Science and Technology Current Affairs for Prelims 2014
Apart from
the usual topics of importance like
1. Cryogenic
engine( owing to the Mangalyaan mission and GSLV Mk- III)
2. Satellite
communication( Different satellite orbits, technical issues, space
communication etc)
3. Biotechnology
( Recombinant, protein synthesis, possible combinations)
4. Defence(
Umpteen number of missile tests , acquisitions and commissions over the past 12
months)
5.
Nanotechnology(Important because of Graphene’s importance as a photovoltaic
cell of the future and nanotech’s use in cancer therapy)
5. Day to
day application science,
The
following are also note worthy.
6. Electronic Nose (e-nose) is an intelligent
instrument that is able to classify different types of odours.
The e-nose
applications include food quality assurance, fragrance industry, medical
diagnosis, environmental monitoring, agricultural industry and homeland
security. The hand-held e-nose is based on sensor selection and optimum
embedded controller capabilities.
The data
processing utilizes multivariate statistical analysis i.e. Principal Component
Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Linear Discriminate
Analysis (LDA).
The
developed instrument was tested to discriminate the Ganoderma boninense
fruiting body (basidiocarp). Initial results show that the instrument is able
to discriminate the samples based on their odour chemical fingerprint profile.
It helps in quality evaluation of finished tea
and detection of tea fermentation process. It uses metal-oxide semiconductor
based sensors Tin and zinc oxides.
7. Department of Science & Technology under
Solar Energy Research Initiative aims to
initiate Nationally Coordinated Programme on Solar Energy Research synergizing strengths of leading Indian
Technological Institutes to develop novel
materials, devices and systems applicable to Solar Energy.
The
Initiative also attempts to demonstrate hybrid solar power systems integrated
on various R&D pathways and multiple technology alternatives for distributed energy use to validate their
viability to meet rural energy needs under
public private-partnership mode.
In addition
to this major theme, the Initiative would also cover poly-generation i.e.
heating/cooling and desalination which may/ may
not include power generation.
8. Village Resource Centres
To
demonstrate the potential of satellite technology for development of rural
areas, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has so far set up 456 Village
Resource Centres (VRCs), on a pilot scale, in association with selected NGOs,
Trusts and State Government Departments. The number of VRCs set up, state/Union
Territory wise are as follows:
Village
Resource Centres have provided various space technology enabled services such
as tele-healthcare, tele-education, natural resources information etc.. The
major benefits of the VRC programme include advisories related to agriculture
like crop pest and diseases, fertilizer/pesticides, organic farming, crop
insurance etc.; live STOCK/poultry, career guidance to rural students, skill
development and vocational training etc., to the rural population.
Establishing
new VRCs is an ongoing process and the same is carried out based on
communication technology needs, FUNDS available, proposals received from State
Governments/NGOs etc.
The
parameters for selecting NGOs and Trusts as partners in VRC include experience
in community organisation and social work, availability of required
infrastructure for housing the VRC facility, requisite manpower for day-to-day
operation and capacity for conducting programmes of relevance for the
development of rural areas.
9. DBT FUNDED Indo-Dutch Project “A Population
Based Prospective Cohort Study to Unravel the Causes of Stroke and Cognitive
Decline: A Cross-Cultural Perspective Launched at AIIMS
Union
Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy and
Minister of Health Welfare and Sports, Govt. of the Netherlands Ms. Edlth
Schippers launched a unique project to be conducted by the All India Institute
of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and supported by the Department of Bio
Technology, Government of India and its institute at Manesar (Haryana), the
National Brain Research Centre here in New Delhi.
Through this
process not only to help people at risk but also define known or novel risk
factors that place people at risk of developing health problems mainly related
to brain. He expressed hope that this project will serve as a model and
training ground for similar initiatives of other parts of our huge and diverse
country.
This project
is designed to serve as a unique model in the sense that instead of usual
practice of people seeking help for cure of their diseases at AIIMS, it is the
AIIMS which in this project will seek people at risk to prevent diseases. The
project focuses on people above 50 years of age in one rural and one urban
area. Social Workers will screen people in the adopted areas, invite them to
AIIMS even if they have no symptoms, assess the health of their brain,heart and
blood, ask their food habits; give them necessary advice and follow them
6-monthly on phone and physically every three years. The project’s underpinning
is the oft quoted axiom “Prevention is better than cure”, he added.
