01.01.

2017
Agni - 5 test fired successfully DRDO India has carved a niche for itself in the space and defence
sector longest range ICBM part of IGMDP carry nuclear warheads more than 5000 km 3 stage
solid propellant nose cone made of carbon compounds Agni 5 act as a deterrence, weapon of
peace, not of destruction.
teri + swiss 2 stage biomass gasifier converts solid biomass to combustible gas useful for rural
electrification
RF MEMS Switches by CSIR-CEERI Radio Frequency Micro electromechanical systems compact
systems consume less power and better performance replace bulky coaxial switches used in
satellites.
Vera Rubin - Astrophysicist passed away - rotation of galaxies.
Cheetah fast moving in to extinction in Africa - 7100 left, according to survey.
Indian Science in 2016
TV-2035 document by tifac released during 103rd Indian Science Congress in Mysore.
NIDHI programme National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations to provide
technological solutions not only to the pressing needs of the society but also targets to create new
avenues for wealth and job creation. The programme will focus on helping start-ups to meet their
funding, infrastructure and other mentorship needs.
SERB - VAJRA Scheme - Visiting faculty scheme
MOM - completed one year
establishment of ARIES Devasthal Telescope Nainital + Surja Jyoti - PV Integrated micro solar dome +
India UK clean energy R&D center
India - associate member of CERN get access to labs and other research projects being done by CERN.
4th BRICS meeting on S&T - Jaipur.
08.01.2017
104th Indian Science Congress SVU, Tirupati PM urged scientific community to seek solutions
for the present problems Massive participation including Nobel Laureates interdisciplinary
platform for dissemination of knowledge from diverse fields Organised by Indian Science congress
association under the aegis of DST first held in 1914
Leap Second added in order to keep up the slowing of earth rotation CSIR - NPL, New Delhi added
one second to the IST at 05:29:59 The Earth rotation is not constant and sometimes slows down and
speeds up due to various reasons earthquakes, moon's gravitational pull, etc. falls out of sync with
coordinated universal time or mean solar time to compensate it leap second added.
27th such addition no significant impact on daily lives --> but crucial role in applications like
astronomy, satellites etc. which work on extreme precision.
NASA science mission called imaging x-ray polarimetry explorer - 2020 explore black holes
Pre Incan pyramid shaped structure - called Ushnu - used by Incas to preside at the most important
ceremonies of Tawantinsuyu (lit. Four Regions) in the Incan Empire) Peru
15.01.2017
Nobel Prize series India 2017 - Ahmedabad Part of Noble foundation global outreach program -
planned in connection with Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017 - 9 Nobel Laureates participated and
interacted with students and scientific community
104th ISC platform for wider discussions - R Chidambaram Principal Scientific Advisor pressed the
need for scientific collaboration & International Partnerships required for sustainable scientific
development and called for partnership with India on equal partner basis.
India based Neutrino Project Iron calorimeter discussed in 104th ISC; Neutrinos - created during
many nuclear and particle reactions - formation of stars, universe. Where? Bodi Hills, Theni District -
Tamil Nadu scientists are trying to allay fears of activists and local people about bio diversity and
other radiation effects due to this project neutrino studies are radiation free- will not damage dams
in the area the project is expected to boost basic science research in India.
DNA Barcoding fast emerging trend - special minimum sequences to identify plant and animal species
can be used by even non- experts to identify herbal mixtures CSIR - CIMAP, Bengaluru.
India & Portugal - Agriculture, energy technology IT - MoU signed - backed UNSC India bid.
Bio Clay pest free crops nano sized degradable clay - alternative to chemical pesticides - activates
defence mechanism
Electronic gadgets and health electronic gadgets if not appropriately used health problems.
 Changing sleep patterns, radiation liked to cancers, texting tendonitis - repetitive typing + humans not
adaptive staring for hours - multiple eye infections + eating with eyes on TV obesity.
E-mentia - no information in brain - too much dependence on gadgets for basic things. (-mentia = mind)
23.01.2017
One large continent Pangea 200 million years ago drifted apart Laurasia in the North and
Gondwana in the South India once part of Gondwana, which included Antarctica, South America,
Australia and Africa drifted alone until it hits Eurasian plate isolated land mass and no exchange
takes place between other landmasses.
