY ..................................... 65
INS VIRAAT ................................................................................... 65
PS ZOROASTER ............................................................................ 66
NANOSNIFFER............................................................................. 66
DHRUV MK III: ADVANCED LIGHT HELICOPTER ......... 66
KRI NANGGALA ........................................................................... 66
SINGLE CRYSTAL COMPONENTS ........................................ 67
PYTHON-5 ..................................................................................... 67
P-8I PATROL AIRCRAFT .......................................................... 67
IRON DOME AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM: ISRAEL ................. 68
INS RAJPUT ................................................................................... 68
ICGS SAJAG .................................................................................... 68
INS SANDHAYAK ........................................................................ 69
I-FAMILIA ...................................................................................... 69
IDEX-DIO ........................................................................................ 69
AGNI P MISSILE ........................................................................... 70
INS TABAR ..................................................................................... 70
INDRAJAAL ................................................................................... 70
MH-60R MULTI ROLE HELICOPTERS................................ 70
AKASH-NG & MPATGM ............................................................ 71
MAN PORTABLE ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE ........... 71
IAC-1 VIKRANT ........................................................................... 71
GHAZNAVI MISSILE................................................................... 71
DRDO’S CHAFF TECHNOLOGY TO SAFEGUARD JETS . 72
KRIVAK CLASS STEALTH FRIGATES .................................. 72
INS CHILKA ................................................................................... 72
MULTI-MODE HAND GRENADES ........................................ 72
ICGS VIGRAHA ............................................................................. 73
C-295 AIRCRAFT......................................................................... 73
LCA-MK2 ........................................................................................ 73
REX MKII ........................................................................................ 73
ARJUN MK-1A BATTLE TANKS ............................................. 74
AKASH PRIME MISSILE............................................................ 74
S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE ........................................................... 74
NUCLEAR CAPABLE HYPERSONIC MISSILE ................... 74
ABHYAS .......................................................................................... 75
AGNI-V ............................................................................................ 75
MK 54 LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDO ........................................ 75
ICGS SARTHAK ............................................................................ 75
NATIONAL AUTOMATED FACIAL RECOGNITION
SYSTEM (NAFRS)........................................................................ 76
LONG RANGE BOMB .................................................................. 76
SAGAR NIDHI ............................................................................... 76
INDIAN NAVY FRIGATE TUSHIL .......................................... 76
Y 12704 (VISAKHAPATNAM) ............................................... 76
INS VELA ........................................................................................ 77
industrial appliances, and use it to accomplish other

1. GENERAL SCIENCE useful work.
EINSTEINIUM About
• Traditionally, thermo-electric effect has been
• In the News: A team of scientists at the Berkeley Lab
demonstrated and utilised by using two different
has reported some of the properties of element 99 in
metals joined together. But such materials do not
the periodic table called “Einsteinium”, named after
offer efficient or economical solutions.
Albert Einstein.
• Further, most materials that conduct electricity, also
• It was discovered in 1952 in the debris of the first
happen to be good conductors of heat. That means
hydrogen bomb (the detonation of a thermonuclear
that there would not be any significant temperature
device called “Ivy Mike” in the Pacific Ocean).
difference between the two ends of the material for
very long.
Properties: • To date, the most efficient thermoelectric
• It is difficult to create and highly radioactive. materials use lead as a major constituent
• The most common isotope of the element, element, but lead has very adverse environmental
einsteinium 253 has a half-life of 20 days. impacts such as air pollution and also causes human
• Einsteinium-254 is one of the more stable isotopes of health issues.
the element that has a half-life of 276 days.
• The element is also not visible to the naked eye and Silver Antimony Telluride:
after it was discovered, it took over nine years to • It is a nanomaterial compound synthesised from
manufacture enough of it so that it could be seen with Silver, Copper and Tellurium.
the naked eye. • A crystalline solid, it has free electrons that help in
• Because of its high radioactivity and short half-life of conduction of electricity but its lattices (arrangement
all einsteinium isotopes, even if the element was of atoms) are rather inflexible, and vibrate quite
present on Earth during its formation, it has most slowly thereby inhibiting the propagation of heat.
certainly decayed.
PASTUERELLA MULTOCEDA
HARLEQUIN ICHTHYOSIS
• In the News: Recently, the death of six elephants at
• In the News: Recently, Odisha reported its first-ever Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in Kalahandi due to a
case of a baby born with Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare bacterium has raised concern among the
genetic skin condition. environmental experts.
About About:
• Harlequin ichthyosis is a severe genetic disorder • It is a common bacteria found in the respiratory tract
that mainly affects the skin. of herbivores, especially in cattle.
• Cause: The disease is caused due to mutations in the • It multiplies rapidly and moves from the respiratory
ABCA 12 gene inherited from the parents. The tract to the bloodstream only in times of stress in the
ABCA12 protein plays a major role in animal, or when the animal has low immunity or is
transporting fats in cells that make up the unhealthy.
outermost layer of skin. • It causes diarrhoea and often haemorrhagic
• Severe mutations in the ABCA12 gene lead to the septicemia.
absence or partial production of the ABCA12 protein. • It is a small, gram-negative, non-motile, non–spore-
• This results in a lack of lipid transport. As a result, forming coccobacillus with bipolar staining features.
skin development is affected, according to the • It can cause a zoonotic infection in humans, which
severity of the mutation. typically is a result of bites or scratches from
• Impact on Skin: The disease creates large diamond- domestic pets.
shaped plates across the body that are separated by
deep cracks (fissures).
• The skin becomes dry and scaly almost like fish skin
ZEOLITES
and hence the term ‘icthyosis’, derived from ‘ikthus’, • In the News: National carrier Air India has begun the
Greek for fish. first of its “zeolite cargo flights”. This was done after
• Treatment: There is no cure for harlequin ichthyosis the government of India started the process of
and treatment is centred around protecting the skin importing zeolite from across the world for use in
and preventing infection. medical oxygen plants.
Zeolites in Medical Oxygen Plants:

SILVER ANTIMONY TELLURIDE
• The technology being developed by the DRDO uses
• In the News: Bengaluru-based scientists have the pressure swing adsorption process and
developed a new material that can help in tapping molecular sieve zeolite in oxygen generation.
waste heat produced by all kinds of domestic and • Zeolites are used as adsorbent material.

• An oxygen concentrator uses Zeolites to adsorb About:

atmospheric nitrogen and then vents out the • Gamma Irradiation technology is used for food
nitrogen. This leaves oxygen gas remaining to be preservation/shelf life extension by applying pre-
used for patients. determined radiation doses, as it:
o Inhibits sprouting in bulbs and tubers,
NEAR-SURFACE SHEAR LAYER o Insect disinfestation of cereals, pulses and grains,
o Microbial decontamination (hygienization) of
• In the News: Indian astronomers have found a dry spices etc.
theoretical explanation for an intriguing layer named • Setting of food irradiation facilities in the PPP mode
Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL). mitigates the huge quantum of post-harvest and
storage losses of agricultural produce and food that
About: results in national saving.
• It has long been known that the sun’s equator spins
faster than the poles. Food irradiation:
• However, a peek into the internal rotation of the sun • It is the process of exposing food and food
using sound waves revealed the existence of an packaging to ionizing radiation, such as from
intriguing layer where its rotation profile changes gamma rays, x-rays, or electron beams, without direct
sharply. contact to the food product.
• This layer is called the near-surface shear layer • When ionizing radiation passes through a food
(NSSL) and exists very close to the solar surface, product, some energy is absorbed by some chemical
within which the angular velocity decreases rapidly bonds.
with radius. • Some bonds rupture and produce free radicals which
• Angular velocity is the time rate at which an object are highly reactive and unstable. They
rotates or revolves, about an axis, or at which the instantaneously re-join with neighbouring
angular displacement between two bodies changes. compounds and the results are called radiolytic
compounds.
FEW-ELECTRON BUBBLES
• In the News: Scientists discover two species of few- Food irradiation is used to improve food safety by:
electron bubbles in superfluid helium. • Extending product shelf life (preservation),
• Reducing the risk of food-borne illness,
• Delaying or eliminating sprouting or ripening.
BARIUM
• In the News: The Supreme Court said a preliminary
enquiry by the CBI into the firecracker industry,
including in Tamil Nadu, revealed rampant violation
of its ban on use of toxic ingredients like barium and
its salts.
About:
About:
• Barium is a chemical element having atomic number
• An electron injected into a superfluid form of helium
56.
creates a single electron bubble (SEB) — a cavity that
• It is a soft, silvery alkaline earth metal.
is free of helium atoms and contains only the electron.
The shape of the bubble depends on the energy state • Because of its high chemical reactivity, barium is
never found in nature as a free element.
of the electron.
• For instance, the bubble is spherical when the
Applications:
electron is in the ground state (1S).
• As a component of high-temperature
• There are also MEBs— multiple electron bubbles that
superconductors and electro ceramics.
contain thousands of electrons
• Added to steel and cast iron to reduce the size of
• Few electron Bubbles: are nanometre-sized cavities
carbon grains
in liquid helium containing just a handful of free
electrons. • Added to fireworks to impart a green colour.
• The number, state, and interactions between free
Harmful effects:
electrons dictate the physical and chemical
properties of materials. • Soluble barium compounds are poisonous.
• In higher doses, they affect the nervous system,
causing cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness,
GAMMA IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGY anxiety, etc.
• In the News: 26 Gamma radiation plants operational
for irradiation of various products.

HELIUM CRISIS FOR INDIA • These are frequently used as a substitute for
traditional antibodies, however they differ
• In the News: India imports helium for its needs, and significantly in terms of manufacture and application,
with the USA appearing set to cut off exports of affecting their appropriateness.
helium since 2021, Indian industry stands to lose out
heavily.
POSITRON EXCESS PHENOMENON
About • In the News: Researchers from the Raman Research
• Helium is colourless, odourless, tasteless, inert Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, have resolved the mystery
and a noble gas. of the antimatter counterpart of the electrons called
• It finds many applications, mainly in magnetic Positron and Positron Excess Phenomenon.
resonance imaging (MRI) scans, in rockets and in
nuclear reactors.
• India’s Rajmahal volcanic basin in Jharkhand is
the storehouse of helium trapped for billions of years,
since the very birth of Earth from the Sun.
2D-ELECTRON GAS (2DEG)

• In the News: Scientists at the Institute of Nano
Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, Punjab,
have created a two-dimensional (2D) electron gas
with ultra-high mobility (2DEG).
About
• It's a three-dimensional electron gas that may flow
freely in two dimensions but is firmly restricted in the
3D.
About
• Quantized energy levels for motion in the third
direction result from this tight confinement. • Antimatter is the opposite of normal matter. More
specifically, the sub-atomic particles of antimatter
• As a result, the electrons appear to be a two-
have properties opposite those of normal matter.
dimensional sheet immersed in a three-dimensional
universe. • For example, the electrical charge of antimatter
particles is reversed.
• One of the most significant recent advancements in
semiconductors has been the creation of • Antimatter was created along with matter after
structures with basically two-dimensional the Big Bang. But in today’s universe, antimatter is
electrical activity (2D). rare. For example, Positron.
• The majority of 2DEGs are found in semiconductor
Positron or anti-electron
transistor-like structures.
• A Positron is an antimatter counterpart to an
electron.
NANOBODIES • A positron has the equal or same mass as an electron.
• In the News: Novel antibody fragments (nanobodies) • But the electron has a Negative Electric Charge
against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, whereas Positron has a Positive electric Charge.
have been discovered and created by a worldwide
research team lead by the University of Bonn Positron Excess
(Germany). • Over the years scientists observed an excess of
positrons having the energy of more than 10 GeV.
About • But Positrons having an energy of more than 300 GeV
• Nanobodies appear to cause a structural are lower in comparison to astronomers’
alteration in the virus before it reaches its target expectations.
cell, which is a surprising and innovative form of • This behavior of positrons between 10 and 300 GeV
action. is called the ‘positron excess’.
• The alteration is likely permanent, and the virus will
no longer be able to adhere to and infect host cells.
• Nanobodies are antibody fragments that are so
simple to make that they can be made cheaply by
bacteria or yeast.
• Antibodies with a single variable domain on the
heavy chain, commonly known as VHH antibodies,
have a single variable domain on the heavy chain.

ripples travelling at the speed of light, which squeeze

2. SPACE and stretch anything in their path.
• Differences in mass, spin, and orientation of the two
MUKUNDPURA METEORITE merging black holes cause asymmetry in the
gravitational waves that results in a massive kick in
• In the News: An asteroid which made its landfall in
one preferred direction.
Mukundpura village near Jaipur has been named
• This is called recoil, and it results in a single
after the same village and is under the study of
supermassive black hole moving in a distinct
Geological Survey of India, Kolkata.
direction away from the center of its galaxy.
• This speed will eject merging binary black holes from
About:
globular clusters, thus preventing the formation of
• The meteorite named Mukundpura CM2 was
massive black holes in globular cluster cores.
classified to be a carbonaceous chondrite and its
composition is similar to the Sun. • In turn this reduces the chances of subsequent
mergers, and thus the chance of detecting
• Chondrites are silicate droplet-bearing meteorites,
gravitational waves.
and this Mukundpura chondrite is the 5th
carbonaceous meteorite known to fall in India. • Stars interacting with this supermassive black hole
binary can even end up being flung out of the center,
• Meteorites are classified into three groups: Stony
taking some energy from the binary with it and
(silicaterich), Iron (Fe–Ni alloy), and Stony Iron
causing the binary’s orbit to shrink.
(mixed silicate iron alloy).
• Mukundpura CM2 is a type of stony meteorite, most
Black Hole:
primitive meteorite and a remnant of the first solid
• It is a region in space where the pulling force of
bodies to accrete in the solar system.
gravity is so strong that neither matter nor light
can escape. This phenomenon occurs when a star is
Components of Meteorite:
dying.
• The meteorite had very high (about 90%)
• For anything approaching a black hole, the point of no
phyllosilicate minerals comprising both magnesium
return is called the “event horizon” and anything
and iron.
that comes within the event horizon will be
• Forsterite and FeO olivine, calcium aluminium rich
consumed forever.
inclusion (CAI) minerals.
• Since no light can escape from it, a black hole is
• Few magnetites, sulphides, aluminium complexes
invisible.
and calcites were also found.
• However, advanced space telescopes can identify
black holes by observing the behaviour of material
RECOILING BLACK HOLE and stars that are very close to black holes.
• In the News: The black hole which is supposed to be • In 2019, NASA released the first-ever photograph
located at the centre of Abell 2261, an enormous of a black hole and its shadow, which was captured
galaxy cluster that is about 2.7 billion light-years by an international network of radio telescopes called
away from our planet has till now evaded detection. the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT).
About HELIOPHYSICS MISSIONS

• Every large galaxy in the universe has a
• In the News: NASA has approved two heliophysics
supermassive black hole at its centre, whose mass
missions to explore the Sun and the system that
is millions or billions of times that of the Sun.
drives space weather near Earth.
• The black hole at the centre of our galaxy– the
Milky Way– is called Sagittarius A*, and is 26,000
About:
light-years away from Earth.
• Together, NASA’s contribution to the following will
• Scientists have been using data gathered in 1999 and
help in understanding the Sun and Earth as an
2004 to look for the centre of the Abell galaxy, but
interconnected system-
have so far been unable to find its black hole.
o Extreme Ultraviolet High-Throughput
Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission
Possible Reasons:
(EUVST) and
• A reason for this could be that Abell’s black hole has o Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE)
been ejected from the centre of the galaxy due to the
• Understanding the physics that drive the solar wind
merging of two smaller galaxies to form Abell.
and solar explosions could help in predicting these
• Abell is a process in which both of their black holes events.
merge to form an even bigger black hole.
• Funding comes from the Heliophysics Explorers
Program, managed by the Explorers Program Office
What are recoiling black holes?
at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
• When two black holes merge, they release what
are known as gravitational waves– invisible
EUVST

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) • The UV-bright stars whose inner core is almost
leads the EUVST Epsilon Mission (Solar-C EUVST exposed, making them very hot, exist in the late
Mission), along with other partners. stages of evolution of a Sun-like star.
• Targeted for launch in 2026, EUVST is a solar • Old globular clusters, referred to as dinosaurs of the
telescope. Universe, help to understand how stars evolve
• It will study how the solar atmosphere releases solar through various phases between their birth and
wind and drives eruptions of solar material. death.
• These phenomena propagate out from the Sun and • UV-bright stars have been distinguished from the
influence the space radiation environment relatively cooler main-sequence stars using images
throughout the solar system. from Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard
satellite AstroSat.
EZIE
• To be launched in 2024, EZIE will study electric AstroSat:
currents in Earth’s atmosphere linking aurora to • It is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an
Earth’s magnetosphere that responds to solar activity IRS-class (Indian Remote Sensing-Class) satellite in a
and other factors. 650-km, near-equatorial orbit.
• EZIE is an investigation comprising a trio of CubeSats • Launch: It was launched in 2015 by ISRO.
that will study the source of and changes in the • It is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission
auroral electrojet (AE). aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical
• The interaction of the magnetosphere and the solar and UV spectral bands simultaneously with its five
wind compresses the Sun-facing side of the unique X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes working in
magnetosphere. tandem.
• The Ground Command and Control Centre for
ACTIVE MATTER SYSTEMS ASTROSAT is located at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking
and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bangalore,
• In the News: Scientists have found a clue to the India.
dynamic origin of fluctuations in systems like fish • This has put India in an exclusive club of countries
schools, swarms of insects, flocking birds and which have multi wavelength space observatories.
bacterial colonies. These are called active matter
• The minimum life of the AstroSat mission was
system.
expected to be 5 years.
About
• It is composed of large numbers of self-driven AXIOM MISSION 1 (AX 1)
components that extract energy from their • In the News: Recently, a former Israeli fighter pilot,
surroundings to generate mechanical work. an American technology entrepreneur and a
• Due to continuous energy input, such systems are Canadian investor will be part of the crew of the
driven far from equilibrium and exhibit fascinating Axiom Mission-1 (AX-1).
collective behaviors like clustering, giant mass
fluctuations and anomalous transport. About:
• Imagine stirring a bacterial solution which under • It is the first entirely-private orbital space
suitable conditions, can exhibit perpetual or mission.
unceasing collective directed motion. This is called • It is an eight-day visit to the International Space
Active matter. In cases like this, the viscosity would Station (ISS), organised by Houston-based spaceflight
vanish. firm Axiom.
• Importance — This understanding can be useful in • The Axiom Mission 1 (AX 1) flight is being arranged
nanotechnology applications like building small- under a commercial agreement with NASA.
scale energy-efficient bio-devices as well as • The AX 1 mission will be the first to use a
biomedical applications like characterizing infection commercially built spacecraft, the SpaceX Dragon
spread in organs, antibiotic resistance and so on. 2, best known for flying its first two crews to the
ISS.
NGC 2808
• In the News: Recently, astronomers have spotted STARDUST 1.0
rare hot Ultra Violet (UV)-bright stars in the massive • In the News: Stardust 1.O was recently launched
intriguing globular cluster in the Milky Way Galaxy from Maine, the US has become the first commercial
called NGC 2808. space launch powered by biofuel.
About About:
• The NGC 2808 is said to have at least five generations • Stardust 1.O is a launch vehicle suited for student
of stars in which the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and budget payloads.
(UIT) have spotted rare hot UV-bright stars in it.

• The rocket is manufactured by bluShift, an • Neutrinos come from the sun (solar neutrinos) and
aerospace company based in Maine that is developing other stars, cosmic rays that come from beyond the
rockets that are powered by bio-derived fuels. solar system, and from the Big Bang from which our
• The rocket is 20 feet tall and has a mass of roughly Universe originated.
250 kg. • They can also be produced in the lab.
• The rocket can carry a maximum payload mass of 8
kg and during its first launch carried three payloads. Supernova
• The payloads included a cubesat prototype built by • All the stars burn nuclear fuel in their cores to
high-school students, a metal alloy designed to lessen produce energy.
vibrations. • The heat generates internal pressure which pushes
outwards and prevents the star from collapsing
Why are such missions important? inward due to the action of gravity on its own mass.
• Such efforts are a part of a growing number of • But when the star ages and runs out of fuel to burn, it
commercial space companies that are working to starts to cool inside.
provide easier and cheaper access to space to • This causes a lowering of its internal pressure and
laypeople. therefore the force of gravity wins; the star starts to
• It also makes access to space cost-effective for collapse inwards.
purposes of academic research, corporate technology • This builds up shock waves because it happens very
development and entrepreneurial ventures among suddenly, and the shock wave sends the outer
others. material of the star flying.
• This is what is perceived as a supernova. This
NEUTRINOS AND STAR DEATH happens in very massive stars.
• In the News: Researching the mechanisms of the so-

called Type II supernovae, a team from IIT Guwahati WOLF–RAYET (WR) STARS
has come up with new insights into the part played by • In the News: Aryabhatta Research Institute of
neutrinos in this dramatic death of massive stars. Observational Sciences (ARIES) tracks a rare
supernova explosion. They traced the supernova
About explosion to one of the hottest kinds of stars called
• Many stars, towards the end of their lifetimes, form Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars.
supernovas – massive explosions that send their
outer layers shooting into the surrounding space. About
• Most of the energy of the supernova is carried away • Astronomers studied the supernovae explosion
by neutrinos – tiny particles with no charge and called SN 2015dj.
which interact weakly with matter. • The explosion happened in the galaxy NGC 7371 in
2015.
• The ARIES calculated the mass of the star collapsed to
form the supernovae.
• Based on that, they have found that the original star
was a combination of two stars. One of them is a
massive WR star. The other one is a star much less in
mass than the Sun.
Wolf–Rayet stars:
• Wolf–Rayet stars are highly luminous objects. The
surface temperature of WR stars is a thousand times
more than the Sun.
• They are massive stars. Further, they have
completely lost their outer hydrogen. So the WR
stars fusing helium or heavier elements in the core.
• The study of certain types of massive luminous
supernovae explosion can help probe these stars that
Neutrinos remain a mystery for scientists.
• Protons, neutrons, and electrons are tiny particles
that make up atoms.
SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY
• The neutrino is also a tiny elementary particle, but it
is not part of the atom. • In the News: On 4th Feb, the Square Kilometre Array
• Neutrino has a very tiny mass, no charge and spins Observatory (SKAO) Council held its maiden meeting
half. and approved the establishment of the world’s
• It interacts very weakly with other matter particles. largest radio telescope.
About
• SKAO is a new intergovernmental organisation o It has colors such as brown, gold and tan. The
dedicated to radio astronomy and is reason Mars looks reddish is due to oxidation
headquartered in the UK. or rusting of iron in the rocks, and dust of Mars.
• SKAO has members from ten countries - Australia, Hence it is also called Red Planet.
Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, South o Mars has the largest volcano in the solar
Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. system i.e. Olympus Mons. It's three times taller
than Earth's Mt. Everest with a base the size of
Radio telescopes: the state of New Mexico.
• Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can detect • Mars has a thin atmosphere made up mostly of
invisible gas and, therefore, they can reveal areas of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon gases.
space that may be obscured by cosmic dust. • The Magnetosphere of Mars has no magnetic field
till date, but areas of the Martian crust in the
About SKA Telescope: southern hemisphere are highly magnetized,
• The telescope is proposed to be the largest radio indicating traces of a magnetic field.
telescope in the world. • Moons: Mars has two small moons, Phobos and
• It will be located in Africa and Australia whose Deimos, that may be captured asteroids.
operation, maintenance and construction will be
overseen by SKAO. HOPE: UAE MARS MISSION
• In the News: Recently, the first Arab interplanetary
Indian Astronomical Observatory
mission is expected to reach Mars’ orbit to unravel
• It is one of the world's highest located sites for
the secrets of weather on the Red Planet.
optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes.
• It is located in Hanle near Leh in Ladakh, India.
About
• It is operated by the Indian Institute of
• The unmanned space probe is named as Al-Amal,
Astrophysics, Bangalore.
meaning “Hope” in Arabic.
• The Hope mission is a Mars orbiter spacecraft,
TIANWEN-1: CHINA'S MARS MISSION which will study the thin atmosphere of Mars.
• In the News: China’s Tianwen-1 probe has • It is the first interplanetary mission for the Arab
successfully entered orbit around Mars after a 6-1/2- World.
month journey from Earth.
The Hope orbiter
About: • The Hope probe has a mission life of one Martian
• China’s first Mars probe is called Tianwen-1 year, which is almost two Earth years.
(formerly Huoxing 1). • The three main objectives of the Hope probe are:
• The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander and a 1. to understand the climate dynamics and global
rover. weather map of Mars by studying the lower
• Launched last year on a Long March 5 rocket from atmosphere of Mars.
Xichang, China. 2. to explain how the weather of Mars affects the
• Landing site: Somewhere in Utopia Planitia, a vast escape of hydrogen and oxygen, by correlating
plain in Mars’ northern latitudes and the same place conditions in the lower and upper atmosphere.
NASA’s Viking 2 mission landed in the 1970s. 3. to understand the presence and variability of
• If the mission is successful, China will become the hydrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere,
third country to achieve a Mars landing after the and why Mars is losing these gases to space.
USSR and the United States. • Significance of the mission:
• There are five core science objectives: o It is a known fact that the Red Planet was once
1. Create a geological map of Mars. habitable, from signatures of flowing water and
2. Explore the characteristics of the Martian soil organic material that point to a past that could
and potentially locate water-ice deposits. have supported living things.
3. Analyze the surface material composition. o An understanding of Mars’ past could help
4. Investigate the Martian atmosphere and climate scientists understand the future of Earth.
at the surface.
5. Understand the electromagnetic and GEO-SPATIAL DATA
gravitational fields of the planet.
• In the News: The Ministry of Science and Technology
recently released new guidelines for the Geo-spatial
Mars
sector in India, which deregulates existing protocols
• Size and Distance
and liberalizes the sector to a more competitive field.
o It is the fourth planet from the Sun and the
second-smallest planet in the Solar System.
About
o Mars is about half the size of Earth.
• Surface

• Geospatial data is data about objects, events, or • 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid and
phenomena that have a location on the surface of potentially hazardous asteroid with a diameter of
the earth. 370 metres that caused a brief period of concern in
• The location may be static in the short-term, like December 2004 when initial observations indicated a
the location of a road, an earthquake event, probability up to 2.7% that it would hit Earth on April
malnutrition among children, or dynamic like a 13, 2029.
moving vehicle or pedestrian, the spread of an
infectious disease. NASA’S INSIGHT LANDER
Geospatial data combines: • In News: NASA’s InSight lander detects two strong
quakes on Mars. The lander is a part of NASA’s InSight
• Location information
mission to Mars, launched in 2018.
• Attribute information (the characteristics of the
object, event, or phenomena concerned) • Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations,
Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) is a NASA
• Temporal information or the time at which the
Mission.
location and attributes exist.
• Aim: This Mission aims at studying the deep interiors
• Geo-spatial data involves information of public
of Mars. It is the first program to analyze the interior
interest like roads, localities, rail lines, water bodies,
of the Red Planet, beneath its surface i.e. its crust,
and public amenities.
mantle, and core.
• Part of the InSight mission is part of NASA’s Discovery
What are the new Guidelines? Program (1992). Discovery Program is a series of
• Geospatial data will now be freely available in Solar System exploration missions. NASA funds
India, specifically for Indian companies. these missions through its Planetary Missions
• They will no longer be subject to restrictions or Program Office.
prior approvals to collect, generate, prepare, store,
publish, update digital geospatial data and maps InSight Mission Lander:
within the territory of India. • NASA launched the lander under NASA’s InSight
• Restrictions: mission in 2018.
o The policy restricts the use of terrestrial mapping • Purpose: It is a robotic lander designed to study the
and surveys to only Indian entities—both public deep interior of Mars to learn how all celestial bodies
and private. with rocky surfaces, including Earth and the Moon,
o The data generated also needs to be owned and formed.
stored in India. Further, high-resolution data—
finer than 1 m horizontally and 3 m vertically—
will still remain restricted. AMAZONIA-1 AND 18 SATELLITES
o With this policy, Indian companies will be able to set • In the News: ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
up location services like Google Map in India. (PSLV-C51) rocket launched Brazil’s Amazonia-1 and
18 co-passenger satellites.
ASTEROID APOPHIS
About PSLV-C51:
• In the News: The results from a new radar • It is the 53rd flight of the Indian Polar Satellite
observation campaign combined with precise orbit Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program.
analysis have helped astronomers conclude that
• It was also the first dedicated mission for New
there is no risk of Apophis impacting our planet for at
Space India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of
least a century.
ISRO.
• The mission was undertaken under a commercial
arrangement with Spaceflight Inc., USA.
Amazonia-1 Satellite:
• It is an earth observation satellite. Brazil’s National
Institute for Space Research designed, integrated,
tested, and operated the satellites.
• Purpose – It will provide remote sensing data for
users monitoring deforestation in the Amazon
forests. Furthermore, it will analyze diversified
agriculture across Brazilian territory.
• The satellite injected into its precise orbit of 758 km
in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.
• Significance: It is the first commercial venture for
New Space India Limited (NSIL).
About

ARKTIKA-M SATELLITE • Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds

around Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound)
• In the News: Russia has successfully launched the and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.
Arktika-M satellite. The satellite was launched from
• Ramjet missiles can carry a bigger warhead as they
the Soyuz carrier rocket from the Baikonur
do not have to carry an oxidizer.
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Application:
About
• Ramjets can be particularly useful in applications
• Arktika-M satellite is a remote-sensing and
requiring a small and simple mechanism for high-
emergency communications satellite
speed use, such as missiles.
• Objective: It is designed to monitor the climate and
• They have also been used successfully, though not
environment in the Arctic region.
efficiently, as tip jets on the end of helicopter rotors.
• Russia plans to send up a second satellite in 2023.
This satellite will be combined with the Arktika-M Defence Research and Development Organisation
Satellite. (DRDO):
• These two satellites will offer round-the-clock, all- • It is under the administrative control of the Ministry
weather monitoring of the Arctic Ocean and the of Defence, Government of India.
surface of the Earth.
• It is charged with the military’s research and
• Significance: The satellite will help create more development.
accurate models for compiling short-term weather
• It was formed in 1958 and has its Headquarter in
forecasts.
Delhi.
• The compilation will give researchers a large amount
• DRDO is India’s largest and most diverse research
of new data for studying global climate change.
organisation with a network of 52 laboratories,
which are engaged in developing defence
SOLID FUEL DUCTED RAMJET TECHNOLOGY technologies covering various fields.
• In the News: The DRDO successfully carried out a
flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted MOST DISTANT QUASAR P172+18
Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test
• In the News: Recently, an international team of
Range (ITR) Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
astronomers has discovered the most distant ‘Radio-
Loud’ Quasar with the help of European Southern
About
Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT).
• It is a missile propulsion system, developed by the
DRDO that comprises the thrust modulated ducted About Quasars:
rocket along with the reduced smoke nozzle-less
• Quasars are very luminous objects in faraway
missile booster.
galaxies that emit jets at radio frequencies.
• Thrust modulation of the system is achieved through
• The word quasar is short for "quasi-stellar radio
a hot gas flow controller.
source".
• It uses a solid fuelled air-breathing ramjet engine.
• Most quasars are larger than our solar system. A
quasar is approximately 1 kiloparsec in width.
Significance:
• They are only found in galaxies that have
• The SFDR technology will help DRDO with the
supermassive blackholes which power these bright
technological advantage to develop long-range
discs.
air-to-air missiles (AAMs).
• Most active galaxies have a supermassive black hole
• At present, such technology is available only with a
at the centre which sucks in surrounding objects.
handful of countries in the world and India is one
• Quasars are formed by the energy emitted by
of them.
materials swirling around a blackhole right before
• With this technology, India can have fastest long- being sucked into it.
range missiles in two categories, providing full-
• They are further categorised into:
fledged and multi-layered aerial protection from
o Radio-loud: They are powerful jets that are
hostile attacks.
strong sources of radio-wavelength emission.
These make up about 10% of the overall quasar
About Ramjet:
population.
• It is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the
o Radio-quiet: They are those quasars lacking
engine’s forward motion to compress incoming air
powerful jets, with relatively weaker radio
without an axial compressor or a centrifugal
emission than the radio-loud population. The
compressor.
majority of quasars (about 90%) are radio-quiet.
• A ramjet-powered vehicle requires an assisted
take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a About the Discovery:
speed where it begins to produce thrust.
• It is named P172+18, the quasar emitted
wavelengths which had a redshift of 6.8.

