{"id":15440,"date":"2021-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/29-05-2021\/facts-in-news-164\/"},"modified":"2021-05-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T00:00:00","slug":"facts-in-news-164","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-05-2021\/facts-in-news-164","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Facts in News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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National AI Portal (INDIAai) (Government Scheme)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recently, the first anniversary of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2018National AI Portal\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has been celebrated.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National AI Portal (INDIAai)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

      Artificial intelligence (AI)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • It refers to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>simulation of human intelligence in machines<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Examples:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Google Brain, Internet Marketing, Blue Brain Project.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Bhitarkanika\u00a0 Protected Area (Environment and Ecology)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recently, the cyclone \u2018Yaas\u2019 has affected the Bhitarkanika National Park.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bhitarkanika National Park<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Location:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Kendrapara district in Odisha.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Become <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ramsar site in 2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (the second site after Chilika Lake in Odisha).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rivers:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • 2nd second largest mangrove ecosystem in India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Species:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Estuarine Crocodile (the largest population in the Indian subcontinent), Indian python, king cobra, black ibis, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The floral diversity in Bhitarkanika is the<\/span><\/span><\/span> 2nd largest<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> after Papua New Guinea.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>only major mangrove patch<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the State of Odisha.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It is <\/span><\/span><\/span>India\u2019s second-largest mangrove forest<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> after the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sundarbans<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in West Bengal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Mangrove trees provide a formidable natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges and play an important part in <\/span><\/span><\/span>stabilizing the shoreline<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Environment and Ecology)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Eurasian Griffon Vulture<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> was spotted in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    \n
  • Native Areas:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Tibet, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, and West China.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • In India, it can be mostly found in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Himalayas<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>northern plains<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Conservation Status:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Least Concern (IUCN)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Specifications:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> White head, very broad wings, and short tail feathers, white neck ruff, and yellow bill.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Food:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Softer parts of carcasses, such as the muscles and viscera.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • It is known for traveling <\/span><\/span><\/span>long distances in search of food<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Sahyadri Tiger Reserve<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • It is located in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sahyadri Ranges<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • Sahyadri Range forms a common boundary between Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • The tiger reserve consists of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Chandoli National Park<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Consists of <\/span><\/span><\/span>evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • It is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>only tiger reserve of western Maharashtra<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>4th tiger reserve of Maharashtra<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Declared as <\/span><\/span><\/span>tiger reserve in 2008<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Kaleidoscope Effect (Science and Technology)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, a Sun-halo was observed in Bengaluru (Karnataka).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • A Sun Halo is a rare optical and atmospheric phenomenon known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>Kaleidoscopic Effect<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (also known as \u201c22-degree circular halo\u201d).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      \n
    • The <\/span><\/span><\/span>kaleidoscope effect<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> was seen due to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>tilt of the ice crystals in the air<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>altitude of the sun<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The phenomenon is also reported when clouds, specifically of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cirrus<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> category which <\/span><\/span><\/span>surround the sun<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, causing light to reflect into the seven colours.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Mid-Day Meal Scheme (Government Scheme)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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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 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Mid Day Meal scheme<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mid-Day Meal Scheme<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Launched in:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> 1995<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Administered by:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Department of School Education and Literacy\u00a0 (Ministry of Education)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Centrally Sponsored Scheme<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and covered by the <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Food Security Act, 2013<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • Centrally Sponsored Schemes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> are jointly funded by the Centre and states but implemented by state governments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Under this scheme, free lunches have been provided to children studying in <\/span><\/span><\/span>primary and upper primary classes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of government schools (including madrasas, maqtabs, government-aided schools) on working days.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Menstrual Hygiene Day (Health)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Every year <\/span><\/span><\/span>Menstrual Hygiene Day<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is celebrated on May 28.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    \n
  • It was initiated by the <\/span><\/span><\/span>German-based NGO WASH United in 2014<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> To highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Menstruation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It is a natural and healthy biological process for women and is associated with the onset of puberty in girls.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Menstrual Hygiene Scheme<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Launched in:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> 2011<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Implemented by:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years in rural areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The scheme is covered under the <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Health Mission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been implementing this scheme for promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the<\/span><\/span><\/span> age group of 10-19 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>years primarily in rural areas as part of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) (Infrastructure)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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Recently, a company has announced to invest $500 billion into India’s <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • To implement the project, the task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty (economic affairs secretary) submitted its report in May 2020.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • Investment Needed:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Rs. 111 lakh crore\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Cost Sharing:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Centre (39 percent), States (40 percent), and Private Sector (21 percent).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Time period:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> 2019-2025<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> To build infrastructure projects and drive economic growth.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • Energy, roads, railways, and urban projects are estimated to account for the bulk of projects (around 70%).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Measures:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • An aggressive push towards asset sales.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • The monetization of infrastructure assets.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Setting up development finance institutions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Strengthening the municipal bond market.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Recommended committees to be set up:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
              \n
            • Committee to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Steering Committee at each Infrastructure ministry level to follow up on the implementation process.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Steering Committee in DEA for raising financial resources for the NIP.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • It also includes both <\/span><\/span><\/span>greenfield and brownfield projects<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

diABZI (Health)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recently, some researchers found that the drug diABZI has been found highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    \n
  • diABZI is a newly-developed small-molecule <\/span><\/span><\/span>STING agonist<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The drug will <\/span><\/span><\/span>activate the body\u2019s innate immune response against the COVID-19<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The researchers found that diABZI potently inhibits <\/span><\/span><\/span>SARS-CoV-2<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (targets epithelial cells in the respiratory tract) infection of diverse strains, including <\/span><\/span><\/span>B.1.351<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • It could also treat other respiratory coronaviruses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • The drug is not approved by the <\/span><\/span><\/span>US Food and Drug Administration<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and is tested under a clinical trial.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u00a0 Facts in News National AI Portal (INDIAai) (Government Scheme) Recently, the first anniversary of the \u2018National AI Portal\u2019 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15441,"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-15440","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\/4531778current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15440","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=15440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}