Biting midges found in Surat still those can be found in Germany shows that India is not isolated
during the drift.
Black Hole of Man of India passed away Prof. C V Vishveshwara discovered quasi normal modes
made detection of gravitational waves possible. Founder director of Nehru Planetarium Bengaluru;
propagating science through cartoons and wrote books Einsteins Enigma or Black Holes in my Bubble
bath.
India associate member of CERN now have full access to all the data generated at CERN and take
part in the experiments.
Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon has passed away.
NIRF report Ranking
Parameters are shown in table
Knowledge driven society is the
key quality of education
determines the progress of the
country concept of ranking and
assessment is necessary
Quaquarelli symonds university
ranking and nature rankings across the world are there for ranking institutions worldwide.
NIRF MHRD covers 3500 institutions ranked 4 Categories University, management, pharmacy and
engineering. Ranking is the indicative of the extent of which an institution can be able to reach out to
the students and be inclusive.
The ranking promote healthy competition where each institution tries to achieve the best + ranking
address the gaps in the existing educational systems in the country and help in correcting and filling the
lacunae, thereby help in progress of country.
29.01.2017
Mt Everest also known as Sagarmatha in Nepal to be re-measured again by Survey of India - doubts
expressed after Nepal earthquake - might be shrinking - height 29028 ft. as of now.
68th Republic Day Padma Awards announced 7 PV + 7 PB + 75 PS in the field of science -->
awardees 5 from Science and Engineering Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao (ISRO ex-chairman)-
Padma Vibhushan + Padma shree awardees Chandrakanth Pithawa (Computer based control systems
for Nuclear Plants Telangana), Prof. Ajoy Kumar Ray (Bengal), Chintakindi Mallesham (Laxmi Asu
machine which reduces the effort of women in tie and dye pochampalli silk saree tradition) &
Jitendranath Goswami (Assam Chief Scientist of Chandrayaan-1) & no Padma Bhushan awards in S&E
category.
3rd Annual space meet 2016 - during January 2017 - New Delhi All India Asteroid Search Campaign
- discover and name them held by Space Group + International Astronomical Union
WiSH - Wind + Solar Hybrid technology - CSIR National Aerospace Laboratories - integrating wind
turbine with solar PV panels - suitable for Indian low wind regime.
ISRO successfully tested cryogenic upper stage for GSLV Mk-III - indigenous propulsion cryogenic
technology + ISRO realigned MOM orbit.
Synchrotron radiation light source source of electromagnetic radiation (EM) usually produced by
a storage ring, for scientific and technical purposes can measure atomic structure to be built by
Beijing, China for national security purposes.
DNA four bases Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine - team of researchers created a synthetic
bacterium E.Coli - used 4 bases + two synthetic bases X and Y modified bacterium which could be
used to make proteins for medicines.
NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar - NISAR mission - works in dual frequency - L and S bands - a
satellite program expeected to launch in 2020 - maps changes in Earth geological details + natural
 resources mapping and monitoring; ISRO - design and development of S band + launch using GSLV +
mission operations; NASA - L band SAR + payload for the mission + GPS system + data recorder.

05.02.2017
Budget 2017-18 employment for the youth and eradication TB; Hike in scientific funding prime
focus on innovation --> more funds to departments relating to S&T DAE got higher funds followed by
Dept. of space; Innovation fund for secondary education.
Paperfuge based on whirlgig can separate blood plasma and RBCs and malarial parasites.
World Cancer Day - 4th February goal is to significantly reduce illness and death by 2020 Theme
2017 we can. I Can.
Pong Dam HP flamingos came first time
Science of DNA fingerprinting:
A laboratory technique used to establish a link between biological evidence and a suspect in a criminal
investigation.
Every human cell DNA unique to individuals helpful in tracing family lineage + criminal cases +
paternity of child.
India not yet passed bill for creation of DNA database of criminal offenders, which could help a lot in
solving cases.