• Gravitational redshift occurs as particles of light • In the News: The asteroid “2001 FO32”, the largest
(photons) climb out of a gravitational well like a black asteroid predicted to pass by Earth in 2021, will be at
hole and the light's wavelength gets drawn out. its closest on 21st March 2021.
• This shifts the wavelength to the red part of the light
spectrum - hence "redshift". About
• It took 13 billion years for the quasar’s light to • Discovery: It was discovered 20 years ago and ever
reach earth. since scientists have been tracking its orbital path
• The higher the redshift of the radio wavelength, the around the Sun very accurately.
farther away is the source. • Orbit: It is in a highly eccentric orbit around the Sun.
• The glowing disc around a blackhole is 300 million It completes one orbit every 810 days (about 2¼
times more massive than our Sun. years). The orbit is tilted 39° to Earth’s orbital plane.
• Only three other ‘radio-loud’ sources with redshift • Speed: The asteroid will pass by at about 1,24,000
greater than six have been discovered so far and the kph. It is faster than the speed at which most
most distant one had a redshift of 6.18. The scientists asteroids encounter Earth.
think that the powerful radio jets shooting out of the • No Threat of Collision: The near-Earth asteroid will
quasar fuelled the appetite of the black hole. make its closest approach at a distance of about 2
• Inference: The blackhole at its centre is consuming million kilometers or 5 1/4 times the distance from
from its galaxy at a stunning rate. Earth to the Moon.
• The distance is close in astronomical terms, that's
Significance: why it has been designated a “potentially
• A detailed study of these ‘radio-loud’ super bright hazardous asteroid”.
objects can help astronomers to understand how the • There is no threat of a collision with our planet
supermassive black holes in their core grew to be so now or for centuries to come.
big so rapidly since the Big Bang. • Next Close Approach: The asteroid will not come
• The team believes that more such quasars that tell this close to Earth again until 2052, when it will pass
stories about the ancient universe will be found, by at about seven lunar distances, or 2.8 million km.
perhaps even farther away from earth.
NISAR
SPACE HURRICANES • In the News: NASA and ISRO are collaborating on
• In the News: Scientists from China recently developing a satellite called NISAR (NASA-ISRO
discovered a space hurricane for the first time ever Synthetic Aperture Radar).
above the North pole. Previously, it was believed,
space hurricanes were a theoretical phenomenon. About
• The satellite will be launched in 2022 from the
About Space hurricanes: Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India,
• They are thought to be a result of the solar wind into a near-polar orbit.
and Earth’s magnetic field interacting. • It will scan the globe every 12 days over the course of
• It is a huge, funnel-like, spiral geomagnetic storm its three-year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice
that occurs above the polar Ionosphere of Earth, sheets and sea ice to give an “unprecedented” view of
during extremely quiet conditions. the planet.
• They are related to the aurora borealis • It will detect movements of the planet’s surface as
phenomenon, as the electron precipitation from the small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a
storm’s funnel produces gigantic, cyclone-shaped tennis court.
auroras. • NASA will provide one of the radars for the satellite,
• They are made up of plasmas, consisting of a high-rate communication subsystem for science
extremely hot ionized gases that rotate at extremely data, GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem.
high speeds. • ISRO will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type
• Formation: Space hurricanes are caused by plasma of radar (called the S-band radar), the launch vehicle
unleashed from the sun as solar wind. These charged and associated launch services.
particle clouds travel through space and fuel • Its primary goals include tracking subtle changes in
magnetic storms as they interact with magnetic the Earth’s surface, spotting warning signs of
fields. imminent volcanic eruptions, helping to monitor
• Impact: The researchers think these kinds of storms groundwater supplies and tracking the rate at which
could create more drag on satellites and interfere ice sheets are melting.
with radio signals and communications, making these
events particularly important to understand. Synthetic Aperture Radar:
• The name NISAR is short for NASA-ISRO-SAR. SAR
ASTEROID 2001 FO32 here refers to the synthetic aperture radar that NASA
will use to measure changes in the surface of the
Earth.

• Essentially, SAR refers to a technique for producing compared to its current age of about 13.8 billion
high-resolution images. years.
• Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate
clouds and darkness, which means that it can collect ADITYA-L1 SUPPORT CENTRE
data day and night in any weather.
• In the News: The Indian programme to study the Sun
and the region between the Sun and the Earth from
HUMANS IN SPACE POLICY FOR INDIA - 2021 space – Aditya-L1 – is due to be launched next year.
• In the News: The Department of Space has put up for
public consultation the draft "Humans in Space Policy About
for India - 2021"and guidelines and procedures for its • It will carry seven payloads which have been
implementation. developed by various institutions across the country.
• Once the mission is launched, there will be a need for
About a ground support centre to monitor and coordinate
• Aim: It envisages undertaking demonstration of the work on its various payloads.
human spaceflight to LEO (low-earth orbit) in the • This role will be played by the ARIES facility (short
short-term and lay the foundation for a sustained for Aryabhata Research Institute for observational
exploration in the long run that will enable presence Sciences) which is situated near Nainital.
in LEO and beyond. • The Aditya-L1 Support Centre (ASC) will provide
• Applicability: The guidelines are applicable to training through regular workshops for the guest
activities presently postulated under Indian human users.
space program (IHSP) and for those activities which • Apart from this, it will provide ready-to-use Python
shall be defined and carried out in future in and Java apps for the satellite data and demos and
conjunction with IHSP. handouts to facilitate the guest users.
Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (IHSP):

• IHSP was initiated in 2007 by the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) to develop the
technology needed to launch crewed orbital
spacecraft into Low Earth orbit.
• Under it, the first unmanned mission is planned
for December 2021. Second unmanned flight is
planned in 2022-23, followed by human spaceflight
demonstration (Gaganyaan).
• Gaganyaan has been designed to carry three
Indian astronauts to low earth orbit (an orbit of
300-400 km) for a period of five to seven days.
• It will take off on a GSLV Mk III which is capable of
launching four tonne satellites in the Aditya-L1 Mission
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). • It is India’s first scientific expedition to study the
Sun.
NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 (NLS1) GALAXY • It will be ISRO’s (Indian Space Research
Organization) second space-based astronomy
• In the News: Astronomers have discovered a new
mission after AstroSat, which was launched in
active galaxy identified as the farthest gamma-ray
2015.
emitting galaxy that has so far been stumbled upon.
• ISRO categorizes Aditya L1 as a 400 kg-class satellite
that will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch
About:
Vehicle (PSLV) in XL configuration.
• This active galaxy called the Narrow-Line Seyfert
• It will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1
1 (NLS1) galaxy, which is about 31 billion light-years
(Lagrangian point 1), which is 1.5 million km from the
away, opens up avenues to explore more such
Earth.
gamma-ray emitting galaxies that wait to meet us.
• The space-based observatory will have seven
• Scientists from ARIES, an autonomous institute of the
payloads (instruments) on board to study the
Department of Science & Technology (DST) studied
Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and
around 25,000 luminous Active galactic nuclei (AGN)
flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and
from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) years.
will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
• They found a unique object that emits high-energy
gamma rays located at a high redshift.
• They identified it as a gamma-ray emitting NLS1 NASA'S INGENUITY MARS HELICOPTER
galaxy, which is a rare entity in space. • In the News: Recently, NASA's miniature robot
• The new gamma-ray emitting NLS1 was formed when helicopter Ingenuity performed a successful takeoff
the Universe was only about 4.7 billion years old as

and landing on Mars. It was the first powered, • Under the Programme, ISRO provides financial
controlled flight on another planet. support for conducting research and development
• Ingenuity is the first helicopter to fly on Mars. activities related to Space Science, Space Technology
NASA’s rover called Perseverance carried it to the and Space Applications in Academic Institutions in
Red Planet. India.
• Purpose: The helicopter’s main task is to carry out a • RESPOND is also participating in the National
technology demonstration to test the first powered Missions like IMPRINT (IMPacting Research
flight on Mars. Further, it also aims to collect samples INnovation and Technology) programme and
from the locations on Mars where the rover cannot Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY).
reach.
Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana:
Features: • Launched by: Ministry of Human Resource
• NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is able to fly using Development in 2015.
counter-rotating blades that spin at about 2,400 • Purpose: It promotes innovation of a higher order
rpm. that directly impacts the needs of the Industry and
• It also has a wireless communication system and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian
is equipped with computers, navigation sensors, and manufacturing.
two cameras.
• Moreover, it is also solar-powered and is able to IMPRINT Programme:
charge on its own. • Background: The scheme was released in 2015 by
• Note: The Ingenuity helicopter’s mission is the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now
experimental in nature and is completely Ministry of Education).
independent of the Perseverance rover mission. • Purpose: It is a first-of-its-kind Pan-IIT and iisc joint
• Importance of this Flight: Its performance during initiative to address the major science and
these experimental test flights will help inform engineering challenges that India must address and
decisions about small helicopters for future Mars champion to enable, empower and embolden the
missions — where they can perform a support role as nation for inclusive growth and self-reliance.
robotic scouts, surveying terrain from above, or as
full standalone science craft carrying instrument ZHURONG ROVER
payloads.
• In the News: China’s first Mars rover will be named
NASA’s Perseverance Rover: Zhurong after a traditional fire god.
• Perseverance is a car-sized Mars rover designed to
About Zhurong Rover:
explore the crater Jezero on Mars as part of NASA’s
Mars 2020 mission. • It is China’s first Mars rover aboard the Tianwen-
1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit in February 2020.
• Launched: The rover was launched in July 2020. It
landed at the Jezero Crater of Mars in February 2021. • The rover is part of Chinese space plans that include
launching a crewed orbital station and landing a
• Purpose:
human on the moon.
o The rover is designed to better understand the
geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life. • The rover’s title fits with the Chinese name for Mars
o It will also collect and store a set of rock and soil i.e. “Huo Xing” or fire star.
samples that could be returned to Earth in the • The top candidate for the landing site is Utopia
future. Planitia, a rock-strewn plain where the U.S. lander
o Further, it will also test new technology to benefit Viking 2 touched down in 1976.
future robotic and human exploration of Mars.
About Tianwen-1:
• Its goals include analysing and mapping the Martian
RESPOND PROGRAMME surface and geology, looking for water ice and
• In the News: Recently, Indian Space Research studying the climate and surface environment.
Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it will • It is named after the ancient Chinese poem
support eight joint research projects mooted by the ‘Questions to Heaven’.
Space Technology Cell (STC), IIT-Delhi. • It is an all-in-one orbiter, lander and rover which
will search the Martian surface for water, ice,
About investigate soil characteristics, and study the
• ISRO started the RESPOND (Research Sponsored) atmosphere, among completing other objectives.
programme in the 1970s.
• Objective: encouraging academia to participate and BLACK HOLE’S MAGNETIC FIELD
contribute in various Space related research
activities. • In the News: Scientists have for the first time
• This is the flagship programme of ISRO to promote observed a magnetic field around a Black Hole.
extramural research in emerging areas of Space at
Academia. About Black Hole’s magnetic field:

• A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls • NEO-01 is a robot prototype developed by China-
so much that even light cannot get out as gravity based space mining start-up ‘Origin Space’.
is so strong because matter has been squeezed • Aim: The aim is to observe small celestial bodies in
into a tiny space. deep space and to experiment with a novel approach
• They are invisible and observed through space to clearing up space debris.
telescopes with special tools.
• Black holes can be big or small, the smallest black Method to remove space debris
holes are as small as just one atom. • NEO-01 will use a large net to capture debris left
• Now, new image from Event Horizon Telescope behind by other spacecraft.
(EHT) shows polarised light, waves oscillating in only • After collection, it will burn them using its electric
one direction produced by matter at the edge of the propulsion system.
black hole. • Electric Propulsion(EP) is a class of space
• While, unpolarised light is made up of light waves propulsion.
oscillating in many different directions. • This propulsion will make use of electrical power to
• Light becomes polarized when it goes through certain accelerate a propellant. These technologies generate
filters like, for instance, the lenses of polarized electrical energy either from a solar source or from a
sunglasses, or when it is emitted in hot regions of nuclear source.
space that are magnetized, hence it suggests that
presence of strong magnetic fields around the black What is Space Debris?
hole. • Firstly, space debris is any piece of machinery or
• New polarized image also gives compelling evidence debris left by humans in space.
for how strong magnetic fields around black holes • Secondly, it can refer to big objects such as dead
can launch and sustain a bright jet of matter and satellites that have failed or been left in orbit at the
energy that emerges from its core and extends at end of their mission. It can also refer to smaller
least 100,000 light years away. things, like bits of debris or paint flecks that have
fallen off from a rocket.
MERGER OF THREE BLACK HOLE • Thirdly, space debris is a threat to active satellites
and spaceships as they pose the risk of collisions.
• In the News: Indian researchers have discovered
three supermassive black holes from three galaxies
merging together to form a triple active galactic TIANHE MODULE
nucleus. • In the News: China launched the core module of its
space station, kicking off a series of key launch
About missions that aim to complete the construction of the
• A compact region at the center of a newly discovered station by the end of next year.
galaxy that has a much-higher-than-normal
luminosity. About
• Supermassive black holes are difficult to detect • The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe
because they do not emit any light. module, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft
• They can reveal their presence by interacting with Launch Site.
their surroundings. • The Tianhe module will act as the management and
• When the dust and gas from the surroundings fall control hub of the space station Tiangong, meaning
onto a supermassive black hole, some of the mass is Heavenly Palace, with a node that could dock with up
swallowed by the black hole, but some of it is to three spacecraft at a time for short stays, or two for
converted into energy and emitted as long.
electromagnetic radiation that makes the black hole • Tianhe is the largest spacecraft developed by
appear very luminous. China.
• They are called active galactic nuclei (AGN) and • The space station will be a T-shape with the core
release huge amounts of ionized particles and energy module at the center and a lab capsule on each side.
into the galaxy and its environment. • The station will operate in low-Earth orbit at an
• Both of these ultimately contribute to the growth of altitude from 340 km to 450 km.
the medium around the galaxy and ultimately the • It has a designed lifespan of 10 years, but experts
evolution of the galaxy itself. believe it could last more than 15 years with
appropriate maintenance and repairs.
NEO-01
International Space Station (ISS):
• In the News: The Chinese government has launched
• ISS is a multinational collaborative project involving
a robot prototype named ‘NEO-01’ in the Low Earth
five participating space agencies which included
Orbit through its Long March 6 rocket.
NASA, (US), Roscomos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA
(Europe), and CSA (Canada).
About

PINK MOON 2021 • A single Venusian rotation takes 243.0226 Earth

days. That means a day lasts longer than a year on
• In the News: People around the world on 26th April Venus, which makes a complete orbit around the sun
2021 witnessed the first Supermoon or Pink Moon. in 225 Earth days.
• The Venusian planetary core has a diameter of about
About
4,360 miles (7,000 km), comparable to Earth’s core.
• The supermoon is a full moon or a new moon that
• The study calculated the Venusian tilt at about
nearly coincides with a perigee.
2.64 degrees. Earth's temperature is about 23.5
• A point of the Moon’s orbit closest to Earth. degrees.
• The supermoon makes the moon appear a little
bigger and looks brighter than usual.
OSIRIS-REX MISSION
Why call it ‘Pink Moon’? • In the News: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission will depart
• The moon will not be originally pink. It got its from asteroid Bennu and start its two-year-long
name from the pink wildflowers (Wild Ground journey back to Earth.
Phlox).
• These flowers bloom in the spring and are native to About
North America. • Full form: OSIRIS-REx stands for Origins, Spectral
• It is also known as Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security,
Moon, the Paschal moon, and the Fish Moon. Regolith Explorer.
• Background: The mission was launched in 2016. It
CREW-2 MISSION was the first U.S. mission to successfully collect a
sample from an asteroid.
• In the News: Four astronauts were launched to the • Aim: To travel to a near-Earth asteroid named Bennu
International Space Station (ISS) from Florida as part and bring a small sample back to Earth for study.
of a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under
the Commercial Crew Program. The mission is called
Crew-2 Mission. YAOGAN SATELLITES
• In the News: China has successfully launched the
About Commercial Crew Program (CCP): eighth group of three Yaogan-30 satellites into orbit
• CCP is a partnership between NASA and private on a Long March 2C rocket.
industry. Its aim is to carry astronauts to and from
the International Space Station. About
• Objective: The program aims to help lower the cost • Yaogan is a series of Chinese reconnaissance
of spaceflight and potentially create a new satellites launched in the early 21st century.
commercial market for humans in space. • A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite is
an Earth observation satellite or a communications
Crew-2 Mission: satellite. It is deployed for military or intelligence
• Crew-2 Mission is the second crew rotation of the applications.
SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with • Purpose: The satellites will be used for
international partners. electromagnetic environment surveys and other
• The mission carried four astronauts to the ISS. related technology tests.
Among them, two are from NASA and two are from
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and LUNAR ECLIPSE
the European Space Agency (ESA).
• In the News: The two celestial events – Total Lunar
• The central focus of the mission will be to continue
Eclipse and Supermoon coincided on may 26.
research on a series of Tissue Chips in Space studies.
Tissue Chips:
• Tissue Chips are small models of human organs that
contain multiple cell types that behave similarly to
the human body organs.
LATEST FINDINGS ABOUT VENUS

• In the News: Scientists have obtained new data about
Venus by bouncing radio waves off Venus.
About Latest findings

• The study measured the tilt of the Venusian axis and
size of the planet’s core.
About Lunar Eclipse:

• The lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes • Aim: The mission will map the planet’s surface to
between the Sun and the Moon thereby obstructing understand its geologic history and investigate how it
the sunlight falling on the Moon. developed so differently than Earth.
• Lunar eclipses only happen at Full Moon.
• Types of Lunar Eclipse: CIBER-2: COUNTING OF STARS
1. Total Lunar Eclipse: During this, the Earth
• In the News: A NASA-funded rocket’s launch window
comes in between the Sun and the Moon. It stops
will open at the White Sands Missile Range in New
the light of the Sun from reaching the Moon and
Mexico, USA on 6th June.
casting a complete shadow over it.
2. Partial Lunar Eclipse: During this, the moon will
About
travel through the Earth’s outer penumbra
before and after partially sweeping through the • The European Space Agency (ESA) infrared space
Earth’s inner dark umbral shadow. observatory Herschel also counted the number of
3. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: During this, the galaxies in infrared and measured their luminosity
Moon moves through the outer part of the Earth’s previously.
shadow, thus becoming very faint. • The Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment-2, or
CIBER-2, the mission is the latest in a series of
sounding rocket launches that began in 2009.
THE UNICORN • This instrument will launch aboard a sounding
• In the News: Scientists have discovered what may be rocket, a small suborbital rocket that will carry
the smallest-known black hole in the Milky Way scientific instruments on brief trips into space before
galaxy and the closest to our solar system — an object it falls back to Earth for recovery.
so curious that they nicknamed it 'the Unicorn.'
ENVISION MISSION
'The Unicorn'
• 'The Unicorn' falls into the "mass gap" between • In the News: Following NASA’s footsteps, the
the largest-known neutron stars. European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it has
• It is objects similarly formed by a large star's collapse selected EnVision as its next orbiter that will visit
- at around 2.2 times the mass of our sun and what Venus sometime in the 2030s.
previously had been considered the smallest black
holes at around five times the sun's mass. About
• Black holes like this one form when massive stars die • It is an European Space Agency (ESA) led mission
and their cores collapse. with contributions from NASA.
• Its strong gravity alters the shape of its companion • The earliest launch opportunity for EnVision is 2031,
star in a phenomenon known as tidal distortion. followed by 2032 and 2033.
• Thus, making it elongated rather than spherical and • The spacecraft will take about 15 months to reach
causing its light to change as it moves along its orbital Venus and will take 16 more months to achieve orbit
path. circularisation.
• The spacecraft will carry a range of instruments to
study the planet’s atmosphere and surface, monitor
DAVINCI PLUS AND VERITAS trace gasses in the atmosphere and analyse its
• In the News: NASA has announced two new Venus surface composition.
Missions. It will examine the planet’s atmosphere and
geological features. PASIPHAE SURVEY
• Aim: The two sister missions aim to understand how
Venus became an inferno-like world capable of • In News: Wide Area Linear Optical Polarimeter
melting lead at the surface. The new missions will (WALOP), a vital instrument for the PASIPHAE
give fresh views of the planet’s atmosphere, made up Project, is being developed at Inter-University Centre
mostly of carbon dioxide, down to the core. for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), India.
DaVinci Plus: About

• Davinci+ stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus • Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-
Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Accuracy Experiment (PASIPHAE) is an
Imaging. international collaborative sky surveying project.
• Aim: The mission will measure the planet’s • The project has been funded by the world’s leading
atmosphere to gain insight into how it formed and institutions from USA, Norway, South Africa and
evolved. Private foundations.
• Scientists aim to study the polarisation in the light
Veritas coming from millions of stars.
• VERITAS stands for Venus Emissivity, Radio • The survey will use two high-tech optical
Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy. polarimeters to observe the northern and southern
skies, simultaneously.

• It will focus on capturing starlight polarisation of • The operations of the station will be controlled by the
very faint stars that are so far away that polarization Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center in
signals from there have not been systematically China.
studied.
DISCRETE AURORAS ON MARS
WALOP
• Wide Area Linear Optical Polarimeter (WALOP) is an • In the News: The UAE’s Hope spacecraft, which is
instrument that will be used to detect polarised light orbiting Mars since February this year, has captured
signals emerging from the stars along high galactic images of glowing atmospheric lights known as
latitudes. discrete auroras.
• A WALLOP each will be mounted on the 1.3-metre
About aurora on Earth:
Skinakas Observatory, Crete (Greek islands), and on
the 1-meter telescope of the South African • Auroras are caused when charged particles
Astronomical Observatory located in Sutherland. ejected from the Sun’s surface — called the solar
wind — enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
• These particles are harmful, and our planet is
NEW SHEPHARD ROCKET SYSTEM protected by the geomagnetic field, which
• In the News: Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff preserves life by shielding us from the solar wind.
Bezos’s space company called Blue Origin recently • However, at the north and south poles, some of these
concluded the online auction for the first seat on New solar wind particles are able to continuously stream
Shephard, a rocket system meant to take tourists to down, and interact with different gasses in the
space. atmosphere to cause a display of light in the night sky.
• This display, known as an aurora, is seen from the
About Earth’s high latitude regions (called the auroral
• New Shephard is a reusable rocket system that has oval), and is active all year round.
been designed to take astronauts and research
payloads past the Karman line – the How are Martian auroras different?
internationally recognized boundary of space. • Unlike auroras on Earth, which are seen only near the
• The idea is to provide easier and more cost-effective north and south poles, discrete auroras on Mars are
access to space meant for purposes such as academic seen all around the planet at night time.
research, corporate technology development and • Unlike Earth, which has a strong magnetic field, the
entrepreneurial ventures among others. Martian magnetic field has largely died out. This is
because the molten iron at the interior of the planet–
SHENZHOU-12 which produces magnetism– has cooled.
• In the News: China, which aims to become a major

space faring power by 2030, became the second CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL (CST)
country to put a rover on Mars, two years after TESTING FACILITY
landing the first spacecraft on the far side of the • In the News: The Ministry of Science and Technology
moon. has announced the setting up of a Concentrated Solar
Thermal (CST) Testing Facility at Hyderabad.
About
• Shenzhou-12 is a manned mission. About
• It is the third of the 11 missions that needed to • Set up by the International Advanced Research
complete China’s first Permanent space station, Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials
named Tiangong Space Station. Among these (ARCI).
missions, four will be manned missions. • Purpose: The facility will help the solar industry to
test the capability and performance of solar thermal
Working: components like solar receiver tubes, heat transfer
• Shenzhou-12 is made up of three sections—an fluids, and concentrating mirrors.
orbiter module, a return module and a propelling
module. ENCELADUS
• It will carry three astronauts to the orbiting Tianhe
core module. The astronauts will test the module’s • In the News: A recently published paper has
technologies, including its life-support system. concluded that there may be unknown methane-
producing processes on Enceladus (6th largest moon
• Shenzhou-12 is China’s seventh manned mission to
of Saturn).
space and the first during the construction of China’s
space station.
About
Tiangong Space Station • NASA’s Cassini spacecraft detected an unusually
high concentration of methane, along with carbon
• Tiangong is a planned Chinese Permanent space
station to be placed in Low Earth orbit.
dioxide and dihydrogen, in Saturn’s moons by About

flying through their plumes. • Built by the United States space agency NASA, with
• New statistical methods are being used to understand contributions from the European Space Agency.
if methanogenesis (methane production by • The Hubble Space Telescope is the largest
microbes) could explain the molecular hydrogen and telescope in space. NASA launched Hubble in 1990.
methane on Enceladus. • Hubble is the only telescope designed to be
• The models combined geochemistry and microbial serviced in space by astronauts.
ecology to decode what possible processes could • Expanding the frontiers of the visible Universe, the
explain these observations. Hubble Space Telescope looks deep into space with
• Microorganisms called methanogens are capable cameras that can see across the entire optical
of generating methane as a metabolic by-product spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet.
and do not require oxygen to live. • The Hubble Space Telescope makes one orbit
around Earth every 95 minutes.
NAUKA
• In the News: Recently, Russia's space agency GEO-IMAGING SATELLITE - EOS-03
Roscosmos has detached Pirs from the International • In the News: This satellite is scheduled for launch in
Space Station (ISS) and will attach a larger module the third quarter of 2021. ISRO realized EOS-03 is
called Nauka in its place. capable of imaging the whole country 4-5 times daily.
About About
• Nauka, meaning “science” in Russian, is the biggest • It is an earth observation satellite.
space laboratory Russia has launched to date. • Last year, ISRO launched EOS-01 which is nothing but
• It will primarily serve as the country’s main another Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) that will
research facility on the space station. work together with RISAT-2B and RISAT-2BR1.
• It was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan on 21st July using a Proton rocket. Applications:
• It would enable near real-time monitoring of natural
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE disasters like floods and cyclones.
• It is capable of imaging the whole country four-five
• In the News: NASA is set to launch the James Webb
times daily.
Space Telescope(JWST). But before it launches, NASA
• It would also enable monitoring of water bodies,
has to decide whether to rename the telescope.
crops, vegetation condition, forest cover changes.
About
• James Webb Telescope is an international BERESHEET 2
collaboration between NASA, European Space • In the News: SpaceIL, the non-profit Israeli initiative,
Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency. has secured a $70 million fund to make a second
• The telescope will complement and is considered attempt at a lunar landing through the Beresheet
the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope. Project.
• The telescope will use infrared light, which cannot be
perceived by the human eye, to study every phase in About
cosmic history. • Beresheet 1 or “Genesis spacecraft” built by SpaceIL
• Mission objectives: suffered technical malfunctions and crashed on the
o Observe farther into the universe than ever moon in 2019.
before • Beresheet 2 was announced in 2020, aiming at
o Search for the first stars and galaxies created landing an unmanned craft on the moon in 2024.
after the big bang • It plans to set new global space records through a
o Better understand how planets, stars, and double landing on the moon and the instalment of the
galaxies are born and evolve over time lightest ever moon landers, each weighing 60 kg
o Explore distant worlds and study our solar without fuel.
system • The objective of this mission is to conduct
o Determine the potential for life on planets experiments and collect data on behalf of school
around other stars. students.
• It will be composed of three spacecraft - an orbiter
HUBBLE TELESCOPE named Mothership’ and two landers - that would
circle the moon for years.
• In the News: Recently, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) has planned to fix a
glitch in the Hubble space telescope, which is SUBORBITAL FLIGHT
currently running in “safe mode”. • In the News: Recently, a six person crew on Virgin
Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceship undertook a brief trip

to the “edge of space” which is known as Suborbital HYCEAN WORLDS

Flight.
• In the News: A study published in The Astrophysical
About Journal identifies a new class of exoplanets – Hycean
• When an object travels at a horizontal speed of worlds – that could support life different from that on
about 28,000 km/hr or more, it goes into orbit. Earth.
• Satellites need to reach that threshold speed in order
About
to orbit Earth.
• The word Hycean comes from the words
• Such a satellite would be accelerating towards the
hydrogen and ocean. Planet-wide oceans and
Earth due to gravity, but its horizontal movement is
hydrogen-rich atmospheres might cover these
fast enough to offset the downward motion so that it
worlds.
moves along a circular path.
• They are also uniquely alien, up to 2.6 times the
• This is because any object traveling slower than
diameter of Earth, with temperatures up to 200
28,000 km/hr must eventually return to Earth.
degrees celsius and thick hydrogen atmospheres.
• However, Unity spacecraft traveled far enough to
• This places them somewhere between Earth and
reach the “edge of space”.
giant planets like Neptune or Uranus.
• These are suborbital flights because they will not be
• With no analogs in the Solar System, these planets are
traveling fast enough to orbit Earth once they reach
variedly classed as super-Earths or mini-Neptunes
there.
depending on inferences about their bulk
compositions based on their densities.
CST-100 STARLINER • These planets, unlike most mini-Neptunes, may have
• In the News: Recently, the launch of Boeing’s solid surfaces, like Earth.
uncrewed Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) has • Many of the known Hycean candidates are larger and
been postponed once again. hotter than Earth, but still would be able to host large
oceans.
About • Some Hyceans orbit so close to their stars that they're
• The spacecraft, which is called the Crew Space tidally locked, with one hot dayside and one eternally
Transportation-100 (CST-100) , is part of an dark nightside.
uncrewed test flight to the International Space
Station (ISS). NASA’S VIPER MISSION
• Objective: Its objective is to make access to space
• In the News: NASA has chosen a landing site for the
easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can
Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover
be easily transported to and from the ISS, enabling
(VIPER). The site is on the western edge of Nobile
greater scientific research. The mission is part of
crater, near the lunar south pole.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
• The Starliner, which is supposed to carry more than About
400 pounds of NASA cargo and crew supplies, will
• VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar
take roughly 24 hours to reach the ISS, after which it
Exploration Rover. It is a mobile robot.
will dock there.
• It is the first resource mapping mission on any
• The spacecraft has been designed to accommodate
other celestial body.
seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo for
• NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)
missions to low-Earth orbit.
will be providing the launch vehicle and lander for
what’s going to be a 100-day mission.
INSPIRATION4 • Objectives of the mission:
• In the News: SpaceX announced that ‘Inspiration4’, o To explore the Moon’s South Pole region.
its first all-civilian, non-governmental spaceflight, is o Help create lunar resource maps.
on track for launch on September 15. o Evaluate the concentration of water as well as
other potential resources on its surface.
About
• Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission CHANG’E-5 PROBE
to orbit.
• In the News: China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission has
• The flight will be privately operated by SpaceX
delivered to Earth nearly 2 kg of rocky fragments and
(US Private Space Company) using a previously-
dust from the Moon.
flown Crew Dragon capsule launched to low Earth
orbit.
About
• The mission involves circling the Earth for three days,
• Chang’e 5 lunar mission is the Chinese National
and then splashing down into the Atlantic Ocean.
Space Administration’s (CNSA) mission.
• Inspiration4 will orbit the Earth at 575km, higher
than the International Space Station (408km) and the
Hubble space telescope (547km).
• Purpose: To send a robotic spacecraft to the moon to • Previously, Landsat images have been used to study
collect samples and return them to Earth for scientific the health of forests, coral reefs, monitor water
study. quality and melting glaciers.
• The spacecraft landed on an area of the Moon (the ‘far • Landsat 9 will provide data that can help make
side’) not sampled by the American or Soviet science-based decisions on key issues of climate
missions nearly 50 years ago. change such as impacts of wildfire, coral reef
• Thus, retrieved fragments of the youngest lunar rocks degradation, the retreat of glaciers, and
ever brought back for analysis in laboratories on deforestation.
Earth.
SC120-LOX
DETECTION OF DARK ENERGY • In the News: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has
• In the News: A team of researchers have made the delivered the ‘heaviest’ Semi-Cryogenic propellant
first putative direct detection of dark energy using tank (SC120-LOX) to the Indian Space Research
the XENON1T experiment (to detect dark matter). Organisation (ISRO).
About XENON1T experiment: About