AIIMS stands
to gain from this collaboration with the Netherland’s experience on running
world- famous similar study at Rotterdam for last 25 years with over 1000
research papers. AIIMS plans to use data so generated to conduct several
research projects to derive new knowledge that will help the country to develop
preventive strategies.
It was
specified during the launch that this is a unique project to develop a model
and test strategies to prevent stroke and dementia as well as heart attacks;
and hopefully inspire and support other similar projects in India. The
Indo-Dutch collaboration capitalizes on the experience of Dutch Scientists who
have been running similar projects in their country (Rotterdam study).
Netherlands partners also stand to learn from unique cultural characteristics
of India, from exchange visits of scientists and research workers and from the
new generalizeable knowledge that emerges from this study.
10. The
Government has taken several measures to make
use of technology applications for drinking water, literacy, immunization,
housing and sanitation in the country. Under Water Technology Initiative,
technology elements such as remote monitoring of desalination systems, faster
in-situ detection of contaminants as in some of the developed nations and
integration of renewable sources of energy for water treatment have been
introduced.
An
Indo-European Commission (EC) technology applications programme for
purification of water and detection of contaminants in water has been
initiated. A web enabled Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) has been
introduced for strengthening follow up of children for full immunization
coverage in the country. The technology applications programme on water,
sanitation and hygiene is involved in creating awareness amongst various
stakeholders, through print and electronic media, as in the western world.
In order to
introduce technology elements for enhanced energy efficiency in buildings, a
joint Indo-US programme entitled “Centre for Building Engineering Research and
Development (CBERD)” has been launched. Programmes for demystifying technologies
and introducing new technology elements through demonstrations related to
sanitation including recycling/reuse of waste water, soak pits, low cost
toilets, etc, are being implemented nationally as well as globally with
identified EC countries, etc, through exchange visits of scientists/engineers
between India and some of the European nations.
The present
level of INVESTMENT in the country for science and technology sector is 0.88 %
of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As per the Thomson Reuters Report 2012,
India’s share in global research output has increased from 2.2 % in 2000 to 3.5
% in 2010. Also, the plan-wise S&T allocation in the country has increased,
from Rs 12,022 crore in IX Plan (1997-2002) to Rs 75,304 crore in XI Plan
(2007-2012).
11. The
Government has formulated a scheme Disha
to encourage and promote women scientists in the Science and Technology
(S&T) sector by enlarging the scope of gender parity initiatives for
greater out reach of existing schemes and adding new components. The Department
of Science and Technology is implementing Women Scientists Scholarship Scheme
which is specifically aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and
technologists for pursuing research in frontier areas of Science and
Engineering. The Department of Biotechnology under the Bio-CARe scheme provides
support for women scientists, both employed and unemployed to build capacities
so as to help them undertake independent Research and Development (R&D)
projects. The Ministry of Science and Technology proactively holds
sensitization and project formulation workshops in various parts of the country
to motivate more and more women, minorities and weaker sections to take up
scientific research as a career.
12. Use of Technology for Housing, Sanitation,
Etc
The
Government has taken several measures to make use of appropriate technologies
for housing, sanitation, drinking water, and immunization in the country.
Government
has been working towards transfer of cost effective, energy-efficient,
environment-friendly and disaster resistant building materials and construction
technologies. A few new construction technologies, like, fly-ash bricks/blocks,
cellular light weight concrete, bamboo mat corrugated sheets, bagasse slabs,
wood substitute doors, ferro-cement roofing channels, etc., have been developed
and are being propagated for application in housing sector.
Indirect
ventilated pit latrine and pre-fabricated ferro-cement toilets have been
fabricated and widely popularized through demonstration at various places.
Development of low cost sanitary napkins, using knitwear waste from hosiery
industry, has been standardized and 8 manufacturing units were set up in
various parts of the country for making such product.
Under
drinking water initiative, appropriate treatment processes for removal of
chemical, biological and physical contaminants, rain water harvesting systems,
desalination for conversion of seawater to potable water, integration of
renewable sources of energy for treatment of water and faster in-situ detection
of contaminants have been developed in the field and being popularized for its
replication.
