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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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
ONLINE EDUCATION IN HIMALAYAN REGION
REPORT TITLE
Learning during the Lockdown
PUBLISHED BY
- Integrated Mountain Initiative
- India And Bharat Together
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.
- 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.
- 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:
CLIMATE CHANGE AND MONSOON
- The process is affecting the agricultural yield.
- Any excess or little rainfall is, therefore, detrimental to these crops.
NEW STUDY
PUBLISHERS
India Science Wire
MASCARENE HIGH
- The Mascarene High (MH) is a semi-permanent subtropical high-pressure zone in the South Indian Ocean.
- 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 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
- 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 .
- 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
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence
ISSUE:
AERO INDIA 2021
EDITION
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.
- 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.
LOGO
- 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 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
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
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Transport
ISSUE:
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.
- 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
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence
ISSUE:
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 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.
- 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.
- 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’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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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