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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Answer:
Advantages of Blockchain
1)Allows a chronologically ordered record of all actions and files.
2)Distributed and Decentralised Database
2)Efficient and cost-effective.
3)Tamper-proof, secure and reliable.
4)Can be used widely e.g. in financial systems, public records, medical records etc.
Application
1. Delivery of Govt Services : Last year, Dubai announced the adoption of a roadmap, Dubai
Blockchain Strategy 2020, for the Emirate’s adoption of blockchain technology to improve the
delivery of government services.
2. Save time and Money : Dubai’s government estimates it stands to save nearly $1.5 billion
and 25.1 million hours in document processing time.
3. Transparent Governance : A public blockchain, like the one Bitcoin uses, records all
information and transactions on the decentralized database permanently, publicly, and most
importantly, securely.
4. Accountability : By allowing governments to track the movement of government funds,
blockchain can hold state and local actors accountable for any misappropriations.
5. Bypassing middlemen : Blockchain not only deters corruption through accountability, but it
can also do so by bypassing the middleman entirely. The reason why World Food Programme
began testing blockchain-based food and cash transactions in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
6. Delivery of services, Aadhaar : Refugees in Jordan’s Azraq camp are now using the same
technology, in conjunction with biometric registration data for authentication, to pay for food.
Thus has applicability even in Aadhaar cards.
7. Green Signal from RBI : Earlier this year, RBI's Institute for Development and Research in
Banking Technology published a white paper on the applications of blockchain to the banking
and financial sector in India and concluded, “the time is ripe for its adoption”.
Blockchain, however, can only help enhance the delivery of government services, it cannot
replace an inefficient system. Although it can deter corruption, it cannot prevent the entering
of false information into the network. Yet, it presents the government with a powerful
opportunity. The time is ripe for embracing blockchain technology as it promises to deliver
maximum governance, minimum government.
Concerns associated:
Blockchain is still a (relatively) new technology and is not without its problems. For a start,
there are ongoing concerns about privacy in the settlement and storage of securities –
blockchain providers are working hard to address.
Banks are also at threat with blockchain, since more and more firms (using their IT service
providers from India and elsewhere) will build systems that can create and exchange
‘blocks’ with one another completely legally, without ever having to use the banks as a
financial intermediary.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
2. What is crypto currency? Is bit coin is crypto currency? Is it legal? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of using bit coins?
Answer:
What is bitcoin?
It is an attempt by a firm, using blockchain technology, to create a set of shares in a trading
entity that had an initial set value and fixed number (much like the face value and number of
shares offered in an initial public offering), in the hope that these shares would become the
medium of exchange through which people trade goods and services.
Since the number of shares is fixed, demand for them goes up over a period of time as more
and more people use the shares to settle their transactions; so, the bet is that each bitcoin’s
value goes up stratospherically since there will never ever be any more bitcoins issued.
Is it legal?
This is legal since it hasn’t yet been regulated by many countries.
Way ahead:
Sovereign governments don’t like allowing companies to issue their own coin and will
eventually regulate such systems.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Bitcoin transaction:
Bitcoin transactions are sent from and to electronic bitcoin wallets, and are digitally signed for
security. Everyone on the network knows about a transaction, and the history of a transaction
can be traced back to the point where the bitcoins were produced.
Advantages of Bitcoins:
Freedom in Payment: No limit on transaction and can send and receive money
anywhere
Allowing users to be in control of their transactions help keep Bitcoin safe for the
network.
With the block chain, all finalized transactions are available for everyone to see,
however personal information is hidden.
Bitcoin protocol cannot be manipulated by any person, organization, or government.
This is due to Bitcoin being cryptographically secure.
Low Transaction cost: Currently there are either no fees, or very low fees within Bitcoin
payments.
Due to the fact that Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed, do not carry with them
personal information, and are secure, merchants are protected from potential losses
that might occur from fraud.
Disadvantages:
Lack of Awareness & Understanding.
Bitcoin has volatility mainly due to the fact that there is a limited amount of coins and
the demand for them increases by each passing day.
Bitcoin is still at its infancy stage with incomplete features that are in development.
Limitation of 21 M bit coin currency that will last till 2040- The blockchain system
is designed such that at its maximum only 21 million bitcoins can be produced and
in circulation. The number cannot exceed this cap. As of February, about 15.2
million bitcoins have been mined (or produced). That is about 75% of the total cap
already in circulation.Current estimates are that the last bitcoin that will ever be
mined will come into existence in 2040.
It is possible to launder money and buy illegal products. Since Bitcoins can be spent on
the Internet without the use of a bank account, they offer a convenient system for
anonymous purchases.
Money laundering.
No regulation
Possibility of Hacking
Degree of acceptance - Many people are still unaware of Bitcoin.
Ongoing development - Bitcoin software is still in beta with many incomplete features in
active development.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Volatility - The total value of bitcoins in circulation and the number of businesses using
Bitcoin are still very small compared to what they could be. Therefore, relatively small
events, trades, or business activities can significantly affect the price.
3.What do you understand by ‘Big Data’? Suggest innovative measures how big data can be
used in improving efficiency in delivery of government services.
Answer:
When you combine big data with high-powered analytics, you can accomplish business-related
tasks such as:
Determining root causes of failures, issues and defects in near-real time.
Generating coupons at the point of sale based on the customer’s buying habits.
How big Data can be used in improving efficiency in delivery of government services?
India runs a huge welfare program which over many years has shown many leakages.
The first and foremost use of Big Data will be to generate root cause of failure, issues
and defects in real time i.e. know the leakages in welfare program with their reasons.
The analysis will help government come up with new relevant schemes rather than go
one size fit all approach.
