Category: Ranker Webinars

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – Why this week’s OPEC meeting matters for India

Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

1. OPEC  is an intergovernmental organization of 14 nations
2. The 14 countries accounted for an estimated 44 percent of global oil production and 73 percent of the world’s “proven” oil reserves
3. OPEC’s stated mission is “to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets, in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry
4. The OPEC Conference is the supreme authority of the organization and consists of delegations normally headed by the oil ministers of member countries
5. The Conference ordinarily meets at the Vienna headquarters, at least twice a year and in additional extraordinary sessions when necessary

B2B #2: From news – In a first, WHO recommends quadrivalent influenza vaccine

Influenza

Influenza is a virus that actually has hundreds of different strains. The virus mutates frequently, but the strains are classified into one of three main categories—A, B, or C.

Influenza A is the group that most commonly causes illness in humans.

1. All influenza A viruses are further broken down into H and N subtypes. So, any influenza virus that is described as “H#N#” (such as H1N1) is an influenza A virus.
2. There are 16 H subtypes and nine N subtypes, but only three combinations have actually caused highly contagious illness in humans.
3. Other combinations have been found to infect other species (such as birds and pigs), but they have not caused widespread human infections.
4. The three combinations that cause almost all outbreaks of the flu in humans are H1N1, H2N2 and H3N2.
5. Even in these subtypes, the influenza virus can mutate and change each year. For this reason, influenza viruses are also named using:

• The host of origin (swine, chicken, etc., or no host if it is of human origin)
• The geographical location of origin (Hong Kong, Alberta, etc.)
• Strain number
• Year of discovery (or isolation)

Influenza B

1. Influenza B is less common but still causes outbreaks of seasonal flu.
2. One or two strains of influenza B are included in the seasonal flu vaccine every year to protect people from the strain(s) that researchers believe are most likely to cause illness during the upcoming flu season.
3. The quadrivalent flu vaccine contains two strains of influenza B but the traditional trivalent flu vaccine only contains one.
4. Influenza B is not broken down into subtypes like influenza A is, but it is broken down into individual strains.
5. Typically, two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B are included in the seasonal flu vaccine. Quadrivalent flu vaccines contain two strains of influenza A and two strains of influenza B.
6. Influenza B can cause outbreaks of seasonal flu but they occur less frequently than outbreaks of influenza A.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : International Labor Organization (ILO)

Objective : Deal with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all

Members : 186 of the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the Cook Islands are members of the ILO The UN member states which are not members of the ILO are Andorra, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, and North Korea

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

Year Founded : Established in 1919

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – India’s proposed Assumption Island deal stands cancelled

SAGAR Programme (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

1. SAGAR is a term coined by PM Modi in 2015 during his Mauritius visit with a focus on blue economy.
2. It is a maritime initiative which gives priority to Indian Ocean region for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of India in Indian Ocean region.
3. The goal is to seek a climate of trust and transparency; respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries; sensitivity to each other`s interests; peaceful resolution of maritime issues; and increase in maritime cooperation.
4. It is in line with the principles of Indian Ocean Rim Association.

IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association)

1. Established in 1997 in Ebene Cyber City, Mauritius
2. First established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched in 1997 by the conclusion of a multilateral treaty known as the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.
3. It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

B2B #2: From news – New health scheme flawed: IMA

Indian Medical Association 

1. The IMA is a national voluntary organization of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in India, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.
2. It was established in 1928 as the All India Medical Association, renamed “Indian Medical Association” in 1930 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
3. It is a society registered under The Societies Act of India, 1860.
4. It delegates its powers to a Working Committee (A representative body of all state Branches) for implementation of programmes and activities.
5. The Indian Medical Association is a founder member of the World Medical Association.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name of the scheme : DigiShala

Objectives : To promote cashless transactions

Salient Features : 1.DigiShala is dedicated 24*7 and 365 days free-to-air TV channel to inform citizens about digital payment ecosystem, benefits and processes. 2.It is a satellite channel managed by Doordarshan (DD). It will be broadcasted nationally on DD Free Dish DTH service. 3.It will be available through GSAT15 (DD Direct DTH), 93.5 degree East, Receive frequency: 11590 Mhz. Through it, citizens will be informed and educated about various digital payment options through step by step demos of digital payments using e-wallets, UPI, USSD, Aadhaar-enabled payment systems and cards.

