TNPSC Current Affairs July 01, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 01, 2020 (01/07/2020)

 

Download as PDF

 

Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt Schemes and their Utilities

Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana – Free food to the poor

In his sixth address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana till November-end and said the Central government will spend Rs 90,000 crore more on providing free food to the poor.

What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

Considered as world’s largest food security scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana aims at ensuring sufficient food for the poor and needy during the coronavirus crisis.

It was announced as part of the first relief package during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Part of the scheme, the food needs to be provided to all the beneficiaries under public distribution system (TPDS) for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority household (PHH) ration cardholders.

As per updates, the eligible beneficiaries will receive 5kg of food grains and 1 kg Gram per month.

_

Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Health

PCR testing is a double-edged sword

How RT-PCR is used for detecting Covid-19?

The causative agent for Covid19 is the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is an RNA virus, that means it infiltrates a healthy cell to multiply and survive.

Thus, the RT-PCR test is for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In this, the RNA is converted to DNA through a process called ‘reverse transcription’ for detecting viruses.

How it is carried out?

The SARS-CoV-2 RNA is generally detectable in respiratory specimens during the acute phase of infection.

For that upper and lower respiratory specimens (such as nasal, nasopharyngeal) are collected.

This sample is treated with several chemical solutions that remove substances, such as proteins and fats, and extracts only the RNA present in the sample.

Real-time RT-PCR setup usually goes through 35 cycles, which means that by the end of the process, around 35 billion new copies of the sections of viral DNA are created from each strand of the virus present in the sample.

As new copies of the viral DNA sections are built, the marker labels attach to the DNA strands and then release a fluorescent dye, which is measured by the machine’s computer and presented in real-time on the screen. The computer tracks the amount of fluorescence in the sample after each cycle. When the amount goes over a certain level of fluorescence, this confirms that the virus is present.

Why it is compared to a double- edged sword?

The boon and bane of PCR testing are in its capacity to amplify even one viral gene segment in the sample to generate a detectable signal — a positive test.

It is a boon because it accurately detects the presence of virus.

It is a bane because it is prone to false negative and false positive results.

How it generates false reports?

During sample preparation for testing, if even one gene segment falls into the tube from the laboratory environment, it will be amplified and the test will be positive — but, false positive.

A false negative PCR means that a person with infection was missed by the test, but that is in the very nature of PCR. The viral load is lower in the throat than in the nasopharynx.

Hence throat swabs are falsely negative in 60% of tests and nasopharyngeal swabs in 30%, according to published studies.

An incorrectly taken nasal swab may miss the virus altogether and lead to a false negative test.

_

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

China apps ban

Citing concerns to both data security and national sovereignty, the Indian government on June 29 announced it would block 59 widely used apps, most linked to Chinese companies.

How government defends its move?

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology cited “the emergent nature of threats” posed by the apps and “information available” that they are engaged in activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

The apps, according to the Ministry, had been reported for “stealing and secretively transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India”, which “impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India”.

_

Topic: International Events

CogX – World’s Largest AI Event

AI enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk bagged two awards under categories (1) “Best Innovation for Covid-19 – Society” and (2) “People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner”,at the recently held CogX 2020.

Key facts:

CogX is a prestigious Global Leadership Summit and Festival of Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology held annually in London with over 15,000 participants in attendance from the highest levels of business, government, industry, and research.

The Cogx Awards are given out to the best-of-the-best in AI and emerging technologies across the world.

MyGov Corona Helpdesk:

MyGov Corona Helpdesk demonstrated the true Public, Private Partnership (PPP), wherein, citizen centric services were provided by MyGov, while the state-of-the-art technological solution including infrastructure were designed, developed, and deployed by a private partner- JioHaptik Technologies Limited.

This Chatbox has been developed by MyGov, JioHaptik Technologies Limited and WhatsApp.

MyGov (launched in 2014) is the world’s largest citizen engagement platform, which facilitates two-way communication between the Government and Citizen and facilitates participatory governance in India.

_

Topic: Latest Discovery of Rare Species

Globba andersonii – Plant Species

Why in News?

Researchers have “rediscovered” this plant species from the Sikkim Himalayas near the Teesta river valley region after a gap of nearly 136 years. It was thought to have been extinct until its “re-collection”, for the first time since 1875.

Key facts:

It is a rare and critically endangered plant species. It is commonly as ‘dancing ladies’ or ‘swan flowers’. They are characterised by white flowers, non-appendaged anthers (the part of a stamen that contains the pollen) and a “yellowish lip”.

The species is restricted mainly to Teesta River Valley region which includes the Sikkim Himalays and Darjeeling hill ranges. The plant usually grows in a dense colony as a lithophyte (plant growing on a bare rock or stone).

_

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

International Asteroid Day – June 30

International Asteroid Day celebrated on 30th June.  It is observed each year to mark the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908, and to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard. The Tunguska asteroid event in Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908, was the Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history.

_

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

1st July: National Doctor’s Day

India celebrates July 1 as ‘National Doctor’s Day’ commemorating the iconic and internationally renowned medical practitioner, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy who served as a physician, a freedom fighter, an educationist and a politician.

The First National Doctor’s Day was celebrated in the year 1991. The day is organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The Theme of 2020 National Doctor’s Day: “Lessen the Mortality of COVID 19”.

_

Topic: New Appointments, Persons in News

Attorney General of India

The central government has extended the term of K.K. Venugopal as Attorney General (AG) for one year.

Venugopal was appointed the 15th AG of India in 2017. He succeeded Mukul Rohatgi who was AG from 2014-2017.

The Attorney General (AG) of India is a part of the Union Executive. AG is the highest law officer in the country.