Science & Technology
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY INDEX
Page No. Sl.No. Topic From To
01. Biotechnology 1 21
02. Vaccines and Diseases 23 34
03. Space Technology 34 65
04. Defense Technology 65 78
05. Emerging Technologies in ICT 78 110
06. Energy Issues in News 112 118
07. Intellectual Property Rights 118 125
08. Advancement in Fundamental Physics 126 134
09. Technologies And Innovations In Day To Day Life 135 145
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1. Biotechnology Cell Organelles and Functions Cell Oganelle Organelle Functions Introduction to Biotechnology Nucleus Cpmtaoms DNA Nucleolus Makes ribosomes Made up of two words: ‘bio’ and ‘technology’. Mitochondria Releases Energy ‘Bio’ means life and ‘technology’ means Converts sunlight into Chloroplast application or harnessing of science for a sugar specific purpose. Ribosomes Makes protein Therefore, the term ‘biotechnology’ refers to Endoplasmic Carries proteins in Reticulum passage ways modification or use of any living organism for Packages and ships Golgi Bodies any useful purpose. protein The term was coined by KárolyEreky in 1919 Lysosomes Breaks stuff down Protects and supports the Cell Wall Basics: cell Cell Controls what Cell membrane Cells are the basic building blocks of living enters/exists the cell Vacuole Storage things. Fluid that holds Cytoplasm The human body is composed of trillions of organelles cells, all with their own specialised function. Flagella Movement Cells group together to form tissues, which in Pili Attach to other cells Protects bacteria and turn group together to form organs, such as Capsule causes disease the heart and brain. DNA Genetic Meterial The nucleus is based at the centre of the cell and is the ‘control room’ for the cell. Chromosomes: Inside the nucleus we have chromosome. Fig: Genes within the cells Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the
nucleus of almost every cell in our body. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total): one set comes from your mother and one set comes from your father. Fig: Basic Organelles of the cell 22 non-sex chromosomes and 1 pair of sex Functions of Cell Organelles: chromosomes.
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When the number of chromosomes is more or . less or the chromosomes get damaged Composi Deoxyribose Ribose sugar tion of sugar phosphate chromosomal aberrations occur. Bases phosphate backbone Some of the diseases due to chromosomal and backbone adenine, guanine, diseases are: Sugars adenine, cytosine, uracil . Down’s Syndrome guanine, bases . Patau Syndrome cytosine, thymine bases . Klinefelter’s Syndrome Propagat DNA is self- RNA is synthesized . Edward Syndrome, etc ion replicating. from DNA on an as- Differences: DNA and RNA needed basis. Base AT (adenine- AU (adenine-uracil) Compari DNA RNA Pairing thymine) GC (guanine- son GC (guanine- cytosine). Full Deoxyribonucl Ribonucleic Acid cytosine) Form eic Acid Function Long-term Used to transfer storage of the genetic code genetic from the information nucleus to the ; ribosomes to Transmissi make proteins. on of RNA is used to genetic transmit genetic information information in to make some other cells organisms. and new It may have organisms. been the molecule used to store genetic blueprints in primitive organisms. Structur B-form A-form helix. a double RNA usually is a Features helix. single-strand DNA is a helix consisting double- of shorter stranded chains of molecule nucleotides. consisting of a long chain of nucleotides Fig: DNA Structure
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Genome A genome is an organism’s complete set of genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build that organism and allow it to grow and develop. Genome Sequencing means each gene in the genome is mapped to a particular function.
Human Genome Project: The first whole genome to be sequenced was of the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. The worm Caenorhabditis elegans was the first Gene: animal to have its whole genome sequenced. Genes are small sections of DNA within the The project to sequence whole genome of genome that code for proteins. humans stared in 1985. They contain the instructions for our individual characteristics – like eye and hair colour. The purpose of genes is to store information. The genes that an organism carries for a particular trait is its genotype and the physical manifestation of the instructions are the organism’s phenotype. Gene expression It is the process by which the instructions in our DNA are converted into a functional Fig: Evolution - Human Genome Project product, such as a protein. Gene expression has two key stages - transcription and translation.
Fig: Transcription and Reverse Transcription
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In transcription, the information in the DNA Genome editing is a way of making specific of every cell is converted into small, portable changes to the DNA of a cell or organism. RNA messages (m-RNA). Genome editing can be used to add, remove, During translation, these messages travel or alter DNA in the genome. from where the DNA is in the cell nucleus to An enzyme cuts the DNA at a specific the ribosomes. In Ribosomes the RNA is ‘read’ sequence, and when this is repaired by the to make specific proteins. These proteins cell a change or ‘edit’ is made to the sequence. perform the required function in the body. Basicson Genetic Engineering
DNA Replication: DNA replication is the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division. It means one DNA translates itself into two. Enzyme helicase helps in the process of separating two DNA strands. A short piece of RNA called a primer acts as the starting point for DNA synthesis. Fig: Basics on Genetic Engineering Sl. Keyword Meaning and Purpose No. Restriction Enzyme that cuts the 1 Enzymes DNA Enzyme that catalyses 2 Ligase joining of two molecules in DNA Vehicle to carry foreign 3 Vector genetic material (of Fig: DNA Replication others) into another cell. Genetic Engineering Are type of vector used to It is the direct manipulation of DNA (genotype) 4 Plasmids introduce foreign DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics into Bacteria (phenotype) in a particular way. Probe is a sample DNA It is also called as genetic modification. 5 Probe piece to compare the This means changing one base pair (A-T or C- gene in the DNA. G), deleting a whole region of DNA, or
introducing an additional copy of a gene. CRISPR-Cas9 It can be applied to any organism, from a CRISPR- Clustered Regularly Interspaced virus to a sheep. Short Palindromic Repeats Genome Editing CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing tool.
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CRISPR-Cas9 is a unique technology that enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding or altering sections of the DNA sequence. It is faster, cheaper and more accurate than previous techniques of editing DNA. It has a wide range of potential applications. CRISPR uses an enzyme called Cas9 to cut strands of DNA at precisely targeted locations and insert new genetic material into the gap. Applications of Biotechnology- Heal the world, fuel the world and feed the world Sl. Area Applications No. a) Stem cell technology- Organ replacement b) Vaccines- Hepatitis B c) Drugs- Anti-biotics d) Vitamins Fig: Working of CRISPR Cas9 tool e) Enzymes-Insulin 1STGene-Edited Babies: Lulu And Production Nana f) Gene Therapy In 2018 a Chinese doctor for the 1st g) Diagnostics methods- 1 Health time performed gene editing on the PCR, RT-PCR, etc embryonic stem cell using CrispR h) Artificial Reproduction technique. Technologies- 3-Parent The CRISPR technique was used to Baby, Surrogacy modify the CCR5 gene on the embryonic i) Designer Babies cells of the couples to make them j) DNA Fingerprinting resistant to the HIV virus. k) Pharmacogenomics, DNA One of the couples subsequently gave Finger printing- birth to twins – Lulu and Nana. Forensics Applications of Bio Technology / Genetic Agricu a) GM Crops- Bt Cotton, Engineering: lture GM Mustard, etc Biotechnology has wider applications in range and b) Transgenic Animals 2 of fields including energy, agriculture, Anima c) Tissue Culture industry etc. l d) Bio-Pesticides Husba e) Bio-Fertilisers
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ndry f) Marine products- Marine 1. Embryonic Stem cells Biotech 2. Somatic Stem Cells a) Industrial Products 3. Induced Pluripotent cells through fermentation Induced Indust 3 b) Food Processing Embryonic Somatic stem Pluripote ry c) Beverages Stem Cells Cells nt Stem Cells d) Pharma Industry, etc These a) Bio remediation Embryonic are b) Drought Resistance stem cells are Somatic stem Pluripo Enviro 4 crops derived from cells or adult tent nment c) Forestry – Tissue embryos. stem cells. cells. Culture They are These are Obtain totipotent in undifferentia ed Energ 5 a) Biofuels that they can ted cells throug y be present in h differentiated differentiated reprogr Applications of GE in Health Sector: into most of cells in a ammin 1. Stem cell Therapy the cell types. tissue or g of Stem cells are the raw materials for other They can organ. somatic body cells. produce a They help in cell. clone of the repair and Low They are considered raw materials, because entire maintenance rate of all other cells with specialised functions are organism. of specific reprogr generated from these cells. Use is tissue or ammin Two important properties ethically organ where g Ability of self-renewal into numerous cells. questionable they are No Ability to specialise into various body cells in many present. ethical countries No risk of proble types such as blood cells, brain cells, heart Due to the rejection ms. muscle. lack of during auto- Person Potency of Cells: complete transplantati al Bases on the ability to transform into one immune- on regener type to another type, cells are divided into– compatibility, Less/no risk ative organs and of tumour medici 1. Totipotent Cells- One cell can differentiate tissues formation. ne. into all types of cells generated Limitation: Low 2. Pluripotent cells- One cell can differentiate from them, Limited risk of into most types of cells will likely be number in immun 3. Multipotent cells- One cell can differentiate immune- tissue e into many types of cells rejected rejectio n
Stem Cells are of three types.
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Fig: Applications of Stem cells
2. Vaccines- Genetic Engineering is used to manufacture Recombinant DNA vaccines. These are also called modern vaccines. Vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a Fig: Stem Cells particular infectious disease. Applications of Stem Cells: These are categorised into 3 generations: Re-Generative Therapy- Cell replacement, development of new human organs using I. First Generation Vaccines- stems cells is one of the important These vaccines consist of infectious organisms, applications of Stem cells. either in mild or dead form. The first-generation vaccines are still widely Ex: Development of new neuron cells in case of brain damage. used today. Eg. Polio vaccine. There are chances that mild viruses get into dangerous form.
II. Second Generation Vaccines- (Sub Unit Vaccines) These vaccines were created in order to minimise the risks of having the pathogen revert to a dangerous form. Eg. DTP vaccine The way these vaccines work is that they do Fig: Human Stem Cell Applications not contain the whole organism, but rather Other applications of Stem Cells include- contain only subunits. III. Third Generation Vaccines- (DNA Vaccine) DNA vaccinesare called as third generation vaccines. These vaccines are made up of a small, circular piece of bacterial DNA (called a plasmid) that has been genetically engineered to produce one or two specific proteins (antigens) from a pathogen. So far, no DNA vaccine has been licensed for use in humans.
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Advantages: Fig: Applications of GE in Vitamin/ 1. Require short time span for development Antibody/Insulin Production 2. DNA vaccines are easy to transport and store 4. Gene therapy- 3. Less risk to those who are making the vaccine Gene therapy is when DNA is introduced into Ex: Hepatitis B Vaccine a patient to treat a genetic disease. The new DNA usually contains a functioning gene to correct the effects of a disease-causing mutation. There are two different types
Somatic gene therapy: Transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that doesn’t produce sperm or eggs. Changes are not passed to subsequent Fig: Hepatitis B Vaccine through GE generations.
3. Vitamins, Antibiotics and Enzymes- Germline gene therapy: Vitamins; anti-biotics; and enzymes like Transfer of a section of DNA to cells that insulin are produced using fermentation produce eggs or sperm. method. Effects of gene therapy will be passed onto In this method, genetically modified and subsequent generations. cultured microorganisms are used to produce the required products. National Guidelines for Gene Therapy Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published “National Guidelines for Gene Therapy Product Development and Clinical Trials” It aims to ensure that the gene therapies can be introduced in India and their clinical trials can be performed in an ethical, scientific and safe manner. Also, spur innovation and accelerate research for rare diseases. It explains the responsibilities of investigators, sponsors, institutions. It also lists the considerations like quality assurance, manufacturing and control.
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The guide also explains on the principles India’s achievements in animal to hold while signing international cloning: collaboration and procurement of Samrupa: In 2009, the world’s first Genetic Therapeutic Products (GTP). cloned buffalo calf at National Dairy The GTP are entities that deliver nucleic Research Institute (NDRI) acid by various means for therapeutic Garima: It was the world’s second benefit to patients. cloned buffalo at NDRI Cirb Gaurav: In 2016, the scientists at 5. Cloning the Central Institute for Research on It is a process of asexual reproduction in Buffaloes (CIRB), cloned a buffalo which the offspring or the progeny is an exact offspring named ‘Cirb Gaurav’. replica of the single parent donor who has contributed the genetic material. 6. DNA Fingerprinting / DnaProfiling each cell is equipped with genetic information DNA fingerprinting refers to identifying of an organism, which has the ability to complete (or partial) set of genetic information develop into full organism. of a particular individual. First successfully cloned animal was a sheep A sample of blood, saliva, semen, vaginal called Dolly in the year 1997 at Roslin lubrication or other appropriate fluid or tissue Institute of Technology, Scotland. from personal items can be used for DNA fingerprinting.
Every human has unique DNA. Fig: DNA Finger Printing
Fig: Cloning of Sheep Dolly Applications of DNA Finger printing-
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Forensic tests Paternity tests Applications of PCR Twin studies Drug discovery Evolutionary studies – to understand the Genetic matching genetic drift of populations Genetic engineering Pre-natal diagnosis 7. Diagnostic Tests: Classification of organisms A. PCR- Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Genotyping PCR amplifies a specific region of a DNA Molecular archaeology strand (the DNA target). Mutation detection Sequencing Cancer research Bioinformatics DNA finger printing Human Genome project
B. ELISA Test: Enzyme Linked Immuno- Sorbent Assay (ELISA) ELISA is based on the principle of antigen- Fig: PCR Test Process antibody interaction. Infection by pathogen How PCR Test is used to test COVID can be detected by the presence of antigens Patients? (proteins, glycoproteins, etc.) or by detecting As Corona Virus is RNA virus, initially RNA is the antibodies synthesised against the transformed into DNA through Reverse pathogen. transcription process. This test is known as RT-PCR. 8. Assisted Reproduction Technologies- 1. IVF Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. ART may also be used in surrogacy arrangements, although not all surrogacy arrangements involve ART.
Fig: RT PCR for testing COVID-19
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Fig: Three Parent Baby
Surrogacy in India:
Fig: IVF Technique
Three parent Baby and Mitochondrial DNA In addition to DNA in the nucleus, some DNA is also present in the mitochondria. Mitochondrial DNA only has one chromosome and it codes for only specific proteins responsible for metabolism. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother and thus it is more effective to trace 10. Pharmacogenomics human ancestry. Pharma- Related to drugs, Genomics- Study of Three parent Baby technique is resorted to Genes when the actual mother is suffering from an It is the study of how genes affect a person’s incurable mitochondrial disease. response to drugs. This relatively new field combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions)
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Aims to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person’s genetic makeup.
Application of GE in Agriculture- 1. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) GMOs are organisms whose genetic materials have been altered using genetic engineering techniques to provide the organisms with certain special characteristics. GMOs can include plants, animals and even microorganisms. Fig: Genetic Engineering in Plant Breeding E.g. golden rice, BT cotton etc GMO crops in India GM Crops: Bt Cotton GM in plants are used for - BT cotton is the only genetically modified crop GM plants have been useful in many ways. that is commercially allowed in India from Genetic modification has: 2002. (i) Made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses BT cotton grown in India is genetically (cold, drought, salt, heat). modified for developing resistance to the pink (ii) Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest- bollworm pest in the crop. resistant crops). This is done by inserting ‘Cry1Ab’ and (iii) Helped to reduce post-harvest losses. ‘Cry2Bc’ genes from the soil bacterium, (iv) Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), into the cotton (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of seed. soil). (v) Enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., Vitamin ‘A’ enriched rice
Fig: Bt Cotton Production using Genetic Engineering
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HTBT Cotton: converted into vitamin A as needed by the Short for Herbicide Resistant Bt Cotton body and gives the grain its golden color. The cotton seed is inserted with ‘Cp4-Epsps’ It can provide up to 50% of the daily gene from soil bacterium, Agrobacterium requirement of an adult for vitamin A. It is tumefaciens. This produces a modified intended to fight against vitamin A deficiency protein glyphosate which makes it herbicide (VAD) resistant. It reduces water use by up to 30 per cent It is not allowed to be cultivated in India. without any yield loss. But it has a low shelf life of not more than 3 GM Mustard (DMH-11): months. It loses nutrients after that. DMH-11 yields about 30% more than the Biofortification – breeding crops with traditional reference mustard variety. higher levels of vitamins and minerals, It helps in boosting edible mustard oil or higher protein and healthier fats – is production thus, reducing huge import bill for the most practical means to improve edible oil. public health. GM mustard is resistant to herbicides. Breeding for improved nutritional Supreme Court has stayed permission to quality is undertaken with the develop GM mustard. objectives of improving – (i) Protein content and quality; Bt Brinjal: (ii) Oil content and quality; Bt brinjal is genetically engineered by (iii) Vitamin content; and inserting a gene from the soil bacterium (iv) Micronutrient and mineral content. Bacillus thuringiensis for its insecticidal property. 2. Bio Fertilisers: The gene disrupts the digestive system of the Biofertilizers are defined as substances insect that feeds on the crop, thus killing the containing living microbes, which when insect. applied to seed, plant, or soil promote growth Since 2010 there is an indefinite moratorium by the supply of essential nutrients such as N, on commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal in P, and other mineral nutrients. India. 1. Nitrogen Solublising Bactria a. Rhizobium Bacteria Golden Rice: b. Azotobacter International Rice Research Institute along c. Azospirillium bacteria with its partners has successfully cultivated Golden Rice in a controlled environment. d. Cynobacteria Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains 2. PhospateSolublizing microorganisms- M fungi beta-carotene (provitamin A), which is 3. Silicate Solublising Bactria 4. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria
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pesticide substances extracts. s/herbal pesticide s Plant Incorpor Plant ated Genetic 3. producing Protecta material/toxin Bt toxin. nts (PIPs)
Advantages of Bio Pesticides: Biodegradable Fig: Working of Bio-fertiliser Can be more effective in the long-term Effective in small quantities and quickly Advantages of Bio Fertilisers: decompose, avoiding pollution, which is a 1) Bio fertilizers are usually eco-friendly major problem with synthetic pesticides 2) Bio fertilisers don’t reduce the soil fertility. Can be less expensive 3) Bio fertilizers usually are not expensive so Affect only targeted pests, unlike broad they are cost effective. spectrum synthetic pesticides that can take
3. Bio Pesticides: effect on other unintended insects, birds, and Biopesticides are materials with pesticidal mammals, including humans properties that originate from natural living 4. Tissue Culture- organisms, including microorganisms, plants, Tissue culture is the growth and animals. of tissues or cells in an artificial medium Genetic engineering is used to produce these separate from the organism. bio pesticides on a larger scale with the This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, required qualities. semi-solid, or solid growth medium, such as There are three major classes that broth or agar. biopesticides fall into: It was learnt by scientists, during 1950s, that Active whole plants could be regenerated from Sl. Ingredients/S Types Example explants, i.e., any part of a plant taken out No. ubstances it includes and grown in a test tube, under sterile Microbia Strains of conditions in special nutrient media. Bacterium, l Bacillus This capacity to generate a whole plant from 1. fungus, virus pesticide thuringie or protozoan. any cell/explant is called totipotency. s nsis (Bt). It is important to stress here that the nutrient Biochem Naturally Scented 2. medium must provide a carbon source such ical occurring plant
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as sucrose and also inorganic salts, vitamins, Animals that have had their DNA manipulated amino acids and growth regulators like auxins, to possess and express an extra (foreign) gene cytokinins etc. are known as transgenic animals. By application of these methods it is possible Transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows to achieve propagation of a large number of and fish have been produced, although over plants in very short durations. 95 per cent of all existing transgenic animals This method of producing thousands of plants are mice. through tissue culture is called micro- There are two types of Transgenics: propagation. 1. Embryo-mediated Transgenics Each of these plants will be genetically 2. Cell- medicated Transgenics identical to the original plant from which they were grown, i.e., they are soma clones. Many important food plants like tomato, banana, apple, etc., have been produced on commercial scale using this method.
Fig: Embryo mediated Transgenesis
Fig: Tissue Culture in Plants
Fig: Cell mediated Transgenesis
Applications of Transgenic Animals: (i) Normal physiology and development: Transgenic animals can be specifically designed to allow the study of how genes are regulated, and how they affect the normal functions of the body and its development, Fig: Applications of Tissue Culture e.g., study of complex factors involved in growth such as insulin-like growth factor. 5. Transgenic Animals: By introducing genes from other species that alter the formation of this factor and studying the biological effects that result, information
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is obtained about the biological role of the Transgenic mice are being used to test the factor in the body. safety of the polio vaccine. If successful and found to be reliable, they (ii) Study of disease: could replace the use of monkeys to test the Many transgenic animals are designed to safety of batches of the vaccine. increase our understanding of how genes contribute to the development of disease. (v) Chemical safety testing: These are specially made to serve as models This is known as toxicity/safety testing. for human diseases so that investigation of The procedure is the same as that used for new treatments for diseases is made possible. testing toxicity of drugs. Today transgenic models exist for many Transgenic animals are made that carry genes human diseases such as cancer, cystic which make them more sensitive to toxic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s. substances than non-transgenic animals. They are then exposed to the toxic substances (iii) Biological products: and the effects studied. Toxicity testing in Medicines required to treat certain human such animals will allow us to obtain results in diseases can contain biological products, but less time. such products are often expensive to make. Transgenic animals that produce useful Applications of BT in Industrial Sector: biological products can be created by the (White Bio Technology) introduction of the portion of DNA (or genes) White biotechnology – also meaning Industrial which codes for a particular product such as Biotechnology uses microorganisms and their human protein (α-1-antitrypsin) used to treat enzymes to manufacture the goods for emphysema. industry, such as chemicals, plastics, Similar attempts are being made for treatment pharmaceuticals, food, and energy carriers. of phenylketonuria (PKU) and cystic fibrosis. These renewable raw materials and the waste In 1997, the first transgenic cow, Rosie, from forestry and agriculture are used for produced human protein-enriched milk (2.4 manufacturing industrial goods. grams per litre). White biotechnology is solely applied to the The milk contained the human alpha- industry to replace polluting technologies for lactalbumin and was nutritionally a more clean ones. balanced product for human babies than The Applications of White Biotechnology natural cow-milk. Applications: (iv) Vaccine safety: 1. Metabolite Production Transgenic mice are being developed for use Microorganisms produce different metabolites in testing the safety of vaccines before they during their growth stages by using cheap are used on humans. substrates. Acetone-butanol, Organic
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acids Alcohol.Antibiotics, Enzymes, and Vitamins can be created. 2. Waste Treatment Reducing pollution by proper waste treatment through bio remediation. 3. Bio-Based Fuel & Energy Cellulose enzyme technology benefits the conversion of crop residues to ethanol. The techniques also allow reduced CO2 emissions by 90% (compared to oil). Further, it produces greater domestic energy and uses renewable feedstock. 4. Recovery of Metals Microbes are employed to recover valuable
metals from the metals of a low grade for Fig: Biodiesel through Algae which the conventional metallurgical processes are polluting. 2. Bio remediation though Oil Zapper: Oil Zapper is a combination of five different Applications of Genetic Engineering in bacterial strains that are immobilized and Environmental Protection- mixed with a carrier material like powdered Reducing the use of and reliance on corncob. petrochemicals. Oil zapper feeds on hydrocarbon compounds Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas present in crude oil and the hazardous emissions. hydrocarbon waste generated by oil refineries, Decreasing water usage and waste generation. known as ‘Oil Sludge’. Tapping into the full potential of traditional The bacteria convert this sludge into harmless biomass waste products. CO2 and water. 1. Biofuel: Biotechnology is used in producing bio fuel using algae.
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Fig: Genetic Engineering for bio remediation Relatively low cost Can do with low water requirement 3. Bio- Toilet- Sustainable Sanitation Suitable for all terrains Bio-toilet is a decomposition Useful by-products: Bio gas (only Methane mechanizedtoilet system which decomposes and water) human excretory waste in the digester tank Alleviates the effort involved in relocating using specific high graded bacteria (aerobic or composting toilets every year. anaerobic). It converts the excreta into methane gas, Current Issues: Carbon dioxide gas and water. 1. DNA Technology (Use & Application) Regulation Bill 2019 Introduced for the regulation of use and application of DNA technology for the purpose of establishing identity of missing persons, victims, offenders, under trials and unknown deceased persons
Key Provisions of the Bill Use of DNA Data: DNA testing is allowed only in respect of matters listed in the Schedule to the Bill. These include offences under the Indian Penal Fig: Working of Bio toilets Code, 1860, and for civil matters such as paternity suits. Advantages of Bio Toilets: Further, the Schedule includes DNA testing No bad smell in toilets from the tanks for matters related to establishment of Faecal matter in the tank not visible individual identity. No bugs infestation Consent for the collection of DNA for some No clogging of bio digester cases like arrested person having punishment Effluent is free from off odour and solid waste of up to 7 years. If the punishment is beyond Reduction in pathogens by 99% 7 years then consent is not required. Reduction in organic matter by 90% DNA Data Bank: establishment of a National No maintenance required DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data No requirement of re-adding of bacteria / Banks, for every state, or two or more states. enzyme Bill provides for removal of the DNA profiles No need of removal of solid waste of the following persons: Hygienic and Non –Polluting Of a suspect if a police report is filed or court No manual scavenging required (sludge free order given, disposal)
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Of an undertrial if a court order is given, and Biodiversity that requires sharing of benefits On written request, for persons who are not with the local communities suspect, offender or undertrial, from the crime scene or missing persons’ index 3. Manav: Human Atlas Initiative DNA Regulatory Board: The Bill also provides Launched by Department of Biotechnology for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory It is a project to construct a comprehensive Board, which will supervise the DNA Data map of every tissue of the human body. Banks and DNA laboratories. It seeks to capture human physiology at the tissue level in natural and diseased state. Functions of the Board: Objectives
1. Advising governments on all issues related to o To provide better biological insights of human establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks, physiology
and o To understand the roles of tissues and cells 2. Granting accreditation to DNA laboratories. linked to various diseases.
3. Further, the Board is required to ensure that o Develop disease models through predictive all information relating to DNA profiles with computing the Data Banks, laboratories, and other o Drug discovery persons are kept confidential 4. IndiGen Project- Genome India Project 2. Earth Bio-Genome Project It is a project to carry out whole-genome International collaboration to sequence and sequencing of Indian. digitize the genomes of every eukaryotic Also called ‘Bioscience Mission for Precision biodiversity on Earth over a period of 10 years. Health and Optimal Well-being’ It will map the genomes of roughly 1.5 million It is aimed at studying the diversity of Indians species, i.e., all the complex life forms known and its impact on lifestyle, environment and to man. genes that is inherited. It will map the genomes of roughly 1.5 million It will help in development of personalized species, i.e., all the complex life forms known medicines. to man. The initiative will involve large number of It is an open-source DNA database. India from various geographies, caste, tribal The initiative was inspired by Human Genome and linguistic groups. Project which ended in 2003 The Genome Sequencing will be a combined provides a platform for scientific research and initiative of Ministry of Health and Family supports environmental and conservation Welfare, Department of Health Research, initiatives. Department of Biotechnology ISSUE- May lead to digital bio-piracy (because The initiative will include sequencing genomes it is open-source) which is against the and link it to human health disease as a principle of Nagoya protocol to convention of research initiative.
