ANTHURIUM, A FLOWER WITH HIGH MARKET VALUE
Why in news? Vasini Bai, A woman innovator from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has developed ten varieties of Anthurium, a flower with high market value, by cross-pollination. About Anthurium Anthurium (Anthurium spp.) is a vast group of beautiful blooming plants available in a wide range of colors. The plants of the varieties are having high demands due […]
NEW MODEL TO PREDICT IONOSPHERIC ELECTRON DENSITY
Why in news? The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism researchers have developed a model that will predict electronic density of ionosphere which is important for Communication and Navigation needs. Details about the new model The new Artificial Neural Networks based global Ionospheric Model has been developed using long-term ionospheric observations to predict the ionospheric electron density […]
SURPLUS RICE AVAILABLE WITH FCI ALLOWED TO BE CONVERTED TO ETHANOL
Why in news? It was approved in a meeting of NBCC on 20th April that the surplus rice available with Food Corporation of India (FCI) may be converted to ethanol for utilization in making alcohol-based hand-sanitizers and in blending for Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme. Is this allowed? National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 under Para […]
Plasma Therapy for Corona / Covid-19 for UPSC Exam
Why in news? Several countries, including India, are seriously looking at plasma therapy as a potential treatment for Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Plasma therapy uses blood donated by recovered patients to introduce antibodies in those under treatment. After China and the US, India has given a go ahead for framing a […]
CLUES TO BLAZAR EMISSION MECHANISMS
Why in news? Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) conducted the first systematic study on the gamma-ray flux variability nature on different types of blazars. Their study could provide clues to the processes happening close to the black hole, not visible through direct imaging. What are blazars? At the centre of most galaxies, […]
INDIA MUST ADOPT PLANS THAT AVERT THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Forecast of a Contraction in Economy Forecasting the sharpest contraction in world output since the Great Depression of the 1930s, the IMF slashed its projection by 6.3 percentage points from its January forecast for 3.3% growth to a 3% decline. In contrast, the recession of 2009 saw world output contract by a mere 0.1%. In […]
A SHOT OF HOPE WITH A GAME CHANGING VACCINE
Gravity of the situation Over the initial phase of the national lockdown (March 24 to April 14), India reported a 20-fold increase in confirmed SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 cases (468 to >10,000), and a 36-fold increase in deaths (9 to 330). Increased testing may partly account for this; but testing is still inadequate and this data represent underestimates. […]
EXPLAINED: TYPES OF HUMAN CORONAVIRUSES
What are coronaviruses? Coronaviruses are a large family of single-stranded RNA viruses that cause diseases in animals and humans. In humans, the viruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses such as the common cold. In the last two decades, more aggressive coronaviruses have emerged that are capable of causing serious illness and even […]
Intellectual Property Rights News for UPSC Exam
What are Intellectual Property Rights? Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names and images used in commerce. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time. These […]
Innovations in Science and Technology for UPSC Exam
Short Wave Transmission Prasar Bharati has asked All India Radio to come up with a proposal to phase out Short Wave (SW) transmitters. About SW: Shortwave radio is radio transmission using shortwave radio frequencies, the range always includes all of the high frequency band (HF), and generally extends from 3-30 MHz (10 to 100 meters), […]