12.02.2017
Scientist found Mauritia buried under Indian Ocean; Gravitational force on Mauritius is higher and
stronger than on other parts on the earth.
Pangea broke up into different masses tectonic plates;
Mauritia lost continent hiding under the Indian Ocean beneath the island of Mauritius Also
found Zircon Crystals on the coast, which is not deemed to be destination of such rocks.
Integration of Biomass + Solar energy under the aegis of DST Solar biomass hybrid technology.
Cleaner water technology by CSIR Hollow fibre filter technology, come handy during calamities.
Gloria Knolls Slide 3 lakh year ago Great Barrier Reef Queensland, Australia.
Volcano in Mexico came alive called Fire Volcano or Colima Volcano.
All women mosque in Lucknow going fully solar.
DRDO & Aerospace technology:
Role of DRDO pioneer in country's defence system Eg. Tejas & Netra
Aero India show (11th) in Bengaluru by DRDO biennial - 2nd largest in the world after the Paris Show.
LCA Tejas indigenously developed aircraft , cause extreme damage to the target - used by 45 squadron
Unmanned aerial vehicle - Netra - for surveillance - low maintenance as less rotating parts.
Rustom - MALE unmanned combat air vehicle
MiG 29 - multirole air superiority vehicle
AVATAR - Aerobic Vehicle for trans-atmospheric hypersonic aerospace transportation single stage
unmanned reusable space plane capable of horizontal take-off and landing DRDO + ISRO

19.02.2017
ISRO - 104 Satellites at one go - PSLV-C37 3 Indian satellites (INS 1A. 1B and Cartosat 2 series
satellite) + German + US + UAE + Kazakhstan + Switzerland + Israel + Netherlands.
More number of satellites in one launch --> Cutting the costs and beneficial to consumer.
7th National Science Film Festival - at Kolkata - by Vigyan Prasar + National Council of Science
Museums Visual media has eased understanding of sciences.
IISc Bengaluru - Microscopic Heat Engine - Bacteria activity changes the temperatures and powers the
engine - Bacillus Licheniformis was used 50-60% efficiency.
Samba Mahsuri Rice - Bacterial Blight resistant variety by ICAR + CCMB.
Atlas released by MoST for Visually impaired students prepared by National Atlas & Thematic Mapping
Organisation (NATMO)
Science of Sleep:
Sleep - complex psychological phenomenon characterized by altered consciousness, relatively
inhibited sensory activity, inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles, and reduced interactions with
surroundings.
Good sleep - vital for health Sleep has many variables and processes involved in sleep Circadian
Rhythms or Biological Clock active during day time and sleep at night.
 Yawning - symptom of decreased oxygen supply to brain and slowing down.
Jet lags physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian
rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance trans-meridian (eastwest or westeast) travel on high-
speed aircraft.
wakeful phase gradually transitional sleep stage non REM sleep slow wave sleep, deep sleep
REM Sleep (dreaming stage)
Increased stress, change in life styles sleep deprivation and disorders.

26.02.2017
7 new exo planets - by NASA Spitzer telescope Earth size planets with central star - TRAPPIST-1
in the constellation Aquarius 3 of these are located in the habitable zone - may support life.
Spitzer is an IR telescope that trails earth as it orbits Sun used to study TRAPPIST -1.
It could be a significant step towards knowing habitable zones and planets outside Earth.
New Frog Species DU discovers new frog species from Western Ghats 4 are Miniature Frogs Frogs
in the middle of natural food chain - occupy very crucial space and play vital role in maintaining
ecological balance.
Frogman of India --> Prof. Sathyabhama Das Biju.
Super Critical CO2 as working fluid and Brayton Cycle for solar thermal plants efficiency is more.
New sugar cane machine --> sugar content will be known and help in ensuring fair price to the sugarcane
farmers.
Single national engineering entrance test exam for engineers in 2018-19 reduce the stress on
students by doing away with multiple exams + twice in a year + institutions will also get good students
+ more transparency and accountability + students can choose the states diversity of state
representation in colleges Govt directed AICTE to come with guidelines + English + regional
languages + National level web based counselling for students likely to get resistance from some
states and private colleges.

