Table of Contents

1. Biotechnology ……………………………………………………….…………………………………1-7

1.1 Genomic Sciences ............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1.1 Immune Imprinting .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1.2 Molecular Motors .................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.3 Organ on Chips ........................................................................................................................ 2
1.1.4 Genetically Modified Crop ...................................................................................................... 2
1.1.5 Gene-edited Mustard ............................................................................................................... 3
1.1.6 Genome India Project .............................................................................................................. 3
1.1.7 Genetic Markers Associated With Premature Births ............................................................... 4
1.1.8 Human Pangenome Map ......................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Mitochondrial Donation Treatment .................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Bio-computers ................................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Stem Cells ......................................................................................................................................... 6
1.5 Gene Drive Technology .................................................................................................................... 7
1.6 Biotransformation Technology ......................................................................................................... 7
1.7 Notable Terms ................................................................................................................................... 7

2. Information and Communication Technology …………….………………………………………9-24

2.1 BharOS.............................................................................................................................................. 9
2.2 Generative AI/ML ............................................................................................................................. 9
2.3 Facial Recognition Tool .................................................................................................................. 11
2.4 Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope ................................................................................................. 12
2.5 Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity ...................................................................................................... 12
2.6 Bharat 6G Alliance ......................................................................................................................... 16
2.7 Fourth Industrial Revolution ........................................................................................................... 17
2.8 Semiconductors ............................................................................................................................... 17
2.9 Web 3.0 ........................................................................................................................................... 18
2.10 Supercomputers of India ............................................................................................................... 18
2.11 Machine Learning Model .............................................................................................................. 19
2.12 Crypto Mining ............................................................................................................................... 20
2.13 GPS Spoofing................................................................................................................................ 20
2.14 Cloud Computing .......................................................................................................................... 20
2.15 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) ................................................................... 21
2.16 Giant Magnetoresistance ............................................................................................................... 21
2.17 News In Short ............................................................................................................................... 22
2.18 Notable Technologies/ Concepts .................................................................................................. 23

3. Space Science And Technology ..…………………………………………………………………..25-44

3.1 Indian Space Policy, 2023............................................................................................................... 25

3.2 India’s Space Missions: .................................................................................................................. 25
3.2.1 Aditya-L1 Mission................................................................................................................. 25
 3.2.2 Venus Mission ‘Shukrayaan I' ............................................................................................... 26
3.2.3 ISRO’s SSLV-D2 Launch ..................................................................................................... 26
3.2.4 NISAR Mission ..................................................................................................................... 27
3.2.5 Chandrayaan 3 ....................................................................................................................... 27
3.2.6 Gaganyaan ............................................................................................................................. 29
3.2.7 ISRO puts 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit ........................................................................... 29
3.2.8 Controlled re-entry of Megha-Tropiques-1 ........................................................................... 29
3.2.9 Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology Demonstration (RLV TD) ...................................... 29
3.2.10 X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPOSAT) Mission ................................................................ 30
3.2.11 ISRO to Launch Chandrayaan-4 Mission ............................................................................ 30
3.3 NaVIC Satellite NVS-01................................................................................................................. 30
3.4 First Earth-sized exoplanet.............................................................................................................. 31
3.5 Celestial Objects ............................................................................................................................. 31
3.6 Light Pollution ................................................................................................................................ 33
3.7 Geomagnetic Storm ........................................................................................................................ 33
3.8 Acoustic Shocks in the Solar Chromosphere .................................................................................. 33
3.9 Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves .............................................................................. 34
3.10 Moon Dust to slow down Global Warming .................................................................................. 34
3.11 India--U.S. Space Cooperation ..................................................................................................... 34
3.12 ISRO announces opportunities to analyze AstroSat ..................................................................... 35
3.13 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) ................................................... 35
3.14 Train Tracking .............................................................................................................................. 36
3.15 Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Mission ............................................................................................. 36
3.16 Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START) ................................................... 37
3.17 Other Notable News ...................................................................................................................... 37
3.18 News in Short ................................................................................................................................ 40

4. Health …….…………..…………………………………………………………………………..…45-65
4.1 WHO Report on Global Trans-Fat Elimination 2022 ..................................................................... 45
4.2 India’s Plan to Eradicate Measles, Rubella ..................................................................................... 45
4.3 India's Fight with Leprosy .............................................................................................................. 45
4.4 Vaccines .......................................................................................................................................... 46
4.5 Generic Drugs ................................................................................................................................. 48
4.6 Cough Syrup Exports ...................................................................................................................... 49
4.7 Y-Chromosome extinction .............................................................................................................. 49
4.8 Viral Nutrition ................................................................................................................................. 49
4.9 Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases ........................................................................................... 50
4.10 TB Vaccine ................................................................................................................................... 50
4.11 Viruses and Diseases in News ...................................................................................................... 51
4.12 CAR-T Cell Therapy..................................................................................................................... 56
4.13 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) ................................................................................................. 56
4.14 Organ Donation Policy ................................................................................................................. 57
4.15 Rare Diseases ................................................................................................................................ 58
4.16 Background radiation in Kerala .................................................................................................... 58
4.17 Hysterectomies .............................................................................................................................. 59
4.18 Arsenic Exposure .......................................................................................................................... 59
4.19 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) ................................................................................... 59
 4.20 Monoclonal Antibodies ................................................................................................................. 60
4.21 Freedom from Avian Influenza ..................................................................................................... 60
4.22 Other Notable News ...................................................................................................................... 61
5. Defense Technology and Innovations …...…………………………………………………… ….66-77

5.1 Defence Acquisition Council .......................................................................................................... 66

5.2 S-400 ............................................................................................................................................... 66
5.3 Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system ...................................................................................... 66
5.4 Indo--U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle............................................................................................. 66
5.5 CBRN Weapons .............................................................................................................................. 67
5.6 SIPRI Data on Military Spending ................................................................................................... 67
5.7 Positive Indigenisation List ............................................................................................................. 67
5.8 Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) .................................................................................. 68
5.9 Territorial Army .............................................................................................................................. 68
5.10 Automation Initiatives of Army .................................................................................................... 68
5.11 Sagar Sampark .............................................................................................................................. 68
5.12 Internal Security ............................................................................................................................ 68
5.13 India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) .............................................. 69
5.14 Paramilitary Forces ....................................................................................................................... 69
5.15 AI in Modern Defense................................................................................................................... 69
5.16 Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) ............................................................................... 70
5.17 India and Israel Discussed Maritime Security .............................................................................. 70
5.18 Anti Submarine warfare ships ....................................................................................................... 70
5.19 DRDO’s Anti-Drone Technology ................................................................................................. 71
5.20 Submarines .................................................................................................................................... 71
5.21 Other Notable News ...................................................................................................................... 72
5.22 Missile Systems in News .............................................................................................................. 75
5.23 Major Military Exercises .............................................................................................................. 77

6. Alternative Energy Technologies………………………………………………………………... 78-83

6.1 Small Modular Reactors ................................................................................................................. 78

6.2 Fukushima Nuclear Waste-Water Release ...................................................................................... 78
6.3 Green, Self -powered Desalination Plant ........................................................................................ 79
6.4 Sand Battery .................................................................................................................................... 79
6.5 Battery Energy Storage Systems ..................................................................................................... 79
6.6 Hydrogen from Seawater using Solar Energy ................................................................................. 80
6.7 Dimethyl Ether Fuelled Tractor ...................................................................................................... 80
6.8 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) .................................................................................................... 80
6.9 Strategic Interventions For Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme .............................. 81
6.10 Coal Gasification .......................................................................................................................... 81
6.11 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ........................................................................................................... 81
6.12 Low-Cost Perovskite Solar Cells .................................................................................................. 81
6.13 World's First 4th Generation Nuclear Reactor Starts in China ..................................................... 82
6.14 Other Notable News: ..................................................................................................................... 82

7. Honors and Headlines ……………………………..………………………………………...… 84-85

7.1 Porter Prize 2023............................................................................................................................. 84

 7.2 International Prize in Statistics ....................................................................................................... 84
7.3 Nobel Prize In Medicine ................................................................................................................. 84
7.4 Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023 ........................................................................................................... 84
7.5 Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 ........................................................................................................... 85

8. New Emerging Technology ………………………………..……………………………………. 86-93

8.1 MicroLED Display Technology...................................................................................................... 86

8.2 Quasicrystals ................................................................................................................................... 86
8.3 Proton beam therapy ....................................................................................................................... 87
8.4 Fluorescent Microscopy .................................................................................................................. 87
8.5 The Piezoelectric Effect in Liquids ................................................................................................. 87
8.6 Neuromorphic Computing .............................................................................................................. 87
8.7 4D printing ...................................................................................................................................... 88
8.8 Quantum Computing ....................................................................................................................... 88
8.9 Large Hadron Collider .................................................................................................................... 89
8.10 Higgs Boson Decay....................................................................................................................... 90
8.11 Majorana Zero Modes ................................................................................................................... 90
8.12 Self-Confining Radioactive-isotope Ion Target (SCRIT) ............................................................. 91
8.13 Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle ........................................................................................................ 91
8.14 Non-Invasive Formaldehyde Sensor ............................................................................................. 91
8.15 Other Important Concepts ............................................................................................................. 91

9. MISCELLANEOUS ……………………..…………………………………………………..…..94-103

9.1 Black Box........................................................................................................................................ 94

9.2 M Sand Facility ............................................................................................................................... 94
9.3 Lithium Resources in J&K .............................................................................................................. 94
9.4 Standard Model of Particle Physics ................................................................................................ 95
9.5 National Science Day 2023 ............................................................................................................. 95
9.6 Lab Grown Diamonds ..................................................................................................................... 95
9.7 Rare Earth Element ......................................................................................................................... 96
9.8 Foucault’s Pendulum ...................................................................................................................... 96
9.9 Carbon Dating and Radiometric dating .......................................................................................... 96
9.10 Lab-Grown Meat ........................................................................................................................... 97
9.11 Supreme Initiative ......................................................................................................................... 97
9.12 Fibonacci Spirals ........................................................................................................................... 97
9.13 LiDAR .......................................................................................................................................... 97
9.14 National Research Foundation Bill 2023 ...................................................................................... 98
9.15 PBW RS1: New Wheat Variety .................................................................................................... 98
9.16 Cloud Seeding ............................................................................................................................... 98
9.17 Microalgae Adaptation to Global Warming .................................................................................. 99
9.18 US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) ............................................... 99
9.19 Plants can Listen Damage to Other Plants .................................................................................. 100
9.20 AMRIT Technology.................................................................................................................... 100
9.21 Indigenous River model BRAHMA-2D ..................................................................................... 100
9.22 Touchscreen ................................................................................................................................101
9.23 Other Notable News ....................................................................................................................101
 1
Biotechnology
1.1 Genomic Sciences
1.1.1 Immune Imprinting
Context: Recent studies have revealed that a
phenomenon in our body called immune
imprinting can make new COVID booster
vaccines less effective.
About Immune Imprinting:
• Immune imprinting is the tendency of the
body to replicate its immune response to the
initial pathogen variant, even if exposed to
different variants.
• Upon first exposure, Memory B cells are
formed to rapidly generate antibodies upon
reinfection.
• When the body encounters a similar but
different version of a virus, it activates memory
B cells instead of making new B cells.
Human Immune System: Types of Immunity
• Innate/Natural Immunity: Immunity which is
present from birth and acts as a defense system
against entry of foreign substances. Cells
involved in innate immunity are Phagocytes,
Macrophages, Eosinophils, etc.
• Acquired/Adaptive Immunity: It is an
immunity that develops through time in
response to illnesses and produces pathogen-
specific immunity. Acquired immunity
involves two types of cells: B-cells and T-cells.
B and T Lymphocytes
• Primary and secondary immune responses are
executed by two special lymphocytes in blood:
B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes.
• T-cells do not secrete antibodies but help B
cells produce them.
• This blood-based defense is termed the
humoral immune response.
About different types of acquired immune
response:
• Antibody Mediated Humoral immunity: An
immune response that occurs when foreign
material, i.e., antigens, are detected in the
body. B cell lymphocytes produce antibodies
upon detecting specific antigens, driving
immune response.
1
• The second type is called cell-mediated immune
response or cell-mediated immunity (CMI).
The T-lymphocytes mediate CMI.
B-cells T-cells
Produce antibodies to Attacks those cells in
fight bacteria and the body that have
viruses. become cancerous or
overtaken by viruses.
Originates and Originates in bone
matures in Bone marrow but travels to
marrow. the thymus and
matures there.
Short life span. Longer life span.
About Active and Passive Immunity:
• Active immunity is defined as immunity to a
pathogen that occurs following exposure to all
or part of that pathogen. Exposure to antigens,
like microbes, triggers antibody production in
the host. Active immunity is slow and takes
time to give its full, effective response.
• Passive immunity is protection from a disease
provided by antibodies created outside of the
individual’s body.
1.1.2 Molecular Motors
Context: Scientists at the National Centre for
Biological Sciences have found a new type of
molecular motor that could be used in life science
and medicine.
About the Molecular Motor:
● Molecular motors are a class of proteins that
drive intracellular trafficking by converting
chemical energy to mechanical work along
cytoskeletal filaments.
● Molecular motor proteins are essential for
muscle contraction and the movement of cilia
and flagella. These structures allow cells to
move and transport substances.
● Research on molecular motors has led to the
development of potential new drugs that can
improve heart function.
The cytoskeleton of a cell is made up of
microtubules and filaments, which give the
cell its shape and help organize the cell's parts.
1.1.3 Organ on Chips Ex. CRISPR-based Ex. Bt cotton with
Context: The U.S. government passed the Food modified Gene-edited foreign genes (cry1Ac
and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.0, Mustard. and cry2Ab) for pest
which is expected to boost the research and resistance.
development of organ chips.
About Organ on Chips: Regulation of GM Crops in India:
• Organ on Chips are microfluidic devices lined ● Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
with living human cells for drug development, (GEAC): It is a statutory committee
disease modeling, and personalized medicine. functioning under the Ministry of
• They are used to mimic the environment in Environment, Forest and Climate Change
human organs, including blood flow and (MoEF&CC).
breathing movements, serving as synthetic ○ GEAC was constituted under the “Rules for
environments in which to test new drugs. the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and
Application: Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms /
• Application in drug discovery and toxicology, Genetically Engineered Organisms or
understanding human diseases and symptoms Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed under
and advancement of personalized medicine Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The first human organ-on-a-chip model was • Acts and rules that regulate GM crops in India
‘lung on a chip’ that mimicked biochemical include:
aspects of the lung and its breathing motions. ○ Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA)
○ Biological Diversity Act, 2002
1.1.4 Genetically Modified Crop
○ Plant Quarantine Order, 2003
Context: GEAC has recently approved confined
○ GM policy under Foreign Trade Policy
field trials for Pink Bollworm-resistant G cotton
○ Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
(Cry2Ai transgenic cotton seed). that was rejected
○ Drugs and Cosmetics Rule (8th
by few states.
Amendment), 1988
About Genetically Modified Crops and
Transgenic Crops in India:
Organisms:
● Commercially Cultivated Transgenic Crop:
• Genetically modified organism (GMO) is any Only Cotton.
living organism whose genetic material has
● Previous Transgenic Crop Approvals: GM
been modified to include certain desirable
brinjal (2010), but placed it on "indefinite
techniques. E.g Used for large-scale insulin,
moratorium." and GM mustard (2017) but later
vaccines production, etc.
imposed additional tests.
• GM crops, or Transgenic crops, are modified ● Approved Transgenic Crop: GEAC approved
by integrating specific genes of interest into Mustard hybrid DMH-11 in 2022 for seed
their DNA to alter traits. production and testing.
• Since agriculture is a state matter, companies About CRISPR Cas9:
must get state-level permission for such tests • CRISPR stands for "Clustered Regularly
on farms. Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”,
which is a gene editing technology that allows
Genome Editing Genetically Modified scientists to precisely modify DNA within
Technology Technology living organisms.
It is done without It introduces foreign • Cas9 is an enzyme that acts as molecular
introducing foreign genetic material into scissors, guided by RNA molecules
genetic material. the host genome. synthesized to match a specific DNA sequence.
About Pink Bollworm:
It focuses on It involves the • It is a pest that feeds on the reproductive
modifying the existing insertion of genes parts of cotton plants, where fibers are
genome of the from external sources produced.
organism. like soil bacteria.
• This pest reduces both yield and quality
Produces precise Produces organisms significantly.
genetic modifications with genes from other Genetic Modification in Cotton:
without foreign DNA species integrated into • In 2002, GEAC approved GM BT cotton
involvement. the host. with the Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus

2
 thuringiensis to produce a protein toxic to
Pink Bollworm.
• Over time, Pink Bollworm evolved
resistance to the Cry1Ac protein,
diminishing its effectiveness, prompting the
need for new GM cotton varieties.
• Cry2Ai Gene: The new GM cotton variety
carries the Cry2Ai gene from Bacillus
thuringiensis, providing resistance against
the Pink Bollworm.
• Broad Spectrum Targeting: Cry2Ai targets a
wider array of insects, including beetles and
flies, unlike Cry1Ac, which mainly affects
moths and butterflies.
1.1.5 Gene-edited Mustard
Context: Indian scientists have developed the first
low-pungent mustard using CRISPR/Cas9,
making it non-GM and transgene-free.
About CRISPR/Cas9 system:
1.1.6 Genome India Project
Context: The Department of Biotechnology has
reported completion of two-thirds of the target of
sequencing 10,000 Indian genomes under the
'Genome India Project’.
About Genome India Project
• Genome India Project (GIP) is a research
initiative in India that aims to collect genetic
samples of 10,000 Indian citizens to carry out
their gene mapping to construct a
comprehensive 'Indian reference genome'.
• The project was launched in 2020 and is led by
IISc’s Centre for Brain Research, Bangalore.
• It will be helpful to understand disease-
causing mutations and develop personalized
therapies.
About Genome Sequencing
• DNA consists of a double-stranded molecule
built up by four bases – adenine (A), cytosine
(C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
3
● CRISPR stands for "Clustered Regularly
Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”, it is
a gene editing technology that allows
scientists to precisely modify DNA within
living organisms.
● Cas 9: It is an enzyme that acts as molecular
scissors, guided by RNA molecules
synthesized to match a specific DNA sequence.
Process of Gene Editing:
• Desired traits like reduced pungency and
enhanced pest and disease resistance in
mustard plants are attained by modifying
specific genes in their DNA.
• It involves making precise alterations to the
existing DNA without adding foreign genes
from other species.
• This approach is often considered non-GMO
(genetically modified organism) and
transgene-free, as it involves modifying the
plant's own genetic material to achieve the
desired characteristics.
• The process of deciphering the order of base
pairs to decode the genetic fingerprint of a
human is called genome sequencing.
• Methods of Genome Sequencing:
○ Clone-by-clone: This process involves
segmenting the genome and inserting the
parts into bacteria which are then grown to
produce clones.
○ Whole-Genome Shotgun: "Shotgun"
sequencing breaks DNA into small pieces
for sequencing and clones them into
bacteria for growth and subsequent
sequencing.
Application of Genome Sequencing:
● Medical research and Diagnosis; Drug
development; Agriculture; Evolutionary
Biology; Forensics; Bioengineering.
Relationship between DNA, Gene, Chromosome
and Genome
• DNA refers to the double helix structure
wounded around a sugar phosphate backbone.
It consists of four base pairs namely,
 adenine(A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), or
thymine (T).
• Gene is the basic unit of inheritance and
consists of segments/chunks of DNA, which
code for specific proteins and RNA.
• Chromosomes: They are threadlike structures
composed of large strands of DNA, wrapped
around the histone protein in a super
condensed form.
○ Each chromosome consists of a single
molecule of DNA that serves to carry the
genomic information from cell to cell.
• Genome:
○ A genome is defined as an organism’s
complete set of DNA, including all of its
genes.
○ Each genome contains all of the
information needed to build and maintain
that organism.
○ The Human genome consists of 23 pairs of
chromosomes located in the cell’s nucleus,
as well as a small chromosome in the cell’s
mitochondria.
Genetic Diversity:
• It refers to the variation in genetic information
within a population or species.
• It is a fundamental component of biodiversity
and plays a critical role in the survival,
adaptability, and sustainability of species and
ecosystems.
Deep Sequencing/ Metagenomic Next Generation
Sequencing
● This DNA sequencing method enables the
analysis of vast genetic data in a short
period of time.
Non Coding DNA Sequences:
• Repetitive DNA
○ It refers to DNA sequences repeated
multiple times in an organism's genome.
○ Application: Certain repetitive DNA
sequences play crucial roles in gene
expression regulation, chromosome
structure maintenance, and defense
against foreign DNA insertion.
○ However, many repetitive sequences do
not have a known function and are
sometimes referred to as “junk DNA”.
• Satellite DNA
○ It is the simplest form of repetitive DNA,
which consists of DNA blocks in tandem
repeats.
○ Application: Researchers use satellite
DNA as a genomic “fingerprint” to
match crime scene samples and track
ancestry
4
1.1.7 Genetic Markers Associated With
Premature Births
Context: Indian scientists working in the Garbh-
Ini program have identified 19 single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs), or genetic markers
associated with preterm or premature birth.
About the news:
• The study is significant as preterm birth (birth
before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is the
largest cause of neonatal deaths globally.
About Garbh-Ini:
• The Garbh-Ini team undertook a “genome-
wide association study (GWAS)’’ on
spontaneous preterm birth in women from
Haryana.
• Initiated in 2014 by the Department of
Biotechnology, Garbh-ini (Interdisciplinary
Group for Advanced Research on Birth
Outcomes—DBT India Initiative)is a
collaborative interdisciplinary program.
About Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms:
• Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is
a DNA sequence variation occurring
when a single nucleotide (A,C,G, or T)
differs between members of a species or
paired chromosomes in an individual.
• They can act as biological markers,
helping scientists locate genes associated
with diseases.
• They are fundamental aspects of human
genetic variation and provide insights
into genetics, evolution, medicine, and
forensics.
1.1.8 Human Pangenome Map
Context: A new study published in the Nature
journal describes a pangenome reference map,
built using genomes from 47 anonymous
individuals (19 men and 28 women).
About Genome:
• The Genome is a collection of all the genes and
the regions between the genes contained in our
23 pairs of chromosomes.
• It includes about 3 billion DNA base pairs
spread across these chromosomes, each hosting
many genes determining specific traits.
• The four building blocks (A, T, G and C) are
arranged and repeated millions of times in
different combinations to make all of our 23
chromosomes.
• Genomes encompass both coding and non-
coding DNA, and provide essential
instructions for an organism's growth,
function, and traits.
About reference genome:
• Newly sequenced genomes are compared
against a reference map called reference
genome, to identify differences and
understand variations.
• It enabled identifying disease-linked genes,
deepened genetic understanding of cancer,
and spurred innovative diagnostic test
development.
About Pangenome Map:
• Unlike reference genome, which is a linear
sequence, pangenome is a graph built through
the diverse genetic material of 47 individuals.
• The graph of each chromosome is like a
bamboo stem with nodes where a stretch of
sequences of all 47 individuals converge
(similar), and with internodes of varying
lengths representing genetic variations
among those individuals from different
ancestries.Importance of Pangenome Map:
• Helpful in understanding Human Diversity
• Helpful in understanding Genetic Variants.
• Discovery of New Genomes: Pangenome
reference map has added nearly 119 million
new letters to the existing genome map and has
already aided the discovery of 150 new genes
linked to autism.
Limitation of the Map:
• Lack of diversity in genome map generation.
Ex Underrepresentation of African, Indian and
West Asian population.
About Genome Sequencing:
• Genome sequencing decodes an organism's
DNA sequence, revealing its unique genetic
fingerprint.
• The DNA consists of a double-stranded
molecule built up by four bases – adenine
(A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine
1.2 Mitochondrial Donation Treatment
Context: A baby has been born in the UK using
three persons’ DNA, a technique called
Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT).
About Mitochondria:
• Mitochondria are membrane-bound
organelles found in most eukaryotic cells.
They are the powerhouses of the cells and
generate energy for fueling cell functions in the
human body.
• They perform cellular respiration, transforming
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into ATP, the
cell's usable energy form.
5
Mitochondrial Disease:
• Mitochondrial diseases are caused by defects
in the way mitochondria produces energy for
the body's cells, like the brain, nerves, muscles,
kidneys, heart, and liver.
• These diseases are only passed on by the
mother and affect 1 in 5,000 people globally.
• It can impact cell function, leading to muscle
weakness, organ failure, and neurological
disorders.
Three parent baby with three-person DNA:
• Three parent babies are created through a
technique called early pronuclear transfer
which involves transplanting the nuclear
DNA from a fertilized egg into a donated egg,
which contains healthy mitochondria.This
method is used to prevent passing on of
mitochondrial diseases from a mother to her
child.
• The baby carries most of its DNA from its
parents and a minor percentage from a donor.
• Potential Side Effects: Sometimes it is possible
that a small amount of the maternal
mitochondria with errors may get passed on
during the procedure.
Status in India: In India, the MDT procedure is not
currently allowed.
Mitochondrial Donation Techniques:
In both techniques, eggs or embryos are created
using nuclear genetic material and healthy
donated mitochondria.
• Maternal Spindle Transfer Technique:
Nuclear genetic material is removed from eggs
and transferred into donated eggs which have
had their nuclear genetic material removed.
 The eggs are then fertilized with sperm to
create embryos.
• Pronuclear Transfer Technique: Eggs are
fertilized with sperm in a lab to create embryos.
The nuclear genetic material within each
embryo is then transferred into embryos
created using donated eggs and sperm from the
sperm provider. The nuclear genetic material
will have been removed from the donated eggs.
1.3 Bio-computers
Context: Scientists are exploring a new area of
research called “organoid intelligence,” which
aims at creating “bio­computers.”
About Biocomputers:
• Biocomputers involve coupling of lab-grown
brain cultures with real-world devices to
harness brain power and investigate human
cognition, learning, and neurological
disorders.
• Bio-computers would be built by merging
brain organoids with machine learning.
• Brain organoids can be developed using stem
cells from individuals with neurodegenerative
or cognitive disorders.
• Machine-learning techniques will be used to
analyze the response patterns of neurons and
their effects on human behavior and biology.
• Comparing data between healthy and patient-
derived organoids can reveal the biological
basis of human cognition, learning, and
memory.
Potential Applications of bio-computers:
• Processing complex information by
utilizing the superior processing power of
the human brain.
• Researching neurodegenerative diseases.
• Revealing the biological basis of human
cognition
• Advancing drug development
About Brain Organoids:
• Scientists are building 3D cultures of brain
tissue in the lab called brain organoids to
develop systems more relevant to humans.
• Brain organoids can capture many structural
and functional features of a developing
human brain.
• However, brain organoids lack sensory
inputs and blood circulation, limiting their
growth.
6
1.4 Stem Cells
Context: Scientists in the US and UK have recently
created the world's first synthetic embryo-like
structures using stem cells, without using eggs or
sperm.
About Stem Cells
• Stem cells are specialized cells with the ability
to evolve into different cell types in the body,
acting as a continuous repair system that
replenishes other cells throughout an
organism's lifespan.
• There are two main types of stem cells:
○ Embryonic Stem Cells: These cells are
derived from embryos. They are
pluripotent, meaning they can turn into
more than one type of cell.
○ Adult Stem Cells: Found in adult tissues,
these cells are limited in their ability to
differentiate but are used to replace cells
that are lost through normal wear and tear,
injury, or disease.
• Stem Cells are further categorized on the basis
of capacity to divide into different types of
cells.
○ Totipotent Stem Cells: Can make all three
embryonic germ layers and the
extraembryonic tissue. The only known
totipotent cell is the zygote.
○ Pluripotent Stem Cells: Can transform into
almost any cell type in the body, excluding
extraembryonic cells. Example Embryonic
stem cells (ESCs).
○ Multipotent Stem Cells: Can make at least
two different lineages, from the same
embryonic germ layer. Example,
hematopoietic stem cells give rise to
different blood cells (White, Red and
platelets).
○ Oligopotent Stem Cells: Can differentiate
into a few types, usually within a particular
lineage.
○ Unipotent Stem Cells: Specialize in
producing only one cell type but retain the
property of self-renewal.
● Stem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine
form aiming to repair the body's damaged cells
by reducing inflammation and regulating the
immune system.
About the News
• These prototypes could enable researchers to
explore the genetic causes of disorders and the
biological factors contributing to repeated
miscarriages.
• Delhi High Court permitted two children with
autism to undergo stem cell therapy, for
treatment of their condition.
About Cord Blood
• Cord blood is abundant in stem cells, which
can treat various blood, immune, and
metabolic conditions.
• Recently, cord blood transplants are declining
as haploidentical transplants rise in success
and frequency.
○ Haploidentical Transplants use healthy,
blood-forming cells from a half-matched
family member donor to replace the
unhealthy ones.
Applications of Stem Cell Therapy
• Treatment of Chronic Diseases
• Immune Disorders
• Treating orthopedic injuries and conditions
like Osteoarthritis
• Cosmetic Procedures like facial rejuvenation
1.5 Gene Drive Technology
Context: Recently genetic manipulation of
mosquitoes is discussed which will lead to
control of their populations by interfering with
their reproduction.
About Gene Drive Technology:
● Gene drive is a method that enhances the
inheritance of a modified or preferred trait in
a specific species.
● The fundamental idea behind genetic
manipulation of mosquitoes is to
systematically control their populations by
interfering with their reproduction.
Working Mechanism
• CSIRP technology slices mosquito DNA at a
non-encoding section, triggering cellular
repair mechanisms that then integrate a
specific 'drive sequence' into the altered DNA
segment.
• This genetically modifies the midgut of
mosquito to secrete antimicrobial substances
that are detrimental to Plasmodium parasite’s
development and reduces lifespan of female
mosquitoes.
1.6 Biotransformation Technology
Context: A British startup asserts that it has
created a "biotransformation" technology that
could change the state of plastics, rendering them
biodegradable.
About Biotransformation Technology
• It is a novel approach to ensure that plastics
that escape refuse streams are processed
efficiently and broken down.
• Plastics produced with this method have a
predetermined period during which they
mimic traditional plastics in appearance and
quality.
• After expiration, they naturally degrade into
bioavailable wax when exposed to the
environment. Microorganisms then consume
the wax, turning waste into water, CO2, and
biomass

1.7 Notable Terms

• Early human embryonic cells have an 'inner cell mass' of pluripotent cells that
can transform into all types of cells in the human body.
• The inner cell mass includes non-committed cells without the expression of
HERVH gene (essential for maintaining pluripotency). These cells perish early
Inner Cell Mass
in development.
• These cells produce transposons or 'jumping genes' which can insert
themselves within the genome, possibly causing DNA damage and resulting in
cell death.

• Cell-free DNA refers to tiny fragments of genetic material released into the
bloodstream or other bodily fluids from dying cells.
Cell Free DNA • These fragments of DNA are not enclosed within cells, hence the term “cell-
(cfDNA) free.”
• It is often used for non-invasive medical diagnostics. Ex. Cancer detection.

7
 • It refers to a combination of a transcriptome and a pangenome, i.e., a reference
that contains genetic material from a cohort of diverse individuals rather than
just a single linear strand.
• A single reference genome isn't always reliable due to intra-species variations.
Pan-transcriptome studies all RNA molecules, aiding in analyzing complex
Pantranscriptome
genomes and inter-species differences
• Pangenome refers to the entire gene set of all strains in a species divided into
three parts: core genome, dispensable genome, and unique genes.
• Transcriptome refers to the complete set of RNA molecules produced by the
genome of an organism at a specific time or under a specific condition.

• Somatic genetic variants, also known as somatic mutations or somatic changes,

refer to alterations in the DNA sequence that occur in the cells of an
individual’s body after conception.
• They can arise due to DNA replication errors, environmental factors like
radiation or chemicals, or natural cell processes.
Somatic Genetic
• Somatic mutations' effects vary based on their genomic location and the
Variations
affected genes. While some are harmless, others can cause diseases, including
cancer
• Mosaicism is defined as the presence of two or more groups of cells in a person
with a different genetic makeup, often resulting due to genetic errors during
the adult cell division process.

8
 2
Information And Communication Technology
2.1 BharOS
Context: An Indian government-funded operating
system, BharOS, has been unveiled by the Union
Minister for Communications, Electronics and
Information.
About BharOS:
• BharOS is an indigenous mobile operating
system (OS), like Android or iOS, aimed at
reducing the dependence on foreign OS in
smartphones.
• It is based on the Android Open Source
Project (AOSP) and developed by IIT-Madras
incubated company. It is funded by the
Department of Science and Technology,
Government of India.
Key Features:
• No Default Apps
• Native Over The Air (NOTA) updates,i.e.,
security updates and bug fixes, will be
automatically installed.
• Private App Store Services(PASS): PASS
provides access to a curated list of apps that are
said to be thoroughly vetted and meet certain
security and privacy standards
• More Secure as BharOS does not come with
any such preinstalled services or apps.
2.2 Generative AI/ML
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Artificial intelligence is the ability of machines
to perform cognitive tasks like thinking,
perceiving, learning, problem solving and
decision making.
• AI uses various technologies such as computer
vision, audio processing, cognitive robotics,
speech analytics, language processing and
machine learning techniques to derive AI-
based solutions.
About Generative AI:
9
• It is the technology that utilizes machine
learning and artificial intelligence to create
new forms of media, such as text, audio, video,
and animation.
• There has been increasing popularity of
generative AI programs, such as OpenAI's
ChatGPT, Google’s BARD AI, DALL-E,
Codex, GPT-3, etc.
• They use advanced machine learning
capabilities like large language models, neural
translation, information understanding, and
reinforcement learning.
• Generative AI generates new and creative
content with simple textual instructions known
as prompts.
About Large Language Model (LLM):
• LLM is an AI model trained using deep
learning techniques to understand, create,
translate, or summarize extensive amounts of
human-written language and text.
• They are foundation models that utilize deep
learning in natural language processing
(ability to understand, interpret and use
human language) and natural language
generation (ability of computers to generate
human text and speech) tasks.
Different usages of Generative AI:
• DALL.E, a generative image generation
service, to align original image to branding.
• Generate personalized social media posts and
blogs.
• Provide answers to complex queries and
augment search algorithms.
• Create and simulate complex engineering,
design, and architecture.
• Architecture, machine design, and even house
floor plans.
• Assist health professionals with their medical
diagnoses.
• Alternative treatments personalized to
patients’ symptoms and medical histories
 Large Language Models in India:
• Bhashini: India's AI led language translation
platform to create large datasets in the
Scheduled Indian Languages.
• Indic Transliterate: IndicXlit is a transformer-
based multilingual transliteration model for
Roman to native script conversion and vice-
versa.
• Indic Natural Language Generation:
IndicBART is a multilingual model for Indian
languages, ideal for natural language
generation apps.

About INDIA AI:

• INDIA AI is a knowledge portal, research
organization and an ecosystem building
initiative..
• It is a joint venture by the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), National e-Governance Division
(NeGD) and National Association of
Software and Service Companies
(NASSCOM).
2.2.1 GPT-4
Context: Microsoft Corporation-backed startup
OpenAI began the rollout of GPT-4.
About GPT-4:
• GPT-4 is "multimodal," i.e. it can generate
content from both image and text prompts,
unlike GPT 3.5 (Earlier version), which took
only text prompts.
2.2.2 Deep Fakes
Context: Deep fake technology has emerged as a
new tool of the disinformation threat.
About Deepfakes:
• Deepfake technology is a hyper-realistic digital
falsification technique for manipulating videos,
images, and audio using powerful computers,
deep learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Deepfake can alter existing content by
replacing one person with another or create
new content depicting false events..
• It can be used to damage reputations, fabricate
evidence, defraud the public, and undermine
trust in democratic institutions.
• Section 66E of IT Act 2000, addresses deepfake
crimes involving unauthorized use of
someone's images, infringing on privacy, with
penalties of up to three years in jail or a fine up
to ₹2 lakh.
2.2.3 Voice Cloning
Context: Voice clone fraud has been on the rise in
India as voice cloning through artificial
intelligence is increasingly being used for scams.
About Voice Cloning:
• Voice Cloning is the process of creating a
synthetic voice using the audio recordings of a
real person.
• AI voice cloning trains a machine learning
model on actual recordings to capture voice
spectrums, creating a replica that closely
resembles the original voice.
• Scammers use an audio clip of an individual
and upload their voice clip to an online
program that is able to replicate the voice
almost accurately.
• Voice Cloning Services: There’s a host of these
applications online which provide voice
cloning services like Murf, Resemble,
Speechify, etc.
2.2.4 Google’s BARD and Gemini
Context: Google launched its AI chatbot “Bard”
and a multimodal general artificial intelligence
(AI) to exhibit human-like behavior project
“Gemini”.
About BARD:
• Bard is an experimental conversational AI that
uses the Language Model for Dialogue
Applications (LaMDA).
• LaMDA is a large language model based on the
Transformer, a neural network design crafted
by Google.

10
• Similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Bard is trained
on a diverse range of topics, allowing it to
generate high-quality human-like responses.
• Differences:
○ Google Bard uses LaMBDA, while
ChatGPT is built on GPT (Generative Pre-
trained Transformer).
About Gemini
• It is a family of multimodal large language
models (LLMs) which can understand and
generate high-quality code in the world’s most
2.2.5 AI vs ML vs Deep Learning
Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning
popular programming languages, like Python,
Java, C++ etc..
• It is versatile and processes various data types
including text, code, audio, images, and video.
• Massive Multitask Language Understanding
(MMLU) uses a combination of 57 subjects
such as math, physics, law, medicine and ethics
to test world knowledge and problem-solving
skills.
Deep Learning

It involves giving machines It uses computer algorithms It is a subset of machine learning

data, information, and human and analytics to build which uses brain-inspired
intelligence to create self- predictive models that can algorithms, capable of processing
sufficient machines that think solve business problems. vast amounts of structured and
and act like humans. unstructured data.

