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Superhydrophobic Coating on Metallic Surfaces

Why in News A team from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, and Ohio State University has created a...

17 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Successful Trails in Treating Drug-Resistant TB

Why in News Recently, a small trial was undertaken to test the safety and efficacy of a few oral drugs against the extensively drug-resistant TB...

16 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Pi Day

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 dedicated to Pi (Greek letter π). The idea originated in the United States, where the convention is to write...

14 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
New Hub Under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems

Why in News The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab is setting up a Sectoral Application Hub in Technologies for Agriculture and...

11 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
New Test with Quantum Coins & Computers for Quantum Sensing

Why in News Researchers from the Raman Research Institute (RRI) (autonomous institution under the Department of Science & Technology) have...

06 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Initiatives Launched during India Smart Utility Week 2020

Why in News Recently, the India-European Union Flagship Call on Integrated Local Energy Systems was announced at India Smart Utility Week...

06 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Endophytic Actinobacteria for Chemical-free Tea

Why in News Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) Guwahati, have found that the endophytic actinobacteria...

05 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
India Pharma & India Medical Device 2020 Conference

Why in News The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of...

05 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Ink to Curb Fake Printing of Passports and Counterfeiting of Currency Notes

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical Laboratory has developed a bi-luminescent security ink which glows in...

04 Mar 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Biofuel from Microorganisms

Why in News Researchers at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) are developing a method to improve the growth...

28 Feb 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Habitable-Zone Planet Finder

Why in News The Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) has confirmed its first planet (exoplanet) called G 9-40b, orbiting a nearby low mass bright...

22 Feb 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Yaravirus

Why in News Researchers have discovered an unusually small virus in a lake in Brazil. The virus has been named Yaravirus after...

13 Feb 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Genome India Project

This article is based on “Mapping life” which was published in The Indian Express on 10/02/2020. It talks about the significance,...

10 Feb 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
India’s Neutrino Observatory Opposed by Gram Sabhas

Why in News Gram Sabhas in different parts of Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and hydrocarbon...

27 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Living Robots: Xenobots

Why in News Scientists in the United States have created the world’s first “living robots” named “xenobots”. The...

21 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Indigenous TB Diagnostic Tool

Why in News Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed TrueNat which is an indigenous molecular diagnostic tool for tuberculosis...

15 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
TOI 700 d

Why in News The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reported the discovery of an Earth-size planet, named TOI 700 d. The...

09 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Railways Plans Hydrogen-Powered Engine by 2021

Why in News During the 107th Indian Science Congress, the Indian Railways has announced that it will build a hydrogen-powered rail engine by the end...

08 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Extraocular Vision

Why in News For the first time, researchers have shown that a species of brittle stars can see even though it does not have eyes. The ability to...

04 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
Iron Snow on Earth’s Inner Core

According to a study published in journal JGR Solid Earth, the earth’s inner core is capped by snow made of tiny particles of iron which are...