• XENON1T experiment is the world’s most sensitive • The semi cryo-liquid oxygen (LOX) tank - the first
dark matter experiment and operated deep developmental welded hardware - is a part of the
underground at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran SC120 stage.
Sasso, Italy. • SC120 stage is intended for payload enhancement by
• Other similar experiments include LUX-Zeplin, a next replacing the L110 stage in the existing GSLV Mk-III
generation dark matter experiment at Sanford launch vehicle.
Underground Research Facility, and PandaX-xT at • HAL, strategic reliable partner to ISRO, has delivered
China Jinping Underground Laboratory. critical structures, tankages, satellite structures for
• XENON1T have been designed to directly detect dark the PSLV, GSLV-Mk II and GSLV-Mk III launch vehicles
matter, by searching for signs of dark matter ‘hitting’ since the last 5 decades.
ordinary matter.
Semi Cryogenic Engine:
LANDSAT 9 • Unlike a Cryogenic engine, a Semi Cryogenic engine
uses refined kerosene instead of liquid hydrogen,
• In the News: Earth Monitoring Satellite Landsat 9 - a which is lighter than liquid fuel and can be stored in a
joint mission of NASA and the US Geological Survey normal temperature.
(USGS) - was launched recently. • The liquid oxygen is used as a Oxidiser.
• Kerosene combined with liquid oxygen provide a
About
higher thrust to the rocket.
• Landsat 9 joins Landsat 8 that was launched in 2013
• Refined Kerosene occupies less space, making it
and the satellites together will collect images of
possible to carry more propellant in a Semi
Earth’s surface.
Cryogenic engines fuel compartment.
• It takes 8 days to capture the whole Earth. It will
make contact with a ground station every few hours
and offload its data. LEONIDS METEOR SHOWER
• Landsat 9 carries instruments similar to the other • In the News: This year’s annual November Leonids
Landsat satellites, but it is the most technologically Meteor Shower has begun.
advanced satellite of its generation.
• The instruments aboard Landsat 9 are the About
Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2) and the Thermal • Originally discovered in 1833.
Infrared Sensor 2 (TIRS-2). • It contains debris that originated from a small comet
• OLI-2: It captures sunlight reflected off Earth’s called 55P/Tempel-Tuttle in the constellation Leo,
surface and studies the visible, near-infrared, and which takes 33 years to orbit the sun.
short wave infrared portions of the spectrum. • Every 33 years, a Leonid shower turns into a meteor
• TIRS-2: It has a four-element refractive telescope and storm, which is when hundreds to thousands of
photosensitive detectors that capture thermal meteors can be seen every hour.
radiation and help study the Earth’s surface • The Leonids are also called fireballs and earthgrazer
temperature. meteors. Fireballs, because of their bright colors and
• As the satellite orbits, these instruments will take earthgazer because they streak close to the horizon.
pictures across 185 kms and each pixel will represent • Moreover, Leonids meteors showers are also some of
an area of about 30 meter X 30 meter. the fastest that are seen on Earth travelling at speeds
• These instruments will measure different of 71 km per second.
wavelengths of light reflected off the Earth’s surface.
Meteor Shower:
Uses:
• Meteors are bits of rock and ice that are ejected from • However, the magnetic field of white dwarf acts as
comets as they manoeuvre around their orbits a protective barrier, causing most of the falling
around the sun. plasma to be propelled away from the white dwarf.
• Meteor showers are witnessed when Earth passes
through the trail of debris left behind by a comet or White Dwarf:
an asteroid. • White dwarfs are stars that have burned up all of the
hydrogen they once used as nuclear fuel.
Can meteor showers inflict damage? • Such stars have very high density.
• The vast majority of meteors burn up long before • A typical white dwarf is half the size of our Sun and
they hit the ground, posing no threat to property or has a surface gravity 100,000 times that of Earth.
people.
• Occasionally, a small amount of material survives GSAT-7 SATELLITES
entry into Earth’s atmosphere and explodes above
the planet’s surface. • In the News: Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has
approved the procurement proposal of the Air Force
Differences Between An Asteroid, Comet, Meteoroid, for GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for real-time
Meteor and Meteorite connectivity of Software Defined Radios (SDRs).
• Asteroid: A relatively small, inactive, rocky body
orbiting the Sun. About
• Comet: A relatively small, at times active, object • Launched in 2013 for the Indian Navy.
whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an • GSAT-7: also known as Rukmini is an advanced
atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a communication satellite built by ISRO.
tail of dust and/or gas. • Purpose is to monitor the Indian Ocean Region and
• Meteoroid: A small particle from a comet or asteroid provide real-time data to all the Indian submarines,
orbiting the Sun. warships and aircraft.
• Meteor: The light phenomena which results when a • GSAT-7A: GSAT-7A is an advanced military
meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and communications satellite launched by ISRO in
vaporizes; a shooting star. 2018. The satellite is currently being used by the
• Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army. The satellite
through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands upon the allows IAF to interlink ground-based radars, airborne
Earth’s surface. early warning and control aircraft for surveillance,
and gather intelligence by detecting aircraft.
• GSAT-7C: GSAT-7C will be launched in the next 2 to
FASTEST SPINNING WHITE DWARF 3 years by ISRO. It will be the 2nd dedicated satellite
• In the News: An astronomers’ team has confirmed for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
that a white dwarf star that completes a full rotation
once every 25 seconds is the fastest spinning white Software Defined Radios (SDRs):
dwarf. • Software Defined Radio (SDR) provides enhanced
data transmission capability, enhanced voice clarity
and data transmission accuracy in spectrally noisy
environments.
NASA’S DART MISSION

• In the News: NASA will launch its first planetary
defense test mission, named the Double Asteroid
Redirection Test (DART). The mission will be
launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
About
• The main aim of the mission is to test the newly
developed technology that would allow a
spacecraft to crash into an asteroid and change its
About course.
• This star, named LAMOST J0240+1952, is part of a • DART is a low-cost spacecraft, weighing around 610
binary star system. kg at launch and 550 kg during impact.
• It is the size of the Earth but at least 200,000 times • It also carries about 10 kg of xenon which will be used
more massive. to demonstrate the agency’s new thrusters called
• J0240+1952 is an extremely rare example of a NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster–Commercial
magnetic propeller system, as it pulls gaseous plasma (NEXT-C) in space.
from the companion star and flings them into space
at 3,000 km per second.
• The spacecraft carries a high-resolution imager • Under the Artemis programme, NASA has aimed
called Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid to land the first woman on the Moon in 2024 and
Camera for Optical Navigation (DRACO). also establish sustainable lunar exploration
programs by 2030.
DHAWAN-1
NEA Scout
• In the News: Skyroot test-fires India’s first privately • Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, or NEA Scout, is a small
built cryogenic rocket engine. spacecraft, about the size of a big shoebox.
• Its main mission is to fly by and collect data from a
About
near-Earth asteroid.
• Skyroot Aerospace demonstrated the upper stage of
its Vikram-2 launch vehicle.
• The cryogenic rocket engine is 100 per cent 3D
printed and 100 percent made in India.
• It has been named after Satish Dhawan, who was the
third chairman of ISRO. He pioneered the
development of advanced launch capabilities of India.
Vikram Rocket
• Vikram Rocket has been named after pioneering
Vikram Sarabhai, who kickstarted the ambitious
space program in India. He also conducted advanced
nuclear research.
• The rocket uses a combination of Liquid Natural
Gas, which is more than 90 per cent methane.
• Liquid Natural Gas is used in combination with Liquid
Oxygen. In Combined form, it is called “Methalox”,
which forms a cryogenic rocket fuel.
MAGNETAR
• In the News: Recently, Scientists have detected what
appears to be an incredibly dense star behaving
unlike anything else ever seen - and suspect it might
BAIKAL-GVD
be a type of exotic astrophysical object whose
existence has been only hypothesised until now. • In the News: Russian scientists have deployed
Baikal-GVD, a giant underwater space telescope in
About Lake Baikal.
• The object, spotted using the Murchison Widefield
Array telescope in outback Western Australia, About
unleashed huge bursts of energy roughly three times • It will search for neutrinos, which are nearly massless
per hour when viewed from Earth during two months subatomic particles with no electrical charge.
in 2018. • Clear freshwater and thick, protective ice cover make
• It may be the first known example of what is called an Lake Baikal an ideal place to search for neutrinos.
”ultra-long period magnetar.”
• This is a variety of neutron star - the compact CRITICAL NOISE TREATMENT ALGORITHM
collapsed core of a massive star that exploded as a
• In the News: Indian astronomers have developed an
supernova.
algorithm that can increase the accuracy of data from
exoplanets by reducing the contamination by the
NEA SCOUT Earth’s atmosphere and the disturbances due to
• In the News: NASA announced that its new instrumental effects and other factors.
spacecraft, named NEA Scout, has completed all
required tests and has been safely tucked inside the About Exoplanets:
Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. • Exoplanets are planets that orbit a star other than our
sun.
About • The prefix “exo” comes from the Greek and means
• NEA Scout is one of several payloads that will hitch a outside; these worlds are far, far outside our own
ride on Artemis I, which is expected to be launched in solar system.
November. • The first confirmation of detection of exoplanets
• Artemis I will be an uncrewed test flight of the Orion occurred in 1992.
spacecraft and SLS rocket.

OSCAR 1 (ORBITING SATELLITES CARRYING was mapped over time, with human heartbeat in an
electrocardiogram.
AMATEUR RADIO)
• When the stars are at closest passage of binary
• In the News: It was launched successfully in systems, a sudden increase in integrated brightness
December, 1961, (60 years ago) and first non- with amplitude of the order of several parts-per-
governmental satellite that was built by private thousand (ppt) is observed
citizens. • As the components move apart, the light variation
falls and finally becomes flat, indicating that
About combined flux is reduced, resulting in alternating
• It was the first satellite to reach its own orbit after peaks and troughs in their light curves.
being ejected as a secondary payload of another • A total of about 180 heartbeat stars are known to
primary mission. date.
• It was deployed in low-Earth orbit, just above the • The pulsation activity of the stars is due to
atmosphere and its function post deployment was to oscillations in the component stars when they are the
transmit the letters “HI” in Morse code. closest.
• Ever since the launch of OSCAR I in 1961, it has been
traditional for amateur radio satellites to carry the
name OSCAR, and 111 satellites have received the
OSCAR designations so far.
VIKAS ROCKET ENGINE

• In the News: Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) successfully conducted a 25-second
qualification test for its liquid propellant based Vikas
engine to be used under the Gaganyaan mission.
About
• The Vikas (VIKram Ambalal Sarabhai) is a family of
liquid fuelled rocket engines conceptualized and
designed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in
the 1970s.
• The design was based on the licensed version of the
Viking engine with the chemical pressurisation
system.
• The primary difference being that the Vikas is
rated for a longer burn time.
o The Vikas Engine is the workhorse liquid rocket
engine powering
o The second stage of India’s Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle (PSLV),
o The second stage and the four strap on stages of
Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
o The twin engine core liquid stage (L110) of GSLV
Mk-III.
• The engine uses up about 40 metric tons of
Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel
and Nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) as oxidizer with a
maximum thrust of 725 kN.
CHEMICALLY PECULIAR STARS

• In News: Recently, a group of Indian and
international scientists have spotted a binary
chemically peculiar star (HD73619) in Cancer
constellation, that shows heartbeat but no pulsations
contrary to the norm of binary stars sporting both
heartbeats as well as pulsations.
About
• The name `heartbeat’ was coined from the similarity
of the light curve of the star system, if their brightness

What is the Standard Model:

3. TECHNOLOGY • The Standard Model is a rigorous theory that predicts
the behaviour of the building blocks of the universe.
ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS • It lays out the rules for six types of quarks, six leptons,
the Higgs boson, three fundamental forces, and how
• In the News: A team of Scientists from Jawaharlal
the subatomic particles behave under the influence of
Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research have
electromagnetic forces.
found a method that mimic the Photosynthesis which
is the natural process of reducing the carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere. LARGE HADRON COLLIDER BEAUTY (LHCB)
EXPERIMENT
About • In the News: The LHCb experiment at CERN
• This artificial photosynthesis harnesses solar (European Council for Nuclear Research) has
energy and converts the captured carbon dioxide announced the results of their latest analysis of data.
to carbon monoxide, which can be used as a fuel
for internal combustion engines.
• In artificial photosynthesis, scientists are essentially
conducting the same fundamental process in natural
photosynthesis but with simpler nanostructures.
COLLABCAD SOFTWARE
• In the News: National Informatics Centre (NIC),
MeitY along with Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE), Ministry of Education is jointly
launching CollabCAD Software.
About
• It is a collaborative network, computer-enabled
software system providing a total engineering
solution from 2D drafting & detailing to 3D product
design for students and faculty of the Engineering
Graphics Curriculum.
• Developed by the National Informatics Centre
(NIC).
Importance of CollabCAD Software: About

• It aims to provide a great platform to students across • The LHCb experiment is one of the four large
the country to create and modify 3D digital designs experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at
with a free flow of creativity and imagination. CERN in Geneva.
• It would enable students to collaborate over designs • It is designed to study decays of particles containing
across the network and concurrently access the same a beauty quark, the quark with the highest mass
design data for storage and visualization. forming bound states.
• The software will be used for practical assignments • Beauty quarks are produced during the collision of
as part of the subject curriculum for making different high-energy proton beams in the Large Hadron
types of 3D designs and 2D Drawings. Collider, the particle accelerator at CERN.
o Quark are elementary subatomic particles that
interact by means of the strong force and are
MUON G–2 VS STANDARD MODEL believe to be among the fundamental
• In the News: Recently, the newly published results of constituents of matter.
an international experiment hint at the possibility of o There are six types of quarks that differ from one
new physics governing the laws of nature. The another in their mass and charge characteristics,
experiment, called Muon g–2 (g minus two), was that are grouped in three pairs: Up and down,
conducted at the US Department of Energy’s Fermi charm and strange, and top and bottom.
National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). • Beauty quarks (bottom quark) are much heavier than
the up and down quarks and particles containing b
About Key takeaways: quarks are also unusually long-lived, which make
• The experiment studied a subatomic particle called them very useful to physicists looking for physics
the muon. beyond the standard mode.
• Its results do not match the predictions of the
Standard Model, on which all particle physics is FAST RADIO BURSTS
based.

• In the News: Recently, researchers from the Pune- SOFT ROBOTS OR ACTUATORS
based Tata Institute for Fundamental Research
(TIFR) and the National Centre for Radio • In the News: Scientists have developed soft robotic
Astrophysics (NCRA), have assembled the largest actuators with enhanced photomechanical capacity.
collection of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) catalogue. It was developed using porous carbon nanoparticles
from waste onion peels.
About FRBs:
About
• FRBs are bright bursts of radio waves (radio waves
can be produced by astronomical objects with • Soft robots or actuators is the specific subfield of
changing magnetic fields) that blaze for a few robotics dealing with constructing robots from
milliseconds before vanishing without a trace. highly compliant materials similar to those found
in living organisms.
• They are spotted in various and distant parts of the
universe as well as in our own galaxy. However, their • Soft robotics draws heavily from the way in which
origins are still unknown, and their appearance is living organisms move and adapt to their
highly unpredictable. surroundings.
• In contrast to robots built from rigid materials, soft
robots allow for increased flexibility and adaptability
ULTRAVIOLET-C TECHNOLOGY for accomplishing tasks, as well as improved safety
• In the News: Recently, it has been decided that when working around humans.
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) air duct disinfection systems • These characteristics allow for the potential use of
would be installed in Parliament for mitigation of soft robotics in the fields of medicine and
Covid-19. manufacturing.
LIFI NETWORK
• In the News: Students' Educational and Cultural
Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), India's highest
altitude educational organisation, has become the 1st
institute in the Union Territory to have an internet
connection using LiFi technology.
About
• Light Fidelity (LiFi) is a wireless communication
technology that transmits data with a light beam
spectrum through open space in outdoor and
indoor environments.
• It is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system
has:
About o Solid-state lighting (SSL) such as LED bulbs,
• Developed by CSIR-CSIO (Central Scientific o Photo-detector (photodiode) to receive light
Instruments Organisation). signals and
• It is designed to fit into any existing air-ducts and the o Signal processing element to convert the data
virucidal dosages using UV-C intensity and residence (embedded in the light beam) into ‘stream-able’
time can be optimised according to the existing space. content.
• The virus is deactivated in any aerosol particles by
the calibrated levels of UV-C light. SMALLEST MAN-MADE FLYING STRUCTURE
• It can be used in auditoriums, malls, educational • In the News: Northwestern University (US) has
Institutions, AC buses, and in railways. created an Electronic Microchip or Microflier with
the capability of flight. It is the smallest-ever human-
UV radiation made flying structure.
• UV radiation is the portion of the Electromagnetic
spectrum between X-rays and visible light. About
• The most common form of UV radiation is sunlight, • It has no motor or engine and is about the size of a
which produces three main types of UV rays: UVA, grain of sand.
UVB, UVC. • It catches flight on the wind — much like a maple
• UVA rays have the longest wavelengths, followed by tree’s propeller seed — and spins like a helicopter
UVB, and UVC rays which have the shortest through the air toward the ground.
wavelengths.
• While UVA and UVB rays are transmitted through the What is the basis for the Design?
atmosphere, all UVC and some UVB rays are absorbed • The engineers optimised their design by studying
by tUVGI and are used in a variety of applications, maple trees and other types of wind-dispersed seeds
such as food, air, and water disinfection. and fashioned the micro flier such that when dropped
from a height it would fall at a slow velocity in a • The Experimental Advanced Superconducting
controlled manner. Tokamak (EAST) reactor is an advanced nuclear
fusion experimental research device.
QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION • The purpose of the artificial sun is to replicate the
process of nuclear fusion, which is the same reaction
• In the News: Centre for Development of Telematics that powers the sun.
(C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre of the
• The EAST is one of three major domestic tokamaks
Department of Telecommunications has unveiled an
that are presently being operated across the country.
indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution
• Apart from the EAST, China is currently operating the
(QKD) solution Lab.
HL-2A reactor as well as J-TEXT.
• It is a secure communication technique that uses
• The EAST project is part of the International
quantum properties of photons, the elementary
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility,
particles of light, to encrypt secret keys that can be
which will become the world’s largest nuclear fusion
shared by two parties to protect their
reactor when it becomes operational in 2035.
communications.
Mechanism
• The security of QKD stems from the ability to detect
any intrusion on the QKD transmission.
• Because of the unique and fragile properties of
photons, any third party (or eavesdropper) who tries
to read or copy the photons in any way will change
the photons’ state.
• The change will be detected by the endpoints,
alerting them that the key has been tampered with
and must be discarded.
• A new key is then transmitted. Moreover, since the
keys generated are truly random, they are protected
from future hacking attempts.
SMART SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT

LIMITER
• In the news: An Indian researcher has developed a
unique innovation of a prototype of a smart system
that can protect power grids from short-circuits by
either automatically diverting the current into a
parallel shunt or limiting a current surge by
developing high resistance in the current path.
NEW DOPPLER RADARS IN MAHARASHTRA:
About IMD
• This technology is based on the property of • In the News: The India Meteorological Department
superconductors offering zero resistance to currents (IMD) recently stated that seven additional doppler
up to a threshold current value, namely, the critical radars will be installed in Maharashtra, including
current. Mumbai, in 2021.
• This circuit is connected in parallel to a low
resistance shunt through a switch. About
• SCFLsm allows for the continuous monitoring and • The IMD uses Doppler radars of several frequencies
mapping of the current distribution across the — S-band, C-band, and X-band — to identify and track
superconductor used inside it. This enables the direct the movement of weather systems, cloud bands, and
visualization of any instability setting in the SCFLsm rainfall throughout a 500-kilometer coverage area.
during its operation. • Over Mumbai, four X-band radars and one C-band
radar will be erected.
EXPERIMENTAL ADVANCED • In addition, a new C-band radar will be installed in
SUPERCONDUCTING TOKAMAK (EAST) Ratnagiri, and an X-band radar will be installed at
Vengurla, both of which will be used for many
• In the News: China’s Experimental Advanced
purposes.
Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which mimics the
energy generation process of the sun
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
About • In the News: Recently, the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY) prepared a
strategy paper titled “National Strategy on Additive • They are near-microscopic multicellular organisms.
manufacturing (AM)”. • They were discovered in 1773 by the German
zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze who dubbed
Objectives include: the “little water bear.
• Ensure creation of a sustainable ecosystem for the • Tardigrades are found everywhere in terrestrial,
AM industry to compete globally. marine, and freshwater environments from the Arctic
• Position India as a global Innovation and Research to the Antarctic, including great depths and altitudes.
hub for Additive Manufacturing. • They are known to survive extreme conditions —
• Promote creation of Indian IPR. such as exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme
pressures (both high and low), air deprivation
through a latent state of life known as cryptobiosis.
About Additive Manufacturing (AM)/ 3D printing:

• Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is defined as
the technology that constructs a three-dimensional
object from a digital 3D model or a Computer-aided
design (CAD) model by adding material layer by
layer.
• Under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Atal Tinkering
Labs have been set up, with do-it-yourself (DIY) kits
on latest technologies like 3D Printers, Robotics,
Internet of Things (IOT), Miniaturized electronics.
QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT
• In News: Scientists have identified the first ”quantum AQUAMATION
entangled” animal in history-frozen tardigrade, in a
recent study. • In News: The body of Nobel Peace Prize winning
• Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon Anglican archbishop and anti-apartheid campaigner
that occurs when a group of particles are Desmond Tutu underwent aquamation.
generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in
a way such that the quantum state of each particle About
of the group cannot be described independently • Also known as water cremation, green cremation
of the state of the others, including when the or chemical cremation or alkaline hydrolysis,
particles are separated by a large distance. Aquamation is a “flameless cremation” process that
involves of cremation by water rather than fire.
About the study • Aquamation is a process in which the body of the
• Scientists have placed a tardigrade in a state of deceased is immersed for 3 to 4 hours in a
quantum entanglement. mixture of water (95%) and a strong alkali (5%)
• In other words: the researchers managed to put a in a pressurized metal cylinder and heated to
tardigrade in a state where it was directly connected around 150 degree centigrade.
to the qubits in such a way that anything that happens • The combination of gentle water flow, temperature
to the water bear or the qubits would simultaneously and alkalinity in this process accentuate the
affect all three. breakdown of the organic materials.
• Significance of this study: This study is perhaps the • The decomposition that occurs in alkaline hydrolysis
closest realization combining biological matter and is the same as that which occurs during burial, just
quantum matter available with present-day sped up dramatically by the chemicals.
technology. Moreover, this work is a new record for • Result: The process liquifies everything, and leaves
the conditions that a complex form of life can survive. behind bones and a neutral liquid called effluent.
• Bones are then dried with the help of an oven and
Tardigrades: reduced to white dust.
• Tardigrades are also called water bears or moss
piglets.
• Effluent is sterile, and contains salts, sugars, amino combat pandemics in railway coaches, AC buses,
acids and peptides. There is no tissue and no DNA left closed spaces etc.
after the process completes.
• This effluent is discharged with all other wastewater, About
and is a welcome addition to the water systems. • Developed by: Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR).
• Purpose: The technology is meant for the mitigation
of airborne transmission of Covid-19.
• Working: UV-C deactivates viruses, bacteria, fungus
and other bioaerosols etc with appropriate dosages
using 254 nm UV light.
• Applications: The disinfection system can be used in
auditoriums, large conference rooms, classrooms,
malls etc. which provides a relatively safer
environment for indoor activities in the current
pandemic. It can also be used in buildings, transport
vehicles, etc.
• This technology can also be used by the Election
Commission of India during indoor meetings with
limited capacity for the upcoming Assembly polls in 5
States in the wake of a ban on physical rallies and
DIGITAL EMBOSSING TECHNOLOGY roadshows for a specified period of time.
• In The News: Visually challenged students from all
over the country will have access soon to Braille Maps SOLID-STATE BATTERIES
designed and developed using Digital Embossing
• In the News: Shareholders of California-based
Technology.
QuantumScape Corp, a battery startup backed by
Volkswagen AG, have approved a multibillion-dollar
About
pay package for Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep
• It is a technology that eliminates the need for Singh, subject to the company meeting some
printing plates, moulds, chemicals, and solvents performance milestones.
besides releasing no pollutants or waste and
reducing overall energy usage. About
• Introduced by: DET technology has been introduced, • QuantumScape’s solid-state battery — lithium
designed and implemented for the first time in India metal with a solid electrolyte separating the two
by National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation electrodes — is seen as an exceptionally bright
(NATMO). prospect in an increasingly crowded space.
• Significance: The maps produced using this • QuantumScape says its solid-state lithium-metal
technology are not only useful for high-speed battery replaces the polymer separator used in
production of the maps but can also produce Braille conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solidstate
Maps that can be used by more people for years separator.
together.
• The lithium metal anode is more energy-dense than
conventional anodes, which allows the battery to
National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation
store more energy in the same volume, according to
(NATMO):
the company.
• Set up in 1997.
• Advantages of the solid-state battery technology
• It is a subordinate department under the Department include:
of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & o Higher cell energy density,
Technology. o Lower charge time,
• Headquarter Kolkata. o Ability to undertake more charging cycles and
thereby a longer life, and
Functions: o Improved safety. Lithium-ion Batteries.
• Compilation of the National Atlas of India in Hindi, • It uses an intercalated lithium compound as one
English and other regional languages. electrode material, compared to the metallic
• Preparation of thematic maps based on socio- lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.
economic, physical, cultural, environmental, • The battery consists of electrolyte, which allows for
demographic and other issues. ionic movement, and the two electrodes are the
constituent components of a lithium-ion battery cell.
UV-C DISINFECTION TECHNOLOGY • Lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the
• In News: Recently, the Union Minister has said that positive electrode during discharge and back when
UV-C Disinfection technology is being installed to charging.

Lithium-ion Battery Applications:

• Electronic gadgets, Tele-communication, Aerospace,
4. COMMUNICATION
Industrial applications.
• Lithium-ion battery technology has made it the NATIONAL INTERNET EXCHANGE OF INDIA
favourite power source for electric and hybrid
• In the news: The Ministry of Electronics and
electric vehicles.
Information Technology (MeitY) recently launched
three new National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI).
ALGAN/GAN HIGH ELECTRON MOBILITY
TRANSISTORS About
• In News: Recently, Indian researchers have • Since 2003, NIXI has been a not-for-profit
developed a high performance industry-standard corporation (section 8 of the Companies Act 2013)
model for Aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN) dedicated to providing internet infrastructure to
High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). Indian residents through the following activities:
• Internet Exchanges, which allow Internet Service
About HEMTs Providers (ISPs), Data Centers, and Content Delivery
• HEMT or High Electron Mobility Transistor is a Networks (CDNs) to exchange data over the
type of field effect transistor (FET) which is used to internet.IN Registry, which manages and operates
produce high performance at microwave frequencies. the.IN country code domain and the.IN country code
• In March 2021, scientists from Bangalore has domain.
developed a first-ever indigenous HEMT device made • India's IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) is
from gallium nitride (GaN). BHARAT.
• The Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers
What has the researchers developed now? (IRINN) is responsible for the management and
• Researchers have now developed a high performance operation of the Internet Protocol (IPv4/IPv6).
industry-standard model for HEMT device made
from Aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN). 5G TECHNOLOGY
• Properties: The device has two excellent properties
• In the News: Recently, the Department of
– high mobility and high-power performance.
Telecommunications (DoT) has sought inputs from
• These properties reduce the noise figure and
telcos and other industry experts on the sale and use
complexity while designing Low Noise Amplifiers
of radio frequency spectrum over the next 10 years,
(LNAs) while increasing the achievable bandwidth.
including the 5G bands.
• This device can also be used to make high-power
Radio Frequency (RF) circuits.
About
• 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in the
long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband
networks.
• 5G offers exponentially faster download and
upload speeds.
• 5G will deliver multi-Gbps peak rates, ultra-low
latency, massive capacity, and a more uniform user
experience.
• Bands in 5G: 5G mainly work in 3 bands, namely low,
mid and high frequency spectrum — all of which have
their own uses as well as limitations -
o Low band spectrum: It has shown great
promise in terms of coverage and speed of
internet and data exchange however the
maximum speed is limited to 100 Mbps
(Megabits per second).
o Mid-band spectrum: It offers higher speeds
compared to the low band, but has limitations in
terms of coverage area and penetration of
signals.
o High-band spectrum: It has the highest speed of
all the three bands, but has extremely limited
coverage and signal penetration strength.
ALTIMETER

• In the News: The US Federal Aviation Administration About

(FAA) has warned that the new 5G technology could • QSim is a first-of-its-kind indigenously developed
interfere with instruments such as altimeters. toolkit that helps in learning and understanding
the practical aspects of programming using
About Quantum Computers.
• An altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument • It is an outcome of the ‘Design and Development of
used to measure the altitude of an object above a Quantum Computer Toolkit (Simulator,
fixed level. Workbench) & Capacity Building’ project.
• So, in aviation it measures how far above the ground • This project is being executed collaboratively by IISc
an airplane is travelling. Bangalore, IIT Roorkee and C-DAC with the support
• In addition to altitude, altimeter readouts are also of MeitY.
used to facilitate automated landings and to help • QSim provides a platform to acquire the skills of
detect dangerous currents called wind shear. ‘programming’ (Quantum Code) as well as ‘designing’
real Quantum Hardware.
6G • It enables the researchers and students to carry out
research in Quantum computing in a cost effective
• In the News: To keep up with the global market, the manner.
government has urged the Centre for Development of
• Features: QSim offers a QC Simulator integrated
Telematics (C-DOT) to start developing 6G and other
with a GUI based Workbench allowing people to
upcoming technologies.
create Quantum programs.
• QSim helps simulate Quantum circuits with and
About:
without noise and test how well various algorithms
• It will be able to operate at higher frequencies
work with imperfect quantum components.
than 5G networks, resulting in significantly
increased capacity and decreased latency (delay).
• One of the 6G internet's aims will be to provide INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 (IPV6)
communication with a latency of one microsecond • In the News: Government directed to shift from IP4
(delay of one-microsecond in communication). to IP6
• This is 1,000 times quicker than one millisecond
throughput, or 1/1000th the latency. About
• It aims to make use of the currently underutilised • Internet Protocol represents the set of rules that
terahertz frequency spectrum. govern sending and receiving messages on the
internet.
• The data sent from one computer to another, on the
GIGAMESH
Internet, follow this protocol.
• In the News: Recently, a women-led startup Astrome • The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) provides an
has developed ‘Giga Mesh’. addressing capability of approximately 4.3 billion
addresses.
About • The more advanced version i.e. Internet Protocol
• It is an innovative wireless backhaul solution, version 6 (IPv6) is capable of providing an infinite
based on patented millimeter wave wireless number of addresses, thereby accommodating the
technology for Mesh Architecture. growing number of networks worldwide.
• It is an innovative wireless product that gives fiber-
like bandwidth at a fraction of cost of fiber to help
telecom operators deliver reliable low-cost internet
services to suburban and rural areas.
• It is a multi-beam E-band product which packs 6
point-to-point E-band radios in one, thereby
distributing the cost of the device over multiple links.
Benefits of Gilgamesh
• It reduces network congestion and also makes the
existing infrastructure 5G ready.
• A single GigaMesh device can provide up to 40 links
with 2+ Gbps capacity each, communicating up to a
range of 10 kilometers. WEB 3.0
• In the News: Recently, Indian venture capital firms
QSIM TOOLKIT are betting on Web 3.0 start-ups as they view such
companies as developers of products for the next
• In the News: The union minister for Electronics & stage of the internet.
Information Technology has launched the country’s
first ‘Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) Toolkit’.
About for use, modification, and distribution with its

• Web 3.0 is the next stage of the web evolution that original rights.
would make the internet more intelligent. • Source code is the part of software that most
• Can process information with near-human-like computer users don’t ever see.
intelligence through the power of AI systems that • It’s the code computer programmers manipulate to
could run smart programs to assist users. control how a program or application behaves.
• The goal of Web 3.0 is to create more intelligent, • OSS typically includes a licence that allows
connected, and open websites. programmers to modify the software to best fit their
• Web 1.0, also called the Static Web, which started needs and control how the software can be
in the 1990s enabled easy access to information. distributed. Examples of Linux, Mozilla Firefox, VLC
• The Social Web, or Web 2.0, made the internet a lot media player, SugarCRM, etc.
more interactive thanks to advancements in web • Closed Source or Proprietary Software:
technologies like Javascript, HTML5, CSS3, etc. This o Closed source software is software that holds the
enabled start-ups to build interactive web platforms source code safe and encrypted.
such as YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia and many o Meaning, the user can't copy, modify, or delete
more. parts of the code without some type of
consequence.
GITHUB
• In News: The open-source software repository
service GitHub is in the news after it was used to
create and share an offensively named app that
sexually harassed Muslim women in India.
About
• It is the world’s largest open-source developer
community platform where users upload their
projects and code for others to view, edit, and tweak.
• Under this platform, any developer can upload
whatever software code or app code or software idea
they have on the platform and have others
collaborate with them to help improve it, find errors,
and fix problems.
• The platform uses the software Git, which was
created in 2005 by Linus Trovalds, the developer of
the open-source operating system Linux, to track
changes in a set of files and for coordination in
software.
• The app used pictures of the women stolen from their
social media handles and invited “users” to bid for
them.
• GitHub has blocked the user, and the Indian
Computer Emergency Response System (CERT-IN),
has been asked to form “a high-level committee.
Open Source Software:

