SCIENCE & TECH Mains Notes

1. Gen Applications -
a. DM
b. Security/Defense
c. Agriculture
d. Healthcare
e. Education
f. Finance/Insurance
g. Governance
h. Transportation
i. Mfg
j. Energy

2. Blockchain
a. National Informatics Center => set up Center for Excellence (CoE) in
Blockchain Tech in Bengaluru
b. Crucial part of Industrial Revolution 4.0
c. About Blockchain
i. Specific type of data structure which can be used to transact
across nodes or participants
ii. Ownership rights are recorded cryptographically stored and
linked blocks
iii. Open distributed ledger => can chronologically record
transactions btw 2 parties efficiently in near real time
iv. Decentralisation, Persistency, Anonymity, Auditability => saves
cost and improve efficiency
d. Applications
i. Banking - efficiently using KYC procedures - SBI
1. Cross border remittances can be made faster and less
costly
ii. Capital markets
1. Trade settlements - faster transfer of securities
2. Commercial Papers issuance and trading
iii. Cyber Security - minimizing risk of hackers and leaks - Block
Armour solution - ring fences org's critical resources
iv. Healthcare and Pharma
1. Sensitive clinical data
v. Agriculture - Food supply chain - characterized by asymmetry of
info
1. Improving data sharing

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 2. Coffee Blockchain Initiative => India's first blockchain-
based marketplace app for trading in Indian coffee -
removing middlemen
vi. Telecom - eliminate spam calls and financial fraud by unregistered
telecom marketers
vii. Governance
1. Andhra Pradesh - managing land records, streamlining
vehicle reg
2. West Bengal - issuance of Birth certi
3. IndiaChain - by NITI Aayog => shared, India specific
blockchain infra to leverage JAM trinity
a. Transform public administration => streamlined
governance
b. Precent fraudulent degrees and certifications in
education and pharma sector
viii. Insurance
ix. Real Estate - property deals transparent, traceable and efficient
(than on-paper deals)
e. Challenges
i. Lack of scalability - slower than traditional transaction systems
(VISA faster than Bitcoin/ethereum)
ii. Lack of inter-operability - work in silos, no clear approach, lack of
standards
iii. Data Portability - transferring data problematic
iv. Regulation -bypass regulation and reduces oversight
v. Lack of awareness and high cost, limited skilled workforce
vi. 51% attack - group of users with >50% control of network => can
recreate blockchain, alter transactions etc
f. Govt Steps
i. MeitY => Distributed Center of Excellence in Blockchain Tech

3. Cryptocurrency
a. Intro
i. Digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses
cryptography to secure financial transactions, control creation of
additional units and verify transfer of assets
ii. Digital or virtual currency using cryptography for security
iii. RBI earlier banned private cryptocurrencies => SC later lifted ban
b. Pros
i. Easy access and globally recognized
ii. Quick and easy payments - anonymity in transactions
iii. Facility of faster settlements - unlike NEFT/RTGS, don't need to
wait for payment processing

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iv. Private and Secured
v. Facilitate E-commerce trade - global currency
vi. Free from risk of identity theft
c. Cons
i. Difficult to understand
ii. Uncertainty and volatility
iii. Still not accepted by all
iv. No way to reverse payment => and NO grievance redressal
mechanism
v. Problem of scaling => would need lot of energy -> envt
consequences
vi. Anonymity => money laundering and terrorist financing
vii. Parallel economy => RBI could lose control over monetary policy
d. Way Forward
i. Need detailed regulatory framework
ii. Contain flow of black money and demolish parallel economy
iii. Cleanse political related funding
iv. Tackle inflation and for better transmission of policy rates
v. Reduce cost of transaction
vi. Improve tax collection by maintaining proper records
4. ISRO
a. Global Space Industry=> $350 bn (550 by 2025)
b. India's share=> $7 bn (just 2%)
c. Achievements
i. Most cost-effective in the world=> Mangalyan success
ii. Telecommunication => INSAT & GSAT=> Telemedicine, TV,
broadband, radio, disaster management and security
iii. Earth observatory=> RISAT, Cartosat and Resourcesat=> multi-
spectral high resolution data for land, ocean and atmospheric
observations
1. EMISAT=> by DRDO electronic intelligence sat. => armed
forces
2. RISAT-2BR1
3. Applications like weather forecasting, DM, agriculture,
land resource management and forestry management
iv. Space observatory=> Astrosat
v. Navigation=> GAGAN , NavIC (IRNSS)
vi. Small satellites=> SSLV + UNNATI program on nanosatellite
development
vii. Space exploration => Chandrayan + Mangalyan + Shukrayan +
Gaganyan
viii. Launch vehicles=> SSLV + PSLV + GSLV
d. Obstacles faced

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 i. India lacks training facilities => long pending demand for
indigenous training centers
ii. Lack of funding => large investments needed
iii. ISRO needs to gain expertise in biosciences with collaboration and
support
iv. Upgrading GSLV MK3 to carry heavy load for longer space
explorations missions
v. Precision in technology
vi. Lack of human resource
e. Outreach programmes
i. Village resource centers to work with panchayats and NGOs
ii. Young Scientist programme
iii. Samvad with students

