National Research Foundation 

 Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Science & Technology

Why in News? 

 The Union cabinet has approved the National Research Foundation bill to the Parliament. 

 About:

 · It was one of the important recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020. 

 · It acts as a coordinating agency between the researchers, various government bodies and industry. 

 · It provides research grants to the individual as well as universities. 

 · The State Universities will be provided with infrastructure also. Funds: · It provides the budget of 50,000 crores in five years.

 · Among the 50,000 crores, 28% will be the government’s share and the remaining 72% will be funded by the private sector. 

 · The NRF draft proposes that the government’s share to increase 20,000 crore per year.

 · Out of the government’s share 4,000 crores will be used from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

· SERB will be subsumed under NRF.

· The increase in the nation’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) is less when compare to the U.S and China.

· India’s GERD is nearly 24 times less than U.S. and China. 

 Science and Engineering Research Board:

· It is a statutory body enacted by the Science and Engineering Research Board Organisation Act, 2008.

· It promotes the basic research in Science and Engineering. 

 · It provides financial assistance to the persons who are engaged in research, academic institutions, research and laboratories etc. 

 · Some of the important programmes under SERB are: 

 1. SERB FIRE-It provides the Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (FIRE) which address the challenges in the research and innovation space in India. 

 · SERB FIRE creates an ecosystem which would accelerate the growth in the research work 

 2. Vajra-It was initiated to bring the international dimensions to the R & D ecosystem by leveraging overseas scientists’ expertise to the Indian research framework. 

  3. IMPRINT-II: IMpacting Research INnovation and Technology

· It is a joint program of Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science & Technology. 

 · It is aimed to address the major engineering challenges that the country must address.

James Webb Space Telescope

Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Science & Technology 

 Why in News?

· NASA celebrates the anniversary of the discovery made by the James Webb Space Telescope with new image.

 · The discovery is the image of Jets of red gas bursting into the cosmos and a glowing cave of dust 

 · The new image is the picture of Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex. 

 · It is the nearest stellar nursery to the Earth.

 James Webb Space Telescope:

· It is a collaboration between the NASA, European Space Agency and the Canadian Space agency. 

 · It was launched in the year 2021 and reached the destination on Jan 24, 2022.

 · It is the successor to the Hubble telescope. 

 · It is placed in the Sun’s orbit which is 1 million kilometres away from the Sun which is called as the second Lagrange Point or L2.

 · It is known for being the largest and most powerful infrared space telescope ever built.

 · It will work for 10 years 

 · It uses the infrared light which cannot be seen by the human eye to study about the cosmic history

 Mission Goals:

· It observes the formation of stars and also the evolution of galaxies. 

 · It measures the planetary systems and investigate for the potential life. 

 · It analyses the atmosphere of exoplanets

 · It is aimed to search for the galaxies formed in the early universe. 

 Instruments: 

 · It uses the cameras and spectrographs which should be kept very cold to detect the extremely faint heat signals in the universe.

 · It consists of Primary mirror with 6.5 meters diameter and secondary mirror with 0.7m.

 · It weighs about 6.2 tonnes.

Perseverance Rover

Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Science & Technology

 Why in News? 

NASA’S Perseverance Rover has discovered evidence of organic compound in Mars.

 Perseverance Rover:

 · It is the mobile laboratory which was sent to the Mars in the year 2020.

· It is exploring the Jezero Crater on Mars 

 · It carries a unique instrument known as MOXIE. 

 · MOXIE stands for Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment.

· It can manufacture the molecular oxygen on Mars using carbon-dioxide which is abundant on Mars.

 · ISRU indicates In Situ Resource Utilization which utilizes the local resources to meet human needs.

 · The rover carries the first helicopter to fly on Mars which is called by the name Ingenuity. 

 Objectives:

 · It is looking for the signs of ancient microbial life 

 · It collects a rock from the Mars and return to Earth. 

 · It studies both the climate and geology of the Mars. 

 Important Mars Missions: 

 · ExoMars Rover-The European Space Agency 

 · Tianwen-1-China’s Mars Mission 

 · Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)-India 

 · Hope Mars Mission-UAE

Brucellosis

Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Science & Technology

Why in News? 

