GLOBAL VARIANT OF CONCERN Subject : Science & tech Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified a coronavirus variant which was first identified in India as a “global variant of concern”. Concept: The variant called B.1.617 was classified as a variant under investigation (VUI) by authorities in the UK. The Indian […]
ORISIS – REx Subject: Science & tech Context : Recently, the NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft will depart asteroid Bennu, and start its two-year long journey back to Earth. Concept : OSIRIS-Rex Mission It is NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx). In October 2020, the spacecraft briefly touched asteroid Bennu, from […]
ZERO RATED SUPPLIES Subject: Science & tech Context: Several states have called for removing taxation on Covid-related medicines and supplies, including a GST exemption on vaccines. In response, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that exemptions on domestic supplies and commercial imports “would make these items costlier” for consumers. Concept: Zero rated supplies […]
Operation Samudra Setu II Topic: Science & Technology Context: Three naval ships bring medical supplies from Singapore, West Asia. Concept: Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu-II for shipment of Oxygen-filled containers to India. Operation Samudra Setu was launched in May 2020 as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic. Operation Samudra Setu was launched along with Vande […]
Black Fungus Topic: Science & Technology Context: At least 60 ‘Black Fungus’ cases detected in Hyderabad Concept: Mucormycosis — a rare form of fungal infection which could affect vision, and threatens life, if people do not get treated immediately after spotting its symptoms. Mucormycosis has to be suspected in COVID-19 patients, diabetics and […]
Breakthrough Cases Topic: Science & Technology Context: A small-scale study in healthcare workers at a private hospital in Delhi found that “breakthrough” infections occurred in 13.3% of them (about 1 in 7), with one requiring hospitalisation. Concept: People who get infected with Covid-19 even after getting a vaccine shot are known as “breakthrough cases”, […]
B.1.617: Indian Variant of Coronavirus Topic: Science & Technology Context: The B-1617 variant of coronavirus, first identified in India, has been classified as a “variant of concern” at the global level by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Concept: Variant of Concern– These are variants for which there is evidence of an increase in […]
LONG MARCH 5B ROCKET Subject : Science & tech Context : Debris from a Chinese rocket made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean, with remnants falling at a location to the west of Maldives. Concept : The debris came from the upper stage of a Long […]