05.03.2017
National Science Day Celebrations - 28th Feb commemoration of the historic discovery of Raman
Effect by C V Raman - Blue colour of Sky due to Scattering by Water.
Theme for 2017 Science and Technology for Special abled persons.
WHO list of bacteria Superbugs capable of changing faster than the drugs available to treat them
indiscriminate use of anti-biotics.
3 categories of bacteria --> need for new antibiotics - critical, high and medium.
Critical - MDR bacteria - Acenatobacter etc. resisitant to carbopenem.
High enterococcus, stafelococcus, heleco bacter , campero bacter, salmonella,
Medium - Shigella, streptococcus and haemophilus
MDR TB not included in the list, as it is already under research.
NASA's sun Mission: Sun - Fusion Hydrogen to Helium nuclei.
First mission to fly to the Sun 3 crucial questions 1) why surface is not as hot as its atmosphere?
2) Why sun occasionally emits high energy particles?
3) How solar wind gets its speed?
ISRO - Chandrayaan -2 - Tests for soft landing on moon in 2018
Micro fossils found in Hudson Bay, Canada.
12.03.2017
Festival of Innovation at Rashtrapathi Bhavan in collaboration with the National Innovation
Foundation Provides platform for Grassroot innovators and rewarded for their efforts.
Astronomical Society of India 35th National Congress - founded in 1972 --> promotion of Astronomy
and related branches of science in India.
IIA to set up telescope in Hanle, Ladakh observatory.
International Women's Day - Vigyan Prasar conducted seminar at Indian National Science Academy New
Delhi.
Role of Women in the field of S&T
Challenges Institutions have fewer women scientists.
Gender bias, conscious and unconscious, a huge problem in science + Science stereotyped as masculine
20-30% less employability than men + Pressure to juggle family and research
 Leaky Pipeline Women leave active research + Productive and reproductive years coincide
Women receive less research support.
There exists a need to fill this gap. Women are today displaying the skills in every sector but they face
considerable challenges while pursuing their career in science and research.
19.03.2017
Chandrayaan - 1 2008 - 1st Indian Lunar Probe; lasted for one year and then no communications. NASA
recently found it orbiting the moon.+ NASA's Lunar Reconnoisnace Orbiter.
Pollution on the rise in Mumbai than Delhi - SAFAR - System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and
Research - Ministry of Earth Sciences - Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorlogy Pune
Chitrakoot in Central India - Oldest Fossil found - resemble Red Algae.
Bioluminescent Frog First Glow in the Dark frog from Argentina - Polka Dot Tree frog - shades of
green, Yellow and Red under Normal light; blue and Green in the dark.
Tultepec, Mexico Mammoth fossils found lived in Pleistocene Age.
Kilauea Volcano active shield Volcano in Hawaiian islands Liquid Lava flowing - According to US
geological Survey, erupted from one vent in Hawaii.
Surat World record in cleanliness - 2104 people sweeping the streets - organised by local NGO.
Growing India in S&T S&T holds the key in rapidly evolving societies some of the Greatest
achievements of Indian Science:
1. 104 satellites in one Go --> PSLV C37.
2. telescopes at various places
3. Scramjet Engine
4. Astrosat
5. INS Sindhu Sadhana - Research Vessel - equipped with latest technology.
6. putting satellites in two different orbits.
7. Part of World's projects - LIGO, LHC and CERN.
26.03.2017
Birac biotechnology industry research assistance council 5 years completed Theme Impacting
the biotech innovation system.
Solar Energy - Novel technologies for fabricating highly efficient Silicon Solar cells --> BHEL- ASSCP
Guru gram Haryana - only R&D centre in India - Research pursued in high scale.
Junior Nobel Prize - Regeneron Science Talent Search Competition --> Indrani Das - Indian
American on treating in injuries.
36th Indian expedition to Antarctic - by National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research Installation
of Stakes around Bharati and Maitri research stations to validate glacier surface velocity estimate
thickness of snow on land and sea.
Pluto once as a Planet but declared dwarf planet in 2006 restoring the status put forth by some
scientists. Problem --> 110 bodies also need to be added including the moon of the Earth.
