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Jan 06, 2022
INDIAN RESEARCHER TO DEVELOP INDIGENOUS TOOLS TO CONTROL VAPOUR EXPLOSION
An Associate Professor, a Swarnajayanti fellow, is working on a novel technology utilising Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to develop prognostic tools for advance prediction and control of vapor explosion induced accidents in boilers.
Swarnajayanti fellowship
Metal organic framework
IHU Variant
Post Metric Scholar Scheme
- It is a research fellowship in India awarded annually by the Department of Science and Technology.
- It is given for outstanding research done by young scientist in the field of biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physics.
- Citizens of India who are under 40 years of age, and have a proven track record may apply.
- In 1806, the then British government issued regulations for management of the Jagannath temple.
- Under these regulations, Pilgrims who visited the temple were expected to pay taxes.
- The British government was entrusted with appointing senior priests at the temple.
- After three years, the powers of management of the temple were given to the King of Khordha.
- After India gained Independence, the state of Odisha formally introduced the Jagannath Temple Act,1954.
- Land rights of the temple
- Duties of the sevayat
- Administrative powers of the managing committee
- Rights and privileges of the Raja of Puri connected with the management of the temple.
- Decentralizes the power to settle land related issues of the temple.
- Delegate powers to temple administration and officials for sale and lease of land in name of Jagannath temple.
- Earlier, as per the Section 16 (2) of the Act, approval was required from the state government for the process.
- Through the sale of land, used and unused, the temple will generate additional corpus funds.
- It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath (Lord Vishnu).
- Location: Puri, Odisha
- The temple was built in the 12th Century AD by the ruler of Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva.
- The construction of the temple was completed by Anangabhimadeva III.
- The idol of Jagannatha is made of wood.
- It is one of the 4 Holiest places pilgrimage sites in India.
- The other three are: Dwarika, Badrinath and Rameshwar
- The temple is famous for annual Ratha Yatra.
- The three principal deities are pulled on huge chariot.
- The main temple of Jagannath is constructed in Kalinga/Oriya architecture
- It is a distinct sub-style of Nagara architectural style.
- The temple complex is enclosed within two concentric walls: The Kuruma Bheda(Inner wall) and The Meghnad Pachira (Wall)
- The Nilachakra: The Blue wheel perched on top of the temple is made of eight metals or asta dhatu.
- Patitapabana: The flag flows in the opposite direction of the wind and is changed every day at sunset.
- The Mahaprasad: The offering to the Lord is prepared on fire lit by wood charcoal.
- Rice with some vegetables and cereals are put in earthen pots and placed on the fire one on top of the other.
- The Aruna Stambha: The 33 feet monolith structure pillar was originally located at the Sun Temple, Konark.
- This process of catalysis will scrub the CO2 emerging from the factories and convert it into commercially valuable chemicals.
Metal organic framework
- They are a class of compounds consisting of metal ions or clusters coordinated to organic ligands to form one, two, or three-dimensional structures.
- Ligand is an ion or molecule that binds to a central atom to form a coordination complex.
- They are a subclass of coordination polymers, with the special feature that they are often porous.
- It was established in the year 1982 through an act of Parliament.
- Aim: To grant loans to the sugar mills for facilitating the rehabilitation and modernization production of anhydrous alcohol or ethanol and development of sugarcane.
- Low yield.
- Outdated machinery.
- Low consumption.
- Short crushing season of sugarcane crop.
- Cyclical nature of the sugar sector.
- Modernization Cum Expansion of sugar factory.
- Cane Development.
- Bagasse based Co-generation power projects.
- Production of Anhydrous Alcohol or Ethanol from alcohol or molasses.
- Conversion of existing plant to Zero Liquid Discharge Plant.
- The loans carry a concessional rate of interest at the rate of 2% below the Bank Rate.
- Scheduled Bank or Financial Institution – 50% of the total project cost.
- Promoters’ contribution – 10% of the total project cost.
- Sugar development fund component – 40% of the eligible project cost.
- Sulfa drug, also called sulfonamide are any member of a group of synthetic antibiotics containing the sulphanilamide molecular structure.
