Daily Prelims Notes 9 May 2021

May 9, 2021
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

9 May 2021

Table Of Contents

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved anti-COVID drug developed by DRDO for emergency use of this drug as adjunct therapy in moderate to severe covid cases.

Concept :

An anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad.
Clinical trial results have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
Higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in COVID patients. The drug will be of immense benefit to the people suffering from COVID-19.
The drug comes in powder form in sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. It accumulates in the virus infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production.
Its selective accumulation in virally infected cells makes this drug unique.

Adjunct Therapy

Adjuvant therapy, also known as adjunct therapy, and adjuvant care, is therapy that is given in addition to the primary or initial therapy to maximize its effectiveness.
The surgeries and complex treatment regimens used in cancer therapy have led the term to be used mainly to describe adjuvant cancer treatments.
An example of such adjuvant therapy is the additional treatment[1] usually given after surgery where all detectable disease has been removed, but where there remains a statistical risk of relapse due to the presence of undetected disease.
If known disease is left behind following surgery, then further treatment is not technically adjuvant.
An adjuvant used on its own specifically refers to an agent that improves the effect of a vaccine. Medications used to help primary medications are known as add-ons

2. MUCORMYCOSIS

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul has said that mucormycosis known as black fungus affects those people who are suffering from diabetes. Reacting to reports of mucormycosis or black fungus among Covid-19 patients, he said, the infection affects only those who have a high blood sugar level.

Concept :

Mucormycosis is a very rare infection.
It is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables.
It is ubiquitous and found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people.
It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Doctor believe mucormycosis, which has an overall mortality rate of 50%, may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients.
Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 and appear to help stop some of the damage that can happen when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive to fight off coronavirus. But they also reduce immunity and push up blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients.
It’s thought that this drop in immunity could be triggering these cases of mucormycosis.

3. NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO STREAMLINE OXYGEN ALLOCATION

Subject : Governance

Context : The Supreme Court constituted a 12-member task force to assess availability and distribution of medical oxygen – on scientific, rational and equitable basis – across the country.

Concept :

The tenure of the task force shall be six months initially.
The 12-member task force comprises Dr Bhabatosh Biswas, Dr Devender Singh Rana, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Dr Gagandeep Kang, Dr JV Peter; Dr Naresh Trehan, Dr Rahul Pandit, Dr Saumitra Rawat, Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, Dr Zarir F Udwadia, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (ex officio member).
Cabinet Secretary to the Union Government shall be the Convenor of the national task force.
The task force will also make recommendations on augmenting the available supplies of oxygen, facilitate audits to determine whether the supplies allocated by the Union Government reach the State/UT concerned.
It will also review and suggest measures necessary for ensuring the availability of essential drugs and medicines; plan and adopt remedial measures for ensuring preparedness to meet present and future emergencies which may arise during the pandemic.
To promote evidence based research to enhance effective responses to the pandemic and facilitate the sharing of best practices across the nation to promote knowledge about the management of the pandemic and treatment of cases.
The SC also asked the Union and state governments, ministrie ..ministries, agencies and departments to “provide complete and real time data for facilitating the work of the task force “.

4. ARCTIC SCIENCE MINISTERIAL (ASM3)

Subject : International Relations

Context : India is participating in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) – the global platform for discussing research and cooperation in the Arctic region (8-9 May, 2021).

Concept :

The first two meetings—ASM1 and ASM2—were held in the USA in 2016 and Germany in 2018, respectively.
ASM3, jointly organised by Iceland and Japan, is the first Ministerial meeting being held in Asia.
The meeting is designed to provide opportunities to various stakeholders to enhance collective understanding of the Arctic region, emphasize and engage in constant monitoring, and strengthen observations.
The theme for this year is ‘Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic’.

India and Arctic

India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to 1920 with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in Paris. Since July 2008, India has a permanent research station in the Arctic called Himadari at NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway.
Since 2013, India enjoys ‘Observer’ status in the Arctic Council with twelve other countries (Japan, China, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Netherlands, Singapore, and South Korea).
It has also deployed a multi-sensor moored observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014.
The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated, conducted, and promoted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
The launch of NISER (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite mission by India, in collaboration with the USA, is underway. NISER aims to conduct global measurements of the cause and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.
India’s contributions to the Sustained Arctic Observational Network (SAON) would continue.

