Current Affairs Dec 2015 - Technology

News 1 - ISRO’ PSLV-C29 successfully launched 6 Singapore satellites into space.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 16 December 2015 successfully launched 6 satellites of Singapore into Space. The satellites were launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C29 from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikotta in Andhra Pradesh.

News 2 - Navy inducts decoy system Maareech.

Maareech, a fully indigenous decoy system, that can divert underwater torpedo attacks on ships and submarines, has been developed by Visakhapatnam based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).

3) Ministry flagged off first double decker Goa-Mumbai train of Railways.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on 6 December 2015 flagged off the first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi train through video conference from Panaji, Goa.

The fully air-conditioned double-decker train is the first-of-its-kind in India. The train will run thrice a week between Margao and the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in Mumbai. The double decker train will cover the distance in around 12 hours. It has eight compartments with a seating capacity of 120 in each compartment.

News 4 - Atlas V rocket lifted off with Cygnus Cargo Spaceship to ISS.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V (401 configuration) rocket carrying the OA-4 Cygnus cargo spacecraft with much needed supplies blasted off towards the International Space Station (ISS) on 6 December 2015. Supplies at the station are running low due to several failed delivery runs and botched rocket launches. The capsule carries more than 3500 kgs of food, clothing, computer gear, spacewalk equipment, science experiments and other supplies.

News 5 - IISc Banglore bagged solar panel research & development contract from US Military.

The prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Banglore on 9 December 2015 bagged a US military contract for research and development on solar powered micro-grid. It is one of the rare instances that an Indian scientific institute has been awarded a federal contract by the US military.

Keypoints of the contract

The federal contract worth 52900 US dollars was awarded by the US Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base in Japan.
The contract is awarded to develop solar powered micro-grid with battery and supercapacitor energy storage system.

News 6 - Union Cabinet approved introduction of Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2015 in Parliament.

Union Cabinet on 2 December 2015 approved introduction of Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2015 in the Parliament.

Highlights of Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2015

It will enable the centre to function independently as an autonomous body.
It will give recognition to the centre as an Institution of National Importance for education, training and research in the areas of biotechnology.
The centre is a regional hub for interdisciplinary education, training and research in biotechnology with emphasis on novel education programmes relevant to industry.
The focus areas include bio-drug discovery science, nano-science and medicine, imaging techniques, designer crops, bioengineering and biomaterials and intellectual property among others.
It will help in overcoming the acute shortage of skilled human resources in India and the region.
It would be a hub of biotechnology expertise in the countries in SAARC region and more generally in the Asia region.

News 7 - Hetero became first Indian company to receive DGCI’s approval for Hepatitis C drug.

Hyderabad based Hetero Drugs on 8 December 2015 announced that it received the approval of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to launch fixed-dose combination therapy, Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir. This product will be available under the brand name, Ledisof in India.

With this approval, Hetero became the first company in the country to get approval from DGCI to launch Hepatitis C medicines. In September 2014, Hetero signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with the USA-based Gilead Sciences in to manufacture and market chronic hepatitis C medicines.

8) Biocon launched generic version of hepatitis-C drug Harvoni in India.

Biocon Limited on 24 December 2015 launched the generic version of hepatitis – C drug in the Indian market. The generic version of the drug named Harvoni will be sold under the brand name, CIMIVIR-L.

According to Biocon, the CIMIVIR-L, a once-a-day oral therapy, will offer a convenient, effective and safe alternative to people infected with the Hepatitis-C virus (HCV).

Hepatitis-C is a viral disease that causes liver inflammation leading to diminished liver function or liver failure. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 people die annually in India from HCV infection and co-morbidities. Around 25% of 18 million HCV patients in India are indicated for hepatitis-C genotype 1.

News 9 - Pandorum Technologies developed India’s first Artificial Liver Tissue using 3D printing.

Pandorum Technologies Private Limited in the third week of December 2015 developed India’s first artificial liver tissue with the help of 3-D printing technology. This development is a major step forward in the on-demand manufacturing of 3D printed human organs. This artificial liver tissue performs critical functions of a human liver including, metabolism, secretion of biochemicals such as cholesterol and albumin and detoxification.

The key features of an artificial liver tissue are –

It can grow and survive up to eight weeks.
3D printing mini-livers has the potential to save lives of patients with liver failure.
3D bio-printed mini-livers that mimic the human liver will serve as test platforms for discovery and development of drugs with better efficacy.
It has less side-effect and can be made at lower costs.

About Pandorum Technologies

The biotechnology start-up firm focused on tissue engineering was founded in 2011 by Arun Chandru along with Tuhin Bhowmick, researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. It was founded to make artificial human organs on demand.

News 10 - China launched DAMPE satellite to shed light on mysterious dark matter.

China on 17 December 2015 launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite to shed light on mysterious dark matter. The satellite was nicknamed "Wukong". It was the country's first space telescope and was launched on a Long March 2-D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The purpose of this satellite is to search for smoking-gun signals of dark matter, invisible material that scientists say makes up most of the universe's mass.

News 11 - SpaceX successfully launched and landed Falcon 9 rocket.

American aerospace company SpaceX on 21 December 2015 achieved the historic feat of successfully launching and landing Falcon 9 rocket.

It is the first time in the history of rocketry that a rocket has returned back after delivering a spacecraft to its orbit, so that it could potentially fly again. This exercise of using reusable rockets will help in reducing the cost of access to space making explorations a more realistic goal.

News 12 - Indigenously developed Air-to-Air missile Astra successfully test fired.

Indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, successfully test fired on 25th December, 2015. The test was conducted by the Indian Air Force off the coast of Odisha near the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Astra is India’s first beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) that is capable of engaging its target at ranges of 37 km or beyond. It has operational range of 60km.

News 13 - World’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, approved for use in Mexico.

The Mexican authorities approved the use of the first-ever vaccine against dengue fever.

French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur declared that the Mexican authorities have granted marketing authorization to Dengvaxia, the vaccine against dengue fever.