Wet Dress Rehearsal

Wet Dress Rehearsal

Wet Dress Rehearsal Latest News

Recently, NASA found a hydrogen leak during a wet dress rehearsal of its Artemis II mission.

About Wet Dress Rehearsal

  • It is the final practice run for a high-stakes rocket launch. 
  • The “wet” in the name refers to the loading of cryogenic fuel (typically liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for large rockets) into the rocket’s massive tanks.
  • It is a rigorous demonstration of ground team preparedness. 
  • The team will cool the fuel feed lines, load the tanks, pressurise them, monitor leak detectors, and execute the countdown into its final stages. 
  • These rehearsals also keep the tanks full as the propellant warms and boils off, then executes a stop just before ignition, followed by draining and returning the vehicle to a stable configuration. 
  • This puts the entire craft through each step of a simulated launch, exposing it to the super-chilled fuels to ensure that everything will function properly on launch day. 
  • Wet rehearsals are important because only they can reveal events that happen in cryogenic conditions, e.g., leaks in seals or in the connections between the rocket and ground equipment.

What is a Dry Dress Rehearsal?

  • It practices the countdown and important operations without loading cryogenic propellants into the rocket. 
  • Instead, the team will power up vehicle and ground systems, verify its communications equipment, simulate critical events, and validate decision-making and handoffs between launch control, engineering, range safety, and, if applicable, crew operations. 
  • Many of the testing steps use simulated sensor inputs. 
  • These rehearsals are useful to reveal logical problems in the flow of events without risking fuel leaks.

Key Facts about Artemis II Mission

  • It is the second scheduled flight of NASA's Artemis program and the first crewed Artemis mission. 
  • It will be the first mission to carry humans to the moon’s vicinity since 1972.
  • It is the first to fly astronauts aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. 
  • While Artemis 1 successfully flew Orion around the moon without astronauts in 2022, Artemis 2 will be the first time humans travel aboard the spacecraft and venture beyond Low Earth Orbit in more than 50 years.
  • Four astronauts will take a 10-day flight around the moon and back to Earth, testing systems ahead of the Artemis 3 mission, which aims to deliver astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028.
  • The mission will include three NASA astronauts and one astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
  • The astronauts and mission controllers will collect data on Orion and the crew’s performance to assess how ready the Artemis program is to send people to the moon’s surface.
  • Orion will undergo high-speed reentry through Earth’s atmosphere before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

Source: TH

Wet Dress Rehearsal FAQs

Q1: What is a Wet Dress Rehearsal in the context of a rocket launch?

Ans: It is the final practice run before launch, involving full fueling of the rocket.

Q2: Why is it called a “wet” dress rehearsal?

Ans: Because it involves loading cryogenic propellants like liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the rocket.

Q3: What key procedures are carried out during a Wet Dress Rehearsal?

Ans: Cooling fuel lines, loading tanks, pressurising them, checking for leaks, and running the countdown close to ignition.

Q4: Does a Wet Dress Rehearsal include actual engine ignition?

Ans: No, it stops just before ignition.

Q5: Why are Wet Dress Rehearsals critical for rocket launches?

Ans: They expose the rocket to super-chilled cryogenic fuels, helping detect leaks or system failures under real conditions.

Wajid Ali Shah

Wajid Ali Shah

Wajid Ali Shah Latest News

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was not exiled to Calcutta but he came to the city because he wanted to take a ship to London to submit a petition but that departure was restricted and he stayed on, according to a biography by his great-grandson, recently translated from Urdu to English.

About Wajid Ali Shah

  • Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (1822-1887) belonged to the princely kingdom of Awadh (Oudh) in Uttar Pradesh.
  • He succeeded his father, Nawab Amjad Ali Shah, to become the province’s tenth and last nawab. He ascended the throne in 1847.
  • He was regarded as being a kind, generous, and compassionate ruler, as well as a good administrator, who took keen interest in the affairs of the state.
  • He went on to rule for nine years till his kingdom was annexed by the British in 1856, citing “misgovernance.”.
  • His deposition and the annexation of Awadh became one of the major causes of the Revolt of 1857.
  • He lived out the rest of his life at Garden Reach in Metiabruz, then a suburb of Kolkata.
  • His time spent as Nawab is perfused with generosity and admiration for artistic valor.
  • He was a man of many talents, a poet, playwright, dancer, and profound patron of arts. 
  • His works included numerous poems, prose, ragas, playwrights, and ghazals under his pen name of ‘Qaisar’.
  • The Ishqnamah (Book of Love) is a youthful autobiography written in Urdu verse by Wajid Ali Shah.
  • He is also credited for contributing to the revival of the Indian dance form Kathak
  • He is renowned for his secular approach and his interest in Hindu culture.
  • He was also greatly interested in architecture. He started building the Qaiser bagh palace complex as soon as he came to the throne. This vast complex was built between 1848 and 1850.
  • Besides the Nawab’s immense contributions to India, one of his wives, Begum Hazrat Mahal, was known to be a great Indian freedom fighter who played a major role during India’s First War of Independence (1857-58) against the British.

