25th April 2016

A.ISRO Scientists develop world’s lightest material Silica Aerogel 

1.Scientists from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have indigenously developed world’s lightest synthetic material called ‘silica aerogel’ or ‘blue air’. 

2.It was developed by the team of scientist from ISRO’s e Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. 

3.Silica Aerogel is the lightest synthetic material ever made by man. Key Properties of Silica Aerogel Light in weight and can be delicately placed on a flower head. 

4.Excellent thermal resistance and acts as a good insulator. 

5.The matrix of aerogel is made up of 99 per cent air. In its present development stage it is still very fragile and brittle. 

6.Scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre are still finding ways to make it tough and resilient. 

7.Applications It can used as filler in soldiers’ uniforms to save lives of soldiers at the Siachen glacier. 

8.It can be used to insulate rocket engines as it can be used both in space and on Earth. 

B.Union Government merges Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan with Khelo India 

1.The Union Government has merged Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) with the Khelo India Programme for development of sports. 

2.The RGKA was a centrally sponsored scheme launched by then Congress-led UPA government in 2014. 

3.Union Government also has merged two other sport projects launched by then UPA regime viz. Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) under Khelo India. 

4.Khelo India Programme is based on Gujarat Government’s model of Khel Mahakumbh. 

5.In it chools and colleges from different parts of the country participate in about 27 disciplines. 

6.Even the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) organises summer camps every year under this project. 

7.Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan(RGKA): It was launched in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA). 

8.RGKA aimed at constructing sports complexes in each block and exclusively both for indoor and outdoor in different sports discipline for 5 years. 

9.PYKKA: It was a rural sports initiative introduced by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to promote youth and social development through sports. 

C.India replaces China as top FDI destination in 2015: FDI Intelligence Report 

1.According to FDI Intelligence Report India has replaced China as the top Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination by attracting $63 billion worth FDI projects in 2015. 

2.FDI Intelligence is a division of international media company – The Financial Times Limited. 

Key highlights of Report 
1.India was the highest-ranked country by capital investment in the year 2015, with 63 billion dollars-worth of FDI projects announced. 

2.It was the biggest change in Greenfield FDI in 2015 was near tripling with an estimated 63 billion dollars. 

3.There was an 8 per cent increase in project numbers to 697. The boost in FDI has resulted in a whopping increase in job creation from nearly 1 lakh in 2013 to over 2 lakh jobs in 2015. 

4.These high-value projects were specifically announced across the coal, oil and natural gas and renewable energy sectors India has replaced China as the top destination for FDI by capital investment following of high-value project announcements.