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.