Nodal Ministry : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – [pib] India to host European Union Film Festival

European Union

1. The EU consists of 28 countries, has the world’s largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India.
2. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993 and introduced European citizenship.
3. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.
4. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 19 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment.
5. UK was the last member to leave EU after Greece , popularly known as Brexit.

B2B #2: From news – Blue revolution a bane of Kolleru

Kolleru Lake

1. Kolleru Lake is a freshwater lake and is known as Ramsar site no. 1209.
2. It is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas of Andhra Pradesh
3. As a haven for a wide-variety of water birds, the Forest Department has declared 673 sq.km (Con.+5) as the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary.
4. It is an Important Bird Area on the Central Asian Flyway.
5. It is important habitat for resident and migratory birds, including the grey or spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis). Many birds migrate here in winter, such as Siberian crane, ibis, and painted storks.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA)

Brief Intro : The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It is a forum based on the recognition that there is close link between peace, security and stability in Asia and in the rest of the world.

Objective : enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia

Type : Summit/ Conference

Category : Economy

Year : 1999

Place :  Almaty

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – US approves sale of Apache helicopters, missiles to India

India-US Defence Cooperation

1. India-US defence trade cooperation continues to expand, including through the US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, a partnership begun in 2012.
2. It seeks to create opportunities for US-India co-production and co-development, foster science and technology cooperation, and remove bureaucratic barriers to trade, the official said.
3. In 2016, India was also awarded the status of a US major defence partner, which allows India to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies that are regulated by the Department of Commerce.
4. The two countries also agreed to an updated ten-year Defence Framework Agreement in June 2015 to guide and expand their bilateral defence and strategic partnership until 2025.

B2B #2: From news – 20 States on board to implement Ayushman Bharat

Ayushman Bharat — National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM)

• The scheme was announced in the Budget 2018
• The scheme will provide a cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year
• There will be no cap on family size and age
• The benefits cover will include pre and post-hospitalization expenses
• All pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one of the policy
• A defined transport allowance per hospitalization will also be paid to the beneficiary

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Kaivalya

Dynasty/era : Mahavira period

Meaning : 1.Kaivalya is a state of solitude, aloneness, isolation and detachment. The word is derived from the Sanskrit kevala, meaning “alone” or “isolated.” 2.It is a separation of purusha (Self or Soul) from prakriti (primal matter). The state of kaivalya is the main goal of Raja yoga. 3.It is a detachment and independence from relationships, egoism, attraction, aversion and the cycle of birth and death. One can achieve this state by performing austerities, yoga practice and discipline. One who achieves this state is called a Kevalin.

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

New norms for college teachers

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/new-norms-for-college-teachers/

Note details about UGC and the fact that Indians who had been awarded a doctoral degree from any of the top 500 global universities would be eligible to teach in Indian universities without the requirement of any equivalence certificate or NET

Also read about Swayam, the MOOCs platform for online material

[pib] Cabinet approves proposal for enactment of Dam Safety Bill, 2018

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-cabinet-approves-proposal-for-enactment-of-dam-safety-bill-2018/

Note down important provisions of the bill. A question can be asked in Mains under the Disaster Management head

[pib] NITI Aayog to launch Composite Water Management Index

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-niti-aayog-to-launch-composite-water-management-index/

See components of water management index. Also, study about the water crisis in India as well as across the world and need for sustainable use of water

Low Relevance News

U.S. nod for six more Apaches

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of six additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to India

No important details included in news from exam point of view

Centre mulls action against Haryana for polluting Yamuna

A notice is being issued to Haryana for its role in polluting the Yamuna.

No important bodies or river tributaries mentioned. Not important for exam.

Govt. Posters for easy recall