Daily Current Capsules

23 to 30 June  2024

 

India’s First-Ever Pilot Project for Underground Coal Gasification in Jharkhand

• Under the strategic direction of the Ministry of Coal, Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has embarked on an innovative pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
• This first-ever groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize the coal industry by using in-situ coal gasification to convert it into valuable gases such as methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
• These gases can be utilized to produce synthetic natural gas, chemical feedstocks for fuels, fertilizers, explosives, and other industrial applications.
• Underground Coal Gasification offers a significant advantage by providing access to coal resources that are economically unviable through traditional mining methods.

Know! about Underground Coal Gasification

 

• Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an industrial process which converts coal into product gas.
• UCG is an in-situ gasification process, carried out in non-mined coal seams using injection of oxidants and steam.
• The product gas is brought to the surface through production wells drilled from the surface.
• The predominant product gases are methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

 

 

India Africa Postal Leaders Meet

 

• The ‘India Africa Postal Leaders Meet’ is being organized in India from 21^stto 25^th June, 2024, with the objective of further strengthening relationships among the administrations of African countries and India in the postal sector.
• This is an initiative under the “South- South and Triangular Cooperation” programme of the Universal Postal Union, organized with the support of India Post and the united States Postal Service
• This Meet is also significant in the backdrop of India’s other farsighted initiatives of organizing the ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ and the India-Africa forum and inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India’s Presidency in 2023.
• For this landmark meet, postal organizations of 22 African countries in the Global South have sent 42 heads of postal administrations and other senior management personnel as delegates.
• The key theme of the meet is capacity building, through study visits.
• The study visits showcase India’s successful model of service delivery through its extensive post office network.
• India Post’s unique approach of combining digital services with traditional postal service delivery to maintain the human touch has garnered international attention and inspired the coordination of this meet by the Universal Postal Union.
• The Postal Leaders Meet provided a platform for mutual learning and exploration of new collaborative opportunities.

One Week One Theme (OWOT) campaign

• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology launched the “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) campaign showcasing recent success stories of India in different streams of science and technology.
• Aim – to integrate the efforts of all CSIR labs working on similar projects to reduce overlap and optimize resources
• One Week One Theme’ initiative under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) aims to make innovation inclusive for all.
• ‘OWOT’ is built on the legacy and success of the ‘One Week One Lab’ (OWOL) initiative started last year.
• The objective behind this initiative is to create awareness among citizens about the progress and development in Labs, to benefit them by giving them new avenues and opportunities foremployment, empowering stakeholders such as MSMEs, Startups, SHGs, scientists, and researchers by integration and collaboration with Industry.

Landmark 350th iDEX contract inked

• Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, signed the landmark 350^thcontract
• The contract was inked with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a ‘Miniaturised satellite capable of carrying Electro-Optical, Infrared, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Hyperspectral payloads up to 150 kgs’.
• This challenge is being led by the Indian Air Force.

 

Know! about iDEX

• iDEX, the recipient of the esteemed Prime Minister Award for Public Policy in Innovation Category in 2021, has emerged as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem.
• Established by the DIO under the Department of Defence Production, iDEX has launched 11 editions of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC), and recently unveiled the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
• It is currently engaged with over 400 start-ups and MSMEs. Till now, procurement of 35 items, worth over Rs 2,000 crore, has been cleared.
• iDEX has facilitated the creation of numerous job opportunities and played a pivotal role in the development of the defence ecosystem.
• iDEX aims at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes & academia.
• iDEX will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit’ company as per Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 for this purpose, by the two founder members i.e. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) – HAL & BEL.
• iDEX will function as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities while DIO will provide high level policy guidance to iDEX.

Ladakh Achieves Full Functional Literacy

 

• Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh declared Ladakh as the administrative unit to achieve Full Functional Literacy under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, after having achieved more than 97% literacy.