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Known for its medicinal properties 5. National Genomic Grid (NGG) Endemic to the Agastya hills in the southern The grid will be formed in line with the Western Ghats National Cancer Tissue BioBank (NCTB) Known for its traditional use by the Kani which is set up at the Indian Institute of tribal community to combat fatigue Technology, Madras. Studies have also proven its anti-oxidant, It will collect samples from cancer patients to aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory study genomic factors influencing cancer and anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective and identifying the right treatment modalities for anti-diabetic properties. the Indian population. The grid will have four parts, with the country 8. Parthenogenesis divided into east, west, north and south A reproductive strategy that involves Significance- The genomic samples will help development of a female (rarely a male) researches to have India specific studies on gamete (sex cell) without fertilisation or cancers. development of an embryo from an unfertilised egg cell 6. India’s Brain Map It is an adaptive strategy when sexual National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) is reproduction is not possible due to preparing an Indian Brain Template (IBT). environmental conditions. It is one-of-its-kind database of brain templates. 9. Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Brain templates are MRI images that provide A new initiative aims at reducing the anatomical information of human brains. population of Aedes aegypti mosquito by The IBT is funded by the Department of introducing genetically modified version of Science and Technology. mosquitoes Genetically modified mosquitoes involve International Centre for Genetic producing transgenic male Aedes aegypti Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) mosquito, which carries a new gene fatal Intergovernmental organisation established as only to female mosquitoes a special project of United Nations Industrial GM male mosquitoes will then breed with Development Organization, in 1983 normal females in the wild. The Organisation has three Component In the next generation, only the males would laboratories in Trieste Italy, New Delhi, India survive, and these would breed again, with and Cape Town, South Africa normal females. Became fully autonomous since 1994 After a few generations, the female population will be drastically reduced and eventually 7. Arogyapacha (Trichopuszeylanicus) whole mosquito population Scientists decoded genome ‘Miracle plant’
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10.National Biopharma Mission Developing technology transfer offices to help The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) is enhance industry academia inter-linkages. an industry-academia collaborative Note: Diseases and Vaccines will be covered mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical separately. development in the country. It was launched in 2017 at a total cost of Rs 11.Cultured Meat 1500 crore and is 50% co-funded by World Lab-grown meat is called with many names- Bank loan. cultured meat, in vitro meat, synthetic meat, It is being implemented by the Biotechnology artificial meat. Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). It is made by growing muscle cells in a BIRAC is a Public Sector Enterprise, set up by nutrient serum and encouraging them into the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). muscle-like fibres. The oversight to the mission activities is Simpler animal products, such as artificial provided by the inter-ministerial Steering milk or hen-free egg whites, can be created by Committee chaired by the Secretary-DBT yeast that has been genetically altered to (Ministry of Science & Technology). produce the proteins found in milk or eggs. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) chaired These are then extracted and blended in the by an eminent scientist provides scientific right amounts. leadership to the mission drawing upon global expertise. 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 biopharma sector. It has a focus on following four verticals:
Development of product leads for Fig: Cultured Meat Vaccines, Biosimilars and Medical Alternative to animal meat can be - Plant meat- that Devices that are relevant to the public health looks and tastes similar to meat. need by focussing on managed partnerships. Upgradation of shared infrastructure facilities and establishing them as centres of product discovery/discovery validations and manufacturing. Developing human capital by providing specific training.
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2. Vaccines and Diseases one generation on to another AIDS, Diseases: Typhoid, Allergies, cancer, A disease is a particular abnormal condition that Example Tuberculosis, heart diseases, negatively affects the structure or function of all Malaria, diabetes or part of an organism, and that is not due to any Cholera immediate external injury. As it can As it develops Type of develop almost over a period of Diseases are often known to be medical disease immediately, it time and lasts for is acute long, it is chronic conditions that are associated with specific Traditional Surgically or symptoms and signs. Treatment methods/ther specialized apies methodologies Diseases are categorised into communicable and non-communicable diseases. Microbes: Non- Character Communicabl Microbes are tiny living things that are found all communicable istics e Diseases around us and are too small to be seen by the diseases naked eye. Diseases A few harmful microbes, for example less than spread from Diseases cannot one to another 1% of bacteria, can invade our body (the host) be transmitted Definition person. Can and make us ill. Microbes cause infectious from one to be spread diseases such as flu and measles. another person through water, Microbes that causes disease are called air etc pathogens. Here, the causative is There are 4 types of microbes that cause allergies, disease; Pathogens malnutrition, that are highly illness due to Viruses infectious and internal factors, Bacteria Causative vectors lifestyle changes, Fungi transmit these environmental Protozoa (also known as Protoctista). diseases changes, abnormalities in Viruses: cell proliferation Viruses are very small, and most can only be etc seen with an electron microscope. Agent Virus, causing No agents They just contain a core of nucleic acid (DNA bacteria, etc. infection or RNA) surrounded by a covering layer of Inheritanc Cannot be Can be inherited protein (no cytoplasm, cell membrane or e factor inherited from from generation anything else).
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They are not usually considered as living RNA as their organisms, as they are very simple and do not nucleic acid carry out most of the living processes which Contains other living organisms perform. protein coat No protein - Viruses are not made of cells, and are surrounding its coat sometimes referred to as virus particles or nucleic acid. virions. Viruses are inactive when outside of a living Diseases Caused by Virus: cell, but once their nucleic acid is inside they Name Affected Diseases Of Symptoms take over the cell's activities. Usually they Organ Virus make many copies of themselves inside the Defensive Immune system cell, then break out of the cell and infect AIDS system(W HIV of body becomes others. BC) weak. Viruses cannot be killed by antibiotics such as Whole body penicillin. Dengu Dengue particula Pain in muscles, e fever rly head, head and joints. Virus Viroid Prion Virus eyes and An infective joints agent that The Fever, body pain, Throat, typically infectious Polio backbone and An infectious Polio backbone consists of a particle virus intestine cells protein nerve nucleic acid smaller than are destroyed. particle Variol High fever, molecule in a the known Chicken Whole similar to a a radish eruption protein coat viruses, pox body virus but virus on body. and is able to serving as an Varice Light fever, lacking Small Whole multiply only agent of lla eruption of bile nucleic acid; pox body with in the certain plant virus on body. Morbe living cells of a diseases Whole Reddish eruption Measles li body on body. host virus Degenerative Patient become Can cause wide Rabie Nervous mad with severe Infect only diseases of Rabies s variety of system headache and plant cells nervous virus infections high fever. system Herpe Swelling in skin. Contains a Herpes Skin s Contains either Contains short strand virus DNA or RNA as only proteins Lungs of circular, SARS Fever, difficulty their nucleic and lack COVID- and single Cov-2 in breathing, acids. nucleic acids 19 respirato Virus cough,etc. stranded ry system
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Bacteria: Respirato Whoopin Hemophili Continuous Bacteria are single celled organisms, only visible ry g cough s pertusis coughing (as "dots" and "dashes") with a (good) light system Diplococc microscope. High fever, Pneumo us They are larger than viruses but smaller than Lungs swelling in nia pnemonia lungs ordinary cells of the human body. They e contain DNA but this is not inside a structure Nervous Mycobact Spots on like a nucleus. Leprosy system erium body, nerves Not all bacteria cause disease; some are very skin leprae affected. useful "in nature". When bacteria infect the body, they can reproduce quite fast. Fungi: Often, they produce chemicals Fungi (singular fungus) are slightly larger than called toxins which have the actual effect bacteria, and their DNA is contained inside nuclei which causes an illness. Bacteria can usually like plant and animal cells. be killed by antibiotics such as penicillin. They are more suited to living in a liquid environment. Diseases Caused By Bacteria: Not all fungi cause disease; some are very Affected Name of useful "in nature". Diseases Symptoms Organ Bacteria Examples of diseases caused by fungi: Athlete's High fever, foot (not only caught by athletes, or confined to Nervous Clostridiu spasm in Tetanus the foot!), ringworm (not a worm), etc system m tetani body, closing of jaws etc Continuous Protozoa/Protoctista: Vibro Cholera Intestine stool and These are generally single celled organisms with cholerae vomiting true nuclei and a cell membrane, so they are Salmonell High fever , Typhoid Intestine quite like our body cells. a typhia head-ache Examples of diseases caused by protozoa/ Myccbact protoctista: Malaria, sleeping sickness, dysentery., Tubercul erium Repea-ted Lungs etc. osis tuberculo cough-ing sis Difficulty in Diseases Caused By Protozoans: Coryne- Diphther Respirato respire-tion Affected bacterium Diseases Parasite Symptoms ia ry tube and Organ diptheriae suffocating RBC & Plasmodiu Fever with Very high Malaria Lungs, liver m shiver-ing fever, area Pasteurell Entamoeb Plague muscular between a pesties Pyorrho Bleed-ing eruption on Gums a two legs ea from gums body gingivilis
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Sleeping Trpano- Fever with Brain sickness somia sever sleep Kala- Bone Leismania High fever azar marrow donovani
Diseases Caused By Worms (Helminths): Filariasis: Pathogen: Filarial worm Mode of transmission: Bites of mosquitoes: Aedes and culex. Symptoms Swelling takes place in certain parts of body like legs, breast, scrotum etc. Swelling of legs which appear as legs of elephant, so this disease is also called Elephantiasis. Fig: Organs and Tissues of Immune System Prevention and Cure: Mesh doors and windows in house to check the entry of Immunity: Resistance of the body for an infection. mosquitoes. Herd Immunity Herd immunity is the resistance of a group Immune System: of people to an infection. Immune system fights the disease-causing It arises due to the immunity of a high agents when they try to enter into our body. proportion of the population, for example It consists of a complex network of specialized because they have been vaccinated or been cells, tissues, and organs. exposed to the pathogen before. Immune system recognizes and defends the body from foreign substances, primarily disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi is called immune system. Organs and tissues of the immune system include the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, tonsils, mucous membranes, and skin.
Fig: How immune system works? (*NKC means- Natural Killer Cells)
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When the immune system is unable to fight or The first-generation vaccines are still widely insufficiently fights with the disease-causing used today. Eg. Polio vaccine. element that enters into our body, the person falls There are chances that mild viruses get into ill. dangerous form.
Vaccination: II. Second Generation Vaccines: (Sub Unit A vaccine is a substance that is introduced into Vaccines) the body to stimulate the body’s immune These vaccines were created in order to response. minimise the risks of having the pathogen revert to a dangerous form. It is given to prevent an infectious disease from Eg. DTP vaccine developing and the person becoming ill. The way these vaccines work is that they do E.g. Polio Vaccine, BCG, Measles Vaccine etc. not contain the whole organism, but rather contain only subunits.
III. Third Generation Vaccines- (DNA Vaccine): DNA vaccines are called as third generation vaccines. These vaccines are made up of a small, circular piece of bacterial DNA (called a plasmid) that has been genetically engineered to produce one or two specific proteins (antigens) from a pathogen.
Fig: Working of Vaccines
Types of Vaccines: Vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
These are categorised into 3 generations:
I. First Generation Vaccines: These vaccines consist of infectious organisms, Fig: Types of Vaccines either in mild or dead form. Antibiotics:
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Antibiotics are chemicals that kill or inhibit the pathogenesis, allowing the body's innate growth of bacteria and are used to treat bacterial immune mechanisms to neutralize the virus. infections. E.g. Penicillin, Tetracycline etc. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Who Definition: How do antibiotics work? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of Antibiotics take advantage of the difference a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and between the structure of the bacterial cell and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such the host’s cell. as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) They either prevent the bacterial cells from from working against it. As a result, standard multiplying so that the bacterial population treatments become ineffective, infections remains the same, allowing the host’s defence persist and may spread to others. mechanism to fight the infection or kill the When the microorganisms become resistant to bacteria, for example stopping the mechanism most antimicrobials they are often referred to responsible for building their cell walls. as “superbugs”.
Anti Virals: Antivirals are a class of medications that are used to treat viral infections. Most viral infections resolve spontaneously in immunocompetent individuals. The aim of antiviral therapy is to minimize symptoms and infectivity as well as to shorten Fig: Anti Biotic Resistance the duration of illness. Difference between antibiotic and These drugs act by arresting the viral antimicrobial resistance replication cycle at various stages. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria Currently, antiviral therapy is available only change in response to the use of antibiotics for a limited number of infections. Most of the used to treat bacterial infections (such as antiviral drugs currently available are used to urinary tract infections, pneumonia, treat infections caused by HIV, herpes viruses, bloodstream infections) making them hepatitis B and C viruses, and influenza A ineffective. and B viruses. Antimicrobial resistance is a broader term, Unlike other antimicrobials, antiviral drugs do encompassing resistance to drugs that treat not deactivate or destroy the virus but act by infections caused by other microbes as well, inhibiting replication. such as parasites (e.g. malaria or In this way, they prevent the viral load from helminths), viruses (e.g. HIV) and fungi (e.g. increasing to a point where it could cause Candida).
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Causes: Measles-Rubella(MR) Measles, Rubella Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally but is Vaccine facilitated by the inappropriate use of medicines Japanese Adult JE Vaccine Encephalitis(JE) Using antibiotics for viral infections such as cold or flu, or sharing antibiotics. Mission Indradanush-2014: Low-quality medicines, To strengthen and re-energize the UIP and Wrong prescriptions and achieve full immunization coverage for all Poor infection prevention and control also children and pregnant women at a rapid pace. encourage the development and spread of The ultimate goal of Mission Indradhanush drug resistance. was to ensure full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years India- Immunisation Program: of age and pregnant women. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) Immunization Programme in India was Intensified Mission Indradanush (IMI): introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of To further intensify the immunization programme, Immunization’ (EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) was Family Welfare, Government of India. launched in October 2017. Vaccine Through this programme, Government of India Preventable Vaccine aims to reach each and every child up to two Disease(VPD) years of age and all those pregnant women who BCG (Bacillus Calmette Tuberculosis have been left uncovered under the routine Guerin) immunisation programme/UIP. Diphtheria, DPT Pertussis, Tetanus National Vector Borne Disease Control Oral Polio Vaccine(OPV) Programme (NVBDCP): For control of Dengue Poliomyelitis and Inactivated Polio and elimination of Kala-azar and Lymphatic Vaccine(IPV) Filariasis. Hepatitis B Hepatitis B Vaccine Measles Measles National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Tetanus Tetanus Toxoid(TT) Elimination (2017-2025) To achieve active case finding of TB to 100% Hib containing Haemophilus by 2020 and complete elimination of TB by Pentavalent vaccine influenzae type b 2025. (DPT+HepB+Hib) (In Infection The four strategic pillars of the programme are: Selected States) Detect-Treat-Prevent-Build (DTPB). Rotavirus Rotavirus Vaccine Infections
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National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination Characteristic Description (2017-22): Kyasanur forest disease Caused by The plan aims to achieve universal case detection virus (KFDV). and treatment services in malaria endemic Rodents, shrews and districts to ensure 100% diagnosis of all Spread by monkeys through virus infected ticks suspected cases and full treatment of all Fever and headache, Sever confirmed cases. muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms Diseases That Are Currently in News: Symptoms and bleeding problem, 1. Corona Virus: Abnormal BP and low Characteristic Description platelets, RBC, WBC count Caused by SARS CoV-2 Diagnosis PCR Test Vaccine Inconclusive – (Bats, sea food, No Spread by Available etc.) Spreads during summer Cough, fever, severe Symptoms season pneumonia Hunters, Herders and Diagnosis RT-PCR Additional farmers are vulnerable to Vaccine Information this. No- under trails Person to person Available transmission has not been Additional WHO declared it as pandemic observed. Information
2. Hanta Virus: Characteristic Description Caused by Orthohanta virus Urine, droppings, saliva of Spread by rodents Hemorrhagic fever with renal Symptoms syndrome Diagnosis RT- PCR Vaccine Yes- Hanta Virus Vaccine Available The virus does not spread Fig: Kyasanur Forest Disease Additional from person-to-person. Information Zoonosis (as defined by WHO) The virus is not airborne. A zoonosis is any disease or infection that
3. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD): is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.
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Animals thus play an essential role in Information maintaining zoonotic infections in nature. Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral, or 6. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV): parasitic, or may involve unconventional Characteristic Description agents Caused by CDV Epizootic disease Spread by In animals Epizootic is a disease event in a nonhuman Symptoms - animal population, analogous to an Diagnosis PCR and ELISA tets epidemic in humans. Vaccine An epizootic may be: restricted to a specific No Available locale (an "outbreak"), general (an CDV is considered "epizootic"), or widespread ("panzootic"). dangerous virus and is Additional blamed for wiping out 30% 4. Yellow Fever: Information population of African Characteristic Description lionsin east African forests. Caused by Yellow fever virus Spread by Aedes aegypti Mosquitos 7. Rotavirus Disease: Fever, Headache., Muscle aches, particularly in your Characteristic Description back and knees., Caused by Rota virus Symptoms Sensitivity to light., Water contamination- Nausea, vomiting or both., Faecal-oral route, contact Dizziness. with contaminated hands, Diagnosis ELISA test Spread by Vaccine surfaces and objects, and Yes Available possibly by the respiratory Additional Eyes turn yellow, so the route Information name yellow fever Fever, nausea, and vomiting, abdominal 5. Swine Flu: Symptoms cramps and frequent Characteristic Description watery diarrhoea. Influenza viruses H1N1 Caused by and H3N2 Diagnosis Stool test Spread by Pigs Vaccine Available Yes- Rota Virus Vaccine Fever, lethargy, difficulty Leading cause of severe Symptoms in breathing Additional diarrhoea and death Information among children less than Diagnosis Real time PCR five years of age. Vaccine Available Yes
Additional 8. Zika Virus:
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Characteristic Description 10. Nipah Virus (NiV): Zika Virus (Flaviviridae Caused by Characteristic Description Virus group) Caused by Nipah Virus Spread by Ades agyepti Mosquitos It is transmitted through Fever, rashes, joint pain, direct contact with infected red eyes, loss of appetite – bats, pigs. Symptoms Spread by (Similar to Dengue- Human to human Confusion) transmission is also reported Diagnosis RT- PCR through air droplets. Vaccine No Illness with fever and Available headache, Drowsiness and Pregnant women infected mental confusion, Infection Symptoms with zika virus may give to acute respiratory birth to babies with severe syndrome and fatal brain damage or serious encephalitis Additional birth defects, i.e, Diagnosis PCR test Information neurological disorders and Vaccine No foetal deformation know as Available Microcephaly in which Additional Bats are natural hosts of infants are born with Information Nipah abnormally smaller heads.
11. Measles-Rubella: 9. Ebola: Contagious air-borne infection of the Characteri Description stic respiratory tract. Caused by Ebola Virus Caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. Close contact with blood, Can spread through direct contact or Spread by secretions, organs and other coughing, sneezing etc. body fluids. Abrupt fever, fatigue, muscle 12. Lymphatic Filariasis (lF): pain and headache. LF is commonly known as Elephantiasis. It is Symptoms Diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney one of oldest and most debilitating and liver functions. neglected tropical disease, which is ELISA currently endemic in 73 countries including Antigen detection test. India. Diagnosis Serum neutralization tests. LF disease is caused mainly by RT-PCR assay. and by Electron microscopy. WucheriaBancrofti spread Culex Vaccine mosquito. No Available Poor sanitation, water and hygiene are Additional some reasons for spread. Information
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LFdoes not kill affected person, but may The bacteria can be transmitted via exposure cause permanent disfigurement, reduced to contaminated water or soil or direct productivity and social stigma. contact with reservoirs hosts like wild or domestic animals. Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic In humans it can be cause a wide range of Filariasis (GAELF) symptoms such as mild headaches, muscle GAELF is an alliance of partners from 72 LF pains and severe fevers with bleeding from endemic national country programmes, lungs or meningitis. NGO’s, private sectors, academic and Currently thereis no preventionvaccinefor research institutes and international humans. development agencies that assists WHO’s Global programme to eliminate Lymphatic 15. H9N2 virus Filariasis. It was formed in 2001, since then Indian scientists have detected the country‘s it is being held biennially. first case of infection with a rare variant of the virus that causes avian influenza, or bird flu. 13. Japenese Encephaliyis (JE) In the December 2019 issue of the Emerging Characteristic Description Infectious Diseases journal of the US Centers JE is mosquito borne for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flavivirus. It belongs to same Caused by scientists of the National Institute of Virology genus as dengue, yellow fever (NIV), Pune, have reported avian influenza and west Nile virus. Spread by Mosquitos A(H9N2) virus infection in a 17-month-old boy Mild fever and headache or in Maharashtra. Symptoms without apparent symptoms H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, Blood and cerebral fluid which causes human influenza as well as bird Diagnosis testing flu. Vaccine Yes- JE Vaccine The H9N2 subtype was isolated for the first Available time in Wisconsin, US in 1966 from turkey JE primarily affects children. flocks. Most adults in endemic Additional countries have natural According to the US National Centre for Information immunity after childhood Biotechnology Information (NCBI), H9N2 infection, but individuals of viruses are found worldwide in wild birds and any age may be affected. are endemic in poultry in many areas. H9N2 virus infections in humans are rare, but 14. Leptospirosis likely under-reported due to typically mild Leptospirosis is an emerging symptoms of the infections tropicalinfectious bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It caused by Government of India Initiatives in News corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Leptospira. 1. MERA India Initiative
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2. New Influenza Research Program SAI has prescribed a limit for Total Polar 3. Eat Right Movement Compounds (TPC) at 25% in cooking oil to 4. Arogya Setu App avoid the harmful effects of reused cooking oil. The movement aims to cut down salt/sugar 1. MERA India Initiative and oil consumption by 30% in three years. Launched by ICMR to eliminate malaria by It also aims to engage and enable citizens to 2030 improve their health and well-being by Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) making the right food choices India’ – a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control – in order to prioritise, plan 4. Arogya Setu APP and scale up research to eliminate the disease National Informatics Center operating under from India by 2030 Ministry of Electronics and Information Malaria is the most deadly vector-borne Technology has developed an application disease. “Arogya Sethu” Malaria is caused by a Plasmodium Parasites The app alerts the person whenever he comes that is transmitted from one human to in contact within six feet of COVID-19 infected another by the bite of infected Anopheles person. mosquitoes. The application is available in 11 languages. The India Health Fund To eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 and 3. Space Technology malaria by 2030bfrom India. It a collaborative initiative by the Tata Scope: Trusts and theGlobal Fund 1. Keywords. 2. History of Indian Space Programme. E-2020 Initiative: It is part of the Global 3. Types of Orbits. Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016- 2030 4. Types of Launch Vehicles. endorsed by WHO. 5. Types of Satellites. 6. Applications of Space Technology in everyday 2. New Influenza Research Programme life Indian and European Union collaborated for 7. Space Missions of India new influenza research programme to develop 8. Indigenization of Space Technologies Next Generation Influenza Vaccine. 9. Achievements of India and Indians in the The programme will get fund under EU field of Space. funding programme for research and 10. Emerging /recent developments in space innovation called 'Horizon 2020'. Technology.
3. Eat Right Movement Keywords Launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
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1) Space: It is a 3 dimensional region that begins where the earth’s atmosphere ends.
Generally satellites revolve in a defined orbit. Outer Space Treaty, 1967 Example: Moon, INSAT satellites, etc All member countries under treaty Spacecrafts may or may not revolve in a agreed for: designated orbit. No Weapons of Mass Destruction in Ex: Voyager 1, 2; Chandrayan 2, etc. Space. 4) Satellite: No placement of Nuclear Weapons in A Satellite is a body that revolves around Space. another object. A Satellite cab be either Co-operation & Transparency in the Manmade (Ex: Astrosat) or Natural (Moon). Outer Space operations. 5) Space Craft: No claim of sovereignty over celestial Space craft is an artificial object made to bodies or the celestial objects. revolve around another Planet or Planets other than Earth. Ex: Chandrayn 1, 2, MOM; 2) Microgravity : Voyager-1,2, etc. Gravity is the force exerted by an object on 6) Rocket: the other object. It is proportional to the A rocket is a vehicle that is used to provide mass of the object. thrust for an object. It can be used as a In Space, gravity conditions vary as one move missile or a launch vehicle. It consists of - from one body to another. fuel & oxidizer, together called as propellant Microgravity is the condition of less and the engine. gravity/low gravity situation in the space. 7) Launch Vehicle: Astronauts are trained and equipped to Launch vehicle is a type of rocket that is withstand the microgravity conditions. used to place satellites or spacecrafts into the Space. 3) Orbit: Ex: PSLV, GSLV, GSLV MK III The curved path of an object or spacecraft or 8) Telescope: satellite around a Star, Planet or Moon is called an Orbit.
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It is an optical instrument designed to make They are not part of our atmosphere and are distant objects clearers & appear nearer. extended into space much beyond the Ex: Hubble Telescope – NASA’s one of the Earth’s atmosphere. most famous and the largest astronomical satellite. 9) Perigee, Apogee Perigee- It is the point in a satellite’s elliptical path around the Earth at which it is closest to Earth’s centre. Apogee- It is the point of maximum distance between the satellite and the centre of the Earth. 10) Lagrange Point: It is a location in space where the combined gravitational forces of two large bodies such as Earth and the Sun or the Earth and the Moon, equal the centrifugal force felt by a much smaller third body. The interaction of forces creates a point of equilibrium where a space craft may be “Parked to make observations. Halo Orbit- It is an Orbit around the 12) Satellite Frequency bands. Lagrange Points. Satellites are used for radio communications, astronomy, weather forecasting, broadcasting, mapping and many more applications.
Information to for all these purposes can be sent and received at different frequencies.
11. Van Allen Radiation Belts- It is a zone of charged particles. These energetic particles are trapped at high altitudes in Earth’s magnetic field. These are intense over Equator and is absent over the Poles. They contain charged particles of both solar and atmospheric origin.
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4. 1972- GOI established Space Commission and Dept of Space and ISRO were brought under DOS.
Experiments: 1. 1963- The launch of first Sounding Rocket, US made “Nike Apache” was launched from Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (St.Mary Magdalene Church) 2. 1965-Rohini Series of Sounding Rockets History of Space Program: developed and experimented successfully. 13thCE—Chinese created rocket to launch (Indigenous). gunpowder filled tubes. 3. 1975- First Indian Satellite” Aryabhata” was 1940’s V2Rocket—Modrn form of rocket launched from Soviet Launch Pad. developed by Germany. Germany used them 4. 1981- APPLE- Ariane Passenger Payload during WW-II, but the guidance system failed. Experiment – India’s First Indigenous After WW-II, during cold war period, communication satellite was launched. technology race started between USA & 5. SLV – Successfully attested in 1980 4stage former USSR. launch vehicle- All soil stages. 1957- Sputnik 1, 2 Satellites by USSR 6. ASLV- Tested in 1987. It is a 5 stage launch 1958 – Explorer -1 Satellite by USA. vehicle – all soil stages. 1961- USSR launched VOSTOK & sent 7. PSLV- 1994 – first successful launched humans to space; Yuri Gagarin is the first vehicle used to send operational satellites – 4 human to enter into the Space. stages with alternate solid & liquid stage. 1964 – SYNCOM-3 was launched by USA 8. GSLV-2001 – successfully launched with the using this it has live telecasted the Tokyo Cryogenic engine procured from Russia. Olympics. 9. GSLV MK-III – Successfully launched in 1969 – Apollo 11 – USA landed humans on 2014 with indigenous cryogenic engine. Moon. [3 stage – Solid-Liquid-Cryogenic (Liquid Hydrogen-Liquid Oxygen)]. Evolution of Space Program in India: 1. 1961- Department of Atomic Energy was Types of Orbits entrusted with the subject of Space Research. Orbits are categorized into various types INCOSPAR- Indian National 2. 1962- based on the height, centricity and the Committee for Space Research was formed inclination. under DAE. 3. 1696- INCOSPAR was reconstituted as ISRO Karman line is the altitude where space (Indian Space Research Organization). begins. Generally it is at 62 miles or 100
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km. Ex: Communication satellites to cover Polar Regions; Earth Observation Satellites, GPS, etc
3. High Earth Orbit- The range of this orbit is from 35,780KM and above. When the height of orbit is 35,780KM, the orbital speed of the satellite becomes equal to the Earth’s rotational speed.
Types of Orbits Based on the Height. 1. Low Earth Orbit- LEO is the orbit where most of the satellites are placed. It ranges between (180 km- 2000km). Most of the Remote Sensing satellites are placed in this orbit. So, this orbit at this height is called as Geo Ex: International Space Station, IRS series Synchronous (GSyO) or Geo Stationary Orbit satellites are placed in LEO. (GSO). In general satellites are first placed in LEO Ex: Communication Satellites & Weather and then transferred to GEO. Monitors Satellites are place in GSO/GSyO. Each orbit is associated with certain speed. As LEO is near to the Earth, the gravitation pull on the satellites in this orbit is also more. To overcome this, orbital speed of the satellite placed in LEO is more. Satellites place in LEO orbit generally circle the Earth once in 90 min. 2. Middle Earth Orbit- Types of Orbits based on Eccentricity: The range of this orbit is between (2000km – Eccentricity refers to shape of an Orbit. 35,780 km). Eccentricity of an orbit indicates deviation of Generally it takes 12 hrs for the satellite to the orbit from a perfect circle. complete one rotation around Earth. A Satellite with a low eccentricity Orbit moves in near circle around the Earth.
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An eccentric orbit is elliptical, with the 4. 4thGeneration: Geo Synchronous Satellite satellites distance from the Earth changing Launch Vehicle (GSLV) depending on where it is in its orbit. Eccentric Orbits are used as Transfer Orbits. GSLV MK-III is the advanced version with indigenous Cryogenic Engine.
