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22.02.2025 UPSC Daily Current Affairs Analysis

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

22.02.2025

GS-3 Science and Tech

About The News:

AI chipmakers Nvidia have unveiled a powerful AI system for genetic research created a new AI called Evo 2.

Key points for prelims

Evo 2 AI System:

It is a powerful new foundation model that understands the genetic code for all domains of life.
It is the largest publicly available AI model for genomic data.
It was built on the NVIDIA DGX Cloud platform in a collaboration led by nonprofit biomedical research organization Arc Institute and Stanford University.
The model was built using 2,000 Nvidia H100 processors on Amazon’s cloud infrastructure.
It is trained on an enormous dataset of nearly 9 trillion nucleotides pieces of genetic information taken from over 128,000 different organisms on a wide array of species across domains of life — including plants, animals and bacteria.
In early tests, it accurately identified 90% of potentially harmful mutations in BRCA1, a gene linked to breast cancer.

Potential Applications of Evo 2 AI System:

It can be applied to biomolecular research applications including predicting the form and function of proteins based on their genetic sequence, identifying novel molecules for healthcare and industrial applications, and evaluating how gene mutations affect their function.
The model can be applied to scientific fields such as healthcare, agricultural biotechnology and materials science.
NEWS 2: Central Pollution Control Board

GS-03 Environment

About The News:

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently filed a report before the National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench revealing concerning findings regarding the river water quality at Prayagraj (UP) during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

Key points for prelims:

Central Pollution Control Board:

It is a statutory organisation constituted in September, 1974, under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Principal Functions of the CPCB:

To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution.
To improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.
It also coordinates the affairs of other State Pollution Control Boards, assists them, furnishes guidance, and helps in conflict resolution in case of any disagreement among them.
CPCB has delegated its powers and functions under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, to the respective regional administration with respect to Union Territories.

Standard development activities of CPCB:

CPCB takes up the development/revision of Environmental Standards, the upgradation of Comprehensive Industrial Document (COINDS), and guidelines for environmental management in various industrial sectors.
In consultation with the state government concerned, CPCB laid down the standard for stream or well or quality of air and also prepared manuals, codes, and guidance relating to the treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents, as well as for stacks gas cleaning devices, stacks, and ducts;

GS-03 Science and Tech

About the news:

Microsoft has announced a new chip, called Majorana 1, that it said showed quantum computing is “years, not decades” away, joining Google and IBM in predicting that a fundamental change in computing technology is closer than believed.

Key points for prelims:

Majorana 1:

It is the world’s First quantum chip to be powered by new topological core architecture.
It will revolutionize the development of quantum computers because it more stable and scalable quantum computing components.

Uses the first-ever topoconductor ( (topological superconductor):

A topoconductor is a special category of material that can create an entirely new state of matter – not a solid, liquid or gas but a topological state.
Material is made from indium arsenide (a semiconductor) and aluminum (a superconductor).
Uses a superconducting nanowire to observe the particles and can be controlled with standard computing equipment.
Relies on a subatomic particle called the Majorana fermion
Majorana fermion is a fermion that is both a particle and its antiparticle; its existence was first theorized in the 1930s

Mains Questions:

Quantum computing and AI advancements are poised to revolutionize scientific research and industries alike. Discuss the significance of innovations like Majorana 1 quantum chips and Evo 2 AI models. Highlight their potential applications in healthcare, environment, and other key sectors.