SAMAR - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   What is ‘Samar’?

a. Autonomous mine detecting robot
b. Latest navy vessel
c. A equipment sent on the Mangalyaan to study Mars’ atmosphere
d. Aerosol monitoring unit
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Aerosol monitoring unit

Explanation:
System of Aerosol Monitoring And Research (SAMAR) which is a network of 16 Aethalometers, 12 Sky radiometers and 12 Nephelometers to characterize aerosol radiative properties & climate impacts. IMD has made rapid strides in modernizing its services by adopting DIGITAL INDIA initiative of the Prime Minister by using latest technology for information dissemination. IMD has upgraded its website to make it more user-friendly and we are now widely using GIS platform, mobile apps and SMS for dissemination of its alerts and advisories. Under MAKE IN INDIA programme, Department has already deployed 20 Drishti Transmissometers at critical Airports and 222 DTH based Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS). Automatic weather observing system jointly developed by National Aeronautical Laboratory and IMD is under validation.