Rhododendron local name Burans or Gurans Popular in North India - improve blood circulation
control BP and boost immunity facing threat of existence.
Uttarakhand High court Ganga and Yamuna are living entities. Move could help in efforts to clean the
polluted rivers.
Save our Sparrows 20th March World Sparrow Day; Sparrows Present IUCN status is Least
Concern but today are a rare site Name Passer Domesticus Crucial role in environment - an
important link in food chain - check on insects and themselves food for big birds -Pollination.
Major Threat - Radiation effects by mobile towers.
Tips: 1. Spread little food grains for birds + 2. Keep bowl of water during summers + 3. Minimise the use
of mobile phones + 4. Plant more trees and bushes + 5. Reduce the use of Pesticides and insecticides +
6. make small and simple bird houses

02.04.2017
Global Burden of Diseases WHO report diarrhoea - 5 lakh were children - max are from India.
Shigellosis by Shigella bacteria - develop diarrhoea - one of the leading causes of deaths.
C V Raman A memoir - A Jaya Raman student of C V Raman first Asian and Indian to receive
Noble Prize in Physics in 1930.
Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru - by C V Raman in 1934 - Autonomous + registered under
societies act under Dept. of Science and Technology.
 National Health Policy 2017:
Health is Wealth - not only for individuals but collectively for countries as well. Economic growth
depends on the health of the citizens.
Affordable and accessible health care for all + Focus on Preventive Health Care.
Focus on NCDs + mental health + rehabilitative + palliative care.
setting of PHCs *Increase in spending from 1.1% to 2.5% of GDP by 2025
Recognising the private sector in delivering health services to the citizens.
Efficient health care + financing mechanisms + Health insurance programs
Upgrading the district health centres. *digizing health records.
Increase the life expectancy from 67.5 to 70 years by 2025 + availability of 2 beds per 1000 population.
09.04.2017
National Institute of Ranking Framework - MoHRD - India is known for its high quality education and
training. Quality of education determines progress.
IISc - Best ranking. IIMA - top management institute.
Safer sanitation DST has conceived Re-invent the toilet challenge - India - launched in 2013 by Grand
challenges India framework DBT + Melinda Gates foundation + Installed bio toilets.
Sanitation remains a huge problem in most of the developing nations. Poor sanitation and ODF -
Contaminate water and spread infections - 62 million children affected under 5 - according to UNESCO.
Grand challenges India - family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and
development problems.
Largest dinosaur, Diplodocus footprint Western Australia.
Van Vihar National Park - Bhopal, MP taking care of animals during to summer putting fans, jute
materials on top of sheds, etc.
World Health Day -7th April - theme 2017 - Depression - Let's talk.
32.2 million World Wide 5 million in India suffering more women than men.
Depressions Downs in life sadness in long term a mental disorder.
Serotonin - 5 hydroxy tryptamine - found in gastro intestinal tract, blood platelets and central nervous
system - contributor to feelings of wellbeing and happiness reduction leads to depression.
Pharmacotherapy + psychotherapy + anti-depressants etc.
Chemical imbalance in brain mood swings and depression.
Causes Family history, trauma, major life changes, stress certain physical illnesses.
Symptoms - Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness, restlessness, worthlessness or pessimism
Irritability, Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities, decreased energy or fatigue.
Memory loss, over sleeping or under sleep.
Increases risk of diabetes and heart diseases. Also lead to Suicides.
Anti-depressants used to correct chemical imbalance of brain.
It can be treated and the more early it begin the better it is.
16.04.2017
Mt. Everest to be re-measured - 8840 mts - Survey of India + Nepal - whether it is shrinking following
the massive EQ hit in Nepal India is first country to measure the height of Mt Everest.
Tectonic movements centuries years ago gave rise to Himalayas.
National Geosciences Awards 2016 declared - instituted by Ministry of Mines - Previously called
National Mineral Awards.
Herbal Medicines TB drugs from Plants Tulsi, Neem scientists exploring the herbals for
treating deadly and MDR diseases.