The buying pattern at different PDS shops can have government know the exact
amount of resources required and thus keep it stocked to proper limit.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
There must be a shift to greater use of data, smarter evidence-based scrutiny and
audit, greater reliance on on-line assessments with correspondingly less interaction
between tax payers and tax officials. This could lead to greater compliance through
nonpunitive means in the field of tax collection.
With Big Data government, will be able to know the resources available in every region
and thus will be able to push extra resources required in case of any emergency in cost
and time efficient manner.
The major impact of Big Data in any government delivery service is that it will
a) Cut down time
b) Cut down cost
c) Provide relevant schemes and services
With all these, the public service delivery is bound to improve with Big Data.
Answer:
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
There are various scientists and technology leaders who have criticised AI as:
1. Stephen Hawking: He thinks that it might end human race.
2. Elon Musk: It might go rogue and be against humanity.
3. Ratan Tata: It might lead to elimination of human inputs leading to job losses.
However, Some scientists call AI as the next revolution and an important aid in human
development as:
1. Mark Zuckerberg: It aids in various ways like drug discovery and diagnosis of illness.
2. It might lead to ending of terrorism.
3. It might save lives and help with innovation and discoveries leading to acceleration of 4th
Industrial Revolution
Positive views:
- many philosopher scientists see it as a means to achieving the idea of Singularity ,alternatively
called as extropianism.
- some economists believe that with old employment going away at the hands of AI, new would
be created;
- Scientists even look forward to evolving humans from biological state to cyber-mechanical
state using AI;
- Anarcho-Communists believe it to be a step closer to utopia where state would be irrelevant
and AI would assist in forming society based on Act Utiltarianism principles;
Critical views:
- a dystopian future where even a single super-intelligent AI machine might overpower
everything and everyone;
- Liberals raise ethical concerns like those of human rights for AI machines once they become
aware like humans;
- A co-existential crisis might ensue with a conflict between two intelligent races - humans and
machines;
- ethical concern regarding ownership is yet another dilemma as owning an intelligent and
aware race - even if machines - would be akin to going back to the days of slavery;
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
An aware machine is very much different from a non-aware machine. The questions to answer
are many. Still it must be borne in mind that with awareness comes a sense of role in society
and the consciousness to exist and keep existing. An aware machine might have its own
conceptions of reality - good or bad. Ethical concerns are sure to rise aplenty, all of which are
inevitable in an inevitable future.
Answer:
Hybrid Vehicle is an effective solution against rising pollution and environmental issues.
Government of India has notified FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of
(Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] for implementation with effect from 1st April 2015, with
the objective to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and Manufacturing eco-
system.
Key facts:
1. Objective: To support the hybrid or electric vehicles market development and its
manufacturing ecosystem in the country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated
period
2. The overall scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period next 6 years i.e. till 2020
3. It envisages providing Rs 795 crore support till 2020 for the manufacturing and sale of
electric and hybrid vehicles.
4. It also seeks to provide demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles from two-wheeler
to buses
5. Implementation: It will be implemented in phases
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
6. The Phase-1 will be implemented over a two year period in FY15-16 and FY16-17
7. Based on the outcome and experience from the Phase-1, it will be reviewed for
implementation after 31 March 2017.Then appropriate fund will be allocated for future.
8. Four focus areas: Technology development, Pilot Projects, Demand Creation and Charging
infrastructure.
9. The Department of Heavy Industries under the aegis of Union Ministry of Heavy Industries
will be will be nodal department for the scheme.
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 NEMMP aims to achieve national fuel
security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in country.
The move by government of India is a noble step in reducing the effect of climate change,
preventing loss of life, saving fossil fuels, less dependence on petroleum products, less
negotiation with oil producing countries at their whims and fancies etc.
Why needed?
1. Will help in fulfilling our INDC 2030 goals (cutting CO2 emissions in GDP by 33-35% w.r.t.
2005 levels)
2. Shift towards EVs will help cut oil imports (already India has set targets to cut oil imports by
10% by 2022).
3. Creation of Industries and Infrastructure will create jobs in India, both upstream and
downstream
4. To combat increasing air pollution load (PM2.5 & PM10) in Indian Cities (e.g. Delhi, Kolkata
etc) --will have positive outcomes on people’s health
5. Reducing overall carbon footprint- EVs reflect shift to sustainable transportation
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Lack of infrastructure such as battery charging stations, improper grid connectivity etc.
Meeting the demand: The government would have to ensure that it meets the demand
that is created by this mechanism. Hence, more electricity generating sources will have
been developed.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Acquisition of mineral fields required for lithium battery production by other countries
such as USA ,China etc in which India lacks behind.
RISK FACTOR: The government will have to ensure that it doesn’t put all its eggs in one
basket as prior experiences of US has shown that overdependence and allotment of all
funds for one business leads to the failure of the whole of it.
6. What do you understand by ‘internet of things’ (IoT)? How ill digitization help IoT and how
will both help India in turn? Examine
Answer:
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and
digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the
ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-
computer interaction.
IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless technologies, micro-electromechanical
systems (MEMS), micro services and the internet. The convergence has helped tear down the
silo walls between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), allowing
unstructured machine-generated data to be analyzed for insights that will drive improvements.
WHAT IS IoT –
Internet of things is an integrated system in which devices are connected in a network of
information in such a way that they can communicate with each other without any human
intervention.
It creates an intelligent system of systems which can manage multiple activities of human
concern like traffic control, health management, optimal use of electricity and inventory
management etc.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
IoT requires data to work. This data is then turned into meaningful information for
processing. Accessibility to data is indispensable for the working of IoT and this is being
facilitated by digitization.
Digitization is a process which interconnects the world into an integrated network enabling
sharing of data and information across systems. Thus, IoT connects devices but this
connectivity is provided by digitization of information. In brief, digitization is enabler of IoT.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Data Management: Connected devices are going to produce massive amount of data.
