Relevance IN - Prelims (about ISRO upcoming projects) + Mains (GS III space awareness)
What's the NEWS

• The Chairman Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr K Sivan briefed media at a Press Meet organised at ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru

• During 2019, six launch vehicle and seven satellite missions were realised by ISRO.
• The year also marked the 50th launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• Two new variants of the PSLV were introduced. (PSLV-QL and PSLV-DL)
• For the first time, the spent fourth stage of the PSLV was successfully demonstrated as an experimental orbital platform.
• Indigenously developed Vikram processor by Semi-Conductor Laboratory was flight tested during the year.
• International mobile standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approved India's regional navigation satellite system NavIC which would facilitate NavIC's use in mobile phones.
• A second launch port, exclusively for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is planned to be established in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
• A second Vehicle Assembly Building in SDSC SHAR Sriharikota was dedicated to the nation during the year for increasing the launch frequency.
• A special programme for school children called "YuvaVIgyaniKAryakram (YUVIKA)"aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications was also introduced during the last year.
• To carry forward the industry production of space systems, ISRO incorporated New Space India Limited (NSIL), under the Department of Space and efforts in realising PSLVs from industry initiated.

• Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon, comprising a lander and a rover is approved by the Government and activities for its realisation are in progress.
• India's first human space flight mission Gaganyaan (Updates)
• The process of Astronaut selection for the mission is completed
• Four astronauts have been selected, who will undergo extensive training.
• Other projects during the year include SSLV, GSLV with 4m ogive payload fairing, GSAT-20 satellite, NavIC with indigenous atomic clocks, Indian Data Relay Satellite System, Aditya-L1 and XPOSAT.
• ISRO has planned 25 missions for 2020.
• It was also informed during a press conference that the cost of the Chandrayaan-3 mission will be about 250 crores and its launch can be done next year.

Relevance IN - Prelims (about MANI app)
HIGHLIGHTS

• The mobile app MANI was launched following reports of problems faced by visually-challenged persons in identifying the new currency notes launched after demonetization
• The application also work offline once installed

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das launched a mobile app to help visually-impaired people to identify the denomination of currency notes.

• Now, the visually challenged people can identify the denomination of a currency note by using the mobile app, the RBI said. The application also works offline once installed, the central bank added.
• Users can freely download the app, called 'MANI' (Mobile Aided Note Identifier), from Android Playstore or iOS App Store.
• The application can scan the currency notes using the camera of the mobile phone. It also gives audio output in Hindi and English.
• The central bank has introduced several currency notes, under 'Mahatma Gandhi Series', with significant changes in the sizes and designs after the demonetization in November 2016.
• Under the new series, banknotes of Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.500 and Rs.2,000 have been released in the past couple of years. However, there were reports of problems faced by visually-challenged people in identifying these new currency notes.
• The RBI also said the app does not authenticate a note as either genuine or counterfeit.

• The Railways has renamed its security force RPF (Railway Protection Force) as Indian Railway Protection Force Service.
• The ministry has accorded organised Group A status to RPF and renamed it
• Consequent upon grant of organized group A status (OGAS) to RPF in the light of Cabinet decision arising from honourable court's orders, it is hereby informed that RPF will be known as Indian Railway Protection Force Service," the order stated.

• The RPF was formed under the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957.
• Under the act, the RPF personnel have powers to search, arrest, investigate and prosecution
• However, the ultimate power lies in the hands of Government Railway Police. RPF works under the control of Ministry of Railways.

• These Police forces are different from that of the RPF.
• The GRP was established under Railway's Act, 1989.
• The duties of GPF is same as that of District Police such as patrolling.
• But they hold their jurisdiction only on railway property.
• They observe law and order within the railway stations in the country.
• Also, the GRP examine empty train carriages, prevent overcrowding and control vehicle traffic inside the station premises

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the prohibition of varieties considered toxic + Palau geographical location) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

• The tiny Pacific island nation of Palau has become the first country in the world to ban sunscreen considered toxic to coral reefs.

Know! more about it

• Palau, which lies in the western Pacific about halfway between Australia and Japan, is renowned for its marine life and is regarded as one of the world's best diving destinations, but the government is concerned its popularity is coming at a cost.
• There was scientific evidence that the chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals, even in minute doses.
• Toxic sunscreen chemicals have been found throughout Palau's critical habitats, and in the tissues of our most famous creatures
• With Palau's popular dive sites regularly packed with tourists, there were concerns a build-up of these chemicals would irreparably harm the reefs.
• From New Year's Day, any reef-toxic sunscreen imported or sold in Palau will be confiscated and the owner will be fined US$1,000 (€893).
• On 1 January the island's waters also became a marine sanctuary, one of the world's largest, closing 80% of its exclusive economic zone to fishing and other marine activities. The marine sanctuary prohibits commercial fishing in about 500,000 square kilometres (190,000 square miles) of ocean.
• The legislation also requires most foreign fleets working in the limited fishing area to land their catch in Palau and then pay an export tax.
• The law ensures Palau has first rights to purchase fish caught in the area to satisfy the local demand before exports are allowed.
• In 2009, pioneering Palau established the world's first shark sanctuary, to prevent finning - a practice that sees sharks having their fins hacked off before they are thrown back into the sea to die.

Know! about Coral reef

• A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.
• Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and jellyfish.
• Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support and protect the coral.
• Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated water.
  
  

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