Current Affairs Jun 5 – GES Reporter

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year to remind people about the importance of nature.

History of World Environment Day:

The United Nations Assembly established World Environment Day in 1972, which was the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the human environment.
In 1974, it was celebrated with the theme ‘Only One Earth’. Since then, various host countries have been celebrating it, and the idea for rotating the center of these activities started. World Environment Day was first observed in 1974 in the US.

The theme for this year:

The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ and Pakistan will be the global host for the big day.
This day will also see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. In 2020, the theme was ‘Celebrate Biodiversity’.

In India

World Environment Day event jointly organized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘promotion of biofuels for better environment’.
During the event, Prime Minister will release the “Report of the Expert Committee on Road Map for ethanol blending in India 2020-2025”.
To commemorate World Environment Day, Government of India is releasing E-20 Notification directing Oil Companies to sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol up to 20% from 1st April 2023; and BIS Specifications for higher ethanol blends E12 & E15.

INDIA TODAY

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for White Goods

Why in News?

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, notified the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) manufacturers in India.
The objective of the scheme is to create complete component ecosystem in India and make India an integral part of the global supply chains.
The Scheme is expected to attract global investments, enhance manufacturing and generate large scale employment opportunities.
A number of global and domestic companies, including a number of MSMEs are likely to benefit from the Scheme.
The Scheme is expected to be instrumental in achieving growth rates that are much higher than existing ones for AC and LED industries, develop complete component eco-systems in India and create global champions manufacturing in India.

PIB

Defence Acquisition Council

Why in News?

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting held under the Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri, has approved proposals concerning Capital Acquisitions of various equipment for modernisation and operational needs of the Armed Forces amounting to approx. Rs 6,000 crore.
DAC also approved issue of RFP for construction of six Conventional Submarines under Project P 75 (I) under the Strategic Partnership (SP) Model.
This project envisages indigenous construction of six conventional submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs 43,000 crore.
This is a landmark approval, being the first case processed under the Strategic Partnership model.
This would be one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects and will serve to facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology and create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.
From a strategic perspective, this will help reduce current dependence on imports and gradually ensure greater self-reliance and dependability of supplies from indigenous sources.

PIB

A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter

Why in News?

A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter/ framework for delivery of the services across the 29 sectors, aligning actions with localised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- - as prepared by Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)
  - was released by Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Panchayati Raj for the Panchayats to adopt & customise.

Significance

The Citizen Charter would ensure transparent and effective delivery of public services for sustainable development and enhanced citizen service experiences; deepening inclusive and accountable Local Self Governments by incorporating diverse views while designing and delivering services.
The aim of establishing a Citizen charter is to provide services to the people in a time bound manner, redressing their grievances and improving their lives.
This will help in making the citizens aware of their rights on the one hand, and to make the Panchayats and their elected representatives directly accountable to the people, on the other hand.

About Panchayat

Panchayats constitute the third tier of government in the rural areas and represents the first level of Government interaction for over 60 per cent of the Indian populace.
Panchayats are responsible for delivery of basic services as enshrined under article 243G of the Constitution of India, specifically in the areas of Health & Sanitation, Education, Nutrition, Drinking Water.

PIB

“Largest Green Railways” in the world

Why in News?

Indian Railways (IR) is working in mission mode to become the largest Green Railways in the world and is moving towards becoming a “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030.
Railways is guided by a holistic vision of being an environment friendly, efficient, cost effective, punctual and a modern carrier of passengers as well as freight in order to serve the growing needs of New India.
IR is looking at helping the environment with steps ranging from massive electrification, water & paper conservation, to saving animals from being injured on Railway tracks.
Railway Electrification which is environment friendly and reduces pollution, has increased nearly ten times since 2014.
Capturing the economic benefits of electric traction in an accelerated manner, Railways has planned to electrify balance Broad Gauge (BG) routes by December, 2023 to achieve 100% electrification of BG routes.
Head-On-Generation systems, Bio-Toilets and LED lights recreate the train itself into a travel mode that’s kinder to the environment while maintaining comparable passenger comfort.
IR’s Dedicated Freight Corridors are being developed as a low carbon green transportation network with a long-term low carbon roadmap, which will enable it to adopt more energy efficient and carbon-friendly technologies, processes and practices.
IR is implementing two Dedicated Freight Corridor projects viz. Eastern Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Dankuni (1,875 km) and Western Corridor (WDFC) from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (1,506 km). Sonnagar-Dankuni (538 km) portion of EDFC has been planned for execution on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Green Certifications and implementation of Environment Management System:

MoU signed between IR and Confederation of Indian Industry in July 2016 for facilitation of Green initiatives on IR.
Green certification mainly covers assessment of parameters having direct bearing on the environment, such as, energy conservation measures, use of renewable energy, Green House Gas emission reduction, water conservation, waste management, material conservation, recycling etc.