Know! about ULLAS

• ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.
• The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to empower those adults aged 15 years and above from all backgrounds who could not get due schooling and mainstream them with society to be able to contribute more to the growth story of the country.
• The scheme consists of five components – Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education.
• The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to make Bharat – Jan Jan Saakshar and is based on the spirit of Kartvya Bodh and is being implemented on volunteerism.
• The scheme has benefitted more than 77 Lakhs people till now across the country.
• The ULLAS Mobile App has more than 1.29 Crore learners and 35 lakh volunteer teachers.

 

9^th anniversary of three landmark initiatives: the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Smart Cities Mission, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs commemorated today the 9^thanniversary of three landmark initiatives: the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Smart Cities Mission, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).
• These initiatives, launched on June 25, 2015, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, have collectively transformed urban infrastructure and improved the quality of life for millions of residents across India.

 

AMRUT: Pioneering Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

• Since its inception, AMRUT has aimed to create infrastructure that directly improves service provision to citizens.
• AMRUT 2.0, an extension of the original mission, has made significant strides in water supply, sewerage management, and water body rejuvenation.

 

PMAY-U: Realizing the Vision of ‘Housing for All

• Under PMAY-U, all-weather pucca houses with all basic amenities are provided to eligible beneficiaries of urban India. In the nine years of its journey, PMAY-U has transformed the lives of millions of families for whom a pucca house was no less than a distant dream.

Key highlights of PMAY-U:

1. As on date, 114 Lakh have been grounded for construction while more than 84 Lakh houses have already been completed and delivered to beneficiaries. As on date out of committed Central Assistance of ₹2 lakh crore, ₹1.64 lakh core has been released.
2. To empoweryoung professionals and Middle- Income Group (MIG) to own a house, MIG was also added in a government housing scheme for the first time ever through the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) vertical from 2017-2021.
3. The Mission adopts aninclusive approach, providing equal opportunity to all, irrespective of gender, caste, creed or religion and women empowerment forms the core of  PMAY-U. PMAY-U promotes women empowerment by providing the ownership of houses in the name of female member or in joint name. Over 94 lakh houses have been provided under the name of women, thus giving them an identity of their own.   
4. Under PMAY-U, new construction technologies are being promoted at large scale. Light House Projects (LHPs)at six locations of the country, are the perfect example of promotion of affordable housing projects constructed using innovative technologies in less time and that can be further replicated in Indian context.
5. Apart from LHPs, Demonstration Housing Projects (DHPs) are also being promoted under the Mission. DHPs are model housing project built with new/alternate technologies and to promote use of such technologies, on-site orientation to practitioners in housing sector is also being provided.
6. Aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the sub-scheme of Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) was launched in July 2020 under PMAY-U.

Smart Cities Mission: Advancing Urban Innovation and Technology

• The Smart Cities Mission has been a beacon of urban transformation, enhancing the quality of life in 100 cities through over 8,000 innovative projects worth approximately ₹1.6 lakh crore.

Key Achievements under Smart Cities Mission:

1. Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC):
   • All 100 smart cities have operationalized ICCC, leveraging AI, IoT, and data analytics to enhance city operations such as transport management, water supply, and solid waste management.
2. Public Safety and Security:
   • Over 76,000 CCTV surveillance cameras have been installed across 100 cities, bolstering city-wide crime monitoring efforts.
   • Installation of 1,884 emergency call boxes, 3,000 public address systems, and traffic enforcement systems have significantly improved public safety.
3. Water Supply:
   • More than 6,800 kms of water supply system being monitored through SCADA, reducing the non-revenue water and leakages.
4. Solid Waste Management:
   • Around 4,800 vehicles across 50+ smart cities have been RFID enabled for Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) to improve solid waste management in addition to innovative technologies deployed to improve Route Management, Collection and Daily Management, etc.
5. Streetlights:
   • More than 50 Lakhs Solar/LED Streetlights have been installed and over 89,000 kms of underground electricity cabling constructed.
6. Mobility Solutions:
   • Development of 12,300 kms of smart roads and 2500+ kms of cycle tracks, alongside the Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS), has streamlined traffic operations and journey times.

