8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
CCurrent Affairs

8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

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Dear Aspirants
IASbhai Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 is an initiative to dilute major articles from leading Newspapers in India which are most relevant to UPSC preparation –‘THE HINDU, LIVEMINT , INDIAN EXPRESS’ and help millions of readers who find difficulty in answer writing and making notes everyday. Hence we choose articles on daily basis and analyse them with respect to UPSC PRELIMS 2020.

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.– Estee Lauder

HIGHLIGHT INFO:

ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.

RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.

BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !

BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.

PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.

8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

Horse serum may be used for COVID-19 treatment

      HEADLINES:

Horse serum may be used for COVID-19 treatment: ICMR D-G

      WHY IN NEWS:

Bhargava ignores question on why plasma therapy still used despite a negative ICMR study

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Disease : Health : Science and Technology

      ISSUE: 

Equine serum may get approval for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment in India-ICMR

EQUINE SERUM

Preliminary studies on equine serum conducted in labs in India had shown it produced required antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

RELATION BETWEEN CONVALESCENT PLASMA AND EQUINE SERUM

  • Convalescent plasma of a COVID-19-recovered patient is transfused due to the belief that it would contain antibodies developed after infection.
  • This, in turn, would prove useful for another COVID-19 patient.

Equine serum also contains antibodies and has been used for treatment in cases of snakebite.

  • A trial done by a few agencies in Argentine laboratories has showed that equine serum, generated after horses contained 50 times more antibodies than convalescent plasma.

WHAT IS SERUM?

  • Serum is the fluid and solute component of blood which does not play a role in clotting.
  • It may be defined as blood plasma without fibrinogens.
  • Serum includes all proteins not used in blood clotting.

It contains all electrolytes, antibodies, antigens, hormones; and any exogenous substances (e.g., drugs or microorganisms).

  • Serum does not contain white blood cells (leukocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), platelets, or clotting factors.
  • The study of serum is serology.

APPLICATIONS OF SERUM

  • Serum is used in numerous diagnostic tests as well as blood typing.

Measuring the concentration of various molecules can be useful for many applications.

EXAMPLE
Determining the therapeutic index of a drug candidate in a clinical trial.

  • To obtain serum, a blood sample is allowed to clot (coagulation).
  • The sample is then centrifuged to remove the clot and blood cells, and the resulting liquid supernatant is serum.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

  • However, equine  widespread use in other countries is not heard of.
  • Neither has the World Health Organization talked about it.
     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

Access to Online classes : Himalayan Region

      HEADLINES:

COVID-19: Every third student in Indian Himalayan region couldn’t access online classes

      WHY IN NEWS:

A rapid assessment studied pandemic-induced challenges & opportunities; it captured Himalayan students’ perspective of digital education and efficacy of online classes through online surveys

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Education

      ISSUE: 

A third of students in Indian Himalayan region couldn’t access online classes during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Educational learning has been an unusual victim of the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

EDUCATION METER

  • Nearly 58 per cent of higher education students in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) were satisfied with their overall preparedness for exams.
  • 20 per cent exhibited lower levels of satisfaction regarding the same.

Only 66.1 per cent respondents took online courses.

  • 33.9 per cent did not receive any digital education from their institutions.
  • About 17.6 per cent used web-based video communications tool such as Zoom, Google Meet and WebEx to take online classes.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

  • A proxy indicator for gauging the efficacy of the online learning format was used.
  • The student-satisfaction level was found to be highly correlated to network quality.
  • When the network was fairly good, reported satisfaction levels were around 59 per cent.

With a fall in internet continuity, the satisfaction level fell to 40.3 per cent.

  • The efficacy was also largely dependent on the satisfaction level and internet continuity.
  • A three-stage framework comprising can change online education : Production of content, outreach and satisfaction and efficacy.
     SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

Increased sea surface temperature Vs Monsoon

      HEADLINES:

Increased sea surface temperature affecting Indian monsoon: Study

      WHY IN NEWS:

Global warming hiatus contributed to the weakening of the Mascarene High in the Southern Indian Ocean, finds study

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : 3 : Global Warming : Climate Change

      ISSUE: 

The climate across the world is changing in many ways,this time it has resulted in a change in the monsoon onset time and pattern.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND MONSOON

  • The process is affecting the agricultural yield.
  • Any excess or little rainfall is, therefore, detrimental to these crops.