Types of Orbits based on inclination: Inclination is the angle of the Orbit in relation to Earth’s equator. A Satellite that orbits directly above the equator has zero inclination. PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): If a satellite orbits from the North Pole to PSLV earned its title “The workhorse of ISRO” South Pole, it inclination is 90 degrees. These through consistently delivering various are called Polar Orbit Satellites. satellites to low Earth Orbits, Particularly the IRS satellites. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with the liquid stages. Since 1994, PSLV is used to place many satellites into the orbits. Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series satellites are the major group of satellites that are Types of Launch Vehicles placed using PSLV. A launch vehicle is the type of rocket which is Ex: CARTOSAT, OCEANSAT, RISAT, etc are used to place satellite or spacecrafts into space. place using PSLV. Chanrayan-1, MOM is launched using PSLV. In India there are 4 generations of launch vehicles. (PSLVC-II), (PSLVC-25). st 1. 1 Generation: Satellite Launch Vehicle IRNNS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite (SLV) System) - Constellation of 7 Satellites, are nd 2. 2 Generation: Augmented Satellite Launch place in GTO using PSLV. Vehicle (ASLV) 3. 3rdGeneation: Polar Satellite launch Vehicle GSLV-(Geo Synchronous Satellites Launch (PSLV) Vehicle)
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GSLV has enhanced India’s capacity to place It paves heavier satellites in both SSPO and GTO. the way It is a 3 stage launch vehicle powered by for- solid-Liquid-Cryogenic engines. India’s GSLV is used to place communication manned satellites into GTO. Reliable space mission INSAT & GSAT Satellites are launched from launch vehicle this launch vehicle. Self GSLV MK-III is first tested in 2014. In its first Signific reliance in Used to space operational launch it has successfully tested ance launch program the CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric RE- Chandray Launching Entry Experiment) in 2014. an heavier CE-20, indigenous cryogenic engine was 1,MOM satellites used in this. especially Recently, Chandrayan-2 mission was the launched using GSLV-MK-III. communic ation satellites Differences between PSLV and GSLV Eleme GSLV Mk PSLV GSLV Cryogenic Technology: Is the nt III First technology of materials at very low 1993 2001 2014 Test temperatures, below-153˚C (Boiling No. of point of Methane). 4 3 3 stages Cryogenic Rocket technology uses Solid- Solid- Cryogenic fuel. It is more efficient as it Liquid- Solid- Liquid- provides more thrust for every kg of Fuel Cryogeni Liquid- Cryogenic propellant compared to solid and earth Compo c Solid- (Indigenou sition (Russian storable liquid propellant. Liquid s engine- borrowe C20) d) Cryogenic Fuel: Hydrogen@--183˚C, Payloa LEO- LEO- LEO- Oxygen@-253˚C (Oxidizer) d 1750 kg 4000kg 8000kg Advantages of Constraints of capacit GTO- GTO- GTO- Cryogenic Fuel Cryogenic Fuel y 1425kg 2000kg 4000kg 1. High Fuel density 1. Difficult to storage 2. Automatic Cooling 2. Expensive of engine 3. Power density is high 3. Health
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problems in If scramjet engines are combined with RLV, 4. Cleaner Fuel. case of leakage. the Future space programs become more efficient and cost effective. Other Launch Vehicle Technologies Differences between Ramjet and Scramjet ISRO has other launch vehicle technologies Engine like Scramjet 1. RLV-TD (Supersonic Ramjet 2. Scramjet Engine-TD. Combustion Ramjet) RLV-TD: The combustion in The combustion in Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology the combustion the combustion Demonstration is one of the most chamber happens at chamber happens at technologically challenging endeavours of sub-sonic speeds super-sonic speeds ISRO. Reusability of launch vehicle enables low cost access to space. It combines both launch vehicle configuration as well as an aircraft configuration. Both Ramjet and Scramjet engies doesn’t RLV-TD was successfully tested in 2016. have the moving parts inside. Both move at Scramjet TD: Supersonic speeds. The difference is only at Scramjet engine is an Air Breathing the combustion stage. Propulsion System. Scramjet engine uses hydrogen as fuel and Types and Applications of Satellites oxygen from the atmosphere air as the oxidizer. Scramjet engine-TD was successfully tested by ISRO in 2016. ISRO is the fourth country to successfully demonstrate this technology. Use of Sacrament Engine: Most of the satellite launch vehicles that carrying propellants out of the total I. Remote Sensing Satellites: propellant, 70% of it is oxidize Remote sensing is the acquiring of If the launch vehicle can take the oxygen information from a distance. These are also from atmosphere, it is weight can be called as Earth Observation Satellites. considerably reduced. Overall cost of Typically remote sensing satellites are fitted launching the satellites also reduces. with sensors and high resolution cameras.
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Remote sensing instruments (Sensors) are of Geostationary orbit- INSAT-3D, Kalpana & two primary types— active and passive. INSAT 3A, INSAT -3DR. Active Sensors, provide their own source of energy to illuminate the objects they observe. Applications of Remote Sensing Satellites: An active sensor emits radiation in the The data from the Earth Observation direction of the target to be investigated. The satellites/ Remote Sensing Satellites are sensor then detects and measures the used for several applications covering radiation that is reflected or backscattered agriculture, water resources, urban planning, from the target. rural development, mineral prospecting, Passive Sensors, on the other hand, detect environment, forestry, ocean resources and natural energy (radiation) that is emitted or disaster management. reflected by the object or scene being 1. Agriculture observed. Reflected sunlight is the most Agriculture Land Monitoring common source of radiation measured by Cropping System Analysis passive sensors. Crop loss estimation (Ex: Damage estimation for insurance) Soil mapping Pest/Disease Detection & Incidence Forecasting Generally remote sensing satellites are Inland Fishery Development (Ex: HySIS) placed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) but some Spraying pesticides. remote sensing instruments can also be placed in Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO). 2. Urban Development Indian Remote Sensing Program (IRS Program): Following the successful demonstration of Bhaskar-1 & Bhaskara-2 in 1979 & 1981, India began the development of IRS program. Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many operational remote sensing satellites. India has one of the largest constellations of Urban planning (GIS-Geo Mapping of Cities – remote sensing satellites in operation. A direction of Supreme Court was recently Examples: Sun-synchronous orbit- given to Maharsratra to remove illegal RESOURCESAT-1, 2, 2A CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, constructions using Remote Sensing Data). 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha- Property Estimation Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1 Crowd Management
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3. Forestry & Environment EX: SARAL Altica, SCATSAT, OCEANSAT Forest Fire warning Coral bleaching studies II. Communication Satellites Mountain Forest studies A communications satellite is an artificial Polar studies satellite that relays and Grand Water Monitoring. amplifies radio telecommunications signals via a transponder. 4. Mineral Mapping It creates a communication channel between CARTOSAT and RISAT series satellites are a source transmitter and a receiver at used to map prospective mineral zones. different locations on Earth. Transponder - Is a wireless communications 5. Governance device usually attached to a satellite. Bhuvan Portal is used for Geo tagging A transponder receives and transmits radio applications to monitor infrastructural signals at a prescribed frequency range. After projects and also to track the progress in the receiving the signal a transponder will at the projects. same time broadcast the signal at a different Watershed Monitoring frequency. Geo-MGNREGA Clean Ganga Mission Housing, Sanitation
6. Water Resources Management. Ground Water, Surface Water Management Ex: Bhuvan Bhujal provides comprehensive info on Ground and Surface water resources. Telangana Water Resources Information
System (TWRIS) – It is State specific Indian National Satellite System (INSAT information on micro mapping of water Program) resources in the state of Telangana. INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) was a multipurpose satellite system for tele 7. Energy communications, broadcasting, meteorology Renewable Energy potential estimation and search and rescue services. across the country using satellite data Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest Ex: Solar Energy Estimation, Wind Energy domestic communication system in the Asia- Estimation Pacific Region, and is a joint venture of the 8. Ocean Sciences Indian Department of Space (DOS), Indentifying Potential fishing zones Department of Telecommunications, India Identifying Algal bloom Zones Coral Reef Protection.
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Meteorological Department, All India Radio large circular area on the Earth's and Doordarshan. surface. Adding data from a second satellite Applications: allows the GPS to narrow the specific Communications satellites are used for television, location of that point down to a region telephone, radio, internet, and military where the two areas of satellite data applications. overlap. 1. Telecommunication Adding data from a third satellite 2. Education—Satellite Instructional Television provides an accurate position of the Experiment (1975) is a collaboration between point on the Earth's surface. ISRO & NASA. Edusat (2004) is the dedicated satellite launched to serve the Indian Navigation Satellites: educational sector 3. Tele Medicine 4. Mobile Satellite Services 5. Village Resource Center 6. Satellite Navigation Program 7. Television Services 8. Disaster Management--- SAARC Satellites Geosynchronous Satellites) Satellite Navigation service is an emerging III. Navigational Satellites: satellite based system with commercial and Satellite navigation is a system that uses strategic applications. satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial There are two types of Navigational positioning. Satellite Programs in India. It allows small electronic receivers to A. To meet the Civil Aviation requirements, determine their location to high precision. ISRO is working jointly with Airport Navigation Satellites uses Trilateration Authority of India (AAI) in establishing the method to determine the position of a GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation particular object. (GAGAN) system. Trilateration B. To meet the user requirements of the It is a sophisticated version of positioning, navigation and timing services triangulation, though it does not use based on the indigenous system, ISRO is the measurement of angles in its establishing a regional satellite navigation calculations. Instead it measures system called Indian Regional Navigation distances. Satellite System (IRNSS). Data from a single satellite provides a general location of a point within a A. GAGAN:
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GPS Aided Geo Argument Navigation is a Presently, similar systems are in Satellite Based Augmentation System operation in USA, European countries implemented jointly by Airports Authority of etc. India (AAI) and ISRO. It is being ensured that GAGAN system is interoperable with other similar Applications: systems operational in the world. Some of the benefits GAGAN is expected to bring for Civil Aviation sector are: Safety benefits – Vertical guidance improves safety, especially in adverse weather conditions Reduction of circling approaches Environmental benefits–Approach with Vertical Guidance procedures will help facilitate better energy and descent profile management during the final approach Global seamless navigation for all phases of flight including arrival, departure, oceanic and en route Other applications include- Allow direct routings, multiple approaches 1. Vast Improvement in GPS accuracy. resulting in considerable fuel savings to 2. Navigation safety enhancement in Civil airlines and provide for capacity Aviation, Railways, Ships, Spacecraft, etc. enhancement of airports and airspace. 3. Geographic Data collection for atmospheric studies. Background: 4. Location based services. In view of the limitations of the ground 5. Natural Resources & Land Management. based navigation systems, the International Civil Aviation Organization B. IRNSS (NAVIC Series) (ICAO) in 1993 endorsed a global Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System satellite based navigation system as the (Navigation with Indian Constellation). future of air navigation system. Independent navigation system developed by In furtherance of this international India. commitment, AAI and Indian Space Its services area is Indian landmass+1500KM. Research Organization (ISRO) entered 7 Satellites -3GSO+4GSyO into a MoU on 25.8.2001 for Location accuracy is better than 20M implementation of GAGAN Project for Two types of Services. seamless navigation over Indian air o Standard Positioning Services space. o Restricted Services.
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Cartosat 2E+ was dubbed by many as India's Applications: "eye in the sky". 1. Territorial, aerial and marine Navigation. 2. Location based services-Fleet Management. These satellites have surveillance and mapping 3. Geographic data collection & Surveying capabilities, and can be used to keep an eye on 4. Disaster Management enemies along the land and sea borders. Navigational Systems across the world- Dedicated defence Communication satellites Global Systems Regional Systems are launched to provide reliable GPS-USA QZSS(Quasi Zenith)- communication services. Japan Ex: GSAT-7 – NAVY, GSAT-7A – Air force and GLONASS-Russia NavIC-India o Army Galileo-EU EMISAT is an Indian reconnaissance BeiDou—China satellite which is meant to provide space- based electronic intelligence or ELINT. The spacecraft will help improve the situational awareness of the Indian Armed Forces as it will provide information and location of enemy radars EMISAT is developed under DRDO’s Project Kautilya. V. Scientific Satellites: Indian space programme encompasses research in areas like astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and earth sciences, IV. Defence Satellites: atmospheric sciences and theoretical physics. The Indian Space Research Organization Balloons, sounding rockets, space platforms (ISRO) launched a series of satellites with and ground-based facilities support these capabilities that could be of significant use to research efforts. A series of sounding rockets the armed forces. are available for atmospheric experiments. CARTOSAT and RISAT came up to give India Several scientific instruments have been the capability to keep an eye on Pakistan's flown on satellites especially to direct activities along the borders. celestial X-ray and gamma-ray bursts. India launched RISAT-1 in 2012; this remote Astrosat, Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayan sensing satellite had radar reconnaissance 1, Chandrayan 2 are the scientific satellites imaging capability. and spacecrafts of ISRO. With the launch of Cartosat 2E+ in June 2018, India considerably enhanced its Astrosat: remote sensing capabilities in space.
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AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian Achievements of Astrosat: astronomy mission aimed at studying AstroSat has provided several new and celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV exciting results like- spectral bands simultaneously. Solving the decade old puzzle of a cool red The payloads cover the energy bands of star but bright in UV, by identifying it as a Ultraviolet (Near and Far), limited optical and binary X-ray regime (0.3 keV to 100keV). X-ray polarization from Crab nebula One of the unique features of AstroSat Detection of a coronal explosion on the mission is that it enables the simultaneous nearest planet-hosting star (simultaneously multi-wavelength observations of various observed by NASA’s Chandra X-ray astronomical objects with a single satellite. observatory and Hubble Space Telescope.
The scientific objectives of Astro Sat mission are: Indian Space Missions: To understand high energy processes in Since the development of PSLV, India has binary star systems containing neutron stars indigenously launched many satellites into and black holes; the space. Development of GSLV and Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars; reliability of PSLV have made many space Study star birth regions and high energy missions possible. processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy; Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky; Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region
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Already Experimented Category Chandrayan-1 Mars Orbiter Mission Chadrayan-2 Launched 22ndOctober 2008 5th November 2013 22nd July 2019 in Launched PSLV-XL C11 PSLV-C25 GSLV Mk III by It consists of- 1. Lunar orbiter: It will map the lunar surface and help to prepare 3D maps 1.Methane Sensor for Mars of it with the help of (MSM):To measure methane Orbiter High Resolution in the atmosphere of Mars Camera (OHRC). OHRC 2. Mars Color Camera conducted high-resolution Scientific Payloads from (MCC): It gives images and observations of the landing India information about the surface site prior to separation of a) Terrain Mapping features and composition of the Lander from the Camera (TMC) Martian surface. It is useful orbiter. b) Hyper Spectral Imager to monitor the dynamic 2. Vikram Lander: To (HySI) events and weather of Mars touch down softly on the c) Lunar Laser Ranging like dust storms/atmospheric moon's surface. Instrument (LLRI) turbidity. 3. Pragyan lunar rover: It d) High Energy X - ray 3. Mars Exospheric Neutral is a robotic vehicle. Spectrometer (HEX) Composition Analyzer All were developed in e) Moon Impact (MENCA): It is a quadrupole India. Probe(MIP) mass analyzer capable of Scientific Payloads from analyzing the neutral Orbiter payloads- Equipme abroad composition of particles in 1. Terrain Mapping nts f) Chandrayaan-I X-ray the range of 1–300 amu Camera 2 (TMC 2) Spectrometer (CIXS) (atomic mass unit) with unit 2. Chandrayaan 2 Large g) Near Infrared mass resolution. Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SIR - 2) 4. Thermal infrared Spectrometer (CLASS) h) Sub keV Atom Imaging Spectrometer 3. Solar X-ray Monitor Reflecting Analyzer (TIS): TIS measures the (XSM) (SARA) thermal emission and can be 4. Orbiter High i) Miniature Synthetic operated during both day and Resolution Camera Aperture Radar (Mini night. (OHRC) SAR) 5. Lyman Alpha Photometer 5.Imaging IR j) Moon Mineralogy (LAP): a photometer that Spectrometer (IIRS) Mapper (M3) measures the relative 6. Dual Frequency k) Radiation Dose abundance Synthetic Aperture Monitor (RADOM) of deuterium and hydrogen fr Radar (DFSAR) om Lyman-alpha 7. Chandrayaan 2 emissions in the upper Atmospheric atmosphere. Compositional Explorer 2 (CHACE 2) 8. Dual Frequency Radio Science (DFRS) experiment 1.To design, develop, 1.Exploration of 1. To demonstrate the Objective launch and orbit a Mars surface features by ability to soft-land on s spacecraft around the studying the morphology, the lunar surface and
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Moon using an Indian- topography and mineralogy operate a robotic rover on made launch-vehicle the surface. 2.To conduct scientific 2.Study the constituents of 2. Scientific goals include experiments using Martian atmosphere orbital studies of lunar instruments on the including methane and topography, mineralogy, el spacecraft which would CO2 using remote sensing emental abundance, yield data: techniques the lunar exosphere, and (a) for the preparation of signatures a three-dimensional atlas 3.Study the dynamics of of hydroxyl and water ice. (with high spatial and the upper atmosphere of altitude resolution of 5– Mars, effects of solar 10 m or 16–33 ft) of both wind and radiation and the the near and far sides of escape of volatiles to outer the Moon space (b) For chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface at high spatial resolution. 3.To increase scientific knowledge 4.To test the impact of General Objectives: a sub-satellite (Moon 1. Push the boundaries of Impact Probe – MIP) on Scientific Knowledge the surface of the Moon 2. Engage with public as a fore-runner for 3. Unleash innovation future soft-landing 4. Expand India’s footprint missions in Space 5. Explore economic possibilities 6. Foster shared aspirations of International Community 1. The discovery of the 1. First interplanetary presence of Water / mission realized by India Hydroxyl molecules in and first Indian spacecraft to lunar soil detected by the incorporate full scale on- Moon Mineralogy board autonomy to overcome Attempted to soft-land a Measuring Instrument the long distances and the rover there, a feat (M3) of NASA as well as communication gaps due to achieved by only three the mass spectrometer in non-visibility periods. countries -- the US, Russia MIP is a major 2. First Indian spacecraft to and China. breakthrough that would successfully survive Van But, Vikram Lander not Achievem change the face of lunar Allen belt crossing 39 times. being able to soft-land a ents exploration. 3. First mission to use Ship rover on the Moon. 2. Mini-Synthetic Borne Terminals to track ISRO lost contact with Aperture Radar (Mini- the launch vehicle and Vikram in the SAR) instrument satellite over Pacific Ocean by penultimate moments indicated existence of sub ISRO. when it was just 2.1 km surface water-ice 4. First Indian spacecraft to above Moon's surface. deposits in the northern escape the Sphere Of lunar craters of Influence of Earth and orbit permanent sun shadow Sun. region. 5. First Mars mission in the
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world to succeed Mars Orbit 3. The impact probe's Insertion in first attempt. Chandra's Altitudinal 6. Most economical Composition (CHACE) interplanetary mission in recorded direct evidence the world and paved way for of water in 650 mass cost-effective access to deep spectra gathered in the space. The launch vehicle, thin atmosphere above Spacecraft and Ground the Moon's surface. Segment have been realized 4. Moon Mineralogy with a budget of Rs 450 Cr. Mapper has discovered new rock types which are very small.
Future Programmes: Aditya-L1 Gaganyan Will be launched By April 2020. December 2021 in Launched PSLV GSLV Mk III by ISRO So far, USA, RUSSIA and China have launched Aditya L1 will be placed in L1 human space flight missions. point from a distance of As part of the manned Gagayaan mission, India 1.5million km from the Earth. aims to send a 3-person crew to space for a period A Satellite placed in the halo orbit of seven days, with the spacecraft placed in a low Launch around the Lagrangian point 1 Earth orbit of up between 300-400km. Specificat (L1) of the Sun-Earth system has Specifications—Target: 2022 ions the major advantage of Crew Module Weight: 7 Tons continuously viewing the Sun o Crew:3 Members without any occultation/ o Cost: 10,000 Cr eclipses. o Time: 3days o Orbit: LEO Scientific Objectives- Scientific Objectives- 1. To study the diagnostic 1. Conducting studies in the microgravity parameters of solar corona and environment dynamics and origin of coronal 2. To achieve higher level reliability in launch and mass ejections (using three visible satellite technology. and one infra-red channels); Other Objectives- Objectives 2. To study the magnetic field 1. Enhancement of S&T levels in the country. measurements of the solar corona 2. Collaboration between various institutes, down to tens of Gauss. academia and industry. 3. To provide observations of 3. Improvement in Industrial Growth. Sun's photosphere, chromosphere 4. Development of technology for social benefits and corona. 5. Improving international collaboration. Aditya Mission was The government has already cleared a budget of conceptualized in 2008 by the Rs100 billion for the manned mission. India’s Advisory Committee for Space ISRO developed some critical technologies- Preparedn Research. 1. Reentry mission capability ess It was initially envisaged as a 2. Crew escape system small 400 kg, low-Earth orbiting 3. Crew module configuration
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satellite with a coronagraph to 4. Deceleration and flotation system study the solar corona. 5. Sub systems of life supporting system. An experimental budget of 3 6. Thermal Protection System Crore INR was allocated for the Demonstration: financial year 2016—2017. 1. Space capsule Recovery Experiment(SRE- As of July 2019, the mission has 2007) an allocated cost of 2. Crew Module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment ₹378.53 crore excluding launch (CARE-2014) costs. 3. Pad Abort Test (2018) Technological and Logistical Other developments- capabilities to launch this 1. Human Space Center is established to mission are already there with accomplish this task. ISRO. 2. Astronaut Training with Russian collaboration is under way. 3. Indigenously Space Suits are developed. 4. Collaborations in life supporting subsystems are going on with France and other domestic institutions.
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India’s Space Station: India plans to have its own space station and Year Achievement modalities for it will be worked out after the India's first satellite 'Aryabhata' was 1975 first manned mission, Gaganyaan. launched Bhaskara-1 Satellites under Mission The proposed space station is envisaged to 1979 weigh 20 tones and serve as a facility where Rohini were launched Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment astronauts can stay for 15-20 days. (APPLE) - ISRO's first indigenous, It would be placed in an orbit 400 km above 198 experimental communication earth. satellite. If successful, India will be the 4th country to Commissioning of the Indian National set up a space station on its own after Russia, Satellite (INSAT) System: One of the the US and China. 198 largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia Pacific Nearly $120 billion was spent on the ISS. Region. ISS likely to be wound up in 2028, so China's Rakesh Sharma made history by space station is likely to be the only crewed 1984 becoming first and only Indian to space station left. travel to Space in Soviet Rocket ISRO says it is a natural extension of India's Launch of first remote sensing 1988 human space programme and is needed to mission IRS-1A. First multi-purpose satellite INSAT- keep leadership in the space arena. 1992 2A was successfully operationalized. Indigenization of Space Technology Launched first fully operational 1. Solar Photo Voltaic cells 1997 satellite aboard a locally developed rocket PSLV. 2. Rohini Series Sounding Rockets(RHS) Kalpana-1: First dedicated 3. VIKAS- liquid propulsion engine. 2002 meteorological satellite 4. Cryogenic Engine—CE20 EDUSAT (GSAT-3): 1st Indian 5. Li-Ion batteries. 2004 Satellite built exclusively to serve the educational sector. Achievements of India in Space Launch of INSAT-4A from European Technology Launch Vehicle: the first satellite to 2005 1. PSLV meet the requirement of DTH 2. GSLV MK-III Television Services. Launch of Chandrayaan-1: Beginning 3. MOM (Successful in its first attempt) of ISRO's Historic Moon Mission 4. RLV-TD 2008
5. Chandrayan-1(Found water on Moon) IRNSS-1A Navigation Satellite 6. Astrosat (Multi wavelength Spectrometer) MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission): India is 7. Multiple satellites into multiple orbits in one 2013 the first nation to succeed on its first launch (2017). attempt to reach Mars.
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Made World Record by launching 104 They travel at speeds up to 17,500 mph, fast satellites simultaneously through the enough for a relatively small piece of orbital PSLV C-37 (38th successful mission debris to damage a satellite or a spacecraft. 2017 of PSLV in a row) There are 500,000 pieces of debris the size of a marble or larger. There are many millions GSLV Mark-III (the heaviest rocket ever made by India) of pieces of debris that are so small they Launch of India's Heaviest can’t be tracked. 201 Communication Satellite GSAT-11 Even tiny paint flecks can damage a spacecraft when traveling at these velocities. Emerging Issues In fact a number of space shuttle windows Space Debris: have been replaced because of damage Space debris encompasses both natural caused by material that was analyzed and (meteoroid) and artificial (man-made) shown to be paint flecks. particles. Meteoroids are in orbit about the sun, while Project NETRA: most artificial debris is in orbit about the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Earth. Hence, the latter is more commonly initiated ‘Project NETRA’ – an early warning referred to as orbital debris. system in space to detect debris and other Orbital debris is any man-made object in hazards to Indian satellites. orbit about the Earth which no longer serves Currently there are 15 functional Indian a useful function. communication satellites in the geostationary Space debris could be floating particles from orbit of 36,000 km; 13 remote sensing dead satellites or rocket parts that stay in satellites in LEO of up to 2,000 km; and orbit for many years. eight navigation satellites in medium earth Even a speck of paint or fragment floating orbits. towards their spacecraft can disable on board electronics and cripples the satellite Under NETRA, or Network for space object worth several hundred crore rupees besides Tracking and Analysis, the ISRO plans to many services that run on it. put up many observational facilities: Agencies constantly look for debris at the 1. Connected radars, telescopes; time of a launch and through the life of a 2. Data processing units and satellite. 3. Control centre.
Extent of the Problem: Advantages of Project NETRA: There are more than 20,000 pieces of debris The project will give India its own capability larger than a softball orbiting the Earth. in space situational awareness (SSA) like the other space powers — which is used to
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‘predict’ threats from debris to Indian satellites. LIGO-India is envisaged as a collaborative It also goes so far as to serve as an unstated project between a consortium of Indian warning against missile or space attack for research institutions and the LIGO the country. Laboratory in USA, along with its Our SSA will first be for low-earth orbits or international partners. LEO which have remote-sensing spacecraft. The LIGO-India project will be built by the They can, among others, spot, track and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the catalogue objects as small as 10 cm, up to a Department of Science and Technology (DST), range of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit Government of India, with a Memorandum of of around 2,000 km. Understanding (MoU) with the National NETRA’s eventual goal is to capture the GEO, Science Foundation (NSF), USA, along with or geostationary orbit, scene at 36,000 km several national and international research where communication satellites operate. and academic institutions. NORAD, or the North American Aerospace
Defense Command, is an initiative of the U.S. The project is being led by four and Canada that shares selective debris data institutions: with many countries. (i) Indore’s Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced More importantly, the SSA also has a military Technology (RRCAT): It will provide its quotient to it and adds a new ring to the expertise in lasers and laser technology; country’s overall security, as space and (ii) Pune’s Inter-University Centre for Astronomy defense experts read it. and Astrophysics (IUCAA): It will provide the NORAD, too, uses satellites, ground and air scientific teams, scientific data computation radars to secure its two countries against and data acquisition; attacks from air, space or sea. (iii) Gandhinagar’s Institute for Plasma Research Combined with other elements of military (IPR): It will contribute in cryogenic and high intelligence, he said SSA would help us to vacuum systems for the prestigious project. understand motives behind any suspicious Gravitational Waves: orbit changes of other satellites and to know Gravitational waves are ripples in the if they were spying on or harming our curvature of space-time which propagate spacecraft. as waves, travelling outward from the LIGO India Project: source at the speed of light. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave They transport energy as gravitational Observatory (LIGO) - India is a planned radiation and pass through matter advanced gravitational-wave observatory to without interacting with it. be located in India as part of the worldwide Gravitational waves were first predicted in network. This is planned at Hingoli district of 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his Maharashtra.
