National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams – 13th November 2018
National body set up to study Monogenic diabetes
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies and issues related to health.
IN NEWS:A National Monogenic Diabetes Study Group has been formed to identify cases of monogenic diabetes across the country. Supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre (DMDSC) will be the national coordinating centre for the study group.
About Monogenic diabetes:
- Monogenic diabetes is a group of disorders where mutation of a single gene causes diabetes; the three commonest forms being – Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus (NDM) and Congenital Hypoglycaemia.
- Monogenic diabetes is usually passed on in an autosomal dominant gene, (a sex independent gene that’s inherited from one of the parents). This means only one copy of the mutation is needed to develop diabetes.
- There is usually a strong family history of diabetes and in multiple generations, (although it’s possible for someone to have a spontaneous mutation). Diagnosis, therefore, involves genetic testing for these diabetes-causing gene mutations that disrupt insulin production.
- Monogenic diabetes patients are also usually antibody negative, (though there are cases where low levels of antibodies have been detected). Once treatment for the diabetes begins, the antibodies usually resolve.
Source: The Hindu
NASA to send organs on chips to space
Topic: Science and Technology
IN NEWS:NASA is planning to send small devices containing human cells in a 3D matrix known as tissue chips or organs-on-chips to the International Space Station (ISS) to test how they respond to stress, drugs and genetic changes.
More on the Topic:
- Made of flexible plastic, tissue chips have ports and channels to provide nutrients and oxygen to the cells inside them.
- The “Tissue Chips in Space” initiative seeks to better understand the role of microgravity on human health as it is expected that the tissue chips in space to behave much like an astronaut’s body, experiencing the same kind of rapid change.
Source: The Hindu
Bengaluru welcomes winged visitors from foreign land
Topic: Environment and Ecology
In news: The migratory season started and winged visitors from foreign lands have started at waterbodies around the Bangalore city. Among the land birds, birding enthusiasts can spot various species such as greenish leaf warblers and bright reed warblers, flycatchers and golden orioles.
Source: Hindu
Deny MSP to stubble burners: NGT
Topic: Environment and Ecology
In news: Stating that State governments had failed to curb stubble burning, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) summoned the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Officers have been directed to draw up a plan to provide economic incentives and disincentives to farmers.
More on the Topic
- Stubble burning refers to the use of a controlled fire to clear the crop residue that remains in the paddock after harvest and could more accurately be called ‘crop residue burning.
- It is mainly carried out in Haryana and Punjab. Open burning of husk produces harmful smoke that causes pollution. Open burning of husk is of incomplete combustion in nature. Hence large amount of toxic pollutants are emitted in the atmosphere. Pollutants contain harmful gases like Methane, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Volatile organic compound (VOC) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Consequences:
- Clouds of ash and smoke can travel more than thousand kilometers and create an obstinate and non-clearing clouds.
- Smog formed of the smoke can increase the levels of pollutants by manifolds in the air, making it difficult to breathe.
- After release in the atmosphere, these pollutants disperse in the surroundings, may undergo physical and chemical transformation and eventually adversely affect the human health.
- Frequent husk burning may contribute to the formation of the brown clouds that affects the local air quality, atmospheric visibility and earth climate.
Source: The Hindu
Konark Sun Temple
Topic: Art and Culture
In news:The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) clarified that not a single stone carving has been replaced at the Sun Temple in Konark and denied allegations of replacement of artistic stone works at the world heritage monument.
More on the Topic
- Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE sun temple at Konark, Odisha,India.The temple is attributed to king Narasingha deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
- Dedicated to the Hindu ‘god Surya, what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone.
- Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984,it remains a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, who gather here every year for the Chandrabhaga Mela around the month of February.
- The Konark Sun Temple was built from stone in the form of a giant ornamented chariot dedicated to the Sun god, Surya.
- In Hindu Vedic iconography Surya is represented as rising in the east and traveling rapidly across the sky in a chariot drawn by seven horses. He is described typically as a resplendent standing person holding a lotus flower in both his hands, riding the chariot marshaled by the charioteer Aruna
Source: The Hindu
TRAI to analyse implications of over-the-top services’ growth
Topic: Economy
In news: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday re-started the discussion on “regulatory issues and economic concerns” with regard to over-the-top (OTT) services such as WhatsApp and Skype, with its consultation paper on ‘Regulatory Framework for OTT Communication Services’.
More on the Topic:
- This consultation paper seeks to analyse and discuss the implications of the growth of OTT services the relationship between TSPs and OTT players, whether any change is required in the current regulatory framework and the manner in which such changes should be effected.
- Among other things, TRAI has sought comments from stakeholders on whether regulatory or licensing imbalance is impacting investments in the telecom networks, if there is any issue of non-level playing field between OTT providers and TSPs, and any issues related to lawful interception of OTT communication that are required to be resolved in the interest of national security.
- TRAI has also sought to know which OTT services could be regarded the same or similar to the services provided by TSPs.
Why This Move:
- The telecom operators has been pitching that the OTT players be brought under a licensing regime to create a level playing field since they offer similar services such as voice calling and messaging.
What is over the top services:
- Over the top (OTT) is a term used to refer to content providers that distribute streaming media as a standalone product directly to viewers over the Internet, bypassing telecommunications, multichannel television, and broadcast television platforms that traditionally act as a controller or distributor of such content.
RBI unlikely to open window for NBFCs
Topic: Economy
In news: Amid growing demand for liquidity support for non-banking finance companies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is unlikely to provide any special support to the sector, though it will continue to provide funds to the banking system as liquidity deficit in the system is a concern.
More on the Topic:
- RBI is the lender of last resort. When all other avenues fail, then only such an option (availing special support from RBI)could be explored” as NBFCs are yet to explore all other options that may have turned expensive for them.
- NBFCs can avail refinance facility from SIDBI or National Housing Bank and can also sell loans to banks. NHB has recently increased its refinancing limit by ₹6,000 crore– to ₹30,000 crore– to eligible institutions, including housing finance companies, for the July 2018-June 2019 period.
- Similarly, SBI trebled its loan purchase target for NBFCs to ₹45,000 crore for the current financial year.
NBFCs
- NBFC and bank both are financial companies. But the major difference is unlike banks NBFC cannot issue self-drawn cheques and demand draft. NBFC stands for non- banking financial company as the name suggests NBFC is not a bank.
Source: The Hindu
