Cyclone ‘Yaas’

In News: As the low-pressure area in the North Andaman Seas likely to intensify as Cyclonic Storm, ‘Yaas’ over the Bay of Bengal and moving North Westerly direction and likely to cross the coast between North Odisha and West Bengal.

Context:    

Cyclone YAAS:

  • Cyclone Yaas is a tropical cyclone which is taking shape in the Bay of Bengal. It was predicted that the cyclone will make a landfall between Paradeep and Sagar Island.
  • A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and/or squalls.
  • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the Regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
  • As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure. The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.
  • 12 other countries are: Bangladesh, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, U.A.E and Yemen

Preparedness:

  • As part of the preparedness, eight flood relief teams and four diving teams are prepositioned at Odisha and West Bengal to augment the existing resources.
  • Four naval ships are on standby with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks, diving, and medical teams to render assistance in the most affected areas along the Odisha and West Bengal coast.
  • Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega at Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali near Chennai to undertake an aerial survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation, and airdrop of relief material as required.

NTPC Mouda’s river rejuvenation project helps over 150 villages to overcome water crisis

In News:

  • NTPC, Central Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Power in Mouda, Maharashtra has helped over 150 villages in and around its operational area to overcome water crisis through ground water rejuvenation project.
  • As part of its CSR initiative, NTPC Mouda is supporting the Jalyukta Shivar Yojana project which has successfully managed to turn Mouda into a water-surplus tehsil.
  • The ‘Trap the rain where it falls’ technique involves the creation of ponds and nullahs throughout the stretch of the river so that rainwater can be held for a long period. Earlier, the rainwater would run off the ground, but now the water gets sufficient time to percolate deep into the ground. This has led to a massive increase in groundwater levels.

CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) transfers the UV Disinfection technology to combat SARS-CoV-2 to indigenous manufacturers

In News: There has been increasing evidence for airborne route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via aerosols which is now considered to be important by international agencies WHO, REHVA, ASHRAE and by health authorities in several countries.

Context:

  • The airborne transmission is a major risk in indoor settings.
  • Significantly, research carried out by CSIR constituent labs had demonstrated experimentally that SARS-CoV-2 viral particles could be detected in air even after 2 hours of exit of infected persons from a room and at distances much greater than a few meters as well strengthening evidence of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2.              
  • Based on these studies and recognizing the need for effective solutions of viral disinfection the challenge was to develop an effective fail-proof retro-fit device with high intensities to handle fast airflows to be fitted with minimal intervention in air-ducts of existing HVAC systems that are widely used in indoors in industrial and commercial environment. 
  • CSIR-CSIO has developed an UV-C air duct disinfection system. The disinfection system can be used in auditoriums, large conference rooms, classrooms, malls etc. which will provide a relatively safer environment for indoor activities in the current pandemic.
  • The technology has been developed according to the requirements for deactivation of SARS COV-2 virus contained in an aerosol with necessary ventilation measures, necessary safety and user guidelines and tested Bio-safety standards etc.
  • UV-C deactivates over 99 % of viruses, bacteria, fungus and other bio – aerosols etc. with appropriate dosages using 254nm UV light.
  • Use of UV-C may also help in ameliorating the fungal infections being witnessed during the current wave of the pandemic.
  • The CSIR-CSIO developed product is tested for more than 99 % disinfection and could be used as a retrofit solution to Air Handling Units (AHUs) of buildings, transport vehicles and other spin off applications.
  • The UV-C is energy efficient system, improves airflow through coils, enhances indoor air quality, requires less maintenance, easy to retrofit with any existing system having AHU ducts, and has low initial setup cost. The system comes with commercialized standards and certifications.

ELISA test for estimation of total antibody concentration of COVID 19

In News: A Bangalore-based start-up has developed a novel, point-of-care Electrochemical ELISA test that enables fast and accurate estimation of total antibody concentration of COVID 19 in clinical samples.

Context:

  • PathShodh Healthcare, developed the first of its kind, semi-quantitative Electrochemical ELISA test for COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies.
  • While Qualitative analysis detects constituent elements in the sample, semi-quantitative analysis gives an approximate estimation of their concentrations.
  • PathShodh has received the license to manufacture for sale from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), after validation at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, as per the requirements of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
  • This novel technology and product was supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under its initiative on Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH). The effort was coordinated through SINE at IIT Bombay and IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad.
  • The novelty of the technology is based on the measurement of electrochemical redox activity of IgM and IgG antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein (S1).
  • The S1 protein hosts the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD), which latches to the ACE2 receptors on the cells before infection. Hence the antibody tests targeting S1 spike protein are more representative of an immune response against infection compared to other antibody tests targeting Nucleocapcid (N) protein.
  • PathShodh’s technique is also a major departure from the qualitative rapid antibody tests in the market, which are primarily based on lateral flow ELISA technique. The technology has been protected through US and Indian patent applications.
  • The other unique features of this technology include onboard memory to store more than 1 lakh real-time test results, touch screen display, rechargeable battery, Bluetooth connectivity to smart phone and cloud storage, capabilities to map the patient data to Aadhar number, and the possibility of connecting test data through APIs to Aarogya Setu.

Khelo India State Centre of Excellence in Srinagar – Training facilities for Kayaking and Canoeing

In News: In a move that promises to strengthen the already commendable performance of athletes of Jammu and Kashmir in the disciplines of Kayaking and Canoeing, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has decided to include the two water sports disciplines at the Khelo India State Center of Excellence (KISCE) in Srinagar.

Context:

  • The J&K Sports Council and the state government had initiated the request for these sporting disciplines to be added.
  • The KISCE, which was launched in April 2021, after revamping facilities in the existing J&K Water Sports Academy in the state, earlier had training facilities only for rowing.