 A girl from Kerala has infected with Brucellosis

Brucellosis:

 · It is a bacterial disease which is caused by various Brucella species.

 · It is also known by the name Malta fever or Mediterranean fever. 

 · It is an endemic disease to India.

 · It mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.

· Humans also infected with this disease through direct contact with the infected animals. 

 · Humans can also acquire the disease by eating, drinking contaminated animal products

 Symptoms: 

 · Fever

 · Sweats 

 · Malaise

 · Anorexia

 · Headache

 · Muscle Pains

 Treatment: 

 · It can be treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline. 

 Preventive Measures:

· By avoiding unpasteurized dairy products 

 · Wearing rubber gloves 

 · Aprons

 · Cooking meat properly

 · Vaccinating the domestic animals etc.

Nilgiri Tahr 

 Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology 

 Why in News?

The Forest Department is planning to relocate a Nilgiri Tahr that attacked two forest watchers. 

 Nilgiri Tahr: 

· It is also known by the name Nilgiri Ibex. 

 · It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and also the southern portion of Western Ghats. 

 · They are mainly found in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

 · The adult males of Nilgiri Tahr are known for developing a little grey area or saddle on their backs. 

 · So, the adult males are called as Saddlebacks. 

 · IUCN Status: Endangered 

 · Wildlife Protection Act, 1972-Schedule 1. 

 · Habitat-Grassland 

 Threats:

 · Poaching

 · Habitat loss 

 · Climate Change

 · Forest Fires 

 · Over exploitation 

 Government Initiatives:

 · Project Nilgiri Tahr was introduced by the Tamil Nadu Government. 

 · October 7 is celebrated as the Nilgiri Tahr day

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 

 Syllabus- GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology

Why in News? 

  Four Tigers have died in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve due to infighting and infections in two months

 Dudhwa Tiger Reserve:

 · It is located at the Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh state.

 · In the year 1965 it was declared as a wildlife sanctuary.

 · It was declared as National Park in the year 1977. 

 · It was declared as Tiger Reserve in the year 1987-88.

· The tiger reserve consists of wetlands, Marshes, dense forests, rivers etc. 

 · It spreads with an area of 614 square kilometers. 

 Flora: · Sal · Shisham · Jamun · Gular · Bahera etc.

 Fauna: · Swamp deer · One horned Rhinoceros · Hispid Hare etc. 

 Tigers:

 • IUCN: Endangered

 • CITES: Appendix I • WPA: Schedule I 

 Government Initiatives: 

 • Establishment of National Tiger Conservation Authority.

 • Launch of Project Tiger in 1973. 

• India is among the 13 countries with Tiger Reserves which aimed to double the population of tigers by 2022. 

 • India has achieved the doubling of the Tiger population by the year 2018, 4 years ahead of the target.

 • There are 51 Tiger reserves and 2,967 tigers approximately in our country. 

 Project Tiger: 

 • It was initiated in 1973 from the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. 

 • It is a centrally sponsored scheme which works under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. 

 • National Tiger Conservation Authority is the implementing Authority.

ASEAN 

 Syllabus- Prelims-Important Organizations 

 Why in News? 

 · India will host the ASEAN countries conference on Traditional Medicines on 20^th July 2023.

 · India-ASEAN conference being held at New Delhi after almost a decade. 

 · 10 ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Vietnam will participate. 

 Association of Southeast Asian Nations:

· It was established by signing the Bangkok Declaration in the year 1967.

 · The founding members of ASEAN are: 

  1. Malaysia 2. Indonesia 3. Philippines 4. Singapore 5. Thailand 

 · Later the countries Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia had joined. 

 · Secretariat-Indonesia, Jakarta · Motto-One Vision, One Identity, One Community. 

 · ASEAN Day-8^th August.

· Chairmanship-It rotates annually based on the Alphabetical order of the English name among the member states. 

 · ASEAN Summit-It is the supreme policy making body of the ASEAN. 

 · ASEAN Ministerial Councils: 

There are four new Ministerial bodies. They are: 

  1. ASEAN Coordinating Council 

  2. ASEAN Political-Security Community Council 

  3. ASEAN Economic-Community Council 

 4. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council.

 Objectives:

 · To accelerate the economic growth. 

