Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ATL AI Modules'+ ATL AI Step Up Module) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of science and technology - AI + GSII Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What's the NEWS

• After a successful launch of a unique initiative to take Artificial Intelligence (AI) to schools through ‘ATL AI Modules', Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog in collaboration with NASSCOM launched the ‘ATL AI Step Up Module' for students on the eve of India's Independence Day in order to drive AI education and innovation to the next level in schools across the country.

• This module is the next step in bringing AI to Indian classrooms and is a successor to the AI Base module launched in February this year.
• The AI Step-up Module provides a comprehensive set of learn it yourself Advanced modules to those who wish to expand their knowledge base after becoming familiar with the basics of the AI discipline through the AI base module.
• The module is designed in an attractive graphical manner that is comprehensible for all students belonging to rural and urban areas.
• The step-up module needs no previous knowledge and introduces the concepts to students from the basics using interactive tools and activities so as to keep their attention undivided.

• The Base module was specifically devised considering students as young as 12 years of age, with absolutely no prior background of AI to ignite curiosity on AI in their young minds and to contribute to the ecosystem of innovation.
• Step up module has been exquisitely designed and presented to involve young students across the country to induce inclusive learning and to empower youngsters of our country to create AI integrated innovations
• The AI Step-Up module would be available for all students across the country and could be accessed at https://aim.gov.in/Lets_learn_AI_StepUp_Module.pdf

• In ATLs, students of class 6th to 12th acquire a problem-solving attitude, develop innovative solutions leveraging technologies like 3D printers, robotics, miniaturised electronics, IOT and programming and DIY kits, with support from teachers and mentors.

• AIM is the Government of India's flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• AIM's objective is to develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platform and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, create awareness and create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country.

Space Awareness
NASA's planet hunter TESS completes primary mission
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about TESS and its objective) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), finished its primary mission imaging about 75 per cent of the starry sky as part of a two-year-long survey.
• After spending a year imaging the southern sky, TESS will take another 15 months to collect additional observations in the north and to survey areas along the ecliptic -- the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun -- that the satellite has not yet imaged.
• In addition to its planetary discoveries, TESS has observed the outburst of a comet in our solar system, as well as numerous exploding stars.

Know! about TESS

• The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is designed to discover thousands of exoplanets in orbit around the brightest dwarf stars in the sky.
• In its prime mission, a two-year survey of the solar neighborhood, TESS monitored the brightness of stars for periodic drops caused by planet transits.
• The prime mission ended on July 4, 2020 and TESS is now in an extended mission.
• TESS is finding planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets, showcasing the diversity of planets in the galaxy.

Additional info
Exoplanets

• Planets that orbit a star other than our sun.
• An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System.
• The first possible evidence of an exoplanet was noted in 1917, but was not recognized as such. The first confirmation of detection occurred in 1992.

Kepler Space Telescope

• The Kepler space telescope is a retired space telescope launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars.
• It was an observatory in space
• Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the spacecraft was launched on March 7, 2009, into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit.
• It was decommissioned in 2018.

Space Awareness
Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Raman rocket engine + about rocket launcher Vikram-I) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space- indigenization of technology and developing new technology.)
What's the NEWS

• Spacetech startup Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test fired an upper stage rocket engine, becoming the first Indian private company to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown rocket engine.

Know! more about the rocket engine(Raman)

• The first rocket engine named Raman which can hurl satellites of 250-700 kgs into a lower earth orbit, is expected to be launched by end-2021.
• The company manufactured India's first 3D printed Cryogenic rocket engine which will run on high performance Cryogenic propellants Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) & Liquid Oxygen.
• The company demonstrated India's first 100 per cent 3D-printed Bi-Propellant Liquid Rocket Engine injector.
• The engine is capable of multiple restarts enabling them to insert various satellites into multiple orbits in a single mission.

Know! more about the launch vehicle (Vikram-I)

• The first launch vehicle ‘Vikram-I' which is under manufacturing and targeting launch in December 2021, hosts an Orbit Adjustment Module (OAM) at the top which gives the final burn and inserts multiple satellites into space.

Initiatives taken by the government to boost private players in space sector

• The union cabinet recently approved private player participation in space in June 2020 to transform the sector.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe)

• IN-SPACe is an independent nodal agency under Department of Space for allowing space activities and usage of department of Space owned facilities by non-government private entities(NGPEs) as well as to prioritise the launch manifest.

New Space India Ltd(NSIL)

• It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise under Department of Space and Commercial Arm of ISRO established to scale up the industry participation in Indian space programmes.

Bilateral relations
India, Maldives ink contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of island nation

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Addu atoll- geographical location + about atoll)
What's the NEWS

• India and Maldives signed a contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of the island nation.

Know! more about the agreement

• These eco tourism zones are part of grant projects being implemented under the High-Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme which involves a total grant assistance of 5.5 million US dollars to the Maldives.
• Currently, there are 9 such high-impact projects being implemented in the Maldives.
• The other three HICDP projects in Addu, relating to setting up of fish-processing plants, were awarded last month.
• These projects could be expected to bring about a transformation in the economic and employment landscape of Addu.

Know! about Addu Atoll

• Addu Atoll, also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives.
• Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere.
• Addu Atoll has a number of other inhabited and uninhabited islands, including the island of Gan, where Gan International Airport is located.

Know! about Atoll

• An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets.
• An atoll surrounds a body of water called a lagoon.
• Sometimes, atolls and lagoons protect a central island.
• Channels between islets connect a lagoon to the open ocean or sea.
• Atolls develop with underwater volcanoes, called seamounts.
  
  

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