GS2: Polity
- NFRA sets up advisory committee(TH) The TAC, which comprises seven members, including the Chairman, would, among other things, aid and advise the Executive Body of the NFRA on issues related to the drafts of accounting standards and auditing standards.
GS2: Governance: Health
- Why are re-purposed medicines expensive?(TH) India has used compulsory licensing only once in 2012 for Sorafenib. Section 92 of the Act enables grant of compulsory licensing in circumstances of national emergency or extreme urgency. Compulsory licences may not be the solution in all such situations. Nevertheless, the pricing will have to reflect the magnitude of the crisis and the socioeconomic realities in individual countries.
GS2: International Relations
- Explained: The new tech cold war(IE) For a lot of countries, a viable 5G rollout will need Chinese firms. But the 5G network in China relies on key components from the US — and the new American restrictions on the use of chipmaking tools mean Huawei could face shortages in the supply of specialist chips.
- Common cause at sea(IE) The Quadrilateral traces its origins to the great Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004. IN ships, aircraft and helicopters were despatched within hours to render assistance to our Sri Lankan, Maldivian and Indonesian neighbours in distress. This swift response established our navy’s credentials as a credible regional force and the following day the Commander US Pacific Fleet sought our concurrence, telephonically, for his units to join the rescue effort.
- India’s 21st century dilemma of global non-alignment (Mint) Given our liberal, democratic traditions, we are more naturally aligned with US values of AI development, especially on issues related to privacy and AI ethics. Yet, our population demographics and history of economic development suggest that our path of technology development should adhere more closely to China’s.
GS3: Science & Technology
- Solar probe reveals sun's tiny 'campfires' in closest-ever photos(TH)The “campfires” are believed to be tiny explosions, called nanoflares, and could explain why the sun's outer shield, the corona, is 300 times hotter than the star's surface. Scientists are awaiting more data from the spacecraft's other instruments to know for sure.
- "Researchers use metamaterials to enhance detection of defects in large structures” High-frequency sound waves that travel in the bulk (bulk ultrasound) are widely used for non-invasive and non-destructive testing of structural materials.Acoustic metamaterials are useful in manipulating sound waves. The researchers used a metamaterial structure consisting of a series of periodically arranged channels.
GS3: Economy
- A reset for agriculture(IE) Policymakers still talk of “food security” which was achieved decades ago, it’s time to plan for “nutritional self-reliance”.
GS3: Schemes
- Zoram Mega Food Park to provide employment to 5000 persons and to benefit about 25000 farmers: Harsimrat Kaur Badal(PIB) Zoram Mega Food Park located near National Highway 54 will help in overcoming the transportation constraints and will soon become a major milestone for the storage and processing of high variety of foods, spices, fruits and vegetables grown in the region.
PIB Corner
- "Union HRD Minister launches MANODARPAN initiative of Ministry of HRD to psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and Well-being(PIB)" So, Ministry has taken an initiative, named, MANODARPAN covering a wide range of activities to provide Psychosocial Support to students for their Mental Health & Well-being during the COVID outbreak and beyond.