04 Jan 2020 Scientific Innovations & Discoveries

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		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Superhydrophobic Coating on Metallic Surfaces',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A team from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, and Ohio State University has created a superhydrophobic coating to save steel from rusting.</li>
<li>The coating was made from<strong> polyurethane and silicon dioxide nanoparticles.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Superhydrophobic Surfaces</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term hydrophobicity is derived from two greek words that are <strong>hydro (water)</strong> and <strong>phobos (fear).</strong> It is the ability to <strong>repel water.</strong></li>
<li>Superhydrophobic coating is a nanoscopic surface layer that repels water.</li>
<li>Adding a superhydrophobic coating makes a surface liquid and water repellent, easy to clean, and boosts its anti-icing performance (ability to delay the formation of ice for a certain period of time)</li>
<li>Super-hydrophobic coatings are also found in nature; they appear on plant leaves, such as the Lotus leaf, and some insect wings.</li>
<li>Apart from steel the coating can be done on <strong>other metallic surfaces, such as aluminum, copper, brass.</strong> The coatings have also been<strong> developed for glass, cloth, paper and wood.</strong></li>
<li>Developing an antimicrobial superhydrophobic coating for biomedical applications is also being worked on.</li>
<li>Without this, the coating tends to easily peel off due to smoothness of steel.</li>
<li>The spin coating was found to be more <strong>advantageous and cost-effective</strong> compared to immersion coating and spray coating.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Spin coating <strong>dried quickly</strong> and the thickness of the coat could be controlled easily</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Silicon dioxide</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica, is a natural compound made of two of the earth's most abundant materials: silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2).</li>
<li>Silicon dioxide is most often recognized in the form of quartz. It's found naturally in water, plants, animals, and the earth.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Polyurethane</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Polyurethane <strong>is a polymer composed of organic units joined by urethane links.</strong></li>
<li>It is a plastic material, which exists in various forms.</li>
<li>They are used in a wide variety of applications to create all manner of consumer and industrial products that play a crucial role in making our lives more convenient, comfortable and environmentally friendly.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Properties of the Coating</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chemically Stability: Stable in both acidic (pH 5) and alkaline (pH 8)</strong> conditions for more than six weeks.</li>
<li><strong>Thermal Stability:</strong> Stable up to 230 degree C.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanical Stability:</strong> Highly stable when tested with water jet, floating, bending, sand abrasion tests.</li>
<li><strong>Self-cleaning</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When water droplets were made to fall on an uncoated surface they stuck to it and made a messy surface.</li>
<li>However, in the case of a coated sample, water droplets roll away while collecting dust from the surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Easy to make</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The chemicals used to make the coating are easily available and are also environmentally friendly.</li>
<li>The cost of coating will further reduce when mass-produced on commercial scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/superhydrophobic-coating-to-save-metallic-surfaces/article31069547.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4714,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Successful Trails in Treating Drug-Resistant TB',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a small trial was undertaken to test the safety and efficacy of a few oral drugs against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The trial showed encouraging results with a <strong>success rate of 90%.</strong></li>
<li>The favourable<strong> results held true regardless of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV status</a></strong> of the patients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The trial (Nix-TB) tested three oral drugs namely <strong>bedaquiline, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-drug-pretomanid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pretomanid </a></strong>and<strong> linezolid</strong> in patients with XDR-TB and MDR-TB.</li>
<li><strong>Success Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 90% treatment success</strong> in the case of hard-to-treat patients is at par with the success rate seen while treating drug-sensitive TB.</li>
<li>Of the 109 patients treated, <strong>11 had unfavourable outcomes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of the 11 patients, there were seven deaths and two had a relapse during the six-month follow-up period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The treatment success rate was <strong>89% for XDR-TB and 92% for MDR-TB.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The MDR-TB patients included in the trial were either not responsive to standard treatment or had discontinued treatment due to side effects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is caused by <strong>bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)</strong> that most often affect the lungs.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong> TB is treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6 month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a form of TB caused by bacteria that <strong>do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin,</strong> the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs.</li>
<li>MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Extensively drug-resistant Tuberculosis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that <strong>do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs,</strong> often leaving patients without any further treatment options.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/trial-shows-success-in-treating-drug-resistant-tb/article31069610.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4697,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pi Day',
		'description' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pi Day is celebrated on<strong> March 14 dedicated to Pi (Greek letter &pi;)</strong>. The idea originated in the United States, where the convention is to write dates in a <strong>format that expresses March 14 as 3/14.</strong> These three digits match the value of pi up to two decimal places, at <strong>3.14.</strong></li>
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<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1584171093_drishtiias_pi_day.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1584171093_drishtiias_pi_day.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" height="213" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By definition, pi is the <strong>ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.</strong> Pi is also the area of a circle divided by the square of its radius. The ratio is <strong>always constant.&nbsp;</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pi is an <strong>irrational number,</strong> it is denoted by a <strong>symbol &lsquo;&pi;&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pi has its use in geometry, trigonometry, physics, astronomy and other sciences. It appears in various formulae. Few important formulae are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Area of a circle</strong> is &pi;r<sup>2</sup>.</li>
<li><strong>Volume of a cylinder</strong> is &pi;r<sup>2</sup>h.</li>
<li><strong>Surface area of a sphere</strong> is 4&pi;r<sup>2</sup>.</li>
<li><strong>Volume of a sphere</strong> is 4/3 (&pi;r<sup>3)</sup>.</li>
<li><strong>Volume of a cone</strong> is 1/3 (&pi;r<sup>2</sup>h).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-pi-matters-part-of-our-lives-its-day-ruined-by-outbreak-this-year-6313366/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Indian Express</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4665,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Hub Under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab</strong> is setting up a <strong>Sectoral Application Hub in Technologies for Agriculture and Water.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The hub is being set up under the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-on-interdisciplinary-cyber-physical-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems</a> (NMICPS)</strong> and is granted by Union Government&rsquo;s <strong>Science and Engineering Research Board.</strong></li>
<li>The application hub will bring solutions for <strong>stubble management, water quality improvement </strong>and<strong> mapping of hazardous substances in water.</strong></li>
