Super Typhoon ''Hinnamnor'', the strongest storm of 2022

• As of September 1, 2022, the category 5 typhoon — the highest classification on the scale — was about 230 km away from Japan’s Okinawa prefecture.
• one of the factors contributing to the Super Typhoon rapidly intensifying and expanding is the fact that it has started absorbing other local meteorological systems. Warm tropical waters and other pre-existing meteorological disturbances have also led to the system’s escalation.

India-made HPV vaccine to cost ₹200

• CERVAVAC, developed by SII, was approved by the Drug Controller General of India in July.
• CERVAVAC is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it is effective against at least four variants of cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and resulted from a partnership of DBT’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that supported Serum’s development efforts.
• Annually, about 1.25 lakh women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75,000 die from the disease in India. Close to 83% of invasive cervical cancers in India and and 70% of cases worldwide are attributed to HPV-types 16 or 18.
• HPV transmission is influenced by sexual activity and age. Almost 75% of all sexually active adults are likely to be infected with at least one HPV type. A vast majority of the infections resolve itself.

UGC proposes clustering of colleges for multidisciplinary learning

• The UGC will make public its “Guidelines for transforming higher educational institutions into multidisciplinary institutions”.
• These aim to help State governments and universities frame appropriate rules and policies. Promoting multidisciplinary institutions was a key recommendation of the National Education Policy, 2020.
• The UGC has suggested academic collaboration between institutions through “clusters” of higher education institutions (HEIs) in order to promote multidisciplinary education and research in online and offline modes.
• The cluster system will help single-stream institutions with poor enrolment due to lack of employment-oriented, innovative multidisciplinary courses and lack of financial resources and help such centres improve their grades in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation.

Indian Army contingent participates in Ex Vostok-2022

• The exercise also includes participation by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
• The exercise is aimed at interaction and coordination amongst other participating military contingents and observers. The exercise is scheduled to be held from Sept. 01 to 07.
• Russia has stated that Vostok-2022 will be conducted in two phases.
• Participating contingents include observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and other partner states.

SC relaxes iron ore mining limit for Bellary, 2 other Karnataka districts

• Earlier, on May 20, 2022, the apex court had relaxed the ban on sale outside the State and export of already excavated iron ore from mines in these three districts. Ten years after it clamped down on production and sale of iron ore in Karnataka, the Court has relaxed its own orders.
• In 2012, the SC banned export of iron ore pellets from Karnataka with an aim to prevent environmental degradation.
• Following the ban, the Supreme Court directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to draw up a reclamation and rehabilitation plan to reverse the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
• Taking cognisance of the course correction by the government, it relaxed its 2011 order since the situation had now “changed for the better”.

Effecting the ban on single-use plastics

• In keeping with the spirit of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the country is taking steps to curb littered and unmanaged plastic waste pollution.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 on August 12, 2021.
• In keeping with the spirit of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the country is taking steps to curb littered and unmanaged plastic waste pollution.
• Since July 1, 2022, India has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential. India is a party to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
• In all, 124 nations are party to the UNEA, and India has signed a resolution to draw up an agreement in the future that will make it legally binding for signatories to address the full life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal.

Assembly passes University Laws Bill, now govt to have upper hand in selecting VCs

• While the Bill awaits the Governor’s assent, its passage will enhance the appointment age of Vice Chancellors to 65 years and increase the strength of the selection committee to five (from the existing three).
• The move comes amidst claims that the inclusion of the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) vice chairman as convener of the committee, who could be perceived as linked to universities by way of his/her position, could be in violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
• Other members of the committee will include a nominee each of the State government, UGC, Chancellor and the university Senate.