Simulates natural intelligence Uses algorithms and analytics Inspired by the structure and
to solve complex problems. to build predictive models. function of the human brain.

AI is the broader family ML is the subset of AI. DL is the subset of ML.

consisting of ML and DL as its
components.

AI is a computer algorithm ML is an AI algorithm which DL is a ML algorithm that uses more

which exhibits intelligence allows systems to learn from than one layer of neural networks
through decision making. data. to analyze data and provide output
accordingly.

Examples: Amazon Echo, Examples: Facial recognition, Example: Music generation, Object
Google Translate, Self-Driving Product recommendations detection, Captionbot for
Vehicles, Siri. captioning an image

• This encoding takes into consideration factors

2.3 Facial Recognition Tool
Context: The Department of Telecommunications
(DoT) has developed an artificial intelligence
based facial recognition tool known as ‘ASTR’.
About ASTR:
• ASTR stands for ‘Artificial Intelligence and
Facial Recognition powered Solution for
Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification’
• It has the capability of running checks on
subscriber databases of telecom operators to
deduce whether it contains multiple
connections associated with the same person.
• It can potentially bring down cyber frauds.
Working of ASTR:
• ASTR utilizes convolutional neural network
(CNN) models to encode human faces in
subscriber images.
like face tilt, angle, image opaqueness, and
darkness.
• In the face comparison process, unique facial
data is extracted from captured images and
compared to the database through a software.
• ASTR considers two faces to be identical if they
match to a minimum extent of 97.5 percent.
• Once faces are matched, ASTR's algorithm
employs a "fuzzy logic" approach to identify
similarities for the subscriber names.
Different types of Biometrics:
Biometric identification is the process of
identifying individuals based on unique physical
or behavioral characteristics. Different types of
biometric systems are:
• Fingerprint verification:
• DNA matching: Segments of DNA are
compared with samples in a database.

11
• Eye recognition: Features in the iris or patterns
of the veins in the retina are analyzed to
determine a match and identify an individual.
• Hand geometry recognition: This identifies
individuals through the geometric features of
their hands, such as the length of the fingers
and width of the hand.
• Voice recognition:
• Signature recognition
Digi Yatra
• It is a mobile application-based facility
conceived to achieve seamless processing of
passengers at airports based on Facial
Recognition Technology (FRT).
About Fuzzy Logic:
• "Fuzzy logic" is a computational approach
that deals with reasoning and decision-
making under uncertainty or imprecision.
• Unlike traditional binary logic that only
recognizes true or false values, fuzzy logic
allows for degrees of truth between these
two extremes.
• It is particularly useful in situations where
information or data is vague or subjective.
2.4 Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
Context: Astronomers have discovered two new
Millisecond Pulsars (MSP) during a sky survey
using Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)
About Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
(GMRT):
• GMRT is a low-frequency radio telescope (100
Mhz-1,500 MHz) that investigates various
radio astrophysical problems ranging from
nearby solar systems to the edge of the
observable universe.
• It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic
radio telescopes.
• It is a project of the Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE), operating under the Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
• It is the world’s largest and most sensitive radio
telescope array.
Findings of GMRT:
• Scientists use ultra-stable pulsar clocks
throughout the Milky Way to form an
imaginary galactic-scale gravitational wave
detector for signal detection.
• Telescopes detected minuscule delays
(millionths of a second) in signals from
pulsars, suggesting these were caused by
12
space-time distortions from gravitational
waves.
About Neutron stars:
• Neutron stars are the remains of the cores of
massive stars that have reached the end of their
lives.
• They are one of the two possible evolutionary
endpoints of the most massive stars, the other
being black holes.
About Pulsars:
• Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that
blast out pulses of radiation at regular intervals
ranging from seconds to milliseconds.
• It emits radio beams that flashes by the Earth
regularly. They are considered pulsars, called
‘nature’s best clock’.
• Millisecond pulsars emit radiation every few
milliseconds and provide vital insights into
neutron stars, the densest objects in the
universe besides black holes.
2.5 Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity
Context: India witnessed a rise in cyber crimes
registered in 2022 compared to 2021, as per
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
About Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity:
• Cybercrime refers to any unlawful act where a
computer or communication device or
computer network is used to commit or
facilitate the commission of crime. Example:
Hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking etc..
• Cybercrimes comes as a State subject as per the
Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Cyber Security refers to safeguarding
computer systems, networks, devices, and
digital data against unauthorized access,
breaches, and cyber attacks, using various
strategies and technologies to maintain digital
asset confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Some of the major areas covered in cybersecurity
include:
• Network Security: Securing networks involves
using firewalls, intrusion detection and
prevention systems, and VPNs to block
unauthorized access and attacks.
• Endpoint Security: Protecting individual
devices, such as computers, smartphones,
etc.by using antivirus software, anti-malware
programs, and encryption to secure data.
• Application Security: Software security is
enhanced by patching vulnerabilities,
conducting code reviews, and applying secure
development practices.
• Cloud Security: Protecting data and
applications stored in cloud environments by
using encryption, access controls, and multi-
factor authentication.
• Data Security: Implementing encryption,
access controls, and data loss prevention (DLP)
tools to safeguard sensitive data from
unauthorized access, theft, or leaks.
Global Initiatives for for Cyber Security
• Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001): It
harmonizes national laws, improves
investigative techniques, and enhances
cooperation among nations to address
cybercrime.
• India is not a signatory to this convention.
• Global Centre for Cyber Security: This World
Economic Forum initiative seeks to create the
first global platform for collaboration on cyber
security challenges.
• Paris Call: At the UNESCO Internet
Governance Forum meeting, "The Paris Call for
Trust and Security in Cyberspace" was
launched to establish common principles for
cyberspace security.
India’s Initiatives
• National Critical Information Infrastructure
Protection Centre (NCIIPC): Operates as the
nodal agency for protecting and ensuring the
resilience of critical information infrastructure.
• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
(I4C): Established in 2020 to handle various
types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and
coordinated manner.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: A
citizen-centric platform enabling online
reporting of cybercrimes, with complaints
accessed by relevant law enforcement agencies.
• National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: To
improve cyber awareness and cybersecurity
through more stringent audits.
• Computer Emergency Response Team - India
(CERT-In)
2.5.1 Rising Cyberattacks
Context: Recently, around 40 million health
records were compromised through a
ransomware attack on The All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIMS).
Major Types of Cyber Threats
• Ransomware: Hijacks computer data and
demands payment (usually bitcoins) to restore
it.
• Trojan Horses: Trojan horses are malware that
disguise themselves as legitimate programs to
deceive users into installing them.
13
• Clickjacking: Web attack that tricks users into
clicking on hidden elements on a page,
containing malicious software.
• Denial of Service (DOS) Attack: Making a
computer or network unavailable to its
intended users by deliberately flooding it with
traffic.
• Man in Middle Attack: Messages between two
parties are intercepted during transit.
• Cryptojacking: Victim's computer and
resources are used for mining cryptocurrency
without their consent.
• Zero Day Vulnerability: Unrectified flaw in
the machine, operating system or software
which can be exploited by a hacker who is
aware of it.
Scope of Plausible deniability: In cyber
warfare, it refers to the ability of a nation-state
to deny involvement in a cyberattack. It allows
them to avoid potential retaliation, making it
challenging for victim nations to respond
decisively.
Digital Geneva Convention: It is a proposed
international treaty to protect civilians from
state-sponsored cyber attacks by establishing
norms against targeting critical infrastructure,
promote non-proliferation of cyber weapons,
and create international processes for dealing
with cyber-attacks.
2.5.2 CCTNS
Context: Union Home Ministry has recently
blocked more than 500 Internet-based applications
on the recommendation of the Indian Cyber
Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
About CCTNS:
• Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and
Systems (CCTNS) project, launched in 2009,
aims to digitally connect police stations and
supervisory offices nationwide for FIR
registration, investigation, and charge sheet
processes.
About Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
(I4C):
• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
(I4C) was set up under the newly established
Cyber and Information Security (CIS) division
under MHA.
• It addresses cyber crimes comprehensively
through its seven components.
2.5.3 Deep Dive Training Programme
Context: The 34th Chief Information Security
Officers (CISOs) Deep Dive training programme
has been organized by National e-Governance
Division(NeGD) under Cyber Surakshit Bharat
Initiative.
About Deep Dive Training Programme:
• Aim: To create awareness around cyber
security and develop a strong cyber ecosystem
in government organizations.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY)
• The programme is organized for CISOs and
frontline IT officials from various ministries,
central and state government and semi-
government organizations, PSUs, and banks.
2.5.4 Dark Patterns
Context: The Government has directed e-
commerce companies to not use “dark patterns”
on their platforms.
About Dark Patterns:
• Dark patterns are deceptive design choices on
websites or apps intended to manipulate users
into taking unintended actions, often
benefiting the service provider at the user's
expense.
• They endanger the experience of Internet
users and make them more vulnerable to
financial and data exploitation by Big Tech
firms.
• They confuse users, introduce online
obstacles, make simple tasks time-consuming,
have users sign up for unwanted
services/products, and force them to pay more
money or share more personal information
than they intended.
Various examples of Dark Pattern on the
Internet:
• “Baseless” countdowns for online deals;
• Conditions in fine print that add on to costs
• Making cancellation buttons hard to see or
click
Making ads appear as news reports or celebrity
endorsements
• Silently charging credit cards after free trials
end
• Using dull colors to hide information that
users should know about
• Multi-step cancellation process for subscribed
services, such as the Amazon Prime
subscription
• Disabling the receipt of unsolicited sponsored
messages on LinkedIn is a multiple steps
process
Software as Medical Devices (SaMD)
SaMD refers to software that is intended to be
used for medical purposes without being part
of a physical medical device.
• Users of Instagram complain about unwanted
suggested posts and fixed preference issues.
• Sponsored video ads intersperse among reels
and stories, deceiving users briefly before the
"sponsored" label becomes noticeable.
• Google's YouTube pushes Premium sign-ups
via pop-ups, disrupting video endings with
other video thumbnails, affecting user
experience.
2.5.5 SaMD and SiMD Technology
Context: Experts have warned that medical
devices like oximeters, hearing aids, glucometers,
and pacemakers are at risk of being turned into
spyware and malware.
About the News:
• The warning was issued following
ransomware attacks on India's major hospitals,
such as AIIMS, Safdarjung, etc., where
millions of health records were compromised.
• A ransomware attack is a computer virus that
encrypts one’s essential files and renders
them inaccessible unless the hacker is paid for
the key to open them.
• Vulnerability of medical devices:
• Several personal use medical technology
devices contain Software as Medical Devices
(SaMD) and Software in Medical Devices
(SiMD).
• These devices usually connect to the internet,
mobile phones, servers, and cloud. Without
proper cybersecurity, they risk becoming a
spyware or malware and can even leak
medical data.
• Currently, SaMD and SiMD have no guidelines
on their regulation.
Software in Medical Devices (SiMD)
SiMD refers to software that is incorporated into a
medical device to control its performance or provide
specific functions.
14
 It operates on general-purpose computing
platforms like smartphones, tablets, or personal
computers.
SaMD performs its function independently of
any medical equipment or hardware.
Example: Mobile Electrocardiogram (ECG)
application that runs on a smartphone and
analyzes the user's heart rhythm to detect
arrhythmias would be considered SaMD.
2.5.6 Racoon Stealer
Context: Government entities were recently
targeted by the Raccoon Stealer malware.
About the Malware:
• The malware, often spread via email, extracts
sensitive information from compromised
machines and is available as Malware-as-a-
Service (MaaS).
• Malware-as-a-Service enables even non-
technical users to create and deploy malware
which is available on a subscription basis.
2.5.7 LockBit Ransomware
Context: Recently, LockBit ransomware was
found to be targeting Mac devices.
About LockBit Ransomware:
• It was first reported in 2019 and dubbed the
“abcd” virus due to the file extension used
when encrypting victim’s files.
• LockBit ransomware is a self-spreading
malware designed to infiltrate victims’
systems and encrypt important files.
• The virus is categorized as a “cryptovirus” due
to its requests for payment in cryptocurrency to
decrypt files.
• The LockBit gang maintains a dark web portal
and uses phishing and other social engineering
techniques to lure victims.
About CERT-IN
• Established in 2004, CERT-IN (Computer
Emergency Response Team- India) is the
national nodal agency for responding to
computer security incidents as and when they
occur.
• In the Information Technology Amendment
act 2008, CERT-In has been designated to serve
as the national agency to perform following
functions:
○ Collection, analysis and dissemination of
information on cyber incidents.
○ Forecast and alerts of cyber security
incidents
○ Emergency measures for handling cyber
security incidents
It operates as an integral component of a physical
medical device, contributing to its functionality and
performance.
SiMD cannot be used independently and relies on
the associated medical device to perform its
intended purpose.
Example: Any software that is run or helps run things
like an MRI, EKG, EHR, X-ray, insulin pump, or any
number of other devices that qualify as SiMD.
○ Issue guidelines relating to information
security practices, procedures etc., of cyber
incidents.
2.5.8 Antispyware Declaration
Context: The US and 10 other nations have issued
the first-ever anti-spyware declaration.
About the Declaration:
• India was not part of this declaration.
• Aim: To realize the importance of stringent
domestic and international controls on the
proliferation and use of this spyware
technology.
• Members: Australia, Canada, Costa Rica,
Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway,
Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and
the US chave signed this declaration.
2.5.9 Delhi Declaration on Cybersecurity
Context: Recently, the National Cyber Security
Coordinator, proposed the "Delhi Declaration"
for G20 nations to promote cooperation in
cyberspace.
About Delhi Declaration on Cybersecurity
• Aim: To enhance global cybersecurity
cooperation and reinforce responsible state
behavior in cyberspace.
• It underscores the importance of protecting
critical infrastructure, cooperating in preventing
cyber incidents, respecting international law, and
strengthening the cybersecurity of the
humanitarian sector.
2.5.10 Bluebugging
Context: Andhra Pradesh police have warned
smartphone users about the dangers of
‘bluebugging’.
About Bluebugging
• Bluebugging is a hacking method where an
attacker exploits a device's Bluetooth to gain
unauthorized access. With this access, they can
eavesdrop on calls, manage messages, alter
contacts, and install harmful software on the
device.
• Other modes of attacks are:
15
 Bluebugging Bluejacking Bluesnarfing

In bluebugging, a perpetrator An attacker broadcasts An intruder covertly breaches a

illicitly taps into a Bluetooth unwelcome messages or ads to Bluetooth device to extract contacts,
device, commandeering nearby Bluetooth devices, emails, and additional information
capabilities such as calling, typically for social engineering without the owner's approval.
messaging, and data theft. or promotional purposes.

It grants full access and control It grants limited access to send It grants full access to the device’s
of the device. messages or ads. data

High risk of data theft, privacy Low risk of data theft or High risk of data theft and privacy
violation, and financial harm. privacy violation, but violation.
annoyance and disruption to
the device owner.

2.5.11 Acoustic Side Channel Attacks

(ASCA)
• ASCA is a type of cyberattack wherein
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to decode
passwords by analyzing the sound produced
by keystrokes.
• SCAs are a method of hacking a cryptographic
algorithm based on the analysis of auxiliary
systems such as electromagnetic waves, power
consumption, sound from keyboard, printer,
etc, used in the encryption method.
• Use of laptops has increased the scope of
ASCAs as laptop models have the same
keyboard which eases the interpretation by AI-
enabled deep learning.
2.5.12 Cyber Terms in News
Spamouflage Meta has removed thousands
of Facebook accounts linked to
the 'Spamouflage' campaign
• Spamouflage refers to an
online Chinese spam
operation which uses
multiple accounts across all
major social media
platforms to spread
disinformation and harass
individuals critical of
China.
Smishing Smishing or SMS phishing is a
phishing cybersecurity attack
carried out over mobile text
messaging.
• Victims are deceived into
giving sensitive
information to a disguised
attacker.
2.6 Bharat 6G Alliance
Context: Recently, the Department of
Telecommunication (DoT) launched Bharat 6G
Alliance to drive innovation and collaboration in
Next-Generation Wireless Technology (6G).
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA):
• B6GA is a collaborative platform consisting of
public and private companies, academia,
research institutions, and Standards
development organizations.
Objective:
○ Promote high-impact open research and
development (R&D) initiatives.
○ To facilitate market access for Indian
telecom technology products and services.
○ Promote technology ownership and
indigenous manufacturing.
○ Create a culture of technology co-
innovation.
○ Promote the development of Intellectual
Property (IP) creation of 6G technology.
Status of Digital Ecosystem in India:
Telecom India, with 1.2 billion digital
Market: subscribers, is the global second-
largest telecom market, growing
its digital economy 2.5 times faster
than the national economy in nine
years.
Internet & India's broadband users jumped
Broadband more than 10 times and internet
Expansion connections more than 3 times,
with over 2.5 million km of Optical
Fiber laid for better connectivity.
Government Initiatives:
• BharatNet Project: To connect 2.5 lakh Gram
Panchayats (GPs) through optical fiber.

16
• Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON): Kerala
government provides internet connections free
of cost to 20 lakh BPL families.
• Telecom Technology Development Fund
(TTDF) Scheme: 5% of annual collections from
Difference between 5G and 6G:
Aspect 5G
Speed Up to 10 Gbps
Latency Low latency (10 ms)
Spectrum 24 GHz to 100 GHz
(Frequency bands)
Use Cases Accelerate adoption of cloud Support high-performance computing, Remote-
gaming, AV/VR technology, controlled factories, self-driven cars, smart
Internet of Things, etc.
2.7 Fourth Industrial Revolution
Context: India’s first Fourth Industrial
Revolution Centre on healthcare and life sciences
will be set up in Hyderabad in partnership with
the World Economic Forum, making it the 18th
global node.
About Fourth Industrial Revolution
• The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the
next phase in the digitization of the
manufacturing sector driven by disruptive
trends, including the rise of data and
connectivity, cyber-physical systems, human-
machine interaction, and improvements in
robotics.
• It is characterized by the use of different
technologies to blur the boundaries between
the digital, physical, and biological worlds.
• Telangana produces one-third of the world's
vaccines, leading Asia's life sciences sector, and
USOF will be available for funding R&D,
products, and services.
• Digital Public Infrastructure/ India Stack
which includes Aadhaar, Digital Locker,
DigiYatra, UPI etc.
6G
Up to 1 Tbps
Ultra-low latency (<1 ms)
95 GHz to 3 THz (Terahertz) can operate on a
higher frequency than 5G.
wearables
contributes 35% to India's pharmaceutical
output.
2.8 Semiconductors
Context: Rajasthan-based Sahasra Semiconductor
will start the commercial production of first made-
in-India memory chips.
About Semiconductors:
• It is a material that has electrical conductivity
between that of a conductor and an insulator.
• Semiconductors can be pure elements, such as
silicon or germanium, or compounds such as
gallium arsenide or cadmium selenide.
Basic Composition of Semiconductors:
• The basic component of a semiconductor chip
is a sliver of silicon.
• This silicon chip is etched with billions of
microscopic transistors.
• Patterns on the chip are formed by specific
minerals and gases.
• These patterns control the flow of electrical
current and execute various computational
instructions.
Semiconductor Manufacturing:
• Semiconductors are manufactured in highly
specialized and clean facilities, called
semiconductor fabrication units, or fabs.
• Fabs turn raw elements like silicon into
integrated circuits that are fit to be a part of
electronic hardware.
17
• It involves multiple steps of photolithographic
and chemical processing, such as deposition,
removal, patterning, and modification of
electrical properties, on a wafer made of pure
semiconducting material, usually silicon.
• The process can be divided into two sub-
categories:
○ Front-end-of-the-line (FEOL), where the
transistors are created.
○ Backend-of-the-line (BEOL), where the
interconnects are formed.
• Moore’s Law: The number of transistors in an
IC (integrated circuit) doubles almost every
two years.
2.9 Web 3.0
Context: Web 3.0 marketing presents an
opportunity to create more experiences for
customers.
About Web 3.0:
• Web 3.0, also known as "Semantic Web" or
“Decentralized Web,” is the next generation of
the World Wide Web.
• It aims to create a more intelligent and
connected web where data and information
are processed with understanding and context.
• This technology uses AI, machine learning,
and blockchain to address current internet
issues, creating a more advanced online
ecosystem.
Key Features:
• Increased control over their data and digital
assets for users.
• It allows for peer-to-peer transactions and
interactions, which means that users are in
control of their data and can choose whom they
share it with.
• It is more secure, as there is no single point of
failure that can be exploited by hackers.
• It can create decentralized applications and
smart contracts.

Web 3.0 Web 2.0

Web3 is decentralized, as data is stored
on a decentralized network of
computers that are owned and
controlled by the users themselves.
It enables peer-to-peer transactions and
interactions such that users can transact
directly with one another without the
need for intermediaries such as banks.
Users of Web3 can choose to share data
only with those they trust.
Web2 is centralized, as data is stored on centralized
servers owned and controlled by large corporations.
Web2 relies heavily on intermediaries such as banks,
social media platforms, and online marketplaces to
facilitate transactions and interactions.
In Web2, large corporations (ex., Facebook and Google)
have significant control over user data and can monetize
it in ways that users may not be comfortable with.

• It aims to enhance India’s supercomputing

2.10 Supercomputers of India
• The Centre for Development of Advanced
Context: India to launch an 18 petaFLOP
supercomputer later in the year for weather
prediction.
About the News:
• AIRAWAT (Artificial Intelligence Research,
• New supercomputers are being imported from
French corporation ATOS.
• The World’s fastest supercomputing system is
the Frontier- Cray system in the US with a peak
speed of one exaflop (or about 1,000
petaflops), followed by Fugaku of Japan..
About National Supercomputing Mission
(NSM):
• Launched in 2015, the project is led jointly by
the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology and Department of Science and
Technology.
capability to boost research.
Computing (CDAC) and IISc were entrusted
to spreadhead the seven-year mission, ending
in 2022.
Analytics and Knowledge Assimilation
Platform) is India’s first AI-specific cloud
computing supercomputer, set up by NITI
Aayog at C-DAC.
Flops (Floating Point Operations Per Second):
• It is a measure of a computer's performance,
calculated by counting floating-point
arithmetic calculations a processor can
execute per second.
• A floating point arithmetic refers to
representing and manipulating real
numbers in a way that can support a wide
range of values.

18
2.11 Machine Learning Model
Context: In a 2017 paper by a Google team, it had
proposed a new type of model- “Transformers”, a
deep neural network architecture that has today
gained popularity across all modalities.
About Machine Learning (ML):
• It is a subfield of artificial intelligence that
teaches computers to solve tasks based on
structured data, language, audio, or images, by
providing examples of inputs and the desired
outputs.
About Deep Neural Network (DNN)
• Deep learning neural networks, or artificial
neural networks, attempt to mimic the human
brain through a combination of data inputs,
weights, and biases.
• Neural Network comprises numerous small
nodes akin to brain neurons. When hit by a
stimulus, the system activates processes in
these nodes, which are generally grouped into
layers.
Fig: Deep neural network
About Transformer and Attention Mechanism:
• Transformer models are a type of neural
network architecture primarily used in
natural language processing (NLP).
• Transformer architecture consists of an
encoder and decoder that work together.
○ Both these processes use a mechanism
called attention.
• Attention mechanism lets transformers encode
the meaning of words based on the estimated
importance of other words or tokens.
• Transformers feature several attention layers
both within the encoder, to provide
meaningful context across the input sentence or
image and from the decoder to the encoder
when generating a translated sentence or
describing an image.
• Use in computer vision: Image classification,
object detection, action recognition, answering
questions regarding the image.
• Concerns related to the transformers:
• There are instances of “hallucination”
whereby models make confident but wrong
claims.
2.12 Crypto Mining
Context: Bhutan and Singapore's Bitdeer recently
revealed a plan to invest $500 million in carbon-
free crypto mining in the Himalayas using
Bhutan's hydroelectric power.
About Crypto Mining:
• Crypto mining is the process that generates
new coins and verifies and processes new
transactions for various cryptocurrencies.
• It involves vast, decentralised networks of
computers that verify and secure blockchains,
which are the virtual ledgers that document
cryptocurrency transactions.
• Cryptocurrency mining is fundamentally a
proof of work (PoW) exercise.
• The two most popular consensus mechanisms
are Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake
(PoS), which are protocols intended to validate
transactions and keep the blockchain network
decentralized and secure.

Proof-of-Work (PoW) Proof-of-Stake (PoS)

This is a mechanism Bitcoin uses to regulate the This is an alternate consensus method where control
creation of blocks through the process of mining. of the network is given to token owners.

Validation is done by a network of miners. Validation is done by participants who offer ether
(cryptocurrency) as collateral.

Miners compete to solve complex puzzles using The block creator is algorithmically selected based on
their computing power to add blocks to the their stake without competition, and instead of a
chain and earn a reward for solving first. block reward, they receive a transaction fee.

19
 PoW consumes more energy since it allows all PoS replaces miners with validators and rewards
miners on a network to try and validate a only the top stakeholders, resulting in less energy
transaction. consumption.
About Cryptocurrency
• Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that
operates independently of banks, using
blockchain technology for secure,
decentralized transactions, and cryptography
for safety and anonymity. Examples are
Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and Litecoin.
Cryptocurrency regulation in India:
• Payment Regulation: Cryptocurrencies as a
payment medium is not regulated in India.
• Crypto Tax: In budget 2022-23, government
unveiled its intention to introduce a 30% tax
reduction on virtual currency or
cryptocurrency asset transfers.
• Supreme Court Circular: The circular lifted the
RBI's ban on banks serving customers involved
in cryptocurrency transactions.
Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
• NFTs are unique blockchain-based assets like
art or media and serve as unchangeable digital
ownership certificates created through a
process called minting, which records their
details on a blockchain.
• Non-fungibility refers to an asset's uniqueness
and inability to be exchanged on a one-to-one
basis with similar items, like a plane ticket..
2.13 GPS Spoofing
Context: The DGCA recently published an
advisory on interference with Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) in airspace, emphasizing
the risks of GNSS jamming and spoofing to
aircraft operations.
About GPS Spoofing
• GPS Spoofing involves overriding a device's
actual location by broadcasting false GPS
signals with a radio transmitter, causing
nearby GPS receivers to show incorrect
locations.
• GPS spoofing can put the aircraft off its
intended course and result in intrusion or
collision.
• GNSS interference can lead to incorrect data in
an airplane's fuel computation, flight
management systems, and navigation
displays showing ground or wind speed.
About Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS)
20
• GNSS is a general term describing any satellite
constellation that provides positioning,
navigation, and timing (PNT) services on a
global or regional basis.
• While GPS is the most prevalent GNSS, other
nations have fielded their own systems to
provide complementary, independent PNT
capability.
• GNSS finds its application in aviation, marine,
farming, surveying, sports and UAVs.
About GAGAN
• GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation
(GAGAN): It is a step by the Indian
Government towards initial Satellite-based
Navigation Services in India.
○ It is a system to improve the accuracy of a
GNSS receiver by providing reference
signals.
• Collaboration of: The Airports Authority of
India (AAI) and Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) have collaborated to
develop the GAGAN as a regional Satellite
Based Augmentation System (SBAS).
2.14 Cloud Computing
Context: Recently, the RBI Governor announced
a proposal to establish cloud data storage
facilities for financial institutions in India.
About Cloud Computing
• Cloud Computing is defined as the use of
hosted services, such as data storage, servers,
databases, networking, and software over the
internet.
○ It is on-demand access to computing
resources via the internet, hosted at a
remote data center managed by a cloud
services provider (or CSP).
• Cloud Computing Deployment Model: Cloud
Computing can be broken down into four
categories namely Public Cloud, Private
Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, Multi Cloud.
• Cloud Computing service categories:
○ SaaS (Software as a service) : A software
distribution model in which a third-party
provider hosts applications and makes
them available to customers over the
Internet.
○ PaaS (Platform as a service) : A model in
which a third-party provider hosts
application development platforms and
tools on its own infrastructure and makes
 them available to customers over the
internet.
○ IaaS (Infrastructure as a service) : A model
in which a third-party provider hosts
servers, storage and other virtualized
computer resources and makes them
available to customers over the internet.
• Cloud computing helps in cost reduction, data
and workload mobility, business continuity
Cloud Computing
Centralized servers stored in faraway, large-scale Highly
data centers.
Costly and intensive operational activities for the
company.
This model could create dependency on a single
cloud provider, also known as vendor lock-in.
Connectivity, data migration, bandwidth, and
latency features are pretty expensive.
2.15 Global Partnership on Artificial
Intelligence (GPAI)
Context: The GPAI, under India’s presidency,
adopted the New Delhi Declaration on AI.
About Global Partnership on Artificial
Intelligence (GPAI):
• GPAI is a multi-stakeholder initiative which
aims to bridge the gap between theory and
practice on AI.
• It brings together expertise from science,
industry, civil society, and governments to
foster international cooperation.
• It is a congregation of 25 member countries,
including the US, the UK, EU, Australia,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, and
Singapore.
• India joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding
member.
• Its Secretariat is hosted at the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
About New Delhi Declaration on AI
• It focuses on fostering collaboration,
inclusivity, and establishing AI governance.
• It aims to make GPAI a key player in AI
advancement and encourage cooperative AI
projects among its members.
and disaster recovery and on demand
scalability.
Edge Computing
• It is the process of bringing information storage
and computing abilities closer to the devices
that produce that information and the users
who consume it.
• It processes data near where it's collected, like
on a smartphone or a local network device,
reducing delay and saving bandwidth
Edge Computing
distributed and global computing
infrastructure, closer to users.
Automatized scalability, with zero-touch provisioning.
Using open standards, it's compatible with different
sources, and can integrate third-party solutions.
Less bandwidth requirement and lower latency,
improved performance and reduced operational costs.
2.16 Giant Magnetoresistance
Context: Recently, researchers discovered that
graphene displays the property of anomalous
giant magnetoresistance at room temperature.
About Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR):
• Magnetoresistance refers to the tendency of a
material to change its electrical resistance in
response to an external magnetic field.
• GMR specifically denotes a substantial
resistance shift observed in thinly layered
structures of ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic
materials under magnetic influence.
• Graphene-based devices can sense magnetic
fields without the extreme cooling required by
conventional counterparts.
About Graphene:
• Graphene is a two-dimensional single-atom-
thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a
hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure.
• It has exceptionally high tensile strength,
electrical conductivity, transparency, and
thinnest two-dimensional material in the
world.
Application of GMR:
• Hard disk drives and magnetoresistive RAM
in computers
• Biosensors
• Automotive sensors
• Microelectromechanical systems
• Medical imagers.
21
2.17 News In Short

Context: ISRO-Space Applications Centre successfully tested the Nabhmitra, a

satellite-based communication system for the safety of fishermen.
Nabhmitra About Nabhmitra
In emergencies like capsizing or fire, fishers can alert the control center with a
button press, sending their location, and receive a response message."

The AI Ecosystem is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, which

serves as a knowledge portal, research organization, and an ecosystem-building
initiative.
India AI Ecosystem
• INDIAai fosters unity and partnerships within India's AI landscape,
providing educational materials, career guidance, and resources for
students, entrepreneurs, etc.
• It's an IoT-based platform for automated soil testing and agronomy advice,
capable of analyzing 12 essential soil parameters, such as pH value, electrical
conductivity.
Bhu-Vision (Krishi- • It instantly sends a soil health summary to mobile devices, quickly
Rastaa) Platform pinpointing deficiencies.
• Developed by: ICAR-IIRR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian
Institute of Rice Research), Hyderabad and KrishiTantra (an Agri-tech start-
up).
• It was launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under
the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• It addresses the technological requirements of the society by fostering
National Mission on advanced technologies and global partnerships.
Interdisciplinary • As part of the Mission implementation, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs
Cyber-Physical (TIHs) have been established at various institutes across the country.
Systems (NM-ICPS) • About Cyber-Physical systems:
○ A cyber-physical system integrates digital and physical components,
such as machines, autonomous vehicles etc. with functionalities for
communication, data collection, processing, and decision-making.
Context: Despite recent testing, the Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBAS) of the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) failed to disseminate mass
alerts during natural disasters as intended.
Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBAS)
• About: It is an emergency alert system designed to provide real-time disaster
alerts to citizens.
Cell Broadcast Alert
• Aim: It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during
System (CBAS)
emergencies.
• Technology: It allows mobile operators to send text messages to all phones
in a specific area, regardless of the mobile network that the phone is on.
• Common applications of CBAS: It includes delivering emergency alerts
such as severe weather warnings (eg, Tsunamis, Flash Floods, Earthquakes),
public safety messages, evacuation notices, and other critical information.

Context: UIDAI is employing Finger Minutiae Record–Finger Image Record

(FMR-FIR) modality to address fraud in the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System
(AePS).
FMR -FIR Modality
About FMR-FIR Technology
• It is an Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning based technology used by
UIDAI to prevent fraud in AePS.

22
 • This authenticates fingerprints by merging finger minutiae(distinct ridges
on fingers) and finger images.
• It detects cloned fingerprints and ensures only genuine fingerprints are
used for verification.

Context: Recently, “Krutrim”, an indigenous AI model, was launched in

Bengaluru.
About KRUTRIM
• Krutrim is a sanskrit word meaning ‘artificial’.
Krutrim- India's AI • Krutrim is India’s first complete AI computing stack.
Model • Base Algorithm: Large Language Model
• Krutrim’s conversational AI assistant (contemporary of Chatgpt), will
understand and speak multiple Indian languages fluently.
○ For Example: Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Telugu are among the
languages it can generate content in.

Context: During the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, leaders introduced the
Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation.
About Hiroshima AI Process (HAP):
Hiroshima AI • Discussion topics included governance, intellectual property rights
Process (HAP) protection, and responsible use of technologies.
• The objective of the discussion was to foster global dialogue on inclusive AI
governance and interoperability, set guiding principles for AI, enhance
transparency and fairness in AI development.

2.18 Notable Technologies/ Concepts

Security Sockets • They are digital certificates that provide a secure and encrypted connection
Layer Certificates between a user's web browser and a website's server.
• These are text files with small information like login details that identify
computers on the internet and enhance web browsing experience by
recognizing specific users.
Cookies • India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 mandates explicit user
consent for websites to collect or process personal data via cookies.
• Cookies help in authentication, ensuring personalized experience, analytics
and marketing.
• Satellite internet offers internet connectivity by wirelessly transmitting
information through a satellite network in space.
Satellite Internet • It serves as a reliable backup during land-based outages, such as post-disaster
scenarios, and is suitable for connecting moving vehicles like aircraft, UAVs,
ships, and trains.
• E2E encryption guarantees that only the intended recipient, with a unique
decryption key for each message, can decipher the message. Even the service
End-to-End
provider can't decrypt it
encryption
• The feature is offered by WhatsApp, Signal, Apple’s iMessage, and FaceTime by
default.
• XR refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments generated by computer
Extended Reality technology and wearables. It includes representative forms such as augmented
reality, mixed reality, virtual reality, etc. AR Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality
Akira • It is a malware targeting both Windows and Linux systems.

23
 • It steals personal information and encrypts data leading to extortion of money
from victims.
• In case of refusal of payment, their data is leaked on the dark web blog.
It refers to the ability to exercise control over digital assets, such as data, content
or digital infrastructure, or over the use of those assets.
Digital
• It represents a regulated, secure, and values-based digital realm aimed at
Sovereignty
addressing complex issues around individual rights, security, legal authority,
and fair economic competition.

