Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- disorder
- immune system attacks nervous system
PM Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers & Teaching
- launched 2014
- also mentioned in 2023 Union Budget
PM USHA
- higher studies
- earlier name ➡️ PM RUSA (2013)
- renamed in 2023
- The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) is a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Education aimed at enhancing access, equity, and excellence in higher education across States and Union Territories
DPIs’ to help add $1 trillion to India’s economy by 2030
- mature DPI’s have generated ➡️ 0.9% of India’s GDP
55% of banking frauds tied to third party account takeovers
100% FDI in Space
- State-led reforms opened India’s space sector to private companies in 2020.
- Release of the ‘Geospatial Guidelines’.
- Released of the ‘Indian Space Policy’, creating the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe)
- Telecommunications Act 2023 that provided for satellite broadband services.
- Up to 74% FDI in satellite-manufacturing, operations, and data products.
- Up to 49% FDI in launch vehicles, space ports, and their corresponding systems.
What are the different types of capitalisms seen around the world?
There are polar models of capitalism– Liberal Market Economies (LMEs) and Coordinated Market Economies (CMEs)
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Liberal Market Economies (LMEs): Examples include the US, UK, and Canada, where firms interact mainly through market mechanisms. These economies emphasize free market principles and minimal state intervention.
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Coordinated Market Economies (CMEs): Found in countries like Germany and Japan, where firms rely more on non-market relationships for coordination. These economies often feature strong labor unions and close collaboration between government and industry.
Intermediate Models Between LMEs and CMEs:
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Mediterranean Capitalism: Found in countries like Spain and Italy, it combines elements from both LMEs and CMEs, with a notable presence of family businesses and state intervention.
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East Asian Capitalism: Seen in South Korea and Singapore, this model mixes state-guided policies with market operations, often focusing on export-driven growth.
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Social Capitalism: Characteristic of Sweden, where there’s a blend of market mechanisms and strong social welfare systems.
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State-Guided Capitalism: Exemplified by China, where the state plays a crucial role in controlling and guiding the economy, often through ownership of key sectors.
Surrogacy Rules
- The Centre has recently amended the 2022 surrogacy rules, allowing couples to utilize donor gametes. This overturns the ban on donor gametes that was imposed in March 2023.
- single women still not included
Kerala’s operation AMRITH
- No prescription, No antibiotics
- Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention for Total Health
- enforces the original H1 rule
Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser Syndrome
- ovaries / uterus absent
- NO egg prodn
IBCA
- International Big Cat Alliance
- India’s initiative
ZSI names a newly discovered sea slug after President Murmu
- Melanochlamys droupadi
- Digha, WB
- smooth dorsal surface
Umbrella body for urban cooperative banks
- National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corp. Ltd.
Potential therapeutic target found for rheumatoid arthritis
- ALOX 5
- protein
- treatment target
- potential marker for disease
DMPA - SC
- life saving contraceptive
- injectable
Hangul
- critically endangered
- schedule-I u/ WPA
- Dachigam National Park
- state animal ➡️ J&K
- Kashmir stag
- captive breeding at ➡️ Shikargah Tral
KMMTTP
- Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project
- MEA
- India-Myanmar
Exercise Samudra Laksamana
- India- Malayasia
Juice jacking
- RBI issues warning against mobile phones using public ports
BioTRIG
- new waste management technology which works on the pyrolysis system.
- generates three valuable products: Bio-oil, Syngas and Biochar fertilizer.
GIP
About
The government recently announced the completion of sequencing 10,000 healthy genomes from various regions across the country, representing 99 different populations. The aim is to establish a comprehensive database of whole-genome sequences out of India.
| Initiated | The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has initiated it in 2020. |
| Aim | To collect 10,000 genetic samples from citizens across India, to build a reference genome. |
| Objective | Studying genetic differences in Indians for better diagnosis. |
| Other Stakeholders involved | The project involves 20 institutions across India and is led by the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. |
| Significance | Study India’s genetic diversity for personalized healthcare. |
Note– India accomplished its first complete human genome sequencing in 2006.
Space
What are the steps taken by the government to enhance private sector participation in the space sector?
1) IN-SPACE: This was launched to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
2) New Space India Limited (NSIL): Its aim is to use research and development carried out by ISRO over the years for commercial purposes through Indian industry partners.
3) Indian Space Association (ISpA): It aims to open the Indian space industry to private companies and startups. For ex- around 190 startups are working in this area.
4) Liberalized FDI regime-The government has allowed following fields under automatic route-
- Firms in satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products and ground segment, and user segment can get FDI up to 74 %.
- For manufacturing components and systems/subsystems for satellites,100 % FDI is allowed.
What is Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
- Objective: To deliver 300 units of ‘free electricity’ monthly to 1 crore households via rooftop solar setups.
