Daily Current Affairs for UPSC
Topics Covered
- BCG Vaccine
- Blackbuck
- Liquid funds
- Side Pocketing
- WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003
- India’s coastal radar chain network
- Sagittarius A
- Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current
- National Population Register
- Marmoset and Chimpanzee, Kalamkari Paintings, Endosulfan , Gandhi Solar Park, Naga Chilly, Suriname, Golden Triangle of Drug Trade
1 . BCG Vaccine
Context : Nanocurcumin enhances BCG vaccine efficacy
About BCG Vaccine
- Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis
- BCG is used in many countries with a high prevalence of TB to prevent childhood tuberculous meningitis and miliary disease. But the protection does not last for long as the host-protective immune responses that the vaccine induces diminishes over time. Thus the vaccine is not protective in adults.
About Nanocurcumin
- Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of the popular Indian spice turmeric.
- Turmeric has been used historically as a component of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Nano curcumin pills provide nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin to an individual to promote general health.
How the Vaccination Works
- In children, the vaccine induces two types of immune cells — effector memory T cells and central memory T cells.
- While the effector memory T cells play a crucial role in mounting an immediate immune response against virulent TB bacteria and kill them, the central memory T cells help in long-term protection in children from childhood TB.
- After persisting for some time, the central memory cells ultimately diminish. As a result, the protection does not last beyond childhood and adults become vulnerable to TB infection despite BCG vaccination.
- One way of enhancing the efficacy of the BCG vaccine is by increasing the number of central memory cells so they last longer and confer protection for longer duration. In nature, dynamic balance exists between the two types of immune T cells — central memory cells and effector memory cells. Altering the ratio to increase the number of central memory cells will help in enhancing the efficacy of the BCG vaccine.
Key Findings
- A study carried out on mice models has found that curcumin in nanoparticle form has the potential to enhance the efficacy of BCG vaccine such that it confers protection against adult pulmonary TB.
- The researchers found that injecting curcumin nanoparticles soon after vaccinating the mice with BCG produced an appreciable enhancement of immune memory cells (T central memory cells) responsible for long-term protection against TB infection.
- Curcumin nanoparticles not only increase the level of TB-specific acquired immune cells Th1 and Th17 but also simultaneously reduce the level of certain other cells (Th2 and Tregs) thus improving the efficacy of the BCG vaccine
- Nanoparticles were able to enhance the ratio of the two cell types by using curcumin nanoparticles
2 . Blackbuck
About Black buck
- The blackbuck also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope found in India, Nepal and Pakistan
- The blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas. Due to their regular need of water, they prefer areas where water is perennially available.
- In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
- The blackbuck is listed under Appendix III of CITES
- It is the state animal of Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh
Issues faced by Blackbuck
- Open areas are a primary requirement for the growth of the blackbuck population as the mothers need space and safety to give birth and nurse the young ones till they are strong enough. As more and more open areas are taken in for construction or are fenced, there is a severe lack of space.
- When native grass, herbs and plants are destroyed or annually cleared, the animal species depending on these floras also get endangered. Moreover, species of grass which are exotic or sprayed with pesticides are also a big problem.
- Construction work creates massive ruckus in habitable zones of the blackbuck which disturbs the animal population.
- Stray dogs can kill off young fawns that need to hide among tall grass till they are nursed to strength. Keeping the number of dogs in check is a necessity to protect blackbucks.
- Automobiles and the increasing number of the same is another problem for the animals as they can get killed by speeding cars.
3 . Liquid Funds
Context : As part of its attempts to strengthen the risk management framework for liquid funds, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has made it mandatory for such funds to hold at least 20% of its net assets in liquid assets while mandating an exit load on investors that exit within seven days of making an investment.
About Liquid Assets
- A liquid asset is an asset that can easily be converted into cash within a short amount of time.
- Liquid assets include things like cash, money market instruments, and marketable securities
About Recent norms
- According to SEBI Liquid funds shall hold at least 20% of their net assets in liquid assets.
- For this purpose, liquid assets shall include cash, government securities, T-bills and repo on government securities
- In case the exposure in such liquid assets falls below 20% of net assets of the scheme, the fund house will first have to meet the 20% norm before making any further investments.
4 . Side Pocketing
About Side Pocketing
- It is an accounting method used to separate illiquid investments from the more liquid and quality investments in an investor’s debt portfolio.
- When debt funds write down the value of a bond, they usually aren’t sure if the bond is a complete dud or will realise some value later.
- But in the interests of conservatism, SEBI rules require funds to write down the value of such bonds by 25, 50, 75 or even 100% in their portfolios, based on their credit ratings.
- When a fund takes such write-downs, the NAV takes an immediate blow.
- But if the issuer of the bond later pays up his dues, the fund will then have to increase its NAV to account for the repayment.
- In such cases, investors in the scheme who exit early taking NAV losses would fail to benefit from the recovery.
- On the other hand, new investors who entered the scheme after the write-down would stand to pocket unfair gains on a bond they never owned.