<li>The hub <strong>aims</strong> at carrying out translational research and work with concerned departments to develop prototypes, products and implementations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2018</strong> and is implemented by the <strong>Department of Science &amp; Technology</strong> for a period of five years.</li>
<li>NMICPS covers entire India which includes Central Ministries, State Governments, Industry and Academia.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>comprehensive mission</strong> which would address technology development, application development, human resource development &amp; skill enhancement, entrepreneurship and start-up development in <strong>Cyber-Physical System (CPS)</strong> and associated technologies.</li>
<li>The mission <strong>aims</strong> at establishing 15 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH), six Application Innovation Hubs (AIH) and four Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRP).</li>
<li>These Hubs &amp; TTRPs will connect to Academics, Industry, Central Ministries and State Government in developing solutions at reputed academic, R&amp;D and other organizations across the country in a hub and spoke model.</li>
<li>The Hubs &amp; TTRPs have<strong> four focused areas</strong> namely:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Technology Development.</li>
<li>HRD &amp; Skill Development.</li>
<li>Innovation, Entrepreneurship &amp; Start-ups Ecosystem Development.</li>
<li>International Collaborations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cyber-Physical Systems</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These systems <strong>integrate</strong> sensing, computation, control and networking into physical objects and infrastructure, connecting them to the Internet and to each other.</li>
<li><strong>Few Potential applications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Driverless cars</strong> that communicate securely with each other on smart roads.</li>
<li><strong>Sensors</strong> in the home to detect changing health conditions.</li>
<li><strong>Improving agricultural practices.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Enabling scientists</strong> to address issues arising out of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Advances in cyber-physical systems will enable capability, adaptability, scalability, resiliency, safety, security and usability that will far exceed the simple embedded systems of today.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4636,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Test with Quantum Coins & Computers for Quantum Sensing',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers from the <strong>Raman Research Institute (RRI)</strong> (autonomous institution under the Department of Science &amp; Technology) have devised a new test for fairness of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quantum-supremacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quantum coin or qubit using entanglement theory.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The test uses <strong>entanglement</strong> to test the fairness of the quantum coin. Their strategy enables <strong>better discrimination between quantum states.</strong> Such an advantage is valuable in quantum sensors</li>
<li>This is a significant contribution to quantum state discrimination and an essential aspect of quantum information science which is expected to influence quantum sensing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Quantum Information and Quantum Computing Technology</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The domain of Quantum Information and Quantum Computing Technology is a growing area of research which is expected to influence <strong>Data Processing,</strong> which in turn, plays a central role in our lives in this Information Age.</li>
<li>For instance, bank transactions, online shopping and so on crucially depend on the efficiency of information transfer.</li>
<li>Thus the work on quantum state discrimination is expected to be valuable in people&rsquo;s lives in the current era.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Qubit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A quantum bit, or qubit, is the<strong> basic unit of information for a quantum computer,</strong> analogous to a bit in ordinary machines.</li>
<li>But unlike a bit, which can have the value 0 or 1, a qubit can take on an infinite number of values.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Quantum computer</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A quantum computer is any device for computation that makes direct use of distinctively <strong>quantum mechanical phenomena,</strong> such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.</li>
<li><strong>Superposition</strong> means that each qubit can <strong>represent both a &lsquo;1&rsquo; and a &lsquo;0&rsquo; at the same time</strong></li>
<li><strong>Quantum entanglement</strong> occurs when <strong>two particles become inextricably linked,</strong> and whatever happens to one immediately affects the other, regardless of how far apart they are. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Entanglement is a special type of correlation that exists in the quantum world with<strong> no classical counterpart.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=199798" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4631,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Initiatives Launched during India Smart Utility Week 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>India-European Union Flagship Call on Integrated Local Energy Systems</strong> was announced at <strong>India Smart Utility Week 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Additionally, <strong>Sweden and India</strong> have also announced the <strong>India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research &amp; Development Programme</strong> during the event.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Smart Utility Week 2020</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India Smart Grid Forum (ISFG) has been organising its flagship <strong>annual</strong> event, India Smart Grid Week (ISGW) <strong>since 2015.</strong> It has been renamed as <strong>India Smart Utility Week (ISUW) in 2019.</strong></li>
<li>It is considered as <strong>one of the top five international events on Smart Grids and Smart Cities.</strong></li>
<li>ISUW 2020 will be organised as an International Conference and Exhibition on Smart Energy and Water for Smarter Cities.</li>
<li>It will bring together the world&rsquo;s leading smart energy experts and researchers to discuss trends, share best practices and showcase next-generation technologies and products in smart energy and smart cities domains.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-European Union Flagship Call on Integrated Local Energy Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The partnership between Indian and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> will help to <strong>strengthen cooperation in energy research and innovation,</strong> mainly in <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>renewable energy</strong></a> and its integration in the energy system.</li>
<li>It will also help to find solutions encompassing local integration across various energy vectors and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix and high energy efficiency.</li>
<li>The programme is in line with both the European Union&rsquo;s and India&rsquo;s involvement in<strong> Mission Innovation (MI).</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mission Innovation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mission Innovation (MI) is a <strong>global initiative of 24 countries and the European Commission</strong> (on behalf of the European Union) working to reinvigorate and accelerate <strong>global clean energy innovation</strong> with the objective to<strong> make clean energy widely affordable.</strong></li>
<li>MI was announced at <strong>COP21</strong> on November 30, 2015, as world leaders came together in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris to commit to ambitious efforts to combat climate change.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1583480335_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1583480335_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research &amp; Development Programme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research &amp; Development Programme is a <strong>collaborative programme on Smart Grids</strong> at a collective investment of <strong>5 Million US $</strong> which will help to transform the clean energy sector into a secure, adaptive, sustainable and digitally-enabled ecosystem and provide reliable and quality energy for all.</li>
<li>It is a<strong> joint Programme,</strong> co-funded by the Indian Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST) and the Swedish Energy Agency.</li>
