15 JANUARY 2022 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

1. MEKEDATU RESERVOIR

The ‘Mekedatu march’ had been launched by the Congress on January 9 for implementation of a project to build a reservoir on the Cauvery at Mekedatu near the Tamil Nadu border.

About:

The proposed reservoir, which aims to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding regions, has been challenged in the Supreme Court by Tamil Nadu on the ground that it would eat into the state’s share of Cauvery water as adjudicated by the court in 2018.
Proposed by Karnataka, the project envisages a reservoir near Ontigondlu, about 1.5 km from Mekedatu (which literally means goat’s leap) in Ramanagara district of south Karnataka at the confluence of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers.
It is 4 km from the Tamil Nadu border and 100 km from Bengaluru.

Source: Indian Express

2. XENOTRANSPLANTATION

On January 10, the University of Maryland School of Medicine announced that it had successfully transplanted a genetically-modified pig heart into a patient with life-threatening arrhythmia, a disorder that affects the rate or rhythm of heartbeats.

Cross-species transplant

Xenotransplantation, or transplanting organs across different species, was first tried in humans in the 1980s. The experiment was abandoned after the famous case of the American Baby Fae who was born with a congenital heart defect and received a baboon heart in 1984.
Xenotransplantation, if found compatible in the long run, could help provide an alternative supply of organs to those with life-threatening diseases.

Genetically engineered pig

“GalSafe” pigs, or pigs that had undergone editing to knock out a gene that codes for Alpha-gal (a sugar molecule) were used. Alpha-gal can elicit a devastating immune response in humans.
GalSafe pigs have been well studied, and are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in pharmacology.

Source: Indian Express

3. MLA SUSPENSION

The Supreme Court has observed that the suspension of 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Assembly for a full year is prima facie unconstitutional, and “worse than expulsion”.

What have the suspended MLAs argued?

The 12 MLAs have said they were not given an opportunity to present their case, and that the suspension violated their fundamental right to equality before law under Article 14 of the Constitution. They have also submitted that they were not given access to video of the proceedings of the House, and it was not clear how they had been identified in the large crowd that had gathered in the chamber.
The MLAs have also contended that under Rule 53 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules, the power to suspend can only be exercised by the Speaker, and it cannot be put to vote in a resolution as was done in this case.
Rule 53 states that the “Speaker may direct any member who refuses to obey his decision, or whose conduct is, in his opinion, grossly disorderly, to withdraw immediately from the Assembly”. The member must “absent himself during the remainder of the day’s meeting”.

Important Info :

What has Maharashtra said in its defence?

Counsel for Maharashtra argued that the House had acted within its legislative competence, and that under Article 212, courts do not have jurisdiction to inquire into the proceedings of the legislature.
Article 212 (1) states that “The validity of any proceedings in the Legislature of a State shall not be called in question on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure”.

Source : Indian Express

4. BARICITINIB; SOTROVIMAB

The World Health Organization (WH0) has recommended two drugs, baricitinib and sotrovimab, for treatment of Covid-19.

Baricitinib

Baricitinib, which is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, has been “strongly recommended” for patients with severe or critical Covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids.
It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system.
It is an oral drug, and provides an alternative to other arthritis drugs called Interleukin-6 receptor blockers, recommended by WHO in July 2021.

Sotrovimab

Sotrovimab, developed by GlaxoSmithKline with US partner Vir Biotechnology Inc, is an investigational monoclonal antibody for use in treating conditions caused by coronavirus.
The WHO has conditionally recommended its use for treating mild or moderate Covid-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalisation.
These include patients who are older, are immunocompromised, and have underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension and obesity, and are unvaccinated.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) too has approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in patients above 12 years.

5. AIR BAGS

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways made the driver airbag a compulsory fitment on all Motor vehicles of category M1 (motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising not more than eight seats, in addition to the driver’s seat), manufactured on and after 1st July, 2019 in order to ensure the driver’s safety.

About:

An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system which interferes between the driver and the vehicle’s dashboard during a collision, thereby preventing serious injuries.
Thereafter, the Ministry mandated implementation of the front Air bag for the person occupying the front seat, other than the driver, in all M1 category vehicles w.e.f 01st January 2022.
In order to enhance the safety of occupants of the motor vehicle against lateral impact, it has been decided to enhance safety features by amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.
A draft notification has been issued on 14 th January 2022, which mandates that vehicles of category M1, manufactured after 1st October 2022, shall be fitted with two side/side torso air bags, one each for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions, and two side curtain/tube air bags, one each for the persons occupying outboard seating positions.
"Side/side torso air bag" means any inflatable occupant restraint device that is mounted to the seats or side structure of the vehicle interior, and that is designed to deploy in a side impact crash to help mitigate primarily torso injury and/or occupant ejection, for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions.
"Side curtain/tube air bag" means any inflatable occupant restraint device that is mounted to the side structure of the vehicle interior, and that is designed to deploy in a side impact crash or rollover to help mitigate primarily head injury and/or occupant ejection for the persons occupying the outboard seating positions.

Source : PIB

6. KALA KUMBH

National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi has organized a unique art workshop Kala Kumbh for painting gigantic scrolls of approximately 750 meters in size, representing the tales of valor of unsung heroes of Indias freedom movement.

About:

These paintings on gigantic scrolls will form an integral part of the Republic day celebrations this year.
Kala Kumbh organized under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav reflects the essence of unity in diversity.
These gigantic scrolls when displayed at Rajpath will garner interest of everyone to delve deep into the history of unsung heroes of Indias freedom struggle.

Source: All India Radio

7. DEFENCE REFORMS

Defence Ministry launched three new initiatives for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day.

About:

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has allotted 320 crore rupees to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for the welfare veterans and their families. This will benefit over one lakh 66 thousand wards and widows of Ex-Servicemen.
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare also launched a dedicated Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal designed to speedily redress pension, including family pension-related grievances of ex-servicemen and their dependents.
Directorate General of Resettlement has issued around seven thousand 900 job letters to freshly retired Ex-servicemen during the period of April to December 2021.

Source: All India Radio

8. TELECAST TIME ALLOTTED TO POLITICAL PARTIES

Election Commission of India has decided to double the broadcast and telecast time allotted to each National Party and recognized State Parties in poll bound states.

About:

The steps were taken in consultation with Prasar Bharti in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and enhanced relevance of non-contact based campaign.
Broadcast and telecast time will be doubled on Doordarshan and All India Radio during the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The order states that a base time of 90 minutes will be given to each national party and recognized state party of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The facilities will be available from the regional kendras of All India Radio and Doordarshan.

Source: All India Radio

9. SAHODAYA SCHOOL COMPLEX

The Central Board of School Education, CBSE has announced holding of 27th edition of the National Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes on 17th and 18th of this month.

About:

Sahodaya School Complex Is a concept literally meaning ‘rising together’.
It came into existence in the year 1986, to facilitate synergy of ideas among the school of CBSE, for excellence in education.
Sahodaya School of complex is a group of neighborhood schools voluntarily coming to share their innovative practices in all aspects of school education including curriculum design, evaluation, and pedagogy and also providing support services for teachers and students.
Sahodaya concept is developed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) New Delhi in 1986.

Source : All India Radio

15 JANUARY 2022 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

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