Point-Wise Current-Affairs & GS (Includes Important PIB Updates) 2020 with Maps & Data- IAS, SSC Etc

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May 17, 2020
1 World’s First Typhoid Vaccine and Innovation: China Rolls Out 5G Services [ Science/Technology ]
Pakistan- first country in the world to introduce a new typhoid vaccine. To combat a drug-resistant strain of the potentially fatal disease in the Sindh province.
Typhoid
- An infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhi).
- Bacterium lives in the intestines
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2 White Blood Cells: Types and Functions [ Health ]
Account for only about 1 % of our blood. Impact is big. Also called leukocytes.
- Protect us against illness and disease.
- Made in the bone marrow.
- Stored in your blood and lymph tissues.
- Some white blood cells- a short life of 1 to 3 days.
Types of WBC
Monocytes
- A longer li
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3 Managing Diabetes Using Protein [ Health ]
A protein that helps manages insulin levels. By showing the potential to tackle diabetes and neuro-degenerative disorders like dementia and Alzheimers.
Diabetes
- Blood glucose called blood sugar is too high.
- Blood glucose- Main source of energy, comes from the food we eat.
- Ins
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4 Plague and Promising Immunotherapy [ Health ]
A serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection. Caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Can contract the disease from the bite of an infected flea.
- Plague and Fleas both are being carried out by the Rodents including rats.
- Bubonic plague (most common type of plague).
- Bub
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5 Pesticides Affecting DNA: List and Impact (Important) [ Health, Environment/Ecology ]
Tea estate workers. Pesticide exposure could affect DNA
Types of Pesticides
Algaecides
- Used for killing algae.
- Slowing the growth of algae.
Antimicrobials
Control germs and microbes (bacteria and viruses).
Biopesticides
- Made of living things.
- Found in nature.
Desiccants
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6 National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017-2025 and RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme) [ Science/Technology, Health ]
Plan produced by the government of India (GoI). Sets out the government to eliminate TB in India. Describes the activities and interventions that the GoI will bring about.
- Significant change in the incidence.
- Prevalence and mortality from TB.
RNTCP (Revised National Tubercul
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7 Kerala-Tackling TB [ Health ]
On track to achieve TB elimination by 2025. Lauded by World Health Organization. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).
TB-Tuberculosis
- Caused by bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Often affects lungs.
- Curable and preventable.
- Person to person-through th
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8 IndiGen Project: Whole Genome Sequencing [ Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
CSIR announcement. A whole-genome sequence. 1,008 Indians. Programme called “IndiGen”. Involve other government departments.
- To map a larger swathe of the population in the country.
- Project proponents- widen public understanding in India about genomes, information that genes h
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May 17, 2020
1 E-Cigarettes Ban in India: Right or Wrong [ Health, Environment/Ecology ]
Health Ministry-Union government’s move to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes. A pre-emptive strike‖ before the new form of intoxication spreads. Companies- looking at India as an attractive market.
E-Cigarettes
- A battery-operated device.
- Emits doses of vaporized nicotine o
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May 14, 2020
1 Insect Pollination (Earliest Evidence): Problems, Issues and Solutions [ Science/Technology, Environment/Ecology ]
First known instance of an insect. Pollinating a flower (99 million years ago).
Types of Pollination
Autogamy (Self-Pollination)
- Pollen from the anthers of a flower is transferred to the stigma of the same flower.
- Wheat, rice, pea etc are the examples.
Geitonogamy
- Pollen g
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2 Classifications of Organism Based on Their Activity:Crepuscular, Nocturnal, Matutinal, Vespertine [ Science/Technology ]
Of or during the day. Animals (diurnal) are active during the day.
Crepuscular
- Means of Twilight.
- Crepuscular animals (active during twilight).
Nocturnal
- Done or active during the night.
- Usually more vulnerable to predation.
- Invisible (mice) during the night.
Matutinal
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3 ARI-Highly Mortal: National Health Profile Report and Cellphone Causes Insomnia [ Health ]
ARI Highly Mortal
- 69 % morbidity in 2018 due to lung infection.
- Report was released by the Union Health Ministry.
- Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) -69.47%
- Highest in the communicable disease category leading to 27.21 % mortality.
- States such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karn
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4 Bio-Technology: Malnutrition, 28 Million Obese by 2030, A1 or A2 Milk, and Alzheimers Drug from Brown Algae [ Science/Technology ]
World Obesity Federation Around 28 million children in India will be obese by the year 2030. The country would rank second in the world in terms of the high number of obese people.
Malnutrition
- Includes Under nutrition (wasting, stunting and underweight).
- Inadequate vitamins o
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5 Snow Leopard and Wasteland Conversion [ Culture ]
Conservationist- protection of snow leopards involves various stakeholders.
Snow Leopards in India
- Dachigam National Park
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Pin Valley National Park
- Hemis National Park
- Gangotri National Park
- Govind Pashu Vihar National Park
- Khangchendzonga National
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6 Climate Emergency and Environment: United Nations Environment Programme, Ice-Free Arctic and Paris Climate Agreement [ Environment/Ecology ]
UN Annual Assessment-Calls for 7.6 % cut each year.
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
- Global emissions need to fall by 7.6 % each year until 2030.