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Theory of General Relativity. Strongest sources of gravitational waves: o Black holes, o Supernova, o Neutron stars and 2. Lox Methane Engine o Big bang. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO is Significance: Information extracted by developing 2 Lox methane-powered rocket these transmitted waves will help to engines. address unsolved questions and mysteries The ‘LOx methane’ engine uses methane as of physics and astronomy. fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer. Methane can be synthesised using water and 1. SSLV- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle carbon dioxide in space. ISRO is slated to induct the Small Satellite It is non-toxic. (Di-Methyl Hydrazine and Launch Vehicle in early 2020. Nitrogen tetroxide is said to be highly toxic) SSLVs are considered small wonders capable Higher specific impulse (read above for of launching payloads of 500-700 kg in LEO Specific Impulse). (1/3rd of what PSLV can carry). Does not leave a residue upon combustion. It can reach upto heights of 500 KM in the LEO. 3. Ion Rockets SSLVs will cost 1/10th of a PSLV and will Small scale ion propulsion is used in a need only 72 hours for launch in comparison number of missions including NASA’s Dawn to 45 days for PSLV. mission and Deep Space mission, ESA’s LISA All 3 stages are solid stages. Pathfinder and Bepi Colombo and Japan’s Hayabusa Mission.
Ion Rockets: Ion rockets are the rockets of the future for deep space exploration. They are much more efficient than conventional rockets that use chemical fuels. While chemical fuels generate velocities of upto 2 to 3 km/s, ion rockets can achieve velocities of about 4,400 km/s. Ion rockets use electric repulsion of ions to Fig: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. propel the rockets.
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4. Glimpse of ISRO 2019 support the Indian Regional Navigation 1. Launches by ISRO in 2019 satellite system, NavIC. The first-ever NavIC The year began with ISRO successfully demonstration using the Snapdragon Mobile launching Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 Platforms was showcased by Qualcomm onboard the PSLV-C44 vehicle. during the India Mobile Congress at New GSAT 31 communication satellite was Delhi during 14 to 16 October 2019. launched from Kourou, French Guiana New Space India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru onboard Arianespace rocket on 6 February was incorporated on 6 March 2019. The 2019. business activities of NSIL is mainly driven Launch view gallery along with a Rocket space towards enabling Indian industries to garden was launched in Sriharikota to productionise space systems and to exploit enable nearly 5000 people to watch ISRO the commercial opportunities emanating launches live. from the Indian space programme. EMISAT was successfully launched onboard The notable development of the year was PSLV-C45 on 1 April 2019. technology transfer of Li-ion to Indian RISAT-2B radar imaging earth observation industries.10 industries were selected for the satellite was launched onboard PSLV-C46 on transfer of the Li-ion cell technology from 22 May 2019. ISRO. The launch of GSLV-MK III M1, India’s most Space Technology Cells (STCs) have been powerful launch vehicle, was accomplished established at IIT Guwahati and IIT Delhi to on 22 July 2019. The mission carried take space technology research and Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter spacecraft to its applications to newer heights. intended orbit. The instruments are Space Technology Incubation Centres (S-TIC) continuously providing very useful science were established at NIT, Trichy and NIT, data. Jalandhar for developing concepts related to Cartosat-3, a third-generation agile advanced Space Science and technology in line with satellite having high-resolution imaging the National policy of ‘Start-up India’. capability, was launched by PSLV-C47 on 27 Regional Academic Centre for Space (RAC-S) November 2019. was established at NIT, Kurukshetra to PSLV-C48 launched RISAT-2BR1 radar develop Academia-Industry ecosystem for imaging earth observation satellite on 11 Space technology. December 2019. A special programme for School Children called “YuvaVIgyaniKAryakram (YUVIKA)” 2. Collaborations Formed by ISRO with was organized to impart basic knowledge on Industry and Academia space technology, space science and space Qualcomm Technologies Inc. in collaboration application. with ISRO developed and tested a chipset ISRO launched ‘Samwad with Students’ platform across their portfolio which can wherein youngsters across India had an
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opportunity to interact with K Sivan, today’s launch was also the 75th launch Chairman, ISRO. vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. Cartosat-3 Cartosat-3, an advanced earth imaging and mapping satellite. Launched by PSLV C47. The 1,560 kg satellite will have 13 small US customer satellites riding as secondary Fig: Satellite Launches- RISAT 2BR1 passengers. They will be placed in a polar 5. Mangalyaan-2 (or the Mars Orbiter orbit. Mission-2) Cartosat-3, with an ISRO-best resolution of Planned mission by ISRO between 2022 and 25 cm, will be the first of a series of high 2023. resolution, third generation satellites The Mangalyaan-2 orbiter will use planned for observing the Earth. aerobraking to lower its initial apoapsis and The satellite will be able to pick up objects of enter into an orbit more suitable for that size (25 cm) from its orbitals perch observations. about 509 km away. This will make Cartosat- This mission, much like the Mangalyaan-1 3 among the few sharpest, if not the best, mission has been planned as an orbiter- civil earth imagers world wide. alone mission, and won't feature a lander or 000 rover. Fig: Satellite Launches- CARTOSAT 3 6. Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS) RISAT 2BR1 IDRSS give India its own space-to-space RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging earth tracking and communication of its space observation satellite weighing about 628 kg. assets. India has planned for IDRSS series in The satellite will provide services in thefield 2020 of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Under IDRSS, 2 satellites will be launched in Management. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 geostationary orbit spaced 180 degrees is 5 years. apart to provide continuous contact for any The nine customer satellites of Israel, Italy, spacecraft in LEO. Japan and USA were precisely injected into It is primarily meant for providing their designated orbits. These satellites were continuous/real time communication of launched under a commercial arrangement Low-Earth-Orbit satellites including human with New Space India Limited (NSIL). space mission to the ground station. PSLV-C48 is the 2nd flight of PSLV in ‘QL’ It will also reduce the dependence on the configuration (with 4 solid strap-on motors). ground stations in tracking satellites. Besides being the 50th launch of PSLV,
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US, China, Japan and Europe have such This is exclusively designed for fishermen DRS systems. about disasters when they are 10 to 12 km away from the coast. 7. Shukrayaan-1 Note: Read about GAGAN from static portion It is a proposed orbiter to Venus by the ISRO of the notes to study the surface and atmosphere of Venus. 9. Paras Scientific team of Physical Research Objectives Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad Discovered of To study a Sub-Saturn Exoplanet around a Sun-like atmosphere of Venus and its chemistry star. Surface and sub-surface features Named EPIC 211945201B/K2-236B Interaction of the planet with solar radiation Paras (PRL Advanced Radial Velocity Abu Rotation pattern of Venus Sky Search Spectrograph) It is a spectrograph to find exo-planets. Venus: It is designed and developed by PRL. Planet Venus is often described as Earth's (Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad) 'twin sister' due to similarities in their sizes, Main aim is to search for exo-planets around densities, composition and gravity. dwarf main sequence stars using radial About 80% of the surface of Venus is velocity method. composed of flat plains of volcanic origin. The atmosphere of Venus is composed of 10. Project Netra (Network for Space Object 95% carbon dioxide and thus high Tracking and Analysis) greenhouse effect. ISRO initiated ‘Project NETRA’ – an early Unusual thing about Venus is that its warning system in space to detect debris and rotation period is longer than its orbital other hazards to Indian satellites. period. It includes a network of observational It spins in the direction opposite to the facilities like connected radars, telescopes, direction in which it orbits the Sun. data processing units and a control centre Due to slow rotation of Venus it has no The system is deployed to predict threats to global magnetic field. Indian satellites from space debris, space attacks etc. 8. Gemini Device:
The Government of India launched the Under NETRA, the ISRO plans to put up GEMINI device that will provide information many observational facilities: related to disaster warning. 1. Connected radars, telescopes; Stands for Gagan Enabled Mariner’s 2. Data processing units and Instrument for Navigation and Information. 3. Control centre.
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NORAD - ISRO currently depends on NORAD astronauts respond to living outside earth in (North American Aerospace Defence controlled zero-gravity conditions. Command) for tracking of space debris and The humanoid has been developed by protect its satellites in course and during the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, launches. It is an initiative of USA and Thiruvananthapuram. Canada. 12. Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) 11. Vyommitra: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled its first ‘woman’ astronaut, named Vyom Mitra who will ride to space in the first test flight of the human space mission, Gaganyan.
Fig: Human Space Flight Center
HSFC shall be responsible for implementation of GAGANYAAN Project which involves end-to-end mission planning, Fig: Vyommitra development of Engineering systems for crew survival in space, crew selection & training She is half-humanoid and her body stops at and also pursue activities for sustained the torso and has no legs. human space flight missions. She is capable of switching panel operations, HSFC will take support of the existing ISRO performing Environment Control and Life Centres to implement, the first development Support Systems (ECLSS) functions, flight of GAGANYAAN under Human Space conversations with the astronauts, Flight Programme. recognising them and solving their queries. The humanoid can detect and give out Manned Space Mission: warnings if the environment changes within August2004 : ISRO Policy Planning the cabin. Committee She will simulate the human recommends manned functions required for space before real space mission. astronauts take off before August 2022. November 2006 : National Committee She will be sent in a space capsule around comprising 80 the end of 2020 or early 2021 to study how scientists and
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technocrats endorses Two critical stages in Manned Space proposal. Mission September 2007 : First Public 1. Reentry modules announcement of the 2. Crew Escape System. human space 13. NISAR- NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture programme. Radar. February-March 2009 : Another committee, comprising Montek 1. NASA-ISRO SAR Mission (NISAR) Siongh Ahulwalia, A dedicated US and Indian in SAR R.Chidambaram, (Interferometric synthetic-aperture radar) Roddam Narasimha, mission, in partnership with ISRO, optimized MGK Menon, YashPal, for studying hazards and global M.S.Swaminathan environmental change. and K.Radha Krishnan, discusses the desirability and feasibility of the programme and expresses support. April 2010 : Failure of GSLV-D3. December 2010 : Failure of GSLV-F06. December 18, 2014 : Successful testing of Fig: NISAR Mission. experimental flight of GSLV MK-III; this also successfully tests n Space Related Current Issues experimental crew 1. SSLV- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle module, ISRO is slated to induct the Small Satellite demonstrating re- Launch Vehicle in early 2020. entry capability SSLVs are considered small wonders capable June 2017 : First developmental of launching payloads of 500-700 kg in LEO flight of GSLV MK-III (1/3rd of what PSLV can carry). July 2018 : First successful flight It can reach upto heights of 500 KM in the of the crew escape LEO. system. SSLVs will cost 1/10th of a PSLV and will August 15, 2018 : Prime Minister need only 72 hours for launch in comparison announces manned to 45 days for PSLV. mission to take place All 3 stages are solid stages. before 2022.
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and BepiColombo and Japan’s Hayabusa Mission.
Ion Rockets: Ion rockets are the rockets of the future for deep space exploration. They are much more efficient than conventional rockets that use chemical fuels. While chemical fuels generate velocities of upto 2 to 3 km/s, ion rockets can achieve Fig: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle velocities of about 4,400 km/s. Ion rockets use electric repulsion of ions to propel the rockets.
4. Glimpse of ISRO 2019 1. Launches by ISRO in 2019 The year began with ISRO successfully launching Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 onboard the PSLV-C44 vehicle. 2. Lox Methane Engine GSAT 31 communication satellite was launched from Kourou, French Guiana Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO is onboard Arianespace rocket on 6 February developing 2 Lox methane-powered rocket 2019. engines. Launch view gallery along with a Rocket The ‘LOx methane’ engine uses methane as space garden was launched in Sriharikota fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer. to enable nearly 5000 people to watch Methane can be synthesised using water and ISRO launches live. EMISAT was successfully launched carbon dioxide in space. onboard PSLV-C45 on 1 April 2019. It is non-toxic. (Di-Methyl Hydrazine and RISAT-2B radar imaging earth observation Nitrogen tetroxide is said to be highly toxic) satellite was launched onboard PSLV-C46 Higher specific impulse (read above for on 22 May 2019. Specific Impulse). The launch of GSLV-MK III M1, India’s Does not leave a residue upon combustion. most powerful launch vehicle, was accomplished on 22 July 2019. The mission carried Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter 3. Ion Rockets spacecraft to its intended orbit. The Small scale ion propulsion is used in a number instruments are continuously providing of missions including NASA’s Dawn mission very useful science data. and Deep Space mission, ESA’s LISA Pathfinder Cartosat-3, a third-generation agile advanced satellite having high-resolution
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imaging capability, was launched by PSLV- called “YuvaVIgyaniKAryakram (YUVIKA)” C47 on 27 November 2019. was organized to impart basic knowledge PSLV-C48 launched RISAT-2BR1 radar on space technology, space science and imaging earth observation satellite on 11 space application. December 2019. ISRO launched ‘Samwad with Students’ 2. Collaborations Formed by ISRO with wherein youngsters across India had an Industry and Academia opportunity to interact with K Sivan, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. in Chairman, ISRO. collaboration with ISRO developed and tested a chipset platform across their portfolio which can support the Indian Regional Navigation satellite system, NavIC. The first-ever NavIC demonstration using the Snapdragon Mobile Platforms was showcased by Qualcomm during the India Mobile Congress at New Delhi during 14 to 16 October 2019. New Space India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru was incorporated on 6 March 2019. The business activities of NSIL is mainly driven Fig: Satellite Launches- CARTOSAT 3 towards enabling Indian industries to productionise space systems and to exploit the commercial opportunities emanating from the Indian space programme. The notable development of the year was technology transfer of Li-ion to Indian industries.10 industries were selected for the transfer of the Li-ion cell technology from ISRO. Space Technology Cells (STCs) have been established at IIT Guwahati and IIT Delhi to take space technology research and applications to newer heights. Fig: Satellite Launches- RISAT 2BR1 Space Technology Incubation Centres (S- TIC) were established at NIT, Trichy and NIT, Jalandhar for developing concepts 5. Mangalyaan-2 (or the Mars Orbiter related to Space Science and technology in Mission-2) line with the National policy of ‘Start-up Planned mission by ISRO between 2022 and India’. 2023. Regional Academic Centre for Space (RAC- The Mangalyaan-2 orbiter will use S) was established at NIT, Kurukshetra to aerobraking to lower its initial apoapsis and develop Academia-Industry ecosystem for enter into an orbit more suitable for Space technology. A special programme for School Children observations.
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This mission, much like the Mangalyaan-1 About 80% of the surface of Venus is mission has been planned as an orbiter- composed of flat plains of volcanic origin. alone mission, and won't feature a lander or The atmosphere of Venus is composed of rover. 95% carbon dioxide and thus high greenhouse effect. 6. Indian Data Relay Satellite System (Idrss) Unusual thing about Venus is that its IDRSS give India its own space-to-space rotation period is longer than its orbital tracking and communication of its space period. assets. India has planned for IDRSS series in It spins in the direction opposite to the 2020 direction in which it orbits the Sun. Under IDRSS, 2 satellites will be launched in Due to slow rotation of Venus it has no global geostationary orbit spaced 180 degrees apart magnetic field. to provide continuous contact for any spacecraft in LEO. 8. GEMINI Device: It is primarily meant for providing The Government of India launched the continuous/real time communication of Low- GEMINI device that will provide information Earth-Orbit satellites including human space related to disaster warning. mission to the ground station. Stands for Gagan Enabled Mariner’s It will also reduce the dependence on the Instrument for Navigation and Information. ground stations in tracking satellites. This is exclusively designed for fishermen US, China, Japan and Europe have such about disasters when they are 10 to 12 km DRS systems. away from the coast. Note: Read about GAGAN from static portion 7. Shukrayaan-1 of the notes It is a proposed orbiter to Venus by the ISRO to study the surface and atmosphere of 9. PARAS Venus. Scientific team of Physical Research Objectives: Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad Discovered of To study a Sub-Saturn Exoplanet around a Sun-like atmosphere of Venus and its chemistry star. Surface and sub-surface features Named EPIC 211945201B/K2-236B Interaction of the planet with solar radiation Rotation pattern of Venus Paras (Prl Advanced Radial Velocity Abu Venus: Sky Search Spectrograph) Planet Venus is often described as Earth's It is a spectrograph to find exo-planets. 'twin sister' due to similarities in their sizes, It is designed and developed by PRL. densities, composition and gravity. (Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad)
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Main aim is to search for exo-planets around She is capable of switching panel operations, dwarf mainsequence stars using radial performing Environment Control and Life velocity method. Support Systems (ECLSS) functions, conversations with the astronauts, 10. Project Netra (Network For Space Object recognising them and solving their queries. Tracking And Analysis) The humanoid can detect and give out ISRO initiated ‘Project NETRA’ – an early warnings if the environment changes within warning system in space to detect debris and the cabin. other hazards to Indian satellites. She will simulate the human It includes a network of observational functions required for space before real facilities like connected radars, telescopes, astronauts take off before August 2022. data processing units and a control centre She will be sent in a space capsule around The system is deployed to predict threats to the end of 2020 or early 2021 to study how Indian satellites from space debris, space astronauts respond to living outside earth in attacks etc. controlled zero-gravity conditions.
Under NETRA, the ISRO plans to put up The humanoid has been developed by many observational facilities: the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, 1. Connected radars, telescopes; Thiruvananthapuram. 2. Data processing units and 3. Control centre. 12. Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) HSFC shall be responsible for NORAD - ISRO currently depends on NORAD implementation of GAGANYAAN Project (North American Aerospace Defence which involves end-to-end mission planning, Command) for tracking of space debris and development of Engineering systems for crew protect its satellites in course and during survival in space, crew selection & training launches. It is an initiative of USA and and also pursue activities for sustained Canada. human space flight missions. HSFC will take support of the existing ISRO 11. Vyommitra: Centres to implement, the first development Indian Space Research Organisation flight of GAGANYAAN under Human Space (ISRO) unveiled its first ‘woman’ Flight Programme. astronaut, named Vyom Mitra who will ride to space in the first test flight of the human space mission, Gaganyan.
Vyommitra She is half-humanoid and her body stops at the torso and has no legs.
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13. NISAR- NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
2. Missile: Fig: NISAR Mission Missile is a type of rocket which is used to deliver an explosive material over a target. Ballistic Missile Cruise Missile It is propelled only for a Self-propelled till the brief duration after the end of its flight launch. Similar to a rocket Similar to a jet engine. engine. Long-range missiles The flight path is 4. Defence Technology leave the earth’s within the earth’s atmosphere and reenter atmosphere. 1. Platforms: it. Low precision as it is Hits targets with high unguided for most of its precision as it is path and its trajectory constantly propelled. depends on gravity, air Submarine: Submarine is an underwater resistance and Coriolis Force. vehicle which can work independently. It is of Can have a very long The range is small two types. range (300 km to (below 500 km) as it 1. Conventional Submarine which runs with 12,000 km) as there is needs to be Diesel no fuel requirement constantly propelled 2. Nuclear Submarine which runs with Nuclear after its initial to hit the target with powered battery trajectory. high precision. Heavy payload carrying Payload capacity is capacity. limited. Can carry multiple Usually carries a payloads (Multiple single payload. Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle) Developed primarily to Developed primarily
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carry nuclear to carry conventional warheads. warheads. E.g. Prithvi I, Prithvi II, E.g. BrahMos Agni I, Agni II and missile, Nirbhay Dhanush missiles. Missile
About Anti Satellite Missile Anti Satellite weapons are missile-based systems to attack moving satellites. Until now, only 3 countries – USA, China and Russia – reported the ability to shoot down 3. Anti-Missile Ballistic System- space objects from ground or airborne This is a network of radars and missiles. It sources. detects the incoming enemy radar and DRDO in 2012 stated that India had “all the deploys the missile to neutralise the building blocks necessary” to integrate an incoming missile. anti-satellite weapon to neutralise hostile Recently India has signed an agreement to satellites in low earth and polar orbits. buy S-400 Anti-ballistic missile system from Low Earth Orbit Satellites: These are the Russia. satellites roughly at an altitude of 2000 Km from the earth.
5. Torpedo: It is a self-propelled underwater missile designed to be fired from a ship or submarine or dropped into the water from an aircraft and to explode on reaching a target.
Fig: S-400 Anti-Ballistic Missile System
4. ASAT Missile- Anti Satellite Missile – Mission Shakti
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Fig: Torpedo
6. RADAR– RadioDetection and Ranging Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. Fig: Indigenously developed AEW&CS- NETRA The RADAR system generally consists of a transmitter which produces an 7. SONAR- Sound Navigation and Ranging electromagnetic signal which is radiated into Sonar, Sound Navigation and Ranging, is space by an antenna. helpful for exploring and mapping the ocean because sound waves travel farther in the water than do radar and light waves.
In Submarines, SONARs are used to detect objects and missiles underwater.
Fig: RADAR Working
7. AEW&CS: An Airborne Early Warning and Control Fig: Working of SONARS (AEW&C) System is an airborne radar picket system designed to detect aircraft, ships and 8. Stealth- vehicles at long ranges. Stealth is the ability of an object to hide itself from the visibility. It also is to perform command and control of the battlespace in an air engagement by In defense stealth technology is used to hide directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes. aircrafts, submarines from the detectability of enemies. DRDO developed NETRA AEW&CS. India is importing Phalcon AEW&CS. Stealth can be acquired in 2 ways. One by the design of the Object, two by the stealth coated material.
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Development & Production (DTDP) with the DRDO- Defense Research and Development Defence Science Organisation (DSO). Organization DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Integrated Guided Missile Development Govt of India, with a vision to empower India with Programme (IGMDP) cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission IGDMP was intended to attain self-sufficiency in to achieve self-reliance in critical defence the field of missile technology.After keeping in technologies and systems, while equipping our mind, the requirements of various types of armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon missiles by the defence forces, the program systems and equipment in accordance with recognized the need to develop five missile requirements laid down by the three Services. systems. 1. The IGMDP formally got the approval of "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of Indian government on July 26, 1983. strength is science-drives the nation in peace and 2. It brought together the country’s scientific war. DRDO has firm determination to make the community, academic institutions, R&D nation strong and self-reliant in terms of science laboratories, industries and the three defence and technology, especially in the field of military services in giving shape to the strategic, technologies. indigenous missile systems. Vision of DRDO Empowering the nation with state-of-the-art The missiles developed under IGMDP are: indigenous Defence technologies and systems. 1. Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic
Mission of DRDO missile – Prithvi Design, develop and lead to production 2. Intermediate-range surface-to-surface state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, ballistic missile – Agni (Later long range platforms and allied equipment for our missiles are also developed under this Defence Services. varient) Provide technological solutions to the 3. Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile – Services to optimise combat effectiveness Trishul and to promote well-being of the troops. 4. Medium-range surface-to-air missile – Akash Develop infrastructure and committed 5. Third generation anti-tank missile – Nag quality manpower and build strong indigenous technology base. The Agni, which was initially conceived as a technology demonstrator project in the form of a re-entry vehicle, was later upgraded to a ballistic DRDO was formed in 1958 from the missile with different ranges. Dr. Kalam played a amalgamation of the then already functioning major role in the development and Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of operationalisation of Agni and Prithvi missiles. the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical
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After achieving the goal of making India self- China, France, and Britain reliant in missile technology, DRDO on January 8, which have intercontinental 2008, formally announced successful completion ballistic missile capability. Canister launches missile of IGMDP. system for operational flexibility. Range is more than 5,000 km. The important list of missiles is: (IGMDP plus Short-range, quick reaction, all others) weather surface-to-air missile Missile Features designed to counter a low-level Single stage, solid fuel, Medium attack. Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM). Trishul Has necessary electronic Using solid propulsion booster counter-measures against all Agni I and a liquid propulsion upper known aircraft jammers. stage. Only Technology demonstration Range of 700-800 km. is successful. Intermediate-Range Ballistic Medium-range, surface-to-air Agni II Missile (IRBM). missile with multi-target engagement capability. Range more than 2000 km. Akash Two stage IRBM Multiple warheads capable. Support a wide range of warhead High-energy solid propellant and Agni III configurations. ram-rocket propulsion system. Strike range of more than 2,500 Third generation ‘fire-and-forget’ Km anti-tank missile with a range of Two stage missiles powered by 4-8km. solid propellant. Developed indigenously as an Can fire from a road mobile anti-armour weapon employing launcher. Nag sensor fusion technologies for Agni IV Range is more than 3,500 km. flight guidance. Equipped with indigenously HELINA (Helicopter Launched developed ring laser gyro and NAG) is the air-to-surface composite rocket motor. version of the NAG integrated Three-stage solid fueled, into Dhruv Helicopters. indigenous Inter-Continental First indigenously built ballistic Ballistic Missile (ICBM). missile under IGMDP. Capable of carrying 1.5 tonnes of Surface-to-surface battle field nuclear warheads. missile. Latest and most advanced Prithvi Demonstrates higher lethal Agni V variant in terms of navigation effects and high-level capability and guidance, warhead and with field interchangeable engine. warheads. After induction in the military, Range from 150 km to 300 km. Supersonic cruise missile. India will join an exclusive club BrahMos of countries like the US, Russia, Being developed with Russia as
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a private joint-venture. targets. Multi-platform cruise can strike Electronic counter-measure from various types of platforms. capabilities. Among the world fastest Designed to intercept and supersonic cruise missiles with destroy enemy aircraft at speeds ranging between Mach supersonic speeds in the head- 2.5 – 2.8. on mode at a range of 80 km. A 'fire and forget' weapon i.e. India’s latest surface-to-surface requiring no further guidance missile with a range of 150 km. from the control centre once the Primary objective is to bridge the target has been assigned. gap between the unguided Subsonic missile, supplement to Prahaar Pinaka multi-barrel rocket the BrahMos. launcher and the guided Prithvi Capable of being launched from missile variants. multiple platforms on land, sea Have high manoeuvrability, and air. acceleration and accuracy. Nirbhay A terrain hugging, stealth missile capable of delivering 24 Recent Measures to promote Defense different types of warheads Indigenization are: depending on mission requirements. 1. Innovations for Defence Excellence Can reach up to 1,000 km. (iDEX): An innovation ecosystem for Submarine-Launched Ballistic Defence titled Innovations for Defence Missile (SLBM) Excellence (iDEX) has been launched in April, Being integrated with India’s Sagarika 2018. nuclear powered Arihant-class submarine. iDEX is aimed at creation of an ecosystem to Range - 700 km. foster innovation and technology A variant of the K-15 Sagarika. development in Defence and Aerospace by Submarine- nuclear-capable Shaurya missile. engaging Industries including MSMEs, Start- Aims to enhance India’s second- ups, Individual Innovators, R&D institutes strike capability. and Academia. Sea-based, short-range, liquid 2. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): FDI propellant ballistic missile. Dhanush Policy has been revised and under the Naval version of Prithvi II. revised policy, FDI is allowed under Maximum range 350 km. automatic route upto 49% and beyond 49% Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile using a solid-propellant. through Government route wherever it is In terms of size and weight, one likely to result in access to modern Astra of the smallest weapon technology or for other reasons to be developed by the DRDO. recorded. Active radar seeker to find
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4. Revision of Industries (Development and enabling provisions have been incorporated Regulation) Act 1951- in the DPP-2016 for promoting manufacture The Defence Products List for the purpose of of the State-of-the-art defence products and issuing Industrial Licenses (ILs) under IDR technologies and transfer of state-of-the-art Act has been revised to encourage more defence technology to India. private players to produce the components Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP- and sub parts. 2016) I. Buy (Indian-IDDM) in Defence Most of the components, parts, sub-systems, Procurement Procedure (DPP-2016): A testing equipment and production equipment new category of procurement ‘Buy have been removed from the list, so as to {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, reduce the entry barriers for the industry, Developed and Manufactured)}’ has been particularly small & medium segment. introduced in DPP-2016 to promote indigenous design and development of The initial validity of the Industrial Licence defence equipment. It has been accorded granted under the IDR Act has been top most priority for procurement of increased from 03 years to 15 years with a capital equipment. Besides this, provision to further extend it by 03 years on preference has been accorded to ‘Buy a case-to-case basis. (Indian)’, ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ & So far, the process for export clearance has ‘Make’ categories of capital acquisition been streamlined and made transparent & over ‘Buy (Global)’ & ‘Buy & Make online. (Global)’ categories. II. ‘Make’ Procedure: The ‘Make’ Procedure 5. Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti: The Ministry has been simplified with provisions for has instituted a new framework titled funding of 90% of development cost by ‘Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti’ which aims to the Government to Indian industry and provide boost to the IPR culture in reserving projects not exceeding indigenous defence industry. development cost of Rs.10 Crore 6. Technology Development Fund: (Government funded) and Rs.3 Crore Government has set up the Technology (Industry funded) for MSMEs. Development Fund (TDF) to encourage III. Separate procedure for ‘Make-II’ sub- participation of public/private industries category has been notified wherein a especially MSMEs, through provision of number of industry friendly provisions grants, so as to create an eco–system for such as relaxation of eligibility criterion, enhancing cutting edge technology capability minimal documentation, provision for for defence applications considering proposals suggested by 7. Provisions in Defence Procurement industry/individual etc., have been Procedure (DPP-2016): Additionally, several
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introduced. Till date, 36 proposals for 8. Multiplier for Technology Acquisition by development by industry have been given DRDO: A multiplier up to 3 is permitted in ‘in-principle’ approval under Make-II. the discharge of offset obligations relating to IV. Defence Offsets: Offset guidelines have technology acquisition by DRDO. been made flexible by allowing change of Indian Offset Partners (IOPs) and offset 9. New Defence Procurement Policy 2020: components, even in signed Important Provisions under DPP 2020 contracts. Foreign Original Equipment 1. Indigenous Content (IC) stipulated in Manufacturers (OEMs) are now not various categories of procurement has been required to indicate the details of IOPs increased by about 10% to support the ‘Make and products at the time of signing of in India’ initiative. contracts. ‘Services’ as an avenue of 2. Leasing has been introduced as a new offset have been re-instated category for acquisition in addition to V. Strategic Partnership (SP): Government existing ‘Buy’ & ‘Make’ categories to has notified the ‘Strategic Partnership substitute huge initial capital outlays with (SP)’ Model which envisages periodical rental payments. Here, the lessor establishment of long-term strategic can be both Indian as well as global. partnerships with Indian entities through 3. New Category Buy (Global – Manufacture a transparent and competitive process, in India) has been introduced with minimum wherein they would tie up with global 50% indigenous content on cost basis of total Original Equipment Manufacturers contract value. (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to 4. There is also long-term product support — set up domestic manufacturing which would be three to five years after the infrastructure and supply chains. warranty period is over. VI. Buy and Make (Indian): The Buy & Make 5. A “price variation clause” has been (Indian) category has a provision for introduced that will be applicable to all cases procurement from an Indian vendor where the total cost of contract is more than engaged in a tie-up with a foreign OEM, Rs 1,000 crore and the delivery schedule involving Transfer of Technology (ToT) of exceeds 60 months. critical technologies. Number Category of Procurement VII. Buy and Make: The “Buy & Make” 1. Buy – Indian Designed, Developed category has provision for procurement and Manufactured (IDDM) from a foreign vendor, through an Indian 2. Buy – (Indian) Production Agency (PA), involving Transfer of Technology (ToT) of critical 3. Buy and Make (Make Indian) technologies. 4. Buy and Make 5. Buy (Global)
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6. Make Project P75: 7. Buy (Global – Manufacture in India) The Indian Navy’s Project 75I (P75) Scorpene 8. Lease (Indian) submarine development for six latest- 9. Lease (Global) generation attack boats is expected to be completed by 2022. Indigenisation in Defence Named INS Kalvari, the first submarine in DRDO's pursuit of self-reliance and successful the class was undocked at Mazagon Dock in indigenous development and production of April 2015 and was launched in Mumbai, strategic systems and platforms such as – India, in October that year. Sea trials of the Agni and Prithvi series of missiles; INS Kalvari began in May 2016 and the light combat aircraft, Tejas; submarine underwent weapon, surface, noise multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka; and diving trials prior to her commissioning air defence system, Akash; in December 2017. a wide range of radars and electronic warfare INS Khanderi is the second submarine in the systems; etc., have given quantum jump to class and was launched in January 2017. It India's military might, generating effective is currently undergoing sea trials, with its deterrence and providing crucial leverage. commissioning scheduled for the end of 2019. The third Scorpene class submarine is INS The programs for indigenous development of Karanj, which was launched in January technology include: 2018 and is currently undergoing sea trials. 1. Integrated Guided Missile Development The launching ceremony of the fourth Programme (IGMDP) submarine INS Vela was held in May 2019. 2. Project P75, Project P75I – Manufacturing the The Scorpene class submarines have also conventional submarines through technology been acquired by the naval forces of Chile, transfer from other countries. Malaysia and Brazil. 3. Indigenous Nuclear Submarine – INS Arihant 4. NETRA AEW&CS – Designed by DRDO Project P75I (India): 5. LCA Tejas- World’s lightest fighter aircraft The P75I Scorpene class diesel-electric / air- independent propulsion (AIP) submarines are Indigenous Submarine Program of India: based on the Scorpene class submarines In 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security had The Indian Navy intends to use the approved a ‘30-Year Plan for Indigenous submarines for missions such as area Submarine Construction’. surveillance, intelligence gathering, anti- submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and It was to develop two production lines on which minelaying operations. six submarines would be built each In P75I, strategic partnership model is given named Project 75 and Project 75 (I) with foreign importance. It will increase the private submarine makers.
