Guidelines For Safety Assessment Of Genome Edited Plants, 2022: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has issued guidelines easing norms for research into Genetically Modified (GM) crops and circumventing challenges of using foreign genes to change crops profile. Earlier, the Government has allowed genome-edited plants without the cumbersome GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) regulation at the Genetic […]
Category: Science and Technology Current Affairs
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Lower respiratory infection attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was responsible for more than 1,00,000 deaths in children under five worldwide in 2019, according to a new estimate published in The Lancet The study is the first to examine RSV disease burden in narrow age brackets. According to the report the incidence […]
Ethanol Blending Percentage
Increase Of Percentage Of Ethanol In petrol To 20%: The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, to advance the date by which fuel companies have to increase the percentage of ethanol in petrol to 20%. The policy to introduce 20% ethanol in petrol will take effect from April 1, 2023. […]
What Are RFID Tags?
What Are RFID Tags? RFID tags will now be used to track Amarnath pilgrims. The decision was taken amid heightened security threats to the pilgrimage. Radio Frequency Identification is a wireless tracking system that consists of tags and readers. Radio waves are used to communicate information/identity of objects or people. The tags can carry encrypted […]
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A team of researchers in Australia has identified a biochemical marker in the blood that could help identify newborn babies at risk for the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The researchers used dried blood spots from newborn infants and screened the samples for BChE (Butyrylcholinesterase) level and total protein content. Sudden […]
India’s First 5G Testbed
India’s First 5G Testbed: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently opened India’s first 5G testbed, which will allow start-ups and industrial companies to test their products locally, eliminating reliance on international facilities. He added during the occasion that India’s own 5G standard, 5Gi, was a source of great pride for the country and that it will […]
Food Inflation
Food Inflation: Food prices around the world have soared to record levels this year as the Russia-Ukraine war slashes key exports of wheat and fertiliser from those countries, at the same time as droughts, floods and heat fuelled by climate change claim more harvests. The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s food price index has shown a […]
Global Report On Assistive Technology
Global Report On Assistive Technology: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) jointly launched the first Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT). Highlights of the Report: More than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or apps that support communication and cognition. A billion […]
What Is Endosulfan?
What Is Endosulfan? The Supreme Court has slammed the Kerala government for State’s inaction in providing relief to the Endosulfan pesticide exposure victims. This also amounts to a breach of the apex court’s 2017 judgment, which had ordered the State to pay ₹5 lakh each to the victims in three months. From the mid-70s, Kerala […]
HS200 Solid Rocket Booster For Gaganyaan Mission
HS200 Solid Rocket Booster For Gaganyaan Mission: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has completed the static test of the human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for Gaganyaan programme. HS200 Solid Rocket Booster: The booster engine is part of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII (GSLV Mk III) rocket that will carry Indian astronauts to space. […]
