Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- House panel moots law to keep a check on private hospitals
- COVID Variant
- Great Conjunction
- Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
- Development Finance Institution
- Leopard Survey
- Facts for Prelims
1 . House panel moots law to keep a check on private hospitals
Context : There should be a comprehensive public health Act with suitable legal provisions to keep checks and controls over private hospitals in times of a pandemic and to curb black marketing of medicines, the standing committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma, has said in a report that was submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Monday.
About the News
- The committee strongly recommends a comprehensive Public Health Act, preferably at the national level with suitable legal provisions to support the government in keeping checks and controls over private hospitals as there have been reports about the selling of hospital beds by them
- The Act, it stated, should keep a check on black marketing of medicines and on product standardisation. It flagged the initial confusion over COVID care medicines and how they were sold at higher rates.
- It suggested that the government should be proactive by holding awareness campaigns on cheaper and effective re-purposed medicines to prevent panick-buying of expensive drugs by the people.
Other Suggestions provided by the Panel
- Have regulatory oversight on all hospital working in the country to prevent refusal to accept insurance claims
- Make COVID 19 treatment cashless for all people who have insurance coverage
- Form a separate wing in the National disaster management authority that will specialise in handling pandemics like COVID 19 in the future
- Ensure effective implementation at the ground level and address problems being faced by farmers, no-corporate & non farm small / micro enterprises in getting loans
- Ensure states deliver dry rations / allowances to children deprived of mid day meal due to the pandemic.
2 . New Variant of the Coronavirus
Context : In emerging information about the new variant of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the UK, one mutation has been of particular concern. The variant, called VUI 202012/01 and reported as being capable of transmitting faster among people, is defined by as many as 14 mutations and three deletions in its genetic material. Of particular concern is one mutation, N501Y.
What is a mutation?
- A mutation means an alteration in genetic material.
- In an RNA virus such as SARS-CoV-2, proteins are made of a sequence of amino acids.
- Such a virus contains some 30,000 ‘base pairs’, which are like bricks placed next to each other to form a structure.
- An alteration in this base can be a mutation, effectively changing the shape and behaviour of the virus.
- In the UK variant, one mutation has made the virus more likely to bind with human proteins called receptors. This is called N501Y.
What is N501Y?
- Amino acid is represented by the letter N, and present at position 501 in the coronavirus genetic structure, has been replaced in that position with another amino acid, represented by Y. The position where this alteration has taken place is in the spike protein’s receptor-binding domain. (It is the spike protein of the virus that binds with the human receptor.)
- Therefore, the mutation has increased the binding affinity of the coronavirus. The mutated virus reportedly accounts for 60% of recent infections in London.
- According to the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, the same mutation in the receptor binding domain has been independently reported in several countries including South Africa and Australia. Sequence analysis has shown that this mutation originated separately in the UK and South Africa.
What about the other coronavirus mutations?
- Mutations are common, but the majority of them cause no alteration in the structure of the proteins they encode — these are called ‘synonymous’ mutations, as they eventually translate to the same amino acids. Another type is ‘non-synonymous’ mutation, which could result in an amino acid change.
- In the variant circulating in the UK, there are six synonymous alterations and fourteen non-synonymous mutations. In addition, there are three ‘deletions’ — amino acids removed from the sequence.
- According the World Health Organization (WHO), other than N501Y, mutations that “may influence the transmissibility of the virus in humans” are P681H and HV 69/70.
And what are P681H and HV 69/70?
- P681H: This mutation has occurred in the amino acid present at 681 — another position in the receptor-binding domain. Here the amino acid P has been replaced with H. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said this is a site “with high variability in coronaviruses”, and this specific mutation has also emerged spontaneously multiple times. The WHO has said this mutation is of “biological significance”.
- Researchers have earlier shown that this mutation can promote entry into respiratory epithelial cells and transmission in animal models.
- Recent samples sequenced at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria has shown the P681H sequence there. However, researchers say that at present, they “do not have evidence to indicate that the P681H variant is contributing to increased transmission of the virus in Nigeria”.
- HV 69/70: This mutation is the result of a deletion of amino acids at positions 69 and 70. These positions are again in the spike protein of the virus. This deletion has been observed in France and South Africa as well. The CDC has said : “This double deletion has occurred spontaneously many times, and likely leads to a change in the shape of (i.e., a conformational change in) the spike protein”.