- Sulfa drugs were the first chemical substances systematically used to treat and prevent bacterial infections in humans.
- They are still used for treating urinary tract infections and preventing infection of burns.
- They are also used in the treatment of certain forms of malaria.
- Article 27 provides for Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion. But under Article 25(2), government can charge fees for providing economic, administrative, financial, political or other secular services.
- Preamble of Indian constitution says that India is a secular nation. The word “Secular” is added in preamble by 42nd constitutional amendment 1976.
- It means, state do not have any religion and do not promote any particular religion.
- Unlike western approach, Indian secularism follow approach of “Sarva Dharma Samabhav”.
- Article 25: Freedom of Conscience and free Profession, Practice and Propagation of Religion.
- Restrictions: Public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of the constitution.
- Provision of Article 25(2): State can make law for:
- Regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice.
- Providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus. Here the Hindus includes the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion.
- Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs.
- Article 27: Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
- Article 28: Freedom from attending religious instruction in certain educational institutions.
- State led control will reduce corruption and malpractice in name of religion.
- Improved transparency and inclusive religious development, without any discrimination.
- The government must not run-on donation money of temples.
- Temples are matter of faith. Government’s intervention in faith contrasts with the secular feature of constitution.
- Under Article 26, constitution provides for freedom to manage religious affairs. But government’s intervention in name of secular matters is imposing barrier in free religious management.
- India has multi-party system and politics of religion is common phenomena in India. Patronization of single religion by the government is possible in name of secular interference, benefiting only a single political party.
- Smart proteins or alternative proteins are the high protein food products.
- These smart proteins can replace animal-derived meat, eggs, and dairy, products which have high protein. It can be anything other than dairy and meat.
- Examples:
- Plant-based meat and eggs, fish, seafood, and baked goods,
- Dairy materials made from plant or crop ingredients such as soy extracts, pea proteins, pulse extracts, beetroot juice, coconut oil etc.
- Smart-proteins derived from plants are classified as veg food under FSSAI guidelines.
- Examples:
- Emergency Provisions are contained in Part Eighteen of the Constitution of India.
- The Constitution of India has provided for imposition of emergency caused by war, external aggression or internal rebellion.
- This is described as the National Emergency.
- This type of emergency can be declared by the President of India.
- According to the 44th Amendment of the Constitution, the President can declare such an emergency only if the Cabinet recommends in writing to do so.
- The President can issue such a proclamation even on the ground of threat of war or aggression.
- The proclamation has to be approved by both the Houses of Parliament by absolute majority of the total membership of the Houses as well as 2/3 majority of members present and voting.
- In case the Lok Sabha stands dissolved at the time of proclamation of emergency or is not in session, it has to be approved by the Rajya Sabha within one month and later on by the Lok Sabha also within one month of the start of its next session.
- Once approved by the Parliament, the emergency remains in force for a period of six months from the date of proclamation.
- In case it is to be extended beyond six months, another prior resolution has to be passed by the Parliament.
- In this way, such emergency continues indefinitely.
- The emergency can be revoked by a simple majority in the Lok Sabha.
- In such a case emergency will immediately become inoperative.
- Under Article 356, the President may issue a proclamation to impose emergency in a state.
- The grounds on which the president can impose state emergency are:
- If he is satisfied on receipt of a report from the Governor of the State, or otherwise
- A situation has arisen under which the Government of the State cannot be carried on smoothly.
- It must also be placed before both the Houses of Parliament for approval.
- The approval must be given within two months, otherwise the proclamation ceases to operate.
- If approved by the Parliament, the proclamation remains valid for six months at a time.
- It can be extended for another six months but not beyond one year.
- However, emergency in a state can be extended beyond one year if:
- A National Emergency is already in operation
- The Election Commission certifies that the election to the State Assembly cannot be held.
- The President may declare a state of Financial Emergency if he/she is satisfied that the financial stability or credit of India or any of its partis in danger.
- It has also to be approved by the Parliament.
- It must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months.
- Financial Emergency can operate as long as the situation demands and may be revoked by a subsequent proclamation.