NEW STUDY

The Mascarene High (MH) during global warming hiatus (GWH) significantly increased sea surface temperature (SST) during this period (1998-2016).

PUBLISHERS

India Science Wire

MASCARENE HIGH

  • The Mascarene High (MH) is a semi-permanent subtropical high-pressure zone in the South Indian Ocean.

It  helps in driving the inter-hemispheric circulation between the Indian Ocean in the south and subcontinental landmass in the north.

  • It also has a large influence on African and Australian weather patterns.

GLOBAL WARMING HIATUS

  • A global warming hiatus is referred to a global warming pause, or a global warming slowdown.
  • This is a period of relatively little change in globally averaged surface temperatures.
  • The hiatus, however, can result in an increase in the SST.

This warming in SST has resulted in a decrease in the pressure gradient between the MH and the Indian landmass.

  • This in turn suppressed the intensity of low-level cross-equatorial winds over the western Indian Ocean .
  • This affected the onset of the monsoon over the Indian subcontinent and rainfall over East Asia.

MASCARENE ISLANDS

The Mascarene Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar from where the cross equatorial winds blow to India.

  • It is also called the Indian Ocean subtropical high.
  • It is a high-pressure area located between 20° to 35° South latitude and 40° to 90° East longitude.

SOUTHWEST MONSOON

  • The southwest monsoon caused by this high pressure area is the strongest component of the Indian subcontinent monsoon .

Southwest monsoons contributes about more than 80 per cent of the annual rainfall in entire East Asia.

  • It is also the principal water supply source for more than a billion people in this region
  • Many climate modes / factors modulate the monsoon; one of the factors is Mascarene high influence.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

The findings are alarming for a country whose food production and economy depend heavily on monsoon rainfall.

     SOURCES:DOWNTOEARTH | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis 

Aero India 2021

      HEADLINES:

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chairs Ambassadors’ Round-table Virtual Conference on Aero India 2021

      WHY IN NEWS:

Invites the world to India for Asia’s largest aeroshow

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Defence
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence

      ISSUE: 

Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence organised the Ambassadors’ Round Table Virtual conference on Aero India 2021

AERO INDIA 2021

EDITION

Aero India 2021 is the 13 th edition of Aero India being organised at Bengaluru, Karnataka from 03-07 February 2021.

TIMELINE

  • Aero India exhibition is organized every alternate year.

EVENT

  • It is one of the major exhibition for aerospace and defence industries with a public air show.

It enables industry professional to gain market insights, announce new developments and gain media coverage.

  • Aero India offers a unique platform to international aviation sector to bolster business.
  • Aero India 2021 provides opportunity to demonstrate products to the potential customer and investors.
  • In Aero India 2021 Exhibitors are likely to showcase their products using latest technologies to the potential customers.
  • This is an important international event likely to be attended by thousands of business visitors and lakh general visitors.

Aero india logo 2021

  • The logo for Aero India is inspired by the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
  • The Tejas LCA programme has achieved the rare distinction of completing over 4000 Successful Test Flights.

The tri-colored silhouette of the Tejas LCA with the Ashok Chakra in the centre is the core motif of this logo, reminiscent of the spirit of New India.

  • The defined outlines of the ‘A’ in Aero is symbolic of a fighter jet while conveying that Aero India is a premier global aerospace exhibition.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

HIGHLIGHT OF AEROINDIA 2019

  • 403 Exhibitors
  • 238 Indian Exhibitors
  • 165 Foreign Exhibitors
  • 61 Aircrafts Displayed
  • 28386 sqm Exhibition spaces
  • 44 Foreign Delegations
SUGGESTED READING : https://aeroindia.gov.in/Home/About 
     SOURCES: PIB | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

NH 45-A

      HEADLINES:

Gadkari dedicates to the Nation Road-Over-Bridge on NH 45-A at Puducherry

      WHY IN NEWS:

Project to fulfil long awaited need of the local populace

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Road Transport & Highways 
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Transport

      ISSUE: 

Union Minister for Road Transport dedicated one-kilometre long Road-Over-Bridge across Railway Level Crossing on NH 45-A .

