Ques: The DRDO inaugurated the world’s highest terrestrial R&D center recently. The research center is established in which of the following state?
a. Himachal Pradesh
d. Jammu & Kashmir
c. Arunanchal Pradesh
d. Meghalaya
Ans: b
Related facts:
- October 3, 2015 The DRDO inaugurated an Extreme Altitude Research Centre at Chang La in Jammu and Kashmir the world’s highest terrestrial R&D centre.
- The centre, 75 km off Leh town towards Pangong lake, is poised to be the world’s highest terrestrial R&D centre 17,600 ft above the sea level.
- The research center has been established for research and development on Earth.
- It has been established by Defense Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), a constituent establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
- It is established to study large number of life sciences activities including human physiological work, long term conservation of plant genetic resources, designing, testing, validation and demonstration of mobile and portable greenhouses, soil-less micro-farming technologies for fresh food in remote landlocked posts besides conservation and propagation of endangered extreme altitude medicinal plants and others.
- Also Research & Development work in frontal areas of food and agriculture and bio-medical sciences for well being of the soldiers deployed in high-altitude cold desert.
- Usually the temperature goes as low as -40 degrees Celsius during extreme winter months coupled with reduced atmospheric pressure and humidity besides high wind velocity and UV radiation.
- Besides undertaking life sciences activities, may provide unique opportunity to other labs and establishments of DRDO for testing and evaluation of electronics and communication devices, testing of materials for high altitude applications, batteries, fuel cells, UAV’s micro engines among others.
Reference:
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/at-17-600-ft-drdo-inaugurates-new-r-d-centre-in-chang-la-115100300789_1.html
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/at-17600-ft-drdo-inaugurates-new-rd-centre-in-jk/articleshow/49209430.cms