 

Former Vice President of Indian Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu launched 3 books

 

• The books released by the Prime Minister include (i)  Biography of the former Vice President titled “Venkaiah Naidu – Life in Service” authored by Shri S Nagesh Kumar, former Resident Editor of The Hindu, Hyderabad edition; (ii) “Celebrating Bharat – The Mission and Message of Shri M Venkaiah Naidu as 13th Vice–President of India”,

 

Fauna of India Checklist Portal

 

• India has become the first country in the world to prepare a checklist of its entire fauna, covering 104,561 species, positioning itself as a global leader in biodiversity documentation.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the Fauna of India Checklist Portal on the occasion of 109^thFoundation Day of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata

 

Know! more about the portal

 

• The Fauna of India Checklist Portal is the first comprehensive document on the faunal species reported from India.
• The faunal checklist will be an invaluable reference for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers, and policymakers.
• It comprises 121 checklists of all known taxa covering 36 phyla. Endemic, threatened, and scheduled species have also been included in the list.

 

Know! about Animal Taxonomy Summit-2024

• The Animal Taxonomy Summit–2024 is the second summit being organised by ZSI.
• During the summit, deliberations will be held under three broad themes, 1) Taxonomy, Systematics and Evolution, 2) Ecology and Animal Behaviour; 3) Biodiversity and Conservation.
• Ministry of Environment also released an iconic publication of ZSI, ‘Animal Discoveries– 2023’ comprising 641 new animal species and new records from India and ‘Plant Discoveries- 2023’ of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) comprising 339 new plant species
• The first-ever ‘Barcode Atlas of Indian Fishes’- a joint publication by the ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow & ZSI, Kolkata and ‘ROAR – Celebrating 50 years of Project Tiger’ a book written by Shiladitya Chaudhury & Ketan Sengupta were also released on the occasion.
• Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, MoEFCC, Jitendra Kumar launched the ‘International Society of Zoology (ISZ)’ which will enhance the ability of individuals and institutions to contribute to the global understanding and protection of biodiversity.

eSankhyiki Portal

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is the nodal Ministry for integrated development of the national statistical system in the country in tune with the global statistical practices and data dissemination standards.
• The Ministry has developed an eSankhyiki portal (https://esankhyiki.mospi.gov.in) to provide real-time inputs for planners, policy-makers, researchers and the public at large.
• The objective of this portal is to establish a comprehensive data management and sharing system for ease of dissemination of official statistics in the country.

The eSankhyiki Portal has two modules namely:

• Data Catalogue Module: This module catalogues the major data assets of the Ministry at one place for ease of access. This module allows users to search within datasets, including within tables, and download data of interest to increase its value and re-usability.
• Macro Indicators Module: This module offers time series data of key macro indicators with features for filtering and visualizing data enabling ease of access for the users. The module also allows users to download custom datasets, visualizations and sharing them through APIs, thereby increasing the re-usability of data.

Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum

 

• Ministry of Culture organised a four-day inter-ministerial stakeholder consultation and capacity building workshop for upcoming Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum, slated to be built in the North and South Block as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project.
• The workshopwas held from 26^th to 29^th June 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• The newNational Museum of India is set to come up at North and South Block as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project that seeks to revamp India’s central administrative area located near Raisina Hill, New Delhi.
• The museum will be spread over 1,54,000 sqm, makingit the largest museum in the world.
• The Museum will be developed through Adaptive Reuse, in collaboration with France owing to their expertise in similar projects such as the Louvre, which too housed the French Ministry of Finance.
• The French are partners for this project owing to the long-standing friendshipbetween the two countries, which had contributed to a Letter of Intent being signed between both governments in 2020 that emphasised Museum & Heritage Co-operation.

 

EXERCISE (RIMPAC) – 24

• Indian multi-role stealth frigate INS Shivalik, mission deployed in South China Sea and North Pacific Ocean, has reached Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to take part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which isworld’s largest naval exercise.
• INS Shivalik sailed into Pearl Harbour on completion of JIMEX 24, a bilateral exercise between India and Japan.
• The harbour phase of the exercise from27 Jun to 07 Jul 2024 will see participation in multiple symposiums, exercise planning discussions, sports competitions and reciprocal deck visits.
• The sea phase of RIMPAC – 24, divided into three sub-phases will witness ships undertaking basic and advanced level integration exercises during the first two sub-phases.
• RIMPAC-24, spanning over six weeks of intense operations and training is aimed at enhancing interoperability and building trust among the navies of friendly foreign countries.
• Led by the US Navy, approx 29 countries are participating in the current edition of the multi-dimensional exercise.
• The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC-24 provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of world’s oceans.

