GS-3 BITCOIN Bitcoin has been rallying hard, jumping over 300% in 2020, breezing past its record high to reach $42,000 in January and pushing above $44,000. What is bitcoin? Bitcoin is the original and most popular cryptocurrency, or digital coin, and started circulating in 2009. It was created by the …

GS-1 DICKINSONIA FOSSIL DISCOVERED IN BHIMBETKA Researchers have found the first-ever fossil in India of a Dickinsonia —the Earth’s ‘oldest animal’, dating back 570 million years — on the roof of what’s called the ‘Auditorium Cave’ at Bhimbetka. Dickinsonia Dickinsonia is an extinct genus of basal animal that lived during …

GS-3 FASTAG The FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop for carrying out the cash transaction. The tag uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active. Important points: Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is the …

GS-3 KARLAPAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY  Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district and a popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is about 15 km from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district. The sanctuary covers an area of 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi). It lies within the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forestsecoregion. Major …

A new artificially intelligent “mathematician” known as the Ramanujan Machine can potentially reveal hidden relationships between numbers. The “machine” consists of algorithms that seek out conjectures, or mathematical conclusions that are likely true but have not been proved. Conjectures are the starting points of mathematical theorems, which are conclusions that …

PURPOSE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY: It has been observed that most old Drainage systems are choked and have Improper Sanitation Infrastructure such as cracks in the Drain Surfaces. This Sewage Water seeps down through the cracks and contaminates the soil and ground water. In a recent study, it was observed that …

Advances in astronomical observations have resulted in the discovery of an extraordinary number of extrasolar planets, some of which are believed to have a rocky composition similar to Earth. Learning more about their interior structure could provide important clues about their potential habitability. Led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), …

Vigyan Jyoti programme, a new initiative to encourage girls to take interest in science and build career, was launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to create a level-playing field for the meritorious girls to pursue STEM.  It had been running successfully in 50 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) …

GS-2 GLOBAL NUTRITION REPORT Important points: Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is committed to improve nutrition outcomes in the country and implements Anganwadi Services, Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana and Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) as targeted interventions to …

GS-3 SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME Important points: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare introduced the scheme on December 5, 2015. Soil Health Card (SHC) is a printed report which contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc …

GS-3 UNIFIED FARMER SERVICE PLATFORM (UFSP): UFSP is a combination of Core Infrastructure, Data, Applications and Tools that enable seamless interoperability of various public and private IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem across the country.  UFSP is envisaged to play the following role: Act as a central agency in the …

GS-3 NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE PLAN IN AGRICULTURE (NEGPA): TOWARDS THE MISSION OF DIGITAL AGRICULTURE NeGPA aims to achieve rapid development in Indian Agriculture Sector through use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Important Points: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) was initially launched in 2010-11 in …

GS-3 SERB ANNOUNCES WOMEN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2021 Important points: Four young women fellows of National Science Academies have been awarded for excelling in science and engineering on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021. The SERB Women Excellence Award that has been conferred on them provides a …

Context: Ministry of Earth Sciences invites stakeholders’ suggestions on the Draft Blue Economy Policy for India The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the Draft Blue Economy policy for India in the public domain inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders including industry, NGOs, academia, and citizens.  The …

GS-2 INDIA-AUSTRALIA CIRCULAR ECONOMY (I-ACE) HACKATHON, 2021 NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation kick-start the India-Australia Circular Economy (I-ACE) Hackathon, 2021. ABOUT THE I-ACE HACKATHON: Goal of the hackathon: to enable talented innovative students and start-ups from Australia and India to address common national …

GS-3 TIFAC UNVEILS TWO NEW INITIATIVES OF TECHNOLOGY Two schemes launched: SAKSHAM (Shramik Shakti Manch) Seaweed Mission Who has launched the schemes? TIFAC has launched the two schemes. ABOUT TIFAC: TIFAC or Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council is a technology think tank and autonomous body under the GOI’s Department …

GS-2 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE Women & Child Development Ministry in association with MyGov launches online campaign to celebrate women in science. DETAILS: The campaign honours our young girls from across the country who have performed well in the subjects of Maths and Science & encourage …

GS-2 URBAN LOCAL BODIES REFORMS Goa becomes the 6th State to complete Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms. DETAILS: Goa has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Thus, the State has become eligible to mobilise …

GS-3 NATIONAL COAL INDEX The Ministry of Coal has started the commercial auction of coal mines on revenue share basis. The National Coal Index (NCI) was conceptualised in order to arrive at the revenue share based on market prices of coal. WHAT IS THE NCI? The NCI is a price …

GS-1 UNANI DAY 2021 World Unani Day is observed on February 11 annually. It is celebrated on the birth anniversary of great Unani scholar and social reformer Hakim Ajmal Khan (1868 – 1927). He was a Unani medical educationist and founder of scientific research in the Unani system of medicine. …