• Open-source software (OSS) is software that is
distributed with its source code, making it available
Key Features of ATL:

5. POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES • ATL is a work space where young minds can give
shape to their ideas through hands-on do-it-yourself
ATAL INNOVATION MISSION - PRIME mode and learn innovation skills.
• Young children will get a chance to work with tools
• In the News: The AIM-PRIME program is aimed at
and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM
promoting science based, deep technology ideas to
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
market through training and guidance over a period
of 9 months. • ATL would contain educational and learning ‘do it
yourself’ kits and equipment on – science, electronics,
robotics, open source microcontroller boards,
About
sensors and 3D printers and computers.
• Focus Area: Science-based, knowledge-intensive,
• Financial Support: AIM will provide grant-in-aid of
deep technology entrepreneurship.
Rs. 20 Lakh to each school that includes a one-time
• Launching & Implementing Agency:
establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational
o AIM has collaborated with Bill & Melinda Gates
expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5
Foundation (BMGF) to launch this nationwide
years to each ATL.
programme
o It will be implemented by Venture Centre - a non- • Eligibility: Schools (minimum Grade VI – X) managed
profit technology business incubator hosted by by Government, local body or private trusts/society
to set up ATL.
Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–
National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL).
VIGYAN JYOTI PROGRAMME
ATL SPACE CHALLENGE 2021 • In the News: The second phase of Vigyan Jyoti
programme commenced on the occasion of
• In the News: Recently, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation
International Day of Women and Girls in Science on
Mission (AIM) in collaboration with ISRO (Indian
February 11, 2021.
Space Research Organisation) and CBSE (Central
Board of Secondary Education) has launched 'ATL
About
Space Challenge 2021’.
• It was launched by the Department of Science &
About Technology (DST) in December 2019.
• It is a platform where students from Class 6-12 can • Aim: It aims to create a level-playing field for the
innovate and solve digital age space technology meritorious girls in high school. It will encourage
problems. The event is scheduled to be held in sync them to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering,
with World Space Week 2021. and Mathematics(STEM) in their higher education
and make them self-reliant.
• Aim: To enable innovation among young school
students to create something in the space sector. • Classes: Covered This programme started at school
level for meritorious girls of Class IX to Class XII.
• It will not only help them learn about space but also
create something that space programme can itself • Coverage: The programme had been running
use. successfully in 50 Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalayas(JNV) since 2019. It is now expanded to 50
Who can participate in this challenge? more JNVs for the year 2021-22.
• Challenge has been designed for all the school • Activities under the programme: The activities
students, mentors and teachers across the county. under the programme include-
o Student-parent counselling,
• All the ATL and non-ATL schools can participate in it.
o Visit to labs and knowledge centres,
o Partners role model interactions, science camps,
ATAL TINKERING LABS o Academic support classes, resource material
• In the News: Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog distribution
and ISRO has announced that ISRO will be adopting o Tinkering activities.
100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country to
promote education in the field of STEM, Space NATIONAL AI PORTAL (INDIAAI)
education and space technology related Innovations • In the News: Recently, the first anniversary of the
for school students ‘National AI Portal’ has been celebrated.
About About
• It is an initiative by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI • Launched: Launched in May 2020, It is a joint
Aayog with the aim of establishing Atal Tinkering initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and IT
Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India. (MeitY), National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and
• Objective: To foster curiosity, creativity and NASSCOM.
imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such
as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive
learning, physical computing etc.
• Objective: It will create and nurture a unified AI • It has been used to simulate the effects of saltwater
ecosystem for driving excellence and leadership in intrusion, contaminant transport, and thermal
India's AI journey. pollution.
• Purpose: The portal works as a one-stop digital
platform for sharing of resources. Such as articles, DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT
startups, investment funds in AI, resources,
companies and educational institutions related to AI • In the News: The union minister for Electronics and
in India. Information Technology was locked out of his Twitter
account for an hour allegedly over a notice received
• The portal also shares documents, case studies,
for violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
research reports etc. It also has a section about
(DMCA).
learning and new job roles related to AI.
About
Other Artificial Intelligence Related Government
Initiatives: • It is a law passed in the US and is among the world’s
first laws recognising Intellectual Property (IP) on
• Responsible AI for Youth Programme
the internet.
o Launched by: The programme has been
launched by the National e-Governance Division, • The DMCA oversees the implementation of two 1996
MeitY. It is in collaboration with Intel India with treaties signed by World Intellectual Property
support from the Ministry of Education. Organisation (WIPO) member nations.
o Purpose: The program is designed to reach out
to students from the government schools pan Which are those two treaties of WIPO?
India. It aims to empower them to become ‘AI • In 1996, WIPO member countries agreed upon two
ready’ and help reduce the AI skill gap in India. treaties namely the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the
o Eligibility: The program is open to students from WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Government Schools, classes 8 – 12 across the • Both the treaties require member nations and
country. It will be implemented in a phase-wise signatories to provide in their respective
manner. jurisdictions, protection to intellectual property that
• Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE) may have been created by citizens of different nations
2020 who are also co-signatories to the treaty.
o RAISE 2020 has been organised by the MeitY in
association with the NITI Aayog. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
o The theme for this conference is “AI for Social • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is
Transformation, Inclusion and Empowerment”. one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United
o Purpose: To bring together people to exchange Nations (UN).
ideas on the use of Artificial Intelligence for social • Purpose: It was created to promote and protect
empowerment. This includes inclusion and intellectual property (IP) across the world by
transformation in industries, education, smart cooperating with countries as well as international
mobility, agriculture and healthcare among organizations.
others. • WIPO Convention:- Its mandate of governing bodies
and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention
which had established WIPO in 1967.
SUTRA MODEL
• Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland.
• In the News: Scientists working on the SUTRA model • Members: As of date, 193 nations across the world,
have rejected media reports claiming that they had including India, are members of WIPO.
cautioned the Government regarding the second
wave of the corona pandemic in March this year.
UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT
About • In the News: Latest edition of UNESCO Science
• It was first released in 1984. Report (USR) was published on June 11, 2021 which
• It is a three-dimensional groundwater model that is entitled as “race against time for smarter
simulates solute transport (i.e. salt water) or development”.
temperature in a subsurface environment.
• It is a model for saturated-unsaturated, variable- About
density ground-water flow with solute or energy • UNESCO Science Report is a global monitoring
transport. report.
• The SUTRA (Saturated-Unsaturated Transport) is a • It is published every five years by the United Nations
computer program that simulates fluid movement Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
and the transport of either energy or dissolved (UNESCO).
substances in a subsurface environment. • Objective: The report monitors trends in science
• It employs a weight grid that is based on a finite governance worldwide to identify which
element and integrated finite difference hybrid development path countries are following.
method framework.
• Latest Report: The latest edition was published with • Launched in 2020, I-STEM is the national web portal
the title ‘The race against time for smarter for sharing R&D facilities.
development’. • I-STEM is an initiative of the Office of the Principal
• The report has an exclusive chapter on India. Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India (PSA, GOI)
• Key outcome: India’s Investment in Research The under the aegis of Prime Minister Science,
gross domestic expenditure on research(GERD) has Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-
been stagnant at 0.7% of the GDP for years. However, STIAC) mission.
in absolute terms, the research expenditure has • The portal was created by the Centre for Nano
increased. Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian
Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
FUND FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH • The goal of I-STEM is to strengthen the R&D
ENGAGEMENT (FIRE) PROGRAM ecosystem of the country by connecting researchers
with resources.
• In the News: The first-of-its-kind research initiative • I-STEM portal facilitates researchers to access slots
called ‘Fund for Industrial Research Engagement for the use of equipment, as well as to share the
(FIRE)’ is launched by the Science and Engineering details of the outcomes.
Research Board (SERB).
Phase II
About • I-STEM portal will be designed as a dynamic digital
• Collaboration: Department of Science and platform that will provide boost to research and
Technology (DST), GoI and Intel India. innovation especially for 2 tier and 3 tier cities and
• Aim: aim to promote innovative technology solutions also for the emerging start-up ecosystem.
and strengthen academic research through • It will host indigenous technology products listed
collaboration with key research and through a digital catalogue.
development(R&D) organizations in India.
Key Features of the FIRE Program BIOTECH-PRIDE

• The program intends to select highly impactful • In the News: The Union Ministry for Science &
research projects in every cycle (typically once or Technology has released “Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion
twice a year) which have breakthrough potential at a of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange)
national or global level. Guidelines”.
• These projects will be in the space of Artificial
Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), platform About
systems, circuits & architecture, Internet of Things • The Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines have been developed
(IoT), security, and so on from edge to cloud. by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Moreover, the selected projects will get support with • Aim: The guidelines are aimed at providing a well-
funding, mentoring and industry connect. defined framework and guiding principle to facilitate
and enable sharing and exchange of biological
Science and Engineering Board (SERB): knowledge, information and data.
• SERB is a statutory body established in 2009. It • Implementation: The guidelines will be
functions under the Department of Science and implemented through the Indian Biological Data
Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Centre (IBDC).
• It was set up for promoting basic research in • Significance: The exchange of information will help
science and engineering. in promoting research and innovation in different
• It also provides financial assistance to scientists, research groups across the country.
academic institutions, Research and • These guidelines do not deal with generation of
Development laboratories, industrial concerns, biological data but are an enabling mechanism to
and other agencies for such research. share and exchange information and knowledge
• It is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of generated as per the existing laws, rules, regulations
India in the Department of Science and and guidelines of the country.
Technology. Further, it has other senior government
officials and eminent scientists as members. BioGrid:
• Bio-Grid will be a national repository for biological
I-STEM knowledge, information and data.
• It will be responsible for enabling its exchange,
• In the News: The Indian Science Technology and
developing measures for safety, standards and
Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) project has been
quality for datasets and establishing detailed
accorded an extension for five years, until 2026 and
modalities for accessing data.
enters its second phase with added features.
Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC):
About

• The Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) is the first • The Information Technology (Amendment) Act
national repository for life science data in India. 2008 designated CERT-In to serve as the national
• Purpose: IBDC is mandated to archive all life science agency to perform certain functions.
data generated from publicly funded research in
India. NATIONAL BIO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
• Supported by: The data center is supported by the COMPETITION
Government of India (GOI) through the Department
of Biotechnology (DBT). • In the News: Recently, the Department of
• Location: It is being established at Regional Centre Biotechnology has launched the fifth edition of the
of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC).
About
NORTH EASTERN SPACE APPLICATIONS • NBEC is India’s largest and most prestigious
CENTRE (NESAC) national competition for bio-entrepreneurs.
• In the News: North Eastern Space Applications • Objective: To identify and nurture deep science-
Centre (NESAC) has been roped in to do satellite driven business ideas in the life sciences domain that
mapping of border areas to help "scientifically" has the potential to break new ground in addressing
demarcate inter-state boundaries. societal challenges.
About • Organised by: Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular
• It was established as a joint initiative of the and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in partnership
Department of Space (DOS) and the North Eastern with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance
Council (NEC). Council (BIRAC).
• Established in 2005. • Participation:
• Located in Shillong. o Over 30 industry and investment partners have
• It helps in augmenting the developmental process in come forward to encourage and support bio-
the region by providing advanced space technology entrepreneurship in India.
support. o Reach out to Student Teams, Entrepreneurs,
Individuals, Start-ups and established
North Eastern Council (NEC) Companies across India.
• It is the statutory body established after amending
the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971 in the year INSPIRE AWARDS-MANAK
2002.
• In the News: Recently, the 8th National Level
• It is the nodal agency for economic and social Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) for the
development of 8 North Eastern Region States of INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge),
Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura including the
has commenced.
four states having Schedule six areas.
• The Home Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of About
the Council.
• It is one of the components of the Innovation in
• The DoNER Minister is the Vice-Chairman. Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)
• The council has Governors and Chief Ministers of all Scheme.
eight north-eastern states as its members. • Aim: To motivate students in the age group of 10-15
years and studying in classes 6 to 10 to become future
CERT-IN innovators and critical thinkers.
• In the News: CERT-In tracks 6.07 lakh cybersecurity • Nodal Agencies: The award is being executed by the
incidents in the first six months of 2021, of which Department of Science & Technology (DST) with the
about 12,000 were related to government National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an
organisations. autonomous body of DST.
• Coverage: Under this, students will be invited from
About all government or private schools throughout the
• CERT-In stands for Computer Emergency Response country, irrespective of their educational boards
Team (CERT-In). (national and state) to send original and creative
technological ideas/innovations.
• Established in 2004.
• It is an organisation of the Ministry of Electronics
INSPIRE Scheme
and Information Technology (MeiTY),
• The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for
Government of India, with the objective of securing
Inspired Research) scheme is one of the flagship
Indian cyberspace.
programmes of the Ministry of Science and
• It is the nodal agency which deals with
Technology & Earth Sciences.
cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.
• Its objective is to communicate to the youth
population of the country the creative pursuit of
science and attract talent to the study of science • The challenge invites applications from start-ups and
at an early stage. tech entrepreneurs to develop state-of-the-art
technology for Planetariums.
VISVESVARAYA PHD SCHEME • It perfectly aligns with the objective of the nation’s
progressive digital transformation under the larger
• In the News: Union Minister of Electronics & umbrella of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Information Technology launched Phase II of the
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme.
INNOVATIONS FOR YOU
About • In the News: NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission
• Launched by the Ministry of Electronics and (AIM) launched a new digi-book-called “Innovations
Information Technology in 2014. for You”.
• Aim: To enhance the number of PhDs in Electronics
System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT About
Enabled Services (IT/ITES) sectors in the country. • Innovations for You is a digital book.
• Aim: aims to showcase the success stories of Atal
Salient features of the PhD Scheme are as follows Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains.
• It provides 25% more fellowship amount than most • These startups have worked to create new, disruptive
of the other PhD Schemes. and innovative products, services and solutions that
• Part-time PhD candidates get a one-time incentive on can pave a path for a sustainable future.
completion of the PhD.
• The scheme also supports 200 Young Faculty AI PE CHARCHA
Research Fellowships in the areas of ESDM and
IT/ITES with the objective to retain and attract bright • In News: The National e Governance Division (NeGD)
young faculty members in these sectors. of the Ministry of Electronics and IT organised “AI Pe
Charcha (AI Dialogue)” on October 28, 2021.
Phase 1
• Under Phase 1, PhD seats were allocated to 97 About
institutions (IITs, NITs, Central & State Universities • AI Pe Charcha was organised under the theme- “AI
etc.) in 25 states and 4 Union Territories. for Data Driven Governance”.
• AI Pe Charcha is a series of panel discussions
Phase II involving various global and domestic leaders
• Under Phase II, the scheme aims to support 1000 from the Government and industry, researchers and
Full-Time PhD Candidates, 150 Part-Time PhD academicians sharing their views & experiences and
Candidates, 50 Young Faculty Research Fellowships challenges around Artificial Intelligence.
and 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships.
National e-Governance Division
PLANETARIUM INNOVATION CHALLENGE • Created in 2009 by the Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology as an Independent
• In the News: Recently, MyGov India, under the Business Division under the Digital India
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Corporation.
(MeitY), launched the Planetarium Innovation • Mandate: To support the Ministry of Electronics &
Challenge for Indian start-ups and tech Information Technology in Programme Management
entrepreneurs. and implementation of e-Governance projects and
initiatives undertaken by Ministries/ Departments,
About both at the Central and State levels.
• The Indian Space Research Organization
conducted the ISRO Quiz competition which was Digital India Corporation
Inspired by the Chandrayaan mission in collaboration • Digital India Corporation is a not for profit company
with MyGov, where several schools, parents and set up by the Ministry of Electronics and
enthusiastic mentors made it memorable through Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 8
their active participation. of Companies Act 2013.
• Aims: To bring together the tech firms and Startups • Purpose: It provides strategic support to Ministries/
with the potential to build an indigenous planetarium States for carrying forward the mission of Digital
system software using the latest technologies India by way of Capacity Building for e-Governance
including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and projects, promoting best practises, etc.
Merged Reality, especially for smaller cities and rural
areas, all Made in India.
• Planetarium Innovation Challenge was launched CRISP-M TOOL
looking forward to a repeat of the ISRO Quiz. • In the News: The Govt. of India launched the Climate
Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-
M) tool under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
About • ISpA will also work towards building global linkages

• CRISP-M is a web and mobile phone-based for the Indian space industry to bring in critical
Geographic Information System(GIS) aided tool technology and investments into the country to
that has been designed to help communities make create more high skill jobs.
climate-smart decisions. • ISpA also plans to work in very close coordination
• The tool will help integrate climate information in with IN-SPACe to further the space vision of the
the GIS-based planning and implementation of Government.
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
• This tool will be used in seven states where the Significance
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office • With our large talent pool, growing prowess of home
(FCDO), Government of UK and Ministry of Rural grown technology startups and private enterprises
Development, Government of India are jointly the country is at an inflexion point of what will be a
working towards climate resilience. giant leap in the space arena.
• The states are Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, • India has the potential to become a technology leader
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and and frugal service provider to the global space
Rajasthan. industry.
SWARNA JAYANTI FELLOWSHIP SCHEME NATIONAL MISSION ON QUANTUM

• In the News: Seventeen scientists from scientific TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS
institutions across India have been awarded the • In the news: The Finance Minister launched the
Swarnajayanti Fellowships for their innovative National Mission on Quantum Technologies and
research ideas. Applications (NM-QTA) in the Union Budget 2020.
About Scheme: About

• It was instituted by the Government of India to • The scheme is implemented by the Department of
commemorate India's fiftieth year of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry
Independence. of Science and Technology.
• It provides special assistance and support to a • The focus areas for the mission will be addressing
selected number of young scientists with a proven national priorities through:
track record to enable them to pursue basic research o Fundamental science
in frontier areas of science and technology. o Translation
• Under the scheme the awardees are facilitated by the o Technology development
Department of Science & Technology, GOI with • The mission is expected to address the ever-
support for all the requirements for performing the increasing technological demands of society and also
research including a fellowship of Rs. 25,000/- per take into account the international achievements and
month for five years. trends in this domain.
• It is also expected to benefit in preparing the next
INDIAN SPACE ASSOCIATION generation of skilled manpower, encourage
translational research, and promote
• In the News: The PM has launched the Indian Space entrepreneurship and develop an ecosystem for
Association (ISpA), an industry body consisting of start-ups.
various stakeholders of the Indian space domain.
About DBT-STAR COLLEGE MENTORSHIP

• Aim: ISpA aims to be a forum of the space industry in PROGRAMME
the Indian private sector and partner the • In the News: The Union Minister launched the first-
Government of India and other key stakeholders ever Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators to
across space industry segments in making the nation mark the 75th Year of India’s independence.
self-reliant in the area as well as to become a global
service provider. About
• ISpA aims to contribute to the Government of • The programme aims to have a ‘Star College’ in every
India’s vision of making India Atmanirbhar and a district of the country supported by the Department
global leader in the space arena, which is fast of Biotechnology (DBT).
emerging as the next growth frontier for mankind. • Under the programme, the Star Status Colleges will
mentor the newer colleges through hand-holding and
Functions peer learning and bringing them under the aegis of
• The association will engage with stakeholders across Star College Scheme.
the ecosystem for the formulation of an enabling
policy framework that fulfils the Government’s Star College Scheme
vision. • Initiated by the Department of Biotechnology
(DBT) in 2008 to support colleges and universities
offering undergraduate education to improve science o It will collect contextual data, like newspaper
teaching across the country. headlines and trending stories, key news stories
• Aim: To improve critical thinking and encourage and social media posts.
‘hands on’ experimental science at undergraduate
level in basic science subjects. It also aims to SAMUDRAYAN
encourage more students to take up higher education
in science. • In the news: India's first manned ocean mission
Samudrayan was launched in Chennai.
WISER PROGRAM About

• In the News: The Union Minister for Science and • It is India's first human ocean expedition, with the
Technology has launched the Women’s Involvement goal of sending men deep into the ocean in a
in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) submersible vehicle for deep-ocean exploration and
program. rare material extraction.
• It will carry three people to a depth of 6000
About metres in the sea in a manned submersible
• This is a first-of-its-kind programme, launched to vehicle called MATSYA 6000 for deep underwater
promote women in the field of research and research. Submarines have a maximum depth of
development by lateral entry. roughly 200 metres.
• Launched by Indo-German Science & Technology • The MATSYA 6000 is a manned submersible
Centre (IGSTC) to encourage women researchers in vehicle that was created in-house.
R&D projects. • It will let the MoES perform deep ocean research for
• Features: The involvement in the program will be resources like as gas hydrates, polymetallic
possible through lateral entry. There is neither manganese nodules, hydro-thermal sulphides, and
requirement of break-in-career nor any age limit, and cobalt crusts, which are found between 1000 and
it will enable easy participation. 5500 metres below sea level.
• Significance: The program will enable gender
equality and women’s participation in Science and THIRD ARCTIC SCIENCE MINISTERIAL
Technology.
• In the News: India participated in the 3rd Arctic
Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) Science Ministerial (ASM3) meeting, jointly
organised by Iceland and Japan and virtually hosted
• IGSTC was established by the Department of Science
by Japan.
and Technology (DST), Government of India and the
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF),
About
Germany
• It was the first Ministerial meeting being held in
• Objective: to foster innovation through Indo-German
Asia (Tokyo in Japan).
R&D networking including industrial research
partnership in PPP mode. • Objective: It provides opportunities to various
stakeholders, including academia, indigenous
communities, governments and policymakers, to
EARTH’S BLACK BOX enhance collective understanding of the Arctic
• In the news: By establishing a black box of the globe, region.
Australian scientists and artists hope to hold the rest • It will emphasize and engage in constant monitoring,
of the world accountable for their activities. and strengthen observations.
About • Theme: ‘Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic’.
• The box will be built in Tasmania, an island state
off Australia's south coast.
INDIA SCIENCE AND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
• It will be composed of 3-inch thick steel and solar
panels will cover it.
2021
• It will function similarly to a plane's flight • In the News: Forty scholars from six countries have
recorder, which documents the final minutes of a been awarded with the opportunity to carry out their
plane's flight before it crashes. research in Indian Institutes and Universities.
• Earth's Black Box's storage discs are expected to
endure between 30 and 50 years. About
• Two different types of data will be collected and • As a part of India’s initiatives to engage with
stored inside the monolith: neighbouring countries to develop S&T
o It will collect climate-change-related data like partnerships, the Department of Science and
land and sea temperature measurements, Technology (DST), has launched ISRF Programme.
species extinction, energy consumption, human • It is for these countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
population, ocean acidification, and atmospheric Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
CO2 levels. Thailand researchers to work in Indian Universities
and Research Institutions.

• Four kinds of malaria parasites infect humans:

6. HEALTH Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P.
malariae.
DENGUE • In addition, P. knowlesi, a type of malaria that
naturally infects macaques in Southeast Asia, also
• In the News: Delhi has reported the highest number
infects humans, causing malaria that is transmitted
of dengue cases since 2018.
from animal to human (“zoonotic” malaria).
About • Symptoms: Malaria causes symptoms that typically
include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In
• Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease
severe cases, it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma,
caused by the dengue virus (Flavivirus)
or death.
transmitted by several species of mosquitoes
within the genus Aedes.
• Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after CANDIDA AURIS
infection. These may include high fever, headache, • In the News: Candida Auris (deadly hospital
muscle, and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash pathogen) identified for the first time in the Andaman
that is similar to measles. and Nicobar Islands.
• There are four types of dengue strains, and type II
and IV are considered to be more severe and About
normally require hospitalisation. • Candida Auris or C.auris is a multidrug-resistant
• The disease develops into, Dengue hemorrhagic fungus. It presents a serious global threat to human
fever - A severe dengue resulting in bleeding, low health.
levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or • Origin of Candida Auris: Candida Auris was first
• Dengue shock syndrome - Dengue resulting in very identified in 2009 in a patient in Japan. The fungus
low BP. emerged in more than 40 countries across five
• Diagnosis: Diagnosis of dengue infection is done continents in the last decade.
with a blood test. • The fungus is mostly found in tropical marshes and
• Treatment: Paracetamol is recommended instead of marine environments, outside hospital
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for environments.
fever reduction and pain relief in dengue due to an • However, It is an emerging pathogen, thus very little
increased risk of bleeding from NSAID use. is known about the Candida Auris so far.
• Dengue is classified as a Neglected Tropical
Disease. Symptoms of C. Auris
• Control: Insectivorous fishes like Gambusia and • C. Auris infections can show no symptoms before
Guppies can check the spread of mosquito-borne turning into a fever and chills. These symptoms don’t
diseases like malaria and dengue. go away despite the use of medicines and can lead to
• The World Mosquito Program has used mosquitoes death.
infected with Wolbachia bacteria to successfully • C. auris survives on the skin before entering the body
control dengue. through wounds. Once in the bloodstream, it causes
severe illness and can lead to death.
Also Remember:
• Dengue and chikungunya are caused by the bite of the
Aedes agypti mosquito, which breeds in clear water.
DIATOM TEST
• Malaria is caused by Anopheles mosquito, which can • In the News: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad
breed in both fresh and muddy water. (ATS) relied on a diatom tests for leads in the alleged
murder case of Mansukh Hiran.
MALARIA
About
• In the News: El Salvador has become the first country • Diagnosis of death by drowning is difficult in forensic
in central America and the third in all Americas to get pathology; the mere recovery of a body from a water
the malaria-free certificate from the World Health body does not necessarily imply that the death was
Organization (WHO) in recent years. due to drowning.
• This is where the diatom test comes in: it is an
About important one among a number of tests that have
• A disease caused by a plasmodium parasite that been developed to confirm if the cause of death in
commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which such cases was indeed drowning.
feeds on humans. • A diatom is a kind of algae found in almost every
• Spread through Female Anopheles mosquitoes aquatic environment, including fresh and marine
deposit parasite sporozoites into the skin of a human waters, soils and, in fact, almost anywhere moist. A
host. diatom test, therefore, entails finding if there are
diatoms in the body recovered.

The science • Occasionally mammals, including humans, may

• If a person is alive when he or she enters the water, contract avian influenza.
diatoms will enter the lungs when he or she inhales
water while drowning. Types:
• These diatoms then get carried to various parts of the • Bird flu is an infection caused by avian influenza
body, including the brain, kidneys, lungs and bone viruses, which are of different types A, B and C.
marrow by blood circulation. • Only type A is known to infect animals and is
• If the person is dead when thrown into the water, zoonotic, meaning it can infect animals and also
there is no circulation and therefore no transport of humans. Type B and C mostly infect humans and
diatoms to the organs. typically cause mild disease.
H5N8 strain:
NEW BACTERIAL STRAINS
• The presence of the H5N8 subtype of the Influenza A
• In the News: Researchers have discovered three new virus was reported in ducks in parts of Kerala.
strains of bacteria on the International Space Station. • While it can prove lethal for birds, the H5N8 strain of
avian influenza has a lower likelihood of spreading to
About humans compared to H5N1.
• The bacterial strains belong to the family • Control measures: Culling is usually undertaken to
Methylobacteriaceae. control the infection when it is detected in animals.
• The rod-shaped bacteria contain genes that can help Besides culling, safe disposal of all such culled
in nitrogen fixation, plant growth and biocontrol animals and animal products is also important.
activity against plant pathogens.
• The researchers named the novel species as
H10N3 STRAIN OF BIRD FLU
Methylobacterium ajmalii, in honour of the renowned
Indian biodiversity scientist, Dr Ajmal Khan, a former • In the News: China has reported the world’s first case
professor at Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu. of a human infected with H10N3 avian influenza in its
eastern province of Jiangsu.
INDIAN SARS-COV-2 GENOMIC CONSORTIA
About
(INSACOG) • H10N3 strain of bird flu is a subtype of the Influenza
• In the News: The Union government has recently A virus which is commonly known as the bird flu
launched the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia virus.
(INSACOG). • The virus is normally fatal to wild birds and poultry
because among animals it can be spread through
About respiratory droplets.
• Aim: It aims to monitor the genomic variations in the • Risk H10N3 is a low pathogenic or relatively less
SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi- severe strain of the avian flu in poultry. Its risk of
laboratory network. spreading on a large scale is very low.
• Composition: It comprises 10 labs (NIBMG Kolkata, • Human-Human Transmission: There was no
ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB indication or cases of human-to-human transmission
Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, of the H10N3 virus.
NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi and NCDC Delhi). • H10N3 is not a very common virus and only around
• Coordinated by: The group is coordinated by the 160 isolates of the virus were reported in the 40 years
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with the to 2018.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW), • However, still, flu viruses can mutate rapidly and mix
ICMR and CSIR. with other strains circulating on farms or among
• Nodal Unit for Maintaining Database National Centre migratory birds.
for Disease Control (NCDC) will be the nodal unit for • This is known as re-assortment. This re-assortment
maintaining a database of all samples of the new can make genetic changes that pose a transmission
variants of public health significance. threat to humans.
BIRD FLU LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

• In the News: An outbreak of bird flu was confirmed • In the News: Recently, a Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
in Kerala, Rajasthan and Himachal. has been infecting India’s bovines.
About Bird Flu: About

• Bird flu, also known as Avian influenza (AI), is a • Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is an infectious viral
highly contagious viral disease affecting several disease of cattle and bovine animals.
species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, • Caused by a poxvirus Lumpy skin disease virus
quails, guinea fowl, etc.) as well as pet birds and wild (LSDV).
birds.

