What's the NEWS

• NASA's airborne observatory has detected the first type of molecule ever formed in the universe.

• This is the first time helium hydride has been found in the modern universe.

Know! more about the discovery

• Scientists discovered the molecule in our own galaxy using NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), as the aircraft flew high above the Earth's surface and pointed its sensitive instruments out into the cosmos.

• SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 106-inch diameter telescope. It found modern helium hydride in a planetary nebula, a remnant of what was once a Sun-like star.

• Located 3,000 light-years away near the constellation Cygnus, this planetary nebula, called NGC 7027, has conditions that allow this mystery molecule to form

• The discovery serves as proof that helium hydride can, in fact, exist in space

Know! more about the helium hydrate presence

• Scientists believe that around 100,000 years after the big bang, helium and hydrogen combined to make a molecule called helium hydride for the first time.

• Helium hydride should be present in some parts of the modern universe, but it has never been detected in space.

• The lack of evidence of the very existence of helium hydride in interstellar space was a dilemma for astronomy for decades

• Helium hydride is a finicky molecule. Helium itself is a noble gas making it very unlikely to combine with any other kind of atom.

Know! how SOFIA helped in detecting Helium

• In 2016, scientists turned to SOFIA for help. Flying up to 45,000 feet, SOFIA makes observations above the interfering layers of Earth's atmosphere.

• But it has a benefit space telescopes don't -- it returns after every flight.

• A recent upgrade to one of SOFIA's instruments added the specific channel for helium hydride that previous telescopes did not have.Helium hydride's signal finally came through loud and clear.

Culture and Heritage
World Heritage Day 2019

What's the NEWS

• The World Heritage Day 2019 was observed on 18th April with the theme Rural Landscapes.

• The theme Rural Landscapes is related to the theme of the 2019 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Scientific Symposium on Rural heritage to be held at Marrakesh, Morocco in October.

Know! all about World Heritage Day

• UNESCO defines a World Heritage Site as a "natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international importance, and space which requires special protection."

• On 18 April 1982 on the occasion of a symposium organised by ICOMOS in Tunisia, it was suggested to observe the "International Day for Monuments and Sites" simultaneously throughout the world.

• UNESCO passed a resolution at its 22nd session on November 1983 approving the idea and recommended the member states to examine the possibility of declaring 18 April each year "International Monuments and Sites Day". This has been referred to as the World Heritage Day.

• World Heritage Day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

Defence
India-Vietnam Naval Exercise
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India - Vietnam relations) + Mains II ( bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS

• INS Kolkata and INS Shakti participated in the annual exercise, comprising a harbour and a sea phase.

• The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing overseas deployment of eastern fleet ships to South East Asian countries.

Know! about India- Vietnam relations

• India-Vietnam relations were elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.

• Enhancing military ties was a key element of talks during the visit of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to India in March 2018.

• Conduction of the bilateral exercise on an annual basis is expected to give a further fillip to the existing strong bilateral relation between India and Vietnam.

INS Kolkata, INS Shakti to participate in IFR in China
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IFR ) + Mains ( GS II and III international relations + security challenges + India and its neighbourhood)

What's the NEWS

• The Indian Navy will participate in International Fleet Review (IFR) that is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2019 in Qingdao, China as part of 70th Anniversary celebrations of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy).

• The Indian Navy would be represented in the IFR by indigenously built stealth guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata and fleet support ship INS Shakti.

The significance of INS Kolkata in IFR

• The visit of Indian Navy's most potent destroyer and versatile fleet support ship showcases India's proficiency, reach and sustainability in addition to indigenous ship building capability.

• The harbour stay of these Indian Navy Ships (INS) will be marked by interaction between personnel of participating navies, various dignitaries of PLA and Government officials.

• The PLA personnel and local population will be allowed to visit these ships to witness Indian Navy's prowess and India's ship building capability. The Naval Parade will be reviewed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 23, 2019.

Know! all about International Fleet Review (IFR)

• The International Fleet Review is a parade of naval ships, aircraft and submarines. The IFR is organised by nations to promote goodwill, strengthen cooperation and showcase their organisational capabilities.

• The IFR serves as an ideal platform for world's navies to showcase their expertise and indigenous ship designing and ship building capabilities in the international arena.

• India conducted the IFR in February 2016 that saw overwhelming participation of 50 navies with nearly 100 warships.

INS Kolkata & INS Shakti

• INS Kolkata is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors to address threats in all dimensions of naval warfare, while INS Shakti is one of the largest tankers that can transport over 27000 tonnes and is capable of carrying 15,000 tonnes of liquid cargo and over 500 tonnes of solid cargo.

India and its neighbourhood
Sri Lanka's first satellite Raavana-1 was launched into space from NASA's Flight Facility on Virginia's east shore
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Raavana)

Know! all about Raavana-1

• Raavana 1 weights around 1.05 kg and is 1000 cubic centimetres in size.

• The minimum lifespan of the satellite is around one and a half years and it is expected to be active for five years.

• Raavana 1 satellite was designed and built at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by two Sri Lankan research engineers.

• Raavana 1 satellite's camera mission is to capture images of Sri Lanka and its neighbouring countries.

• The Raavana-1 is expected to orbit 400 kilometres away from the earth.

• The satellite will achieve an active attitude stabilization which ensures that the satellite's attitude is stable under the influence of external talks.

• The launch of Raavana-1 marks Sri Lanka's entry into the global space age

Miscellaneous ( prelims factoids)
SC constitutes a special bench to adjudicate sexual harassment complaint against CJI

What's the NEWS

• The Supreme Court of India on April 20, 2019 constituted a special bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Arun Mishra, Sanjiv Khanna to adjudicate a sexual harassment complaint against the CJI.

Know! the key highlights

• The bench stated that they are not passing orders on allegations but media should show restrain to protect independence of judiciary

• The bench was acting on online media reports of sexual harassment complaint made by a former junior assistant of the CJI, against him.

• The CJI had received a communication from four leading websites saying that a letter is being circulated by a dismissed SC employee alleging that CJI has sought sexual favours from her.

CBSE to allow visual aids for disabled kids from 2020

What's the NEWS

• The Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to allow students to use magnifying glasses and portable video magnifiers during the Class X final examination, from 2020.

Know! more about it

• Under the new order, CBSE students will be allowed to use magnifying glasses or portable video magnifiers, in lieu of large-font question papers, with effect from 2020.

• The CBSE affiliated schools have also been directed to ensure that premises are disabled friendly by 2020 with all the educational institutions, including hostels, libraries and laboratories to have barrier-free access.

• The schools have also been directed not to deny admission to children with special needs in mainstream education.

Prelims Practise Questions

Consider the following statements

1. Recently Scientists have discovered the molecule in our own galaxy using NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
2. SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 106-inch diameter telescope. It found modern helium hydride in a planetary nebula, a remnant of what was once a Sun-like star.

Find the correct statements from the option given below

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None

Consider the following statements about International Fleet Review (IFR)

1. The International Fleet Review is a parade of naval ships, aircraft and submarines.
2. The IFR is organised by nations to promote goodwill, strengthen cooperation and showcase their organisational capabilities.
3. The IFR serves as an ideal platform for world's navies to showcase their expertise and indigenous ship designing and ship building capabilities in the international arena.
4. India conducted the IFR twice in February 2016 and in March 2018 that saw overwhelming participation of 50 navies with nearly 100 warships.

Find the correct statements from the option given below

a. 1 2 and 3
b. 2 and 3
c. 1 and 4
d. All

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