News: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has proposed a ₹ 2,700-crore master plan to create the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC). Facts: About Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) It is a body under ISRO to coordinate Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. It will be established in three years at Challakere (“Science City”), in Chitradurga district of… Continue reading Challakere to be ISRO’s astronaut training hub
Author: ForumIAS
National Disaster Response Fund
News: Central government has released calamity relief of ₹5,908 crore to seven states from the National Disaster Relief Fund. Facts: About the National Disaster Response Fund It is a fund managed by the Central Government for meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation due to any threatening disaster situation or disaster. Background National… Continue reading National Disaster Response Fund
NASA planet hunter finds Earth-sized world in habitable zone
News: TESS has discovered an Earth-sized planet, termed as “TOI 700 d”, within the habitable range of its star TOI 700, located in constellation Dorado. Facts: “Goldilocks zone”/ circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ)/ habitable zone: It is the range of distances from a star where liquid water might be found on an orbiting planet given sufficient… Continue reading NASA planet hunter finds Earth-sized world in habitable zone
NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
News: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) Facts: About NetSCoFAN It is a network of research & academic institutions working in the area of food & nutrition It would comprise of eight groups of institutions working in different areas. These areas are:… Continue reading NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
Neon, the world’s first ‘Artificial Human’
News: Samsung-backed Star Labs has unveiled Neon, the world’s first “artificial humans”. Facts: About Neon Neon is a humanoid AI chatbot It aims to deliver a personalised experience with an AI. It has the ability to show emotions and intelligence. Additional Information: Artificial Intelligence: It refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks… Continue reading Neon, the world’s first ‘Artificial Human’
[Questions] Mains Marathon I Daily Answer Writing I January 8, 2020
1. Recent Citizenship Amendment Act, has a significant impact on India’s secular image with deeper foreign policy implications. Do you agree? The Hindu 2. Discuss the need and importance of preserving India’s linguistic diversity. What measures are needed for the same? The Hindu 3. What is the importance of Gaganyaan mission to India? Discuss various… Continue reading [Questions] Mains Marathon I Daily Answer Writing I January 8, 2020
Centre bats for science outreach programmes
News:During the 107th Indian Science Congress,head of the Climate Change Programme under Department of Science and Technology has talked about the Centre’s policy on implementing scientific social responsibility(SSR). Facts: About Scientific Social Responsibility: Scientific Social Responsibility(SSR) is the confluence of scientific knowledge with visionary leadership and social conscience. The main objective of SSR policy is… Continue reading Centre bats for science outreach programmes
Plea against DigiLocker rules
News:The Delhi High Court has asked the Government to give its stand on a petition against the rules pertaining to the operation of DigiLocker. Facts: About the Petition: The petitioner has asked the apex court to strike down the Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing Digital Locker Facilities) Rules 2016 because… Continue reading Plea against DigiLocker rules
GDP growth rate for 2019-20 estimated at 5%, says NSO
News:The National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the First Advance Estimates for the financial year 2019-20. Facts: Key takeaways from the estimates: The Indian economy is estimated to grow at 5% in 2019-20 as against 6.8% in the previous fiscal. This projected growth rate of gross domestic product(GDP) is the lowest in the last 11… Continue reading GDP growth rate for 2019-20 estimated at 5%, says NSO
Stressed urban cooperative banks to face PCA-like curbs
News:The Reserve Bank of India has revised its supervisory framework for urban co-operative banks(UCBs) to expedite resolution of UCBs experiencing financial stress. Facts: About the revised framework: The framework imposes restrictions on urban cooperative banks(UCBs) for deterioration of financial position in line with the prompt corrective action(PCA) framework that is imposed on commercial banks. The… Continue reading Stressed urban cooperative banks to face PCA-like curbs
