PIB Summary- 20th August, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Geological Survey of India Mobile App

• GSI launched the GSI Mobile App (Beta Version).
• Indian Navy Signs MoU for offshore Data with Geological Survey of India.

Details

• The GSI has launched this mobile app in a bid to make itself more accessible to the people.
• Through the App, the people will become more enlightened about the various facets of GSI activities.
• It is also in line with the Digital India campaign initiated by the Central Government.
• The App is divided into various sections where it talks about the legacy of GSI, the in-house publications of the organisation, various case studies on different missions of GSI, the picture gallery, etc.
• It also deals with various maps, videos and downloads of GSI work.
• The app also gives information about the career opportunities and training facilities available with the GSI.
• Apart from bringing GSI closer to the public, the app is also expected to appraise the student community of the subject of geology.
• The MoU is for ‘Sharing of seabed sediments data, products and expertise for Naval Application in Meteorology and Oceanography’.
• GSI’s Marine and Coastal Survey Division based at Mangaluru has mapped most of India’s 2.1 Million km2 Exclusive Economic Zone and has a vast repository of offshore data.

About the Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.
• Over the years, it has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country, but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.
• The main functions of GSI relate to creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment.
• These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismotectonic study, and carrying out fundamental research.
• It is headquartered in Kolkata and has six regional offices in other parts of the country.

Major National Survey Organisations of India

1. GSI: Geology
2. Archaeological Survey of India: Archaeology
3. Botanical Survey of India: Botany
4. Fishery Survey of India: Fisheries
5. Forest Survey of India: Forest
6. Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment: Ecology & Environment
7. National Institute of Oceanography: Oceanography
8. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: Population & Language
9. Survey of India: Cartography
10. Zoological Survey of India: Zoology

ZyCoV-D

Context: DBT-BIRAC supported ZyCoV-D developed by Zydus Cadila Receives Emergency Use Authorization.

Details

• Zydus Cadila has received approval for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D.
• ZyCoV-D is the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans including children and adults (12 years and above).
• This is a three-dose vaccine and is the sixth vaccine authorised for use in the country.
• ZyCoV-D is the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine against the coronavirus. It uses a section of genetic material from the virus that gives instructions as either DNA or RNA to make the specific protein that the immune system recognises and responds to.