Bhuvan Panchayat (Ver. 4.0) portal and “National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM Ver. 5.0) launched

 

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched two Geoportals namely ‘Bhuvan Panchayat (Ver. 4.0)” portal for rural land record and “National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM Ver. 5.0)” developed by Indian Space research Organization (ISRO)
• These latest geospatial tools are meant for for visualisation and planning to provide high resolution satellite imagery of 1:10K scale for different locations across the entire country.

Bhuvan Panchayat Portal (Benefits)

• To supportSpace-based Information Support for Decentralized Planning (SISDP) and empower the citizens at the grass root level in Panchayats
• To promote ease of living by reducing the need to depend on local administration for land records and revolutionize land record management by digitalization and land revenue management. The tools will provide real-time data at the tips of citizens and reduce corruption at the grassroots level.

National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM Ver. 5.0) (Benefits)

• It will provide space-based inputs on natural disasters and aid in disaster risk reduction In India as well as neighboring countries.
• To prevent the citizens from vagaries of nature and put in place an effective early warning system so that administration can proactively prevent the disasters and inform us regarding the Land use Land change(LULC).

Web Portal Launched for Farmers

• Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers launched a web portal developed jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) and NABARD to automate and speed up the process of settlement of interest subvention claims of banks submitted under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
• The automated system would help in calculating accurate eligible interest subvention through the portal avoiding the possible human error in manual processing and also help in faster settlement of the claims.
• The portal shall be used by banks, Central Project Management Unit (CPMU) of DA&FW and NABARD.
• The automation of the interest subvention claim and credit guarantee fee claim processing will help the government in releasing accurate interest subvention, reduce the turn-around time and in turn help the farmers and agri entrepreneurs financially and encourage them to take up more such projects for development of agriculture in the country.

 

Know! also about Krishi Katha

• Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan also launched Krishi Katha, a blogsite meant to serve as a digital platform to showcase the voice of the Indian farmers, dedicated to amplifying the experiences, insights and success stories of farmers across the country.
• This platform will serve as a wellspring of inspiration for others.
• The objectives behind this initiative will be helpful in raising awareness, facilitating exchange of knowledge, fostering collaboration and empowering farmers.
• It aims to inspire and showcase the stories of the Indian farmer and foster a sense of pride in the farming profession and promote resilience among farmers.

 

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

• The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund scheme was launched in 2020, with the objective of development of post-harvest management infrastructure for reducing losses, realisation of better value to farmers, innovation in agriculture and attracting investments for creation of Agriculture infrastructure with a total outlay of₹ 1 lakh crore funding through the banks and financial institutions upto 2025-26.
• The scheme provides for 3% interest subvention to beneficiaries of the scheme for the loans given by banks up to₹ 2 crore for a maximum period of 7 years, besides  reimbursement of credit guarantee fee paid by banks.

 

Virtual NQAS Assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Dashboard for IPHS and Spot Food Licence Initiative for Food Vendors launched

 

• The Union Ministers launched a virtual National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM); a dashboard which will help national, state and district health institutions and facilities in quickly monitoring compliance with respect to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and taking actions accordingly;and a spot food licence and registration initiative for food vendors.

Virtual Assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandir

• The virtual certification of Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub-centres (AAM-SC) represents a significant innovation in the quality assurance framework for public health facilities.
• Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) have been established and operationalized to provide comprehensive, accessible healthcare services for all citizens.
• Led by Community Health Officers, the primary healthcare teams at AAM are trained to manage initial care, triage, and refer patients to appropriate facilities for further treatment.
• This approach reduces the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities by providing primary care services closer to the community with adequate referral linkages.
• The early identification and management of health issues help prevent disease progression, necessitating advanced care.

