1. IOCL to help in the TB elimination effort of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Tags: National Economy/Finance Science and Technology State News
The government of India owned Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central TB Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to undertake an intensified TB elimination project. This effort of the IOCL is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on 28 December 2022.
According to the World Health Organisation 26% of Tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world in 2020 was reported from India. Within India Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh share the highest burden of TB cases among large states in India. The Indian Government has set a target to eliminate TB in India by 2025.
Indian Oil has emerged as the first corporate to supplement state efforts in Active Case Finding campaign (ACF) by investing close to Rs. 64 crore in all 75 districts of UP, covering approximately 10% of its population once a year for three years.
Indian Oil will also introduce handheld X Ray Units, Mobile Medical Vans, equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic technology in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. This would aid diagnosis of TB in rural areas and hard-to-reach communities leading to improved early case detection and thereby ensuring early treatment.
Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certain public or private sector companies have to spend a minimum 2% of the average net profits made during the 3 immediately preceding financial years on certain sectors identified by the government...
Every year March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis Day in the world.
2. Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru to be G20 Science working group’s secretariat
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, will function as the secretariat for Science 20 (S20), a working group set up as part of the G20 which will be presided over by India in 2023.
Important facts
The theme of the S20 in 2023 is ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’.
This broad issue will be discussed throughout the year in different regions of India.
Three issues will be discussed at the discussions in Agartala, Lakshadweep, and Bhopal: universal holistic health, clean energy for a greener future, and bridging science and society.
Apart from the discussions, there will be an inaugural conference in Puducherry and a summit in Coimbatore.
About Science 20 (S20)
Established in 2017, the Science 20 (S20) is one of the newest groupings of the G20.
In line with the G20, it has a non-permanent rotating secretariat and operates more like a forum rather than an organisation.
The main objective of the S20 group is to present consensus-based recommendations for selected topics of interest to policy makers.
These science-driven recommendations are developed through task forces consisting of international experts.
A Sherpa is appointed to support and guide the task forces.
Each task force focuses on a broad topic that is relevant to scientists, policy makers, and society alike.
The S20 summit is held annually, usually before the respective G20 summit.
3. Scientists freeze Great Barrier Reef coral in world-first trial
Tags: Science and Technology
Scientists working on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have successfully tested a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae, in a bid to restore the reef threatened by climate change.
Important facts
Cryogenically frozen coral can be stored and later reintroduced into the wild but the process requires sophisticated equipment including lasers.
A new lightweight "Cryomesh" could be manufactured more cheaply and better protect corals, according to scientists.
Cryomesh is a specially fabricated mesh used as a substrate in cryopreservation. The mesh technology will help store coral larvae at -196°C (-320.8°F).
Scientists are conducting scientific research to protect coral reefs as rising ocean temperatures are destabilising this fragile ecosystem.
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced four bleaching events in the past seven years.
What are Coral reefs?
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on Earth.
They play an important role in marine ecosystems and support habitats for flora and fauna in the ocean.
Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony.
About Great Barrier Reef
It extends for 1400 miles along the north-east coast of Queensland, Australia and is the world's most extensive and rich coral reef ecosystem.
It is made up of more than 2,900 reefs and more than 900 islands.
It is the largest single structure in the world made by living organisms.
This reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
4. 15 Start-ups selected in product accelerator program
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Ministry of Science and Technology has said that fifteen Startups, selected in the first-of-its-kind product accelerator program for innovators developing sustainable solutions, will soon start working towards solutions in the healthcare and agriculture domains.
Important facts
This Start-up Incubation and Innovation Center (SIIC) is the first cohort of the manufacturing accelerator program launched by IIT Kanpur.
A total of 15 startups will be selected under the programme. The best performing startups in a cluster of 15 startups will receive a cash award of up to Rs 10 lakh.
About NIRMAN Accelerator Program
Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, the technology business incubator at IIT Kanpur, launched the NIRMAN Accelerator Program.
It is supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The program focuses on manufacturing startups engaged in the healthcare and agriculture domains, to help them overcome challenges from their prototyping to market journey.