- Till date, Financial Emergency has not been declared in India.
IHU Variant
- It is a new strain of the Covid-19 virus.
- IHU variant is also known as 1.640.2 variant.
- IHU has 46 mutations with 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions.
- 14 amino acid substitutions, including N501Y and E484K, are located in the spike protein of the IHU strain.
- Amino acids are molecules that combine to form proteins, and both are the building blocks of life.
- N501Y and E484K mutations were earlier also found in Beta, Gamma, Theta and Omicron variants.
- N501Y mutation, first seen on the Alpha variant, can make it more transmissible
- E484K mutation mean that the IHU variant will be more resistant to vaccines.
Post Metric Scholar Scheme
- Post Matric Scholarship scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- The Scheme provides financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste students studying at the post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.
- It is awarded by the government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs.
- Scholarships are given for the study of all recognized post-matriculation or post-secondary courses pursued in recognized institutions, with exceptions.
- Nationals of India only.
- Students whose parents/guardians’ income does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/- per annum.
- Passed the Matriculation or Higher Secondary or any higher examination of a recognized University or Board of Secondary Education
- Deaths from cancer in the country also went up at an average rate of 0.1-1 per cent in the same period.
- Globally, cancer cases increased21% and deaths 26% from 2010-2019.
- Tracheal, Bronchus and Lung (TBL)cancer was the leading cause of cancer globally, followed by colon and rectum, stomach, breast and pancreatic cancer respectively.
- In 2019, the cancer was the leading cause of deaths globally after cardiovascular diseases.
- Cancer cases and deaths were the highest in low and low-middle SDI (socio-demographic index) countries and regions.
- India falls in the low-middle category.
- According to study, Covid-19 pandemic may have slowed progress in cancer care.
- In India, cancer services such as new patient registrations, outpatient services, hospital admissions and major surgeries had dropped between March and May 2020.
- Cancer screening has completely stopped in the last two years when the pandemic was raging.
- Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
- It arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumour.
- These changes are the result of the interaction between a person's genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including:
- Physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
- Chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and
- Biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
- It is a non-contiguous and incurable
- Tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and air pollution (and other non-communicable diseases).
- Some chronic infections.
- Hepatitis B and C viruses and some types of HPV increase the risk for liver and cervical cancer, respectively.
- Infection with HIV substantially increases the risk of cancers such as cervical cancer.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
- Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow.
- Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia is a type of treatment in which body tissue is heated to as high as 113 °F to help damage and kill cancer cells with little or no harm to normal tissue.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps immune system fight cancer.
- Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy uses a drug activated by light to kill cancer and other abnormal cells.
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Launched in in 1975 and revised its strategies in 1984-85 stressing on primary prevention and early detection of cancer.
- Control of tobacco related cancers.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of uterine cervical cancer.
- Distribution of therapy services.
- Pain relief and palliative care through augmentation of health infrastructure.
- It was launched in 2010.
- Objective:
- Health promotion through involvement of community, civil society, organizations, media etc.
- Population based and opportunistic screening at all levels from sub-centre and above for early detection of diabetes, hypertension and common cancers.
- To prevent and control chronic NCDs (common Cancer, Diabetes and Hypertension).
- It was commenced by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with a network of cancer registries across the country in December 1981.
- To generate reliable data on the magnitude and patterns of cancer
- Undertake epidemiological studies based on results of registry data
- Help in designing, planning, monitoring and evaluation of cancer control activities under the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP)
- Develop training programmes in cancer registration and epidemiology
- It was formed in August 2012.
- The National Cancer Grid is a network of major cancer centers, research institutes, patient groups, and charitable institutions across India.
POSTED ON 06-01-2022 BY ADMIN
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General Studies
Political Science and International Relations
Some Reference Essays
List of previous year essay topics (1997-2019)
IAS GOOGLE is googled by the team of Raja Sir’s Cracking IAS Academy. Sources include The Hindu, Indian Express, pib.nic.in, Down To Earth, Economic Times, Vigyan Prasar, AIR and the like. IAS GOOGLE has been prepared in pace with emerging UPSC Trends.