Facts In News 21-11-2024

Cloud seeding

Syllabus :GS1/Geography/GS3/Science and Tech

In News

The Delhi government has proposed cloud-seeding or artificial rainfall as an emergency measure to combat record pollution levels.

About Cloud-seeding

• It is a weather modification technique used to induce artificial rainfall by introducing chemical “nuclei” like silver iodide, potassium iodide, dry ice, or liquid propane into pre-existing clouds. 
• These chemicals help moisture in the air condense, accelerating rainfall. 
• Types of Cloud-Seeding:
  • Hygroscopic: Uses salt particles to accelerate droplet formation in liquid clouds.
  • Glaciogenic: Uses silver iodide or dry ice to induce ice formation in supercooled clouds.
• Implementation: India: Attempted in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra for drought relief.
  • Global: Used in Australia, America, Spain, France, UAE, and Russia.
• Effectiveness: Effectiveness and environmental impact are debated, with experts citing the need for more research.
  • Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology reported a 60-70% success rate in inducing rain.
  • But there are concerns about the environmental impact of silver iodide.
  • Therefore cloud seeding has seen varying degrees of success and requires specific atmospheric conditions to be effective.

Source:IE

India’s First Indigenous Antibiotic, Nafithromycin

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Tech

In News

India has launched Nafithromycin, the country’s first indigenously developed antibiotic targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

About Nafithromycin

• Development: It is Developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and brought to market by Wockhardt under the name Miqnaf.
  • The development of Nafithromycin took 14 years of research and an investment of ₹500 crore, with clinical trials conducted in the U.S., Europe, and India. 
• It is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and immune-compromised patients.
• Effectiveness : The antibiotic is ten times more effective than azithromycin, with a three-day treatment regimen that is safer, faster, and better tolerated by patients.
  • It has minimal side effects and no significant drug interactions, making it a versatile solution. 
• Importance : Nafithromycin is the first new antibiotic in its class to be developed globally in over 30 years and is poised to tackle the global AMR crisis. India bears 23% of the world’s pneumonia burden, and this innovation aims to offer a much-needed solution to the growing health crisis.
  • The launch of Nafithromycin marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to develop homegrown solutions for critical healthcare challenges.
• Approval Status  :It is awaiting final approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for public use.

Source:PIB

Measles

Syllabus: GS 2/Health

Context

• According to a newly released report by the World Health Organization, 10.3 million cases of measles were reported globally in 2023, an increase of 20 percent from 2022. 

About: Measles

• Characteristics: It is a highly infectious virus, often characterized by a distinctive red, spotty rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, sometimes merging into larger patches.
• Transmission: It infects the respiratory tract and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
• Symptoms: It includes a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
• Vulnerability: It can affect anyone but is most common in children. Also, no country is exempt from measles, and areas with low immunization encourage the virus to circulate.
• Prevention: It can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The vaccine protects against three diseases — measles, mumps and rubella.
• India’s Efforts  :The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of India’s most comprehensive public health initiatives, aiming to provide life-saving vaccines to millions of newborns and pregnant women each year.
  • Currently, the program provides free immunization against 12 diseases, including nine nationwide, such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, and Hepatitis B.

Source: AIR

New microbe causing disease in sesame

Syllabus: GS 3-Agriculture/Science and Tech 

Context

• A new microbe causing disease in sesame fields of Midnapore, West Bengal was identified by researchers.

About: Sesame

• Sesame, the Queen of Oil, is an ancient oilseed crop since the remnants of sesame seeds were discovered at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. 
• Sesame oil is excellent from a medicinal point of view as it contains antioxidants, and it is perfect for heart patients. 
• However, despite its advantages, sesame is not commonly used as the primary edible oil in India and to harness the benefits of Indian sesame varieties, improvements are needed.

What does the new study say?

• In recent years, sesame plants were observed to revert from their flowering/fruiting stage to a vegetative state, with white flowers turning green.
• Causes  : The disease is caused by a bacterium, Candidatus Phytoplasma, found in the gut of pests like leafhoppers and plant-hoppers.
• Transmission Mechanism: The bacteria are transmitted by phloem-feeding insects (e.g., leafhoppers, plant-hoppers), which also infect other crops like tobacco, maize, and grapevine.
• Disease Manifestations: The infection leads to disfigurement and virescence (greening) of the floral parts, giving them a leafy appearance.
• Focus: The research explores the impact of Phytoplasma on sesame’s metabolic pathways and the development of disease symptoms.
• Research Significance: This multi-target approach is valuable for studying complex biological systems and may aid in understanding and managing diseases in crops.

