Science and Technology

India to host the Global India AI 2023 Conference on 14-15 October 2023. This will provide a platform for discussions on various AI-related topics.

1. Topics of discussion at the conference include next-generation learning, foundational artificial intelligence models, and AI applications in healthcare, governance, electric vehicles, and computing systems.
2. The conference will feature the participation of leading players, experts in artificial intelligence, researchers, startups, and investors from around the world.
3. The conference aims to catalyze India’s AI landscape and innovation ecosystem, fostering growth and development in the AI sector.
4. The conference will showcase India’s vibrant AI ecosystem, featuring initiatives such as DI Bhashini, India Datasets Program, India AI Future design program for startups, and India AI Future Skills program aimed at nurturing AI talent.

Q.: What is the main purpose of the Global India AI 2023 Conference?

a) Showcasing art and culture
b) Hosting sports events
c) Providing a platform for AI discussions
d) Focusing on space exploration

Ans : c) Providing a platform for AI discussions

The world’s first 100 percent ethanol-fueled variant of Toyota’s Innova car has been launched by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on 29 August 2023 in New Delhi. This world’s first electrified flex-fuel vehicle, featuring BS-VI (Stage-II) compliance can function fully on ethanol-based fuel.

1. Benefits of Ethanol Blended Fuel: The adoption of ethanol blended is beneficial for the agriculture sector’s growth and reducing the country’s dependence on oil imports.
2. Ethanol Blending Achievements: India achieved 10 percent ethanol blending ahead of the initial target of 2022.

What is Flex Fuel Technology

Flex fuel technology allows engines to use ethanol-blended petrol or gasoline beyond 20 percent, aiming to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainable mobility, and decrease dependency on traditional fuels.

Q.: What is the key feature of the world’s first ethanol-fueled car launched by Nitin Gadkari?

a) It’s the fastest car ever built
b) It can run on multiple types of fuels simultaneously
c) It functions entirely on ethanol-based fuel
d) It’s a self-driving car

Ans : c) It functions entirely on ethanol-based fuel

The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3 Rover has conducted the first-ever in-situ measurements of the lunar surface near the south pole. These measurements have successfully confirmed the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region, which was not possible using the instruments onboard orbiters.

• LIBS is a scientific technique that involves exposing materials to intense laser pulses to analyze their composition.
• The process generates localized and extremely hot plasma on the material’s surface, and the resulting plasma light is analyzed to determine the composition.
• Initial analyses showed the presence of Aluminum (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface.
• Further measurements revealed the existence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O), while investigation of Hydrogen presence is ongoing.
• The LIBS payload was developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)/ISRO in Bengaluru.

Q.: What is the purpose of the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3 Rover?

a) To study the Moon’s gravitational field
b) To capture high-resolution images of lunar craters
c) To analyze the composition of lunar soil using intense laser pulses
d) To search for signs of past water presence on the Moon

Answer: c) To analyze the composition of lunar soil using intense laser pulses

ISRO’s Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based solar observatory, will launch on September 2nd, 11:50 AM from Sriharikota. The launch vehicle for the Aditya L1 Mission is PSLV-C57.

1. Aditya-L1 will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point L1, about 1.5 million kms from Earth.
2. The halo orbit allows continuous observation of solar activities without obstruction from celestial events like eclipses.
3. The mission’s goal is to study solar winds and the Sun’s atmosphere.
4. Aditya-L1 will carry seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona of the Sun.
5. This study will provide insights into coronal heating, coronal mass ejections, solar flares, and interplanetary medium dynamics.

Q.: What is the name of India’s first space-based solar observatory ?

a) SunView-1
b) Solaris Mission
c) Aditya-L1
d) HelioScan-Alpha

Answer: c) Aditya-L1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the location on the Moon where Chandrayaan-3’s lander Vikram touched down will be referred to as ‘Shiv Shakti Point’. He made this announcement during his address to ISRO scientists at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru on August 26, 2023.

The decision to name the landing site is in line with the tradition of naming such points. PM Modi arrived at ISTRAC to personally convey this announcement to the scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Q.: What name did Prime Minister Narendra Modi give to the spot on the Moon where Chandrayaan-3’s lander Vikram touched down?

A) Moon Touch Point
B) Lunar Landing Site
C) Shiv Shakti Point
D) ISRO Landing Zone

Answer: C) Shiv Shakti Point

Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 has rolled down on the Lunar surface on 24 August 2023. Moon rover Pragyan has ramped down from the Lander and took a walk on the moon. This signifies a giant leap in the Indian space programme. By rolling on the lunar surface, the six wheels of the rover have imprinted Indian tricolour and ISRO logo on the Moon crust. Showing to the world for time immemorial that India landed first near Lunar south pole. 

