IAS4Sure S&T Notes For Prelims 2017

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Contents
Biotechnology ........................................................................................ 4
aaRSs enzyme ................................................................................................................ 4
Bio-Battery ..................................................................................................................... 4
Bioremediation .............................................................................................................. 5
CRISPR /Cas9 ................................................................................................................ 5
DMH-11 .......................................................................................................................... 5
DNA................................................................................................................................ 6
DNA Profiling ................................................................................................................ 6
EptA protein................................................................................................................... 6
Food Fortification .......................................................................................................... 6
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)........................................................... 6
Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy ............................................................................ 7
Molecular Machines....................................................................................................... 7
XMU-MP-1 .....................................................................................................................8
Defence .................................................................................................. 8
Agni I..............................................................................................................................8
Agni IV ........................................................................................................................... 9
Agni V........................................................................................................................... 10
Airborne early Warning And Control System.............................................................. 10
Airlander 10 .................................................................................................................. 11
Akula Class Submarines................................................................................................ 11
Ashwin : Advanced Air Defence .................................................................................... 11
Babur-3 ........................................................................................................................ 12
Ballistic missile defence (BMD) system....................................................................... 12
Barak 8 ......................................................................................................................... 12
Brahmos ....................................................................................................................... 12
Dhanush ....................................................................................................................... 12
FC-31 Gyrfalcon ........................................................................................................... 13
INS Arihant .................................................................................................................. 13
INS Sarvekshak ............................................................................................................ 13
INS Vikramaditya ........................................................................................................ 13
INS Virat ...................................................................................................................... 14
Kalvari Class Submarines ............................................................................................ 14
Kamov .......................................................................................................................... 14
MICA Missile ............................................................................................................... 15
Mormugao.................................................................................................................... 15
MR-SAM ...................................................................................................................... 15
Nirbhay missile ............................................................................................................ 15
Pinaka .......................................................................................................................... 15
Guided Pinaka:............................................................................................................. 15
Poseidon-8I Aircraft .................................................................................................... 16
Prithvi II ....................................................................................................................... 16
Project 15B ................................................................................................................... 16
Project 75 ..................................................................................................................... 16
Quantum radar ............................................................................................................ 16
Rafale ........................................................................................................................... 16
Rustom-II..................................................................................................................... 17
Sarathi .......................................................................................................................... 17
S-300 Air Defence System ........................................................................................... 17
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S-400 ‘Triumf’ Air Defence System ............................................................................. 17

Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).......................................................................... 17
SWATHI ....................................................................................................................... 17
Energy and Environment ...................................................................... 18
2nd generation ethanol ................................................................................................ 18
Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology ..................................................... 18
Bioethanol .................................................................................................................... 18
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) ............................................................................................ 18
Fast Neutron Reactor................................................................................................... 19
Fly Ash ......................................................................................................................... 19
Gelator .........................................................................................................................20
HFC-23.........................................................................................................................20
Hydrofluorocarbons.....................................................................................................20
Light Pollution .............................................................................................................20
Natural Gas Hydrates .................................................................................................. 21
Rare earth elements ..................................................................................................... 21
Solar Impulse 2 ............................................................................................................ 22
Solar Power Tree .......................................................................................................... 22
Synlight ........................................................................................................................ 22
Thubber........................................................................................................................ 22
Urja Ganga Project ....................................................................................................... 22
Health ................................................................................................... 23
Acrylamide ................................................................................................................... 23
Arsenic Contamination ................................................................................................ 23
Autophagy .................................................................................................................... 24
Avian Influenza (H5N1) ............................................................................................... 24
Ban on use of newspaper for packing food .................................................................. 24
Brucellosis .................................................................................................................... 25
Chikungunya ................................................................................................................ 25
Cysticercosis................................................................................................................. 25
Deep Brain Stimulator ................................................................................................. 25
Ebola ............................................................................................................................ 26
Foot & Mouth Disease.................................................................................................. 26
Immunotherapy ........................................................................................................... 26
Japanese Encephalitis.................................................................................................. 27
Measles-rubella Disease ..............................................................................................28
Mesentery ....................................................................................................................28
Metandienone ..............................................................................................................28
Scrub Typhus ............................................................................................................... 29
Soil-Transmitted Helminths ........................................................................................ 29
Yaws ............................................................................................................................. 29
Whitener-inhalation addiction ....................................................................................30
Zika Virus ..................................................................................................................... 31
Zinc in our Body........................................................................................................... 31
Rotavirus ...................................................................................................................... 31
ICT ........................................................................................................ 32
Aquila ........................................................................................................................... 32
Artificial Intelligence ................................................................................................... 32
Bharat QR code ............................................................................................................ 32
Blockchain technology ................................................................................................. 32
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Botnet ........................................................................................................................... 32
Cyber Swachhta Kendra ............................................................................................... 33
DigiShala ...................................................................................................................... 33
Domain Name System (DNS) ...................................................................................... 33
QR Code ....................................................................................................................... 33
Malware ....................................................................................................................... 33
Merged Reality ............................................................................................................. 33
Micro-ATM and malware attacks ................................................................................ 34
Millimeter waves .......................................................................................................... 34
PARAM ISHAN ............................................................................................................ 34
Quantum Communication ........................................................................................... 35
Software Robotics ........................................................................................................ 35
Sunway Taihu Light ..................................................................................................... 35
Miscellaneous ....................................................................................... 35
Atomic Clocks .............................................................................................................. 35
Bio toilets ..................................................................................................................... 35
Biometrics .................................................................................................................... 36
Difference between AC and DC currents ..................................................................... 36
Food Irradiation........................................................................................................... 36
GeoTextile .................................................................................................................... 37
GraphAir technology.................................................................................................... 37
Graphene...................................................................................................................... 37
High nitrogen steels ..................................................................................................... 37
Hyperloop Technology .................................................................................................38
India Neutrino observatory .........................................................................................38
Liquiglide .....................................................................................................................38
Nematodes ................................................................................................................... 39
Maglev .......................................................................................................................... 39
Oil Zapper .................................................................................................................... 39
Phytoremediation ........................................................................................................ 39
Raman Effect ............................................................................................................... 39
RFID Technology ........................................................................................................ 40
Scramjet Technology................................................................................................... 40
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology ...................................... 41
Superconductors .......................................................................................................... 41
Terahertz (THz) transmitter technology ..................................................................... 41
Space .................................................................................................... 41
16 Psyche ...................................................................................................................... 41
Asteroids ...................................................................................................................... 42
Astrosat ........................................................................................................................ 42
Bennu asteroid ............................................................................................................. 42
Cassini .......................................................................................................................... 43
C- band Polarimetric Doppler weather radar (C-DWR) .............................................. 43
Chandrayan II .............................................................................................................. 43
CE-20 (Cryogenic Engine) ........................................................................................... 43
Copernicus observation program ................................................................................ 44
CYGNSS ....................................................................................................................... 44
Devasthal Optical Telescope ........................................................................................ 44
Epsilon-2 Rocket.......................................................................................................... 44
Exoplanet GJ 536b ....................................................................................................... 45
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Gaofen-3 satellite ......................................................................................................... 45

GOES-R satellite .......................................................................................................... 45
Goldilocks Zone ........................................................................................................... 45
Gravitational Waves..................................................................................................... 45
GSAT-11........................................................................................................................ 45
GSAT 18 ....................................................................................................................... 46
GSLV ............................................................................................................................ 46
High-throughput communication satellites ................................................................ 46
INSAT-3DR .................................................................................................................. 46
IRNSS (NAVIC) ........................................................................................................... 46
James Webb Space Telescope ...................................................................................... 47
Juno ............................................................................................................................. 47
Kirameki-2 Satellite .....................................................................................................48
Leap Second .................................................................................................................48
Magnetars ....................................................................................................................48
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission ............................................................... 49
Moon Express (MX-1) .................................................................................................. 49
OSIRIS-Rex .................................................................................................................. 49
PSLV C35 .....................................................................................................................50
PSLV-C37 (104 satellite launched) ..............................................................................50
Psyche Asteroid ............................................................................................................50
QUESS Satellite ...........................................................................................................50
Resourcesat-2A ............................................................................................................50
ScatSat-1 satellite ......................................................................................................... 51
Scatterometer............................................................................................................... 51
SmallSats and CubeSats............................................................................................... 51
Space Junk (Kessler Syndrome) .................................................................................. 51
Space X......................................................................................................................... 52
SuperView-1 01 and 02 ................................................................................................ 52
Surya Jyoti ................................................................................................................... 52
TanSat .......................................................................................................................... 52
TeamIndus ................................................................................................................... 52
Tiangong-2 ................................................................................................................... 52
Tianlian I-04 ................................................................................................................ 53
Tianyan ........................................................................................................................ 53
Vela super cluster......................................................................................................... 53
XPNAV-1 ...................................................................................................................... 53
Biotechnology
aaRSs enzyme
aaRSs stands for Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases
These are vital enzymes that decode genetic information and enable protein translation.
This enzyme family has 20 members and each one of enzymes contributes to protein synthesis.
Even if one of 20 enzymes is missing then protein synthesis cannot happen.
Bio-Battery
What is a Bio-Battery?
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It is a battery in which power is generated by biological sources like bacteria extracted from waste water.
What are its significance?

Bio-battery is cheap and can be easily manufactured as power source for medical sensors in remote and
developing areas.
In this case, the power is generated by common bacteria found in wastewater. Thus it store power generated by
organic compounds.
The simple components are needed to make these kinds of paper-based batteries. This makes them a reliable
backup in places where grid electricity or conventional batteries aren’t available.
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Bioremediation
What is Bioremediation?
Bioremediation is an environment-friendly mechanism that uses microorganisms to degrade environmental
pollutants.
It is safer, environment-friendly mechanism to clean up contamination caused by leaks and accidental spills
during exploration, transport, refining and storage of petroleum products.
Advantages
Bioremediation is less expensive environment-friendly mechanism to remove pollutants from the environment.
Conventional methods like mechanical removal, burial, evaporation, dispersion, and washing to remove
environmental pollutants are expensive.
Besides, these traditional methods also can lead to incomplete decomposition, leaving residual contaminants to
pollute soil and water.
Why in news?
Scientist in Kerala are undertaking field trials of oil degrading bacteria.
Oil-degrading bacteria (microorganisms) have enzyme systems to degrade and utilise hydrocarbons as a source
of carbon and energy.
CRISPR /Cas9
Crispr/Cas9 is related to genome editing. (Genome: Complete DNA sequence)
CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
In simple terms, a DNA sequence is cut at a particular spot and then with help of a guide RNA (gRNA) that place
is re-made with desired base pairing. This way genes can be altered.
It allows scientists to selectively edit genome parts and replace them with new DNA stretches
Cas9 is the enzyme which acts as a "molecular scissors" and helps in cutting the DNA sequence.
CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences that direct Cas9 where to cut and paste
DMH-11
It is a Genetically Modified Mustard
Developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants of Delhi University
If it gets the green light from the environment ministry’s GEAC, it will be the first GM food crop to be
commercially cultivated in India
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It was a government sponsored project
DNA
DNA (Deoxyribonucleac acid) is the genetic material typically found in tissue of all living cells of humans as well
as animals and plants.
It invariably contains hereditary data passed on from parent to children which is unique to each person (except in
the case of identical twins).
This makes DNA profiling a reliable and unique personal identification tool.
DNA Profiling
DNA fingerprinting or DNA profiling is method of isolating and identifying variable elements within the base-
pair sequence of DNA.
DNA fingerprinting technology is utilised by police all over the world for fool-proof identification of criminals
who leave their traces at crime scene while committing crime.
The technology plays a crucial role in solving crimes as it has potential to link a series of crimes by placing the
suspects by linking them with the crime scene.
EptA protein
This protein shields superbugs from antibiotics
The EptA protein causes multi-drug resistance by masking bacteria from both the human immune system and
important antibiotics
Significance: This mapping is a breakthrough because it will allow development of a drug to prevent
superbugs hiding from medication. Thus, it open door to combating the threat of antibiotic resistance and is
considered as a huge step forward in the global fight against superbugs.
Food Fortification
What is Food fortification?
Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micronutrients i.e. essential trace elements and
vitamins into the food.
It is an integrated approach to prevent micronutrient deficiencies and complements other approaches to
improve health and nutrition.
Food fortification does not require changes in existing food habits and patterns nor individual compliance.
It does not alter characteristics of food and is socio-culturally acceptable.
It can be introduced quickly and can produce nutritional benefits and improve health of people in a short period
of time.
It also safe and cost effective.
This enrichment process has proven as an effective strategy to meet the nutritional needs of a large number of
people across various sections of the society, including the poor and underprivileged, pregnant women and
young children.
What is present status of food fortification in India?

The FSSAI has formulated a ‘Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016’, a
comprehensive regulation on fortification of foods in the country.
These regulations set standard guidelines for food fortification and encourage the production, manufacture,
distribution, sale and consumption of fortified foods.
They also assign specific role of FSSAI in promotion for food fortification and to make fortification mandatory.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?
fMRI is a functional neuroimaging procedure using MRI technology.
It measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.
This technique relies on the fact that neuronal activation and cerebral blood flow are coupled together.
When an area of the brain is in use, blood flow to that region also increases.
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The primary form of fMRI uses blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast.