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partnership in defence. It is according to the Its successful execution meant that India had Defence Procurement Procedure 2016. the ability to introduce nuclear warheads into its fast-developing missile programme. A fortnight after the Pokhran-II tests, Pakistan also carried out similar tests, confirming progress with its nuclear weapons programme; since that time its nuclear arsenal has expanded rapidly. In 1999, India came out with an explicit Fig: Strategic Partnership Model in Defence nuclear doctrine that committed, among other things, to NFU — that is it would never Air-independent propulsion (AIP) carry out a nuclear first-strike. System This doctrine emphasised “minimal AIP is any marine propulsion technology deterrence, no first use and non-use against that allows a non-nuclear submarine to non-nuclear weapon states”. operate without access to atmospheric
oxygen. Important Principles of India’s Nuclear It can augment or replace the diesel- Doctrine- electric propulsion system of non-nuclear 1. No First Use Policy vessels. 2. Massive Retaliation 3. Credible Minimum Deterrence India’s Nuclear Doctrine: 4. Nuclear Command Authority (NCA)- Headed India embarked on the path of nuclear by Prime Minister- Executive body that takes weapons development after its face-off with the final decision on use of Nuclear weapon. China in the 1962 war, followed by China carrying out nuclear tests in 1964 and in the subsequent years. In 1974, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India conducted its first nuclear tests, Pokhran-I, dubbed as a “peaceful nuclear explosion”. Despite more than two decades of international pressure that followed to make India abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, India again carried out a test in May 1998, Pokhran-II, involving a fission device, a low-
yield device, and a thermonuclear device. Fig: India’s Nuclear Preparedness
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Nuclear Policy at International Level 48 1. Partial Ban Treaty, 1963 - India ratified member 43 35 2. Outer Space Treaty, 1964 - India not s 42 membe memb includin members rs ers ratified Memb g- P5 (India (India (India ers 3. Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1974 - India not joined in joined joined ratified India is 2017) in in 4. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, 1996 - not a 2018) 2016) India not ratified member
Export Control Regimes Current Issues: 1. NSG 1. Rafale Fighter Aircraft 2. Australia Group 3. Wassenaar Group 4. MCTR – Missile Technology Control Regime
NSG- Austra Nuclear Wassena Area lia MTCR Supplier ar Group Group s Group Year of establi 1974 1996 1985 1987 shmen t Export controls Export Expor of control Nuclear t 2. Defense Imports from USA Conventi s on raw contro Apache Helicopters from USA onal Chemic Deals material ls on arms and al and with and Missil dual use Biologi Technol e goods cal ogy techn and Weapo ology technolog ns y
MH-60R Helicopters of USA
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3. Defense Agreements with USA
6. Para military Forces: These come under Ministry of Home.
4. Dhanush Artillery Guns About Dhanush is a towed artillery gun with a 7. CDS- Chief of Defense Staff: range of 36 Km and has demonstrated a Under Defence Ministry, Department of range of 38 Km with specialized ammunition. Military Affairs is the department in charge of It is the indigenously upgraded variant of the military matters within the Indian Ministry of Swedish Bofors gun imported in 1980s. Defence. It is fitted with an inertial navigation system having GPS-based gun recording and auto- Headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, as its laying, an enhanced computer for on-board ex-officio secretary, the DMA provides computations, thermal imaging and laser integration between the armed forces of the range finder. Union and the Ministry of Defence. Army has began inducting Dhanush artillery guns with the first regiment will be in place Need: by March 2020.
5. LCA Tejas
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10. K-4 SLBM K-4, is the latest SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile).
Traveling up to 3,500km the K-4 has a significant range increase from the Sagarika, or K-15, with an upgrade in payload and Role of DMA accuracy as well.
Like the Sagarika, the K-4 will be deployed on the latest Arihant-class SSBN.
8. DRDO 2019 Successfully tested- a) Mission Shakti- Anti Satellite Missile b) Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile c) Arrest landing of LCA Tejas d) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra 11. Defense Corridors e) INS Khanderi- P75- 2nd conventional Context: In pursuance to Union Budget Submarine under P75 (2018-19), GoI has been decided to set up two Defence Industrial Corridors in: Uttar 9. Hypersonic Weapons- Russia Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Avangard and the Kinzhal are the Hypersonic Weapons of Russia. About: A defence corridor refers to a route or a path along which domestic productions of defence equipment by public sector, private sector and MSMEs are lined up to enhance the operational capability of the defence forces.
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Defence Corridor would catalyse indigenous 5. Emerging Technologies production of defence and aerospace related
items, thereby reducing our reliance on Basics imports and promoting export of these items Introduction to ICT to other countries. This will lead to generation of direct & indirect employment opportunities and growth of private domestic manufacturers including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups.
Fig: Communication and its dimensions
Evolution of Wireless Networking
12. Prabala Protective Gear Woman troops in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will soon receive gender-specific First Generation: protective gear when they are deployed to 1st generation cellular networks were maintain law and order. introduced in 1980s and are primarily The protective gear is "tailor made" and intended for voice. designed keeping international standards in These networks are very slow with a speed of mind. less than 1 kbps CRPF worked in close coordination with the The key idea was that the geographical area Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied is divided into cells, each served by a base Sciences (DIPAS), DRDO for over two years. station Scientists at DIPAS carried out detailed These networks were primarily based on studies to understand the needs of woman analog communications. troopers of CRPF's Rapid Action Force to be No inter-network roaming possible able to design the gear for them. Voice traffic only Examples: AMPS, TACS, C-450 and JTACS
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call quality is superior to 3G or 2G Second Generation connections as far more data can be
Communication Standards transferred over 4G 1. GSM can make and receive video calls from anyone 2. LTE else with VoLTE, rather than relying on 3. AWS separate accounts like skype 4. VoLTE Communication Technologies: 1. GPRS Technology 1. GSM Global system for mobile communications 2. 5G Technology (GSM) was developed by the Groupe Special 1. GPRS technology Mobile in 1991 GPRS was one of the first technologies that It is a 2nd generation cellular system enabled a cell network to connect standard with Internet Protocol (IP) networks 3G version of GSM uses CDMA technology Enabled Web browsing from a phone also Uses packet switching for data transmission Is gradually being phased out in favour of 2. LTE newer 3G/4G installations Stands for Long Term Evolution EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Increases bandwidth available for voice and Evolution) technology was the enhanced data communications version of GPRS. Comes with a number of network improvements 2. 5G Technology It’s the upgrade path for both GSM and The 5G is a technology that will run the next CDMA based networks wave of fast mobile broadband networks in LTE is commonly marketed as 4G LTE possibly two years from now. The different techniques under development are, 3. AWS a. Millimeter-Wave technologies Advanced Wireless Services Airwaves in the 3500 MHz band are Also referred to as UMTS(Universal Mobile considered ideal for the first wave of 5G Telecommunications System) band IV 5G networks can run on the 3400 MHz, 3500 Uses microwave frequencies in two segments: MHz and 3600 MHz spectrum bands. from 1710 to 1755 MHz for uplink, and from A key challenge is the possibility of millimeter 2110 to 2155 MHz for downlink waves being blocked by buildings and losing their intensity over longer distances, can also 4. VoLTE be absorbed by foliage and rain stands for Voice over LTE b. Small Cell Networks Its voice calls over a 4G LTE network
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Thousands of low power mini base stations WiFi does not Quality WiMax guarantee can take advantage of another new guarantee any of Quality of Service Quality of technology called massive MIMO Service (Qos). Service (Qos). c. Massive MIMO WiFi network Multiple input to multiple output to handle WiMax network range is Range can reach about more traffic means use two or more around 100 50-90 km. transmitters and receivers to send and meters. receive more data at once WiFi is short Technolo WiMax is long range 5G base stations can support about a gy Range range technology. technology. hundred ports, which means many more WiFi antennas can fit on a single array Transmi WiMax connection connection can ssion can transmit upto Wireless Technologies: transmit upto Speed 70 mbps. 1. Bluetooth 54 mbps.
3. WIFI vs LIFI
Compa LiFi WiFi rision
Full Light Fidelity Wireless Fidelity form Fig: Working of Bluetooth LiFi transmits WiFi transmits Operati data using light data using radio 2. Wifi and WIMAX on with the help of waves with the Compari WIFI WIMAX LED bulbs. help of WiFi router. son Do not have Worldwide any Will have Wireless Interoperability Full form interreference interreference Fidelity for Microwave Interfer issues similar issues from nearby Access ence to radio access Wifi is defined WiMax is defined frequency points(routers) under IEEE under IEEE waves. 802.11x Standar 802.16y Present IrDA standards WLAN d used standards where y (Infrared Data where x stands Technol 802.11a/b/g/n/ac stands for various Association) for various ogy /ad standard WiMax versions. compliant WiFi versions. compliant devices devices WiFi is for LAN WiMax is for MAN Area of (Local Area (Metropolitan Area applicati Network) Network) on applications. applications.
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Used in e based on transmit airlines, power and antenna undersea type explorations, Lamp driver, operation Used for internet requires routers to LED bulb(lamp) Applica theaters in the browsing with the be installed, System and photo tions hospitals, office help of wifi kiosks subscriber compon detector will and home or wifi hotspots devices(laptops ,de ents make up premises for sktops) are complete LiFi data transfer referred as stations system. and internet browsing What is internet and how it works?
Interference is Interference is less, can pass Merits( more, can not pass through salty advant through sea water, sea water, ages) works in less works in dense dense region region In LiFi, light In WiFi, RF signal does not pass passess thorugh thorugh the the walls and walls and hence there is a Privacy hence will need to employ Optical Fibre Cable: provide a much techniques to Optical Fibre Cable is used to transmit data. It secure data achieve secure transmits data in the light particles. transfer data transfer. WLAN-11n offers Internet uses Optical Fibre cables in data Data 150Mbps, About 1- transfer About 1 Gbps 2 Gbps can be transmission. speed achieved using WiGig/Giga-IR Freque 10 thousand ncy of times frequency 2.4GHz, 4.9GHz operati spectrum of the and 5GHz on radio Fig: Total Internal Reflection in Optical Fibre Cable Works in less Works in high Data dense environment dense Internet Protocols: density due to interference environment related issues 1. TCP Covera About 32 meters About 10 2. IP ge (WLAN meters distanc 802.11b/11g), vary 1. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
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TCP governs how to divide a message or file into Fig: Dimensions of Information packets that are transmitted over the internet and Types of Computing - then how they are reassembled when they reach their destination. Type of Description Computing
2. IP (The Internet Protocol) It is the simple method of Linear Internet Protocol is responsible for the computing using single Computing address of each packet. processor. Each computer (known as a host) on the It is a method of distributed Internet has at least one IP address that computing done through uniquely identifies it from all other Cloud pooling all computer resources computers on the Internet. computing together and being managed by Each packets contains both the sender’s software rather than a human. Internet address and the receiver’s address. The most widely used version of IP today is It is a method of computing Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) having 32 Super where multiple computers bits address Computing perform parallel processing. IPv6 is designed to anticipate enormous Quantum computing uses the future expansion in the number of Quantum quantum phenomena to process available IP addresses computing information in a novel and way. IPv6 provides for much longer addresses (128 bits) IPv6 also supports auto-configuration to help Cloud Computing: It is a method of distributed computing done correct most of the shortcomings in version 4, through pooling all computer resources together and it has integrated security and mobility and being managed by software rather than a features. human. Computing: The applications access the infrastructure Computing is any activity that through different ‘cloud services’ uses computers to manage, process, and communicate information. A cloud would usually use a grid. A grid is not necessarily a cloud.
The common people use cloud to, 1. Create new apps and services 2. Store, back up and recover data 3. Host websites and blogs 4. Stream audio and video
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5. Deliver software on demand lots of data to train deep learning models because 6. Analyze data for patterns and make they learn directly from the data. The more data predictions you can feed them, the more accurate they become. Business Applications include, 1. Test and development AI adds intelligence to existing products, much 2. Big data analytics like Siri was added as a feature to a new Using the ability of algorithms to tap into generation of Apple products. Automation, vast quantities of both structured and conversational platforms, bots and smart unstructured data, to extract data having machines can be combined with large amounts of business value data to improve many technologies at home and Example – Retailers and suppliers extract in the workplace, from security intelligence to information derived from consumers’ buying investment analysis. patterns to target their advertising and through deep marketing campaigns AI achieves incredible accuracy neural networks – which was previously 3. File storage impossible. For example, your interactions with 4. Disaster recovery – cloud provides for a faster Alexa, Google Search and Google Photos are all recovery at a much lower cost that the based on deep learning – and they keep getting traditional recovery solutions more accurate the more we use them. In the 5. Backup medical field, AI techniques from deep learning, image classification and object recognition can Emerging Technologies now be used to find cancer on MRIs with the 1. Artificial Intelligence- AI same accuracy as highly trained radiologists. Artificial intelligence (AI) is wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building AI adapts through progressive learning smart machines capable of performing tasks algorithms to let the data do the programming. that typically require human intelligence. It is an AI finds structure and regularities in data so that interdisciplinary science. the algorithm acquires a skill: The algorithm becomes a classifier or a predictor. So, just as the Why is artificial intelligence important? algorithm can teach itself how to play chess, it AI automates repetitive learning and discovery can teach itself what product to recommend next through data. But AI is different from hardware- online. driven, robotic automation. Instead of automating manual tasks, AI performs frequent, high-volume, AI gets the most out of data. When algorithms computerized tasks reliably and without fatigue. are self-learning, the data itself can become intellectual property. The answers are in the data; AI analyzes more and deeper data using neural you just have to apply AI to get them out. If you networks that have many hidden layers. We need have the best data in a competitive industry, even
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if everyone is applying similar techniques, the It can learn increasingly complex features of best data will win. the data at each layer. The network can then make a determination about the data, learn if its determination is correct, and use what it has learned to make determinations about new data.
For example, once it learns what an object looks like, it can recognize the object in a new image. Machine Learning: Machine learning is an algorithm. Spiking Neural Network Architecture It detects patterns and learns how to make (SpiNNaker) predictions and recommendations by Recently a supercomputer which is processing data and experiences, rather than designed to work in the same way as the by receiving explicit programming instruction. human brain was switched on for the first Most recent advances in AI have been time. achieved by applying machine learning to The supercomputer is named as Spiking very large data sets. Neural Network Architecture (SpiNNaker) The algorithms also adapt in response to new machine. data and experiences to improve efficacy over It has million-processor-core and is time. capable of completing more than 200 million actions per second, with each of its Deep Learning: chips having 100 million transistors. Deep learning is a type of machine learning. The SpiNNaker machine is designed and It can process a wider range of data built in The University of Manchester, UK. resources, requires less data pre-processing This supercomputer was conceptualized by humans. almost 20 years ago and its It can often produce more accurate results construction begin in 2006. than traditional machine learning approaches. Applications of SpiNNaker machine: In deep learning, interconnected layers of The SpiNNaker machine will be capable of software-based calculators known as simulating a billion simple neurons, or “neurons” form a neural network. millions of neurons with complex structure The network can take vast amounts of input and internal dynamics. data and process them through multiple The supercomputer will help layers. neuroscientists better understand how the human brain works. It does this by
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running extremely large scale real-time thus improving patient outcomes and simulations which simply aren’t possible reducing costs. on other machines. SpiNNaker has been used to simulate a For Example, IBM Watson and chatbots are some region of the brain called the Basal of such tools. Ganglia – an area affected in Parkinson’s The applications of AI in health care include- disease, thus it has massive potential for neurological breakthroughs in science such as pharmaceutical testing. The SpiNNaker has been harnessed to control a robot, the SpOmnibot. This robot uses the SpiNNaker system to interpret real-time visual information and navigate itself towards certain objects while ignoring others.
Differences between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning
b) Agriculture: AI holds the promise of driving a food revolution and meeting the increased demand for food. Applications of AI a) Healthcare: Its applications include: Application of AI in healthcare can help 1. Precision Farming address issues of high barriers to access to 2. Automated drones using AI- are useful for healthcare facilities, particularly in rural pesticide spraying, crop monitoring, crop areas that suffer from poor connectivity and damage estimation, etc. limited supply of healthcare professionals. 3. Real Time weather alerts. Machine learning is being used for faster, 4. Agricultural Market analysis cheaper and more accurate diagnosis and The below are the other applications of AI in agriculture.
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Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) with the help of AI can revolutionize the entire manufacturing supply chain ecosystem. AI is part of 4th Industrial Revolution.
Application areas in include – Engineering (AI for R&D efforts), Supply chain management (demand forecasting), Production (AI can achieve cost reduction and increase efficiency), Maintenance (predictive maintenance and increased asset utilization), c) Smart Mobility, including Transports and Quality assurance (e.g. Vision systems with Logistics: machine learning algorithms to identify Autonomous fleets for ride sharing, semi- defects and deviations in product features), autonomous features such as driver assist, and and predictive engine monitoring and In-plant logistics and warehousing. maintenance. f) Energy: Other areas that AI can impact include Applications in the energy sector include autonomous trucking and delivery energy system modelling and forecasting to Smart Traffic Management decrease unpredictability. d) Retail: In renewable energy systems, AI can enable The retail sector has been one of the early storage of energy through intelligent grids adopters of AI solutions, with applications enabled by smart meters. such as improving user experience. AI systems also improve the reliability and Provides personalized suggestions, affordability of photovoltaic energy. preference-based browsing and image-based Similar to the manufacturing sector, AI may product search. also be deployed for predictive maintenance Other applications include customer demand of grid infrastructure. anticipation, improved inventory management, and efficient delivery management. e) Manufacturing: Manufacturing industry is expected to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of AI based solutions, thus enabling 'Factory of the Future'.
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Gaming – AI has a crucial role in strategic games such as chess, poker, tic-tac-toe, etc., where the machine can think of a large number of possible positions based on heuristic knowledge. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality using AI are used in many gaming applications.
Speech Recognition – There are intelligent systems that are capable of hearing and grasping the language in g) Smart Cities: terms of sentences and their meanings while 1. Traffic Management human talks to it. 2. Crowd Control, Crime Control It can handle different accents, slang words, 3. Integrated Waste Management noise in the background, change in human’s Ex: Smart Bins noise due to cold, etc. h) Education and Skilling: AI can potentially It has many applications starting from solve for quality and access issues observed security code to personal lockers. in the Indian education sector. Ex: Personal assistants like – SIRI, ALEXA, etc. Augmenting and enhancing the learning experience through personalised learning, Cyber Security: Automating and expediting administrative In the 20th conference on e-governance in tasks, and India it was discussed that AI can provide Predicting the need for student intervention more teeth to cyber security and must be to reduce dropouts or recommend vocational explored. AI can predict the cyber threats training. and give warnings automatically. It can prevent cyber threats by faster and I) Financial Sector: earlier analysis in the cyber space. Bank System Automation Customized financial advices financial advice IoT: (Internet of Things) The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the Legal Sector: network of physical objects—“things”—that Automation can lead to faster resolution are embedded with sensors, software, and of already pending cases by reducing the other technologies for the purpose of time taken while analyzing cases thus better connecting and exchanging data with other use of time and more efficient processes. devices and systems over the internet.
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These devices range from ordinary household 4. To develop IoT products specific to Indian objects to sophisticated industrial tools. With needs in the domains of agriculture, health, more than 7 billion connected IoT devices water quality, natural disasters, today, experts are expecting this number to transportation, security, automobile, supply grow to 10 billion by 2020 and 22 billion by chain management, smart cities, Automated 2025. metering and monitoring of utilities, waste management, Oil & Gas) etc. National Digital Communications Policy National Digital Communications Policy 2018 has replaced National Telecom Policy-2012. The NDCP-2018 envisions supporting India's transition to a digitally empowered economy and society by fulfilling the information and communications needs of citizens and enterprises by establishment of a ubiquitous, resilient and affordable Internet of Things involves three distinct digital communications infrastructure and stages services. 1. The sensors which collect data (including The ‘Customer focused’ and ‘application identification and addressing the driven’ NDCP-2018 shall lead to new ideas sensor/device) and innovations, after the launch of 2. An application which collects and analyzes advanced technology such as 5G, IOT, this data for further consolidation M2M, etc. which shall govern the telecom 3. Decision making and the transmission of sector of India. data to the decision-making server. Objectives: (These objectives are to be Analytical engines and Big data may be used achieved by 2022) for the decision-making process. The key objectives of the policy are: IoT Policy, 2015 Broadband for all; 1. To create an IoT industry in India of USD 15 Creating four million additional jobs in the billion by 2020. Digital Communications sector; 2. To undertake capacity development (Human Enhancing the contribution of the Digital & Technology) for IoT specific skill-sets for Communications sector to 8% of India's domestic and international markets. GDP from ~ 6% in 2017; 3. To undertake Research & development for all Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the assisting technologies. the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;
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Enhancing India's contribution to Global standardization of costs and timelines; Value Chains; and Removal of barriers to approvals; and Ensuring Digital Sovereignty. Facilitating development of Open Access Features: Next Generation Networks. The policy aims to Provide universal broadband connectivity IoT Applications: at 50 Mbps to every citizen; Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022; Ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas; Attract investments of USD 100 billion in the Digital Communications Sector; Train one million manpower for building New Age Skill; Expand IoT ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices; Agriculture Establish a comprehensive data protection Insects and pests’ monitors to schedule the regime for digital communications that release of pesticides. safeguards the privacy, autonomy and Geo-fencing of livestock. choice of individuals Farm equipment sensors, irrigation Facilitate India's effective participation in scheduling, and pump control. the global digital economy; Sensors to monitor humidity, temperature, Enforce accountability through appropriate soil, air etc. institutional mechanisms to assure citizens of safe and Manufacturing Secure digital communications Application of RFID (radio frequency infrastructure and services. identification) tags with WiFi infrastructure to track real-time productivity. Strategy: Application of smart tools to manage The policy advocates: manufacturing processes like measuring, Establishment of a National Digital Grid by drilling, tightening etc. to improve production creating a National Fibre Authority; efficiency. Establishing Common Service Ducts and Remote monitoring of various medical utility corridors in all new city and equipment to reduce possible downtime. highway road projects; Predictive maintenance to reduce downtime Creating a collaborative institutional using sensors installed on engines. mechanism between Centre, States and Retail: Local Bodies for Common Rights of Way,
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Use of Beacons to send notifications to the consumers about any coupon or sale. Smart Cities: RFID tags to track and provide access to a Smart parking. variety of services. Intelligent transport system. Re-inventing trial rooms using virtual and Tele-care. smart mirrors. Woman Safety Smart shirt monitors (like Heart Rate Polo Smart grids. Shirts) to monitor the heart and pulse rate. Smart urban lighting. Waste management. Transport and Logistics: Smart city maintenance. Sensors to detect empty mailboxes. Digital-signage. Temperature bands, sensor monitors to Water Management check the quality of food being delivered. Tracking devices to keep a check on Challenges of IoT: temperature, condition of packages, location 1. Privacy Issues etc. 2. Authentication Issues Sensors to keep a check on the condition of 3. Confidentiality Issues consumables supplied. 4. Cyber Security Issues
Healthcare: Big Data: IoT enabled clinical trial solutions to evaluate Big data is a term applied to data sets whose specific outcomes. size or type is beyond the ability of Wearable devices to monitor pulse, heart, traditional relational databases to capture, walking, biking, and other health data. manage and process the data with low Wearable sensor patches to give insights on latency. medical effectiveness, health patterns etc. Sensor-enabled mobile devices to remotely monitor patients with chronic illness.
