India to have its own space station: ISRO
Context:
Indian Space Research Organization is planning to launchIts Own 'Small' Space Station.
About:
- The space station project will be an extension of Gaganyaan.
Gaganyaan mission is India's first manned mission to be operated in early 2022.
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- The proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes and serve as a facility where astronauts can stay for 15-20 days.
- The space station would be placed in an orbit 400 km above earth.
- The details about the space station will be available after the operation of after the Gaganyaan mission.
- The time frame for launch of space station is 5-7 years after Gaganyaan.
What is space station
A space station is essentially a large spacecraft that remains in low-earth orbit for extended periods of time.
- It is like a large laboratory in space, and allows astronauts to come aboard and stay for weeks or months to carry out experiments.
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What is Gaganyaan mission?
- Gaganyaan is India’s first Human Space Flight Programme to be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022.
- The mission will use GSLV Mk III, the three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle,
- The Gagayaan mission aims to send a 2-3 person crew to space for a period of seven days.
- This mission will provide a unique micro-gravity platform in space to India for conducting experiments and test for future technologies.
- The launch will take placefrom Sriharikota of Andhara Pradesh.
- A Gaganyaan National Advisory Council has been created with members from different institutions and industries to oversee and advise on the mission.
Other important mission by Indian Space Research Organization:
- After Chandrayaan-2, ISRO has set its sights on two interplanetary missions.
- Mission Aditya-L1 is scheduled for next year to study the Sun’s corona, which effects climate on earth, and another mission to study Venus in 2-3 years.
- ISRO will also be launching a mission to Venus to study its atmosphere, surface topography, atmospheric dynamics, composition and interaction with the sun.
Way Forward:
- India will not have to rely upon the International Space Station.
- Indian Space Research Organization will be able to launch a small module for microgravity experiments.
- The ISRO would also join the international space community for a manned mission to the moon and beyond.
Source Link:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/india-to-have-a-separate-space-station-isro/article27898707.ece
Centre reduces contribution rate for ESI
Context:
The union government announcedreduction incontributions made by employers and employees towards the health insurance health insurance scheme of Employees' State Insurance (ESIC).
About:
- As per the new rules the employers and employees will now contribute only 4 per cent from the existing 6.5 per cent.
- The move will benefit 36 million insured persons and 1.3 million organizations
- After the revision, employees’ contribution has been slashed from 1.75% to 0.75% of their salary
- It is also expected that reduction in rate of ESI contribution shall lead to improved compliance of law
- The reduced rates will be effective from 1 July, 2019.
Impacts /advantages of the decision:
- The reduced rate of contribution will bring about a substantial relief to workers.
- The financial liability on employers would also be reduced, leading to improved viability of the establishments.
- It willimprove compliance with the Act
- Increased ease of doing business.
- The move will expand social security coverage to more people.
Source Link:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-reduces-contribution-rate-for-esi/article27902910.ece
Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping agree to speed up boundary talks
Context:
The prime minister of India meets with Chinese counterpart to boost up boundary ties.
About:
- The leaders meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
- The meeting was held in Bishkek (the capital of Kyrgyzstan)
- India and Chinese have agreed to expedite the dialogue on the India-China boundary issue.
- Both India and China have asked the Special Representatives to meet and carry forward the discussion for achieving a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.
- Both countries have also discussed the status of the bilateral relationship since the Wuhan summit of 2018.
Note: The Wuhan summit which came in the backdrop of tension following the 73-day Doklam standoff.
Major issues:
- The attention on the border issue acquires significance as the Chinese President is expected to visit India later this year.
- Both leaders discussed the plans for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties.
- Discussing all issues from a strategic and long-term perspective of border dispute in “constructive” manner.
- Regional cooperation and connectivity and singled out the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor as an example for expanding the India-China ties,
- Basic judgment between China and India for development and do not pose a threat to each other.
- China’s contribution to the listing of Pakistan-based terror masterminds Masood Azhar as a global terrorist at the United Nations Security Council.
Recent India China meets:
- Both the prime minister had several meting including the Wuhan summit.
- President Xi confirmed his readiness to visit India this year for the next informal summit.
- The border dispute dates back to the 1962 India-China war. Several rounds of talks have not yielded results.
Way Forward:
- Both India and china need to have a new momentum in the bilateral relationship and deepening mutual trust.
- India and China relations should becomea positive asset and positive energy for promoting the development of the two countries.
Source Link:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/narendra-modi-xi-jinping-agree-to-speed-up-boundary-talks/article27902750.ece
In Arunachal, the golden cat wears new colours
Context:
Indian scientists have discovered color morphs of the golden cat in Arunachal Pradesh.
About:
- Indian scientists from the University College London (UCL) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have discovered six colour morphs of the golden cat in Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
Dibang Valley hosts the world’s most diverse range of colour morphs of a wild cat species ever reported in one site.
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- Scientists have found that its coat comes in six types: cinnamon, golden, gray, melanistic, ocelot and tightly rosette.
- Golden is no longer the only colour the elusive Asiatic golden cat can be associated.
- Within the six colour morphs recorded, an entirely new colour morph was also found in one of the community-owned forests.
- The “tightly-rosetted” morph named after the leopard-like rosettes on the coat, now sits alongside cinnamon, melanistic, gray, golden, and ocelot types.
The Asiatic golden cat
Scientific name: Catopuma temminckii.
IUCN Status: The Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species.
Habitat:
- It is found across eastern Nepal through north-eastern India to Indonesia.
- Bhutan and China were known to have two morphs of the golden cat
What are the advantages ofCamouflage?
- Color morphs are thought to arise from random genetic mutations and take hold in the population through natural selection.
- The wide variation displayed in the cat’s coats provides them with:
- several ecological benefits such as occupying different habitats at different elevations from wet tropical lowland forests to alpine scrubs
- It also providing camouflage while preying on pheasants and rabbits.
Source Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/in-arunachal-the-golden-cat-wears-new-colours/article27902320.ece