This is a type of specialized brain and body scan used to map neural activity in the brain or spinal cord of
humans or other animals.
It is mapped by imaging the change in hemodynamic response (blood flow) related to energy use by brain cells.
Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

It is also called Mitochondrial Gene Therapy
MRT or Mitochondrial donation is a medical technique in which defective mitochondria carried by a woman is
replaced with the healthy mitochondria of a donor.
Through invitro fertilization technique (IVF), the egg is then fertilised with the partner’s sperm. Thus the
embryo remains free from any such defects.
The two most common techniques in mitochondrial donation are maternal spindle transfer and pronuclear
transfer.
Thus this medical technique prevents the transmission of mitochondrial (genetic) disease from one generation
to the next.
MRT proposes to give parents chance of having a child that is over 99% genetically matched to them and most
importantly free of the mitochondrial disease
Why in news?
o First three parent child was born via this technique in Mexico
o UK became first country in world to legalise MGT
Molecular Machines
What are molecular machines?
Molecular machines or nanomachines are the world’s smallest machines.
Molecular machines are single-molecules that behave much like the machines people encounter every day: They
have controllable movements and can perform a task with the input of energy
Their working is inspired by proteins that naturally act as biological machines within cells.
Molecular machines are discrete number of synthetic molecular components fused together.
They produce quasi-mechanical movements in response to specific external stimuli such as light or temperature
change.
Molecular machines can be put to work as tiny motors, pistons ratchets or wheels to produce mechanical motion
and can move objects many time their size.
Future Potential Applications:

Molecular machines can be developed to function as artificial muscles to power tiny robots or even prosthetic
limbs in case of Bionics.
They may lead to developments like new sensors, materials and energy storage systems.
They can be used to deliver drugs within the human body directly to target a specific area of tissue to medicate
or cancerous cells.
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They can be used to design of a molecular computer which could be placed inside the body to detect disease even
before any symptoms are exhibited.
XMU-MP-1
It is a new drug that can regenerate tissue
It can promote repair and regeneration in the liver, intestines and skin.
Significance : This study paves the way for medicines that help to rebuild organs instead of relying on
complicated therapeutic strategies such as regenerative cells to specific spots and delivering biomaterials in the
body to repair and restore injured tissue

Defence
Agni I
Intermediate range
Nuclear capable
Surface-to-surface
Ballistic
It is first missile of the Agni series launched in 1983.
Developed by DRDO + DRDL (Defence Research Development Laboratory) + BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited,
Hyderabad)
It weighs 12 tonnes and is 15-metre-long.
It is designed to carry a payload of more than one tonne.
It is single stage missile powered by solid propellants.
It can hit a target 700 km away.
Its strike range can be extended by reducing the payload.
It can be fired from road and rail mobile launchers.
It is equipped with sophisticated navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of
accuracy and precision.
The missile already has been inducted into armed forces.
Since its induction it has proved its excellent performance in terms of range, accuracy and lethality.
It is also claimed to be a part of the India’s minimum credible deterrence under No first to use policy.
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Agni IV
It is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile
It is nuclear capable
It is an intercontinental ballistic missile
Developed by DRDO
Its re-entry heat shield can withstand temperatures in the range of over 4,000 Degree
Range: 4000 KM
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Payload: 1 Tonne
Agni V
It is an intercontinental ballistic missile
It is a surface-to-surface missile
Developed by DRDO
Range : 5500-5800km
Engine : 3 stage solid fuel
Capable of carrying nuclear warheads
It carries Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) payloads. A single MIRV equipped
missile that can deliver multiple warheads at different targets
Airborne early Warning And Control System

This system has the ability to detect incoming cruise missiles, fighter jets or even drones from both Pakistan and
China.
China has over 20 AWACS while Pakistan has 8 AWACS.
The indigenous AeW&CS has completed all tests and certification.
Pegged as a "force multiplier", the system is equipped with a 240-degree coverage radars in contrast to the
existing Phalcons, which provide a 360-degree coverage over a 400-km range.
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The AEW&C system will detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a
Command and Control Centre to support Air Defence operations.
Besides, the system will support IAF in offensive strike missions and assist forces in the tactical battle area.
The Electronic and Communication Support Measures of the system can also intercept and gather electronic and
communication intelligence from radar transmissions and communication signals.
Airlander 10
It is world's largest (longest) aircraft
It is a hybrid airship made by Hybrid Air Vehicles in United Kingdom
It is a partly plane and partly airship filled with helium gas
It can stay airborne for more than two weeks unmanned and up to five days if manned
Akula Class Submarines

Akula-class submarines are considered one of the most silent SSNs in service and are capable of sailing at speeds
up to 35 knots.
They are nuclear powered but are armed with conventional land attack missiles
India had earlier leased first Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) for a period of 10 years from Russia.
It was inducted into service as INS Chakra (formerly known as K-152 Nerpa) in April 2012. Its lease expires in
2021
Now, India has signed agreement with Russia to lease second Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine (SSN)
Ashwin : Advanced Air Defence

Ashwin : Indigenously developed Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile
AAD interceptor missile Ashwin is the advanced version of low altitude supersonic ballistic interceptor missile.
It is indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is capable of
destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile.
Features: It is 7.5-meter long and weighs around 1.2 tonnes. It has a diameter of less than 0.5 meter.
It is single-stage solid rocket propelled guided missile. It is equipped with a hi-tech computer, a navigation
system and an electro-mechanical activator.
The missile also has its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and
homing capabilities and sophisticated radars
It can destroy the incoming hostile ballistic missile in the endo-atmospheric region (less than 30 km altitude) at
a low altitude of less than 30 kms
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Babur-3
Pakistan's Submarine Launched Cruise Missile
Capable of carrying nuclear warheads
It gives Pakistan a “credible” second-strike capability
It has a range of 450 KM
Ballistic missile defence (BMD) system

India has a double-layered ballistic missile defence (BMD) system capable of tracking and destroying hostile
missiles both outside (exo) and inside (endo) the earth’s atmosphere.
The BMD consists of two interceptor missiles, Advanced Area Defence (AAD) missile for endo-atmosphere or
lower altitudes and Prithvi Defence Vehicle for exo-atmospheric ranges.
The DRDO expects deployment of BMD shield by 2022. India will be fourth country in the world after the US,
Russia and Israel to successfully built effective anti-ballistic missile system.
It is being developed in two phases:
o Phase I :
The first phase BMD system is capable of killing enemy missiles fired from 2,000 km away.
It is expected to be inducted in the armed forces soon.
o Phase II :
The second phase BMD system, capable of destroying enemy missiles fired from 5,000 km away is
still under development.
Barak 8
Barak is a Hebrew word for lightening
It is an Indian-Isreli Long Range surface-to-air missile
It is nuclear capable ballistic missile
It is designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles,
and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets out to a maximum range of 70 km
Both maritime and land-based versions of the system exist
Jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and DRDO
Brahmos
Brahmos
Supersonic cruise missile
Designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia
It has derived its name from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River.
It operates on fire and forget principal
Capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets
Carrying capacity : 300 Kg
Speed : Mach 3 (that is, three times the speed of sound)
Max Range : 290 Km
It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant.
BrahMos missile already has been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy
New Developments
India and Russia have agreed to double the range from 290 to 600 kms
Earlier, India was denied access to the missile technology with range over 300 km as it was not member state of
the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). But India’s recent accession to MTCR, allowed Russia to
provide the critical systems and technology to extend the range of the missile beyond 300km.
Dhanush
It is indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)
It is based on the 1980s’ Bofors FH-77B/39 Calibre artillery gun design.
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Its indigenous development is aided by the transfer of technology (ToT) clause signed with the Swedish
company.
It is developed by DRDO in collaboration with private companies
It boasts a range of 45 km with accuracy and precision and provides greater fire power, depending on the type of
ammunition used.
It also has night firing capability in direct fire mode.
It has several significant features such as an all-electric drive, quick deploy ability, high mobility, auxiliary power
mode, advanced communication system, and automated command and control system.
FC-31 Gyrfalcon
It is a fifth-generation stealth fighter
Developed by China
It has better stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity than the previous
version which debuted in October 2012
INS Arihant
INS Arihant is nuclear submarine capable of carrying nuclear tipped ballistic missiles. Thus it belongs to class
referred to as Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN)
Its design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class submarine. It was built with Russia’s help under Advanced
Technology Vessel (ATV) project started in the 1980s.
It weighs 6000 tonnes and is 112 metre long. It is powered by 83 MW pressurised light water nuclear reactor
with enriched uranium fuel.
It will be armed with the K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km. Later it will be armed with much longer
range K-4 missiles (3,500 km range) being developed by DRDO.
INS Arihant was formally commissioned in August 2016. However, it was kept secret owing to strategic
significance
With its induction, India has completed its nuclear triad.
The Arihant is harder to detect than India’s nuclear weapons platforms on land and in the air, giving it a
“second-strike” capability. This would allow India to retaliate against an enemy who managed to destroy the rest
of its nuclear arsenal in a first-strike
INS Sarvekshak
It is the first naval ship to go green by installing a solar power system on board
INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikramaditya is the country’s sole aircraft carrier (after retirement of INS Viraat in March 2017).
It was built in 1987 and had served the Soviet navy (named as Baku). It was later renamed Admiral Gorshkov
under the Russian navy.
The Indian navy purchased the vessel in 2004 and commissioned it in November 2013 at Severodvinsk in
Russia.
It can carry over 30 aircraft comprising MiG-29Ks, Kamov-28s, Kamov-31s, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
It was retrofitted with a Barak missile system under joint development with Israel.
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INS Virat
It is world's longest serving warship
Decommissioned now
It was the last British-built ship serving with the Indian Navy.
It had played a major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 in the Sri Lankan peace keeping operation.
It also had participated in the standoff Operation Parakram in 2001-2002 when India and Pakistan were
engaged in a standoff post the Parliament terror attack.
Kalvari Class Submarines

It is a class of submarines based on Scorpene class submarines
It is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine
They are being built under P75 (Project 75)
The project was necessitated by the dwindling number of submarines in the Indian Navy.
They use guided weapons such as tube-launched anti-ship missiles and torpedoes on enemy submarines from
the surface or underwater.
Besides warfare, they can perform varied functions will include intelligence gathering, mine laying and area
surveillance etc.
2 Scorpene class submarines already inducted are:
o INS Kalvari
o INS Khanderi
Kamov
Kamov is a small, twin engine Russian utility helicopter. It is manufactured by Russian Helicopters.
This light multipurpose helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.6 tons. It can carry up to one ton payload.
It has a maximum speed 220 Km/hr.
The machine has excellent maneuverability and handling, easy maintenance
India and Russia have signed a deal to jointly produce 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, at the India Russia
Summit in Goa. The helicopters are believed to boost the capabilities of the armed forces.
Kamov 226T will replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers
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MICA Missile
It is a Beyond Visual Range, air-to-air missile
India purchased 450 MICAs from European missile major MBDA as part of the Mirage 2000 upgrade deal from
France in 2012 for $1.23 billion
The MICA will be mounted on the 36 Rafale combat jets that India is purchasing from France
Mormugao
It is indigenously built Guided Missile Destroyer.
It was recently commissioned.
It is the second ship of Project 15B.
MR-SAM
MR-SAM stands for medium range surface-to-air missile
Jointly developed by India and Israel
Supersonic missile system
The missile consists of Multi-Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF-STAR) system for detection,
tracking and guidance
The MR-SAM has strike ranges from 50 to 70 km
The missile is designed to defend any type of airborne threat including aircraft and helicopters. It can intercept
supersonic aircraft and even missiles
The system will be based on the older Barak system of Israel, which is in use in India. It will be manufactured in
India and will have an 80% indigenous content.
Nirbhay missile
It is a long range missile
It is a surface-to-surface missile
It takes off vertically like a missile and cruise horizontally like an aircraft.
Sub-sonic cruise missile
Developed by DRDO
Can carry conventional as well as nuclear war-head
It can operate in all type of weathers
Range : 1000km
It is a terrain hugging missile which keeps on encircling the area of its target for several minutes and then
hits bull’s eye’ on an opportune time. It is difficult to detect by enemy’s radars
Pinaka
Pinaka is an unguided rocket weapon area system (WAS) with a range of 40 km.
It meant to neutralise large areas with rapid salvos.
It can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds with 1.2 tonnes of high explosives.
The battery of six launchers can neutralise at a time a target area of 3.9 sq km.
It has capability to incorporate several types of warheads making it deadly for the enemy as it can even destroy
solid structures and bunkers.
The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system gives an edge to the Army during a low amount
conflict situation.
It has been inducted into Indian Army
Guided Pinaka:
It is a transformed version of Pinaka
It is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit. This conversion considerably enhances the range and
accuracy of Pinaka.
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Poseidon-8I Aircraft
The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance aircraft.
The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the US Navy.
It is capable of broad area, maritime and littoral operations.
It is equipped with the sophisticated Harpoon missiles, lightweight torpedoes and rockets.
Indian Navy has been using the P-8I to keep watch over the Indian Ocean.
Prithvi II
Prithvi-II is the first missile to be indigenously developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile
Development Programme.
Range: It is surface-to-surface medium range ballistic missile with strike range of 350 km.
Warheads: It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of conventional as well as nuclear warheads.
Fuel and stages:
o It is single-stage liquid-fuelled.
o It uses advanced inertial guidance system along with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target precisely.
o It already has been inducted into India’s armed forces in 2003.
Variants:
o Prithvi-I for the Indian Army,
o Prithvi-II for the Indian Air Force, and
o Dhanush Missile for Indian Navy.
Project 15B
It is a project to develop world class warships for Indian Navy
Union Government in 2011 had sanctioned four 15B ships at the cost of 29,700 crore rupees to develop a class of
stealth guided missile destroyers for the Indian Navy.
The Project 15B missile destroyers are modern warships equipped with latest weapons package in continuation
of lineage of the highly successful Delhi and Kolkata Class ships.
The first ship of the project, guided-missile destroyer ‘Visakhapatnam’ was launched on April 20, 2015.
Project 75
Under Project 75, six Scorpene submarines are being built with assistance and technology transfer from DCNS
of France under deal signed in October 2005.
The first of the series INS Kalvari is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly.
The other four submarines are expected to be launched at nine-month intervals after the INS Khanderi.
At Present, the Indian Navy operates only 13 conventionally powered submarines and two nuclear submarines.
Quantum radar
Quantum radar is a device that uses quantum entanglement photons to provide better detection capabilities
than conventional radar systems
The radar system is able to detect a target at a range of 100 kilometers in a real-world environment
It is capable of detecting stealth radars
Why in news? China has successfully tested it.
Rafale
The Rafale is a twin-engine fighter, multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by French aviation company
Dassault
These aircrafts is capable of carrying out all combat missions such as interception, air defence, in-depth strikes,
ground support, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence
The Rafale fighter jets are likely to succeed ageing fleet of Indian Air Force (IAF’s) Mirage fighters for nuclear
warhead delivery as part of India’s nuclear doctrine
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Why in news? India and France has signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale
fighter jets at a cost of 7.87 billion Euros.
Rustom-II
It is an indigenously developed drone
It is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV
It is multi-mission UAV which can conduct Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the armed
forces. It can also be used as an unmanned armed combat
Sarathi
It is an offshore patrolling vehicle commissioned by Indian Coast Guard
It is the largest i.e. 105-meter long and is most advanced new generation off-shore patrol vessel. It has been
fitted with advanced EW and electronic systems and guns
It is equipped with integrated bridge system, power management system, integrated machinery control system,
high power external firefighting system
It has a state-of-the-art propulsion system that can propel the vessel to a speed of over 25 knots. It is designed to
carry one twin engine light helicopter and five high speed boats
S-300 Air Defence System