Companies need to figure out a way to store, track, analyze and make sense of the vast
amounts of data that will be generated.
Privacy & Security: With billions of devices being connected together, what can people do to
make sure that their information stays secure? Will someone be able to hack into your toaster
and thereby get access to your entire network? The IoT also opens up companies all over the
world to more security threats. Then we have the issue of privacy and data sharing.
1. The Union government is coming up with a regulatory framework for Internet-of-Things (IoT)
along with policies to promote the sector.
2. Department of Telecom has come out with a machine-to-machine (M2M) roadmap, with an aim
to put regulators, industry agencies that develop standards, users and manufacturers on the same
page.
3. The Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY), in its draft policy, targets to
create an IoT industry in India of $15 billion by 2020.
4. Currently, work is going on in the area of numbering schemes for IoT and KYC norms for SIM-
embedded M2M devices.
5. Telecom Standards Society of India too is working on India-relevant standards with respect to the
sector.
What can be done to minimize the adverse impact on labour due to IoT?
We must note that this is not the first time that disruptive technology is going to come into
play. It has happened before, and inevitably it will happen again. It is important to make
strategies that will help our labour force to adapt to such technologies and take steps that will
help mitigate the worst effects of these technologies.
For adaption, Skill India Mission can be geared to either impart higher levels of skills required to
operate with IoT; furthermore, SIM can be used to impart existing workforce a diverse set of
skills so that their employ-ability is not impacted beyond repair.
There may be some lay-offs temporarily. We need some new solutions to take care of those
who will be laid off for no fault of theirs. Companies deploying IoT and consequently reducing
workforce in a particular sector, must be encouraged to absorb the workers in another sector.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Conclusion
IoT and digitization have huge potential to bring radical changes in the way we interact with
people and things. But it would require a robust information system with assured transparency,
privacy and security features.
7. What do you understand by the term DNA profiling? Why there is a need to codify law on
DNA profiling? Critically examine the probable impacts of DNA profiling bill.
Answer:
DNA Profiling
A very sensitive technology, DNA Profiling is a technology that can be used to identify
individuals for the purpose of solving crime or establishing the relationship with other
individuals such as for paternity testing.
This can be done by means of few skin cells, a hair root or a tiny amount of blood or saliva.
DNA profiling (also called DNA fingerprinting, DNA testing, or DNA typing) is a forensic
technique used to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA.
A DNA profile is a small set of DNA variations that is very likely to be different in all unrelated
individuals, thereby being as unique to individuals as are fingerprints.
Bill provisions
1. It prohibits the collection of any “bodily substance” from an arrested individual (for the
purposes of a DNA test) without his/her consent, except if the individual is arrested for certain
specific offences.
2. However, if the consent “is refused without good cause”, and a magistrate is satisfied of the
need for a DNA test, he/she can order the arrested person to give a sample.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
3. The new Bill has also removed a provision that allowed DNA profiles in the databank to be
used for “creation and maintenance of population statistics databank”.
4. While the penalty for misuse of data remains a prison term of up to three years and a fine up
to Rs 1 lakh, a reference to a minimum prison term of one month has been removed.
5. The Bill seeks to set up two new institutions — a DNA Profiling Board and a DNA Data Bank.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
3. Certain DNA Profiling Board-accredited labs would be authorised to carry out DNA testing
and analysis. These are the only places to which DNA samples, picked up from a crime scene
can be referred for analysis
4.Data from the analyses will need to be shared with the nearest regional DNA databank which
will store it and share it with the national databank.
5. The databanks will maintain five sets of databases — for DNA samples picked up from crime
scenes, for suspects or undertrials, and for offenders, missing persons, and unidentified dead
bodies.
VIOLATION OF PRIVACY:
1. Racial Profiling
2. Longer Trial Period
3. Errant Testing and Conviction
The benefits of DNA profiling is immense and help foster a quick crime solving mechanism but
there need to checks and balances to make sure that the mechanism that is being brought in to
protect the human end up violating their basic right to privacy
8. What is the science involved in Hyperloop? Can it transform how Indians Transportation
System? Examine
Answer:
What is hyperloop?
1. A proposed mode of freight and passenger transportation in which a pod like vehicle will be
propelled through a near vacuum tube at airline speed for the price of a bus ticket.
2. These pods essentially are autonomous which would enable high speed travel inside the tube.
This will also ensure that the vehicles glide silently for miles without any turbulence.
3. As we start the next revolution on Internet of things and digitize physical things we look towards a
futuristic transportation infrastructure.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one of the companies formed to realize Musk's vision
of tube travel,announced it has signed a deal with the state of Andhra Pradesh, in India.
Working with the state’s economic development board, HTT will spend six months studying
possible routes for a hyperloop connecting the cities of Vijaywada and Amaravati—a move
that would transform a 27-mile, hour-long drive into a six-minutes.
6. It is in line with the government’s aim to Make in India, which will create local manufacturing jobs
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Concerns
1. Concerns whether a developing country like India should invest in a technology which is still at
experimental stage
2. There exist regulatory challenges, whether hyperloop will come under railways or civil aviation or
an entirely new body
3. Safety concerns are yet to be addressed
Answer:
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
The LIGO project is an attempt to directly observe gravitational waves whose existence were
indicated in Einstein’s Theory of relativity but couldn’t be proved experimentally. The LIGO-
India observatory (INDIGO) is an expansion of worldwide network consisting of observatories of
USA, Germany. Italy etc.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
4. With its establishment, India will join the global network of gravitational wave detectors
5. The establishment of an observatory in India assumes importance because the further the
distance between the observatories, the greater will be the accuracy in locating gravity waves
6. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are among the states shortlisted for the experiment
10. "Is Cloud Seeding a solution for rising irrigation problems in Indian Agriculture Sector."