Kayaking:

  • Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water.
  • It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle.
  • A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and then the other in rotation.

Canoeing:

  • Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Most present-day canoeing is done as or as a part of a sport or recreational activity.

Ministry of Ayush organises webinars on “Be with Yoga, Be at Home”

In News:

  • The Ministry of Ayush is organising various activities in the run up to the International Day of Yoga, 2021. One among these is a series of five webinars that the Ministry is organising under the broad theme of “Be with Yoga, Be at Home”.
  • This series of five insightful webinars is aimed to remind to the wider audience about the issues that have become extremely important in the present context of Covid-19.
  • All the webinars will be live-streamed on YouTube & Facebook Page of the Ministry of Ayush.

Supreme Court’s E-Committee releases “e-Courts Services Mobile App” in 14 languages

In News: E-Committee, Supreme Court of India has released Manual for its top citizen-centric service- free “e-Courts Services Mobile app” in 14 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarathi, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu).

Context:

  • “e-Courts Services Mobile app” already released by e-Committee, Supreme Court of India for the benefit of the Litigants, Citizens, Lawyers, Law firms, Police, Government Agencies and other Institutional Litigants has so far crossed 57  lakh downloads.
  • The e-Courts Services Mobile App has been widely hailed as an effective Electronic Case Management Tool (ECMT).  ECMT is of immense convenience being available 24 x 7 with no geographical boundaries and easy access on no-cost basis. 
  • The mobile app and its manuals in English & regional languages can be freely downloaded from the official website of the e-Committee, Supreme Court of India.
  • The application will pave the way for optimizing our legal system in an ever-evolving digital world.
  • Using the e-Courts services mobile application , one can get various citizen-centric services like search for cases with case numbers, CNR numbers, filing numbers, party names, FIR number, advocate details, Acts, etc.

India to push for WHO, EU approval for Covaxin

In News: Faced with concern that Indians receiving the Covaxin vaccine may not get relaxation in travel restrictions, the government has decided to help ensure that Bharat Biotech receives clearances from both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the EU’s European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Context:

  • There is certainly an interest in getting Covaxin on WHO’s Emergency Use List (EUL), while the European regulatory procedures are likely to take longer but are also being pursued.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been tasked with studying the matter, given both the need for recognition for the Indian-made vaccine, as well as the desire to push for more export orders in the future.
  • The decision comes as 27 EU member countries approved a proposal to allow “fully vaccinated” tourists from countries outside Europe under certain criteria.
  • While the travellers getting AstraZeneca’s Covishield would be included on the WHO and EU’s listings, if travel from India is accepted, those who have taken Covaxin would not.

Film on Auroville’s afforestation project to be screened in Paris

In News:

  • Aurovillian Christoph Pohl’s documentary EverSlowGreen, which tells the story of Auroville’s unique afforestation project that took root on an eroded desert plateau at Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, has been officially selected for screening at the prestigious ChangeNow summit in Paris.
  • The project was supported by Auroville and funded by the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2018. The documentary premiered at the Auroville Film Festival 2020.

Marayur’s sandalwood success story

In News:

  • The Marayur Sandalwood Division at Idukki in Kerala has turned into a role model on how participatory management and sustainable efforts for tribal empowerment can prevent poaching, theft and illegal activities in a forest division.
  • Sandalwood theft has considerably dropped over the years, with no cases so far registered this year. The Marayur Sandalwood Division faced the highest level of sandalwood theft and poaching from 2001 to 2003, with over hundreds of cases reported each year. In 2005, the High Court of Kerala ordered the creation of the exclusive reserve and efforts to protect it.
  • The State government took up the protection of the reserve, with more staff and vehicles provided exclusively to the sandalwood division.
  • Efforts to protect traditional seeds were launched, and the farmers inside the forest settlement were given support for cultivating ragi, their staple food, and vegetables. A large quantity of vegetables arrives at weekly market “Chilla”, where they are auctioned at good prices.

Volcano eruption in Congo: Mount Nyaragongo

In News:

  • As the active volcano in Congo, Mount Nyaragongo, erupted again, the Indian Army contingent under the United Nations peace keeping mission (MONUSCO) assisted in protecting civilians and U.N. officials as well as assets during the evacuation.
  • Mount Nyaragongo which overlooks Goma town, erupted spewing lava, gases and sediments resulting in panic among the civilians. Most of the lava, however, has flowed towards Rwanda and only a small stream is trickling towards Goma.

Minor ‘face-off’ in Galwan Valley

In News: There was a minor face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the no-patrolling zone at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh recently. However, no clash occurred and the two sides disengaged quickly.

Context:

  • A no-patrolling zone extending to around 3 km, around 1.5 km each on either side of the clash site near the Y-junction of the Galwan Valley, was created after June 15, 2020, when 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in clashes with Chinese troops.
  • Galwan Valley:
    • The Galwan Valley is one of the flashpoint of the ongoing standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops.
    • The Galwan River, which runs 80 kilometres westward from its origins in Karokoram range through Aksai Chin and East Ladakh to join the Shyok river is said to be of strategic significance in the region.
    • It may be recalled that the Galwan Valley was also a flashpoint during the Indo-China war of 1962.
    • The Galwan River is to the west of China’s 1956 claim line in Aksai Chin. In 1960 China had advanced its claim to the west of the river along the mountain ridge adjoining the Shyok river valley. On the other hand, India continued to claim the entire Aksai Chin plateau.

Lithuania quits ‘divisive’ China group

In News:

  • Lithuania is quitting China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states that includes other EU members, calling it “divisive”.
  • The Baltic country urged fellow EU members to pursue “a much more effective 27+1 approach and communication with China.”
  • In recent months, Lithuania also took several steps that angered Beijing, including the blocking of Chinese investment and announcing it would open a trade office in Taiwan.