24
 3
Space Science And Technology
3.1 Indian Space Policy, 2023
Context: Recently, Indian Space Policy 2023 was
approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
About Indian Space Policy, 2023:
• It aims to increase India's share in the global
space economy from less than 2% to 10%.
• Enhance Private Sector Participation through
greater access to ISRO's infrastructure,
technology, and expertise.
• Focus of the policy: Civilian and peaceful
applications.
• Role Demarcation: It delineates the
responsibilities as follows:
○ INSPACe (Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorisation Center): It
will act as an interface and single window
agency between ISRO and non-
governmental entities.
○ New Space India Limited (NSIL) will
serve as the primary point of contact with
industry, manage commercial
negotiations, and offer support for
seamless technology transfer.
○ ISRO: It is shifting from manufacturing
operational space systems to concentrating
on R&D in cutting-edge technology and
developing space objects for national
priorities.
○ Department of Space: It will be tasked with
implementing the policy, clarifying
ambiguities, ensuring safe and sustainable
space activities.
▪ It will also serve as nodal authority for
space technology implementation.
○ Non-Government Entities: Encouraged to
develop space situational awareness
capabilities i.e., a mechanism to track
objects in space and avoid collision of
satellites and space stations with each other
or space debris.
▪ They can also engage in commercial
recovery of asteroids or space resources.
• The policy encourages private infrastructure
in space and boosts ISRO missions through
academia, research, startups, and industry
involvement.
25
Private Sector in Space Programs:
• SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and
Arianespace: Offer launch services and
space tourism.
• Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper and
Telesat: Developing mega-constellations of
satellites to provide global broadband
internet access.
• Skyroot Aerospace: A Hyderabad-based
startup that launched India’s first privately
built rocket, Vikram S (Mission Prarambh).
• Agnikul Cosmos: A Chennai-based startup
is developing a small satellite launch
vehicle called Agnibaan, which can carry
up to 100 kg payload to low earth orbit.
3.2 India’s Space Missions
3.2.1 Aditya-L1 Mission
Context: The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) launched the Aditya-L1
mission onboard PSLC-C57.
About the Aditya-L1 Mission:
• Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to
observe the Sun and the solar corona.
• It will be placed in a halo orbit around the first
Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system,
which provides an unoccluded continuous
view of the Sun.
• It contains seven payloads on board to observe
the photosphere, chromosphere, and the
outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) to
observe solar activity and its effect on space
 weather and gather information about coronal
mass ejection (CME).
Objectives:
• It examines the sun's outer layers, corona, and
chromosphere to understand coronal mass
ejections.
• Studies the origin and trajectory of solar flares
to Earth.
• This will enhance observation of solar
activities and their impact on space weather,
including data collection for space weather
forecasting.
About Lagrange Point:
• Lagrange points are positions where the
gravitational pull of two large masses
precisely equals the centripetal force required
for a small object to move with them.
• The L1 point of the Earth-Sun system provides
an uninterrupted view of the sun and is
currently home to the Solar and Heliospheric
Observatory Satellite (SOHO) from NASA.
Sun's Corona:
• The corona is the Sun's outermost layer, with a
high temperature that causes its particles to
escape the Sun's gravity and form the solar
wind.
• It is usually hidden by the bright light of the
Sun's surface but can be seen during a total
solar eclipse. The corona is very dim due to its
low density.
Coronal Mass Ejection
• Large eruptions of magnetized plasma from
the corona that propagate outward into
interplanetary space.
Solar Flares
• They are intense radiation bursts from
magnetic energy in sunspots, appearing as
bright spots on the sun, lasting from minutes to
hours.
Plasma
• It is a superheated gas with atoms dissociated
into independent electrons and ions,
representing the fourth state of matter.
Solar Mean Magnetic Field (SMMF)
• There has been progress in pinpointing the
origin of SMMF, which affects
interplanetary magnetic space and has a
major impact on space weather.
• SMMF represents the average intensity and
direction of the magnetic field on the Sun's
surface.
• Studying SMMF is critical for understanding
the Sun's magnetic behavior and offers
valuable information about different solar
26
events, such as sunspots, solar flares, and
CMEs.
• It helps in space weather forecasting and
predicting the impact of solar activity on
Earth.
3.2.2 Venus Mission ‘Shukrayaan I'
Context: ISRO's Venus mission may be delayed
to 2031 due to delays in government approval.
About Shukrayaan I:
• Shukrayaan I will be an orbiter mission, and its
scientific payloads will include a high-
resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and
a ground penetrating radar.
• Two other Venus missions, VERITAS and
EnVision, are scheduled to launch in 2031 by
the U.S. and European space agencies,
respectively.
• The objective of the mission includes
investigation of surface processes, study of
structure and composition of atmosphere, etc.
About Venus:
• Venus is called Earth’s twin because of the
similarities in their masses, sizes, and
densities.
• Hottest planet in the solar system because
of the high concentration of carbon
dioxide, which works to produce an
intense greenhouse effect.
• A day on Venus is longer than a year. It
takes Venus longer to rotate once on its
axis than to complete one orbit of the Sun.
• Unlike the other planets in our solar
system, Venus and Uranus spin clockwise
on their axis.
3.2.3 ISRO’s SSLV-D2 Launch
Context: The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV-D2) will place the ISRO’s earth observation
satellite EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSat2 around
the Earth.
• EOS-07: Its objective is to design and develop
payload instruments compatible with micro
satellite bus and technologies that are
required for future operational satellites.
• Janus-1 is a technology demonstrator satellite
built by US-based Antaris software platform
along with Indian partners.
• AzaadiSAT- is a combined effort of about 750
female students across India guided by
Space Kidz India.
About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-
D2):
• It is a low-cost launcher with low turn-around
time (the amount of time it takes to complete a
process) and flexibility in accommodating
multiple satellites.
• It can launch up to 500 kg satellites to Low
Earth Orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis.
3.2.4 NISAR Mission
• Context: NISAR satellite is a joint Low Earth
Orbit (LEO) observatory mission between
NASA and the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO)/ NISAR satellite to map
Himalayas’ seismic zones.
About NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
(NISAR) Mission:
• The NISAR mission involves launch of a
satellite equipped with a dual-frequency (L
and S-Band) SAR (synthetic aperture radar)
instrument to capture high-res Earth surface
changes.
• It employs InSAR (interferometric synthetic
aperture radar) to monitor land and ice
surfaces in fine detail.
• ISRO will use NISAR for agricultural mapping
and monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayan
landslide-prone areas and changes in the
coastline.
Applications:
• Provide critical information on Earth’s crust,
ice sheets, and ecosystems.
• Agricultural mapping and monitoring of
glaciers in the Himalayas, landslide-prone
areas, and changes in the coastline.
• Uninterrupted All-Weather Data Collection
with SAR Technology.
• Spot warning signs of natural disasters.
• Measure groundwater levels, track flow rates
of glaciers and ice sheets.
• Monitoring earth's forests and farmlands to
understand carbon exchange mechanisms.
About Communication Bands:
• L-Band operates on a wavelength of 15-30 cm
and a frequency range of 1-2 GHz.
○ It is mostly used for clear air turbulence
studies.
• S-Band radars operate on a wavelength of 8-15
cm and a frequency of 2-4 GHz.
○ It is useful for near and far-range weather
observations.
○ The drawback is that it uses a large antenna
dish.
• K Band covers a range of microwave
frequencies from approximately 18 to 27 GHz.
27
○ Used for various communication and
radar applications, including military and
scientific uses.
○ However, it is less commonly used in
commercial satellite communication due to
potential atmospheric absorption and rain
fade issues.
• Ku Band covers a range of microwave
frequencies from approximately 12 to 18 GHz.
○ Widely used for satellite communication,
broadcasting, and data transmission.
• Ka Band refers to a range of frequencies from
27 GHz to 40 GHz.
○ It offers higher data rates than the Ku band
and is often used for broadband satellite
communication, especially for applications
such as satellite internet service.
3.2.5 Chandrayaan 3
Context: Chandrayaan-3 lander made a successful
soft landing on 23 August 2023, which was
declared as National Space Day.
About the Chandrayaan Mission:
• India has become the fourth nation to land on
the lunar surface, after the USA, erstwhile
Soviet Union, and China.
• India became the first country to reach close to
the lunar south pole.
• It was a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2
to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe
landing and roving on the lunar surface.
• It was launched by Launch Vehicle Mark III
(erstwhile Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle Mark III) from Sriharikota.
• It is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle
developed by the ISRO.
• Stages of LVM3:
○ First (or bottom most) Stage: Two S200
boosters strapped to the rocket body.
○ Second Stage: Powered by two Vikas
engines (L110).
○ Uppermost Final Stage: powered by a
Cryogenic engine (C25).
• Chandrayaan-1 mission was launched in 2008.
Chandrayaan-1’s orbiter detected evidence of
water on the Moon.
• Chandrayaan-2 was launched in 2019 with a
lander called Vikram. The mission crash-
landed on the moon, but the orbiter remained
functional, which was used by Chandrayaan-3
for communications and terrain mapping
requirements.
○ Chandrayaan-2 was planned to land
between Manzinus C and Simpelius N
craters.
• Chandrayaan-3 was a follow-up mission to the
Chandrayaan-2.
Constituents of Chandrayaan -3:
• Chandrayaan-3 consists of an indigenous
Lander module (LM), Propulsion module
(PM) and a Rover.
• The Lander is designed for a controlled lunar
landing and will release a Rover to conduct on-
site chemical analysis of the moon's surface as
it moves.
• The Lander and Rover have scientific
payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar
surface.
• The place where lander ‘Vikram’ touched
down on the lunar surface is named as Shiv
Shakti Point.
• Rover Payloads:
○ Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope
(LIBS): determine the chemical and
mineral composition of the lunar surface. It
has recently confirmed the presence of
Sulphur (S) on the lunar surface.
○ Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
(APXS): determine the composition of
elements such as magnesium, silicon,
potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron in
the lunar surface.
• Lander payloads:
○ Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound
Hypersensitive ionosphere and
Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-
LP): For in-situ measurements of the
surface-bound Lunar plasma environment.
○ Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the
thermal conductivity and temperature.
○ Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity
(ILSA) for measuring the seismicity
around the landing site.
• Propulsion Module Payload
○ Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet
Earth (SHAPE) to study the spectro-
polarimetric signatures of the habitable
planet Earth in the near-infra-red (NIIR)
wavelength range.
• Orbiter: It aims to study Earth's signs of life to
assist in identifying exoplanets outside our
solar system that could potentially support life.
Reasons for exploring Lunar South Pole:
• It has remained an unexplored Region due to
their rugged environment.
• There is evidence of the presence of water in
permanently shadowed craters of the moon.
• Study of the Solar System: The extreme cold at
the lunar poles preserves materials, potentially
28
revealing information about the early Solar
System.
Major Global Moon Missions
USSR • Luna 1, Luna 2 and Luna 3. Luna 2 was
the first spacecraft to impact the moon's
surface.
USA • Lunar Orbiter 1; Apollo 11; Artemis 1
Japan • Hiten
China • Chang’e 1: First Chinese Moon Mission
Israel • Beresheet
About Artemis Accords:
• India has recently signed the Artemis Accords,
aligning with nations focused on cooperative
civil space exploration.
• Initiated by the US and seven partners, the
Artemis Accords aim to foster international
space exploration and research and have been
signed by 26 countries excluding China and
Russia.
• Principles of Artemis Accord:
○ Not to use space for military purposes,
○ Cooperation on matters of safety of space
assets and astronauts,
○ Willingness to share scientific data from
space missions.
• The Artemis Accords are integral to NASA's
Artemis program, which focuses on returning
to the moon, establishing a permanent base,
and leveraging it for further deep space
exploration.
• ISRO and NASA have already been
collaborating on several projects, the most
notable of which is the joint NISAR mission.
Deboosting: It is the technique used by
Chandrayaan-3, to slow down the spacecraft
and transition it into an orbit around the
Moon where the closest point to the Moon
(Perilune) is 30 kilometers and the farthest
point (Apolune) is 100 kilometers.
Translunar orbit injection is the process
whereby the moon-bound spacecraft has
escaped from orbiting the earth and is now
following a path that would take it towards
the Moon.
Tidal Locking:
• It refers to the synchronization between the
Moon’s rotation around its axis (with respect to
the Sun) and its orbit around the Earth, caused
due to mutual gravitational forces between
Earth and Moon.
• Consequence of Tidal Locking are:
 ○ Only one side of the Moon constantly
faces Earth, thus creating the Near and Far
sides, with the latter being in perpetual
darkness.
○ Gravitational force is strongest on facing
sides of celestial bodies, causing them to
stretch and distort.
○ Tidal torque has slowed the Moon's
rotation since its formation and is similarly
reducing Earth's spin, mainly due to their
mutual tidal interactions.
3.2.6 Gaganyaan
Context: ISRO has successfully conducted the
Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) as
part of the Gaganyaan project.
About Gaganyaan:
• Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India's
Human Space flight capability by sending a 3
member crew on a three-day mission to a 400
km orbit (Low Earth Orbit) and safely landing
them in Bay of Bengal or Arabain Sea.
• The mission will make India the fourth country
to have human spaceflight capability after the
US, Russia, and China.
• Human-rated LVM3 (HLVM3) consists of
Crew Escape System (CES) powered by a set
of quick-acting, high-burn rate solid motors
which ensure that Crew Module is taken to a
safe distance in case of any emergency.
About Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1):
• The Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-
D1) will demonstrate the performance of the
Crew Escape System of the Gaganyaan project.
• Payloads: The payloads consist of the Crew
Module (CM) and Crew Escape Systems
(CES).
• Crew Module: It will demonstrate a basic
version of the crew module
• Functioning of Crew Escape System: The test
will check the functioning of systems for
separating the crew module from the rocket in
case of a mid-flight emergency and astronauts'
escape to ensure their safety.
• ISRO will indigenously develop
Environmental Control and Life Support
System (ECLSS) for Gaganyaan mission
About Environmental Control and Life Support
System
• ECLSS is a life support system on manned
space vehicles which ensures survivable
conditions in space by managing the
atmosphere, water, food supply, and waste.
• It consists of three key components:
○ Water Recovery System purifies water by
recycling wastewater, cabin condensation,
29
and moisture from astronauts' spacesuit
hydration system
○ Air Revitalization System dedicated to
cleaning circulating cabin air.
○ Oxygen Generation System consists of an
oxygen generation assembly and carbon
dioxide reduction assembly.
3.2.7 ISRO puts 36 OneWeb satellites into
orbit
Context: ISRO launched 36 OneWeb satellites on
board using LVM3 at the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota.
About Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3):
• This newest rocket is capable of launching a
4,000-kilogram class of satellites into GTO
(Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) and 8,000 kgs
of payloads into LEO.
• It is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of
two solid propellants and a core stage
comprising L110 liquid stage and C25
cryogenic stage.
• This is the sixth flight of LVM3. The rocket had
five consecutive successful missions,
including Chandrayaan-2.
3.2.8 Controlled re-entry of Megha-
Tropiques-1
Context: ISRO is preparing for a controlled
reentry experiment of the decommissioned low
Earth orbit satellite, Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1).
About Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1):
• MT1 was launched in 2011 as a joint satellite
venture of ISRO and the French Space Agency
for tropical weather and climate studies.
• The satellite continued to provide climate data
till 2021, although the mission life was 3 years.
• The leftover fuel at the end of the mission could
achieve a controlled re-entry into the Pacific
Ocean.
• Controlled Re-Entries refers to deorbiting
LEO objects post-lifespan either through
controlled re-entry to a safe zone or by moving
them to shorter lifetime orbits to reduce space
debris as per the UN/IADC (UN /Inter-
Agency Space Debris Coordination
Committee) guidelines.
3.2.9 Reusable Launch Vehicle-
Technology Demonstration (RLV TD)
Context: ISRO successfully carried out the landing
experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle-
Technology Demonstration (RLV TD)
programme.
About RLV TD:
• A reusable launch system enables the recycling
of its components, allowing the vehicle to
return to Earth intact post-mission.
• The configuration of RLV-TD is similar to that
of an aircraft and combines the complexity of
both launch vehicles and aircraft.
• Eventually, this vehicle is planned to be
expanded into the initial stage of India's two-
stage reusable orbital launch vehicle.
• The key objective of mastering the RLV
technology is to achieve low-cost access to
space.
3.2.10 X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite
(XPOSAT) Mission
Context: Recently, ISRO has successfully
launched its maiden X-ray Polarimeter Satellite
(XPoSat) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota.
About XpoSAT:
• XPoSat represents India's inaugural mission
dedicated to polarimetric analysis of
luminous cosmic X-ray sources under severe
conditions.
• Polarimetry measures light's polarization,
aiding astronomers in gathering data on space
entities ranging from nearby comets to far-
flung galaxies.
• It carries two main scientific payloads in low
Earth orbit POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in
X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and
Timing).
Astrophysical Processes Producing X-Rays
• Accretion onto Black Holes
• Neutron Stars and Pulsars
• Supernova Remnants
• Hot Gases in Galaxy clusters
3.2.11 ISRO to Launch Chandrayaan-4
Mission
Context: ISRO chairperson S Somanath has
planned to launch Chandrayaan-4 to bring back
samples from the Moon in four years.
• After Chandrayaan- 3’s success and Aditya-L1
launch, ISRO aims to bring back moon samples
with Chandrayaan-4 in approximately four
years.
About Chandrayaan 4 Mission:
• It is a lunar sample return mission that will
land and thereafter be able to bring back the
sample of the lunar surface.
• Rover: This mission is expected to be more
complex than its predecessor, Chandrayaan-3
which had a rover of 30 kg and Chandrayaan-
4 plans to land a massive 350 kg rover.
30
○ The rover will have an exploration area of
1 km x 1 km which is significantly larger
than Chandrayaan-3's 500 meters x 500
meters.
• The Chandrayaan 4 mission aims to perform a
precise landing on the Moon's rim and would
be also dependent on Japan’s Smart Lander for
Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft’s
success.
About Smart Lander for Investigating Moon
(SLIM):
• It is a compact lunar lander for precise Moon
landings, aiming to assess downsized landing
gear efficiency and explore the Moon's origins.
• The findings of the SLIM will help guide the
trajectory and technology behind the
Chandrayaan-4.
3.3 NaVIC Satellite NVS-01
Context: ISRO places its first second-generation
satellite NVS-01 in Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbit for its navigation constellation, NavIC.
About the Second-Generation Satellites:
Satellite • NVS-01, the first of ISRO’s
Name NVS series of payloads.
• Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch
Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
Vehicle
rocket.
Onboard
• Rubidium atomic clock.
Technology
• It will send signals in a third
Frequency frequency, L1, besides the L5
Signals and S frequency signals that
the existing satellites provide.
• More than 12 years for second-
Mission generation satellites, the
Life existing satellites have a
mission life of 10 years.
About Navigation with Indian Constellation
(NavIC):
• ISRO created Navigation with Indian
Constellation (NavIC), a regional satellite
navigation system for India's positioning,
navigation, and timing needs.
• It was formerly known as Indian Regional
Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
• It is designed with a constellation of 7
satellites and a network of ground stations
operating round the clock.
• Three satellites of the constellation are placed
in geostationary orbit, and four satellites are
placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit.
• NavIC offers exceptional precision with
position accuracy under 20 meters and timing
 accuracy within 50 nanoseconds, surpassing
many global navigation satellite systems.
Services Offered:
• Types of services: Standard Position Service
(SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service
(RS) for strategic users and defense
navigations.
• Frequency bands: These two services are
provided in both L5 and S bands.Coverage:
The NavIC coverage area includes India and a
region up to 1500 km beyond the Indian
boundary.
• Accuracy: NavIC signals provide user position
accuracy better than 20m and timing accuracy
better than 50ns.
• Signals interoperability: NavIC SPS signals
are interoperable with the other global
navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals,
namely GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and
BeiDou.
• Constant speed: Unlike GPS, NavIC uses
satellites in high geo-stationery orbit, so they
are always looking over the same region on
Earth.
Applications
• According to the Department of Space, NavIC
will soon be integrated into Aadhaar
enrolment devices (currently linked to GPS).
• The Centre is pushing Indian cell phone
manufacturers to make their devices NavIC-
compatible.
• The National Disaster Management Authority
is using NavIC as an alert system for major
natural disasters, including landslides,
earthquakes, floods, and avalanches.
About Geosynchronous and Geosynchronous
Transfer orbit:
• Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) is a low
inclination orbit about the Earth having a
period of 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds. A
spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit appears to
remain above Earth at a constant longitude.
• Geostationary Orbit is a type of
geosynchronous orbit but restricted only to the
equatorial plane, unlike variably inclined
geosynchronous orbits. It orbits Earth's equator
with its orbital period equal to Earth's
rotational period.
• Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) is an
orbit where a spacecraft is first launched to
attain a geosynchronous orbit. Thereon, the
satellite will independently use its onboard
propulsion systems to perform orbit-raising
maneuvers and reach its intended orbit.
31
Other Navigation Systems:
• US-Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Russia-Global Navigation Satellite System
(GLONASS),
• European Union-Galileo,
• China-BeiDou,
• Japan- Quasi-Zenith Satellite System
(QZSS).
3.4 First Earth-sized exoplanet
Context: Recently, the James Webb Space
Telescope discovered its first new exoplanet, LHS
475 b.
About LHS 475 b:
• It is located 41 light-years away and orbits a
close red dwarf star in the Octans
constellation.
• It is roughly the same size as Earth.
Exoplanets:
• Exoplanets are planets beyond our solar
system with varying sizes, composition, and
extreme temperature ranges.
• Some exoplanets are gas giants, while others
are rocky planets as small as Earth.
• The first discovered exoplanet was 51 Pegasi b.
However, discovering exoplanets is difficult as
they are small and hard to spot around their
bright host stars.
Hycean Planets:
• They are a type of exoplanets considered
potentially habitable in the quest for
extraterrestrial life. (Hydrogen + Ocean =
Hycean)
• The presence of liquid water and a hydrogen-
rich atmosphere forms an environment
suitable for life, as hydrogen is crucial for life
and water can act as a solvent for biochemical
activities.
3.5 Celestial Objects
3.5.1 Green Comets
Context: The green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will
make its closest approach to Earth on February 2,
2023, after nearly 50,000 years.
About Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF):
• Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first discovered in
2022, and it gets its beautiful green glow from
the diatomic carbon that is present in the
comet's head. When the UV rays fall on the
comet, these molecules emit green light.
• It will be visible in Ladakh and Eastern India.

• Comets: Icy bodies of frozen gases, rocks,
and dust left over from the formation of the
solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
They have highly elliptical orbits. Heat from
the sun causes ice to vaporize, creating a
coma and tail.
○ Short-period comets, which have an
orbital period of a few hundred years,
originate in the Kuiper belt
○ Longer-period comets, with orbits of
thousands of years, come from the more
distant Oort cloud.
○ Oort cloud is a giant shell of icy bodies
that encircle the solar system, occupying
space at a distance between 5,000 and
100,000 AU.
• Asteroids: Small, rocky objects, often
irregularly shaped, leftover from the
formation of the Solar System found in the
asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• Meteoroid: Solid debris originating from
asteroids, comets or other celestial objects
and floats through interplanetary space.
• Meteorite: Meteoroids that survive the
journey through the Earth's atmosphere and
fall to the surface.
3.5.2 Diyodar Meteorite
Context: Scientists have identified the meteorite
that crashed in two villages in Banaskantha,
Gujarat, in August 2022 as an aubrite.
About Aubrites:
• Aubrites are meteorites with uncertain origins,
possibly from asteroid 3103 Eger or Mercury.
• They primarily consist of enstatite, often
containing iron and nickel.
• They hold significance in studying early solar
system history and planet formation processes.
3.5.3 Red Supergiant Star Betelgeuse
Context: Researchers, through examining
pulsation, i.e., the periodic contraction and
expansion of the star, reported that the Red
Supergiant star, “Betelgeuse,” is in its late carbon-
burning stage.
32
About the news:
• Betelgeuse is a massive bright red star in the
Orion constellation. It will burn carbon only
for a few hundreds of years before collapsing
into a supernova.
Journey of a Star towards its death:
• Production of Helium: Most stars, including
the Sun, convert hydrogen into helium to
generate energy. This energy’s outward push
counteracts gravity’s inward pull, thus
preventing the star's collapse.
• Consumption of Hydrogen Fuel: Massive
stars like Betelgeuse run out of hydrogen fuel
in only a few crore years, when they switch to
using helium to make carbon.
• Consumption of helium and other elements:
○ Stars burn helium, but it releases less
energy than hydrogen fusion. To remain
stable, they burn helium quickly in about
ten lakh years.
○ In the later stages, stars like Betelgeuse
burn carbon, then silicon, and briskly
consume the elements of the periodic table,
until their core brims with iron, whose
fusion requires more energy than it
releases.
• Late-carbon stage:
○ Late-carbon stage is the terminal phase of
stars like Betelgeuse, where carbon burns
in a few hundred years.
○ When the star's core becomes iron-rich,
temperature and pressure decrease,
leading to gravity compressing it into a
neutron star or black hole.
○ The shock wave resulting from the collapse
blasts the surrounding layers into
interstellar space.
3.5.4 Super Blue Moon
Context: A rare phenomenon of Super blue moon
would be witnessed in India.
About Super Blue Moon
• Super Blue Moon is the convergence of three
lunar occurrences - a full Moon, a Supermoon,
and a blue Moon.
• Blue moon refers to the second full moon
within a single month, a rare event since full
moons typically occur once a month.
• Seasonal Blue Moon occurs when a season
(three month long) experiences four full
moons. The third full moon is considered the
blue moon.
• Super moon happens when the moon is
passing through or is close to its perigee
(nearest to Earth), and is also a full moon.
• Full moon at perigee (super moon) is about
14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon
at apogee (called a “micro moon”).
3.5.5 Asteroid Bennu
• Context: Samples collected by NASA’s Osiris-
ReX shows evidence of high-carbon content
and water-bearing clay minerals.
About Asteroid Bennu:
• Bennu is a small near-Earth asteroid that
passes close to Earth every six years.
• Bennu’s current composition was established
within 10 million years of the formation of our
solar system, thus acting as a time capsule.
3.6 Light Pollution
Context: Six hamlets within the Changthang
Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh were designated as
“dark sky reserves”.
About Dark Sky Reserves:
• These are areas whose sky is free of light
pollution.
• The designation obligates the reserve to have
light pollution-free skies, particularly for the
astronomical observatories located in the area.
About the Night Sky:
• Skyglow is the brightening of the night sky
over inhabited areas because of streetlights,
security floodlights, and outdoor ornamental
lights.
Consequences of Skyglow as per different
studies:
• Lit beaches deter sea turtles from coming
ashore to nest.
• Skyglow keeps trees from sensing seasonal
variations.
• Young burrow nesting seabirds don’t take
flight unless the nesting site becomes dark.
• Clownfish eggs don’t hatch when exposed to
artificial light at night, killing the offspring.
• Interferes with insect life and allows insect
predators to hunt for longer.
• Disrupts circadian rhythm and hampers
production of melatonin, a hormone that
affects sleep, moods, and cognition. It also
increases risk of breast cancer among night
shift workers.
3.7 Geomagnetic Storm
Context: Recently, a geomagnetic storm that hit
the earth was given a severity grade of G4 (second
highest grade) by the US National Ocean and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
33
About Geomagnetic Storm:
• A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in the
Earth's magnetic field due to solar emissions.
It occurs when a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
or fast solar stream hits the earth’s
magnetosphere.
• The Earth's magnetosphere shields us from
solar particles. However, when a CME reaches
Earth, it opens the magnetosphere, allowing
solar wind particles to hit our atmosphere at
the poles.
• Solar weather events can intensify auroras,
making them visible in areas they typically
aren't seen.
• Red auroras form above 150 miles when solar
particles interact with sparser oxygen, exciting
it at higher frequencies, resulting in visible
reds.
Effects of Geomagnetic Storm:
• Enhanced Aurora Visibility at lower latitudes.
• Satellite Damage
• Communication Disruptions due to
interference with high-frequency radio
signals.
• Navigation System Errors
• Power Grid Failures due to voltage
fluctuations.
• Pipeline Corrosion in long pipelines.
• Hazardous for astronauts and disruptions to
spacecraft operations.
3.8 Acoustic Shocks in the Solar
Chromosphere
Context: A recent study reveals that bright grains
in the Sun’s chromosphere are caused by rising
shocks in solar plasma.
About Chromosphere:
• The chromosphere is a highly active layer in
the solar atmosphere playing a crucial role in
transferring energy (specially non-thermal
energy) for heating the corona and driving the
solar wind.
• Most of this energy transforms into heat and
radiation, with a small part fueling the corona
and solar wind.
About the Study:
• Scientists discovered that the Sun's
chromosphere's bright grains result from
upward-propagating shocks in solar plasma,
with higher temperature enhancements than
previously estimated.
• Researchers have quantified the temperature
enhancements during these acoustic shock
events.
• The study can help improve understanding of
the mechanism of heating of the chromosphere
situated between the bright solar surface and
the extremely hot corona.
About Acoustic Shock Waves
• Acoustic shock waves are heating events
in the chromosphere that appear as
transient brightening in images and are
called grains.
• Understanding the energy carried by
acoustic waves and how they heat the
chromosphere is crucial in solar and
plasma astrophysics.
3.9 Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron
(EMIC) Waves
Context: Indian scientists recently discovered and
analyzed EMIC waves at the Indian Antarctic
station, Maitri.
About EMIC Waves:
• They are a form of plasma waves, observed in
the Earth's magnetosphere.
• They are generated in the equatorial
magnetospheric region and propagate
towards the mid-latitude ionosphere,
following geomagnetic field lines.
• These waves play an important role in
precipitation of killer electrons, which are
hazardous to our space-borne
technology/instruments.
○ Killer electrons are highly energetic
particles trapped in Earth's outer radiation
belt (extending from 12000 km to 64000 km
above the planet’s surface).
Additional Information:
• Plasma: Plasma is the ‘fourth state of matter’,
which is in a superheated state. It is a gas with
sufficient energy, such that the electrons are
ripped away from the atoms to form an
ionized gas.
• Magnetosphere: It is a region around the
Earth, which is dominated by Earth's
magnetic field. This magnetic field protects
the Earth's atmosphere from various solar
radiations.
34
3.10 Moon Dust to slow down Global
Warming
Context: A sufficiently powerful volcanic
eruption can spew sulfates and other aerosols into
the stratosphere, cooling the air there.
About Moon Dust Coolers:
• Researchers have proposed that billions of
tonnes of dust can be launched from the moon
to a point in space where the Earth’s and the
Sun’s gravitational fields cancel each other
out.
• The dust will thus be ‘parked’ there, casting a
shadow on Earth and dimming sunlight to
offset carbon emissions.
• Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is a form
of climate engineering that would reduce
global warming by reflecting the UV rays of the
sun.
• Concern: Once the spraying of aerosol stops
and aerosols wash out of the atmosphere, there
will be a rebound effect, causing a rise in
temperature again.
Methods used for SRM:
• Space Sunshades, using mirrors in space,
placing vast satellites at Lagrange Point 1,
space parasol, etc.
• Stratospheric aerosol injection involves
injection of sulfate aerosols into the
stratosphere.
• Marine Cloud Brightening: Spraying a fine
seawater spray in the air, seeding of high
cirrus clouds with heterogeneous ice nuclei.
• Surface-Based Options like whitening roofs,
growing more reflective crops, etc.
3.11 India--U.S. Space Cooperation
Context: India and US have agreed to advance
space collaboration in several areas under the
‘initiative on critical and emerging technology’
umbrella.
About NASA’s ARTEMIS Programme:
• ARTEMIS stands for ‘Acceleration,
Reconnection, Turbulence and
Electrodynamics of Moon’s Interaction with
the Sun’ and is NASA’s next mission to the
Moon.
• NASA plans to land the first woman and next
man on the Moon by 2024, under the Artemis
Project.
• It has three ongoing missions:
○ Artemis 1: Uncrewed test flight around
and beyond the Moon.
 ○ Artemis 2: Crewed flight beyond the Moon
○ Artemis 3: It will land the first female
astronaut and first astronaut of color on the
Moon to spend a week performing
scientific studies on the lunar surface.
About Gaganyaan:
• India’s maiden human space flight mission
under the Gaganyaan programme is targeted
to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• The spacecraft is developed by the ISRO and
consists of a service module and a crew
module, collectively known as the Orbital
Module.
3.13 Laser Interferometer Gravitational - Wave Observatory (LIGO)
Context: The Union government has given the final go-ahead to India’s Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
About LIGO-India
• LIGO is an international network of
laboratories that detect the ripples in
spacetime produced by the movement of large
celestial objects like stars and planets.
• LIGO-India observatory will be the third of its
kind after Louisiana and Washington in the
U.S.
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3.12 ISRO announces opportunities to
analyze AstroSat
Context: ISRO made an announcement of
opportunity (AO) to allow scientists and
researchers to analyze data from AstroSat.
About AstroSat:
• AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian
astronomy mission, launched by ISRO in 2015
to study celestial sources in X-ray, optical, and
UV spectral bands simultaneously.
• It is a multi-institute collaborative project
which has been studying Gamma-Ray Bursts
(GRB).
• Built by: The Department of Atomic Energy
and Department of Science and Technology,
along with a MoU with the National Science
Foundation and other institutions.
• Location: Hingoli district of Maharashtra.
Scientific runs are scheduled to begin in 2030.
Working of LIGO:
• It measures the tiny effects of gravitational
waves on the space-time fabric.
• The observatory comprises two 4-km vacuum
chambers set at right angles, equipped with
reflective mirrors at the end of the vacuum
chamber.
• Light beams travel along these chambers and
hit the mirror, get reflected, and are then
recaptured.
• Usually, light in both chambers returns at the
same time. However, a gravitational wave
causes one chamber to elongate and the other
to slightly compress.
• In this case, light rays do not return
simultaneously, indicating a phase difference.
This signifies the detection of a gravitational
wave.
About Gravitational Waves:
• Gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-
time caused by violent and energetic
processes in the Universe.
• Albert Einstein's General Theory of
Relativity (1916) proposed that moving
objects create gravitational waves, causing
brief distortions in any body they encounter
in spacetime.
• As a gravitational wave crosses Earth, it
compresses Earth on one side and bulges on
the perpendicular direction. However, its
impact is minimal as gravity is the weakest of
all natural forces.
• These waves travel at the speed of light,
carrying information about their origins and
clues to the nature of gravity.
3.14 Train Tracking
Context: Recently, Centre for Railway
Information Systems (CRIS) has collaborated
with ISRO for live tracking to help Railways run
trains efficiently.
About the News:
• Steps have been taken to integrate NavIC,
Bhuvan, Quantum Encryption, and AI in
Indian Railways.
• Indian Railways have taken bandwidth from
ISRO and integrated their systems with NavIC
and Bhuvan.
• Every locomotive is fitted with a device and a
SIM, which communicates the train’s real
position to the satellite. Real-time tracking
helps in mitigating accidents, floods, and
landslides.
• CRIS identified 90 instances where AI can
enhance railway services, including seat
allocation and predicting freight train emptying
times.
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Potential Uses:
• Terrestrial, aerial, and marine navigation;
• Disaster management;
• Vehicle tracking and fleet management;
• Integration with mobile phones;
• Precise timing;
• Mapping and geodetic data capture.
About Navigation in Indian Constellation
(NavIC)
• It is an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite
System (IRNSS), developed by ISRO, to
provide reliable position, navigation and
timing services over India and its
neighborhood.
• It consists of eight satellites, with three in
geostationary orbit and five in
geosynchronous orbit. It works like US-GPS,
but within a 1,500-km radius over the sub-
continent.
About BHUVAN:
• BHUVAN, Indian version of Google Maps, is
an ISRO-powered satellite application
offering 2D/3D Earth surface representation.
• All the assets created under Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in
each gram panchayat are to be geo-tagged with
the help of BHUVAN.
3.15 Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
Mission
Context: European Space Agency (ESA) is all set
to launch the ‘Juice mission’ from its spaceport in
French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher.
About the Juice Mission:
• JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Mission)
targets Jupiter arrival by 2031.
• It aims to thoroughly study Jupiter's formation,
history, and evolution and to explore its icy
moons using advanced sensing tools.
• JUICE will map moon surfaces, allowing
scientists to investigate underwater bodies on
Jupiter's moons for the first time.
• JUICE can't detect life but can identify potential
habitable zones around Jupiter where life-
sustaining conditions might exist.
Additional Information:
• Other Jupiter Missions:
○ Galileo probe: Orbited Jupiter between
1995 and 2003,
○ Juno: Circling Jupiter since 2016.
○ NASA’s Europa Clipper: It will arrive at
Jupiter by 2030 and study its Europa
moon.
 • Jupiter's and its icy moons potentially have
habitable environments.
• Ganymede, is the largest moon in the Solar
System, and the only one to generate its own
magnetic field.
3.16 Space Science and Technology
Awareness Training (START)
Context: ISRO has announced an introductory-
level online training programme called Space
Science and Technology Awareness Training
(START).
About the START:
• The programme is an effort to develop Indian
students into space science professionals and
provides a broad view of the field's aspects,
research, and career opportunities.
• Postgraduate and final year undergraduate
students in sciences can apply via the Jigyasa
portal for this academic program.
About Jigyasa Portal:
• It is a student-scientist connect programme
implemented by the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration
with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
3.17 Other Notable News
3.17.1 Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols
missions (MAIA)
Context: NASA is partnering with the Italian
Space Agency ASI to build and launch MAIA, or
the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols missions.
About MAIA:
• Objective: Investigate the health impacts of air
pollution in the world’s most populated cities.
• Launch: MAIA observatory is set to launch
before the end of 2024.
• Function: The PLATiNO-2 satellite, supplied
by Italian Space Agency, will partner with
NASA-built science instruments to gather and
analyze data from the observatory, ground
sensors, and atmospheric models.
• Primary target areas: Major urban centers
across the world such as Los Angeles, New
Delhi, Tel Aviv etc.
3.17.2 Extravehicular Mobility Unit NASA
Context: NASA unveils a new spacesuit for its
upcoming moon missions.
About Spacesuit:
• Spacesuit, also known as Extravehicular
Mobility Unit (EMU), is a garment worn by
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astronauts during spacewalks or
extravehicular activities (EVAs) in space.
Importance:
• Spacesuits shield astronauts from space's
extreme temperatures, supply constant air,
and maintain optimal pressure.
• It guards against harmful radiation,
micrometeorites, and high-speed space
particles.
3.17.3 Low -cost Star Sensor
Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics (IIA) have developed a low-cost star
sensor for astronomy and small CubeSat class
satellite missions.
What is a Star Sensor?
• A star sensor is a celestial compass, which
helps satellites determine their orientation in
space and assist in navigation.
• The fixed position of stars in the sky provides a
stable reference frame for satellite orientation
calculations. A star sensor identifies and points
to specific stars to determine orientation
accurately.
• The Strawberry-Sense star sensor can assist
CubeSat-class satellite missions in
determining their spatial orientation in space.
3.17.4 Pellet-Beam Propulsion
Context: NASA funding experimental space-tech
to allow rapid transits to other bodies.
About Pellet Beam Propulsion:
• It is a newly proposed propulsion system that
could theoretically beam a heavy spacecraft
outside the confines of our Solar System in less
than 5 years. (Voyager 1 took 35 years).
• The concept draws inspiration from the
Breakthrough Starshot project, which is
developing a propulsion method based on the
'light sails' propulsion system.
About Light Sails propulsion system:
○ The proposed propulsion system operates
with a dual-spacecraft setup: one craft
embarks on an interstellar journey while
the other orbits Earth, beaming a stream of
microscopic particles at the interstellar
vessel to propel it.
 ○ These particles would be heated up by
lasers, causing part of them to melt into
plasma that accelerates the pellets further,
a process known as laser ablation.
○ Those pellets could reach 120 km/second.
3.17.5 Atacama Large Millimetre /
submillimetre Array (ALMA) Telescope
Context: Atacama Large Millimetre / • The mission has also launched a PSLV Orbital
submillimetre Array (ALMA), a radio telescope in
Chile's Atacama Desert, is scheduled for software
and hardware upgrades.
About ALMA:
• It is a state-of-the-art telescope that studies
space objects, even when obstructed by dust,
aiding scientists in understanding distant
galaxies and stars.
• ALMA is located in Chile’s Atacama Desert
due to reduced water vapor interference,
ensuring excellent conditions for millimeter
and submillimeter wave astronomical
observations on the stable, arid Chajnantor
plateau.
Notable Discoveries:
• Discovered starburst galaxies providing
insight into the universe's early history.
• Provided detailed images of protoplanetary
disc surrounding HL Tauri, challenging
previously accepted theories about planetary
formation.
• ALMA helped observe the Einstein ring
phenomenon in extraordinary detail in 2015.
3.17.6 Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring
of Pollution (TEMPO)
Context: The Tropospheric Emissions:
Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument is
on its way to a geostationary orbit.
About TEMPO:
• Launched by NASA, it will be used to monitor
major air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen
oxide, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde levels
across North America.
• It could be used for studying rush hour
pollution, impact of lightning on the ozone
layer and movement of pollution from forest
fires and volcanoes.
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3.17.7 PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission
Context: Recently, ISRO launched PSLV-
C55/TeLEOS-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (SDSC) in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
About PSLV-C55 Mission:
• It is a ‘dedicated commercial’ mission
undertaken by ISRO through NewSpace India
Limited (NSIL), the space agency's commercial
arm.
• The mission sent two Singapore satellites
TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4 into space.
• PSLV has a four-stage rocket where the first
three spent stages fall back into the ocean, and
the final stage (PS4) after launching the
satellite into orbit ends up as space junk.
Experimental Module (POEM), which will use
the spent PS4 as an orbital platform for non-
separating payloads.
About POEM:
• It is a platform that will help perform in-
orbit experiments using the final, and
otherwise discarded, stage of ISRO’s rocket,
the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• POEM will derive its power from solar
panels mounted around the PS4 tank, and a
Li-Ion battery.
About TeLEOS-2:
• TeLEOS-2 is an Earth Observation Satellite
which will provide high-resolution imagery
of the Earth's surface.
Kessler Syndrome
• It refers to a phenomenon where the orbital
debris around Earth reaches a critical mass,
which leads to a cascade of collisions that
generate increasingly more debris, posing
severe risks for satellites, astronauts, and
space missions.
3.17.8 Euclid Mission
Context: Euclid mission of the European Space
Agency (ESA), is set for launch on July 1.
About Euclid Mission:
• The Euclid mission is supported by NASA's
Roman Space Telescope in terms of providing
crucial hardware and data processing support.
• It aims to explore the dark Universe's
composition and evolution, focusing on
unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and
dark energy from the Sun-Earth Lagrange
point L2.
About Dark Matter and Dark Energy:
• Visible universe, comprising Earth, sun, stars,
and galaxies made of atoms, accounts for less
than 5% of the universe's mass.
• The remainder of the universe consists of
mysterious invisible substance dark matter
(about 25%) and gravity-repelling dark energy
(around 70%).
Dark Matter
• It is made up of particles that do not have a
charge i.e. they do not interact through
electromagnetic interactions.
• These are particles that are “dark”, because they
do not emit light, which is an electromagnetic
phenomenon, and “matter” because they possess
mass like normal matter and hence interact
through gravity.
• Dark matter does not interact with
electromagnetic forces and neither absorbs or
emits light, making it extremely hard to spot.
Scientists study it through its effects on visible
objects.
Dark Energy
• Dark energy is a theoretical form of energy that
produces a negative and repulsive force, acting
in the direction opposite to that of gravity
• It causes the fabric of space itself to stretch and
expand. It is considered responsible for
accelerating the universe's expansion rate
over time, instead of slowing it down.
3.17.9 Treaty for Outer Space
Context: The United Nations’s policy brief, "For
All Humanity-The Future of Outer Space
Governance" suggests a new treaty to ensure
peace and prevent an arms race in space.
Existing Treaties:
• In 1959, the UN established the Committee on
the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
• In 1963, countries agreed to prohibit testing
nuclear weapons in outer space.
• In 1977, the prohibition of altering the space
environment as a weapon was agreed upon.
3.17.10 NASA’s Dragonfly Mission
Context: NASA's Dragonfly mission, set for a 2026
launch and a 2034 landing, aims to send a drone
to Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
About Dragonfly Mission:
• The mission is a part of NASA’s New Frontiers
Program, which aims to explore the solar
3.17.12 Other Notable Missions
Context: It is Russia’s lunar lander which was expected to reach the moon on August
Luna-25
23. However the lander malfunctioned and crashed on the lunar surface.
Context: NASA recently detected a signal from its Voyager 2 spacecraft, after losing
Voyager
communication for over a week.
Mission
About Voyager Mission:
39
system and conduct scientific investigations
to broaden our understanding of the solar
system.
• Dragonfly will probe Titan's landscapes and
past habitability, study pre-life chemistry and
the moon's atmospheric and subsurface
features.
About New Frontiers Program:
• This program aims at solar system exploration
and comprises of the following missions:
○ New Horizons: Obtain a close look at Pluto
and its moons and fly by Kuiper Belt
Objects.
○ Juno: Understand the origin and evolution
of Jupiter.
○ OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral
Interpretation, Resource Identification
and Security–Regolith Explorer): Collect
samples from the asteroid Bennu, a carbon
rich asteroid.
○ Dragonfly: Probe Saturn’s moon Titan.
3.17.11 Square Kilometre Array
Observatory (SKAO)
Context: India has become a part of the Square
Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), an
international project that will serve as the largest
radio telescope in the world.
About Square Kilometer Array Observatory
(SKAO):
• It was established as an intergovernmental
organization in 2021 after years of
negotiations.
• SKAO is an array of thousands of antennas
that will be placed in isolated, radio-quiet areas
of Australia and South Africa.
• Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can
detect invisible gas and, therefore, they can
reveal areas of space that may be obscured by
cosmic dust.
• India's key role in the SKA involves developing
and managing the Telescope Manager
component, essentially the software or "neural
network" that operates the telescope.
 • It is a space exploration program conducted by NASA that launched two spacecraft,
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, in 1977.
• Objective: To study the outer planets of our solar system, including Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune.

