Art&culture_S&Tech

  The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions in the   Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) . As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle. The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the enviornment including experimental field trials. GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the  Department of Biotechnology (DBT) . Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above

  What is ITER? ITER ("The Way" in Latin) is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France, 35 nations* are collaborating to build the world's largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that has been designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers our Sun and stars. The experimental campaign that will be carried out at ITER is crucial to advancing fusion science and preparing the way for the fusion power plants of tomorrow. ITER will be the first fusion device to produce net energy. ITER will be the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of time. And ITER will be the first fusion device to test the integrated technologies, materials, and physics regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based electricity. Thousands of engin...

  INS Viraat: 1.           Originally  commissioned by the British Navy  as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959, the aircraft carrier had taken part in  the Falkland Islands war in 1982. India bought the British carrier in 1986 and rechristened it as INS Viraat. INS Viraat is  the Guinness record holder for being the longest-serving warship of the world. Why in News? One of the biggest ship recyclers at Alang — Shree Ram Group — has purchased the aircraft carrier. 1.           This is the second aircraft carrier to be broken in India in the past six years. In 2014,  INS Vikrant,  which played a role in the historic 1971 war with Pakistan was broken down in Mumbai.

India's AstroSat telescope discovers a galaxy 9.3 billion light years away 3-4 minutes India's AstroSat telescope discovers new galaxy   Key Highlights The galaxy was observed in the sky using the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) which sits in the centre of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) The HUDF is a small area in the constellation of Fornax which was created using Hubble Space Telescope data from 2003 and 2004 India’s multi-wavelength orbiting telescope, AstroSat, has discovered a galaxy called AUDFs01 in the extreme-ultraviolet (UV) light spectrum. The galaxy is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth. The discovery was made with an in...

 Empathy: People  near the crash site. The resident heard the noise. Came and participated in rescue operartion. They mobilised support trhough whatsapp. used their own vehcle for victims of accident. More lives of people were save because of the empathy in local people. The empathy was not show by just 1 person but entire community. News source:

  Kangaroo mother care improves infant survival Aswathi Pacha January 25, 2020 19:48 IST Updated: January 25, 2020 20:20 IST 3-4 minutes Kangaroo mother care (KMC) or the intervention where babies are placed in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers and exclusively breast fed has been recommended worldwide for stable low-birthweight newborns. Stable babies are defined as babies who do not need respiratory support or intravenous fluids and can accept oral feeds. Though previous studies have shown that keeping the baby in contact with the mother improves survival in babies (less than 2 kg weight at birth) when compared to standard hospital care, global data show that barely 5% receive such care. Also, there is no much evidence on kangaroo mother care impact when initiated at homes in India. To understand this, a team of researchers led by Nita Bhandari, Director at the Centre for Health Research and Developm...

  DRDO lists 108 defence items for Indian firms It will help in development, design The Pinaka rocket launcher system was also developed with the DRDO’s aid. Special Correspondent NEW DELHI A list of 108 military subsystems and components has been identified for development by the Indian industry and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will provide support for the process, the Defence Ministry said on Monday. “A DRDO delegation met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to apprise him about 108 systems and subsystems which have been identified for designing and development by the Indian Industry only,” the Ministry said in a statement. The DRDO would also provide support to industries for design, development and testing of these systems on requirement basis. All the requirements of these systems by research and development establishments, armed forces and other security agencies could be met through development contracts or production orders on suitable Indian industry...

  Places in News- Papum Reserve Forest: It is an  Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Arunachal Pradesh. Located between two IBAs,  Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary to the west. The Reserve Forest forms  part of the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area. Why in News? A study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in this area which is also  a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh. Papum RF is a nesting  habitat of three species of the large, colourful fruit-eating hornbills:  Great, Wreathed and Oriental Pied.

  One Sun One World One Grid: A journey of ironies? 17-21 minutes Energy Experts worry the OSOWOG will divert the capital and focus away from domestic commitments and priorities for renewable energy One Sun One World One Grid is the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Flickr The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had invited proposals for developing a long-term vision, implementation plan, road map and institutional framework for implem...

  Forest Ministry releases guide to managing human-elephant conflict: Context : The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has  compiled the best practices of human-elephant conflict management in India. These include: Retaining elephants in their natural habitats by  creating water sources and management of forest fires. Elephant   Proof trenches  in Tamil Nadu. Hanging fences and rubble walls  in Karnataka. Use of  chili smoke  in north Bengal and  playing the sound of bees or carnivores  in Assam. An  elephant corridor initiative  where 25.37 acres of private land was purchased at  Edayarahalli-Doddasampige in Karnataka  as part of conservation efforts. Use of technology:  Individual identification, monitoring of elephants in south Bengal and sending SMS alerts to warn of elephant presence. Need for these management strategies: Over 500 humans are killed in encounters with elephants annually, and c...

Why in News A centuries-old folk theatre form and the worship of a  forest goddess  i.e.  Bon Bibi  has helped the natives of the  Sundarban  survive by understanding the power of nature and the limits of human needs. Key Points Bon Bibi:  Bon Bibi is a  deity of the forest  and the central character of  Bon Bibir Palagaan, a musical drama unique  to the Sundarbans. Shrines to Bon Bibi and her twin brother Shah Jongoli dot the landscape of the Sundarbans. The followers of Bon Bibi are fishermen, crab-collectors and honey-gatherers who live in the mangroves with wild animals such as tigers and crocodiles to earn a livelihood. They believe that only Bon Bibi protects them when they enter the forest and survive in tiger dominated areas. Bon Bibir Palagaan:  People express their belief in Bon Bibi through Bon Bibir Palagaan,  a dramatic storytelling form  that is enacted throughout the island. Traditionally, the performan...