Facts in News

Facts in News

White Fungus (Candidiasis)

Recently, cases of ‘white fungus’ have been detected in Bihar.

White Fungus/ Candidiasis

• Major reasons: Low immunity, patients suffering from diabetes, cancer, unsanitary use of oxygen cylinders, overuse of steroids. 
• Affected body parts: Skin, stomach, kidney, brain, genitals, and mouth besides lungs. 
  • The exact mortality rate of the disease is still unknown, though it can be dangerous if the infection reaches the lungs.
• Like the black fungus, the white fungus is also more likely to afflict people with pre-existing medical conditions (diabetes, COPD, cancer, and sleep apnea), AIDS, kidney transplant. 
• Treatment: The infection can be diagnosed through CT-Scan or X-ray.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission

The nodal persons would be trained at state, district, and block-level to tackle the COVID-19 situation in rural areas under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)

• Aim: To uplift the urban poor folks by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development. 
  • The scheme is the integration of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
• Administered under: Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA).

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission

• Launched in 2011 as National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) but in 2015 renamed as Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM).
• Administered by: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) 
• Aim: 
  • Creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor. 
  • Enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services. 

Competition Commission of India

Recently, the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been celebrated.

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

• It is the competition regulator in India. 
• Establishment Year: 2003 
• It is a statutory body established by an act of Parliament, the Competition Act, 2002.
• Aim: Promoting competition throughout India and preventing activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
• Composition: A Chairperson and 6 other members appointed by the Central Government.

Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007

• This act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises, and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control, and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.

World Bee Day

Every year, World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20 across the world. 

Key Points

• Theme-2021: Bee Engaged – Build Back Better for Bees.
• Importance: On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was born in 1734.
• In 2017, the UN Member States approved Slovenia’s proposal to proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day.
• Objective: Acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators in the ecosystem.
  • Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. 
  • Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. 
  • Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.
• Aim: Protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating hunger in developing countries.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)

Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has mentioned that the pension Assets Under Management (AUM) have crossed the ?6-lakh crore mark.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)

• Founded in: 2003
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• It is the pension regulatory body that works under the Ministry of Finance. 
• It is a statutory body established by an act of Parliament.
• Aim: To promote, develop and regulate the pension sector in India.
• Composition: A chairperson and not more than 6 members.
• The National Pension System is regulated by the PFRDA. 
  • It was notified in 2003 and came into existence in 2004.
  • It is a voluntary pension system.
    • Beneficiaries: All citizens of the country including employees of the central government, state governments and employees of private institutions/organizations, self-employed professionals, and others in the unorganized sector.

A-76 (World’s Largest Iceberg) 

Recently, European Space Agency (ESA) mentioned that the world’s biggest iceberg, named A-76, has formed after breaking off from Antarctica.

Key Points

• This iceberg is larger than the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca).
• The mass of ice is about 170 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide.
  • The iceberg is now floating in the Weddell Sea after breaking away from the Ronne Ice Shelf in northwest Antarctica.
• Reasons: Global Warming
• Threats: Sudden rise in sea water level.

Image Courtesy: Phys

Antarctica 

• It is Earth’s southernmost continent.
  • fifth-largest continent 
  • In size, it is near twice the size of Australia
• Population: Least populated. 
• Geography:
  • Location: Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. 
  • About 98% of Antarctica’s landmass is covered by ice.
• Longest River: Onyx. 
• Largest Lake: Vostok, is one of the largest subglacial lakes in the world.
• Treaty: The continent is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System.
  • Signed in: 1959 by 38 countries.
  • Focus Areas: 
    • Prohibits military activities, mineral mining, nuclear explosions, and nuclear waste disposal. 
    • It supports scientific research and protects the continent’s ecology.

Image Courtesy: Britannica