Daily Prelims Notes 18 June 2021

June 18, 2021
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

18 June 2021

Table Of Contents

1. Antigenic Drift

Subject : Science & tech

Concept :

Background

In India, it was known as the Bombay Fever that broke out in the city in June 1918, with one of the possible entry points being ships carrying troops returning from the First World War in Europe. It hit different parts of the country in three waves, with the second recording the highest fatality rate.
The pandemic is believed to have killed 17-18 million people in the country. By early 1919, it had largely disappeared.
It is argued that since the whole world had been exposed to the virus, and had therefore developed natural immunity against it, the 1918 strain began to mutate and evolve in a process called “antigenic drift”.

Antigenic Drift

Antigenic drift is a kind of genetic variation in viruses, arising by the accumulation of mutations in the virus genes that code for virus-surface proteins that host antibodies recognize.
This results in a new strain of virus particles that is not effectively inhibited by the antibodies that prevented infection by previous strains.
This makes it easier for the changed virus to spread throughout a partially immune population. Antigenic drift occurs in both influenza A and influenza B viruses.
Antigenic shift is a closely related process; it refers to more dramatic changes in the virus’s surface proteins. Genetic drift is very different and much more broadly applicable; it refers to the gradual accumulation in any DNA sequence of random mutational changes that do not interfere with the DNA’s function and thus that are not seen by natural selection.

2. Role of animal serum in making of vaccines

Subject : Science & tech

Context : The government on Wednesday issued a clarification stating that Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, did not contain the serum of a newborn calf.

Concept :

The virus is killed, or inactivated, before being used in the vaccine, and injected into the human body, but it is still able to trigger an immune response.
To be used in the vaccine, the virus needs to be grown, or cultured, in the laboratory. Scientists try to create conditions conducive for the growth of these viruses by recreating the kind of environment that exists in an infected person’s tissues.
Therefore, solutions containing ‘nutrients’ act as the growth medium for the virus. These nutrients, like specific sugar and salt molecules, are extracted from tissues of suitable animals like horses, cow, goat or sheep.
The virus grows in these nutrient-rich solutions. After that, it goes through several stages of purification that make it suitable to be used in a vaccine. There is no trace of the growth medium after the entire process is over.

Why calf serum

According to the website of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, cow components are used mainly because cows are large animals, easily available, and rich in some of the useful chemicals and enzymes.

3. Federal Reserve signals hike in interest rates

Subject : Economics

Context : Recently, the Dow Jones Industrial index in the US fell 0.77% and treasury yields rose after the Federal Reserve indicated that there could be two rate hikes by 2023.

Concept :

In India, the benchmark Sensex fell marginally and the rupee lost over 1% against the dollar after indication from Federal Reserve.
The wholesale price index-based (WPI) inflation have scaled a record high of 12.94% in recent month which was pushed by higher fuel and commodity prices and a low base effect.
It also translated into retail inflation of 6.30% which led to breach of the inflation target of 4 ± 2% set by the Reserve Bank of India.

Key Highlights of signals from Federal Reserve

They said that they would continue with an accommodative monetary policy and bond buying programme to support the economy, generate employment and achieve inflation of around 2%.
It discussed the rate hike and an eventual reduction, or tapering, of the central bank’s bond buying programme.
The Fed had signalled that there could be at least two rate hikes by 2023 as economic activity indicators have strengthened and inflation has firmed up.

Impact of an early hike in interest rates

The indication of a hike in interest rates earlier than expected resulted in a rise in bond yields and strengthening of the dollar.
It impacts currencies and stock markets in emerging economies such as in India, benchmark Sensex fell 461 points or 0.87% during the day.
It would lead to an outflow of funds from equities into US treasury bonds and outflow of funds from emerging economies to the US.
The experts believe that a rise in yields leads to a situation where they start competing with equities, and market movement is severely impacted.
The rupee is also expected to come under pressure as the dollar strengthens.

4. India maintains 43rd rank on IMD’s World Competitiveness Index

Subject : International Reports

Context : Recently, the Institute for Management Development (IMD) has released the World Competitiveness Index 2021.

Concept :

It is led by Switzerland, while Sweden has moved up to the second position (from sixth last year).
Denmark has lost one place to rank third, the Netherlands has retained its fourth place and Singapore has slipped to the fifth place (from first in 2020).

