Regulatory Sandbox
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the first regulatory sandbox program in India in 2019. This program allows for the live testing of new financial products and services in a controlled environment with the RBI’s supervision. The program has been updated twice since its initial release to promote responsible innovation in financial services, efficiency, and benefit consumers.Â
- Telecommunications Act, 2023, has introduced the provision of setting up multiple regulatory sandboxes. The regulatory sandbox (RS) will allow the testing of new products, services, processes, and business models in a live testing environment on a limited set of users for a specified period of time after obtaining specified regulatory relaxations.
Microplastic
- Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life
- Microplastics pose a great threat to health as these tiny plastic debris can enter our bodies through the water we drink and increase the risk of illnesses.
- Â Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a sustainable hydrogel to remove microplastics from water. The hydrogel designed by the researchers has a unique intertwined polymer network that can bind the contaminants and degrade them using UV light irradiation.
Patriot System
- Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target, or Patriot (MIM-104), is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
- It is produced by Raytheon in Massachusetts and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Florida, US.
- Patriot is in service with the US and allied countries, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain, and Taiwan.
Geroscience
- Geriscience is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases.
- It integrates research from various fields such as genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and epidemiology to explore the underlying causes of aging and develop interventions to promote healthy aging and extend lifespan.
- The ultimate goal of geroscience is to improve the quality of life for older adults and reduce the burden of age-related diseases on society.