It is Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems that can defend against aircraft and cruise missiles and
even intercept ballistic missiles.
It is in news because Russia has given this system to Iran after P5+1 negotiations.
Iran's S-300 system has become operational now.
S-400 ‘Triumf’ Air Defence System

What is S-400 ‘Triumf’ Air Defence System?
An S-400 ‘Triumf’ long-range air defence missile system is one of the most advanced long-range defence
systems in the world.
It is referred to as SA-21 Growler by NATO.
It is an upgraded version of the S-300 defence system and is manufactured by Almaz-Antey.
It has been in service in Russia since 2007.
It is capable of firing three types of missiles. Thus, it creates a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36
targets.
It has capability to destroy incoming all airborne targets at ranges of up to 400 km. With it, India can destroy
Pakistani aircrafts even when they are in their airspace.
The five S-400 systems will be operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
India is the second export customer, after China to purchase this most advance defence system.
Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

Developed by DRDO
SAAW is an indigenously designed and developed 120 kilogram class smart weapon.
It is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms. Thus, it gives IAF edge to
hit adversary airfields with high precision from a safe distance.
It is a light weight high precision guided bomb.
It can be used to destroy runways, aircraft hangers, bunkers and other reinforced structures.
SWATHI
It is a weapon locating radar system.

Developed by DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)
It can perform two roles:
o Weapon Location Mode for enemy Artillery and
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o Direction of Own artillery Fire (DOOAF) Mode for Artillery

Provides quick, automatic and accurate location of all enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets firing
within its effective zone of coverage
Simultaneously it can handle multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations. It can also
direct artillery response based on the incoming enemy fire

Energy and Environment
2nd generation ethanol

What is 2nd Generation Ethanol?
2nd generation ethanol is a fuel that can be manufactured from various types of biomass.
Whereas 1st generation ethanol is made from the sugars and vegetable oils found in arable crops, which can be
easily extracted using conventional technology.
In comparison, 2nd generation ethanol is made from lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural
residues or waste, which makes it harder to extract the required fuel using conventional technology.
Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology

AUSC technology will enable Indian industries to design, manufacture and commission higher efficiency coal-
fired power plants with indigenously developed technology
Use of this technology in all future large coal-fired power plants will ensure energy security for the country for a
longer period as well as greener environment.
Power generation from coal-fired power plants contributes to about 38% of CO2 pollution in the atmosphere
AUSC technology which is still in research stage will help in 20% reduction in CO2 emission at source combined
with 20% saving in coal consumption compared to sub-critical plants
Bioethanol
What is Bioethanol?
It is an alcohol derived by process of fermentation mostly from carbohydrates of agricultural residue and
feedstocks.
As a quasi-renewable energy, ethanol can be blended with petrol or diesel making it a sustainable transport fuel.
It will help in reducing emissions and dependency on imported fuel.
Benefits of bio-ethanol
Help in solving the chronic problem of straw burning of leftover agro-based produce especially from wheat and
rice feedstocks. Benefit farmers economically, as they would be paid for their agro-based produce to extract bio-
ethanol.
It would also help in preventing the loss of fertility of soil and damage to environment by reducing air pollution.
Coal Bed Methane (CBM)
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Basics:
CBM is natural gas found in coal seams.
It mainly consists of Methane (CH4) with minor amounts of nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and heavier
hydrocarbons like ethane (C2H6).
It is a clean source of energy.
During the initial years of mining, CBM was vented out and wasted into the atmosphere as it was considered as
serious safety hazard while conducting coal mining operations.
However, later with advancement of technology it was possible to extract CBM, a precious energy resource and
an unconventional form of natural gas.
Advantage of CBM:
It is environmentally safe and clean fuel which on combustion emits only carbon dioxide and water.
It is not only considered as an efficient fuel but also reduces emission of greenhouse gas from coal mining.
Its extraction prior to coal mining activities makes mining activities safer by degassing the coal seams.
Fast Neutron Reactor

What is a fast neutron reactor?
It is a type in which the nuclear fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons. It also known as a fast
reactor.
Such a reactor needs no neutron moderator like normal water, which serves such a purpose in thermal reactors.
What are advantages of fast neutron reactor?

With these types of reactors it is possible to solve the major ecological problem of reprocessing and deactivation
of accumulated radioactive waste
It will lead to the solution of the five key problems
o safety,
o shortage of fuel,
o competitiveness,
o reprocessing and refabricating used nuclear fuel
o radioactive waste
Fly Ash
What is fly ash?
Fly ash is a fine, glass powder by-product recovered from gases of burning coal in thermal power plants during
production of electricity.
They are micron sized earth elements primarily consisting silica, alumina and iron.
What are environmental concerns?

The Fly ash causes air pollution.
It can also contaminate water and soil systems.
The wet disposal of Fly ash results in leaching of toxic heavy metals in ground water system.
What are recyclable uses of fly ash?

Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
It can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
Central Government has made it mandatory for use of fly ash bricks in construction activities happening 500km
around thermal power plants.
What is Fly Ash Utilisation Policy?

The policy seeks 100% use of fly ash generated from thermal power plants and biogas plants for construction
activities.
Facilitates use of fly ash to make bricks, blocks, tiles, wall panels, cement and other construction materials.
The policy extends use of fly ash to 300 kms radius of power plant from earlier 100 kms radius of power plant.
It will help in environment protection and save soil excavation.
It also will make available raw material for construction at low cost to help ‘Housing for All’ projects.
It will also help create new employment opportunities in the power plant sector and pave way for prosperity by
generating Wealth from Waste
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Gelator
It is a chemical compound developed by IISCER to scoop out marine oil spills.
The gelator molecule is partly hydrophilic and partly hydrophobic.
The hydrophilic part helps in self-assembling to form gelator fibres, while the hydrophobic part is responsible
for its diffusion into oil layer.
Since outer part of the fibre is hydrophobic, oil tends to gets into spongy network made of fibres.
Once inside the fibre network, oil loses fluidity and becomes a gel.
The gel was strong enough to be scooped with a spatula.
What are the advantages?

Gelator has ability to selectively congeal oil, including crude oil from an oil-water mixture.
It makes the process of recovering marine oil spills simple, efficient and cost-effective.
It is in a powder form and can be easily applied over oil-water mixture.
It does not cause any environmental damage.
It can be recovered oil from oil-water mixture and can be reused several times.
But in the case of crude oil, the gelator can’t be recycled.
HFC-23
What is HFC-23?
HFC-23 is a by-product of HCFC-22 (Hydrochloroflurocarbon-22), which is used in industrial refrigeration. It is a
potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with global warming potential of 14,800 times more than that of CO2.
Hydrofluorocarbons
What are Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)?
HFCs are a family of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are largely used in refrigerants in home, car air-conditioners
and air sprays etc.
These factory-made gases had replaced CFCs under the 1987 Montreal Protocol to protect Earth’s fragile
protective Ozone layer and heal the ozone hole over the Antartica.
Why they are harmful?

In recent times, it was found that HFCs have several thousand times capacity in retaining heat in the
atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent GHG.
Thus, it can be said that HFCs have helped ozone layer but exacerbated global warming.
Currently, HFCs are currently the world’s fastest GHGs, with emissions increasing by up to 10% each year
Light Pollution
What is Light Pollution?
Light pollution is artificial brightening of the night sky caused by man-made lightening sources, which has a disruptive
effect on natural cycles and inhibits the observation of stars and planets. It is also known as photo pollution or
luminous pollution and basically is the misdirected or obtrusive of natural light by excessive artificial light. More than
80% of humanity lives under skies saturated with artificial light.
Components of light pollution

Glare: excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort.
Skyglow: brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas.
Clutter: bright, excessive and confusing groupings of light sources.
Light trespass: light falling where it is not intended or needed.
Effects of Light Pollution

Disturbs the reproductive cycles of some animals.
Disturbs migration of birds that navigate using the stars and to disorient night-flying insects.
In humans, it disturbs circadian rhythms that regulate hormones and other bodily functions.
Excessive blue light emitted form LEDs directly affects sleep pattern in Human by suppressing the production of
the hormone melatonin, which mediates the sleep-wake cycle in humans.
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Natural Gas Hydrates

Natural gas hydrates are a naturally occurring, ice-like combination of natural gas and water. They are mainly
found in oceans and Polar Regions
Gas hydrates are crystalline form of methane and water, and exist in shallow sediments of outer
continental margins. They are envisaged as a viable major energy resource for future.
Promising sites of gas hydrates have been identified and surveyed in the Krishna‐Godavari (KG) and the
Mahanadi basins
Methane gas hydrate is stable at the seafloor at water depths beneath about 500 m.
Known as flammable ice, methane hydrates are molecules of gas contained in an ice matrix found in
permafrost regions of the arctic and on the seafloor at continental margins below 500 meters of depth.
Gas hydrates are also important for seafloor stability studies, because "melting" gas hydrate may cause
seafloor "land" slides.
Using methane from gas hydrate as an energy resource would be, compared to other hydrocarbons, relatively
climate friendly as combustion of methane is twice as efficient as burning coal.
Why in news? India - US joint expedition discovers natural gas hydrates in Indian ocean
Why they are important?

The amount of gas within the world’s gas hydrate accumulations is estimated to greatly exceed the volume of all
known conventional gas resources.
In India, gas hydrate resources are estimated at 1,894 trillion cubic meters (tcm) and these deposits occur in
Eastern, Western and Andaman offshore areas
Rare earth elements

Rare earth elements/metals are a group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table
They are not rare and are plentiful in Earth's crust
Why the word rare is used then?
o Word rare is used in terms of difficulty we face to make them usable because :
They tend to occur together in nature and are difficult to separate from one another
They are typically dispersed and not often found concentrated as rare earth minerals in
economically exploitable ore deposits
Ex. Scandium, Yttrium, Lanthanum etc.
China is the largest producer of REMs
Monazite sands of Indian beaches contains REMs
They are used in :
o Wind Turbines
o iPods
o Hybrid Vehicles
o Fibre Optics
o Energy efficient fluorescent tubes etc.
What is the issue?
o As India becomes a manufacturing economy, it will need REMs in huge amount
o India will need to firm up diplomatic trade channels and long-term supply contracts
o India is among the top five nations with reserves of rare-earth minerals
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o Minerals and metals such as bismuth, cadmium, gallium, germanium, indium, molybdenum, rhenium,
selenium and tin are generally recovered as a by-product during processing of primary ores (lead, zinc,
copper, molybdenum and aluminium). India currently does not tap this source. We need suitable R&D
interventions and policy support to do it.
Solar Impulse 2
The Solar Impulse 2 has become the first aircraft to circle the globe using solar energy
Solar Impulse 2 is a Swiss long-range solar-powered aircraft project.
It is first aircraft to fly day and night without consuming conventional fuel in oder to promote renewable energy.
Solar Power Tree

Developed by CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI)
It can harnesses solar energy for producing electricity with an innovative vertical arrangement of solar cells
It reduces the requirement of land as compared to conventional Solar Photovoltaic layout. It keeps the land
character intact and is viable in both rural and urban areas
On an average, it harnesses more sunrays for one hour in a day as photovoltaic panels are placed at higher
height
It can harness up to 10-15% more power in comparison to a conventional layout on ground
Synlight
It is an experiment by Germans to build world's largest artificial sun.
It is a giant honeycomb-like set-up of 149 spotlights.
It uses xenon short-arc lamps normally found in cinemas to simulate natural sunlight.
The aim of Synlight experiment is to develop an optimal setup for concentrating natural sunlight to power a
reaction to produce hydrogen fuel.
Its goal is to eventually use actual sunlight rather than the artificial light produced using electricity which is
costly and requires as much electricity in four hours as a four-person household would use in a year.
Using the array, scientists are seeking to produce the equivalent of 10,000 times the amount of solar radiation
by focusing the entire array on a single 8×8 in spot (20*20cm).
When light from all the lamps is aligned to concentrate on a single spot, it can generate temperatures of around
3,500 degree Celsius i.e. temperature two to three times of a blast furnace.
Importance of this experiment:

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, but on earth it is relatively rare. One way to manufacture
hydrogen is to split water (H2O) into its two elemental components – Hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity in
electrolysis process. Synlight experiment will bypass usage of electricity by tapping into the enormous amount of solar
energy that reaches Earth from sun. Hydrogen obtained from it will be used to be used in fuel cells, a clean source of
energy that does not produce carbon emissions.
Thubber
It is a rubber like material which has high thermal conductivity and elasticity.
It is an electrically insulating composite material.
It has elasticity similar to soft, biological tissue.
Thubber consists of a soft elastomer with non-toxic, liquid metal microdroplets suspended within it. This semi-
liquid state allows the metal to deform with the surrounding rubber at room temperature.
When it is pre-stretched at room temperature, it stretches up to six times its initial length. During this phase,
liquid metal microdroplets form into elongated pathways through which heat can easily travel through. At the
same time, the material is electrically insulating.
Potential applications: In developing wearable computing and soft robotics, industries like athletic wear and
sports medicine and in advanced manufacturing, energy, and transportation etc.
Urja Ganga Project
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It is an ambitious gas pipeline project which aims to provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern
region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles.
The project is being implemented by state-run gas utility GAIL. It envisages laying a 2,050-km pipeline
connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by 2018.
The project is considered as a major step towards collective growth and development of the Eastern region of
India.
Under it, overall 20 lakh households will get PNG connections

Health
Acrylamide
What is Acrylamide?
Acrylamide is a chemical used primarily in making polyacrylamide and acrylamide copolymers that are used in
industrial processes such as a production of dyes, plastics, paper.
It is also used in treatment of drinking water and waste water.
It is a carcinogenic chemical.
How does cooking produce Acrylamide?