- Segregating downgraded bonds in a fund’s portfolio into a ‘side-pocket’ avoids such unfair treatment.
- When a scheme side-pockets a doubtful bond, any recovery from the bond is distributed to all investors who were invested in the scheme when the downgrade happened.
- Investors who got into a scheme after the downgrade, get to buy only into the main portfolio excluding the doubtful bond.
How is it done?
- Side pocketing is considered as a change in the fundamental attributes of a scheme. This requires an asset management company (AMC) proposing to create a side pocket to amend the scheme information document (SID) and allow an exit window of 30 days without charging any exit load.
- Once this permission is taken on the day of the event, the AMC can segregate papers that are illiquid or in default category from all other instruments in the portfolio that are liquid.
- This creates two schemes — one that contains the illiquid paper and the other holding the good ones.
Why is this useful for investors?
- A fixed income fund that has a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore with a 5 per cent exposure to a company that defaults.
- Due to this default by one company, many large investors tend to redeem their money from the scheme to avoid any further loss.
- To pay them, the scheme is forced to sell good paper, and thus the percentage holding of bad assets in the portfolio rises.
- By segregating the bad asset, investors do not rush in to redeem. As and when the affected company pays back, the investors will get their money back.
When and what kind of bonds are debt funds supposed to segregate?
- SEBI rules allow debt funds to side-pocket only those bonds that are downgraded below investment grade by rating agencies.
- When a bond rated BBB or above is pegged down, it turns from an investment grade bond to a non-investment grade one.
- Fund houses are required to decide on side-pocketing and secure the approval of their trustees for it, on the day the downgrade happens.
5 . WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003
Context : The Executive Director of the Tobacco Board of India cancelled her appearance at the last minute at a U.S. conference aimed at promoting tobacco, avoiding embarrassment to the government because it would have violated not only Indian laws but also World Health Organization (WHO) rules.
About WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
- The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO.
- It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.
- The WHO FCTC was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.
- The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation.
- India is a signatory of WHO FCTC
Details of the Convention
The Convention is divided into sections:
- Articles 3-5 establish the objective, guiding principles and general obligations engendered by the treaty;
- Articles 6 to 14: demand-side reduction measures;
- Articles 15-17: supply-side reduction measures;
- Article 18: protection of the environment;
- Article 19: liability;
- Articles 20-22: cooperation and communication;
- Articles 23-26: institutional arrangements and financial resources;
- Article 27: settlement of disputes;
- Articles 28-29: development of the convention;
- Articles 30-38: “final provisions”, covering statutory matters such as means of acceding to the Convention, entry into force, and so on.
About Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003
- The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 or COTPA, 2003 is an Act of Parliament of India enacted in 2003 to prohibit advertisement of, and to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products in India.
- The Act prohibits smoking of tobacco in public places, except in special smoking zones in hotels, restaurants and airports and open spaces
- Advertisement of tobacco products including cigarettes is prohibited.
- Tobacco products cannot be sold to person below the age of 18 years, and in places within 100 yards radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education, which includes school colleges and institutions of higher learning established or recognized by an appropriate authority
- Tobacco products must be sold, supplied or distributed in a package which shall contain an appropriate pictorial warning, its nicotine and tar contents
- The Act also gives power to any police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector or any officer of State Food or Drug Administration or any other officer, holding the equivalent rank being not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police for search and seizure of premises where tobacco products are produced, stored or sold, if he suspects that the provision of the Act has been violated
- The Act also prescribes punishment for various offences
6 . India’s coastal radar chain network
Context : The issue of coastal radar chain network in Bangladesh will be discussed to fast-track it, defence and diplomatic sources confirmed. A Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) team went there recently and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed and if all goes well, it could be signed in the next high-level bilateral visit
About Coastal radar chain Network
- The radar chain—which will link up with similar systems in India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles—will provide a comprehensive live feed of ship movements in the Indian Ocean Region that can be used by friendly navies.
- India has offered the system to Myanmar where discussions are reportedly at an advanced stage, as well as Bangladesh. Thailand has also been offered the radar system, while in Indonesia, India has offered to set up a pilot project in one of the islands.
- Seven out of the 10 radars that had to be set up are now being fitted with the latest systems that can relay location information, videos and images live to a central command unit
7 . Sagittarius A
Context In recent years, it has shown unusual activity, and the area around it has been much brighter than usual.
About Sagittarius A
- Sagittarius A is a supermassive black hole 26,000 light years away from Earth, near the Galactic Centre, or the centre of the Milky Way.
Reasons for unusual brightness
- It may be that the Sagittarius A* has become hungrier, and has been feeding on nearby matter at a markedly faster rate, described as a “big feast”.
- It could be growing faster than usual in size, or that the current model that measures its level of brightness is inadequate and is in need of an update.
- A black hole does not emit light by itself, but the matter that it consumes can be a source of light. A large quantity of gas from the S0-2 star, which travelled close to the black hole last year, may now have reached the latter.
