Railways to mark Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

• All coaches of the Indian Railways will now display the logo of the Swachch Bharat project and the national flag as part of the national transporter’s plans to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Railway Board has said that the ‘Swachchta Pakhwara’ from September 15-October 2, would mark the beginning of the Railways’ plans to commemorate Gandhiji’s birth anniversary.

NASA Selfies app

Why in news?

The NASA Selfies app and NASA’s Exoplanet Excursions virtual reality app were created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the launch of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. Spitzer’s incredible discoveries and amazing images are at the center of these new products.

NASA Selfies app

• The new NASA Selfies app lets you generate snapshots of yourself in a virtual spacesuit, posing in front of gorgeous cosmic locations, like the Orion Nebula or the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
• The simple interface means you just snap a photo of yourself, pick your background, and share on social media.
• The app also provides information about the science behind these stunning images.
• There are currently 30 eye-catching images to choose from, all taken by Spitzer. More images from the agency’s other science and human spaceflight missions will be added in the future.

NASA’s Exoplanet Excursions VR app

• In NASA’s Exoplanet Excursions virtual reality app, VR users are taken on a guided tour of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system.

• TRAPPIST-1 is the only known exoplanet system to host seven roughly Earth-size planets.
• Spitzer played a major role in detecting these planets and providing information that has helped scientists learn about the planets’ likely compositions.
• The TRAPPIST-1 system is too far away for telescopes to directly observe these planets, but this VR experience features artists’ impressions of what the planets might look like.
• These impressions are based on data from Spitzer and other telescopes that have studied the TRAPPIST-1 system.
• Users of the app are navigated around five of the seven planets, surrounded by the blackness of space and the faint lights of distant stars.

INS Vikramaditya

Why in news?

INS Vikramaditya, Indias only aircraft carrier, is going to be fitted with marine hydraulic system for the first time as part of its upgrade that will give an edge to the air-capable wing of the ship.

About hydraulic system

• The systems would be fitted by Russia’s Rostec State Corporation through its subsidiary, Technodinamika.
• The GS-1MF and GS-3 marine hydraulic systems are used for refuelling, cleaning and pressurization of hydraulic systems of aircraft and helicopters which form part of the air-capable wing of INS Vikramaditya.
• GS-1MF hydraulic system are used for helicopters while GS-3 are used for aircraft. The upgradation would take place in India only and would include installation supervision, commissioning and sea trials of the ship.
• The Vikramaditya project is extremely promising taking into account the long-term development programme of the Indian aircraft fleet, under which by 2027 it will acquire two more ships
• Technodinamika specializes in development, manufacture and after-sale servicing for systems and equipment for civil and military airplanes and helicopters.

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement

Why in news?

India and Singapore have signed the Second Protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in New Delhi which will boost bilateral trade between the two countries.

About Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement

• Both sides agreed to expand the coverage of tariff concessions, liberalize the Rules of Origin, rationalize Product Specific Rules and include provisions on Certificate of Origin and Cooperation on its verification.
• Signing of the Second Protocol formally brings to closure, the negotiations on second review of CECA, which began on 11th May, 2010.
• Both sides agreed to expand the coverage of tariff concessions, liberalize the Rules of Origin, rationalize Product Specific Rules and include provisions on Certificate of Origin and Cooperation on its verification. These measures will further facilitate trade between India and Singapore and also improve utilization of CECA.
• The two countries are exploring the possibility of launching the 3rd Review of India-Singapore CECA in September, 2018.

Singapore and India trade

Singapore is the second largest trading partner of India within ASEAN and India is the largest trading partner of Singapore in South Asia, with a bilateral trade of USD 17.7 billion in 2017-18.  Singapore’s trade with India constitutes about 21.8% of our total trade with ASEAN and 2.3% of our global trade.  India had a trade surplus of USD 2.73 billion with Singapore in 2017-18.

NETA App

• Former President Pranab Mukherjee launched the National Electoral Transformation (NETA) mobile application to rate Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

• ‘Neta – Leaders’ Report Card’ App, the brainchild of 27-year-old entrepreneur Pratham Mittal, is a platform where voters can review and rate their elected representatives and hold them accountable as well.

‘OP Madad’

• The Southern Naval Command terminated #Operation Madad on 24 Aug 18 on successful completion of rescue and relief operations in kerala.
• The Western and Eastern Naval Commands also pitched in with helicopters, divers, Gemini boats and other HADR material, sent both by IAF aircraft as well as naval ships.