GS-III

India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is an initiative to explore and harness the resources of the deep ocean. The mission was launched in 2021 with a budget of ₹4077 crore over 5 years. This topic covers the Civil Services exam syllabus of GS3 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a communications satellite, CMS-01, on board its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV – C50) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Andhra Pradesh. Previously in November 2020, ISRO launched India’s Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-01, and nine other customer satellites. MAIN POINTS: …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Indian government has invited public comments for introducing adoption of E20 fuel to promote green fuel like ethanol. MAIN POINTS: E20 fuel is a blend of 20% of ethanol with gasoline. The current permissible level of blending is 10% of ethanol, though India reached only 5.6% of …

CONTEXT: Recently, Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, has crossed 20,000 US dollars in value. Bitcoin’s price has always been volatile, and there is no clear explanation for its current rise.Cryptocurrency is a specific type of virtual currency, which is decentralised and protected by cryptographic encryption techniques. MAIN POINTS: Bitcoin is a type …

CONTEXT: Recently, the 35 edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy has been conducted. MAIN POINTS: As part of Government of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries …

Context: The 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT). About IND-INDO CORPAT: The IND-INDO CORPAT is being conducted between the navies of India and Indonesia. To reinforce maritime links, the two navies have been carrying out CORPATs along their International Maritime Boundary Line since 2002, with the aim of …

Context: Research reveals that Disturbance from North Atlantic could be possible reason why Indian monsoon derails in August. Background: As part of the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean …

CONTEXT: Scientists have developed a low-cost super capacitor device with excellent capacitive retention with a novel electrode material they have synthesized, which can pave the way for the next generation high power-high energy storage devices. SUPER CAPACITOR A super capacitor is a high-capacity capacitor with a capacitance value much higher …

CONTEXT: Union Minister of Jal Shakti reviews progress made under National Hydrology Project in its mid-term. NATIONAL HYDROLOGY PROJECT: The National Hydrology Project (NHP) was started in 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to implementing agencies on a pan-India basis with a budget outlay of Rs 3680 …

CONTEXT: Recently, the 5 India Water Impact Summit (IWIS), organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) has held virtually. About the Summit: India Water Impact 2020 is a five-day long summit, hosting experts and academicians from all over …

CONTEXT: India ranked 10 in Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021. India, for the second time in a row, continued to remain in the top 10. Last year, India had been ranked at the ninth position. MAIN POINTS Published by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network …

CONTEXT: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Emissions Gap Report 2020 has been published recently. The annual report from UNEP measures the gap between anticipated emissions and levels consistent with the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming this century to well below 2°C and pursuing 1.5°C. ANALYSIS FOR THE YEAR …

CONTEXT: As per a report by PwC (a global network of firms), India reported a 45% increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence, the highest among all countries, following the outbreak of the virus. MAIN POINTS The rise of AI adoption (45%) recorded in the country is the highest, when …

CONTEXT: Recently, Israel launched the Beresheet 2 project aimed at landing an unmanned craft on the moon in 2024. Earlier, Israel’s Beresheet probe crash landed on the Moon. MAIN POINTS The Beresheet probe was a private mission to the Moon by Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL organisation. Beresheet in hebrew (spoken in …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Ministry of Railways has written to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) seeking exemption for procuring certain medical items manufactured outside India, particularly medicines used in the treatment of Covid-19, cancer,DPIIT is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. …

CONTEXT: Entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India. PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEM: PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. The certification is in …

CONTEXT: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited will be adopting Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) technique using Laser enabled equipment mounted on a Helicopter for conducting ground survey for the preparation of Detailed Project Report for the proposed DelhiVaranasi HSR corridor. BACKGROUND: The proposed Delhi-Varanasi HSR alignment covers mixed …

CONTEXT: China successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor for the first time recently, marking a great advance in the country’s nuclear power research capabilities. The nuclear reactor is expected to provide clean energy. MAIN POINTS: The HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion …

CONTEXT: Indian peacock softshell turtle, a turtle of a vulnerable species was rescued from a fish market in Assam’s Silchar. IMPORTANT POINTS: The Indian peacock softshell turtle [Nilssonia hurum] is a species of turtle found in South Asia. IUCN Red list status: Vulnerable species. Schedule I species in the Indian …

CONTEXT: The major demand of the protesting farmers has been that the government guarantee in writing the MSP system, which assures them of a fixed price for their crops, 1.5 times of the cost of production. What is MSP? The MSP (minimum support price) assures the farmers of a fixed …