Acrylamide is present in many types of food such biscuits, cakes, bread, coffee, toast, crisps, chips, and other starchy
food. It is a natural byproduct of the cooking process. It is produced when Asparagine, a building block of proteins
found in many vegetables is heated to high temperatures in the presence of certain sugars. Cooking methods such as
baking, frying, grilling, roasting mainly results in production of acrylamide. The darker the colour gets of the food,
more acrylamide is present in it.
Arsenic Contamination
Arsenic is a natural component in the earth’s crust.
It is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land.
It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.
Contaminated water used for drinking, irrigation of food crops and food preparation poses the greatest threat to
public health from arsenic.
Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning.
It can cause cancer, skin lesions, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes.
The most important action in affected communities is the prevention of further exposure to arsenic by providing
them of a safe water supply.
It is a high-profile problem in the Ganges Delta, due to the use of deep tubewells for water supply.
The groundwater in these tubewells have high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels.
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Autophagy
Autophagy is a process whereby cells “eat themselves”.
It is a fundamental process in cell physiology dealing with how the body breaks down and recycles cellular
components.
It is essential for the orderly recycling of damaged cell parts and its better understanding has major implications
for health and disease, including cancer.
Term “autophagy”, which comes from the Greek meaning self-eating
Importance of autophagy
Autophagy is responsible for the gradual turnover of cytoplasmic organelles.
Autophagy can rapidly provide fuel for energy and building blocks for renewal of cellular components.
It essential for the cellular response to starvation and other types of stress. After infection, autophagy can
eliminate invading intracellular bacteria and viruses.
Autophagy contributes to embryo development and cell differentiation.
Cells also use autophagy to eliminate damaged proteins and organelles, a quality control mechanism that is
critical for counteracting the negative consequences of aging.
Autophagy has major implications for health and disease and if disrupted, it can cause Parkinson’s and diabetes.
Disturbances in the autophagic machinery have also been linked to cancer. Efforts are on to develop drugs that
can target autophagy in various diseases
Avian Influenza (H5N1)

H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian
influenza (or “bird flu”).
Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person
to person.
When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%
Almost all cases of H5N1 infection in people have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead
birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments
The virus does not infect humans easily, and spread from person to person appears to be unusual
Why in news? India declared itself H5N1 free
Ban on use of newspaper for packing food

FSSAI has banned use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items
In India, use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items is a common practice followed by small
corner shops and street vendors.
However, it can cause serious health concerns due contaminate food items by newspaper ink.
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Printing ink used for printing newspapers may contain bioactive materials, harmful pigments, colours,
additives, binders, preservatives, chemical contaminants and even pathogenic microorganisms that may pose
potential risk to human health.
Even newspaper or cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with mineral oils, metallic
contaminants and harmful chemicals like phthalates which can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe
toxicity.
Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a
greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications after they are exposed to food items packed in such
materials
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a dreadful disease caused by genus of bacteria known as Brucella.
It infects various species of Brucella cows, buffalos, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs and other animals and also human
Human become infected by this disease by coming in contact with animals or animal products (meat and milk)
contaminated with these bacteria.
The persons who are exposed to high risk of brucellosis infection are dairy man, veterinarians, butchers and
other animal handlers
Symptoms are similar to the flu and may include fever, headache, sweats, back pain and physical weakness. In
case of severe infections of the central nervous system (CNS) or lining of the heart may also occur.
Why in news? International conference on Brucellosis held in Delhi
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus that causes a disease.
It is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
Its symptoms are characterised by abrupt fever and severe joint pain, often in hands and feet, and may include
headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash.
There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for chikungunya. T
There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine.
Chikungunya treatment is directed primarily at relieving the symptoms, including the joint pain using anti-
pyretics, optimal analgesics and fluids.
Why in news? US scientists have developed first Chikungunya vaccine.
Cysticercosis
What is Cysticercosis?
Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by pork tapeworm named Taenia solium.
WHO has designated it as one of 17 Neglected tropical diseases worldwide.
It is a zoonotic parasite disease involving pigs as intermediate hosts because it is caused by ingesting the eggs of
the tapeworm Taenia solium.
Humans are usually infected by the accidental consumption of eggs present in the under-cooked pork,
vegetables and greens that have been improperly washed.
In humans it develops into cysts in central nervous system and cause Neuro-cysticercosis, considered as one of
the important reasons for epilepsy in humans.
What are reasons for the spread of disease?

The primary breeding grounds for tapeworms Taenia solium are open defecation and unhygienic pig rearing. Cases of
Cysticercosis in India have been reported in North Uttar Pradesh and North-Eastern states.
Why in news?
The Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has launched CYSVAX, world’s first vaccine to fight against Taenia solium
Tapeworms in pigs.
Deep Brain Stimulator

DBS involves implanting electrodes within certain areas of brain
Regular electrical pulses generated by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in upper chest regulates the
abnormal impulses of the brain.
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The DBS consists of implanted pulse generator, electrodes and extension cables which interface with external
Programmer module and wireless battery charger.
Applications: DBS is used in typical neurological conditions of Essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease and
Dystonia.
Ebola
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
It was first identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a village near the Ebola River, from which
it takes its name.
It is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-
human transmission.
Fruit bats are natural host of this virus.
It spreads through contact with body fluids of inflected persons such as blood, urine and saliva.
Symptoms faced by people who have contracted the Ebola virus include high fever, bleeding and central nervous
system damage.
In 2014, Ebola virus had erupted periodically mainly across west and east Africa mainly in Guinea, Liberia and
Sierra Leone.
Foot & Mouth Disease

It is a viral contagious animal disease
It affects all susceptible cloven-footed animals, including domestic and wild bovines
The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that
may rupture and cause lameness
It can be spread by infected animals through aerosols, through contact with contaminated farming equipment,
vehicles, clothing, or feed, and by domestic and wild predators
Humans can be infected with foot-and-mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but this is
extremely rare. Some cases were caused by laboratory accidents. Because the virus that causes FMD is sensitive
to stomach acid, it cannot spread to humans via consumption of infected meat, except in the mouth before the
meat is swallowed. Symptoms of FMD in humans include malaise, fever, vomiting, red ulcerative lesions
(surface-eroding damaged spots) of the oral tissues, and sometimes vesicular lesions (small blisters) of the skin
Why in news? Agriculture ministry has conceived a ‘FMD Mukta Bharat‘ (FMD Free India) programme to
cover all the states which have not yet been covered under the six monthly vaccination scheme
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy tries to help the immune system recognise cancer as a threat, and attack it
Rather than attacking the cancer directly, as chemo does, immunotherapy tries to rally the patient’s own
immune system to fight the disease
Immune system is a network of cells, tissues and bio chemicals they secrete. It defends the body against the
viruses, bacteria and other invaders.
Immune system does not stop cancer as cancer often finds ways to hide from the immune system or block its
ability to fight
Immunotherapy involves drugs that free immune cells to fight cancer. These drugs blocks a mechanism called
checkpoint. Checkpoint is used by cancer to shut down the immune system
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Japanese Encephalitis
What is Japanese Encephalitis?
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne
mosquito flavivirus.
It belongs to the same genus as dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses.
The first case of JE was documented in 1871 in Japan.
Target:
JE primarily affects children.
Most adults in endemic countries have natural immunity after childhood infection, but individuals of any age
may be affected.
Transmission:
It is transmitted by rice field breeding mosquitoes (primarily Culex tritaeniorhynchus group).
The mosquitoes transmit JE by feeding on domestic pigs and wild birds infected with the Japanese encephalitis
virus (JEV).
It is not transmitted from person-to-person.
person
Disease outbreaks:
Major JE outbreaks occur every 2-15
15 years.
JE transmission mainly
ly intensifies during the rainy season, during which vector populations increase.
Signs and symptoms:

Most JE infections are mild (fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms, but it may result in severe
clinical illness.
Severe infection is marked
ed by quick onset, headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, stupor, occasional
convulsions (especially in infants) etc.
Treatment:: There is no specific therapy. Intensive supportive therapy is indicated.
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Measles-rubella Disease
The disease is commonly known as German Measles (or three-day measles) and is symptomatically similar to
measles.
It can have devastating consequences if a pregnant mother is infected with it and the foetus may be born with
incurable congenital anomalies.
Symptoms of the infection can include cataracts and deafness.
It can also affect the heart and the brain.
The congenital rubella infection is believed to affect approximately 25,000 children born in India every year.
Measles vaccine is currently provided under Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). However, rubella
vaccine will be a new addition to it.
What is Measles?
Measles is a deadly disease and one of the important causes of death in children. It is highly contagious and spreads
through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. It can make a child vulnerable to life threatening complications
such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and brain infection.
What is Rubella?
Rubella is generally a mild infection, but has serious consequences if infection occurs in pregnant women, causing
CRS, which is a cause of public health concern. CRS is characterized by congenital anomalies in the foetus and
newborns affecting the eyes (cataract, glaucoma), ears (hearing loss), brain (mental retardation, microcephaly) and
heart defects, causing a huge socio-economic burden on the families in particular and society in general.
Mesentery
It is a newly discovered organ in human digestive system.
Mesentery connects the intestine to the abdomen.
It attaches the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, spleen, and other organs to the posterior wall of the abdomen.
The reclassification of this organ will also aid better understanding and treatment of abdominal and digestive
diseases.
Metandienone
It is a steroid taken by bodybuilders
It is an orally active anabolic steroid that binds and activates the androgen receptor.
It increases protein synthesis, muscle strength and glycogenolysis over a short space of time.
Why in news? Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav as tested positive with this drug.
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Scrub Typhus
Scrub Typhus is an acute illness
It is caused by a bacterium Orintia tsutsugamushi
This bacteria is transmitted by the bite of an infected mite larva present in the soil having scrub vegetation.
Symptoms are similar to any viral fever
Himachal is an endemic region as it has a large scrub vegetation.
Soil-Transmitted Helminths
Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) also known as parasitic worm is a type of helminth infection (helminthiasis)
caused by different species of roundworms.
They are among the most common worms infections worldwide caused specifically by those worms which are
transmitted through soil contaminated with faecal matter.
These worms interfere with nutrient uptake in small children causing parasitic infestation.
They live in human intestines and consume nutrients meant for the human body.
The parasitic infestation or diseases lead to severe complications among the children resulting in anaemia,
malnutrition and improper mental and physical development.
Yaws
It is a chronic bacterial infection.
It affects the skin, cartilages and bones.
It is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum pertenue.
It spreads by direct contact with the fluid from a lesion of an infected person
Why in news? WHO declared India Yaws free
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Whitener-inhalation addiction
What are whiteners?
Whiteners are mainly used for erasing ink on paper and as shoe whitener. It contains volatile aliphatic petroleum
hydrocarbons such toluene and trychloroethane which are intoxicating chemicals.
What is whitener-inhalation addiction?

In whitener-inhalation addiction, people inhale the whitener i.e. intoxicating chemicals present in it.
By doing this for some time, it makes the sniffer dizzy, high and disconnected. It has a hallucinatory effect on the
sniffer. Thus, it is the first step to drug addiction or alcoholism.
The whitener abuse is generally seen among the youths. The problem has been compounded by its easy
procurement, negligible cost and its lack of odour.
What are side-effects of whitener-inhalation addiction on health?