5. Private Sector in Space

a. Under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, govt. announced role for private sector in
India's space programme
b. Announcements
i. Level playing field for private sector
ii. Predictable policy and regulatory environment
iii. Liberal geo-spatial data policy=> providing remote sensing data to
tech-entrepreneurs
iv. Private sector allowed to use ISRO facilities
c. Benefits
i. Increasing demand for satellites => private sector can fill the
vacuum as ISRO overburdened
ii. Collaboration vital for capacity building getting cutting edge
technology and latest innovations
iii. Freeing up ISRO's manpower involved in manufacturing and
launching vehicles => more time devoted to core research and
deep space missions
iv. Revenue generation for ISRO by sharing tech
v. Creation of new high skilled jobs
vi. Securing our space capabilities=> new innovation
vii. Meeting India-centric needs by private sector=> changing
technological scenarios
d. Concerns
i. Security and strategic concerns=> key sensitive information may
fall in wrong hands
ii. High risk business + high initial investment
e. Way Forward
i. Creating a separate Space commerce body independent of ISRO.
Eg: In-Space
ii. Promoting start-ups

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iii.Mentorship by ISRO
iv. Enactment of space legislation
v. Draft Space Activities Bill 2017=> talked about participation of
private agencies in space activities
vi. Establishing think tanks =>experts in space field
vii. Setting up industry - academia linkups
f. IN-SPACe

i.

6. Gaganyaan
a. Indigenous mission by ISRO that would take 3 astronauts to space by
2022 as part of Human Spaceflight programme
b. India will become 4th country in world to launch a Human Spaceflight
mission
c. Significance

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 i. Boost to industries => would source nearly 60% equipment from
Indian private sector
ii. Would create around 15,000 new employment opportunities
iii. Contribution to innovation and technology development
iv. Spur research and development
1. Astro-biology
2. Planetary orbital calculus
3. Resource mining
v. Boost to academic organisations => aeronautics and astro-physics
vi. Motivation to youth
vii. National prestige
d. Challenges
i. For astronauts to adapt to the gravitational field
ii. Behavioural issues due to isolation leading to depression, fatigue
iii. Astronaut training => India does not have facility
iv. Threat from space debris
v. Cost => Financial implications on ISRO
vi. Escape system=> for emergency
vii. Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS), space suit
and crew support system still in developmental phase

7. Vikram Sarabhai
a. Father of India's Space program
b. Instrumental in establishing Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in
Ahemdabad in 1947
c. Founded Ahemdabad Textile Industry's Research Association in 1947
d. Established Indian National Committee for Space Research in 1962=>
ISRO
e. Set up Thumba Equitorial Rocket Launching station in Trivandrum=> later
renamed Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC)
f. Major role in creation of IIM A
g. Worked on first satellite Aryabhata
h. After death of Homi Bhabha in 1966=> appointed chairman of Atomic
Energy Commission of India=> contributed to India's nuclear program
i. Padma Vibushan in 1972
j. In 1973 a crater on moon was named Sarabhai
k. Vikram lander of Chandrayaan named after him

8. Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator

a. India recently successfully tested at Wheeler island by DRDO
b. Only three countries till now=> USA, RUS, CHN
c. Features
i. It is an unmanned demonstration aircraft used for hypersonic
flight test

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 ii. To test indigenously developed propulsion system air breathing
Scramjet engine
d. Hypersonic flight poses 2 major challenges
i. Air being rammed into engine at high speeds=> difficult to
simultaneously inject fuel and burn mixture
1. Overcome by hypersonic air intake system and supersonic
combustor
ii. Material which can withstand high temperatures to ensure skin of
vehicle remains cool
e. Significance
i. Reduces the overall fuel need for satellite missions=> by using
atmospheric oxygen
ii. Potential for reusing launch vehicles=> air breathing propulsion
systems enable a powered return cruise flight=> cost reduction
iii. Contribution to development of other important technology
iv. Faster civilian air transportation
v. Faster and long range cruise missiles=> Russia attained Mach > 20
by Avangrad
vi. Quick reaction missile to intercept incoming missiles
vii. Change the nature of warfare

9. AI
a. NITI AAYOG => working for #AIforAll
b. Features
i. Simulation of human intelligence processes by machines
especially computers
ii. Refers to ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like
thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision
making
iii. Executing tasks in real time situations
iv. Enases machine learning
v. May incorporate Big Data, Data analytics, automation, IOT,
Industry 4.0
c. Significance
i. Potential to overcome physical limitations of capital and labour =>
open up new sources of value and growth
ii. Potential to drive growth
iii. Intelligent automation
iv. Innovative diffusion
v. Role in social development and inclusive growth
1. Health=> Data repository, telemedicine
2. Education=> AI enabled learning experience
3. Real time advisory to farmers
4. Building smart and efficient cities

