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UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 24-07-2020

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July 24, 2020

Indo-Israel Rapid Test Partnership

  • Israel and India partners to develop rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds.
  • The Israeli delegation along with DRDO will conduct a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of a number of rapid diagnostic solutions.
  • AI based Voice & Breathalyzer test - The voice test analyses recording of a human voice to identify changes in the patient’s voice and/or deterioration in the condition of his/her respiratory system.
  • It is as part of system developed for detecting the virus using Terra-Hertz (THZ) waves.
  • Isothermal testing - It allows detection of the virus in a saliva sample with the help of a chemical reaction and produces a result within 30 minutes.
  • Testing using Polyamino acids to detect virus proteins in a saliva sample in a few minutes.

Tianwen 1

  • China National Space Administration (CNSA) has recently launched its first Mars probe named Tianwen 1 or Quest for Heavenly Truth 1.
  • It aims to complete orbiting, landing and roving in a single mission.
  • It used China’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle Long March-5 rocket for the mission.
  • The three scientific objectives -
  1. Orbiting the red planet for comprehensive observation,
  2. Landing on Martian soil
  3. Sending a rover to roam the landing site.
  • It will conduct scientific investigations into the planet’s soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water, media reports said.
  • It should arrive in orbit around the red planet in February 2021.
  • China’s previous attempt to send an exploratory probe to Mars called Yinghuo-1, in a Russian spacecraft in 2011 was failed.

Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN)

  • Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN), is a protocol infrastructure for the democratization of credit.
  • It is developed by a think tank, Indian Software Products Industry Round Table (iSPIRT).
  • It will mediate the interactions between loan service providers, usually fintech and mainstream lenders, including all large banks and NBFCs.
  • Meanwhile, private equity and venture capital players, angel investors, high net worth individuals and others will also could be part of this exercise as investors.
  • To start with, iSPIRT will work with lenders such as the State Bank of India.
  • Former SEBI Chairman U. K. Sinha MSME Committee had recommended this architecture in 2019.

INDSAT Exam

  • Union Ministry of HRD conducted the first ever Indian Scholastic Assessment (Ind-SAT) Test 2020 under its 'Study in India’ programme.
  • It was announced in 2020-21 budget.
  • Ind-SAT is an exam for grant of scholarships and admissions to foreign students for studying in select Indian universities.
  • The scores will serve as a criterion to shortlist the meritorious students for undergraduate and post-graduate scholarships.
  • EdCIL (India) Limited, a PSU under MHRD and the implementing agency of SII handled the registrations and other aspects of the examination.
  • Under Study in India is a programme of MHRD, foreign students come to study in 116 select higher education institutions in India for under graduate and post graduate programmes.

Solar Power Plant of Navy

  • Recently Indian Navy inaugurated 3 MW Solar Power Plant at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
  • The solar plant is the largest in the Indian Navy and has an estimated life of 25 years.
  • This is in line with the ‘National Solar Mission’ to achieve 100GW of solar power by 2022.
  • All components have been indigenously sourced, including 9180 highly efficient monocrystalline solar panels employing the latest technology.
  • The project has been executed by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KELTRON)

Permanent Commission for Women in Army

  • The Ministry of Defence has issued a formal sanction letter to grant permanent commission to women officers in the Indian Army.
  • The decision is taken following Supreme Court directive to Union government.
  • The order specifies grant of permanent commission to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army.
  • The Selection Board will be scheduled as soon as all affected SSC Women Officers exercise their option and complete requisite documentation.
  • Entry of women in the Army has only been through Short Service Commission (SSC).
  • Till now they could not serve beyond 14 years, however, there were some who continued on extensions but were still not given permanent commission.

 

Source: PIB, the Hindu, India Today 

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