Omicron variants evolve strategies to evade T-cell immunity Context: A study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS) found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus encodes multiple viral factors that modulate major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) expression in the host cells. […]
Top-Notch Toilets To Usher In Change Context: A quarter of all new public restrooms in Indian cities will soon have high-end features such as luxurious bath cubicles, touchless flushing, breast-feeding rooms, and automatic sanitary napkin incinerators. These will be indicated as “aspirational toilets” on Google […]
Magnetoresistance: One More Thing Graphene Does Differently Context: Researchers in the U.K., led by Nobel laureate Andre Geim, have discovered another property of graphene— a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a honeycomb pattern — that further distinguishes this ‘wonder’ material. Points to Ponder: […]
Families Of Fishermen Jailed In India, Pakistan Cry For Help; 749 Languish In Prisons For Years Context: Fishing community outfits in India and Pakistan have urged the Prime Ministers of both countries to immediately release the 749 fishermen who are languishing in prisons on both […]
Chinese Dual-Use Facilities In Myanmar And Sri Lanka Raise Security Concerns In India Context: The construction of a military facility on Coco Islands in Myanmar and a proposed remote satellite receiving ground station system in Sri Lanka, both coming up with Chinese help, have raised […]
Drones To Deliver Life-Saving Drugs To Chota Char Dham Pilgrims Context: According to Health Ministry authorities, drones would be deployed to deliver life-saving drugs to Char Dham pilgrims in the event of an emergency. This includes Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, all of which are […]
NISAR satellite to map Himalayas’ seismic zones Context: NISAR, a forthcoming satellite created jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, will map the most earthquake-prone regions of the Himalayas with remarkable regularity. […]
AIIMS Inaugurated in North East Context: On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Northeast’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Changsari, near Guwahati.Among the several initiatives totaling more than 3,400 crores he initiated and dedicated to the nation in Assam were […]
C-Vigil App Assistance Context: The official stated that as many as 2,389 complaints have been received using the cVIGIL mobile application thus far, citing greater citizen participation in upholding the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). According to him, 1,979 complaints were confirmed to be true. […]
Power of Microfinance: PM on Criticism of MUDRA Scheme Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that those who facilitated loans for big corporate houses by calling up banks were making fun of MUDRA, the microfinance scheme of the government. Points to Ponder: Prime […]