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 vi. Immense applications in Healthcare, Education, Environment,
Rural Development, Smart Cities, Environment, DM, Agriculture
vii. Case Study
1. NITI AAYOG and IBM=> Precision agriculture using AI in
Aspirational districts
2. NPCI launched Pai which is AI enabled chatbot to create
awareness about FasTag, Rupay, UPI etc
d. Need for regulation
i. Ethical concerns=> deep fakes, facial recognition technology
ii. Lack of clarity on data management=> might result in data
colonialism=> privacy and surveillance
iii. Biasedness=> may absorb stereotypes from society. In USA NY AI
facial recognition majorly identified blacks as potential criminals
iv. Accountability issue if AI system fails
v. May not record emotions and subjectivity
e. Implementational Challenges
i. Lack of awareness
ii. Data related issues=> poor transparency and data ownership
iii. Lack of funding
iv. Lack of enabling infrastructure
v. Regulating challenges=> lack of consensus
vi. Absence of expertise in AI technologies
f. Various steps for AI
i. OECD Principles on AI
ii. National Strategy for AI=> India=> NITI AAYOG has identified 5 key
areas for implementation
iii. India joined Global Partnership on AI (GPAI)
g. Way Forward
i. Need for a responsible AI=> Following ethical principles like
1. Minimized biasedness
2. Arresting inequalities and discrimination
3. Ensuring equitable benefits for all
ii. Trained workforce, fine-tuned algo, and technology suited to local
needs

10. Big Data

a. Features
i. Data sets whose size or type is beyond the ability of traditional
databases to capture, manage and process
ii. Use of advanced data analytic techniques against very large,
diverse data, sets that include structured, semi-structured and
unstructured data
iii. 6Vs of Big Data=> velocity, volume, value, variety, veracity &
variability

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iv. Global Big Data market=> to reach $118bn by 2022
b. Benefits
i. Improved decision making
ii. Protects company and client information
iii. Enables effective marketing
iv. Facilitates cost and time reduction
v. Better product designing
c. Applications
i. Banking=> advanced analytics + info sorting
ii. Education=> better system of evaluation
iii. Government=> dealing with traffic congestion, crime, policy
making & overcoming other technicalities
iv. Health care=> improve patient care=> use in vaccine developing
v. Manufacturing=> minimize input maximize output
vi. Agriculture=> test crops and running simulations
d. Challenges
i. Lack of data scientists=> poor expertise
ii. Privacy issue
iii. Security issue due to outsourcing
iv. Availability of quality data
v. Ethics of big data
vi. Need for synchronization across data sources
e. India steps
i. NITI => planning to develop National Data and Analytics Platform
ii. Govt. working towards open data policy
iii. Project Insight => to catch tax evaders=> uses data mining
techniques
f. Way Forward
i. Wider acceptance of big data
ii. Increased funding in R&D
iii. Ensuring Cybersecurity
iv. Establish data centers for effective collection, segregation and
analyzing
v. Training and developing expertise in curriculum in colleges

11. 5G
a. Features
i. Next generation mobile network after 4G LTE networks
ii. Provide seamless coverage, high data rate, ultra low latency and
highly reliable communications

2.

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 a.

3. Advantages
a. High speed => faster storage & high quality streaming
b. Ultra low latency (1ms from 50 ms in 4G)
c. Massive IOT
d. Applications
i. Agriculture=> precision farming, smart irrigation, improved soil &
crop monitoring
ii. Manufacturing=> use of robotics for precision manu
iii. Energy=> smart grids and smart metering
iv. Health => Telemedicine, surgical robotics
4. Challenges
a. Huge investment required
b. Expensive spectrum => deterring private investment (40% unsold)
c. Lack of uniform policy framework
d. Debt scenario in industry=> 4.2 lakh cr debt
e. Low optical fibre penetration
f. High import of equipments=> 90% imported
g. Security issues => privacy and data theft. Eg: Huawei case
5. Way Forward
a. Technology and infrastructure
i. Building indigenous 5G technology
ii. Increased funding to R&D
b. Securing data centers and cloud components=> develop solutions for
encryption, network monitoring and more
c. Create a strong data protection policy and ensure data prioritization
d. Security Provisions
i. Providing end to end security solutions
ii. Centralized reporting to build trust
iii. National Cyber Security Policy, 2013
e. Policy provisions
i. Spectrum policy
ii. Adopting international standards

12. Quantum Computing

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 a. Features
i. Quantum Technology=> Seeks to harness laws of quantum physics
ii. QC=> is the area of study focused on developing computer
technology based on principles of quantum technology
iii. Encode information as qubits
iv. Can contain multiple states simultaneously => potential to be
millions of times more powerful than today's most powerful
supercomputers
b. Application
i. Could spur development of new breakthrough in science
ii. Medications to save lives
iii. ML methods to diagnose illness sooner
iv. Financial strategies to live well in retirement
v. Materials to make more efficient devices and structures
vi. Algorithms to quickly direct resources such as ambulances
c. China=> Micius => world's first quantum enabled satellite
d. Google=> sycamore=> achieved quantum supremacy=> means
researchers have been able to perform a single calculation that no
conventional computer even biggest supercomputer can perform in a
reasonable amount of time

13. Edge Computing

a. Enables data to be analysed, processed, and transferred at the edge of a
network i.e. data is analysed locally closer to where it is stored, in real
time w/o latency
b. Cloud computing=> data stored over internet
c. Benefits
i. High speed of data transfer with reduced latency
ii. Security=>
1. Centralized cloud computing vulnerable to cyberattacks
2. Edge computing reduces the amount of data actually at
risk any one time
iii. Scalability
1. Less expensive route to scalability=> allowing companies
to expand their computing capacity through a combination
of IoT devices and edge data centers
iv. Versatility=> by use of local edge data centers
v. Reliability=> less chances of network problem in due to its
positioning closer to end users
14. Dark Net
a. Part of internet that cannot be accessed through traditional search
engines like Google
b. Content encrypted and requires specific browser such as TOR (The Onion
Ring)

