07 August 2025
(Current Affairs Notes - Prelims)

e-DNA

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) serves as the genetic material in most organisms, storing and transmitting hereditary information.

• e-DNA (Environmental DNA) is the genetic material left by organisms in the environment (e.g., water, soil, Air, etc.).

• It includes DNA from cells, tissues, fluids, and excrement.

• e-DNA can have its application in mapping species presence and distribution, tracking ecosystems, etc.

• Scientists are now focusing on modern tools like e-DNA analysis for biodiversity conservation.

BharatGen AI

• It is a Large Language Model (LLM) developed for Indian languages.

• It uses Artificial Intelligence to understand and generate both text and multimodal content (like text + images, audio, video).

• It will empower critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, delivering region-specific AI solutions that understand and serve every Indian.

• It is developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented through IIT Bombay.

• The initiative is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and brings together a robust consortium of leading academic institutions, experts, and innovators.

Software Technology Park of India (STPI)

• Established in 1991, STPI is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY).

• It promotes IT/ITES industry, innovation, start-ups, R&D, and software exports.

• Key Functions:

  • • Provides infrastructure, incubation, and policy support to IT companies.

    • Encourages product development and IP creation in emerging tech areas such as AI, ML, Blockchain, IoT, Robotics, etc.

    • Establishes Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across the country for nurturing start-ups in frontier technologies.

• As per latest government data, more than 85% of STPIs have been established in Tier 2 and 3 cities which have contributed to nearly 3 lakh jobs in non-metro cities.

Places in News: Sudan

• Zamzam and Abu Shouk (Naivasha) are refugee camps located near El Fasher town of Sudan.

• Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Egypt, the Red Sea, Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

  • • Capital of Sudan: Khartoum

• Recently, the UN highlighted grim picture of world’s worst humanitarian crisis in the refugee camps in Sudan.