Performance of India under World Competitiveness Index 2021

India has maintained 43rd rank on an annual World Competitiveness Index.
Among the BRICS nations, India is ranked second after China (16), followed by Russia (45th), Brazil (57th) and South Africa (62th).
India has maintained its position for the past three years but this year, it had significant improvements in government efficiency.
India’s improvements in the government efficiency factor are mostly due to:
Relatively stable public finances; and
Support and subsidies provided by the government to the private companies

About World Competitiveness Index

It ranks 64 economies and assesses the extent to which a country promotes the prosperity of its people by measuring economic well-being.
It measures the prosperity and competitiveness by examining four factors i.e. economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.
It is an annual ranking which was first published in 1989.
It analyzes and ranks countries according to how they manage their competencies to achieve long-term value creation.
It is based on 334 competitiveness criteria selected as a result of comprehensive research using economic literature, international, national and regional sources and feedback from the business community, government agencies and academics.

5. Astronauts boards chinese space station

Subject : Science & tech

Context : China launches Shenzhou-12 shuttle carrying three astronauts, first crew to new space station.

Concept :

China launched three astronauts as its first crew to its new Tiangong space station on Thursday (June 17), the country’s first manned spaceflight in nearly five years.
The high-stakes mission, named Shenzhou 12, was launched on the back of the Long March 2F rocket.

China’s Space Station:

The new, 66-tonne, multi-module Tiangong station is set to be operational for at least 10 years.
kTianhe is one of three main components of what would be China’s first self-developed space station, rivalling the only other station in service – the ISS.
It forms the main living quarters for three crew members in the Chinese space station.
The Tianhe launch is the first of 11 missions needed to complete the space station, which will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km.
In the later missions, China will launch the two other core modules, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft.

6. Roy gave up Z-category security: MHA

Subject : Governance

Context : The “Z-category” security cover given to Mukul Roy, who returned to the Trinamool Congress last week along with his son, has been withdrawn as sought by him, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Concept :

Z Category

This is the second level of security.
Z category provides a security cover of 22 personnel, including 4 or 5 NSG Commandos + Police Personnel.
It is provided by the Delhi police or the ITBP or CRPF personnel along with one escort car.

Categories of security:

Special Protection Group (SPG) category: Strength of security detail is Classified (only provided to the current and former Prime Ministers of India and their immediate family members.)
Z+ category: It has a security cover of 55 personnel (Including 10+ NSG Commando) + (Police Personnel)
Y category: It has a security cover of 11 personnel (Including 1 or 2 Commando) + (Police Personnel)
X category: It has a security cover of 2 personnel (No Commando, Only Armed Police Personnel)

7. CII urges ₹3-lakh crore stimulus

Subject : Economy

Context : Mooting ‘urgent’ fiscal support to shore up the economy, industry body CII on Thursday said the government has room to provide a ₹3-lakh crore stimulus and advocated a reduction in fuel taxes and enhancement in cash transfers to households to revive demand.

Concept :

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president T.V. Narendran called for employment generation to be the central focus of policy measures and an expansion of the central bank’s balance sheet to accommodate a fiscal push of 1.3% of GDP.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India’s development process.
Founded in 1895, India’s premier business association has around 9000 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from around 276 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
It works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.

8. Coming soon : Alcohol free non toxic hand sanitiser

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Pune based start-up, WeInnovate Biosolutions, has developed the hand sanitiser that prolongs antimicrobial activity.

Concept :

Weinnovate Biosolutions was supported by CAWACH 2020 grant of National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and incubated at Entrepreneurship Development Centre (Venture Centre), Pune.
They developed the colloidal silver solution-based hand sanitiser. The technology operates on the ability of the silver nanoparticles to prevent the synthesis of viral negative-strand RNA and viral budding.
It has successfully completed Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved clinical trial for the hand sanitizer and demonstrated high efficiency in killing viruses.

Silver Nano particles

Silver nanoparticles have been found to be an effective antiviral which act against many deadly viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, Herpes simplex virus, Influenza virus, and so on.
Recent reports have suggested the role of Glutathione capped-Ag2S NCs (Silver nanoclusters) in inhibiting the proliferation of Coronavirus by preventing the synthesis of viral negative-strand RNA and viral budding.
The colloidal silver on which the technology of the sanitizers of WeinnovateBiosolutions is based can help arrest Covid -19 spread by blocking the RNA replication and infectivity by blocking the surface glycoproteins.

