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Type: Prelims Only

  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Zebrafish study reveals how the brain makes its connections

    10 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Synapses, Human Brain

    Mains level: NA

    Recent work by researchers at the National Centre of Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, has thrown light on what stimulates the synapses (connection of nerve cells) to form.

    What are Synapses?

    • Neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain connect by means of junctions known as synapses through which they transmit signals.
    • There are two types of synapses – chemical and electrical:

    (1) Chemical Synapse

    • In this, there is a space of about 20 nanometres between two neurons, and the way they communicate is this: One neuron converts electrical signal into chemical signals.
    • This chemical is released into the synaptic space and the receiving neuron converts the chemical signal back into an electrical signal.

    (2) Electrical synapse

    • In these synapses, the two neurons have a physical connection and the conversion of electrical to chemical need not occur, and they communicate directly.
    • Electrical synapses are like a physical wire, communication is faster but they are also fewer in number.

    Observing these synapses

    • Researchers from TIFR-National Centre of Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, have chosen Zebrafish as a model organism to study this process.
    • Zebrafish are transparent and neuron development in larval zebrafish can be observed from day to day by injecting a dye or by engineering the fish to express fluorescent proteins.
    • It was observed that electrical synapses are formed before chemical synapses, they are like a blueprint in which neurons make a handshake. This results in the making of chemical synapses.
    • Research on organisms such as leeches showed that if you remove electrical synapses, the chemical synapses do not form.
    • However, the mechanism of how it happens in higher organisms such as vertebrates was not known.

    What induces these synapses?

    • The group observed that knocking out a particular protein known as the gap junction delta 2b (gjd2b) in the cerebellum of zebrafish affected levels of the enzyme CaMKII.
    • Levels of CaMKII were seen to increase in the Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum.
    • These neurons and the cerebellum itself control coordination of movements in the organism.

    Why study this?

    • In humans for example, excess abuse of alcohol leads to damage of these cells, which results in lack of coordination in movement.
    • The cerebellum shows an evolutionary continuity in all vertebrates, so, too, the Purkinje neurons.
    • Even though fish and humans diverged from a common ancestor about 500 million years ago, the cerebellum has been evolutionarily conserved.
    • While zebrafish have about 300-400 Purkinje neurons, humans have thousands of these.

     

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  • Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

    What are the First Advance Estimates of GDP?

    8 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains GS3: GS3-03.Government Budgeting

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: GDP computation and various terminologies

    Mains level: National Income Accounting

    The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the First Advance Estimates (FAE) for the current financial year (2021-22 or FY22).

    Tap to read more about:

    National Income Determination, GDP, GNP, NDP, NNP, Personal Income

    What is GDP?

    • GDP measures the monetary value of all goods and services produced within the domestic boundaries of a country within a timeframe (generally, a year).
    • It is slightly different from the other commonly used statistic for national income — the GNP.
    • The Gross National Product (GNP) measures the monetary value of all goods and services by the people and companies of a country regardless of where this value was created.

    GDP estimates for FY22

    • According to MoSPI, India’s GDP will grow by 9.2 per cent in 2020-21.
    • Last financial year, FY21, the GDP had contracted by 7.3%.

    What are the First Advance Estimates of GDP?

    • The FAE, which were first introduced in 2016-17, are typically published at the end of the first week of January.
    • They are the “first” official estimates of how GDP is expected to grow in that financial year.
    • But they are also the “advance” estimates because they are published long before the financial year (April to March) is over.
    • It is important to note that even though the FAE are published soon after the end of the third quarter (October, November, December), they do not include the formal Q3 GDP data.
    • Q3 data is published at the end of February as part of the Second Advance Estimates (SAE).

    Significance of FAE

    • Budgetary calculations: Since the SAE will be published next month, the main significance of FAE lies in the fact that they are the GDP estimates that the Union Finance Ministry uses to decide the next financial year’s budget allocations.
    • Basis for nominal GDP: From the Budget-making perspective, it is important to note what has happened to nominal GDP — both absolute level and its growth rate. That’s because nominal GDP is the actual observed variable.

    Note: Real GDP, which is the GDP after taking away the effect of inflation, is a derived metric. All Budget calculations start with the nominal GDP.

