MAINS-2019

CURRENT
AFFAIRS
Academy for Civil Services

SCIENCE &
Powered by: TECHNOLOGY
1. Biotechnology
2. National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020 (NBDS)
3. National Biopharma Mission
4. Genetically Modified Crops
5. Antimicrobial Resistance
6. Mitochondrial Gene Therapy
7. Big Data
8. Artificial Intelligence
9. 3D printing
10. What is 5G?
11. Chandrayaan 2
12. Gaganyaan
13. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
14. Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT)
15. Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD)
16. Ebola
17. Nipah Virus
18. Indian Missiles
19. Indian Aircrafts
20. National Digital Communications Policy 2018

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1. Biotechnology
Biotechnology (commonly abbreviated as biotech) is the broad area of biology involving living systems
and organisms to develop or make products.
Applications of Biotech
Medicines
Biopharmaceutical: By means of the technique of biotechnology, the drugs biopharmaceuticals were
urbanized. There are no chemicals concerned in the combination of these drugs, but microorganisms have
completed it likely to expand them. Large molecules of proteins are typically the source of
biopharmaceuticals. They when under attack in the body attack the hidden mechanisms of the disease
and wipe out them.
Gene therapy is one more technique of biotechnologies which is used to delicacy and diagnoses diseases
like cancer and Parkinson's disease.
Pharmacogenomics: Pharmacogenomics is an additional genetically modified method which is used to
learn the genetic information of a personality. It analyzes the body's reply to sure drugs. It is the mixture
of pharmaceuticals and genomics.
Antibiotics
Plants are used to create antibiotics for both human and animal use. An expressing antibiotic protein in
stock feed, fed straight to animals, is less expensive than traditional antibiotic production, but this
practice raise many bioethics issues, because the result is widespread, possibly needless use of antibiotics
which may encourage expansion of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain.

Bio-fuels
The agricultural industry plays a big role in the bio-fuels industry, as long as the feedstock's for
fermentation and cleansing of bio-oil, bio-diesel and bio-ethanol.

Plant and Animal Reproduction

Enhancing plant and animal behavior by traditional methods like cross-pollination, grafting, and cross-
breeding is time-consuming. Biotech advance let for specific changes to be made rapidly, on a molecular
level through over-expression or removal of genes, or the introduction of foreign genes.

Pesticide-Resistant Crops
Nutrient Supplementation
Crop biotechnology is being used in two major ways to enhance human nutrition: to improve global
food security by making more food available, especially locally grown and familiar foods in the developing
world, and by enhancing the nutritional composition of foods that would interest both the developed
and developing worlds.

a) Biomarker: This type of Application of environmental Biotechnology gives response to a chemical that
helps to measure the level of damage caused or the exposure of the toxic or the pollution effect caused
b) Bioenergy:
c) Bioremediation: The process of cleaning up the hazardous substances into non-toxic compounds.
d) Biotransformation: toxic substances are converted to Bi-products.

2. National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020

(NBDS)
It intends to launch a major mission, backed with significant investments, for the creation of new biotech
products, create a strong infrastructure for R&D and commercialization, and empower India‘s human
resources scientifically and technologically.
The envisaged mission is:
• Provide impetus to utilising the knowledge and tools to the advantage of Humanity
• Launch a major well directed mission backed with significant investment for generation of new
Biotech Products
• Empower scientifically and technologically India‘s incomparable Human Resource
• Create a strong Infrastructure for R&D and Commercialisation.
• Establish India as a world class Bio-manufacturing Hub

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The Key elements of the Strategy are:
• Building a Skilled Workforce and Leadership
• Revitalizing the knowledge environment at par with the growing bio-economy
• Enhance Research opportunities in basic, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary sciences
• Encourage use-inspired discovery research
• Focus on biotechnology tools for inclusive development
• Nurturing innovation, translational capacity and entrepreneurship
• Ensuring a transparent, efficient and globally best Regulatory system and communication strategy
• Biotechnology cooperation- Fostering global and national alliances
• Strengthen Institutional Capacity with redesigned governance models
• Create a matrix of measurement of processes as well as outcome

The key elements would be implemented in collaboration and partnership with Other Ministries,
Departments, State Governments and international agencies towards achieving:
• Making India ready to meet the challenge of achieving US$100bn by 2025
• Launching Four Major Missions – Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Clean Energy and Education
• Creating a Technology Development and Translation network across the country with global
partnership-5 new clusters, 40 Biotech incubators, 150 TTOs, 20 Bio-connect centres
• Strategic and focussed investment in building the Human Capital by creating a Life Sciences and
Biotechnology Education Council.