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 c. Dark net itself is only a part of the Deep Web=> broader concept which
includes sites that are protected by passwords
d. Uses of Dark Net
i. Journalists and citizens working in oppressive regimes=> Arab
Spring and China
ii. Researchers and students to do research on sensitive topics
iii. Law enforcement agencies=> sting operations
iv. Maintain privacy
v. Access content blocked by local ISP
e. Concerns
i. Anonymity=> harder to track
ii. Haven for illicit activity
1. Cybercriminals
2. Terrorism
3. Child Pornography
iii. Technical challenges to establish digital evidence in courts=> users
of foreign countries
iv. Privacy and ethical concerns
v. Use of crypto-currencies like Bitcoin
f. Need of hour
i. International collaboration in strengthening cyber-security
framework
ii. Investment in research and development
iii. Training and capacity building
iv. Amending IT Act and Evidence Act
g. Steps taken
i. Kerala Police have established a specialized darknet lab in
cyberdome

15. Robotics
a. Applies to how robots are designed, manufactured, programmed and
used
b. Biggest impact=> economy resulted from automation

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 c.

d. India=> unique opportunity => to address shortage of healthcare facility,

low quality of education.
e. Applications
i. Robots used in electronics, Food & packaging, education and
banking
ii. Healthcare for operations
1. KARMI Bot => in kerala to serve food and medicines to
coronavirus patients
iii. Bandicoot to clean sewers
iv. Automotive industry
v. Agriculture=> to spray pesticides & fertilizers
f. Challenges
i. Low adoption rate=> only 3 robots per 10000 in India . China (189)
ii. Not standardized processes
iii. High cost of deployment
iv. Elimination of jobs
v. Poor technology
g. Way Forward
i. Combining ML, AI and deploying with robotics to ensure smart
solutions
ii. Upgrading infra and investment in Research & Funding

16. Drone Regulation

a. Mo Civil Aviation=> drones are defined as a tech platform that has wide
ranging application from photography to agri, from infra to asset mgmt to
insurance
b. Five categories by DGCA=> nano, micro, small, medium and large
c. Industry value globally=> 22bn
d. Drone Regulations
i. Red zone, yellow zone and green zone
ii. Currently "No Permission No Take off (NPNT) policy"

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iii. Permission needed from Digital Sky Platform

5.

f. Need for drone regulations

a. For leveraging drone's potential for commercial operations => air freight
capabilities, transportation systemes
b. Discharge materials for supplementing agricultural irrigation, survey
landscapes, road traffics
c. Security imperatives=> may jeopardise the overall safety environment
d. Drone Weaponisation
i. Recent Global attacks => Saudi Arabian refineries and killing of
Qasim Suleimani
e. Privacy concerns => imaging capabilities
f. For boosting drone startup ecosystem
g. Fostering innovation in aviation sector

q. Cyber Physical System

a. Recently cabinet approved launching of National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (NM-ICPS) implemented by DoST
b. CPS
i. Interdisciplinary field that deals with deployment of computer
based systems that do things in physical world. Eg: Smart Grid
Networks, Smart Transportation system
ii. Associated technologies=> AI, IoT, ML, Big Data Analytics,
Robotics, Quantum computing, Cybersecurity
c. Advantages of CPS tech

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 i. Enhanced security capabilities=> adaptable , affordable and
secure systmes
ii. DM(disaster) => sensor networks and response robotics
iii. Energy=> Smart meters=> energy efficiency
iv. Healthcare=> cost-effective & safe products
v. Transportation=> congestion control and traffic based grid jams
vi. Agriculture=> efficient value chain, improving environmental
footprint
d. Challenges
i. Privacy issues
ii. Computation abstractions=> real time constraints in physical
world must be captured like laws of physics
iii. Data related challenges=> prone to misuse
iv. Infra bottlenecks=> need of sensor and mobile networks
v. Interpreting human behaviour
vi. Technical barrier=> lack of consistent language and technology
vii. Challenges in maintaining same level of accuracy and consistency

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 e.

18. Nuclear Program in India

a. Energy generation =>2%
b. Need for nuclear development
a. Energy Security
b. Reduction in carbon emissions
c. Less impact on climate
d. Replacing conventional energy resources
e. Continuous supply of electricity
f. Nuclear Energy and Foreign Policy Nexus=> India-US nuclear deal
c. Challenges
a. Uranium contamination of ground water due to mining. Eg: in
Rajasthan and Gujarat acc to report
b. Uranium grades found in India => low grade
c. Shift towards renewable energy
d. Anti-nuclear protests. Eg: in Jaitapur

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 e. Manpower needs=> lack of nuclear scientists and engineers
f. Other issues
i. Land Acquisition
ii. Rehabilitation and Resettlement
iii. Socio-political issues
iv. Public consensus
d. Way Forward
a. Maintenance of skills base
b. Maintain continued effective safety regulation

