new ‘super Earth’ type exoplanet named as GJ 536b

Scientists have discovered a new ‘super Earth’ type exoplanet named as GJ 536b orbiting a very bright star near to our Sun. The planet was jointly detected by Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) and the Geneva Observatory. 

Key Facts The exoplanet GJ 536b has a mass of around 5.4 Earth masses. It is orbiting a star much smaller and cooler than the sun It is not within the star’s habitable zone and has short orbital period of 8.7 day. The luminosity of its star makes it an attractive candidate for investigating its atmospheric composition. Besides, the planet’s short orbital period would come handy in conducting future studies of biological activity. 

How GJ 536b was discovered? It was detected using the HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Seeker) spectrograph on the 3.6M ESO Telescope (La Silla in Chile) and HARPS North on the Telescopio Nacional Galileo (TNG) Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Garafia in Spain). HARPS is a second-generation high-precision radial velocity planet finding spectrograph. It is the most successful planet finder after the Kepler Space 

Observatory Astronomical terms Exoplanet: It is a planet that does not orbit the Sun and instead orbits a different star, stellar remnant, or brown dwarf. It is also termed as extrasolar planet. 

Super-earths: They are extrasolar planets which are larger than the Earth. However they have mass substantially below the solar system’s giant planets namely Neptune and Uranus.

India becomes associate member of CERN

Becoming an associate member of CERN will enhance participation of India’s young scientists and engineers in various projects

ndia on Monday became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics labaratory.

The agreement was signed on Monday by Sekhar Basu, chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and CERN director general Dr. Fabiola Gianotti at the DAE’s office here. Last year, the Union cabinet green-lit the proposal for India officially entering the Geneva-based body, following which the CERN Council accepted India as an associate member.

India had ‘observer’ status till September this year, when the CERN Council adopted a resolution upgrading its position. “There are three major activities going on in our laboratory—accelerators, detectors and computing. Indian scientist fraternity is good at all the three areas; hence we have taken decision to upgrade the status,” Gianotti told reporters here.

Becoming an associate member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects. It will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects, Gianotti said. The industries now can directly bag contracts for specified requirements of CERN.

Earlier, the supply of required material, components and services was in the form of kind (without any charge). Now, the companies can directly bag the order and provide the services, she added.

After becoming an associate member, India also has to contribute a certain amount of money for research activities. “This would involve annual contribution of 11.5 million swiss frank from Indian government to CERN,” Gianotti said.

The membership comes at a time when there was criticism within the scientific community over the delay in India accepting the membership. Pakistan became an associate member of the body in 2014. The organisation is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems.

Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to four states and three International Organisations.

“We already have met some industries in Bengaluru and talks were more related to computing. We will explore more in India and what can be contributing to CERN,” said Gianotti.

Uttarakhand (UKPCS) Lower PCS -2016 Pre exam solution (SET D) by SAMVEG IAS

Uttarakhand (UKPCS) Lower PCS -2016 Pre exam solution (SET D) by SAMVEG IAS

 

UK Lower pcs -2016 paper analysis & cuttoff
over all good paper .
general study paper was easier but aptitude part was moderate .cut off should be in range of 102 (+/-5).Lets wait for result.

Dear candidates
we are providing tentative solution of Uttarakhand(uk) Lower PCS -2016 Pre exam.If you find some error or not satisfied with answers please mention it .

Q1 -WHO ABOLISHED THAGI--ANS:lord william bentinck (c)
Q2 INTRODUCTION OF POSTAL SERVICE:1854 (B)
Q3 VANDE MATRAM :(A) ANAND MATH
Q4 DRAIN OF WEALTH : D DADA BHAI NAOROJI
Q5 TRI RATNA :C,BUDDHA,DHAMMA,SANGHA
Q6 MUMTAJ MAHAL:D
Q7 1 ST SPEAKER :C
Q8 J&K :B
Q9  REVISION OF CONSTITUTION :C
Q10 :C
Q11 A,OPERATING SYSTEM
Q12 C ,MS OFFICE
Q13 B
Q14 D SCANNER
Q15 D 72.5 M
Q16 A 1236
Q17 D AKBAR
Q18 IST ANGLO MARATHA -C TREATY OF SALBAI

Q19  C  ,3.5 ,FISCAL DEFICIT
Q20 B KAHAR,TANWAR
Q21 D 2009-10
Q22 C RS12/YEAR
Q23 B ODISHA
Q24 C 0.609
Q25 B
Q26 C NORTON
Q27 A REGULATING
Q28 D HIMANSHU JOSHI
Q29 B SHUBHA MUDGAL
Q30 C PAURI
Q31 C MEDHA
Q32 C KALI
Q33 A SEARCH ENGINE
Q34 C WEB BROWSER
Q35A 8APRIL
Q36 D RS 8000/

