Science & Technology
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about INYAS and its role and objective)
What's the NEWS

• The COVID-19 vaccination awareness campaign organized by Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS)will be carried out through COVACNEWS android-based mobile app made by INYAS for ensuring information at the fingertips.
• A pan-India info-graphic video and audio competition with motivation to transform information into better readable and effective formats is also being organised along with the GYAN TEEKA webinar series dedicated to increase awareness about vaccines through eminent speakers and open statement on COVID-19 vaccination.
• The entries of the competition will be utilized to increase vaccine awareness by INYAS, and these competitions will be judged in three groups - school, college and professional.

Know! about INYAS

• Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS) in the first and only recognized young scientist academy of India.
• It is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology.
• In 2015 INSA has constituted a junior wing for young scientists in the country named Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS) in line with other national young academies.
• INYAS is the prestigious academy for young scientists in India as a national young academy and is affiliated with Global Young Academy. I
• NYAS is also a signatory of the declaration on the Core Values of Young Academies, adopted at World Science Forum, Budapest on 20 November 2019
• The Genesis Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi is an autonomous institution of Dept. Science & Technology, Govt. of India.
• The objectives of the academy encompass promotion of science in India including its application to national welfare, safeguarding the interests of the scientists, establishing linkages with international bodies to foster collaboration and expressing considered opinion on national issues.

NYAS is the only recognised academy of young scientist in India which was established in 2014 with the following vision.
• Promotion of Science Education and Outreach
• Encouragement of Networking among Young Scientists
• Supporting Young Scientists in career independence
• Engagement in interdisciplinary & intergenerational scientific dialogues
• Boosting science capacity in the country
• Collaboration with other Young Academies of the world
Since inception, INYAS has been very active specifically to pursue promotion of science amongst the various strata of the society through science camps, remote area lectures, conferences and other forms of outreach.

Environment
Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant - Human Attacks Using Bees)

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Project RE-HAB) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The MSME, Minister has hailed Khadi and Village Industries Commission's (KVIC) innovative Project RE-HAB, which has significantly reduced elephants' presence at four places in Karnataka's Kodagu district.
• The project has yielded very encouraging results in preventing elephants' movement into human territories in Kodagu.
• Project RE-HAB has huge potential and it will soon be replicated in all states, affected by elephant attacks like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant - Human Attacks using Bees)

• It was launched by KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxenalast month, at four locations on the periphery of Nagarhole National Park in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
• It is a unique, cost-effective way of preventing elephant - human conflicts without causing any harm to both, the animals and the humans. Under this project, bee boxes are used as a fence to prevent elephants from entering human habitation, thus reducing loss of lives and property.
• Elephants fear that the honey bees might sting them in their eyes and the inner side of the trunk. Also, the buzz of the bees irritates the elephants the most.
• Bee fences have reduced the movement of elephants at these points to a great extent.
• Night vision cameras installed at these locations have captured amazing footage of elephants' behaviour on seeing bee boxes.
• A number of elephants are seen returning to the jungles fearing honey bees.
• Also, no destruction of crops or property by elephants has been reported in these areas since the bee boxes have been placed on the passageways of elephants.
• KVIC is set to replicate the project in other states, too, where a large tribal and rural population is living under the constant threat of wild elephants.
• Project RE-HAB will have multi-pronged benefitslike reducing human-elephant conflicts, increasing farmers' income through beekeeping, addressing climate change and regenerating forest cover".
• States like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are major elephant - human conflict zones where KVIC is planning to implement Project RE-HAB in a phased manner.

International Organisations
International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IMFC)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman attended the Plenary Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the virtual Spring Meetings 2021.
• The meeting was attended by Governors/Alternate Governors representing 190 member countries of the IMF.
• The discussions at the meeting were based on IMF Managing Director's Global Policy Agenda (GPA) titled, "Bolstering the Recovery, Countering Divergence".
• The members of the IMFC updated the committee on the actions and measures taken by member countries to combat COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate economic recovery.

