UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 24-07-2020
iasparliament
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 -
Orbiting the red planet for comprehensive observation,
Landing on Martian soil
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.