3. National Biopharma Mission

The National Biopharma Mission aimed at accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the
country.
 The programme named Innovate in India (i3) will witness an investment of USD 250 million with
USD 125 million as a loan from World Bank. It aspires to create an enabling ecosystem to promote
entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the sector.
 The mission, to be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council(BIRAC).
Significance
 The Mission will provide a holistic and integrated approach to strengthen and support the entire
product development value chain for accelerating the research leads to product development.
 This will help not only in immediate product development addressing public health needs, but will
also help to create an ecosystem which will facilitate development of a continuous pipeline of
products.
 The Mission will bring together expertise from national and international corridors to provide
strategic guidance and direction to move promising solutions through the product development
value chain.
 The program thereby stands unique in its approach as it becomes a cradle to innovate, co-create
and co-facilitate scientific discoveries and offers young entrepreneurs an avenue to engage with
the best in the industry.

4. Genetically Modified Crops

What is Genetic Modification?
 Genetic modification involves altering an organism's DNA. This can be done by altering an existing
section of DNA, or by adding a new gene altogether.
 When a scientist genetically modifies a plant, they insert a foreign gene in the plant's own genes.
This might be a gene from a bacterium resistant to pesticide, for example. The result is that the
plant receives the characteristics held within the genetic code. Consequently, the genetically
modified plant also becomes able to withstand pesticides.

Concerns about GM crops

 Foods produced using biotechnology has not been established as safe and are not adequately
regulated.
 Crops produced using biotechnology will negatively impact the environment by eliminating the
natural breeds.
 The production of crops resistant to certain pests and weeds will lead to "Superbugs" and/or
"Super weeds" that are immune to existing methods of pest and weed management.
 The long term effects of foods developed using biotechnology are unknown.

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Positive Impacts of GM crops
 Allows a much wider selection of traits for improvement: e.g. not only pest, disease and herbicide
resistance (as achieved to date in plants) but also potentially drought resistance, improved nutritional
content and improved sensory properties
 It is faster and lower in cost.
 Desired change can be achieved in very few generations.
 Allows greater precision in selecting characteristics.
 Reduces risk of random occurrence of undesirable traits.

These advantages could, in turn, lead to a number of potential benefits, especially in the longer term, for
the consumer, industry, agriculture and the environment:
 Improved agricultural performance (yields) with less labour input and less cost input
 Benefits to the soil of ―notill‖ farming practice.
 Reduced usage of pesticides and herbicides.
 Ability to grow crops in previously inhospitable environments (e.g. via increased ability of plants to
grow in conditions of drought, soil salinity, extremes of temperature, consequences of global warming,
etc.) Improved sensory attributes of food (e.g. flavour, texture, etc.)
 Removal of allergens or toxic components, such as the research in USA to produce a nonallergenic
 Improved nutritional attributes
 Improved processing characteristics leading to reduced waste and lower food costs to the consumer.
 Prevention of loss of species to endemic disease (e.g. the Cavendish dessert banana which is subject to
two fungal diseases that have struck Africa, South America and Asia, but could be reprieved by GM
development of a disease resistant version).
Regulatory Mechanisms in India
The top biotech regulator in India is Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). The
committee functions as a statutory body under the Environment Protection Act 1986 of the Ministry of
Environment & Forests (MoEF). Under the EPA 1986 ―Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and
Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989‖, GEAC is
responsible for granting permits to conduct experimental and large-scale open field trials and also grant
approval for commercial release of biotech crops.

GM crops in India

Bt Cotton: For the time being, the only genetically modified crop that is under cultivation in India

Bt Brinjal : India banned Bt brinjal in 2010 but, nine years on, the genetically modified (GM) crop is still
in circulation.
GM-mustard
 Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 is a genetically modified variety of mustard developed by the
Delhi University‘s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants.
 The researchers at Delhi University have created hybridised mustard DMH-11 using ―barnase /
barstar‖ technology for genetic modification. It is Herbicide Tolerant (HT) crop. If approved by the
Centre, this will be the second GM crop, after Bt Cotton, and the first transgenic food crop to be
allowed for cultivation in the country.