PIB

India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen SPAG9

Why in News?

Cancer kills8.51 lakh people in India every year (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2020, Globocan). As per World Health Organization (WHO), one in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in 15 will die of cancer.
Researchers at the New Delhi-based National Institute of Immunology (NII), and clinicians at Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai have been working together to translate new scientific discoveries into improved care for cancer patients.
India’s first indigenous tumour antigen SPAG9 was discovered by Dr Anil Suri in 1998 who is heading the Cancer Research Program at NII. In a recent development, theSPAG9 antigen has received the trademark ASPAGNII^TM.
Currently, ASPAGNII^TM is being used in dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy in cervical, ovarian cancer and will also be used in breast cancer.
Immunotherapy is a new approach that exploits the body’s inner capability to put up a fight against cancer.
With this approach, either the immune system is given a boost, or the T cells are “trained’’ to identify recalcitrant cancer cells and kill them.
In this personalised intervention,those patients expressing SPAG9 protein can be treated with DC-based vaccine approach.
In DC-based vaccine, patient’s cells called monocytes from their blood are collected and modified into what are called dendritic cells.
These dendritic cells are primed with ASPAGNII^TM and are injected back to the patient to help the ‘fighter’ cells, or T-cells, in the body to kill the cancer cells. DC-based immunotherapy is safe, affordable and can promote antitumor immune responses and prolonged survival of cancer patients.

PIB

Advanced Oxygen Technologies

Why in News?

Oxygen Therapy will absolutely relevant even in the days to come, since it is used as a Non-Invasive Therapy for faster Wound Healing, Cell Repair and self-healing of organs.
Jammu & Kashmir which has tremendous tourist footfall in normal times can provide oxygen rejuvenation hubs for the tourists, especially to tackle high altitude related issues.
A normal person requires oxygen in the range of 5-8 LPM.
However, for Lungs impairment issue the requirement is doubled for faster Lungs repair in cases such as Pulmonary Fibrosis. While delivering Oxygen it is equally important to ensure that there is no Oxygen Leakage through wastage or leakage of Viral Load.
CSIR-CMERI is working upon the development of Oxygen delivery using NIV Masks/Hoods which would have dedicated inlet and exhale channels.
The exhaling channel would be equipped with an efficient Viral/Bacterial Filter for trapping any transmission. This would be extremely helpful in enclosed spaces such as Isolation Wards.
The CSIR-CMERI Oxygen Enrichment Technology is a decentralised and in-situ technology for Oxygen Generation.
Advanced Oxygen Enrichment Technology is also being developed having Independent Controls for Oxygen Enrichment (FiO2) and Flow Rate. It will be equipped with SPO2 sensor and C-PAP with an estimated capacity of 15 LPM.

PIB

Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

Why in News?

The DCGI has granted permission to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture the Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine in India for examination, test and analysis with certain conditions.
The Pune-based firm has collaborated with Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow in Russia for developing Sputnik V at its licensed Hadapsar facility.

THE HINDU

Corbevax

Why in News?

India has placed an advance order to block 300 million doses of a new Covid-19 vaccine, Corbevax, from Hyderabad-based company Biological E.

How Corbevax works

Corbevax is a “recombinant protein sub-unit” vaccine, which means it is made up of a specific part of SARS-CoV-2 — the spike protein on the virus’s surface.
The spike protein allows the virus to enter the cells in the body so that it can replicate and cause disease.
However, when this protein alone is given to the body, it is not expected to be harmful as the rest of the virus is absent.
The body is expected to develop an immune response against the injected spike protein.
Therefore, when the real virus attempts to infect the body, it will already have an immune response ready that will make it unlikely for the person to fall severely ill.
Although this technology has been used for decades to make hepatitis B vaccines, Corbevax will be among the first Covid-19 vaccines to use this platform.
Novavax has also developed a protein-based vaccine, which is still waiting for emergency use authorisation from various regulators.