- Researchers on behalf of COVID-19 Genomics Consortium UK (CoG-UK), which red-flagged the new variant in the UK, have said in their preliminary report that this deletion was also seen in a mink-associated outbreak in Denmark. In humans, this deletion has been associated with another mutation, N439K, which again occurred the receptor-binding domain.
- The WHO has highlighted that this deletion can affect the performance of some RT-PCR tests that detect the novel coronavirus.
How can it affect RT-PCR tests?
- The WHO has said that the deletion at positions 69/70 has been found to affect the performance of some diagnostic PCR assays that use an ‘S gene target’ (in the ‘S’ or spike protein). However, the WHO has also said, “most PCR assays worldwide use multiple targets and therefore the impact of the variant on diagnostics is not anticipated to be significant”.
- The CDC, too, has said that most commercial PCR tests have multiple targets where they detect the virus, so that even if a mutation impacts one of the targets, the other PCR targets will still work.
- In fact, infection triggered by the new strain in the UK, too, was detected by the conventional RT-PCR test.
- “Laboratories using in-house PCR assays that target the S gene of the virus should also be aware of this potential issue. In order to limit the impact on the detection capacities in the countries, an approach using different assays in parallel or multiplex assays targeting different viral genes is also recommended to allow the detection of potential arising variants,” the WHO had recommended.
Will it impact vaccine development?
- The CDC has said vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are “polyclonal”, producing antibodies that target several parts of the spike protein.
- “The virus would likely need to accumulate multiple mutations in the spike protein to evade immunity induced by vaccines or by natural infection,” it has said.
- And the WHO has said: “Laboratory studies are ongoing to determine whether these variant viruses have different biological properties or alter vaccine efficacy. There is not enough information at present to determine if this variant is associated with any change in severity of clinical disease, antibody response or vaccine efficacy.”
3 . Great Conjunction
Context : For the last several days, sky watchers have been captivated by the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn.
What’s a great conjunction?
- A pairing between any pair of planets is a conjunction.
- Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets visible to the naked eye, hence the expression ‘Great Conjunction’.
- These two align roughly every 20 years, which is relatively rare compared to the alignments of planets closer to the Sun (and which consequently have shorter orbits).
- Jupiter orbits the Sun once in 12 years, and Saturn once in 30.
- In 2080, the two planets will align next at roughly the same place where stargazers watched them on December 21, 2020. In these 60 years, Jupiter will have orbited the Sun five times, while Saturn will have done so twice.
- But they will have met twice more during this period, though at different places in the sky. In 12 years more, Jupiter will return to its current place; in the next 8 years, it will complete 2/3rds of another 12-year cycle around the Sun. In the same 20 years, Saturn will have completed 2/3rds of its 30-year cycle. In other words, the two planets will meet again in 2040. And yet again in 2060.
So, why is this conjunction special?
- It’s the alignment which makes this conjuction special.
- Alignment is the position of a planet in terms of the angle it makes on the Earth’s orbital plane, with a given reference direction. When we say two planets have aligned in a conjunction, it suggests they are casting the same angle with that reference direction.
- Planets in a conjunction are typically above or below each other, because their orbits are slightly tilted with respect to each other.
- This time, Jupiter and Saturn are a tenth of a degree apart viewed from Earth. From some views, that might give them the appearance of converging into one, but viewers around the world have found them distinct enough to tell them apart.
- Also, the position of Earth matters. Not every alignment provides a clear viewing.
And how rare is this conjunction?
- The last Great Conjunction happened in 1623.
- The last time the two planets were close enough to be viewed in the night sky was in 1226.
4 . Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
Context : The government notified the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020.
About Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
- Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 serve to “empower” consumers with rights that would allow them to access continuous supply of quality, reliable electricity. This is because the provisions make distribution companies more accountable to consumers.
- The rules cover 11 key areas of power supply to consumers in the country, including obligations of distribution licensees, metering arrangements, release of new connections and modifications of existing connections and grievance redressal and compensation mechanisms.
- However, there are certain exceptions to these rules, especially where use for agricultural purposes is concerned.
Effect on consumers
- As per law, states will have to implement these rules and discoms will be held more accountable for issues like delays in providing and renewing connections of electricity.
- They are also obligated to provide round-the-clock electricity to consumers, as per the Ministry of Power.
- To ensure compliance, the government will apply penalties that will be credited to the consumer’s account. The following areas are covered under the rules:
- Rights of consumers and Obligations of Distribution licensees;
- Release of new connection and modification in existing connection;
- Metering arrangement;
- billing and payment;
- disconnection and reconnection;
- Reliability of supply;
- Consumer as ‘prosumer’;
- Standards of performance of licensee;
- Compensation mechanism;
- Call centre for consumer services;
- Grievance redressal mechanism.