Context: NASA launched a new sounding rocket mission named Integral Field
Ultraviolet Spectroscopy Experiment (INFUSE) to study a stellar event in the Cygnus
Loop.
• Cygnus Loop: This is the leftover from a star once 20 times larger than our Sun,
NASA’s
which collapsed due to its gravity and exploded as a supernova around 20,000 years
INFUSE
ago.
Mission
○ Cygnus is about 2,600 light years away from the Earth.
• Sounding Rockets: They carry scientific instruments into space along a parabolic
trajectory at lower vehicle speeds for a well-placed scientific experiment.
• Supernovae: A supernova is the colossal explosion of a star.

Context: As per the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), March 2023
experienced several meteorological changes.
About Copernicus Programme:
Copernicus • Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space
Programme programme.
• It delivers precise, timely, and accessible information for better environmental
management, understanding, and mitigation of climate change impacts, and
ensuring civil security.

• Molecular Cloud is an accumulation of

3.18 News in Short
3.18.1 Local Bubble
• Researchers have generated a 3D magnetic
map of the giant cosmic cavity (low-density
region) called Local Bubble.
• It is about 1,000 light-years wide cavity or a
superbubble of the Milky Way galaxy, within
which the Sun and many nearby stars reside.
• A Local Bubble is a 1,000-light-year-wide
cavity or superbubble that triggers the
formation of new stars, planets, and galaxies.
3.18.2 Planet Parade
• NASA shared a picture of a rare phenomenon
of planet parade where all the planets of our
solar system are visible at the same time from
Earth.
• Planet parade is an astronomical phenomenon
where several planets may be observed in the
sky by the naked eye.
• These planets include Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn.
3.18.3 Molecular Clouds
• James Webb Space Telescope was used to
discover different ices in the darkest and
coldest regions of a molecular cloud.
interstellar gas and dust, also called dark
nebulae, where new stars are formed.
• These regions have very low temperatures and
are generally dark due to the presence of dense
opaque gas and dust to block the light from
stars behind them.
• Molecular clouds can range in size from a few
light years to 600 light years and have a mass
up to several million times that of the sun.
3.18.4 Gamma-Ray Eclipses
• Scientists have analyzed data from NASA's
Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope to
identify the first gamma-ray eclipses from a
type of binary star system known as the Spider
system.
• Gamma-ray eclipses refer to the phenomenon
where gamma rays emitted from a celestial
object are blocked or absorbed by another
object, such as a planet or a star, as they pass
behind. They yield crucial data on object
properties and composition.
• Gamma Ray Eclipses are caused by the low-
mass companion star of the superdense star
(pulsar) moving in front of it and very briefly
blocking high-energy photons.
• Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that
blast out pulses of radiation at regular intervals
ranging from seconds to milliseconds.

40
3.18.5 Muons
Context: Scientists are using muons to examine
the fortress wall of Xi'an.
About Muons:
• Muons are subatomic particles from space that
arise when Earth's atmospheric particles
collide with energetic cosmic rays.
• They resemble electrons but are 207 times
heavier, earning them the nickname “fat
electrons.”
• Their weight allows them to penetrate
hundreds of meters of material before being
absorbed or decaying into electrons and
neutrinos. Electrons can penetrate through
only a few centimeters.
• Muons are highly unstable and exist for just
2.2 microseconds.
Muon tomography or Muography
• Muography is conceptually similar to X-
ray but capable of scanning much larger
and wider structures, owing to the
penetration power of muons.
• It employs muons to create 3D images of
volumes. Muon paths are altered by
material density and composition,
enabling 3D imaging of an object's
internal structure.
Photons
• Photons are tiny energy packets associated • Phonons are packets of energy for sound waves.
with light and electromagnetic waves.
• Photons can travel through empty space.
• Photons generally don’t interact at all if • Phonons of different wavelengths can interact
they have different wavelengths.
• Photons exhibit both particle-like and • Phonons are purely wavelike entities and do not
wavelike properties, known as wave- exhibit particle-like properties.
particle duality.
3.18.7 Neutrinos
Context: An experiment in Japan has found no
evidence that neutrinos are their own
antiparticles.
About Neutrinos:
• Neutrinos are subatomic particles with no
electric charge and travel at near lightspeed.
• They are born from violent astrophysical
events like exploding stars and gamma-ray
bursts.
• They are the second most abundant particles
in the universe after photons
Application of Muon Tomography:
• Archaeology: Exploration of hidden chambers
of Egypt; Examination of the wall of Xi’an city.
• Customs Service
• Internal Imaging of volcanoes (e.g., Mount
Vesuvius, Italy)
• Scanning of nuclear active sites (e.g.,
Fukushima plant, Japan)
3.18.6 Phonons
Context: Researchers have achieved the splitting
of phonons, showcasing their quantum
characteristics and capacity to govern and manage
quantum states.
About Phonons
• Phonons are quasiparticles that represent
collective vibrations of atoms or molecules in
a solid material.
• They are pivotal in heat conduction and
thermal properties of a material.
• This achievement may lead to the creation of
sound-based quantum computers and highly
precise measuring instruments.
• Currently, linear optical quantum computing
utilizes photons (light particles) as qubits.
However, both photons and phonons are key
focal points in quantum computing research.
Phonons
• Phonons need a medium such as air or water.
and mix when they bump into each other,
producing a different wavelength.
• Neutrinos interact very weakly with other
matter, making them challenging to detect.
• They are only affected by gravity and the weak
force.
Anti Particles:
• Every type of particle is associated with an
antiparticle with the same mass but with
opposite physical charges. For example, the
antiparticle of the electron is the positron.
• If a particle and its antiparticle meet, they will
destroy each other in a flash of energy.
41
• Neutrinos have anti-neutrinos as antiparticles,
but since both don’t have any charge, it is really
difficult to differentiate them.
Sources of Neutrinos
• On collision of cosmic rays with interstellar
matter.
• Produced by stars like the Sun, exploding stars,
supernovas, gamma-ray bursts and quasars as
well.
• Atmospheric neutrinos (15 km from Earth’s
surface) are produced due to collision of
Cosmic rays with atmospheric molecules.
3.18.8 Quasars
Context: A new study reveals that galaxy mergers
ignite quasars, the brightest and most powerful
objects in the universe.
About Quasars
• Quasars (short for "quasi-stellar radio source")
are luminous and energetic objects found in
faraway galaxies.
• They are active supermassive black holes
found at the centers of galaxies and are more
massive than our sun.
• They draw in matter with their strong
gravitational pull and emit intense radiation
across the electromagnetic spectrum. (from
radio waves to gamma rays).
• Unlike blackholes, matter spiraling into a
quasar radiates intense energy, forming a
bright disc around it.
• Quasars' brightness allows scientists to study
the early stages of the universe, as they can be
observed from great distances.
About Black Holes:
• A black hole is an area in space with gravity
so intense that not even light escapes,
making it invisible.
• Gravity becomes extremely strong when
matter is condensed into a tiny space, often
occurring as a star nears the end of its life.
• Black holes are formed when a large star's
core collapses in on itself, triggering a
supernova.
• Supernova is a massive explosion that
occurs at the end of a star's life cycle.
3.18.9 Second Space Age
• The Second Space Age marks a transition from
government-led space exploration to
increased participation by private entities,
exemplified by SpaceX's leading role.
• India marked its entry into the second space
age by the setting up of Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorization Centre
42
(IN-SPACe) was set up in 2020 as a single
window clearance for the private sector.
3.18.10 Zero Shadow Day
Context: Bengaluru recently experienced a 'Zero
Shadow Day' as the sun at zenith made vertical
objects cast no shadow.
About Zero Shadow Day:
• Locations between the Tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn experience two Zero Shadow Days
every year.
• One falls during the Uttarayan (movement of
the Sun from south to north), and the other falls
during Dakshinayan when the Sun moves
southwards.
• Places with a latitude matching the Sun's
equatorial angle will have Zero Shadow Day,
with noon shadows directly underneath.
3.18.11 Aurora
Context: Researchers have analyzed the data of
"carbon dioxide auroras" for the first time.
About Aurora:
• An Aurora, or Polar Light, is a natural
phenomenon characterized by a display of a
natural-coloured (green, red, yellow, or white)
light in the sky.
• It is a light show that is caused when
electrically-charged particles from the sun
collide with particles from gases such as
oxygen and nitrogen present in the Earth’s
atmosphere.
• Auroras, primarily visible in polar regions
(Arctic and Antarctic), appear around 70-
degree latitudes in the band known as the
“auroral zone.”
• Auroras can appear in various forms like
streamers, patches, arcs, scattered light,
diffused light, etc.
Auroras occurring in:
• Northern hemisphere: Aurora Borealis
• Southern hemisphere: Aurora Australis
3.18.12 Gravitational Lensing
Context: Astronomers discovered one of the
biggest black holes using gravitational lensing.
About Gravitational Lensing
• Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon where
the gravitational field of a massive object, like a
galaxy or black hole, bends and magnifies the
light from objects behind it.
• This effect is predicted by Einstein's General
Theory of Relativity and allows astronomers
to observe distant stars and galaxies that might
otherwise be too faint or obscured.
• It also helps in mapping the presence of dark
matter and studying the expansion of the
universe.
Einstein Cross and Rings:
• Einstein’s cross is a special case of
gravitational lensing where the curvature of
space-time around a foreground object splits
light behind it into four, like the points of a
cross.
• Einstein Rings is another case of gravitational
lensing, when two galaxies align near-
perfectly, one behind the other.
3.18.13 Fast Radio Bursts
• Context: Researchers found that collision of
two neutron stars shortly before their merger
releases Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) in addition to
gravitational waves.
About FRB
• Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are short, powerful,
and energetic radio wave bursts originating in
deep space and lasting for just milliseconds.
• They are characterized by dispersion, i.e., they
generate a range of radio waves as they travel
through matter.
• Higher-frequency bursts arrive at telescopes
before lower-frequency ones due to this
dispersion property.
Significance of FRB
• It helps us to understand the 3D structure of
cosmic matter and sheds light on less-
understood early stages of the universe's
evolution.
3.18.14 Gravity Hole
Context: Researchers have found the reason for
massive ‘gravity hole’ in the Indian Ocean
About Gravity Hole
• It refers to an area with a gravitational
anomaly, marked by a notable reduction in
gravitational pull compared to Earth's typical
gravitational field.
• A vast area in the Indian Ocean, known as
Indian Ocean geoid low (IOGL) has a gravity
so weak that the sea level there is 106 meters
below the global average.
Cause of Gravity Hole
• The causes of gravity holes can vary, including
geological structures, variations in mass
distribution, or other factors that affect the
gravitational field in an area.
43
• The IOGL anomaly is caused by accumulation
of lighter materials in the upper to mid
mantle, moved by the eastward-deflecting
African superplume ending beneath the IOGL.
3.18.15 Super Blue Moon
Context: A rare phenomenon of Super blue moon
would be witnessed in India.
About Super Blue Moon
• Super Blue Moon is the convergence of three
lunar occurrences - a full Moon, a Supermoon,
and a blue Moon.00
• Blue moon refers to the second full moon
within a single month, a rare event since full
moons typically occur once a month.
○ Seasonal Blue Moon occurs when a season
(three month long) experiences four full
moons. The third full moon is considered
the blue moon.
• Super moon happens when the moon is
passing through or is close to its perigee
(nearest to Earth), and is also a full moon.
• Full moon at perigee (super moon) is about
14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon
at apogee (called a “micro moon”).
3.18.16 Deep Space Optical
Communications
Context: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft fired a
communication laser to Earth from about 16
million kilometers away, demonstrating DSOC
(Deep Space Optical Communications).
Key Points:
• The Psyche Spacecraft is the first to carry a
DSOC transceiver and will test high-
bandwidth optical communications to Earth.
• NASA’s Psyche Mission: To study a metal-rich
asteroid with the same name, located in the
main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA’s Revolutionary New Technology:
• The DSOC is a new laser communication
technology that encodes data in photons at
near-infrared wavelengths to communicate
between a probe in deep space and Earth.
• This allows the spacecraft to communicate
more data in a given amount of time.
• Benefits: DSOC can send scientific
information, high-definition imagery, and
streaming video to support humanity’s next
giant leap: sending humans to Mars.
Cosmic • Also known as 'stellar diamonds' or 'carbon stars,' they are unique astronomical objects believed
Diamond to form from carbon-rich materials in stars like white dwarfs.
• At the end of their life, such stars explode into supernovae and intense heat and pressure causes
the carbon atoms to form into diamond crystals, which shed light about the evolution of the
universe.

Galactic • Galactic tides which are similar to the tides in Earth’s oceans but are grander in scale. They are
Tide caused due to gravitational forces within galaxies, resulting from interactions between celestial
objects like stars and gas clouds.
• It causes reshaping of galaxies, promotes star formation and causes orbital changes.

44
 4
4.1 WHO Report on Global Trans-Fat
Elimination 2022
Context: (WHO) released a report titled
Countdown to 2023: WHO report on global trans-
fat elimination 2022.
About Trans-Fat:
• Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that is
created when hydrogen is added to liquid
vegetable oil through the process of
hydrogenation to convert it into a solid fat at
room temperature. This increases the shelf life
and stability of foods that contain it.
• Trans fat also occurs naturally in food
products from ruminant animals (e.g., milk,
butter, cheese, meat products)
• Industrially produced trans fat, also called
industrially produced trans-fatty acids, is
commonly found in packaged foods, baked
goods, cooking oils and spreads.
• WHO launched REPLACE (Review, Promote,
Legislate, Asses, Create, Enforce), an action
package to eliminate industrially-produced
trans-fatty acids.
• WHO’s Recommendation for eliminating
Trans fat
• Limit industrially produced trans-fat to 2g
per 100g of total fat in all fats, oils, and foods.
• Ban the production and use of partially
hydrogenated oils (PHO).
4.2 India’s Plan to Eradicate Measles,
Rubella
Context: India had set a target to eliminate
measles and rubella (MR) by 2023, having missed
the earlier deadline of 2020.
About Measles and Rubella:
• Measles is a viral respiratory infection of the
respiratory system. It is highly contagious and
can be spread through contact with infected
mucus and saliva.
• Rubella, also known as German Measles, is a
contagious, generally mild viral infection that
occurs most often in children and young adults.
• Symptoms of measles and rubella include rash
and fever. While measles has a high fatality
45
Health
rate, rubella infection in a pregnant woman
will have an impact on the fetus, resulting in
birth defects.
Government Initiatives to achieve targets:
• Phased Measles Catch-up Immunization in
India (2010-2013): For children aged 9 months–
10 years in 14 States.
• Launch of Mission Indradhanush in 2014 to
ramp up vaccinating the unvaccinated
population.
• National Strategic Plan for Measles and
Rubella Elimination in India: Introduction of
rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the
routine immunization program.
4.3 India's Fight with Leprosy
Context: The Union Health Ministry has devised
a strategic road map for achieving zero cases of
Leprosy by 2030.
About Leprosy in India:
• Despite India being declared “Leprosy
Eliminated” in 2005 by bringing the
prevalence rate below 1/10,000 at the national
level, the country still accounts for 52% of the
world’s new leprosy patients.
Government Initiatives:National Leprosy
Eradication Programme (NLEP):
• A Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the
umbrella of the National Health Mission
(NHM) is being implemented with the goal of
making India leprosy free
• National Strategic Plan & Roadmap for
Leprosy (2023-27) and National Guidelines
for Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Surveillance in leprosy released in 2023 aims
to eradicate Leprosy by 2027.
• Nikusth 2.0 is an integrated portal for leprosy
case management under the National Leprosy
Eradication Programme (NLEP).
• About Leprosy (Hansen’s disease):
• It is a chronic infectious disease caused by a
bacteria, Mycobacterium Leprae, which
predominantly affects the skin, lungs, eyes,
and peripheral nerves.
• This can cause the affected areas to lose the
ability to sense touch and pain
 • Transmission: Droplets from the nose and
mouth during close and frequent contact
with untreated cases.
• Treatment: Curable with multidrug therapy
(MDT).
4.4 Vaccines
4.4.1 Covovax
Context: The DCGI has approved market
authorization for COVID-19 vaccine Covovax as a
heterologous booster dose for adults.
About booster dose:
• A booster dose is an extra dose administered
after the primary vaccination, after a specific
period when the protection from the initial
dose begins to reduce.
About Covovax:
• Covovax is produced by the Serum Institute of
India (SII) under license from Novavax, a U.S.-
based biotechnology company.
• DCGI's approval of Covovax came after a
recommendation by the Subject Expert
Committee of the Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation (CDSCO).
About CDSCO:
• Central Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO), under the
Directorate General of Health Services,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is the
National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of
India.
• The Drug Controller General of India
(DCGI) is the head of the Central Drugs
Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in
India, with the nodal ministry as the Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is
responsible for:
• Approval of drugs
• Conduct of clinical trials
• Laying down standards for drugs
• Control over the quality of imported drugs in
the country
• Coordination of the activities of State Drug
Control Organisations
4.4.2 Intra Nasal Vaccine
Context: Bharat Biotech has developed a nasal
vaccine named iNCOVACC, the world’s first
46
intranasal vaccine for COVID-19, using a novel
adenovirus vector.
About iNCOVACC:
• The nasal vaccine is approved both as a
primary dose and a heterologous booster.
• iNCOVACC, unlike Covaxin, uses an
adenovirus-vectored approach with a
prefusion stabilized spike protein, similar to
Covishield technology.
• It is easy to administer, is non-invasive,
eliminates needle-associated risks, and does
not require refrigeration.
Adenovirus vaccines are a type of viral vector
vaccine, which uses adenoviruses to deliver
genes or vaccine antigens to the target host tissue.
Prefusion Stabilized Spike Protein
• Coronavirus can be considered as a ball with
spikes that change their shape regularly.
• The "prefusion stabilized spike protein" is like
a locked version of those spikes, keeping
them in a specific shape. This helps our body
recognize and fight the virus effectively.
• Homologous boosting involves injecting a
person with the same vaccine that was used for
the previous doses.
• Heterologous boosting involves injecting a
person with a different vaccine from that
which was used for the primary dose.
4.4.3 Cervical Cancer Vaccine
Context: India is expected to roll out an
indigenously developed CERVAVAC vaccine for
the prevention of cervical cancer among girls aged
9-14 years through their schools by mid-2023.
About Cervical Cancer:
• Most cervical cancers are caused by Human
Papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually
transmitted virus.
• Cervical cancer, the second most common
cancer in Indian women, can be prevented in
most cases if HPV vaccine is administered pre-
exposure.
• CERVAVAC, manufactured by Serum
Institute of India, is based on VLP (Virus-Like
Particles), like Hepatitis B vaccination.
• Virus-like particles are molecules that mimic
viruses but are not infectious as they do not
contain any viral genetic material.
• However, introducing a VLP into the body will
trigger an immune response, but a person will
not experience any symptoms of the virus they
are being vaccinated against.
4.4.4 DNA Vaccine Against Dengue
Context: The Serum Institute of India made major
progress in the development of DNA Vaccine
against Dengue.
About Dengue:
• Causative Agent: It is a tropical disease caused
by the dengue virus (Genus Flavivirus). It is
spread through the bite of infected Aedes
species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus)
mosquito.
• These mosquitoes also spread Chikungunya,
Yellow fever and Zika viruses
• Recently, the World Mosquito Program used
mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria
to successfully control dengue in Indonesia.
About DNA Vaccine
• DNA Vaccines consist of a plasmid (circular
DNA molecule) containing the gene from
virus/bacteria, which stimulates the immune
system upon delivery.
• It puts a specific DNA sequence that codes for
an antigen into an organism’s cells to trigger an
immune response.
• Dengue is caused by four closely related
viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4),
known as serotypes.
• Infection with one serotype provides lifelong
protection against it but not the others,
necessitating a vaccine that targets all four.
4.4.5 GEMCOVAC--OM: India’s First
mRNA Vaccine
Context: India's first indigenous mRNA vaccine
for Omicron, GEMCOVAC - OM, received
emergency use approval from the Drug Controller
General of India.
About the Vaccine:
• GEMCOVAC-OM, stable at 28 degrees
Celsius, can be stored in regular fridges and
administered needle-free using the PharmaJet
system.
About mRNA vaccine:
• It is a new type of vaccine that uses a molecule
called messenger RNA (mRNA) rather than
part of an actual bacteria or virus.
• Messenger RNA essential for protein
production is quickly broken down post use.
• mRNA from vaccines neither enters the
nucleus nor alters DNA.
Working of mRNA Vaccine:
• mRNA vaccines introduce a piece of mRNA
matching a viral protein typically a fragment
of the virus's outer membrane protein.
47
• Receiving an mRNA vaccine does not expose
individuals to the virus nor can it cause
infection from the vaccine.
• Cells use mRNA to create a viral protein,
triggering the immune system to recognize it
as foreign particles and produce antibodies as
a normal response.
• After an mRNA vaccination, if exposed to the
virus, antibodies can rapidly identify, attach
to, and mark the virus for destruction,
preventing serious illness.
About RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells
that has structural similarities to DNA. It
contains the nitrogenous bases namely
adenine, guanine, uracil, and cytosine.
• There are two types of RNA:
○ Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acids
to the ribosomes during protein synthesis.
○ Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) form the core of a
cell's ribosomes (the structures where
protein synthesis takes place).
• Protein synthesis is a two stage process
involving:
○ Transcription: Transfer of genetic
instructions in DNA to mRNA in the
nucleus.
○ Translation: Instructions in mRNA are
read, and tRNA brings the correct sequence
of amino acids to the ribosome. Then,
rRNA helps bonds form between the amino
acids, producing a polypeptide chain.
4.4.6 Super Engineered Polio Vaccines
Context: Scientists have super engineered polio
vaccines to prevent them mutating into a
dangerous form that can cause outbreaks and
paralysis.
About Polio
• Poliomyelitis (polio) is a viral infection caused
by the poliovirus.
• They are enteroviruses that are transmitted
through fecal-oral route.
• It is a highly contagious illness that can impact
an individual's nervous system.
• The wild poliovirus (WPV) exists in three
distinct strains, each characterized by slight
structural variations.
○ WPV 1: still exists
○ WPV 2: eradicated.
○ WPV 3: eradicated.
About Polio Vaccines:
• Oral polio vaccine (OPV): It is a live attenuated
vaccine that contains weakened polioviruses
(all three types – 1, 2, and 3) to induce an
immune response without causing disease.
○ It is easy to administer and triggers a
robust immune response in the gut lining
in addition to blood.
○ However, OPV can reverse the virus’s
neurovirulence in rare cases, leading to
vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis
(VAPP).
○ When the virus’s ability to jump from one
person to another is restored, the result can
be vaccine-derived paralytic poliomyelitis
(VDPVs)
• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): It contains
inactivated polioviruses (all three types) and is
administered by injection.
○ It induces a strong systemic immune
response, thus protecting against
poliomyelitis without any risk of causing
VAPP or VDPV.
○ However, it hardly elicits mucosal
immunity and is thus unable to prevent
silent infections and transmission.
• Poliovirus Type-2 was responsible for 90% of
VAPP and VDPV cases. It was globally
eradicated in 1999, leading to the
discontinuation of OPV type-2 in 2016.
• However, the number of VDPV cases increased
after 2016, with the re-emergence of type-2
VDPV in circulation as population immunity
against type-2 virus dropped in OPV.
About the News:
• Scientists have genetically redesigned the
weakened viruses to lock them into that
weakened state and prevent further spread.
4.4.7 Malaria Vaccine
Context: 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria
vaccine Mosquirix, were allocated to 12 African
countries.
48
About Malaria Vaccine
• Mosquirix (RTS,S/AS01), which is a
recombinant protein vaccine (RPV), can be
used for prevention of P. falciparum malaria.
• RPVs is a kind of Recombinant Subunit
Vaccine (RSV) which uses protein antigens.
• RSVs work by using specific antigens to
trigger immunity against pathogens.
• RPVs are considered safer as compared to
vaccines derived from live viruses as they are
nonreplicating and lack infectious
components of viral particles.
• R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has also been
added to the WHO's list of prequalified
vaccines
About Global Alliance for Vaccine and
Immunization (GAVI)
• It was set up as a Global Health Partnership in
2000.
• Core partners: WHO, World Bank, UNICEF,
and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• It aims to strengthen primary health care and
bring us closer to the Universal Health
Coverage (SDG 3).
4.4.8 First Vaccine for Chikungunya
Context: The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) in the U.S. granted approval to the world's
first chikungunya vaccine.
About Chikungunya Disease:
• Chikungunya is characterized by severe joint
pain and impaired mobility, and comes with
fever.
• Treatment: As of now, there is no cure, only
symptomatic relief, with analgesics to relieve
the pain.
• Prevention: It includes mosquito control
activities.
• Prevalence of Chikungunya: Brazil, Paraguay,
India and parts of western Africa.
4.5 Generic Drugs
Context: Recently, the government directed
doctors in Central Government Hospitals to
exclusively prescribe generic medicines.
About Generic Medicines:
• A generic drug is a medication created to be the
same as an already marketed brand-name
drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of
administration, quality, performance
characteristics, and intended use.
• These similarities establish bioequivalence,
indicating that a generic medicine functions
and offers the same clinical benefits as its
 brand-name equivalent, making it a viable
substitute.
• Presently, there is no definition of generic or
branded medicines under the Drugs &
Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.
Regulation for Generic Medicines in India:
• Indian Medical Council (Professional
Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations,
2002 by Medical Council of India:
• National Medical Commission Act, 2019 by
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
• Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945
• Drugs Technical Advisory Board of India
(DTAB)
4.6 Cough Syrup Exports
Context: Recently, WHO issued an alert over a
batch of India-made common cold syrup sold in
Iraq.
About the News
• WHO’s report stated that the syrup had a
higher than acceptable limit of contaminants:
diethylene and ethylene glycol.
• They are adulterants that are illegally used as
solvents in liquid drugs as an alternative to
non-toxic solvents such as glycerine or
propylene glycol to cut costs.
• Ethylene glycol is a colorless and odorless
alcoholic compound that can be fatal if
consumed.
• It is mostly used as an automotive antifreeze
and used in hydraulic brake fluids, solvents,
paints, cosmetics etc.
Regulatory Norms for Medicine:
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
(CDSCO) headed by the Drugs Controller
General of India (DCGI), provides certification
to manufacturers for export of drugs.
○ DCGI also sets standards for
manufacturing, sales, import, and
distribution of drugs in India.
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: The Act
oversees the import, production, and
distribution of drugs in India, aiming to
guarantee their safety, and adherence to state
quality standards.
• Drug and Cosmetics Rules, 1945: These rules
categorized the drugs into schedules and
provided regulations on the sale, storage, and
prescription of each category.
49
4.7 Y-Chromosome extinction
Context: Several animal species face the
possibility of eventually losing the Y chromosome.
About Sex Chromosome:
• It's a cellular component in living beings that
determines sex, traits, and physical form of
people, animals, and plants.
• Humans have 22 chromosome pairs plus sex
chromosomes X and Y, which determine sex
and carry sex-specific genes.
• Biological males possess X and Y
chromosomes, while females have two Xs. The
Y chromosome's ‘sex-determining region Y’
dictates male biology.
Y Chromosome:
• The Y chromosome, known as the master of
maleness, is believed to have originated 200-
300 million years ago in a common mammalian
ancestor.
• Scientists revealed Y chromosomes encode for
just 55 genes.
• Analyzing the Y chromosome's genes can
clarify their role in various diseases, as loss of
Y chromosome is associated with cancer,
Alzheimer's, and heart conditions.
Reasons for Loss of the Y Chromosome in
Humans:
• Genetic Drift and Mutation: Random
mutations accumulate on the Y chromosome
over time, and without recombination ability
like other chromosomes, it leads to a gradual
loss of its genetic material.
• Absence of Recombination: Unlike other
chromosomes, the Y chromosome does not
engage in recombination during reproduction.
This lack of genetic shuffling prevents the
repair and replacement of lost or damaged
genes, leading to gradual degradation
• Translocation of Genes: Essential genes from
the Y chromosome can relocate to other
chromosomes, making the Y chromosome
redundant, eventually leading to its loss.
• Species such as rodents have naturally lost
their Y chromosome.
4.8 Viral Nutrition
Context: A recent study revealed that a particular
genus of plankton, namely Halteria, can
consume viruses as well as “grow and divide
given only viruses to eat.”
Findings of the Study:
• It is known that few other cells can ‘consume’
viruses in an effort to destroy them, such as the
 macrophage cells of the human immune
system. However, the plankton is able to ‘eat’
viruses to fulfill one’s biological imperatives.
• Each Halteria plankton can consume between
10,000 to a million virus particles a day and
increase its population using metabolized
energy.
About plankton:
• Plankton are microscopic organisms that can
only move with a current as they don’t have
any facilities to actively propel themselves.
• Halteria plankton have hair-like structures
called cilia on their surface, which they
sometimes use to move short distances.
• Phytoplankton is an autotroph found nearer
the surface of many water bodies. They can
make their own food by consuming carbon
dioxide, among other compounds, through
photosynthesis.
• Phytoplankton bring carbon and other
nutrients from the atmosphere and sea surface
down to the seafloor and help replenish the
food chain, along with 'trapping carbon’ into
their own bodies and as sediments.
• Chemosynthesis is a process where bacteria
and other organisms use bacteria that make
their own food by oxidizing sulphur, iron, or
hydrogen.
Role of Halteria:
• Halteria plankton are found in freshwater
bodies and are heterotrophs, meaning they
can’t produce their own food.
• They are well-known bacterivores, i.e., they
consume bacteria to power themselves. By also
consuming viruses for nutrition, Halteria
plankton can recover the nutrients lost in the
viral shunt and bring them back into the food
chain.
• Viral shunt is a mechanism that prevents
marine microbial particulate organic matter
(POM) from migrating up trophic levels by
recycling them into dissolved organic matter
(DOM), which can be readily taken up by
microorganisms.
4.9 Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Diseases
Context: Cuba has developed alternatives in
healthcare for Alzheimer's and Parkinsons' amid
the blockade imposed by the U.S.
About Alzheimer’s Disease:
• Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic
disorder that causes the brain to shrink
(atrophy) and brain cells to die.
50
• It begins with mild memory loss, possibly
leading to loss of the ability to carry on a
conversation and respond to the environment.
• Alzheimer's disease, which is the most
common cause of dementia, is thought to be
caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins
in and around brain cells.
○ Deposits of amyloid protein forms plaques
around the brain cells.
• There is currently no known cure for
Alzheimer’s disease.
About Parkinson’s Disease:
• Parkinson's disease is a degenerative
neurological condition affecting the nervous
system and the body's nerve-controlled
regions.
• Early symptoms include tremors, stiffness,
and slowness of movement. Speech and facial
expressions may also be affected. Symptoms
worsen as the disease progresses.
• Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured,
medications can improve symptoms.
4.10 TB Vaccine
Context: On World TB Day, the PM launched a
range of initiatives to eradicate TB.
Global Initiatives:
• Elimination of Tuberculosis is one of the
sustainable development targets.
• End TB strategy: It calls for an 80% reduction
in the number of new cases, a 90% reduction in
mortality, and zero catastrophic cost by 2030.
Government Initiatives to Eliminate TB
1. National Tuberculosis Elimination
Programme (NTEP):
• NTEP, India's flagship TB control
programme, aims to reduce TB burden by
2025, ahead of global goals using a multi-
pronged approach.
2. NI-KSHAY:
• NI-KSHAY-(Ni=End, Kshay=TB) is the
web-enabled patient management system
for TB control under NTEP, used by both
public and private healthcare providers.
• It also functions as the National TB
Surveillance System and enables reporting of
various surveillance data to the Government
of India.
3. TB Harega Desh Jeetega:
• A campaign to create awareness and
mobilize communities to participate in TB
control efforts.
4. TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative: It is an official
pan-India rollout of shorter preventive
 treatment and family-centric care models for
TB.
Global Initiatives:
1. End TB Strategy of WHO: It aims for an 80%
reduction in the number of new cases, a 90%
reduction in mortality, and zero catastrophic
costs by 2030.
• Directly observed treatment–short course
(DOTS) was initiated by WHO after TB was
declared a global emergency in 1993.
About Tuberculosis:
• Causative Organism: Mycobacterium
tuberculosis which affects both animals
and humans.
• In humans, TB most commonly affects the
lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can also
affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB)
like brain, lymph nodes, bones, etc.
• Spread: TB is spread from person to
person through the air.
• Vaccine: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)
vaccine
4.10.1 Patent issue on TB drug
Context: The Indian Patent Office rejects J&J's
attempt of evergreening its patent on Bedaquiline
manufacturing in India beyond July 2023.
About the News:
• Bedaquiline treats multi-drug resistant TB
when first-line treatments fail. It currently costs
$400 for a six-month course.
Drug Resistance Test for Tuberculosis (TB)
• An IIT Bombay-incubated company has
created a comprehensive drug resistance test
for TB.
• It analyzes the genomic data of the organism
through its genome sequencing and is an
important molecular tool for TB surveillance
and detecting resistance.
• Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is a
method that maps an organism's complete
DNA and aids in identifying drug-resistant TB
by quickly pinpointing a TB strain's origin and
its resistance profile.
Evergreening of Patent:
• It's a strategy to extend a patent's lifespan
nearing expiration by obtaining new
patents, ensuring continued royalties from
them.
• Section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act 1970
(amended in 2005) does not allow patents to
be granted to inventions involving new
forms of a known substance unless it differs
significantly in properties with regard to
51
efficacy, thus disabling the evergreening of
patents.
Compulsory Licencing (CL):
• CL is the grant of permission by the
government to entities to use, manufacture,
import, or sell a patented invention without
the patent owner’s consent.
• It is permitted under the WTO’s TRIPS
(IPR) Agreement during national
emergencies, other circumstances of extreme
urgency.
4.11 Viruses and Diseases in News
4.11.1 Norovirus
Context: Recently, Norovirus infection was
confirmed in two school children in Ernakulam
district of Kerala.
About Norovirus:
• Norovirus, also referred to as ‘stomach flu’ or
'winter vomiting bug,’ is similar to diarrhea-
inducing rotavirus, infecting people across all
age groups.
• Most often, nursing homes, dorms, cruise
ships, and other enclosed areas are the sites of
disease outbreaks. Symptoms include diarrhea,
vomiting, nausea, stomach pain. The virus can
spread from person to person through the
fecal-oral route.
• The diagnosis of disease is done by RT-PCR,
and no vaccines are available for the disease.
4.11.2 Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(PCOS)
Context: CSIR-National Institute of Science
Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR)
has brought out a special issue on the theme,
“Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and its
Complications”.
About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):
• PCOS is a multifactorial endocrine disorder
characterized by chronic anovulation, irregular
periods, hirsutism, and weight gain. It is a
leading cause of infertility globally. .
• Genetics, neuroendocrine system, sedentary
lifestyle, diet, and obesity are the major risk
factors for PCOS.
• Drugs like metformin and oral contraceptive
pills help in treatment, but they have side
effects. .
4.11.3 Sickle Cell Anemia
Context: The Prime Minister launched the
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination
Mission.
About National Mission on Sickle Cell Anaemia:
• Announced in the Union Budget 2023, the goal
is to eradicate sickle cell disease as a public
health issue by 2047.
• The mission focuses on raising awareness,
screening seven crore individuals aged 0-40 in
tribal areas, and counseling via joint central
and state government efforts.
About Sickle cell anemia:
• It is a genetic blood disorder that affects the
production of hemoglobin, the protein in red
blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the
body.
• People with sickle cell anemia have abnormal
hemoglobin that causes their red blood cells to
become rigid and shaped like a crescent or
sickle.
• These abnormally shaped cells can get stuck in
small blood vessels, causing a variety of
complications.
• Occurrence: Common among people of
African, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean
descent.
• Symptoms: Anaemia, fatigue, jaundice,
delayed growth, and increased susceptibility to
infections.
Cure:
• Blood transfusion, wherein RBCs are removed
from donated blood, is a trusted treatment in
the absence of permanent cures.
• Gene therapy and Stem cell transplants:
Recently, the UK drug regulator approved a
gene therapy (Casgevy) to cure sickle cell
disease and thalassemia
○ It is a one-time therapy that edits the faulty
gene that leads to these blood disorders,
potentially curing the person for life.
○ CRISPR CAS9 is used for cutting specific
DNA sequences with ‘engineered
nucleases’ enzymes.

