SHANGHAI LAB THAT FIRST SEQUENCED CORONAVIRUS GENOME SHUT DOWN
Why in news? A Shanghai-based lab — Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & School of Public Health — at Fudan University which was the first to sequence the whole genome of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and publicly share the data on January 11 was shut down on January 12 for “rectification”. Details In the first […]
NCBS METHOD TO DETECT VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH A RARE SKIN CANCER
Why in news? A team from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, has developed a diagnostic system to detect the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma tumours. The researchers have developed a test using the CRISPR-CAS12 technology. This is an important development, both, from the point of view of diagnostics and giving […]
ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE EDUCATION PLATFORM SWAYAM
Why in news? The Ministry of HRD through its Online/Digital Education Initiatives is trying to ensure that students can continue their learning sitting at their home, during this lockdown period. The Education portals of NCERT like Diksha, e-pathasala, NROER and NIOS and the other ICT initiatives like Robotics education (e-Yantra), Open Source Software for Education […]
Space Technology and Telescopes for UPSC Exam
What is Planet? Three conditions for a celestial object to be called a ‘planet’ – it must orbit the Sun it should be massive enough to acquire an approximately spherical shape it has to ‘clear its orbit’ i.e. be the object that exerts the maximum gravitational pull within its orbit ‘Dwarf planets’, on the other […]
ISRO TO LAUNCH 36 MISSIONS IN 2020-21
Why in news? Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has planned 36 missions including satellites and launch vehicles for the fiscal year 2020-21. ISRO will send up 10 earth observation satellites during 2020-21. Details of the missions in 2020-21 Earth observation satellite- 10 Communication satellite- 3 Navigation satellite- 2 Space science satellite- 3 Technology Demonstration- 1 […]
COALBED METHANE POLICY, 1997
Why in news? The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has brought out following policies/notifications after Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Policy 1997: Policy for extension of exploration phases for exploration and production under CBM contracts in 2007. Guidelines for pricing and commercial utilization of CBM in 2011. Notification for grant of right to exploration and […]
Starch-based materials developed to stop rapid blood loss during accidents
After a serious injury, few challenges are more urgent than stopping life-threatening bleeding. Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, have developed a starch-based ‘hemostat’ material that concentrates the natural clotting factors in blood by physically absorbing excess fluid. The biodegradable microparticles that combine to form […]
REGISTRY OF RARE DISEASES
Why in news? The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published a national policy for the treatment of 450 ‘rare diseases’. Overview of the Registry of rare Diseases policy: Among other measures, the policy intends to kickstart a registry of rare diseases, which will be maintained by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). According […]
Uranium Contamination in Ground Water
There is prevalence of Uranium concentration above 30 micro-gram per litre (World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guidelines) in some of the localized pockets of few States/UTs in the country. A report brought out by Duke University, USA in association with Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water departments states that Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, […]
NATIONAL BIOPHARMA MISSION
What is NBM? The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) is an industry-Academia Collaborative Mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the country. Innovate in India Under this Mission the Government has launched Innovate in India (i3) programme to create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the sector. Implementation The mission will be implemented […]