·       VLPs are molecules that resemble viruses but lack infectivity because of the absence of viral genetic material.

·       They are a very effective way of creating vaccines against diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, malaria, and more.

·       As they are very similar to real viral molecules, introducing a VLP into the body will trigger an immune response, but a person will not experience any symptoms of the virus they are being vaccinated against.

·       Once the body has had an immune response to the VLP, it will recognize the virus and prevent infection in the future, giving people immunity to that particular virus.

Structure:

·       VLPs are very small, with a particle radius of approximately 20 to 200 nm. This means that they can easily enter the lymph nodes, where the immune system is activated in the case of an infection.

·       A VLP consists of one or more structural proteins that can be arranged in multiple layers.

·       Creating a VLP vaccine can use bacterial, yeast, insect, or mammalian cells.

·       When used as a vaccine, VLPs cause a robust immunogenic response due to their high-density display of epitopes and the capacity to present multiple proteins to the immune system.

·       Most recently, VLPs have been employed as nanomachines to deliver pharmaceutically active products to specific sites and into specific cells in the body.

·       Funded by the World Bank, with the support of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the project development objective of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project is to catalyze actions that reduce the flow of plastic pollution into South Asian Seas.

·       South Asia is the second largest contributor to global plastic waste.  It generates 334 million metric tons of solid waste every year. Nearly 70 to 80 % of this waste ends up in the ocean- 12 % is plastic.

·       Supporting Competitive Block Grant Investments to Reduce Plastic Waste

·       Leveraging Public and Private Sector Engagement and Solutions

·       Strengthening Regional Integration Institutions.

·       The South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) is the implementing agency for this project.

·       In 1979, reports emerged about damage to the Periyar Dam, leading to measures for strengthening the dam and limiting the water level.

·       In 1979, reports emerged about damage to the Periyar Dam, leading to measures for strengthening the dam and limiting the water level.

·       It became a legal dispute, with Kerala passing an act in 2006 prohibiting raising the water level beyond 136 ft, while Tamil Nadu wanted to raise it to 142 ft after strengthening measures.

·       The Supreme Court intervened and constituted an Empowered Committee in 2010 to study the dam’s safety.

·       The Committee concluded in 2012 that the dam is hydrologically safe.

·       Tobacco cultivation in India was introduced by the Portuguese in 1605.

·       Climate and soil:

·       Tobacco is grown when the mean temperature is 20° to 27°C.

·       When grown as a rainfed crop, it requires at least about 500 mm of well distributed rainfall during crop growing season.

·       It is not usually grown where rainfall exceeds 1200 mm during the season.

·       In India tobacco is predominantly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, UP and Bihar. Gujarat accounts for 45 per cent of the area (0.13 M ha) and 30 percent of production (0.16 M t). Productivity is also highest (1700 kg ha-1) in Gujarat followed by AP.

Types of tobacco:

·       Anand area of Gujarat grows wholly bidi tobacco. Nipani area of Karnataka grows bidi tobacco. North Bihar and Bengal area has both tabacum and rustica types used in the manufacture of hookah and to a limited extent chewing and snuff types. Madurai and Coimbatore area of Tamil Nadu grow cigars, filter, binder and chewing tobacco.

·       This rocket is different from the Chollima-1, which is used in previous successful launches by the North Korea.

·       The Chollima-1 uses hypergolic fuels that ignite on contact and are typically used in North Korea’s nuclear missiles, which do not use liquid oxygen due to storage temperature challenges.

·       The new engine type may indicate Russian assistance, as Russia has previously vowed to help North Korea’s satellite programme.

·       Liquid oxygen engines, like those developed by Russia, require specialised storage and handling due to extremely low boiling points.