Daily Current Affairs and MCQs for UPSC - December 17, 2020 (The Hindu, Economic Times, PIB)

Renowned Sanskrit scholar Bannanje Govindacharya passes away

Focus: GS1.

Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context

• Renowned Sanskrit scholar Vidyavachaspati Bannanje Govindacharya passed in Udupi due to age-related illness. He was 85.
• A propagator of 'Madhwa' ideology and a great orator, Govindacharya had been conferred the Padma Shree in 2009.

Highlights

• He was well-versed in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas and has written commentaries on Veda Suktas, Upanishads, Shata Rudriya, Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and Gita Bhashya.
• Some of his translated works are Bana Bhatta's novel 'Bana Bhattana Kadambari', Kalidasa's 'Shakuntala', and Shudraka's ‘Mrichakatika’.
• Govindacharya was the brand ambassador of India in World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Princeton, USA in 1979.

Source: Times of India.

Morocco latest country to normalise ties with Israel in US-brokered deal

Focus: GS2

Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.

Context

• Morocco has become the latest Arab League country to agree to normalise relations with Israel in a deal brokered with US help.
• As part of the deal, the US has agreed to recognise Morocco's claim over the disputed Western Sahara region.

Background

• It is the subject of a dispute between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which has been seeking to establish an independent state.
• Morocco is the fourth state to make such a deal with Israel since August.
• Agreements have also been struck recently with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
• Along with Egypt and Jordan, Morocco becomes the sixth Arab League member to normalise ties with Israel.

About the deal

• The White House said Mr Trump and Morocco's King Mohammed VI had agreed that Morocco would "resume diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel and expand economic and cultural co-operation to advance regional stability".
• The deal includes the reopening of liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat - shut in 2000 when low-level relations broke down after the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising - and the eventual opening of embassies.
• Officials said Morocco would grant direct flights to and from Israel for all Israelis.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the "historic" agreement.
• In Morocco, a palace statement confirmed the deal, saying the king, in a telephone call with Mr Trump, had agreed to diplomatic relations with Israel "with minimal delay".

Source: BBC.

Myristica Swamp Treefrog

Focus: GS3.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context

• Myristica swamp treefrog, a rare arboreal (living on trees) species endemic to the Western Ghats has been recorded for the first time in Kerala’s Thrissur district.
• It bears the scientific name Mercurana myristicapalustris.

Background

• The frog was first spotted in 2013 in the Myristica swamps of Arippa, near the Kulathupuzha Reserve Forest, in the western foothills of Agasthyamalai, in Kollam district.
• Unlike the Myristica swamp treefrog found in the foothills of the Agasthyamalai, these frogs were found to be active throughout June and early July.

Highlights

• These frogs are rare and elusive for the reason that they are arboreal and active only for a few weeks during their breeding season.
• During this season, there is a large aggregation of males that descend from the high canopy of the trees.
• The breeding season, unlike for other frogs, starts in the pre-monsoon season (May) and ends before the monsoon becomes fully active in June.
• Before the end of the breeding season, the female frogs along with their male counterparts descend on the forest floor.
• The female digs the mud and lays eggs in shallow burrows in mud.
• After breeding and egg-laying, they retreat back to the high canopies of the tree and remain elusive till next breeding season.

Source: The Hindu.

Rare malaria genus Plasmodium ovale reported in Kerala

Focus: GS3.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context

• At a time when Kerala is grappling with a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the last few weeks, the health department of the state has detected a new genus of malaria called ‘plasmodium oval’, state health minister KK Shailaja tweeted.
• The disease was detected in a soldier who travelled from Sudan. He was being treated at the district hospital in Kannur.

Background

“Plasmodium oval, a new genus of malaria, has been detected in the State. It was found in a soldier who was being treated at the District hospital in Kannur. The soldier had come from Sudan,” Shailaja wrote on Twitter.