Vulnerable Population of India:

• Tribal Population: Research and screening programmes have found that disease is more common
among tribal populations than non tribal communities of India.
• Malaria endemic regions: Prevalent in communities residing in regions where malaria is endemic.
• Endogamy: Sickle Cell Anaemia is higher in communities that practice endogamy, as the chances of
having two parents with sickle cell trait is higher.
About Thalassaemia:
• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder caused when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein
called hemoglobin.
• It leads to low levels of hemoglobin and shows symptoms like fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and
irregular heartbeats.
• People with the condition need blood transfusions throughout their life.
• The transfusions also lead to excess iron accumulation in the body, which needs chelation.

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4.11.4 Marburg Virus
Context: Equatorial Guinea has confirmed its first-
ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease.
About Marburg Virus:
• Marburg Virus is a part of the filovirus family
( includes Ebola), first identified in 1967 after it
caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in
laboratories of Marburg, Germany, and
Belgrade, Serbia.
• It causes a severe fever that often includes
bleeding, targets several organs, and reduces
the body’s ability to function on its own.
• Transmission:
○ Natural carrier: African fruit bat. It carries
the virus but does not get infected.
○ Animals can pass the virus to primates,
including humans.
○ Human-to-human transmission can occur
through contact with blood or other bodily
fluids
• No authorized vaccines or drugs to treat
Marburg are available. However, rehydration
treatment to alleviate symptoms can improve
the chances of survival.
4.11.5 Japanese Encephalitis
Context: A study revealed that children who
received two doses of a live, attenuated Japanese
encephalitis vaccine formed very low levels of
neutralizing antibodies IgG.
About Japanese encephalitis:
• Causal Organism: Flavivirus, which affects the
membranes around the brain.
• Transmission: Culex Mosquitoes.
• Treatment: No antiviral treatment.
• Prevention: Safe and effective JE vaccines,
included under Universal Immunization
Program, are available to prevent the disease.
• JE is the second Flavivirus that is vaccine-
preventable and covered under Universal
Immunization Programme (UIP)
4.11.6 H3N2 Flu
Context: India has recorded two deaths due to
H3N2 seasonal influenza.
About H3N2:
• Influenza viruses cause flu, which is of four
different types: A, B, C, and D.
• Influenza A is further classified into different
subtypes, and one of them is H3N2.
• Symptoms: Fever, cough, breathlessness,
wheezing, and pneumonia.
• Transmission: Person to person through
respiratory droplets.
• Vulnerable Group: Individuals below 15 years
or above 50 years of age, along with people
with comorbidities.
• Prevention: Hygiene maintenance, Hand
Sanitization.
4.11.7 SARS -CoV-2 XBB.1.16 lineage
Context: SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve
by accumulating genetic variations.
About Recombinants:
• Co-infection of multiple lineages of a virus
could result in recombinations between
genomes, which can give rise to chimeric
genomes called recombinants.
• Possibility of new lineage: Most
recombinations may not give rise to viable
virus strains, but rare events can create a new
virus lineage with enhanced capabilities than
parent strains.
• SARS-CoV-2 witnessed several recombinant
lineages during the course of the pandemic.
• WHO has put two recombinant lineages of
SARS-CoV-2, namely XBB and XBF (Omicron
sublineage recombinant as Variants Under
Monitoring.
• XBB lineage is seeing an uptick amidst the
ongoing rise of seasonal influenza H3N2 cases.
• XBB variant has a mutation in the Spike
protein, causing immune escape.
Additional Information
• Variant under monitoring means the global
health agency is tracking the variant closely.
• Variant of Interest refers to a variant that
possesses genetic indicators linked to
diminished neutralization by antibodies
from prior infections or vaccines, lowered
treatment efficacy, potential diagnostic
implications, or an anticipated rise in
contagiousness or disease intensity.

53
 • Variant of Concern shows evidence of • Transmission: By different types of
higher transmissibility, increased severity, mosquitoes such as Culex, Anopheles, and
reduced antibody neutralization, decreased Aedes mosquito.
treatment or vaccine effectiveness, or • Symptoms: Abnormal enlargement of body
diagnostic challenges. parts (Elephantiasis).
4.11.8 Mosaic Viruses
Context: Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) and
Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) have impacted
crops in Karnataka and Maharashtra respectively.
About CMV and ToMV:
• The two plant pathogens have similar names
and cause similar damage to crops, but they
belong to different viral families, and spread
differently.
• Both viruses can cause almost 100% crop loss
unless properly treated on time.
• ToMV:It belongs to the Virgaviridae family
and its hosts include tomato, tobacco, peppers,
and certain ornamental plants.
• CMV: It was first identified in cucumber and
has a much larger host pool that includes
melon, eggplant, tomato, carrot, lettuce, celery,
members of the gourd family.
4.11.9 Malaria 4.11.11 Kala Azar
Context: A deadly malaria vector, Anopheles Context: India targets to eliminate Kala Azar by
Stephensi, from Asia has been detected in Kenya. 2023 by achieving elimination status (<1
About Malaria: case/10,000 population) in all endemic blocks.
• Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by
Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to
people through the bites of infected female
Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Of the five parasite species that cause malaria,
P. falciparum and P. vivax pose the greatest
threat.
Anopheles Stephensi
• It has strong adaptive qualities.
• Unlike other malaria vectors that breed in rural
areas, it can thrive in urban environments.
• The species can transmit multiple parasites, i.e.,
both Plasmodium falciparum and Vivax.
• Anopheles Stephensi has been expanding its
geographic range and has shown resistance to
local insecticides as well.
4.11.10 Lymphatic Filariasis
Context: Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
campaign to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) About Kala Azar:
by 2027 launched by the Health Ministry. • Kala-Azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a
About Lymphatic Filariasis complex infectious disease transmitted by the
• Lymphatic Filariasis or elephantiasis is a bite of female Phlebotomine sandflies.
vector-borne disease caused by parasitic • It is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus
filarial worms. One of the three parasites, Leishmania.
Wuchereria bancrofti, is responsible for 90% of
the cases

54
• It is a neglected tropical disease that affects
millions annually, making it the second most
common parasitic killer after malaria.
• It is covered under the National Vector Borne
Disease Control Programme in India.
4.11.12 Noma Disease
Context: Recently WHO announced the inclusion
of noma disease in its official list of neglected
tropical diseases (NTDs).
About Noma Disease:
• Noma Disease: Also known as cancrum oris or
gangrenous stomatitis, it is a severe
gangrenous disease of the mouth and face.
• Gangrene: It is the death of body tissue due to
a lack of blood flow or a severe bacterial
infection.
• Causative Agent: It is caused by the spirochete
Borrelia vincenti in association with anaerobic
bacteria.
4.11.13 Lumpy Skin Disease
Context: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
has developed the “Lumpi-ProVac” vaccine for
Lumpy Skin Disease.
About Lumpy Skin Disease:
• Lumpy Skin Disease is a vector-borne
infectious viral pox disease affecting cattle and
domestic Asian buffaloes. It is occasionally
lethal.
• LSD is caused by Capripoxvirus, which is
genetically related to the goat pox and sheep
pox virus.
• The disease is not zoonotic, meaning it does
not spread from animals to humans.
• LSD has been reported in India since 2019,
while the first case was reported in the state of
Odisha.
About Lumpi-ProVac
• Lumpi-ProVac is safe for animals and triggers
LSDV-specific immunity. It is used for yearly
protection against Lumpy Skin Disease.
4.11.14 Blastomycosis
• Context: Recently, a rare fungal infection
(Blastomycosis) in humans caused concern in
the US.
About Blastomycosis:
• Causal Agent: Infection caused by a fungus
called Blastomyces, living particularly in moist
soil and in decomposing matter such as wood
and leaves.
○ Fungus: Genus Blastomycosis (endemic to
Michigan, US.)
• Transmission: Usually caused by inhaling
airborne spores from contaminated soil into
the lungs.
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• Symptoms: Fever, cough, breathing difficulty,
and muscle aches, with severe infections
potentially spreading to other organs such as
the skin, bones, and brain.
• Treatment: It can be treated with antifungal
medications, which are usually continued for at
least 6 months.
4.11.15 Monkeypox
Context: WHO recently ended the global health
emergency status for Monkeypox.
About Monkeypox:
• It is a viral disease that spreads to the human
population through zoonotic spillovers.
• Potential Reservoirs: Rodents and primates.
• Transmission between humans: Spreads
through close contact (including sexual
contact) and exposure to infected bodily fluids
or lesions.
• The WHO has renamed monkeypox as mpox,
following concerns about racism and stigma
associated with the original name.
4.11.16 Brain-Eating Amoeba
Context: Recently, a 15-year-old boy in Kerala’s
Alappuzha district died due to a rare infection
caused by Naegleria fowleri or “brain-eating
amoeba”.
About Naegleria fowleri:
• Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as “brain-
eating amoeba,” is a single-cell organism.
• It is found in warm freshwater environments
such as lakes, hot springs and swimming
pool.
• Transmission: It enters the body through the
nose and travels to the brain, leading to a
severe and usually fatal brain infection known
as primary amebic meningoencephalitis
(PAM).
○ It does not spread from person to person.
• Treatment: Treatment is with a combination of
drugs, often including amphotericin B,
azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine,
and dexamethasone.
4.11.17 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
(DMD)
Context: A team of doctors from Tamil Nadu
along with scientists from Japan have developed
a disease-modifying treatment for DMD.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy(DMD):
• DMD is a genetic disorder that is characterized
by growing muscle degeneration and
weakness.
• Cause: The condition arises when the DMD
gene on the X chromosome mutates, leading to
a failure in producing functional dystrophin.
• Dystrophin, a protein crucial for structural
integrity in muscle cells, is prone to mutations,
which may be inherited or occur spontaneously
during germline transmission.
• Treatment: Gene therapy, exon-skipping and
disease modifying agents (anti-inflammatory
medicines such as steroids).
4.11.17 Leptospirosis
Context: Alarmed by a rise in leptospirosis cases
before monsoons, Mumbai’s civic health
department is studying positively tested patients.
About Leptospirosis:
• It is a contagious disease in animals,
occasionally transmitted to humans in certain
environmental conditions.
• Caused by: A bacterium called Leptospira
interrogans, or leptospira.
• Vectors: Wild or domestic animals, including
rodents, cattle, pigs, etc..
4.11.18 Nipah Virus (NiV)
Context: ICMR-National Institute of Virology
has found evidence of the Nipah virus circulation
in the bat population across several states.
About Nipah Virus:
• Nipah Virus belongs to the family
Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.
• Transmission:
○ Zoonotic virus, transmitted from animals
to humans.
○ Reservoir: The fruit bat, also known as the
flying fox, serves as the animal host
reservoir for the virus.
○ Fruit bats spread the virus to animals like
pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep,
and humans can become infected via direct
contact with these animals or by
consuming food tainted with their saliva or
urine.
• Treatments: No specific treatment for Nipah
Virus, primary treatment is intensive supportive
care.
4.12 CAR-T Cell Therapy
Context: CAR T-cell therapy, a new development
in cancer treatment, is drawing attention globally.
About Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell
therapy:
• CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy
that uses a patient's own immune cells to fight
cancer, unlike chemotherapy, which requires
mass-produced injectable or oral medication.
• In CAR T-cell therapy, patients' cells are
modified in the laboratory to activate T-cells, a
component of immune cells, to attack tumors.
56
• These modified cells are then infused back into
the patient’s bloodstream to allow gradual
and sustained killing of tumor cells.
• CAR-T cell therapy is also known as ‘Living
Drugs’ as they are more specific than targeted
agents and directly activate the patient’s
immune system against cancer.
• Potential side-effects
○ Cytokine release syndrome: Widespread
activation of the immune system and
collateral damage to the body’s normal
cells
○ Neurological symptoms like severe
confusion, seizures, and speech impairment.
Application
• Approved for leukaemias (cancer of
WBC producing cells) and lymphomas
(lymphatic system cancer).
• Patients with remission and
unresponsive to previous combinations
of chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
4.13 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Context: As the acute COVID-19 phase subsides,
the enduring, harmful pandemic of Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) necessitates a swift global
response.
About Antimicrobial Resistance:
• AMR occurs when microorganisms such as
bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi become
resistant to antimicrobial treatments (such as
antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials,
and anthelmintics) to which they were
previously susceptible.
• Resultantly, traditional therapies become
ineffective, illnesses persist, and the risk of
spreading the infection to others increases.
• Antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms are
frequently referred to as "superbugs."
• Superbugs are strains of bacteria, viruses,
parasites and fungi that are resistant to most of
the antibiotics and other medications
commonly used to treat the infections they
cause.
• AMR is caused due to overuse of antibiotics,
emergence of new strain of bacteria,
indiscriminate use of antibiotics in poultry etc.
Anthelmintics: Antiparasitic drugs that expel
parasitic worms.
Threats posed by AMR:
• Microbial resistance to antibiotics has made it
harder to treat infections like pneumonia,
tuberculosis, blood poisoning etc, causing
heavy health cost and delayed recovery
Phage Therapy
• Phage therapy is an alternative to antibiotics,
amidst increasing AMR due to improper use of
antibiotics.
• It is a medical approach that utilizes
bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect
and kill bacteria, as a means to treat bacterial
infections in humans.
• Unlike antibiotics that can harm both harmful
bacteria and beneficial microbiota, phages have
evolved to precisely target specific bacterial
strains or species, minimizing collateral
damage.
Honeybees as Biomonitors
• A recent paper suggests that honeybees can act
as “Biomonitors” for the spread of antimicrobial
resistance in urban areas.
• A biomonitor is an organism used to
quantitatively assess environmental quality and
contaminants by leveraging the organism's
ability to gather information about the biosphere.
Third Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR.
• Held in Muscat (Oman) in 2023.
• Theme “The AMR Pandemic: From Policy
to One Health Action”
• The targets includes:
○ Reducing total amount of antimicrobials
used in agrifood systems by 30-50 % by
2030.
○ Preserving critically important
antimicrobials for human medicine.
○ Ensuring that ‘Access’ group antibiotics
(a category of antibiotics that are
affordable, safe and have a low AMR
risk) represent at least 60% of overall
antibiotic consumption in humans by
2030.
• Endorsed by 34 of the 45 countries, including
India.
One Health Approach: It is a holistic strategy
that recognizes the interconnectedness of
human, animal, and environmental health.
GLASS provides a standardized approach to
the collection, analysis, interpretation and
sharing of data by countries. It was launched by
WHO on 22 October 2015.
4.13.1 Antibiotic Drugs
Context: Researchers at IISc have found that
grazing by livestock leads to lower carbon storage
in soil compared to grazing by wild herbivores.
Key Findings of the Study:
57
• Usage of veterinary antibiotics such as
tetracycline on livestock results in lower
carbon storage in soils.
• Antibiotics in dung and urine disrupt soil
microbial communities, negatively affecting
carbon sequestration. However, grazing by
herbivores stabilizes the pool of soil carbon in
the same region.
• Although soils from the wild and livestock
areas had many similarities, they differed in
carbon use efficiency (CUE), which
determines the ability of microbes to store
carbon in the soil.
4.14 Organ Donation Policy
Context: The Union Health Ministry removed the
65-year age limit for organ transplant registration
in alignment with National Organ and Tissue
Transplant Organization (NOTTO) guidelines.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Organization's guidelines:
• The organization stated that online promotions
violated the Transplantation of Human
Organ and Tissue Act, 1994, with penalties
including fines of ₹20 lakh to ₹1 crore and
imprisonment of 5 to 10 years.
• The government has decided to remove the
clause in the NOTTO guidelines, as it violates
the right to life and to formulate a “One
Nation, One Policy” for organ donation and
transplantation.
About NOTTO
• National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Organization (NOTTO) is an organization
set up under the Directorate General of
Health Services, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
• It has two divisions:
○ National Human Organ and Tissue
Removal and Storage Network
mandated as per the Transplantation
of Human Organs (Amendment) Act
2011, networks for Procurement
Allocation and Distribution of Organs
and Tissues in Delhi.
○ National Biomaterial Centre: It fills
up the gap between ‘Demand’ and
‘Supply’ as well as ‘Quality
Assurance’ in the availability of
various tissues.
Transplantation of Human Organs Act,
1994
• It provides various regulations for the
removal of human organs and its storage.
 • It regulates the transplantation of human
organs for therapeutic purposes and for
the prevention of commercial dealings in
human organs.
Main Provisions:
• The act recognises brain death as a form
of the death process and defines criteria
for brain death.
Old Guidelines
Registration for transplant only in the domicile Registration for transplant in any state across India.
state.
Patients beyond 65 are ineligible for organ People beyond 65 in need of an organ donation will
donation. also be eligible.
No unique ID is allotted, and registration is valid Patients are allotted a unique ID by NOTTO on
only in domicile state.
Registration fee charged from patients.
4.15 Rare Diseases
Context: Recently, the Union government waived
basic customs duty on imported drugs and special
medical foods for personal use, covering all rare
diseases under the 2021 National Policy.
About the News:
• Centre has exempted pembrolizumab
(Keytruda), a cancer treatment drug, from
basic customs duty.
• Exemptions provide substantial cost savings
for expensive drugs and provide relief to
patients.
About Rare Diseases:
• Also known as “Orphan” diseases, they are
defined as diseases that infrequently occur in
a population.
• Three markers, namely, the total number of
people with the disease, its prevalence, and
the availability/non-availability of treatment
options, determine categorization of diseases
as rare diseases globally.
• WHO defines a rare disease as having a
frequency of less than 6.5-10 per 10,000
people.
• However, India does not have a definition of
rare diseases because of lack of
epidemiological data on their incidence and
prevalence.
• Example: Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Lysosomal
Storage Disorders
Government Initiatives:
58
• It provides for maintenance of registry of
donors & recipients of human organs and
tissues
Revised Guidelines
registering, which is transferable to multiple hospitals
in various states.
No registration charging registration fees from
patients.
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme: Assistance of
Rs 15 lakh will be provided to patients
suffering from rare diseases that require a one-
time curative treatment.
• National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021
About National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021:
• Government launched the National Policy for
Rare Diseases (NPRD) in 2021 for the treatment
of rare disease patients.
• It identifies and categorizes rare diseases into 3
groups based on duration and cost of
treatment and provides financial support up
to Rs. 50 lakhs to the patients.
• Eight Centers of Excellence (CoEs) have been
identified for diagnosis, prevention and
treatment and five Nidan Kendras for genetic
testing and counseling services have been set
up.
• A national hospital-based registry of rare
diseases will be created to ensure adequate
data is available for those interested in research
and development.
• It is notable that the policy does not define
Rare Diseases.
4.16 Background radiation in Kerala
Context: A study by BARC scientists found that in
parts of Kerala, including Kollam, background
radiation levels are nearly three times more than
what’s been assumed.
Findings of the BARC study:
• Average natural background levels of gamma
radiation in India was 94 nGy/hr (nano Gray
per hour~ 0.8 millisievert/year).
• Higher radiation levels in Kollam are
attributed to monazite sands that are high in
thorium.
• Southern India has the presence of granite and
basaltic volcanic rock, which have higher
levels of radiation from uranium deposits.
Background radiation
• It is the natural radiation that is always
present in the environment.
• It includes cosmic radiation which comes
from the sun and stars, terrestrial radiation
which comes from the Earth, and internal
radiation which exists in all living things.
Gamma Radiation:
• They are extremely energetic radiations that
can pass unobstructed through matter.
However they are harmless unless present in
concentrated doses.
• Gamma radiation levels are closely
monitored around nuclear plants and public
exposure shouldn't surpass 1 milliSievert
annually.
4.17 Hysterectomies
Context: Recently, a Supreme Court petition
claimed that unjustified hysterectomies target
women from marginalized areas for economic
gain and exploitation.
About various Birth Control Measure:
• Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to
remove the uterus, after which a woman
cannot become pregnant and no longer
menstruate.
• Tubectomy, also known as tubal sterilization,
is a permanent method of contraception in
women. It involves a surgical process that
blocks the fallopian tubes, thereby preventing
the egg released by the ovary from reaching the
uterus.
• Vasectomy is a form of male birth control that
cuts the supply of sperm to your semen. It's
done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry
sperm.
• Oophorectomy is a surgical procedure to
remove one or both of the ovaries.
• Vasectomy and Tubectomy are both reversible
processes, but it does not entirely ensure
restoration of fertility.
4.18 Arsenic Exposure
59
Context: A recent study suggests that even low
levels of arsenic consumption may impact
cognitive function in children, adolescents, and
young adults.
Impact of Arsenic on Health:
• Arsenic exposure leads to decreased grey
matter (brain tissue that is vital to cognitive
functions), essential for cognition, and impairs
brain connections vital for concentration, task-
switching, and information storage.
• Prolonged arsenic exposure in drinking water
raises the risk of cancers in skin, lungs,
bladder, kidney, and causes skin changes such
as hyperkeratosis.
• Ingesting high doses of soluble inorganic
arsenic causes acute toxicity, gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, nervous issues, and can be
fatal.
About Arsenic:
• Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s
crust and is highly toxic in its inorganic form.
• Sources of Arsenic:
○ Emitted into air by high-temperature
processes such as coal-fired power plants,
burning vegetation and volcanism.
○ Natural low-temperature biomethylation
and reduction to arsines also releases
arsenic into the atmosphere.
○ Discharged into groundwater, particularly
in areas with sulphide mineral and
sedimentary deposits originating from
volcanic rocks.
• In India, arsenic exposure is closely tied to diet,
with inorganic and organic arsenic in food
being major contributors.
○ West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur are regions
with high background arsenic levels.
4.19 Assisted Reproductive Technology
(ART)
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART):
• ART includes all fertility treatments in which
both eggs and embryos are handled.
• It involves surgically removing eggs from a
woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm
in the laboratory, and returning them to the
woman’s body.
• This mainly includes In Vitro Fertilisation
(IVF), ICSI, cryopreservation of gametes (egg
or sperm) or embryos, PGT (Preimplantation
Genetic Testing).
Types of ART:
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a method of ART • m102.4 is a “potent, fully human” monoclonal
where the woman’s eggs and man’s sperms are antibody, which neutralizes Hendra and
fertilized outside the body in a laboratory dish, Nipah viruses, both outside and inside of
thus also called a ‘test tube baby’. One or more
living organisms.
embryos are transferred to the uterine lining
and grow About Antibody or immunoglobulin
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): This • An antibody attaches itself to an antigen – a
technique, ideal for male infertility with low foreign substance, usually a disease-causing
sperm count or quality, follows IVF's initial molecule – and helps the immune system
steps but uses a special needle to inject sperm eliminate it from the body.
into the egg for fertilization.
• Cryopreservation of Gametes/Embryos: It
4.21 Freedom from Avian Influenza
involves freezing embryos, eggs, and sperm at
Context: The World Organisation for Animal
-196°C, beneficial for IVF patients who have
Health (WOAH) has approved India's self-
spare embryos left after the embryo transfer..
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): It is declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic
an early prenatal diagnosis which identifies Avian Influenza (HPAI) in specific poultry
abnormal embryos and selects healthy ones to compartments.
enhance pregnancy chances. About Avian Influenza in India:
○ It helps couples with genetic disorders to • Avian influenza, also known as 'bird flu', is a
prevent transfer of abnormalities to their
disease primarily affecting birds and is caused
offspring.
by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family.
• Subtype:
4.20 Monoclonal Antibodies ○ The Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Virus (LPAIV) can cause a mild illness,
Context: India approached Australia to acquire
often unnoticed or without any symptoms.
monoclonal antibody doses for tackling the Nipah
○ The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
virus outbreak in Kerala.
Virus (HPAIV) causes serious illness in
About Monoclonal Antibodies:
birds that can spread rapidly.
• Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins
• Threat to Human Health: While most bird flu
designed in labs to emulate the immune
viruses are not Zoonotic, certain HPAIV can
system's antibodies, guarding against diseases
infect humans.
and foreign entities.
• Strategies to Curb Spread: Zoning and
• These are generated by extracting specific
compartmentalization are strategies to group
antibodies from human blood and cloning
animals by health status to manage disease
them to target certain antigens.Development
prevention and control
of Monoclonal Bodies:
• Monitoring: WHO continuously monitors
• Hybridoma technology is one of the most
avian and other zoonotic influenza viruses
common methods used to produce monoclonal
closely through its Global Influenza
antibodies.
Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
• In this process, a fusion cell (hybridoma cell)
• India's Approach to Control HPAI: India
is made up of B cells (white blood cells that
follows a "detect and cull" policy as outlined in
produce antibodies) and myeloma cells
the National Action Plan for Prevention,
(abnormal plasma cells).
Control, and Containment of Avian
• These hybrid cells allowed production of a
Influenza.
single antibody clone, known as a monoclonal
○ It includes the humane destruction of
antibody.
infected and exposed animals, eggs,
• Monoclonal antibodies target specific disease
feed,etc.
causing antigens, to hinder the spike protein's
○ Vaccination against HPAI is not permitted
ability to infect healthy cells.
in India.
About m102.4

60

4.22 Other Notable News
4.22.1 Dusseldorf Patient
Context: A 53-year-old German, referred to as the
Dusseldorf patient, has become the third person
to have been “cured of HIV”.
About the Dusseldorf Patient:
• Dusseldorf (a city in Germany) Patient refers
to a person who was declared free of HIV after
receiving a stem cell transplant from a donor
with a rare genetic mutation that makes them
resistant to HIV infection.
• Other Reported Recoveries from HIV:
○ Berlin Patient: The Berlin patient received
two stem cell transplants one year apart for
his blood cancer. The donor had a genetic
mutation called CCR5-delta 32, making the
patient the first person to recover from
HIV.
○ London Patient: In 2019, a similar
treatment was successful for the London
patient.
About CCR5 mutation & fight with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV):
• HIV attacks the CD4 immune cells, a type of
white blood cell, thereby reducing a person’s
ability to fight off secondary infections.
• The CCR5 receptors on the surface of the CD4
immune cells act as a doorway for HIV.
• The CCR5-delta 32 mutation blocks HIV
receptors from forming on cell surfaces, thus
preventing the virus from entering cells.
• Transmission of HIV: It is transmitted
through certain body fluids, including blood,
semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
• Modes of transmission: Unprotected sexual
contact, Sharing of needles and from mother to
child during childbirth or breastfeeding.
• Treatment: HIV can be managed with
antiretroviral therapy (ART), which is a
61
combination of medications that target
different stages of the virus's life cycle.
4.22.3 Dar-Es-Salaam Declaration
Context: The first ministerial meeting of the
Global Alliance to end AIDS concluded with the
Dar-Es-Salaam Declaration on ending AIDS in
children by 2030.
About the Dar-Es-Salaam Declaration:
• Ministers and representatives from 12 African
countries have laid out plans to end AIDS in
children by 2030 through early testing,
treatment, and prevention programmes.
• The unanimously endorsed Dar-es-Salaam
Declaration commits to ensuring children with
HIV receive treatment and mothers with HIV
have HIV-free babies.
4.22.4 Cellular Reprogramming
Context: Researchers have devised a method in
which specialized proteins can transform healthy
adult skin cells into heart cells through cellular
reprogramming.
About Cellular Reprogramming:
• Cellular reprogramming involves usage of
specific proteins, called transcription factors,
to alter the expression of genes within a cell and
direct it to take on a new cellular identity.
• They developed a toolbox consisting of six
recombinant proteins that play a significant
role in reprogramming fibroblasts in
cardiomyocytes.
• Recombinant proteins-based cell conversion
offers the advantage of operating within the
nucleus and gradually fading away without
toxic residue
4.22.5 Artificial Sweeteners
Context: WHO recommended against use of
artificial sweeteners to achieve weight loss.
About Artificial Sweeteners:
• Artificial sweeteners, like Aspartame and
Saccharin, are synthetic alternatives to sugar,
offering sweetness without substantial
calories or raising blood sugar.
Fibroblasts: Type of cell that provides structure
to tissue.
Cardiomyocytes: Cells responsible for the
contraction of the heart.
Type of Sugar Substitute:
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, Molasses, dates,
coconut sugar.
• Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame,
Saccharine, Sucralose
• Sugar Alcohols: Xylitol, Erythritol
• Novel Sweeteners: Stevia, Tagatose
Recommendations of WHO:
• Use of artificial sweeteners may disrupt the
body's calorie regulation, leading to
overeating, cravings, and reduced metabolic
efficiency.
• Long Term Impacts:
○ Artificial sweeteners may initially aid in
weight loss and BMI reduction, but long-
term use is linked to weight gain and
increased risk of Type-2 diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases, and mortality.
○ Artificial sweeteners are also associated
with altered brain neurotransmitter
levels, affecting mood, behavior, and
reducing serotonin, key in mood and
anxiety regulation.
4.22.6 The Big Catch-Up Initiative
Context: WHO launched two initiatives ‘The Big
Catch-Up’ and Preparedness and Resilience for
Emerging Threats (PRET) in response to COVID-
19 pandemic.
About the Initiatives:
The Big Catch-up Initiative:
• It was launched by WHO, UNICEF and many
global health partners, to restore immunization
progress lost during pandemic.
• It aims to boost vaccination among children
following declines driven by the COVID-19
pandemic.
PRET Initiative:
• The initiative focuses on enhancing countries'
capacities to prepare for, detect, and respond
to emerging infectious diseases.
• It recognizes a 3 tier system for pandemic
preparedness and operates under the aegis of
the International Health Regulations, a critical
international legal instrument for managing
public health emergencies.
4.22.7 Abaucin
Context: Recently, scientists used Artificial
intelligence to identify Abaucin, a new antibiotic
effective against the highly resistant Acinetobacter
baumannii bacteria.
About Abaucin: Abaucin, a new antibiotic,
effectively targets the resistant Acinetobacter
baumannii bacteria, selectively hindering its
growth by disrupting the CCR2 protein
function, without affecting other Gram-
negative bacteria.
About Acinetobacter Baumannii:
• It is a Gram-negative bacteria which causes
significant healthcare-associated infections.
• It is found in soil and water and survives on
surfaces for long periods as a resilient
pathogen.
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• The WHO identified it as one of the most
dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
causing pneumonia, meningitis, wound
infections, and potentially leading to death.
4.22.8 Fixed Dose Combination (FDC)
Context: Centre has prohibited 14 fixed dose
combination drugs, stating they lack therapeutic
justification.
About Fixed Dose Combination (FDC):
• Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) refers to a
pharmaceutical product that contains two or
more active ingredients combined in a fixed
ratio in a single dosage to improve compliance.
• FDCs are commonly used in the treatment of
infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders,
diabetes, and asthma. Eg Nimesulide,
Paracetamol dispersible tablets etc.
• WHO has recently included three fixed dose
combinations of cardiovascular medicines or
polypills for use in prevention of primary and
secondary diseases.
Risks associated with FDC:
• Combining drugs can lead to interactions
where active ingredients or excipients might
alter each drug's performance.
• The drugs may interact with each other to
create a more toxic element, often called
metabolites.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the
biologically active component of a drug
product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that
produces the intended therapeutic effects.
4.22.9 Aspartame
Context: The cancer research arm of the WHO will
list the popular sugar substitute aspartame as
possibly carcinogenic to humans.
About Aspartame:
• Aspartame, a methyl ester of L-aspartic acid
and L-phenylalanine amino acids, is 200 times
sweeter than table sugar but less so than
sweeteners like advantame and neotame.
• It is preferred by people trying to cut calories
or lose weight, or by diabetics, because of
lower calorie content than sugar.
• Uses: Diet soft drinks, sugar-free chewing gum,
sugar-free ice cream, sugar-free breakfast
cereals, etc.
4.22.10 Neuralink Human Trials
Context: Elon Musk’s neurotechnology company
has received FDA approval for human trials of
their brain--computer interface.
About Brain--Computer Interface:
• It is a next--generation brain implant with 100
-times more brain connections than currently
approved devices.
• This device is implanted in a skull's disk-
shaped cutout using a precision surgical robot.
• The device itself is a coin--sized unit called a
Link.
Working process:
• The device links the brain to an external
computer through bluetooth for continuous
two-way communication. The robot attaches
thousands of fine threads from the Link to
brain neurons
• This technology offers precise prosthetic limb
control for amputees and revolutionizes
treatments for Parkinson's, epilepsy, and spinal
injuries.
About Neurons
• The brain consists of millions of neurons, or
nerve cells, that collaborate in extensive
networks.
• They manage various bodily functions, from
sensory perception to movement, and
regulate vital processes like breathing and
heart rate.
• Neurons function as information carriers,
transmitting data through electrical and
chemical signals between various brain
regions, spinal cord, and the entire body.
4.22.11 N-nitrosodimethylamine
Context: The Gujarat High Court has notified the
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to phase
out drugs with cancer-causing impurities such as
NDMA.
About N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
• It is a yellow, oily, light-sensitive nitrosamine-r
and is considered a likely human carcinogen.
• NDMA is detected in certain foods, beverages,
pharmaceuticals and also in environmental
sources like water and air.
• NDMA is produced in the making of chemicals
like pesticides and rubber, and in water
treatment with chloramines. It is also formed
in the stomach on digestion of certain foods.
4.22.12 Use of E-Cigarettes
Context: As per WHO, urgent action is needed to
control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as
non-smokers, and minimize health harms.
About e-Cigarettes
• E-Cigarettes (electronic nicotine delivery
systems (ENDS)) also known as vapes or e-
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hookahs,vary in design but generally include a
battery, heater, and liquid holder.
• E-Cigarettes Aerosol: They usually contain
nicotine flavorings and other chemicals that
help to make the aerosol.
• Regulation of e-Cigarettes in India:
○ Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act,
2019 was enacted to prohibit the
production, manufacture, import, export,
transport, sale, distribution, storage and
advertisement of e- cigarettes.
• Health Risks Associated with E-Cigarettes are
nicotine addiction and risks of cancer and
cardiovascular disease.
4.22.13 New Class of Antibiotic
Context: Researchers have identified a new class
of antibiotics with the potential to tackle a drug-
resistant bacterium, Acinetobacter baumannii.
About the News:
• Zosurabalpin was found to be effective against
CRAB (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter
baumannii)-induced pneumonia and sepsis in
mouse models.
• Trials: Evaluated in two phase I clinical trials.
About Acinetobacter baumannii
• It is a bacterial pathogen primarily associated
with hospital-acquired infections.
• It is commonly associated with aquatic
environments and colonizes the skin as well as
the respiratory and oropharynx secretions of
infected individuals.
4.22.14 AKTOCYTE tablets to Transform
Cancer Care
Context: Scientists have developed Aktocyte
tablets for treating pelvic cancer.
About AKTOCYTE tablets
• Approval: AKTOCYTE has received approval
from the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI).
• The AKTOCYTE tablets have been effective,
particularly in pelvic cancer patients suffering
from radiotherapy-induced Cystitis (Blood in
urine).
• Further, these tablets have been designed as a
nutraceutical, an adjuvant to cancer
radiotherapy and antioxidant.
• Performance: Patients treated with Aktocyte
tablets demonstrated an extraordinary
recovery, eliminating the need for surgical
removal of the urinary bladder.
 MPOWER are a set of six cost-effective and high impact measures by WHO,
MPOWER
that help countries reduce demand for tobacco.