Source: TH

Wajid Ali Shah FAQs

Q1: Who was Wajid Ali Shah?

Ans: Wajid Ali Shah was the tenth and last Nawab of Awadh (Oudh).

Q2: When did Wajid Ali Shah ascend the throne of Awadh?

Ans: He ascended the throne in 1847.

Q3: How long did Wajid Ali Shah rule Awadh?

Ans: He went on to rule for nine years till his kingdom was annexed by the British in 1856, citing “misgovernance.”.

Q4: How is Wajid Ali Shah remembered in cultural history?

Ans: He is remembered as a poet, playwright, dancer, patron of arts, and a ruler with a secular outlook.

Q5: What palace complex did Wajid Ali Shah construct?

Ans: He built the Qaiserbagh Palace Complex between 1848 and 1850.

PM-SURAJ Portal

PM-SURAJ Portal

PM-SURAJ Portal Latest News

The PM-SURAJ portal disbursed Rs 1,389.61 crore in loans to 1.39 lakh entrepreneurs in the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing its target.

About PM-SURAJ Portal

  • Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) portal was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2024.
  • Objective: To provide credit support to entrepreneurs from disadvantaged sections of society virtually.
  • It is a centralised platform where individuals from underprivileged backgrounds can apply for and track the progress of all available loans and credit schemes. 
  • Only those intending to establish a new business can apply on this portal, as this platform provides loans exclusively for business startups.
  • Business loans up to Rs 15 lakh are available at low interest rateS through this portal, which are transferred directly to your bank account through banks, NBFC-MFIs, and other financial institutions.
  • It is run by government bodies like the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC), and the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC).
  • It is designed to uplift the most marginalized segments of society, such as the backward classes, scheduled castes, tribes, and other disadvantaged sections, and extend credit assistance to one lakh entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities.

Source: DEVD

PM-SURAJ Portal FAQs

Q1: Which Ministry launched the PM-SURAJ Portal?

Ans: It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Q2: What is the main objective of the PM-SURAJ Portal?

Ans: Its objective is to provide credit support to entrepreneurs from disadvantaged sections of society.

Q3: Who can apply through the PM-SURAJ Portal?

Ans: Individuals from underprivileged and marginalized communities intending to start a new business can apply.

Q4: How are loans disbursed under the PM-SURAJ Portal?

Ans: Loans are transferred directly to the applicant’s bank account through banks, NBFC-MFIs, and other financial institutions.

National Large Solar Telescope

National Large Solar Telescope

National Large Solar Telescope Latest News

In this year’s Union Budget, the government sanctioned the establishment of two new telescopes namely National Large Solar Telescope and National Large Optical-Near Infrared Telescope to study the sun and the origins of the universe.

About National Large Solar Telescope

  • It is a 2-metre aperture solar telescope, coming up in the Merak region near the Pangong Tso Lake.
  • Purpose: It is meant to study the sun
  • It will operate in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • It will help solar physicists to study the fundamental solar dynamics and magnetism, energetic solar events, and map various space-weather processes having a direct bearing on the Earth and national space assets, like satellites and space launches.
  • NLST will serve as India’s third ground-based solar observatory.
    • Currently, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (in Tamil Nadu, established 1899) and the Udaipur Solar Observatory (in Rajasthan, established 1975) are operational.