Critically examine.
Answer:
Recently, Karnataka and Maharashtra Government has decided to use cloud seeding technique
to fight drought.
Attached to its wings, the aircraft carried silver iodide, potassium chloride and sodium
chloride—chemicals that can aid precipitation when seeded into rain-bearing clouds.
The cloud-seeding procedure is aimed at increasing the amount of precipitation from the
clouds, leading to higher chances of rain.
Chemical Used:
The most common chemicals used for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide and
dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). Cloud seeding process involved a furnace in which coal is burnt at
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
1,350 degrees Celsius in which powdered Silver Iodide is sprinkled. These particles rise in the air
to cloud level in 10-12 minutes. After these particles travel upwards, they crystallize at minus-
five degrees and since clouds have both ice and water crystals, the particles attract the water,
its weight increases and they fall down in the form of rain within a couple of hours
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
the chemicals are being used in this technology and would affect the organisms that will be hit
by the artificial rainfall is considered its most direct concern. As of yet, scientists and
researchers have been able to state the complete effect of this technique. Though silver iodine
is not currently known to be hazardous to human health, this might change in the future as
more and more research is being conducted and completed.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
11. "CRISPR technology is much faster, yield better results, and is relatively easy to do."
Examine.
Answer:
This technology involves two molecular systems which helps it in precision cutting.,
-Cas9 enzyme, acts as 'molecular scissors' that cuts two strands of DNA.
-guideRNA(gRNA) helps the enzyme in identifying the precise location for cutting.
Working of the CRISPR
1. Crispr scans the genome looking for the right location and then uses the Cas9 protein as
molecular scissors to snip through the DNA.
2. Cas9 endonuclease - guide RNAs direct it to a particular sequence to be edited.
3. When Cas9 cuts the target sequence, the cell repairs the damage by replacing the original
sequence with an altered version.
4. Unlike other gene-editing methods, it is cheap, quick, easy, safer and more accurate to use
because it relies on RNA–DNA base pairing, rather than the engineering of proteins that bind
particular DNA sequences.
CRISPR/Cas9 Applications
1. Arguably, the most important advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 over other genome editing
technologies is its simplicity and efficiency.
2. It has the potential to treat a lot of genetic related medical conditions like, cancer, Hepatitis
B, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia ,Beta-thalassemia etc.,
3. Editing out genetic disorder- CRISPR technology could also make a breakthrough in 'designer
baby' system. Parents an could end up "shopping" for desirable traits, be it intelligence,
appearance, sporting ability etc
4. Create immunity to various diseases and conditions- To date, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing
tool appears to work in nearly every organism, from microorganisms to monkeys, and in every
cell type: kidney, heart and those, like T-cells, that researchers had previously found difficult to
modify.
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
5. Agriculture-Some of the earliest papers using CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing focused on crops
important for agriculture such as rice and wheat. It was realized early on that this system could
be utilized to specifically alter the DNA of these crop species to improve traits like disease and
drought tolerance
6. Disease Modeling- Disease modeling using animals has been a hurdle for study of many
types of human diseases due to the difficulty in generating genetically modified animals that
accurately recapitulate human pathology. The process was inefficient and inaccurate or simply
impossible to do. CRISPR-Cas9 has allowed for generation of transgenic animals like rats,
monkeys and other animals which are more suitable for human disease modeling than mice
and thus permit better drug-development tests.
8. Gene Therapy -In 2014, CRISPR-Cas9 was used in mice to correct a mutation associated with
a human metabolic disease called tyrosinaemia. It was the first use of CRISPR/Cas9 to fix a
disease causing mutation in an adult animal and an important step towards using the
technology for gene therapy in humans.
1. Off targets: Besides the precision of this technology, there also chances of guideRNA getting
misaligned thereby causing mutation elsewhere, which results in serious gentic problems.
2. Germline cell testing: Carrying out germline(reproductive cells) testing is considered
unethical , since any wrong mutation would affect the entire hereditary.
3. CRISPR is basically knock out strategy to silence the gene by inhibiting the RNA polymerase
activity inside the nucleus. It's still in the nascent stage, so it would be hard to comment about
the major disadvantages
4. But it's very labour intensive and high cost oriented technique than RNA interference.
1. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology is being touted as one of the biggest biotechnology
breakthroughs of the century
2. This new technology is a powerful tool for manipulating the genomes of not only mice but
also somatic and embryonic stem cells from other species, including humans.
3. It is likely that the refinements of these systems will continue and that they will be adapted
in new ways to create ever more sophisticated animal models for and genetic therapies for
treating human diseases.
12. "Li-Fi is not expected to completely replace Wi-Fi, but the two technologies could be used
complementarily to create more efficient, green and future-proof access networks."
Discuss.
Answer:
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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Science & Tech: India Bhai (Ashutosh Gupta) 2017
Li-Fi is a communication technology which uses visible light spectrum and is also called Visible
Light Communication (VLC).
What is LI-FI?
1. LiFi (Light Fidelity) is a high-speed wireless communication technology that uses visible light
to transmit information. It has some similarities to existing WiFi technology, as well as some
huge differences.
2. WiFi and LiFi are similar because both technologies are wireless, but also very different,
because unlike WiFi, which relies on radio waves, LiFi uses visible light communication (VLC) or
infrared and near-UV spectrum waves.
3. In other words, LiFi works by using visible light, like the light that is emitted by any regular
lamp or bulb!.
Working of LI-FI
1. Li-Fi is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system. This means that it accommodates a
photo-detector to receive light signals and a signal processing element to convert the data into
‘stream-able’ content. Unlike Wi-Fi, which uses radio waves, Li-Fi runs on visible light.