19. Scientific Social Responsibility

a. Confluence of scientific knowledge with visionary leadership and social
conscience
b. About building synergies among all stakeholders in scientific knowledge
community
c. Benefits
a. Providing scientific and innovative solutions to societal problems
b. SSR would inculcate moral responsibility amongst scientific
community
c. Strengthen institutions and integration of S&T with society
d. Cooperative environment => between scientific community and
society
e. Skill and technical upgradation
f. Best practices and scientific temperament
d. Main objective=> harness the voluntary potential that is latent in the
country's scientific community to strengthen science and society linkages
so as to make S&T ecosystem vibrant through
a. Science-Society connect
b. Science-Science connect
c. Society-Science connect
d. Cultural Change
e. Policy Directives
a. 10 person-days of SSR per year
b. Outreach activities
c. Appraisal and evaluation
d. Central agency for implementation
e. National portal to capture societal needs requiring scientific
interventions

20. Traditional Medicine - AYUSH

a. Traditional Medicine - healthcare practices and products with a long
history of use => medical knowledge of indigenous cultures. Eg.
Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Naturopathy etc
b. Benefits

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 a. Addresses gaps in health services - acc to WHO, 70% of
population depends on traditional medicine for primary
healthcare => low cost and perceived to have lower side effects
i. Address shortage of doctors - Doctor patient ratio is
1:1455 (WHO recc 1:1000)
b. Treatment of major diseases - treating chronic,incurable diseases
i. Lifestyle related diseases
c. Holistic approach to treatment
d. Medical Tourism potential
e. New drug development - traditional knowledge can provide
valuable guidance in selecting and obtaining plant material of
potential therapeutic interest. Eg. Anti-malarial drugs
c. Issues
a. Unregulated
b. Untrained practitioners
c. Lack of financial support
d. Lack of human resources
d. Way Forward
a. Promotion of traditional medicine
b. Improve regulatory framework
c. Training and qualified practice for practitioners
d. Collaboration btw conventional and traditional medicine

21. COVID-19
a. Wet markets of Wuhan => Zoonotic disease

b.

c. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms

d. Bats=>Pangolins=> Humans

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 e. RNA virus surrounded by envelope with mushroom shaped protein
spikes => crown appearance
f. SARS-Cov-2 => spike proteins contain Receptor-Binding Domain -
facilitate virus entry into target cells by binding with cellular receptor
called ACE-2 (binds with 10-20 times higher affinity than SARS virus) =>
thus higher transmission of COVID than SARS
g. Reproduction Number or R0 (R-Naught) = 2-2.5 => rate at which virus is
transmitted -> avg number of people who will contract virus from
infected person
h. Diagnosis
a. RT-PCR - IDs presence of virus itself based on genetic fingerprint
i. RNA isolated from nasal swab
ii. RNA transcription to DNA => put into real time machine
that makes 1000s of copies
iii. Use complimenting DNA fingerprints that bind to viral
genetic material, detected by flouroscent chemical
markers
b. Serological tests/ Rapid Antibody Detection Test
i. Immunoglobins (antibodies) from plasma cells (WBCs) if
present => positive
ii. Helpful to determine extent of spread and development of
immunity in community
c. Pool testing
i. Simultaneous testing a combined sample from multiple
people to widen and speed up results
ii. If positive => individual testing
i. Treatment - not known
a. WHO recc 4 drugs and combo under Solidarity Trial
i. Remdesivir - Ebola
ii. Chloroquine and HCQ - malaria and rheumatology
respectively
iii. Ritonavir/Lopinavir - HIV
iv. Ritonavir/Lopinavir with Interferon beta-1a - regulates
inflammation
b. Convalescent Plasma Therapy - uses antibodies developed in
recovered patients against coronavirus, injecting it in critically ill
patients
j. Vaccine Development
a. Many phase 2 and phase 3 (clinical human trials)
b. Challenges
i. Before it is available, pandemic would have peaked and
declined
ii. It'll be needed in vast quantities
iii. Competition among countries to get vaccine

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iv. Imbalance btw need and purchasing power
c. 6 stages of vaccine development-
i. Explanatory
ii. Pre-Clinical
iii. Clinical Dev
iv. Regulatory Review and Approval
v. Manufacturing
vi. Quality Control
d. Types of virus
i. Live Attenuated virus - weakened germ
ii. Inactivated vaccines - killed version of germ
iii. Subunit and Recombitant vaccines
a. Use part of pathogen (protein, sugar, capsid) as
antigen to provoke immune response
iv. Conjugate vaccine
a. Similar to recombitant but use pieces of coat of
bacteria
v. Toxoid vaccine - uses toxin (harmful product) made by
germ => creates immunity to parts of germ that causes
disease, not germ itself
vi. RNA Vaccine
a. Introducing mRNA sequence which is coded for
disease specific antigen into body and prepares
immune system to fight for real thing

e.

f. Herd Immunity -first mooted by UK

i. Population immune either through vaccination or previous
infection => act as buffer between infected and non-
immune people
ii. Hinders spread of disease

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iii.