• The virus is one of three closely related species • Symptoms: It is characterized by distinctive facial
within the genus capripoxvirus, the other two species features, a large head, enlargement of the liver and
being Sheeppox virus and Goatpox virus. spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), hearing loss, etc.
Symptoms Inheritance
• It appears as nodules of two to five centimetre • MPS II is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern,
diameter all over the body, particularly around the which means that this condition occurs almost
head, neck, limbs, udder (mammary gland of female exclusively in males.
cattle) and genitals. • Females are generally unaffected carriers of this
• The lumps gradually open up like large and deep condition.
wounds. • In a family with more than one affected individual,
• Other clinical signs include general malaise, ocular the mother of the affected males must be a carrier.
and nasal discharge, fever, and sudden decrease in • When a carrier female has a child, there is a 25% (1
milk production. in 4) chance that she will have an affected son.
• Vectors: It spreads through mosquitoes, flies and
ticks and also through saliva and contaminated water
and food. SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY
• Control and prevention of lumpy skin disease relies • In the News: The Government of India has decided to
on four tactics - movement control (quarantine), waive off some GST amount against the import of
vaccination, slaughter campaigns and management gene therapy — Zolgensma. This therapy is required
strategies. to treat a child who is suffering from Spinal Muscular
• Effect: According to the Food and Agriculture Atrophy.
Organization (FAO) the mortality rate is less than
10%. About Spinal Muscular Atrophy:
• Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare genetic disease. The
Treatment person suffering from this disease cannot control the
• There is no treatment for the virus, so prevention by movement of their muscles.
vaccination is the most effective means of control. • It is caused by the loss of nerve cells that carry
• Secondary infections in the skin may be treated with electrical signals from the brain to the muscles.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) and • The protein needed for this signaling is coded by
also antibiotics when appropriate. a gene. Everyone has two copies of this gene- one
from the mother and the other from the father. A child
HUNTER SYNDROME: MPS II develops this disorder only if both the copies are
faulty.
• In the News: Two brothers suffering from • Vulnerable Group: The disease most often affects
Mucopolysaccharidosis II or MPS II (Hunter babies and children.
Syndrome, Attenuated Type) have approached the • With time, it progresses and makes it extremely
Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre and difficult for the babies to carry out basic activities like
AIIMS to provide them free treatment. sitting up, lifting their head, or swallowing milk.
About Zolgensma Gene therapy
• It is a disorder where the body can’t break down • There is also a gene therapy treatment named
sugar that builds bones, skin, tendons and other Zolgensma which replaces the faulty gene.
tissue.
• US regulators approved this therapy in May 2019.
• These sugars can build up and damage the body.
• It is caused by changes (mutations) of the IDS gene
that regulates the production of the iduronate 2- EBOLA
sulfatase (I2S) enzyme. • In the News: A new case of Ebola was diagnosed in
• This enzyme is needed to break-down complex Democratic Republic of Congo recently.
sugars, known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs),
produced in the body. About
• Impact: Lack of I2S enzyme activity leads to the • First discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in
accumulation of GAGs within cells, specifically inside what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
the lysosomes. • Ebola virus disease (EVD) formerly known as
o Lysosomes are compartments in the cell that Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal
digest and recycle different types of molecules. illness in humans.
o Conditions that cause molecules to build up • Transmission: The virus is transmitted to people
inside the lysosomes, including MPS II, are called from wild animals and spreads in the human
lysosomal storage disorders. population through human-to-human transmission.
o The accumulation of GAGs increases the size of • The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%.
the lysosomes, which is why many tissues and Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in
organs are enlarged in this disorder. past outbreaks.
• Prevention: Community engagement is key to billion per year, and around 70%, or $2.5 billion,
successfully controlling outbreaks. come from China.
• Treatment: Early supportive care with rehydration,
symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is OXYGEN ENRICHMENT UNIT
yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the
virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug • In the News: Central Mechanical Engineering
Research Institute(CMERI) develops an oxygen
therapies are under development.
enrichment unit(OEU) that could provide crucial
• Vaccines: An experimental Ebola vaccine, called
support to COVID-19 patients.
rVSV-ZEBOV proved highly protective against EVD in
a major trial in Guinea in 2015.
About Oxygen Enrichment Unit
o The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine is being used in the
• An oxygen enrichment unit is a device that
ongoing 2018-2019 Ebola outbreak in DRC.
concentrates the oxygen from the surrounding
o Pregnant and breastfeeding women should have
air. For that, it selectively removes nitrogen to supply
access to the vaccine under the same conditions
oxygen-enriched air.
as for the general population.
• The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients
having respiratory diseases through an oxygen mask
EPILEPSY or nasal cannula.
• In the News: Recently, a major drugmaker has
developed the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Uses
(API) and the finished dosage formulation of • The device is useful in remote places, homes, or
Brivanext, a drug for epilepsy. hospital-like facilities for patients with chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic
About hypoxemia, and pulmonary edema.
• Epilepsy is a central nervous system • It may also be used as an adjunct treatment for severe
(neurological) disorder in which brain activity sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous
becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of positive airway pressure unit).
unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of
awareness. Epilepsy is the fourth most common AFRICAN SWINE FEVER
neurological disorder and affects people of all ages.
• Anyone can develop epilepsy, but it’s more common • In the News: An outbreak of suspected African swine
in young children and older adults. fever (ASF) has killed 276 domestic pigs in Lunglei
district of Mizoram.
• It occurs slightly more in males than in females.
About
Symptoms
• It is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease that
• Alterations to sense of taste, smell, sight, hearing, or
infects and leads to an acute form of hemorrhagic
touch, dizziness, tingling and twitching of limbs,
fever in domestic and wild pigs.
Staring blankly, unresponsiveness, performing
repetitive movements. • It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.
• It may or may not involve loss of awareness or • Causes: It is caused by a large DNA virus of the
consciousness. Asfarviridae family.
• Transmission: It is transmitted to pigs through -
Cure o Direct contact with infected domestic or wild
• There’s no cure for epilepsy, but the disorder can swines
be managed with medications and other o Indirect contact through ingestion of
strategies. contaminated substances or
o Contaminated material such as food waste, feed
• Initiative to Raise Awareness: In 2019, a report
or garbage or through biological vectors such as
Epilepsy, a public health imperative was released by
ticks.
the World Health Organization.
• Human Transmission: It is not a threat to human
• It is the first global report on epilepsy summarizing
beings since it only spreads from animals to other
the available evidence on the burden of epilepsy and
animals.
the public health response required at global,
regional and national levels. • Mortality Rate: It is close to 100% and since the
fever has no cure, the only way to stop it spreading is
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) by culling the animals.
• APIs, also called bulk drugs, are significant
ingredients in the manufacture of drugs. The Hubei HGCO19 VACCINE
province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing • In the News: Recently, the Department of
industry. Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science &
• India is heavily import-dependent for APIs from Technology has announced that it has approved
China. India’s API imports stand at around $3.5 additional funding towards clinical studies of
HGCO19 Vaccine.
About gloves, gowns or aprons, when handling animals or

• It is India's ‘first of its kind' mRNA-based COVID- working in a laboratory can help prevent or reduce
19 vaccine. the risk of getting brucellosis.
• It is developed by Pune-based biotechnology
company Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. VIRAFIN DRUG
• It is being funded under the 'Mission COVID
• In the News: Drug Controller General of India(DCGI)
Suraksha- The Indian COVID-19 Vaccine
has granted emergency use approval for pharma
Development Mission’.
major Zydus Cadila’s antiviral drug ‘Virafin’ to treat
• Gennova, in collaboration with HDT Biotech
moderate COVID-19 in adults.
Corporation USA, has developed theCOVID-19 mRNA
vaccine HGCO19.
About
• Virafin is an antiviral drug that is subcutaneously
mRNA Vaccine:
administered (injected under the skin).
• The coronavirus vaccine based on mRNA, once
• It is manufactured by a pharma major named
injected into the body, will instruct the body’s cells to
“Zydus Cadila”.
create copies of the spike protein.
• The drug was originally approved for the treatment
• The mRNA is coded to tell the cells to recreate the
of liver disease caused by the hepatitis B and C virus.
spike protein of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which
• The drug has now been repurposed for treating the
causes Covid-19.
moderate COVID-19 disease.
• It is the spike protein which appears as spikes on
• It has been found that when the drug was given to
the surface of the coronavirus that initiates the
Covid patients in the early stage, it has shown
process of infection and it allows the virus to
significant improvement in moderate Covid cases.
penetrate cells, after which it goes on to replicate.
• The drug was also found to reduce hours of
• The mRNA vaccines work by using mRNA or
supplemental oxygen required by patients.
messenger RNA, which is the molecule that
essentially puts DNA instructions into action. • Moreover, patients who were treated with the drug
‘Virafin’ were tested Covid negative within 7 days.
• The mRNA vaccines have the advantage that
scientists are not growing the virus in the lab, • Hence, after the emergency approval, the drug will
which has been a hindrance sometimes to create now be available on the prescription of a medical
enough virus or viral particles to give in a vaccine. specialist for use in hospital/institutional setup.
2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE (2-DG)
BRUCELLOSIS
• In the News: The DCGI has granted emergency use
• In the News: Recently, Kerala launched preventive approval to DRDO’s 2-DG drug for treatment in
measures after a few cases of brucellosis, a zoonotic
moderate to severe cases of Covid-19.
infection, have been detected in some dairy animals.
About
About
• 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is an anti-Covid oral drug.
• It is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella
• It has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear
species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats,
Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of DRDO
sheep and dogs among others.
in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL).
• It is also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean
fever.
How does a 2-DG drug work?
• Humans generally acquire the disease through direct
• The 2-DG comes in powder form in the sachet. It is
contact with infected animals or eating, drinking
taken orally by dissolving the powder in water.
contaminated animal products or by inhaling
• The drug accumulates in the virus-infected cells.
airborne agents.
• Thereby, it prevents virus growth by stopping viral
• Brucellosis is endemic in India causing huge
synthesis and energy production.
economic losses to dairy industry due to-
• The selective accumulation of the drug in virally
o Infertility
infected cells makes this drug unique.
o Abortion
o Birth of weak off springs
Significance of drug
o Reduced productivity.
• The drug helps in the faster recovery of hospitalised
• Symptoms: Fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia
patients.
(psychological disorder in which one eats less due to
fear of weight gain), headache and muscle pain. • Further, it also reduces supplemental oxygen
dependence.
• Treatment and prevention:
• A higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG
• It is usually treated with antibiotics, including
also showed RT-PCR negative conversion in Covid-19
Rifampin and Doxycycline.
patients.
• Avoiding unpasteurised dairy products and
taking safety precautions such as wearing rubber
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
• DCGI comes under the Ministry of Health and Global Elimination of Trachoma by the year 2020
Family Welfare and the apex department of the (GET2020)
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the • The WHO in 1996 launched the Global Elimination of
Government of India. Trachoma by the year 2020 (GET2020).
• Functions Approval of licences of specified • Purpose: It supports countries to implement the
categories of drugs. SAFE strategy in Trachoma elimination.
• Sets standards for the manufacturing, sales, import, • Further, it also strengthens national capacity through
and distribution of drugs in India. epidemiological assessment, monitoring,
surveillance, project evaluation and resource
OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS mobilization.
• In the News: With oxygen cylinders in short supply SAFE Strategy
across several states, the Oxygen concentrator is • WHO adopted the SAFE strategy in 1993.
among the most sought after devices for oxygen
• Its mandate is to provide leadership and coordination
therapy, especially among patients in home isolation
to international efforts in eliminating trachoma as a
and for hospitals running out of oxygen.
public health problem.
• Oxygen Concentrator is a medical device. It filters
• The SAFE strategy also reports on the progress
oxygen from the atmosphere and helps individuals
towards eliminating Trachoma.
inhale it through a mask or cannula.
How does it work? CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER AND SHEEP POX

• Atmospheric air has about 78% nitrogen and 21% DISEASE VACCINE
oxygen with other gases making up the remaining • In the News: ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research
1%. Institute has transferred the Technology for the
• The concentrator takes in this atmospheric air, Classical swine fever(CSF) & Sheep Pox Vaccines to
filters it through a sieve. M/s Hester Biosciences through Agrinnovate India
• Further, it releases the nitrogen back into the air and Limited.
works on the remaining oxygen.
• This oxygen, compressed and dispensed through a About Classical swine fever
cannula, is 90-95% pure. • CSF is also known as hog cholera. It is a contagious
• A pressure valve in concentrators helps regulate viral disease of domestic and wild swine(pigs).
supply, ranging from 1-10 litres of oxygen per • Caused by: It is caused by a virus of the genus
minute. Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae.
• Transmission: The most common method of
TRACHOMA transmission is through direct contact between
healthy swine and those infected with the CSF virus.
• In the News: The World Health Organization (WHO) • Humans are not affected by this virus. Swine are
recently validated the Gambia for its elimination of the only species known to be susceptible.
trachoma as a public health problem. This makes it • Treatment: The disease has a 100% mortality.
the second country after Côte d’Ivoire in the African However, Vaccination can prevent the spread of the
Region to achieve this milestone. disease.
About Vaccine for CSF
• Trachoma is a neglected tropical eye disease. • In India, the disease is controlled by a lapinized CSF
• Caused by: the infection due to the bacterium vaccine. This vaccine is produced by killing large
Chlamydia trachomatis. numbers of rabbits.
• Transmission: Trachoma spreads through personal • To avoid this, the ICAR-IVRI developed a Cell Culture
contact (via hands, clothes or bedding). It also CSF Vaccine (live attenuated). This is developed using
transmits by flies that contact with the discharge the Lapinized Vaccine Virus from a foreign strain.
from the eyes or nose of an infected person. • Live attenuated vaccines use a weakened (or
• Vulnerable Group: Trachoma mainly affects attenuated) form of the germ that causes a disease.
children. It is becoming less common with increasing • The new vaccine has been extensively tested for
age. safety and potency. It has been found to induce
• Impact: Repeated infections in childhood lead to protective immunity from the 14th day of the
scarring of the inner side of the upper eyelids. Vaccination till 18 Months.
• This will result in the inward turning of the eyelid
margin. Sheep Pox Disease
• This painful condition is known as trachomatous • Sheep Pox is a highly contagious viral disease of
trichiasis. sheep.
• If left untreated, this condition can result in visual • Caused by a poxvirus.
impairment and blindness.

• The disease is the most severe of all the animal pox • In the News: A new point-of-care test has been found
diseases. It can result in some of the most significant to be highly sensitive in the rapid diagnosis of
economic consequences due to poor wool and leather Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD). This disease is also
quality. known as monkey fever.
• Transmission: The sheep pox virus is an aerosol. So
it can be transmitted via contact with an infected About
animal. • Developed by Indian Council of Medical Research
• Treatment: There is no treatment for the sheep pox (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology.
virus, thus efforts are directed towards prevention. • Features: It includes a battery-operated Polymerase
• Vaccine for Sheep Pox: A live attenuated Sheep Pox Chain Reaction (PCR) analyser, which is a portable,
Vaccine using indigenous strain was developed by the lightweight and universal cartridge-based sample
Institute for preventive vaccination in the sheep pre-treatment kit and nucleic acid extraction device
population. that aid in sample processing at the point of care.
WHITE FUNGUS Benefits

• It would be beneficial for the diagnosis of KFD as the
• In the News: Four cases of ‘white fungus’ or outbreaks mainly happen in remote areas, where
‘candidiasis’ have been detected in Patna, Bihar. there is lack of well-equipped sample handling and
laboratory testing facilities.
About • It would be useful in quick patient management and
• White Fungus or Candidiasis is a fungal infection controlling further spread of the virus.
caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called
Candida. Kyasanur Forest Disease:
• Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the • It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV),
body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and which primarily affects humans and monkeys.
vagina, without causing any problems. • It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey
• Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since
or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the then, between 400-500 human cases per year have
bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, been reported.
or brain). • Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health
• The most common species that causes infection is problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.
Candida albicans. • Transmission: It may occur after a tick bite or
contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently
Cause dead monkey).
• This infection can be caused due to low immunity, or • Symptoms: Characterized by chills, frontal
if people come in contact with things that contain headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12
these molds like water, etc. days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.
• Children and women are more at risk of contracting
the fungal infection.
• Like the black fungus, white fungus is also more likely
to afflict people with compromised immune systems,
pre-existing medical conditions, AIDS, a recent
kidney transplant or diabetes.
Symptoms
• People experience symptoms similar to Covid if it
reaches the lungs such as chest infection, despite
testing negative for the virus.
• White fungus affects the lungs as well as other parts
of the body including the nails, skin, stomach, kidney,
brain, private parts and mouth. Diagnosis
• Diagnosis can be made in the early stage of illness by
Diagnosis and Treatment molecular detection by PCR or virus isolation from
• CT scans or X-Rays can reveal the condition. blood.
• Patients with the white fungus are currently being • Later, serologic testing using Enzyme-linked
treated with known anti-fungal medication. Immunosorbent Serologic Assay (ELISA) can be
• Prevention: Special caution is required of moulds in performed.
water that can lead to infection. Proper sanitation is • Treatment and Prevention:
very important. o There is no specific treatment for monkey
fever.
KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE
o A vaccine (Formalin inactivated KFDV vaccine) that occurs approximately four to six weeks after
does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
of India. • Symptoms: fever, rash, eye infection, diarrhoea,
o However, it is found that vaccines are not stomach-ache and nausea. In some rare cases, the
effective once the person is infected with fever. condition may lead to multi-organ failure.
YELLOW FUNGUS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

• In the News: A COVID-19 patient in Ghaziabad has • In the News: According to a study published in the
been diagnosed with a Yellow Fungus infection. American Journal of Gastroenterology, Pfizer or
Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are safe for patients with
About inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
• Yellow Fungus is also called mucor septic. It is a • They do not appear to have an increased risk of
fungal infection that medical experts say generally side effects from Covid vaccines.
does not occur in humans but in reptiles. • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a
• Causes: Poor Hygiene, High levels of humidity group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged
beyond the 30-40% range, Old food and improper inflammation of the digestive tract.
disposal also contribute to the growth of the fungus, • Types: The two most common IBDs are ulcerative
Excess use of steroids is also a possible reason in colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease:
Covid-19 patients. o Ulcerative Colitis (UC) involves inflammation of
the large intestine.
Symptoms o Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation in any
• Symptoms of yellow fungus are laziness, loss of part of the digestive tract.
appetite, or no appetite at all and weight loss. • However, it mostly affects the tail end of the small
• In serious cases, yellow fungus can also cause leakage intestine.
of pus and slow healing of the open wound or • Causes of IBDs: Family history and genetics, Weak
necrosis in which cells in living tissue die Immune System, Smoking, Ethnicity, Age and
prematurely. Environmental Factors among others.
• Treatment: Treatment may include
Treatment: immunosuppressive drugs to control the
• Antifungal drug Amphotericin-B is being considered inflammation.
as a primary treatment of yellow fungus.
• The same injection is being used currently to treat SICKLE CELL DISEASE
black or white fungus cases in the country.
• In the News: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs flagged
Why is Yellow Fungus more dangerous than black and off mobile vans under the Unmukt project for
White Fungus? strengthening screening and timely management of
• Yellow fungus infection, unlike the two other Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Khunti district of
infections, could be much more dangerous as it starts Jharkhand and Kanker in Chhattisgarh.
off internally.
• Thus, its diagnosis is very difficult.
• Therefore, it remains critical that patients seek help
for their infection as soon as they start observing
symptoms.
PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY MULTISYSTEM

SYNDROME (PIMS-TS)
• In the News: Recently, a study mentioned that
symptoms of PIMS-TS were seen in children.
About
• PIMS-TS (a systematic disorder), also known as
About
multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
(MIS-C), is a rare condition associated with SARS- • It is an inherited blood disease which is most
CoV-2 infection. common among people of African, Arabian and
Indian origin.
• The similar condition in adults is known as
multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS- • It is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the
A). molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to
cells throughout the body.
• It was first defined in April 2020.
• Causes: It is not known what triggers the condition,
but it is thought to be a rare immune overreaction
• People with this disease have atypical hemoglobin • Decrease in the effectiveness of public health
molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort measures or available diagnostics, vaccines and
red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent shape. therapeutics.
• This blocks blood flow and oxygen from reaching
all parts of the body. ADUCANUMAB
• In the News: Aducanumab (Aduhelm), from the
Symptoms
company Biogen, is the new drug approved by the US
• It can cause severe pain, referred to as sickle cell Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating
crises. Alzheimer’s disease.
• Over time, people with sickle cell disorders can
experience damage to organs including the liver, About
kidney, lungs, heart and spleen.
• Aduhelm is not a cure, but it slows down cognitive
• Death can also result from complications of the decline.
disorder.
• Alzheimer’s disease causes the accumulation of the
• Treatment: Medication, blood transfusions and debris caused by the breakdown of neurons in the
rarely a bone-marrow transplant. brain, leading to plaque formation.
• So, Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody that is
DELTA PLUS VARIANT designed to reduce the presence of amyloid beta, a
• In the News: The Health Ministry has categorised protein that forms plaques in the brain.
Delta Plus variant of coronavirus as a ‘variant of • Aducanumab aims at altering the course of the
concern’. It has been detected in many states. disease by slowing the deterioration of brain function
by reducing plaque formation.
About • Significance: Since there is no treatment so far, the
• The Delta variant formerly known as B.1.617.2 is drug that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease holds
believed to be the most transmissible variant of Covid much promise and is a ray of hope.
-19 yet.
• It has been initially detected in India. Alzheimer’s Disease
• The Delta plus variant (B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1) has been • Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic
formed due to a mutation in the Delta variant. disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy)
and brain cells to die.
How do variants of a virus emerge and why? • The disease is the most common cause of dementia —
• Variants of a virus have one or more mutations that a continuous decline in thinking, behavioural and
differentiate it from the other variants that are in social skills that affect a person’s ability to function
circulation. independently.
• Essentially, the goal of the virus is to reach a stage • Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the
where it can cohabitate with humans because it abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain
needs a host to survive. cells.
• Errors in the viral RNA are called mutations, and • One of the proteins involved is called amyloid,
viruses with these mutations are called variants. deposits of which form plaques around brain cells.
Variants could differ by a single or many mutations. • Vulnerability: Alzheimer disease most commonly
affects older adults, but it can also affect people in
Mutation their 30s or 40s.
• A mutation means a change in the genetic
sequence of the virus. ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE
• In the case of SARS-CoV-2, which is an Ribonucleic • In the News: Recently, Kerala’s
acid (RNA) virus, a mutation means a change in the Thiruvananthapuram has reported Zika virus cases
sequence in which its molecules are arranged. and the collected samples have been sent to the
• A mutation in an RNA virus often happens when the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
virus makes a mistake while it is making copies of
itself. About
• Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was
What is a Variant of Concern (VOC)? first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It
• WHO (World Health Organisation) classifies a variant was later identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and
as a VOC when it is associated with: the United Republic of Tanzania.
• An increase in transmissibility or detrimental change • Transmission ZVD is caused by a virus transmitted
in Covid-19 epidemiology primarily by Aedes mosquitoes (AM), mainly Aedes
• Increase in virulence (Ability to cause severe/life- aegypti.
threatening disease) • This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue,
chikungunya and yellow fever.

• Zika virus is also transmitted from mother to fetus • GBS is neither contagious nor hereditary. It is most
during pregnancy, through sexual contact, common in adults over 50.
transfusion of blood and blood products, and organ • Cause: According to the CDC, the causes of GBS are
transplantation. not yet fully known but in most cases, GBS is
preceded by an infection. This could be a bacterial or
Symptoms viral infection.
• Mild symptoms with fever, rash, conjunctivitis, • GBS may also be triggered by vaccine administration
muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. or surgery.
• The incubation period of Zika virus disease is
estimated to be 3–14 days and the symptoms Symptoms
typically last for 2–7 days. • The syndrome can affect the peripheral nerves
• Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop that control muscle strength as well as those
symptoms, according to the World Health transmitting feelings of pain, temperature, and touch,
Organization (WHO). which can result in muscle weakness and loss of
sensation in the legs and/or arms.
• In the past, patients of Middle East Respiratory
LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS
Syndrome showed GBS symptoms, as did those
• In the News: Recently, the Maharashtra government infected with Zika, HIV, Herpes virus and
has started a drug administration drive for the Campylobacter Jejuni.
elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and become • Treatment: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and
the first State in the country to resume giving rounds Plasma Therapy.
of the drug after the second wave of Covid-19. • Types of Guillain-Barré Syndrome:
o Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating
About Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP)
• Globally considered as a neglected tropical disease o Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS)
(NTD). o Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN) and
• It is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy
thread-like worms. Wuchereria bancrofti, is (AMSAN).
responsible for 90% of the cases.
• The adult worms only live in the human lymph
system. CYTOMEGALOVIRUS
• The lymph system maintains the body’s fluid balance • In the News: Sporadic cases of cytomegalovirus
and fights infections. (CMV) are being reported from Delhi, Pune,
• Transmission: It is spread from person to person by Bengaluru, making it the latest post-covid
mosquitoes. complication.
• It is a leading cause of permanent disability
worldwide. About
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is also known as Human
National Programme for Elimination of Lymphatic Herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5).
Filariasis • It is a common herpes virus that often causes natural
• Goal: Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in India by infections in childhood and remains asymptomatic in
2015. Later extended to 2021. patients with normal immunity.
• Twin pillar strategies of Mass Drug • Once infected, the virus is retained in the body for
Administration (MDA) for interruption of life.
transmission. • Most people don’t realise that they have been infected
• Under it, anti-filaria drugs are administered to the by CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy
eligible population once a year. people.
• A combination of two drugs, diethylcarbamazine • The symptoms usually surface only when carriers
(DEC) and albendazole, or three — Ivermectin, become immuno-compromised, such as those
DEC, and Albendazole is being administered. suffering from cancer, AIDS, or those who have
recently had transplants.
GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME Symptoms of CMV
• In the News: Recently, the US regulators have added • The symptoms of CMV range from fever and fatigue
that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may be to severe symptoms involving the eyes, brain or other
associated with a small increased risk of Guillain- internal organs.
Barré syndrome. • These symptoms include gastrointestinal bleeding
(blood in stools), diarrhoea, swollen glands, mouth
About ulcers, inflamed liver, and inflammation of the brain
• It is a rare condition in which the body’s immune (encephalitis).
system attacks nerve cells.

How is CMV transmitted? disease among monkeys hence it is named

• CMV spreads between humans via contact with Monkeypox. It is endemic to Nigeria.
someone who has the disease. Transmission happens • Caused by: monkeypox virus, a member of the
through sexual contact and bodily fluids such as Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
urine, blood, saliva, tears, and faeces. • The natural host of the virus remains undefined.
• Expecting mothers who develop an active CMV But the disease has been reported in many animals.
infection during pregnancy can pass on the virus to • Animals known to be sources of Monkeypox virus
their babies, which is known as congenital include monkeys and apes, a variety of rodents and
CMV. Children born with it may or may not show rabbits.
symptoms.
• Treatment: There is no specific cure for CMV, but Symptoms
there are medicines that can help treat the • In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar
symptoms. Medication can suppress the virus, it to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox.
cannot remove it completely from the body as it stays • Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle
lifelong in your system. aches, and exhaustion.
• The main difference between symptoms of smallpox
MONKEY B VIRUS and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph
nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while
• In the News: A Beijing-based veterinary surgeon was smallpox does not.
infected with the Monkey B virus after he dissected
two dead monkeys in early March this year. Transmission
• Transmission of monkey pox virus occurs when a
About person comes into contact with the virus from an
• Since 1932, only around 60-80 cases of Monkey B animal, human, or materials contaminated with
virus have been reported in the world. the virus.
• It is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in macaques of the • The virus enters the body through broken skin (even
genus Macaca. if not visible), respiratory tract, or mucous
• B virus is the only identified old-world-monkey membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).
herpesvirus that displays severe pathogenicity in • Vulnerability: It spreads rapidly and can cause one
humans. out of ten deaths if infected.
• Transmission: The infection can be transmitted via • Treatment and Vaccine: There is no specific
direct contact and exchange of bodily secretions of treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox
monkeys. infection.
Symptoms
• Initial symptoms of the virus include — fever, chills, MYOPIA
muscle aches, fatigue, and rash-itchy wounds, among • In the News: Ophthalmologists have reported a
others. sharp rise in myopia in children - 25% rise in onset
• In the later stage, the virus can lead to the loss of and 100% progression with myopia - in 2020 during
muscle coordination and neurological damage. the pandemic.
• In humans, it tends to attack the central nervous
system and cause inflammation to the brain,
leading to a loss of consciousness.
• Treatment: There are currently no vaccines that can
protect you against B virus infection.
• Only precautions could be taken to stay away from
macaques, chimpanzees and capuchin.
MONKEYPOX
• In the News: The US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention are investigating a case of an unusual
virus called monkeypox in a traveller coming from
Nigeria.
About
About
• Myopia (near-sightedness) is a condition where
• It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the
objects at a distance are not clearly visible and a
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans
person must wear corrective spectacles.
in 1970, also in the DRC.
• It occurs when the eyeball becomes longer,
• It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from
relative to the focusing power of the cornea and
animals to humans) and is identified as a pox-like

the lens; this leads to focus not on the surface of the • They generally carry only a small number of genes,
retina, but at a point before it. notably some associated with antibiotic resistance.
• Plasmids may be passed between different bacterial
Symptoms: cells.
• The most common ones are squinting, eye strain,
headaches and fatigue. MARBURG VIRUS
• It can lead to complications like early onset of
cataract, retinal detachment, glaucoma, myopic • In the News: Recently, West Africa’s first case of the
maculopathy, and myopic strabismus fixus. Marburg virus was confirmed in Guinea.
Causes: About
• The recent progression and early onset of myopia in • Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease
children during the pandemic is attributed to that causes hemorrhagic fever.
• Overdose of exposure to mobile phones, and • It is in the same family as the virus that causes
• Lack of physical activity and sunlight. Ebola virus disease.
• Precautions: Limiting the time with devices will help • First Case: The virus was initially detected in 1967
in the well-being of the children. after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and
Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Symptoms: The common symptoms of a virus are
ZYCOV-D VACCINE fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and gingival
• In the News: Recently, the Drug Controller General haemorrhage.
has granted emergency approval to the Zycov-D • Transmission: Marburg is transmitted to people
making it the first vaccine in India that can be from fruit bats. The virus spreads among humans
administered to adults as well as those 12 and above. through direct contact with the bodily fluids of the
patient, surfaces and materials
About • Fatality Rate: The case fatality rate is around 50%.
• Zycov-D is a DNA plasmid-based Covid-19 vaccine Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in
developed by Zycov Cadilla Group in partnership past outbreaks, depending on virus strain and case
with the Department of Biotechnology under the management.
‘Mission COVID Suraksha’. • Treatment: There are no approved vaccines or
• It is the world’s first and India’s indigenously antiviral treatments for the virus yet. Early
developed DNA based vaccine for COVID-19. supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic
• The vaccine is an intradermal vaccine which treatment improves survival.
means it is applied using a ‘needle-free injector’.
• The vaccine is to be administered in humans,
NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR DOG
including Children and adults 12 years and above.
MEDIATED RABIES ELIMINATION
• Unlike other Covid-19 vaccines which are given in
two doses, Zycov-D will be given in three doses with • In the News: The Union Health Minister of Health and
an interval of 28 days between each dose. Family Welfare and Union Minister of Animal
• The vaccine development has been supported under Husbandry has launched the “National Action Plan
COVID-19 Research Consortia through National for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination from India by
Biopharma Mission for Preclinical studies. 2030“.
About the Rabies

• Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It
can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or
scratched by a rabid animal.
• Forms of Rabies: The two clinical forms of Rabies
are Furious Rabies, characterised by hyperactivity
and hallucinations and Paralytic Rabies characterised
by paralysis and coma. The rabies virus infects the
central nervous system.
• If a person does not receive the appropriate medical
care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can
cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in
death.
• Treatment: Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP),
Plasmid which consists of a dose of human rabies
• A plasmid is a small, often circular DNA molecule immunoglobulin (HRIG) and a rabies vaccine, is
found in bacteria and other cells. administered on the day of rabies exposure. This
• Plasmids are separate from the bacterial prevents virus entry into the central nervous system,
chromosome and replicate independently of it. which results in imminent death.
• India has around 20,000 rabies deaths a About FXS

year. Worldwide, over 59,000 people die every year • It is a genetic disorder that causes a range of
from rabies, around 40% of them aged under 15. developmental problems including learning
disabilities and cognitive impairment.
National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies • It is the leading inherited cause of autism in 4% of
Elimination: the global population.
• Drafted by: The National Centre for Disease Control • Caused by: It is caused by changes in FMR1 gene
(NCDC) has drafted in consultation with the Ministry which make an important protein (FMRP) that is
of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. required for brain development. It is caused by the
mutation named FRAXA.
HAVANA SYNDROME • Mutation: A mother who is a carrier has a 50%
chance of passing the mutated gene to her children,
• In the News: A US intelligence officer travelling with who will either be carriers or have FXS.
CIA director William Burns has reported symptoms
• Men who are carriers do not pass the pre-mutation to
of Havana Syndrome while the two were in India
their sons, but only daughters, who become carriers.
earlier this month.
• Effect: Males are more severely affected by this
disorder than females. Studies suggest a high effect of
About
consanguineous parenting on FXS
• Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health
prevalence. Consanguineous is a term relating to or
symptoms that are said to be experienced by US
denoting people descended from the same ancestor.
intelligence and embassy officials in various
• Detection: The simplest tool for timely detection is a
countries.
DNA test. This testing could be made mandatory for
• It typically involves symptoms such as hearing
every child diagnosed with autism.
certain sounds without any outside noise being
• Symptoms: Learning difficulty, speech delay,
present, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss
aggressive behaviour, hyperactivity, attention deficit,
and issues with balance.
fear of the unfamiliar, sensory processing disorders
and problems in motor skills.
What is the origin of Havana Syndrome?
• Treatment: It cannot be cured, but early therapy can
• Havana Syndrome traces its roots to Cuba.
improve a person’s quality of life.
• In 2016, about a year after the US opened its embassy
in Havana, some intelligence officials and members of
the staff at the embassy began experiencing sudden NIPAH VIRUS
bursts of pressure in their brain followed by • In the News: A recent survey has found the presence
persistent headaches, feeling of disorientation and of antibodies against the Nipah virus (NiV) in some
insomnia. bat species from a cave in Mahabaleshwar, a popular
hill station in Maharashtra.
What is the cause of Havana Syndrome?
• Experts have suggested that the victims may have About
been subjected to high-powered microwaves that • It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from
either damaged or interfered with the nervous animals to humans).
system. • Caused by: The organism which causes Nipah Virus
• Greater exposure to high-powered microwaves is encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus of the
said not only to interfere with the body’s sense of family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is
balance but also impact memory and cause closely related to Hendra virus.
permanent brain damage. • Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a rare emerging
• The US experts believe that these microwaves are zoonosis that causes severe and often fatal disease in
sent through a special gadget called a “microwave both infected horses and humans.
weapon”. • It first broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in
1998 and 1999.
Microwave weapons • It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been
• “Microwave weapons” are supposed to be a type of found among several species of domestic animals
direct energy weapons, which aim for highly focused including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.
energy in the form of sonic, laser, or microwaves, at a • Transmission: The disease spreads through fruit
target. bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are
natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra
FRAGILE X SYNDROME (FXS) viruses. The virus is present in bat urine and
potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids.
• In the News: In 2017, a man affected by autism
underwent his first DNA blood test at the age of 40. • Symptoms: The human infection presents as an
He tested positive for Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). This encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache,
shows the lack of awareness and appropriate training drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma,
in diagnosing FXS. and potentially death.