Key Facts about National Large Optical-Near Infrared Telescope

  • It is a 13.7-metre aperture segmented-mirror telescope which will be built in Hanle.
    • In a segmented-mirror telescope, a larger primary mirror comprises highly complex, smaller hexagonal mirror segments.
  • It will have 90 smaller segmented mirrors arranged in a fashion that they all collect light but act as one, large mirror.
  • It will be one of the world’s largest telescopes operating in the electromagnetic spectrum’s optical-infrared wavelengths.
  • Objective: Frontier research on exoplanets, stellar and galactic evolution, and supernovae will be possible, besides looking for clues to trace the origins of the universe. 

Source: IE

National Large Solar Telescope FAQs

Q1: What is the primary objective of the NLST?

Ans: To investigate solar magnetic fields and dynamics

Q2: Which organization is leading the NLST project?

Ans: Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Public Financial Management System

Public Financial Management System

Public Financial Management System Latest News

Recently, the Minister of State for finance informed the Rajya Sabha about the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

About Public Financial Management System

  • It is a web-based online transaction system for fund management and e-payment to implementing agencies and other beneficiaries.
  • It is a Centralized Transaction System & Platform, providing end to end financial management services to all stakeholders.
  • It is developed and implemented by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
  • It was started during 2009.
  • Function: To facilitate a sound Public Financial Management System for Government of India by establishing an efficient fund flow system as well as a payment cum accounting network.

Key Features of Public Financial Management System

  • It tracks funds released under all Plan schemes of Government of India, and real time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
  • The government has mandated PFMS as a single platform for payment, accounting & reconciliation of government transactions and DBT.
  • Cash management modules: It has been introduced on PFMS for better fund management like Single Nodal Agency (SNA), Treasury Single Account (TSA), Central Nodal Agency (CNA) and Single Nodal Agency Samyochit Pranali Ekikrit Shighra Hastantaran (SNA SPARSH).
  • Grievance Redressal System: PFMS has introduced the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, to strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism for PFMS users/ beneficiaries.

Source: PIB

Public Financial Management System FAQs

Q1: Which ministry developed PFMS?

Ans: Ministry of Finance

Q2: What is a key feature of PFMS?

Ans: It is a single platform for payment and accounting and real-time tracking of funds.

Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic Filariasis Latest News

Recently, the Union Health Minister launched the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis.

About Lymphatic Filariasis

  • It is commonly known as elephantiasis (Haatipaon) which is a neglected tropical disease.
  • It is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the female Culex mosquito.
  • Cause: It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms:
    • Wuchereria bancrofti, which is responsible for 90% of the cases
    • Brugia malayi, which causes most of the remainder of the cases
    • Brugia timori, which also causes the disease
  • Transmission Cycle: Adult worms nest in the lymphatic vessels and disrupt the normal function of the lymphatic system where they produce millions of microfilariae (immature larvae) that circulate in the blood.
    • Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.
  • Symptoms: The majority of infections are asymptomatic but in chronic conditions it leads to lymphoedema (tissue swelling) or elephantiasis (skin/tissue thickening) of limbs and hydrocele (scrotal swelling). 
  • Treatment
    • Elimination of lymphatic filariasis is possible by stopping the spread of the infection through preventive chemotherapy.
    • The WHO-recommended preventive chemotherapy strategy for lymphatic filariasis elimination is mass drug administration (MDA).
    • MDA involves administering an annual dose of medicines to the entire at-risk population.

Source: PIB

Lymphatic Filariasis FAQs

Q1: What is Lymphatic Filariasis commonly known as?

Ans: Elephantiasis

Q2: How is Lymphatic Filariasis transmitted?

Ans: Mosquito bite

Gilbert Hill

Gilbert Hill

Gilbert Hill Latest News

After Anand Mahindra highlighted Gilbert Hill in a recent post, curiosity around the Mumbai landmark has surged.

About Gilbert Hill

  • It is a 200-foot (61 meters) monolith column of black basalt rock located in Andheri, Mumbai Suburban, Maharashtra. 
  • The hill has a sheer vertical face and is one of the oldest basalt rock formations in the world.
  • It was shaped millions of years ago, during the Mesozoic era, about 66 million years ago, when molten lava emerged from the Earth's crevices.
  • It belongs to the same geological period that marked the end of the dinosaur age. 
  • Formed during massive volcanic eruptions that created the Deccan Traps, the structure is a rare example of a volcanic column. 
  • According to geological records, only three such columnar basalt formations exist in the world. The other two are 
    • Devil’s Tower (USA)
    • Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland)
  • It was declared a National Park in 1952, while the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation categorised it as a Grade II heritage structure in 2007.
  • Arguably the oldest heritage site in the country in its original form, Gilbert Hill has a few temples and a small garden atop. These are accessed by a steep staircase carved into the rock.