9. 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus

Subject : International Relations

Context : Recently, the eighth edition of ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) was held.

Concept :

ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+)

It is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and eight dialogue partner countries.
The eight dialogue partner countries are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.
Brunei is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum for 2021.

The objectives of the ADMM-Plus, are:

To benefit ASEAN Member States in building capacity to address shared security challenges, while cognizant of the differing capacities of various ASEAN Member States;
To promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency;
To enhance regional peace and stability through cooperation in defence and security, in view of the transnational security challenges the region faces;
To contribute to the realisation of an ASEAN Security Community which, as stipulated in the Bali Concord II, embodies ASEAN’s aspiration to achieve peace, stability, democracy and prosperity in the region where ASEAN Member States live at peace with one another and with the world at large;
To facilitate the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme as it calls for ASEAN to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous ASEAN.

10. Assam seeks realignment of rail track through sanctuary

Subject : Environment / Geography

Context : Trains have run over several elephants on the track between the Rani Reserve Forest and Deepor Beel.

Concept :

The Assam government has proposed the realignment of a broad gauge railway line through the Deepor Beel.
Several elephants have been run over on the railway track between the elevated Rani Reserve Forest and the sanctuary. The elephants use four corridors crossing the track to often bathe and feed on the aquatic plants in the wetland.

Deepor Beel

Deepor Beel is located to the south-west of Guwahati city, in Kamrup district of Assam, India.
It is a permanent freshwater lake, in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River, to the south of the main river.
It is a wetland under the Ramsar Convention which has listed since November 2002, for undertaking conservation measures on the basis of its biological and environmental importance.
Considered as one of the largest beels in the Brahmaputra valley of Lower Assam, it is categorised as a representative of the wetland type under the Burma monsoon forest biogeographic region.
It is also an important bird sanctuary habituating many migrant species.
Freshwater fish is a vital protein and source of income for these communities; the health of these people is stated to be directly dependent on the health of this wetland ecosystem.

11. Birth, death registrations up in 2019

Subject : Important Reports

Context : The level of registration of births and deaths in the country improved in 2019, according to the “Vital Statistics of India Based on The Civil Registration System” report.

Concept :

The report states that the level of birth registration increased from 87.8% in 2018 to 92.7% in 2019; and death registrations went up from 84.6% to 92% during the period.
While 14 States/Union Territories achieved 100% level of birth registrations, 19 States/Union Territories achieved the same level in cases of death.
The highest sex ratio at birth (SRB) based on registered events was reported by Arunachal Pradesh (1,024), followed by Nagaland (1,001) Mizoram (975) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (965). The lowest SRB was reported by Gujarat (901), Assam (903) and Madhya Pradesh (905), followed by Jammu & Kashmir (909).
The report was published by the Registrar General of India.

Registrar General of India

Registrar General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It arranges, conducts and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India.
The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.
Civil Registration System (CRS) in India is the unified process of continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the vital events (births, deaths, stillbirths) and characteristics thereof. The data generated through a complete and up-to-date CRS is essential for socio-economic planning.

12. Exposure to common cold virus can help fight Covid 19

Subject : Science & tech

Context : In a new study, published in the the Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers from Yale University found that the common respiratory virus jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes.

Concept :

These are molecules in the immune system whose early response can halt replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within airway tissues infected with the cold.
One way to trigger these defences is by treating patients with interferons, an immune system protein which is also available as a drug.

Interferons

Interferons are a family of naturally-occurring proteins that are made and secreted by cells of the immune system (for example, white blood cells, natural killer cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells).
Three classes of interferons have been identified : Alpha , Beta & Gamma
Each class has many effects, though their effects overlap. Commercially available interferons are human interferons manufactured using recombinant DNA technology.
The mechanism of action of interferon is complex and is not well understood. Interferons modulate the response of the immune system to viruses, bacteria, cancer, and other foreign substances that invade the body.
Interferons do not directly kill viral or cancerous cells; they boost the immune system response and reduce the growth of cancer cells by regulating the action of several genes that control the secretion of numerous cellular proteins that affect growth.