 · To promote the social progress and cultural development. 

 · To maintain the regional peace and stability.

 · To promote mutual assistance on the matters of common interest.

G-7 

Syllabus- Prelims-Important Organizations

Why in News? 

  G-7 will provide defence support for Ukraine. 

 About: 

 · It is an intergovernmental organisation which was formed in the year 1975.

· The G7 countries are: 1. UK 2. Canada 3. France 4. Germany 5. Italy 6. Japan 7. US. 

 · It is a group of major industrialized countries which were emerged before 1973 oil crisis. 

 · They are considered as the most advanced economies as per the International Monetary Fund.

 · It meets annually to discuss about the common interest like:

 a) Global Economic Governance b) International Security c) Energy Policy 

 · It does not have any formal charter or a secretariat.

 · By the year 2022, G7 makes up 10% of the world population, 21% of the global carbon dioxide emissions. 

 G7 and India: 

 · India was invited by the G7 French Presidency in 2019.

· Indian Prime Minister had attended the 2021 virtual summit with the mantra of One Earth, One Health.

· Indian Prime Minister had expressed that India is the natural ally of G7 countries.

Yamuna River 

 Syllabus- Prelims-Geography-Important Rivers

Why in News?

· The water level of Yamuna River has breached evacuation mark of the 60-year record. 

 · In 1978 the water level of Yamuna had reached to 207.49 meters. 

 · This year the river crossed 208-m mark. 

 Yamuna River:

 · It is the second-largest tributary of the River Ganges. 

 · It is also the longest tributary in India.

 Origin:

· It originates at a height of 6,387 meters.

 · It is originated from the Yamunotri glacier on the southwestern slopes of Bandarpunch peaks in Uttarakhand. 

 Important Points:

· It merges with the River Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad.

 · Triveni Sangam is the place of Kumbh Mela which is a Hindu festival held every 12 years. 

 · It flows through the 6 states. They are: 

  1. Uttar Pradesh 2. Uttarakhand 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Haryana 5. Rajasthan 6. Madhya Pradesh 7. Delhi

Tributaries: 

 · Tons-Longest Tributary of the Yamuna River

 · Giri-Main Source of water in Himachal Pradesh 

 · Hindon River-Locates between the Ganga on the left and Yamuna on the right 

 · Chambal River-largest of the rivers flows through the Rajasthan state. 

 · Sind River · Ken River etc.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding National Research Foundation: 

 1. It is one of the recommendations of Kasturirangan Committee on education policy. 

 2. The NRF will work under the Ministry of Education. 

 3. India’s GERD is nearly 10 times less than U.S. and China. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two

 c) Only three 

 d) None

2.Consider the following statements regarding James Webb Telescope:

 Statement-I- It is a collaboration between the NASA and the Canadian Space agency only. 

 Statement-II- It uses the Infrared rays to study about the cosmic history 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

3.Consider the following statements regarding Perseverance Rover: 

 Statement-I: It is the mobile laboratory which was sent to the Mars in the year 2021

 Statement-II: It carries an instrument known as MOXIE which manufactures the molecular oxygen on Mars using carbon-dioxide which is abundant on Mars. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

4.Consider the following statements regarding Brucellosis: 

 Statement-I: It is a bacterial disease which is caused by various Brucella species

 Statement-II: It is a zoonotic disease which infects only animals. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

5.Consider the following statements regarding Nilgiri Tahr: 

 Statement-I: They are endemic to Nilgiri Hills and Western Ghats 

 Statement-II: The IUCN status of Nilgiri Tahr is critically endangered 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

6.Consider the following statements regarding Tigers: 

 1. The IUCN status of Tigers is Critically endangered 

 2. Project Tiger was started in the year 1975. 

 3. It is a central sector scheme. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

7.Consider the following countries: 

 1.Vietnam

 2. Malaysia 

 3.Philippines 

 How many of the above countries are founding members of ASEAN? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

8.Consider the following countries 

 1.Germany 

 2. China 

 3. Italy 

 How many of the above countries are not part of G7?

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

9.Consider the following statements regarding Yamuna River: 

 Statement-I: It is the longest tributary in India 

 Statement-II: It flows through 5 states in India. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

d)Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.