Source: NDTV

Gilbert Hill FAQs

Q1: Where is Gilbert Hill located?

Ans: Gilbert Hill is located in Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Q2: What type of geological formation is Gilbert Hill?

Ans: It is a 200-foot (61 m) monolithic column of black basalt rock.

Q3: During which geological era was Gilbert Hill formed?

Ans: It was formed during the Mesozoic era, around 66 million years ago.

Q4: Why is Gilbert Hill considered geologically significant?

Ans: It is a rare example of columnar basalt formation and one of the oldest basalt rock formations in the world.

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Recently, a male gibbon was found electrocuted to death at Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary (HGWS) in Jorhat.

About Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location: It is located in the Jorhat district of Assam, India.
  • It is the only sanctuary in India named after a gibbon due to its distinction for containing the densest gibbon populations in Assam.
  • Terrain: It is situated at an altitude between 100 and 120 m (330 and 390 ft), the topography gently slopes downward from southeast to northwest.
  • River: The Bhogdoi River creates a waterlogged region dominated by semi-hydrophytic plants along the border of the sanctuary.
  • Flora:
    • The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree, while the Nahar dominates the middle canopy.
    • The lower canopy consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs.
  • Fauna: It contains India’s only gibbons–the hoolock gibbons, and Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate–the Bengal slow loris, Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, wild boar, three types of civet, four types of squirrels, stump-tailed macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, etc.

Source: DTE

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: Where is Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: Jorhat district of Assam

Q2: What is Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary famous for?

Ans: Gibbon Conservation

Network Readiness Index

Network Readiness Index

Network Readiness Index Latest News

India has improved its position by four slots and is now placed at 45th rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2025 (NRI 2025) report. 

About Network Readiness Index

  • It maps how economies leverage information and communication technologies to support growth, innovation and social development.
  • Methodology used: It maps the network-based readiness landscape of 127 economies based on their performance in four pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact, covering a total of 53 indicators.
  • The report has been prepared by the Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC.

Key Highlights of Network Readiness Index Report 2025

  • India improved its score from 53.63 out of 100 in 2024 to 54.43 out of 100 in 2025.
  • India secured 1st rank in “Annual investment in telecommunication services”, “AI scientific publications”, “ICT services exports” and “E-commerce legislation”.
  • 2nd rank in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions”, “Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country” and “International Internet bandwidth”, and 3rd rank in “Domestic market scale” and “Income Inequality”.
  • India is ranked 2nd in the group of lower-middle-income countries.

Source: PIB

Network Readiness Index FAQs

Q1: What is the rank of India in Readiness Index 2025?

Ans: 45th Position

Q2: What is the primary focus of the NRI?

Ans: Assessing digital development

Almatti Dam

Almatti Dam

Almatti Dam Latest News

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister recently objected to Karnataka's move to increase the height of the Almatti Dam on the Upper Krishna.

About Almatti Dam

  • Almatti Dam, situated on the Krishna River in Karnataka, is a multipurpose dam primarily used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control.
  • It stands at a height of 52.5 meters and extends 3.5 kilometers in length.
  • The dam was completed in July 2005.
  • The annual electric output of the dam is 713,000,000 kilowatts (KW). 
  • The dam holds a gross water storage capacity of 123.08 TMC at 519 meters MSL.
  • It is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project; the 290 MW power station is located on the right side of the Almatti Dam. 
    • The facility uses vertical Kaplan turbines: five 55 MW generators and one 15 MW generator. 
    • After generating power, water is released into the Narayanpur reservoir to meet the irrigation requirements downstream.
  • Seven terrace gardens have been developed as a picnic spot in the dam area.
    • On one side of the dam, a garden named "Rock Hill" has an artificial forest with ceramic wild animals and birds and many idols representing village life in India.

Source: DH

Almatti Dam FAQs

Q1: On which river is the Almatti Dam constructed?

Ans: The Almatti Dam is constructed on the Krishna River.

Q2: In which state is the Almatti Dam located?

Ans: It is located in Karnataka.

Q3: When was the Almatti Dam completed?

Ans: It was completed in July 2005.

Q4: Which major irrigation project is associated with the Almatti Dam?

Ans: It is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project.

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