5. Antimicrobial Resistance
What is it?
 Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi,
parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals,
antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
 As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
 Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as "superbugs".
 Antimicrobial resistance is now regarded as a major threat to public health across the globe.

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Causes of Antimicrobial Resistance
Natural (Biological) Causes
 Mutation: When microbes reproduce, genetic mutations can occur. Sometimes, this will create a
microbe with genes that help it survive in the face of antimicrobial agents.
 Selective pressure: Microbes that carry these resistance genes survive and replicate. The newly
generated resistant microbes eventually become the dominant type.
 Gene transfer: Microbes can pick up genes from other microbes. Genes conferring drug resistance
can easily transfer between microbes.
 Phenotypic change: Microbes can change some of their characteristics to become resistant to
common antimicrobial agents.
Non natural causes
 Inexact diagnosis: Doctors sometimes prescribe antimicrobials "just in case," or they prescribe
broad-spectrum antimicrobials when a specific drug would be more suitable. Using these
medications in this way increases the risk of AMR.
 Inappropriate use: If a person does not complete a course of antimicrobial drugs, some microbes
may survive and develop resistance to the drug. Resistance can also develop if people use drugs for
conditions that they cannot treat. For example, people sometimes take an antibiotic for a viral
infection.
 Agricultural use: Using antibiotics in farm animals can promote drug resistance. Scientists have
found drug-resistant bacteria in meat and food crops that have exposure to fertilizers or
contaminated water. In this way, diseases that affect animals can pass to humans.
 Hospital use: People who are critically ill often receive high doses of antimicrobials. This
encourages the spread of AMR microbes, particularly in an environment where various diseases are
present.
What needs to be done?
 Only use antimicrobial drugs when a doctor prescribes them.
 Always complete the full prescribed course, even if the symptoms have subsided. If not, the drug
may only kill off the most vulnerable microbes, leaving others to survive and develop resistance.
 Never share antimicrobials with others or using leftover drugs from previous prescriptions. These
medications may not be suitable for different forms of infection.
 Do not pressurize doctors into prescribing antimicrobials when they are not necessary.
 Follow good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of microbes, including washing hands
thoroughly and ensuring that food preparation areas are clean.
 Get recommended vaccinations, as this will reduce the risk of needing to take medication.
 Follow the guidelines of Chennai declaration to tackle misuse of anti biotics.
 Redline campaign: To check the irrational use of antibiotics, the ‗red line‘ will helps the users to
differentiate them from other drugs.

6. Mitochondrial Gene Therapy

Why in news?
 First three parent child was born via this technique in Mexico

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What is it?
 MRT or Mitochondrial donation is a medical technique in which defective mitochondria carried by a
woman is replaced with the healthy mitochondria of a donor.

How it is done?

Benefits:
 It will prevent transmission of mitochondrial (genetic) disease from one generation to the next.
 It will give parents chance of having a child that is over 99% genetically matched to them and most
importantly free of the mitochondrial disease.
 It has no impact on personality or looks of the offspring from third DNA set, as surrogate mitochondrial
DNA is separate from core DNA in cells.

7. Big Data
Big data is a term that is used to describe data that is high volume, high velocity, and/or high variety;
requires new technologies and techniques to capture, store, and analyze it.

Applications of Big data

 Manufacturing: Big data provides an infrastructure for transparency in manufacturing industry,
which is the ability to unravel uncertainties such as inconsistent component performance and
availability.
 Improving healthcare – Data-driven medicine involves analysing vast numbers of medical records
and images for patterns that can help spot disease early and develop new medicines.

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  Preventing crime – Police forces are increasingly adopting data-driven strategies based on their
own intelligence and public data sets in order to deploy resources more efficiently and act as a
deterrent where one is needed.
 Governance:
 Resolving traffic problems in cities
 Efficient supply chain management
 Targeting healthcare delivery
 Providing personalized educational experience for students
 Preventive steps to protect the environment
 Enabling security to people and society
 Informed policy making

 Providing Density And Location Coordinates To Fishermen

 Predictive Analytics for Farming: For example, in 2016 Microsoft collaborated with International
Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Andhra Pradesh government, to
develop a new mobile application for farmers.

