PRIME MINISTER MODI CALLS FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND FOR SAARC
Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Science and Technology, Disaster Management, Prelims Why in news? The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should create a fund to fight the threat of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 15th March 2020 – Addressing the first ever video conference among the heads of governments of the […]
THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR ONE HEALTH SCIENCE
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Disaster Managament, Prelims Why in news? As India goes into emergency mode to tackle the potentially catastrophic impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the ‘Kerala model’ is being widely cited as an example to emulate. Kerala Model In 2018, Kerala reacted quickly and efficiently to tackle the Nipah virus outbreak […]
MPS’ PANEL CONCERNED AT DEFENCE FUND SHORTFALL
Focus: GS-III Internal Security Why in news? The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has expressed concern at the widening gap between projections and allocations in the defence budget impacting modernisation and has recommended a dedicated fund for committed liabilities and procurements. The shortfall in allocation has also effected setting up of three tri-service organisations and […]
ESCAPING BOKO HARAM AFTER BEING HIRED TO BOMB
Focus: Prelims Why in news? As captives of Boko Haram, one of the deadliest terror groups on earth, women had been dispatched for the grimmest of missions. Hundreds of women in Nigeria have been recruited by Boko Haram as suicide bombers. Boko Haram The Islamic State in West Africa or Islamic State’s West Africa Province, […]
TRIAL SHOWS SUCCESS IN TREATING DRUG-RESISTANT TB
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? A small trial (Nix-TB) undertaken at three sites in South Africa to test the safety and efficacy of three oral drugs — bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid — in 109 patients (57 males and 56 females were HIV positive) with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) […]
SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COATING TO SAVE METALLIC SURFACES
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Fascinated by the beauty of water rolling off a lotus leaf, a team of chemical engineers has now created a similar superhydrophobic coating that can be used to save steel from rusting. The team from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, and Ohio […]
IRON RAIN ON EXOPLANET
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? The exoplanet, named WASP-76B, is said to have been witnessing iron rain when the metal vapour condenses into clouds. Exoplanet An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System. The first possible evidence of an exoplanet was noted in 1917, but was not recognized […]
TIFR STUDY REVEALS ROLE OF GLUCOSE IN REGULATING LIVER FUNCTIONS, AGEING
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? An enzyme that goes by the name SIRT1 is known to be associated with regulation of metabolic activities and also ageing and hence has become a target of therapeutics. A study by researchers from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (TIFR) shows that glucose controls the […]
HAMPI, KEY ATTRACTIONS IN KODAGU AMONG PLACES CLOSED FOR A WEEK
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Prelims Why in news? The tourism sector continues to face a blow this holiday season, with most travellers putting off plans by choosing to stay safe in the light of COVID-19 threat and some key heritage places such as Hampi being closed for a week as part of precautionary measure. […]
GST ON MOBILE PHONES INCREASED TO 18%
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? Mobile phones are likely to get costlier, with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on 14th March 2020 deciding to increase the rate on mobile phones and specific parts to 18% from the current 12%, from April 1. The decision was taken not to increase the prices […]