GS PAPER I NEWS
Mahaparinirvana Day
Why in News
- Every year on 6th December in India, the death anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is celebrated as Mahaparinirvana Divas.
Key point
- Babasaheb Ambedkar died on 6 December 1956 at his Delhi residence.
- On this day every year, lakhs of people visit the Samadhi of Bhimrao Ambedkar in Mumbai. It is also called Chaitya land.
- Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar played an important role in the making of the constitution.
- Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar had to face a lot of discrimination in his early life.
- He had decided only then that he would be ready to rid the society of this evil.
- Followers of Ambedkar and other Indian leaders visit Chaitya Bhoomi on this occasion and pay homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution. Due to the social status of Dr. Ambedkar, his death anniversary is known as Mahaparinirvana Divas.
parinirvana
- Parinirvana is one of the main principles and goals of Buddhism. It literally means ‘nirvana after death’. According to Buddhism, one who attains Nirvana will be free from worldly desires and the pains of life and will be free from the cycle of life i.e. he will not be born again and again.
- Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had studied Buddhism for years. After that on October 14, 1956, he converted to Buddhism. With him about 5 lakh followers of his had also joined Buddhism.
Bhimrao Ambedkar: At a Glance
- Ambedkar is called the father of the Constitution of India. He was the first Minister of Law and Justice of independent India and is regarded as the chief architect of the Constitution of India.
- He was an Indian economist, jurist, social reformer and politician. He inspired many Dalit Buddhist movements and fought against social discrimination towards untouchables.
- He was awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor in the year 1990. He received his doctorate from Columbia University in 1916 and became the first Indian to achieve this feat.
GS PAPER II
RE-HAB Project
Why in News
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- Buoyed by the success of its progressive project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Man Conflict Using Bees) in Karnataka, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has now replicated the project in Assam.
Key point
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- RE-HAB project launched at village Mornoi in Goalpara district of Assam, an area that has a lot of incidents of elephant-human conflict.
- This project has been implemented in Assam in collaboration with the local forest department.
- Elephants roam a large part of Assam surrounded by dense forests, between 2014 and 2019, 332 people have died due to elephant attacks.
About RE-HAB Project
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- There is a special program to increase bee population, honey production and income of beekeepers, while Project RE-HAB uses bee boxes as fencing to prevent elephant attacks.
- Project RE-HAB was launched on 15 March 2021 at 11 locations in Kodagu district of Karnataka. In just 6 months, the project has reduced elephant attacks by 70%.
Under the RE-HAB project, “bee fencing” is set up by installing beekeeping boxes in their path to block the entry of elephants into human settlements.- These boxes are connected by a wire so that when the elephant tries to pass through, a stretch or pressure causes the bees to move towards the herd of elephants and prevent them from moving.
- The project is an economical way to reduce conflicts between humans and wild animals without causing any harm to the animals.
- It has been scientifically found that elephants get irritated by bees. They also fear that bees may bite into their trunk and other sensitive inner parts of the eyes.
- The elephants are disturbed by the collective clamor of the bees and they are forced to return.
- Project RE-HAB in particular is a sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
Importance
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- About 500 people die every year in India due to elephant attacks. This is almost 10 times more than the deaths due to attacks by big cats (tigers, leopards, cheetahs etc.) across the country.
- About 2500 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks from 2015 to 2020.
- On the contrary, about a fifth of this number i.e. about 500 elephants has also died in retaliation to humans in the last 5 years.
- In the past, governments have spent crores of rupees on digging ditches and fencing to stop elephants. Also hundreds of crores of rupees have been spent on compensation for loss of human life.
- These trenches and barbed wire fences often lead to the death of elephant cubs and thus the measure makes these ideas largely impractical.
GS PAPER III
ZyCov-D
Why in News
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- ZyCov-D is the second indigenous vaccine after Covaccine. The unique feature of ZyCov-D is that it is a needleless vaccine.
- First of all, the seven states in India to be launched are – Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
About the vaccine
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- This vaccine is to be given only to persons in the age group of 12 to 19 years.
- ZYCOV-D is applied using a needle-free applicator.
- It is a three-dose vaccine. It is given on the 28th and 56th day after the first dose.
- The price of Zycov-D is Rs 376.
- ZyCov-D has shown 6% effectiveness.
- This vaccine was developed by an Indian pharmaceutical company called Cadila Healthcare.
Development of ZyCov-D
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- The zycove-divaccine was developed on plasmid DNA.
- In simple words, it was developed using a piece of DNA from a weakened or killed virus.
- When this DNA fragment is injected into the body, the human immune system learns to react against the virus.
- This plasmid is produced using E. coli cells.
- ZyCov-D is injected using a jet injector.
- This jet injector is an injection syringe. Here a narrow high pressure stream of liquid enters the outermost layer of the skin.
- Simultaneously, this drug reaches the underlying tissues of the epidermis. This is better than the traditional method of using needles. This is because in this method, the vaccines transmit across the cell plasma membrane and nuclear membrane.
- On the other hand, conventional methods give low immunogenicity.
GS PAPER III
‘Sandhayak’
Why in News
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- Recently ‘Sandhyak’, the first of the four Survey Ship (Large) projects being built for the Indian Navy was launched in Kolkata.
Key point
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These vessels have been designed and developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a public sector undertaking in the defense sector, which is one of the leading warship building companies in India.- These survey vessels are capable of full scale coastal and deep water hydrographic survey of ports and harbours and determination of shipping channels and routes.
- These ships are also capable of surveying maritime boundaries and collecting oceanographic and geographical data for defense applications, thus boosting the country’s maritime capabilities.
- These ships are powered by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed pitch propellers and are equipped with bow and stern thrusters for low speed during survey.
- In their second role, these ships will be able to perform search and rescue and disaster relief roles, apart from serving as hospital ships with limited facilities during emergencies.
- These ships will also have a return hangar including a utility helicopter.
Background
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- Contract for construction of four survey ships was signed between Ministry of Defense and GRSE on 30 October 18 at a total cost of Rs 2435 crore.
- The ships are completely designed by the design team of GRSE to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy and are being built using the concepts of ‘Integrated Construction’ and in compliance with the applicable provisions and regulations of the Classification Society.
- It has more than 80 per cent indigenous content by cost and will also ensure that defense production is carried out on a large scale by Indian manufacturing units, thereby creating employment and expertise within the country.
- As per the construction strategy adopted by GRSE, the first ship is being built at GRSE Limited and the remaining three ships are under construction at M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli.
- Incidentally, the then Sandhyak was also launched 44 years ago at GRSE, Kolkata on 06 April 1977.
GS PAPER III
‘EX EKUVERIN’
Why in News
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- The 11th edition of the Ekuverin military exercise between India and Maldives will be held from 6 to 19 December 2021 at Kadhu Island, Maldives.
Key point
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- This joint military exercise will enable the armed forces of both countries to understand the threat of international terrorism both on land and at sea, to organize actions to counter terrorism and insurgents, and to share best military practices and experiences in synergy and inter- operations will increase.
- During the joint military exercise, apart from rigorous training, cultural and sporting activities will also take place to boost defense cooperation and bilateral ties.
- The exercise will play an important role in further strengthening India’s ties with Maldives amidst emerging security challenges in the Indian Ocean region.