- To limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C.
- On an average emissions have risen 1.55 annually over the last decade.
- 20
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7 Environment: Air Pollution-Increasing Glaucoma [ Environment/Ecology ]
Higher amounts of fine particulate matter. At least 6 % more chances of having glaucoma.
Glaucoma
- A group of eye conditions.
- Damages the optic nerve.
- Caused by an abnormally high pressure in ones eye.
- Above age 60-Major cause of blindness.
- Occurs at any age.
- More common in
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May 13, 2020
1 Space: Planet Mercury Facts, Star Formation in Jellyfish Galaxies (Astrosat View), Galaxy, Cartosat-3 Launched, and UN’s Clean Development Mechanism [ Space/ISRO ]
November 11-Mercury skipped the vast, glaring face of the sun. A rare celestial transit.
Planet Mercury Facts
- Nearly tidally locked to the Sun.
- Known as a gravitational lock also.
- Rotation of the planet has been slowed down to match its orbit around the Sun.
- Second densest p
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2 New Ramsar Sites in India [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
10 more wetlands announced under Ramsar Convention. Sites of “International importance”. Total number of Ramsar sites in India increased to 37. Till Dec 2019 India had 27 sites.
- To develop and sustain a network of wetlands.
- Maintain components of ecosystem and processes.
- Wetland
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3 NAVARMS-19 and Rohne and Rabodih Coal Mines [ Economy, Defense ]
The fourth edition of International Seminar cum Exhibition on Naval Weapon Systems ‘NAVARMS-19. Theme “Make in India – Fight Category: Opportunities and Imperatives”.
Key Points
- Providing opportunity for exchange of ideas.
- Create awareness and identify emerging prospects for I
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4 24 Hours Availability of NEFT Transactions [ Economy ]
The RBI operationalized round-the-clock (24 X 7 basis) availability of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT). Banks not to levy any charges on NEFT transfer from savings bank account holders. NEFT system, which was first introduced in the late 1990s as the Electronic Fund
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May 12, 2020
1 Yuwaah Youth Skilling Initiative and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) [ Education, International Relations/Organizations, Health ]
Launched by UNICEF. ‘YuWaah’ Generation Unlimited in India on 1.11. 2019.
Key Points
- Generation Unlimited called YuWaah in India.
- Is a multi-stakeholder alliance.
- Aims to facilitate youth to gain relevant skills for productive lives and the future of work.
- Target age group-
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2 Robotic Surgery Facility and Ring Timings for Mobiles, Landlines Fixed by TRAI [ Science/Technology, Economy ]
Dedicated to the country by the Union Minister of Health. Safdarjung Hospital (SJH) - First Central Government hospital to start this facility for poor patients for free.
Key Points
- Advantage of providing minimally invasive surgery.
- Reduces significantly the morbidity and mort
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3 Alumni Endowment Fund and Chavang Kut [ Education, Culture ]
Endowment fund for IIT Delhi. Launched by the President of India. QS World University Ranking-182.
Key Points
- An initial commitment of more than ₹250 crore.
- Nearly half of which will come from Flipkart co-founders.
- Initial seed capital of ₹255 crore.
- An aggressive target of
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4 Gottiprolu: trade centre has been unearthed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) [ Environment/Ecology ]
- At the Gottiprolu site in Andhra Pradesh a trade centre has been unearthed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- The trade centre of early historic period.
- Site Gottiprolu lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi, about 17 km east of Naidu pet and 8
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5 Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) [ Health ]
Commonly known as elephantiasis or Hathipaon. It is a neglected tropical disease. Caused mainly by Wuchereria Bancrofti and spread by Culex mosquito.
Culex Mosquito
- Grows in dirty accumulated water.
- Infection occurrence- when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans throug
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6 Programme for International Student Assessment [ Education ]
Preparation for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2021. Review was done by the Union Human Resource Development Minister. India has participated only once in PISA in 2009.
Key Points (PISA)
- A triennial international survey.
- Coordination is done by the
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7 Antibiotic Resistance Effect of Climatic Spike [ Health, Down-to-Earth ]
A study presented at 29^th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) predicts that global warming can play a significant role in worsening antimicrobial resistance. The study was inspired by a 2018 publication of Nature which showed link between r
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May 9, 2020
1 Jal Shakti Campaign is Taking Success Strides: Water Conservation [ Policy/Governance ]
On 26^th January, 2020, in Mann ki baat the Prime Minister of India talked about the successful strides made by Jal Shakti Campaign. He gave the example of Jalore district of Rajasthan where two step wells have been rejuvenated by people participation.
- Saarahi Lake in Barabanki,
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2 MoEF Guidelines for Elephant Death from Anthrax [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Recently in the Sambalpur district of Odisha, a four year old elephant was found dead. The cause of death is suspected to be anthrax. To deal with the elephant deaths caused or suspected to be caused by anthrax, the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climat
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3 Climate Change Must Be Mainstreamed [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
With global warming and climate change becoming a cause of international concern, India awaits the budget 2020 - 21 to see the provisions it has to work towards mitigating adverse effects of climate change. The coal cess introduced in 2010 - 11, despite need of cheap coal to ensu
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Last Updated:May 17, 2020