Source: Indian Express Contents1 What is the News?2 About Perseverance rover:3 Objectives of the Mission:4 Duration of the Mission:5 Instruments of the Mission: What is the News? NASA’s Perseverance rover is exploring the Jezero Crater on Mars and attempting to collect its first rock samples. However, no rock samples were collected during the first attempt. … Continue reading What happened during NASA’s first attempt to collect Mars samples with the Perseverance rover?
Scientists develop soft robotic actuators using porous carbon nanoparticles from waste onion peels
Source: PIB What is the News? A team of Indian Scientists have developed soft robotic actuators using porous carbon nanoparticles from waste onion peels. What are Soft Robots or Actuators? Soft robots or actuators is the specific subfield of robotics dealing with constructing robots from highly compliant materials similar to those found in living organisms.… Continue reading Scientists develop soft robotic actuators using porous carbon nanoparticles from waste onion peels
Revisit the idea of ‘aging out’ India’s coal plants
Source: The Hindu Contents1 Synopsis:2 Background:3 Why should the old coal plants retire?4 Arguments against the retirement of old coal plants:5 Way Forward: Synopsis: It is right to let old coal capacity fade away in due course, but age shouldn’t be used as the sole criteria for it. The focus should be on doing detailed… Continue reading Revisit the idea of ‘aging out’ India’s coal plants
Fighting the climate change – India’s way ahead (On IPCC report)
Source: TOI, Indian Express, Business Standard 1, Business Standard 2 Relevance: Fighting the climate-change crisis. Synopsis: India is already taking many steps to combat climate change, but it needs to do more to ensure climate-adaptation and mitigation are at the heart of every government policy. Steps taken by India INDC Targets: India is well on… Continue reading Fighting the climate change – India’s way ahead (On IPCC report)
Transition from fossil fuels in India is a matter of politics, communities, federalism & jobs
Source: TOI1, TOI2 Relevance: Issues involved in transitioning from coal-based industries to a clean energy model Synopsis: In light of the recently released IPCC report, it is clear that India needs an energy transition towards cleaner energy sources from the current coal-based scenario, but it must be done in a way which secures an equitable… Continue reading Transition from fossil fuels in India is a matter of politics, communities, federalism & jobs
Expiry of safeguard duty: Boon for solar developers, bane for manufacturers
Source: Business Standard Contents1 Synopsis:2 Background:3 About India’s Solar Sector:4 Benefits for Solar project developers:5 Issues for Manufacturers:6 Conclusion: Synopsis: The decision of the center to impose a basic customs duty from April 2022 and the expiration of the existing safeguard guard duty will result in higher solar imports. This move will benefit solar plant… Continue reading Expiry of safeguard duty: Boon for solar developers, bane for manufacturers
Sultanpur, Bhindawas wetlands near Delhi get Ramsar tag
Source: TOI What is the News? Two wetlands of Haryana — Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary — have been included in the Ramsar list. With this, the number of protected Ramsar sites in India has now gone up to 46. About Sultanpur National Park: Sultanpur National Park is situated in the Gurgaon district… Continue reading Sultanpur, Bhindawas wetlands near Delhi get Ramsar tag
Steps taken by the Government for awareness about the Pusa Decomposer
Source: PIB Contents1 What is the News?2 About Pusa Decomposer:3 Benefits:4 Concerns: What is the News? The Government of India has taken several steps to spread awareness about the Pusa Decomposer. About Pusa Decomposer: Pusa Decomposer is a low-cost capsule that can convert paddy stubble into bio-manure. The capsule consists of a fungi-based liquid solution… Continue reading Steps taken by the Government for awareness about the Pusa Decomposer
West Africa records 1st death from ‘highly infectious’ Marburg virus
Source: Down To Earth What is the News? West Africa’s first case of the extremely contagious and deadly Marburg virus was confirmed in Guinea. About Marburg Virus: Marburg virus disease(MVD) was formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever. The virus causes hemorrhagic fever and belongs to the same family (Filoviridae family) as the Ebola virus. First… Continue reading West Africa records 1st death from ‘highly infectious’ Marburg virus
Union Home Minister chaired the 36th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language
Source: PIB What is the News? The Union Home Minister has chaired the 36th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language. About Parliamentary Committee on Official Language: The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was set up in 1976 under section 4 of the Official Languages Act,1963. Mandate: The Committee shall review the progress made… Continue reading Union Home Minister chaired the 36th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language
