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.
Source: PIB, the Hindu, India Today
