About S-400 Air Defence Missile System:

 

• The S-400 Triumf (NATO: SA-21 Growler) is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system.
• It is one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems that can simultaneously track numerous incoming objects.
• It was developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau of Russia.
• The system entered service in April 2007, and the first S-400 was deployed in combat in August 2007.
• India signed a US$ 5.5 billion deal with Russia in October 2018 to acquire five S-400 systems.
• Features:
  • It is equipped with four different missiles that can engage enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and AWACS planes at 400 km, 250 km, the medium-range 120 km and the short-range 40 km.
  • The system can simultaneously engage 36 targets.
  • The system is a large complex of radars, control systems and different types of missiles.
  • The highly automated S-400 has radars that can pick up an incoming object up to 1,000 kilometres away, track several dozen incoming objects simultaneously and distribute the targets to appropriate missile systems.
  • The command post detects, tracks and identifies the target. Then, the tracked object is taken over by manned anti-aircraft missile systems of the complex, which launch the counterattack.

 

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Q1) What is a Ballistic Missile?

A ballistic missile is a type of guided missile that follows a ballistic trajectory when it is launched. This trajectory consists of three main phases: the boost phase, the midcourse phase, and the terminal phase. Ballistic missiles are designed to carry warheads and are primarily used for military purposes, including the delivery of nuclear, conventional, chemical, or biological payloads to distant targets.

Source: Ukraine claims destroyed powerful Russian missile system in Crimea

About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):

 

• It is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems.
• It is India's largest research organisation. 
• Formation: The organisation was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). 
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• It has a network of laboratories engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.
• Major Projects:
  • DRDO's first project for the Indian military was in surface-to-air missiles (SAM) known as Project Indigo. However, it received little success and was therefore discontinued. 
  • Since being set up, DRDO has achieved many successes in developing major systems and critical technologies like aircraft avionics, UAVs, small arms, artillery systems, EW Systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, sonar systems, command and control systems and missile systems.
  • In 2016, It successfully tested its first indigenously developed heavy-duty drone, Rustom 2, which is an unmanned armed combat vehicle developed on the lines of the US's Predator drone.
  • DRDO co-developed INS Arihant, India's first nuclear ballistic missile submarine, which became operational in 2018.
  • In March 2019, DRDO developed India's first anti-satellite system that made India one of the space superpowers.
  • DRDO has also developed several ballistic missiles under its Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which includes missiles like Prithvi, Trishul, Agni, Akash and Nag.

 

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Q1) What is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)?

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), often referred to as a drone, is an aircraft that operates without a human pilot on board. UAVs are controlled remotely by a human operator or autonomously by onboard computers. These vehicles can vary greatly in size, design, and capabilities, and they are used for a wide range of applications across various industries. 

Source: Centre Sets Up High Powered 9-Member Committee To Review DRDO's Activities, Report Expected In 3 Months

About Mera Bill Mera Adhikar Scheme:

 

• It is a Goods and Services Tax (GST) invoice incentive programme that offers cash incentives for uploading invoices.
• It would initially be introduced in the states of Assam, Gujarat, and Haryana, as well as the UTs of Puducherry, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
• Objective: To encourage customers to request a bill whenever they make purchases.
• How does the scheme works?
  • All invoices issued by GST-registered suppliers to consumers will be eligible for the scheme.
  • A monthly and quarterly draw of lots will be made, and winners will be eligible for cash reward prizes beginning from Rs 10,000 to up to Rs 1 crore.
  • The minimum purchase value for the invoice to be considered for the lucky draw is Rs 200, and individuals can upload a maximum of 25 invoices in a month.
  • The 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar' mobile app will be made available on both IOS and Android platforms.
  • The invoice uploaded on the app should have the GSTIN of the seller, invoice number, amount paid and tax amount.

 

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Q1) What is an Invoice?

An invoice is a commercial document that itemizes and records a transaction between a seller and a buyer. It serves as both a request for payment and a record of the sale. In essence, an invoice outlines the products or services provided by the seller, their quantities, prices, and any applicable taxes or discounts. It also includes information about the seller and the buyer, as well as payment terms and instructions.

