National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research
- The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It is designated as the nodal organization for the co-ordination and implementation of the Indian Antarctic Program.
- It is also responsible for the maintenance of India’s permanent station in Antarctica.
- It is located in the state of Goa.
- It has the Governing Council comprising 12 members representing a cross section of the country's leadership in Polar and Ocean Sciences, research education and administration.
- Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the Chairman (exofficio) of the Governing Council.
Cryoconite Holes
- National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa, scientists found a crowd of shallow circular puddles of water in Spiti’s Chandra basin.
- The holes about 5-50 cm in diameter and up to 20 cm in depth—with dark brown sediments deposited at the bottom.
- The sediment is actually mineral dust which is alien to this place.
- In the presence of sunlight and water, chemical and biological processes are powered in the dust and are leading to the evolution of life.
- Alien dust carried and deposited on the glacier surfaces by winds absorb more solar radiation owing to their darker color.
- These dust holes are also called as cryoconite holes.
- The word “cryoconite” is derived from the combination of two Greek words—“kryos” meaning ice and “konis” meaning dust.
- Cryoconite holes were first observed by ships traversing the edges of the Arctic Circle in the 19th century.
- These holes might also be contributing to the problem of accelerated glacier melting.
National Resource Centers
- Human Resource Development Ministry notifies 75 National Resource Centres (NRCs) for online refresher programs for Higher Education faculty through SWAYAM.
- It is a major and unique initiative of online professional development of 1.5 million higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM.
- Under this initiative, all in-service teachers, irrespective of their subject and seniority will have an enabling opportunity to keep abreast of the latest developments in their disciplines.
- The NRCs will revolutionize professional development of faculty by catering to massive numbers by leveraging ICT and online technology platform of SWAYAM.
- This initiative will benefit faculty can as it is highly flexible and can be done at one’s own pace and time.
New way to combat the chikungunya
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee have identified a molecule that exhibits anti-viral activity against the chikungunya virus.
- It might help in finding a new way to combat the mosquito-borne viral disease.
- The team used chikungunya virus-specific nsP2 protease to identify two molecules — Pep-I and Pep-II.
- Of the two molecules, the researchers found PeP-I to be more effective as an anti-viral molecule.
- Chikungunya causes severe fever and joint pain.
- Also, there are no drugs or vaccine available to treat it.
Directorate General of foreign Trade
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) organized a meeting of port officers recently.
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) organization is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- It is headed by Director General of Foreign Trade.
- It is essentially involved in the regulation and promotion of foreign trade through regulation.
- It is headquartered at New Delhi.
- It is responsible for formulating and implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective of promoting India’s exports.
Role of Western Ghats in monsoon
- Researchers have found that the dense vegetation in the Western Ghats determines the amount of rainfall that Tamil Nadu gets during the summer monsoon.
- The Western Ghats contribute as much as 40% of moisture to the southwest monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu during normal monsoon years.
- The average contribution is 25-30%, however during monsoon deficit years, the contribution increases to as high as 50%..
- It was also found that deforestation of the Ghats led to 0.25 degree C increase in surface temperature across the State.
Source: PIB, The Hindu, Down to earth