Context: American surgeons have successfully transplanted a pig’s kidney into

a brain-dead human.
• Xenotransplantation refers to the transplantation of living cells, tissues, or
organs from one species to another, typically from animals to humans.
Xenotransplantation • This medical procedure aims to address the shortage of human organs
available for transplantation.
• The transplant involved a modified pig kidney lacking the Alpha-gal sugar
molecule gene, which is absent in humans and can trigger strong immune
reactions.

Context: Senegal hosts the inaugural meeting of WHO’s GONE initiative.

GONE (Global Onchocerciasis Elimination Network)
• GONE, backed by WHO, is a pragmatic and flexible country-led effort
focused on providing solutions to meet national program needs.
• Goal: Empower countries to accelerate progress towards onchocerciasis
WHO’s GONE elimination targets.
initiative About Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
• Second leading infectious cause of worldwide blindness. Classified as a
Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by WHO.
• Affects people in isolated and underserved rural communities.
• Caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
• Symptoms: Severe skin irritation, itching, and irreversible blindness.

Context: Researchers have found that a genetic regulatory circuit regulates cell
aging, and altering this system could lengthen cell lifespan.
About the Biosynthetic Clock
• This control mechanism acts as a biosynthetic clock, directing cells through
Biosynthetic Clocks two aging pathways.
• Scientists can create a feedback loop that delays cell deterioration by altering
this system, thus increasing cell longevity.
• This study could enhance human health and treat age-related illnesses in
the future.

Context: A patient in ICU was recently treated under a 'compassionate use

protocol' using a drug currently in phase 3 trials.
Compassionate Use About Compassionate Use Protocol:
Protocol • This approach allows patients with severe, life-threatening diseases to access
investigational medical products (drug, biologic, or medical device) outside
clinical trials when no other satisfactory treatments exist.

Context: Research shows psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for resistant

depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
About Psychedelic Substances:
• Psychedelics are a group of drugs that alter perception, mood, and thought
Psychedelic
processing while a person is still clearly conscious. Example: Ketamine.
Substances
• They are non addictive, non-toxic and compared to illicit drugs, they are less
harmful.
• The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 prohibits use of
psychedelic substances.

Context: Ozempic, a diabetes drug, is increasingly becoming popular due to its

Ozempic Drug
advantage of weight- loss potential.

64
 About the Ozempic Drug:
• Ozempic, a brand name for Type-2 Diabetes drug “Semaglutide”, controls
blood sugar levels and can be taken either by injection or orally.
• Ozempic works by mimicking the effects of a hormone- called GLP-1,
which is naturally produced in the body.
○ GLP1 helps to regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of
insulin, slowing down the release of glucose from the liver.

Context: Assessments of the health impacts of aspartame have been recently

released by the WHO.
About Aspartame:
• It is an artificial sweetener, which has gained popularity due to its zero
calories and lack of bitter aftertaste.
Aspartame
• Other examples of artificial sweeteners are saccharin, acesulfame potassium
(Ace-K), sucralose, neotame, and advantame.
• Uses: It is used as a flavoring agent in baked goods, canned foods,
confectionery, puddings, diet beverages, gelatin, ice cream, yogurt, cereals,
toothpaste, cough drops, and chewable vitamins.

65
 5
Defense Technology And Innovations
5.1 Defence Acquisition Council
Context: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for
three capital acquisition proposals.
About the Defence Acquisition Council:
• The DAC is the highest decision-making body
in the Defence Ministry for new policies and
capital acquisitions for the three services and
the Indian Coast Guard. It was formed in 2001.
• The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of
the Council.
About the Capital Acquisition Proposals:
• The DAC has approved the procurement of
three indigenous defense systems:
○ HELINA anti-tank guided missile,
○ VSHORAD air defense system, and
○ BrahMos cruise missile launcher and fire
control system for naval ships.
About HELINA:
• The HELINA anti-tank guided missile is a
third-generation fire-and-forget weapon
system mounted on the Advanced Light
Helicopter. It can engage targets in all-
weather conditions.
• A variant of the HELINA Weapon System
called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted
into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
About Very-Short Range Air Defence System
(VSHORADS) Missile:
• It is a Man Portable Air Defence System
(MANPAD) developed indigenously by
DRDO. The missile neutralizes low-altitude
aerial threats.
5.2 S-400
Context: Deliveries of five regiments of S-400 air
defense systems from Russia are expected to be
completed by year -end.
About the news:
• Three regiments of S-400 have been delivered,
which are deployed along the Northern,
Eastern, and Western borders.
66
About the S-400 Triumf Missile System:
• The S-400 Triumf is a mobile, surface-to-air
missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.
• It is a lethal modern long-range SAM (MLR
SAM), considered superior to the US-
developed Terminal High Altitude Area
Defense system (THAAD).
• It can engage all types of aerial targets,
including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles,
and ballistic and cruise missiles within the
range of 400 km, at an altitude of up to 30 km.
5.3 Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)
system
Context: Indigenous fuel cell-based Air
Independent Propulsion (AIP) system is to be
fitted on INS Kalvari.
About Air Independent Propulsion Technology:
• AIP is marine propulsion technology that
allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate
without access to atmospheric oxygen (either
by surfacing or using a snorkel).
• Conventional diesel-electric submarines must
surface every 48 hours to recharge their
batteries, making them vulnerable to
detection. AIP systems can extend underwater
operations to two weeks.
• Fuel cell technology-based AIP generates
power through the reverse electrolysis of
oxygen and hydrogen, which does not need air
but requires onboard hydrogen storage.
• DRDO’s AIP relies on Phosphoric Acid Fuel
Cell, which does not require hazardous
hydrogen to be stored onboard.
5.4 Indo--U.S. Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle
• Content: A prototype of the Air Launched
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV)
developed jointly by India and the United
States is likely to be flight tested later this year.
About ALUAV:
• The Ministry of Defence and US Department of
Defence signed a Project Agreement (PA) for
 Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
under the Defence Technology and Trade
Initiative (DTTI).
Defence Technology and Trade Initiative
(DTTI):
• The DTTI was announced in 2012 to promote
collaborative technology exchange and create
opportunities for co-production and co-
development of future technologies for Indian
and US military forces.
• Under DTTI, Joint Working Groups on land,
naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies
have been established to focus on mutually
agreed projects.
5.5 CBRN Weapons
Context: An ongoing Indo-US joint exercise,
named TARKASH, has for the first time included
“Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and
Nuclear (CBRN) terror response” in its drill.
About Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and
Nuclear Weapons:
• CBRN are classified as weapons of mass
destruction, which were first used during
World War I by the French forces.
• Americans used Napalm and the herbicide
Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
• Chemical weapons include mustard gas
(which damages the respiratory tract, skin, and
eyes) and nerve agents (where victims become
unconscious, have breathing difficulties, and
may die).
• Biological agents like anthrax (causes fever,
malaise, cough, shock, and could lead to death
within 36 hours) botulinum toxin (leads to
paralysis of respiratory muscles) are some
examples of biochemical weapons.
• Radiological weapons include weaponised
radioactive waste and dirty bombs, as well as
nuclear weapons.
About TARKASH Drill:
• It is a joint exercise by NSG and US (SOF)
teams.
• Objective: To rapidly neutralize the terrorists,
rescue the hostages safely, and deactivate the
chemical weapons being carried by the
terrorists.
5.6 SIPRI Data on Military Spending
Context: Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI) released ‘Trends in International
67
Arms Transfer -2022’ for a five-year period (2018-
2022).
About the news:
• SIPRI is an independent international
institute dedicated to research into conflict,
armaments, arms control, and disarmament.
• Between 2013-2022, Russia was India's
primary arms supplier, but its share in Indian
arms imports declined from 64% to 45%.
However, Russia still remains the leading arms
supplier of India.
• India has emerged as the largest global
weapons importer, accounting for 11% of
global military equipment imports.
• India imports 29% of its weapons from France
and 11% from the US.
5.7 Positive Indigenisation List
Context: The Ministry of Defence has approved
the 4th Positive Indigenisation List for Defence
Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU).
About Positive Indigenisation List (PIL):
• Positive Indigenisation List consists of items
exclusively sourced by Indian armed forces
from domestic manufacturers, including
those from the private sector or Defence
PSUs.
• The concept was rolled out in the Defence
Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
• DPSUs will undertake indigenisation through
different routes under ‘Make’ category and in-
house development through MSME and
private Indian industry.
Government initiatives to promote self-
reliance in the Defence Sector:
• Liberalization of Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) policy allowing 74% FDI
under automatic route.
• Launch of Innovations for Defence
Excellence (iDEX) scheme by involving
Start-ups & Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Launch of an indigenization portal, namely
SRIJAN, to facilitate indigenisation by
Indian Industry, including MSMEs.
• Establishment of two Defence Industrial
Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu.
• Earmarking of 25% of R&D Budget for
Industry-led R&D.
5.8 Innovations for Defence Excellence
(iDEX)
Context: Ministry of Defence signs 250th contract
under ‘Innovations for Defence Excellence’.
About iDEX:
• It seeks self-reliance and innovation in
Defence and Aerospace by involving
industries, MSMEs, startups, innovators, R&D,
and academia.
• iDEX has partnered with leading incubators
in the country to provide hand-holding,
technical support, and guidance to the winners
of iDEX challenges.
• It is funded and managed by “Defence
Innovation Organisation.”
5.9 Territorial Army
Context: Department of Military Affairs amends
cadre management for Women Officers in
Territorial Army (TA).
About Territorial Army:
• The Territorial Army was raised by the
Britishers in 1920 through Indian Territorial
Act, 1920.
• After independence, the Territorial Army Act
was passed in 1948, and the TA was formally
inaugurated.
• The Territorial Army is a part of the Regular
Army and handles the regular army’s static
duties.
• It also aids civil administration in disaster
relief and essential services during community
or national security crises.
• The Territorial Army is based on a Citizen
Soldiers’ army concept, and officers undergo
Annual Training on basic military skills while
remaining gainfully employed in civilian life.
5.10 Automation Initiatives of Army
• Context: The Indian Army has initiated Project
Sanjay to create a Battlefield Surveillance
System (BSS), which aims for a tech-driven,
agile, future-ready force.
About Battlefield Surveillance System(BSS):
• Soon, army formations from ground
Commanders to Corps level will have real-
time, integrated data for swift decision-
making. BSS under Project Sanjay is being
deployed, after extensive validation across
diverse terrains.
• It aims to have surveillance centers for all field
formations by December 2025.
68
• Integrated surveillance: The system integrates
thousands of sensors for a comprehensive
surveillance view to commanders and staff at
all levels. It also integrates data on adversaries'
movements received from sensors, satellites,
UAVs, and patrols.
Additional Information
• Army Information and Decision Support
System: It is an upgraded and redesigned
version of the erstwhile Combat Information
Decision Support System, which will
integrate inputs from all operational and
managerial information systems.
• Situational Awareness Module for the
Army (SAMA): It is a decision support
system in place to integrate inputs from BSS,
e-Sitrep, and the Management Information
Systems Organisation.
5.11 Sagar Sampark
Context: Minister of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways, recently inaugurated the indigenous
Differential Global Navigation Satellite System
(DGNSS) called ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’.
About Sagar Sampark:
• It is a terrestrial based enhancement system
that corrects the errors and inaccuracies in the
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
and provides more accurate positioning
information.
• Aim:
○ Improving safety by assisting mariners in
navigation and reducing accidents in
ports..
○ Provide radio aids to ships for marine
navigation.
Differential GNSS
• Working of GNSS: GNSS receivers
determine position using timing signals from
satellites, with potential for various errors or
delays during signal transmission to Earth.
• DGNSS, an enhancement to GNSS, corrects
system errors and inaccuracies, enabling
more precise positioning.
5.12 Internal Security:
5.12.1 Narcotics Trade
Context: The issue of narcotics trade has kept
security agencies on alert.
About Narcotics trade in India:
• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was
constituted in 1986 under the Narcotic-Drugs
 and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, with
the prime responsibility of fighting drug
trafficking and drug abuse.
• India is sandwiched between the Death
(Golden) Crescent and Death (Golden)
Triangle. This leads to flooding with drugs,
especially heroin and methamphetamine.
• Death Crescent: Iran, Afghanistan, and
Pakistan, produces Opium
• Death Triangle: Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand,
produces Morphine
Measures to Control Drug Trafficking:
• Legislative Measures
○ Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act, (NDPS) 1985: It bans the
production, possession, sale, purchase,
transport, storage, and consumption of any
narcotic drug.
○ Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,
1988: Under the act, It is illegal for a person
to produce, possess, sell, purchase,
transport, and/or consume any narcotic
drug.
• Institutional Measures
○ Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): It is
responsible for coordination in illicit drug
control as well as compiling the cases of
drug trafficking in the country. It enables
the implementation of the NDPS Act
(1985).
5.13 India-United States Defence
Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X)
Context: Recently, India-United States Defence
Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) was launched
at Washington DC, USA.
About INDUS X:
• Co-organised by Innovations for Defence
Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, and US
Department of Defence (DoD).
• Aim:
○ To expand the strategic technology
partnership and defense industrial
cooperation between governments,
businesses, and academic institutions.
○ To make defense industrial ecosystems
more innovative, accessible, and resilient.
• This is part of the vision to establish a defense
innovation bridge, an initiative on critical and
emerging technologies introduced by national
security advisers.
69
5.14 Paramilitary Forces
Context: Recent Ministry of Home Affairs data
shows increased number of suicides among
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnels
over the past three years.
About CAPF
• It is the collective name of central police
organizations, under the authority of Ministry
of Home Affairs.
• These are technically paramilitary forces
responsible for internal security and guarding
the borders.
• The CAPF refers to seven security forces
○ Assam Rifles (AR)
○ Border Security Force (BSF)
○ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
○ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
○ Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
○ National Security Guard (NSG)
○ Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
• Each of the seven has its own cadre of officers,
but they are headed by officers of the Indian
Police Service.
5.15 AI in Modern Defense
Context: The Indian Army has been deploying
Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance systems
along its borders with Pakistan and China.
More on News:
• Several AI-based surveillance systems
including high-resolution cameras, sensors,
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) feeds, and
radar feeds have been deployed.
• The data collected from these various sources
is processed and analyzed using artificial
intelligence technology.
• AGNI-D Surveillance Software: An AI-based
surveillance software launched for the eastern
Ladakh sector near the China border, can
detect weapons, vehicles, tanks, and missiles
movements.
• WARDEC: The Army Training Command
and Rashtriya Raksha University are
collaborating to establish a 'Wargame Research
and Development Centre' in New Delhi..
○ It will be India's first simulation-based
training facility using AI and virtual reality
for metaverse-enabled gameplay.
5.16 Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA)
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs extended
the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in
parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for
another six months.
About AFSPA:
• Background: The Act in its original form was
promulgated by the British in response to the
Quit India movement in 1942.
• AFSPA provides for special powers for the
armed forces that can be imposed by the Centre
or the Governor of a state, on the state or parts
of it, after it is declared “disturbed’’ under
Section 3.
○ A disturbed area is one which is declared
by notification under Section 3 of the
AFSPA.
• It has been used in areas where militancy has
been prevalent.
• The Centre can take a decision to repeal
AFSPA after getting a recommendation from
the state government.
• Any person arrested or taken into custody may
be handed over to the officer in charge of the
nearest police station along with a report
detailing the circumstances that led to the
arrest.
5.17 India and Israel Discussed
Maritime Security
Context: Recently, India and Israel discussed the
escalating threats to maritime security in the Red
Sea region following the actions of Houthi
militants of Yemen.
About the news:
• Freedom of Navigation: Both sides discussed
the freedom of navigation(FoN) for ships going
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through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which faced
a threat from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
• Operation Prosperity Guardian: It is a
multinational security initiative launched by
the US to counter the growing number of
attacks against Israel-bound international
traffic.
○ Coalition includes the U.K., Bahrain,
Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, and Seychelles, apart
from the U.S.
• Impact on Maritime Trade: Approximately
15% of global shipping traffic passes through
the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route
connecting Europe and Asia.
• Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels are forcing
rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, causing
extra costs, delays, and concerns over higher oil
prices among shipping firms.
About Maritime Security
• It encompasses national security,
environmental protection, economic growth,
and human safety in all water bodies, including
regional seas, territorial waters, rivers, ports,
and global oceans.
Maritime Security Mechanism of India:
• Patrolling of the International Maritime
Boundary Line (IMBL) by the Indian Navy.
• Patrolling in Shallow Coastal Areas by the
State Coastal/Marine Police (SC/MP)
• Patrolling of Creek Areas (Gujarat and
Sunderbans) by the Border Security Force
(BSF).
International Mechanism Governing the
Maritime Sector:
• International Maritime Organization (IMO):
It provides support, assistance and guidance to
Member Governments on matters relating to
maritime security.
• International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS): It is regarded as the most
important of all international treaties
concerning the safety and security of merchant
ships.
• The United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea: It lays down a comprehensive
regime of law and order in the world's oceans
and seas establishing rules governing all uses
of the oceans and their resources.
5.18 Anti Submarine warfare ships
Context: Recently, Cochin Shipyard Limited
(CSL) launched the first three vessels of the Anti-
Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts for the
Indian Navy.
About Anti--submarine Warfare Ships:
• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) encompasses
tactics and strategies involving surface
warships, aircraft, submarines, and other
platforms to detect, track, and prevent enemy
submarines from engaging in hostile activities.
• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) encompasses
methods and strategies used by warships,
aircraft, and submarines to find, follow, and
neutralize enemy submarines to prevent their
hostile actions.
• Objectives
○ ASW operations are focused on locating,
monitoring, deterring, damaging, or
eliminating hostile submarines to ensure
maritime security and protect vital naval
assets.
○ They will handle anti-submarine
operations, Low Intensity Maritime
Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying
Operations in coastal waters.
• Capabilities
○ ASW ships are outfitted with an array of
weaponry, such as light-weight torpedoes,
ASW rockets, mines, a 30mm close-in
weapon system, and stabilized 12.7mm
remote control guns
5.19 DRDO’s Anti-Drone Technology
Context: The counter-drone system developed by
the Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) is now ready to go into
production.
About Counter Drone System:
• Counter-drone systems are defense systems
built to prevent attacks of drone by detection,
identification and neutralization of an
intruding drone. They are categorized as:
○ Kinetic systems: They fire projectiles,
such as bullets or missiles, at a drone to
destroy it and incorporate a sensor, such as
radar, to detect the drone and a motorized
platform to aim and fire the weapon.
○ Non-kinetic systems block the flight
capability or corrupt the signals crucial
for control and navigation. They do it by
emitting noise signals at set frequencies,
rendering the drone incapable of detecting
its command signals or may also transmit
false GPS signals.
• The system can counter attacks( soft and hard
kill) of all types of drones, including micro
drones.
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• It uses a laser-based kill system to detect and
destroy drones in the air. It can detect and jam
micro drones up to 3 kilometers
• The system can detect and jam micro drones up
to 3 kilometers and fires laser signals to bring
down a target up to 1-2.5 kilometers.
About Drones
• They are unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)
that can be remotely controlled or fly
autonomously using software-controlled flight
plans in their embedded systems that work
with GPS. It may carry lethal or nonlethal
cargo.
• The Quality Council of India issues
airworthiness certificates to manufacturers on
the Digital Sky platform if the drone meets all
the specified certification standards.
• Application of Drones: Surveillance and
Reconnaissance; Border security; Search and
Rescue missions and delivery of essential
supplies; Battlefield monitoring, and mine
detection and clearance.
5.20 Submarines
5.20.1 INS Vikrant
Context: The naval variant of the indigenous light
combat aircraft (LCA) landed on the first
indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
About INS Vikrant
• INS Vikrant (R11) is a ship powered by four gas
turbines and uses the Short Take Off but
Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) model with a
ski-jump for launching aircraft.
• INS Vikrant, India's first aircraft carrier, was
commissioned in 1961 and decommissioned in
1997 after 36 years of service.
• Second INS Vikrant (IAC-1), an indigenous
aircraft carrier (IAC), was launched in August
2013 to replace the aging INS- Viraat.
• With the commissioning of INS Vikrant (IAC-
1), India now has two operational aircraft
carriers (other one being INS Vikramaditya),
which will bolster the maritime security
5.20.2 INS Vagir
Context: Recently, the fifth Scorpene class
submarine, INS Vagir, was commissioned into the
Indian Navy.
About Scorpene-Class Submarines:
• The Scorpene class submarines are advanced
conventional submarines with superior stealth
features. INS-Vagir was developed under
Project-75, in which six Scorpene-class
submarines were built at Mazagon Dock
 Limited, Mumbai, in partnership with a French
naval shipbuilder.
• Five other submarines of the project are INS
Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, and
Vagsheer.
5.20.3 INS Sindhukesari
Context: Indian Navy Kilo-class conventional
submarine, INS Sindhukesari, docked in Jakarta,
Indonesia, for the first time from February 22 to
24.
About INS Sindhukesari: Sindhughosh-class,
part of Project 877, is a diesel-electric submarine
similar to the Soviet Kilo class, capable of
launching missiles up to 220 km.
5.20.4 INS Sahyadri
Context: INS Sahyadri joins maritime exercises
with the French Navy.
About INS Sahyadri: It is a Shivalik-class guided
missile frigate with stealth features
commissioned in 2012.
5.20.5 INS Androth
Context:
Recently, INS Androth, second in a series of eight
Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts,
was launched in Kolkata.
About INS Androth:
• It is propelled by three diesel- driven water jets
and would be used to conduct anti-submarine
operations and full- scale subsurface
surveillance of coastal waters.
5.20.6 INS Tarkash
Context: India dispatches a third naval vessel,
INS Tarkash, for evacuation efforts in conflict-
stricken Sudan.
About the News:
• Operation Kaveri, launched by India to
evacuate its nationals from war-torn Sudan,
sees INS Tarkash as the third supporting ship
alongside INS Sumedha and INS Teg.
About INS Tarkash:
• INS Tarkash, a state-of-the-art stealth frigate
of the Indian Navy, is equipped with a
versatile range of weapons and is a part of the
Indian Navy's Western Fleet.
5.20.7 INS Sindhuratna
Context: INS Sindhuratna underwent a major
upgrade in Russia.
INS Sindhuratna:
• INS Sindhuratna is a Russian Type 877EKM
diesel-electric submarine also popularly
called a NATO-defined Kilo-class sub.
• INS Sindhuratna is a Sindhughosh class
submarine.
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• The submarine underwent a Medium Refit Life
Certification (MRLC) process in Russia which
extended its life.
5.20.8 INS Kirpan
Context: India gifted the indigenously built
in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to
Vietnam.
About INS Kirpan:
• INS Kirpan is a Khukri class missile corvette
commissioned into the Navy in 1991.
• A corvette is a small fast warship that is used
to protect other ships from attack.
• The ship is fitted with a medium range gun
and close range guns, chaff launchers and
surface--to-surface missiles.
• It is capable of anti-ship warfare, anti-
submarine operations, and patrol missions.
5.20.9 INS Imphal
Context: The Defence Minister revealed the
Indian Navy's stealth guided missile destroyer
named INS Imphal.
More about the news:
• The vessel is equipped with BrahMos surface-
to-surface missiles along with other
domestically developed weaponry.
• The ship is the third among the four Project 15B
stealth guided missile destroyers.
• Crest design: The design portrays the Kangla
Palace on the left and 'Kangla-Sa' on the right.
• Kangla-Sa' is the state emblem of Manipur,
symbolizing the protector of its people.
○ The Kangla Palace is a significant historical
and archaeological site in Manipur, serving
as the traditional seat of the former
kingdom
5.21 Other Notable News:
5.21.1 REAIM 2023
Context: World’s first global summit on
Responsible AI in the Military in the
Netherlands.
About Responsible AI in the Military (REAIM):
• The summit is attended by 80 government
delegations, which aims to raise awareness,
discuss issues, and possibly agree on common
principles for deploying and using AI in armed
conflicts.
5.21.2 Spy Balloons
Context: Recently, the United States shot down a
Chinese ‘spy’ balloon in its air space.
About Spy Balloons:
• Spy balloons are high-altitude surveillance
tools that are equipped with imaging devices
 to gather intelligence. They are close to Earth’s
surface and thus provide high-resolution
images of the targets.
• These are not directly steered but guided by
changing altitudes to catch different winds.
5.21.3 LCA Tejas
Context: Display of LCA Tejas Aircraft at Aero
India 2023.
LCA Tejas Aircraft:
• LCA Tejas is a single-engine, lightweight,
highly agile, multi-role supersonic fighter
with a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire Flight
Control System (FCS).
• The aircraft is designed for air combat and
offensive air support with reconnaissance
ability.
5.21.4 Vayulink
Context: Indian armed forces will deploy an
indigenous system called Vayulink to identify
friendly forces in a joint battlespace.
5.21.5 Depleted Uranium Containing
Weapons
Context: UK is providing armor-piercing rounds
containing depleted uranium to Ukraine.
About Depleted Uranium containing Weapons:
Impacts of Depleted Uranium Weapons:
• Chemical and radioactive toxicity.
• Contamination of soil when impacting the
ground.
• Birth defects, skin irritation, kidney failure,
and increased risks of cancer.
• Depleted uranium is a by-product of creating
enriched uranium, which is used in nuclear
reactors and nuclear weapons.
• Depleted uranium is less radioactive and non-
reactive compared to enriched uranium. Thus,
depleted nuclear weapons are not classified as
nuclear weapons and are not prohibited by any
specific treaty.
• Being very dense, depleted uranium can be put
on the tips of tank shells, bullets, and mortar
rounds to increase their ability to penetrate
targets.
Nuclear Enrichment:
• Approximately 99.3% of naturally occurring
uranium is of the isotope U-238, which is not
fissionable. Naturally occurring uranium,
therefore, cannot be used in a weapon, or
nuclear power plants.
• Thus, uranium ore is enriched in order to
increase the concentration of U-235.
• Nuclear power plants require an enrichment
of 3-4% U-235 to sustain a chain reaction.
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• Fission bombs on the other hand need closer
to 90% enrichment.
5.21.6 PALM 400
Context: India recently tested the military-grade
armed remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) named
PALM (Precision Attack Loitering System)-400.
About PALM 400:
• It is a joint venture between Israeli and Indian
firms.
• It has achieved a firing range of over 100 km
and is equipped with next-generation dual
electro-optical and infrared cameras with
alternative navigation systems.
• It has intelligence, surveillance, target
acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR)
capabilities and plays a critical role in
providing military logistic support.
5.21.7 Ceramic Radome Technology
Context: Carborundum Universal Limited
(CUMI) has signed an agreement with DRDO for
manufacturing ceramic radomes used in
aerospace and missile systems.
About Ceramic Radomes:
• A ceramic radome serves as a protective shield
for radar gear and antennas, safeguarding
them from environmental elements like rain,
snow, UV radiation, and high winds.
• Ceramics are inorganic and non-metallic
materials which are corrosion-resistant, hard,
and brittle.
• Ceramics are also excellent insulators and can
withstand high temperatures.
5.21.8 Tactical Nuclear Weapons
• Context: Recently, Russia announced that it
plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in
Belarus.
• About Tactical Nuclear Weapons:
• Tactical nuclear weapons refer to small nuclear
warheads and delivery systems meant for use
on the battlefield or for limited strikes.
5.21.9 Space Militarisation and
Weaponization
Context: The Chief of Defence Staff highlights the
transforming nature of warfare, with increasing
militarization of space and progression towards
weaponization.
• Space Militarisation: This encompasses the
use of space systems for military goals,
including strategic planning, surveillance,
telecommunications, reconnaissance, and
deploying military tech in space.
• Space Weaponization: It signifies using space
systems offensively, making space a
 battleground with weapons launched from • It is a flagship mission under Deep Ocean
Earth to target space objects. mission which aims to explore and extract
5.21.10 Deep Ocean Mission/ Matsya 6000 polymetallic nodules from the ocean beds.
Context: Scientists are planning a Deep Sea Dive • NIOT, Chennai, had developed a ‘personnel
using Vehicle Matsya-6000, part of India's Deep sphere’ made of mild steel for an operational
Ocean Mission. capability of 500 meters and tested for its
More in the news: usage.
• A submersi-ble vehicle, Matsya- 6000, is being • Matsya- 6000 has syntactic foam, a flotation
developed under the Samudrayaan Project for device that would rise to the top and help
deep sea exploration. determine the physical location of the
• “Samudrayaan” will be India’s crewed submersible, even if it were unable to
expedition to a depth of 6,000 m in the central resurface.
Indian Ocean.
Emergency Cell The NDMA has started testing the emergency cell broadcast technology
Broadcast developed by C-DOT to alert people at the time of natural disaster.
Technology • The technology is currently available only with a foreign vendor and hence
C-DOT is developing it in-house.

• The Ministry of Defence has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating

System (OS) with a new Operating System- Maya.
Maya Operating
• It is based on open-source Ubuntu developed locally.
System
• It is being done due to increasing cyberattacks on defense as well as critical
infrastructure across the country.

Recently, the Indian Army inducted the lighter and more compact version of the
indigenously developed Weapon Locating Radar (WLR-M) called "Swathi
SWATHI Mountains."
Mountains • Developed by: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
• The Swathi radar comes in two versions: the Swathi Plains (WLR) and the
Swathi Mountains (WLR-M)

The NDMA has started testing the emergency cell broadcast technology
Emergency Cell
developed by C-DOT to alert people at the time of natural disaster.
Broadcast
• The technology is currently available only with a foreign vendor and hence
Technology
C-DOT is developing it in-house.

• Ukraine is using 3D-printed bombs to overcome ammunition shortages and

maintain its counteroffensive.
3D-Printed Bombs • Also known as “Candy Bombs”, they are made by producing 3D-printed
casings and filling them with C4 explosives and shrapnel.
• They are cost-effective and adaptable in size for optimal drone payload use

Context: It is the latest weapon system used by Israel against Hamas.

About Iron Sting:
• It is a laser and GPS-guided system that is built to engage targets in around
1 to 12 km range with around 90% accuracy and ensures minimal collateral
Iron Sting
damage.
• It fulfills the needs of adapting combat capabilities to contend with enemies
hidden within civilian and urban environments.
• It is part of the Israel’s military’s “Tnufa" plan.

The Border Roads Organisation's Project Beacon is enhancing the road to the
Project Beacon Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir's Lidder Valley.
About Project Beacon:

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 • Launched in the 1960s, Project Beacon is the BRO's oldest initiative,
overseeing the development and maintenance of vital road infrastructure in
key Kashmir regions.
• Border Road Organisation (BRO): It was formed in 1960 to secure India's
borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-
east states of the country.
○ BRO has been entirely brought under the Ministry of Defence in 2015.
○ Motto: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (everything is achievable through
hardwork.

Context:Recently, the Railway Minister unveiled an innovative AI-driven

initiative- Gajraj.
About Gajraj System:
• Gajraj is a kind of Intrusion Detection System or IDS.
Gajraj System • It is built to use the existing optical fiber cable (OFC) as sensors to identify
elephant movements near railway tracks and alert locations to station
masters, loco pilots and control offices.
• The Indian Railways has chosen the Northeast Frontier Railways to pilot
this program.

Context: The marine commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy safely

evacuated the Indian crew from the bulk carrier, after a UK organization
indicated pirate hijacking.
About MARCOS (Marine Commando Force of the Indian Navy)
• The MARCOs comprise the toughest soldiers who undergo rigorous training
MARCOS - Navy to conduct swift and stealthy responses and are modeled on the US Navy
Marines SEALS.
• Formation: The MARCOs were formed in 1987, with collaboration of the
National Security Guard, Garud, Para commandos, Force One.
• Past Operations: MARCOS has earned recognition for its remarkable
performance in Cactus, Leech, Pawan, and in the 26/11 Mumbai attack
operation.

5.22 Missile Systems in News: 5.22.2 Hypersonic Missile

5.22.1 Medium Range Surface-to-Air
Missile (MRSAM)
Context:
The Indian Navy carried out a successful test -
firing of a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile
(MRSAM), validating the capability to engage
'Anti Ship Missiles'.
About MRSAM:
• Developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI).
• It is an advanced air and missile defense
system providing protection against various
aerial threats.
• It is capable of taking down multiple aerial
targets like jets, drones, etc., within a 70 km
range.
Context: Russia’s airstrikes on Ukraine included
Hypersonic missiles known as Kinzhals or
Daggers.
• Hypersonic missiles are capable of flying at
least at the speed of Mach 5, i.e., five times the
speed of sound.
• Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a set
course, hypersonic missiles are maneuverable,
which makes them extremely lethal.
5.22.3 Pralay Missiles
Context: India to strengthen security on its
northern borders by purchasing an additional 250
Pralay ballistic missiles for the services.
About Pralay Missiles:
• Surface-to-Surface short-range ballistic missile
that is capable of being launched from a mobile
launcher.