Q37 A
Q38 A SOUND WAVE
Q39 B
Q40 D
Q41 A METHANE
Q42 B 2001
Q43 C
Q44 C DENMARK
Q45 D NORWAY
Q46 C SPRATELY
Q47 C KERALA
Q48 A VINOD MEHTA
Q49 C BAHUBALI
Q50 A RAGHUBIR
Q51 D PANCREAS
Q52 C ,K
Q53 C HALOPHYTES
Q54 * NAINITAL
Q55 HIGHEST RAIN IN HIMALAYAS-A ,SHIVALIK
Q56 SOIL FOR TEA CROP : B BROWN,RED YELLOW
Q57 C   4TH NAINITAL
Q58 C BHOTIA
Q59 A ,BAGHESHWAR,COOLIE BEGAR
Q60  C BHAGIRATHI
Q61 D ,HALDWANI
Q62 A 1950
Q63 B,1969
Q64 B ,02
Q65 A,CHILDREN
Q66 D,HINDI NOVELIST
Q67 B PAURI GARHWAL
Q68 B
Q69 D MANDAKINI



Q70  D,CHANDPUR
Q71 A VISHWAMBHAR DATT
Q72 C CHANDRA SINGH
Q73  B1949
Q74 C
Q75 D NALANDA
Q76 B 20TH
Q77 A
Q78 C LANGUAGE
Q79 B SUDARSHAN SHAH
Q80 C 1973
Q81 C,356
Q82 B ,POTASSIUM
Q83 A,KOL




Q84 C,243
Q85 D B C KHANDURI
Q86  D ,UTTARAKHAND
Q87 A,10
Q88 C BANGLADESH
Q89 D MEGHALAYA
Q90 A SOUTH PENINSULAR HILLS
Q91 C MP
Q92B,MAHARASHTRA
Q93 D SHIFTING
Q94 B MAHANADI
Q95 D UTTARAKHAND
Q96 B
Q97 C LIQUOR
Q98D KASHIPUR
Q99 C,GOVERNOR
Q100 A 5/65

Q101 D

 

Q102C

 

Q103D

 

Q104 B

 

Q105 -

 

Q106 C

 

Q107 A

 

Q108-

 

Q109-

 

Q110B

 

Q111 C

 

Q112 A

 

Q113-D

 

 

Q114-B

 

Q115 B

 

Q116 C

 

Q117D

 

Q118A

 

Q119C

 

Q120B

 

Q121B

 

Q122C

 

Q123 A

 

Q124B

 

Q125 A

 

Q126D

Q127 D
Q128 C
Q129 A
Q130C
Q131C
Q132 A
Q133C
Q134B
Q135A
Q136D
Q137 B
Q138 A


Q139 A
Q140B
Q141B
Q142 C
Q143A
Q144 B
Q145 C
Q146 A
Q147B
Q148D
Q149 C
Q150 D

Aditi Ashok (18) became the first Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour title.

Teen golf sensation Aditi Ashok (18) became the first Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour title. She achieved this feat by winning the Hero Women’s Indian Open held at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, Haryana. She won a prize purse of 60,000 dollar. She won the tournament with a score of 3-under-par 213. Her round included birdies on the par-four second and 10th holes and bogeys on the seventh, 13th and 17th. Aditi Ashok is the first and the only Indian golfer who had played the Asian Youth Games (2013), Youth Olympic Games (2014), Asian Games (2014) and Rio Olympics (2016).

What is supermoon?

The Supermoon was observed after the moon was closest to the Earth at 356,509 km. This is for the first time moon came closest to Earth since 1948. Last time, the moon came closer to earth on 26 January 1948. Next time the supermoon will be observed on 25 November 2034. 
During this time moon will be even closer than this year. 
What is supermoon? Supermoon or perigee full moon is a phenomenon that occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon being the closest to the Earth on its orbit. During this time, the natural satellite appears roughly 30% larger in area and 30% brighter than the smallest full moons. In terms of diameter, the width of the moon is about 14% wider than the smallest full moons. 
What causes a supermoon? The moon’s orbit around Earth is ellipse (a kind of squashed circle) and not in a circle.  When an orbit is elliptical, Earth in the middle sits at one of two foci of ellipse. The moon is inevitably closer to the Earth when it passes one side of the ellipse and further away as it passes the other side. When it is at the closest side (called “perigee”) it is a full moon. If this distance is to closer to earth then it is called a supermoon. Why are supermoons not all the same size? The reason is that the shape of the ellipse that the moon draws around the Earth is changing all the time as it is pushed and pulled by other gravitational forces.