How Corbevax is different

Other Covid-19 vaccines approved so far are either mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), viral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca-Oxford/Covishield, Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik V) or inactivated vaccines (Covaxin, Sinovac-CoronaVac and Sinopharm’s SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Vero Cell).
Inactivated vaccines, which include killed particles of the whole SARS-CoV-2 virus, attempt to target the entire structure of the virus. On the other hand, Corbevax, like the mRNA and viral vector Covid-19 vaccines, targets only the spike protein, but in a different way.
Viral vector and mRNA and vaccines use a code to induce our cells to make the spike proteins against which the body have to build immunity

How Corbevax is different

Other Covid-19 vaccines approved so far are either mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), viral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca-Oxford/Covishield, Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik V) or inactivated vaccines (Covaxin, Sinovac-CoronaVac and Sinopharm’s SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Vero Cell).
Inactivated vaccines, which include killed particles of the whole SARS-CoV-2 virus, attempt to target the entire structure of the virus. On the other hand, Corbevax, like the mRNA and viral vector Covid-19 vaccines, targets only the spike protein, but in a different way.
Viral vector and mRNA and vaccines use a code to induce our cells to make the spike proteins against which the body have to build immunity.

Anti-hail guns

Why in News?

To help out horticulturists who face crop damage due to hailstorms, the Himachal Pradesh government will be testing the use of indigenously developed ‘anti-hail guns’.

What are anti-hail guns and how do they ‘prevent’ a hailstorm?

An anti-hail gun is a machine which generates shock waves to disrupt the growth of hailstones in clouds.
It comprises a tall, fixed structure somewhat resembling an inverted tower, several metres high, with a long and narrow cone opening towards the sky.
The gun is “fired” by feeding an explosive mixture of acetylene gas and air into its lower chamber, which releases a shock wave (waves which travel faster than the speed of sound, such as those produced by supersonic aircraft).
These shock waves supposedly stop water droplets in clouds from turning into hailstones, so that they fall simply as raindrops.
Hail is produced by cumulonimbus clouds, which are generally large and dark and may cause thunder and lightning.
In such clouds, winds can blow up the water droplets to heights where they freeze into ice.
The frozen droplets begin to fall but are soon pushed back up by the winds and more droplets freeze onto them, resulting in multiple layers of ice on the hailstones.
This fall and rise is repeated several times, till the hailstones become too heavy and fall down.
It is this hail formation process that the shock waves from anti-hail guns try to disrupt in a radius of 500 metres, so that the water droplets fall down before they can be lifted by the updrafts.
The machine is repeatedly fired every few seconds during an approaching thunderstorm.

Delta variant of Covid-19

Why in News?

Delta variant, first detected in India, is more dominant in the UK than the Alpha variant that had last year triggered a surge in the UK.
Delta variant, first detected in India, is more dominant in the UK than the Alpha variant that had last year triggered a surge in the UK.
The World Health Organizaton (WHO), which has given it the label Delta, has categorised it as a variant of concern (VOC).
WHO classifies a variant as a VOC when it is associated with an increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology; increase in virulence; or decrease in the effectiveness of public health measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.

What makes the Delta variant a VOC?

Different variants are characterised by mutations — or alterations in the virus’s genetic material. An RNA virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, is made of about 30,000 base pairs of amino acids, placed like bricks next to each other.
An alteration in any of these base cause a mutation, effectively changing the shape and behaviour of the virus. The Delta variant contains multiple mutations in the spike protein. At least four mutations are important.
One of these is called L452R, first reported in Denmark in March last year.
This mutation has been found more transmissible than wild-type strains and also been associated with reduced antibody efficacy and reduced neutralisation by vaccine sera.
The mutation P681R has been associated with chemical processes that may enhance transmissibility.
The D614G mutation was first documented in the US early in the pandemic, having initially circulated in Europe. “There is evidence that variants with this mutation spread more quickly”.
Another mutation in Delta is T478K. This was present in around 65% of occurrences in variant B.1.1.222, first detected in Mexico last year and associated with higher infectivity.

How are the number of stars in the Universe counted?

Why in News?

A NASA-funded rocket’s launch window will open at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, USA. The aim of this mission is to count the number of stars that exist in the Universe.
While this is not the first time that such a mission has been undertaken, the CIBER-2 instrument has been improved upon to see if any stars had been undercounted in the previous counting attempts.

How will CIBER-2 count stars?

Once the instrument is above Earth’s atmosphere, it will survey a patch of sky that will include dozens of clusters of galaxies.
Even so, NASA notes that the instrument will not actually count individual stars but it will instead detect the extragalactic background light, which is all of the light that has been emitted throughout the history of the Universe.
From all of this extragalactic background light, the CIBER-2 will focus on a portion of this called cosmic infrared background, which is emitted by some of the most common stars.
Essentially, this approach is aiming to look at how bright this light is to give scientists an estimate of how many of these stars are out there.
The ESA infrared space observatory Herschel also counted the number of galaxies in infrared and measured their luminosity previously.