75
• Pralay is a quasi-ballistic missile, which is
immune to interceptor missiles by changing
its course midair after a certain distance.
• Developed by DRDO, it has a range of 150 km
-500 km.
About Quasi-ballistic missile
• A quasi-ballistic missile combines features
of both ballistic and cruise missiles.
• It follows a high-altitude ballistic
trajectory but can also maneuver in flight,
making it more difficult to intercept than a
traditional ballistic missile.
5.22.4 Agni Prime
Context: DRDO successfully flight-tested the
next-gen 'Agni Prime' ballistic missile from A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
About Agni Prime:
• Agni - P is a two-stage canisterized solid
propellant nuclear-capable ballistic missile
with a dual redundant navigation and guidance
system.
• It has a range between 1000 to 2000 km and was
tested for the first time in 2021.
• It is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile,
designed & Developed by DRDO.
Other Ranges of Agni Missiles:
• Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
• Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
• Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
• Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and
can fire from a road mobile launcher.
• Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an
Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
with a range of over 5,000 km.
5.22.5 Varunastra
Context: The Indian Navy conducted a successful
test-fire of Varunastra, an indigenous
heavyweight torpedo with a live warhead,
targeting underwater.
About Varunastra:
• It is a ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo
designed and developed by the Naval Science
and Technological Laboratory in
Visakhapatnam under DRDO.
• It is set to be the primary anti-submarine
torpedo for Naval warships, replacing older
torpedoes on all ships equipped to fire
heavyweight torpedoes.
• Its features include acoustic homing for
tracking silent targets, multiple signal
tracking systems, autonomous guidance
algorithms, and low drift navigation for
extended endurance.
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5.22.6 Thermobaric Bomb
Context: Recently, Myanmar’s military has been
accused of using a thermobaric bomb.
About Thermobaric Bomb
• Thermobaric bomb, also known as a vacuum
bomb or aerosol bomb, or fuel-air explosive,
uses oxygen from the air for a large, high-
temperature blast.
• A thermobaric weapon is a two-stage weapon,
which can be launched from tanks or aircraft. It
is more destructive than a conventional bomb.
• It consists of a fuel container with two separate
explosive charges.
• Upon impact, the first explosive charge in a
thermobaric bomb bursts open the container,
dispersing the fuel as a cloud.
• The second charge ignites the dispersed fuel,
causing a large fireball, a powerful blast wave,
and a vacuum that sucks up the surrounding
oxygen.
• While no international laws explicitly ban the
use of thermobaric bombs, employing them
against civilians could constitute a war crime
under the Hague Conventions.
About Cluster Munition:
• These are non-precision weapons that are
designed to injure or kill human beings
indiscriminately over a large area, and to
infrastructure in the vicinity.
• They have a high dud rate, i.e. thousands of
the smaller unexploded bomblets can remain
unexploded and can kill and maim people
decades later.
• Convention on Cluster Munitions (enforced
in 2010) prohibits ratifying countries (110)
from production, transfer and stockpiling of
cluster munitions.
5.22.7 ASTRA Missile
Recently, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
successfully test fired the ASTRA missile off the
coast of Goa.
About ASTRA Missile
• It is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR)
air-to-air missile.
• It is designed to be mounted on a fighter
aircraft, and engages and destroys ‘highly
maneuvering supersonic’ aircraft.
• It is built to function across weather
conditions, and during both day and night.
5.22.8 White Phosphorous bombs
Context: The white phosphorus bombs are
believed to be used in a recent Israeli strike on
Hamas, which falls under war crime.
About White Phosphorous bombs:
• White Phosphorus is a pyrophoric material,
which ignites spontaneously when in contact
with air.
• It is dispersed in artillery shells, bombs,
rockets, mortars etc to create a smokescreen
and hide troop movement on the ground.
• White Phosphorus also interferes with infrared
optics and weapons tracking systems.
• It causes serious injury and death when it
comes into contact with the skin or inhaled or
is swallowed.
Legal status:
• It falls under the regulations of Protocol III of
the CCW (Convention on Chemical Weapons)
when used as an incendiary weapon and not
for chemical warfare.
5.22.9 Naval Anti-Ship Missile
Context: Recently, the Indian Navy successfully
undertook Guided Flight Trials of the first
indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile
(ASM).
About Anti-Ship Missile (ASM):
5.23 Major Military Exercises
Exercise Participants
• Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are
designed for use against ships and large boats.
• Anti-ship missiles can be deployed from
various platforms such as warships,
submarines, bombers, fighter and patrol
planes, and helicopters.
• Indian Navy in association with Defence
Research and Development Organisation
successfully tested the missile from a Sea king
42B helicopter.
India’s ASM Tests:
• Short-Range ASM: In May 2022, India
conducted its first test of a domestically
developed short-range Anti-Ship Missile
(ASM), named 'Naval Anti-ship Missile-short
range' (NASM-SR), designed for launch from
attack helicopters.
• Long-Range ASM (LRASM): DRDO is set to
test the LRASM which would enhance the
Navy’s capabilities in the realm of ship-based
missile systems with extended range.
Venue

JIMEX-23 Japan-India Maritime Exercise Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)

SALVEX Indian Navy – US Navy (IN – USN) Kochi (Kerala)

Malabar Navies of India, Japan, Australia and USA

East Coast of Australia.
Exercise conducted the 27th edition of the Exercise.

AUSINDEX-23 Biennial maritime exercise between Indian

Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Sydney, Australia

BRIGHT STAR- Biennial multilateral tri-service exercise

23 which includes US, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Egypt
and Qatar.

Varuna Bilateral exercise between Indian and

Arabian Sea
French Navy.

SIMBEX Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise

(SIMBEX) is an annual bilateral naval Singapore
exercise between India and Singapore

Milan-2024 It is a biennial multinational naval exercise

held in India.
Participating Nations are the US, Japan, Visakhapatnam, India
Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea,
Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Desert Cyclone Inaugural edition of joint military exercise

2024 between India and the UAE, which will focus Rajasthan
on counter terrorism exercise.

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 6
Alternative Energy Technologies

6.1 Small Modular Reactors:

Context: NITI aayog’s recent report highlights the
significance of Small Modular Reactors in
ensuring India’s energy security.
About Small Modular Reactors:
• They are advanced nuclear reactors with
power generation capacity ranging from less
than 30 MWe to 300+ MWe and are capable of
generating substantial low-carbon electricity.
• They are:
○ Small: Physically a fraction of the size of a
conventional nuclear power reactor.
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB):
○ Modular: it is possible for systems and
• Constituted on November 15, 1983, the
components to be factory-assembled and
regulatory authority of AERB is derived
transported as a unit to a location for
from the rules and notifications under the
installation.
Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the
○ Reactors- harnesses nuclear fission to
Environment (Protection) Act, of 1986.
generate heat to produce energy
• AERB ensures that use of ionizing radiation
6.2 Fukushima Nuclear Waste-Water and nuclear energy in India does not pose
risk to people and the environment.
Release • AERB issues authorization for disposal of
radioactive wastes under Atomic Energy
Context: Japan has started the release of one
(Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes)
million tonnes of contaminated water from the Rules, 1987.
Fukushima Nuclear Plant into the sea, amidst
Effects Of Nuclear Radiation on Human Health
intense backlash.
and Environment:
About Nuclear Waste
• Effects on DNA and mutations:
• The wastewater is a byproduct of the 2011
• General physiological effects (fatigue, nausea,
earthquake and tsunami, which disabled the
hair loss)
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and
• Effects on immunity (damage the bone
released radioactive waste.
marrow)
• Radioactive waste, a byproduct from nuclear
• Biomagnification: Strontium-90 accumulation
reactors, fuel plants, hospitals, and research
in bones increases the risk of bone cancer.
facilities, is also generated during the
decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear • Effects on Marine life: Genetic mutation,
reactors. reproductive changes, increased susceptibility
Sources of Nuclear Waste / Hazards/ Radioactive of Gametes and larvae to radiation damage etc..
Pollution: Nuclear Waste Treatment Technology:
• Natural Sources: Most radiation exposure • Japan claims to have used “Advanced Liquid
comes from natural sources like the Earth's Processing System” to treat stored water.
crust radioactivity, radon gas from volcanic ALPS is a filtration system that removes most
rocks and uranium ore, and cosmic radiation. of the radioactive materials except tritium.
• Man-made sources: It involves any • India employs a closed fuel cycle strategy,
anthropogenic processes emitting radiation reprocessing and recycling 95-97% of spent
into the environment, such as radiation leaks fuel.
during nuclear waste handling and disposal.

78
• The high-level waste is eventually placed in
geological disposal facilities.
• India has mastered vitrification technology
developed by BARC and operates vitrification
plants in Trombay, Tarapur, and Kalpakkam.
• Vitrification technology is a method of
converting liquid radioactive waste into a
stable, solid glass form through a thermal
process, effectively eliminating environmental
risks.
6.3 Green, Self -powered Desalination
Plant
Context: National Institute of Ocean Technology
(NIOT) is working at making the process of
desalination of water free of emissions.
Existing desalination process
• NIOT is working to make the Low-
Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD)
technology, currently used to provide potable
water in six Lakshadweep islands, emission-
free.
• The desalination plants are currently powered
by diesel generator sets as there is no other
source of power in Lakshadweep.
About Low Temperature Thermal Desalination
(LTTD) technology:
• LTTD exploits the difference in temperature
(nearly 15℃) in ocean water at the surface and
at depths of about 600 feet.
• Warmer water at the surface is condensed,
whose pressure has been lowered using
vacuum pumps.
• Such depressurised water can evaporate even
at ambient temperatures and result in vapors
which when condensed are free of
contaminants.
About National Institute of Ocean Technology
(NIOT)
• Established in 1993.
• Status: Autonomous society under Ministry of
Earth Sciences.
• Headquarters: Chennai
• Mandate: To develop reliable indigenous
technologies to solve the engineering problems
associated with harvesting of non-living and
living resources in the Indian Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ).
6.4 Sand Battery
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Context: Finland has installed the world’s first
sand battery that can store heat from renewable
energy sources for months.
About Sand Battery:
• Sand can be heated up to 600°C, whereas water
starts to boil at 100°C. It also has low heat
conductivity, which reduces energy loss.
• Its main purpose is to work as a high-power
and high-capacity reservoir for excess wind
and solar energy.
• Stored thermal energy in sand can replace
fossil fuels in homes and industries to provide
a sustainable alternative for heating and high-
temperature processes.
6.5 Battery Energy Storage Systems
Context: The Union Cabinet approved the
Scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for
development of Battery Energy Storage Systems
(BESS).
Features of Scheme for Viability Gap Funding
(VGF):
• It aims to reduce the levelized cost of storage
(LCoS) to ₹5.50-6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh),
making storage a viable option to manage peak
power demand.
• Financial support of up to 40% of the capital
cost in the form of VGF would be released in
five tranches till 2030-31 and help in creation of
4,000 MWh storage across the country
• Funding: The VGF will be released in five
tranches till 2030-31 and help in creation of
4,000 MWh storage across the country.
○ The funding is contingent on ensuring that
85% of the BESS capacity is allocated for
use by distribution companies (discoms).
About BESS:
• This system allows energy from renewable
sources to be stored and later released during
peak demand hours.
• It includes inverters for DC to AC power
conversion and a Battery Management
 System (BMS) to monitor and manage battery
health and performance.
• Types of BESS
○ Standard (non-flow) batteries: It consists
of pairs of plates (electrodes) immersed in
electrolyte and separated by non-
conducting materials. Ex. Lead-Acid (PbA)
battery, Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery,
Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery etc.
○ Flow batteries: It uses tanks of electrolyte
and membrane to control the flow of
electrons and pumps to control the flow of
electrolyte. Ex. Redox Flow Battery (RFB),
Hybrid Flow Battery (HFB)
• Applications: Grid stabilization and frequency
regulation, Energy shifting to optimize energy
consumption, backup power during outages
and integration of renewable energy sources.
6.6 Hydrogen from Seawater using
Solar Energy
Context: IIT-Madras researchers have developed
critical components for an efficient and cost-
effective method to electrolyze seawater for
hydrogen production.
Key Features of the Invention:
• Alkaline Seawater Electrolyzer: Alkaline
seawater instead of fresh water was used in the
electrolyzer, thus offering a sustainable and
abundant source for hydrogen generation.
• Support material for the electrodes: They
employed carbon-based material for electrodes
instead of metals, significantly reducing the
risk of corrosion
• Transition Metal-Based Catalysts: Such
catalysts facilitate both oxygen and hydrogen
evolution reactions, enabling simultaneous
production despite impurities and chemical
deposits on electrodes.
• Cellulose-Based Separator: It stops hydrogen
and oxygen crossover, allowing hydroxide ion
passage and reducing gas mixing, thereby
enhancing hydrogen production efficiency.
• Direct Utilization of Photovoltaic-Derived
Voltage: The electrolyzer's optimized
parameters allow it to use photovoltaic-derived
voltage for seawater electrolysis, aiding in
sustainable, eco-friendly green hydrogen and
oxygen production.
• Prototype Performance: The researchers tested
two prototypes of different dimensions.
○ The smaller electrolyzer produced hydrogen
at a rate of 250 ml per hour.
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○ While the larger one generated
approximately 1 liter hydrogen per hour.
6.7 Dimethyl Ether Fuelled Tractor
Context: IIT Kanpur has developed India's first
tractor/vehicle entirely fuelled by Dimethyl Ether
(DME) for both on and off-road use.
About Dimethyl Ether Fuel:
• DME is a synthetically produced alternative
fuel that can be directly used in specially
designed compression ignition diesel engines
for various purposes.
• DME has a high cetane number, which means
it ignites quickly and burns efficiently.
• It is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and has low
greenhouse gas emissions compared to
conventional fuels.
• Applications:
○ DME can be used as a transportation fuel
blended with other fuels such as liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) or diesel.
○ It can be utilized in conventional diesel
engines with minor modifications.
○ DME is also used as an aerosol propellant
and in industrial processes.
6.8 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Context: India declared the 2050 target for
worldwide Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
mandates as "premature".
About SAF:
• SAF is a biofuel powering aircraft with
reduced carbon footprint compared to
conventional jet fuel and plays a key role in
cutting aviation sector’s GHG emissions.
• The CSIR-IIP pilot plant in Dehradun has
produced 10,000 litres of fuel for the IAF to
date from feedstock like non-edible, edible and
used cooking oil.
Efforts for Promoting the SAF:
• Global Initiatives :
○ CORSIA Program: This initiative targets
aviation emissions, requiring offsets for
emissions beyond 2020 levels and
encouraging Sustainable Aviation Fuel
adoption.
○ Clean Skies for Tomorrow: This initiative
by the World Economic Forum seeks to
expedite the production and adoption of
SAF.
• India:
○ The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) is
collaborating with Boeing, Indigo, Spicejet,
and Tata's three airlines to boost SAF
production.
6.9 Strategic Interventions For Green
Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT)
Programme
Context: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) released guidelines for implementing the
Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen
Transition (SIGHT) programme.
About SIGHT programme:
• SIGHT is a subcomponent of the National
Green Hydrogen Mission which focuses on
creating a manufacturing hub for electrolysers
and facilities for green hydrogen production.
• Hydrogen, produced by electrolysis, is a clean
fuel that generates only water as its by-
product.
• Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to
split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
• State-run Solar Energy Corporation of India
(SECI) is the implementing agency.
About National Green Hydrogen Mission
• It was launched in 2022, as part of India’s
decarbonization strategy.
• Its other component is Strategic Hydrogen
Innovation Partnership (SHIP) which
promotes Public-Private Partnership
framework for Research & Development.
• It objectives are
○ To position India as a top global producer
and supplier of green hydrogen while
opening export opportunities for its
derivatives.
○ Creating opportunities for employment
and economic development.
○ Decreasing reliance on imported fossil
fuels and materials while fostering
domestic manufacturing capabilities.
6.10 Coal Gasification
Context: Recently, the Coal Ministry has set a
target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by FY
2030.
About Coal Gasification:
• Coal gasification is a thermo - chemical
procedure wherein the pressure and heat of the
gasifier disintegrate coal into its chemical
components, resulting in production of Syngas.
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• Syngas is mostly Carbon Monoxide (CO) and
Hydrogen (H2), with other gaseous substances
such Hydrogen Sulphide(H2S) and Carbon
dioxide (CO2).
• Coal gasification is more efficient than
traditional coal burning as it allows dual usage
of gasses.
○ Firstly, purified coal gasses are used to
generate energy in a turbine, and
○ Secondly, the turbine's exhaust heat is
harnessed to produce steam for a steam
turbine-generator.
• Coal gasification process can attain an
efficiency of 50% or higher, vis-a-vis
customary coal power plants (~30%.)
6.11 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Context: An alloy of Cobalt and Platinum doped
with Manganese has been found to be an effective
catalyst in methanol oxidation reaction in direct
methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).
About DMFC
• DMFC is an electrochemical energy conversion
device that directly converts liquid methanol's
chemical energy into electrical energy.
• DMFCs have a high energy density, high
efficiency and low operating temperature and
are safer to operate as they deal with liquid fuel
(methanol).
• Application: Alternate power sources for small
vehicles, battery chargers for mobile phones,
digital cameras, laptops, and other small
electronic gadgets etc.
6.12 Low-Cost Perovskite Solar Cells
Context: Indian researchers developed stable,
affordable Carbon-based Perovskite Solar
Cells(PSC)
About Perovskite solar cells (PSC)
• These are solar cells that utilize perovskite
materials (methylammonium lead iodide
(MAPbI3)) as the light-harvesting active layer
to convert sunlight into electricity.
• Although PSCs face stability issues when
exposed to heat and moisture, addition of
materials like Guanidinium iodide (GuI)
increases their thermal and moisture stability.
• PSCs offer advantages such as low-cost
manufacturing, high efficiency, and the
ability to be printed onto flexible substrates.
6.13 World's First 4th Generation
Nuclear Reactor Starts in China
Context: According to Chinese State Media, China
began commercial operations of the world's first
4th generation nuclear reactor at Shidaowan.
About Shidaowan plant:
• China has begun commercial operations at the
Shidaowan nuclear power plant.
• It is a 200 megawatt (MW) high-temperature,
gas-cooled reactor (HTGCR) plant which uses
a modular design.
• It uses Helium for cooling unlike conventional
reactors which use pressurized water.
Different Generations of Nuclear Reactors:
• Generation I: It includes the prototypes and
the first industrial-scale reactors developed in
the 1950s and 1960s and which were
commissioned in the 1970s.
• Generation II: These reactors were
commissioned from the 1970s onwards and
were designed to improve competitiveness
and energy independence due to the high
price of fossil fuels
• Example, this generation included pressurized
water reactors (PWRs).
• Generation III: It put the emphasis on safety
and security, strengthening robustness to
external risks by integrating operating
experience from second-generation reactors.
Example, the European pressurized reactor
(EPR).
• Generation IV: The design of Generation IV
reactors incorporates a number
technological advances, and research on these
systems is being conducted.
○ Criteria for this generation reactors includes
sustainability, nuclear safety, economic
competitiveness and nuclear proliferation
resistance.
6.14 Other Notable News:
6.14.1 Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plant
Context: The largest indigenous 700 MWe
Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plants (KAPP 3 & 4) in
Gujarat have commenced their operations.
About Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plant
• The reactor is a Pressurized Heavy Water
Reactor (PHWR), utilizing natural uranium as
fuel and heavy water as a moderator.
• The reactor includes advanced safety features
like thin-walled pressure tubes to mitigate
rupture impacts,
○ Passive Decay Heat Removal System to
prevent Fukushima-like accidents, and
○ Steel-lined containment for managing
coolant loss incidents.
• India is in the second phase of its three-stage
nuclear program, requiring U-235 isotope
enrichment of 3 to 5% for power generation.
• Achieving Criticality in a nuclear plant refers
of to a condition when each fission event releases
a sufficient number of neutrons to sustain an
ongoing series of reactions.
• The first criticality is the start of a controlled
fission chain reaction.
• This is what KAPP has achieved. After the
fission, the heat is used to make steam that
turns a turbine and produces electricity
North India’s first nuclear power plant is coming
up in Gorakhpur, Haryana.
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 Hygroelectricity refers to generation of electricity from air humidity.
• Electricity is harvested through a small device with two electrodes and a
nanoporous material.
Hygroelectricity
• When water molecules pass through these nanopores, they create an
electric charge imbalance turning the device into a mini battery.
• Advantages: Versatility, sustainable.
• Disadvantages: Scale up of technology, quantum of electricity produced.

Decentralized renewable energy refers to the generation of power from

renewable resources like solar, wind, small-scale hydro, and biomass, situated
Decentralized
close to where the energy will be consumed. This local production eliminates
Renewable Energy
the need for long-distance energy transmission and often involves community
participation.

Context: Scientists have achieved Net Energy Gain (NEG) for second time in
nuclear fusion reaction.
About Nuclear Fusion Reaction
• It is the process by which two light atomic nuclei in plasma state (charged
gaseous state) combine to form a single heavier one, while releasing
Net Energy Gain massive amounts of energy.
• In fusion, two repelling positive nuclei must approach each other,
overcoming the Coulomb Barrier, which requires more energy than what
the fusion reaction currently produces.
• NEG, critical for commercial fusion power, implies that researchers could
generate more energy than the nuclear fusion process consumed.

Context: The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently declared
that E-20 petrol would be available nationwide at all oil marketing companies.
About E-20 Fuel: E20 fuel refers to a blend of gasoline (petrol) and ethanol,
with ethanol making up 20% of the fuel mixture.
E-20 Advantages of E20 fuel:
• E20 fuel, with a higher ethanol percentage than regular gasoline, leads to
reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
• Ethanol, derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugarcane, or
cellulosic biomass, is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

83
 7
Honors And Headlines
7.1 Porter Prize 2023
Context: Ministry of Health has been awarded
the Porter Prize 2023 for successfully combating
the COVID-19 crisis.
About Porter Prize 2023:
• It is named after US citizen Michael E
Porter, an economist, researcher, author,
advisor, speaker and teacher.
• The award acknowledges the government's
strategy in handling COVID-19, the
collaboration of different stakeholders, and
the significant role of ASHA workers in
producing PPE kits.
7.2 International Prize in Statistics
Context: Indian American C.R. Rao won the 2023
International Prize in Statistics, a Nobel Prize
equivalent in the field, at the age of 102.
About International Prize in Statistics:
• Established in 2016 by a group of five major
statistical organizations, the award is
presented biennially to an individual or team.
• Prize is given for major achievements using
statistics to advance science, technology and
human welfare.
7.3 Nobel Prize In Medicine
Context: 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology /
Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó
and Drew Weissman for their discoveries
concerning nucleoside base modifications.
mRNA vaccines
• The discoveries were critical for developing
effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
• In our cells, genetic information encoded in
DNA is transferred to messenger RNA
(mRNA), which is used as a template for
protein production.
• During the 1980s, efficient methods for
producing mRNA without cell culture (in a
lab) were introduced, called in vitro
transcription.
• In vitro transcribed mRNA was considered
unstable and challenging to deliver. Moreover,
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in vitro-produced mRNA gave rise to
inflammatory reactions.
• The Nobel laureates showed that converting
the RNA base uridine to pseudouridine in
mRNA produced in vitro could reduce the
inflammatory response.
• Later, mRNA vaccines were developed
against Zika virus, MERS-CoV and COVID
vaccines for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccines, with their nucleoside bases
modified.
Nucleoside base Modification:
• A nucleoside-modified messenger RNA
(modRNA) is a synthetic mRNA in which some
nucleosides are replaced by other naturally
modified nucleosides or synthetic nucleosides
(Example uridine to pseudouridine).
• modRNA (Modified RNA) is used to induce
the production of a desired protein in certain
cells.
• Using modified nucleosides is a critical
approach to mitigate the intrinsic immune-
response of exogenous mRNA and increase
its translation for mRNA therapeutic
applications.
Vaccine Name Platform
Covishield A Recombinant Chimpanzee
Adenovirus vector vaccine
COVAXIN Inactivated vaccine
ZyCoV-D DNA based vaccine
Sputnik V Combined Vector vaccine
COVOVAX SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike
protein nanoparticle vaccine
(SARS-CoV-2 rS)
7.4 Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023
Context: The 2023 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was
awarded for the discovery and synthesis of
quantum dots.
About Quantum Dots
• Quantum dots are tiny particles which are just
nanometers wide and display distinct optical
properties because of their small size.
• They have the same structure and composition
as bulk materials, yet unlike bulk materials,
 their properties can be altered by adjusting
their size.
Applications of Quantum Dots:
• Quantum dots have the ability to convert a
spectrum of light into different colors.
• They are used to map biological tissues by
biochemists.
• They are used in photovoltaic cells to improve
the absorption and efficiency.
• Certain cancer treatments use quantum dots
for targeted drug delivery.
• Quantum dots can be used as security markers
on currency and documents as an anti-
counterfeit measure.
7.5 Nobel Prize in Physics 2023
Context: The 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics was
shared by three scientists—Pierre Agostini,
Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Huillier.
About Nobel Prize Physics 2023:
• Nobel Prize Physics 2023 has been awarded for
“experimental methods that generate
attosecond pulses for the study of electron
dynamics in matter.
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• The laureates received the Prize for their work
enabling the creation of ultra-short light
pulses, allowing direct observation of the rapid
world of electrons.
• The short pulses are generated on a timescale
that is known as attosecond.
About Attosecond
• Attosecond is an infinitesimally brief unit of
time that could enhance our understanding of
the fundamental forces and processes that
govern the universe.
• It is equivalent to one quintillionth of a second,
or 10 to the power of 18 seconds.
Significance of attoseconds
• Attosecond physics gives the opportunity to
understand mechanisms that are governed by
electrons.
• Attosecond pulses allow scientists to capture
‘images’ of activities that happen in incredibly
short time spans.
• Attoseconds create and manipulate extreme
ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray pulses, which are
vital for imaging ultrafast processes at the
atomic and molecular scale.
 8
New Emerging Technology
8.1 MicroLED Display Technology
Context: Apple is developing a new display
technology based on microLED for watches from
2024, extending to iPhones and Macs in the
future.
About MicroLED display technology:
• MicroLED is a technology that helps a display
produce brighter and higher-contrast images
that are impossible with conventional
technologies.
• Principle involved:
○ The microLED technology works on
sapphires, which can shine perpetually.
Pictures on a microLED screen are generated
by several individual LEDs.
○ Each microLED is very minute (a centimeter
of hair cut in 200 pieces) and functions as a
semiconductor, receiving electrical signals.
8.2 Quasicrystals
Context: A new type of quasicrystal with 12-fold
symmetry has been discovered in the USA.
About Quasicrystal:
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Modules composed of multiple micro LEDs
construct screens.
• MicroLED versus OLED (Organic Light
Emitting Diode) panels: MicroLED displays
are similar to OLED panels in most of the
features. However, microLED displays use
inorganic materials to achieve ultra-low black
levels and higher peak brightness.
Benefits of MicroLEDs
• Better Viewing Angles: Better color
reproduction and provide better viewing
angles.
• Lower Power Consumption
• Limitless Scalability: They have limitless
scalability, as they are resolution-free, bezel-
free, ratio--free, and even size-free (resizeable).
• Individually produce red, green, and blue
colors without needing the same backlighting
or color filters as conventional displays.
• Quasicrystals are crystal-like substances. But
unlike crystals, which have atoms arranged in
a repeating pattern, quasicrystals have a non-
repeating atomic arrangement.
• Scientists have found natural quasicrystals in
three different sources, i.e., Khatyrka meteorite
 (found in Russia), in the remains of the first
atomic bomb detonated (Manhattan Project),
and in a metallic fragment in the Sand Hills
dunes (Nebraska (USA)).
• These sources suggest that quasicrystals are
formed under extreme conditions such as high
pressure, high temperature, and heavy electric
currents.
• Properties:
○ Unique mechanical properties: Useful for
durable coatings and cutting tools.
○ Distinct electrical and optical properties:
Develop new types of semiconductors and
photonic devices.
○ Unusual catalytic properties: Development
of new catalysts for chemical reactions in
petrochemicals and environmental
remediation.
• Applications:
○ Used as coatings for non-stick frying pans,
○ Structural materials for aircraft and other
high-performance applications
○ Electronic devices.
○ Used for thermoelectric energy conversion
to generate electricity from waste heat.
○ Potential for use in medical imaging to
improve the resolution and accuracy of X-
ray and neutron diffraction images.
○ Heat Insulation and Bone Repair.
8.3 Proton beam therapy
Context: Chennai based Apollo Hospital’s Proton
Cancer Centre has treated up to 900 patients, with
47% of them being brain tumors.
About Proton Beam Therapy:
• It is a type of radiation therapy that uses high-
energy proton beams (positively charged
particles) to treat cancer.
• Proton beam therapy works by delivering
high doses of radiation directly to the tumor
while minimizing damage to surrounding
healthy tissues.
• Unlike traditional radiation therapy using X-
rays or gamma rays, proton beam therapy offers
more precise radiation delivery, possibly
minimizing side effects.
• Applications: Alternative to radiation therapy
for treating solid tumors, especially head and
neck cancers.
Challenges in setting PBT center:
• Infrastructural and regulatory challenges due
to safety concerns from the Department of
Atomic Energy.
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• Use of hydrogen, a highly volatile element,
requires daily checks to prevent leaks.
8.4 Fluorescent Microscopy
Context: US Researchers have created a design for
a ‘glowscope’ at a very low cost, which could
democratize access to fluorescence microscopy.
About fluorescence microscopy:
• An optical microscope views an object by
studying how it absorbs, reflects, or scatters
visible light.
• A fluorescence microscope views an object by
studying how it reemits light that it has
absorbed, i.e., how it fluoresces.
• The "glowscope" uses two plexiglass surfaces,
an LED flashlight, three theater stage-lighting
filters, a clip-on macro lens, and a smartphone.
• The smartphone (with the lens attached) is
placed on one surface that is suspended at a
height, and the second sheet is placed below
and holds the object.
• Zebrafish embryos were observed in a petri
dish using the "glowscope."
8.5 The Piezoelectric Effect in Liquids
Context: Scientists have reported evidence of the
piezoelectric effect in liquids for the first time.
Significance of the finding:
• Piezoelectric Effect is the ability of certain
materials to generate an electric charge in
response to applied mechanical stress.
• Materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric
effect (the generation of electricity when stress
is applied) also exhibit the converse
piezoelectric effect (the generation of stress
when an electric field is applied)
Applications of Piezoelectric effects in Liquid.
• Reverse piezoelectric effect could be used to
control how the liquids bent light passing
through them, thus developing lenses with
dynamic focusing abilities.
• Recyclable and environmentally friendly
materials.
8.6 Neuromorphic Computing
Context: Researchers have employed scandium
nitride (ScN), a semiconductive substance known
for its stability and compatibility with
Complementary Metal - Oxide-Semiconductor
(CMOS) technology, to create brain-inspired or
Neuromorphic computing.
About Neuromorphic computing:
• Neuromorphic computing mimics the human
brain and nervous system in computer
engineering, encompassing the design of both
hardware and software components for this
purpose.
• Neuromorphic hardware strives to replicate
biological synapses, monitoring and retaining
signals generated by stimuli.
Working Mechanism:
• Neuromorphic computing operates through
Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) consisting
of countless artificial neurons resembling those
found in the human brain.
8.7 4D printing
• 4D printing builds over 3D printing
technology and adds another dimension of
time to the process.
• In 4D printing, objects are created using
materials that can change their shape,
properties, or functionality over time when
exposed to specific environmental stimuli,
such as heat, humidity, light, or other triggers.
• Material Used: Hydrogel or shape memory
polymer, a programmable ingredient, is
capable of altering its physical shape or
thermomechanical properties based on user
input or autonomous sensing.
• Application of 4D printing:
○ Biomedicine: Used in medical implants or
devices that change shape or release drugs
in response to physiological conditions.
○ Mechanical systems: Materials can adapt
to environmental conditions, such as a
temperature-regulated water valve.
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• These neurons transmit signals within layered
networks, transforming input into output
using electric spikes in a Spiking Neural
Networks (SNN) framework.
• This enables machines to efficiently emulate
human brain-like networks for tasks like
visual recognition and data analysis.
Biological Synapse: Synapse is a specialized
junction between nerve cells, allowing them to
transmit signals and information to one another,
facilitating communication within the nervous
system.
○ Infrastructure: Self - repairing pipes,
adaptive facades, self-opening / closing
roofs.
○ Smart Textile: 4D-printed clothing or
accessories can change their appearance or
functionality based on user choice and
surroundings.
8.8 Quantum Computing
Context: Union Cabinet approves National
Quantum Mission to finance quantum computing
technology, research, and applications.
About Quantum Computing
• Quantum computing utilizes quantum
mechanics principles to tackle problems
beyond classical computers' capacity and uses
qubits instead of binary bits as the basic
memory units.
• Applications of Quantum computing includes
drug design & development, cybersecurity &
cryptography, logistics optimisation, traffic
planning, climate change etc.
 Quantum Computing
Calculates with qubits, representing 0 and 1
simultaneously.
Power increases exponentially in proportion to
the number of qubits.
Quantum computers have high error rates and
need to be kept ultracold.
Well suited for tasks like optimization problems,
data analysis, and simulations.
About National Quantum Mission (NQM):
• The mission, budgeted at Rs 6,003.65 crore for
the duration 2023-24 to 2030-2031, aims to
position India among the top six quantum
technology R&D nations, such as the US,
Canada, France, Finland, China, and Austria.
• Implementation: DST, supported by other
departments, will lead this national mission.
• The strategy is to develop quantum computers
with 20-50 qubits in three years, 50-100 qubits
in five years, and 50-1,000 qubits in eight years
• Deliverables of the mission:
○ Developing satellite-based secure quantum
communications between ground stations
over a range of 2,000 kilometers within
India
○ Long-distance secure quantum
communications with other countries
○ Inter-city quantum key distribution over
2,000 km
○ Multi-node quantum network with
quantum memories
• Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in Quantum
computing, communication, sensing &
metrology, and materials & devices will be
established in leading academic and R&D
institutes, focusing on both basic and applied
research in their respective fields.
• Magnetometers development: The mission
aims to create highly sensitive atomic
magnetometers and precision atomic clocks for
communication and navigation.
About Quantum Mechanics:
• Quantum mechanics explains the nature and
behavior of matter and energy on the atomic
and subatomic levels.
• In physics, a quantum is the smallest possible
discrete unit of any physical property.
Classical Computing
Calculates with transistors, which can represent
either 0 or 1.
Power increases in a 1:1 relationship with the
number of transistors.
Classical computers have low error rates and can
operate at room temperature.
Best suited for most everyday processing tasks.
• It usually refers to properties of atomic or
subatomic particles, such as electrons,
neutrinos and photons.
Government Initiatives:
• QuEST: DST launched the Quantum-Enabled
Science and Technology (QuEST) initiative to
lay out infrastructure and to facilitate research
in the field.
About qubits
• Similar to bits (0 and 1) in classical
computers, 'qubits' are quantum
computers' processing units, with their
computational power increasing
exponentially as more qubits are added.
• Quantum computers store information in
the form of quantum bits (qubits) that
can take on various combinations of zero
and one.
• Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) Toolkit:
It offers India's first quantum development
environment to academicians, industry experts,
students, and the scientific community.
• National Mission on Quantum Technology and
Applications (NMQTA) aiming to advance
quantum computing in India
8.9 Large Hadron Collider
Context: Engineers are preparing the upgraded
and more precise Large Hadron Collider for its
third run.
About Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
• The European Organization for Nuclear
Research's (CERN) LHC conducts cutting-
edge physics experiments with high-energy
subatomic particles.
• It is the world’s largest science experiment
where two oppositely accelerated beams of
particles smash head-on in a collider.
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• Hadron is a subatomic particle made up of
smaller particles. The LHC typically uses
protons, which are made up of quarks and
gluons.
The Effects of Collision:
• When two opposing beams of high-energy
protons collide, the collision energy (up to 13.6
TeV maximum achieved) equals the
combined energy of both beams.
• Collision chaos unleashes vast energy,
forming various rare subatomic particles,
guided by nature's fundamental forces.
• Rare particles require over 10 million collisions
for observation. Similarly, massive particles
such as Higgs Boson particles need large
amounts of significant specific energy.
The Findings of the LHC:
• Utilizing the information gathered from
numerous collisions, researchers have tested:
1. Predictions of the Standard Model of
particle physics, the reigning theory of
subatomic particles;
2. Observed exotic particles like pentaquarks
and tetraquarks and checked if their
properties are in line with theoretical
expectations; and
3. Pieced together information about extreme
natural conditions, like those that existed
right after the Big Bang.
8.10 Higgs Boson Decay
Context: Physicists working with the Large
Hadron Collider at CERN observed a rare decay
of a Higgs boson into a Z boson and a photon.
About Higgs boson:
• The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle, also
known as "God Particle" that plays a crucial
role in giving mass to other elementary
particles.
• Particles gain mass by interacting with Higgs
bosons in the Higgs field; without these
bosons, they would remain massless.
• The more a particle interacts with the Higgs
boson, the greater its mass, explaining the
differing masses of electrons, protons, and
neutrons.
• Understanding the strength of each particle's
coupling with Higgs bosons, along with the
properties of the Higgs bosons, is key to
comprehending the universe's matter.
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LHC experiment:
• The LHC generates a Higgs boson by colliding
high-energy protons, transforming the
released energy into various particles.
• As it is a heavy particle, the Higgs boson is
unstable and decays into lighter particles.
• The Higgs boson can decay to a lepton pair and
a photon in three ways.
• This first evidence indicates the Higgs boson
decays into a Z boson, the weak force's
electrically neutral carrier, and a photon, the
electromagnetic force's carrier.
• Although the Standard Model predicts what
happens to the Higgs boson when it dies, until
now, researchers hadn't observed the particle
decay before the recent study.
Quantum field theory:
• Quantum field theory suggests that subatomic
space is filled with virtual particles, which
briefly appear and disappear.
• They can’t be detected directly, but according
to physicists their effects sometimes linger.
• Quantum field theory portrays the microscopic
particle world uniquely, with fundamental
quantum fields pervading the universe and
governing natural laws.
Standard Model of Particle Physics:
• It says that a Higgs boson will decay to a Z
boson and a photon 0.1% of the time.
• The Standard Model of Particle Physics is
scientists’ current best theory to describe the
most basic building blocks of the universe.
• It explains how particles called quarks (which
make up protons and neutrons) and leptons
(which include electrons) make up all known
matter.
• It also explains how force carrying particles,
which belong to a broader group of bosons,
influence the quarks and leptons.
• The Standard Model explains three of the four
fundamental forces that govern the universe:
electromagnetism, the strong force, and the
weak force.
8.11 Majorana Zero Modes
Context: Researchers have developed a method to
create Majorana zero modes particles that could
revolutionize quantum computing.
About Majorana Zero Mode:
• Majorana zero modes, belonging to the
Majorana fermions class, are unique particles
that are their own antiparticles (possessing
opposite quantum properties like charge).
• They are used for enhancing the stability of
qubits and enabling topological quantum
computing.
Fermion
• All subatomic particles that make up matter
are called fermions.
• Fermions which have their own antiparticles
are called Majorana fermions.
8.12 Self-Confining Radioactive-
isotope Ion Target (SCRIT)
Context: Japanese researchers have shown that
SCRIT technique could be used to 'see' inside
unstable nuclei.
About Self-Confining Radioactive-isotope Ion
Target (SCRIT):
• It aims to probe the internal structures of short-
lived exotic nuclei through electron scattering.
• The method uses an unique ion-trapping
technique to prepare exotic nuclei targets for
electron scattering on a high-energy beam.
• It also uses an electron storage ring for
trapping isotopes, facilitating scattering
experiments on otherwise inaccessible
unstable nuclei.
• This technique can be utilized in future
experiments, including studies on nuclear
structure, nuclear reaction dynamics, and the
astrophysical origins of elements.
8.13 Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle
Context: Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the
world’s first prototype of a BS 6 Stage II
‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’ in India.
About Electrified Flex Fuel (EFFV)
• Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are designed to
operate on various fuel blends, mainly
gasoline and ethanol, with engines that adapt
to fuel mixtures like E20 (20% ethanol, 80%
gasoline) or higher.
• Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle merges a flex-fuel
engine and electric powertrain for enhanced
ethanol use and fuel efficiency to meet India's
emission norms.
8.14 Non-Invasive Formaldehyde
Sensor
Context: A new low-cost sensor can detect
formalin adulteration in fish in a non-invasive
way.
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About Formalin adulteration:
• The formalin sensor uses tin oxide-reduced
graphene oxide composite and was tested for
adulterated fish at lab scale and on fish
available in the fish markets.
• Formalin is a mixture of water and
formaldehyde,which is usually used on freshly
caught fishes to extend its shelf life.
• Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI)
regulations of 2011, has banned the use of
formalin in food products.
• It can cause conditions such as abdominal
discomfort, vomiting, renal injury, etc.
• The new sensors are stable over time, cost-
effective, non-invasive, and capable of
detecting Formalin at room temperature with
high sensitivity.
Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a colorless, highly
toxic, and flammable gas at room
temperature.
• Uses: In producing fertilizer, paper,
plywood; as a food preservative and
household products, such as antiseptics,
medicines, and cosmetics.
• Exposure: Irritation of the skin, throat, lungs,
and eyes. It is also carcinogenic.
8.15 Other Important Concepts
8.15.1 Quantum dots (QDs) and Quantum
Coherence:
• Quantum dots are tiny human-made
nanocrystalline semiconductors that can carry
electrons and glow in different colors when hit
with UV light due to their special electronic
and optical traits.
• Quantum Coherence deals with the idea that
all objects have wave-like properties, and if an
object's wave-like nature is split in two, then
the two waves may coherently interfere with
each other in such a way as to form a single
state that is a superposition of the two states.
Example: Qubit is a superposition of the 0 and
1 states.
• Quantum Communication refers to
communication channels that leverage laws of
quantum physics to protect data and make it
more secure than traditional transmission. In a
quantum communication network, data is
transmitted via qubits.
8.15.2 Quantum Engine
Context: Researchers have made a its color change from blue to pink to red when
groundbreaking discovery by developing a
quantum engine, referred to as the Pauli engine.
About Quantum Engine
• It utilizes the distinct properties of bosons and
fermions to transform the energy difference
between two quantum states of atoms into
practical work.
• It comprises a gas of lithium-6 atoms confined
within an optical and magnetic trap.
• The behavior of this gas can be adjusted to
mimic bosonic or fermionic characteristics by
manipulating the surrounding magnetic field
strength.
• It opens new avenues for exploring quantum
thermodynamics and its potential
applications in various fields of physics.
8.15.2 World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket
Engine:
Context: A space-tech startup from IIT Madras
called Agnikula-Cosmos has carried out the flight
approval test for its 3D-printed rocket engine
named "Agnilet."
About 3D printed rocket engine:
• 3D printing, also known as additive
manufacturing, is a process that involves
creating three-dimensional objects layer by
layer using a computer-created design.
• Agnilet is a semi-cryogenic engine that uses
liquid kerosene (room temperature) and
liquid oxygen as fuel.
• Agnilet Engine will propel Agnibaan, the
company's launch vehicle, which can
transport up to 300kg payloads to low-earth
orbit.
• Launch of Agnibaan will be the second by a
private firm after Hyderabad-based Skyroot
Aerospace’s Vikram-S, which took place in
November 2022.
Other Notable Achievements
• Recently, India's first 3D-printed post office
was inaugurated in Bengaluru. It was built by
L&T with technical support from IIT Madras.
8.15.3 Reddmatter: New Superconductor
Material
Context: A new superconducting material that
can transmit electricity without resistance and
pass magnetic fields around it, has been discovered.
About the New Superconductor Material:
• This material functions effectively at low
temperatures and pressures.
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• The material was named "reddmatter" due to
subjected to compression.
• It is formed by combining lutetium (a rare
earth metal) with hydrogen and nitrogen.
About Superconductivity:
• It is a physical phenomenon where specific
materials which when cooled to near absolute
zero, display zero electrical resistance and
eject magnetic fields.
• Critical Temperature is the point where
electrical resistivity of a material falls to zero.
• Absolute Zero Temperature, marked as 0
Kelvin or -273.15°C, is theoretically the lowest
temperature as per thermodynamics, where
particle motion in any substance halts,
achieving minimum energy.
Achievement of Zero Resistance Phenomenon
• At standard conditions, electrons face resistance
moving through solids because they interact
with vibrating atoms.
• But in some materials, cooling below a specific
temperature causes electrons to form loosely
connected pairs called Cooper pairs.
• In a Cooper pair, individual electrons do not
get scattered by lattice vibrations, enabling
unimpeded movement and resulting in
superconductivity.
Application:
• Medical equipment (MRI Machine)
• High-speed hovering trains (Maglev)
• Create lossless electrical grids
• Magnets for nuclear fusion reactors
• Superconducting Quantum Interference
Devices (SQUIDS): Superconducting
qubits used in quantum computing
platforms.
• Fusion Reactors
8.15.4 Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Context: IIT Madras research proposes using
Supercritical carbon dioxide to extract oil from
depleting oil and gas reservoirs.
About Supercritical carbon dioxide:
• The critical temperature of a substance is
the temperature above which vapor of the
substance cannot be liquefied, regardless
of applied pressure.
• The critical pressure of a substance is the
pressure required to liquefy a gas at its
critical temperature.
• It is a fluid state of carbon dioxide where it is
held at or above its critical temperature (31∘C)
and critical pressure (73 atm).
• ‘Surfactant-Alternating gas (SAG) injection’
approach: It involves CO2 gas injection into the
reservoir, where it becomes supercritical,
followed by injection of water or surfactant
solution.
• Applications:
○ Carbon Dioxide Sequestration.
○ Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from
depleted Oil wells.
○ Improved flow dynamics.
○ Reduced oil viscosity.
8.15.5 Magnetoresistance
Context: UK researchers found that graphene
shows unusually high magnetoresistance at room
temperature, nearly 100 times greater than in
other semimetals within the same magnetic field
range.
About Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR):
• Magnetoresistance is the tendency of a material
to change the value of its electrical resistance
in an externally applied magnetic field.
• GMR is a quantum mechanical
magnetoresistance effect observed in multilayers
composed of alternating ferromagnetic and non-
magnetic conductive layers.
• Uses of GMR: Hard disk drives,
magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors,
automotive sensors, microelectromechanical
systems, and medical imagers.
About Graphene:
• It is an allotrope of carbon made up of a
single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a
hexagonal pattern.
• It is part of graphite but has unique properties
of its own.
8.15.6 Chiral Bose Liquid State
Context: Scientists have recently discovered a
completely new state of matter called Chiral Bose
Liquid State.
About Chiral Bose Liquid State
• At extremely low temperatures, matter enters
"quantum" states where its behavior is
markedly different from the familiar solid,
liquid, and gas states.
• Physicists have created "frustrated quantum
systems" with particles interacting to create
numerous infinite possibilities.
• A frustration system consists of a bi-layer
semiconducting device.
○ The electron-rich top layer has free moving
electrons. The bottom layer is filled with
“holes,” which are places that electrons can
occupy.
• When the two layers are brought very close, the
machine induces a local imbalance, leaving
electrons with insufficient holes to occupy.
This initiates the unique Chiral Bose liquid
state.
8.15.7 Demon Particle
Context: Researchers discovered a massless
particle, called the "demon particle."
• The prediction of the 'demon particle' was
based on the belief that electrons would exhibit
unusual behavior when moving through a
solid.
• This transparent, massless, and neutral
particle can manifest at any temperature,
making it valuable for superconductors.

