Facts in News

                                     Facts in News

Robot Sophia

• It is the world’s first humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong based company.
• Sophia was unveiled in 2016, and was later made the first humanoid citizen of Saudi Arabia.
• She can mimic facial expressions and have conversations like a normal person.
• Sophia is also a framework for cutting edge robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, particularly for understanding human-robot interactions and their potential service and entertainment applications.
• The robotics company is currently building its sibling, named Joyce.

                              (Image Courtesy: The Hindu)

Star Campaigner

• A star campaigner is a celebrity vote seeker in an election for a party and can be a politician or even a film star.
• Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 allows every party to submit a list of such ‘star campaigners’ to the election authorities.
• They are nominated by the concerned political parties specifying their constituencies and duration of the status.
• There is no law governing who can or cannot be made a star campaigner. The status is given to big names who have more vote-fetching ability in the polls than others.
• A recognised party can nominate a maximum of 40 star campaigners and an unrecognised political party can nominate a maximum of 20.
• The expenditure incurred on the campaign done by star campaigners is not included in the expenditure of the candidate concerned but that of the political party.
  • It will be included in the expenditure of candidates and their allies if they share dais with the star campaigner.

World Health Day

• Every year 7th April marks the celebration of World Health Day.
• Inception: At the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950.
• Aim: To create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO).
• It has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change.
• Theme for 2021: Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.
  • Countries in the Western Pacific have experienced rapid economic growth, migration and urbanization, which created opportunities for better lives for many, but left others behind.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has undercut recent health gains, pushed more people into poverty and food insecurity, and amplified gender, social and health inequities.

Lord Venkateswara Temple

• Venkateswara Temple is a Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The Temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga.

• The temple lies on the seventh peak -Venkatadri, on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank.
  • Hence the temple is also referred to as the “Temple of Seven Hills.

• The Temple is constructed in Dravidian architecture and is believed to be constructed over a period of time starting from 300 AD.
• The Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum) is called AnandaNilayam.
  • The presiding deity, Venkateswara, is in a standing posture and faces east in Garbha griha.
• The temple follows the Vaikhanasa Agama tradition of worship.
• The temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras and is listed as 106th and the last earthly Divya Desam.
• The Temple premises had two modern Queue complex buildings to organize the pilgrim rush, Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam complex for free meals to Pilgrims, hair tonsure buildings and a number of pilgrim lodging sites.

                                   Image Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules

• The Union cabinet has approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s proposal for the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme ‘National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Modules’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high-efficiency solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs.4,500 crore.
• Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent competitive bidding process.
• PLI will be disbursed for 5 years post commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants, on sales of high-efficiency solar PV modules.
• Manufacturers will be rewarded for higher efficiencies of solar PV modules and also for sourcing their material from the domestic market.
• Thus, the PLI amount will increase with increased module efficiency and increased local value addition.
• It will reduce import dependence in a strategic sector like electricity. It will also support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology have developed a handheld Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based platform for early diagnosis of dengue and also gives dengue test results within one hour (rapid diagnosis).
• It also helps in the rapid detection of HIV.

• The research work was funded by the IMPRINT India programme of the Ministry of Education with New Age Instruments and Materials Pvt Ltd as the industry partner.

IMPRINT India programme

• It is the first of its kind MHRD supported Pan-IIT + IISc joint initiative to address the major science and engineering challenges.
• IMPRINT provides the overarching vision that guides research into areas that are predominantly socially relevant.

•  This novel initiative with the twofold mandate is aimed at:
  • Developing new engineering education policy
  • Creating a road map to pursue engineering challenges