272 products have been registered as geographical indications since September 2003

As many as 272 products have been registered as geographical indications since September 2003, 
according to data of Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. During this fiscal (2016-17), 
11 products  have been registered so far as GI from states across India. 26 items had received GI status in the 2015-16 fiscal .
 11 GI products added this  year are Sangli Raisins (Maharashtra), Parmigiano Reggiano (Italy), Banaras Metal Repouse Craft (Uttar Pradesh), Beed Custard Apple (Maharashtra), Jalna Sweet Orange (Maharashtra), Uttarakhand Tejpat (Uttarakhand), Waigaon Turmeric (Maharashtra), Purandar Fig (Maharashtra), Jalgaon Brinjal (Maharashtra), Solapur Pomegranate (Maharashtra) and Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet (Jammu & Kashmir) 

What is Geographical Indication (GI)? Geographical Indication is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regards to its special quality or reputation attributes. The status to the products marks its authenticity and ensures that registered authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name. 
What are benefits of Geographical Indication Status? The GI registration confers: (i) Legal protection to the products (ii) Prevents unauthorised use of a GI tag products by others (iii) Helps consumers to get quality products of desired traits (iv) Promotes economic prosperity of producers of GI tag goods by enhancing their demand in national and international markets. Which are legal Authorities associated with GI? Geographical Indications are covered as an element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. 
At international level, GI is governed by World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This had come into force from September 2003. Darjeeling tea was the first product in India accorded with GI tag.

The economics of currency reform

The challenge now is to minimize the pain of currency swap—to the economy as a whole but especially to the informal sector

The serpentine queues outside banks across the country have quite naturally grabbed public attention in the past few days. The massive task of exchanging old currency notes for new is taking more time than expected. Many economists have begun to worry about the impact of a persistent cash crunch on the Indian economy.

The value of currency notes that have been pulled out is worth around a tenth of the Indian gross domestic product (though some eager commentators have mistakenly assumed that a tenth of the Indian economy has been immobilized). What does this mean for the economy?

There are two sets of concerns. The first is that the lack of adequate cash will hurt transactions across the economy, and especially in the informal sector, which is profoundly dependent on cash. Think of the traditional taxi driver rather than the Uber driver. Second, the decline in real-estate values could create a negative wealth effect that will eventually hurt consumer demand. Or, families that see the value of their homes come down could respond by trying to save more.

Let us take a closer look at Indian monetary statistics, both base money as well as broad money. The stock of base money in the books of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 4 November was Rs22.5 trillion. There are three components of base money—currency in circulation, bankers’ deposits with the central bank and other deposits. Currency accounts for an overwhelming 80% of the total stock of base money in the Indian economy.

The withdrawal of cash is undoubtedly a severe monetary shock to the economy. It could have an impact on aggregate demand. Much now depends on how much new cash is pumped in to lubricate the economic machine, or the minimum amount needed as a medium of exchange rather than a store of value. We hope policymakers have a forecasting model to guide them. The release of Rs500 rather than Rs2,000 notes is especially important in this regard.

However, it is also important to understand that what matters is not base money alone but also the credit flowing through the economy. The stock of broad money is about five times larger than base money. Currency accounts for only 13.7% of broad money in India, which is dominated by bank deposits. The proportion of currency in broad money is likely to fall as idle cash stashed in homes flows into bank coffers as part of the ongoing currency exchange. One possibility: Money supply could increase in case banks lend out their deposit bonanza at perhaps lower interest rates. The monetary impact is thus more complicated than many believe.

Now comes the wealth effect. The expected decline in the value of real estate could hurt consumer demand in a country where people prefer physical assets over financial assets as their main mode of saving. It will be very difficult to compute the extent of this negative wealth effect. The decline in home prices will not have much effect on the consumer price index, where rental values are an important component.

The main impact will be on economic growth. A decline in building activity could have a multiplier effect in industries such as cement, steel and white goods.

Most economists believe that economic growth could come down by around 0.5 percentage point over the next two quarters—not trivial but far from a deflationary economic collapse. It is now up to the policy authorities to respond.

There are three decisions that can be taken. First, it is important that new cash must be released rapidly over the next fortnight, and shorter queues for currency exchange will be a good way to judge how well the government is doing on this front.

Second, moral suasion should be used to convince banks to step up lending at lower interest rates so that the surge in deposits leads to more credit creation.

Third, the government may need to step up the roads programme so that the impact of the anticipated decline in construction activity is reduced.

The textbook response to any demand shock is a stimulus—either monetary or fiscal. The RBI should not fiddle with interest rates right now but focus on liquidity management in the economy. It would be better if the government used the fiscal lever by front-loading spending for the year, especially in road-building because of the large multiplier effect.

The Narendra Modi government has given an exogenous shock to the economic system through its bold decision to replace old currency notes with new. The challenge now is to minimize the pain—to the economy as a whole but especially to the informal sector. And remember that the new agricultural season is just around the corner.

What impact do you think the currency swap is having on the Indian economy?