Highlights

• Protozoa which is responsible for malaria can be found in five varieties: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium ovale.
• Among these, Plamodium Vivax and Palsmodium Falciparum are the most common in India. Plasmodium ovale is generally found in Africa.
• However, there is no reason to worry as the health minister has said that the spread of the disease can be avoided with timely treatment and preventive measures.
• This type of malaria is not known to be fatal.
• The malaria test was held at Kannur District Hospital after the soldier who went to Sudan as part of UN service complained of malaria symptoms.
• The virus was confirmed after a detailed study.
• India reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Thrissur district of Kerala when a student, who was studying in Wuhan University, China and had returned to India.
• Also in 2018, a Nipah virus disease (NiV) outbreak was reported from Kozhikode district.

Source: Hindustan Times.

NMCG organises 4th India Water Impact Summit 2019 in Delhi

Focus: GS3.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) led by IIT-Kanpur organised the fourth India Water Impact Summit, which discussed water-related issues and steps taken to save the planet's most precious resource.
• The event, which was held here from December 5 to 7 at the Vigyan Bhawan, was inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Background

• Reports on 'Ambassadors' Meet', 'River Restoration and Conservation - A Concise Manual and Guide', as well as documents on 'Ganga Hubs' developed so far were released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The summit focused on integrated management of water resources in rural and urban areas, and experts from various fields discussed various water-related issues.

Highlights

• 'Valuing Water - Transforming Ganga' was the theme of this year's summit.
• An important objective of the summit was bringing together global financial investors and institutions to focus on water impact in smart cities.
• European Union (EU) countries, Israel, Ghana and other nations are present. 10 MoUs related to technologies were also exchanged.
• The most challenging aspect is how to manage water more efficiently.
• As water security is a global issue, the NMCG has been taking a global call to action to invite countries from around the world to save the most precious resource on the planet.

Source: Business Standard.

Vision 2035: Public Health Surveillance in India

Focus: GS2.

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Context

• Recently, NITI Aayog has released a white paper: Vision 2035: Public Health Surveillance in India.
• NITI Aayog’s mandate is to provide strategic directions to the various sectors of the Indian economy. 

Background

• In line with this mandate, the Health Vertical of NITI Aayog released ‘Health Systems for New India: Building blocks – Potential Pathways to Reforms’ in 2019.
• The recent document is a continuation of the work on Health Systems Strengthening. 

About the vision

• To make India’s public health surveillance system more responsive and predictive to enhance preparedness for action at all levels.
• Citizen-friendly public health surveillance systems will ensure individual privacy and confidentiality, enabled with a client feedback mechanism.
• Improved data-sharing mechanism between Centre and states for better disease detection, prevention, and control.
• India aims to provide regional and global leadership in managing events that constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

Highlights

• India can create a skilled and strong health workforce dedicated to surveillance activities.
• Non-communicable disease, reproductive and child health, occupational and environmental health and injury could be integrated into public health surveillance. 
• An amalgamation of plant, animal, and environmental surveillance in a One-Health approach. 
• Laboratory capacity could be strengthened with new diagnostic technologies. 

Source: Indian Express.

Himalayan Serow

Focus: GS3.                                

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context

• A Himalayan Serow has been sighted for the first time in the Himalayan cold desert region.
• Himalayan Serow resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.

About Himalayan Serow

• They are herbivores and are typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres (6,500 to 13,000 feet).
• They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
• They are a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.
• There are several species of Serow s, and all of them are found in Asia.

Highlights

• According to the IUCN, Himalayan Serow s have experienced significant declines in population size, range size and habitat in the last decade, and this is expected to continue due to intensive human impact.
• Previously assessed as ‘near threatened’, the Himalayan Serow is now been categorised as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• It is listed under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides absolute protection.

Source: Indian Express.

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Test your Knowledge

1. With reference to Meteors, consider the following statements:

• Meteors are bits of rock and ice that are ejected from comets as they manoeuvre around their orbits around the sun.
• When a meteor reaches the Earth, it is called a meteorite and a series of meteorites, when encountered at once, is termed a meteor shower.
• Meteors are best visible on a cloudless night and when the Moon is not extremely bright.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

       A. 1 and 2 only
       B. 2 and 3 only
       C. 1 and 3 only
       D. AOTA

Solution: D

2. Hybrid Renewable Energy Park, world’s biggest Renewable Energy Park is being set up in:

        A. Karnataka
        B. Telanagana
        C. Kerala
        D. Gujarat

Solution: D