<li>It aims to bring together world-class expertise of Sweden and India to <strong>address challenges in the area of Smart Grids.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A smart grid is an electrical grid which includes a variety of operation and energy measures including smart meters, smart appliances, renewable energy resources, and energy-efficient resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The project also aims <strong>to develop technologies that can be commercialized after two years</strong> through cooperation between India and Sweden.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1605428" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4623,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Endophytic Actinobacteria for Chemical-free Tea',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers at the <strong>Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) Guwahati,</strong> have found that the endophytic actinobacteria can replace fertilizers &amp; fungicides in tea.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Endophytic actinobacteria (predominantly free-living microorganisms) which live within a plant are found in diverse environments.</li>
<li>The Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati is an autonomous institute under Department of Science &amp; Technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Research findings</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Endophytic actinobacteria have the potential to exhibit <strong>multiple growth-promoting traits</strong> that positively influence tea growth and production and can hence be used in the <strong>management and sustainability of Teacrop.</strong></li>
<li>Application of endophytic Actinobacteria could <strong>reduce chemical inputs</strong> in Tea plantation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In recent years, due to higher demand of chemical residue-free made tea by the importing countries, the export of tea has declined. The use of endophyticactino bacteria on tea plantations is expected to benefit the Indian tea market.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tea</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tea (Camellia sinensis)</strong> plays an important role in the Indian economy as a <strong>major portion of the tea produced is exported.</strong></li>
<li>India is the<strong> second largest tea producer</strong> in the world, right behind China.</li>
<li>Tea found in India is categorized into 3 types namely <strong>Assam tea (highest cultivation), Darjeeling tea (Superior quality tea) and Nilgiri tea (subtle and gentle flavors).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Growth Conditions:</strong> Tea requires well drained soil with a high amount of organic matter and pH 4.5 to 5.5. The performance of tea is excellent at elevations ranging from 1000 - 2500 m.Optimum temperature: 20-270 C.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1605133" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4615,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Pharma & India Medical Device 2020 Conference',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry( FICCI) is organising India Pharma 2020 &amp; India Medical Device 2020 Conference &amp; Exhibition .</li>
<li>This is the fifth edition, and is being organised for <strong>the first time in the State of Gujarat</strong> (which is also the partner state for this event) at Gandhi Nagar from March 5-7, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Theme-</strong> &ldquo;India Pharma: Meeting Challenges of Affordable and Quality Healthcare and India Medical Device: Promoting Affordable responsible and Quality Medical Device for Universal Health Care&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Objectives</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To encourage innovations to further reduce the cost of quality healthcare for all and a platform to the global investment community to connect with stakeholders in the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/medical-devices-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Medical Device Sector in India.</strong></a></li>
<li>To promote consumer centric manufacturing by involving Medical Electronics, Devices, Health Diagnostics, Hospitals and Surgical Equipment etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Pharma Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian pharmaceutical market is the <strong>third largest in terms of volume </strong>and<strong> thirteenth largest in terms of value.</strong></li>
<li>India is the <strong>largest supplier of generic medicines globally.</strong></li>
<li>From 2018-19, India&rsquo;s pharmaceutical exports were worth <strong>USD 19.13 billion</strong> with <strong>a growth of 10.72% over USD17.28 billion in pharma exports</strong> the previous year..</li>
<li>The cost of manufacturing in India is approximately <strong>33% lower than that of the US.</strong></li>
<li>India is also the <strong>largest vaccine producer</strong> in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Bio-Pharma</strong> is the largest sector contributing to 62% of the total revenue.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Medical Devices Sector in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Medical Devices industry in India is <strong>valued at USD 5.2 billion,</strong> contributing about <strong>4-5% to the USD 96.7 billion Indian healthcare Industry.</strong></li>
<li>Medical devices sector in India is very small in size as compared to the rest of the manufacturing industry, though India is one of the top twenty markets for medical devices in the world and is the 4<sup>th</sup> largest market in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s medical devices industry is poised for significant growth in the next five years: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is among<strong> the top-20 markets</strong> for medical devices in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Market size</strong> for medical devices expected to reach <strong>USD 50 bn by 2025.</strong></li>
<li>Indian medical devices industry is growing at a<strong> CAGR of 15.8%, vis-&agrave;-vis a CAGR of 4.1% for the Global medical devices industry.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India currently imports 80-90% of medical devices of the USD15 billion market, the vast majority of which are unregulated for quality and safety. The U.S., Germany, China, Japan, and Singapore constitute the five largest exporters of high technology medical equipment to India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1605095" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4604,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ink to Curb Fake Printing of Passports and Counterfeiting of Currency Notes',
		'description' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical Laboratory has developed a <strong>bi-luminescent security ink</strong> which <strong>glows in red and green colours</strong> when illuminated by two different excitation sources.</li>
<li>The ink was given to <strong>Bank Note Press (BNP),</strong> Dewas, a unit of <strong>Security Printing Minting Corporation of India Ltd.</strong> (SPMCIL), New Delhi.</li>
<li>The formulation can be used to <strong>check the authenticity of passports, Government documents, tamper evident labels, identity cards,</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SPMCIL is a wholly owned <strong>Miniratna</strong> company of Government of India, incorporated on 13<sup>th</sup> January, 2006.</li>
<li><strong>The Ministry of Finance exercises its administrative control</strong> over SPMCIL through the Board of Directors.</li>
<li>SPMCIL is engaged in the manufacture/ production of Currency and Bank Notes, Security Paper, Non-Judicial Stamp Papers, Postal Stamps &amp; Stationary, Travel Documents viz. Passport and Visa, Security certificates, Cheques, Bonds, Warrant, Special Certificates with security features, Security Inks, Circulation &amp; Commemorative Coins, Medallions, Refining of Gold &amp; Silver, and Assay of Precious Metals.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CSIR was established by the Government of India in <strong>September 1942 as an autonomous body.</strong></li>
<li>It is known for its cutting edge R&amp;D knowledge base in diverse S&amp;T areas.</li>
<li>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been ranked <strong>first in the Nature Ranking Index-2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Nature Index provides a close to real-time proxy of high-quality research output and collaboration at the institutional, national and regional level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604966" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source : PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4562,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Biofuel from Microorganisms',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers at the <strong>International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)</strong> are developing a method to improve the growth rate and <strong>sugar content</strong> of a <strong>marine cyanobacterium</strong> called <strong>Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biofuel</strong></a> production is dependent on the availability of low-cost and sustainable supply of sugars and a nitrogen source. The <strong>sugars typically come from plants.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>some bacteria,</strong> such as the cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), too can perform photosynthesis and <strong>produce sugar</strong> by fixing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>The yield of sugars from cyanobacteria could potentially be much higher than that of land-based crops unlike plant-based sugars.</li>