Source: PIB

D’Cunha Committee

Syllabus: GS4/ Ethics

Context

• The D’Cunha Committee investigated alleged irregularities in COVID-19 management and procurement in Karnataka. 

About D’Cunha Committee

• It was established to investigate the alleged multi-crore irregularities in COVID-19 procurements.
• It highlighted issues in ventilator purchases under PM Cares and by the Karnataka Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL).
• Overpricing and rate variations (₹5–₹16.25 lakh) in ventilator procurements and discrepancies in supply orders were also noted.

Recommendation

• The committee recommended a detailed investigation through the Lokayukta or other agencies.
• It emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in public health procurements during emergencies. 

Source: TH

125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History and Personalities in news

Context

• The Inauguration of the 125th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab is held in New Delhi.

About

• Birth: Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab, also known as “Utkal Keshari,” was born on 21 November 1899, in Agarpara, Odisha. 
• He was a multifaceted leader in Indian history, known as a freedom fighter, politician, historian, writer, social reformer, and journalist. 
• He was deeply influenced by figures like Swami Vivekananda, Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Mahatma Gandhi. 

Political life

• He actively participated  in events such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Salt Satyagraha etc. 
• He was arrested multiple times for his activism and was instrumental in the integration of Odisha into the Union of India.
• Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was the last Prime Minister of the princely state and served as Chief Minister in independent India.
• He also served as the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry and was elected to the Lok Sabha unopposed in 1962.

Literary Work

• Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab wrote extensively in both Odia and English.
  • History of Orissa: A significant historical account showcasing the rich cultural and historical heritage of Odisha.
  • Gaon Majlis: He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for this literary work.

Source: PIB

Private players in ground segments of space sector 

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is looking at ways for entry of private players in ground operations.

About segments 

• Ground stations are ground-based antennas that help in communicating with the satellites. 
• Ground Station offers services such as satellite control, telemetry and tracking, space data reception, and space situational awareness on pay-per-use basis.
• Ground station as a service (GSaaS) sector has been envisioned to grow 30% by 2033.
• This is in line with the government’s vision to increase India’s share in the global commercial space market from 2% to 8% by 2033.

IN-SPACe

• It was established in 2020 by the Union Cabinet, and serves as the central agency for regulating and promoting the private space sector.
• It is a single-window, independent, nodal agency which functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS). 
• IN-SPACe plays an important role in boosting the private space sector economy in India.
• Three Directorates viz., Promotion Directorate (PD), Technical Directorate (TD) and Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD) are carrying out the functions of IN-SPACe.

Source: IE

Saint Francis Xavier

Syllabus: GS1/Miscellaneous 

Context

• Pilgrims and tourists from around the world will come to Goa for the 45-day long event of the exposition of sacred relics of Saint Francis Xavier.

About

• St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552) was a prominent Catholic missionary and a co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). 
• He is also referred to as “Goencho Saib” (Lord of Goa), arrived in Goa — then a Portuguese colony — in 1542.
  • His primary mission, as ordered by King John III, was to restore Christianity among the Portuguese settlers.
• He died in 1552 on Shangchuan island off China’s coast. 
• The exposition is a spiritual event and has also become an international event.
  • The exposition became a more regular event after Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961, and has been held once every decade since 1964.

Source: IE

HIV Genome Detection with Tailored Fluorogenic Tests 

Syllabus: GS 3/Science and Tech

Context

• Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) developed a technology for detecting HIV-genome derived G-Quadruplex (GQ).

Problem with Current Methods: 

• Traditional HIV diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid-based methods, can suffer from false positives and missed early infections due to non-specific DNA probes and cross-reactivity.

About New Diagnostic Technology

• It is named GQ Topology-Targeted Reliable Conformational Polymorphism (GQ-RCP).
• It was initially designed for detecting pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, now adapted for HIV.
• It uses a fluorometric test, which offers increased reliability in diagnosing HIV and reduces false positives.

Advantages:

• Novel diagnostic platform based on nucleic acid-small molecule interactions.
• Reduces false positives, offers sequence-specific recognition.
• Can be integrated into existing nucleic acid-based diagnostic platforms.
• Applicable for detecting various DNA/RNA based pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.

Source: PIB