iv. Challenges
a. Percentage of immune pop - atleast 60-70%
b. Natural herd immunity - achieved through
infection rather than vaccination => challenging
c. Mutation within germ - herd immunity not for long
d. Free riders problem - they abstain from getting
vaccinated and benefit from eveyone else being
vaccinated => too many free riders compromise
herd immunity

22. Biotechnology
a. Field of biology that uses living processes, organisms or systems to mfg
products/tech to improve quality of human life
b. 5 segments -
a. Bio-Pharma - largest share (55% of revenue)
b. Bio-Services
c. Bio-agri
d. Bio-industrial
e. Bio-informatics
c. Importance for India
a. Food Security
i. More productive and tolerant of pests (Bt Cotton), insects
ii. Enhanced nutrition Eg. Golden Rice (vit A)
b. Adapting to CC
i. CC or drought resistant crops
c. Tackling diseases

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 i. Zika virus
ii. Antibiotic resistant bacteria
d. Bioenergy - bioethanol, biodiesels
e. Advancement in drugs - pharma sector economy
f. Biofortification - nutritional quality of crops increased through
agronomic practices - i.e. during plant growth rather than manual
means during processing of crops
g. Animal Biotech - improve livestock productivity, new vaccines and
diagnostics of animals
h. Bioremediation - waste treatment. Eg. Oil zappers
i. Stem Cell therapy - regenerative medicine
d. Challenges
a. Low R&D - 0.67% of GDP (China - 2%)
b. IPR regime -
i. India has stricter standards for patents (than TRIPS) =>
discourages innovation and foreign investments
ii. Compulsory Licensing - discourage investment
c. Lack of Marketisation - From early research to market, funding
exhausts in between
d. Public awareness
e. Less lucrative - lesses quantity and quality of jobs => students less
interested
f. Regulation - lack of Biotech Regulatory Authority of India (bill
pending in Parliament)
e. Way Forward
a. Increase R&D investment and building human capital
b. Collab btw Govt and Industry - IPR regime
iii. Funding mechanism
iv. Strategic roadmap - to focus on competitive areas and identify
future competencies of the country
v. Ecosystem for innovation
vi. Extending reach - to other fields
2. Genome Sequencing
a. Means of deciphering the exact order of base pairs of the genome
(organism's complete set of DNA) in an individual => data can be analysed
to understand function of various genes, genetic mutation, and gene
functions
b. Benefits -
i. Predictive and Preventive Healthcare - Faster and efficient
diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases
ii. Precision Medicine - understand nature of diseases and traits of
diverse Indian pop
• Eg. Vysy Community of Andhra - genetic mutation
making them susceptible to a category anaesthetics =>

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 Genome sequencing helps to prepare customised
treatments for them
iii. Scientific Research - mapping genetic diversity of India would aid
in understanding of evolution
iv. Prevent Biopiracy (exploitative use of genetic code of plants and
animals without compensating the countries from which it was
obtained)
v. Boost Genomics field - help india develop indigenous capacity to
generate, analyse and utilise largescale genome data
c. Challenges
i. Technological Issues -
• Analytical software tools
• High performance parallelization and acceleration tech
• Automation strategies
• Data storage solutions
ii. Financial issues - less priority than national security, social welfare
etc
iii. Legal issues - Data Privacy => Anonymity and misuse of genetic
data
iv. Cyber security - India is 3rd among 20 countries that are victims
of internet crimes (Internet Crime Report, 2019)
v. Genetic Stereotyping and Stigmatization
vi. Interpretataional issues - clinicians and genetic counsellors
needed who could interpret data in best interests of patient
d. Govt Initiatives
i. Genome India Project - by DBT - 20 leading instis => gene
mapping
• Human genome Project (1990-2003)
ii. IndiGen Prog - by CSIR - genome sequencing of 1000 Indians

24. Gene Therapy

a. Introduction, removal or change in content of individual's genetic
material with goal of treating a disease
b. 2 types -
i. Germ-line
ii. Somatic cell
• Ex vivo - cells are modified outside the body followed by
transplantation
• In vivo - gene delivered directly to target tissue
c. National Guidelines for Gene Therapy - published by ICMR
d. Need for guidelines
i. Complex and unpredictablity
• Clinical trial design
• Patient safety

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 • Gene therapy product
ii. Prevent misuse and premature commercialization
iii. 70 mn Indians - suffer from inherited genetic diseases => can be
cured using gene therapy
iv. Economic benefits
v. Guidelines to help researchers and regulators - spur innovation
and accelerate research

25. DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019

a. Provisions
i. Regulation of use of DNA technology for identifying persons
• Offences under IPC
• Civil matters like paternity suits
• Establishing individual identity
ii. Consent provisions for collection of DNA
iii. National DNA Data Bank + Regional DNA Data Banks
iv. Removal of DNA profiles provisions
v. DNA Regulatory Board - to supervise DNA data banks and labs
vi. Penal provisions for unauthorised disclosure
b. Concers
i. Sensitive info - can be misused
ii. Weak consent clause - magistrate can override
iii. Violation of Right to privacy
• Retention of DNA found at crime scene for perpetuity ->
even if conviction overturned
• DNA profile of civil matters also stored
iv. Absence of robust data protection law - cyber security
c. Way forward
i. Immediately remove DNA profile of innocent
ii. Laws to protect privacy and personal data
iii. Highest levels of cyber security at Data banks and Labs
26. GM Crops
a. Crops having novel combination of genetic material using Biotechnology
techniques (recombinant DNA tech)