    Real GDP = Nominal GDP — Inflation Rate

    The difference between the real and nominal GDP shows the levels of inflation in the year.

    How are the FAE arrived at before the end of the concerned financial year?

    Ans. Benchmark-Indicator method

    • The FAE are derived by extrapolating (uses ratio and proportion) the available data.
    • The approach for compiling the Advance Estimates is based on Benchmark-Indicator method.
    • In this, the estimates available for the previous year (2020-21 in this case) are extrapolated using relevant indicators reflecting the performance of sectors.”

    What are the main takeaways?

    #1 GDP Growth

    • At 9.2%, the real GDP growth rate for FY22 is slightly lower than most expectations, including RBI’s, which pegged it at 9.5%.
    • These estimates are based on data before the rise of the Omicron variant.

    #2 Role of high inflation

    • For FY22, while real GDP (with 2011-12 base prices) will grow by 9.2%, nominal GDP (calculated using current market prices) will grow by a whopping 17.6%.
    • The difference between the two growth rates — about 8.5 percentage points — is essentially a marker of inflation (or the rate at which average prices have increased in this financial year).

    #3 Private consumption continues to struggle

    • The FAE analyses the three main contributors to GDP — private consumption demand, investments in the economy, and government expenditures.
    • It shows that while the latter two are expected to claw back to the pre-Covid level, the first engine will continue to stay in a slump.

    #4 Average Indian is much worse off

    • For the bulk of the Indian population, thus, aggregate data recovering to pre-Covid levels are largely academic.
    • An average Indian has lost almost 2 years in terms of income levels and 3 years in terms of spending levels.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. In the context of Indian economy, consider the following statements:

    1. The growth rate of GDP has steadily increased in the last five years.
    2. The growth rate in per capita income has steadily increased in the last five years.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

    Note: There can be no absolute answers to such questions unless the year is mentioned. Still try to substantiate your answer with the FY21 context.

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”k4u3k21e1t” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Do post it here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    Omisure: India’s first RT-PCR kit to identify Omicron strain

    8 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Gene sequencing, RTPCR

    Mains level: COVID diagnosis

    Omisure — India’s first home-grown testing kit has recently received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India.

    About Omisure

    • Omisure is an omicron detecting RT-PCR kit developed by the Mumbai-based Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TATA MD) in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
    • It can differentiate the omicron strain of the novel coronavirus from the delta, alpha and the other variants in under four hours.
    • It can diagnose this variant in a single step

    How does it work?

    • This new kit can identify the Omicron variant by targeting two regions of the S or the spike gene.
    • This gene codes for the spike protein, which helps the novel coronavirus enter and infect human cells.
    • The S, the Enveloped (E), and Nucleocapsid (N) genes are some of the targets of conventional RT-PCR tests.
    • When it detects these genes, a patient sample is labelled positive. As omicron bears heavy mutations in the S gene, the RT-PCR can sometimes miss it.
    • The absence of S gene likely indicates omicron’s presence.
    • This is called S gene dropout or S gene target failure — and is one of the targets of Omisure.

    How does Omisure compare with gene sequencing?

    • Gene sequencing reads the order of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
    • Despite being considered the gold standard, sequencing has a few limitations.
    • It is slow, expensive and complicated. It is a multi-step process.
    • It begins with extracting the virus’ RNA from patient samples, converting it into DNA, amplifying or multiplying it through RT-PCR before finally sending it for gene sequencing.
    • This entire process can take as many as three days.

    Back2Basics:

    PCR Test for Diagnosis of the COVID-19

     

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  • Indian Navy Updates

    Exercise Sea Dragon 22

    8 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Internal Security
    Mains GS3: GS3-24. Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Ex Sea Dragon 22

    Mains level: Maritime cooperations for Indo-Pacific

    India is among the six Indo-Pacific nations participating in Exercise Sea Dragon 22.

    Sea Dragon 22

    • It is a multi-lateral anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Pacific Ocean hosted by the US.
    • The exercise includes the navies of India, Australia, Canada, Japan, the US and South Korea.
    • India, Japan, Australia and America are also part of the Quad, and also participate in the Malabar exercise.
    • It includes in-flight training, ranging from tracking simulated targets to the final problem of tracking a live US Navy submarine.