- Other possibilities of the heightened activity, the paper says, are that Sagittarius A* could be growing faster than usual in size, or that the current model that measures its level of brightness is inadequate and is in need of an update.
8 . Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current
Context : In the Atlantic operates a large system of ocean currents, circulating the waters between the north and the south. Called Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current, or AMOC, it ensures the oceans are continually mixed, and heat and energy are distributed around Earth.
About the Issue
- For the last 15 years, however, scientists have been worried by signs that AMOC may be slowing, which could have drastic consequences on global climate.
- Now a new study suggests that AMOC is getting help from the Indian Ocean. Warming as a result of climate change, the Indian Ocean is causing a series of cascading effects that is providing AMOC a “jump start”
How AMOC works
- As warm water flows northwards in the Atlantic, it cools, while evaporation increases its salt content.
- Low temperature and a high salt content raise the density of the water, causing it to sink deep into the ocean. The cold, dense water deep below slowly spreads southward.
- Eventually, it gets pulled back to the surface and warms again, and the circulation is complete.
- This continual mixing of the oceans, and distribution of heat and energy around the planet, contribute to global climate.
- Another oceanic system, which makes news more frequently, is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This involves temperature changes of 1°-3°C in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, over periods between three and seven years. El Niño refers to warming of the ocean surface and La Niña to cooling, while “Neutral” is between these extremes. This alternating pattern affects rainfall distribution in the tropics and can have a strong influence on weather in other parts of the world.
What is happening now
- AMOC has been stable for thousands of years. Data since 2004, as well as projections, have given some scientists cause for concern. What is not clear, however, is whether the signs of slowing in AMOC are a result of global warming or only a short-term anomaly.
- AMOC had weakened substantially 17,000 to 15,000 years ago, and it had global impacts,
Indian Ocean’s role
- Fedorov and Hu’s work involves climate mechanisms that may be shifting due to global warming. Using observed data and computer modelling, they have plotted out what effect such shifts might have over time. In this study, they looked at warming in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is one of the fingerprints of global warming
- Their finding: As the Indian Ocean warms faster and faster, it generates additional precipitation. This draws more air from other parts of the world to the Indian Ocean, including the Atlantic. With so much precipitation in the Indian Ocean, there will be less precipitation in the Atlantic Ocean. Less precipitation will lead to higher salinity in the waters of the tropical portion of the Atlantic — because there won’t be as much rainwater to dilute it. This saltier water in the Atlantic, as it comes north via AMOC, will get cold much quicker than usual and sink faster.
- “This would act as a jump start for AMOC, intensifying the circulation. It is still not known about how long this enhanced Indian Ocean warming will continue. If other tropical oceans’ warming, especially the Pacific, catches up with the Indian Ocean, the advantage for AMOC will stop.
9 . National Population Register
About National Population Register
- The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country.
- It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
- It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
- A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more
Objectives
- The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars
Demographic Particulars
The following demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident:
- Name of person
- Relationship to head of household
- Father’s name
- Mother’s name
- Spouse’s name (if married)
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Marital status
- Place of birth
- Nationality (as declared)
- Present address of usual residence
- Duration of stay at present address
- Permanent residential address
- Occupation/Activity
- Educational qualification
Present Status
- The data for National Population Register was collected in 2010 along with the houselisting phase of Census of India 2011. The updation of this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey. The digitisation of the updated information has been completed.
- Now it has been decided to update the National Population Register along with the Houselisting phase of Census 2021 during April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam.
10 . Facts for Prelims
Marmoset and Chimpanzee,
- The marmosets, also known as zaris, are twenty-two New World monkey species of the generaCallithrix, Cebuella, Callibella and Mico. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term marmoset is also used in reference to the Goeldi’s marmoset, Callimico goeldii, which is closely related. IUCN Red List : Least Concern
- The chimpanzee also known as the common chimpanzee, robust chimpanzee, or simply “chimp“, is a species of great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa. IUCN Red list Endangered
Kalamkari Paintings,
- Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile, produced in Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari and it involves twenty three steps.
- There are two distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India – Srikalahasti style and the Machilipatnam style.
- The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari (Kalankari), wherein the “kalam” or pen is used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colors, is entirely hand worked. This style flowered around temples and their patronage and so had an almost religious identity – scrolls, temple hangings, chariot banners and the like, depicted deities and scenes taken from the Hindu epics – Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purana and the mythological classics. This style owes its present status to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who popularized the art as the first Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board
Gandhi Solar Park
- 50KW Gandhi Solar Park is situated at the Headquarters of United Nations. IT was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Naga Chilly
- Naga Chilly (Capsicum chinense), also known as King Chilly, is more popular as Bhot Jolokia which derives its name from the popular belief that it originated in the hills of Bhutan.
- The Guinness Book of World Records had in 2007 named it as the hottest chilly but lost its position first to a UK variety called Infinity and then the US-developed Carolina Reaper.
Suriname
- Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America. It’s defined by vast swaths of tropical rainforest,
- It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south
Golden Triangle of Drug Trade
- Golden Triangle of drug trade, comprising Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China.