Facts in News

Facts in News

National AI Portal (INDIAai) (Government Scheme)

Recently, the first anniversary of the ‘National AI Portal’ has been celebrated.

National AI Portal (INDIAai)

• A joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), National e-Governance Division (NeGD), and NASSCOM.
  • Launched in: 2020
• Objective: It will create and nurture a unified AI ecosystem for driving excellence and leadership in India’s AI journey.

Artificial intelligence (AI) 

• It refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. 
• The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving.
• Examples: Google Brain, Internet Marketing, Blue Brain Project.

Bhitarkanika  Protected Area (Environment and Ecology)

Recently, the cyclone ‘Yaas’ has affected the Bhitarkanika National Park.

Bhitarkanika National Park

• Location: Kendrapara district in Odisha. 
• Become Ramsar site in 2002 (the second site after Chilika Lake in Odisha). 
• Rivers: Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala. 
• 2nd second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.
• Species: Estuarine Crocodile (the largest population in the Indian subcontinent), Indian python, king cobra, black ibis, etc.
• The floral diversity in Bhitarkanika is the 2nd largest after Papua New Guinea.
• It is the only major mangrove patch of the State of Odisha.
  • It is India’s second-largest mangrove forest after the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
  • Mangrove trees provide a formidable natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges and play an important part in stabilizing the shoreline.

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Environment and Ecology)

Recently, a Eurasian Griffon Vulture was spotted in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).

Key Points

• Native Areas: Tibet, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, and West China. 
  • In India, it can be mostly found in the Himalayas and the northern plains.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
• Specifications: White head, very broad wings, and short tail feathers, white neck ruff, and yellow bill.
• Food: Softer parts of carcasses, such as the muscles and viscera.
  • It is known for traveling long distances in search of food.

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

• It is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
  • Sahyadri Range forms a common boundary between Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa.
• The tiger reserve consists of Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Consists of evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
• It is the only tiger reserve of western Maharashtra and 4th tiger reserve of Maharashtra.
• Declared as tiger reserve in 2008.

Kaleidoscope Effect (Science and Technology)

Recently, a Sun-halo was observed in Bengaluru (Karnataka).

• A Sun Halo is a rare optical and atmospheric phenomenon known as Kaleidoscopic Effect (also known as “22-degree circular halo”).

Key Points

• The kaleidoscope effect was seen due to the tilt of the ice crystals in the air and the altitude of the sun. 
• The phenomenon is also reported when clouds, specifically of the Cirrus category which surround the sun, causing light to reflect into the seven colours. 

Mid-Day Meal Scheme (Government Scheme)

The centre has decided to give about ?100 each to children studying in Class 1 to Class 8 in government schools, who are beneficiaries of the Mid Day Meal scheme.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

• Launched in: 1995
• Administered by: Department of School Education and Literacy  (Ministry of Education)
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.
  • Centrally Sponsored Schemes are jointly funded by the Centre and states but implemented by state governments.
• Under this scheme, free lunches have been provided to children studying in primary and upper primary classes of government schools (including madrasas, maqtabs, government-aided schools) on working days. 

Menstrual Hygiene Day (Health)

Every year Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on May 28.

Key Points

• It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014.
• Objective: To highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level.
• Menstruation 
  • It is a natural and healthy biological process for women and is associated with the onset of puberty in girls.
• Menstrual Hygiene Scheme
  • Launched in: 2011
  • Implemented by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • Objective: Promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years in rural areas.
  • The scheme is covered under the National Health Mission.
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been implementing this scheme for promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years primarily in rural areas as part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram.

National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) (Infrastructure)

Recently, a company has announced to invest $500 billion into India’s National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)

• To implement the project, the task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty (economic affairs secretary) submitted its report in May 2020.
  • Investment Needed: Rs. 111 lakh crore 
    • Cost Sharing: Centre (39 percent), States (40 percent), and Private Sector (21 percent).
  • Time period: 2019-2025
  • Objective: To build infrastructure projects and drive economic growth.
    • Energy, roads, railways, and urban projects are estimated to account for the bulk of projects (around 70%).
  • Measures: 
    • An aggressive push towards asset sales.
    • The monetization of infrastructure assets. 
    • Setting up development finance institutions.
    • Strengthening the municipal bond market.
  • Recommended committees to be set up:
    • Committee to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays.
    • Steering Committee at each Infrastructure ministry level to follow up on the implementation process.
    • Steering Committee in DEA for raising financial resources for the NIP.
  • It also includes both greenfield and brownfield projects.

diABZI (Health)

Recently, some researchers found that the drug diABZI has been found highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19.

Key Points

• diABZI is a newly-developed small-molecule STING agonist. 
• The drug will activate the body’s innate immune response against the COVID-19.
• The researchers found that diABZI potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 (targets epithelial cells in the respiratory tract) infection of diverse strains, including B.1.351.
  • It could also treat other respiratory coronaviruses.
• The drug is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is tested under a clinical trial.