Source: ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ GST Reward Scheme To Launch Soon, Consumers Will Be Awarded Through Lucky Draws

Key points: 

 

• It is known that there are large numbers of regions of weak magnetic field on the sun which vary with time.
• These can be studied using magnetograms and Ca-K line images of the sun as there is strong correlation between the magnetic field and the Ca-K line intensity of the region on the sun.
• The magneto-grams are available for a short period and the characteristics of the instrument are changing with time.
• Ca-K line images are available for a long period at Kodaikanal observatory (KO), for more than 100 years with no change in the optics of the instrument.
• Similarly, other observatories in the world, such as Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO) have had this type of data for about 70 years.
• Using the data obtained at Kodaikanal observatory the scientists have shown that correlation between derived plage area (bright region in the sun’s chromosphere) from the Ca-K images and sunspot number is excellent, even on a daily basis, over a period of about 100 years for the first time.
• Significance:
  • This type of accurate analysis of the historic time series of Ca-K images can be useful for reliable and accurate investigation of variations on the sun and the effect of this on the climatic condition of the earth.
  • It helps in understanding the dynamics of the sun, solar cycle variations, dynamo processes in the convection zone and resulting long term climatic variations on the earth.

 

What is Magnetogram?

• It is an image taken by an instrument which can detect the strength and location of the magnetic fields on the Sun.
• In a magnetogram, gray areas indicate that there is no magnetic field, while black and white areas indicate regions where there is a strong magnetic field.

 

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Q1) What is sunspot?

A sunspot is a temporary, relatively dark area on the Sun's surface caused by intense magnetic activity. These spots are cooler and less luminous than the surrounding solar surface due to the strong magnetic fields inhibiting the convective flow of hot gases from below. Sunspots are a common feature of the Sun's photosphere.

Source: New methodology developed can give accurate analysis of the historic time series of images of Sun

About Microsites project: 

 

• These are defined geographical regions where focused outreach efforts would be made to onboard small and medium scale private healthcare providers.
• Types of facilities to be covered under a Microsite:
  • Private facilities such as standalone clinics, polyclinics , nursing homes, small hospitals (preferably <10 beds), labs, pharmacies, and any other healthcare facilities wherein health records are generated.
  • Health Facilities and Health Professionals from all the systems of medicine.
• Categories of a Microsite: Any State/UT can choose to implement any of the following categories of Microsites as per the regional priorities.
  • Category A Microsite: A microsite which consists of at least 1000 facilities, inclusive of all types of health facilities, as mentioned above
  • Category B Microsite: A microsite which consists of at least 500 facilities but less than 1000 facilities, inclusive of all types of health facilities, as mentioned above.
• Implementation:
  • These Microsites would be majorly implemented by State Mission Directors of ABDM while the financial resources and overall guidance would be provided by NHA.
  • An interfacing agency under this program will have an on-ground team to reach out to the healthcare providers in the area.
  • This team will spread awareness about the benefits of ABDM and will help the service providers to join the core registries under ABDM besides promoting the use of ABDM enable digital solutions for regular clinical documentation.
  • Patients will be able to link the health records generated at these facilities with their Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) and will be able to view and share these records using any ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record (PHR) application on their phones.

 

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Q1) What is The aim of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. It will bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of the Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.

Source: The first ABDM Microsite under the 100 Microsites Project by the National Health Authority is launched in Aizawl, Mizoram.

About Minimum Export Price: 

 

• It is the price below which an exporter is not allowed to export the commodity from India.
• It is imposed in view of the rising domestic retail / wholesale price or production disruptions in the country.
• It is a kind of quantitative restriction to trade. 
• Government fixes MEP for the selected commodities with a view to arrest domestic price rise and augment domestic supply. 
• This is intended to be imposed for short durations and is removed when situations change.
• The removal of MEP helps farmers / exporters in realising better and remunerative prices.
• MEP was first implemented on basmati rice in FY11 to deter exports, and is typically implemented to contain surging domestic prices because of production disruptions.
• Legal backing
  • As per section 5 of the The Foreign Trade (Development And Regulation) Act, 1992, the Central Government may, from time to time, formulate and announce by notification in the Official Gazette, the export and import policy and may also, in the like manner, amend that policy.

 

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Q1) What is Minimum Support Price

It is the price at which the government of a country guarantees to purchase crops from farmers to ensure they get a certain level of income for their produce.

Source: Centre may consider introducing a minimum export price for rice exports