<li>Cyanobacterial biomass provides a nitrogen source in the form of proteins.</li>
<li>Use of marine cyanobacteria has been preffered as freshwater is increasingly getting scarce.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cyanobacteria</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are <strong>microscopic organisms found naturally in all types of water.</strong></li>
<li>These <strong>single-celled organisms</strong> live in fresh, brackish (combined salt and freshwater), and marine water.</li>
<li>These organisms use sunlight to <strong>make their own food.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>warm, nutrient-rich</strong> (high in phosphorus and nitrogen) environments, cyanobacteria can multiply quickly.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Biofuels</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biofuels are the <strong>fuels that can be produced from organic matter,</strong> or biomass, such as corn or sugar, vegetable oils or waste feedstocks.<strong> Example:</strong> Bioethanol, Biodiesel</li>
<li>As biofuels emit less carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) than conventional fuels (eg:- Petrol) they can be blended with existing fuels as an effective way of reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in the transport sector.</li>
<li>The use of biofuels have grown over the past decade, driven largely by the introduction of new energy policies in Europe, the USA and Brazil that call for more renewable, lower-carbon fuels for transport. Today <strong>biofuels represent around 3% of road transport fuels in use around the world.</strong></li>
<li>In<strong> India,</strong> the National Policy on Biofuels, released by the Government of India in 2018, envisages production of biofuel from Used Cooking Oil (UCO). Also, the Policy has the objective of reaching 20% ethanol-blending and 5% biodiesel-blending by the year 2030.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582876170_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582876170_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a unique <strong>intergovernmental organisation</strong> initially established as a special project of the <strong>United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Fully<strong> autonomous since 1994,</strong> it runs 46 state-of-the-art laboratories, in Trieste, Italy (also Headquarters of the Centre), New Delhi, India and Cape Town, South Africa and forms an interactive network with over 65 Member States.</li>
<li>It plays a <strong>key role in Biotechnology worldwide</strong> for excellence in Research, Training and Technology Transfer to industry to contribute in concrete terms to the achievement of sustainable global development and operates within the United Nations System.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604584" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>source : PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4509,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Habitable-Zone Planet Finder',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) has confirmed its first planet <strong>(exoplanet)</strong> called G 9-40b, orbiting a nearby low mass bright <strong>M-dwarf star</strong> (100 light years from Earth) with an orbital period of 6 Earth-days.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NASA</strong></a>&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kepler mission</strong></a> had observed a dip in the host star&rsquo;s light, suggesting that the planet was crossing in front of the star during its orbit. To confirm the HPF was used.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>G 9-40b:</strong> G 9-40b is amongst the top 20 closest transiting planets known.</li>
<li><strong>Habitable-zone Planet Finder :</strong> HPF is an <strong>astronomical spectrograph,</strong> built by Penn State University scientists, and recently installed on the 10m <strong>Hobby-Eberly Telescope</strong> at McDonald Observatory (US).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HPF searches for <strong>exoplanets</strong> by using the <strong>Doppler effect.</strong></li>
<li>A spectrograph is an instrument that splits light into its component wavelengths. Scientists measure the properties of light over a specific portion of the spectrum, and draw conclusions on what is responsible for the trends they observe.</li>
<li>The HPF provides the<strong> highest precision measurements of infrared signals from nearby low-mass stars,</strong> and astronomers use it to validate the candidate planet by excluding all possibilities of contaminating signals to a very high level of probability.</li>
<li>It is designed to detect and characterise planets in the habitable-zone also known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/toi-700-d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Goldilocks zone&rsquo;</strong></a>- <strong>the region around the star where a planet could sustain liquid water on its surface.</strong></li>
<li>HPF is currently surveying the nearest low-mass stars, also called <strong>M-dwarfs,</strong> which are the most common stars in the galaxy - with the goal of discovering exoplanets in our neighborhood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Doppler Effect</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer move towards (or away from) each other.</li>
<li>The effect causes the sudden change in pitch noticeable in a passing siren, as well as the red shift seen by astronomers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Exoplanet</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System. The first confirmation of detection of exoplanet occurred in 1992.</li>
<li>Exoplanets are very hard to see directly with telescopes. They are hidden by the bright glare of the stars they orbit.</li>
<li>So, astronomers use other ways to detect and study exoplanets such as looking at the effects these planets have on the stars they orbit.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>M-dwarfs</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>M dwarf or M-type star, also called Red Dwarf Star are the most numerous type of star in the universe and the smallest type of hydrogen-burning star.</li>
<li>These have masses from about 0.08 to 0.6 times that of the Sun.</li>
<li>In the Milky Way Galaxy, about <strong>70% of the stars are red dwarfs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-to-study-light-and-confirm-a-potential-exoplanet-6280488/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4418,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Yaravirus',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers have discovered <strong>an unusually small virus</strong> in a lake in <strong>Brazil.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The virus has been named<strong> Yaravirus</strong> after &lsquo;Yara&rsquo;, a water-queen figure in Brazilian mythology.</li>
<li>The Yaravirus infects amoeba and has genes that have not been described before, something that could<strong> challenge how Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) viruses are classified.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA viruses are classified based on the protein that makes up their shell, or capsid. The Yaravirus' capsid doesn't resemble any previously known protein.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Yaravirus <strong>does not infect human cells.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Virus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A virus is a small<strong> parasite</strong> that <strong>cannot reproduce by itself.</strong> Once it infects a susceptible cell, however, a virus can direct the cell machinery to produce more viruses.</li>
<li>Most viruses have either Ribonucleic acid (RNA) or Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) as their genetic material.</li>
<li><strong>Diseases caused by Virus:</strong> HIV/AIDS, smallpox, Ebola, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-yaravirus-6265066/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4394,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Genome India Project',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/genome-india-project-india-genetic-diversity-6259645/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Mapping life&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 10/02/2020. It talks about the significance, challenges and benefits emanating from Genome India Project.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Science and Technology</strong> has approved an ambitious gene-mapping project called the <strong>Genome India Project (GIP).</strong> The project has been described by the researchers as the &ldquo;first scratching of the surface of the vast genetic diversity of India&rdquo;.</p>
<p>It will enable new efficiencies in healthcare, medicine and life sciences. However, GIP also raises concerns pertaining to medical ethics, political misuse, etc.</p>
