14th JULY, 2022

NEWS TT DAY
NEWS DAY
PUSH FOR WIDER USE OF GENOMICS IN ALL COUNTRIES: WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)

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WHO’s Science Council (SC) issued its first report on accelerating access to genomics for global health, arguing that it is not
justifiable ethically or scientifically for less-resourced countries to gain access to such technologies long after rich countries do.
SC was established (2021) by Director General of WHO to provide
Genomics related Initiatives in India:
guidance on the science and research strategy of the organization.
‘GenomeIndia: Cataloguing the Genetic Variation
Report’s recommendations address four themes:

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in Indians’ project by Department of Biotechnology
Advocacy to promote genomics. (DBT).
Implementation of genomic methodologies.

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IndiGen Program by Council of Scientific & Industrial
Collaboration among entities engaged in genomics. Research (CSIR).
Attention to the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSIs) raised by genomics. Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium
(INSACOG).
Genomics refers to the study of the entire genome of organisms and the large
amounts of corresponding data generated from it.
Genetics, on the other hand, is concerned with study of heredity.

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Applications and uses of genomics:
Human genomics for medical purposes (prevent, diagnose, predict, manage, monitor, and treat genetic disorders).
Microbial genomics for medical purposes (identification of infectious agents, vaccine design etc.)

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Agriculture and aquaculture genomics (identification of new traits and disease susceptibility etc.)
Biological and medical research (drug development, discovery of genes influencing disease etc.)

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Others (forensic science, assessment of ancestry etc.)

THE COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (CAQM) RELEASED THE POLICY TO
CURB AIR POLLUTION IN THE DELHI-NCR.

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The policy deals with thermal power plants, clean fuels, electric mobility, public transportation, road traffic management, etc.
Policy identifies critical areas of transformation aimed at meeting the national ambient air quality standards, including:

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Widespread access to affordable clean fuels and technology in the industry, transport, and households.
Mobility transition including through mass transit, electrification of vehicles, building walking and cycling infrastructure and
reducing personal vehicle usage, etc.
Circular economy for material recovery from waste to prevent its dumping and burning.

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Dust management from construction and demolition roads/Right of Way (RoW) and open areas with appropriate technology,
infrastructure, and greening measures.
Strict time-bound implementation, improved monitoring and compliance.
It also provides a review of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)- a set of anti-air pollution measures.

Notified by Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2017, GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in Delhi and its
vicinity according to the severity of the situation.

About CAQM

It was established in 2021 as a statutory body to function as an umbrella organization for better coordination of
research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas.
It has replaced the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority and supersedes the bodies such as the
central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, and Rajasthan.

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INDIA HITS OUT AT UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA) AS IT DEFERS UN
SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC) REFORMS TALKS
India has criticised the UNGA’s decision to roll over the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform to the
next UNGA session, terming it a ‘wasted opportunity’.
IGN is the official forum within the UN for member states to discuss and debate UNSC reform.
Need for reforming UNSC:
Make UNSC representative of the contemporary world: UNSC’s present composition is no longer representative of a world
that has seen 142 new countries join the UN since 1945.
About UNSC (HQ: New York):

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Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Caribbean do not have permanent
representation on the Council.
Limited attempts at UNSC reform: UNSC was last reformed in 1965 when it
increased its non- permanent members from 11 to 15.
Use of veto power by five permanent members (P-5) of UNSC to achieve
UN Charter established UNSC as one of the six
main organs of the UN with the primary
responsibility for maintaining international
peace and security.
Only the UNSC has the power to make decisions

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their respective political ends. that member states are obligated to
India’s position on UNSC reforms: implement under the Charter.

