Candidates who are keen on a Civil Services career can apply for the exam. Civil Services is about a career in the Indian bureaucracy comprising services like IAS, IPS and IFS.

Candidates passing the preliminary exam have to appear for the main exam. Individuals who pass the mains exam will be selected for the personality test, also popularly known as Civil Services Interview.

Candidates can type the above-mentioned URL in their browsers and allow the webpage to download. Once the webpage is available, candidates must click the One Time Registration (OTR) link.

After clicking the link, they must provide details like their name, age, date of birth, and email ID. They must then complete the registration and obtain the credentials (username and password).

After the registration, candidates can log in using their credentials and then view the list of exams that can be applied. Candidates can choose UPSC CS 2023 Exam and then apply for it.

Candidates who have passed the preliminary exam have to apply for the mains exam for which the dates would be announced at the appropriate time. The main exam will be conducted on 15 September 2023.

The dates for downloading the hall ticket for the prelims test of the UPSC CS 2023 Exam will also be announced on the official website at the appropriate time. Applicants can visit the official website of UPSC at regular intervals for updates regarding the exams.

Eligibility

Candidates who wish to apply for CS 2023 Exam must be a graduate of any discipline and a citizen of India. The applicants can be residents of any state or union territory of India.

Also read ‘Want to know the best colleges to study pharmacy in Karnataka? Click here‘

The age limit of the applicants must be from 21 to 32. Candidates from SC/ST/OBC categories and defense services personnel get relaxation with regard to the upper age limit.

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

Also Read – NIT Rourkela develops great AI powered model