2. Here, data is fed into an LED light bulb (with signal processing technology), it then sends
data (embedded in its beam) at rapid speeds to the photo-detector (photodiode).
3. The tiny changes in the rapid dimming of LED bulbs is then converted by the ‘receiver’ into
electrical signal.
4. The signal is then converted back into a binary data stream that the user would recognise as
web, video and audio applications that run on internet enables devices.
Advantages of LI-FI
1. LiFi presents many unprecedented advantages for its uptake and use, as far as wireless
Internet connectivity is concerned.
2. LiFi relies on visible light to communicate, which is a good thing in more ways than one.
These waves are able to carry far more information than the traditional radio waves used in
WiFi technology.
3. The visible light spectrum is almost 10,000 times larger than the spectrum occupied by radio
waves.
4. Also, LiFi is said to increase bandwidth by 100 times what we have today with WiFi.
5. A LiFi connection can transmit data at the rate of 224 gigabytes per second.
6. LiFi is also more suitable in electromagnetic-sensitive areas like hospitals, airplane cabins,
and nuclear power plants (where electromagnetic disturbance can be disastrous).
7. Wi Fi can't penetrate into water whereas Li Fi can do with ease- Li-Fi can be used in marine
technology and finds utility in submarines, naval operations etc.
Disadvantage of LI-FI
Along with all these benefits, there are also some disadvantages of a LiFi connection.
1. Since it uses visible light to transmit data, LiFi would be rather useless in conditions where
there is no light. That means no Internet while lying in your bed at night.
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3. If you have a WiFI router installed in one room of your house, you can connect your devices
sitting anywhere in the house, but this is not the case with LiFi.
4. Since visible rays cannot pass through walls, you have to be in the immediate vicinity of the
source of light to access the Internet on your device, which may not sound particularly
convenient to many people.
5. This technology is also said to be less reliable (again, due to it being dependent on visible
light) and has high installation charges.
Future of LI-FI
There’s no doubt that LiFi is going to transform the world of Internet connectivity, but it seems
unlikely that its rise would necessarily mean the death of WiFi, since the latter is deeply
embedded in the lifestyles of billions of people.
Wi Fi is a well established technology and it can only migrate if there are cheaper technologies
available. Given the huge cost involved installation needed for Li Fi and technological
compliance of most of the devices, its very difficult. Moreover Li FI being based on VLC can be
susceptible to interference from other daily appliances which are also based on VLC. But as the
world is moving towards more efficient, high speed and eco friendly communication
technology, it becomes interesting if Li Fi can be used as complementary to Wi Fi.
13. "According to the IPR policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called
compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions." Discuss the
concerns of some of the westerner countries which are against this policy of India.
Answer:
Last year, Indian Government has released India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
Policy. The Policy which is in compliance with WTO's (World Trade Organisation) agreement on
TRIPS (Trade Related aspects of IPRs), aims to sustain entrepreneurship and boost Prime
Minister’s pet scheme 'Make in India.'
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2. The plan will be reviewed every five years in consultation with stakeholders.
3. In order to have strong and effective IPR laws, steps would be taken — including review of
existing IP laws — to update and improve them or to remove anomalies and inconsistencies.
4. The policy is entirely compliant with the WTO’s agreement on TRIPS.
5. Special thrust on awareness generation and effective enforcement of IPRs, besides
encouragement of IP commercialization through various incentives.
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6. Policy will provide both domestic and foreign investors a stable IPR framework in the
country. This will promote a holistic and conducive ecosystem to catalyze the full potential of
intellectual property for India’s growth and socio-cultural development while protecting public
interest.
7. It is expected to lay the future roadmap for intellectual property in India, besides putting in
place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review. The idea is to
incorporate global best practices in the Indian context and adapt to the same.
14. Critically examine the uses of understanding of neutrinos, and significance of its
research for India. Also critically comment why set-up of neutrino research facility in
India is being opposed.
Answer:
India’s wait to join the elite club of countries undertaking neutrino research suffered a
procedural Delay. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the environmental clearance
(EC) granted to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). It was ordered it to file a fresh
application for clearance
INO project:
1. The proposed INO project primarily aims to study cavern in the Bodi West Hills in Theni
district, Tamil Nadu
3. If completed, the INO would house the largest magnet in the world
4. It will be four times more massive than the CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector’s
magnet.
Neutrinos:
1. Neutrinos are tiny particles. They are almost massless. They travel at near light speeds
2. They are born from violent astrophysical events such as exploding stars and gamma ray
bursts.
3. Therefore, they are abundant in the universe and can move as easily through matter as we
move through air. In fact, neutrinos are so abundant among us that every second, there are
more than 100 trillion of them passing right through each of us — we never even notice them.
4. They are notoriously difficult to track down. If you hold your hand towards the sunlight for
one second, about a billion neutrinos from the sun will pass through it. This is because they are
the by-products of nuclear fusion in the sun.
5.They have very feeble mass and no charge and hence can travel through planets, stars, rocks
and human bodies without any interaction. In fact, a beam of trillions of neutrinos can travel
thousands of kilometres through a rock before an interaction with a single atom of the rock and
the neutrino occurs.
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1. Neutrinos may have a role to play in nuclear non-proliferation through the remote
monitoring of nuclear reactors
2. Understanding neutrinos can help us detect mineral and oil deposits deep in the earth. This
same property might help us detect early geological defects deep within the earth, and thereby
might be the answer to an early warning system against earthquakes.
3. As we now know, neutrinos can pass right through the earth. They may open up a faster way
to send data than the current ‘around the earth’ model, using towers, cables or satellites.