Automotive: Integration of vehicle-related services via connected cars. Artificial intelligence (AI), mobile, social and M2M cellular connectivity based UBI (usage- the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving data based insurance) for automobiles. complexity through new forms and sources of Tires-as-a-service to pay for tires on a data. For example, big data comes from kilometer driven basis. sensors, devices, video/audio, networks, log Driverless cars based on IoT and cloud files, transactional applications, web, and technology. social media — much of it generated in real time and at a very large scale.
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Examples of Bid Data in India: Census data, 1. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Aadhar Data, GST Network, etc. Board (BWSSB) is using Big Data and predictive analytics technology from IBM to Big data analytics: create systems for monitoring water Big data analytics is the use of advanced analytic distribution systems. Bangalore’s massive techniques against very large, diverse data sets population growth (from 5.4 million in 2000 that include structured, semi-structured and to over 10 million) has put tremendous strain unstructured data, from different sources, and in on the city’s water supply and distribution different sizes from terabytes to zettabytes. systems. In partnership with IBM, the BWSSB has built an operational dashboard, Analysis of big data allows analysts, researchers which serves as a “command center” for and business users to make better and faster managing the city’s water supply networks. decisions using data that was previously 2. DLF has deployed an innovative mobile- inaccessible or unusable. phone based solution that channels data
Applications of Big Data: insights from customers visiting DLF Big data and data analytics can be put to use Promenade, a high-end shopping mall where ever decision making is required. serving the metropolitan New Delhi area. The technology performs real-time analytics to convert data gathered from shopper’s movements in the mall to provide meaningful interactions for smartphone users. DLF is now using the solution to allow retailers in the mall to extend sales deals to shoppers via the app, based on footfall heat maps. 3. Close to 40 percent of India’s population lacks access to formal banking and financial Healthcare: services, resulting in financial inclusion serving as a key government policy imperative for the country. Micro-finance firm, Janalakshmi Financial Services, is looking to capitalize on this opportunity through an aggressive expansion plan to increase its footprint from 154 branches and 3 million accounts to 1,400 branches serving over 20 million accounts by 2020 4. Owning some of the top ten games in terms of revenue, Reliance Games has more than Case studies: 600 game developers working for over 2,000
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devices across various operating systems. To 5. Use of Direct Benefit Transfer in MGNREGA keep on improving its product, the & Aadhaar for authentication & availing company’s basic need was to analyze the welfare scheme benefits helps in the filtering products at the product development level to of ghost beneficiaries. have a better understanding of daily active 6. The Ministry of Agriculture has signed a deal users (DAUs), number of downloads, user with the ISRO to use satellites for mapping of behavior, game performance, dropouts, agricultural assets. reasoning for drop-outs, etc. 7. Smart City Mission, Digital India, digital 5. Using the power of Big Data, ixigo has economy proposals like BHIM app, inter alia launched a PNR prediction feature for train are important government initiatives that are travelers. For any given train’s wait-listed using Big Data for achieving good governance status, ixigo is now able to show the near in the country. accurate probability with which the ticket will confirm, so that travelers may decide Challenges: whether or not to book a wait-listed ticket. 1. Data fragmentation at various level with the 6. Political parties are using big data and the government departments and in multiple analytics in election campaigns. languages. 2. Data Privacy and Cyber Security Issues
Measures to promote Big Data in India- 3. Technical challenges like scalability, 1. Big Data Initiative (2015) of Department of collection system efficiency,etc. S&T to promote and encourage Big Data 5G Technology: Ecosystem in India. 5G is 5th generation mobile network. It is a 2. NITI Aayog is currently working on a plan in new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, collaboration with the private players to 3G, and 4G networks. 5G enables a new develop the ‘National Data & Analytics kind of network that is designed to Platform’, which will act as a single source of connect virtually everyone and everything sectoral data for citizens, policymakers, and together including machines, objects, and researchers. devices. 3. ‘Big Data Management Policy (2016)’ - It is formulated by CAG for auditing large chunks 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver of data generated by the public sector in the higher multi-Gbps peak data states and the union territories. speeds, ultra low latency, more reliability, 4. Ministry of Statistics and Program massive network capacity, increased Implementation has proposed to establish availability, and a more uniform user a ‘National Data Warehouse on Official experience to more users. Higher Statistics’ which will leverage technology and performance and improved efficiency use big data analytical tools to improve the quality of macro-economic aggregates.
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empower new user experiences and service) web sites connects new industries.
Supports simultaneo us voice and data Can handle Introduced higher complex 3G transfer rates data such as video Faster communic ation and Evolution of cellular technology web streaming Mobile broadband internet services provided to external systems, such as laptops, wireless modems, etc Any kind of Additional service at Gen Characteristics Uses features such as anytime 4G Released in IP telephony, anywhere as 1G Analog technology 1990 to be ultrabroadband per user used in GSM Internet access, requirements gaming services Digital Enables text and HDTV Uses encryption and multi streamed 2G There were GSM media multimedia and CDMA messages 100Mbps to versions 1Gbps speed Combined with Users can take GPRS part in video Differences between 4G and 5G technology(a pack conferences 2.5G et- and interact based wireless co with mmunication multimedia
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(i) Integrate and enable automation process which will be useful for many industries like oil and gas, chemicals and water. (ii) Communication transfers will enable time critical factory automation across wide range of factories such as metals, pharmaceuticals etc. Applications of 5G
Healthcare: Emergency, disaster and public safety (i) Remote patient monitoring and (i) Highly efficient communication during communication with sign measuring devices natural disasters such as earthquakes, such as blood pressure, ECG, temperature floods etc. etc, which is possible with immediate, (ii) Provides real time accurate location and automatic or semi-automatic responses. communication for better safety. (ii) Remote surgery applications that can provide Agriculture: control and feedback communication technique for surgeons from ambulance, remote areas etc, which requires low latency and highly reliable networks.
Smart Cities: (i) Consistent user experience, hotspot broadband access in highly dense areas, urban city centers etc. (ii) Access to broadband in public transport system such Energy Sector: as high-speed trains by providing communication link and high-quality internet for entertainment or work. (iii) Can control real and virtual objects like autonomous cars, which requires real time reaction. (iv) Support safety applications to mitigate road accidents, traffic efficiency etc, which requires ultra-low latency for warning signals and high data rates.
Industrial IoT: Paulraj Committee on Strategy on 5G:
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The committee was set up by Government in learn in a simulated (but very real) walk on the September 2017 to suggest a road map for moon and soldiers train for combat scenarios. adoption of 5G. Augmented Reality: Recommendations: Augmented reality overlays digital content and It has proposed promulgation of key norms information onto the physical world — as if on regulatory matters by March 2019 in they’re actually there with you, in your own space. order to facilitate early deployment of 5G The game Pokemon Go is a well known example of technology. It expects commercial rollout of AR. 5G in India by 2020. It keeps the real world central but enhances it Deployment of 5G in India should be with other digital details, layering new strata of classified into three phases based on perception, and supplementing your reality or technologies and use cases. environment. By early embracing 5G technology, India can accelerate its dividends and potentially also Rather than provide a fully immersive virtual become innovator in 5G applications. It experience, augmented reality enhances the real- expects that economic impact of 5G to be world with images, text, and other virtual over $1 trillion. information.
Augmented reality is useful for more than just Virtual Reality vs Augmented Reality vs Mixed entertainment. Retailer IKEA created an AR app Reality that helps shoppers visualize what certain Virtual Reality products will look like in their home before they Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer purchase them. technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the AR technology can enhance travelers’ user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a experiences in many ways. Imagine being on a screen in front of them, users are immersed and self-guided walking tour and wanting to know able to interact with 3D worlds. details about the architecture of a building. With an AR technology app, you could just point your When a user puts on a head-mounted display or phone at the building, and all the details are a VR headset, they sense—and their brains projected in your line of sight. believe—they are moving among virtual objects on a screen. Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality
Virtual reality tools already help surgeons plan surgery, individuals experience a travel destination even before they take flight, children
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Mixe Virtual Augment d Characteristics reality ed reality Reali (VR) (AR) ty Is user aware about the Real × √ √ World Can user interact with the Real & Virtual × √ √ world in the real-time? Can Real & Virtual contensts × × √ interact with each other in the real-time?
Uses of Virtual Reality Technologies: From gaming, to movies, to medicine, the uses for Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality are expanding. Mixed Reality Healthcare—For training, such as for surgical A mixed-reality environment goes a step beyond simulations augmented reality because users can interact in Film and TV—For movies and shows to create real-time with virtual objects that are placed unique experiences within the real world. These virtual items will Virtual travel—For virtual trips to an art respond and react to users as if they were actual museum—or another planet—all from home objects. Professional sports—For training programs to help pro and amateur athletes It provides the ability to have one foot (or hand) in Gaming—For over 1,000 games already the real world, and the other in an imaginary available, from first-person shooters to place, breaking down basic concepts between real strategy games to role-playing adventure and imaginary, offering an experience that can change the way you game and work today. 4th Industrial Revolution: Klaus Schwab, founder and executive It takes a lot more processing power to enable a chairman of the Geneva-based WEF, mixed-reality experience than it does for a virtual published a book in 2016 titled “The Fourth or augmented reality experience.
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Industrial Revolution” and coined the term at the Davos meeting that year. The 4th Industrial Revolution is a way of describing the blurring of boundaries between the physical, digital, and biological worlds. It’s a fusion of advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies.
Background: How can Industrial Revolution 4.0 help The First Industrial Revolution used water India and steam power to mechanize production. It can play a major role in alleviating poverty. The Second used electric power to create Better and low-cost health care can be mass production. achieved through the implementation of AI- The Third used electronics and information driven diagnostics, personalized treatment, technology to automate production. early identification of potential pandemics, The 4th Industrial Revolution is building on and imaging diagnostics, among others. the Third, the digital revolution that has been Enhancing farmer’s income by providing occurring since the middle of the last century. them with the latest technologies, It is characterized by a fusion of technologies improvement in crop yield through real-time that is blurring the lines between the advisory, advanced detection of pest attacks, physical, digital, and biological spheres. and prediction of crop prices to inform sowing practices. It will strengthen infrastructure and improve connectivity to the very last village. Artificial intelligence can be used to empower and enable specially-abled people. It will improve ease of living and ease of doing business using smart technologies. 4th IR in India Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Pillars of 4th Industrial Revolution: The World Economic Forum has set up a Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution in Maharashtra. Artificial intelligence, block chain and drones
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are the first three projects of the centre in Large : Greater than 150kg. India. WEF will work in collaboration with NITI Aayog, business leaders, academia and start- Applications: ups in these projects. Defense: Defense sector is using drones from a long time for surveillance and for warfare. Pilot Project for ushering in 'Industry 4.0' in Ex: DRDO’s Rustom the country, is launched for implementation at the Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Agriculture- Gather data and automate Raebareli redundant processes to maximize efficiency, to spray medicines, in a process of planting by A Pilot Project for ushering in 'Industry 4.0' has distributing seed on the land, etc. been launched for implementation at Modern Ex: Assam Tea Gardens proposal to use Drones Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli. The Ministry to pick tender tea leaves. of Railways and Department of Science & Technology have joined hands in partnership Healthcare- Delivering quick access to drugs, with IIT Kanpur for taking up a unique project blood, and medical technology in remote areas, on ‘Industry 4.0’ by launching a Pilot Project transportation of harvested organs to recipients for implementation at Modern Coach Factory, (through drones’ corridor), etc. Raebareli. Ex: Use of Drones in North East to send essential medicines to remote areas Drones: Disaster Management- Surveillance of disaster- In aviation and in space, a drone refers to an affected areas to assess damage, locate victims, unpiloted aircraft or spacecraft. Another term and deliver aid. for it is an "unmanned aerial vehicle," or UAV. Ex: Australian Forest Fires- During these fires, Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be the Australian Government used drones to douse remotely piloted or autonomous. the fires as well as to map the forest fire impacted Remotely Piloted Aircraft consists of regions. remote pilot station(s) and command and control links. Urban Planning- Instant mapping and survey of Autonomous drones work with Artificial the land which has to be developed avoiding intelligence. congestion and increasing green cover. E.g.: The Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation Remotely piloted aircraft have been divided (GCMC) became first Municipal Corporation to into five categories map Chennai using drones. Nano : Less than or equal to 250 grams.
Micro : From 250 grams to 2kg. Conservation of Endangered Species- Monitor and Small : From 2 kg to 25kg. track the number of animals. Medium : From 25kg to 150kg.
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Weather Forecasting- Drones can physically 2. All UAVs will have to be registered and follow weather patterns as they develop to provided with a Unique Identification understand the environment and imminent Number (UIN) before they can be operated. weather trends in a better way. 3. There will be a set of rules referred to as Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) that all UAVs Waste Management- Identify where the garbage will have to adhere to depending on their is so that it can be picked up the garbage picking classification. vans. Drones can be used to clean ocean waste as 4. All UAVs can only be flown by trained pilots, well. . training requirements for whom have been detailed. Governance: 5. Each flight is expected to be tagged and Ex: Disinfectant spraying during COVID-19 recorded with the data made available to the affected areas. regulator on demand.
Ex: Survey of India is using Drone technology to 6. Under this regulation, the Digital Sky map India and to prepare high resolution maps. Platform will enable online registration of pilots, devices, service providers, and NPNT Mining- Drones in mining can be used in (no permission, no take-off). volumetric data capturing of ore, rock and 7. The Digital Sky Platform is a unique minerals storage which is extremely difficult to unmanned traffic management (UTM) system measure manually. which is expected to facilitate registration and licensing of drones and operators in addition to giving instant (online) clearances to operators for every flight. 8. The airspace has been partitioned into Red Zone (flying not permitted), Yellow Zone (controlled airspace), and Green Zone (automatic permission). The restricted locations are airports, near international border, near coast line, state secretariat To facilitate the use of drones the Government has formulated National Drone Policy 2018. complexes strategic locations, military installations 9. All civilian drone operations will be restricted National Drone Policy: to only during day time and a maximum of Under National Drone Policy, Ministry of Civil 400 feet altitude. Aviation has proposed certain regulations 10. There can’t be any human or animal Drone Regulations 1.0: payloads, or anything hazardous. 1. UAVs will be classified into five segments based on their weight inclusive of payload.
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11. It cannot in any manner cause danger to However, recent incidents of the utilization of people or property and insurance will be drones to target VVIPs in Venezuela and Saudi mandatory to cover third-party damage. Aramco drone attacks are a stark reminder of the 12. Except nano drones and those owned by threat level from rogue drones. So, the National Technical Research Organization Government has issued National Counter Rogue (NTRO) and the central agencies, the rest Drone Guidelines. would be registered and issued Unique Identification Number. National Counter Rogue Drone Guidelines In 2019, Ministry of Civil Aviation ("MoCA") also Draft Drone Regulations 2.0: released the National Counter Rogue Drone 1. Drone Ports will enable drones to take off and Guidelines ("NCRD Guidelines") with an aim to land, charge and lay off during operations. address the perceived law and order and national 2. A drone corridor will be defined in order to security issues that are anticipated due to maintain separate airspace for manned and unregulated and unchecked operation of drones. unmanned aerial vehicles. 3. An upper limit will be set to the life cycle of The scope of these guidelines include: drones exceeding which renewal of Laying out guidelines for assessing the drone registration will be required. threat 4. Drone delivery of consumer goods such as Creating awareness about the various food, medicines, blood will be permitted. technologies involved in handling drone 5. Beyond Visuals Line Of Sight (BVLOS) threat missions will be permitted. Ready reckoner for anti-drone measures Understanding multi-dimensionality of drone 6. One drone pilot will be able to man multiple threats drones at once. 7. A separate drone body will be established 3D Printing: under the DGCA to facilitate drone 3D Printing is a process for making a registrations, licensing and permits. physical object from a three-dimensional 8. OEMs should include specific features that digital model, typically by laying down many take into consideration principles of privacy successive thin layers of a material. It brings and protection of personal data by design a digital object (its CAD representation) into and by default. its physical form by adding layer by layer of 9. Categorization of nano & micro drone will be materials. relaxed. 3D printing is the opposite of subtractive 1. Nano--< 250g. manufacturing which is cutting out / 2. Micro-- 250g -2 kg. hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with 3. Mini --2kg- 25kg. for instance a milling machine. 4. Small --25kg-250kg. About: 5. Large --> 250kg.
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3D printing allows us to produce complex processes, such as machining, can result shapes using less material than traditional in up to 90% of the original block of manufacturing methods. material being wasted. 3D Printing brings two fundamental In contrast, 3D printing is a process for innovations: the manipulation of objects in creating objects directly, by adding their digital format and the manufacturing material layer by layer in a variety of ways, of new shapes by addition of material. depending on the technology used. The most basic, differentiating principle behind 3D printing is that it is an additive manufacturing process. This is the key because 3D printing is a radically different manufacturing method based on advanced technology that builds up parts, additively, in layers at the sub mm scale. This is fundamentally different from any other existing traditional manufacturing techniques. 3D printing drives innovation with unprecedented design freedom while being a tool-less process that reduces prohibitive costs and lead times. Complicate geometries and features can be created at no extra cost. Applications of 3D Printing: 3D printing is also emerging as an energy- 1. Defence and Aerospace: At present, AM efficient technology that can provide technology in the aerospace and defence environmental efficiencies in terms of both sector is broadly used for prototyping, repair manufacturing process itself, utilising up to of small parts and component manufacturing. 90% of standard materials, and throughout the products operating life, through lighter Examples: The UK Royal Air Force and Navy and stronger design. use AM for repairing spare parts. Advantage over traditional 2. Health manufacturing Hearing aids have been made using 3D Traditional design and production printing technology. processes impose a number of Bio printers: Organ printing or body part unacceptable constraints, including the printing is being printed and some parts expensive tooling, fixtures, and the need being used as implants of actual body parts. for assembly for complex parts. Example: Titanium pelvic, plastic tracheal In addition, subtractive manufacturing splint, titanium jaws
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Tissue engineering: Tissue engineering 7. Education: Affordable 3D printers in schools made remarkable progress with printing of may be used for a variety of applications 3D blood vessels. This was achieved 3D bio- which can aid students with learning better. printing technology and biomaterials through vascularisation of hydrogel constructs. Advantages/ Benefits of 3D printing: Dentistry: Dental Implants are being made Low cost: 3D printing is cheaper than on a commercial level using 3D printing traditional method of manufacturing. Cost of technology producing or manufacturing products using Prosthetics: 3D printing is being used to 3d printing technology is equal for small- make surrogate body parts scale and mass manufacturing. Artificial organ: Additive manufacturing of Example: China was able to able to stem cells has also led to various possibilities construct 10 one storey houses at less than in printing artificial organs, although most of $5000 per house the work is still in the experimental stage Less Time: Printing of the 3D object can be 3. Manufacturing: 3D printing can be used to done directly, differing from the traditional manufacture varied forms of products- from manufacturing where different components car or plane parts to sport goods, toys etc. had to be joined to form the final product. Customised products are able to be Efficiency: Generating prototypes with 3D manufactured as customers can edit the printers is much easier and faster with 3D digital design file and send to the printing technology. manufacturer for productions. Increased Productivity: It enables quick 4. Domestic Usage: 3D printers can be used in production with a high number of prototypes the home to make small objects such as or a small-scale version of the real object ornamental objects, small toys etc. Flexibility: Different materials can be used 5. Architecture, housing: The technology can in the 3D models. This makes it very easy to be used for a variety of housing projects with create construction models or prototypes for application in custom luxury designer homes, a wide variety of projects within many large scale development projects, to industries. temporary housing projects. It could also Customization: Every item can be enable engineers to design and build stiffer customized to meet a user’s specific needs and safer geometries for houses. Further, can without impacting the manufacturing costs. also help engineers to rebuild and restore old Quality assurance: the technology builds heritage designs quickly yet accurately. robust products with superior functionality 6. Food: 3D printing enables fast automated Employment opportunities: The widespread and repeatable processes, freedom in design, use of 3d printing technology will increase as well as allowing large and easy variability the demand for engineers who are needed to of the cooking process which can be design and build these printers and design customized. blueprints of products.
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Reduced wastage: Additive Manufacturing to improve investment opportunities and to process produces less waste in comparison enhance manufacturing capabilities in the with other traditional manufacturing country. techniques Given the government’s interest in boosting Constraints with 3D Printing: manufacturing, major manufacturers have Limited size: The size of objects created with established 3-D printing assembly lines and 3d printers is currently limited distribution centres in partnership with Limited Raw Materials: With 3D printing foreign technological firms. being an additive method (layer after layer), the materials available suited for it are Block Chain technology: limited- ceramics, resin, plastics, etc. A blockchain is a growing list of records Effect on employment: Jobs in called blocks that are linked manufacturing will be rendered obsolete using cryptography. “Block” refers to the which will have a negative impact on digital information and “chain” refers to the developing economies. public database in which blocks are stored. Concerns over copyright infringements: There is concern over counterfeit printing of copyrighted or patented products. Anyone who gets a hold of a blueprint will be able to counterfeit products easily Production of dangerous items: There are concerns over deterring or controlling people from 3D printing potentially dangerous items. Example: International regimes such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime and Wassenaar Agreement Characteristic of blockchain technology that control technology have been concerned about proliferation of high-performance 3-D printers, which have the capability to print parts for missile or nuclear weapon. Cyber security concerns: Studies have shown that the 3-D printer connected to online network is vulnerable to cyberattacks. 3D Printing in India: GoI has launched several initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’
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theoretically immune to the old ways of government control and interference. Cryptocurrencies can be sent directly between two parties via the use of private and public keys. These transfers can be done with minimal processing fees, allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by traditional financial institutions.
Applications of Block Chain Technology 1. Smart contracts – Any industry heavily reliant on contracts, such as insurance, financial institutions, real estate, construction, entertainment, and law, would Cryptocurrency: benefit from blockchain’s indisputable way to update, manage, track and secure contracts. Smart contracts, those that are embedded with if/then statements and be executed without the involvement of an intermediary, also use blockchain technology. Government regulators can use the smart contacts in enforcing the regulations. 2. Supply chain management – Whenever value changes hands or the status of asset changes, blockchain is ideally suited for
Cryptocurrency is an internet-based medium managing the process. of exchange which uses cryptographical 3. Asset protection – Whether you’re a functions to conduct financial transactions. musician who wants to ensure you get These leverage blockchain technology to gain royalties when your music gets played or a decentralization, transparency, and property owner, blockchain technology can immutability. help you protect your assets by creating an The most important feature of a indisputable record of real-time ownership. cryptocurrency is that it is not controlled by 4. Personal Identification – Governments any central authority: the decentralized manage vast amounts of personal data from nature of blockchain makes cryptocurrencies birth and death records to marriage certificates, passports and census data.
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Blockchain technology offers a streamlined Concerns Regarding Cryptocurrencies solution for managing all of it securely. 5. Payment processing – Blockchain has the Application concerns: potential to be highly transformative to any Money Laundering company that processes payments. It can Tax Evasion eliminate the need for intermediaries that are Capital Flight common in payment processing today. Technology Concerns: 6. Crowdfunding– As with traditional Large power consumption crowdfunding, a blockchain powered Private key security crowdfunding campaign seeks to secure Transaction speed investment for a new project from an
interested community. In this instance, Initiatives taken by India to promote Block funding is most likely to come in the form of Chain Technology bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. 1. Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology’ in Bengaluru Example: It will facilitate Government Departments in Coffee Board Activates Blockchain Based building proof of concepts for use of Marketplace in India Blockchain technology in different Blockchain based market place app for trading dimensions of governance leading to large of Indian coffees is intended to bring in scale deployment of some such applications. transparency in the trade of Indian coffee,
maintain the traceability of Indian coffee from With National Informatics Centre (NIC) bean to cup so as the consumer tastes real providing a robust and an agile Indian coffee and the grower is paid fairly for infrastructure, the CoE shall also provide his coffee produced. Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) for efficient This initiative will help in: hosting of Blockchain network. Creating a brand image for Indian Coffee 2. National Digital Communication Policy through traceability 2018 Reducing grower’s dependency an intermediary by having a direct access to 3. National Blockchain Strategy by NITI buyers for a fair price for their produce, Aayog Finding right coffee suppliers for exporters and within the stipulated time to meet the Super Computers A supercomputer is a computer with a high growing demands and Building a better trust and long-term level of performance as compared to a relationship due to increased visibility towards general-purpose computer. The performance the traceability and transparency of the of a supercomputer is commonly measured produce. in floating-point operations per second
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(FLOPS) instead of million instructions per Each friend can go through a separate second (MIPS). checkout with a few of the items and pay separately. About: Once you've all paid, you can get together A normal computer (Desktop, laptop etc.) is a again, load up the cart, and leave. The more items there are and the more friends you general-purpose machine that takes in have, the faster it gets to do things by information (data) by a process called input, parallel processing. stores and processes it, and then generates Parallel processing is more like what some kind of output (result). happens in our brains. A supercomputer is not simply a fast or very large computer: it works in an entirely different way, typically using parallel processing instead of serial processing that an ordinary computer uses. Instead of doing one thing at a time, it does many things at once.
Serial Processing: An ordinary computer does one thing at a time, so it does things in a distinct series of operations; that's called serial processing. It is similar to a situation where a person sitting at a grocery store checkout, picking up items from conveyor belt, running them through the scanner, and then passing them on for you to pack in your bags. It doesn't matter how fast you load things onto the belt or how fast you pack them: the speed at which you check out is entirely determined by how fast the operator can scan and process the items, which is always one at a time.
Parallel Processing Modern supercomputer works much more quickly by splitting problems into pieces and working on many pieces at once, which is called parallel processing. It's like arriving at the checkout with a giant Types of Supercomputers: cart full of items, but then splitting your a) Massively parallel computers items up between several different friends.
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Once scientists figured out the basic idea of to an arms embargo imposed on India, as it parallel processing, it made sense to add was a dual-use technology and could be used more and more processors. Since 1990s, for developing nuclear weapons. supercomputers have routinely used many In 1988, Center for Development of Advanced thousands of processors in what's known Computing (C-DAC) was established under as massively parallel processing. Ministry of electronics and Information b) Clusters Technology (MeiTY) to develop an indigenous Alternatively, one can make a supercomputer supercomputer to meet high-speed by just buying a load of off-the-shelf PCs, put computational needs. them in the same room, and interconnect PARAM 8000 is considered to be India’s first them using a very fast local area network supercomputer was indigenously built in (LAN) so they work in a broadly similar way. 1991 by C-DAC. That kind of supercomputer is called a cluster. Google does its web searches for To develop Super Computing capabilities users with clusters of off-the-shelf computers in India, GoI has launched National Super dotted in data centers around the world. Computing Mission (NSM), 2015-22 c) Grids National Super Computing Mission (NSM), A grid is a supercomputer similar to a 2015-22. cluster (in that it's made up of separate computers), but the computers are in Context: The first supercomputer designed different places and connected through the and built under National Supercomputing Internet (or other computer networks). This Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute is an example of distributed computing, of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is which means that the power of a computer is named “Param Shivay”. spread across multiple locations instead of About: being located in one, single place (that's The mission will nationally coordinate sometimes called centralized computing). collaborative programme involving developers The CERN Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, and users of supercomputing systems as well assembled to process data from the LHC as academic and research institutions. It (Large Hadron Collider) particle accelerator, aims to empower our national academic and is an example of this kind of system. R&D institutions by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more A Timeline: Supercomputers in India: than 70 high-performance computing Initially, India was importing Super facilities. Computers from USA. – CRAY Computers. These supercomputers will be networked on Later, India's supercomputer program was National Supercomputing grid over the started in late 1980s because Cray National Knowledge Network (NKN). supercomputers could not be imported due
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The first phase of the NSM is focused on Quantum Supremacy assembling the supercomputers; the build Quantum supremacy refers to a problem- element will be part of the second phase. solving process by the quantum computer that It would be implemented and steered jointly cannot be solved by a classical computer in its by the Department of Science and normal lifetime. The concept is related to the Technology (DST) and Department of speed at which a quantum computer performs. Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) over a period of seven years. How Quantum Computers (QCs) works? A quantum computer uses quantum bits Major Objective: (qubits) to process information in new ways. To make India world leader in Qubits, which can be made of atoms or Supercomputing and to enhance India’s subatomic particles, behave according to the capability in solving grand challenge laws of quantum mechanics. problems of national and global relevance To empower our scientists and researchers QCs operate according to two key with state-of-the-art supercomputing principles of quantum physics: facilities and enable them to carry out a) Superposition: It means that each qubit cutting-edge research in their respective can represent both a ‘1’ and a ‘0’ at the same time domains b) Entanglement: Entanglement means that To minimize redundancies and duplication of qubits in a superposition state can efforts, and optimize investments in be correlated with each other; that is, the supercomputing state of one qubit (whether it is a 1 or a To attain global competitiveness and ensure 0) can depend on the state of another qubit. self-reliance in the strategic area of It means that particles remain connected so supercomputing technology that actions performed on one affect the Quantum Computers: other, even when separated by great Quantum computing is the use of quantum- distances. mechanical phenomena such as Using these two principles, qubits can act as superposition and entanglement to perform more sophisticated switches, enabling computation. Computers that perform quantum computers to function in ways that quantum computation are known as allow them to solve difficult problems that quantum computers. are unmanageable using today’s computers. These are different from binary digital According to research, the quantum electronic computers that are based on processor took 200 seconds to perform a transistors. calculation that would have been accomplished in 10,000 years by the world’s fastest supercomputer ‘Summit’.
