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Posted 08 Aug 2024
Updated 13 Aug 2024
10 min read
Bitumen and Bio-bitumen
Government is set to allow up to 35% bio-bitumen mixing, to save ₹10,000 crore of foreign exchange outflows.
About Bitumen
- A black substance produced through distillation of crude oil.
- It is known for its adhesive properties.
- Applications: Paving roads, water proofing etc.
About Bio-bitumen
- It is a form of bitumen manufactured from organic elements. E.g. Bio-char, bio-oil, etc.
- It can be used as an addition to bitumen or to reduce the quantity of bitumen in the binder mixture.
- Benefits: Reduced imports, address the issue of stubble burning, boosting Bio-economy etc.
- Tags :
- bitumen and bio-bitumen
Kavach
Indian Railways is rolling out tenders for equipping 10,000 locomotives with Kavach 4.0
- It is the latest version of the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
About KAVACH
- It is an electronic system of Safety Integrity Level - 4 standards with probability of error being 1 in 10,000 years.
- It is developed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry.
- Key features:
- Centralised live monitoring of train movements
- Prevention of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD),
- Automatic braking for prevention of overspeeding
- Tags :
- Railway Safety
- Kavach
Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) Technology
IIT Indore has developed footwear for military personnel based on TENG technology.
About TENG Technology
- It converts the mechanical energy generated from walking and converts it into electrical energy using the triboelectric effect, which is then stored in a device embedded in the system.
- The triboelectric effect refers to a charge of electricity generated by friction.
- It is considered as a portable and renewable energy source.
- The stored energy can power small electronic devices , wearable devices, IoT (Internet of Things) devices, medical devices etc.
- Tags :
- High-Tech Footwear
- TENG Technology
- Triboelectric
Exercise Mitra Shakti
It is an annual military exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
- Mitra Shakti” aims to improve the operational proficiency of both armies by facilitating the exchange of skills, experiences, and best practices.
- Tags :
- Military Exercise
- Mitra Shakti
Tantalum Deposits
Central Government notified Tantalum as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
About Tantalum
- Tantalum is a rare metal with the atomic number 73
- It’s grey, heavy, very hard, and corrosion-resistant.
- Characteristics:
- When pure, tantalum is ductile (can be stretched, pulled, or drawn into a thin wire).
- Extremely high melting point.
- Uses: Making capacitors in electronic devices, surgical equipment & implants, components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aeroplanes and missiles etc.
- Tags :
- Tantalum
- Critical and Strategic Mineral
Articles Sources
DCPA or Dacthal
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the weed-killing pesticide Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, also known as DCPA or Dacthal.
About DCPA
- It is used on crops such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.
- Fetuses exposed to it could suffer from low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased I.Q., and impaired motor skills later in life.
- Tags :
- Pesticide Dacthal
- Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate
e-Sankhyiki Portal
It is designed to create a comprehensive system for managing and sharing data, facilitating the easy dissemination of official statistics across the country.
- Aim: To provide timely and valuable data inputs for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
- Launched by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
- It comprises two modules:
- Data Catalogue Module: It enables searching within datasets and tables, downloading relevant data, and enhancing its value and reusability.
- Macro Indicators Module: It provides time series data on key macro indicators, featuring tools for filtering and visualising data.
- Tags :
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
- e-Sankhyiki Portal
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp)
WHO has warned against superbug hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp).
About hvKp
- It is a type of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause rapidly progressing, deadly infections, even in people with healthy immune systems.
- It can be found in the environment (soil and water) as well as in the upper throat and gastrointestinal tract of various animals and humans.
- It causes pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and the nervous-system infection meningitis.
- Tags :
- Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp)
- Superbug
Debt-for-development swaps (Debt Swaps)
Debt for Development Swaps: An Approach Framework paper has been released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
About Debt Swaps
- These are agreements between a government and one or more of its creditors to replace sovereign debt with one or more liabilities that include a spending commitment towards a specific development goal.
- Development goals include nature conservation, climate action, education, nutrition, support for refugees, etc.
- Criteria that need to be considered in determining the appropriateness of swaps include country’s initial debt situation, net financial benefits etc.
- Classified into two categories, namely, bilateral (official bilateral debt is written-off) and commercial debt swaps (target debt held by private creditors).
- Tags :
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Debt Swaps
Lake Turkana
First comprehensive survey held in 50 years regarding Lake Turkana
- The research project is led by UNESCO and World Food Programme (WFP) reveals high fish potential in the lake.
About Lake Turkana
- It is located in northwestern Kenya and south-western Ethiopia.
- It is Africa’s 4th largest lake and the largest permanent desert and alkaline lake in the world.
- Over 90% of inflow comes from the Omo River (located in Ethiopia).
- The Lake Turkana National Parks site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997.
- Threats: hydro-electric dams and irrigation.
- Tags :
- Lake Turkana
- World Heritage List
- Omo River
News Today (Aug 08, 2024)