IIT Gandhinagar launches Project Isaac

IIT Gandhinagar has launched Project Isaac to engage its students online in various creative activities during the ongoing lockdown period. About the Project Project Isaac was launched by IIT Gandhinagar to keep its students engaged during the lockdown period. It aims at enhancing skills like writing, coding, painting, creative expression, music, etc. among its students. ..

Topics: COVID-19 • IIT • Newton

Biofortified Wheat Variety

The scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute have developed a new biofortified variety of durum wheat for eradicating malnutrition in India. About the Variety The Durum wheat variety MACS 4028 is a semi-dwarf variety of the cereal crop developed by the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune- an autonomous research centre under DST. It has 14.7% ..

Topics: Biofortification • Nutrition Security • Wheat

Melting of glaciers in Sikkim

Scientists in Dehradun recently highlighted that the glaciers in Sikkim are melting at a faster rate than in rest of Himalayas. The Study The scientists at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun studied 23 glaciers in Sikkim. They studied the effect of climate change on these glaciers during the period of 1991 to 2015. ..

Topics: Climate change • Glaciers • Himalayas

Laser Surface Texturing Technology

The scientists at the International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) has developed an ultrafast laser surface texturing technology. About Laser Surface Texturing Laser surface texturing is an engineering process used to alter the friction properties of a surface using laser beams. It is used in manufacturing sector to improve the properties ..

Topics: Internal combustion engine • Laser science • texturing technology

New Methods for Quantum Chemistry

Indian scientists from IIT Bombay are working to develop free and efficient software for quantum chemistry research. Their work is expected to have major implications for cancer treatment. Quantum Chemistry Quantum chemistry is a branch of science that makes use of principles of quantum mechanics in chemistry. It is a relatively new branch that studies ..

Topics: Cancer treatments • DNA • Quantum mechanics

National Book Trust initiative to encourage reading

The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development has launched the Stay Home India with Books initiative under the National Book Trust. About NBT National Book Trust is a publishing house that functions under the Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development. It was established in 1957 as an autonomous body. It is involved in ..

Topics: Books • Ministry of Human Resource and Development • National Book Trust

Earthquake near the Kuril Islands

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean, prompting warnings of hazardous tsunami waves in the adjoining areas. About the Earthquake The earthquake was of the magnitude 7.5 and it originated at a depth of 56.7km, about 1,400km away from Sapporo of Japan. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) had ..

Topics: Earthquake • Kuril islands • Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Kerala CM rules out the closing of liquor shops

The Chief Minister of Kerala ruled out closing down liquor shops in the state as part of the state-wide lockdown. Reasons The revenue from the liquor sector in the state is significant. The government is reluctant to shut down the revenue source especially given its struggling financial conditions. The state is affected by the demonetisation ..

Topics: Chief Minister of Kerala • COVID-19 • Liquor Policy

Kurzarbeit Scheme of Germany

The ongoing COVID-19 situation has increased the concerns about job losses across the world. In this context, Germany’s partial compensation policy is being discussed. About the Scheme The term ‘kurzarbeit’ in German means ‘short work’. It is a policy introduced by Germany during the 2008 economic crisis to partially compensate the lost wages of the ..

Topics: COVID-19 • Germany • Income Support

PM Garib Kalyan Relief Package

The Union Finance Minister recently announced a series of measures to aid the poor of the country during the lockdown period. Elements of the PMGK Package The recently announced package has 5 elements: Medical insurance cover of 50 lakh INR for all health workers involved in treating patients. This includes doctors, paramedics, Asha workers, etc. ..

Topics: LPG • organised sector • PM Garib Kalyan Yojana • unorganised sector