The organ lies beneath the top layer of skin, but is also in tissue layers lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles. The organ is a network of interconnected, fluid-filled spaces all over the body. The organ is made up of both strong (collagen) and flexible (elastin) connective tissue proteins, with interstitial fluid moving throughout. It functions as shock absorbers.The discovery of the organ could help to explain how cancer spreads in the body, and pave the way for new ways to detect and treat the disease.

It is Russia’s most advanced nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile. It was flight-tested recently.The Sarmat is a heavy ICBM intended to replace Russia’s aging, Soviet-era missiles that form the basis of its nuclear deterrent. It has the ability to carry a large number of guided warheads.

Kaziranga National Park is in Assam. Great one-horned rhinos are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. As per recent census in the park, the population of great one-horned rhinocerose has marginally increased.

The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) is a project of the Japanese government for the development of a four-satellite regional time transfer system. It is operated by JAXA, the space agency of Japan.

The selected start-ups will work in various energy fields such as converting waste plastics to petroleum fuels, solar stove, multipurpose fuel from agricultural waste biomass and leak detectors for liquefied natural gas (LNG) cylinders etc. It is expected to reduce fuel import dependence through innovations in alternative fuels.

Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics (CHAMAN).The project is launched by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare. It also aims to carry out research activities on horticultural crop condition studies, diseases assessment and precision farming.India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and a top producer of crops like banana, mango and lemons. Horticulture accounts for 30% of India’s agricultural GDP from 8.5% of cropped area.

Land Bank is conceived to do away with regulatory process and avoid any land acquisition related issues. It improves Ease of doing business, helps in attracting investment and preventing distress sales of land by farmers as farmer can sell their land to government whenever they required and there will also be no forcible land acquisition.
 

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 1987, and entered into force on 1989.

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of “shock absorbers” to the protected areas by regulating and managing the activities around such areas. They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection. An ESZ could go up to 10 kilometres around a protected area as provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002.

Wildlife Conservation Strategy - 2002 was adopted in the meeting of National Board for Wildlife, wherein it was envisaged that "lands falling within 10 kilometres of the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries should be notified as eco-fragile zones under Section 3(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rule 5 of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986."

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlines existing and future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. The plan identifies 8 core “national missions” running through 2017. The plan “identifies measures that promote development objectives while also yielding cobenefits for addressing climate change effectively.”

8 Core Missions are –

1. National Solar Mission

2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

4. National Water Mission

5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

6. National Mission for a “Green India”

7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change