Big Data challenges

 Data privacy – The Big Data we now generate contains a lot of information about our personal
lives, which can be misused.
 Data security –
 Data discrimination: Charging different rates to different persons, different facilities based on
persons etc. are possible.
 Lack of Digitization and lack awareness in India.
 Heterogeneity, Complexity and Incompleteness of data
 High investment Cost and Access.

8. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a way of making a computer, a computer- Machine learning is an application
controlled robot, or a software think intelligently, in the similar of artificial intelligence (AI) that
manner the intelligent humans think. provides systems the ability to
automatically learn and improve
AI is accomplished by studying how human brain thinks, and how from experience without being
humans learn, decide, and work while trying to solve a problem, and explicitly programmed. Machine
then using the outcomes of this study as a basis of developing learning focuses on the
intelligent software and systems. development of computer
programs that can access data
Applications of AI and use it learn for themselves.
AI has been dominant in various fields such as −
 Gaming − AI plays crucial role in strategic games such as chess, poker, tic-tac-toe, etc., where
machine can think of large number of possible positions based on heuristic knowledge.
 Natural Language Processing − It is possible to interact with the computer that understands
natural language spoken by humans.
 Expert Systems − There are some applications which integrate machine, software, and special
information to impart reasoning and advising. They provide explanation and advice to the users.
 Vision Systems − These systems understand, interpret, and comprehend visual input on the
computer. For example,
o A spying aeroplane takes photographs, which are used to figure out spatial information or
map of the areas.
o Doctors use clinical expert system to diagnose the patient.
o Police use computer software that can recognize the face of criminal with the stored portrait
made by forensic artist.
 Speech Recognition − Some intelligent systems are capable of hearing and comprehending the
language in terms of sentences and their meanings while a human talks to it. It can handle
different accents, slang words, noise in the background, change in human‘s noise due to cold, etc.
 Handwriting Recognition − The handwriting recognition software reads the text written on paper
by a pen or on screen by a stylus. It can recognize the shapes of the letters and convert it into
editable text.

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  Intelligent Robots − Robots are able to perform the tasks given by a human. They have sensors to
detect physical data from the real world such as light, heat, temperature, movement, sound, bump,
and pressure. They have efficient processors, multiple sensors and huge memory, to exhibit
intelligence. In addition, they are capable of learning from their mistakes and they can adapt to the
new environment.

Ethical issues of AI
According to World Economic Forum these are the important ethical concerns of AI
1. Unemployment. What happens after the end of jobs?
2. Inequality. How do we distribute the wealth created by machines?
3. Humanity. How do machines affect our behaviour and interaction?
4. Artificial stupidity. How can we guard against mistakes? For example: Whom to punish if AI driven
car kills a person in the accident.
5. Racist robots. How do we eliminate AI bias?
6. Security. How do we keep AI safe from adversaries?
7. Evil genies. How do we protect against unintended consequences?
8. Singularity. How do we stay in control of a complex intelligent system?
9. Robot rights. How do we define the humane treatment of AI?

9. 3D printing
3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital
file.
The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is
created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be
seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.

Application of 3D printing

10. What is 5G?

5G networks are the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, offering faster speeds and more
reliable connections on smartphones and other devices than ever before.
 The government has set up a high level forum to evaluate roadmaps and formulate a strategy to
adopt 5G in the country by 2020.
 5G is a wireless communication and next generation mobile networks technology after 4G LTE
networks.
 The final standard for 5G will be set up by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
 India lacks a strong backhaul to transition to 5G.
 Backhaul is a network that connects cells sites to central exchange.

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11. Chandrayaan 2
 Chandrayaan 2 is an Indian lunar mission that will boldly go where no country has ever gone
before — the Moon's south polar region.
 Through this effort, the aim is to improve our understanding of the Moon — discoveries that will
benefit India and humanity as a whole. These insights and experiences aim at a paradigm shift in
how lunar expeditions are approached for years to come — propelling further voyages into the
farthest frontiers.
What makes Chandrayaan 2 special?

 1st space mission to conduct a soft landing on the Moon's south polar region.
 1st Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface with home-grown technology
 1st Indian mission to explore the lunar terrain with home-grown technology
 4th country ever to soft land on the lunar surface.