5. CBIC

Subject : National organisations

Context : The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Saturday allowed businesses to import and export goods without furnishing bonds to the customs authorities until June-end, a move aimed at ensuring no delay or disruption in EXIM trade due to COVID-19.

Concept :

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), is a one of the Statutory Boards constituted under the statute the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963).
It is subordinate to the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
It deals mainly with the tasks of formulation and implementation of policy concerning to the levy and collection of Customs duties, Central Excise duties and Goods & Services tax, prevention of smuggling and administration of matters relating to Customs, Central Excise, Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) and Narcotics to the extent under CBIC’s purview.
The Board is the administrative authority for its subordinate organizations, including Custom Houses, Central Goods and Services Commissionerates and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.
The CBIC is headed by a Chairman and has 6 members in addition to the Chairman. In the performance of its administrative and executive functions, the CBIC is assisted by Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners and Principal Director Generals/Director Generals.
The Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners working under the Principal Chief Commissioner/ Chief Commissioner’s supervision also discharge executive functions.

6. JAIPUR ATRAULI GHARANA

Subject : Culture

Context : Chaitanya Tamhane’s film The Disciple opens with Pt Vinayak Pradhan (essayed deftly by Jaipur-Atrauli gharana classical singer Pt Arun Dravid) on the stage.

Concept :

The Atrauli-Jaipur Gharana (also known as the Atrauli Gharana, Jaipur Gharana, Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, Alladiya Gharana and Alladiyakhani Gayaki) is a Hindustani music apprenticeship fraternity (gharana), founded by Alladiya Khan (1855–1946) in the late-19th century.
Evolved from the dhrupad tradition, the Jaipur Gharana acquired its name and status in the early half of the 20th century as a result of the growing popularity of khayal singers such as Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar, Gaanatapaswini Mogubai Kurdikar, and Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur.
With the immense popularity of musicians like Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar, the Gharana earned repute as a leading representative of Hindustani classical music.
The gharana is known for its distinctive vocal aesthetics, raga repertoire, and technical aptitude.

7. N PROTEIN

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Studies of the coronavirus have largely focused on its ‘spike’ protein. A new study from IISER Bhopal has found that other proteins, in particular, the nucleocapsid or ‘N’ protein may also be responsible for the infectivity of the virus.

Concept :

Nucleocapsid Protein

The nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) is the most abundant protein in coronavirus. The N-protein is a highly immunogenic phosphoprotein, and it is normally very conserved.
The N protein of coronavirus is often used as a marker in diagnostic assays.
During virion assembly, N protein binds to viral RNA and leads to formation of the helical nucleocapsid.
The abundance and high hydrophilicity of N protein are supposed to contribute to potent immunity after coroanvirus infection.
The N protein constitutes the only protein present in the nucleocapsid. It is composed of two separate domains, an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD), both capable of binding RNA in vitro, but each domain uses different mechanisms to bind RNA.

8. PANGOLINS

Subject : Environment

Context : Researchers of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, have now developed tools to tell apart the scales of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).

Concept :

It characterises the morphological features and investigated genetic variations between the two species by sequencing 624 scales of pangolins and comparing the sequences with all eight pangolin species.
Based on the size, shape, weight and ridge counts on the scales, the team was able to categorise the two species.

Pangolins in India

Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.
Indian Pangolin is a large anteater covered by 11-13 rows of scales on the back. A terminal scale is also present on the lower side of the tail of the Indian Pangolin, which is absent in the Chinese Pangolin.
Habitat :
Indian Pangolin is widely distributed in India, except the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East. The species is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Chinese Pangolin is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.
Threats to Pangolins in India: Hunting and poaching for local consumptive use (e.g. as a protein source and traditional medicine) and international trade for its meat and scales in East and South East Asian countries, particularly China and Vietnam.
IUCN Red List
Indian Pangolin: Endangered
Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered
Both these species are listed under Schedule I, Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

9. WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

Subject : Environment

Context: While the Maharashtra government has already begun work to protect its tiger corridor as recommended by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Goa government has been caught napping on the front.