As a part of
National Immunization Programme, Government is currently providing different
types of vaccines, viz, Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), Diphtheria Pertussis
Tetanus (DPT), Polio, Hepatitis B, Measles, Japanese Encephalitis, and
Pentavalent vaccine (DPT+Hepatitis B+ Haemophilus Influenzae Type B).. A web
enabled Mother and Child Tracking System has been introduced for strengthening
follow up of children for full immunization coverage in the country.
A budgetary
allocation of Rs 7360 Crore has been provided for the technology development
initiatives concerning housing, sanitation, drinking water, immunization and
related activities, during the 12th Plan period (2012-17).
13. The
Ministry of Science & Technology has launched its new project of E-MIAS for the future Inspire Awards.
It was launched during the ongoing 3rd
National level Exhibition and Project Competitions (NLEPC) being held
under the INSPIRE Awards Scheme of the Ministry of Science & Technology
Salient
Features of E-MIAS
It will
enable about 5 lakh middle and high schools all over the country to log in
online and file nominations under the Scheme, which would be received electronically
by the District Education authorities for further processing. The schools will also be able to view,
download and print list of sanctioned awardees and their certificates.
Similarly,
it will enable all the (nearly) 700 District Education Authorities and 35
States / UTs and 3 Central Educational Organizations Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan,Navodaya VidyalayaSangathan and Sainik School Sangathan) to log in
online and process the proposals received from schools and submit to the
National Authority i.e. Department of Science & Technology (DST) for
sanction.
The State
and Districts authorities will also be able to submit the proposals for FUNDS
release for DLEPCs / SLEPCs online.
It will
enable the National Authority (DST) to process the proposals and Awards / FUNDS
so received from the State Authorities online and issue sanctions
electronically, as per the approved norms.
The software
will also have facilities for registration of schools, District Authorities and
State Authority, sending and receiving online communications to / from these
authorities, receiving utilisation certificates, summary reports,
electronically generate standard and tailor-made MIS reports and so on.
It will also
have the public domain home page where even public at large would be able to
view not only the basic details of the scheme but also the awards sanctioned to
various States / schools , various reports / documents / forms relating to
scheme, submit suggestions / feedback and so on.
The service
provider will also put in place a call centre, which will run six days a week,
to cater to the need / grievances of stakeholders.
14. The Shanti SwarupBhatnagar Prize is the
most coveted national recognition for young scientists and engineers for their
R&D work done in India. The Prize was instituted in 1957 in the honour of
late Dr. (Sir) ShantiSwarupBhatnagar, an eminent scientist, founder Director
and principal architect of CSIR. Over 450 scientists and technologists have
been so far conferred upon this Prize in various disciplines of science for
their outstanding R&D contribution. Each Prize carries a citation, cash
prize, a plaque and an honorarium till superannuation.
15. Rotavirus
Govt announced
positive results from a Phase III clinical trial of a rotavirus vaccine
developed and manufactured in India.
ROTAVAC to
have an excellent safety and efficacy profile.
The clinical
study demonstrates for the first time that the India-developed rotavirus
vaccine ROTAVAC in collaboration with Bharat Biotech under the Public-Private
Partnership mode is efficacious in preventing severe rotavirus diarrhoea in
low-resource settings in India. ROTAVAC significantly reduced severe rotavirus
diarrhoea by more than half—56 percent during the first year of life, with
protection continuing into the second year of life. Moreover, the vaccine also
showed impact against severe diarrhoea of any cause.
16. Department of Biotechnology has
formulated and implemented a number of programmes related to medical
technologies and biodesign innovation. These include; Stanford-India Biodesign
programme; Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre; Centre for Bioscience and
Bioengineering; and Centre for Biodesignand in-vitro diagnostics.
17. Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) has launched “Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology
Development (PACE)” scheme in the 12th Five Year Plan with an aim to
support Indian industries to acquire patented technology at an early stage, add
value to the acquired technology, either independently or in collaboration with
public funded research institutions in India or abroad for exploitation in
Indian/foreign markets and develop “Made in India” innovative and socially
relevant products for public consumption. Innovation Complexes of Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) catalyze innovation eco-system in the
region, incubate platform technologies in the identified areas, incubate
spinoffs and nurture Micro Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) in the
designated fields through innovative inputs. National Research Development
Corporation (NRDC) encourages invention promotion, leverages innovations and
inventions for competitiveness through its activities.
Source : Summary of Department of Science and
Technology (DST)’s Annual Report