Whiteners contain hydrocarbons which is deadly solvents that can infuse easily with the blood and can affect the
central nervous system of a person.
Some of the reported symptoms of solvent addiction are uncharacteristic behaviours such as mood swings and
insomnia and it may results in kidney, liver and lung damage
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Zika Virus
Zika virus is vector borne disease transmitted primarily by daytime-active Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
This virus causes deadly fever and this is also linked to microcephaly
The virus is capable of causing serious birth defects i.e. neurological disorders and foetal deformation known as
Microcephaly in which infants are born with abnormally smaller heads.
Besides a possible link between the virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS: a condition in which the body’s
immune system attacks part of the nervous system) is also suspected.
India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are vulnerable to Zika virus because these countries receive large number
of travellers from effected countries.
Zika disease, since the 1950s has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia.
Zika virus is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japansese encephalitis and West Nile viruses. The illness it causes
is similar to a mild form of dengue fever, it is treated by rest, and cannot yet be prevented by drugs or vaccines.
There is a possible link between Zika fever and microcephaly (smaller head size) in new born babies by mother-
to-child transmission as well as a stronger one with neurologic conditions in infected adults, including cases of
the Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, sometimes
resulting in paralysis.
It attacks the nervous system and can lead to potentially fatal paralysis.
First discovered in Zika forest in Uganda.
Disease caused havoc in Latin American countries last year.
Zinc in our Body

Why is zinc so important to the body?
Zinc is important to the body because over 300 enzymes in our body use it as an essential component in their
action.
Zinc is essential in supporting our immune system, in synthesising and degrading DNA, in wound healing and
several other activities.
Our body requires very small amount of Zinc, but if the level falls down to below normal it may result into
growth retardation, diarrhoea, eye and skin lesions and loss of appetite
Rotavirus
The Rotavirus is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus in the family Reoviridae.
It is most common causative agent of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea (MSD) among infants below 11 months age
group and death among children less than five years of age.
Transmission: The virus spreads from person to person due to bacterial and parasiting agents that are
primarily transmitted through contaminated food or water.
Impact on Health: It causes gastroenteritis after it damages the cells that line the small intestine and causes
gastroenteritis. In some cases in causes malnutrition, delayed physical and mental development among children.

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ICT
Aquila
Aquila is solar solar-powered internet drone being designed to beam the Internet service to remote areas of the
world.
It is developed by Facebook’s Connectivity Lab
Its communications payload uses lasers to transfer data. The lasers will be able to aim its internet beams
accurately enough to hit target (base station) while it is in motion
Drone relies on a ground crew who direct, maintain, and monitor the aircraft.
The solar-powered drone has been designed in such a way that it will be able to fly without landing for three
months at a time.
Artificial Intelligence
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans. In
contrast to normal hardware and software, artificial intelligence enables a machine to perceive and respond to its
changing environment. The artificial intelligence machines learn automatically like humans during their processing by
assimilating large volumes of information
Bharat QR code
It is a quick response (QR) code to enable digital payments without card swiping machines.
It is world’s first interoperable payment acceptance solution launched by Indian Government to move towards
less-cash economy.
Bharat QR code has been developed by jointly by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Visa,
MasterCard and American Express under instructions from Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
It works as common interface for the MasterCard/Visa/RuPay platforms and also facilitate acceptance of
Aadhaar-enabled payments and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
It enables person to make payments to retailers without using the merchant’s ID or number.
It eliminated need of using card swiping machines making digital payments. Using, BharatQR code merchants
will be required to only display one QR code instead of multiple ones.
Users can make payment by scanning the code. BharatQR code is of two types static and dynamic.
In static QR code, first code need to be scanned and then amount is entered to make payment.
In case of dynamic QR code, new QR code will be generated in real time for every transaction. In this case there
is no need to enter the amount. The payment is just made by scanning and entering the PIN.
Blockchain technology
It is a decentralised digital ledger that records transactions on thousands of computers globally in such a way
that the registered transactions cannot be altered retrospectively.
It is a secured way of conducting online transactions and its use removes the characteristic of infinite
reproducibility from a digital asset.
In case of cross border remittances, its use enables instant transfer of money as against the current system that
takes about a week for the same.
Botnet
It is a network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the
owners’ knowledge.
Such infected computer is referred to as a zombie.
It is used to steal data, send spam.
Botnet is a combination of the words robot and network.
The popular attacks that happen these days using botnets are called the Distributed Detail of Service (DDOS)
attacks.
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Cyber Swachhta Kendra

Launched by Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for Botnet cleaning and
Malware analysis.
Its mission is to create a secure cyber space by detecting botnet infections in India and to notify, enable cleaning
and securing systems of end users so as to prevent further infections.
It is being operated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under provisions of Section
70B of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
The centre complies with the objectives of the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 which aims at creating a
secure cyber eco-system in the country.
It operates in close coordination and collaboration with Internet Service Providers (ISPs), academia, banks and
Product and Antivirus companies.
DigiShala
It is a TV channel launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to promote cashless
transactions
The channel was launched as part of the ‘Digidhan’ campaign which aims to spread awareness about digital
transactions.
DigiShala is dedicated 24*7 and 365 days free-to-air TV channel to inform citizens about digital payment
ecosystem, benefits and processes.
It is a satellite channel managed by Doordarshan (DD). It will be broadcasted nationally on DD Free Dish DTH
service.
It will impart information and education, especially in rural and semi-urban areas related to Digital Payment
ecosystem, its tools, processes and benefits
Domain Name System (DNS)

The Domain Naming System, DNS, is one of the Internet's most important components.
It pairs the easy-to-remember web addresses with their relevant servers.
Without DNS, one would only be able to access websites by typing in its IP address, a series of numbers such as
“194.66.90.10”.
QR Code
QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional (matrix) machine-readable bar code made up of black and
white square.
This code can be read by the camera of a smartphone.
It is used for storing URLs or other information that link directly to text, emails, websites, phone numbers.
It is capable of 360 degrees (omni-directional), high speed reading.
QR Code can store up to 7089 digits as compared to conventional bar codes which can store max 20 digits.
It encodes same amount of data in one-tenth the space of a traditional bar code.
It carries information both horizontally and vertically.
It has error correction capability and data stored in it can be restored even if it is partially damaged or dirty.
Malware
It is malicious software which is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain authorized access to a
computer system.
It is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive malicious softwares including
computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, ransomware, adware, scareware etc.
Merged Reality
Merged reality is a new way of experiencing virtual reality and real world together, using cutting-edge
technology.
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It digitises the real world and allows people to experience the virtual world without coming into conflict with the
real world.
The merged reality is more dynamic and natural compared to virtual reality.
Unlike virtual reality, merged reality needs the right combination software and hardware.
One example of merged reality is playing two musical instruments at the same time.
It means that person can play a virtual piano with one hand and a cello with the other.
Besides, using it one could go right into the centre of a basketball court and watch the match.
Project Alloy is a headset that uses the RealSense technology to enable people to use their hands to interact
with elements of the virtual world without using cables to connect computer
Micro-ATM and malware attacks

What is Micro ATM?
Micro ATM works with minimal power and connect to central banking servers through a GPRS network. It enables the
un-banked rural population to access banking services in their villages or towns. It offers facilities of deposit,
withdrawal, balance enquiry, issuance of mini-statement and funds transfer.
What are potential threats to Micro-ATM?

Skimming: It is the theft of classified credit/debit card data. Using this method, a hacker (thief) can obtain the
victim’s card number using a small electronic device near the card acceptance slot and store hundreds of card
details at a time.
Social engineering attack: It can be engineered at these banking and POS facilities, by gaining trust of the
card owner as the fraudster poses as a member of staff.
What CERT-in advises?

Micro-ATMs security features must be strong and updated in order to check attempts by hackers who stealthily
plan to steal private customer and bank data.
Point to Point Encryption (P2PE) should be used to minimise this risk as it will encrypt the card data and keep it
encrypted to the maximum extent throughout its life.
Banks and micro ATM operators must use some counter-measures to thwart cyberattacks.
Micro ATM must not transmit any confidential data unencrypted on the network. It must automatically log out
the operator and lock itself after a period of inactivity.
Operators must keep all micro ATM software, application, anti-virus regularly updated and educate the
customer about basic functionalities and security best practises.
Customers must render due diligence of securing their PIN and not sharing vital details with strangers
Millimeter waves
What is Millimeter waves (MMW)?
Millimeter waves (MMW) is electromagnetic waves with the wavelength from 1 to 10 millimeters.
This waves share the features of microwaves and far infrared waves since its wavelength ranges between these
two waves.
MMW application in communications:

It is generally used for point-to-point transmission technology.
Basically the band of radio spectrum between 30 Ghz and 300 Ghz of MMW is used for this purpose.
It is mainly used for connecting internet service to distribution points.
It is difficult and uneconomical to use MMW for individual residential connections.
Why in news?
Facebook’s Connectivity Lab has set a world record transmitting at nearly 20 Gbps for 13.2 kilometers using Milli
Meter Wave (MMW) technology
PARAM ISHAN
It is a super computer in IIT Guwahati campus
PARAM ISHAN has been jointly developed by IIT Guwahati and C -DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing)
It can be used research initiatives such as computational chemistry, computational electromagnetic,
computational fluid dynamics, civil engineering structures, nana-block self-assemble, optimization etc.
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It can be also used for Weather, climate modeling and seismic data processing
Quantum Communication
What is Quantum communication?
Quantum communication uses subatomic particles to securely communicate between two points.
These subatomic particles are mainly quantum entanglement of photons
It ensures that nobody taps into the line as a photon can be neither separated nor duplicated. Thus tapping the
network will inevitably corrupt the signal.
Thus, quantum communication boasts ultra-high security communication.
In case intruder (hacker) tries to crack the message in Quantum communication, it will change its form in a way
that would alert the sender and cause the message to be altered or deleted.
Software Robotics
Software robotics emulates human actions to automate and perform repetitive, high volume and time
consuming business tasks cutting across multiple applications.
It leverages recent advancements in artificial intelligence such as facial and voice recognition, machine learning,
natural language processing, and bots among others
The software robots can perform over 10 lakh (1 million) banking transactions every working day
The software robots help to bring operational efficiency, higher accuracy and a massive reduction in processing
time for customer services.
Why in news? ICICI bank has introduced it
Sunway Taihu Light

It is a Chinese Super computer
World's most powerful supercomputer
It has won world's faster supercomputer title
It is world’s first system to surpass 100 petaflops.
Miscellaneous
Atomic Clocks
Context: NavIC, the indigenously built satellite- based positioning system, has developed a technical snag in the
atomic clocks on its first satellite
Without atomic clocks, GPS navigation would be impossible, the Internet would not synchronize, and the
position of the planets would not be known with enough accuracy for space probes and landers to be launched
and monitored.
Atomic clocks are not radioactive. They do not rely on atomic decay. Rather, they have an oscillating mass and a
spring, just like ordinary clocks.
The big difference between a standard clock in your home and an atomic clock is that the oscillation in an atomic
clock is between the nucleus of an atom and the surrounding electrons. This oscillation is not exactly a parallel
to the balance wheel and hairspring of a clockwork watch, but the fact is that both use oscillations to keep track
of passing time. The oscillation frequencies within the atom are determined by the mass of the nucleus and the
gravity and electrostatic "spring" between the positive charge on the nucleus and the electron cloud surrounding
it.
There are three types of Atomic Clocks: Cesium atomic clocks, Hydrogen atomic clocks and Rubidium atomic clocks
Bio toilets
What are Biotoilets?
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The environment-friendly bio-toilets for passenger coaches were developed jointly by Indian Railways and
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
In the bio-toilet fitted coaches, human waste is collected in bio digester tanks below the toilets and is
decomposed by a consortium of anaerobic bacteria.
By the process of hydrolysis, acetogenesis, acidogenesis and methanogenesis, the anaerobic bacteria
converts human faecal matter into water and small amount of gases (including methane).
Biometrics
Metrics related to human characteristics –
Physiological – face recognition, iris recognition, finger prints (oldest method), DNA, retina etc.
Behavioral – gait, voice, typing rhythm
Iris scan – mathematical analysis of the random pattern in the iris of the eyes by near infra red illumination (not
to be confused with retinal recognition i.e. analysis of retinal blood vessels unique to every eye through infra
red illumination).
Fingerprints – the scanner identifies the ridges and valleys of fingers which are saved as encrypted mathematical
data not the image of the fingerprint itself.
Difference between AC and DC currents