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 b.

c. Benefits
i. Improve economic conditions of farmers - Less labour intensive,
reduced use of pesticides
ii. Better tolerance to harsh climate
iii. Improve protection from diseases and pests
iv. Increased food security
v. Increased yields with less input costs - 90% of cotton area is under
Bt cotton
vi. Improved processing characteristics => less waste and lower
prices
vii. Benefits to soil - no-till farming practice
d. Concerns
i. Unsafe for consumption

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 • Animal and human health
• Impact on neighbouring crops
• Long term effects after several generations
ii. Pesticide poisoning - indiscriminate use of Pesticide
iii. Monopolising Market - terminator tech
iv. Envt Risks - reduce biodiversity
v. Developing resistance - by pests
vi. Monoculture - non availability of traditional varieties (more
adapted to Indian conditions)
vii. Regulatory framework
e. Way Forward
i. Focus on GM tech - encourage R&D by pvt & public sector
ii. Grievance redressal of all stakeholders
iii. Legal measure - liability clause => ensure accountability - eg. Pink
bollworm pest attack on BT cotton case
iv. Stringent regulation - FSSAI must identify all GM products sold in
market

27. Nanotechnology
a. Study of materials which are in nanoscale range (1-100nm)
i. Conversion of any material in nanoscale units results in alteration
of its physiochemical, biological, mechanical, optical etc
properties => utilized for diff useful activities
ii. Nanotechnology => design, production and application of devices
and systems by controlling shape and size on a nanomater scale
b. India - 3rd largest no. of nanotech researchers (after US and China)
c. Applications
i. Medical
• Disease diagnosis and treatment - efficiently detect
cancer, infection etc + repair tissue through tissue
engineering
• Drug Delivery
3. Medical Nanorobot
4. Superbugs and anti-microbial resistance - stopping them
ii. Defence - precision guiding tools, supplement traditional
weaponry for close combat
iii. Envt - water treatment through nanomembranes, detoxification,
detection of contaminants through nanosensors
iv. Construction - make concrete more robust to water seepage, heat
resistent nanomaterials
v. Energy - Hydrogen storage system through carbon nanotubes
vi. Agriculture - Food processing - antimicrobial nanoemulsions for
decontamination for food equipment, packaging etc
b. Challenges

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 i. Health and Envt impact - disrupt cellular funtions + non-
biodegradable
ii. Information Asymmetry- lack of info on nature of nanomaterials,
methods of detection, risk research
iii. Lack of Infra and Human Resource - poor Lab-Firm intergration
iv. High Technology Costs
v. Governance issues - multidisciplinary nature of tech - R&D
overlaps btw diff agencies
vi. Ethical consequences - warfare, privacy
vii. Developed Vs Underdeveloped countries - disparity -
nanomaterials may be used to imitate rare materials that LDCs
export

28. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

a. When microorganisms change when they are exposed to antimicrobial
drugs => aka superbugs
b. Reasons
i. Inappropriate use of medicines - overuse, underuse, misuse
ii. Lack of quality medicines - weak drug quality assurance systems
iii. Animal husbandry
iv. Poor infection prevention and control
v. Weak surveillance systems - impair ability to detect emergence of
resistance
c. Why concern
i. Spreading globally => threat our ability to treat common
infectious diseases => prolonged illness
ii. Medical procedures and surgery become very risky without
effective antimicrobials
iii. Increase cost of healthcare
d. Initiatives by WHO
i. AWaRE tool - 3 groups of antibiotices - Access, Watch, Reserve
ii. GLASS (Global AMR Surveillance System)
iii. One Health Approach

29. One Health

a. First used in 2003-04 in association with SARS
b. Achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing interconnection btw
people, animals, plants and their shared envt
i. Collaborative
ii. Multisectoral
iii. Transdisciplinary
▪ Working at -
• Local, Regional and Global levels

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 c.

d. One Health includes -

i. Zoonotic diseases
ii. Antimicrobial Resistance
iii. Food safety and security
iv. Vector-borne diseases
v. Envt contamination
vi. Other Health threats shared by people, animals and envt
e. Relevance of One Health
i. Climate Change and Land Use Change
• Eg. West Nile Virus first affects birds in region before
humans
ii. Geographic expansion of human habitats
iii. Role of animals - 60% of known human infectious disease have
origin in animals
iv. Increased global interaction
f. Challenges to be addressed to implement one health
i. Institutions - at various levels
ii. Funding and Capacity
iii. Education and Jobs

30. TB Elimination
a. TB Facts
i. Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria - pulmonary TB and extra
pulmonary TB
ii. 2.5 million cases in 2015 in India - WHO report
iii. India's TB burden is highest in the world