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Members: 5 Permanent members with Veto
Expansion in both permanent and non-permanent memberships. powers (China, France, Russia, UK and US), and 10
Abolition of veto power. Non-Permanent members with no veto powers.
For the 8th time, India is a member of UNSC for
Equitable geographical representation. 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member.
India’s claim for permanent UNSC membership is based on any objective

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criteria, such as leadership of various Global South forums (G 77 and NAM),
population, territorial size, GDP, cultural diversity, political system and CENTRE EASES NORMS FOR AD-
contributions to UN activities — especially to UN peacekeeping operations. JUSTING STATES' OFF-BUDGET
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF) RELEASES BORROWINGS (O-BBS)

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GLOBAL GENDER GAP (GGG) REPORT, 2022 Under the new norms, O-BBs done by states
up to 2020-21 may not be adjusted and only
The GGG index benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity those done in 2021-22 can be adjusted over up

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across four key dimensions (refer infographic). to 4 years till March 2026.
On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index Earlier this year, Centre has informed states
provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 that O-BBs are to be equated with states’
is complete imparity. own debt and incremental O-BBs raised

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GGG index was instituted in 2006 and it aims to support the identification of (2020-21 & 2021-22) would be adjusted out
the most effective policies to close gender gaps. of the borrowing ceiling this year.

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Key findings
In 2022, the global gender gap has been closed by 68.1% (slight
improvement from 2021).
At the current rate of progress, it will take 132 years to reach full parity.
Although no country has yet achieved full gender parity, the top 10
O-BBs by a state government refer to loans
taken by its entities, special purpose vehicles,
etc., which are expected to eventually be
serviced through the state government’s
own budget, instead of the cash flows or

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revenues generated by the borrowing entity.
economies have closed at least 80% of their gender gaps.
India related findings Such borrowings bypass the states’ net
borrowing ceiling fixed in a FY by routing
India was the worst performer in the world in the “health and survival”
loans outside state budget.
sub-index where it is ranked 146.
Such borrowings have an impact on the
India recorded a declining score on political empowerment due to revenue deficit and fiscal deficit and thus
diminishing share of years women served as head of the state. surpassed the targets set for fiscal
India also ranks poorly among its neighbours and is behind Bangladesh (71), indicators under the state FRBM Act.
Nepal (96), Sri Lanka (110), Maldives (117) and Bhutan (126). For 2022-23, 'states' borrowing' ceiling has
been set at 3.5% of GSDP, along with an
additional 0.5% linked to reforms in power sector.
INDIA'S REPORT CARD Under Article 293 (3), state governments are
2022 (146 countries) 2021 (156 countries)
required to take the Centre’s permission for
Index/sub-index
Rank Score Rank Score fresh borrowing, if they are indebted to the
GlobalGenderGapIndex 135 0.629 140 0.625 Government of India.
Politicalempowerment 48 0.267 51 0.276 Reasons for increasing O-BBs by states:
Economicparticipation 143 0.350 151 0.326
Constrained revenue growth due to the
&opportunity
pandemic-induced slowdown and increasing
Educationalattainment 107 0.961 114 0.962
revenue expenditure.
Healthandsurvival 146 0.937 155 0.937
Erosion of autonomous fiscal space due to GST.
Source: WorldEconomicForum
SODIUM-ION (NA-ION) BASED BATTERY TECHNOLOGY MIGHT SOON BE A VIABLE AL-
TERNATIVE TO LITHIUM-BASED ONES: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
The University of Houston developed an electrolyte which makes it significantly more viable to produce sodium ion-based
batteries commercially and on a larger scale.
Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are solid-state batteries, and use solids instead of liquids to ferry ions through their core. It has three
components:
A negatively charged anode made up of hard carbons;
A positively charged cathode constituting sodium-containing layered materials;
Electrolyte that allows electrons to move.
As compared to Lithium ion battery, Sodium-ion battery
Replaces the polymer separator used in lithium-ion batteries with a solid-state separator, which is more energy-dense.

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Lowers charging time and improve life by eliminating the need to have lithium diffuse into the carbon particles as in conventional
lithium-ion cells.
Potential of Sodium Battery
Natural abundance of sodium resourcest.
Greener and sustainable battery system

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Lesser cost of extracting than lower than lithium (least 20
percent)

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Contain non-flammable solid electrolytes that exhibit
high safety.
Issue with Li-ion battery
High Environmental cost by way of mining,
Extremely reactive.
Needs a protective circuit to keep it running safely.

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Expensive with reserves localized only in certain parts of Chile, Australia, Argentina, and China.

ALSO IN NEWS

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Japan plans to provide support to India to drive the transition to clean energy under this

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initiative.
It aims to achieve sustainable growth and carbon neutrality in Asia through energy transitions.
It includes a $10 billion in finance for renewable energy, energy efficiency and liquefied
Asia Energy Transition natural gas (LNG) projects.
Initiative

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At the forum, India highlighted that it has achieved clean energy targets nine years ahead of
schedule.

