Table of Content:
North
East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)
Astra
Missile: India’s Beyond Visual Range Weapon
Hantavirus:
Understanding the Rare but Deadly Virus
SpaDeX
Mission: A Breakthrough in India’s Space Docking Capabilities
Indian
Rupee Symbol: Controversy in Tamil Nadu
Mapping:
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty & Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
North East Centre
for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)
Context:
The Union Minister recently laid the foundation stone for NECTAR’s
permanent campus in Shillong, aiming to drive technology-led development in
Northeast India.
About NECTAR:
What is NECTAR?
- An autonomous body under the
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
- Established in 2014 under
the Ministry of Science & Technology.
- Headquarters: Shillong,
Meghalaya.
- Aim:
- Promote technology for
socio-economic development in Northeast India.
- Bridge the gap between
research institutions and grassroots innovations.
- Encourage sustainable
agriculture, like saffron and bamboo cultivation.
Functions & Features:
- Agricultural Technology: Expanding saffron
cultivation in Northeast India, inspired by J&K’s lavender farming.
- Drone Technology: Supports land mapping
for programs like ‘Swamitva’ for efficient land records.
- Eco-Friendly Industry
Promotion: Enhancing
bamboo and honey production for sustainable livelihoods.
- Infrastructure &
Connectivity: Using
technology to improve rural access.
- Skill Development: Establishing a Centre
of Excellence in Shillong for tech training and innovation.
Astra Missile: India’s Beyond Visual Range Weapon
Context:
The Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) was
successfully test-fired from the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) AF MK1
prototype off the Odisha coast.
About Astra Missile:
- Developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics
Limited (BDL).
- Contract value: ₹2,971 crore.
Key Features:
- Altitude: Can engage targets
at 20
km.
- Range: Over 100 km.
- Guidance System: Inertial navigation,
mid-course updates, and active radar homing.
- Speed: Capable of Mach 4.5 (4.5 times the speed
of sound).
- Integration: Operational on
Su-30MKI, under integration with LCA Tejas & MiG-29.
Significance:
- Enhances India’s air defense
capabilities.
- Reduces dependency on
imported air-to-air missiles.
- Strengthens India’s position
in Make
in India defense
initiatives.
- Enables fighter jets
to engage
enemy aircraft at long distances.
Hantavirus: Understanding the Rare but Deadly Virus
Context:
The recent death of Betsy Hackman, wife of actor Gene Hackman, due to Hantavirus infection has raised
awareness about this disease.
About Hantavirus:
- Caused by viruses from
the Bunyaviridae
family.
- Primary Carriers: Rodents like deer
mice, rice rats, and cotton rats.
- Transmission:
- Human infection occurs via
contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
- Inhalation of aerosolized
virus particles.
- No confirmed human-to-human transmission, except in Andes virus
cases in South America.
Symptoms:
- Incubation: 1-8 weeks post-exposure.
- Early Signs: Fever, muscle aches,
nausea, dizziness.
- Severe Phase: Acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS), kidney failure.
- Treatment:
- No specific antiviral
treatment available.
- Supportive care with oxygen
therapy and ventilation.
- Prevention: Rodent control,
hygiene maintenance.
SpaDeX Mission: A Breakthrough in India’s Space
Docking Capabilities
Context:
ISRO successfully undocked two SpaDeX satellites, positioning India
among the few nations with advanced space docking technology.
About SpaDeX Mission:
- What is SpaDeX?
- A technology demonstration
mission for
spacecraft docking and undocking in orbit.
- Satellites Involved:
- SDX-01 (Chaser): Actively maneuvers
for docking.
- SDX-02 (Target): Facilitates docking.
- Launch Date: December 30, 2024
(PSLV-C60, Sriharikota).
Key Features:
- India’s First Space Docking
Mission: Successfully
docked on January
16, 2025.
- Orbital Operations: Conducted in 460 km circular orbit.
- Autonomous Docking: Showcased
self-sufficient satellite docking capabilities.
- Power Transfer Capability: Demonstrated
power-sharing between docked spacecraft.
- Significance:
- Enables India’s future space station
construction.
- Enhances Gaganyaan and deep-space
exploration capabilities.
- Advances robotics, orbital repairs,
and in-space servicing.
Indian Rupee Symbol: Controversy in Tamil Nadu
Context:
The Tamil Nadu government replaced the official Rupee (₹) symbol with the Tamil
letter “Ru” in the state Budget 2025-26, sparking political
controversy.
About Indian Rupee Symbol:
- Adopted: July 15, 2010.
- Designed by: Udaya Kumar (IIT Bombay).
- Symbolic Features:
- Combination of Devanagari ‘Ra’ (र) and Roman ‘R’.
- Two parallel horizontal
stripes representing economic stability & Indian tricolor.
- Significance:
- Represents India’s economic strength in global finance.
- Easily recognizable in
international transactions.
Mapping: Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty &
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Context:
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a historic peace treaty, ending a
decades-long conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
About Nagorno-Karabakh:
- Location: A landlocked region in
the Caucasus between the Black Sea
and the Caspian Sea.
- Status:
- Internationally recognized
as part of Azerbaijan but primarily
populated by ethnic Armenians.
- Lost autonomy after Azerbaijan’s 2023 military
operation.
About Armenia & Azerbaijan:
Armenia:
- Borders: Turkey, Georgia,
Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Capital: Yerevan.
- Geography:
- Mountains: Lesser Caucasus
range, Mount Aragats (4,090 m).
- Rivers & Lakes: Aras River, Lake
Sevan.
Azerbaijan:
- Borders: Russia, Georgia,
Armenia, Iran, Caspian Sea.
- Capital: Baku.
- Geography:
- Mountains: Greater Caucasus,
Mount Bazardüzü (4,466 m).
- Rivers: Kura and Aras.
- Significance: Caspian coastline
crucial for oil exports.
1. Which of the
following technologies is NECTAR promoting in Northeast India? a) Artificial
Intelligence b) Blockchain c) Saffron Cultivation d) Quantum Computing
2. Astra missile is
developed by: a) HAL b) DRDO c) ISRO d) BHEL
3. Which virus is
primarily transmitted through rodent urine and droppings? a) Hantavirus b)
Nipah Virus c) Zika Virus d) Ebola
Mains Question:
Q: Critically examine the role of indigenous defense technology in
strengthening India’s military capabilities. Discuss with reference to Astra
missile and ISRO’s SpaDeX mission.
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