5 . Development Finance Institution
Context : The government plans to set up a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in the next three to four months
Background
- In her last Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had proposed to set up DFIs for promoting infrastructure funding.
- About 7,000 projects have been identified under the National Infrastructure Pipeline with projected investment of ₹111 lakh crore during 2020-25.
About DFI
- A Development Financial Institution (DFI) is an institution that provides long-term finance for development.
- There are three different institutional forms for a DFI. First, deposit-taking wholesale banks. Second, non-deposit taking financial institutions. Finally, there are the off-balance-sheet entities like infrastructure funds.
- Fully government-owned DFIs are risk-tolerant and are more likely to offer patient capital to invest in emerging technologies and infrastructure sectors. They would also be willing to accept less than commercial returns and offer debt at concessional terms.
Objective of DFI’s
- Motive to set up a Development finance institution is to mobilise the ₹111 lakh crore required for funding of the ambitious national infrastructure pipeline
Importance
- Development financial institution is required as infra financing needs patient capital, and banks are currently not suited for lending for long-term projects which do not generate any cash for years
- The DFI will be a catalyst, and would fund projects where others are not willing to enter because of the risks involved
- It would have a key developmental role apart from the financing role. Prior to liberalisation, India had DFIs engaged in development of industry. ICICI and IDBI, in their previous avatars, were DFIs. The country’s oldest financial institution IFCI Ltd. too had acted as a DFI.
6 . Leopard Survey
Context : Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that a “60 per cent increase has been recorded in the population count of leopards in India from 2014 estimates’’.
Background
- The 2014 estimates placed the population of leopards at nearly 8,000 which has increased to 12,852.
About the Report
- ‘Status of leopards in India, 2018’ report was based on the study conducted through capturing 5,240 leopards on camera apart from satellite imaging and field work by teams of forest officers along with teams of the Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- The study has been conducted only in tiger- populated forests areas under Project Tiger, and leopard populations in other agricultural, non-forested areas like tea and coffee plantations, and in most parts of the North East have not been conducted.
- The leopard census has been carried out in the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plains, Central India and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats and North eastern Hills and Brahmaputra flood plains.
Details of the report
- The largest number of leopards have been estimated in Madhya Pradesh (3,421) followed by Karnataka (1,783) and then Maharashtra (1,690).
- The report finds that in region wise distribution, Central India and Eastern Ghats have the highest number of leopards at 8,071. In the Western Ghats region, there are 3,387 leopards while there are 1,253 leopards in Shivalik and Gangetic Plains. There are 141 leopards in the Northeast hills.
- But while the estimated number of leopards has increased, the report alerts that the leopard habitat area has been shrinking alarmingly over the past 100-125 years.
- According to the report in the Indian subcontinent poaching, habitat loss, depletion of natural prey and conflict are major threats to leopard populations
7 . Facts for Prelims
Great Indian Bustard
- The Great Indian Bustard or Indian bustard is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent.
- It is Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972, in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES,
- Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016).
- It has also been identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
- It is the State Animal of Rajasthan
TPSA
- Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) is a landmark legislation that calls for the opening of a U.S. consulate in Lhasa and also underlines U.S. backing for the Dalai Lama to determine his successor.
- The Act said such decisions “should be made by the appropriate religious authorities within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition” with the “wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama… [playing] a determinative role”, and described “interference” in the succession by China as “a clear violation of the fundamental religious freedoms for Tibetan Buddhists and the Tibetan people”.
- With the Act, the U.S. will back the choice made by the Dalai Lama, even as China has made clear it would anoint its own successor, just as it did by naming its own 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 as Gyancain Norbu, rejecting the Dalai Lama-backed candidate, Gedhun Choekyi Nima, aged six at the time, who has not been seen in public since.
Legion of Merit
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the ‘Legion of Merit’ by U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday for his role in advancing the India-U.S. relationship. The award was also presented to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
- The Legion of Merit, instituted in 1942 by former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and also members of foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) Armed Forces and sometimes heads of state or government.
- The award is presented to foreign recipients in four categories: Chief Commander, Commander, Officer and Legionnaire.
- Other Indians who have won the award include Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who received the Legion of Merit (Degree: Chief Commander) in 1949 from then U.S. President Harry S.Truman.
Shaheen – IX
- Shaheen-IX” or Eagle-IX exercise, the ninth such exercise held between the Pakistan Air Force and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force since 2011.