Know! about IMFC

• The IMFC meets twice a year, once during the Fund-Bank Spring Meetings in April, and again during the Annual Meetings in October.
• The Committee discusses matters of common concern affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work.
• At the end of the meetings, the Committee issues a communiqué summarizing its views.
• These communiqués provide guidance for the IMF's work program during the half year leading up to the next Spring or Annual Meetings.
• This year, due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Spring Meetings took place through video-conference.
• The size and the composition of the IMFC mirrors that of the Executive Board.
• The IMFC has 24 members who are central bank governors, ministers, or others of comparable rank and who are usually drawn from the governors of the Fund's now 190 member countries, with the newest member, Andorra joining the IMF in October 2020.
• Each member country and each group of member countries that elects an Executive Director appoints a member of the IMFC.
• The IMFC operates by consensus, including on the selection of its chairman.
• There are no formal rules on term limits, since 2007 IMFC chairmen have been appointed for a term of three years.
• A number of international institutions, including the World Bank, participate as observers in the IMFC's meetings.
• The IMFC advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the international monetary and financial system, including on responses to unfolding events that may disrupt the system.
• It also considers proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement and advises on any other matters that may be referred to it by the Board of Governors.
• Although the IMFC has no formal decision-making powers, in practice, it has become a key instrument for providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the Fund.

Bilateral Relations
India-Sri Lanka Police Chiefs' Dialogue (PCD)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Police Chiefs' Dialogue )
What's the NEWS

• The first delegation level virtual Police Chiefs' Dialogue between the Police Chiefs of India and Sri Lanka was held in an environment of positivity and trust.
• The Indian delegation was led by Director, Intelligence Bureau while the Sri Lankan delegation was led by Shri CD Wickramaratne, Inspector General of Police.

Police Chiefs' Dialogue (highlights)

• The two sides emphasized the need for sharing of real time intelligence and feedback.
• Both sides also agreed to work jointly against the terrorist entities including the Global Terrorist Groups and fugitives, wherever they are present and active.
• As the way forward, it was decided to strengthen the existing cooperation mechanisms, as also designate ‘nodal points' for timely and effective handling of existing as well as emerging security challenges.
• The institution of Police Chiefs' Dialogue, assisted by the members of other security agencies on both the sides, will further enhance the existing cooperation between the police forces of both the countries

Science & Technology
CSIR-CMERI Oxygen Enrichment Unit
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Oxygen enrichment unit )
What's the NEWS

• The CSIR-CMERI indigenously developed Oxygen enrichment unit works on the principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and utilizes Zeolite Columns to selectively remove nitrogen from air under certain pressure, thereby increasing the Oxygen Concentration.

Oxygen enrichment unit

• An Oxygen enrichment unit is a device, which concentrates the Oxygen from the air around us by selectively removing nitrogen to supply an oxygen-enriched air.
• The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients, having respiratory diseases, through oxygen mask or nasal cannula.
• The device may be used in remote places, homes or hospital like facilities for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic hypoxemia and pulmonary edema.
• It may be used as an adjunct treatment for severe sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous positive airway pressure unit).
• It can be more effective and crucial for treating the patients of COVID-19.
• This unit may help reduce the demand for oxygen cylinders and ventilators and due to the rise in air pollution its demand is supposed to grow very rapidly as it is also useful for maintaining proper Oxygen level for an optimum healthy environment.

Prelims Factoids
Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CITS)
What's the NEWS

• The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), today announced results of the All India Trade Test (AITT) for CITS Academic session 2019-2020.

Know! about CITS

• DGT offers Crafts Instructor Training programmes under Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) to ITI trainees who aspire to pursue a career in skill training.
• Comprehensive training both in skills and training methodology is imparted to the instructor trainees to make them conversant with techniques of transferring hands-on skills, to train skilled manpower.
• At the end of year-long CITS training, an All India Trade Test (AITT) for each of the 34 trades is conducted online by DGT.
• CITS plays a pivotal role by way of generating expert skill trainers, who empowered with the knowledge of hands-on-skills and pedagogy, would in turn impart skill training at the grass root level.
• On successful completion of the training, trainees are awarded National Craft Instructor Certificate (NCIC).

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