The manufacturing accelerator program has immense potential to tap and capitalize on startups operating in the sector.
Name of the 15 Start-ups
LCB Fertilizers Private Limited
Saptkrishi Scientific Private Limited
BomLife Private Limited
Polycycling Solutions Private Limited
Surobhi AgroIndustries Private Limited
Primary Healthtech Private Limited
Lenek Technologies Private Limited
Aana Crop Solutions Private Limited
Wander Continental Flyer Private Limited
Climec lab Private Limited
ProPlant Foods Private Limited
Meukron Technologies Private Limited
Xfinito Biodesigns Private Limited
Life and Limb Private Limited
NadiPulse Prognostics Private Limited
5. IIT Kanpur develops artificial heart to help people with acute cardiac problems
Tags: Science and Technology
Researchers at IIT Kanpur have developed an artificial heart, which will prove to be helpful for people suffering from cardiac problems.
Important facts
IIT Kanpur director Abhay Karandikar announced that animal trials would begin next year.
He said heart transplants will now be simple. In critical patients, artificial hearts can be placed.
This artificial heart was made by cardiologists from across the country and IIT Kanpur.
After the study is successful, the transplant on humans could be done in the next two years.
India imports 80 percent of devices and implants from abroad, only 20 percent of devices and implants are manufactured in India.
6. Government approves Bharat Biotech’s Nasal covid vaccine
Tags: National Science and Technology
The government of India on 23 December 2022 has allowed the use of Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose. The vaccine will be offered to people of 18 years and above.
The vaccine will be available initially at the private hospitals and can be booked on the CoWIN app from 23 December 2022.
The nasal vaccine BBV154 had received approval of the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 as a heterologous booster dose.
This vaccine has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low and middle-income countries.
It was developed in partnership with Washington University, St. Louis of the United States of America.
The rise of mutant variants in China and other countries may cause a fresh surge of infections in India, which is a cause of concern for the government.
Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech company has also developed injectable Covaxin vaccine with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology, Pune.
Heterologous vaccine
A heterologous vaccine is a type of booster vaccine which is given to a person who has already taken a different vaccine. A heterologous vaccine is also called a mix and match vaccine because a person is taking two types of vaccine for the same disease.
The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan China in December 2019 and was later declared a Public health emergency of International concern by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020 and a Pandemic on 11 March 2020. The first case of the virus in India was confirmed in Kerala on 30 January 2020.
The Covid vaccination in India was started on 16 January 2021.
7. UIDAI wins DSCI best Security practices award in the government sector award
Tags: place in news Science and Technology Summits Awards
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has won the Data Security Council of India's (DSCI) Best Security Practices in Government Sector award.
The award was given to UIDAI during DSCI's three day Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) in Gurugram for its significant role in securing national critical Aadhaar infrastructure that provides digital identity based welfare services to residents.
The Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) was organised by Nasscom -DSCI from 20-22 December in Gurugram. Data Security Council of India is a premier industry body on data protection in India. It was set up by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
It was set up on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
UIDAI was created to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), Aadhaar, to all residents of India. It issues a 12 digit biometric Aadhaar number to the residents of India after satisfying the verification process laid down by the Authority.
Chief Executive officer (CEO): Dr Saurabh Garg
8. ISRO to carry US instrument on board the forthcoming Chandrayaan 3 mission
Tags: National Science and Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) forthcoming Chandrayaan 3 mission will carry scientific instruments of the United States of America. The Chandrayaan mission 2 also carried American scientific instruments .This information was given by the Union Minister of state (Independent charge )Science & Technology, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in the Rajya Sabha on 22 December 2022.
He said that India has signed 4 cooperative documents specifically to collaborate in space exploration in the last five years.
Apart from the United States of America, India has also signed an agreement with Japan to conduct a feasibility study for a joint lunar polar exploration mission, while with the United Kingdom it has an agreement for conducting a feasibility study for collaboration in future space science missions.
He said, India and Bhutan collaborated on the development of INDIA-BHUTANSAT Satellite carrying into payloads NanoMX, an optical imaging payload developed by ISRO and APRS-Digipeater. The satellite was successfully placed in orbit on 26.11.2022.