NH 45-A

  • The project is envisaged to bring relief to public from traffic jam .
  • This will save time and fuel, safe commutation, reduction in pollution, closure of level crossing, and unhindered passage of railway traffic.

Four-laning of NH-45 shall provide unhindered connectivity of Puducherry with Karaikal port as well as ECR road which is leading upto Kanyakumari.

  • This will also give impetus to the agriculture and fishing.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

  • The Road-Over-Bridge worth Rs 35 crore will fulfil long awaited need of Puducherry, especially Villianur, Ariyur, Kandamangalam, Manaveli, Gorimedu, Arovil and Ariyankuppam areas.
     SOURCES: PIB | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

RAF

      HEADLINES:

Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah has greeted Rapid Action Force (RAF) Personnel and their families on their 28th anniversary

      WHY IN NEWS:

RAF has distinguished itself in dealing with the challenges relating to law & order

MINISTRY? :- Ministry of Home Affairs
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence

      ISSUE: 

Time and again, their commitment in several humanitarian works & UN peacekeeping missions has made India proud

RAPID ACTION FORCE

  • RAF stands for “Rapid Action Force“. A specialized force.
  • It was raised in Oct 1992 with 10 Bn’s which has now been increased to 15 Bn’s as 5 more units have been added w.e.f 01/01/2018.

These units were set up to deal with riots and riot like situations, to instill confidence amongst all sections of the society

  • These units also, handle internal security duty.
  • RAF is a zero response force which gets to the crisis situation within a minimal time.
  • Thus enthuses an immediate sense of security and confidence amongst the general public.
  • This force also has the credit for having a separate flag signifying peace.

RAF trained male and female contingents for UN peace keeping mission to different countries .

  • Every year, RAF continue to earn accolades and excellence in international forum for their highest order of professionalism.

ORGANISATION

  • This specialized force has 15 battalions which are numbered 99 to 108 and 83, 91, 97, 114, 194.
  • It is headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector general .
  • The smallest functional unit in the force is a ‘Team‘ commanded by an inspector.

Team has three components namely riot control element, tear smoke element and fire element. 

  • It has been organised as an independent striking unit.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

One team in a company of RAF is comprised of women personnel so as to deal more effectively with situation where the force forces women demonstrators.

     SOURCES: PIB | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

Google face Antitrust case in India

      HEADLINES:

Google said to face antitrust case in India over smart TVs

      WHY IN NEWS:

Firm faces allegation it abused Android’s market position

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Economy

      ISSUE: 

Google is facing a new antitrust case in India in which the U.S. tech giant is alleged to have abused its Android operating system’s position in the smart television market.

GOOGLE’s ANTITRUST CASE

  • The case is Google’s fourth major antitrust challenge in India.
  • Google it is currently facing public criticism from local start-ups for enforcing certain policies and company charges they contend hurt their growth.

WHAT IS ANTITRUST

  • Antitrust laws are regulations that monitor the distribution of economic power in business.

It makes sure that healthy competition is allowed to flourish and economies can grow.

  • Antitrust laws apply to nearly all industries and sectors, touching every level of business, including manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and marketing.
  • Antitrust laws prohibit a number of business practices that restrain trade.

EXAMPLE
Price-fixing conspiracies, corporate mergers that are likely to cut back the competitive spirit of certain markets, and predatory acts designed to gain or hold on to monopoly power.

  • Antitrust laws were designed to protect and promote healthy competition within all sectors of the economy.
  • Antitrust laws are the broad group of state and federal laws that are designed to make sure businesses are competing fairly.
  • Supporters say antitrust laws are necessary for an open marketplace.

Antitrust laws exist to promote competition among sellers, limit monopolies, and give consumers more options.

  • Opponents to antitrust laws argue that allowing businesses to compete as they see fit would ultimately give consumers the best prices.
  • The trust in antitrust refers to a group of businesses that team up or form a monopoly in order to dictate pricing in a particular market.

      IASbhai WINDUP: 

Competition Commission of India has been looking into allegations that Google engages in anti-competitive practices by creating barriers for firms wanting to use or develop modified versions of Android for smart TVs, such as Amazon Fire TV’s operating system, according to the source, who has direct knowledge of the case.

     SOURCES:THE HINDU  | 8th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis

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