We4u IAS

  Battery energy storage system Context: The Indian government has approved viability gap funding (VGF) to cover up to 40% of the total capital cost for the establishment of a 4,000 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in the country. What It Is?   A battery energy storage system is a type of energy storage system that uses batteries to store and distribute energy as electricity.   BESSs are often used to enable energy from renewable sources, like solar and wind, to be stored and released. Components   Batteries (lithium-ion, lead-acid, etc.).   Inverters for converting DC to AC power.   BMS (Battery Management System) for monitoring and managing battery health and performance. Applications   Grid stabilization and frequency regulation.   Energy shifting to optimize energy consumption.   Backup power during outages.   Integration of renewable energy sources. Benefits   Smoothing out intermittent renewable e...

  “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” Scheme Why in News?   “Cabinet approves overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences” published in “PIB” on 5th January 2024. What It Is?   It is a comprehensive scheme that will address all five components of the Earth system (atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere), enhancing the understanding of Earth System Sciences and delivering reliable services for the country. Objectives and Focus Areas     Comprehensive Observations: The scheme emphasizes long-term monitoring across the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth to track Earth System’s vital signs and changes.   Development of Predictive Models: It focuses on creating models for weather, ocean, and climate hazards and advancing climate change science.   Exploration Initiatives: Exploration of Polar Regions and high seas is a key aspect, aiming to discover new phenomena and reso...

  Direct to Mobile (D2M) Technology Why In News:     The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and India’s public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati are exploring the feasibility of a technology that allows to broadcast video and other forms of multimedia content directly to mobile phones, without needing an active internet connection. What is direct-to-mobile broadcasting?     The technology is based on the convergence of broadband and broadcast, using which mobile phones can receive terrestrial digital TV.     It would be similar to how people listen to FM radio on their phones, where a receiver within the phone can tap into radio frequencies.     Using D2M, multimedia content can also be beamed to phones directly.     The idea behind the technology is that it can possibly be used to directly broadcast content related to citizen-centric information and can be further used to counter fake news, issue emerg...

  Supreme Court legal Services Committee (SCLSC)     The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) was established under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide “free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society.”     The committee is composed of Chairperson BR Gavai and nine members nominated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). It has the authority to appoint officers and employees as prescribed by the Centre, in consultation with the CJI. About the Act:     Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 gives a statutory base to legal aid programs, ensuring free and competent legal services for various eligible groups. NALSA, constituted in 1995, monitors and evaluates the implementation of legal aid programs nationwide.     State Legal Services Authorities and District Legal Services Authorities are established to execute NALSA’s policies and provide legal services at the state a...

  Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) Why in News?     The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recently submitted three nominations from India for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA).     The nominated cities include Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Udaipur (Rajasthan).     The ongoing Amrit Dharohar initiative by MoEF&CC aligns with WCA goals, promoting the conservation values of Ramsar Sites. What It Is?     It is a voluntary accreditation system to recognize the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments. Origin:     Outcome of Ramsar Convention during COP12 in 2015. Objective:     Promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations Significance:     Provides international recognition and branding for wetland conser...

  Huntington Disease     Huntington Disease (HD) is a progressive genetic disorder which affects the brain.     It causes uncontrolled movements, impaired coordination of balance and movement, a decline in cognitive abilities, difficulty in concentrating and memory lapses, mood swings and personality changes.     The HTT genes are involved in the production of a protein called huntingtin. They provide the instruction for making the protein.     Mutated genes provide faulty instructions leading to production of abnormal huntingtin proteins and formation of clumps.     These clumps disrupt the normal functioning of the brain cells, which eventually leads to death of neurons in the brain, resulting in Huntington disease.     No cure exists, but drugs, physiotherapy and talk therapy can help manage some symptoms.

  Terms of trade (TOT) ween a country's export prices and its import prices. TOT indexes are defined as the value of a country's total exports minus total imports. The ratio is calculated by dividing the price of the exports by the price of the imports and multiplying the result by 100.

  Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project:     It is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope.     It is not a single telescope. It consists of an array of antennas strategically designed and set up in South Africa and Australia.    South Africa – host high and mid-frequency dish antennas     Australia – Low-frequency antennas. India is also a member country. Goals:    To study the universe and its evolution, origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism and dark energy and evolution of galaxies.    To detect very weak extra-terrestrial signals and search for molecules that support life. Note: India’s SKA membership is currently under review with India’s Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) and is expected to be completed sometime this year. What is Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)?  ...

  Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme Introduction     ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna’ is a small deposit scheme for girl child, launched as a part of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign, which would fetch an attractive interest rate and provide income tax rebate. Benefits     Interest rate on deposts : 8.40% w.e.f 1st Oct, 2019). Compounded annually with option for monthly interest pay-outs to be calculated on balance in completed thousands. Eligibility     Parents or legal guardians can open deposits on behalf of a girl children (including adopted girl child) for up to 2 daughters aged below 10.     Three girl children, in case of twin girls as second birth or the first birth itself results in three girl children.     Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.     Minimum of Rs 250 of initial deposit with multiple of Rs 150 thereafter with annual ceiling of Rs.150000 in a ...

  Tibetan Thangka Paintings What is Thangka paintings?     "Thangka" means "thing that one unrolls". Thangka Painting is a Tibetan Buddhist Painting that depicts the lives of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Buddhist deities, significant lamas, or mythological scenes.     Thangka Painting is usually painted on cotton and silk applique. Thangka paintings were created in areas where Tibetan Buddhism was prevalent, such as Mongolia, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and portions of Himalayan India.     A Thangka painting is a Tibetan Buddhist artwork on cotton with silk applique depicting a Buddhist deity or legendary settings. Thangka paintings are significant teaching materials.     They illustrate the Buddha’s life as well as the lives of numerous influential lamas, deities, and bodhisattvas.

  What is the Chameleon Trojan? Why In News?     A new version of the ‘Chameleon Trojan’ malware has been discovered by security researchers, capable of disabling biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint and face unlock to steal a phone’s PIN. About the Chameleon Trojan:     It is a malware that has the ability to disable biometric authentication methods, including fingerprint and face unlock, to sneakily access sensitive information. Working:     The malware strategically attaches itself to legitimate Android applications, such as the widely used Google Chrome, effectively avoiding immediate detection.     Operating discreetly in the background, Chameleon Trojan can disable biometric security measures, specifically targeting PINs.     The malware bundles are reportedly undetectable during runtime, enabling it to outsmart Google Protect alerts and circumvent security software on the c...