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Difference: algorithm's and entanglement multiple Quantum computer and Regular computer design. possible answers are Classical considered in a given Quantum Computer Computer computation. It is large scale Circuit It is high speed parallel integrated behaviour is Circuit behaviour is computer based on multi-purpose governed by govemed explicitly by quantum mechanics. Computer(CPU) classical quantum mechanics. Information physics. Information storage is storage is bit No restrictions Quantum bit based on Severe restrictions exist on based on exist on copying direction of an electron copying and measuring voltage/charge or measuring spin. signals. etc. signals Quantum bits or "qubits" are similar in that for Applications of Quantum Computers practical purposes we read A quantum computer can attack complex them as a value of 0 or 1, problems that are beyond the scope of a classical but they can also hold computer. The basic advantage is speed as it is much more complex Computer runs able to simulate several classical computers information, or even be on bits that working in parallel. negative values. Before we have a value of read their value they are in Quantum computers would also be useful for either 0 or 1. an indeterminate state tasks which handle huge amounts of data. called superposition and Data mining and artificial intelligence would can be influenced by other be major beneficiaries, along with sciences qubits (this is called which deal in volumes of data, from entanglement). Qubits can astronomy to linguistics. be. Discrete number Infinite (continuous) Government's Initiatives to promote Quantum of possible number of possible states. states: 0 or 1. Computing in India. Probabilistic: Measurements Deterministic: 1. QuEST Program: on superposed states yield Repeated In 2018, Department of Science & probabilistic answers (our computations confidence in these answers Technology unveiled a program called on the same builds up through repeated Quantum-Enabled Science & Technology input will lead computations) then reduced (QuEST) and committed to investing ₹80 to the same to 0 or 1. output. crore over the next 3 years to accelerate Only specifically Quantum answers (which research. This plan is to have a quantum defined results are in quantity called computer built in India within the next are available, amplitudes) are decade. inherently probabilistic, meaning that limited by an because of superposition
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2. National Mission on Quantum Technology: Context: GoI in budget 2020 had announced National Mission on Quantum a National Mission on Quantum Technologies Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA): & Applications (NM-QTA) for a period of 5 Transformative technologies that will be years. It will be implemented by Department promoted under this mission include of Science & Technology (DST). quantum computers and computing, About Quantum Technology (QT): quantum communication, quantum key QT is a new field of engineering that distribution, encryption, cryptanalysis, translates the effects of quantum physics quantum devices, quantum sensing, into practical applications with disruptive quantum materials, quantum clock and so potential. It works by using the principles of on. quantum mechanics (physics of sub-atomic Mission draws upon the existing deep particles), including quantum entanglement strengths within academic institutes across and quantum superposition. India to support interdisciplinary research a) Quantum Mechanics: It is a science that projects in key verticals involving quantum describes the unique behaviour of matter and technology, while simultaneously developing energy at atomic and subatomic level. These key foundational strengths in important core particles don’t obey the laws of classical areas. Newtonian physics. Significance of the Mission: b) Quantum Superposition: According to this Super-secure communication network theory, sub-atomic particles can exist in (SSCN): Mission may lead to creation of a multiple states simultaneously. SSCN to make online financial transactions c) Quantum Entanglement: According to this hack-proof. theory, sub-atomic particles can exhibit Solution for complex problems: Quantum “entanglement,” where two or more particles principles will be used for engineering are inextricably linked and mirror each other solutions to extremely complex problems in exactly, even when separated by great computing, communications, sensing, physical distance. chemistry, cryptography, imaging and By controlling single quantum entities and mechanics. utilizing their characteristics, QT in the areas Global recognition: India’s considerable of sensing, computation and cryptography investment in the field places it alongside the can realize future technologies. United States, Europe and Russia.
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Device used to harness solar energy and 6. Energy Issues in News convert it into usable chemical energy. 1. Organic photovoltaics (OPV)/ organic solar Generally a cobalt and silicon coated cell Perovskite is immersed in water that is split Researchers from China have demonstrated an into hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of organic solar cell efficiency rate of 17.3 percent— sunlight. the highest ever recorded of its kind. The hydrogen so formed is then used to produce ‘syngas’ (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) which can be compressed to form liquid fuel that is used in vehicles
Fig: Organic Photovoltaics
About OPV or organic solar cells: OPVs are made from carbon and plastic, are
cheaper to make and have far more flexible Fig: Artificial Leaf engineering applications. Completely flexible 3. Fuel Cell: OPVs can be made with compounds that are A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical dissolvible in ink, which is then printed on to potential energy (energy stored in molecular a diverse range of materials. bonds) into electrical energy. This allows engineers to build semi- Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not transparent solar cells into windowpanes run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as Why they are used less? fuel is supplied. Because of their low efficiency rates. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes—a Where silicon photovoltaics convert between negative electrode (or anode) and a positive 18 to 22 percent of solar energy into electrode (or cathode)—sandwiched around electricity, OPVs have only been able to an electrolyte. achieve half that rate. A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and air is fed to the cathode. 2. Artificial Leaf: both battery and fuel cell produce direct current (D.C).
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Can be used for power backup in commercial CSIR developed first Indigenous High and residential buildings. Temperature Fuel Cell System in partnership with Indian industries under India’s flagship program named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” The 5.0 kW fuel cell system generates power in a green manner using methanol / bio- methane, with heat and water as bi-products for further use; amounting to greater than 70% efficiency, which otherwise may not be possible by other energy sources.
Fig: Fuel Cell iii. Hydrogen-powered vehicles China, Japan and South Korea have set i. Microbial fuel cells ambitious targets to put millions of Is a bio-electrochemical device that hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads. harnesses the power of respiring microbes Supreme Court of India has directed the (bacteria) to convert organic substrates government to look into the feasibility of Fuel directly into electrical energy Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) to deal with air It transforms chemical energy into pollution. using electricity oxidation reduction The Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) reactions combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate It has applications in various fields such as an electric current and water is the only by- power generation systems, bio-recovery, product. waste-water treatment, etc.
Fig: Hydrogen Powered Vehicles Fig: Microbial Fuel Cell Advantages: ii. Csir- High-Temperature Based Fuel Cell It is greener technology as the by-products of System: vehicles are only heat and water.
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They are far more energy-efficient than traditional combustion technologies. Hydrogen-powered vehicles vs Electric vehicles Driving ranges and refuelling times for FCVs are comparable to gasoline cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometres of range. Fig: Lithium -Ion Battery In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive 5. Iron ion battery longer distances. IIT Madras has fabricated a rechargeable iron However, lack of refuelling stations which are ion battery and registered initial success costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest The iron ion battery is cost-effective and the obstacle to widespread adoption of FCVs. amount of energy that can be stored in Consumer worries about the risk of the battery is also high explosions are also a big hurdle. Iron has favourable physicochemical Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices properties like lithium down to levels of gasoline-powered cars. Iron is more stable during the charging process and therefore prevents short- 4. Lithium-ion Battery circuiting of the batteries. Central Electro Chemical Research Institute In iron ion battery, vanadium pentoxide is (CECRI), Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and RAASI used as the cathode. Vanadium pentoxide Solar Power Pvt Ltd have signed a was chosen as it has a layered structure with Memorandum of Agreement for transfer of very large spacing between the layers. technology for India‘s first Lithium Ion This, when compared with the popular (Li-ion) Battery project. lithium metal-based batteries helps cut down ISRO has approved commercial use of the cost and make it safer to handle lithium ion battery technology and the battery makers will be required to pay Rs 1 6. Thermal Battery Plant crore as a one-time technology transfer fee to World‘s first-ever thermal battery plant was ISRO for every evehicle. recently inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh. It is expected to save 10-15 per cent of the Thermal Battery cost of e-vehicles. Thermal Battery was invented and patented by Dr Patrick Glynn in India 2016. It uses thermal energy to operate, i.e., the energy created by temperature differences.
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It will also maintain a low carbon footprint, and is less dependent on external factors like Benefits: weather. Technology can be used by civic bodies to effectively manage solid waste. Working Once organic waste is entered into process, It consists of two parts: a cool zone known as the outputs generated are all usable. ‘sink’, and a hot source called ‘source’. The hydro-char, rich in carbon and high Both these sides consist of compounds calorific content, can be utilized as fuel, as known as Phase-Changing Materials (PCMs), an alternative for coal which can change their state of matter on the Its by-products include ash which can be basis of a physical/chemical reaction. applied as a plant nutrient enhancer When the sink of a thermal battery receives heat, it stores energy, while the source cools 8. Sodium Sulphur Battery down and vice-versa. IIT Madras has designed a new sodium Depending on the nature of the battery, the sulphur battery that can be operated at room system can derive heat from any source, temperature. which makes a thermal battery very versatile. Sodium sulphur batteries use a solid electrolyte, which reduces the diffusion of Applications - Electric vehicles, Telecom infrastructures, Power intensive industries, sodium ions from the anode to the cathode at in electrical grids. room temperature. It works at the temperature of about 300 7. Hydrothermal Carbonisation: degrees C. IIT-KGP develops Hydro Thermal So in place of a solid electrolyte, a glass fiber Carbonization technology for Waste separator soaked in the ether-based Management for solid waste management. electrolytes used by the researchers that Technology can convert high moisture allow the battery to be operated at room municipal solid waste to biofuel, soil temperature amendment and absorbents. It has a high-power density and is suitable for large-scale energy storage and space Process: applications The technology is aimed at conversion of wet It is cost effective however has safety biomass into hydro-char (a coal like fuel) concerns for widespread adoption under suitable temperature and pressure conditions. 9. Waste to Energy techniques (WtE): Moisture in waste is used to the advantage of Waste to energy technologies are part of the process which uses water for reaction. huge philosophy of Waste to Wealth. The biofuel generated as recovered output can help curb air pollution. There are many technologies that are used to produce energy from the waste.
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Bio-Methanation: Methanogenesis or Biomethanation is the process of combining organic waste materials into biogas and manure. Biogas is a gaseous fuel that can be easily used for energy generation and production of heat.
Fermentation:
Fig: Wate to Energy Technologies In the fermentation process, the sugar in the waste is changed to carbon dioxide and Incineration: alcohol, in the same general process that is Degradation and complete combustion of used to make wine. waste under high temperature. It is also used to convert food waste into It is a relatively old method of WtE generation. biofuels Incineration generally entails burning waste to boil water which powers steam generators 10. Coal Gasification: that generate electric energy and heat to be The Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers has used in home signed a contract for the coal gasification plant for the urea project at Talchar, Odisha. Pyrolysis: Transforms the fossil fuel into Synthetic Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of Natural Gas (SNG). materials at elevated temperatures in an Syngas is a mixture of methane (CH4), (absence of oxygen). It inert atmosphere carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2),
involves a change of chemical composition. carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour that will Fast Pyrolysis Reactor (FPR) (H2O). thermo chemically decompose any organic or Can be used to produce a wide range of carbon material into energy rich oil and gas. fertilizers, fuels, solvent and synthetic Pyrolysis is most commonly used in the materials. treatment of organic materials. The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification Gasification: can be used for various purposes such as Gasification is a unique process that making ammonia, powering a hydrogen transforms a carbon-based material, such as economy. MSW or biomass, into other forms of energy without actually burning it. It converts the solid and liquid waste materials into usable synthesis gas, or syngas through a chemical reaction.
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industrial applications like steel and cement production.
12. Gas Hydrates: Gas hydrates are crystalline form of methane and water, and exist in shallow sediments of outer continental margins. A hydrate is any chemical or mineral that
Fig: Coal Gasification method contains water, bound within its chemical structure 11. Bio-Coal: Torrefaction Technology Gas hydrates are formed when low molecular India is testing Swedish technology — weight gases like methane are bound within torrefaction that can convert rice stubble into a solid crystal lattice formed by water ‘bio-coal’. molecules. Naturally methane hydrates are found as The government has funded a pilot project at sedimentary mineral in the continental shelf the National Agri-Food Biotechnology areas, permafrost regions, and marine with a Swedish Institute in Mohali (Punjab) sediments. company Thus methane hydrate sediments are found at conditions of low temperature and high pressure.
Types of Methane Hydrate Deposits
Fig: Terroefaction Technology
Thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material to improve the fuel like characteristics. The process involves heating up straw, grass, sawmill residue and wood biomass to 250 degrees Celsius – 350 degrees Celsius. During the torrefaction process a combustible gas is released, which is utilised Fig: Methane Gas Hydrates to provide heat to the process. This changes the elements of the biomass into ‘coal-like’ pellets. These pellets can be used for combustion along with coal for
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Fig: Methane Hydrate Program in India
Fig: Types of IPRS
Types of IPRs Geogr Indus Cat aphic Pate trial Trade Copy egor al nt Desig Mark Right y Indica n tion Rights of Sign Goods Fig: Methane Hydrate Deposits in India creato Excl capab of Orna rs usive le of specifi menta over 7. Intellectual Property Rights Right distin c l or the Mea grant guishi origin Aesth literar ning ed ng the with etic y Intellectual Property Rights: for goods uniqu aspect works Inve and e Intellectual property is a category of property that of life or ntion servic qualiti artisti includes intangible creations of the human es es c . intellect works GI India India The main purpose of intellectual property law is Indust (Regist n n Copy rial ration to encourage the creation of a wide variety of Pate Trade Rights Act Desig of nt Marks Act intellectual goods. n Act Goods) Act Act 1956 2000 Act 1970 1999 1999 Types of IPRs:
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Life time + Max 60 20 10 10yea 10 Year years years years rs years s after the death Tra Yes nsfe Yes (Pay rabl (Paym ment e No No No ent of of (YE Royalt Roya S/N y) O) lty) Subs Yes tanti Yes Yes Ren (If the ve ewa (By (By special No Inno ble payin payin ty Fig: GI tags in India vatio g fees) g fees) contin n ues) IPR Enforcement Institutional Structure in
Geographical Indication: India: A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
Fig: Institutional Structure for IPRs in India
National IPR Policy, 2016: Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are private rights which are applied for, and enforced, by the owner of the concerned IP. IP professionals from the relevant fields, including legal field, assist them in this regard.
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Mission Statement: Stimulate a dynamic, and capacities for teaching, training, vibrant and balanced intellectual property rights research and skill building in IPRs. system in India to: • Foster creativity and innovation and thereby, Highlights of the Policy: promote entrepreneurship and enhance >> The Policy aims to push IPRs as a marketable socio-economic and cultural development, financial asset, promote innovation and and entrepreneurship, while protecting public • Focus on enhancing access to healthcare, interest. food security and environmental protection, >> Special thrust on awareness generation and among other sectors of vital social, economic effective enforcement of IPRs, besides and technological importance. encouragement of IP commercialisation through various incentives. Objectives: >> It suggests making the department of The Policy lays down the following seven industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) the objectives: nodal agency for all IPR issues. Copyrights 1) IPR Awareness: Outreach and Promotion – To related issues will also come under DIPP’s create public awareness about the economic, ambit from that of the Human Resource social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all Development (HRD) Ministry. sections of society. >> Films, music, industrial drawings will be all 2) Generation of IPRs – To stimulate the covered by copyright. generation of IPRs. >> The Policy also seeks to facilitate domestic 3) Legal and Legislative Framework – To have IPR filings, for the entire value chain from strong and effective IPR laws, which balance IPR generation to commercialisation. It aims the interests of rights owners with larger to promote research and development public interest. through tax benefits. 4) Administration and Management – To >> Proposal to create an effective loan guarantee modernize and strengthen service-oriented scheme to encourage start-ups. IPR administration. >> It also says “India will continue to utilise the 5) Commercialization of IPRs – Get value for legislative space and flexibilities available in IPRs through commercialization. international treaties and the TRIPS 6) Enforcement and Adjudication – To Agreement.” These flexibilities include the strengthen the enforcement and adjudicatory sovereign right of countries to use provisions mechanisms for combating IPR infringements. such as Section 3(d) and CLs for ensuring the availability of essential and life-saving 7) Human Capital Development – To strengthen drugs at affordable prices. and expand human resources, institutions >> The policy left the country’s patent laws intact and specifically did not open up
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Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, which sets 8. IPRs in School Syllabus the standard for what is considered an 9. IPR Enforcement Toolkit for Police invention in India, for reinterpretation. 10. Police Training Programs >> On compulsory licensing (CL), India has 11. Sensitization Programs for Judiciary issued only CL for a cancer drug. Mr. Jaitley 12. Combating Online Piracy said, “We rarely exercise this power.” The 13. Technology and Innovation Support Centres statement assumes significance as developed (TISCs) countries, including the US, have raised 14. Madrid Protocol- India joined in 2013 concerns over India issuing the CL. As per the WTO norms, a CL can be invoked by a 15. Global Innovation Index (GII) - 52/129 (2019- government allowing a company to produce a WIPO) patented product without the consent of the 16. Promotion of Geographical Indications patent owner in public interest. Under the 17. Social Media Campaigns to promote IPRs Indian Patents Act, a CL can be issued for a 18. IPRs for Start-Ups and MSMEs drug if the medicine is deemed unaffordable, 19. Dynamic Utility Facilities available on among other conditions, and the government Website of O/o CGPDTM grants permission to qualified generic drug 20. IPR cells in Higher educational institutions - makers to manufacture it. UGC >> The IPR policy favoured the government considering financial support for a limited Issues in India’s IPR regime- period on sale and export of products based 1. Section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act 1970 on IPRs generated from public-funded (as amended in 2005) does not allow patent research. to be granted to inventions involving new forms of a known substance unless it differs Measures to promote IPRs in India: significantly in properties with regard to 1. National IPR Policy 2016 efficacy. 2. Strengthening of Institutional Mechanism- Cell for IPR Promotion and Management, This means that the Indian Patent Act does Intellectual Property Rights Appellate Body, not allow evergreening of patents. DPIIT 3. Clearing Backlog/ Reducing Pendency This has been a cause of concern to the 4. Increase in Filings pharma companies. Section 3(d) was instrumental in the Indian Patent Office 5. Business Process Re-engineering- (IPO) rejecting the patent for Novartis’ drug Amendmnet to CopyRights Rules 2016 and Glivec (imatinib mesylate). Trade Mark Rules 2017 6. Augmentation of Human Resources 7. Creating IPR Awareness
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Issue of Compulsory licencing (CL): CL is pharmaceutical or agro-chemical products. problematic for foreign investors who bring For this they demand a Data Exclusivity law. technology as they are concerned about the misuse of CL to replicate their products. It 3. Enforcement of the Copyright act is has been impacting India-EU FTA weak, and piracy of copyrighted materials is negotiations. widespread.
CL is the grant of permission by the Generic Medicine: government to entities to use, manufacture, Generic medicines and vaccinations are import or sell a patented invention without copies of originally researched drugs, but at the patent-owner’s consent. Patents Act in much lower prices. India deals with CL. A few years post the launch of a new drug by a pharma company, the patent on it expires. CL is permitted under the WTO’s TRIPS (IPR) That is when copies of the drugs are Agreement provided conditions such as manufactured and sold by non-original ‘national emergencies, other circumstances makers at much cheaper rates. of extreme urgency and anti-competitive practices’ are fulfilled. For example, Aspirin and Paracetamol are generic drugs that are often sold under Special 301 Report: brand names like Disprin and Crocin. India continues to remain on the United The dosage, composition, method of intake, States Trade Representative's benefits, quality, and even side effects of (USTR’s) ‘Priority Watch List’ for generic medicines are similar to the brand- alleged violations of intellectual property name version of the drugs. rights (IPR). Just because generics have a significantly In its latest Special 301 report released by lower price tag, it does not mean that these the United States Trade Representative medications are less effective. (USTR), the US termed India as “one of the world’s most challenging major economies" Need for generic drugs: with respect to protection and enforcement In India, high drug prices act as a strong of IP. barrier to seeking effective healthcare as people lack purchasing power. The facts 2. Data Exclusivity: Foreign investors and mentioned below are direct reasons for high MNCs allege that Indian law does not protect prevalence of disease burden in India and against unfair commercial use of test data or generic medicines play an important role other data submitted to the government here. during the application for market approval of Status of health-care India
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According to a survey by National Terms: Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority a major Bio-Similar- portion of hospital bills – 55% – is payments A biosimilar is a biologic medical product for medicines and other consumables in that is almost an identical copy of an India. original product that is manufactured by a In 2015-16 the share of household out-of- different company. pocket expenditure including the payment for Biosimilars are officially approved health insurance constituted 64.7 % of versions of original “innovator” the Total Health Expenditure (THE). products and can be manufactured when In India, about 55 million people are the original product’s patent annually pushed below the poverty line due expires. Reference to the innovator to healthcare payments. product is an integral component of the Advantag approval. es of Concerns Way forward Generic Difference between biosimilars and Drugs generics: Quality Monitoring Biosimilars involve developing equivalent Ex: Tamil Nadu of biological entity while generics involve Efficacy of and Rajasthan developing equivalent of a chemical entity- Affordabili Biosimilars is has strict quality ty the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. in question monitoring In case of biosimilars, biological entities systems at place being some ward different (and not as it is while procuring Generics. of replica), every organism has to be Awareness on engineered to produce the same Easy Data sharing Jan Aushadi therapeutic effect while in generics, the Access issues Kendras copies of API can be generated Universal Compulsory Bio-similars differ from generics – in Increased R&D Health Licensing spending complexity, in Care issues the manufacturing processes and in the Weak data needed to demonstrate similarity for Regulatory approval. The structure of Generic Simple Oversight and well-defined whereas for Bio-similar User its Complex with potential structural awareness variations. Regulatory procedure to get approval for biosimilars is complex as compared to that of a generic.
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Jan Aushadi Yojana- Indicators encompasses 8 categories of IP. Objective: Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, 2. Patent Prosecution Highway: particularly the poor and disadvantaged, Cabinet approved the proposal for adoption through exclusive outlets "Jan Aushadhi of Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Medical Store", so as to reduce out of programme by the Indian Patent Office pocket expenses in healthcare. (IPO) under the Controller General of Patents, Fist Jan Aushadi Store is opened in 2008. Designs & Trade Marks, India (CGPDTM). In September 2015, the 'Jan Aushadhi Programme will initially commence between Scheme' was revamped as 'Pradhan Mantri Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Indian Jan Aushadhi Yojana' (PMJAY). Patent Office on pilot basis for a period of In November, 2016, to give further three years only. impetus to the scheme, it was again Under this Pilot programme, Indian Patent renamed as "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Office may receive patent applications in Janaushadhi Pariyojana" (PMBJP). certain specified technical fields only, namely, PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide Information Technology, Physics, Civil, quality medicines at affordable prices to Mechanical, Textiles, Automobiles and the masses. PMBJP stores have been set Metallurgy while JPO may receive up to provide generic drugs, which are applications in all fields of technology. available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as Benefits of the programme: expensive branded drugs. Reduction in time to dispose patent applications. IPR Related Issues in India: Reduction in pendency of patent applications. 1. IPR Index: Improvement in quality of search and The Global Innovation Policy Centre (GIPC) of examination of patent applications. the US Chamber of Commerce released the An opportunity for Indian inventors including International IP (Intellectual Property) MSMEs and Start ups of India to get Index. India is ranked at 40th position accelerated examination of their patent slipping from 36th in 2019. applications in Japan. USA, UK, FRANCE, GERMANY AND SWEDEN are the top 5 countries in the index. 3. Sathi Initiative: The Index evaluates the IP infrastructure in The Department of Science & Technology each economy based on 45 unique has launched a unique scheme called indicators, which are critical to the growth “Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help of effective IP systems. Institutes (SATHI)”.
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These Centres are expected to house major Ministry of Science and Technology to analytical instruments to provide provide a major fillip to the ongoing efforts common services of high-end analytical towards promoting a culture of testing, thus avoiding duplication and Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights reduced dependency on foreign sources. (IPR) in Indian Defence industry. This would DST has already set up three such centres in give a boost to Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti. the country, one each at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and BHU at a total cost of Rs 375 Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti: Cores. It was launched in 2018 with an aim to It is planned to set up five SATHI Centres inculcate IP culture in Indian defence every year for the next four years manufacturing ecosystem. SATHI will address the problems of The Directorate General of Quality accessibility, maintenance, redundancy Assurance (DGQA) has been entrusted with and duplication of expensive equipment in the responsibility of coordinating and our Institutions, while reaching out to the implementing the programme. less endowed organizations in need. Address the issue of Intellectual property 5. Draft Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2019: (IP) creation and protection, Context: Department for Promotion of a digital platform will be created which will Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recently facilitate seamless application and released the draft of Copyright (Amendment) capture IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights). Rules, 2019 Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Power have joined hands under the initiative SAATHI Features: (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of Setting up an Appellate Board to replace efficient Textile technologies to Help Small the Copyright Board. Industries) in order to sustain and accelerate It also proposes to amend the manner in the adoption of energy efficient textile which copyright societies fix their tariff technologies in the power loom sector and cost schemes. savings due to use of such technology. This While fixing its tariff the copyright society scheme was launched in 2018. may consider, “cross-sectional tariff comparisons, economic research, the nature 4. Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti: and scope of the use of the work, the A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has commercial value of the rights in use and the been signed between the Intellectual benefits to licensees” Property Facilitation Cell (IPFC), Ministry It is mandatory for copyright societies to of Defence (MoD) and National Research publish the annual transparency report for Development Corporation (NRDC), each financial year on its Website.
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travel at the speed of light and distort space- 8. Advancements in Fundamental time on their path. Physics They transport energy as gravitational radiation and pass through matter without 1. Gravitational Wave: interacting with it. Context: In 2015, scientists detected They squeeze and stretch (longitudinal gravitational waves for the very first time. motion) anything in their path as they pass They used a very sensitive instrument called by. LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational- Wave Observatory). What causes gravitational waves? The most powerful gravitational waves are created Details: when objects move at very high speeds. Some These first gravitational waves happened examples of events that could cause a when two black holes crashed into one gravitational wave are: another. The collision happened 1.3 billion when a star explodes asymmetrically (called years ago. But, the ripples didn’t make it to a supernova) Earth until 2015! when two big stars orbit each other LIGO recorded the gravitational waves when two black holes orbit each other and generated due to the merger of two black merge holes that were 2.4 billion light years away. The black holes were 20 and 40 times the But these types of objects that create gravitational mass of the sun. waves are far away. And sometimes, these events only cause small, weak gravitational waves. The Background: waves are then very weak by the time they reach Albert Einstein predicted the existence of Earth. This makes gravitational waves hard to gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory detect. of relativity. He showed that massive accelerating objects (neutron stars or black holes) would What is the significance of the discovery? disrupt space-time in such a way that ‘waves’ of This discovery opens a new avenue for space distorted space would radiate from the source. exploration. These ripples would travel at the speed of light Currently, primary tool for space exploration through the Universe, carrying with them is the observation through telescopes that information about their cataclysmic origins, as rely only on light waves reaching us from well as invaluable clues to the nature of gravity outer space. But objects like black-hole and itself. dark matter do not emit light and there is no easy way to detect them. Gravitational Waves (GWs): However, objects like black-hole and dark GWs are ripples curvature of space-time matter can interact via gravity, and which propagates as waves. These waves
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gravitational waves might be the only agent Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford. They are which carries their information to us. located 3,000 km apart in the shape of ‘L’. Light could not pass through the opaque plasma medium of early universe. However GW could easily propagate. Hence carry the clue to origin of the universe.
1. LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational- Wave Observatory) Context: In August 2017, first observations of gravitational ripples (gravitational waves) from a neutron star collision were detected. The ripples were Fig: LIGO Project detected using the LIGO observatory.