Artemesinin - Malaria cure aka qinghao su from plant sweet worm wood Tu youyou, Chinese
scientist awarded Noble Prize in Medicince in 2015 for the discovery.
Enceladus Saturn moon - contains Hydrogen - made by Cassini spacecraft by NASA.
Great cold spot found on Jupiter cooler than the atmosphere.
Water Conservation:
Increasing demand and scarcity has prompted measures to conserve the water across the globe.
India - Integrated Watershed management Programme Rajasthan has benefitted from this program
JV of Govts + NABARD protection of age old practices + judicious use of resources.
 IWMP --> under NABARD --> committees at all levels + public awareness + participation + trenches
created + ponds dug + Trees planted + mini dams; Erosion decreases + ground water table increases.
Funds skill development + employment generation + Women empowerment + natural resource
management.
23.04.2017
Survey of India Oldest establishments in India - 1767 - Principal mapping agency of Govt of India
250 years in 2017 National conference on Geospatial framework.
Nakshe Portal - freely accessible web portal, free geological information and maps + Citizens can access
maps for free. Now no need to visit SoI offices Aadhaar Enabled login process.
2015 - International Year of Light Light is important for all aspects of life UNESCO uploaded
Indian contributions like activities conducted, research programs, seminars, exhibitions and training
programs to the Year of light in the final report. 13 episode Movie by Vigyan Prasar had special mention
in the report.
The Story of Lights Festival - India's first arts meet science festival conceived by the story of
Foundation for IYL 2015 - held in Goa in January 2015.
Giant Asteroid 2014-J025 zoomed passed by the Earth recently largest asteroid that has come this
near to Earth. Between Mars and Jupiter - small bodies - cannot become Planets on their own - studying
them can lead to understand the planet formation.
Organic Farming - alternative to chemical driven agriculture Healthy Crop Healthy Consumers.
Pesticides and Chemicals - slow poisoning.
World Earth Day - April 22 Annual Event - 2017 Theme Environment and climate literacy.
Earth Home to million forms of life the only planet at a perfect distance from Sun and correct
atmospheric pressure. 4.5 billion years old - Civilisation last 6000 years In short span humans have
destructed the planet more than all other species combined together.
Day dedicated to the cause of Environmental protection.
Earth Day Network India HQ - Kolkata.
The goal is to create knowledge led societies and inspire action in defence of environment protection.

30.04.2017
Autism serious neuro developmental disorder - caused by Genetic + environment factors birth to
3 years impairs mental growth.
10 million children in India suffer from Autism Cases increasing in India & across the World.
April in India Autism month awareness public lecture by AIIMS.
Characterised by impaired social interaction verbal and nonverbal communication, restrictive and
repetitive behaviour, associated with alteration of connections of nerve cells.
visible after 2 years - no complete cure - can be managed effectively to lead life
Cassini - 1997 - unmanned mission - NASA + ESA + Italian space agency; information about Saturn and
its moons sent plenty of information since 2004 entered last phase of its mission - run out of fuel
22 dives between rings - completely unexplored territory so far takes gravity measurements +
magnetic field measurements and help understand how the field is generated + mass of the rings for the
first time + their direct composition;
In its mission it reported evidence of sub-Surface Ocean within Saturn moon Dione + Enceladus sub-
surface salty ocean beneath its crust.
Venus Orbiter Mission by ISRO by 2020 Orbiter will be sent to unravel the mysteries of Venus;
ISRO invited scientists to study the mission potential; termed as Earth's twin - in terms of mass density
and size the mission - basic understating of Venus.
Super pressure Balloon - NASA - from Wanaka - NZ - collect data from 34 km above the Earth - to
detect ultra-high energy cosmic particles from beyond the galaxy - 100 day program.
World's oldest Fungus - rocks - South Africa - under the deep sea, may have colonised the deep sea
floor.
Dr. Raj Panjabi - donated $1 million - recent prize - founder Last mile Health
Mud Crab farming UNDP - GEF Sindhudurg project improving livelihoods of traditional fishers +
seeds + training + mangrove conservation mangrove crabs - high flesh content - high growth rates -
high tolerance to Ammonia and nitrate.