    Significance of the exercise

    • The exercise is significant as almost all of the participating countries have strained relations with China.
    • China is expanding its prowess in the Indo-Pacific under its Look West Policy.

    Also, take time to read about all major exercises:

    Various Defence Exercises in News

     

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  • Banking Sector Reforms

    What are Scheduled Banks?

    7 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains GS3: Indian Economy

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Scheduled Banks, Payment Banks

    Mains level: Banking system in India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that Airtel Payments Bank Ltd. has been categorized as a Scheduled Bank.

    Why such a move?

    • With this, the bank can now pitch for government-issued Requests for Proposals (RFP) and primary auctions.
    • It can undertake both Central and State Government businesses participating in government-operated welfare schemes.

    What are Scheduled Banks?

    • Scheduled Banks refer to those banks which have been included in the Second Schedule of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
    • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in turn includes only those banks in this Schedule which satisfy the criteria laid down vide section 42(6)(a) of the said Act.
    • Every Scheduled bank enjoys two types of principal facilities: it becomes eligible for debts/loans at the bank rate from the RBI; and, it automatically acquires the membership of clearing house.
    • Banks not under this Schedule are called Non-Scheduled Banks

    Types of Scheduled Banks

    There are two main categories of commercial banks in India namely:

    1. Scheduled Commercial banks
    2. Scheduled Co-operative banks

    Scheduled commercial Banks are further divided into 5 types as below:

    1. Nationalised Banks
    2. Development Banks
    3. Regional Rural Banks
    4. Foreign Banks
    5. Private sector Banks

    Payment bank (currently four banks Airtel Payments Bank, Fino Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank, Paytm Payments Bank have been granted Scheduled bank status).

    Scheduled Co-operative banks are further divided into 2 types namely:

    1. Scheduled State Co-operative banks
    2. Scheduled Urban Co-operative banks

     

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    India’s first open Rock Museum in Hyderabad

    7 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Environment
    Mains GS1: GS1-15.Geographical features and their location- Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Indian Rock System

    Mains level: NA

    The Ministry of Science & Technology has inaugurated India’s first open rock museum displaying different types of rocks gathered from different States of ages ranging from 3.3 billion years to around 55 million years.

    Rock System in India

    Based on this complex and varied geological history, the Geological Survey of India has classified rock systems of the country into 4 major divisions:

    1. Archaean Rock System
    2. Dravidian Rock System
    3. Purana Rock System
    4. Aryan Rock System

    [I] Archaean Rock System:

    The Archaean group of rocks consists of two systems-(a) Achaean granites and gneisses, and (b) Dharwarian sedimentary:

    Archaean Gneisses and Schists (pre-2500 million years)

    • The Archean System contains the first formed rocks of the earth.
    • The rocks are primarily gneisses and granites, having no marks of fossils.
    • They often underlie the strata formed subsequently and the system is generally known as the basement complex or fundamental gneisses.
    • The Archaean rocks cover two-thirds of peninsular India. They also occur in the roots of the mountain peaks all along the Greater Himalayas, trans-Himalayan ranges of Zaskar, Ladakh and Karakoram.

    Dharwar System (2500-1800 million years ago)

    • The weathering of the Archaean rocks yielded the earliest sediments and formed the oldest sedimentary strata, the Dharwar system.
    • These are found today in metamorphic forms and do not contain fossils.
    • These rocks occur in scattered patches in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, central and eastern parts of Chotanagpur plateau, Meghalaya plateau, Aravalis, Himalayan region etc

    Mineral contents:

    • They contain gneisses (which range from granite to gabbro) and schists (crystalline rocks such as mica, talc etc.).
    • These rocks have metallic and non-metallic minerals like copper, tin, graphite, lead, zinc, etc.

    [II] Dravidian Rock System:

    • This is also known as carboniferous rock system and formed during the Paleozoic era, i.e., from 600- 300 million years ago.
    • They are not much abundant in India.
    • They have plentiful fossils and beginning of coal formation can be seen in this period. The quality of carboniferous coal is high.
    • They are found in extra- Peninsular regions of the Himalayas and the Gangetic plains.

    Mineral content

    • This type of rock system comprises of limestones, shale and quartzite and Mount Everest is formed of upper Carboniferous limestones.
    • Most of the coal is not of the Carboniferous period, which is found in India.
    • The meaning of Carboniferous in geology is coal-bearing.