Concept :

Wildlife corridors

A wildlife corridor is a way of connecting fragmented habitats. The corridor allows movement between isolated patches of habitat without other disturbances, such as traffic or development.
Wildlife corridors are also known as habitat corridors or green corridors.
These green corridors are also designed to keep animals out of danger of highways, busy roads, and other areas where their traditional migratory patterns intersect with potential dangerous manmade places.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.

10. FCRA

Subject : National Legislations

Context : Indian entities, including hospitals and charitable trusts, hoping to receive COVID-19 relief material from overseas individual donors or donor agencies, could be in trouble, unless they are registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) with a stated objective involving provision of medical care.

Concept :

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010:

Under the Act, organisations require to register themselves every five years.
As per the amended FCRA rules, all NGOs registered or granted prior permission under FCRA are now required to upload details of foreign contributions received and utilized by them every three months on their website or the FCRA website.
NGOs now need to file their annual returns online, with the hard copy version dispensed with.

Who cannot accept Foreign Contribution?

Election candidate
Member of any legislature (MP and MLAs)
Political party or office bearer thereof
Organization of a political nature
Correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publishers of a registered Newspaper.
Judge, government servant or employee of any corporation or any other body controlled on owned by the Government.
Association or company engaged in the production or broadcast of audio news, audio visual news or current affairs programmes through any electronic mode
Any other individuals or associations who have been specifically prohibited by the Central Government

What is the eligibility criteria for grant of registration?

The Association:
must be registered (under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or Indian Trusts Act 1882 or section 8 of Companies Act, 2013 etc.)
normally be in existence for at least 3 years.
has undertaken reasonable activity in its field for the benefit of the society.
Has spent at least Rs.10,00,000/- (Rs. ten lakh) over the last three years on its activities.

11. INDIA-EU LEADERS MEETING

Subject : International Relations

Context : At the invitation of the President of the European Council Mr. Charles Michel, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting.

Concept :

The meeting was held in a hybrid format with the participation of leaders of all the 27 EU Member States as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission.
This is the first time that the EU hosted a meeting with India in the EU+27 format. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with the US President in March this year.
It is a significant political milestone and will further build on the momentum witnessed in the relationship since the 15th India-EU Summit in July 2020.
The meeting was the initiative of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
During the meeting, the leaders exchanged views on three key thematic areas: i) foreign policy and security; ii) COVID-19, climate and environment; and iii) trade, connectivity and technology.
The leaders welcomed the decision to resume negotiations on both the Trade and Investment Agreements which will enable the two sides to realise the full potential of the economic partnership.
India and the EU launched an ambitious and comprehensive ‘Connectivity Partnership’ which is focused on enhancing digital, energy, transport and people-to-people connectivity.
India welcomed the EU’s decision to join CDRI.
India and the EU also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation on digital and emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, Quantum and High-Performance Computing including through the early operationalization of the Joint Task Force on AI and the Digital Investment Forum.
A finance contract of Euro 150 million for the Pune Metro Rail Project was signed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and European Investment Bank.
India-EU Leaders Meeting has set a significant milestone by providing a new direction to the Strategic Partnership and giving a fresh impetus for implementing the ambitious India-EU Roadmap 2025 adopted at the 15th India-EU Summit held in July 2020.

12. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Subject : Environment

Context : The authorities in Assam’s Golaghat and Nagaon districts have begun probing cases of clearance of forest land, digging and construction activities on at least three animal corridors within the eco-sensitive zone of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Concept :

It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,996 Hectare (ha). It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

Status of the National park:

It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International.

Important Species Found:

It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
Kaziranga is also home to 9 of the 14 species of primates found in the Indian subcontinent.

Rivers and Highways:

The National Highway 37 passes through the park area.
The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it.

Other national parks in Assam are:

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park,
Manas National Park,
Nameri National Park,
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.