Indian Rover Imprints Tricolour and ISRO Logo on Lunar Surface

The rover’s six wheels have left an indelible mark on the lunar landscape, engraving both the Indian tricolour and the ISRO logo onto the Moon’s crust. This act stands as a perpetual testament, proclaiming India’s pioneering presence near the lunar south pole for generations to come.

Q.: What is the significance of the Indian tricolour and ISRO logo being imprinted on the Moon’s surface?

a) It marks the site for a future lunar colony
b) It symbolizes India’s claim on lunar resources
c) It showcases India’s pioneering presence near the lunar south pole
d) It represents a partnership with other space agencies

Ans : c) It showcases India’s pioneering presence near the lunar south pole

India achieved a historic feat by becoming the first country to successfully land on the South Pole of the lunar surface. The Vikram lander executed a flawless touchdown near the lunar south pole on 23 August 2023.

1. This achievement is significant as it marks a breakthrough in India’s space exploration efforts.
2. The Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS) was initiated by ISRO for the Vikram Landing Module, enabling it to identify a suitable landing spot and perform a soft landing.
3. The landing was a moment of anxiety for 20 minutes before the successful touch, followed by celebrations and jubilation among the ISRO team.
4. ISRO Chairman S Somnath expressed gratitude and emphasized that the success was a result of lessons learned from past failures.
5. The focus now shifts to the Chandrayaan-3 lander and Rover, with plans for the Rover Pragyan to roll down after reviewing data from the lander.
6. The Project Director of Chandrayaan 3 mission, P Veeramuthuvel, credited the team’s hard work and hailed the flawless touchdown as a demonstration of India’s soft landing capabilities.
7. The Mission Director, M Sreekanth, thanked the entire ISRO team for successfully accomplishing the challenging task of soft landing on the lunar surface.
8. After the Vikram lander’s soft landing, ISRO established communication between the Chandrayaan-3 Lander and MOX-ISTRAC, Bengaluru.
9. Images captured by the Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera during descent were shared on social media by ISRO, revealing the lunar surface at close proximity.

Q.: Which country recently achieved the historic feat by becoming the first country to successfully land on the South Pole of the lunar surface?

a) China
b) Russia
c) United States
d) India

Ans : India

Two-way communication has been established between the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter and the Chandrayaan 3 lander module Vikram. This enables the Mission Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru to communicate with the upcoming Lander Vikram.

• The Chandrayaan 3 lander is set to land near the south pole of the Moon on August 23rd at 6.04 pm.
• ISRO tweeted about the development, referring to the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter formally welcoming the Chandrayaan 3 Lander Module.
• The Chandrayaan 2 orbiter was launched in July 2019 and is still in lunar orbit.
• ISRO has announced that the live telecast of the landing event will start on DD National and other social media platforms at 5.20 pm on August 23rd.

Question: Which organization is responsible for the Chandrayaan missions ?

A) NASA
B) ESA (European Space Agency)
C) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
D) JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

Answer: C) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

Russia’s Moon mission (Luna-25) ended in failure as its spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the moon on 19 August 2023.

• Russia’s Luna-25 was a lunar lander mission that aimed to explore the south pole of the Moon.
• It was launched on 10 August 2023 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
• It crashed into the Moon on 19 August 2023 after a failed orbital maneuver.
• It was Russia’s first lunar mission in nearly five decades.
• The cause of the crash is still under investigation by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ambitious mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft is scheduled to make a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface at around 6:04 pm (Indian Standard Time) on 23 August 2023.

Q.: What is the name of the Russian space agency?

A) RSA (Russian Space Administration)
B) RKA (Russian Cosmonautics Agency)
C) Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency)
D) RFSA (Russian Federal Space Administration)

Ans : C) Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency)

The first 3D concrete Printed Post Office building was inaugurated in Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru on August 18, 2023. The construction was accomplished using 3D concrete printing technology through a fully automated process. A robotic arm was used to print the concrete layer by layer according to the design, and the entire construction was completed within 45 days.

This marked India’s first 3D printed post office, showcasing the application of this innovative technology in construction. The use of 3D printing significantly reduced both the cost and time of construction for the post office building.

Q.; Where was India’s first 3D concrete Printed Post Office building inaugurated?

a) New Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) Bengaluru
d) Chennai

Answer: c) Bengaluru

ISRO achieved successful separation of Chandrayaan-3’s lander module from the propulsion module on August 17, 2023. The Lander Module, named Vikram, will continue its independent journey to the Moon’s surface.