    [III] Purana Rock System:

    The Purana rock system has two divisions: Cuddapah system and Vindhyan system. The word ‘Purana’ was used in place of a Proterozoic era in India.

    Cuddapah Rock system:

    • They are observed in Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh.
    • The non-fossiliferous clay, slates, sandstones and limestones were accumulated in the depression between two-fold mountains which is known as synclinal basins.
    • They also have a large accumulation of building purpose cement grade limestones and quartzites.
    • This type of rock contains ore of iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese etc.

    Vindhya Rock System:

    • This type of rock system is also ancient or old sedimentary rocks which are superimposed on the Archaean rock base and derived its name from Vindhya mountains.
    • The recognition of fossils is negligible, only traces of few animal and plant life were found.
    • This rock system has diamond-bearing regions from which Golconda and Panna diamond mined.

    [IV] Aryan Rock System

    The Aryan rock system in India has the following four subsystems:

    1. Gondwana rock system
    2. Jurassic Rock System
    3. Cretaceous system/ Deccan Trap
    4. Tertiary rock system

    (1) Gondwana Rock System:

    • These are found mainly in Raniganj, Jharia regions of Jharkhand, Damodar valley, Pench valley in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
    • They are called so after the name of Gondwana tribe (indigenous people especially residing in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh region).
    • In this type of rock system, you found metallic minerals like iron, manganese, uranium etc. other than coal.
    • They have low carbon content as it is much younger than Carboniferous coal. These rocks have nearly 98% of India’s coal reserve.

    (2) Jurassic Rock System

    • During the latter part of Jurrasic when sea level rises as compared to land and shoreline moves towards ground or land which result in a flood. In geology, this phenomenon is called marine transgression.
    • This gives rise to a thick series of shallow-water deposits kin Rajasthan and Kutch. Between the Guntur and Rajamundry, another transgression in the east coast of Peninsula.
    • In Kuchchh, coral limestone, shales and conglomerates are found.

    (3) Deccan traps

    • These are formed by the flow of magma over the solidified rock system in layers.
    • Deccan trap gets rise due to volcanic outburst over a major area of Peninsular India from the end of Cretaceous till the beginning of Eocene.
    • The meaning of trap is “stair” or “step” in Swedish and called due to deposition of the volcanic outburst which has a flat top and steep sides.
    • It is mainly found in parts of Kuchchh, Saurashtra, Maharashtra, the Malwa plateau and Northern Karnataka and presently cover near 5 lakh sq. Km.
    • Regur, which is black soil, is formed due to the weathering of these rocks for a long time.

    (4) Tertiary rock system

    • The formation of this type of rock system occurs from 60 to 7 million years ago.
    • It is the most noteworthy period in India’s geological history as the Himalayas were born and recent form came in this period.

    Also read:

    The Geological Structure of India

     

     

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  • Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

    What is Antrix- Devas Multimedia Deal?

    6 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains GS3: GS3-12.Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Antrix

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    A Canadian court has ordered the seizure of more than $30 million worth of Airport Authority of India’s assets.

    Background

    • In 2005, Devas Multimedia signed an agreement with Antrix —a commercial arm of the IISRO —to provide multimedia services to mobile users using the leased S-band satellite spectrum to be provided by Antrix.
    • In 2011, the UPA-2 government canceled this agreement on the ground that it needed the S-band satellite spectrum for national security and other social purposes.
    • This led to arbitration between Antrix and Devas at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) and two bilateral investment treaty (BIT) arbitrations. India lost all three disputes.

    India’s non-compliance

    • AAI and Air India are being targeted because they are Indian public sector entities with overseas assets and serve as a proxy for the government of India.
    • The Canada court can do so through the concept of restrictive immunity.
    • In the meanwhile, the National Company Law Tribunal (India) ordered the liquidation of Devas Multimedia on the ground that the affairs of the company were being carried on fraudulently.

    Why did India cancel the deal?

    • The scandal first came to light when in 2011, the news reported that there were some irregularities in the agreement between Antrix and Devas.
    • They reported the findings of a draft audit report and pointed out discrepancies including financial mismanagement, conflict of interest, non-compliance of rules, and favoritism.
    • This revelation came at the heel of the 2G spectrum scam which was condemned for the high level of corruption.

