VIRUS CASES EMERGING FASTER GLOBALLY: WHO
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? There are now more new cases of COVID-19 reported each day outside China than inside the hardest-hit country, the World Health Organization said on 26th February 2020. Governments worldwide are scrambling to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) after a surge of infections in […]
ISRO TO LAUNCH GISAT-1 ON MARCH 5
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? GISAT-1, the country’s first earth imaging satellite in a geostationary orbit, will be launched in the evening of March 5 from the Sriharikota launch centre. Medium-lift GSLV launcher numbered F10 would orbit the 2,275-kg spacecraft. Details Operating from its geostationary orbit [at around 36,000 km from […]
GOVT. EYES PUBLIC-PRIVATE FUND TO GIVE R&D A SHOT IN THE ARM
Why in news? In an effort to stimulate investment in research and development (R&D), the Department of Science and Technology is mooting a fund that will match the contributions made by private companies in R&D Details: The idea is to pool funds from a group of companies willing to invest in fundamental research, such as […]
NEW SOLAR ENERGY PARK TO COME UP IN RAJASTHAN’S JAISALMER
Context and Details: A new 925 MW solar energy park will come up shortly at Nokh in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district The agreement is likely to bring an investment of ₹ 4,000 crore to the State While the NTPC Limited will develop solar photovoltaic projects in the park at an estimated investment of ₹3,500 crore, the […]
SCIENTISTS OPPOSE STUDY INTO ‘QUALITIES’ OF INDIGENOUS COWS
According to a concept note on the DST website SUTRA-PIC or ‘Scientific Utilization Through Research Augmentation Prime Products from Indigenous Cows’, has five themes: Uniqueness of Indigenous Cows Prime products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine and Health Prime products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural Applications Prime products from Indigenous Cows for Food and Nutrition Prime […]
GOVT. PLANS RESEARCH ON ‘INDIGENOUS’ COWS
Why in news? The government has unveiled a programme to research on ‘indigenous’ cows. To be funded by multiple scientific ministries, the initiative, SUTRA PIC [Scientific Utilization Through Research Augmentation Prime Products from Indigenous Cows], is led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) More about SUTRA PIC It has the Department of Biotechnology, […]
ISRO MAKING PREPARATIONS TO LAUNCH GISAT-1 IN MARCH FIRST WEEK
GISAT-1 — Geo Imaging Satellite — will be the first of two planned Indian EO spacecraft to be placed in a geostationary orbit of around 36,000 km. It will apparently be in a fixed spot looking over the Indian continent at all times. With this satellite, which has high-resolution cameras, we can keep a constant […]
SCIENTISTS RADIO-TAG INDIAN PANGOLIN
Scientists have, for the first time, radio-tagged the Indian pangolin, an endangered animal, that is rarely sighted in forests here. The Indian pangolin, which resembles an ant-eater but dons a thick scaly skin, is hunted for meat and use in traditional Chinese medicine Researchers say tagging the animal will help understand the habits of the […]
HOMO LUZONENSIS: NEW HUMAN SPECIES FOUND IN PHILIPPINES
There’s a new addition to the family tree: an extinct species of human that’s been found in the Philippines. It’s known as Homo luzonensis, after the site of its discovery on the country’s largest island Luzon. Its physical features are a mixture of those found in very ancient human ancestors and in more recent people. […]
1.97 LAKH PASSENGERS SCREENED FOR NCOV
Why in news? More than 1.97 lakh passengers travelling in 1,818 flights had been screened for the novel coronavirus India had also provided support to other countries in tackling the challenge posed by the nCOV disease. Three positive cases have been reported so far from Kerala All these cases have travel history from Wuhan They […]