Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 | 30th July 2020

Today's Must Read Articles :

MARRIAGE AGE FOR GIRLS ?

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

GREEN Ag-Project

AJO-Neo

      HEADLINES:

SNBNCBS develops a “No-touch” & “Painless” device for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns

      WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases

      ISSUE: 

DEVELOPED BY

• The device called “AJO-Neo” is developed by Professor Samir K. Pal & his group at S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata.

WORKING

• The operation of the device is based on non-contact and non-invasive spectrometry-based techniques for measurement of neonatal bilirubin level.
• The newly developed device (AJO-Neo) is reliable in measuring bilirubin levels in preterm.
• Term neonates irrespective of gestational or postnatal age, sex, risk factors, feeding behavior or skin color.

FEATURES

• The device is found to deliver an almost instantaneous report (about 10 seconds) to a concerned doctor, who is sitting 10000 km away from the point of care.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

Detection of neonatal blood bilirubin (Hyperbilirubinemia) faster is extremely important for therapeutic management in order to avoid Kernicterus leading to Neuo-psychiatry problems.

     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

MoES National Awards

      HEADLINES:

MoES National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science Announced

      WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : Weather : Awards : Global Warming

      ISSUE: 

EXPLORING EARTH SCIENCE

• The Ministry also deals with exploration and sustainable harnessing of ocean resources (living and non-living).
• It plays a nodal role for Antarctic/Arctic/Himalayas and Southern Ocean research.

• Ministry also encourages women and young researchers for coming into the mainstream of Earth System Science.

AWARDS

• LIFE TIME EXCELLENCE AWARD is being awarded to Professor Ashok Sahni for his significant contribution in the field of Geology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Biostratigraphy.
• THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY  : This is being awarded to Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma and Dr. M. Ravichandran for Polar and Ocean Research.
• THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : This is presented to Dr. S. Suresh Babu for contributions towards understanding the radiative impacts of black carbon aerosols on atmospheric stability and climate.
• THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR GEOSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : This will be presented to N. V. Chalapathi Rao for enduring research on deeper mantle petrology and geochemistry.
• THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR OCEAN TECHNOLOGY : It will be presented to Dr. M. A. Atmanand for pioneering work in the area of deep sea technologies.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

OTHER AWARDS

• ANNA MANI AWARD FOR WOMAN SCIENTIST : Dr. Lidita D. S. Khandeparker has made significant contributions in the field of aquatic microbial ecology, Marine biofilms and their relevance in the oceans.
• YOUNG RESEARCHER AWARDS : The Young Researcher Awards will be presented to Dr. Indra Sekhar Sen for their outstanding work in Earth System Science.

     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

 ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swatantra Bharat’ quiz

      HEADLINES:

MoD conducts ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swatantra Bharat’ quiz on MyGov to create patriotic feeling among youth and masses

      WHY IN NEWS:

As part of forthcoming Independence Day Celebrations 2020, the concept of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is being promoted in a big way.

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3 : Recent Developments

      ISSUE: 

‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT – SWATANTRA BHARAT’

• An online quiz competition on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swatantra Bharat’ is being conducted by Ministry of Defence (MoD) in coordination with MyGov during July 29 – August 10, 2020.

AIM

There will be 10 cash prizes i.e., first, second, third and seven consolation ones as under:

(a)      1^st Prize                                            Rs. 25,000/-

(b)     2^nd Prize                                           Rs. 15,000/-

(c)      3^rd Prize                                            Rs. 10,000/-

(d)     Consolation prizes (seven)              Rs. 5,000/-

ELIGIBILITY

• Indian citizens aged 14 years and above can participate in the quiz and win the exciting prizes.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

The quiz is available in MyGov portal .

Check the Link Below :

     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

Space – An Opportunity for India

      HEADLINES:

Now it’s Time for Space

      WHY IN NEWS:

Nehru Science Centre’s lockdown lecture on ‘Space – An Opportunity for India’ has been timed right with the cabinet making historic decisions in the Space sector, giving a green signal to private sector participation.

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Space

      ISSUE: 

THIS IS THE TIME OF OPPORTUNITIES

• It was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who convinced the government, just after 10 years of independence, that Space Technology can be beneficial for the country.

• ‘It was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s vision to use space technology for national development.
• Because of such a visionary that within six years of India launching the first rocket from Indian soil in 1967, we had an equatorial rocket launching at Thumba in Trivandrum.

SPACE DEBRIS MONITORING AND SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

Like a city faces traffic issues, the space also faces similar issues.

• More and more satellites in orbit which are both functional and non-functional add to the space traffic issue.
• Space traffic management is a crucial area that requires attention since the satellites in orbit can come in the way of each other.
• Thus Space Debris management and monitoring plays a crucial role as many countries are becoming players.

• Space mining is another area with tremendous opportunities.
• There are asteroids which are left over from the early days of our solar system and they have tremendous minerals in them .
• The huge amount of space materials when brought to earth can boost our ability for undertaking various activities.

SPACE TOURISM

• Space tourism is another opportunity for further exploration.
• There are companies selling tickets, ‘Óne Way Ticket To Mars’.
• This is a booming industry where already many multi-millionarire have travelled to space as tourists.

FARMING SOLAR POWER IN THE COSMOS

• The availability of solar energy or the visibility of Sun is not continuous due to earth’s rotation.
• But in space where the access to sunlight is continuous, the sunlight can be converted into various forms of energy, either by direct beaming or through other means.
• Thus it enables generation of tremendous amount of renewable energy.
• ‘Human beings have been conquering land, ocean and air.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

• Today, more than 40 nations are engaged in full-fledged space activities while more than 100 nations are utilizing space systems and services.
• We should remember, space technology is not only for national development but also for the benefit of entire humanity.

     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

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