• Prevention: Currently, there are no vaccines for • Infected persons usually have no symptoms or mild
both humans and animals. Intensive supportive care symptoms, it can cause a fatal neurological disease in
is given to humans infected by Nipah virus. certain cases.
• Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, body
DEMENTIA aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
• Treatment: As of now, there is no vaccine against the
• In the News: Recently, the WHO (World Health
virus in humans although one exists for horses.
Organisation) released a report ‘Global status report
on the public health response to dementia’.
GLOBAL ROADMAP TO DEFEAT MENINGITIS
About • In the News: Recently, the World Health
• It is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive Organization (WHO) and its partners launched the
nature – that leads to deterioration in cognitive first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis.
function beyond what might be expected from the Meningitis is a debilitating disease that kills hundreds
usual consequences of biological aging. of thousands of people each year.
• It affects memory, thinking, orientation,
comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, About
language, and judgement. However, the • The strategy ‘the Global Roadmap to Defeat
consciousness is not affected. Meningitis by 2030’, aims to prevent infections and
improve care and diagnosis for those affected.
Symptoms • It also aims to eliminate epidemics of bacterial
• Memory loss, Difficulties with thinking, Visual meningitis and to reduce deaths by 70 per cent and
perception, Self-management, Problem solving or halve the number of cases.
language and the ability to focus and pay attention. • The strategy could save more than 200,000 lives
• Causes: When brain cells are damaged then annually and significantly reduce disability caused by
dementia may occur. It can be caused by a head the disease.
injury, a stroke, a brain tumour or due to HIV
infection. Meningitis
• Treatment: There is currently no treatment • Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective
available to cure dementia, though numerous new membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
treatments are being investigated in various stages of • It is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral
clinical trials. infection. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs,
and other types of infections also can cause
meningitis.
WEST NILE VIRUS
• Symptoms: Severe headache that seems different
• In the News: Recently, Russia warned of a possible from normal, Sudden high fever, Stiff neck, Confusion
increase in West Nile Virus (WNV) Infections this or difficulty concentrating, etc.
autumn as mild temperatures and heavy • Transmission: Most bacteria that cause meningitis
precipitation create favourable conditions for the such as meningococcus, pneumococcus and
mosquitos that carry it. Haemophilus influenzae are carried in the human
• It is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs nose and throat. They spread from person to person
to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the by respiratory droplets or throat secretions. Group B
family Flaviviridae. streptococcus (bacteria) is often spread from mother
to child around the time of birth.
Origin • Impact: Meningitis is fatal and debilitating, striking
• It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile fast with serious health, economic and social
district of Uganda in 1937. It was identified in birds consequences, including life-long disabilities, and
in the Nile delta region in 1953. affecting people of all ages in all countries.
• Birds are the natural hosts of the West Nile virus. • Spread: Meningitis epidemics have occurred in the
• It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle last decade in all regions of the world. But it is most
East, North America and West Asia. common in the ‘Meningitis Belt,’ which spans 26
countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Transmission • Available Vaccines: Meningococcal, Haemophilus
• Human infection is most often the result of bites from influenzae type b and Pneumococcal vaccines.
infected mosquitoes. • Treatment: A range of antibiotics is used to treat
• Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on meningitis, including penicillin, ampicillin, and
infected birds, which circulate the virus in their blood ceftriaxone.
for a few days.
• No human-to-human transmission of WNV through
casual contact has been documented.
NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE 2021
• In the News: Recently, two United States-based
Symptoms scientists, David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, have
been awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize for • The transplant used a kidney that was obtained from
Physiology/Medicine for their discoveries of a pig that had undergone editing to knock out a gene
receptors for temperature and touch. that codes for a sugar molecule called Alpha-gal.
• Alpha-gal is not normally found in humans and this
About their discoveries molecule can elicit a devastating immune response in
• They discovered the molecular sensors in the human humans.
body that are sensitive to heat, and to mechanical • The pigs with this gene alteration are called GalSafe
pressure, and make us “feel” hot or cold, or the touch pigs.
of a sharp object on our skin. • Generally, pigs are preferred, as they are easier to
o David Julius: discovered TRPV1, a heat-sensing genetically modify.
receptor. His findings on the skin’s sense of
temperature was based on how certain cells
PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE
react to capsaicin, the molecule that makes chili
peppers spicy, by simulating a false sensation of • In the News: The government has launched a
heat. nationwide expansion of Pneumococcal 13-valent
o Ardem Patapoutian: discovered two Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal
mechanosensitive ion channels known as the Immunisation Programme (UIP) as a part of ‘Azadi ka
Piezo channels. Amrit Mahotsav’.
• Significance of these discoveries: This knowledge
is being used to develop treatments for a wide range About
of disease conditions, including chronic pain. • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is given to prevent
pneumococcal disease.
Somatosensation • Pneumococcal disease refers to any illness caused by
• Somatosensation is a collective term for the pneumococcal bacteria.
sensations of touch, temperature, body position, and • These bacteria can cause many types of illnesses,
pain recognized through neural receptors in the skin including pneumonia, which is an infection of the
and certain internal organs. lungs.
• It includes processes such as” mechanoreception, • Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among
thermoreception, proprioception. children under-5 years old, globally and in India.
• In India around 16% of deaths in Children occur due
About Nobel Prizes to pneumonia.
• The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and
10 million Swedish kronor (over $1.14 million). Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)
• The prize money comes from a bequest left by the • It is a vaccination programme launched by the
prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who Government of India in 1985.
died in 1895. • Under UIP, immunization is being provided free of
• The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine is cost against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases
awarded for discovery of major importance in life • Nationally against 10 diseases – Diphtheria,
science or medicine. Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe
• Karolinska Institutet (now The Nobel Assembly at form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Rotavirus diarrhea,
Karolinska Institutet) selects the winner. Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by
• Candidates eligible for the medicine prize are Haemophilus Influenzae type B.
nominated by nominators who have received an o Sub-nationally against 2 diseases –
invitation from the Nobel Committee to submit Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese
names for consideration. No one can nominate Encephalitis.
herself or himself. o Among these, Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine is
nationally expanded while JE vaccine is provided
only in endemic districts.
XENOTRANSPLANTATION
• In the News: New York surgeons have successfully
CERVICAL CANCER
transplanted a kidney from a genetically engineered
pig into a brain-dead human. • In the News: New research has found that the Human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Cervarix) reduces the
About risk of Cervical Cancer significantly in women.
• Xenotransplantation or heterologous transplant is
the process of transplanting living cells, tissues or About Cervical Cancer
organs between different species. • It is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the
• Such cells, tissues or organs are called xenografts or cervix - the lower part of the uterus that connects to
xenotransplants. the vagina.
• Various strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV)
GalSafe Pigs play a role in causing most cervical cancer.

• When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system causes a range of symptoms, was confirmed in the
typically prevents the virus from doing harm. state’s Wayanad district.
• In a small percentage of people, however, the virus About
survives for years, contributing to the process that • It is an animal-borne disease.
causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells. • It causes gastrointestinal illness including
• The HPV vaccine (Cervarix) protects against two of inflammation of the lining of the stomach and
the cancer-causing strains, which are HPV 16 and 18. intestines, severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Transmission: Norovirus is easily transmitted
Human papillomavirus through close contact with people who have been
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common infected, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
viral infection of the reproductive tract. • It can also be spread by eating food that has been
• There are more than 100 types of HPV. More than 40 prepared or handled by someone with a stomach
types of HPV are spread through direct sexual bug.
contact. • Symptoms: Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting,
• Out of these 40, two cause genital warts, while about nausea, a high temperature, headache and body
a dozen of HPV cause different types of cancer aches. Acute vomiting and diarrhoea can lead to
including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar dehydration and further complications.
and vaginal. • Impact: Norovirus does not significantly affect
healthy people, but it can be serious in young
Types of HPV Vaccines: children, the elderly and people with comorbidities.
• Quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil): It protects • Treatment: No specific treatment for the infection.
against four types of HPV (HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11). The Recovery generally depends on the health of the
latter two strains cause genital warts. immune system. In most people, the illness usually
• Bivalent vaccine (Cervarix): It protects against HPV resolves within a few days.
16 and 18 only. • Prevention: One should wash hands thoroughly
• Non valent vaccine (Gardasil 9): It protects against with soap and water. Also, people should avoid
nine strains of HPV. contaminated food and water, including food that
• These vaccines prevent cervical cancer in women and could have been prepared by someone who was sick.
girls who have not yet been exposed to the virus.
SWADESH
MOLNUPIRAVIR • In the News: DBT-National Brain Research Centre
• In the News: Researchers have engineered enzymes (DBT-NBRC) has recently developed the project
to enable faster manufacture of molnupiravir, an SWADESH.
investigational oral antiviral being developed for the
treatment of Covid-19. The study appears in ACS About
Central Science. • It is a unique brain initiative focussing on certified
neuroimaging, neurochemical, analytics,
About neuropsychological data that are made accessible
• It belongs to a class of broad spectrum antiviral drugs to researchers for managing brain disorders.
called nucleoside analogues. • It is also the first large-scale multimodal
• They act by interfering with the function of viral RNA neuroimaging database designed specifically for
polymerases – which are enzymes that make new the Indian population with big-data architecture and
viral RNA in infected cells. analytics for various disease categories under one
• RNA is a polymer of ribonucleotides and an platform.
important biological macromolecule that is present • Modules: The initiative proposes a big-data
in all biological cells. architecture that manages and analyses six modules
• It works by causing viruses to make errors when namely -
copying their own RNA, introducing mutations that o Neuro-degenerative (Alzheimer’s Disease),
inhibit replication. o Mild cognitive impairment,
o Parkinson’s disease,
Mechanism o Neuro-psychiatric (schizophrenia and bipolar
• These drugs work by preventing the process of disorder),
replication of the virus inside human cells. o Neuro-developmental (autism and epilepsy),
• It alters critical enzymes that were necessary to the o COVID-19-related disorders and other disorders.
virus for replicating in the human body cells. • SWADESH is supported by JAVA-based workflow
environments and Python.
NOROVIRUS • Its development will facilitate the integration of
multi-site data and collaborative research
• In the News: Kerala health minister issued guidelines
worldwide.
after norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that

National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) About Covaxin

• Established in the year 1999 as an autonomous • Developed by: Bharat Biotech and it is India’s first
institution under the Societies Registration Act of indigenous vaccine against Covid-19.
1860. • Involved Agency: Bharat Biotech has developed this
• Nodal Ministry: NBRC is an autonomous institute vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of
funded by the Department of Biotechnology and is Medical Research and National Institute of Virology.
also a Deemed-to-be University. • Features: It is an inactivated vaccine which is
• The government of India has also recognised developed by inactivating (killing) the live
NBRC as an Institution of Excellence. microorganisms that cause the disease. This destroys
the ability of the pathogen to replicate, but keeps it
FOOD FORTIFICATION intact so that the immune system can still recognise
it and produce an immune response.
• In the News: The Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) was recently cautioned by
a group of experts and activists about the negative SILICOSIS IN RAJASTHAN
effects of food fortification on health and livelihoods. • In the News: Thousands of Indian miners,
construction workers, and factory employees are
About dying silently as a result of dust exposure.
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),
food fortification is defined as the practice of About
deliberately increasing the content of essential • Silicosis is an occupational illness or hazard
micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional caused by exposure to dust. It's an incurable
quality of the food supply and to provide a public disease that can leave you unable for the rest of your
health benefit with minimal risk to health. life. However, existing management mechanisms and
• Different types are: technology can completely prevent it.
o Targeted: to fortify meals that are intended for • Silicosis is most frequent among those who work
certain demographic groupings, such as in the quarrying, industrial, or construction
supplemental foods for young infants or rations sectors.
for displaced people. • Silica (SiO2/silicon dioxide) is a crystal-like material
o Market driven: To allow food producers to that can be found in sand, rock, and quartz in large
fortify goods that are already on the market quantities.
voluntarily. • Shortness of breath, cough, fever, and blue skin are all
• The Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of symptoms of this progressive lung illness caused by
Foods) Regulations, 2016 were implemented in long-term inhalation of silica.
October 2016 to fortify staples such as Wheat Flour • Diagnosis is challenging because determining
and Rice, Milk and Edible Oil, and Double Fortified whether a person has TB or silicosis is difficult.
Salt in order to reduce India's high burden of
micronutrient malnutrition.
CSF & SHEEP POX VACCINE
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): • In the News: The technology for Classical Swine
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Fever (CSF) and Sheep Pox Vaccines was handed to
(FSSAI) is an independent statutory organisation an animal healthcare firm, Hester Biosciences, by the
formed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
2006. • It is Diphtheria and Anti-Biotic Resistance
• Its administrative Ministry is the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, with its headquarters in Delhi. Classical Swine Fever
• Commonly known as CSF, is a serious illness that
COVISHIELD AND COVAXIN affects pigs.
• It is one of the world's most economically
• In the News: In a significant development, the Drug devastating pandemic viral infections affecting
Controller General of India (DCGI) has formally pigs.
approved Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech • It is caused by a virus from the genus Pestivirus,
vaccines for restricted emergency use against COVID- which belongs to the Flaviviridae family.
19 in India. • The illness is managed in India by a lapinized CSF
vaccine (Weybridge Strain, UK), which is made by
About Covishield slaughtering huge numbers of rabbits.
• Developed by: Oxford University in collaboration • Lapinization is the process of passing a virus or
with Astrazeneca. Pune-based Serum Institute of vaccination through rabbits in order to change its
India is their manufacturing and trial partner. properties.
• Features: It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee
viral vector based on a weakened version of a Sheep Pox
common cold virus.

• It's a serious viral illness that affects sheep, and the • pgSIT is a new scalable genetic control system that
virus is closely similar to that of goats uses a CRISPR-based approach to engineer
(capripoxviruses). deployable mosquitoes that can suppress
• The virus is also linked to the lumpy skin disease populations.
virus. • It alters genes linked to male fertility — creating
• The condition is characterised by extensive skin sterile offspring — and female flight in Aedes aegypti,
eruption and is typically lethal. the mosquito species responsible for spreading
• It's only found in south-eastern Europe, Africa, and dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika.
Asia. • pgSIT uses CRISPR to sterilize male mosquitoes and
render female mosquitoes, which spread disease, as
GENOME MAPPING IN THE INDIAN OCEAN flightless.
PROJECT
Why is this significant?
• In the News: The National Institute of Oceanography • pgSIT eggs can be shipped to a location threatened by
(NIO) will start the Indian Ocean's first-of-its-kind mosquito-borne disease or developed at an on-site
Genome Mapping project. facility that could produce the eggs for nearby
About deployment.
• A team of scientists and researchers from the NIO on • Once the pgSIT eggs are released in the wild, sterile
board its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will spend pgSIT males will emerge and eventually mate with
90 days traversing the course of over 10,000 nautical females, driving down the wild population as needed.
miles in the Indian Ocean.
• The researchers will collect samples from various CRISPR
stretches of the ocean at an average depth of about 5 • It is a gene editing technology, which replicates
km. natural defence mechanisms in bacteria to fight
• Trace metals like cadmium or copper are supplied to virus attacks, using a special protein called Cas9.
oceans via continental run-offs, atmospheric • CRISPR-Cas9 technology behaves like a cut-and-paste
deposition, hydrothermal activities and continental mechanism on DNA strands that contain genetic
shelf interaction. information.
• The specific location of the genetic codes that need to
National Institute of Oceanography: be changed, or edited, is identified on the DNA strand,
• It is a multi-disciplinary oceanographic research and then, using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a
institute and is one of the constituent laboratories of pair of scissors, that location is cut off from the
the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), strand.
New Delhi. • A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency
• Its headquarters is at Dona Paula, Goa with regional to repair itself.
centres at Kochi (Kerala), Mumbai (Maharashtra) and • Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process,
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that
binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
Genome • CRISPR-Cas9 is a simple, effective, and incredibly
• A genome is the complete set of DNA (or RNA in RNA precise technology with potential to revolutionise
viruses) of an organism. human existence in future.
• Each genome contains all of the information needed
to build and maintain that organism.
• In humans, a copy of the entire genome contains
INDIGAU: INDIA’S FIRST CATTLE GENOMIC
more than 3 billion DNA base pairs. CHIP
• In the News: Recently the world's second-largest
Genome Mapping refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank at
• It describes the methods used to identify the locus of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
a gene and the distances between genes. Gene (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi, inaugurated.
mapping can also describe the distances between
different sites within a gene. About
• This indigenous chip was developed by the concerted
efforts of scientists of National Institute of Animal
PRECISION-GUIDED STERILE INSECT Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad, an autonomous
TECHNIQUE (PGSIT) institution under the aegis of the Department of
• In the News: Researchers at the University of Biotechnology.
California, San Diego have created a new system • The Chip to achieve the goal of conservation of our
named precision-guided Sterile Insect Technique own breeds with better characters and help towards
(pgSIT) that restrains populations of mosquitoes. doubling of farmers’ income by 2022.
About

• The manufacturing of this chip is in synergy with causes communication problems between your
Rashtriya Gokul Mission and a great example of Atma brain and the rest of your body.
Nirbhar Bharat. • Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage
or deterioration of the nerves.
• Symptoms: Symptoms of MS vary widely and depend
WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST REFURBISHED
on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are
GENE BANK INAUGURATED IN INDIA affected.
• In the News: The world's second-largest rebuilt
state-of-the-art National Gene Bank was recently Multiple Sclerosis
opened by the Union Minister for Agriculture and • Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that
Farmers Welfare. typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or
your legs and trunk
About • Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
• Gene Banks are a type of biorepository which • Both males and females may lose interest in sex
preserve genetic material. A collection of seed plants, (Sexual dysfunction)
tissue cultures etc. • Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to
• NBPGR is meeting the need of in-situ and ex-situ walk independently or at all, while others may
germplasm conservation through Delhi experience long periods of remission without any
Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country. new symptoms.
• Diagnosis: Can be diagnosed with blood tests and
WORLD’S FIRST GENETICALLY MODIFIED MRI.
RUBBER - ASSAM • Treatment: There's no cure for multiple sclerosis.
• However, treatments can help speed recovery from
• In the News: Rubber Research Institute recently attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage
established the world's first genetically modified symptoms.
(GM) rubber plant in Assam.
About MUD CRAB REOVIRUS

• Using laboratory procedures, genetic modification • In News: Andhra Pradesh recently found that ‘Mud
(GM) technology permits the transfer of genes for Crab Reovirus (MCRV)’ has been the reason for mass
specific characteristics between species. mortality of wild crab (Scylla serrata).
• Additional copies of the gene MnSOD, or manganese-
containing superoxide dismutase, have been placed About
in the GM rubber, which is believed to help the plant • Mud Crab Reovirus belongs the Reoviridae family. It
survive the harsh winter temperatures in the is responsible for the mass mortality of wild crabs. It
northeast. is also known as Sleeping Disease.
• Natural rubber is a native of the warm, humid • The virus mainly affects the connective tissue of
Amazon rainforests and is not well adapted to the hepatopancreas, intestine and gills.
cooler climates of India's Northeast, which is one of
the country's top rubber producers. About wild crab or mud crab
• Government Initiatives: Government-led initiatives • Wild Crab are scientifically called as Scylla serrata.
for rubber include the Rubber Plantation • They are ecologically important species of crab and
Development Scheme and the Rubber Group Planting are found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa,
Scheme. Asia and Australasia.
• Rubber, coffee, tea, cardamom, palm oil tree, and • The shell colour varies from deep, mottled green to
olive oil tree farms receive 100 percent foreign direct dark brown, In their most common form.
investment (FDI).
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
• In the News: A new study suggests that most
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) cases could be prevented by
stopping Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and that
targeting EBV could lead to the discovery of a cure for
MS.
About
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling
disease of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves
(Central Nervous System).
• In MS, the immune system attacks the protective
sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and
• The government has signed a contract with Bharat

7. DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGICAL Electronics Limited (BEL) for procurement of 10
ADVANCEMENT Lynx U2 Fire Control systems for frontline warships
of the Indian Navy.
• The Lynx system has been designed and developed
AKASH MISSILE indigenously that would further the ‘Atmanirbhar
• In the News: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Bharat’ vision of Prime Minister.
Minister has approved the export of the Akash Missile • The LYNX U2 GFCS is a Naval Gun Fire Control System
system. It also approved the high-level committee designed to acquire, track and engage targets amidst
formed to expedite clearance of such exports. sea clutter.
• The Lynx system is capable of accurately tracking
About: air/surface targets, generating required target data
• Akash is an indigenously developed and for predicting weapon aiming points and engaging
manufactured short-range Surface to Air Missile targets.
(SAM) system. • The system will be installed on the Naval Offshore
• The missile has been developed by the Defence Patrol Vessel (NOPV), Talwar and Teg class of ships.
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). • The system including the Tracking Radar, Servo and
Weapon Control Modules has been completely
Key Features: designed and developed by BEL.
• The missile has a strike range of 25 km. It can reach
an altitude of 18 km and can be fired from both Significance of Lynx U2 Fire Control System:
tracked and wheeled platforms. • The Gun Fire Control System has been designed with
• It has a large operational envelope from a low altitude an open and scalable architecture permitting simple
of 30 metres to a maximum of up to 20 km. and flexible implementation in many different
• The system can simultaneously engage multiple configurations.
targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. • The indigenous system will ensure maximum up-
• It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures time of the system and guarantees excellent Product
(ECCM) features. The entire weapon system has been support throughout its life time.
configured on mobile platforms. • The system proposed in the contract is of the fourth
• It was inducted in 2014 in the Air Force and in 2015 generation and is a completely indigenized system,
in the Indian Army. developed in the true spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
LASER DAZZLERS NAVAL INNOVATION AND INDIGENISATION

• In the News: Recently, Bharat Electronics Limited ORGANISATION
(BEL) has signed a contract with the Indian Navy to • In the News: Recently, Raksha Mantri has launched
initially supply 20 Light Amplification by Stimulated the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation
Emission of Radiation Dazzlers (Laser Dazzlers). Organisation (NIIO).
About About
• It is used as a non-lethal method for warning and • Objective: To foster innovation and indigenisation
stopping suspicious vehicles/ boats/ aircrafts/ for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision
UAVs/ pirates etc. from approaching secured areas of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
during both day and night. • Structure: The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation -
• It is capable of dazzle and thereby suppresses the o Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC)
person’s/optical sensor’s action with disability glares will bring together the twin aspects of innovation
in case of non-compliance to orders. and indigenisation and provide apex level
• It disorients/confuse/blind a person temporarily. directives.
• It also dazzles and distracts aircraft/UAVs. o Working group under the N-TAC will implement
• The Laser dazzler technology was developed by the projects.
Defence Research and Development Organisation o Technology Development Acceleration Cell
(DRDO). (TDAC) has been created for induction of
• It is indigenously designed and developed for first emerging disruptive technology in an
time for the Armed Forces. accelerated time frame.
LYNX U2 FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM Functions of NIIO:

• The NIIO puts in place dedicated structures for the
• In the News: Recently, the Ministry of Defence has end users to interact with academia and industry
decided to develop 10 Lynx U2 Fire Control System. towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for
self-reliance in defense in keeping with the vision of
About Atmanirbhar Bharat.

LCA TEJAS • Significance: The pistol will pave way for self-
reliance and it is expected to be inducted by the
• In the News: Cabinet has approved procurement of Services and Paramilitary Forces (PMFs).
73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas
Mk-1 Trainer aircraft.
RAKSHITA
About • In the News: Recently, the Defense Research &
• It is a single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over
fighter aircraft designed by the Aeronautical ‘Rakshita’ to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Development Agency (ADA).
• Tejas was developed in collaboration with Hindustan About
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air • It is a bike-based casualty transport emergency
Force(IAF) and Indian Navy. vehicle developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine
• It replaced the ageing MIG 21 fighter planes. and Allied Sciences (INMAS).
• LCA Tejas Mk 1A is an advanced version of LCA Mk1. • It is fitted with a customized reclining Casualty
Evacuation Seat (CES), which can be fitted in and
Features taken out as per requirement.
• The lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role • The other major features are the head immobilizer,
supersonic fighter aircraft in its class. safety harness jacket, hand and foot straps for safety,
• Designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, adjustable footrest, physiological parameter
precision-guided, weapons. measuring equipment with wireless monitoring
• Air to air refuelling capability. capability and auto warning system for driver.
• Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
• It can attend the maximum speed of Mach 1.8. Significance of Rakshita
• The range of the aircraft is 3,000 km. • The bike ambulance will help in overcoming the
problems faced by Indian security forces and
Significance: emergency healthcare providers.
• It is the first “Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, • It will provide life-saving aid for evacuation of injured
Developed and Manufactured)” category patients from low intensity conflict areas.
procurement of combat aircrafts with an indigenous • It will be handy in the congested streets and remote
content of 50% which will progressively reach 60% locations, where access through ambulance is
by the end of the programme. difficult and time consuming.
9MM MACHINE PISTOL S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE

• In the News: India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine • In the News: Indian military specialists will soon
Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian undergo training courses on the S-400 long-range Air
Army. Defence System in Russia.
• The Pistol is named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-
Respect" & “Hard Work”. About
• S-400 Triumf is one of the world’s most advanced air
Features of Asmi defence systems.
• The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm • It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM)
ammunition. designed by Russia.
• With an overall empty weight of less than 2 Kg, it • Supply of S-400 missiles is one of the flagship projects
features an 8-inch barrel and 33 rounds high capacity in the Russian-Indian military and military-technical
magazine. cooperation
• It has an upper receiver made from Aircraft grade
Aluminium and lower receiver from Carbon Fibre. Key Features
• The 3D Printing process has been used in designing • The missile can destroy airborne targets within the
and prototyping of various parts including trigger range of 250 km and also capable of destroying fast
components made by metal 3D printing. moving targets such as fighter aircraft.
• The machine pistol can fire at a range of 100 metres • It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create
and is in the class of the Uzi series guns of Israel. a layered defence.
• Applications: The weapon has huge potential in the • The system can engage all types of aerial targets
Armed forces as a personal weapon for heavy including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
weapon detachments, commanders, tank and aircraft and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of
crews, drivers/dispatch riders, radio/radar 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km.
operators, counter insurgency and counter-terrorism
operations among others. CAATSA
• Enacted in 2017, it is a US federal law that imposed
sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia.
• It includes sanctions against countries that engage in • It has participated in various international joint
significant transactions with Russia’s defense and exercises like Exercise Malabar (USA), Exercise
intelligence sectors. Varuna (French), Naseem-Al-Bahar (Oman Navy).
• Its “ultimate goal”, is to prevent revenue from flowing • It holds the world record as mentioned in the
to the Russian Government. Guinness Book of records for being the longest
serving warship of the world.
SMART ANTI-AIRFIELD WEAPON • The ship’s Motto was the Sanskrit phrase ‘Jalamev
Yashya, Balamev Tasya’ which means ‘who controls
• In the News: DRDO has successfully conducted a the sea is the powerful’.
captive and release trial of indigenously developed
Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from Hawk-I of
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) off the Odisha ARJUN MAIN BATTLE TANK
coast. • In the News: Recently, the Prime Minister has
handed over the indigenously developed Arjun Main
About Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army.
• It is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield
weapon. About
• Manufactured by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat • It was initiated by DRDO in 1972 with the Combat
(RCI) Hyderabad. Vehicles Research and Development Establishment
• History: The system belongs to the glide bomb (CVRDE) as its lead laboratory.
category and its development began around 2012-13, • Its objective was to create a “state-of-the-art tank
with crucial inputs from the Indian Air Force (IAF) with superior fire power, high mobility, and excellent
and the first test was carried out in 2016. protection”.
• The Mk 1 prototype of Arjun has been manufactured.
Features Mk-1A version has 14 major upgrades on the earlier
• The weapon is designed to strike ground targets, version.
especially adversary airfield infrastructure or similar • The breakthroughs achieved by CVRDE during the
strategically important installations. development are in the Engine, Transmission, Hydro-
• This is a 125-kilogram class smart weapon, capable of pneumatic Suspension, Hull and Turret, and Gun
engaging ground enemy airfield assets such as radars, Control System.
bunkers, taxi tracks, and runways, up to a range of • Two types of ammunition have been indigenously
100 kilometres. developed for this armament, viz,
• The high precision guided bomb is lightweight o Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot
compared to weapon systems of the same class. (FSAPDS)
o High-explosive squash head (HESH).
RUDRAM • Arjun has a computer-controlled integrated fire
• It is India’s first indigenous anti-radiation air-to- control system with day-cum-night stabilized
surface missile for Indian Air Force (IAF). sighting system and 120 mm calibre rifled gun.
• The missile is integrated on SU-30 Mk1 fighter • All round protection from anti-tank ammunition is
aircraft. achieved by the newly developed KANCHAN armour
• Purpose: It is designed to detect, track and to a degree much higher than available in present
neutralise the adversary’s radar, communication generation tanks.
assets and other radio frequency sources which are
generally part of their air defence systems.
HELINA AND DHRUVASTRA
• In the News: Recently, India has successfully test-
INS VIRAAT fired indigenously-developed anti-tank guided
• In the News: Recently, the Supreme Court has missile systems ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’ in the
ordered status quo on the dismantling of the Navy’s Pokhran range, Thar desert (Rajasthan).
decommissioned aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.
About
About • Helina is the helicopter-launched version of the Nag
• Originally commissioned by the British Navy as HMS missile system.
Hermes on November 18, 1959, the aircraft carrier • Dhruvastra is an Indian Air Force variant of Helina.
had taken part in the Falkland Islands war in 1982. • All three anti-tank missile systems have been
• India bought the British carrier in 1986 and indigenously developed by Defence Research and
rechristened it as INS Viraat. Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It played a major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 • Key Capabilities in these most advanced Anti-
during the Sri Lankan Peacekeeping operation. Tank Guided Missiles are:
• The ship was also deployed during Operation o All-weather day-and-night capability
Parakram (2001-02) following the terror attack on
the Indian Parliament.
o Can defeat battle tanks with conventional • This station operates the Do-228 maritime patrol
armour as well as with explosive reactive aircraft and a SAR (Search & Rescue) flight of HAL
armour. Chetak helicopters.
o Can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well o The station also handles courier flights from the
as top attack mode. mainland, and civil flights to and from Port Blair.
o Can hit both static and moving targets. o Its location makes it an important strategic
o Joint user trials of Helina (the Army version) and station for protecting India’s maritime interests
Dhruvastra (IAF version) have been carried out in the Bay of Bengal.
from the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) o It also serves as an important facility for
platform. undertaking humanitarian operations, such as
disaster relief and evacuation of medical
Nag Missile: emergencies from the remote islands.
• Nag is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank
guided missile developed by DRDO to support both INS SUMEDHA AND KULISH
mechanized infantry and airborne forces of the
Indian Army. • In the News: INS Kulish, Sumedha arrive in
• It is an all-weather condition with day and night Bangladesh to mark 50th anniversary of 1971 war.
capabilities and with a minimum range of 500m and
a maximum range of 4 km. About INS Sumedha
• Nag can be launched from land and air-based • It is an indigenously built Offshore Patrol vessel.
platforms. The land version is currently available for • It was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Goa in
integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA). 2014
• DRDO has developed nag Missiles under the • It has been designed and built by Goa Shipyard
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. Limited.
• It is designed to embark indigenously-manufactured
IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Dhruv (ALH) and Chetak helicopters.
Program): • The primary is to undertake EEZ surveillance, anti-
• It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable piracy patrols, fleet support operations, providing
India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile maritime security to off shore assets and carry out
technology. escort operations for high value assets.
• It was approved by the Government of India in 1983
and completed in March 2012. About INS Kulish
• The five missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under • It is an indigenously built guided missile corvette.
this program are: • INS Kulish is the third of indigenously-manufactured
1. Prithvi: Short-range surface to surface ballistic Kora Class guided missile corvettes, commissioned
missile. into the Navy in 2001.
2. Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e., • It is equipped with a multitude of weapons and
Agni (I, II, III, IV, V). sensors and also designed to embark indigenously-
3. Trishul: Short-range low-level surface to air manufactured Dhruv (ALH) and Chetak helicopters.
missile.
4. Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile. AIR INDEPENDENT PROPULSION
5. Akash: Medium range surface to air missile.
• In the News: The Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted
INS UTKROSH the final development test of the Air Independent
• In the News: President Reviews Tri-Service Guard of Propulsion (AIP) System, crucial for diesel electric
Honour at INS Utkrosh. submarines.
About About AIP System

• INS Utkrosh is an Indian naval air station under the • Submarines are essentially of two types:
joint-services Andaman and Nicobar Command of conventional and nuclear.
the Indian Armed Forces. • The conventional submarines use diesel-electric
• It is located near naval base INS Jarawa, on Port Blair engines, which require them to surface almost daily
in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. to get atmospheric oxygen for fuel combustion.
• It is the first naval air station in the Andaman and • If fitted with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)
Nicobar Islands. system, the submarine will need to take in oxygen
• It was transferred from the Directorate General of only once a week.
Civil Aviation to the Indian Navy in 1984. • The indigenously-developed AIP, which is one of the
• It was initially commissioned as INS Jarawa II and in key missions of the Naval Materials Research
1985, it was formally commissioned as INS Utkrosh. Laboratory (NMRL), is considered one of the
ambitious projects of the DRDO for the Navy.