The GSLV Mk-III is India's most powerful launcher to date, and has been completely designed and
fabricated from within the country.

Equipments
Orbiter: The Orbiter will observe the lunar surface and relay communication between Earth and
Chandrayaan 2's Lander — Vikram.
Vikram Lander: The lander is designed to execute India's first soft landing on the lunar surface.
Pragyan Rover: The rover is a 6-wheeled, AI-powered vehicle named Pragyan, which translates to
'wisdom' in Sanskrit.

12. Gaganyaan
 Gaganyaan ("Sky Craft") is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of
the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
 The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be
equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.
 In its maiden crewed mission, Indian Space Research Organisation's largely autonomous 3.7-tonne
capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km (250 mi) altitude for up to seven days with a three-person
crew on board. The crewed vehicle is planned to be launched on ISRO's GSLV Mk III in December
2021

Key points
 The mission will enable ISRO to achieve higher levels of reliability in launch and satellite
technology. It will help in providing employment to 15,000 people and out of them, 861 will
be from Isro.
 The human spaceflight will take 16 minutes to reach the orbit where it will stay for five to seven
days.
 The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km.
 Rs. 10,000-crore mission will be a turning point in India's space journey. Isro has developed some
critical technologies like re-entry mission capability, crew escape system, crew module
configuration, thermal protection system, deceleration and flotation system, sub-systems of life
support system required for Mission Gaganyaan.

13. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System

 IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India.
 It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region
extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
 An Extended Service Area lies between primary service area and area enclosed by the rectangle
from Latitude 30 deg South to 50 deg North, Longitude 30 deg East to 130 deg East.
 IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is
provided to all the users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to
the authorised users. The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than
20 m in the primary service area.

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Some applications of IRNSS are:
 Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation
 Disaster Management
 Vehicle tracking and fleet management
 Integration with mobile phones
 Precise Timing
 Mapping and Geodetic data capture
 Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and
travellers
 Visual and voice navigation for drivers

GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (GSLV)

 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is
currently in operation.
 GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch
vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two
solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a
cryogenic upper stage
 GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4 ton class of
satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
(GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO),
which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II.

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14. Anti-Satellite weapons (ASAT)
Context: On March 27, 2019 India conducted Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite missile test, from the Dr. A
P J Abdul Kalam Island launch complex. This was a technological mission carried out by DRDO. The
satellite used in the mission was one of India‘s existing satellites operating in lower orbit. The test was
fully successful and achieved all parameters and it required an extremely high degree of precision and
technical capability.

What is it?
 Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) are space weapons designed to incapacitate or
destroy satellites for strategic military purposes. Several nations possess operational ASAT
systems.
 Although no ASAT system has yet been utilised in warfare, a few nations have shot down their own
satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities in a show of force.
 Only the United States, Russia, China, and India have demonstrated this capability successfully.

Concerns
1. These activities initiate the arms race in space which is not healthy move.
2. Creates space debris.
3. India being the great supporter of peace should not involve in the arms race.
4. Space should only be used for the peaceful purposes.

What is the international law on weapons in outer space?

The principal international Treaty on space is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. India is a signatory to this
treaty, and ratified it in 1982. The Outer Space Treaty prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in outer
space, not ordinary weapons.

India expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms race
in outer space including inter alia on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space in its
capacity as a major space faring nation with proven space technology.

India is not in violation of any international law or Treaty to which it is a Party or any national obligation.

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The test is not directed against any country. India‘s space capabilities do not threaten any country and
nor are they directed against anyone. At the same time, the government is committed to ensuring the
country‘s national security interests and is alert to threats from emerging technologies.

15. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

 Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of
the virus family Flaviviridae. KFDV was identified in 1957 when it was isolated from a sick monkey
from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka State, India.
 Since then, between 400-500 humans cases per year have been reported.
 Hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera) are the reservoir of KFD virus and once infected, remain so for
life. Rodents, shrews, and monkeys are common hosts for KFDV after being bitten by an infected
tick. KFDV can cause epizootics with high fatality in primates.