Difference between AC and DC current
Ability to lower or increase voltage
Electricity is transmitted over long distances at very high voltages (and thereby proportionately reduce
the current). According to Joule's Law, energy losses are directly proportional to the square of the
current – thus, the reduced current flowing through the line reduces the heating losses in the
conductors. That's why mains power is transmitted at many hundreds of thousands of volts, and is
only stepped down to the 110V or 230V that you're used to when it is near your building.
Before the advancement in power electronics and High-voltage direct current (HVDC), it was
impossible to economically step up DC to a voltage suitable for transmission. Without stepping up,
transmitting to even few 100 meters was extremely lossy and long distance transmission was
impossible.
However, a transformer can step up or step down AC voltages with ease. This easy nature made
everyone adopt AC system and now the whole world has its electrical infrastructure designed for AC.
Losses by way of movement
In DC, there is a movement of free electrons in a specific direction which causes heating of the
conductor and leads to loss of energy.
While in AC, there is no actual movement of free electrons. Rather they just keep oscillating at their
initial position. Due to this, negligible heating is there, and thus, least loss of energy.
Note
In recent times however, power electronics has made significant advancements and its now possible to step up
and step down DC using HVDC converter stations – and the world is slowly moving towards HVDC
transmission.
This is because with Direct Current – the current flowing in one direction all the time, and so is not impeded by
this inductance, and has negligible capacitive losses – on the other hand, there are huge losses in HVAC due to
the skin effect.
Food Irradiation
What is food irradiation?
Food irradiation is a technology in which food products are subjected to a low dosage of radiation to treat them
for germs and insects, increasing their longevity and shelf life.
It is the application of ionizing radiation to food in which energy is transmitted without direct contact in the
targeted food.
The radiation can be emitted by a radioactive substance or generated electrically.
The irradiated food does not become radioactive.
Radioisotopes are used as the source for the gamma rays.
Generally cobalt-60 radioisotope is used as a radioactive source for gamma irradiation.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends the irradiation doses for Food irradiation.
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Benefits:
Irradiation is equivalent to pasteurization for solid foods, but it is not the same as sterilization.
It does not reduce the nutritional value of food products and does not change their organoleptic properties and
appearance.
The irradiation treatment of food and food grains preserves them for longer time, prevent the spread of invasive
pests, delay/eliminate ripening or sprouting and reduce the risk of food borne illness.
GeoTextile
Geo-Textiles
Geo-textile is defined as any permeable textile material that is used with foundation, soil, rock earth to increase
stability and decrease wind and water erosion
Have been used from Pharaoh’s time during construction of roads
Made of synthetic polymer (polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene and polyamides) or natural-synthetic
composite polymer.
Applications
Civil engineering applications-Roads, airfields, railroads, embankments, retaining structures, reservoirs, canals
etc.
Sand Dune Armoring- Geo-textile sand filled units to protect upland coastal properties from storm surge, wave
action and floods.
Geo-textiles have been used to protect hominid footprint fossils of Lateoli, Tanzania from erosion, rain and tree
roots.
Stabilization of slopes when quickly establishing vegetation is not possible.
Natural geo-textiles of coir and jute can be used to establish vegetation, since these degrade into humus and
provide erosion blanket of 2-3 and 1-2 years respectively
Coir and jute are especially useful in containing wind erosion. Can be used in Chambal badlands, Thar etc.
GraphAir technology
The technology grows graphene film in ambient air with a natural precursor, making its production faster and
simpler.
Soybean oil breaks down into a range of carbon building units when heat is applied. It makes it essential for the
synthesis of graphene films.
Significance:
o This unique technology makes graphene fabrication fast, simple, safe, potentially scalable and integration
friendly.
o It results in good and transformable graphene properties, comparable to graphene made by conventional
methods.
o It is expected to reduce cost of graphene production and improve uptake in new applications.
o Besides, it can also help to produce graphene from waste oil, leftover from cooking.
Graphene
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon
It is one atom thick
It is a two-dimensional, atomic-scale, honey-comb lattice in which one atom forms each vertex.
It is the basic structural element of other allotropes, including graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes and
fullerenes.
Properties :
o It is about 100 times stronger than the strongest steel.
o It conducts heat and electricity efficiently and is nearly transparent.
o It has magnetic properties
It is used in semiconductor, electronics, battery energy and composites industries
World’s thinnest light bulb created from Graphene
High nitrogen steels
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High nitrogen steels (HNS) are a new class of high alloy martensitic, austenitic or duplex grades with up to 0.9
mass% of N in solid solution.
They are applied e.g. to stainless tools and bearings, in chemical engineering and for high strength non-magnetic
components.
HNS is not only tough but also has good strength. In addition to being nonmagnetic as well as corrosion
resistant, the HNS cost is about 40% less compared to Rolled Homogenous Armour Steel (RHA).
This material has potential for a number of defence and civil applications like armouring, mine trawls, oil
industries etc.
Hyperloop Technology
What is Hyperloop Technology?
Theoretical concept of hyperloop is mooted by maverick techno-entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2013.
Hyperloop technology promises to move people and goods through low-pressure tubes far faster than
commercial air travel, within earthly confines, of course.
In hyperloop transportation, custom-designed capsules or pods are expected to zip smoothly through
continuous steel tubes which are held at partial vacuum.
The pod which sandwiches the passenger compartment between an air compressor upfront and a battery
compartment in the rear is supported by air caster skis at the bottom.
The skis float on a thin layer of air provided under high pressure, eliminating rolling resistance and allowing for
movement of the pods at high speeds. These capsules are expected to be driverless with estimated speeds of
1,000 km/h.
Linear induction motors that are placed along the tube control the speed of the pod. Electronically-assisted
acceleration and braking determines the speed of the capsule.
Why is it important?
Developments in traditional high speed railway technology have not made much progress in recent years. From steam
to diesel to electric, locomotives have come up against the physical constraints of weight and drag. Frictional losses too
come into play when a vehicle relies on wheels. As speeds accelerate, mechanical wear and tear leads to high
maintenance costs. Maglev (magnetic levitation), which was expected to provide a solution has not gained traction.
High-power consumption, accidents and technical challenges have hampered its progress.
In Hyperloop, during the pod’s journey, an inlet fan and compressor push high pressure air from the nose to tail. This
action and the partial vacuum which eliminates most of the drag, boosts the speed. Low power consumption and
reliance on existing infrastructure after re-engineering, are big positives.
India Neutrino observatory

It is a particle physics research project under construction to primarily study atmospheric neutrinos in a 1,300
meters (4,300 ft) deep cave
Located in Bodi west Hills, Tamil Nadu. (See map, hills, rivers nearby)
Underground project
Jointly supported by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology
(DST)
What are neutrinos?

Neutrinos are second most widely occurring particle in universe
Neutrinos are found in three forms (e, mu and tau).
It is charge less (electrically neutral), thereby enabling it to travel through planets, stars, rocks, human bodies
without any interaction; and
This characteristic has opened new domains for humanity
Why in news?
NGT has cancelled its Environmental Clearance and order and EIA of the project.
Liquiglide
It is a coating which will render a surface highly slippery and allows every last drop of ketchup — or almost any
other viscous product, from paint, to glue, to cosmetics — to flow from its container without sticking, saving
billions of gallons of product from going waste.
It will help eliminate waste generated across manufacturing applications, to usher in a new era of sustainable
manufacturing.
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Nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic worms many of which are parasites consisting of roundworms, threadworms and
eelworms.
They have successfully adapted to nearly every ecosystem from marine (salt or brackish water) to fresh water, to
soils, and from the tropics to the harsh polar regions, as well as the highest to the lowest of elevations.
Depending on the species, a nematode may be beneficial or detrimental to plant health.
The predatory nematodes breed by soaking a specific recipe of leaves and other detritus in water.
Crop rotation of agricultural plants with nematode-resistant species or varieties is one of the simplest way of
managing parasitic infestations of nematodes.
Why in news? ICAR has declared that pests like nematodes eat away about 30-35% of the annual crop yield in
India.
Maglev
Maglev is derived from magnetic levitation
It is a transport method that uses magnetic levitation to move vehicles without touching the ground.
With maglev, a vehicle travels along a guideway using magnets to create both lift and propulsion, thereby
reducing friction by a great extent and allowing very high speeds.
Why in news? Indian railway is planning to experiment with Maglev trains
Oil Zapper
Oil is a complex mixture, it contains four major fractions of hydrocarbons and floats on water because of high
surface tension.
During an Oil Spill dispersants are used which reduce the surface tension between oil and water allowing oil to
dilute and spread or it will fall to the ocean floor.
However, using dispersants are not a solution because the oil won’t be visible but it will remain in the water.
Also, most dispersants are man-made chemicals and some are toxic.
To address such concerns Dr Banwari Lal's team at TERI developed Oilzapper, a patented light brown powder
that is a cocktail of four different bacteria that degrade these hydrocarbons. The powder can be used both on the
sea and also on land.
Patent for this technology, for which the patent is held by a joint ONGC TERI Biotech Ltd and was used during
the last major oil spill near Mumbai in 2010.
Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation (‘phyto’ means plant) is a generic term for the group of technologies that use plants for
remediating soils, sludges, sediments and water contaminated with organic and inorganic contaminants.
Phytoremediation can be used to clean up metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil, polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, and landfill leachates. It can also be used for river basin management through the hydraulic
control of contaminants.
To remove pollutants from soil, sediment and/or water, plants can break down, or degrade, organic pollutants
or contain and stabilize metal contaminants by acting as filters or traps.
Researchers are finding that the use of trees (rather than smaller plants) is effective in treating deeper
contamination because tree roots penetrate more deeply into the ground.
Phytoremediation is an in situ remediation technology that utilizes the inherent abilities of living plants. It is
also an ecologically friendly, solar-energy driven clean-up technology, based on the concept of using nature to
cleanse nature.
Raman Effect
What is Raman Effect?
Some part of light beam after passing through a transparent medium gets scattered.
This phenomenon of scattering of light is termed as Raman Scattering and the cause of scattering is called the
Raman Effect.
The wavelength of these scattered rays is different from that of the incident rays of light.
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Thi phenomenon was explained/discovered by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman)
on February 28, 1928.
This discovery was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
Feb 28 is observed as National Science Day in India.
RFID Technology
What is RFID tagging?
RFID tagging is an ID system that uses small radio frequency identification devices for identification and tracking
purposes. An RFID tagging system includes the tag itself, a read/write device, and a host system application for data
collection, processing, and transmission. An RFID tag (sometimes called an RFID transponder) consists of a chip,
some memory and an antenna.
RFID tags that contain their own power source are known as active tags. Those without a power source are known as
passive tags. A passive tag is briefly activated by the radio frequency (RF) scan of the reader.
Scramjet Technology
What is scramjet technology?
Scramjet is short for Supersonic Combusting Ramjet
Scramjet is a supersonic combustion engine.
Rockets usually carry both fuel and oxidiser for easy combustion. Scramjet engine uses the oxygen from
atmosphere to compress fuel, thus reducing the weight of rocket and increasing the efficiency
The scramjet engine is used only during the atmospheric phase of the rocket’s flight
It is an air-breathing propulsion
The scramjet engine can also liquefy the oxygen and store it on board
This is helpful for flying at hypersonic speed – Mach 5 and above.
These engines have no moving parts. Instead of the rotating compressor and turbine in a jet engine, air is
compressed and expanded by complex systems of shockwaves under the front of the aircraft, inside the inlet and
under the fuselage at the rear
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Why in news?
o ISRO successfully conducted scramjet engine test for the first time
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology

It is a science award in India given annually by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for
notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in biology, chemistry, environmental science,
engineering, mathematics, medicine and Physics.
It was first awarded in 1958 and is the most coveted award in multidisciplinary science in India.
The award is named after the founder Director of the CSIR, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.
The prize is distributed by the Prime Minister of India.
Criteria for Award
Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years is eligible
for the prize.
The prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done in India only during the five years
preceding the year of the prize.
The prize is divided into seven disciplines, namely: Biological Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmosphere,
Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; Medical Sciences; Physical
Sciences.
The prize comprises a citation, a plaque, and a cash award of ₹5 lakh. In addition, recipients also get Rs. 15,000
per month up to the age of 65 years.
Names of candidates are proposed by a member of the governing body of CSIR, Vice-Chancellors of universities
or institutes of national importance, deans of different faculties of science and former awardees.
Why important? CSIR Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in 2016
Superconductors
What are Superconductors?
Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with no resistance whatsoever. In order to achieve
superconducting state, the element should have mobile electrons, and these electrons should come together to form
pairs, known as Cooper pairs.
Why in news?
TIFR scientists discovered that bismuth semi-metal in bulk form becomes a superconductor. This landmark discovery
challenges the conventional understanding of superconductivity based on Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory
Terahertz (THz) transmitter technology

It is a next generation system which can transmit digital data over 10 times faster than 5G mobile networks.
Developed by Japan
The THz band is a new and vast frequency resource expected to be used for future ultrahigh-speed wireless
communications.
The THz transmitter achieves a communication speed of 105 gigabits per second using the frequency range from
290 GHz to 315 GHz.
These range of frequencies are currently unallocated but fall within the frequency range from 275 GHz to 450
GHz. It paves way for faster downloads and improve in-flight network connection speeds.
Space
16 Psyche
It is an iron rich asteroid
Psyche asteroid has diameter in excess of 125 miles and is almost entirely composed of iron and nickel
Scientists believe Psyche to be a protoplanet i.e. its entire body consisting of what one day could be the core of a
new planet.
NASA has approved a mission to study it.
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Asteroids
Asteroids are small, airless rocky worlds revolving around the sun that are too small to be called planets. They
are also known as planetoids or minor planets
In total, the mass of all the asteroids is less than that of Earth’s moon. But despite their size, asteroids can be
dangerous. Many have hit Earth in the past, and more will crash into our planet in the future
What Are The Differences Between An Asteroid, Comet, Meteoroid, Meteor and Meteorite?
Asteroid: A relatively small, inactive, rocky body orbiting the Sun.
Comet: A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an atmosphere
(coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.
Meteoroid: A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun.
Meteor: The light phenomena which results when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and vaporizes; a
shooting star.
Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands upon the Earth’s
surface.
Where asteroids are located?