National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS)

• To ensure that every citizen receives quality health services, National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) were developed for District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Rural and Urban Primary Healthcare Centres, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Sub Centres) with the goal of full compliance by 2026.
• Online evaluations have been introduced to streamline the assessment process, involving virtual tours and interactions with patients, staff and community members.
• Each healthcare facility will undergo a rigorous multi-level assessment process to achieve quality certification, evaluated by MoHFW empanelled National Quality Assurance Standard Assessors.

 

Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL)

• By establishing Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL) the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India, has strengthened laboratory systems under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
• These laboratories ensure accessibility, efficiency, and quality in diagnostic services, which are fundamental to effective healthcare delivery.
• The National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) for IPHLs has been developed to ensure consistent, precise, and safe laboratory testing processes.

 

Launch of the IPHS Dashboard for Real-time monitoring of Public Health Facilities

• The launch of the IPHS Compliance Dashboard represents a revolutionary strategy in India’s healthcare development.
• By integrating advanced digital tools with the IPHS guidelines, the Ministry is committed to driving excellence in public health and ensuring that every individual has access to the best possible healthcare services.
• This initiative is a testament to the government’s unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being of the nation.
• The IPHS Dashboard is a pioneering digital platform for real-time monitoring of public health facilities that provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and compliance status of public health facilities, including District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Primary Health Centers, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

 

FoSCoS

• FoSCoS is a state-of-the-art, Pan-India IT platform designed to address all food safety regulatory needs.
• This innovative system simplifies the licensing and registration processes, offering an enhanced user experience.
• Beyond licensing and registrations, FoSCoS facilitates self-compliance through online return filings, hygiene ratings for food service establishments, third-party audits for safety parameters and more.
• Integrated with other IT platforms of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), FoSCoS provides a comprehensive solution for food business operators.

 

ABHYAS successfully completes developmental trials with improved booster configuration

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ with improved booster configuration from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
• With this, ABHYAS has successfully completed 10 developmental trials demonstrating the reliability of the system.

Know! more about ABHYAS

• ABHYAS has been designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, and developed through Production Agencies – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited & Larsen & Toubro.
• It offers a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice.
• This indigenous system is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an auto pilot, a laptop-based Ground Control System for aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and autonomous flight.
• It also has a feature to record data during flight for post-flight analysis.
• The booster has been designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory and the navigation system by Research Centre Imarat.

 

Sangyaan App

 

• The Director General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched the mobile application-Sangyaan App, designed and developed by the Tech Team of RPF to provide in-depth information on three new Criminal Acts: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.
• Sangyaan App aims to educate and empower RPF Personnel by providing comprehensive information to understand the provisions of both new and old criminal laws, while highlighting the relevance of these new acts in the context of RPF operations.

Key Features of Sangyaan App:

1. Comprehensive Legal Access: The app provides easy access to the bare acts of BNS, BNSS, and BSA 2023, all optimized for mobile viewing. Users can conveniently read, search and refer to these laws on the go.
2. Comparison of Laws: With the Corresponding Sections Comparison table, users can directly compare specific sections of the new and old laws. This feature helps in identifying and understanding the changes and continuities in the legal framework.
3. Section wise analysis: The key sections of the BNSS and BNS are analyzed in detail, focusing on their applicability in field operations for various provisions and procedural perspective.
4. Advanced Search Tools: Sangyaan offers advanced search functionalities, allowing users to navigate efficiently through the legal texts. Users can search section-wise, chapter-wise, and subject-wise, making it easier to find relevant information quickly.
5. Inclusive Legal Database: In addition to the three new laws, the app includes other essential legal acts and rules related to railway security. This includes The Railway Protection Force Act, 1957, The Railway Act, 1989, The Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966 and RPF Rules, 1987. This comprehensive database ensures that users have access to all critical legal information relevant to railway protection at fingertips.
6. User-Friendly Design: Designed for precision and ease of use, Sangyaan ensures that users can efficiently and effectively engage with critical legal information, enhancing their understanding and application of the laws in RPF operations.