 No specific treatment for KFD is available; however, prompt symptomatic and supportive therapy
including maintenance of hydration, hemodynamic stability and management of neurological
symptoms decreases morbidity and mortality.
Vaccination
 There is limited availability of information on KFD vaccine for human use in India. State
Government of Karnataka is following KFD vaccination policy in the KFD endemic area.
Tick control
 Source reduction: The spraying of insecticide may be carried out in areas where monkey deaths
have been reported within a radius of 50 meters around the spot of the monkey death. It is also
effective in forest tracks frequently visited by people for various activities.
 Vector control: Vector control may be done by dusting with insecticides or by spraying with
pyrethroids. Repellents may be used on body/exposed parts during venture into forests.
Application of insecticide on cattle can prevent transportation of ticks from forests to dwelling
premises.
 Physical control: Controlled burning of the dry leaves and bushes in the forest boundaries,
premises of human habitats.

16. Ebola
Key facts on Ebola Virus Disease
 Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal
illness in humans.
 EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.

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  EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical
rainforests.
 The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through
human-to-human transmission.
 Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.
 Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is
available for use in people or animals.

Transmission
 Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions,
organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals, chimpanzee, gorilla, fruit bats, monkeys, forest
antelopes and porcupines.
 Human-to human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin
or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people,
and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids, Health-care workers have
frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD.
 The virus can be transmitted through semen of affected person upto 7 weeks after recovery from
illness.
 Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or
confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control
precautions are not strictly practiced.
 People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was
isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory.

Prevention and control

Risk of infection with Ebola virus and how to avoid it
 Casual contact in public places with people that do not appear to be sick do not transmit Ebola.
One cannot contract Ebola virus by handling money, groceries or swimming in a pool. Mosquitoes
do not transmit the Ebolavirus.
 Ebola virus is easily killed by soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying. Ebola virus survives only a short
time on surfaces that have dried in the sun.
 Reducing the risk of Ebola infection in people
 In the absence of effective treatment and a human vaccine, raising awareness of the risk factors
for Ebolainfection and the protective measures individuals can take is the only way to reduce
human infection and death.
 Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission from contact with infected fruit bats or
monkeys/apes and the consumption of their raw meat. Animals should be handled with gloves and
other appropriate protective clothing. Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly
cooked before consumption.
 Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community arising from direct or close
contact with infected patients,particularly with their body fluids. Close physical contact
with Ebola patients should be avoided. Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment
should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home and should be disposed after use as per
biosafety guidelines. Regular hand washing is required after visiting patients in hospital, as well as
after taking care of patients at home.
 Dead patients to be handled for cremation/burial under biosafety precautions.

17. Nipah Virus

Background:
 Nipah Virus Infection is the infection caused by the Nipah virus. It is a zoonosis or a zoonotic
disease (disease that can transmit from animals to humans).
 Nipah virus was first identified in
 Malaysia (1998) - where it spread from fruit bats to pigs to pid breeders
 Bangladesh (early 2000) - where it spread from bat urine/saliva to date palm sap to
humans who drank it and then human to human
 In India - West Bengal saw two outbreaks of the virus in Siliguri and Nadia districts
between 2000 and 2010.

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How Nipah Virus Spreads:
 Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans, and then from humans to other humans through
respiratory droplets and fluids, although it is not very efficient in spreading and only affects people
within one meter of patient.

Government Steps:
Long term steps:
 'Science & Technology' and 'Research and Development' – Through S&T and R&D government can
ensure that the state of the art labs and equipment are available to the virologists to test samples
for viruses. It would help them determine the genetic makeup of virus. It will also help in isolating
antibodies. New technologies can help track and predict the path of various viral vectors.
Encouraging and attracting private investments and international collaboration will help in this
regard.
 The government spending is low in health (1.2% of GDP) and in RnD (<1% of GDP). Low finances
are a bottleneck to training, research, purchasing new equipment. With low investments early
detection of cases become difficult as often samples are sent abroad for testing.
Short Term Steps:
 Regular and latest training will ensure that latest practices have been imbibed by the Indian
researchers. It would also help in developing researchers throughout India.
 Patient Zero (is the first patient to be affected by the viral outbreak) often affects other patients as
we saw in the case of Nipah virus as the relatives – often share the same bed and utensils with the
patient. Such practices need to be discouraged.
 Spreading Awareness about the disease, ways to reduce the infection. For example –Awareness
about hygiene.
 Decentralized Testing and Diagnostic services at local level and district level Thus, we see that
through effective steps and measures such viral outbreaks can be controlled.