<h3>What is the Genome India Project?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genome India Project, a collaboration of 20 institutions including the Indian Institute of Science and some IITs, will enable new efficiencies in medicine, agriculture and the life sciences.</li>
<li>Its aim is to ultimately build a grid of the Indian &ldquo;reference genome&rdquo;, to fully understand the type and nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse Indian population.</li>
<li>The mega project hopes to form a grid after collecting 10,000 samples in the first phase from across India, to arrive at a representative Indian genome.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is a Genome?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every organism&rsquo;s genetic code is contained in its Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA), the building blocks of life.</li>
<li>The discovery that DNA is structured as a &ldquo;double helix&rdquo; by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, started the quest for understanding how genes dictate life, its traits, and what causes diseases.</li>
<li>A genome is all the genetic matter in an organism. It is defined as &ldquo;an organism&rsquo;s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.</li>
<li>Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism.</li>
<li>In humans, a copy of the entire genome contains more than 3 billion DNA base pairs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>What is the significance of GIP?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Genome India Project is inspired by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-india-project-approved" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Human Genome Project (HGP 1990-2003)</a></strong>- an international programme that led to the decoding of the entire human genome.</li>
<li><strong>HGP has a major diversity problem</strong> as most genomes (over 95%) mapped under HGP have been sourced from urban middle-class white people. Thus, HGP should not really be seen as representative of the human genome.</li>
<li>In this context, the GIP aims to vastly add to the available information on the human species and advance the cause, both because of the scale of the Indian population and the diversity here. This diversity can be depicted by:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Horizontal Diversity:</strong> The Indian subcontinent has been the site of huge migrations, where the first migrations were from Africa. Also, there have been periodic migrations by various populations from all around the world, making this a very special case of almost all races and types intermingling genetically.</li>
<li><strong>Vertical Diversity:</strong> There has been endogamy or inter-marriage practised among distinct groups, resulting in some diseases passed on strictly within some groups and some other traits inherited by just some groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Studying and understanding both diversities would provide the bedrock of personalised healthcare for a very large group of persons on the planet.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Intended Benefits of GIP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Precision Healthcare:</strong> GIP will help in the development of personalised medicine, anticipating diseases and modulating treatment according to the genome of patients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, the cardiovascular disease generally leads to heart attacks in South Asians, but to strokes in most parts of Africa.</li>
<li>If such propensities to disease can be mapped to variations across genomes, it is believed that public health interventions can be targeted better, and diseases anticipated before they develop.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Agriculture:</strong> Similar benefits would come to agriculture if there is a better understanding of the genetic basis of the susceptibility of plants to pests, insects and other issues hampering productivity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can reduce dependence on chemicals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Cooperation:</strong> Global science would also benefit from a mapping project in one of the world&rsquo;s most diverse gene pools. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The project is said to be among the most significant of its kind in the world because of its scale and the diversity it would bring to genetic studies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fear of Scientific Racism:</strong> The question of heredity and racial purity has obsessed civilisations, and more scientific studies of genes and classifying them could reinforce stereotypes and allow for politics and history to acquire a racial twist.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The work on cranial volume measurements of the physician <strong>Samuel Morton</strong> (regarded in America as the father of scientific racism) justified slavery before the US Civil War.</li>
<li>In India, a nation divided by identity politics, scientific work in mapping genetic groups may further strengthen the divisions in the society based on the prevalent notion of race.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data &amp; Storage:</strong> After collection of the sample, the anonymity of the data and questions of its possible use and misuse would need to be addressed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is yet to pass a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Data Privacy Bill</strong></a> with adequate safeguards and launching the GIP before the privacy question is settled could give rise to another set of problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Medical Ethics:</strong> In a project that aims only to create a database of genetic information poses a risk of doctors privately performing gene modification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Selective breeding or Eugenics has always been controversial for long, as recently a Shenzhen-based scientist, created the world&rsquo;s first gene-edited babies, has been sentenced to three years in prison.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>To gain fully from the genomics revolution, India needs to collect information about the genetics of its population and train manpower capable of interpreting it. The information that is needed has to come from a large and sustained collection of data &mdash; fully sequenced individual genomes along with medical histories for the individuals who volunteer for this effort.</p>
<p>Genome India Project provides an opportunity for India to make leap and bounds progress in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture and healthcare. Thus, it should be carried with maximum speed and maximum caution.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7f7d0;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Genome India Project provides an opportunity for India to make great progress in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture and healthcare. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4271,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India’s Neutrino Observatory Opposed by Gram Sabhas',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Gram Sabhas in different parts of Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and hydrocarbon exploration which, they feared, would be detrimental to their respective regions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INO is being constructed in the <strong>Bodi West Hills</strong> (Theni district) of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>The site is near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and is close to the <strong>Mathikettan Shola National Park.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vaigai river</strong> passes through the Theni district.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The region was recovering from the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-gaja" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gaja cyclone</strong></a> and the rural economy was in a very bad state.</li>
<li>The project may have <strong>harmful effects on the fertility of the land</strong> in the region and <strong>adversely affect the agricultural community,</strong> farm labourers and others dependent on the profession.</li>
<li>Further, it can result in the migration of farm labourers.</li>
<li>Villagers also alleged that they were<strong> not involved in the decision-making process.</strong></li>
<li>Massive scale of construction underground and controlled blasts, the vibrations from the explosions can badly affect the ecologically fragile <strong>Western Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>Other concerns voiced range from <strong>radiation, structural damage to the mountain</strong> to the <strong>emission of hazardous chemicals.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental clearance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental clearance was given</strong> after going through the geotechnical investigation report on studies carried out for INO set aside the concerns related to radioactivity or leaching of water, besides having the impact of blasting on inhabitation in the vicinity.</li>