• The project aims at fitting the technology on India’s • The crew of the previous Karanj, a Russian origin
Scorpene class submarine INS Kalvari around 2023. Foxtrot class submarine that was decommissioned in
2003 were special invitees for the ceremony.
Advantages of AIP
• The AIP system based submarines will be required to INS TALWAR
surface much less frequently, thus increasing their
lethality and stealth multifold. • In the News: Recently, the INS Talwar, stationed at
Gulf of Oman, has received a broadcast call from a
• Diesel-electric submarines require them to come to
stranded merchant cargo ship, MV Nayan.
the surface frequently to charge their batteries, thus
their underwater endurance time is less.
About
Fuel Cell Based AIP system: • It is a Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy.
• In a fuel cell based AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell • It is a modified Krivak III-Class frigate.
releases energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen, • It was built in Russia, and commissioned into the
with only water as the waste product ensuring less Indian Navy in 2003.
marine pollution. • It is a multirole frigate which has participated in
• The cells are highly efficient, and do not have moving various operations and exercises since her
parts, thus ensuring that the submarine has a low commissioning, including anti-piracy operations off
acoustic emissions of sound. the coast of Somalia.
• It supports naval forces during air, surface and sub-
Naval Materials Research Laboratory: surface missions.
• Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) is one • It is used to detect and destroy enemy submarines
of the laboratories functioning under DRDO, pursuing and other surface ships.
basic research as well as application-oriented • It is fitted with a Trebovaniye- M combat information
technology development in several areas viz. and control system.
Metallurgy, Polymer, Ceramics, Coating, Corrosion
and Electrochemical Protection, Marine INDIAN NAVAL LANDING CRAFT UTILITY L58
Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences. • In the News: Recently, the Indian Naval Landing
• It’s mission: Craft Utility (LCU) L58 has been commissioned into
o To develop Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) the Indian Navy at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar
systems for Naval Submarine & Fuel Cell Islands.
technologies.
o To provide scientific solutions for all categories About
of materials & related technologies for the Indian • It is the eighth and last ship of the Landing Craft
Navy. Utility (LCU) Mark IV Class.
o To undertake research projects on strategic
• It is indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach
materials for the Indian Navy.
Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata.
• The LCU 58 is an amphibious ship which can carry
INS KARANJ 160 troops, in addition to its crew.
• In the News: Indian Navy's third stealth Scorpene- • It is capable of carrying various types of combat
class Submarine INS Karanj was recently vehicles such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), BMPs,
commissioned. Armoured Vehicles, trucks, etc.
• It will allow single station monitoring of the ship’s
About navigational and machinery equipment respectively.
• The Scorpène-class submarines are a class of diesel- • The main armament of the ship includes two
electric attack submarines jointly developed by the indigenously manufactured 30 mm CRN 91 guns
French and the Spanish companies. which are controlled by a Stabilised Optronic
• It features diesel propulsion and additional air- Pedestal (SOP).
independent propulsion developed by DRDO. • The SOP is an electronic day-night director sight
• 6 Scorpene-class submarines, also known as Kalvari manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Class, are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock • It is manned by a motivated team of five officers and
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under 50 sailors.
collaboration with Naval Group, France. Their names
are - MILAN-2T ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES
o INS Kalvari: Commissioned in 2017
o INS Khanderi: Commissioned in 2019 • In the News: Recently, the Ministry of Defence has
o INS Karanj: Commissioned in 2021 signed a ₹1,188 crore deal with state-run Bharat
o INS Vela: Under Sea Trials Dynamics Limited (BDL) for supply of 4,960 MILAN-
o INS Vagir: Under Sea Trials 2T Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) for the Indian
o INS Vagsheer: Under Construction. Army.

About • Their roles include coastal and offshore patrolling,

• The Milan-2T is a Tandem Warhead ATGM with a policing maritime zones of India, control and
range of 1,850 metres. surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy
• The tandem warheads comprise a forward charge operations with limited wartime roles.
and a rear charge separated by a blast shield.
• It is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) FRONT HARD ARMOUR PANEL JACKET
under license from MBDA Missile Systems, France.
• It can be fired from ground as well as vehicle-based • In the News: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has
launchers. congratulated DRDO and DMSRDE Kanpur for
• It can be deployed in anti-tank roles for both developing a Light Weight Bullet Proof Jacket.
offensive and defensive tasks.
About
MILAN ATGM • Developed by: DRDO lab Defence Materials and
• It is a portable medium-range, anti-tank weapon Stores Research and Development Establishment
manufactured by Euromissile, based in Fontenay- (DMSRDE), Kanpur.
aux-Roses in France. • The Front Hard Armour Panel (FHAP) jacket was
• The system was developed for the French and tested at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory
German Armies and over 360,000 missiles and (TBRL), Chandigarh and met relevant BIS standards.
10,000 launch units have been produced since 1972. • Each gram of BPJ weight reduction is crucial in
• It is in service in 41 countries. enhancing soldier comfort while ensuring
• MILAN 3, armed with a tandem warhead with a new survivability.
firing post with jam-resistant pulsed-beacon infrared • This technology reduces the weight of the medium
guidance, has been in production since 1996. sized BPJ from 10.4 to 9.0 kilograms.
• Very specific materials and processing technologies
have been developed in the laboratories for the
ICGS VAJRA purpose.
• In the News: Indian Coast Guard ship 'Vajra'
commissioned; to enhance coastal security. ADVANCED CHAFF TECHNOLOGY
About ICGS Vajra: • In the News: Defence Research and Development
• Indian Coast Guard Ship Vessel “Vajra” is Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced
indigenously designed and built by Larsen and Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against
Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd. enemy missile attack.
• ICGS Vajra is the sixth in the series of seven Offshore
Patrol Vessels (OPVs). About
• Defense Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ), a DRDO
Key Features: laboratory, has indigenously developed three
• It is a 98-meter ship equipped with state-of-the-art variants of this technology namely:
facilities. o Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR),
o Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and
• It is designed to carry one twin-engine helicopter and
o Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR) meeting Indian
four high-speed boats.
Navy’s requirements.
• The vessel can also be used in Search and Rescue, Law
• Chaff is a passive expendable electronic
Enforcement, and Maritime Patrol.
countermeasure technology used worldwide to
• The vessel is also capable of carrying Pollution
protect naval ships from enemy’s radar and Radio
Response Equipment for oil spill response at Sea.
Frequency (RF) missile seekers.
• The importance of this development lies in the fact
Vikram Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV):
that very less quantity of chaff material deployed in
• Vikram Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is a series
the air acts as decoy to deflect enemy’s missiles for
of seven offshore patrol vessels (OPV). L&T
safety of the ships.
Shipbuilding for the Indian Coast Guard(ICG) is
building them.
• The seven OPVs are: 1) ICGS Vikram 2) ICGS Vijaya INS VIRAAT
3) ICGS Veera 4) ICGS Varaha 5) ICGS Varad 6) ICGS • In the News: INS Viraat, the Navy’s decommissioned
Vajra and 7) ICGS Vigraha. aircraft carrier, has become the “private property” of
a ship-breaker who has already torn down 40% of its
OFFSHORE PATROL VEHICLES (OPVS) body, chiefly for scrap, the Supreme Court told a
private company, that wants to turn the vessel into a
• Offshore Patrol Vehicles (OPVs) are long-range
maritime museum-cum-adventure centre.
surface ships.
• They are capable of operation in maritime zones of About
India including island territories with helicopter
operation capabilities.
• The second Centaur-Class aircraft carrier initially • It detects all classes of military, conventional and
served the Royal British Navy as HMS Hermes in 1959 homemade explosives. It gives visible & audible alerts
and was later sold to India in the 1980s. with sunlight-readable color display.
• It holds the world record for being the longest- • NanoSniffer is a 100% Made in India product in terms
serving warship of the world. of R&D and manufacturing. It has been developed by
• Housed Fighters Sea Harriers of INAS 300 (White NanoSniff Technologies, an IIT Bombay incubated
Tigers), Anti-Submarine aircraft Sea king Mk 42B startup and has been marketed by Vehant
(Harpoons), Sea King Mk 42 C and the SAR helicopter Technologies, a spin-off from a former IIT Delhi
Chetak, indigenous Advance Light Helicopters incubated startup Kritikal Solutions.
‘Dhruv’ and the Russian twin rotor Kamov-31, etc. • This affordable device will reduce India's
• Operations: Operation Mercy (1974), Operation dependence on imported explosive trace detector
Jupiter (1989), Operation Parakram (2001-02), etc. devices.
• Exercises: Malabar (USA), Varuna (French), Naseem-
Al-Bahar (Oman Navy), TROPEX (annual theatre- DHRUV MK III: ADVANCED LIGHT
level exercises), etc. HELICOPTER
o It was decommissioned in 2017.
o India acceded to the Hong Kong International • In the News: Recently, Indian Naval Air Squadron
Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built
Recycling of Ships, 2009 in November 2019 and ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv Mk III
passed the Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019. aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• The multilateral convention emphasises on safe and
environmentally sound recycling of ships. About
• The indigenously designed and developed Advanced
Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) is a twin engine,
PS ZOROASTER multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter
• In the News: Indian Prime Minister will gift a Fast in the 5.5 ton weight class.
Patrol Vessel named PS Zoroaster to Seychelles • It is a multi-role chopper with the Shakti engine
during the virtual event. manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL).
About
• Built by Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) PS Zoroaster will be Features:
built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineering. • The aircraft, a step up from Mk 1, will be able to
• It is useful for multi-purpose operations such as mitigate low visibility during search and rescue
patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and search operations even at night.
and rescue (SAR). • It has a 0.7 mm gun, which will give a huge capability
• This will be the fourth Fast Patrol Vessel, gifted by from a LIMO (Low Intensity Maritime Operations)
India to Seychelles. Other gifted vessels by India standpoint.
include PS Topaz (2005), PS Constant (2014), Patrol • The automatic flight control system is hugely
Boat Hermes (2016). superior to the previous one.
• The Mk III version of the ALH has an all glass cockpit
Solar Power Plant: and will be used for search and rescue, special
• India will also hand over a 1 MW Solar Power Plant at operations and coastal surveillance.
Romainville Island of Seychelles.
• The plant is a part of the ‘Solar photovoltaic KRI NANGGALA
Democratization Project’. India is implementing this
project in Seychelles under grant assistance. • In the News: The Indian Navy dispatched its deep
• The solar plant project will generate around 14 lakh submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) from
units of power annually. Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in
the search and rescue efforts for its submarine KRI
Nanggala that went missing with 53 personnel
NANOSNIFFER aboard.
• In the News: Union Education Minister Ramesh
Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched NanoSniffer, the About
world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace • KRI Nanggala (402) is a diesel-electric attack
Detector (ETD). submarine of the Indonesian Navy, one of two Cakra-
class submarines (Type 209 design).
About: • On 21 April 2021, it went missing in deep waters
• This home-grown Explosive trace detector device during a SUT torpedo drill north of Bali.
(ETD) - NanoSniffer can detect explosives in less than • The boat is named after the Nanggala, a divine and
10 seconds and it also identifies and categorizes powerful short spear that was owned by Prabu
explosives into different classes. Baladewa (the elder brother of Krishna), a recurring
character in wayang puppet theatre.
• Note: Indian Navy had received an alert through the withstanding high temperatures of operation are
International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison used.
Office (ISMERLO) regarding the missing Indonesian • Very few countries in the world such as USA, UK,
submarine. France and Russia have the capability to design and
• Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV): manufacture such Single Crystal (SX) components.
o DSRV is a type of deep-submergence vehicle used
for the rescue of downed submarines and PYTHON-5
clandestine missions.
o India is amongst the few countries in the world • In the News: Indigenously-developed Tejas Aircraft
capable of undertaking the search and rescue of has been cleared to carry fifth-generation Python-5
a disabled submarine through a DSRV. air-to-air missile as part of its weapons package.
• Features: The Indian Navy’s DSRV system consists
About
of -
o Firstly, Side Scan Sonar It can locate a disabled • Python-5 is a fifth-generation air-to-air missile
submarine up to 1,000-metre depth using side- (AAM) manufactured by Israeli Rafael Advanced
scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle. Defense Systems.
o Secondly, Submarine Rescue Vehicle It links with • The Python-5 Missile was first used in the 2006
the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. Lebanon war. During the war, it destroyed two Iran-
Thus, it can also provide emergency supplies to made UAVs.
the submarine.
o Third, Diver Decompression Chambers and Key Features:
hyperbaric medical equipment It can • The missile can be launched from very short to
decompress submariners, after rescue from a beyond-visual ranges with greater kill probability
sunken submarine. and excellent resistance.
• Python-5 is capable of “Lock-On After Launch”
International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison (LOAL). The missile also has a full-sphere/all-
Office (ISMERLO): direction (including rearward) attack ability.
• ISMERLO aims to facilitate an international response • The missile also features an advanced seeker with an
for distressed submarines. The office also aims to electro-optical and imaging infrared homing seeker.
improve the ability to respond to a call for assistance, • This seeker scans the target area for hostile aircraft,
through coordination. then locks on for the terminal chase.
• Established by NATO and the Submarine Escape and
Rescue Working Group (SMERWG) in 2003. Tejas - Light Combat Aircraft (LCA):
• The office was established following the disaster of • It is a single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light
the Russian submarine K-141 Kursk. fighter aircraft designed by the Aeronautical
• Significance: Although established by NATO, the Development Agency (ADA).
Office supports all nations and pursues the • It was developed in collaboration with Hindustan
involvement of global submarine-operating nations. Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force
(IAF) and Indian Navy.
SINGLE CRYSTAL COMPONENTS
P-8I PATROL AIRCRAFT
• In the News: DRDO has developed single crystal
blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to • In the News: Recently, the Biden Administration has
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of their notified the Congress of its determination to sell six
indigenous helicopter development program for P-8I patrol aircraft to India for an estimated cost of
helicopter engine application. USD 2.42 billion.
About About
• It is part of a program taken up by Defence • It is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol
Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a aircraft offered by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
premium laboratory of DRDO, to develop five sets • It replaced the ageing fleet of the Indian Navy’s
(300 in number) of single crystal high pressure Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft.
turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based super • The P-8I aircraft is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon
alloy. multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA) operated by
• Helicopters used in strategic and defence the US Navy.
applications need compact and powerful aero- • The aircraft is equipped with a CAE AN/ASQ-508A
engines for their reliable operation at extreme magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) system, APS-
conditions. 143C (V) 3 multimode radar and a global version of
• To achieve this, state-of-the-art Single Crystal Blades the Raytheon APY-10 surveillance radar.
having complex shape and geometry, manufactured • The APY-10 radar provides precise information in all-
out of Nickel based superalloys capable of weather, day and night missions.

• The P-8I aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of o The system can engage all types of aerial targets
789km/h and can reach a maximum altitude of within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to
12,496m. 30km.
o The system can track 100 airborne targets and
Significance of P-8I Patrol Aircraft for India: engage six of them simultaneously.
• It will allow the Indian Navy to expand its maritime
surveillance aircraft (MSA) capability for the next 30 INS RAJPUT
years.
• India will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft • In the News: Recently, the Ministry of Defence has
into its armed forces. announced that the INS Rajput will be
• The proposed sale of this equipment and support will decommissioned after 41 years of service.
not alter the basic military balance in the region.
• It can conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti- About
surface warfare (AsuW), intelligence, maritime • INS Rajput was a guided-missile destroyer and the
patrol, and surveillance and reconnaissance lead ship of the Rajput class of the Indian Navy.
missions. • Built by: the erstwhile USSR (now Russia).
• The missile destroyer was commissioned in the
Indian Navy in 1980. It was also the first destroyer of
IRON DOME AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM: ISRAEL the Indian Navy.
• In the News: Israel used its Iron Dome air defence • The ship is capable of attacking land targets as well as
system in recent violent clashes over Jerusalem. fulfilling anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles as a
task force or carrier escort.
About • The destroyer ship participated in several important
• Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence missions over the years including.
system. • Operation: Aman off the coast of Sri Lanka to assist
• Developed by: Israeli manufacturer Rafael Advanced the Indian Peace Keeping Force during Srilankan Civil
Defense Systems with support from the United States War -
and was deployed in 2011. o Operation Pawan: for patrolling duties off the
• Purpose: It is used for countering rockets, artillery & coast of Sri Lanka
mortars (C-RAM). It will also counter aircraft, o Operation Cactus: to resolve hostage situation
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles fired from of the Maldives and
distances of up to 70 kilometres. o Operation Crowsnest: off Lakshadweep.
• The Iron Dome has three main systems. These
systems will work together to provide a shield over
the area where it is deployed, handling multiple
ICGS SAJAG
threats: • In the News: The National Security Advisor (NSA)
o Radar: It has a detection and tracking radar to has commissioned the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)
spot any incoming threats. ICGS (Indian Coast Guard ship) Sajag
o Weapon Control: It has a battle management
and weapon control system (BMC), About
o Missile Fire: It also has a missile firing unit. The • Goa Shipyard Limited has indigenously designed and
BMC basically liaises between the radar and the built the Indian Coast Guard Ship Vessel “Sajag”.
interceptor missile. • Features: The ship is fitted with advanced
technology equipment, weapons and sensors. It is
Other key Features of Iron Dome: also capable of carrying a twin-engine helicopter and
• The missile is capable of being used in all weather four high-speed boats.
conditions, including during the day and night. • Significance: The ICGS Sajag is the third in a series of
• Israel claims the system has stopped thousands of five offshore patrol vessels under Samarth Class.
enemy launches from hitting targets, with a success
rate of more than 90%. Offshore Patrol Vehicles (OPVs):
• Offshore Patrol Vehicles (OPVs) are long-range
S-400 TRIUMF: surface ships.
• India has S-400 TRIUMF, which also caters to the • They are capable of operation in maritime zones of
three threats (rockets, missiles and cruise missiles). India including island territories with helicopter
But they have much longer range. operation capabilities.
• It has a much larger air defence bubble to knock off
threats. Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
• It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) • The Indian Coast Guard was formally established
designed by Russia. through an Act of Parliament in 1978. It operates
• Range & Effectiveness: under the Ministry of Defence.
• Purpose: It is the maritime law enforcement and
search and rescue agency of India. They have
jurisdiction over territorial waters including its • Interpol applies cutting-edge scientific research and
contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. uses the DNA of relatives to identify missing persons
• Origin: The concept of forming the Coast Guard was or unidentified human remains around the world.
conceived after the 1971 war when it was assessed • DNA kinship matching is used mostly in cases where
that maritime borders are equally vital as land a direct sample of the missing person is not available.
borders. • Components: I-Familia has three components:
• Committee: The blueprint for the formation of the • Dedicated global database to host the DNA profiles
Indian Coast Guard was conceived by the Rustamji provided by relatives. It is held separately from any
Committee. criminal data;
• Significance: Indian Coast Guard has emerged as the • DNA matching software called Bonaparte developed
fourth largest in the world with almost 160 ships and by Dutch company Smart Research; and
62 aircraft. • Interpretation guidelines developed by Interpol.
INS SANDHAYAK INS Saryu:

• It is an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol
• In the News: Recently, INS Sandhayak Vessel (NOPV).
decommissioned 04 Jun 21 after serving the nation • It is designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
for 40 years.
• It is aimed at meeting the increasing ocean
surveillance and patrolling requirements of the
About
Indian Navy.
• INS Sandhayak, the first of its class indigenously
designed and built Hydrographic Survey Ship of
Indian Navy. IDEX-DIO
• It was conceptualised by then Chief Hydrographer to • In the News: The Defence Minister has approved the
the Govt. of India, Rear Admiral FL Fraser. budgetary support of Rs 498.8 crore for iDEX-DIO
• The construction of the ship began at GRSE Kolkata (Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence
(then Calcutta) by laying the keel in 1978. Innovation Organisation) for the next five years.
• The ship was commissioned to the Indian Navy in
1981 About
• The ship has conducted surveys in shallow coastal • It was launched by the Government in April 2018.
waters and in deep seas, besides serving as alma- • Aim: iDEX aims to promote innovation and
mater for numerous hydrographers of the Navy. technology development in Defence and Aerospace
• The ship, during her commissioned service, has by engaging Industries (which includes MSMEs, start-
undertaken approximately 200 major Hydrographic ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes &
Surveys and numerous minor surveys in both East academia).
and West coasts of the country, the Andaman seas • It will also provide grants/funding and other support
and the neighbouring countries too. to them to carry out R&D. However, R&D should have
a good potential for future adoption for Indian
Significant operations: defence and aerospace needs.
• Operation Pawan, assisting Indian peacekeeping
forces in Sri Lanka in 1987. Objectives of IDEX:
• Operation Rainbow, when India helped the Sri • Facilitate rapid development of new, indigenized, and
Lankan Government search for and rescue fishermen innovative technologies for the Indian defence and
and boats lost at sea. aerospace sector in shorter timelines.
• It was also part of humanitarian missions after the • Create a culture of engagement with innovative
2004 Tsunami and the maiden Indo-U.S. startups, to encourage co-creation for defence and
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise aerospace sectors.
– ‘Tiger Triumph’. • Empower a culture of technology co-creation and co-
innovation within the defence and aerospace sectors.
• Nodal Body: iDEX will be funded and managed by
I-FAMILIA
Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
• In the News: Recently, the Indian Navy hosted Goa
Maritime Symposium (GMS) – 2021 under the aegis Defence Innovation Organization (DIO):
of Naval War College, Goa. • Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) is a not-for-
profit Organisation, incorporated under Section 8 of
About the Companies Act.
• I-Familia is a global database launched to identify • Founding Members: Its two founding members are
missing persons through family DNA. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat
• It will help the police to solve cases in member Electronics Limited (BEL) – Defence Public Sector
countries. Undertakings (DPSUs).

• Functions: DIO will provide high-level policy INS TABAR

guidance to iDEX. However, iDEX will be functionally
autonomous. • In the News: INS Tabar deployed to participate in
joint exercises with friendly navies in Africa and
• The CEO of both DIO and iDEX will be the same. It will
Europe.
facilitate coordination and separation of functions
also without any conflicts.
About
Other Related Initiatives: • INS Tabar is a Talwar-class stealth Frigate built for
Indian Navy in Russia.
• Defence Industrial Corridors: To support the
growth of the Defence sector and enhance • The ship is equipped with a versatile range of
manufacturing capacity in the sector, two Defence weapons and sensors and is among the earliest
Industrial Corridors are being set up in India, one in stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
Uttar Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu. • The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet
which is based at Mumbai under Western Naval
Artificial Intelligence in Defence Command.
• N Chandrasekaran Task Force was set up in 2018 to
study implications of AI in national security. What will INS Tabar do?
• Defence Artificial Intelligence Project Agency • INS Tabar will transit across the Gulf of Aden, Red
(DAIPA) was created in March, 2019. Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and
Baltic Sea.
• DAIPA aims for greater thrust on Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in Defence, formulation of an AI • During port visits, the ship is scheduled to participate
roadmap for each Defence PSU and Ordnance Factory in bilateral exercises like:
Board to develop AI-enable products. 1. Exercise Konkan: with the UK Royal Navy
2. Exercise Varuna: with French Navy and
3. Exercise Indra: with Russian Federation Navy.
AGNI P MISSILE • These engagements are aimed to further strengthen
• In the News: Recently, a new generation nuclear maritime security in the region and to consolidate
capable ballistic missile Agni-P (Prime) was combined operations against maritime threats.
successfully test-fired by DRDO from Dr. APJ Abdul
Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, Balasore.
INDRAJAAL
About • In the News: Hyderabad-based technology R&D firm
• Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Grene Robotics has designed and developed India’s
Agni class (under IGMDP - Integrated Guided Missile first indigenous drone defence dome called
Development Program). “Indrajaal”.
• Canister Based Missile: Agni P is a canisters based
missile. Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time About
required to launch the missile while improving its • The drone defence dome has the capability to
storage and mobility, autonomously protect an area of 1000-2000 sq km
• This means that it can be launched from rail and road against the aerial threats by assessing and acting on
and stored for a longer period. It can also be aerial threats such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
transported across the length and breadth of the (UAVs), loitering munitions, and Low- Radar Cross
country. Section (RCS) targets.
• Weight: The missile weighs 50% less than Agni III • The ANTI-UAV systems will not only provide
and has new guidance and a new generation of protection to defence bases but it will be beneficial
propulsion. for linear infrastructures like international borders
• Range: The missile has a range between 1000km to against advanced weaponry.
2000km. It has been developed specifically to strike • Salient features of Indrajaal:
targets in Pakistan. Its range is too short to reach o Real-time situational awareness
targets in the Chinese mainland. o Integrated and Intelligent meshed network
• Replaced by: The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, o Integrated all current weapons suite and
Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two infrastructure
decades ago with technologies that are now o Honeycombed cell structure for seamlessly built
considered outdated. o Synergic combination of 9-10 technologies
o 24×7 persistent and autonomous monitoring,
About Agni Missiles: action and tracking.
• Agni Missiles trace their origins back to the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme MH-60R MULTI ROLE HELICOPTERS
(IGMDP). • In the News: Indian Navy accepted the first two of its
• IGMDP was conceived by APJ. Abdul Kalam in the MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) from the US
1980s to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the
field of missile technology.
Navy in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station North Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced
Island, San Diegor. avionics.
o It is launched using a tripod designed for a
About maximum range of 2.5 km with a launch weight
• MH-60R helicopters are all-weather helicopters of less than 15 Kg.
designed to support multiple missions with state of
the art avionics/ sensors.
IAC-1 VIKRANT
• The helicopters would also be modified with several
unique equipment and weapons. • In the News: Recently, the Indigenous Aircraft
• Significance: Carrier (IAC) 1 named INS Vikrant, started sea trials
o The induction of the all-weather multi-role (one of the last phases of trials).
helicopters is an important milestone in India-US
bilateral defence ties. About:
o It will provide India with the capability to • INS Vikrant was named after the warship that played
perform anti-surface and anti-submarine a crucial role in the 1971 war.
warfare missions. • It is expected to be commissioned into the Indian
Navy in the second half of 2022.
Other Defence Deals: • Designed: By the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval
• C-17 Globemaster III for military transport Design (DND), the carrier has been built at Cochin
• Boeing’s Chinook CH-47 as heavy-lift helicopters Shipyard Limited, a public sector shipyard under the
• Boeing’s Apache as tank-killers Ministry of Shipping.
• P-8I Poseidon for overland reconnaissance
• Lockheed Martin’s C-130J for airlifting troops. Features:
• It is the largest and most complex warship ever to be
designed and built in India.
AKASH-NG & MPATGM • It has been designed with a high degree of automation
• In the News: Recently, the Defence Research & for machinery operation, ship navigation and
Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully survivability.
flight-tested the New Generation Akash Missile • It has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising
(Akash-NG) and the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500
Missile (MPATGM). nautical miles.
• The ship can accommodate an assortment of fixed-
About Akash-NG: wing and rotary aircraft.
• Akash-NG is a New Generation Surface-to-Air
Missile.
• Defence Research & Development Laboratory
GHAZNAVI MISSILE
(DRDL), Hyderabad in collaboration with other • In the News: Pakistan has successfully test-fired a
DRDO laboratories. surface-to-surface ballistic missile called Ghaznavi.
• The Missile is capable of intercepting high
manoeuvring low radar cross-section aerial targets. About Ghaznavi missile:
• It is a new variant of the Akash missile that can strike • Ghaznavi is a surface-to-surface short-range ballistic
targets at a distance of around 60 km and fly at a missile designed and developed by the National
speed of up to Mach 2.5. Development Complex (NDC).
• Akash-NG uses a two-pulse solid rocket motor that • The missile has an operational range of between 290-
replaces the old ramjet on the legacy Akash missile. 320 km. Its first version has been in service with the
• The weight of the rocket has been brought down from Pakistan Army’s strategic command since 2004.
700 kg to 350 kg. • Earlier, Shaheen-3, Babur cruise missile and the
• Akash-NG has a new seeker head. The seeker locks Fatah-1 were launched.
onto the enemy aircraft and continuously guides the
missile to impact the target. Ballistic Missile:
• It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons
system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a
MAN PORTABLE ANTI-TANK GUIDED
payload from its launch site to a predetermined
MISSILE target.
• It is an indigenously-developed anti-tank guided • It can carry conventional high explosives as well as
missile. chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.
• Purpose: Anti-Tank guided missile is a medium or • The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic
long-range missile whose primary purpose is to Missile Proliferation (ICOC), now known as the Hague
destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles. Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation
• Features: (HCOC), is a political initiative aimed at globally
o It is a low weight, fire and forget missile. It is curbing ballistic missile proliferation.
incorporated with state-of-the-art Miniaturized • India is a signatory to this convention.
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR): eliminating enemy submarines and large surface
• Established in April 1987, the voluntary Missile ships.
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) aims to: • Indian Navy currently operates six Krivak class
o Limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other frigates in two different batches, such as the Talwar
unmanned delivery systems that could be used class and the upgraded Teg class.
for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks. • Key Features of Krivak Class Stealth Frigates:
o India has joined the MTCR. o Krivak Class Stealth Frigates have a displacement
o Some of India's ballistic missiles: Agni P of 4,000 tons and a speed of 30 knots.
missile, Shaurya missile, Prithvi missile, o Due to the use of stealth technologies and a
Dhanush, etc. special hull design, these frigates have reduced
radar cross-section (RCS) as well as
DRDO’S CHAFF TECHNOLOGY TO SAFEGUARD electromagnetic, acoustic and infrared
JETS signatures.
• In the News: Recently, Defence Research and India-Russia Defence Relation:

Development Organisation (DRDO) developed • Joint Exercises: Exercise INDRA, is a joint, tri
advanced Chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I in services exercise between India and Russia.
collaboration with High Energy Materials Research • Russia's Military Equipment Deployed by India:
Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. o Navy: The Navy's only active aircraft carrier INS
Vikramaditya is from Russia. A nuclear attack
About submarine Chakra II is also in service.
• Chaff is an electronic counter-measure technology. o Army: Army’s T-90 and T-72 main battle tanks.
• It is used by militaries worldwide to protect their S-400 Triumf missile system.
assets like naval vessels and aircraft from radar and o Air Force: IAF’s Su30 MKI fighter.
radio frequency (RF) guiding mechanisms of the
enemy missile.
o A very little quantity of chaff material deployed INS CHILKA
in the air acts as a decoy. • In the News: The Parliamentary Standing Committee
o The chaff deployed in the air reflects multiple on Defence (SCOD) visited the prestigious ab-initio
targets for the missile guidance systems, thus sailors training establishment of Indian Navy, INS
misleading the enemy radars or deflecting Chilka on 23 Aug 21.
adversary missiles. About
• Developed by: The advanced chaff technology has • INS Chilka is the only ab-initio training establishment
been developed by DRDO units Defence Laboratory of the Indian Navy, which trains more than 6600 raw
Jodhpur and High Energy Materials Research recruits annually to make them able-bodied sailors.
Laboratory (HEMRL). • INS Chilka was commissioned in 1980 and is located
• Difference between Chaff and Flares: in Odisha in the vicinity of Chilika Lake.
o Chaff and Flares are both used as defensive
countermeasures to confuse the radar from MULTI-MODE HAND GRENADES
detecting a vessel or deflect the missiles from the
target. • In the News: Recently, the first batch of Multi-Mode
o Major difference between the two: While flares, Hand Grenades (MMHG) was handed over to the
when fired, generate a strong infrared source to Indian Army in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri
attract heat-seeking missiles, chaff is used to Rajnath Singh in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
misguide radar-tracking weapons.
o Chaff is composed of many small aluminium or About
zinc coated fibres. • It has been designed by the Defence Research and
o It will be stored on-board the aircraft as Development Organisation (DRDO) and Terminal
cartridges. Ballistics Research Laboratories and produced by
Economic Explosives Ltd in Nagpur.
• The MMHG grenades will replace Grenade No. 36 of
KRIVAK CLASS STEALTH FRIGATES World War I vintage design that is still in service.
• In the News: The first of the two additional Krivak
class stealth frigates being built by Russia is expected Key Features
to be delivered to India in the middle of 2023. • The grenade offers multiple advantages to soldiers in
terms of safety and penetration attack as compared
About to the vintage hand grenades.
• Krivak or Talwar stealth frigates are a series of • The grenade operates in a dual mode. In the offensive
frigates and guard ships (patrol boats) built by Russia mode, the grenade does not have a fragment sleeve
since 1970. and is used for low-intensity attacks.
• Objective: They are primarily used to accomplish a • This mode is used when the soldier targets the attack
wide variety of naval missions. Such as finding and within five metres from the point of burst.