18. Indian Missiles

Missiles can be broadly classified into ballistic and cruise based on the projectiles they take.

Ballistic Missile
 Ballistic missiles are basically projectiles. It is governed by the laws of gravity.
 Ballistic missiles are guided for brief duration just in starting phase of trajectory and the rest of the
path is like a free falling projectile under gravity.
 These missiles are of three types mainly –
o Short range ballistic missiles,
o Intermediate range ballistic missiles
o Inter-continental ballistic missiles.
 All of the Prithvi and Agni series of missiles are Ballistic type. All the variants of Prithvi are SRBMs
while Agni I to Agni IV are IRBM while Agni V and Agni VI are ICBMs.
Cruise Missile
o These missiles are guided throughout their trajectory and doesn‘t falls freely like a normal gravity
bound projectile.
o These missiles don‘t follow the laws of gravity and their path is controlled totally throughout their
journey period.
o These missiles are self navigating and fly at extremely low altitudes to avoid being caught by
radars. Level of accuracy in these missiles is extremely high.
o Brahmos and Nirbhay are the examples of Cruise missiles of Indian Armed Forces.

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Prithvi
o It is India‘s first indigenously built tactical “surface to surface” missile.
o It has a maximum range of 300 Km.
o Naval variant of the Prithvi missiles are called Dhanush.
Trishul
o It is a short range ―surface to air” missile.
o It was designed for the primary function of defending naval ships against any missile
attack, although it can be used to intercept low flying targets on land also.
o It has a range of 5 to 9 Km. The weight of the missile is 130 Kg and it can carry warhead up to 5
Kg.

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Akash
o It is a medium range multi target surface to air missile.
o It has capability of maximum range of 25 Km and altitude of 18 Km.
o Its primary use is to destroy flying targets in air like Fighter jets, and cruise missiles etc.
Nag
o It is a third generation, fire and forget type anti-tank guided missile with a range of about 4 Km.
o The weight of this missile is very less nearly 42 Kg and it can carry warhead of 8 Kg.
o The vehicles from which it is test fired is of two types – i) NAMICA and ii) HELINA. NAMICA stands
for Nag missile carrier which is land based track type vehicle. HELINA stands for Helicopter Nag
which is still in development phase.
Agni
o It is a intermediate to long range ballistic surface to surface missile. Agni series consists of 5
different types namely Agni I, Agni II, Agni III, Agni IV, Agni V
o Agni missiles are multi stage type while other missiles are single stage.
o Agni 1 is MRBM (Medium Range Ballistic Missile) while Agni II, III and IV comes under the category
of IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile) while Agni V and VI are ICBM (Inter-continental
Ballistic Missile).

Cruise Type
Brahmos
o It is named on Indian river Brahmaputra and Russian river Moskva.
o It earns the reputation of World‘s fastest cruise missile.
o It was developed as a joint venture between DRDO and Russia.
o It has speed Range of 3 Mach and range of 300 to 500 Km.
o Its weight is 3 Tons and it can carry 200 KGs of conventional or nuclear warhead. It has three
variants- i) land based, ii) Naval based, iii) Air and Submarine based.

Nirbhay
o It is India‘s indigenously developed subsonic Cruise Missile.
o Its range is more than 1000 Km. this missile has the flexibility to be launched from land, air and
naval base.
o The unique feature which distinguishes it from others is that it is completely stealth.

19. Indian Aircrafts

o The Indian Air Force has an effective strength of 31 combat squadrons, although it has 34
combat squadrons in total.
o These include eleven squadrons of the Su-30MKI, three each of the MiG-29 and Mirage 2000,
six of the Jaguar (at the initial stage of an upgrade process) and six of the MiG -21Bison.
o In addition, two upgraded MiG-27 squadrons continue to serve alongside the equivalent of half
a squadron with the
Tactics and Air
Combat Development
Establishment
(TACDE). It is believed
that three squadrons
continue to operate
older MiG-21s and
non-upgraded MiG-
27s – one each of the
MiG-21bis, MiG-21M
and MiG-27 - but
these will be phased
out in the near future,
possibly by the end of
2017 or in early 2018.
o The IAF desires a
strength of some 42
combat squadrons by
the period 2027-32 in

