Two die as H3N2 influenza cases rise

H3N2 influenza

• Influenza A H3N2 is a seasonal virus and the occurrence of influenza infections normally peaks during season changes.
• Symptoms- Fever, body ache, sore throat, cough, runny/blocked nose and a few shortness of breath.
• It can spread from person to person and while anyone can get infected- older, adults and younger children are at a higher risk from H3N2.
• The method of testing for H3N2 is also similar to COVID-19 testing – RTPCR.
• There is a vaccine for seasonal flu that also covers H3N2.

Seasonal influenza:

• According to WHO, seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses.
• There are 4 types of seasonal influenza viruses, types - A, B, C and D. In which Influenza viruses A, B, and C can infect humans.
• Influenza A viruses are further classified into subtypes according to the combinations of the hemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA), the proteins on the surface of the virus.
• There are 18 different subtypes of HA, which are numbered H1 through H18. Similarly, there are 11 different subtypes of NA, numbered N1 through N11.

Parliament Session: Nipun Bharat & NEP bringing big changes, Anganwadis being revamped

• It has been launched as a National Mission called “National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat)” in 2021.
• Aim: To ensure that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
• A five-tier implementation mechanism will be set up at the National- State- District- Block- School level in all States and UTs, under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha.
• It is one of the components of the NEP 2020**.**
• Implementing agency: The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.

NCPCR has an online portal Baal Swaraj to do real-time monitoring of children living on streets: WCD Minister Smriti Irani

Baal Swaraj Portal:

• It is a portal launched by NCPCR for online tracking and digital real-time monitoring mechanism of children in need of care and protection.
• The portal has two functions- COVID care and CiSS.
  • COVID Care link caters to the children who have lost either or both parents due to COVID-19 or otherwise post March 2020.
  • Cissto help in the rehabilitation process of Children in Street Situations.
• Portal also provides a platform for professionals and organizations to provide any help for children in need in the form of open shelters, counselling services, medical services, de-addiction services, education services, volunteering etc.
• It has been launched under a centrally sponsored scheme namely Mission Vatsalya.

Mission Vatsalya:

• Mission Vatsalya scheme (erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme) launched in 2009-10 for supporting the children in difficult circumstances.
• Vision: To secure a healthy & happy childhood for each and every child in India, ensure opportunities to enable them to discover their full potential and assist them in flourishing in all respects.
• Components under Mission Vatsalya include:
  • Improve functioning of statutory bodies;
  • Strengthen service delivery structures;
  • Upscale institutional care/services;
  • Encourage non-institutional community-based care;
  • emergency outreach services;
  • Training and capacity building
• Implementing Agency: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
• Nodal Ministry: Women and Child Development Ministry.

Grants-in Aid to NGOs for Welfare of Senior Citizens Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

ATAL VAYO ABHYUDAY YOJANA:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme, which is formerly known as National Action Plan for Senior Citizens.
• Its vision is to create a society where senior citizens live healthy, happy and empowered life.
• It has two components – the Integrated Program for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) and the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)
  • IPSRC: It entails setting up homes to improve the quality of life of senior citizens, especially indigent senior citizens for writing basic amenities.
  • SAPSRC: Each state/union territories expected to frame its own action plan for the welfare of senior citizens.
• Under IPSrC component grant in aid is provided to NGOs/ Voluntary Organisations (VOs) for running and maintenance of old age homes, Continuous Care Homes.
• Five schemes have been launched under this umbrella scheme:
  • Poshan Abhiyan for elderly
  • Livelihood and skilling initiatives for senior citizens
  • scheme on promoting silver economy
  • Awareness generation and capacity building for welfare of senior citizens
  • Channelising CSR funds for elderly care.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft to participate in ‘Exercise Sea Dragon 23’

• The Sea Dragon is an annual, multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise conducted by the United States Navy.
• Participating Countries: India, USA, Japan, Canada and South Korea.
• The annual exercise launched in 2014. This is the third edition of the coordinated multi-lateral ASW exercise for Long Range MR ASW aircraft.
• The Exercise aims to achieve high levels of synergy and coordination between the friendly navies, which is based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• The Exercise would witness representation by an Indian Navy P8I aircraft along with other countries’ aircrafts.
• This exercise will test the capabilities of participating aircraft in tracking simulated and live underwater targets, whilst also sharing mutual expertise.

India and USA:

• Malabar: India and USA with Japan, Australia participate in the naval war gaming exercise named Malabar.
• Yudh Abhyas: Military Training Exercise
• VAJRA PRAHAR: Special Forces Exercise

Representation On Making RTE Act Compulsory Subject In All Law Schools Will Be Looked Into: BCI To Delhi High Court

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act):

• The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 inserted Article 21-A in the Constitution of India to provide free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right.
• RTE Act is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted on 4 August 2009 as envisaged under Article 21-A.
• Main Features of the RTE Act:
  • Free and compulsory education to all children of India in the 6 to 14 age group.
  • It clarifies that ‘compulsory education’ means the obligation of the appropriate government to provide free elementary education and ensure compulsory admission, attendance, and completion of elementary education to every child in the six to fourteen age group.
  • No child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education.
  • It makes provisions for a non-admitted child to be admitted to an age-appropriate class.
  • It specifies the duties and responsibilities of appropriate Governments, local authorities, and parents in providing free and compulsory education and sharing of financial and other responsibilities between the Central and State Governments.
  • It lays down the norms and standards relating inter alia to Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTRs), buildings and infrastructure, school-working days, and teacher-working hours.
  • It provides for the appointment of appropriately trained teachers, i.e., teachers with the requisite entry and academic qualifications.
  • It prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment, screening procedures for admission of children, capitation fee, private tuition by teachers, and running of schools without recognition.
  • It provides for the development of a curriculum in consonance with the values enshrined in the Constitution.