• The defensive mode is used when the soldier is in o It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and
shelter and the enemy is in an open area. para-dropping of troops and cargo.
o It will be installed with the indigenous Electronic
ICGS VIGRAHA Warfare Suite.
• Project Execution:
• In the News: The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Indian o Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced
Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha was commissioned Systems Limited (TASL) will jointly execute the
into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). project to equip the air force with the new
transport aircraft under the Make-in-India
About initiative in the aerospace sector.
• It is an indigenously built Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s
offshore patrol vessel (OPV).
• Built by: The ship has been designed and built by LCA-MK2
M/s Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd. • In the News: The configuration for the Light Combat
• Based at: The ship will be based at Visakhapatnam Aircraft (LCA)-Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat
and operate on India’s Eastern Seaboard. Aircraft (AMCA) has been frozen. The first flight is
expected to be ready by 2023.
Key Features:
• The ship is equipped with advanced radars. The About:
sensors and machinery present in the ship make it • It is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft
capable of operating in tropical sea conditions. designed by Aeronautical Development Agency
• The ship has been designed to carry one twin-engine (ADA) in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics
helicopter and four high-speed boats for the purpose Limited (HAL).
of boarding operation, search and rescue, law • Payload Capacity: It is a 1,350 mm longer aircraft. It
enforcement and maritime patrol. can carry a payload of 6,500 kg compared to the 3,500
• The design of the vessel is also climate-sensitive. The kg the LCA can carry.
ship is capable of carrying “pollution response • Features: The aircraft features enhanced range and
equipment” to contain oil spills at sea. endurance, including an onboard oxygen generation
system, which is being integrated for the first time.
Indian Coast Guard:
• It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA):
Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of • The initial design of the AMCA was started way back
Defence. It is headquartered in New Delhi. in 2009.
• It was established in August 1978 by the Coast Guard • The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a
Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India. fifth-generation indigenous fighter aircraft designed
• The concept of forming ICG came into being after the by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
1971 war. • Payload Capacity: It will be a 25-tonne aircraft with
• The blueprint for a multidimensional Coast Guard a payload capacity of 1,500 kg internally and a 5,500-
was conceived by the visionary Rustamji Committee. kg external payload.
• It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India • Features: The aircraft will have stealth and non-
including contiguous zone and Exclusive Economic stealth configurations.
Zone (EEZ). • It will be developed in two phases, AMCA Mk1 with
• It is responsible for marine environment protection an existing GE414 engine and an AMCA Mk2 with an
in maritime zones of India and is coordinating advanced more powerful engine to be developed
authority for response to oil spills in Indian waters. later along with a foreign partner.
C-295 AIRCRAFT REX MKII

• In the News: Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) • In the News: Recently, an Israeli defense contractor
cleared procurement of 56 transport aircraft from unveiled a remote-controlled armed robot called
Airbus to provide a major fillip to the transport fleet ‘REX MKII’ that can patrol battle zones, track
of the Indian Air Force. infiltrators and open fire.
About About
• It will replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing fleet of • REX MKII is a remote-controlled armed robot that can
Avro-748 planes. patrol battle zones, track infiltrators and open fire.
• The Avro-748 planes are a British-origin twin-engine • It is operated by an electronic tablet and can be
turboprop, military transport and freighter with a 6- equipped with two machine guns, cameras and
tonne freight capacity. sensors.
• Capacity: The C-295 MW is a transport aircraft of 5- • It can also run autonomously.
10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology.
• Features:
• Benefits: The robot can gather intelligence for S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE
ground troops, carry injured soldiers and supplies in
and out of battle and strike nearby targets. • In the News: Recently, the American Deputy
Secretary of State described the S-400 missile deal
• Concerns: Critics have raised concerns that robotic
between India and Russia as dangerous, expressed
weapons could decide on their own, perhaps
hope that the India and US could solve the issue
erroneously to shoot targets.
amicably.
ARJUN MK-1A BATTLE TANKS About

• In the News: The Defence Ministry placed an order • It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM)
with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, for the designed by Russia.
supply of 118 indigenous Arjun Mk-1A main battle • The missile can destroy airborne targets within the
tanks (MBT) for the Army at a cost of ₹7,523 crore. range of 250 km and is also capable of destroying
fast-moving targets such as fighter aircraft.
About • It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create
• The state–of-the-art MBT Mk-1A is a new variant of a layered defence.
Arjun Tank designed to enhance fire power, mobility • It can track 100 airborne targets and engage six of
and survivability. them simultaneously.
• Developed By: Combat Vehicles Research and • It is the most dangerous operationally deployed
Development Establishment (CVRDE), along with modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world,
other laboratories of Defence Research & considered much ahead of the US-developed
Development Organisation (DRDO). Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system
• Infused with 72 new features and more indigenous (THAAD).
content from the Mk-1 variant, the tank would ensure
effortless mobility in all terrains, besides precise What are the concerns for India?
target engagement during day and night. • India is concerned that the U.S would proceed with
Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions
Mk1A and MkII: Act (CAATSA) sanctions against India over the S-400
• The development of Arjun Mk1 was followed by purchase from Russia.
improved variants - Mk1A and MkII.
• Arjun Mk1A, which features improved firepower and CAATSA
transmission systems, completed the final • Enacted in 2017, Countering America’s Adversaries
integration tests in 2019 and was cleared for through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)‘s core objective is to
production. counter Iran, Russia and North Korea through
• The Arjun MkII variant is a light-weight Futuristic punitive measures.
Main Battle Tank (FMBT) with electro-optical • Includes sanctions against countries that engage in
sensors and high-power lasers. significant transactions with Russia’s defence and
intelligence sectors.
AKASH PRIME MISSILE
• In the News: It is a newer version of Akash missile NUCLEAR CAPABLE HYPERSONIC MISSILE
tested recently by DRDO. • In the News: Recently, it has been reported that
China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide
About vehicle that circled the globe before speeding
• It is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile towards its target.
(SAM) system developed by the DRDO and produced
by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). About:
• It was developed to replace the Russian 2K12 Kub • Hypersonic speeds are those that exceed five times
(SA-6 Gainful) missile system, currently in service. the speed of sound, that is, anything that can move at
• Features: The missile is equipped with a homegrown speeds of Mach 5 or above, which means at least 1.6
Radio Frequency seeker which imparts an improved km per second.
accuracy while intercepting targets in various • Types of Hypersonic Missiles: There are two types
conditions. of hypersonic missiles -
• It can be fired from a tank or a wheeled truck to attack o Hypersonic cruise missiles: These are the ones
an aerial target. that use rocket or jet propellant through their
• Other improvements also ensure more reliable flight and are regarded as being just faster
performance under low temperature environments, versions of existing cruise missiles.
at higher altitudes. o Hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) missiles: This
• Significance: The missile will further boost the is the one that China has tested.
confidence of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. > They are launched on rockets and then orbit
the earth at their own speed.

> They are difficult to track because, unlike o Satellite Guidance: The missile is equipped with
ballistic missiles, they “do not follow the a ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system
fixed parabolic trajectory”. (NavIC) that works with satellite guidance.
• Countries like the US, Russia and China are o So, the missile can carry nuclear warheads with
developing hypersonic glide vehicles. advanced navigation and guidance systems.
• Development of Hypersonic Technology in India:
o In September 2020, DRDO has successfully flight- MIRV Technology:
tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator • The most striking feature of Agni-V is its MIRV
Vehicle (HSTDV) with a capability to travel at 6 (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry
times the speed of sound. Vehicles) technology.
o In December 2020 an advanced Hypersonic • In this technique, multiple weapons can be installed
Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility of the DRDO was instead of one in the warhead mounted on the
inaugurated in Hyderabad. missile.
o It is a pressure vacuum-driven, enclosed free jet • That is, a missile can hit multiple targets
facility that simulates Mach 5 to 12. simultaneously.
• Significance: The missile can range the whole of
ABHYAS Asia, Europe and parts of Africa. Once inducted, Agni-
V will be maintained by the Strategic Forces
• In the News: Defence Research and Development
Organisation(DRDO) has successfully flight-tested command.
Abhyas High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)
from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. MK 54 LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDO
• In the News: Recently, The Defence Minister has
About signed a contract with the US government to procure
• Purpose: The indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle MK 54 torpedoes and expendables such as chaff and
will be used as a target for the evaluation of various flares for the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare
missile systems. aircraft P-8I.
• Developed by: It has been designed and developed
by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment About MK 54
(ADE). • It is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo used
by the United States Navy.
Key Features: • Can be launched from a submarine, surface vessel, or
• Abhyas is powered by a small gas turbine engine to airplane.
sustain a long endurance flight at subsonic speed. • Previously known as Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo
• It is also equipped with a MEMS-based Inertial (LHT).
Navigation System (INS) for navigation, along with
the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and Function
control. • Launched above or below the water surface.
• Moreover, the Abhyas vehicle is programmed for fully • Self-propelled towards a target.
autonomous flight. The check-out of air vehicle is • Capable of tracking, classifying and attacking
done using a laptop-based Ground Control Station underwater targets.
(GCS).
P-8I
AGNI-V • P-8I is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol
• In the News: India successfully tests nuclear-capable aircraft offered by US Boeing for the Indian Navy.
Agni-V ballistic missile. • The aircraft can conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare
(ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (AsuW), intelligence,
About maritime patrol and surveillance and reconnaissance
• It is a surface-to-surface nuclear-capable Inter- missions.
Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
• Developed by: Defence Research & Development ICGS SARTHAK
Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• In the News: An Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), Indian
• Range: It is capable of striking targets at ranges up Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarthak has been
to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of commissioned and dedicated to the nation at Goa by
accuracy. the Indian Coast Guard.
• Speed: It can reach an exceptional Mach 24 speed,
which is around 29,401 km/h. About
• Key Features of Agni-V: • Development: ICGS Sarthak is an indigenously built
o The missile uses a three-stage solid-fuelled Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) by the Goa Shipyard
engine. Limited.

• It is a 105-meter-long ship displacing 2,450 tons and About

is propelled by two 9,100 kilowatt diesel engines • It was commissioned in 2008 for the country's
designed to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots. marine research programme.
• It is the third research vessel after Sagar Purvi and
Features SagarPaschimi.
• It has state-of-the-art Navigation and Communication • Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Nidhi is
equipment, sensors and machinery. an ice-strengthened multidisciplinary vessel
• It is capable of carrying a twin-engine helicopter, four operated by the National Institute of Ocean
high speed boats and one inflatable boat for swift Technology (NIOT).
boarding and Search & Rescue operations. • An ice-strengthened ship is a ship made of steel.
• It is also capable of carrying limited pollution These ships are made to get through the ice in
response equipment to undertake oil spill pollution Antarctica and the Arctic.
response at sea.
INDIAN NAVY FRIGATE TUSHIL
NATIONAL AUTOMATED FACIAL
• In the News: The 7th Indian Navy Frigate of P1135.6
RECOGNITION SYSTEM (NAFRS) class, named Tushil, was launched at Yantar
• In the News: Recently, in order to empower the Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia.
Indian police with information technology,
Government has approved implementation of the About
National Automated Facial Recognition System • Developed by: Designed and built by Russia for the
(NAFRS). Indian Navy, the ship is formally named as ‘Tushil’.
• Tushil is a Sanskrit word meaning Protector Shield.
About • Project 1135.6 is also known as Talwar Class — a
• Facial recognition is a way of identifying or class of guided-missile frigates.
confirming an individual’s identity using their face.
Facial recognition systems can be used to identify Features:
people in photos, videos, or in real-time. • This ship is a potent combination of state-of-art
• It would be a mobile and web-based application Indian and Russian Weapons and Sensors equipped
hosted in Delhi to help in crime prevention and to operate in Littoral and Blue waters, both as a single
detection and fast track document verification. unit and as consort in a naval task force.
• It is supposed to be interlinked with other existing • They feature “stealth technology” in terms of low
database like crime and criminal tracking Network & radar and underwater noise signatures.
systems (CCTNS), integrated criminal justice system • It highlights the long standing tradition of Military
(ICJS), state specific database systems and the Khoya- Technical Cooperation between India and Russia.
paya portal. • They will add more power to the Indian Navy
operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
LONG RANGE BOMB
• In the News: Recently, Defence Research and Y 12704 (VISAKHAPATNAM)
Development Organisation(DRDO) and Indian Air
• In the News: Y 12704 (Visakhapatnam), the lead ship
Force (IAF) have jointly flight-tested Long-Range
of Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers being
Bomb(LRB).
built at Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL), was delivered
to the Indian Navy.
About
• Developed by: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a About
DRDO laboratory located at Hyderabad in
• The 163 metres long warship has a full load
coordination with other DRDO laboratories.
displacement of 7400 tonnes and maximum speed of
• Long Range Bomb is India’s first indigenously- 30 knots.
developed guided bomb.
• The ship is constructed using indigenous steel DMR
• Usage: It will be used to attack land-based targets at 249A and is amongst the largest destroyers
a long-range with greater accuracy. constructed in India.
• Range: The bomb has a range of around 100 • The overall indigenous content of the project is
kilometres. approx. 75%.
SAGAR NIDHI Project-15B

• In the News: The Union Minister visited the Indian • Four Guided missile: Destroyers of Project 15B
Subcontinent’s Pioneer Research Vessel, Ship (P15B) are under construction at M/s Mazagaon
“SagarNidhi” and interacted with the Scientists on the Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai. The contract for
deck. construction of these four ships was signed in 2011.
• These ships are amongst the most technologically
advanced Guided Missile Destroyers of the world,
with state-of-the-art weapon/sensor package, • In the News: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
advanced stealth features and a high degree of approved the long-pending deal for the manufacture
automation. of 6.71 lakh AK-203 assault rifles in India.
• Other Three Ships of Project 15B: The four ships
are christened after major cities from all four corners About
of the country viz. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, • It is an assault rifle designed by Russia.
Imphal and Surat. • It is considered to be the latest and most advanced
version of the AK-47 rifle. They will be replacing the
INS VELA Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifles.
• Features:
• In the News: The Indian Navy has taken delivery of o The AK-203 rifle is reliable, durable and easy to
its fourth Scorpene-class submarine named ‘Vela’. maintain.
o It also has better ergonomics, accuracy and
About: density of fire.
• It is named ‘Vela’ after erstwhile ‘INS Vela’ (second o They are also considered lighter, shorter and
batch of Foxtrot class submarines taken by India from deadlier than the INSAS rifle.
erstwhile USSR) which was first commissioned in • Production of AK-203 for India: The production of
Indian Naval service on 31 August 1973. the AK-203 will be undertaken in India by the Indo-
• INS Vela is the fourth submarine under Project 75 for Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd (IRRPL). It was created as a joint
the Indian Navy. venture between the Ordnance Factories Board
• It is a diesel-electric attack submarine based on the (OFB) and the Russian entities Rosoboronexport and
Scorpène class. Concern Kalashnikov.
• State-of-the-art attacking capability it can attack
using torpedoes and tube launch anti-ship missiles, Igla-S
whilst on surface or underwater. • Igla-S Man-Portable Air Defence System is a Very
• Stealth: It has superior stealth which gives it Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) System
invulnerability and makes more difficult for enemy to manufactured by Russia.
detect it. • These missiles are meant to counter low-flying
• Operability: It can operate in all theatres, including aircraft as the last line of defence against flying
tropics. objects in a layered air defence system.
• It will have a maximum range of 6 km, an altitude of
Project 75: 3 km along with all-weather capability.
• Project – 75 includes the construction of six
submarines of Scorpene design.
SANDHAYAK
• These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under • In the News: ‘Sandhayak’, the first of the four Survey
collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France. Vessels (Large) project being built for the Indian
• Among them, three submarines namely INS Karanj, Navy, was launched in Kolkata on December 05,
INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi are functional. The 2021.
fourth one INS Vela was delivered now.
• The fifth one INS Vagir was launched in 2020 and the About
sixth one, INS Vagsheer is under construction. • Designed and developed by: Defence Public Sector
Undertaking, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers (GRSE) Limited, which is among the
ZIRCON HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE leading warship building companies in India.
• In the News: Russia carried out another successful • Purpose: These survey ships are capable of full scale
test of its Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, one the coastal & deep-water hydrographic survey of Ports &
latest additions to the country’s arsenal of weapons Harbour approaches and determination of
called “invincible” by President Vladimir Putin. navigational channels & routes.
• These ships are also capable of undertaking surv
About ey of maritime limits and collection of Oceanograp
• Hypersonic can travel more than five times the speed hic & Geographical data for Defence applications,
of sound and manoeuvre in mid-flight, making them thus boosting the maritime capabilities of the
much harder to track and intercept than traditional country.
projectiles.
• It fired the Zircon missile from a warship and hit a VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE
test target in Russia’s Arctic waters of the White Sea. TO AIR MISSILE
• In the News: India has successfully test-fired the
AK-203 Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air
Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range
(ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
About Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL),

• It is a quick reaction surface-to-air-missile Pune.
indigenously designed and developed by DRDO for • Features:
the Indian Navy. o The extended range of the new Pinaka is over 70
• It is meant for neutralizing various aerial threats at km, as opposed to the 45 km the system currently
close ranges including sea-skimming targets. has.
• Sea skimming is a technique of flying as close as o Moreover, it has the ability to strike within 10
possible to the sea surface to avoid being detected by metres of where it is aimed, allowing the army to
the radars onboard warships. destroy a terrorist camp, or an enemy post,
• The missile has an operational range of 50 to 60 km. logistics dump or headquarters without needing
It also features mid-course inertial guidance through to send soldiers across the border.
fiber optic gyroscope and active radar homing in the
terminal phase. Pinaka Rocket:
• It will further boost the defence capability of Indian • Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL)
Naval Ships against aerial threats. It has also paved system named after Shiva’s bow.
the way for integration of weapon systems onboard • Purpose: It is a long range artillery system used for
the Indian naval ships. attacking the adversary targets prior to the close-
quarter battles.
SANT MISSILE • Origin: The development of the Pinaka was started
by the DRDO in the late 1980s. It is an alternative to
• In the News: Defence Research and Development the multi-barrel rocket launching systems of Russian
Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) make called ‘Grad’.
flight-tested the indigenously designed and
developed Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank
(SANT) Missile from Pokhran ranges. SUPERSONIC MISSILE ASSISTED TORPEDO
SYSTEM
About • In the News: India has successfully test-fired a long-
• It is an indigenously designed and developed air-to- range Supersonic Missile Assisted Torpedo (SMART)
surface missile. from Wheeler Island in Odisha.
• Designed and developed by: Research Centre
Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in coordination with other About SMART System
DRDO labs. • It is a missile assisted release of the lightweight Anti-
Submarine Torpedo System for anti-submarine
Key Features: warfare (ASW)
• Firstly, the missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art • Operations far beyond torpedo range.
millimetre wave(MMW) seeker, which provides high • The system is a next generation missile-based
precision strike capability from a safe distance. standoff torpedo delivery system.
• Secondly, the missile can neutralise targets in a range
of up to 10 km. Features:
• Benefits: This is the third in the series of indigenous • The missile carried a torpedo, parachute delivery
stand-off weapons to be tested in recent times after system and release mechanisms.
long range bomb and smart anti airfield weapon for • This canister-based missile system consists of
strengthening the arsenal of IAF. advanced technologies — two-stage solid propulsion,
• The indigenous development of various electro- mechanical actuators and precision inertial
configurations for different applications with navigation.
advanced technologies is a firm march towards • Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required
‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. to launch the missile while improving its storage and
mobility.
PINAKA EXTENDED RANGE SYSTEM
Significance
• In the News: Recently, the Pinaka-ER Multi Barrel • This will enhance the anti-submarine warfare
Rocket Launcher System was successfully tested at capability of the Indian Navy far beyond the
the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer district. conventional range of the torpedo.
• Moreover, this will promote self-reliance in
About defence, harnessing of expertise and capabilities.
• It is the upgraded version of the Pinaka which has
been in service with the Indian Army for the last
decade. AGNI P MISSILE
• Designed by: The system is jointly designed by • In the News: Recently, Defence Research and
laboratories of Defence Research and Development Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully
Organisation (DRDO) - Armament Research & tested the ‘Agni P’ Missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune and High island off the coast of Odisha.
About o It will completely change the tactical battlefield

• Agni P is a new generation nuclear capable Surface To dynamics and India will have two conventional
Surface ballistic missile. missiles with long range.
• It has been termed as a new generation advanced o The BrahMos will be a cruise option and this one
variant of Agni class of missiles with improved will be the ballistic option.
parameters, including manoeuvring and accuracy.
• Range: The missile has a range capability between ABHYAS
1,000 and 2,000 km.
• In the News: DRDO has successfully conducted the
• Features: The missile is a two-stage canisterised
flight test of Indigenously developed Abhyas from
solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant
Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast,
navigation and guidance system.
Odisha.
o Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time
required to launch the missile while improving
About
the storage and ease of handling.
• Abhyas is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target
o Redundancies involve the introduction of extra
(HEAT) System developed to meet the requirement of
components on the principle that if one
aerial targets of Indian Armed Forces.
functionality suffers a failure, then a backup
• It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of
feature would still enable the objective to be
an autopilot.
achieved.
• It was developed indigenously by the Aeronautical
About Agni Missiles: Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru-based
DRDO laboratory.
• The Agni-P and Agni-5 ballistic missiles trace their
origins back to the Integrated Guided Missile • It is controlled from a ground based controller and
Development Programme (IGMDP), which was indigenously developed MEMS-based Inertial
spearheaded by former DRDO chief and ex-Indian Navigation System.
president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the early 1980s. • It also has the Flight Control Computer that helps it to
follow the pre-designated path in a fully autonomous
mode.
PRALAY MISSILE • It is powered by two boosters which provided the
• In the News: Defence Research and Development initial acceleration during the launch and a small
Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted turbo jet engine is used to sustain high subsonic
maiden flight test of a new indigenously developed speed with long endurance.
surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’.
INS KHUKRI
About
• It is a surface-to-surface conventional quasi-ballistic • In the News: INS Khukri decommissioned after 32
missile. The main aim of the missile is to defeat years of glorious service to the nation.
interceptor missiles.
• Key features: About
o The missile has the ability to change its path • INS Khukri was the first of the indigenously built
after covering a certain range in the mid-air. The Missile Corvettes.
missile has a range of 150-500 kilometres. • INS Khukri was built by the Mazagaon Dock
o It has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg. Shipbuilders in 1989. It was affiliated with
• The missile can be launched from a mobile launcher the Gorkha brigade of the India Army.
and its payload is designed to carry only a • It had the distinction of being part of both the
conventional warhead. The missile is powered by Western and Eastern Fleets.
a solid-propellant rocket motor. • Legacy: INS Khukri has a legacy with the naval
• The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art history of India.
navigation and integrated avionics. • The first INS Khukri (F149), which was a Type 14
• The missile is based on the Prithvi Defence Vehicle Blackwood-class frigate, was commissioned into the
from the Indian ballistic missile programme. Indian Navy in 1958.
o Background: It is a derivative of the Prahaar • It was sunk off the coast of Diu, Gujarat, by the
missile programme, which was first tested in Pakistan Navy Daphné-class submarine PNS Hangor
2011. during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.
o Type: Prahaar is a surface-to-surface missile • Missile Corvettes:
with a range of 150 km. o Missile Corvettes are agile high-
o Primary objective: to bridge the gap between speed ships and have considerable firepower.
the unguided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket o They are ideal for a littoral environment.
launcher and the guided Prithvi missile variants. o Indian Navy has four Missile Corvettes - INS
• Significance: Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS
Kavaratti.

o These were commissioned in the Indian Navy in o To reduce the gap in the field of aeronautical
2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively. technology available in India and the advanced
nations of the West.
Project 28: • LCA is designed by Aeronautical Development
• In 2020, the last of 4 indigenously built anti- Agency (ADA) under the Department of Defence
submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes ‘INS Research and Development (DRDO).
Kavaratti’ was commissioned under Project 28. • The first LCA squadron No. 45 ‘Flying Daggers’ in the
• The ships under Project 28 have been designed IAF was formed in 2016.
locally by the Navy’s in-house Directorate of Naval • The second LCA squadron No. 18 ‘Flying Bullets’ was
Design (DND). operationalised in 2020.
• These were built locally by Kolkata based Garden
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. NAVAL VARIANT OF BRAHMOS MISSILE
• In the News: Defence Research and Development
EXTREME COLD WEATHER CLOTHING Organization (DRDO) has successfully test-fired the
SYSTEM naval variant of the supersonic BrahMos cruise
• In the News: Defence Research and Development missile from INS Vishapatnam.
Organisation (DRDO) has handed over technology for
indigenous Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System About
(ECWCS) to some Indian companies. • The Naval Variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile has an extended range of 350 to 400 km.
About • The missile can fly at 2.8 Mach speed which is almost
• The Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System three times the speed of sound.
is ergonomically-designed modular, three-layered
technical clothing system that can be used at various AT4 ANTI-ARMOUR WEAPON
climatic conditions in extreme altitude combat
operations. • In the News: Swedish defence major Saab’s AT4 anti-
• It is designed to provide thermal insulation over a armour weapon had been selected by the Indian
temperature range of +15 to -50° Celsius with Army and the Indian Air Force through a competitive
different combinations of the layers and intensity of programme for a single-shot weapon.
physical work.
About
• It embodies physiological concepts related to
reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, • The Indian armed forces are a new customer for AT4.
unhindered range of motions and rapid absorption of • This order includes the AT4CS AST, which can
sweat. be fired from confined spaces such as from inside
• It provides water proof, wind proof features with buildings, bunkers and other urban environments.
adequate breathability. • It weighs around 9 kg and has an effective range of
• The outer layer of the clothing is reversible for 200 m.
camouflage purposes in both snow bound terrain as • The AT4 systems are combat-proven across the
well as areas without snow cover. world.
• ECWCS meets the insulation requirements (IREQ) for • They are lightweight, single-shot, fully disposable
the widely fluctuating weather conditions in the and truly characterised by its ease of use and
Himalayan peaks. handling.
LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT PROGRAMME

• In the News: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL),
expects to deliver all Final Operational Clearance
(FOC) variant aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in
2022, while the LCA-MK1A is expected to take flight
in June 2022.
About
• In 2021, Ministry of Defence signed a deal with HAL
to supply 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10
LCA Mk-1 trainer aircraft to the IAF.
• The MK-1A will have over 40 modifications over the
MK1 variant.
• Twin objectives of the LCA programme:
o To develop LCA for the IAF and

Congratulations pour in for successful
OnlyIAS community members
AIR-02 AIR-10 AIR-13

UPSC CSE 2020 UPSC CSE 2020 UPSC CSE 2020
Jagarati Awasthi Satyam Gandhi Gaurav Budania
More Than 90+ Selection In CSE 2020
AIR-254
AIR-140
AIR-151
AIR-275
AIR-240
AIR-622
AIR-286
AIR-95
AIR-93
AIR-21
AIR-70 AIR-37
AIR-60
PRELIMS QUICK REVISION SERIES

+91-7007-931-912
Free Initiative Of OnlyIAS
THE HINDU EDITORIAL DISCUSSION PRELIMS BOOSTER
All India Ranking All INDIA UPSC MOCK-GS1

Subject Wise Analysis Report +91-7007-931-912
Available in both English and Hindi
A

Mock Explanation Video
Online Mock Test
Subject Wise Current Affair PRAGYAAN

Revision 2022 (All India GS Prelims Mock Test)
p
RAHAAR
The final hit to UPSC Exam
Comprehensive, Integrated and Current Linked Notes for CSE Mains 2021
GS PAPER - I, II, III & IV

ALL SUBJECTS
UDAAN PRAHAAR
500 Plus CA

GSI, GSII, GSIII & GSIV

+91-7007-931-912
+91-7007-931-912

UDAAN 500+ Science &amp; Technology Current Affairs Yearly Magazine

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

UDAAN 500+ Science &amp; Technology Current Affairs Yearly Magazine

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UDAAN 500

  

 +91-7007-931-912 

DPP CPSB DMP CSM PSIR

Test series Video Lectures Series Online Offline

IDMP PRAARMBH Online Mocks Offline Mocks

“Mai OnlyIAS platform ko thank “

Jagarati Awasthi Satyam Gandhi Gaurav Budania

 +91-7007-931-912 

Sumit Rewri and team

To join courses, Click here 1 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

DISCRETE AURORAS ON MARS ............................................ 19

6G ...................................................................................................... 32 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE (2-DG) ............................................... 45

RAKSHITA ..................................................................................... 61 ZIRCON HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE ........................... 77

industrial appliances, and use it to accomplish other

Zeolites in Medical Oxygen Plants:

To join courses, Click here 3 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

• An oxygen concentrator uses Zeolites to adsorb About:

To join courses, Click here 4 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

2D-ELECTRON GAS (2DEG)

To join courses, Click here 5 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

ripples travelling at the speed of light, which squeeze

About HELIOPHYSICS MISSIONS

To join courses, Click here 6 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

To join courses, Click here 7 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

• In the News: Researching the mechanisms of the so-

To join courses, Click here 9 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

To join courses, Click here 10 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

ARKTIKA-M SATELLITE • Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds

To join courses, Click here 11 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

To join courses, Click here 12 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (IHSP):

To join courses, Click here 13 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

To join courses, Click here 14 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

To join courses, Click here 15 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

PINK MOON 2021 • A single Venusian rotation takes 243.0226 Earth

LATEST FINDINGS ABOUT VENUS

About Latest findings

To join courses, Click here 16 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

DaVinci Plus: About

To join courses, Click here 17 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

• In the News: China, which aims to become a major

dioxide and dihydrogen, in Saturn’s moons by About

To join courses, Click here 19 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

to the “edge of space” which is known as Suborbital HYCEAN WORLDS

About XENON1T experiment: About

NASA’S DART MISSION

To join courses, Click here 23 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

VIKAS ROCKET ENGINE

CHEMICALLY PECULIAR STARS

To join courses, Click here 24 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

What is the Standard Model:

Importance of CollabCAD Software: About

To join courses, Click here 25 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

SMART SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT

About Additive Manufacturing (AM)/ 3D printing:

To join courses, Click here 29 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

Lithium-ion Battery Applications:

To join courses, Click here 30 info@onlyias.com /+91-7007931912

• In the News: The US Federal Aviation Administration About

About for use, modification, and distribution with its

Open Source Software:

Key Features of ATL:

Key Features of the FIRE Program BIOTECH-PRIDE

UDAAN 500+ Science & Technology Current Affairs Yearly Magazine

UDAAN 500+ Science & Technology Current Affairs Yearly Magazine

+91-7007-931-912

+91-7007-931-912

+91-7007-931-912

+91-7007-931-912