MODIFICATIONS IN PMRF SCHEME
Why in news? Union Human Resource Development Minister announced that, to boost research in the country various amendments have been carried out in Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Scheme. Highlights After the amendments, now for the students from any recognised institute/ university (other than IISc/ IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST/CF IIITs), the requirement of GATE Score is reduced to […]
SCIENTISTS FABRICATE ENERGY-EFFICIENT PHOTODETECTOR
Why in news? Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have fabricated an economical and energy-efficient wafer-scale photodetector (thin slice-based) using gold – silicon interface, for security applications. It could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity. Details: Photodetectors are the heart […]
NANOMATERIALS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Why in news? DST INSPIRE Faculty develops nanomaterials having energy storage application & optical sensors for water pollution control. Details: Increasing energy demand due to the growth of human population and technological advancement poses a great challenge for human society. High energy density of supercapacitors suggests that constant current can be withdrawn for longer duration […]
DRDO DEVELOPS UV DISINFECTION TOWER
Why in news? DRDO has developed an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower for rapid and chemical free disinfection of high infection prone areas. Details: It is a UV based area sanitiser designed and developed by Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC), the Delhi based premier laboratory of DRDO Objective: rapid and chemical free disinfection of […]
LOW-COST ‘FELUDA’ TEST
Why in news? An accurate and low-cost strip test called “Feluda” that can detect the coronavirus disease within one hour is expected to be available for the first phase of testing by July 2020. Called Feluda, the test is named after a fictional detective created by the late Satyajit Ray – and it is also an acronym for FNCAS9 […]
ENZYME MAKES MEN VULNERABLE TO COVID
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? Being male is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 regardless of age, according to a new study. Why are Males at a higher risk? The Study identified higher concentrations of a key enzyme in men’s blood as the reason for the increased risk of death they […]
NIV DEVELOPS ELISA TEST TO DETECT ANTIBODIES
Why in news? The Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) has developed an immunological assay — enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) — to detect antibodies that the body develops in response to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. Details This is the first time India has developed an indigenous ELISA test for coronavirus. This kit was validated […]
NFHS FOR POPULATION SURVEILLANCE FOR CORONAVIRUS
Why in news? There have been proposals for the use of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) framework to ascertain the prevalence of COVID-19. It has been suggested that the scientific and logistical infrastructure of India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS) be leveraged to conduct a random sample-based population surveillance to track coronavirus. Used earlier […]
DEEP-SPACE ICE ON A COMET
Why in news? Deep-space ice formed in one of the coldest parts of the cosmos has been found in our solar system. 21-Borisov was in the news in the past: It was the first such identified interstellar comet to have come close to the Sun from another stellar system. Details Deep-space ice was carried on […]
PHASE-2 TRIAL WITH THREE DRUGS OFFERS HOPE
Why in news? A phase-2 trial involving participants with mild to moderate coronavirus (COVID-19) illness found no detectable virus within an average seven days of starting treatment with a three-drug regimen compared with 12 days in people in the control group. Details Lopinavir-ritonavir is used for treating HIV, ribavirin for treating chronic hepatitis C virus, […]