• Vikram and the rover Pragyaan are expected to land on the Moon on August 23.
• The separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module concludes lunar-bound maneuvers for the soft landing.
• Chandrayaan-3’s primary goals include demonstrating safe and soft landing, rover exploration, and in-situ scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
• Both the lander and rover are equipped with scientific payloads for these experiments.
• The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully completed its fifth and final lunar-bound orbit maneuver.
• Launched on July 14, Chandrayaan-3 comprises a lander module, propulsion module, and rover.
• The Propulsion Module will continue its journey to study spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from lunar orbit.
• It carries a SHAPE payload designed to aid future discoveries of habitable or life-supporting planets through reflected light observations.

Q.: What is the name of the Lander Module in the Chandrayaan-3 mission that is expected to land on the Moon’s surface?

a) Luna
b) Explorer
c) Vikram
d) Apollo

Answer: c) Vikram

The first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, Aditya-L1, is preparing for launch in September 2023.

• The satellite was developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
• Aditya-L1 has arrived at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, where the launch will take place.
• The spacecraft is intended to be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point L1 of the Sun-Earth system, situated approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.
• The halo orbit offers the advantage of continuous observation of the Sun without being obstructed by eclipses.
• This positioning will enable enhanced monitoring of solar activities and their impact on space weather in real-time.
• The satellite will carry seven payloads designed to observe the Sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, and outermost corona layers.
• The observation will be conducted using electromagnetic and particle field detectors.
• Four of the payloads will have direct views of the Sun, while the remaining three will conduct in-situ studies of particles and fields in the surrounding area.
• These studies will provide valuable scientific insights into the propagatory effects of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.

Q.: What is the name of the first Indian space-based observatory designed to study the Sun?

a) Aditya-L1
b) Solaris-I
c) HelioSat-1
d) SunProbe-1

Ans : a) Aditya-L1

Russia is preparing to launch a lunar mission, the first in nearly 50 years, in competition with India’s Chandrayaan-3 program. The Russian lunar lander, named ‘Luna 25’, is scheduled for launch with a Soyuz rocket on 11 August 2023.

• Luna 25 aims to touch down on the moon’s surface, specifically in the region of the Moon’s south pole.
• The mission’s primary objective is to assess whether the Moon’s south pole region contains ice, potentially important for future human habitation.
• The Luna-25 mission is part of Russia’s broader efforts to revive and advance its lunar exploration program.
• Russia has a history of notable achievements in lunar exploration, including several firsts such as impact, flyby, and soft landing missions.
• Russia intends to collaborate with China on the International Lunar Research Station, targeted to be operational by 2035.
• India is also in the competition with its Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to land a rover near the Moon’s south pole.
• India’s previous lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, experienced a failed soft landing attempt in 2019.
• Both Russia and India are vying to be the first to explore the uncharted lunar territory of the Moon’s south pole.
• Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, has indicated that there is no collision risk between the Luna 25 and Chandrayaan-3 missions.

Q.: What is the name of the Russian lunar lander set to launch on this mission?
a) Chandrayaan-3
b) Luna 25
c) Artemis
d) Lunar Rover-1

Ans : b) Luna 25

Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully injected into lunar orbit on 5 August 2023. A retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru. 

1. Next operation – reduction of orbit – scheduled for 6th August around 11 PM Indian Standard Time.
2. After lunar orbit injection, Chandrayaan-3 will orbit the Moon multiple times and gradually approach the Moon.
3. Once it reaches a 100 km orbit above the lunar surface, the lander and rover will be detached for a soft landing on the Moon.
4. The spacecraft is expected to complete a 40-day journey to make a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole around August 23rd.
5. India will be the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first to do so near the lunar south pole.
6. Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14 by the GSLV Mark III launcher.

Question: When is the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft expected to make a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole?

A) July 14
B) August 23
C) September 11
D) October 5

Answer: B) August 23

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of Akash – the Next Generation Weapon System to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on 2nd August 2023 in a special ceremony at BDL’s Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad.

1. The RF Seeker is a critical and technology-intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase.
2. The RF Seeker has been designed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat and produced by BDL at its state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre in Hyderabad.
3. The Seeker Facility Centre was set up at BDL’s Kanchanbagh Unit in Hyderabad.
4. The Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, Commodore A Madhavarao, handed over the 1st RF Seeker to the Secretary, the Department of Defence Research & Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat, in a special ceremony at BDL’s Kanchanbagh Unit.
5. Dr Kamat highlighted that the establishment of the Seeker Facility Centre at BDL has enabled India to achieve self-reliance in the field of RF seeker production, contributing significantly to the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Q.: What is the Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker used for in missiles?

a) Initial phase tracking
b) Mid-course phase tracking
c) Terminal phase target tracking
d) Intercepting enemy missiles

Ans : c) Terminal phase target tracking