State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 13 Jan 2026

Gujarat CM Launches ‘Asha Van’ Mobile Unit for Cancer Detection

Why in News? 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a mobile ‘Asha Van’ in Gandhinagar to provide early detection of cancer.  

Key Points 

• Facility: The Asha Van is a mobile diagnostic unit equipped with  
  • Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA)‑Pro diagnostics, a mammography machine, and  
  • Tele‑consultation services for expert guidance. 
• Types of Cancers Screened: It enables on-site screening for multiple cancers including lung, oral, blood, cervical, pancreatic, liver, breast, and prostate cancers using ultra-modern equipment. 
• Support to Public Health Goal: The initiative supports the Prime Minister’s vision of “Health and Wellness for All” by improving early diagnosis and treatment outcomes. 
• Handing Over to Red Cross: The Asha Van was handed over to the Bhavnagar branch of the Indian Red Cross Society. 
• Focus on Rural Reach: The initiative brings advanced cancer screening to villages and remote areas, reducing barriers of distance and limited healthcare access.

Read More: Cancer,  Red Cross 

Supercomputer Param Shakti launched at IIT Madras

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) inaugurated the PARAM SHAKTI supercomputer at IIT Madras.

Key Points:

• Capacity: A 3.1 Petaflop system, capable of performing over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second.
• Indigenous Tech: Built under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) using C-DAC’s RUDRA server series and an indigenous software stack (based on AlmaLinux).
• Applications: Targeted at research in climate modeling, aerospace engineering, drug discovery, and advanced manufacturing. 
• NSM Milestone: This marks the 37th supercomputer installed across Indian academic institutions.
• Efficiency: Features a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2 to 1.4, making it highly energy-efficient.
• Top Peer: While PARAM SHAKTI is powerful, India's fastest remains AIRAWAT-PSAI (13.17 PF) at C-DAC Pune.

Read More:National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), C-DAC

Akasa Air Joins IATA as Fifth Indian Member

Why in News?

Recently, Akasa Air officially became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Key Points:

• Prerequisite: The airline successfully passed the mandatory IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in December 2025,a strict, internationally recognized safety and operational benchmark for airlines.
• Peer Group: Akasa joins Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet as the only Indian IATA members.
• Benefits: Membership enables global credibility, participation in digital transformation, and future interline/codeshare arrangements. 
• Scale: Since its 2022 launch, Akasa has served over 23 million passengers with a fleet of 31 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
• IATA Reach: Represents ~360 airlines accounting for 80% of global air traffic.
• Economic Impact: Aviation in India supports 7.7 million jobs and contributes ~$53.6 billion to the GDP. 

Read more:International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

1720 MW Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh

Why in News?

The 1720 MW Kamala Project on the Kamala River (a tributary of the Subansiri) is a significant step toward making Arunachal Pradesh India's "Power House."

Key Points:

• Capacity: 1720 MW, aimed at providing clean, renewable energy to the national grid.
• Project Nature: A storage-cum-run-of-the-river project designed to harness the high hydroelectric potential of the Brahmaputra basin.
• Strategic Goal: Part of the Union Government’s vision to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
• River Basin: The project is located in the Kamle district.
• Northeast Grid: This project, alongside the Subansiri Lower Project, is crucial for regional infrastructure and meeting North India's peak power demands.
• Environmental Clearance: Like all major Himalayan projects, it is subject to strict monitoring for seismic safety and local ecological impact.

Read More: Subansiri Lower Project,Brahmputra basin