Daily Quiz #36 UPSC Prelims Marathon – December 12, 2019

Explanation: The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India was set up in March 2000 with the assistance of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It is India’s national initiative to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge. Its mission is to help India become a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators.

Explanation: NIDHI (National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovations), an umbrella program is pioneered by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.
•To take forward student innovations in IEDC / NewGen IEDC programme to commercialization stage.
•To promote student startups.
•To accelerate the journey of idea to prototype by providing initial funding assistance.

Explanation: WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation. We are a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 192 member states. Our mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. Our mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967.

Explanation: TRIPs Plus are higher level of protection norms demanded by the developed countries that are not prescribed by the WTO’s TRIPs regime. Although they are named as ‘TRIPS-Plus,’ they are not formally related to TRIPs. Rather, the term is used to indicate that these requirements go beyond the minimum standards imposed by TRIPs. Many developing countries who are members of FTAs are under pressure to enact these tougher conditions in their patent laws. An example for advanced norms under TRIPs Plus is the protection demanded by developed countries for data exclusivity.

Explanation: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) has been carrying out a comprehensive R&D on sodium cooled fast breeder reactor technology for the past 30 years. A test reactor, called Fast Breeder Test Reactors (FBTR), is in operation from 1985 onwards which has provided valuable feedback. Based on this experience and also taking into account the international experience, design of a 500MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been done. The design has been peer reviewed by international design agencies. Indigenously produced Mixed Uranium & Plutonium Oxide will be used as the fuel in the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.