Some scientists further believe that if there is any extraterrestrial form of life, neutrinos will
also be the fastest and most trusted way to communicate with them.
4. Neutrinos are the information bearers of the universe — which are almost never lost in
their path. India’s effort in studying neutrinos at INO may help us unravel the deepest mystery
of the universe — why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe.
5.Neutrino research can help us understand dark matter. Dark matter and dark energy make
up 95% of the universe, far more predominant than ordinary matter in the universe — but we
hardly understand it. Neutrinos are the only way to detect this great mystery which may
completely alter our understanding of the universe and physics.
Environmental issues
1. After initially denying permission to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to locate the
India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Singara in Nilgris District in TamilNadu, Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India accorded both environmental and forest
clearance for locating the project in the Bodi West Hills (BWH) in Theni District in TamilNadu.
2. However, Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has recently suspended the
environmental clearance granted to the neutrino observatory by the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF), due to some objections such as the proposed location being
just about 4.9 kilometers from the Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district of Kerala.
This is very close to the guideline limit of 5 km.
3. The tribunal ruled it to be a Category A of EIA 2006, though the INO Project team termed it
under Category B. For Category A projects, a proper study and public hearing is necessary,
before applying for an environment clearance from MoEFCC. Clearance can be obtained from
State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority without a study and public hearing for
category B projects.
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4. The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal has asked the project promoters to submit a
fresh application with more details.
5 . The project has also been objected by local people on safety consideration. The project is
suffering prolonged delay.
15. India is going after Reusable Launch Vehicle, even when Space Agencies like NASA have
stopped using them.' Discuss.
Answer:
A reusable launch system (RLS, or reusable launch vehicle, RLV) is a launch system intended to
allow for recovery of all or part of its components for later reuse. This contrasts
with expendable launch systems, where each launch vehicle is launched once and then
discarded. To date, no 100% reusable orbital launch system has ever been created.
The first major attempt at a RLV was the NASA developed Space Shuttle.
RLV-TD (technology demonstrator) was successfully flight tested by the ISRO, validating the
critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal
protection system and re-entry mission management.
A reusable launch system (RLS, or reusable launch vehicle, RLV) is a system capable of launching
a payload into space more than once.
The model is 6.5 metres long and weighs about 1,750 kg and design is that of a delta-winged
aircraft. The working RLV will be about 40 metres long and it will need a five km-long landing
runway. It might be 2030 before it is fully operational.
It demonstrated the success of hypersonic flight, re-entry aero thermodynamics, autonomous
mission management and hot structures for thermal protection.
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16. According to the IPR policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called
compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions." Discuss the
concerns of some of the westerner countries which are against this policy of India
Answer:
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Last year, Indian Government has released India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
Policy. The Policy which is in compliance with WTO's (World Trade Organisation) agreement on
TRIPS (Trade Related aspects of IPRs), aims to sustain entrepreneurship and boost Prime
Minister’s pet scheme 'Make in India.'
1. On Compulsory Licensing According to the policy, India will retain the right to issue so-called
compulsory licenses to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions.
2. Also, the government has indicated that there is no urgent need to change patent laws that
are already fully World Trade Organization-compliant.
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3. So India has resisted pressure from the US and other Western countries to amend its patent
laws.
4. The policy also specifically does not open up Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, which sets the
standard for what is considered an invention in India, for reinterpretation.
5. As per the WTO norms, a CL can be invoked by a government allowing a company to produce
a patented product without the consent of the patent owner in public interest.
6. Under the Indian Patents Act, a CL can be issued for a drug if the medicine is deemed
unaffordable, among other conditions, and the government grants permission to qualified
generic drug makers to manufacture it.
17. PHWR will help India to achieve its Paris climate change conference
commitments. Analyse
Answer:
Introduction:
1.Using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel,
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2. This uses heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and neutron moderator.
3. While heavy water is significantly more expensive than ordinary light water, it creates greatly
enhanced neutron economy, allowing the reactor to operate without fuel-enrichment facilities
(offsetting the additional expense of the heavy water) and enhancing the ability of the reactor
to make use of alternate fuel cycles.
Recent developments
1. Union Cabinet gave its approval for the construction of 10 units of the new indigenous 700
MWe (mega watt electric) pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
2. The new reactors are of significantly higher capacities compared to the PHWRs currently
under operation
3. The standard PHWR being used in India is of 220 MWe though two 540 MWe reactors were
installed in Tarapur in 2005 and 2006. The ten reactors will be installed in Kaiga in Karnataka
(Unit 5 and 6), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (Unit 1 and 2), Gorakhpur in Haryana (Unit 3 and 4)
and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4).
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Analysis
Why PHWR
1. The main reasons for selecting PHWRs in the 1960s for the First Stage of the Indian nuclear
power programme have been the use of natural uranium oxide as the fuel, the best utilisation
of mined uranium in energy production and the prospect of establishing a completely self-
reliant technology.
2. The government’s measure seeks to fast track its three-pronged program—developed largely
during the country’s almost 30-year-long isolation from international nuclear trade—and also
factors in India’s abundant thorium resources, which constitute 25% of the world’s total
reserves.
3. The first step of the three-stage program involves building indigenously engineered PHWRs
and lightwater reactors to produce plutonium. The second stage uses fast-neutron reactors
fueled by plutonium to breed U-233 from thorium. In the third stage, using wholly indigenous
technology, the country will use advanced heavy-water reactors fueled with U-233 obtained
from the irradiation of thorium in PHWRs and fast reactors.
4. India wants to ramp up production of power from low-carbon sources and has outlined plans
to install a total of 175 GW of renewables by 2022.
5. As of March 2016, about 61% of the country’s installed capacity was coal-fired, 14% came
from hydropower, 14% came from other renewables (mostly wind, followed by small hydro and
biomass), 8% from natural gas, 2% from nuclear, and 1% from diesel.