    How can a Canadian court order the attachment of Indian assets?

    • State immunity — a well-established principle of international law — shields a state and its property against legal proceedings in the courts of other countries.
    • This covers immunity from both jurisdiction and execution.
    • However, there is no international legal instrument in force dealing with state immunity in the municipal legal systems of different countries, which has created an international void.
    • Consequently, countries have filled this void through their national legislations and domestic judicial practices on state immunity.
    • Typically, prominent jurisdictions such as Canada follow the concept of restrictive immunity (a foreign State is immune only for sovereign functions) and not absolute immunity.

    How can assets of AAI be seized when the claim is against India?

    • In execution proceedings, assets of an entity can be seized if that entity is an alter ego of the State that fails to comply with the arbitral award.
    • In other words, if the foreign sovereign exercises such extensive control over the entity, then the presumption that the entity has a separate corporate character is set aside.
    • Thus, the Canadian court must have concluded that the Indian government extensively controls AAI.

    What options does India have?

    • The first option is to comply with the two adverse BIT awards. However, it is highly unlikely that India would do so.
    • The second option is to challenge this decision in an appellate court in Canada as per Canadian law where India can try proving that the ‘extensive control requirement’ is not met in the case of AAI.
    • However, state immunity from execution is purely a procedural hurdle to the enforcement of the BIT award.
    • It cannot justify India’s breach of its international law obligations enshrined in the two BITs and the continued failure to comply with the arbitral awards.

    Back2Basics: New Space India Limited (NSIL)

    • It functions under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS).
    • It aims to commercially exploit the research and development work of ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS.
    • The NSIL would enable Indian Industries to scale up high-technology manufacturing and production base for meeting the growing needs of the Indian space program.
    • It would further spur the growth of Indian Industries in the space sector.

    ANTRIX

    • Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL), Bengaluru is a wholly-owned Government of India Company under the administrative control of the Department of Space.
    • It is as a marketing arm of ISRO for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.
    • Antrix is engaged in providing Space products and services to international customers worldwide.

     

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  • Languages and Eighth Schedule

    English is the language of Court: Gujarat HC

    6 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains GS2: Executive & Judiciary

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Article 348

    Mains level: Official language of Judiciary

    A Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court has asked a convict to speak only in English as that was the language in the higher judiciary referring to Article 348 of the Constitution which mandates that the language of the High Court would be English.

    What is Article 348?

    • It provides for languages to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc
    • Article 348 (1) provides that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High court shall be in English Language until Parliament by law otherwise provides.
    • Under Article 348 (2), the Governor of the State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorize the use of the Hindi language or any other language used for any official purpose of the State.
    • It states that in the proceedings of the High Court having its principal seat in that State provided that decrees, judgments or orders passed by such High Courts shall be in English.

    When is use of other languages permitted?

    • Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, provides that the use of Hindi or official language of a State in addition to the English language may be authorized.
    • This has to be done with the consent of the President of India, by the Governor of the State for purpose of judgments etc. made by the High Court for that State.

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Significance of Delhi government’s recognition to fifth Sikh Takht

    6 January 2022 | Prelims Only |
    Mains GS1: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Takhts in Sikhism

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Delhi Assembly has passed an amendment Bill to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971, recognizing Takht Damdama Sahib as the fifth Takht of Sikhs.

    What is a Sikh Takht?

    • A Takht, which means a throne, is a seat of temporal authority for Sikhs.
    • There are five Sikh Takhts, three in Punjab and one each in Maharashtra and Bihar.

    (1) Akal Takht

    • Located in Amritsar, it is the oldest of the Takhts, and considered supreme among the five.
    • It was set up in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, whose succession as the sixth Guru after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan Dev, is considered a turning point in Sikh history.
    • The Akal Takht, a raised platform that he built in front of the causeway leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
    • It symbolised the coming together of the temporal authority and the political sovereignty of the Sikh community (miri) with the spiritual authority (piri).
    • It is seen as the first marker of Sikh nationalism.

    The other four Takhts are linked to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

    (2) Takht Keshgarh Sahib

    • Located in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh raised Khalsa, the initiated Sikh warriors, in 1699.