<li>According to&nbsp; the <strong>geotechnical investigation report</strong>&nbsp;the operation of INO will have <strong>no release of radioactive or toxic substances.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> has upheld the environmental clearance granted in March 2018 to the project.</li>
<li>However, the project could not be implemented until the approval of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-roads-on-wildlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Board of Wildlife</strong></a> is also received.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram Sabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term Gram Sabha is defined in the Constitution under <strong>Article 243(b).</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>primary and permanent body</strong> of the Panchayati Raj system.</li>
<li>The power to <strong>annul a decision</strong> of the Gram Sabha rests with the <strong>Gram Sabha only.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Persons, those who are <strong>above 18</strong> years, living in the village whose names are included in the <strong>electoral rolls</strong> for the Panchayat at the village level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers and functions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The constitution empowered the <strong>State Legislatures to define the powers and functions</strong> of the Gram Sabhas through laws passed by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> INO</strong> </a>is aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover to conduct basic research on the neutrino.</li>
<li>The INO will study atmospheric neutrinos only. Solar neutrinos have much lower energy than the detector can detect.</li>
<li>The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is the nodal institution. The observatory is to be built jointly with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology.</li>
<li>It is not a weapons laboratory and will have no strategic or defence applications.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-villagers-use-gram-sabhas-to-oppose-hydrocarbon-india-based-neutrino-observatory-projects/article30661331.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4220,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Living Robots: Xenobots',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists in the United States have created the <strong>world&rsquo;s first &ldquo;living robots&rdquo;</strong> named<strong> &ldquo;xenobots&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tiny robots have been built from the cells of the <strong>African clawed frog.</strong> Scientists have repurposed living cells scraped from frog embryos and assembled them into entirely new life-forms.</li>
<li>The robots have been named after the species of <strong>aquatic frog Xenopus laevis,</strong> found across sub-Saharan Africa from Nigeria and Sudan to South Africa.</li>
<li>While humans have been manipulating organisms for their benefit since at least the dawn of agriculture, and genetic editing has created a few artificial organisms in recent years, the latest research is a breakthrough because it designs, for the first time ever, <strong>&ldquo;completely biological machines from scratch&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The xenobots can move toward a target, perhaps pick up a payload (like a medicine that needs to be carried to a specific place inside a patient) &mdash; and heal themselves after being cut.</li>
<li>Many useful applications of these living robots include searching out nasty compounds or radioactive contamination, gathering microplastic in the oceans, travelling in arteries to scrape out plaque, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why Xenopus Laevis?<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579601027_drishti_ias_african_clawed_frog.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579601027_drishti_ias_african_clawed_frog.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" height="214" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Xenopus is a genus of <strong>African frogs</strong> that are commonly known as the <strong>African clawed frogs.&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li>Two species of Xenopus are regularly used by biologists,<strong> Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis.</strong> Both species are fully aquatic, and are easy to maintain in captivity.</li>
<li>Xenopus is a valuable tool because they are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hardy, fully aquatic and easy to maintain in the laboratory,</li>
<li>Produce eggs year-round,</li>
<li>Eggs are a reliable and flexible material for research,</li>
<li>Embryos are a<strong> good model for vertebrate development,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Genetically similar to humans</strong> thus a good model for human disease</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/xenobot-the-worlds-first-living-machines-built-with-frogs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4166,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Indigenous TB Diagnostic Tool',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> <strong>(WHO)</strong> has endorsed <strong>TrueNat</strong> which is an <strong>indigenous molecular diagnostic tool for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/combination-therapy-for-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tuberculosis</a> (TB) diagnosis.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WHO&rsquo;s approval is important for India because it has the most number of TB patients in the world.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Tuberculosis Report 2019</strong></a>, India had 26.9 lakh TB patients in 2018.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017-2025</strong></a>, TB kills an estimated 4,80,000 Indians every year and over 1,400 every day.</li>
<li>India also has over a million &lsquo;missing&rsquo; cases every year that are not notified. Most of the cases remain either undiagnosed or inadequately diagnosed and treated in the private sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>TrueNat</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was developed by <strong>Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics.</strong></li>
<li>TrueNat is <strong>a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test</strong> that, by assaying the genes present in the TB bacteria, can not only detect the presence of the bacteria but can also detect <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-drug-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>drug resistance</strong></a> with the use of chips.</li>
<li>The DNA of the TB bacteria is extracted from the <strong>sputum samples</strong> collected from the patient and the test can easily and cost-effectively be done in the primary health care setup.</li>
<li>It was found to be comparable in accuracy to similar tests currently in use and has been recommended as a replacement for sputum microscopy tests.</li>
</ul>',
		'posturl' => 'indigenous-tb-diagnostic-tool',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4112,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'TOI 700 d',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578561807_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578561807_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="427" height="163" /></a></h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong></a> has reported the discovery of an <strong>Earth-size planet</strong>, named <strong>TOI 700 d</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The planet was found by <strong>NASA&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/toi-270-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)</a></strong> <strong>mission</strong>, which was launched in 2018. With TOI 700 d, TESS has discovered its first Earth-size planet in its star&rsquo;s habitable zone.</li>
<li><strong>In comparison to the Earth:</strong> TOI 700 d measures <strong>20% larger than Earth</strong>. It <strong>orbits its star, TOI 700, once every 37 days</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The star, TOI 700, is an <strong>"M dwarf"</strong> located just over 100 light-years away in the southern constellation Dorado. It is roughly 40% of the Sun's mass and size, and has about half its surface temperature.</li>
<li>Two other planets orbit the star:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TOI 700 b, which is almost exactly Earth-size, probably rocky, and which completes an orbit every 10 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>TOI 700 c, the middle planet, which is 2.6 times larger than Earth, is probably gas-dominated, and orbits every 16 days.</li>
<li><strong>Orbits in Habitable Zone:</strong> TOI 700 d is the outermost planet, and the only one in the TOI 700&rsquo;s habitable zone.</li>
<li>A habitable zone, also called the <strong>"Goldilocks zone"&nbsp;</strong>is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Earth is in the Sun&rsquo;s Goldilocks zone.</strong> If Earth were where the dwarf planet Pluto is, all its water would freeze; on the other hand, if Earth were where Mercury is, all its water would boil off.</li>