6. 100% of all their components are manufactured by the Indian industry.
7. As far as the safety is concerned,
8. The PHWR technology scores well in terms of its several inherent safety features.
9. The biggest advantage of the PHWR design is the use of thin walled pressure tubes instead of
large pressure vessels used in pressure vessel type reactors.
10. This results in a distribution of pressure boundaries to large number of small diameter
pressure tubes.
11. The consequence of an accidental rupture of the pressure boundary in such a design will
have a much less severity than that in a pressure vessel type reactor
12. In addition, the Indian 700 MWe PHWR design has enhanced safety through dedicated
Passive Decay Heat Removal System which has the capability of removing decay heat from core
without requiring any operator actions similar with the technology adopted for Generation III+
plants to address the Fukushima type accident.
13. The 700 MWe Indian PHWR has steel-lined containment to reduce the leakages and
containment spray system to reduce the containment pressure in case of a loss of coolant
accident and for scrubbing radio nuclides in case of their release beyond the design limit.
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immobilization of radioactive waste has given India a unique position of self-reliance in the
atomic energy domain.
3. The constraint of a limited reserve of uranium in the country which earlier impeded a rapid
growth in nuclear power has now been eased by augmented production of indigenous uranium
and import of uranium under the civil nuclear co-operation agreements with several countries
Clean energy
1. India is now poised for a rapid growth in the nuclear power capacity which is essential for
meeting the demand of clean electricity.
2. The per-capita electricity consumption in India (now close to 1000 KWh) is nearly one-third of
the world average and there is an obvious need for a substantial enhancement of non-carbon
electricity production to improve the quality of life of our people.
3. The impressive growth in the solar and wind power has made a visible impact in increased
availability of electricity in many areas. However, it needs to be emphasized that the distributed
and intermittent sources of energy such as solar and wind cannot meet the base load demand
very effectively.
4. The nuclear energy source is concentrated, continuous and reliable and, therefore, can be
complemented by solar and wind energy in meeting the overall demand of electricity with
practically zero carbon foot-print.
Employment
1. Manufacturing orders of close to Rs 70,000 crore are expected to come through to the
domestic industry on account of the projects and are expected to generate more than 33,400
jobs in direct and indirect employment.
Challenges
1. The decision to step up the indigenous civil nuclear reactor programme comes amid festering
concerns over the deployment of imported light water reactor-based projects in collaboration
with global vendors such as Toshiba-Westinghouse and Areva
2. The speed at which we can grow our nuclear power capacity.
3. In this context one can examine the experience of France and USA in nineteen seventies and
of China in the recent years.
4. They all have achieved very impressive rapid growth by adopting a convoy or a serial mode of
installation of nuclear power plants of a few standardised designs. In such a strategy, the
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industry can gear up their dedicated production lines for sophisticated nuclear components and
construction companies can deploy their manpower and skill-set most effectively.
Conclusion
1. With the entry of India in her Second Stage of nuclear power programme in which Fast
Breeder Reactors will not only enable the growth of the installed nuclear capacity, but also
generate more fissile materials, plutonium-239 and uranium-233 by conversion of fertile
isotopes, uranium-238 and thorium-232 respectively
2. An enhanced scope and an accelerated implementation of the First Stage of the programme
will make a far- reaching impact on securing the energy self-reliance of the country.
3. By operating multiple recycles in the uranium-plutonium fuel cycle the supply of fissile
material is expected to be enhanced by a factor of 60 and by using the huge reserve of thorium,
the current estimate being four times that of uranium, India can sustain the supply of clean
nuclear energy for several centuries.
18. What is "Bio-methanation”? Also, analyze it’s potential to contribute towards urban
waste management in India.
Answer:
• Methanogenic archaea.
Biomethanation has strong potential for the production of energy from organic residues and
wastes. It will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus reduce CO (2) emission.
Uses of Biomethanation
· The energy from waste is a crucial element of waste management because it reduces the
volume of waste for disposal and also helps in converting the waste into renewable energy and
organic manure.
· Decentralized plants provide a major energy saving from reduced transportation and also
generate additional annual revenue from electricity generation besides meeting their own
demand for electricity.
· The gas that is obtained can be used as an alternate fuel for natural gas vehicles or can replace
other fossil fuels such as LPG/CNG and diesel.
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· Organic Manure generated by it can be utilised for regenerating soil health & will also provide
additional income to municipalities by sale of manure.
· Reduction in waste volume also reduces land requirements for dumping of wastes.
· Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Stopping release of Methane in to the atmosphere per
day per plant which is 22 times danger than CO2 for Global Warming.
· Modular construction of plant and closed treatment needs less land area.
Challenges
· Energy generation though this process is less economical & efficient.
· Process requires maintenance which may increase financial burden on municipalities.
· Segregation of wastes at households is highly neglected practice.
· Maintaining adequate safety standards is important failing which can lead to dangerous
effects because leakage of methane gas will boost global warming
· It is more capital intensive compared to composting and landfill
· Not suitable for wastes containing less biodegradable matter.
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Way forward:
If India could start with the separation of its ‘wet’ waste from the rest and produce good
compost that could transform cities and towns into clean and green havens filled with trees,
gardens, lakes and rivers. “Garbology studies” confirm that landfills swallow precious wealth
every day. The time has come to recover it.
19. Indigenously developed cryogenic engine in a major step forward for ISRO's landmark
‘GSLV Mk III’ rocket. Discuss the concept of "Cryogenic engine". Also, examine its benefits for
India's space programmes.
Answer:
"Cryogenics is the science and technology of temperatures below 120 Kelvin (−153° Celsius), the
limit being defined by the boiling point of methane, a principal component of natural gas".