A communication satellite ‘South Asia Satellite’ was dedicated by India to South Asian Countries in 2017.
ISRO mission to Moon or Chandrayaan
ISRO launched Chandrayaan mission to study the moon. The Chandrayaan 1 mission was launched on 22 October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space center, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It launched a Moon Impact Probe that crashed on the moon surface and discovered a small amount of water on the Moon's surface.
Chandrayaan 2 was launched on 2 July 2019.The mission aimed to land a rover on the moon's South Pole. However the lunar lander Vikram crashed on the moon surface on 7 September 2019 and prevented rover Pragyaan from successfully travelling on the surface of the moon.
Chandrayaan 3
According to the ISRO chairman S.Somanath Chandrayaan 3 is scheduled to be launched in June 2023. It will only consist of a rover and lander and will communicate with the earth via an orbiter from Chandrayaan 2.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
It was set up on 15 August 1969
It is India's national space agency.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S.Somanath
9. India’s manned Space flight Gaganyaan to be launched in in the fourth quarter of 2024: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Tags: National Science and Technology
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s maiden human space flight mission is targeted to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2024. He gave this information in the Lok Sabha on 21 December 2022.
Gaganyaan Mission of ISRO
Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.
The Gaganyaan project was conceived in 2007 and it was formally started in 2018 with a budget of Rs 10,000 crore. Initially the plan is to launch two unmanned missions in December 2020 and July 2021 before the final launch of the manned mission in December 2021.
Now according to the Minister the first unmanned mission will be launched in the last quarter of 2023 followed by the second unmanned mission in the second quarter of 2024.
Gaganyaan Astronauts
Four Indian Air Force pilots have been identified as crew for the mission who are undergoing training in Russia. An astronaut training facility was set up in Bengaluru in May this year. Here the four astronauts will go through theory, physical fitness, flight suit training, microgravity, among other things.
Aim of Gaganyaan mission
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) LMV3 rocket will be used as a launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission. It will take the crew 16 minutes to reach space, where they will spend three days conducting scientific experiments. During the return, the crew module in which the crew will live will separate at an altitude of 120 km. It will splash down in the sea nearby 36 minutes after separation.
Human Space Flight
At present only three countries, the United States, Russia and China have the capability to launch manned space missions.
The first person to go into space was Yury Gagarin of the Soviet Union on 12 April 1961 onboard the Vostok Rocket.
The first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union on 16 June 1963 onboard the Vostok 6 Rocket.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to go into space. He was part of the Soviet mission aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984.
Humans who travel in space are called astronauts. The Chinese call them Taikonauts and the Russians call them Cosmonauts.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
It was set up on 15 August 1969
It is India's national space agency.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S.Somanath
10. CSIR’s "One Week, One Lab" countrywide campaign from 6th January, 2023
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, who is also the vice president of CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), on 17 December announced the launching of "One Week, One Lab" countrywide campaign from January 6, 2023.
Important facts
Dr Jitendra Singh announced this while addressing the 200th Governing Body Meeting of CSIR at the Science Centre in New Delhi.
He announces Special Call for Research Grant Proposals for Women Scientists.
He launched the new tagline of the organisation, “CSIR-The Innovation Engine of India”.
In this campaign, 37 premier laboratories/institutes of CSIR spread across the country will showcase their unique innovations and technological breakthroughs to the people of India.
"One Week One Lab" theme-based campaign is expected to ignite the minds of young innovators, students, academia, and industry to look for opportunities through deep tech Start-ups ventures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is President of CSIR, had chaired the meeting of CSIR Society on 15th October, 2022 and appreciated the efforts of CSIR in the past 80 years.
The Prime Minister had urged CSIR in the Society meeting to develop a vision for 2042 when CSIR turns 100 years old.
About CSIR
CSIR was established on 26 September 1942 and was registered as the CSIR Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
The first meeting of the Governing Body was held on 09 March 1942 in which the bye-laws for the Council were framed.
