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Type: Prelims Only

  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    Emergency use nod for Virafin

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Type 1 interferons

    Mains level: Paper 2- Emergency use approval of Virafin

    About the drug

    • It is used in treating people with chronic hepatitis B and C. 
    • The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted emergency use approval for pharma major Zydus Cadila’s antiviral drug ‘Virafin’, to treat moderate COVID-19 disease in adults.
    • When administered early on during COVID, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications.
    • It significantly reduces viral load when given early on and can help in better disease management.

    Findings of the clinical trials

    • A single dose subcutaneous regimen of the antiviral Virafin [a pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PegIFN)] will make the treatment more convenient for the patients.
    • When administered early on during COVID, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications.
    • In the phase-3 trials, the drug was able to achieve “better clinical improvement in the patients suffering from COVID-19”.
    • A “higher proportion (91.15%) of patients administered the drug were RT-PCR negative by day seven as it ensures faster viral clearance”.
    • The drug reduced the duration for supplemental oxygen to 56 hours from 84 hours in moderate COVID-19 patients.

    How the drug works

    • Type I interferons are the body’s first line of defence against many viral infections.
    • In old people, the ability to produce interferon alpha in response to viral infections gets reduced, which might be the reason for higher mortality.
    • The drug when administered early during the disease can replace this deficiency and help in the recovery process.

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  • RBI Notifications

    RBI extends Ways and Means credit for States, UTs to Sept

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF)

    Mains level: Paper 3- RBI extends WMA scheme

    About Ways and Means credit

    • Simply put, it is a facility for both the Centre and states to borrow from the RBI.
    • WMAs are temporary advances given by the RBI to the government to tide over any mismatch in receipts and payments.
    • Section 17(5) of the RBI Act, 1934 authorises the central bank to lend to the Centre and state governments subject to their being repayable “not later than three months from the date of the making of the advance”.

    Extension of the scheme

    • The RBI decided to continue with the existing interim Ways and Means Advances (WMA) scheme limit of ₹51,560 crore for all States/ UTs shall for six months given the prevalence of COVID-19.
    • Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on WMA to State Governments, 2021 — chaired by Sudhir Shrivastava — the RBI had revised the WMA Scheme of States and Union Territories (UTs).
    • The WMA limit arrived at by the Committee based on total expenditure of States/ UTs, works out to ₹47,010 crore. 

    What RBI said about SDR

    • The RBI further said Special Drawing Facility (SDF) availed by state governments and UTs will continue to be linked to the quantum of their investments in marketable securities issued by the Government of India.
    • The net annual incremental investments in Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF) and Guarantee Redemption Fund (GRF) will continue to be eligible for availing of SDF, without any upper limit.
    • CSF and GRF are reserve funds maintained by some State Governments with the Reserve Bank of India.

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  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    Brucellosis: Preventive measures launched

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Health and Animal Husbandry teams have launched preventive measures and initiated an epidemiological investigation, after one case of brucellosis, was confirmed in a prisoner.

    • The infection is passed on to humans through the ingestion of unpasteurized milk and milk products or contact with animal secretions.

    Brucellosis:

    • Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
    • Humans can get infected if they come in direct contact with infected animals or by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.
    • According to the WHO, most cases of the disease are caused by ingesting unpasteurised milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.

    Symptoms:

    • Fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia, headache and muscle pain
    • While some signs and symptoms can last for long periods of time, others may never go away.
    • These include recurrent fevers, arthritis, swelling of the testicles and scrotum area, swelling of the heart, neurologic symptoms, chronic fatigue, depression and swelling of the liver or spleen.
    • Human to human transmission of the virus is rare.

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  • Global Energy Review 2021 report

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Initial estimates for 2020 energy demand and CO2 emission was released recently in an annual report Global Energy Review by International Energy Agency (IEA).

    https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/BlankSiteASPX/media/WNNImported/mainimagelibrary/corporate%20branded/Global-Energy-Review-2021-(IEA).jpg?ext=.jpg

    • The Global Energy Review is annual update on the latest trends in world energy and CO2 emissions.
    • It covers all the main fuels and technologies, providing insights across regions, economies and countries.

    Highlights of the report:

    • Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are on course to surgeby 1.5 billion tonnes in 2021 driven by in the resurgence of coal use in the power sector.
      • The second-largest increase in history.
      • This would be the biggest annual rise in emissions since 2010, during the carbon-intensive recovery from the global financial crisis.
    • CO2 emissions will increase by almost five per cent in 2021 to 33 billion tonnes.
      • The key driver is coal demand, which is set to grow by 4.5 per cent, surpassing its 2019 level and approaching its all-time peak from 2014, with the electricity sector accounting for three-quarters of this increase.
    • Global energy demand is set to increase by 4.6 per cent in 2021, led by emerging markets and developing economies, pushing it above its 2019 level.
    • Demand for all fossil fuels is on course to grow significantly in 2021, with both coal and gas set to rise above their 2019 levels.
    • Oil is also rebounding strongly but is expected to stay below its 2019 peak, as the aviation sector remains under pressure.
      • More than 80 per cent of the projected growth in coal demand in 2021 is set to come from Asia, led by China.
    • Electricity generation from renewables is set to leap by over eight per cent in 2021.
    • The biggest contribution to that growth comes from solar and wind.
      • Electricity generation from wind is projected to grow by 275 terawatt-hours, or around 17 per cent, from last year.
      • Electricity generation from solar PV is expected to increase by 145 terawatt-hours, up almost 18 per cent from last year.
      • Their combined output is on track to reach more than 2800 terawatt-hours in 2021.
    • Renewables are set to provide 30 per cent of electricity generationworldwide in 2021.
    • China is expected to account for almost half of the global increase in electricity generation from renewables, followed by the US, the European Union and India.