    (3) Takht Patna Sahib

    • Guru Gobind Singh was born here in 1666.

    (4) Takht Hazur Sahib

    • In Nanded, where Guru Gobin Singh spent time and where he was cremated in 1708.

    (5) Takht Damdama Sahib

    • In Talwandi Sabo of Bathinda. Guru Gobind Singh spent several months here.

    What does the amendment to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act mean?

    • Simply put, it adds one more ex officio member in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managament Committee (DSGMC) house.
    • Earlier, there were four ex officio members in the house — the chiefs (jathedars) of the other four Sikh Takhts.

    Is it the first time it has been recognised as the fifth Takht?

    • It was back in 1999 that Takht Damdama Sahib was recognised as the fifth Sikh Takht by the Union Home Ministry.
    • It included it as such in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 (Punjab Act VIII of 1925) with a notification dated April 23, 1999.
    • Before that, an SGPC sub-committee had declared it the fifth Takht of Sikhs back in November 1966 after Punjab was carved out as a separate state through the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.

    How politically significant is the move?

    • It comes ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, where the, Delhi’s ruling party, has high stakes.

    What is the role of the Sikh Takhts?

    • The Takhts are known to issue hukumnamas (morality orders) from time to time on issues that concern the Sikh community.
    • Akal Takht is supreme among them because it is the oldest and was created by a Sikh Guru himself, say Sikh scholars.
    • Any edict or order concerning the entire community is issued only from Akal Takht.
    • It is from Akal Takht that Sikhs found to be violating the Sikh doctrine and code of conduct are awarded religious punishment (declared tankhaiya).

    Who appoints the jathedars of the Takhts?

    • The three Takhts in Punjab are directly controlled by the SGPC, which appoints the jathedars.
    • The SGPC is dominated by SAD members.
    • It is widely understood that SAD puts the final seal on the appointment of these three jathedars.
    • The two Takhts outside Punjab have their own trusts and boards.

     

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  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    Traditional vaccines just as effective, say US Scientists

    6 January 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Types of vaccines

    Mains level: Effectiveness of various vaccines against COVID

    Vaccines like Biological E’s Corbevax and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin that are made by traditional methods are “just as effective” as the latest mRNA technology-based vaccines a/c to US scientists.

    What are Vaccines?

    • A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
    • It typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins.

    Types of Vaccines

    There are several types of vaccines, including:

    • Inactivated vaccines
    • Live-attenuated vaccines
    • Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines
    • Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines
    • Viral vector vaccines

    [1] Inactivated vaccines

    • Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ that causes a disease.
    • Inactivated vaccines usually don’t provide immunity (protection) that’s as strong as live vaccines.
    • So you may need several doses over time (booster shots) in order to get ongoing immunity against diseases.
    • Inactivated vaccines are used to protect against: Hepatitis A, Flu (shot only), Polio (shot only), Rabies etc.

    [2] Live-attenuated vaccines

    • Live vaccines use a weakened (or attenuated) form of the germ that causes a disease.
    • Because these vaccines are so similar to natural infection that they help prevent, they create a strong and long-lasting immune response.
    • Just 1 or 2 doses of most live vaccines can give you a lifetime of protection against a germ and the disease it causes.
    • They need to be kept cool in refrigerated conditions.
    • Live vaccines are used to protect against Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Rotavirus, Smallpox, Chickenpox, Yellow fever

    [3] Messenger RNA vaccines

    • Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades and this technology was used to make some of the COVID-19 vaccines.
    • mRNA vaccines make proteins in order to trigger an immune response.
    • mRNA vaccines have several benefits compared to other types of vaccines, including shorter manufacturing times and, because they do not contain a live virus, no risk of causing disease in the person getting vaccinated.

    How does mRNA vaccine work?

    • The mRNA vaccines function differently from traditional vaccines.
    • Traditional vaccines stimulate an antibody response by injecting a human with antigens.
    • mRNA vaccines inject a fragment of the RNA sequence of a virus directly into the cells, which then stimulate an adaptive immune response mRNA fragment is a specific piece of the virus that carries instructions to build the antigen of the virus.
    • An advantage of RNA vaccines is that they stimulate cellular immunity.

     

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