- INDIAN SCIENTISTS HELP DEVELOP BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE THAT AIDS MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING DUE TO PARALYSIS
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Indian-origin researcher Nikhilesh Natraj and UCSF team developed a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)allowing a paralysed man to control a robotic arm via imagined movements.
- The system worked for months with minimal recalibration, representing a major leap in assistive tech for neurological disabilities.
- Sensors read neural signals from the brain’s movement centres, decoding imagined movements into robotic actions.
- Demonstrated potential for real-world tasks like opening cabinets and using dispensers —crucial for independent living.
- What is BCI and How It Works
- The BCI involved sensors implanted on the surface of the participant’s brain (not inside), tracking brain activity during imagined movements.
- Signals were interpreted by AI-based algorithms, which learned there presentation of motor intent over time.
- Scientific Innovation: Stabilising the Signal A major breakthrough was in over coming signal drift the change in brain signal patterns across days.
- Using high-dimensional sensor data, researchers predicted and compensated for these shifts, creating astable BCI signal processing pipeline
2. SEBI ACCUSES ADANI KIN OF INSIDER TRADING, HE SEEKS TO SETTLE
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)has accused Pranav Adani, a director of several Adani Group firms and the nephew of Gautam Adani, of insider trading related to the 2021 acquisition of SB Energy Holdings by Adani Green Energy.
- SEBI alleges that Pranav Adani traded based on unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) before the deal was announced, thereby breaching insider trading regulations.
- Pranav Adani has sought to settle the charges with SEBI without admitting or denying the allegations.
- Regulatory/Legal Concepts Involved
- Insider Trading:The illegal practice of trading in securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) based on material non-public information.
- Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI):Information that is not publicly available and could significantly affect the price of a company’s securities if disclosed.
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):The regulatory authority in India that oversees the securities markets and protects investors.
- Settlement Mechanism:A process by which individuals or entities accused of violating securities laws can resolve the matter with the regulator without admitting or denying guilt, often involving the payment of a penalty.
3. ITBP TEAM SCALES MT.MAKALU FIFTH HIGHEST PEAK IN THE WORLD
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)has successfully scaled Mt. Makalu—the world’s fifth highest peak, at an altitude of 8,485 metres above sea level.
- The ascent to the Himalayan peak in Nepal was made on April 19.
- The International Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Makalu and Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m)was flagged off from Delhi on March 21.
- ITBP Said “It was a historic twin summit attempt—the first of its kind in ITBP history.”
- “Both peaks were being attempted for the first time by the force, adding to the challenge and legacy of this mission.”
- Both peaks are in Nepal.
4. LISTING OF CASTES WILL BE THE FIRST CHALLENGE IN CENSUS, SAYS EXPERTS
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- The1931 Census was the last to enumerate all castes, recording over4,147 distinct castes and sub-castes.
- SECC 2011 failed to generate a reliable caste count due to inflated responses and classification challenges.
- Why Enumeration is Challenging No standard list currently exists for enumerators to refer to.
- The Registrar General of India must compile a consolidated list after public consultations.
- In SECC 2011, citizens entered caste names as per their surnames or social identity, resulting in over 46 lakh caste names, making data unusable.
- Linguistic & Regional Issues Enumerators must account for linguistic variations and regional naming patterns, which vary even within a single community.
- Communities may self-identify differently (e.g., under umbrella terms) leading to difficulty in classification.
5. PORT ECONOMY WILL DRIVE INDIA’S GROWTH SAYS PM
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- PM Modi commissioned the₹8,800-crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaportin Kerala, India’s first dedicated container transshipment port.
- The port was developed through a public-private partnership (PPP)model by Adani Portsin coordination with the Kerala government.
- Modi emphasized that port-led development will be central to driving India’s maritime and economic growth in the coming decade.
- Why Vizhinjam Port is Strategically Important
- Vizhinjam has a natural depth of 20 meters, enabling it to handle large cargo vessels without extensive dredging.
- Located close to the world’s busiest shipping lanes, making it ideal for global transshipment operations.
- The port will help reduce India’s dependence on foreign ports like Colombo and Singapore for cargo transshipment