<li>Goldilock Zone is always defined with <strong>reference to a particular star</strong>. It can be different for different stars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>M-dwarf Star</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>M dwarf or M-type star, also called Red Dwarf Star are the most numerous type of star in the universe and the smallest type of hydrogen-burning star.</li>
<li>These have masses from about 0.08 to 0.6 times that of the Sun.</li>
<li>In the Milky Way Galaxy, about three-fourths of the stars are red dwarfs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-goldilocks-zone-6206998/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4102,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Railways Plans Hydrogen-Powered Engine by 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>During the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/107th-indian-science-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>107<sup>th</sup> Indian Science Congress,</strong></a> the Indian Railways has announced that it will <strong>build a hydrogen-powered rail engine by the end of 2021.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) will be developing a <strong>hydrogen-powered rail engine &mdash;</strong> a technology that has been demonstrated successfully <strong>only in Germany so far.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The proposed train will have<strong> four passenger coaches</strong> operating at <strong>75 km/hr speed.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One coach will carry the hydrogen gas cylinders, fuel cells, supercapacitors and DC converters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hydrogen</strong> will be the <strong>input to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/selenium-graphene-based-catalyst-in-fuel-cell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fuel cell</a></strong> and the power output of the fuel cell will drive the train.</li>
<li>The<strong> next phase</strong> is to generate hydrogen on board the train from water. This means that water will be converted into hydrogen through water splitting technologies and hydrogen will then be used as the input for fuel cells.</li>
<li>Hydrogen-powered rail engine will help <strong>to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based energy</strong> sources like diesel and electricity and to find alternative sources of fuel to power its trains.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fuel Cell<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578474834_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578474834_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="500" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy from the reactants directly into electricity and heat.</li>
<li>The device consists of an electrolyte layer in contact with a porous anode and cathode on either side.</li>
<li>In a standard fuel cell, gaseous fuels are fed continuously to the anode (negative electrode), while an oxidant (oxygen from the air) is fed continuously to the cathode (positive electrode). Electrochemical reactions take place at the electrodes to produce an electric current.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railways-plans-hydrogen-powered-engine-for-passenger-trains-by-end-of-2021-6203317/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong> </a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4074,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Extraocular Vision',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>For the first time, researchers have shown that a <strong>species of brittle stars</strong> can see even though it does not have eyes.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578125290_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578125290_image5.jpg" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>ability to see without eyes is known as extraocular vision.</strong></li>
<li>The red brittle star (Ophiocoma wendtii) has become only the <strong>second creature, after a sea urchin species,</strong> known to have the extraocular vision (barring rare cases in other species).</li>
<li>In sea urchins and brittle stars, researchers suspect that extraocular vision is facilitated by the <strong>photoreceptor cells found on their bodies.</strong></li>
<li>The researchers suggest that a brittle star sees with the help of <strong>light-sensing cells that cover its entire body.</strong> These light-sensing cells give the brittle star visual stimuli, allowing it to recognise coarse structures such as rocks.</li>
<li>Another peculiar feature of the red brittle star is its<strong> signature colour change.</strong> While the creature is deep red during the day, it changes its colour to beige at night.</li>
<li>The researchers think that there <strong>may be a link between their extraocular vision and colour changing abilities</strong> since the responses they saw in the creatures tested during the day, disappeared in those that were tested at night.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-extraocular-vision-6198632/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4070,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Iron Snow on Earth’s Inner Core',
		'description' => '<p>According to a study published in journal JGR Solid Earth, the<strong> earth&rsquo;s inner core is capped by snow made of tiny particles of iron</strong> which are much heavier than any snowflake on Earth's surface.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The iron-snow falls from the molten outer core and piles up in the inner core of the Earth creating stacks that are up to 320 km thick.</li>
<li>This finding was unearthed after <strong>analyzing signals from</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seismometers-defunct-in-earthquake-prone-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>seismic waves</strong></a> as they pass through the Earth. Seismic Waves are vibrations generated by an earthquake, explosion, or similar energetic source and that propagate within the Earth or along its surface. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The seismic waves moved much slower than expected when they passed through the base of the outer core.</li>
<li>However, they moved faster than estimates as they passed through the eastern hemisphere of the top inner core.</li>
<li>The scientists found out that slurry-like (semi -liquid) composition of the snow pack slows the seismic waves. The variation in snow pile size -- thinner in the eastern hemisphere and thicker in the western -- affected the speed of the waves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier studies had also pointed about the existence of slurry layer exists between the inner and outer core.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The same is supported by the latest data from experiments on core-like materials. The scientists have found that crystallisation is possible and that about 15% of the lowermost outer core could be made of iron-based crystals (snow).</li>
<li>These crystals could eventually fall down the liquid outer core and settle on top of the solid inner core.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Earth&rsquo;s Internal Structure</h3>
<p>The earth is made up of <strong>three different layers:</strong> the crust, the mantle and the core.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578123133_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578123133_image1.png" width="538" height="297" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Crust</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the outside layer of the earth and is made of solid rock, mostly<strong> basalt and granite.</strong></li>
<li>There are two types of crust; oceanic and continental. Oceanic crust is denser and thinner and mainly composed of basalt. It is also known as <strong>Sima (most abundant minerals being silicate and magnesium)</strong></li>
<li>Continental crust is less dense, thicker, and mainly composed of granite. It is also called as <strong>Sial (most abundant minerals being silicate and aluminium).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Mantle</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The portion of the interior beyond the crust is called the mantle. The mantle extends from <strong>Moho&rsquo;s discontinuity (boundary between the crust and mantle)</strong> to a depth of 2,900 km.</li>
<li>The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called <strong>lithosphere.</strong> Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.</li>
<li>The upper portion of the mantle is called <strong>asthenosphere</strong> which is the main source of magma that finds its way to the surface during volcanic eruptions.</li>
<li>The lower mantle extends beyond the asthenosphere. It is in <strong>solid state.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Core</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> mantle- core boundary (gutenberg discontinuity)</strong> is located at a depth of 2,900 km.</li>
<li>The outer core is in a liquid state while the inner core is in solid state.</li>
<li>The core is made up of very heavy material mostly constituted by <strong>nickel and iron.</strong> Thus, it is sometimes referred to as the <strong>nife</strong> layer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/iron-snow-on-earths-innermost-layer/article30428829.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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