HC seeks report from Gujarat govt on mining leases granted within Wild Ass Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in the Little Rann of Kutch of the Gujarat State in India.
• It is the only place where the Indian wild ass, locally called Khacchar, is found.
• The sanctuary is home to a sizeable population of Rabari and Bharwad tribes.
• Topology:
  • It can be considered a large ecotone, a transitional area between marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
  • It is a continuum of a dry area of dark silt with salt encrustation.
  • It is dotted with about 74 elevated plateaus or islands, locally called ''bets''.
  • During the monsoon, large parts are flooded to depths of up to 2m.
• Flora:
  • It is full of dry thorny scrub, and there are no large trees except on the fringes and bets.
  • Some of the plants and trees that are found in this sanctuary are Morad, Unt morad, Theg, Dolari, Khijdo, Kerdo, Mithi jar, Kheri pilu, Akado, etc.
• Fauna:
  • Besides Indian Wild Ass, the other mammals found here include Blackbuck, Nilgai, Bluebull, Hare, Wolf, Foxes, Desert Cat, Indian fox, Jackal, Hyena, Wild boar, etc.
  • There is rich birdlife, including the Houbara bustard, Sandgrouse, Pale harrier, Black-shouldered kite, Pelican, etc.

Indian Wild Ass:

• It is a sub-species of Asian Wild Ass, i.e., Equus hemionus.
• Scientific name: Equus hemionus khur
• It is characterized by distinctive white markings on the anterior part of the rump and on the posterior part of the shoulder and a stripe down the back that is bordered by white.
• Distribution: World’s last population of Indian WildAss is restricted to Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat.
• Habitat: Desert and grassland ecosystems.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Near threatened.
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule-I

MQ-9 Reaper: All about the US drone that crashed into the Black Sea

• The MQ-9 Reaper, also known as Predator B, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled orautonomous flight operations.
• It is developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
• It is remotely operated by a two-person team consisting of a pilot and an aircrew member who operates sensors and guides weapons.
• The US uses the MQ-9 Reaper for both surveillance and strikes.
• Features:
  • It is 11 metres long with a wingspan of over 22 metres.
  • Reapers can be armed with air-to-ground Hellfire missiles as well as laser-guided bombs.
  • It carry as many as 16 Hellfire missiles, equivalent to the payload capacity of an Apache helicopter.
  • It can fly at an altitude of 50,000 ft (15 km) and can loiter over targets for for over 27 hours.
  • Top speed: 275 mph.

Resolution in U.S. Senate to recognise McMahon Line as international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh

• It is a geographical border between Northeast India and Tibet.
• It is the boundary between China and India, although its legal status is disputed by the Chinese
• It was negotiated between Tibet and Great Britain at the end of the Shimla Conference in 1914.
• It is named after Henry McMahon, who was the foreign secretary of British India and the chief negotiator of the convention at Simla.
• The length of this boundary is 890 kilometers.
• It runs from the eastern border of Bhutanalong the crest of the Himalayas until it reaches the great bend in the Brahmaputra River, where that river emerges from its Tibetan course into the Assam Valley.
• Though India considers the McMahon Line as the legal national border, China rejects it, contending that Tibet was not a sovereign state and therefore did not have the power to conclude treaties.

The Shimla Treaty of 1914

• It was signed in 1914 by delegates from India and Tibetto establish a clear demarcation between the two countries.
• China was not present in this treaty since Tibet was an autonomous region at the time.
• According to the treaty the McMahon Line is the clear boundary line between India and China.
• The British rulers, on behalf of India, considered Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and the southern portion of Tibet to be part of India, which the Tibetans consented to.
• As a result, Arunachal Pradesh''s Tawang region became a part of India.

LAC

• LAC is a demarcation line that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
• It is currently the de-facto border between the two countries.
• The Line of Actual Control (LAC), is divided into three sectors:
  • Western (Ladakh, Kashmir),
  • Middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and
  • Eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal): Here, the alignment of the LAC is along the McMahon Line.

Presence of Eurasian otter show stretches of J&K stream still unpolluted

Eurasian Otter:

• It is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal.
• Scientific Name: Lutra lutra
• Distribution:
  • It has one of the widest distributions of all Palaearctic mammals.
  • Its range covers parts of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • In India, it occurs in northern, northeast, and southern India.
• Habitat:
  • It lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including highland and lowland lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, swamp forests, and coastal areas.
  • In the Indian sub-continent, Eurasian otters occur in cold hill and mountain streams.
• Features:
  • It has a long lithe body with a thick tail and short legs.
  • It has sensitive whiskers around the snout to help detect prey.
  • It has two layers of fur: a thick waterproof outer one and a warm inner one with 50,000 hairs/cm 2
  • It has an acute sense of sight, smell, and hearing.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Near threatened
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II
  • CITES: Appendix I