Most asteroids lie in a vast ring between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Not everything in the main belt is an asteroid, for instance, comets have recently been discovered there,
and Ceres, once thought of only as an asteroid, is now also considered a dwarf planet.
Many asteroids lie outside the main belt. For instance, a number of asteroids called Trojans lie along Jupiter’s
orbital path.
Three groups — Atens, Amors, and Apollos — known as near-Earth asteroids orbit in the inner solar system and
sometimes cross the path of Mars and Earth.
Astrosat
ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory.
This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe.
Launched by PSLV-C30.
ASTROSAT is designed to observe the universe in the
o Visible,
o Ultraviolet,
o Low and high energy X-ray
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads.
Astrosat aims
o at understanding of the high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black
holes,
o to estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars,
o to study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond the Milky Way galaxy.
o Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
o Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region
Astrosat is being described as India’s version of the Hubble telescope that NASA had put in space in 1990.
It has a mission life of five years.
This mission has put ISRO in a very exclusive club of nations that have space-based observatories. Only the
United States, European Space Agency, Japan and Russia have such observatories in space.
Why do we need sky observatory?
o The study of the celestial process can be done from the earth as well. Several observatories across the
globe have powerful telescopes that can see what is happening deep inside the universe.
But, the atmosphere around the earth interferes with the signals from space and changes their
characteristics. What the instruments at earth receive are modified signals. These have to be adjusted to
bring in accuracy.
A space observatory on the other hand, receives pure signals because of which the readings by instruments
are more accurate.
Bennu asteroid
It is a near-Earth asteroid that is coming towards our planet after being dislodged by a gravitational pull
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It can strike earth and cause massive destruction. According to experts, it has a only a one in 2,700 chances of
hitting.
This event will occur in year 2135

Cassini
Nasa’s Cassini spacecraft
It is an unmanned spacecraft sent to the planet Saturn
Orbits around Saturn and its moons since 2004
It has collected and analysed dust coming from beyond our solar system
Cassini is the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter orbit.
Has confirmed that a huge sea on Saturn’s moon Titan is composed mostly of pure liquid methane.
Methane, a compound made of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, exists as a gas on Earth. It becomes
liquid only at -161.5 degrees Celsius.
Saturn’s great distance from the Sun ensures that gases like methane exist as liquids there.
C- band Polarimetric Doppler weather radar (C-DWR)

It has instruments to measure rainfall intensity, wind shear and velocity and locate a storm centre and the
direction of a tornado or gust front
Radar is designed to improve precision in long range weather forecasting and surveillance using the Doppler
effect
It works by bouncing a microwave signal off a target and analysing how the object’s motion has altered the
frequency of the return signal
Chandrayan II
Chandrayaan II is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission. It consists of an orbiter, lander
and rover configuration.
It is planned to be launched as a composite stack into the earth parking orbit (EPO) of 170 X 18,500 km by
GSLV-Mk II.
The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will pick up soil or rock samples for on-site chemical
analysis. The data will be relayed to Earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
Chandrayaan-2 mission is tentatively set for late 2017 or early 2018
The mission includes soft-landing on Moon and moving a rover on its surface. All three project components will
be sending data and pictures to Earth
CE-20 (Cryogenic Engine)

It is a high thrust Cryogenic Engine
It is being developed for GSLV Mark-3
The GSLV Mark 3, the biggest rocket made in India, will be capable of launching 4-tonne satellites into
geosynchronous orbit.
So far India's GSLVs were being powered by cryogenic engines given by Russia.
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Cryogenic engines are used in the upper stage of a rocket launch as they provide the maximum thrust to a
launcher vehicle
C25 is another cryogenic engine being tested for GSLV Mark-3
What are Cryogenic Engines?
o It uses Hydrogen as fuel, stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius and liquid oxygen as oxidizer at minus 193
degrees Celsius.
o Managing combustible fuel at such low temperature makes this challenging
o To store these cryogenic fluids, special multi-layer insulation is provided for the tanks and other
structures.
o It is essential to master this technology for any space power as launching heavier satellites requires
cryogenic engines even in the lower stages of the rocket.
Copernicus observation program

Copernicus observation program is the world’s largest earth observation programme.
It is directed by the European Commission in partnership with ESA.
It consists of constellation of seven Sentinel Earth observation satellites.
The first satellite of the series was launched in April 2014.
It aims at achieving a global, continuous, autonomous, high quality, wide range Earth observation capacity by
providing accurate, timely and easily accessible information.
It also aims at improving the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate
change, and ensure civil security.
Copernicus observation program is successor of previous European Envisat program which operated from 2002
to 2012.
CYGNSS
CYGNSS stands for Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System
It is a constellation of 8 satellites
Launched by NASA
They have GPS navigation receivers to frequently measure the surface roughness of oceans. It will allow
scientists to calculate wind speed and storm intensity.
Unlike weather satellites already in orbit, these satellites can peer through rain swirling in a hurricane, all the
way into the core or eye.
Devasthal Optical Telescope

Devasthal Optical Telescope
It is India’s largest ground-based optical telescope.

The telescope is the product of an Indo-Belgian collaborative effort.
It is going to be operated by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an
autonomous research body under the Department of Science and Technology.
It will also be Asia’s largest ground-based optical telescope, succeeding the Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur,
Tamil Nadu.
Epsilon-2 Rocket
Launched by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
It is a solid fuel rocket
Solid propellant will reduce costs up to one third
Rocket released Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) satellite for studying radiation
belts around the earth
ERG satellite will orbit in a highly elliptical orbit, getting as close to Earth as 350 kilometers and as far away as
30,000 km.
This path will take the satellite through the Van Allen radiation belts, where the earth’s magnetic field traps huge
numbers of fast-moving electrons and other particles.
These particles mainly damage the computer systems aboard satellites and pose a radiation danger to
astronauts.
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The satellite will use nine different instruments for studying radiation belts over the course of a mission
designed to last at least one year.
Exoplanet GJ 536b
It is a newly discovered ‘super Earth’ type exoplanet
It is orbiting a very bright star near to our Sun which is much smaller and cooler than our sun
What is an Exoplanet? It is a planet that does not orbit the Sun and instead orbits a different star, stellar
remnant, or brown dwarf. It is also termed as extrasolar planet.
What is a Super-earth? They are extrasolar planets which are larger than the Earth. However they have mass
substantially below the solar system’s giant planets namely Neptune and Uranus.
Gaofen-3 satellite
It is a high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Launched by China
It is China’s first low orbit remote sensing satellite
It will provide high-definition remote sensing data for its users over long periods of time
GOES-R satellite
GOES stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
GOES-R is the first of four new advanced weather satellites of the GOES-R program managed by US’s National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
It will provide images of Earth’s weather, oceans and environment with 16 different spectral bands.
GOES-R is also first satellite to carry a lightning mapper instrument to geostationary orbit. It will
photograph lightning activity throughout Western Hemisphere about 200 times every second.
It will monitor the sun and relay crucial information to forecasters so they can issue space weather alerts and
warnings
Goldilocks Zone
Goldilocks zone: It refers to a habitable zone in the planetary system where the temperature is neither too high nor
too low. Such conditions could allow for the presence on the planet’s surface of liquid water – a key ingredient for life.
Gravitational Waves
Gravitational Waves:
Gravitational waves are oscillations in the fabric of space-time, moving at the speed of light and caused by the
acceleration of massive objects.
They can be generated, for example, by supernovas, neutron star binaries spiralling around each other, and pairs
of merging black holes.
Hypothesised by Albert Einstein a century ago
These were first seen last year by the ground-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(LIGO)
GSAT-11
GSAT-11 is a four-tonne geostationary communications satellite, which has a mission life of about 15 years.
The GSAT-11 will not only link all the towns and villages in this country with quality high-speed Wi-Fi service, it
will also integrate internet and television services.
The satellite is currently under development at Department of Space and ISRO facilities.
GSAT-11 is designed to generate a bandwidth of more than 12 gbps primarily for users of Internet driven
services, VSAT operations and rural connectivity.
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GSAT 18
India's largest Communication satellite
Injected in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
It weighs around 3,404 kgs at lift-off.
It has a mission life of about 15 years.
It carries 48 communication transponders including Ku-band beacon for accurately pointing ground antennas
towards the satellite
GSAT-18 will provide services like television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite news gathering
GSLV
GSLV is a three stage rocket designed to inject 2 to 2.5 ton class of satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
The first stage of rocket is fired by solid fuel and its four strap-on motors by liquid fuel.
The second stage is powered by liquid fuel and the third stage by the cryogenic engine which is more efficient as
it provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt
Significance: ISRO is perfecting the crucial cryogenic engine technology in order to save precious foreign
exchange by launching heavier satellites on its own. Currently, ISRO relies on the European Space Agency
(ESA’s) Ariane rocket to launch its heavy communication satellites
High-throughput communication satellites

HTS helps in providing high speed internet at cheap rates
HTS reuses satellite ‘beams’ several times over smaller areas.
It will drive a next generation technology revolution. Individuals, planners in government, businesses like
banks, ATMs, reservation systems, cellular and private networks and users in remote areas are expected to
benefit from improved connectivity.
HTSs provide at least twice the total throughput of a normal satellite for the same amount of allocated orbital
spectrum thus significantly reducing cost-per-bit.
A fundamental difference to existing satellites is also the fact that HTS are linked to ground infrastructure
through a feeder link using a regional spot beam dictating the location of possible teleports.
INSAT-3DR
It is an advanced weather satellite
Launched by GSLV-F05
It will supplement the services of INSAT-3D
It is placed in Geo Stationary Transfer orbit
Payloads in INSAT-3DR:
1. Multi-Spectral Imager: It would generate images of earth every 26 minutes to provide information on
various parameters, sea surface temperature, snow cover, cloud motion winds.
2. Sounder: It will provide information on temperature and humidity.
3. Data-Relay Transponder: It will be used for receiving meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic
data.
4. Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Transponder: It will be used to pick up and relay alert signals
originating from distress beacons of aviation, maritime, among others
IRNSS (NAVIC)
About IRNSS:
IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information in the Indian
region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland. Simply put, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
(IRNSS) is similar to the GPS (global positioning system) of the US, Glonass of Russia and Galileo of Europe as well as
China’s Beidou. It consists of a constellation of seven satellites.
Features:
1. It is a constellation of total 7 satellite launched in space and a ground facility on land to receive signals from
space satellites. 3 of its satellite Located in Geostationary orbit and 4 are inclined to geosynchronous orbit.
However full NAVIC system has 9 satellite, 2 on ground in standby mode.
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2. It covers whole India and region surrounding it up to 1500 km.

3. It provide accuracy up to 20m as claimed by ISRO.
4. Its apogee(farthest point) is 20,657km and Perigee is 284 km
5. The satellite weighs average 1330 kg approx. and each have solar panels to generate 1400wt.
6. A master control facility is set up on land to receive signals from these satellites.
What areas will it cover?

1. Primary Service Area: To provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region
extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
2. Extended Service Area: It lies between primary service area and area enclosed by the rectangle from Latitude 30
deg South to 50 deg North, Longitude 30 deg East to 130 deg East.
What all services are provided?

IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely
1. Standard Positioning Services available to all users and
2. Restricted Services provided to authorised users. (Encrypted)
Significance:
1. India became one of the 5 countries having their own navigation system like GPS of USA, GLONASS of Russia,
Galileo of Europe and BeiDu of China. So India dependence on other countries for navigation purposes reduces.
2. It give real time information for 2 services i.e standard positioning service open for civilian use and Restricted
service which may be encrypted for authorised user like for military. Currently we uses GPS system of USA for
navigation.
3. It will help to mitigate the disaster effects by providing information of disaster timing, safe location and also
help the disaster relief management to make earlier plans and save the lives of people in India as well as up to
1500 km around it.
4. It will help the mariners for far navigation and fisherman for get information about the valuable fisheries
location and any disturbance in Sea.
5. It will help to make friendly relations with others countries by providing real time information during any
calamity or disaster for mitigate its after effect and for making early plans
Applications of IRNSS:
Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation.
Disaster Management.
Vehicle tracking and fleet management.
Integration with mobile phones.
Precise Timing.
Mapping and Geodetic data capture.
Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travelers.
Visual and voice navigation for drivers.
James Webb Space Telescope

JWST is the largest-ever space telescope
It is expected to be launched in 2018 following the in-depth testing.
It is bigger and more powerful than NASA’s operational Hubble Space Telescope
NASA's project
It is the formal successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. After its launch it will
be the premier observatory of the next decade.
It is an international collaboration between of about 17 countries including NASA, European Space Agency
(ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Applications: It will help in broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology. It will
help to understand the origins of the universe, evolution of our own Solar System, search for signs of life on
faraway planets. It can also analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets that pass in front of their stars
Juno
NASA's spacecraft
JUNO is an acronym for Jupiter Near-polar Orbiter
Entered into the orbit of Jupiter
It will orbit Jupiter from pole to pole, 5,000 kilometres above planet’s cloud
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Launched by NASA as part of its New Frontiers program in 2011 to study Jupiter’s composition, gravity field,
magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere
Unmanned spacecraft
Juno is not the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter. It is second spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, after Galileo
probe which had orbited the planet from 1995–2003. Galileo probe in its mission had found evidence of
subsurface saltwater on Jupiter’s moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto
It is powered by solar energy.
The primary goals of the mission are to find out whether Jupiter has a solid core, how its atmosphere and
magnetosphere formed, and whether there is water in the gas cloud shrouding the planet.
Kirameki-2 Satellite
Launched by Japan
Japan's first military communication satellite
The Kirameki-2 satellite has been designed to upgrade Japan’s existing communication network in the face of
China’s increasingly assertive maritime activity and North Korea’s missile threat.
Leap Second
What is a leap second?
The Earth's rotation around its own axis is not regular, as sometimes it slows down and sometimes speeds up due to
various factors, including moon’s gravitational forces and earthquakes. As a result, astronomical time (UT1) gradually
falls out of sync with atomic time (UTC). When the difference between UTC and UT1 approaches 0.9 seconds, a leap
second is added to UTC through atomic clocks worldwide to match both times.
Magnetars
A magnetar is a type of neutron star, a strange object with an incredibly powerful magnetic field that powers the
emission of highly energetic X-rays and gamma rays.
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Neutron stars are formed when the largest stars in the universe reach the end of their lives. When these stars run
out of fuel, their core collapses causing outer layers to come crashing in towards the centre.
As stars are so large the crushing forces created can be phenomenal. These pressures can squash the core of the
star together and because of this, a neutron star – and hence a magnetar – is made of some of the densest
material in the known universe.
Magnetars are differentiated from other neutron stars by having even stronger magnetic fields, and rotating
comparatively slowly, with most magnetars completing a rotation once every one to ten seconds, compared to
less than one second for a typical neutron star
The active life of a magnetar is short. Their strong magnetic fields decay after about 10,000 years, after which
activity and strong X-ray emission cease
Why in news? NASA’s Swift telescope has detected strong X ray bursts coming from a magnetar
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission