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 order to meet the contingencies of a two-front war.
Mirage-2000
o The Mirage-2000 is undoubtedly one of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) most versatile and deadliest
aircraft and it was first commissioned in 1985.
o Soon after inducting the Mirage, IAF gave it the name – Vajra – meaning lightening thunderbolt in
Sanskrit. The Mirage-2000 is developed by Dassault Aviation and took its first flight in 1978 and
was inducted in the French Air Force in 1984. India placed and initial order of 36 single-seater
Mirage-2000 and 4 twin-seater Mirage 2000 in 1982 as an answer to Pakistan buying U.S. made F-
16 fighter jets by Lockheed Martin.
o The Mirage-2000 played a decisive role in the 1999 war of Kargil and seeing the success of the
jets, the government in India placed an additional order of 10 Mirage-2000 planes in 2004, taking
the total tally to 50 jets.

HAL Tejas LCA

o India has long borrowed its fighter jets from countries like Russia, France and Britain under a
license agreement to manufacture it locally by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
o However, back in 1980s the HAL started the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme to replace the
ageing Soviet sourced MiG-21.
o With India‘s former Prime Minister giving the LCA its name – Tejas – the 1st indigenously built
fighter aircraft was inducted in the Indian Air Force with the IAF placing a 20 jet order initially and
the 1st Tejas Squadron was formed in 2016 called the Flying Daggers.
o Till now IAF has placed an order of 40 Tejas Mk 1, including 32 single-seat aircraft and eight twin-
seat trainers. IAF has also initiated procurement of a further 73 single-seat fighters in Mk 1A
configuration.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
o The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the most advanced fighter jet in operation with the Indian Air Force and is
the primary air to air and air to ground strike machine.
o Also known as Flanker (NATO), the Su-30 MKI is built in India by HAL under license agreement
with Russia‘s Sukhoi. The Su-30MKI is exclusively used by India and there‘s an estimate that IAF
has 290 operational units of 30MKI till now.

20. National Digital Communications Policy 2018

Objectives
The key objectives of the policy are:
 Broadband for all;
 Creating four million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector;
 Enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India's GDP from ~ 6%
in 2017;
 Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;
 Enhancing India's contribution to Global Value Chains; and
 Ensuring Digital Sovereignty.

These objectives are to be achieved by 2022.

Vision
To fulfil the information and communication needs of citizens and enterprises through the establishment
of a ubiquitous, resilient, secure, accessible and affordable Digital Communications Infrastructure and
Services; and in the process, support India‘s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society.
Missions
In pursuit of accomplishing these objectives by year 2022, the National Digital Communications Policy,
2018 envisages three Missions
1. Connect India : Creating Robust Digital Communications Infrastructure To promote Broadband
for All as a tool for socio-economic development, while ensuring service quality and environmental
sustainability.
2. Propel India : Enabling Next Generation Technologies and Services through Investments,
Innovation and IPR generation To harness the power of emerging digital technologies, including 5G,
AI, IoT, Cloud and Big Data to enable provision of future ready products and services; and to
catalyse the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) by promoting Investments, Innovation and
IPR.

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 3. Secure India : Ensuring Sovereignty, Safety and Security of Digital Communications To secure the
interests of citizens and safeguard the digital sovereignty of India with a focus on ensuring
individual autonomy and choice, data ownership, privacy and security; while recognizing data as a
crucial economic resource.

Features
The policy aims to
 Provide universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen;
 Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022;
 Ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas;
 Attract investments of USD 100 billion in the Digital Communications Sector;
 Train one million manpower for building New Age Skill;
 Expand IoT ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices;
 Establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards the
privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals;
 Facilitate India's effective participation in the global digital economy;
 Enforce accountability through appropriate institutional mechanisms to assure citizens of safe and
 Secure digital communications infrastructure and services.
Strategy
The policy advocates:-
 Establishment of a National Digital Grid by creating a National Fibre Authority;
 Establishing Common Service Ducts and utility corridors in all new city and highway road projects;
 Creating a collaborative institutional mechanism between Centre, States and Local Bodies for
Common Rights of Way, standardization of costs and timelines;
 Removal of barriers to approvals; and
 Facilitating development of Open Access Next Generation Networks.

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