LUPEX
India-Japan joint moon mission Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is likely to take flight in few years.
- International cooperative project between Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Aimed at exploring the Moon for water and other resources and gaining expertise in exploring the surface of the Moon.
- Observation instruments from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) will also be mounted on the rover
Plunging Region
A study at Oxford University Physics provided the first observational proof of ‘plunging regions’ as per Einstein’s theory.
- An area around Black Hole where matter stops circling the black hole and instead falls straight in.
- Predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity which states that it is impossible for particles to safely follow circular orbits sufficiently close to a black hole.
- Plunging regions exert some of the strongest gravitational forces in the galaxy.
Insurance Surety Bonds
NHAI Organises Workshop on Implementation of Insurance Surety Bonds in National Highway Contracts.
- Legally enforceable 3-party contracts comprising Principal (the beneficiary), Contractor and Surety Provider (The Insurance Company).
- ISBs provide the Principal with the financial guarantee that the Contract will be completed as per mutually agreed terms between the Principal and the Contractor.
- Government has made ISB at par with Bank Guarantees.
RoseTTAFold
RoseTTAFold, an AI software prediction tool, has the potential to revolutionize target discovery and understand drug-target interaction better.
- Developed at – Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington.
- Uses generative diffusion-based architectures (an AI model) to predict structural complexes.
- The model has the ability to predict structures and interactions between any combination of protein, DNA, and RNA
NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority)
NPPA has cut down prices of various medicines related to diabetes, blood pressure, asthma etc.
- Constituted by a government of India resolution in 1997, as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs.
- Ministry – Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
- Function –
- Implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order.
- To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.
- Advise the central government on changes/ revisions in the drug policy.