Current Context : Odisha teenage Tanvi Patri won the women’s U-15 gold medal in the Asian Junior (U15 & U17) Badminton Championships 2024.

• It was held at the Chengdu University in Chengdu, China.
• Tanvi clinched the title after defeating Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen of Vietnam in the final.
• She became the third Indian shuttler to win the U-15 women’s singles title in the Asian Championship.

Current Context : Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, in collaboration with NCERT, released the inaugural edition of the e-magazine ‘Sapno ki Udaan.’

• E-magazine was launched to commemorate the first anniversary of the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar South Pole. 
• It will be accessible online for readers through the NCERT portal.

Current Context : India initiates strict measures for import of pest-free blueberries from Poland.

• The government has mandated that the antioxidants-rich fruit imported from Poland be sourced from orchards registered with that country’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO).
• Currently, the market size of blueberries in India is relatively small, at around $60 million, compared to other fruits.
• The market for blueberries in India is expanding, with imports coming from countries like the US, Canada, Poland, and Peru.
• The blueberry market in India is currently valued at around $60 million, and aim to robust growth rate of 20-25% over the next three years.

ABOUT NATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION ORGANIZATION (NPPO)

• NPPO is a country-level institution that works to curb the spread of pests and protect agriculture.
• India is a signatory of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, under the Union ministry of agriculture is the NPPO of India.
• It is responsible for implementation of phytosanitary certification program as per IPPC.

Current Context : Recently, India’s PM Narendra Modi has been welcomed to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

• Modi and Putin agreed to increase bilateral trade to $100bn by 2030, increasing investments, eliminating nontariff trade barriers and using national currencies to circumvent sanctions.

SIGNED FOUR AGREEMENTS AND MOUS

• Cooperation in the fields of Agriculture and Food Industry.
• Humanitarian Grant Assistance for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects
• Cultural cooperation and an agreement on medicines and drugs.

Provided four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes

• Each BHISHM Cube consists of medicines and equipment for the first line of care for all kinds of injuries and medical situations.

ABOUT UKRAINE

• Location : Eastern Europe
• Boundary : bordered by Belarus to the north, Russia to the northeast and east, and several European countries including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania to the west.
• Capital : Kyiv is the capital and the largest city
• Major cities : Lviv, Odessa, and Kharkiv.
• Currency : Hryvnia (also spelled grivna)
• President : Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Current Context : NASA has launched a satellite Tanager-1,to track methane emissions

ABOUT TANAGER 1

• It is a Carbon Mapper’s Coalition first Satellite and has been developed by Planet Labs PBC.
• Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating timely action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Objective : to track methane and carbon dioxide emissions.
• The satellite will use imaging spectrometer technology developed at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• It will do so by measuring hundreds of wavelengths of light that are reflected by Earth’s surface.

Current Context : Country’s first-ever reusable hybrid rocket, named RHUMI-1, was successfully launched from Thiruvidandhai near Chennai.

ABOUT RHUMI – 1

• RHUMI-1, carrying three Cube Satellites and 50 PICO Satellites, was launched into a suborbital trajectory using a mobile launcher.
• Objective : to collect crucial data for research on global warming and climate change.
• It is 100% pyrotechnic-free and contains 0% TNT, employs a generic-fuel-based hybrid motor and an electrically triggered parachute deployer.
• It has the potential for use in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.
• Equipped with a hybrid motor that uses a generic fuel and an electrically triggered parachute deployer.
• It is also equipped with a CO2-triggered parachute system, which is an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for ensuring the safe recovery of rocket components post-launch.
• The mission is led by Space Zone founder Anand Megalingam under the mentorship of former ISRO Satellite Centre.

ABOUT SPACE ZONE INDIA

• It is an aero-technology company dedicated to providing low-cost, long-term solutions for the space industry.
• The company also focuses on education and outreach, providing hands-on training in aerodynamic principles, satellite technology, drone technology, and rocket technology.

Current Context : Genrobotic Innovations, a premier award-winning Kerala-based start-up, launched new version of the drain cleaning robot named ‘Bandicoot Mini’.

ABOUT BANDICOOT ROBOT

• It’s a manhole-cleaning robot that does all the tasks that are manually done inside the manhole.
• Bandicoot Mini’ comes fitted with two lithium batteries with fast-charging option. It is also compatible with solar power, making it possible to deploy it for longer durations.
• Its small size makes it easy to transport and deploy in various locations, such as urban drainage systems and small culverts.
• Equipped with various tools and brushes, it can effectively remove debris, sediment, and blockages from the drainage system.

The start-up has deployed 176 of its parent ‘Bandicoot’ robots across 19 States and three Union Territories in the last seven years.

This includes one each at the disposal of the Kerala Water Authority in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Guruvayoor.

Current Context : World-first lung cancer vaccine trials launched across seven countries.

• The phase 1 clinical trial, the first human study of BNT116, has launched across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey.
• Aim : to strengthen a person’s immune response to cancer while leaving healthy cells untouched, unlike chemotherapy.
• It is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease.
• Vaccine is based on mRNA (messenger Ribonucleic Acid) technology.
• This technology is seen as the next big phase of cancer treatment.

Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about 1.8million deaths every year.

Current Context : Recently, Union Cabinet approved the continuation of three umbrella schemes, which have now been consolidated into a single central sector scheme named Vigyan Dhara.

All programs under the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme will be aligned with the Department of Science and Technology’s five-year goals and contribute to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

ABOUT VIGYAN DHARA

• It is the continuation of three major schemes into a unified central sector scheme named ‘Vigyan Dhara.’
• Managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• It is designed to enhance India’s science and technology capabilities through a streamlined approach.
• Goal : to bolster the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem in India.
• It will enhance the country’s Science and Technology infrastructure by establishing well-equipped research and development labs within academic institutions.
• Objective : to advance research in several key areas, including basic research with access to international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy and water, and collaborative research through bilateral and multilateral international partnerships.

COMPONENTS OF VIGYAN DHARA

The ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme integrates three key components:

1. Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building: Focuses on strengthening the infrastructure and human resources necessary for scientific advancements.
2. Research and Development : Aims to drive innovation and discovery through well-funded research initiatives.
3. Innovation, Technology Development, and Deployment: Supports the development and application of new technologies, enhancing the nation’s technological edge.

Current Context : The Union Cabinet approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) which will provide government employees with assured pension post retirement.

• The scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.
• It will benefit 23 lakh central government employees.
• It promises a fixed pension amount on retirement.

FEATURES:

• Assured Pension: 50% of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years.
• Proportionate for lesser service up to a minimum of 10 years of service
• Assured Minimum Pension @10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service.
• Assured Family Pension @60% of pension of the employee immediately before her/his demise.