These current affairs are written in a easy to remember format and are useful for competitive exams like - UPSC Civil Services, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPPSC, State PSCs and other competitive examinations.
Ladakh's Ignited Minds project
In a bid to provide better educational opportunities for Ladakhi students, the Indian Army has initiated the project Ladakh Ignited Minds.
It is a a Centre of Excellence and Wellness, in Ladakh.
Fire and Fury Corps of Indian Army with the support of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and execution agency Educational Development Organization (NIEDO) will provide a holistic training for Ladakhi youth.
In the first batch, comprising 20 girls, 45 students from Leh and Kargil districts, would get training for JEE and NEET entrance examinations.
Social Issues
What is "Project DANTAK" ?
Project DANTAK which is one of the oldest Projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) commemorated its Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary) in Bhutan.
It was established on April 24, 1961 as a result of the visionary leadership of the third King of Bhutan and then PM Jawahar Lal Nehru.
DANTAK was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in the Kingdom. DANTAK completed the road connecting Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang in 1968.
In the same year, Thimphu was connected to Phuentsholing by DANTAK. Many Bhutanese had also volunteered to work with DANTAK.
Over 1,200 DANTAK personnel laid down their lives while constructing important infrastructure in Bhutan.
International Relations
China's first Mars rover named 'Zhurong'
China's first Mars rover will be named Zhurong after a traditional fire god, the rover is aboard the Tianwen-1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit on February 24 and is due to land in May to look for evidence of life.
Read More: Tianwen-1
Science & Tech
The Disaster Management Act, 2005
Invoking the Disaster Management Act, the Centre ordered States that all liquid oxygen, including the existing stock with private plants shall be made available to the government and will be used for medical purposes only.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005, provides for "the effective management of disasters and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto."
The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the State Government. The "Nodal Ministry" in the central government for management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Read More: NDMA
Polity
Issue of Medical Oxygen in India
India is witnessing a record surge in daily covid-19 cases and a lot of patients require Liquid Oxygen during the treatment when they are admitted in the hospital.
Steel plant requires gaseous oxygen, primarily for steel making and for oxygen enrichment in Blast Furnaces, apart from some general purposes like lancing and gas cutting.
The purity levels of industrial oxygen are not appropriate for human use, there can be impurities, which can make people ill.
The medical oxygen cylinders actually contain highly pure oxygen gas. Medical oxygen cylinders should also be free of contaminants thoroughly cleaned before use.
India does not have enough "cryogenic (very low temperatures)" tankers to ensure 24*7 road transport of oxygen.
Medical Oxygen
Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen, is the use of oxygen as a medical treatment. Medical oxygen is high purity (99.5% purity) oxygen suitable for use in the human body.Due to the indispensable use of medical oxygen, the World Health Organisation (WHO) include this on their List of Essential Medicines.
According to the Drug Prices Control Order, 2013, Medical oxygen is placed under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPCA) monitors and control the prices of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
Science & Tech
Critical crystal blade technology for aero engines
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single crystal blade technology and supplied 60 of such blades to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of their indigenous helicopter development programme for helicopter engine application.
DRDO's Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) developed 300 single crystal high pressure turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based super alloy - can withstand high temperatures.
Very few countries such as the U.S., the U.K., France and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture such single crystal components.
Defence