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  • India ranks 87th in global energy transition index

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: PDS, Buffer Stock & Food Security

    India has been ranked at the 87th position among 115 countries in the Energy Transition Index (ETI).

    • The latest report is based on a revised ETI methodology that takes into account recent changes in the global energy landscape and the increasing urgency of climate change action.
    • 92 out of 115 countries tracked on the ETI increased their aggregate score over the past 10 years, which affirms the positive direction and steady momentum of the global energy transition

    Highlights of the report:

    • The top 10 countries in the index are Western and Northern European countries.
    • Sweden is in the first position followed by Norway (2nd) and Denmark (3rd).
    • Other countries in the top 10 are Switzerland (4), Austria (5), Finland (6), the United Kingdom (7), New Zealand (8), France (9) and Iceland (10).
    • China (68) and India (87), which collectively account for a third of global energy demand, have both made strong improvements over the past decade, despite coal continuing to play a significant role in their energy mix.
      • “China”s improvements primarily result from reducing the energy intensity of the economy, gains in decarbonising the energy mixthrough the expansion of renewables and strengthening the enabling environment through investments and infrastructure.
    • Zimbabwe is the last ranked country.

    India specific highlights:

    • India has been ranked at the 87th position among 115 countries.
    • India has targeted improvements through subsidy reforms and rapidly scaling energy access, with a strong political commitment and regulatory environment for the energy transition.

    About the Energy Transition Index (ETI):

    • ETI is a report from World Economic Forum (WEF).
    • It is an annual ranking.
    • The index tracks nations on the current performance of their energy systems across various aspects.
    • The index benchmarks 115 countries on the current performance of their energy systems across three dimensions :
      1. Economic development and growth
      2. Environmental sustainability
      3. Energy security and access indicators — and their readiness to transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.

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  • Plasmid

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    • Scientists have developed a Covid-19 vaccine that could offer protection against not only existing and future strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
    • The vaccine costs $1 a dose. It uses the plasmid of E-coli bacteria to produce the vaccine.
    • A plasmid is a small, extrachromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently.

    • They are most commonly found as small circular, double-stranded DNA molecules in bacteria; however, plasmids are sometimes present in archaea and eukaryotic organisms.

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  • Fifth session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Fifth session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)established under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) inaugurated virtually on 20th April with a series of virtual sessions.

    • The session will see nearly 300 experts from 50 countries taking part in the deliberations.

    About CCSCH:

    • Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs was formed in 2013 with support of more than a hundred countries with India as the host country and Spices Board India as the Secretariat for organising the sessions of the committee.
    • The objective was to develop and expand worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs, and to consult with other international organisations in the standards development process.
    • Since its inception, the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs has been successful in developing harmonised global Codex standards for spices and herbs.
    • In its past four sessions, the committee developed and finalized standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.

    About CAC:

    • The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body.
    • Set up in 1963.
    • It was established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

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  • When Aadhaar-related problems lead to denial of rations and benefits: what the data show

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    The Supreme Court recently asked the Centre to respond to allegations made in a Public Interest Litigation with respect to 3 crore ration cards being cancelled in the country because of the insistence on Aadhaar linkage and biometric authentication.

    Key Points

    About Aadhar Card:

    • Aadhar Card is basically a biographic and biometric data of Indian citizens that includes name, date of birth, gender, address, a photograph, and ten fingerprint and two iris scans.
    • It includes a unique 12-digit Aadhaar number.
    • The Aadhar Card is a residential proof and not a citizenship card.

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  • Sudarshan Sen Committee

    Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a committee to evaluate the role of asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) in stressed debt resolution and review their business model.

    About the committee:

    • It is a six-member committee that will be headed by Sudarshan Sen, former executive director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

    Mandate:

    • To review the existing legal and regulatory framework and recommend measures to improve the efficacy of ARCs.
    • It will also review their role in stressed asset resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and suggest means to improve liquidity and trading of security receipts.
    • It has also been asked to review the business models of ARCs.
    • The committee will submit its report within three months from the date of its first meeting.

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  • Frame protection rules for exotic animals not included in WPA

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    The Delhi High Court issued an order directing the Centre to take a decision on framing rules to confer protection for exotic animals that are currently not under the purview of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

    Key highlights:

    • The court’s order came in response to a petition filed by animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India about the status of a male hippopotamus rescued from the Asiad Circus in Uttar Pradesh.
    • The court directed that the hippo be permanently kept in a spacious facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
    • The hippo was in the company of a rescued female hippopotamus and was receiving expert veterinary care.
    • The facility met the Central Zoo Authority’s Guidelines on Minimum Dimensions of Enclosures for Housing Exotic Animals of Different Species and recommended that the facility be allowed to provide the hippopotamus with lifelong care.

    About Hippopotamus:

    • Hippopotamus is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal and ungulate native to sub-Saharan Africa.
    • It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus.
    • After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl.
    • Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the Hippopotamidae are cetaceans from which they diverged about 55 million years ago.

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