VEGFR1

 

• Researchers have decoded the molecular mechanism in which a cell surface receptor belonging to the family of enzymes that bind growth factors, regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and migration, prevents cancers.
• This enzyme called VEGFR1 withholds self-expression (autoinhibited) in the absence of a ligand—for example, hormones.
• The research can show the way for developing medical solutions for colon and renal cancers by using molecules that preferentially stabilises the inactive state of VEGFR1.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK)

• Cell surface receptors like Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK) are crucial for converting extracellular signals (from chemical cues like growth factors, generally referred to as ligands) to tightly regulated cellular response.
• Ligand binding to extracellular receptors activates intracellular coupled enzymes (tyrosine kinases).
• The activated enzyme, in turn, adds phosphate group to several tyrosine molecules that function as an adaptor for assembling a signalling complex.
• The formation of the signalling complex regulates diverse cellular functions like cell growth, development, and host immune response.
• Spontaneous activation of RTKs, in the absence of ligands, is often linked to multiple human pathologies like cancers, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
• Researchers are exploring how a cell maintains an autoinhibited state of the enzyme and why such autoinhibition is breached during the progression of human pathology.
• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, investigated one such RTK called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR).
• The VEGFR family of receptors is the key regulator of the process of generating new blood vessels.
• This process is essential for functions like embryonic development, wound healing, tissue regeneration, and tumor formation.
• Various malignant and non-malignant diseases can be treated by targeting VEGFRs.

 

Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy
• Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC), a niche technology developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets, thus reducing radar detection.
• Special type of fibres, with diameter of few microns and unique microwave obscuration properties, have been assembled in the medium range chaff rocket.
• The rocket, when fired, forms microwave obscurant cloud in space spreading over a sufficient area, with adequate persistence time, thus creating an effective shield against hostile threats having Radio Frequency seekers.
• The Phase-I trials of MR-MOCR were successfully conducted from Indian Navy ships, demonstrating the MOC cloud blooming and being persistent in space.
• In Phase-II trials, the Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction of an aerial target to the extent of 90 per cent has been demonstrated and cleared by the Indian Navy.
• The number of MR-MOCR, meeting all the qualification requirements, have been successfully handed over to the Indian Navy.

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

 

• The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade.
• It is observed annually on 26 June, since 1989.
• The date June 26 is to commemorate Lin Zexu’s dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, ending on June 25, 1839,just before the First Opium War in China.
• The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987.

 

New Compact Utility Tractor

 

• CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR- CMERI) has developed acompact, affordable and easily maneuverable tractor of low horsepower range to meet the requirement of the marginal and small farmers, with support from the SEED Division of DST
• Benefits – A newly developed compact, affordable, and easily maneuverable tractor catering for small and marginal farmers could help them increase agricultural productivity while keeping the cost low.

Know! about Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED)

• Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division (earlier known as Science and Society Division) under the Department of Science and Technology provides opportunities to motivated scientists & technologists from national Research and Development (R&D) labs, S&T-driven Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and field-level workers to take up action-oriented and location-specific projects aiming at Socio-economic development of disadvantaged sections of the society through appropriate interventions of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), leading to their improved quality of life and livelihood.
• Through its diverse schemes and programmes, efforts are being made to empower the community by adopting technologies to address locally defined needs and priorities that consider available resources and moral prosperity of society for sustainable development.
• The schemes and programmes of the division are also being converged with line function ministries/departments for the last-mile delivery and national development programmes to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Statistics Day

 

• In recognition of the notable contributions made by Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning, Government of India has designated June 29 every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as “Statistics Day” in the category of Special Days to be celebrated at the national level.
• The main objective of celebrating Statistics Day is creation of public awareness, especially among the younger generation, on the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation for the development of the country.
• Since 2007, Statistics Day is celebrated every year with a theme of contemporary national importance.
• The theme for Statistics Day, 2024 is “Use of data for decision-making”.
• The concept of data-driven decision-making is important for making informed decisions in any field and it is one of the prerequisites for better understanding of statistical information emanating from official statistics and for facilitating evidence-based decision-making.

 

 

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