NASA's mission
It is an unmanned space mission to study the Earth’s magnetosphere, using four identical satellites flying in a
tetrahedral or pyramid formation.
Objectives:
o The mission launched in March 2015 aims to map magnetic reconnection, a process that occurs as the sun
and Earth’s magnetic fields interact.
o Understanding causes of magnetic reconnection is important for understanding phenomena of auroras on
Earth, flares on surface of sun, and areas surrounding black holes.
o The mission is also designed to gather information about the microphysics of energetic particle
acceleration and turbulence, processes that occur in many astrophysical plasmas.
Significance:
o When these satellites are closest to Earth, they move at up to 35,405 km/hour, making them the fastest
known operational use of a GPS receiver.
o These satellites operate in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth and incorporate GPS measurements into
their precise tracking systems.
o This system which require extremely sensitive position and orbit calculations to guide tight flying
formations.
Moon Express (MX-1)

Moon Express is the first private company to get government approval for a moon venture
MX-1E is a spacecraft that can orbit to the moon, make a soft landing on the lunar surface, and move on it by
making “hops”.
OSIRIS-Rex
Primary aim of the mission is to study asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid.
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NASA's project
OSIRIS-Rex stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer.
OSIRIS-Rex will travel for two years on a journey to Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid about the size of a small
mountain
It will return with dirt samples from Bennu to Earth
NASA scientists feel that the Bennu asteroid hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of water
and organic molecules found on Earth
PSLV C35
It was PSLV’s longest and most complex mission.
It is also for the first time PSLV has successfully placed satellites in two different orbits in single mission
PSLV launched its payloads in two different orbits by following twin-orbit manoeuvre. It was recently
accomplished by European Space Agency’s Vega rocket.
PSLV-C37 (104 satellite launched)

ISRO created a record by launching 104 satellites in a single launch via PSLV-C37
Of the total 104 satellites, three were Indian and remaining 101 belonged to international customers
India’s three satellites included earth-mapping Cartosat-2 satellite (main payload) and nanosatellites INS-1A
and INS-1B
Cartosat-2 Satellite:
o It was the primary payload of the mission. It is similar to the earlier four satellites in Cartosat-2 Series. It
weighs 714 kg and has a mission life of five years.
o It is earth observation satellite that will provide remote sensing services.
o Images sent by it will be useful for coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring and creation
of land use maps, among others.
Psyche Asteroid
It is the largest metallic asteroid in our solar system
Psyche is made of almost pure nickel-iron metal and is about 300 kilometres across.
It is located in the asteroid belt.
It is considered as the remnant core of a budding planet that was mostly destroyed by impacts billions of years
ago.
Why in news? Scientists have detected the presence of water on Psyche
QUESS Satellite
QUESS stands for Quantum Experiments at Space Scaler (QUESS) satellite.
It is also called MICIUS
Launched by China
World's first Quantum satellite
It will be located in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km and will circle the Earth once every 90
minutes
The satellite will help China to establish hack-proof communications system by transmitting uncrackable keys
from space to the ground
Applications: Ranges from highly secured military and government communications to online shopping
Resourcesat-2A
It is a remote sensing satellite
It was launched by PSLV-C36
Resourcesat-2A weighs 1,235 kg and is placed into an 817 km polar sun synchronous orbit (i.e. orbiting pole-to-
pole).
The mission life of Resourcesat-2A is five years
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Its cameras will give regular micro and macro information on land and water bodies below, forests, farm lands
and crop extent, coastal information, mineral deposits, rural and urban spreads besides helping in disaster
management
ScatSat-1 satellite
It is a weather forecasting satellite
It will be equipped with on board instruments to monitor sea surface winds and help predict the genesis of
cyclones
The satellite will have the capacity to monitor temperature and humidity and transmit 48 images per day
It is a polar orbiting satellite that will take two days to cover the globe.
The data will be used by NASA, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well
SCATSat-1 is an OceanSat-2 follow-up mission
Scatterometer
A scatterometer is a microwave radar sensor
It measures the scattering effect produced while scanning the surface of the Earth from an aircraft or a satellite
It will help predict formation of cyclones in the seas. Such predictions help in timely evacuation and minimise
human casualties.
It will measure the direction and speed of winds over the seas and oceans
SmallSats and CubeSats

Small spacecraft (SmallSats) focus on spacecraft with a mass less than 180 kilograms and about the size of a large
kitchen fridge. Even with small spacecraft, there is a large variety of size and mass that can be differentiated.
Minisatellite, 100-180 kilograms

Microsatellite, 10-100 kilograms
Nanosatellite, 1-10 kilograms
Picosatellite, 0.01-1 kilograms
Femtosatellite, 0.001-0.01 kilograms
CubeSats are a class of nanosatellites that use a standard size and form factor. The standard CubeSat size uses a "one
unit" or "1U" measuring 10x10x10 cms and is extendable to larger sizes; 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and even 12U. CubeSats now
provide a cost effective platform for science investigations, new technology demonstrations and advanced mission
concepts using constellations, swarms disaggregated systems.
CubeSat missions benefit Earth in varying ways. From Earth imaging satellites that help meteorologists to predict
storm strengths and direction, to satellites that focus on technology demonstrations to help define what materials and
processes yield the most useful resources and function best in a microgravity environment, the variety of science
enabled by CubeSats results in diverse benefits and opportunities for discovery.
Space Junk (Kessler Syndrome)

More than 5 decades of human space exploration since the first Soviet-launched Sputnik satellite in 1957 has
produced a hazardous belt of orbiting debris in the space.
There are estimated to be more than 100 million pieces circling our planet in the lower orbit, posing a growing
threat to future space exploration.
These pieces of debris travel at high speeds. A relatively small piece of orbital debris can inflict a great deal of
damage on satellites or spacecraft orbiting in the space.
This phenomenon is Kessler Syndrome which describes a self-sustaining cascading collision of space debris
in low earth Orbit.
Why in news?
o Japan’s space agency (JAXA) successfully launched a Kounotori 6 (HTV-6) spacecraft that will deliver a
large magnetic tether, a space junk collector technology into orbit.
o It is an experimental space scavenger that aims to study possibility of getting rid of space junk (debris) left
into orbit by earlier space exploration missions
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Space X
US private company in aerospace and space transport sector
It was established with the goal of creating the technologies to reduce space transportation costs and enable the
colonization of Mars
It has developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both designed to be reusable, and the Dragon
spacecraft which is flown into orbit by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle to supply the International Space
Station (ISS) with cargo.
A manned version of Dragon is in development
SuperView-1 01 and 02
These are high resolution remote sensing satellite launched by China.
They will provide commercial images at 0.5-meter resolution.
China's Space ambitions:

China plans to form a BeiDou network consisting of constellation of 35 satellites for global navigation services by
2020. It is expected to compete with US’s Global Positioning system (GPS).
China plans to start providing basic navigation services to countries along the Silk Route One Belt One Road
Economic route and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018.
China will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve world’s first soft landing on the far side of the Moon to show
case its ambitious space programme including manned missions, building permanent space station and reaching
to Mars
Surya Jyoti
Surya Jyoti
It is a Photovoltaic integrated Micro Solar Dome, a simple innovative technology developed to meet the lighting
need for people who do not have access to reliable supply of electricity.
The dome will capture day light and concentrate the same inside a dark room in urban slum or rural areas.
TanSat
It is a global carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring satellite to understand the effects of climate change
Launched by China
TanSat will thoroughly examine global CO2 levels every 16 days, accurate to at least 4 ppm (parts per million)
It weighs 620-kg and will be located in sun synchronous orbit about 700 kms above the earth. It has three-year
mission life
The satellite will help understanding of climate change and provide China’s policy makers with independent
emissions data in first-hand and share it with researchers worldwide
TeamIndus
TeamIndus is Bengaluru-based private aerospace company.
TeamIndus is one of the four international teams and the only one from India that are running for the Google
Lunar XPRIZE, a $30 million competition. The competition aims to encourage private companies to launch
space missions.
It is planning to send a spacecraft to the moon aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket
TeamIndus moon mission’s aim is to land this spacecraft on the moon. It will also travel at least 500 metres and
beam high- definition images, video and data back to the earth.
Except for the launch vehicle, all of the technology that will power the lander and rover will be developed in-
house by TeamIndus.
Tiangong-2
Tiangong-2 ( in English means Heavenly Palace 2) space lab is part of China’s ambitious Project 921-2 space
station program aimed at creating a third generation space station.
S&T
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The 8-tonne module replaces China’s now-defunct Tiangong 1 space lab mission which had ended its
operational life in March 2016.
Tiangong-2 features improved living quarters and life-support infrastructure for longer stays by visiting
crewmembers.
It will be used for testing systems and processes for mid-term space stays and refueling.
It will be placed at slightly higher orbit around 393 kilometres above the earth.
It is a prototype for China’s ultimate goal to launch a permanent 20-ton space station after 2020 just as
International Space Station (ISS). It will make China potentially the only country with a permanent space
presence.
Tianlian I-04
It is a data satellite launched by China
The satellite seeks to achieve global network operation that will provide data relay, measurement and control
services for its manned spacecraft
The network will also offer data relay services for the country’s medium- and low-Earth orbiting resources
satellites, control support and measurement for spacecraft launched
Tianyan
It is world’s largest radio telescope
Built by China
It will be used to search for signs of intelligent life and to observe distant pulsars – tiny, rapidly spinning
neutron stars believed to be the products of supernova explosions.
It will be also used to study stellar radio emissions, gravitational waves and potentially signals from extra
terrestrial civilizations.
Vela super cluster

It is one of the biggest super galaxy clusters near the Milky Way.
It is estimated to carry 100,000 galaxies with trillions of stars. It is one of the biggest concentrations of galaxies
found in the Universe.
Its discovery may help astronomers to answer the retardation on the speed of Milky Way, which has mass of 400
billion suns and is containing 100 billion or more stars.
Vela can also offer hints on how Milky Way got to the current location in the universe and gravity of the
supercluster can explain the variations in Milky Way’s measured motion in space.
What are Galaxy clusters?

They are among the largest structures in the universe consisting of hundreds of galaxies spread in a not so vast area,
usually it is limited to a few million light-years across. These clusters are big population of elliptical yet massive
galaxies at the core. It is believed that these clusters formed stars a long time ago but not making stars anymore.
XPNAV-1
Satellite launched by China
It is an experimental X-ray pulsar navigation satellite
The satellite weighs more than 200 kilogrammes and carries two detectors.
It will operate in a Sun-synchronous orbit (500 kilometers) inclined at 97 degrees.
It will conduct in-orbit experiments of autonomous spacecraft navigation using pulsar detectors to demonstrate
new technologies.
It will also test its detectors’ functions in responding to the background noise of the universe, outline pulsar
contours, and create a database for pulsar navigation.
What are pulsars?

Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation.
They are spherical, compact objects that are about the size of a large city but contain more mass than the sun.
Scientists are using pulsars to study extreme states of matter, search for planets beyond Earth’s solar system and
measure cosmic distance.
S&T
_______________________________________________________________
What is X-ray pulsar navigation?

X-ray pulsar navigation is an innovative navigation technology in which periodic X-ray signals emitted from
pulsars are used to determine location of a spacecraft in deep space.
This method of navigation, based on X-ray signals emitted from pulsars is known as XNAV.
Potential Benefits
XNAV is expected to provide a faster estimation of spacecraft location in space as current systems are limited by
the time delay at great distances.
It is also seen as a cheaper alternative for a radio-based system as it would require reduced ground
infrastructure.
Besides, it is expected to lead to autonomous spacecraft navigation in the future. It will also save additional cost
as X-ray satellites can be made smaller and lighter.


IAS4Sure S&T Notes For Prelims 2017

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S-400 ‘Triumf’ Air Defence System ............................................................................. 17

Gaofen-3 satellite ......................................................................................................... 45

What are its significance?

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It was a government sponsored project

What is present status of food fortification in India?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

The primary form of fMRI uses blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast.

Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

Future Potential Applications:

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Airborne early Warning And Control System

Akula Class Submarines

Ashwin : Advanced Air Defence

Ballistic missile defence (BMD) system

Kalvari Class Submarines

S-300 Air Defence System

S-400 ‘Triumf’ Air Defence System

Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

It is a weapon locating radar system.

o Direction of Own artillery Fire (DOOAF) Mode for Artillery

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Energy and Environment

2nd generation ethanol

Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology

Coal Bed Methane (CBM)

Fast Neutron Reactor

What are advantages of fast neutron reactor?

What are environmental concerns?

What are recyclable uses of fly ash?

What is Fly Ash Utilisation Policy?

What are the advantages?

Why they are harmful?

Components of light pollution

Effects of Light Pollution

Natural Gas Hydrates

Why they are important?

Rare earth elements

Solar Power Tree

Importance of this experiment:

Urja Ganga Project

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How does cooking produce Acrylamide?

Avian Influenza (H5N1)

Ban on use of newspaper for packing food

What are reasons for the spread of disease?

Deep Brain Stimulator

Foot & Mouth Disease

Signs and symptoms:

Treatment:: There is no specific therapy. Intensive supportive therapy is indicated.

What is whitener-inhalation addiction?

What are side-effects of whitener-inhalation addiction on health?

Zinc in our Body

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Cyber Swachhta Kendra

Domain Name System (DNS)

Micro-ATM and malware attacks

What are potential threats to Micro-ATM?

What CERT-in advises?

MMW application in communications:

Sunway Taihu Light