ORGANIC PSEUDOCAPACITOR: LOW-COST ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTION
Why in news? Scientists have developed a stable material for pseudocapacitors or supercapacitors which store electrical energy by electron charge transfer. The material can offer a low-cost scalable energy storage solution as an alternative to batteries. Details The team has developed the pseudocapacitive material, a hybrid xerogel structure (a solid formed from a gel by […]
A SEASON OF CHANGE: METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
IMD’s Monsoon Forecast In the season of the abnormal, the IMD has announced that the monsoon this year would likely be normal. The agency follows a two-stage forecast system: indicating in April whether there are chances of drought or any other anomaly and then a second update, in late June, with a more granular look […]
THE RACE TO FIND A CURE FOR COVID-19
Why in news? While efforts to develop an anti-COVID-19 vaccine are encouraging, safety issues are paramount. The epicentre of the pandemic has shifted from Wuhan district in China to the highly developed Western world. With no specific therapy or vaccine available at present, it is imperative that we fast-forward the development of efficacious vaccines and […]
Indian Submarines and Naval Ships for UPSC Exam
Project 75 India P75I was first cleared in 2007, but lay dormant until now after undergoing numerous changes. The P75I project is part of a 30-year submarine building plan that ends in 2030. The project cost is about Rs. 45,000 crore. As part of this plan, India was to build 24 submarines — 18 conventional […]
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: ON SUPREME COURT’S CRYPTOCURRENCY RULING
Why in news? The Supreme Court has struck down a 2018 circular by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that directed entities not to provide services to those trading in “virtual currencies” (cryptocurrencies), as “disproportionate”. What was done about Cryptocurrencies? Ministerial committee recommendations, and warnings by institutions such as the RBI were: The problematic nature […]
WHAT IS NEXT FOR VIRTUAL CURRENCY?
Why in news? The Supreme Court set aside a ban by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on banks and financial institutions from dealing with virtual currency holders and exchanges. Why did SC put aside ban? The court held that the ban did not pass the “proportionality” test. The test of proportionality of any action by […]
HOW TO HANDLE THE CORONAVIRUS(COVID-19) SCARE?
What test is done for coronavirus? The first test that samples of all suspected patients are sent for is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. If that is positive, the sample is sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, which is the only government laboratory currently doing genome sequencing, for final confirmation. This […]
EXPLAINED | WHY IS COVID-19 NOT A PANDEMIC YET?
Why in news? On February 26, for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak began in China on December 8, the number of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) cases reported in a single day was more outside mainland China than within the country. All about the Spread of Corona Virus Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, […]
EXPLAINED: HOW COVID-19 CAN HELP DEAL WITH THE SILENT TUBERCULOSIS CRISIS
What exactly has WHO said for TB patients during COVID-19? There is a need to maintain TB services during effective response to COVID-19. It is important that the progress made in TB prevention and care is not reversed by the COVID19 pandemic. TB patients who have lung damage or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may suffer […]
Indian Missile Systems for UPSC
Notable Missile Systems in India and their details Missile Type Range Astra air-to-air 80 km Trishul surface-to-air 9 km Akash 30 km Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) 2000 km Nag surface-to-surface Anti-tank missile 4 km Prahaar surface-to-surface SRBM 150 km BrahMos land, naval, air Supersonic Cruise Missile 300 […]