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As of date, India has installed 162 GW (1 GW is a 1000 MW) of renewable energy capacity
which is 41% of the 402 GW of electricity installed.
About forum
Co-hosted by the Australian Government and the International Energy Agency.
Sydney energy forum
Objective of the forum is to secure clean energy supply chains for the Indo-pacific.

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Birth certificates of children born after August 2015 issued by the Civil Registration System (CRS)
will be available on DigiLocker to its registered users.
DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT.
It is a platform (both web/mobile application) to issue/store and digitally verify government
documents and certificates.
CRS is a universal, continuous, compulsory, and permanent recording of birth, death, and
DigiLocker stillbirth record at the district level.
In India the registration of births and deaths is carried out under provisions of the Registration
of Birth and Death (RBD) Act, 1969.
The government launched the “Jute Mark India logo”, as a certification of authenticity for jute
products.
Each Jute Mark Label will have a unique ‘QR Code’ and by scanning it, customers can know about
the manufacturer.
Jute Mark India logo It will help in strengthening the domestic market and exports of jute products from India.

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Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children)
Act of 2015
SIH-5 peptide/mini protein
Supreme Court has held that the task of deciding whether juveniles aged between 16 and 18,
accused of heinous offences, can be tried like adults should be based on “meticulous
psychological investigation”.
Under section 15 of the Act, the Juvenile Justice Board performs an assessment of the mental and
physical capacity of such juveniles.
2015 Act is an act to consolidate and amend the law relating to children alleged and found to be in
conflict with law and children in need of care and protection by catering to their basic needs.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) scientists have developed a new class of artificial peptides or
mini-proteins (molecules) called SIH-5 that will help fight COVID-19 by rendering viruses inactive.
SIH-5 can block virus entry into the cells and clump virions (virus particles) together, reducing
their ability to infect.
The SIH-5 was designed to block the binding Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) to human
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2).

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US has successfully tested two Lockheed Martin hypersonic missiles—Air-Launched Rapid
Response Weapon (ARRW) booster amid an arms race with China and Russia.
Hypersonic weapons travel in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of
sound (Mach 5), or about 6,200 km per hour.
Earlier in May, Russia said it had successfully test-fired a hypersonic Zircon cruise missile.

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In 2020, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a Hypersonic
Technology Demonstrated Vehicle (HSTDV) in the form of hypersonic air-breathing scramjet
Hypersonic Missile

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technology.
Presently, only US, Russia and China have hypersonic technology.

Cabinet approved the Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road new rail line to provide connectivity and
improve mobility between two important religious spots.

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Ambaji (Gujarat) is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in India and a famous pilgrimage destination.
Taranga Hill- Ambaji- Abu Taranga Hill (Gujarat) houses the Ajitnath Jain temple (one of the 24 holy Jain Tirthankaras).
Road Rail Line
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

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Born in 1856 in Maharashtra, Agarkar was a social reformer deeply influenced by philosophers
Voltaire and Rousseau etc.

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Contributions –
He worked for women’s rights including women education and in deepening the role of press.
He conceptualised the New English School, the Deccan Education Society, and Fergusson
Personality in news College (along with Tilak).
He was the editor of Tilak’s weekly Kesari.

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He founded the periodical, Sudharak.
Ethical qualities - Proponent of rationalism, individualism, equality, and humanism.

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Madagascar (Capital: Antananarivo)
Recently, India and Madagascar signed a MoU on tele-education and tele-medicine.
Political and boundaries:
Madagascar is an island country, which is

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located in the southwestern Indian Ocean,
separated from the African coast by
Mozambique Channel.
It is the fourth-largest island in the world.
It shares maritime borders with Comoros,
France (Mayotte and Réunion), Mauritius,
Mozambique and Seychelles.
Geographical features:
Places in News Highest mountain: Maromokotro peak
Longest river: Mangoky
Madagascar is considered one of the world's
top ten biodiversity hotspots due to its
isolated location.
Madagascar is possibly the oldest island on the
planet since the break up of Gondwana
continent.

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