Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 | 25th June 2020
“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” –Oscar Wilde
ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.
RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.
BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !
BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.
PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.
Today's Must Read Articles :Page Contents:
Arctic Amplification
HEADLINES:
Boiling Siberia shows temperature swings may be increasing: Experts
WHY IN NEWS:
The warming of the Arctic, as seen by the Siberian heatwave, may also impact western disturbances in India
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1:3:Global Warming : GHG
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS keep an eye on the definitions . Geography of this area is also equally important . In your Prelims book make a table for important Jet streams vs Winds of Siberia .
For MAINS you have to grasp the consequences of this issue and its impact on India .
ISSUE:
Verkhoyansk in Siberia, shown here by the red dot, is usually known as one of the coldest towns in the world.ARCTIC AMPLIFICATION :
The increased rate of warming is because of a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification in which the melting ice hastens the process of warming by exposing areas that are not good at reflecting back heat into the atmosphere.
WARMING UP ARCTIC REGION :
- This is around 18°C higher than the normal temperature for this time of the year for the place.
- This is consistent with the consequences of the decrease in the Arctic Sea ice cover and reduction in ice thickness.
- The Arctic region is warming at twice the rate as the rest of the world because of anthropogenic green house gas emissions.
- This creates a feedback loop between melting ice and rising temperatures, amplifying the impact of warming.
GEO-PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES :
- Arctic warming increases the north-south migrations of the polar jet stream, which is a permanent band of winds over the Arctic region.
- This means that some places get warm subtropical air coming up to Arctic latitudes and some places get Arctic air coming down into subtropics.
- If this fence swings north-south then the cold and warm air follow the jet stream.
IMPACT ON INDIA :
- The impacts of a warming Arctic are not limited to the region but can be felt as far as here in India in various ways.
- For instance, western disturbances respond to the pressure variations associated with the jet stream swings.
- The western disturbances are extra-tropical storms that originate in the Mediterranean and travel to India on the sub-tropical jet stream.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The Arctic ice is projected to continue to melt away due to warming and may even disappear in a few decades.
- This means that more extreme weather in the mid-latitudes might become commonplace.
SOURCES:DownToEarth
‘Rufinamide’
HEADLINES:
INST develops nanotechnology-based low-cost, method for the production of antiepileptic drug ‘Rufinamide’
WHY IN NEWS:
Hot from PIB !
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Drugs : The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS make a note on these drugs and do not forget its significance .
For MAINS do you think it is high time we should boost innovation and research in Pharma sector ?
ISSUE:
- Institute of Nanoscience and Technology are now increasingly producing a plethora of useful technologies and products that contribute to an AtamNirbhar Bharat.
- PRODUCTION : INST have developed a new recyclable copper-oxide catalyst, which plays a crucial role in the key reaction for producing the Rufinamide drug.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The developed catalyst is not only useful for the Rufinamide drug synthesis, but it is also for other organic transformation reactions.
- The catalyst can be commercialized for academic use, as well as companies deal with fine chemicals that use these reactions.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
Historic reforms initiated in the Space sector
HEADLINES:
Historic reforms initiated in the Space sector
WHY IN NEWS:
Private sector participation in Space activities approved
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Space
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS this is not important issue but skim through IN-SPACe .
For MAINS go through the key points and understand this much needed boost !
ISSUE:
VITAL REFORMS :
- SELF RELIANCE : The decision taken is in line with the long-term vision of the Prime Minister of transforming India and making the country self-reliant and technologically advanced.
- ADVANCE CAPABILITIES : India is among a handful of countries with advanced capabilities in the space sector.
- ACCELERATE GROWTH : This will not only result in an accelerated growth of this sector but will enable Indian Industry to be an important player in global space economy.
- EMPLOYMENT : With this, there is an opportunity for large-scale employment in the technology sector and India becoming a Global technology powerhouse.
KEY BENEFITS :
- TECHNOLOGICAL EXPANSION : Space sector can play a major catalytic role in the technological advancement and expansion of our Industrial base.
- RESOURCE UTILISATION : The proposed reforms will enhance the socio-economic use of space assets and activities, including through improved access to space assets, data and facilities.
INDIAN NATIONAL SPACE PROMOTION AND AUTHORIZATION CENTRE (IN-SPACe)
- GUIDING PRIVATE SECTOR : It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.
- DEMAND DRIVEN MODEL : The Public Sector Enterprise ‘New Space India Limited (NSIL)’ will endeavour to re-orient space activities from a ‘supply driven’ model to a ‘demand driven’ model, thereby ensuring optimum utilization of our space assets.
IASbhai WINDUP:
These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on research and development activities, new technologies, exploration missions and human spaceflight programme. Some of the planetary exploration missions will also be opened up to private sector through an ‘announcement of opportunity’ mechanism.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020
Fight drug resistance : Kala- azar
HEADLINES:
New biomolecules to fight drug resistance in Kala- azar
WHY IN NEWS:
Hot from PIB !
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS here we will concentate on Kala Azar only and finally look out to the recent discovery.With that being said , you need to understand the causes , parasite name , treatment and also NTD list !
For MAINS take a note on effective resistance shown by the parasites.
ISSUE:
CAUSED BY :
THERE ARE THREE MAIN FORMS OF LEISHMANIASIS –
- VISCERAL : Which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease,
- CUTANEOUS : Which causes skin sores and is the most common form; and
- MUCOCUTANEOUS : Which causes skin and mucosal lesion.
TREATMENT AND DRUGS :
- It is rapidly losing its effectiveness because of emerging resistance to this drug due to a decrease in its accumulation inside the parasite, which is necessary for the drug to kill the parasite.
- Specific types of protein molecules, called transporter proteins, play a major role in carrying miltefosine into and out of the parasite’s body, which comprises a single cell.
IASbhai WINDUP:
Research group used computational methods to design small molecules, called peptides, that could very specifically interact with the transporter proteins of L. major alone, and not interfere with human proteins in any way.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020
DISCOVER MORE : Important Daily Current Affairs for UPSC PRELIMS 2020
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis & Answer writing video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
