{"id":15264,"date":"2021-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/18-05-2021\/facts-in-news-154\/"},"modified":"2021-05-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T00:00:00","slug":"facts-in-news-154","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-05-2021\/facts-in-news-154","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Facts in News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Jagannath Temple<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Jagannath Temple<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has been closed due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Odisha.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

Key Points<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Constructed by:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, the first king of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Eastern Ganga Dynasty<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the 12th century.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is dedicated to <\/span><\/span><\/span>Lord Jagannath<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, a form of Lord Vishnu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is well known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2018Yamanika Tirtha\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • The power of \u2018Yama\u2019, the god of death, has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • It is also called the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cWhite Pagoda\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • This temple is part of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Char Dham pilgrimages<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Architecture:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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        • Structure:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • Garba griha<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Mukhashala<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Nata mandir\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Bhoga Mandapa<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Four gates:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
              \n
            • Eastern \u2018Singhdwara\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Southern \u2018Ashwadwara\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Western ‘Vyaghra Dwara\u2019 and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Northern \u2018Hastidwara\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • In front of the entrance stands the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aruna stambha or sun pillar<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, which was originally at the Sun Temple in Konark.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

              Image Courtesy: LiveMint<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Kangaroo Mother Care<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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May 15 has been celebrated as <\/span><\/span><\/span>International Kangaroo Mother Care Awareness Day<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • It refers to the practice of providing continuous <\/span><\/span><\/span>skin-to-skin contact<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> between the mother and the baby.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Benefits:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It is the most feasible, readily available, and preferred intervention for <\/span><\/span><\/span>decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality in developed and developing countries<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • KMC is extremely beneficial for babies who are born prematurely and have low birth weights.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It has also <\/span><\/span><\/span>reduced severe infections<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\/ sepsis, nosocomial infections, hypothermia, severe illness, and respiratory tract disease in low birth weight babies<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It creates an<\/span><\/span><\/span> optimal environment for the adaptation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of preterm babies to extra-uterine life.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      Image courtesy: Healthy Newborn<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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National Investigation Agency (NIA)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting the probe related to terrorist organizations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National Investigation Agency (NIA)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Founded in:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> 2008<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Headquarters:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> New Delhi<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>statutory body created by an act of Parliament<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It is India’s counter-terrorism task force, which is empowered to investigate terror-related crimes in any part of the country without special permission from the states.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • NIA (Amendment) Act 2019:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • It empowers the NIA to probe terror attacks targeting Indians and Indian interests abroad.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Investigation can also be conducted in other offenses such as human trafficking; circulation of fake currency; manufacture and sale of prohibited arms; and cyber-terrorism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Elephant Seals<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, Scientists have conducted research on the feeding behavior of northern elephant seals.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

Key Points:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Elephant seals get their name from the prominent noses of the males that resemble an <\/span><\/span><\/span>elephant’s trunk<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Species:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> the northern elephant seal and southern elephant seal.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • The two are the <\/span><\/span><\/span>world’s biggest seals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>largest marine mammals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> other than whales.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The <\/span><\/span><\/span>males feed only in coastal waters<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Size:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> 10 feet (male) to 13 feet (female).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Diet:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Carnivores<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Native Areas:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Pacific coast of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Life Span:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Northern Elephant Seal is 9 years<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Southern Elephant Seal is 21 years old.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • IUCN Status:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Least Concern (for both species)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Threats:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Entanglement in marine debris, fishery interactions, and boat collisions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        Image Courtesy: National Geographic<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) dropped <\/span><\/span><\/span>convalescent plasma therapy (CPT)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> from the national clinical management protocol for Covid-19.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT):<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • CPT (also called <\/span><\/span><\/span>immunoglobulins<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>) uses blood from people who’ve recovered from an illness to help others recover.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • Blood donated by people who’ve recovered from COVID-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The donated blood is processed to remove blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and antibodies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • These can be given to people with COVID-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Plasma<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is the clear liquid portion of the blood that remains after red and white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components have been taken from it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Immunoglobulins <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>are a class of proteins present in the serum and cells of the immune system, which functions as antibodies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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National Crisis Management Committee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) has reviewed the preparedness of concerned authorities to tackle <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cyclone Tauktae<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC):<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • The Committee is headed by the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cabinet Secretary<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and secretaries of all concerned ministries\/ departments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It functions under the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and is an integral part of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Disaster Management System<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It is the country\u2019s apex body to handle any emergency<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations in the wake of natural calamity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Due to the shortage of vaccines amid pandemic, the demand for the use of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) increased<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> a lot.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)\/Bulk Drugs<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • It is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>biologically active component<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that produces the intended effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • For example,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> paracetamol is a bulk drug that is mixed with binding agents or solvents to prepare the finished pharmaceutical product.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • APIs are prepared from multiple reactions involving chemicals and solvents.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The primary chemical or the basic raw material which undergoes reactions to form an API is called the k<\/span><\/span><\/span>ey starting material, or KSM<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Chemical compounds formed during the intermediate stages during these reactions are called <\/span><\/span><\/span>drug intermediates or DIs.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Currently India is dependent on China for its <\/span><\/span><\/span>70 percent of the API imports.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Under the Ama Nirbhar Bharat, India has set up <\/span><\/span><\/span>three\u00a0 bulk drug parks<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in partnership with the states, and even the Environment Ministry has exempted Green Impact Assessment for these.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Malerkotla\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, the Punjab Government declared <\/span><\/span><\/span>Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the State<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Key Points<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Creation of New Districts:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • The power to create new districts or alter or abolish existing districts rests with the <\/span><\/span><\/span>State governments<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • This can be done either through an <\/span><\/span><\/span>executive order<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> or by <\/span><\/span><\/span>passing a law<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the State Assembly.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Many states prefer the executive route by simply issuing a notification in the official gazette.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Benefits:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • The smaller districts lead to better administration and governance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The formation of new districts would be better served by local bodies with more powers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Districts are the three-tier of India\u2019s governance after union and state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Role of Central Government:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • The Centre has <\/span><\/span><\/span>no role to play in the alteration of districts or creation of new ones<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> comes into the picture when a State wants to change the name of a <\/span><\/span><\/span>district or a railway station<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Additional Information:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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          • According to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>2011 Census<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, there were <\/span><\/span><\/span>593 districts<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
              \n
            • Between 2001-2011, as many as 46 districts were created by the States.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Till 2020, there are <\/span><\/span><\/span>741 districts<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • States with Most Districts:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Uttar Pradesh (75), Madhya Pradesh (52), Bihar (38), Tamil Nadu (37), Maharashtra (36), 33 each in Assam, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, Telangana (31), 30 each in Karnataka and Odisha.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • State with Lowest Districts:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Goa (2).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

              Image Courtesy: Indian Express<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Facts in News Jagannath Temple The Jagannath Temple has been closed due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Odisha. \u00a0 Key Points Constructed by: King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva, the first king of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 12th century. It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. It is well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[30,26,25],"class_list":["post-15264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs-2","tag-gs-3","tag-gs1"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1510980current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}