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 …