- Department: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
- Central subsidy:
- 60% of installation costs for 2 kW systems
- 40% of costs for systems ranging from 2-3 kW capacity
Note- Systems with higher wattage are ineligible. - National Portal – It will facilitate subsidy applications and assist in finding a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar. Additionally, it will aid decision-making by providing relevant information as needed.
What is India’s three-stage nuclear program?
Stage I: Uses Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with natural uranium-238 (U-238), which also contains U-235. This stage generates plutonium-239 (Pu-239) and energy.
Stage II: Implements the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), which utilizes Pu-239 along with U-238 to produce energy, U-233, and more Pu-239. The PFBR, with a capacity of 500 MWe, represents a significant progression towards thorium utilization. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) set up a special-purpose vehicle in 2003 called Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam, Ltd. (BHAVINI) to implement stage II.
Stage III: Focuses on combining Pu-239 with thorium-232 (Th-232) in reactors to produce energy and U-233.
What is PFBR?
About PFBR:
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is a nuclear reactor in India that produces more nuclear fuel than it consumes. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, designed the PFBR.
It’s a key component of India’s three-stage nuclear power program, aiming for energy self-sufficiency.
What is the importance of Stage II of India’s nuclear program?
Transition to Thorium Use: Stage II, featuring the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), is crucial for transitioning towards using thorium, leveraging India’s large thorium reserves.
Foundation for Future Expansion: This stage lays the groundwork for building additional fast breeder reactors (FBRs). The Department of Atomic Energy proposed constructing four more FBRs, each with a 600 MWe capacity.
Self-Sufficiency in Nuclear Energy: Stage II is a strategic step towards making India completely self-sufficient in nuclear energy, a major goal of the country’s nuclear program.
Global Resource Outlook 2024 report has been published by UNEP.
- The extraction and processing of material resources accounts for over 55 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 40 per cent of particulate matter poisoning the environment.
Chakshu
- for reporting spam calling
- DoT, meity
- non-public data sharing resource for TSP’s, law enforcement agencies, FI’s, etc
MIRV Technology
- single missile ➡️ carries multiple warheads
- @ diff. locations
- missile bus
- Mission Divyastra
- AGNI-V
- longest range
- ballistic
- APJ Abdul Kalam Island ➡️ Odisha
- DRDO
- AGNI-V
Gender Social Norms Index
- by UNDP
TEPA
Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement
- 4 countries (europe)
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
- $100 b investment, over 15 yrs
PM SURAJ
PM Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan portal
- implemented by MoSJ&E
- monitoring of all loan & credit schemes
- by disadvantaged communities
Vikram-I
- first pvt. orbital rocket launch
- by skyroot
- stages in this LV ➡️KALAM-250 (2nd stage)
- C composite rocket motor
- EPDM-TPS
- C ablative flex nozzle
India Employment Report 2024
- by ILO & IHD
- 83% unemployed youth among total unemployed population
Only 4% firms in India’s ready to tackle cybersecurity risk
- Cisco’s 2023 Cybersecurity Readiness Index.
Sustainable Building Materials
- India witnessing unprecedented boom
- building sector ➡️ major energy consumer (33%)
- India Cooling Action Plan
- 4 fold inc in cooling during 2017-2037
Eco-Niwas Samhita
- RETV ➡️ residential envelope transmittance value
- lower value recommended
- AAC has the lowest RETV among all materials used
Clinical Trials of Spanish TB
- by BharatBioTech
- MTBVAC
March 22, 2024
- World Water day
- Theme: Leveraging water for peace
World Water Assessment Prog.
- by UNESCO
Plastic Waste Management Rules 2024
- defines biodegradable plastic
- as not only capable of degradation but also materials don’t leave any micro-plastics
- no specified chemical tests to chk remnant microplastics. if any
ISBA, jamaica
International Seabed Authority
- India approached to get rights to explore Indian Ocean beyond it’s jurisdiction for
- Cobalt rich crust long known as - Afanasy Nikitin Seamount
Kancheepuram
- TN
- electronic products (30%)
Models & Manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules 2019
- discourage to rely on imported panels
- inspection of manufacturing facilities by ➡️ NISE
EU ‘Chat Control Law’
- scanning e2e messages
Pushpak
- 3rd reusable launch vehicle landing experiment (RLV LEX)
- chitradurga, Karnataka
Limbless Amphibian found in Kazinranga for first time
- Assam
- Ichthyophis spp - striped caecillian
- ancient species
- under soil
South India’s first Leopard safari inaugrated at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru
- countries largest ➡️ leopard safari
China’s probe CHANG’E 6
- from far side of the moon
- 2.5 mya
- probe landing
- moon’s south pole Aitken basin (4 bya)
Maternity Leave even in Surrogacy
- 180 days
- paternity leave ➡️ 15 days
New Species of Turmeric Discovered
Curcuma kakchingense
- at Kakching in Manipur
Discovery of a flowering plant
Asystasia venui @ Jagdish Bose garden, Howrah, WB
Meningoencephalitis
- amoebic infection
- stagnant, warm water
- brain eating