About LIGO: LIGO is a massive observatory for detecting cosmic gravitational waves and for carrying out experiments and use these gravitational- wave observations in astronomical studies. It is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). LIGO detectors use laser interferometry to measure the distortions in space-time occurring between stationary, hanging masses (mirrors) caused by passing gravitational waves. It is a facility for gravitational-wave research, Fig: Laser Interferometer providing opportunities for the broader 3. LIGO-India (PROJECT IndIGO): scientific community to participate in Context: GoI has go ahead to the Indian wing detector development, observations and data of the ambitious Laser Interferometer analysis. Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) project. It comprises world's largest precision optical instruments and one of the world's largest About: vacuum systems. Currently, LIGO operates The first of its kind in Asia to study three gravitational wave detectors at gravitational wave.
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A new gravitational wave detector to measure and the Sun which is nearly 1.5 million km ripples in the fabric of space and time is set away from the Earth. to be built in India by 2025 The aim of the mission is to demonstrate the LIGO India will come up in Maharashtra, technology needed to establish a space-based which will also have two arms of 4 km length. observatory to study gravitational waves. LIGO-India project is piloted by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Significance: Science and Technology (DST). Completing its mission in 2017, LISA It will be built in collaboration with Pathfinder has shown that the low noise universities from across the globe levels surpassed the original requirements. The new Laser Interferometer Gravitational- Wave Observatory (LIGO) detector will add to the two already operational in the US
Lagrangian Point These are positions in space where combined gravitational pull of a two large bodies (eg. Earth and sun) can hold a third, Fig: LIGO India Project smaller body (such as an asteroid) in a stable orbit with one of the larger bodies. 4. LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) There are five Lagrange points in the Earth- Pathfinder. sun system, numbered L1 through L5. Context: LISA Pathfinder was launched in Of the five Lagrange points, three are unstable and two are stable. The unstable 2015 as a proof-of-concept that tests that the Lagrange points are labeled L1, L2 and L3 noise characteristics of free-floating test and the stable Lagrange points are labeled masses within spacecraft are small compared L4 and L5. to an expected gravitational wave signal. 5. Dark matter & Dark Energy Context: Scientists in a study published in About: journal Nature Astronomy have put the LISA Pathfinder was launched by ESA in Stephen Hawking theory to its most rigorous 2015.This is stationed around the L1 point test to date, saying dark matter is not made (first Langrangian Point) between the Earth up of primordial black holes smaller than a tenth of a millimetre.
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the outstanding problems in astronomy. One such problem is dark matter.
Astronomers remain stumped as to what exactly dark matter is. Primordial black holes could be the answer — or, at least, part of it. Primordial black holes could be a type of dark matter.
About Dark Matter The term ‘dark’ is used to denote the unknown. And dark matter corresponds to unknown matter whose properties are not Primordial Black Holes clear to scientists. All the black holes that astronomers have In the solar system, Mercury, the planet seen fall into one of three categories: stellar- mass black holes, intermediate-mass black closest to the Sun, takes just 88 days to holes and super-massive black holes. make one revolution around the sun; while But there is another type of black hole Neptune, the farthest one, takes 165 years to astronomers haven’t yet seen, but think make one round. could exist. These are primordial black Laws of gravity expect us to see stars closer holes. There was only a small period of to the centre of galaxies rotating faster than time — about 1 second — following the Big Bang when primordial black holes could the stars on the edge. have formed. However, in most galaxies, the stars closer to Later in this window of time that primordial the centre and the stars at the edge of the black holes formed, the more massive they galaxies take almost same time to make one would be. Hence, these could have masses revolution. as low as 10-5 grams (100,000 times less This implied that something invisible and than a paperclip), up to about 100,000 enveloping the galaxies was giving an extra times greater than the Sun. push to the outer stars, speeding them up. Dark Matter: Background: This entity, known as `dark matter’. Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking had concluded The material is considered to be a ‘matter’ that black holes can evaporate over time. He since it appears to have gravitational calculated that any primordial black hole with a attraction, and it is ‘dark’ because it does not mass greater than 1012 pounds could still be seem to interact with light around today, while those less massive would have already disappeared. And depending on their mass (which, remember, depends on when they formed), any primordial black holes left today could neatly explain some of
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Context: Scientists in a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy have put the Stephen Hawking theory to its most rigorous test to date, saying dark matter is not made up of primordial black holes smaller than a tenth of a millimetre.
Dark Energy10310140388R Background: Dark energy can be thought of as Stephen Hawking’s theory proposes that “quintessence” or a fifth fundamental force primordial black holes are a source of dark following the known forces: gravity, matter. electromagnetism, and the strong and weak He computed that the mass of the primordial nuclear forces. Most of the universe is made black holes could range from as low as one- up of dark energy, a mysterious force that hundredth of a milligram to as high as more drives the accelerating expansion of the than the mass of a thousand Suns. universe. It is a property of space so does not get About the findings diluted as space expands. As more space A group of scientists from Pune have ruled comes into existence, more of this energy-of out Stephen Hawking’s theory for mysterious space appears. As a result, dark energy dark matter. Researchers used the causes the universe to expand faster and gravitational lensing effect to look for faster. primordial black holes between Earth and While Dark matter exerts a “pull” on the the Andromeda galaxy. universe, Dark Energy has a contrasting For one whole night, the research team took expansionary effect. As is it evident, our 190 consecutive images of Andromeda galaxy. universe is expanding, indicating that Dark For Hawking’s theory to be true, there should Energy has a greater abundance than dark have been at least 1000 Gravity lensing matter. events. But the researchers were able to find By the laws of cosmology, the total amount of only one such event. Hence proving Hawkins mass in the universe cannot increase. Hence theory wrong while the amount of Dark matter remains Gravitational lensing constant, Dark Energy which is a property of Black holes are not radiant and will not be space itself is bound to increase visible through any telescope. exponentially. However, as first suggested by Albert Einstein, if by chance, a tiny primordial 7. Stephen Hawking’s theory for mysterious black hole eclipses a distant star, light dark matter rays of the star will bend around the black hole due to the gravitational force,
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resulting in the star appearing to be The other kind is supermassive black holes, brighter than it originally is for a short which are millions to billions of times more while. massive than the sun. This is called “gravitational lensing”, this While black holes are very massive, that rare phenomena can occur only when the doesn’t mean they take up a lot of space. star, the black hole and the observer on Because they’re so dense, they’re actually the Earth are aligned in a straight line. quite small. 000000 8. Blackholes Fig: Blackhole Photograph A black hole is a region in space where the pulling force of gravity is so strong that light Capturing a Blackhole: is not able to escape. The first ever blackhole photograph has been captured using Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Blackhole has been named "Powehi", meaning embellished dark source of unending creation.
How black hole was captured? Advanced space telescopes can identify black holes by observing the behaviour of material and stars that are very close to black holes. The hot disk of material encircling a black hole, as NASA explained, shines bright. A black hole cannot be seen because of the The gases in that accretion disk are heated strong gravity that is pulling all of the light up as they accelerate toward the black hole, into the black hole's center. causing them to glow extremely brightly. A black hole's gravity can sometimes be The colours they glow are invisible to us, but strong enough to pull off the outer gases of are detectable with an X-ray telescope. the star. EHT targeted two Blackholes to capture Size: the image Small black holes are called stellar-mass Sagittarius A* which is 26,000 light years black holes. They have masses similar to from the earth, at the centre of the Milky those of larger stars — about five to 20 times Way the mass of the sun. another black hole which is 55 million light years away at the centre of the Messier 87 galaxy in the Virgo galaxy cluster
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8. Event Horizon Telescope: They move nearly at the speed of light. EHT is not a single Telescope but a network They have no electric charge and are not of tenground-based radio telescopes that are affected by electric or nuclear forces. linked together. Under most conditions matter is The EHT links telescopes around the globe to transparent to neutrinos and thus form an Earth-sized virtual telescope with neutrinos pass through all matter almost unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. entirely. Hence, they are difficult to detect. The EHT project is an international partnership of thirteen agencies formed in Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO) 2012. Its main objective is to directly observe the immediate environment of a black hole. The findings will provide insight into the celestial object so dense that their gravitational field swallows everything including light. FUNDING- US National Science Foundation (NSF), the EU's European Research Council (ERC), and funding agencies in East Asia. Technique Used: The EHT observations use a technique called very-long-baseline Fig: Nutrino Observatory interferometry (VLBI). Basics of Particle Physics: The elementary particles in nature are Quarks, Leptons and Bosons
Fig: Event Horizon Telescope Array
10. Neutrinos Neutrinos are subatomic particles that are Fig: Basics of Particle Physics almost mass less. 11. Quarks They are generally emitted during nuclear Quark is a fundamental constituent of matter decays and is defined as an elementary particle.
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These quarks combine to produce composite It has been theorized that any particle that particles called hadrons, the most stable of interacted with these Higgs Boson got mass which are neutrons and protons that are the and those particles that were left out of the components of atomic nuclei. Higgs field remained massless. Quarks cannot exist independently but as a As these Higgs Bosons have the capability to constituent part of the matter. grant mass, the primary condition for the There are 6 types of quarks existence of matter, they were termed as the God particle. Antiquarks: The antiparticles that correspond to every flavour of quarks are known as Antiquarks. Antiquarks have the same mass, same mean lifetime and same spin corresponding to quarks, but other properties like electric charge and other charges have opposite sign.
12. Leptons Like quarks, leptons too are of 6 types. However, they do not have any fractional charge. The leptons are: ELECTRON, MUON, TAU and 3 Types OF NEUTRINOS Electron being a Lepton is a fundamental Fig: Hoggs Boson Particle elementary particle.
13. Boson Boson is a collective name given to particles that carry forces. It has been named after Indian scientist Satyendra Nath Bose.
14. Higgs Boson Particle Peter Higgs suggested that particles did not have mass just after Big Bang. As the universe cooled and temperature fell below the critical point, an invisible force field got formed which has been termed the Higgs Field. The associated particles with the Higgs field have been termed the Higgs Boson.
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15. Space Telescope
Telescope Features To be the successor of Hubble space telescope provide improved infrared resolution and sensitivity over Hubble To be launched in 2021 James Webb Will study every phase in the history of our Universe to the formation of solar Telescope systems capable of supporting life on planets, to the evolution of our own Solar System. Collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 Hubble Space Built by NASA with help of ESA Telescope Only telescope designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. Planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes forged through Event international collaboration Horizon Designed to capture images of a black hole. Telescope Recently it captured the image of a black hole Messier 87 Proposed extremely large telescope Controversial because of the place chosen for its setup – MaunaKea, Hawaii. Allow astronomers to explore the mysterious period in the life of the universe when the first stars and galaxies were formed, Thirty Meter India is a part of the project. From the Indian side, this will be a joint project of Telescope the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The Indian industries are making the telescope’s sensors, actuators and its mechanical support structure. Part of NASA’s Great Observatory Programme Spitzer Space Designed to detect infrared radiation Telescope It was able to reveal cooler objects in space Chinese telescope Xuntian 300 times wider than Hubble space telescope Will capture deep space objects JAXA AND ESA InfraredSpaceTelescope Spica Aims to elucidate the process that enriched the universe with metal and dust and led to the formation of habitable world. In Hawaii Gemini Radio telescope of USA Used to measure distance to the galaxy using redshift First telescope of South Africa Meerkat It will be the biggest of the radio telescopes deployed in Southern hemisphere Will address key questions like how did galaxy form, their evolution etc.,
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9. Technologies and Innovations in Day to Day Life
Biometrics: Biometrics is a branch of information technology that aims towards establishing one’s identity based on personal traits.
A biometric system is a technology which takes an individual’s physiological, behavioral, or both traits as input, analyzes it, and identifies the individual as a genuine or malicious user. Automated Multi-modal Biometric Why Biometrics is Required? Identification System (AMBIS) Authentication (Identification) Verification Maharashtra government has implemented Authorization AMBIS Shortcomings of Conventional Security Aids AMBIS is an advanced crime detection (e.g. PIN and passwords) system, for detection of crime based on the available fingerprint, palmprint and iris scan Working: data of criminals on record Components: An AMBIS unit comprises a computer terminal, a camera, and iris, fingerprint, and palm scanners. It also includes a portable system to dust off and capture fingerprints from crime scenes. Working: With the integration of the system with facial recognition from CCTV cameras, AMBIS enables the police to cross-reference and put faces to criminals whose fingerprints have been captured on paper over the decades, apart from solving fresh crimes.
Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS): Central government wants to create a “repository of photographs of criminals in the country,” and wants to put a system in place
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to track “missing children and unidentified dead bodies National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has invited bids to create such system Facial Recognition: It is a way of recognizing a human face through technology. A facial recognition system uses biometrics to map facial features from a photograph or video. It compares the information with a 4D Printing: database of known faces to find a match. Scientists have successfully developed the Facial recognition can help verify personal world's first 4D printing for ceramics. This identity, but it also raises privacy issues. technology is part of the project of MIT Self- assembly Lab. It can be used to create complex, shape- changing objects. 4D Printing is referred to as 3D printing transforming over time. Thus, a fourth dimension is added: time. The difference is that the 4D Printing technology uses programmable and advanced materials (smart materials) that Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID): perform a different functionality by adding India has become the first country in the world to hot water, light or heat. issue BSID, capturing the facial bio-metric data of The 4D printed objects can re-shape or self- seafarers. assemble themselves over time with external BSID was launched by the Ministry of stimuli, such as mechanical force, Shipping and Ministry of Chemical & temperature, or a magnetic field. Fertilizers. BSID is an improvement over the two finger or iris based bio-metric data, with modern security features. It will give a fool proof identification to Indian seafarers which will facilitate their movement, provide ease of getting jobs and help in identifying them from any location in the world.
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E Cigarette Ban: Parliament has passed the Prohibition of Why ban? Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019. e-Cigarettes usually contain nicotine which makes product addictive. It makes production, manufacture, import, export, e-Cigarettes cause health hazards for youth, transport, sale, distribution, storage and young adults, and pregnant women. advertisement of e-cigarettes and other A number of metals, including lead, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) a chromium, and nickel, and chemicals like punishable offence. formaldehyde have been found in aerosols of ENDS includes vapes, e-hookahs and e-cigars. some ENDS, with concentrations equal to or greater than traditional cigarettes. These E Cigarette: metals also work as ‘tumor promoters’. e-Cigarettes are battery powered devices that Lack of knowledge about the negative work by heating a liquid into an aerosol that effects of nicotine and easy accessibility of the user inhales and exhales. these products make the youth prone to The e-cigarette liquid typically contains addiction. nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, These products are not registered as and other chemicals. nicotine replacement therapy products in These devices belong to a category of vapour- India. based nicotine products called ENDS. E-cigarettes and other ENDS products may Virtual Sim: look like their traditional counterparts, but Unlike a SIM card, virtual SIMs are not they also come in other shapes and sizes and attached to a mobile and created online to can resemble daily use products (like pens help you communicate. and USB drives). Several companies selling ENDS in India Working Principle: have positioned these products as a safer, In case of Virtual SIM, there is no physical less harmful alternative to traditional SIM card issued to the end user. cigarettes or as devices that could help users quit smoking.
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Instead the mobile phones are embedded Lower battery consumption. with a universal SIM card that can be Increased bandwidth to deliver greater configured to store data of any operator. (in performance with lower latency physical sim it is only from one particular operator. E.g BSNL sim) Hyperloop: This enables remote SIM provisioning, which India has mooted its 1st hyperloop project, simply means that one may connect to any the Mumbai Pune Hyperloop system. operator of choice remotely without actually The hyperloop concept is a brainchild of having to buy a physical SIM card. Tesla founder Elon Musk. To enable remote SIM provisioning, you will It is a transportation system where a pod-like be authenticated by the operator (say BSNL) vehicle is propelled through a near-vacuum using say a QR Code sent to you or other tube connecting cities at speeds matching means. that of an aircraft. Further the information on Virtual SIM is Most of the air has been removed in the rewritable which means you can decide to tunnel to reduce friction for the pods and change operator. hence increase speed. the smart phone can have ‘multiple virtual Rather than using wheels like a train or car, SIM’ facilities the pods are designed to float on air skis, using magnetic levitation to reduce Wi-Fi 6.0: friction. It is Next generation standard in Wi-Fi Hyperloop will allow travel at the near- technology. Also known as “AX Wi-Fi" supersonic speeds of 1,200 kilometers per However, the function of the Wi-Fi remains hour, or Mach 0.91. same that id connecting multiple devices but now with a higher speed than Wi-Fi 5.0 Working: Instead of boosting the speed for individual Firstly, the track on which the capsules move devices, Wi-Fi 6 is all about improving the is essentially an electromagnetic motor laid network when a bunch of devices are flat on the floor. connected. Each pod is pushed along the track when an It was built for in response to the growing electric current is fed through the magnets. number of devices in the world of IoT Where an electric motor spins in a circle, the (Internet of Things) due to faster data hyperloop pod is propelled forwards. transmission rates. Magnetic levitation- (maglev) or magnetic
Advantages: suspension is a method by which an object is High speed for all the connected devices suspended with no support other than Highest standards for security and magnetic fields. interoperability.
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Magnetic force is used to counteract the effects Power Generation – Cloud seeding of the gravitational acceleration and any other experiments have shown to augment accelerations. production of hydroelectric during the last 40 years in Tasmania, Australia. Water Pollution Control –To maintain minimum summer flows of the rivers and dilute the impact of treated wastewater discharges from municipalities and industries. Weather modification: Fog Dispersal, Hail Suppression, and Cyclone Modification. Project Sky Water of U.S.A. Cloud Seeding: Air pollution – Urban areas like Delhi and Process of augmenting the process of Mumbai have contemplated the use of cloud precipitation by manipulating the size of seeding to combat air pollution as rain water condensation nuclei. absorbs particulate matter.
Redefining Kilogram:
General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) is the highest international body of the world for accurate and precise measurements and comprises of 60 countries including India and 42 Associate Members. Under his process substances capable of absorbing water vapour (hygroscopic) such In 2019, the SI base units were redefined in as silver iodide,sodium chloride, agreement with the International System of potassium chloride, dry ice (solid carbon Quantities. The decision was made at the General dioxide) are sprayed in the clouds to act as Conference on Weights and Measures. using an aircraft or an artillery gun. This catalyzes the growth of condensation nuclei which in turn results in enhanced precipitation.
Applications Of Cloud Seeding: Agriculture –To augment rainfall in drought- stricken areas. For instance ‘Project Varshadhari’ in Karnataka in 2017.
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In 2019, India adopted a global resolution to Planck constant is 6.62607015 × 10-34 m2 redefine four of the seven base units -- kg/s. kilogramme, kelvin, mole and ampere, a move The Planck constant is a concept in quantum expected to have far-reaching effects, including mechanics. One can think of the Planck changes in textbooks. constant as the smallest action an electron can take. Kilogram: Previously, it was defined by the weight of a FASTags- National Electronic Toll platinum-based ingot called “Le Grand K” Collection system (NETC) which is locked away in a safe in Paris. FROM DEC 1, 2019 the lanes in the national It was followed since 1889. highway collects toll only through FASTags Several close replicas were made and without human intervention distributed around the globe.
Why change now? But the master kilogram and its copies were seen to change – ever so slightly – as they deteriorated. The fluctuation is about 50 parts in a billion, less than the weight of a single eyelash. But accurate measurement is now critical in many areas, such as in drug development, About FASTag: nanotechnology and precision engineering. FASTag is a device that employs Radio
New Definition: Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. FASTag (RFID Tag) is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables a customer to make the toll payments directly from the account which is linked to FASTag. The Kilogram has joined other standard units FASTag is also vehicle specific and once it is of measure such as the second, metre, affixed to a vehicle, it cannot be transferred ampere, kelvin, mole and candela that would to another vehicle. no longer be defined by physical objects. It now hinges on the definition of the Planck Some of the key features and Constant, a constant of nature that relates functionalities of National Electronic Toll to how matter releases energy. Collection system.
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Off-line; near real time About RFID: transaction processing as the It is an electronic tag that can exchange data Transaction toll plazas send the Type. with an RFID reader through radio waves. transactions within 10 mins In this an antenna broadcasts energy to interval. the tag, which in turn returns the NETC ecosystem supports multiple issuers and multiple modulated energy back in the form of back- Interopera acquirers' i.e. Tag issued by scatter. bility. any member bank is It is faster connection and its operational accepted at all toll plaza range is about 100m Customers can link their RFID tag typically sends out information FASTag to their existing hence only oneway information. savings/current account or Flexibility to to a prepaid account basis the choose the About NETC and NPCI: offering from the Issuer underlying member banks. For opening a National Payments Corporation of India payment prepaid account, it is not (NPCI) has developed the National Electronic instruments. mandatory to have an Toll Collection (NETC) program existing relationship with National Payments Corporation of India the issuer bank. (NPCI), an initiative of the Reserve Bank of Can be issued by member Tag India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association banks, authorized for NETC Issuance. (IBA), is an umbrella organisation for Program. FASTag facilitates electronic operating retail payments and settlement Cashless payments at the toll plaza systems in India. Payment. while the vehicle is in NPCI functions under the provisions of the motion. Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 Customer can travel without and It is a non-profit organisation stopping at the toll plaza by Save Time using the FASTag thus reduce RFID vs NFC: and Fuel. congestion at plazas and, saving fuel and reduce travel time. Customer can recharge Recharge FASTag account online FASTag through issuing member banks account portal using UPI/ Credit Card/ online. Debit Card/ NEFT/ RTGS /Net BHIM 2.0: Banking. BHIM app, a UPI based payment interface Cashback scheme is available to the customers on toll developed by NPCI that allows real time fund Cashback. payments using FASTag at transfer National Highways Toll Plazas.
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The new version of BHIM also supports three number or virtual payments address without additional languages -- Konkani, Bhojpuri and entering bank account details. Haryanvi
Some of the striking features marking BHIM 2.0 include A 'Donation' gateway, Increased transaction limits for high value transactions, QR Code- Quick Response Code: Linking multiple bank accounts A QR code consists of black squares arranged Offers from merchants in a square grid on a white background, Option of applying in IPO which can be read by an imaging device such Gifting money as a camera. Total languages – 16 (3 newly added) QR contains information about the item to which it is attached. About BHIM: Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is a Are Bharat QR & BHIM QR Same? payment app that lets you make simple, easy BHIM QR is UPI Based QR. It is preferably and quick transactions using Unified used for P2P or P2M dynamic Transaction Payments Interface (UPI). using Virtual Payment Address. You can make direct bank payments to Bharat QR is specifically used for P2M anyone on UPI using their UPI ID or transaction wherein payment is done via scanning their QR with the BHIM app. cards i.e., Debit card/Credit Card/Pre-paid You can also request money through the app Card from a UPI ID. Membrane-based Water Purification Systems (MWPS)- Reverse Osmosis UPI Working: Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment It will be an unique identifier that your bank has issued a draft notification that seeks to uses to transfer money and make payments ban membrane-based water purification using the IMPS (Immediate Payments systems (MWPS), primarily reverse osmosis Service). (RO), in areas where the water supplied It works 24*7 meets norms an initiative by National Payments National Green Tribunal (NGT) in May, 2019, Corporation of India’s (NPCI) instructed the BAN The interface will allow account holders Ban was ordered on the grounds that RO across banks to send and receive money from wasted water and that, in the process of their smartphones using just their Aadhaar removing salts, they often deprived drinking unique identity number, mobile phone water of essential salts
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It also asked the ministry to lay down a is a membrane that requirement for RO systems manufacturers Semi-permeable membrane will allow some atoms or molecules to pass but that the recovery of treated water should be not others. It allows the passage of water at least 60 per cent as against 20 per cent molecules but not the majority of dissolved salts, prescribed by the Bureau of Industry organics, bacteria and pyrogens. Standards (BIS) in 2015 Note: Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) = comprise inorganic salts (principally calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates) and some small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water As per a WHO study, TDS levels below 300 mg per litre are considered to be excellent Reverse Osmosis is capable of removing up to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 99%+ of the dissolved salts (ions), particles, guidelines on drinking water colloids, organics, bacteria and pyrogens from the feed water o According to BIS standards, drinking water is considered below par if the TDS is Desalination Technology: above 500 mg/l To convert salt water into freshwater, the o BIS standards also state that RO system is most prevalent technology in the world is not recommended for treatment of raw Reverse osmosis (RO) water having Arsenic level above 0.1 mg/l Because RO plants convert seawater to fresh and Fluoride level above 8.0 mg/l ) water, the major environmental challenge they pose is the deposition of brine (highly Reverse Osmosis Technology: concentrated salt water). Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is used to Another problem is that the pressure motors remove a large majority of contaminants from needed to draw in the seawater end up water by pushing the water under pressure sucking in small fish and life forms through a semi-permeable membrane. There are concerns that desalinated water is Osmosis: short of vital minerals such as calcium, It is a naturally occurring process. It is a magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and process where a weaker saline solution will carbonates tend to migrate to a strong saline solution. The alternative desalination technology used Examples of osmosis are when plant roots is thermal energy sourced from the ocean absorb water from the soil and our kidneys (There is a low-temperature thermal absorb water from our blood. desalination (LTTD) technique)
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Minjur desalination plant, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the largest desalination plant in It will act as incubation environment for India. The second largest plant is in Jamnagar, startups and other early stage adopters working Gujarat, with a capacity of 96,000m³/day. on Robotics and Robotics Process Automation (RPA) in India. 1st Solar-Powered Desalination: IIT-Madras sets up India’s 1st solar-powered Robotics Process Automation (RPA): desalination plant at Chennai. RPA is a technology capability that allows the A 10,000-liters-per-day plant in Tamil Nadu streamlining of operations in the enterprises. offers hope for powering clean water without It also allows them to automate their fossil fuels. mundane and tedious processes thereby It uses RO technology powered by solar enabling users to enhance their productivity power through higher value adding tasks. It is not a defined system and is yet evolving Darknet: in nature. refers to the deep hidden internet platform New and emerging ideas like artificial that is used for narcotics sale, exchange of learning, deep learning or better operating pornographic content and other illegal systems can be added to it activities by using the secret alleys of the ToR Network to stay away from the surveillance of Difference between RPA and the law enforcement agencies Traditional Automation Programmed machinery executes the work in Owing to its end-to-end encryption, darknet a static way without responding or adapting is considered very tough to crack when it to the changing environment. comes to investigating criminal activities RPA, on the other hand are adaptive to the being rendered over it changing environment and are very efficient, Dark Net itself is only a part of the Deep Web increase productivity and are safe to work that is a broader concept, which includes with. sites that are protected by passwords All India Council for Robotics and Only difference is that while the Deep Web is Automation accessible, the Dark Net is deliberately It is a not-for-profit organization hidden established in 2014. The part of internet that is readily available It sets up standards in robotics & to general public and searchable on standard automation and education industry, search engines is called as Surface Web helping organizations and professionals to Robotics: solve difficult technical problems, while The All India Council for Robotics and enhancing their leadership and personal Automation (AICRA) has announced the launch career capabilities. of a new initiative the ‘Tech Startup Program’.
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Scientists in the United States have created Sophia Humanoid Robot: the world’s first “living robots” named The World’s first humanoid robot Sophia “xenobots”. participated in the 81st edition of Technax, the The robot is tiny and built from the cells of annual tech festival of the Banaras Hindu the African clawed frog. University (BHU). named after the species of aquatic frog Xenopus laevis (found in Nigeria and Sudan) this is for the first time that completely biological machines are designed from scratch The xenobots can move toward a target, perhaps pick up a payload and even heal themselves after being cut. Applications - during radioactive Sophia is the first robot citizen of the world contamination, gathering microplastic in the after Saudi Arabia granted her citizenship in oceans etc. October 2017. She is a social humanoid robot, which using Ai-Da Robot: artificial intelligence (AI) programming, Recently an exhibition of art created by a can imitate human gestures and facial humanoid AI robot, named Aida was held at expressions, and is able to converse on University of Oxford. predefined topics. It was developed by the Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and ‘activated’ on February 14, 2016. Sophia, with a perfect skin and soft facial muscles, can give as many as 66 facial expressions.
Living Robots: Xenobots: Aida is the world's first ultra-realistic humanoid artist, able to draw creatively due to in-built artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Ai-Da is named after Ada Lovelace, the English mathematician and writer often called the world's first computer coder.
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