Question: The Cabinet of India approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with which country in the field of Astronomy on 12th June 2019?
(a) Finland
(b) USA
(c) Israel
(d) Thailand
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- The details of year-long achievements and work of Ministry of Science & Technology are as below:
Indian Science Congress (ISC), 2019 held at Jalandhar:
- Indian Science Congress (ISC) 2019 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3rd January 2019.
- The 106th Session of Indian Science Congress, 2019 was held from January 3-7, 2019 at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, and Punjab.
- During the Congress, significant lectures from three Nobel Laureates; 20 Plenary Sessions & several sectional symposia with top authorities from DRDO, ISRO, the USA, UK Universities, were attended by nearly 30,000 participants.
- Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Thailand in the field of Astronomy (12th June):
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation between India and Thailand in the field of Astronomy / Astrophysics / Atmospheric Science.
- The MoU will lead to new scientific results, human resource development through increased scientific interaction and training, joint use of scientific infrastructure etc. The MoU was signed in November, 2018.
- In a landmark decision, the Lok Sabha passed “The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill – 2019” on 8th January, 2019. The Bill has been formulated recognizing the need for regulation of the use and application of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology, for establishing identity of missing persons, victims, offenders, under trials and unknown deceased persons.
- MoU signed for Inter-Ministerial Cooperation for Promotion and Facilitation of Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Education: The DBT and ICAR entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 15th January, 2019 for much-needed emphasis on multi-disciplinary R&D activities in Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Education.
One Health India Conference, 2019:
- Two-day long One Health India Conference, 2019 was inaugurated on 18th February in New Delhi.
- The conference aimed to launch India’s new One Health Initiative – an inter-sectoral approach to tackling the most urgent health threats in India as well as in low and middle income countries across South and South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Department of Biotechnology celebrates its 33rd Foundation Day in New Delhi on 26th February 2019 with the theme as “Celebrating Biotechnology: Building Indian as an Innovation Nation”.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK on Cancer Research Initiative:
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7th March, 2019, has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and U.K. on Cancer Research Initiative. The MoU was signed on 14th November 2018.
- Government and IIT-Delhi to set up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies.
- MoU for Joint Collaboration on Cancer Research: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), M/o Science and Technology and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India on 22nd May signed an MoU for supporting joint collaborative research programmes in the area of Cancer.
- India joined the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) Hub as a new member on 12th September 2019. This expands the global partnership working to address challenges and improve coordination and collaboration in global AMR R&D to 16 countries, the European Commission, two philanthropic foundations and four international organisations (as observers).
National Centre for Clean Coal Research & Development inaugurated at Bengaluru:
- Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated the National Centre for Clean Coal Research and Development at Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bengaluru on 16th September 2019.
5th India International Science Festival held in Kolkata from 5th to 8th November, 2019:
- The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated via video conference, the 5th India International Science Festival at Kolkata on 5th November 2019. The theme of the festival “RISEN: Research, Innovation and Science Empowering the Nation”.
India’s first-ever global Mega-Science exhibition, ‘Vigyan Samagam’, inaugurated at the Science City in Kolkata (4 November 2019):
- This multi-venue Science Exhibition, after its successful journey in Mumbai and Bengaluru, opened for public in Kolkata from 4th November till December 31, 2019.
- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), the funding agencies of these projects and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, who are venue partners and having expertise in design and hosting such exhibitions, have joined hands to organize this prestigious Science Exhibition.
First Indigenous Fuel Cell System developed by CSIR launched on CSIR Foundation Day on 26th September 2019:
- The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, on 26th September unveiled the first Indigenous High Temperature Fuel Cell System developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with Indian industries under India’s flagship program named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” on the occasion of CSIR Foundation Day in New Delhi.
- A unique example of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) among CSIR’s three Laboratories [CSIR-NCL, Pune; CSIR-NPL, New Delhi & CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi (Chennai Center)] and two Indian industries; M/s Thermax Limited, Pune and M/s Reliance Industries Limited, Mumbai exemplified exploiting materials of science developments at CSIR laboratories into practice by Industry.
Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches “Green Crackers” developed by CSIR in a bid to curb air pollution on 5th October:
- Green logo and QR coding system was also launched to track manufacture & sale of counterfeit crackers. Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced that Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs have been successful in developing various environment-friendly fireworks such as sound emitting crackers, flowerpots, pencils, chakkar and sparklers.
- Union Minister of S&T Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a demonstration plant for converting plastic waste to diesel:
- Union Minister of S&T Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a demonstration plant for converting plastic waste to diesel based on technology developed by CSIR-IIP.
- This plant can convert one tonne of plastic waste into 800 liters of diesel every day that is of automotive grade and is in collaboration with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) India.
Links:
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=196226