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 9
9.1 Black Box
About Black Box:
• The Black Box, technically known as Flight
Data Recorder, is an instrument that records all
the activities of an aeroplane/ aircraft during
its flight.
• An aeroplane houses two black boxes, to help
reconstruct the events that led to an aircraft
crash.
• Each Black Box has two separate equipment:
○ Flight Data Recorder:- It contains
information about direction, altitude, fuel,
speed, turbulence, cabin temperature, etc.
○ Cockpit Voice Recorder:-It records the
sound of the airplane, such as the sound of
the engine, emergency alarm, cabin, and
cockpit during the last two hours to predict
the conditions before the accident.
• The Black Box is made of Titanium metal and
is enclosed in a Titanium box, which gives it the
strength to withstand any shock.
9.2 M Sand Facility
Context: Coal India Limited has started a facility
in West Bengal to produce manufactured sand.
About Manufactured Sand (M-Sand):
• M-Sand is artificial sand produced by crushing
hard stones into small, angular-shaped
particles, washed and finely graded to be used
as construction aggregate. It is a superior
alternative to river sand for construction
purposes.
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Miscellaneous
Significance of Manufacture Sand:
• Soaring demand for sand for construction has
caused shortages worldwide. M-Sand can
ensure environmental sustainability and
reduce over-mining.
9.3 Lithium Resources in J&K
Context: Geological Survey of India (GSI) has
established “inferred” lithium resources of 5.9
million tonnes in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi
District of Jammu and Kashmir.
About Lithium:
• It is a soft, shiny gray metal found in Earth’s
crust.
• It has the lowest density among all metals.
• It reacts vigorously with water and does not
occur as metal in nature.
• Spodumene, petalite, lepidolite, and
amblygonite are the more important minerals
containing lithium.
World Lithium Reserves:
• Lithium Triangle: An intersection of Chile,
Bolivia, and Argentina, known for high-
quality salt flats.
• Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar de Atacama in
Chile and Salar de Arizaro.
• Australia has around 2.7 million tonnes of
lithium resources.
• China controls 60% of the world's capacity for
processing raw lithium products into batteries.
Additional Information:
• Lithium is referred to as ‘white gold’ because
of its demand in the global energy market for
global energy transition.
Uses of Lithium:
• Batteries: Due to its energy storage ability, it
is used in rechargeable batteries of mobile
phones and Electric Vehicles.
• Aerospace: Used in the aerospace industry as
a component in lightweight alloys
• Pharmaceuticals: Used for treatment of
bipolar disorder and other mood disorders.
• Ceramics and glass: Used as a flux in the
production of ceramics and glass.
• Nuclear energy: Used as a coolant in nuclear
reactors.

• Industrial Use: Being hygroscopic in nature, it
is used in air conditioning and Industrial
drying systems.
• Lithium Reserves in India: Found in Mandya
and Mysore districts of Karnataka.
9.4 Standard Model of Particle Physics
Context: Scientists measured the electron
magnetic moment, a property predicted by the
standard model of particle physics, using a new
experiment.
About Standard Model:
• The Standard Model describes the properties
of all subatomic particles and classifies them
into different groups.
• It determines how subatomic particles are
affected by three of the four fundamental forces
of nature:
○ Strong-nuclear force
○ Weak-nuclear force
○ Electromagnetic force
Applications:
• Used to predict the existence of Higgs boson
particles in 1960. (Finally discovered in
2012.)
• Successfully predict the existence and
properties of dozens of particles.
• Predicts electron’s magnetic moment.
Limitations of Standard Model:
• Omits Force of Gravity: Standard Model
completely omits the force of gravity and is
considered to be incomplete, as it only
accounts for three of the four fundamental
forces.
• Lack of information about Dark-Matter
Particles
• The Standard Model of Matter is
incompatible with the Theory of General
Relativity (whose basis focuses on gravity).
9.5 National Science Day 2023
Context: India designated 28th February as
National Science Day, in 1986 to commemorate the
discovery of the Raman Effect.
About Raman Effect:
• CV Raman received the Nobel Prize in 1930 for
his discovery of the Raman Effect, which refers
to the inelastic scattering of light by matter,
resulting in a shift in the frequency of the
scattered light.
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• The Raman effect forms the basis for Raman
spectroscopy, which is used by chemists and
physicists to gain information about materials
• The theme for this year was “Global Science
for Global Wellbeing” in light of India’s G20
presidency.
9.6 Lab Grown Diamonds
Context: Budget 2023 laid special focus on
promoting manufacturing of Lab Grown
Diamonds.
About Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD):
• LGDs are diamonds that have the same
chemical composition and physical and
optical properties as natural diamonds.
• They are produced by mimicking the
geological processes which form natural
diamonds.
• They are manufactured through two processes,
both of which use a seed (slice of another
diamond).
○ High pressure, high temperature (HPHT)
method: Seed, along with pure graphite
carbon, is exposed to temperatures around
1,500℃ and extremely high pressure.
○ Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)
method: Seed is heated to 800℃ in a sealed
chamber filled with a carbon-rich gas. Gas
sticks to the seed, gradually building
diamond.
Application: Used in industries as cutters and
heat spreaders in electronics.
• Application of Lab-Grown Diamonds:
• Industrial purposes such as machines and
tools.
• Electronics Industry to dissipate heat in laser
diodes, laser arrays, and high-power
transistors.
• High-Performance Optics
• Medical Equipment
• Artificial Jewelry

About 'Kar-e-Kalamdani':
• 'Kar-e-kalamdani', is Kashmir's exquisite
Papier mache that involves sakthsazior
meticulous preparation of paper pulp and
naqqashi.
Diamond Simulants:
• Diamond simulants are materials that
resemble natural diamonds in appearance
but have different chemical compositions.
• For Example: Moissanite, Cubic Zirconia
(CZ), White Sapphire
9.7 Rare Earth Element
Context: Researchers have discovered Light Rare
Earth Elements in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
About Rare Earth Elements (REE):
• Rare earth elements consist of 17 metals (15
lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium) and are
known so because of their low concentrations
in minerals and difficult extraction from their
oxides.
• Properties: Magnetic, luminescent, and
electrochemical properties
• Usage: Screens of smartphones, computers,
and flat panel televisions; the motors of
computer drives; batteries of hybrid and
electric cars.
9.8 Foucault’s Pendulum
Context: The new Parliament boasts architectural
features like a Foucault’s Pendulum.
Foucault’s Pendulum:
• The Foucault pendulum is named after the
French physicist Léon Foucault.
• It consists of a heavy bob suspended at the end
of a long wire and has unrestricted movement.
• It is used to illustrate earth's rotation on its
axis.
• The pendulum's orientation seems to
gradually shift when it swings back and forth,
as a result of relative motion between the
pendulum and rotating Earth.
• The pendulum’s apparent rotation speed and
direction depend on its latitude.
○ At the North Pole: One clockwise rotation
in 24 hours.
○ At the equator: No Rotation.
○ At other latitudes: Rotation at intermediate
rates and directions.
• The pendulum maintains steady angular
momentum throughout its swing, and as Earth
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spins, the pendulum's oscillation plane shifts to
preserve this momentum.
9.9 Carbon Dating and Radiometric
dating
Context: Allahabad High Court ordered a
“scientific survey”, including carbon dating, of a
Shivling found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex
in Varanasi.
About Carbon Dating:
• Carbon dating is a scientific method used to
determine the age of ancient artifacts and
organic materials.
• It works on the principle that C-14 (isotope of
carbon), present in the atmosphere, is taken up
by living organisms. On death, the existing
carbon-14 in its remains begins to decay.
• The sample’s age is estimated by comparing its
remaining carbon-14 with its known half-life
of C-14 i.e. around 5,730 years.
• Application:Carbon dating is effective for
estimating the age of organic materials up to
50,000 years old, and offers crucial historical
insights in archaeology, paleontology, and
geology.
• Limitations:Carbon Dating is ineffective for
non-living objects like rocks and cannot
deduce ages of items older than 40,000-50,000
years.
Radiometric Dating:
• A recent study has shown that Calcium-41 can
be used in radiometric dating by using a
technique called Atom-Trap Trace Analysis
(ATTA).
• Calcium-41, a scarce and long-lived calcium
radioisotope with a 99,400-year half-life,
originates from cosmic ray interactions in soil
and is present in the Earth's crust.
9.10 Lab-Grown Meat
Context: Recently, California-based companies
were cleared to make and sell their cell-cultivated
chicken in the USA.
About Cell-Cultivated Chicken:
• Cell-cultivated chicken, also known as
cultured chicken or lab-grown chicken, refers
to meat that is produced using cell culture
techniques rather than traditional animal
farming methods.
• Researchers are also developing cell-cultivated
versions of sea bass, tuna, shrimp, and pork.
• Lab grown meat can reduce global greenhouse
gas emissions as global livestock contributes
14.5% to anthropogenic emissions.It also fulfills
nutritional and food security needs.
• In 2020, Singapore became the first country to
approve the sale of cell-cultivated meat.
About Precision Fermentation
• Precision fermentation involves using
microbes (bacteria, yeast) to produce
proteins by giving them genetic instructions.
• It enables the production of diverse proteins
for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food,
including milk proteins, cheese enzymes,
and components found in human breast
milk.
• It produces proteins without relying on
traditional livestock, resulting in reduced
emissions, land conservation and decreased
animal cruelty.
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9.11 Supreme Initiative
Context: The Ministry of Science and Technology
has launched the Support for Up-gradation
Preventive Repair and Maintenance of Equipment
(SUPREME) initiative.
About SUPREME Initiative:
• It aims to financially aid the repair, upgrade,
maintenance, retrofitting, or purchase of
attachments to enhance current AIFs'
(Analytical Instrumentation Facilities)
functionalities.
• Eligibility: Facilities supported solely by DST
and recognized institutions such as UGC
recognized Central Universities, State Funded
Universities, Deemed Universities, and Private
Universities are eligible for funding support
under this scheme.
9.12 Fibonacci Spirals
Context: A recent study disputes the idea that
Fibonacci spirals occur in all plant species.
Findings of the Study: The study indicated that
not all plants follow a Fibonacci pattern,
countering the belief that all leafy plants initially
grow leaves in this sequence.
About Fibonacci Pattern/ Spiral:
• Leaf arrangements on stems, pineapple
textures, and pinecone scales demonstrate
nature's mathematical patterns, all featuring
spirals following the Fibonacci sequence.
• Fibonacci sequence – It is a set of numbers
where each is the sum of the two numbers that
precede it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and so on).
• These patterns are particularly widespread in
plants and can even be recognised with the
naked eye. They can also be seen in animal
shells and even in the double helix of our
DNA.
9.13 LiDAR
Context: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
plans to carry out a Light, Detection, and Ranging
(LiDAR) survey at Purana Qila to identify the
site's oldest cultural layers.
About LiDAR
• LiDAR is a remote sensing technique using a
pulsed laser (near-infrared spectrum) to
measure varying distances to a target.
• It primarily includes three elements: a scanner,
a laser, and a GPS receiver.
 • It functions by emitting a laser beam and
measuring the time taken by the beam to
reflect off an object and return.
• Repeating this process rapidly forms a detailed
environmental map, showing the position and
form of objects in it.
Applications of LiDAR
• Topographic Mapping: Create high-resolution
digital elevation models (DEMs) for mapping
terrain features
• Autonomous vehicles: Allows vehicle to create
a detailed 3D map of its surroundings
• Archaeology: Create detailed maps of
archaeological sites to understand the layout
and features,
• Agriculture: Create maps of crops and
farmland to optimize their irrigation and
fertilization practices
• Forest management: Create a map of forests to
understand health and composition of the
forest
• Urban planning: To optimize traffic flow,
identify areas at risk of flooding, and plan for
new infrastructure projects.
9.14 National Research Foundation Bill
2023
Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved
the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bil.
Key Features of the Bill:
• National Research Foundation: The bill will
establish NRF as an apex body, to oversee
various research and development (R&D)
activities in the country.
• Repeal of Science and Engineering Research
Board (SERB): The SERB, created by an act of
Parliament in 2008, will be repealed and
subsumed into the NRF.
About National Research Foundation (NRF):
• The NRF will be an apex body to provide high-
level strategic direction to scientific research
in India, aligning with the recommendations
of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2023.
• Administrative Department: Department of
Science and Technology (DST).
• Governing Board (16 members), with Prime
Minister as Ex- officio-president.
• Time Period: 2023 - 2028.
• Objectives of NRF:
○ Identify priority areas for S&T interventions
to contribute to national objectives, including
clean energy, sustainable infrastructure,
healthcare, etc.
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○ Fund and promote research in humanities,
social sciences, and arts, fostering creativity
and critical thinking.
• The bill was needed to integrate the fragmented
R&D ecosystem, foster an innovative mindset,
and funnel increased budget towards research
and development.
Initiatives Taken by Government:
• Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA)
Faculty Scheme: To bring overseas scientists
and academicians, including NRI and OCI,
to India.
• IMPacting Research, INnovation and
Technology (IMPRINT): Launched in 2005
as a joint effort between IITs and IISc to
address engineering challenges in 10 specific
technology areas.
• Atal Tinkering Labs by NITI Aayog to
foster creativity, curiosity, and skills such as
design mindset and computational thinking
in young minds
9.15 PBW RS1: New Wheat Variety
Context: Punjab Agricultural University Develops
PBW RS1 Wheat Variety for Nutritional Security.
About PBW RS1 Wheat Variety:
• The new variety is called PBW RS-1 (Resistant
Starch)
• The high amylose and resistant starch ensure
that glucose is released slowly into the
bloodstream, preventing an immediate rise in
glucose levels and reducing the risk of
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
• It has a total starch content similar to other
wheat varieties but contains 30.3% resistant
starch, compared to only 7.5-10% in other
varieties.
• The variety is completely resistant to “yellow
rust” and "moderately resistant" to brown rust
fungal diseases.
• However, it has lower productivity compared
to other wheat varieties.
9.16 Cloud Seeding
Context: Cloud seeding experiments in
Maharashtra's Solapur region resulted in 18 per
cent more rainfall than usual.
About Cloud Seeding
• The experiment involved hygroscopic cloud
seeding, which is done in warm convective
clouds with a cloud base height greater than
zero degree Celsius.
• Calcium chloride particles were released at the
convective cloud base to trigger rainfall.
Cloud seeding techniques are
• Hygroscopic cloud seeding: It aims at
speeding up droplet coalescence in liquid
clouds, leading to production of large droplets
that start to precipitate.
• Glaciogenic cloud seeding: It triggers ice
production in supercooled clouds, leading to
precipitation.
○ Glaciogenic cloud seeding is usually done
by dispersing efficient ice nuclei, such as
silver iodide particles or dry ice (solid
carbon dioxide) into the cloud.
Benefits of Cloud Seeding:
• Cloud seeding is used all over the world as a
method for:
○ Enhancing winter snowfall and increasing
mountain snowpack
○ Supplementing the natural water supply
available to communities of the
surrounding area.
9.17 Microalgae Adaptation to Global
Warming
Context: Microalgae, which are crucial for the
ocean's food chain and atmospheric carbon
dioxide absorption, use a distinct approach to
adapt to global warming.
More about the news:
• As climate change reduces the availability of
nutrients in the sea, marine microalgae or
eukaryotic phytoplankton fire up a protein
called rhodopsin.
About Rhodopsin:
• As climate change reduces the availability of
nutrients in the sea, marine microalgae or
eukaryotic phytoplankton fire up a protein
called rhodopsin
• It is a light-responsive protein that helps the
microalgae flourish with the help of sunlight
in place of traditional chlorophyll.
• They can absorb light similar to chlorophyll-
based photosynthesis, essential for energy and
food production in marine organisms
99
About Microalgae:
• Microalgae are organisms that can grow in
aquatic environments and use light and
carbon dioxide (CO2) to create biomass.
• They are a diverse group of photoautotrophic
pro- and eukaryotic microorganisms, having
the capacity of light-dependent CO2
fixation to generate value-adding biomass.
• Examples: Green algae, Diatoms,
coccolithophores, Nostoc commune.
Light Absorption Mechanism:
• Photosynthetic cells contain several
pigments that absorb light energy and
respond to different wavelengths of visible
light
• Chlorophyll, the primary pigment used in
photosynthesis, reflects green light and
absorbs red and blue light most strongly.
• Chlorophyll A is the primary pigment for
photosynthesis, but there are multiple
chlorophyll types and other pigments, such
as red, brown, and blue, that react to light.
Significance:
• Tackling ocean warming and declining crop
productivity: The finding could mitigate these
adverse impacts of changing environmental
factors.
• This mechanism could boost the growth of
light-independent microbes, such as yeast, by
modifying them to use light for growing and
producing insulin, antibiotics, enzymes,
antivirals, and biofuels.
9.18 US-India Initiative on Critical and
Emerging Technology (iCET)
Context: US-India iCET is emerging as an
important collaboration that would deepen
cooperation between the government, academia
and industry of the two countries in areas of
Critical and Emerging technologies.
About Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technology (iCET)
• It is a joint initiative to elevate and expand the
strategic technology partnership and defense
industrial cooperation between two countries.
• It will be co-led by the National Security
Council Secretariat in India and the U.S.
National Security Council.
• iCET seeks to position the US and India as
“trusted technology partners”.
• Area Of Cooperation: Under iCET, both
countries have identified six cooperation
areas, including co-development and co-
production.
About Critical and emerging technologies
(CETs)
• CETs are a subset of advanced technologies
potentially significant to India. Example,
Advanced Computing and Quantum
Information Technologies
• These advanced technologies are rapidly
transforming the global landscape, and have
the scope to redefine next-generation industrial
and economic growth besides security
challenges.
• India and the US also launched public-private
joint task forces on developing and deploying
Open RAN systems.
About Open RAN (Radio Access Network)
• Open RAN is an ongoing shift in mobile
network architectures that enables service
providers the use of non-proprietary
subcomponents from a variety of vendors.
• Radio Access Network(RAN) is a major
component of a wireless
telecommunications system that connects
individual devices to other parts of a
network through a radio link.
9.19 Plants can Listen Damage to Other
Plants
Context: Plants release a group of compounds
called green leaf volatiles (GLVs) into the air
when they are injured, serving as a warning to
other plants about the proximity of danger.
About Green leaf volatiles (GLVs)
• They consist of six carbon (C6) compounds
including alcohols, aldehydes and esters and
are released from almost every plant.
• They can repel or attract herbivores and their
natural enemies; and
• They can induce plant defenses or against
herbivores and pathogens and can have direct
toxic effects on bacteria and fungi.
About Plants Communication Mechanism
• Plants communicate through a series of
molecular reactions.
• When a plant is damaged, it triggers reactions
that release GLVs as by-products.
• Plants can initiate a defense response and make
themselves less appealing to the insects.
• The molecular reaction is mediated by calcium,
a common mediator of chemical and electrical
signals found throughout biology.
100
Significance of Findings
• Potential Applications: Exploring pesticide-
free pest management through plants' natural
defenses. GLVs can trigger these defenses,
offering organic crop protection.
• GLVs may play a role in mitigating pest
damage to crops by understanding specific
compounds which activate defenses against
specific pests.
About Allelopathy
• Allelopathy explains how certain plants
emit dangerous substances known as
allelochemicals, which have the ability
to kill nearby plants.
• Allelopathic plants can store
allelochemicals in their stems, leaves,
flowers, or roots, with leaves being the
most effective storage site.
9.20 AMRIT Technology
Context: Recently, the Minister of State for Jal
Shakti outlined the achievements of Jal Jeevan
Mission and ‘AMRIT’ technology in Rajya Sabha.
About AMRIT (Arsenic and Metal Removal by
Indian Technology)
• ‘AMRIT’ has been developed by IIT- Madras
for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions
from water.
• It uses nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, which
selectively removes arsenic when water is
passed through it.
• The water purifier is developed for both
domestic as well as community levels.
Harmful Effects of Arsenic in Water
• Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-
water and food can cause cancer and skin
lesions.
• Fresh evidence indicates possible association
between intake of contaminated water to
onset of diabetes, hypertension and
reproductive disorders.
• In utero and early childhood exposure has been
linked to negative impacts on cognitive
development and increased deaths in young
adults
9.21 Indigenous River model
BRAHMA-2D
Context: An indigenous river model BRAHMA-
2D (Braided River Aid: Hydro-Morphological
Analyzer) is developed by the researchers of IIT
Guwahati along with the Brahmaputra Board,
Ministry of Jal Shakti.
More on News:
• The model was successfully validated on the
Brahmaputra River near Majuli Island.
About BRAHMA-2D:
• It is a quasi-3D river flow mathematical
model.
• Aim: To study and understand the pace and
movement of water at different depths inside
a river and its circulation around a structure
like a spur(installed to prevent river bank
erosion) for large braided rivers like
Brahmaputra.
• It has also been applied to understand habitat
suitability of aquatic species, especially
endangered species.
• Application:
○ It will help understand the speed of water
moves at various depths in a river.
○ It will provide valuable insights to design
sustainable hydraulic structures like
Spurs, Revetment etc..
○ The model will help to design
bioengineering methods for controlling
river bank erosion.
9.22 Touchscreen
Context: Recently, Volkswagen brought back
physical buttons after complaints about its
touchscreen.
About Touchscreen:
• Touchscreen is an electronic visual display
capable of ‘detecting’ and ‘locating’ a touch
over its display area.
• It combines two functions i.e. to receive inputs
for a computer and to display the output. Ex
Smartphones, ATM machines etc.
Types of Touchscreens
Capacitive Touchscreens:
• Composition: There are two conducting layers
and each layer consists of strips of conducting
material.
• Working: When two strips cross over each
other, they form a capacitor, and is used to
measure where a finger has touched the screen.
• Use: It is used in smartphones with the mutual
capacitance architecture.
Resistive Touchscreens:
• About: It uses the property of resistance where
two sheets, both of which are conductors,
which are separated by a small gap
• Flow of Current using Sensation Mechanism:
When a finger touches one sheet, it moves it at
that point to touch the underlying sheet and
allows a current to pass.
101
• Sensing by the Sensors: Sensors use this flow
of current and with the help of processor,
determine the point of touch.
• Significance: Resistive touchscreens are
cheaper to make and require less power to
operate.
9.23 Other Notable News
9.23.1 Gelbots
About Gelbots:
• They are ‘soft robots’ made out of gelatin
through a 3D printing technique.
• Soft robots are a type of robots that are made
out of organic and non-metallic materials.
• They move without additional power due to
their specific shape, dimensions, and gel
patterning.
• Principle of Working: Gels swell or shrink
with temperature, which can be strategically
utilized to make robots move or crawl using
wave-like motions on surfaces.
Potential Application Areas:
• Create smart structures
• Targeted medicine delivery
• Deploy as marine robots, patrolling and
monitoring the ocean’s surface
• Crawl in response to variations in human
biomarkers and biochemicals.
9.23.2 Hallucinating Chatbots
• Hallucinating chatbots generate outputs that
are not directly grounded in their training data
and produce inaccurate content.
• Hallucinations are a defining feature of
sophisticated generative natural language
processing (NLP) models.
• They can occur because these models require
the capability to rephrase, summarize, and
present intricate tracts of text without
constraints.
• This leads to issues where facts aren't always
treated as sacrosanct but are contextually
interpreted when processing data.
9.23.3 Bio-Hybrid Robot
Context: Israeli Scientists have developed a new
Bio-Hybrid sniffing robot that uses the antennae
of locusts to create a robot with a sense of smell.
About the Bio-Hybrid Robot:
• It is a Bio-Hybrid Robot that utilizes locusts'
keen sense of smell to make it more sensitive
than existing electronic sniffers.
Application:
• Advance disease diagnosis;
• Improve security checks;
 • Detection of drugs and explosives;
• Food safety
• Bio-hybrid robots combine biological and
artificial elements. They may use cells, tissues,
or muscles for actuation, sensing, or energy.
• Locusts use antennae to smell, which have
been placed on a robot, using electrodes to
detect odors.
• Each scent has a distinct signature, identifiable
by the robot's machine learning system.
9.23.4 Bio Stimulants
Context: Manufacturers of bio-stimulants demand
Centre to provide technical specifications for such
products.
About Bio-Stimulants
• Bio-Stimulants are substances and/or
microorganisms whose function when applied
to plants or the rhizosphere, is to stimulate
natural processes to benefit nutrient uptake,
nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic
stress, and crop quality, independently of its
nutrient content.
• Various categories of of Bio-Stimulants are:
○ Seaweed Extracts: Derived from seaweed,
they promote root growth and stress
resistance.
○ Humic Acid: Enhances nutrient uptake
and soil structure.
○ Amino Acids: Improve nutrient absorption
and protein synthesis.
○ Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Boost
nutrient availability and root development.
○ Fulvic Acid: Increases nutrient uptake and
transport within plants.
○ Chitosan: Enhances disease resistance and
nutrient uptake.
○ Liquid manure composting: Made by
mixing manure water and a blend of
proprietary materials thought to feed
specific bacteria in the manure.
• It excludes pesticides and plant growth
regulators regulated under the Insecticides
Act, 1968.
9.23.5 Self-Healing Metal
Context: Scientists have witnessed an
extraordinary self-healing capability in a few
metal fragments, for the first time.
About the news:
• These metal fragments automatically self-fuse
without any human intervention.
102
• This natural capacity could be engineered into
metals, leading to self-healing machines and
structures like engines, bridges, and airplanes.
• These innovations can reverse wear and tear
damage, boosting the safety and lifespan of
diverse structures and machinery.
• Self-healing properties in machines can
mitigate fatigue damage, a frequent cause of
failure, by automatically repairing microscopic
cracks from repeated stress or motion.
9.23.6 KAVACH Cover
Context: The railways plans to float a ₹5,000 crore
tender early next year for fast-tracking the
adoption of Kavach.
About Kavach/automatic train protection
(ATP)/train collision avoidance system (TCAS):
• KAVACH is an indigenously developed
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by
the Research Design and Standards
Organisation (RDSO).
• It is a state-of-the-art electronic system with
Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) standards i.e.
integrity level required to avoid disastrous
accidents.
• It automatically engages the train's brakes if
the driver doesn't adhere to speed limits and
prevents collisions between trains fitted with
the Kavach system.
• The system sends out SOS messages in
emergencies and includes a feature for live
centralized monitoring of trains via the
Network Monitor System
• ‘Kavach’ is one of the cheapest, SIL-4 certified
technologies where the probability of error is 1
in 10,000 years.
9.23.7 Thallium as A Murder Weapon
Context: Recently, in Maharashtra two women
allegedly killed five family members by lacing
their food with Thallium.
About Thallium:
• Thallium is a chemical element with the symbol
Tl and atomic number 81.
• It is a soft, heavy, inelastic, gray post-transition
metal that is not found free in nature.
• Characteristics: Thallium is tasteless and
odorless and has been used by murder as it is
difficult to detect.
• Application: It is used in the manufacture of
electronics, low temperature thermometers,
Optical lenses, and imitation precious jewels it
also has use in some chemical reactions and
medical procedures.
• Thallium can be absorbed through the skin, and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and gradually
builds up to reach toxic levels.

9.23.8 News In Short

• It is a finger-sized wearable, wireless, and mechanically flexible advanced medical
Smart Bandage dressing that incorporates various technologies to enhance the healing process of
a wound.

• Bacterial strain which consumes methane , which is a major contributor to global

Methylotuvimicr warming.
obium • Methanotrophs, or methane-eating bacteria, uniquely use methane as their main
Buryatense carbon and energy source.
5GB1C • Their habitats are wetlands, soils, oceans, and even within the digestive systems
of some animals.

It refers to solar radiation management which includes a set of proposed approaches

to reflect sunlight to rapidly cool the Earth. Two major approaches of Solar
Geoengineering are:
Solar
• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Involves injecting tiny reflecting particles,
Geoengineering
known as aerosols, into the upper atmosphere to cool the planet.
• Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB): Uses sea salt to stimulate cloud formation over
the ocean, which would also help reflect sunlight in the region.

Brussels-based organization Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Forum organizes International E-Waste Day on October 14 every year.
• The term “invisible e-waste” refers to e-waste that goes unnoticed due to its
Invisible e-waste
nature or appearance, leading consumers to overlook its recyclable potential.
○ For example Cables, e-toys, e-cigarettes, e-bikes, power tools, smoke detectors,
USB sticks, wearable health devices and smart home gadgets.

• They are thin, flat nanostructures made from materials like metals,
semiconductors, oxides, polymers, and commonly graphene.
Nanoflakes • Nanoflakes, with their special shape and size, display unique physical, chemical,
and electrical traits unlike bulk materials.
• Application: Batteries, solar cells, electronics, water purification, sensors etc.

103
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