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 iv. 1/3rd of the world's population -> diagnosed with latent TB (i.e.
infected by actively sick people without their knowledge)
b. Drug resistant TB -
i. Multidrug Resistance TB (MDR) - resistant to 1st line drugs
ii. Extensively Drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) - resistant to atleast one of
three 2nd line drugs
iii. Totally Drug-resistant TB (TDR-TB) - resistant to all 1st and 2nd
line drugs
c. Why India leads in TB Burden
i. Poor medical Infra
ii. Misuse of drugs - First and second line TB Drugs used irrationally -
> developing drug resistant TB strains
iii. Unaware about disease and delayed diagnosis
iv. Non-accessibility of drugs
v. Less effective treatment
vi. Lack of awareness
vii. Linkage with air pollution
viii. Other health related factors
d. Program Towards Elimination of TB - WB and GoI signed loan agreement
of $400M will support National Strategic Plan for TB elimination by 2025
i. DBT to patients
ii. Drug resistant TB - detection, treatment and monitoring
iii. Help strengthen Nikshay - web based TB case monitoring system
1. National TB info system
2. Surveillance tool under NTEP
3. Data repository for TB information
4. DBT to patients
iv. Joint Effort for Elimination of TB (JEET) - private sector health
engagement reducing TB treatment cost
e. Government interventions -
i. Universal Immunization - vaccination for 12 life threatening
diseases
ii. Mission Indradhanush - 7 vaccine preventable diseases including
childhood TB
iii. Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) - achieved
MDG in 2015 for halting and reversing TB incidence
iv. TB Haarega Desh Jeetega Campaign - expand TB care services
across the country
v. National Strategic Plan for TB elimination by 2025 =>
1. RNTCP released this framework in 2017
2. Provides goals and strategies for the period of 2017-2025
3. Aims to eliminate TB five years before SDG target
4. 4 strategic pillars :-

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 a. DETECT
b. TREAT
c. PREVENT
d. BUILD
f. WAY FORWARD
i. Improve health infra and diagnosis
ii. Increase budget allocation
iii. Effective use of medicine
iv. Effective role of private sector
v. Improve detection
vi. Use of better drugs
vii. Reduce poverty
viii. Social acceptance
g. AWaRe Campaign
i. By WHO
ii. To contain rising anti-microbial resistance
iii. WHO classified antibiotics into 3 groups -
1. Access => for most common and serious infections
2. Watch => should be available at all times in healthcare
system
3. Reserve => must be used as last resort

31. Pharma & Medical Devices Industry

a. Background
i. India largest provider of generic medicines (20% share by volume)
ii. 100% FDI allowed
iii. Pharma Vision 2020 - make country hub for end-to-end drug
discovery
iv. Medical Devices also growing sector with high potential => India
imports upto 85% of total domestic demand of medical devices
b. Growth Drivers
▪ Medical Devices
1. Nascent industry - huge domestic potential
2. Demographics - old pop => home based healthcare
devices
3. Increasing disposable income
4. Industrial parks
5. Govt Commitment
▪ Pharma Industry
• Demand Side
a. Accessibility
b. Affordability
c. Epidemiological factors

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 • Supply side
a. Patented drugs
b. Medical infra
c. Cost efficiency
d. Generics market
e. Talent pool
c. Challenges
i. Global Factors
1. Consumer consolidation
2. Increasing competition and number of approvals
3. Increased pricing control mechanism
ii. Generic Drug sector facing challenges - compliance challenges
and low productivity
iii. Evolving regulatory landscape
iv. Import dependency - APIs
v. Inadequate R&D
vi. Mfg Disability
1. Lack of infra
2. Domestic supply change and logistics
3. High cost of finances
4. Limited design capabilities
vii. Medical Devices - need engg, electronics, material sciences and IT
d. Govt Schemes to Promote
i. Promotion of Medical Device Parks - financial assistance for
Common Infra Facilities for 4 Medical Devices Parks
ii. Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Promoting Domestic
Mfg of Medical Devices
iii. Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks
iv. Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic
Mfg of critical KSM/APIs
e. Significance
i. Affordable healthcare
ii. Self-reliance
iii. China angle - dependent on China for 90% antibiotics + 2/3rd APIs
iv. Economies of scale
v. Attracting investment
vi. Hand holding support to mfg
vii. Additional employment generation

32. Banning E-Cigarettes

a. Provisions
i. Definition of e-cigg => electronic devices that heat a substance
(containing nicotine or other chemicals) to create vapour for

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh

 inhalation. All forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
(ENDS)
ii. Prohibition on E-Ciggs - production, mfg, import, export,
transport, sale, distribution, advt => cognisable offense
iii. Storage of E-ciggs - punishable
iv. Powers of authorised officers
b. Why
i.Health impact - ascertained by both WHO and ICMR
ii.Increase in usage
iii.Passive smoking (having high nicotine content)
iv. Not a tobacco quitting aid
v. Govt responsibility - under Art 47 -> govt has responsibility to
raise level of nutrition and public health
vi. Lack of regulation of e-cigg :- unlike ciggs, not regulated under
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003
vii. International experience - India signatory to WHO framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
c. Arguments against
i. More needs to be done on tobacco - banning original ciggs to stop
tobacco consumption
ii. Illegal operations may still continue - already 16 states had
banned vaping products - but still prevalent
iii. Number of smokers has reduced from 2010 => efficacy of e-ciggs

Jayant Singh Rathore (AIR-59) Rishabh Kumar Rewar (AIR-104) https://t.me/jayantrishabh