A cryogenic rocket engine is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic fuel or oxidizer, that is, its
fuel or oxidizer (or both) is gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures.
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Specific impulse (a measure of the efficiency) achievable with cryogenic propellants (liquid
Hydrogen and liquid Oxygen) is much higher compared to earth storable liquid and solid
propellants, giving it a substantial payload advantage.
However, cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or earth-
storable liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures
and the associated thermal and structural problems.
Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C. The propellants, at these low
temperatures are to be pumped using turbo pumps running at around 40,000 rpm. It also
running at around 40,000 rpm. It also entails complex ground support systems like propellant
storage and filling systems, cryo engine and stage test facilities, transportation and handling of
cryo fluids and related safety aspects.
ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage Project (CUSP) envisaged the design and development of the
indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage to replace the stage procured from Russia and used in GSLV
flights. The main engine and two smaller steering engines of CUS together develop a nominal
thrust of 73.55 kN in vacuum. During the flight, CUS fires for a nominal duration of 720 seconds.
Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) from the respective tanks are fed by individual
booster pumps to the main turbo pump to ensure a high flow rate of propellants into the
combustion chamber. Thrust control and mixture ratio control are achieved by two
independent regulators. Two gimballed steering engines provide for control of the stage during
its thrusting phase.
Unlike other propellants, the optimum mixture ratio for LOX and LH2 is not necessarily
that which will produce the maximum specific impulse. Because of the extremely low
density of LH2, the propellant volume decreases significantly at higher mixture ratios.
The maximum specific impulse typically occurs at a mixture ratio of around 3.5.
However, by increasing the mixture ratio to, say, 5.5, the storage volume is reduced by
one-fourth. This results in smaller propellant tanks, a lower vehicle mass, and less drag,
which offset the loss in performance that comes with using the higher mixture ratio. In
practice, most LOX/LH2 engines typically operate at mixture ratios of about 5 to 6.
The specific impulse can also be increased by choosing an appropriate combustion cycle.
The Russian cryogenic engine supplied to ISRO uses the complex “staged combustion cycle”
(SCC) as against the simpler and more flexible “gas generator cycle” (GGC), because it increases
the specific impulse.
In the SCC, the fuel LH2 is burnt with a little LOX in a pre-combustion chamber. The hot gases
drive the high-spin turbo pumps. The exhaust gases are then injected into the combustion
chamber along with some more LOX. In the GGC, on the other hand, the exhaust gases are
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ejected or wasted. The SCC results in a more energy-efficient engine with a specific impulse
that is marginally more than what the GGC gives.
• Very Crucial of advancement of Space programme – Cryogenic Engine use by ISRO for GSLV
Programe
• Missile Programme for the Defense: technology useful for development Next Generation of
the rocket Engine
• Clean technology - Cryogenic technology uses H2 and oxygen as a fuel which give water as by
product. - leap towards clean technology
• Edge over other countries - Refused to give technology by others county in Past ( only US,
Japan, France, Russia & China have this technology)
• Other Social uses – Like cryoplants for food storage, Blood banking etc.
20. The debates over commercial production of GM crops seem to have no easy answers.
How far is the opposition to GM crops valid? What, in your opinion, is the way forward with
respect to adoption of GM food crops?
Answer:
GM crops:
GM crops are usually developed through the insertion or deletion of genes from plant
cells.
In the case of GM food, scientists insert into a plant’s genome one or several gene from
another species of plant or even from a bacterium, virus or animal.
In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur
naturally in the species like resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental
conditions, herbicides etc.
Genetic Modification is also done to increase nutritional value, bioremediation and for
other purposes like production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels etc.
Recent Developments
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The regulator of the genetically modified crops has given the green signal for
commercial cultivation of GM mustard in the country.
In a submission to the Environment Ministry, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
has given a positive recommendation but with certain conditions.
With the GEAC nod, the GM mustard developed by the Delhi University gets closer to
become India’s first edible GM crop.
Protests by NGOs, Civil Society activist about the above step.
Positives
India needs to ensure food security to its population. Going forward India needs to grow
more from less- more crop per drop and more crop per acre.
Indian Agriculture is marked by poor productivity compared to China
Child Malnutrition is a serious problem in India today with 2 out of every 3 children
being malnourished.
India has a competitive advantage in Agriculture, if Doha round of WTO goes through,
we will be able to boost our Agriculture exports
With Climate Change threatening our Agriculture, we need to develop hardy, resistant
crops.
Opposition:
Opponents believe GM crops have the potential for serious, irreversible damage to
human health and the environment.
Lack of proper assessment has further reduced the trust. GM opponents cite the need
for longer term assessment of adverse impacts and more concrete evidence of no
adverse effects.
The lack of transparency in the regulatory process further amplifies apprehensions
stemming from a precautionary approach. All the safety tests for regulatory approvals
are typically conducted by the same party that applies for commercialization of GM
crops.
There are also concerns regarding loss of food biodiversity if corporate food varieties
begin to flood the markets.
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Way Ahead
Need to start cultivating an environment of openness and transparency to allay genuine
fears
The government should adopt a participatory approach to bring together all
stakeholders to develop regulatory protocols that restore trust
Need for the GEAC “to draw up a fresh protocol for the specific tests that will have to be
conducted in order to generate public confidence”
Field trials in India, in which the State governments have a say, must ensure that there
are sufficient safeguards against such violations.
If GM food is allowed to be sold to consumers, they must have the right to know what
they are buying, and labelling should be made mandatory.
Establishing a strong regulatory system; the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India
Bill, 2013, which provided for multi-level scientific assessments and an appellate
tribunal, has lapsed. Hence, a strong regulatory authority should be established.
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