20 OCTOBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

1. INDIA, ISRAEL, UAE, AND USA QUAD FORUM

India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have decided to launch a new quadrilateral economic forum, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar joined his counterparts at a videoconference from Jerusalem, where he is on a five-day visit.

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The quadrilateral builds on ongoing cooperation between the U.S., Israel and the UAE after the Abraham Accords last year, and the India, Israel and UAE cooperation that was launched since.
Jaishankar’s travel to Israel is also routed via the UAE, on flights that started as a consequence of the Abraham Accords and the opening of diplomatic missions and flights between them.
The grouping had decided to establish an international forum for economic cooperation, and specifically discussed “possibilities for joint infrastructure projects”.
The four Ministers discussed “expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia, including through trade, combating climate change, energy cooperation, and increasing maritime security,” as well as ways to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source : The Hindu

2. NEBRA SKY DISC

The British Museum in London will display an ancient object called the Nebra Sky Disc, which is thought to be the world’s oldest concrete depiction of stars.

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The object is being loaned to the museum by Germany’s State Museum of Prehistory in Halle that owns it and will be showcased as part of an exhibition on Stonehenge, which will open in February 2022.
About 3,600 years ago, the disc was ritually buried along with two swords, axes, two spiral arm-rings and one bronze chisel near Nebra in Germany. The burial of these objects is thought to be made as a dedication to gods.
While the exact purpose of the disc cannot be determined, hypotheses about its existence have imagined it as an astronomical clock, a work of art and a religious symbol.

Source : Indian Express

3. MARTAND SUN TEMPLE

Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited the Sun temple at Martand. Located atop a hillock, the temple is one of the earliest known sun temples much older than Konark and Modhera.

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The Martand Sun Temple, also known as Pandou Laidan is a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (the chief solar deity in Hinduism) and built during the 8th century CE.
he Martand Sun Temple was built by the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE. It is said to have been built during 725-756 CE.
Martand is another Sanskrit synonym for Surya.
It is now in ruins, as it was destroyed by the orders of Muslim ruler Sikandar Shah Miri.
The temple is located five miles from Anantnag in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Source : PIB

4. VALNEVA VACCINE

Valneva SE, a French vaccine company, announced results from its Phase 3 trial of its inactivated Covid-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001. They said that the vaccine was as effective as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

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VLA2001 is an inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine. This means that it delivers the whole Sars-CoV-2 virus in an inactivated form. The virus is killed using chemicals, heat, or radiation. The dead virus cannot infect us but can still trigger an immune response.
Polio and flu vaccines are common examples of inactivated vaccines. India’s Covaxin is also an inactivated vaccine.

Comparison with Other vaccines

Currently, none of the vaccines in the UK – Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, – are inactivated vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are mRNA vaccines. They contain the code of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and once inside the body teach our body to produce the spike protein.
Our immune system recognises this and initiates an immune response against Covid-19.
Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine delivers the code of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a carrier – another virus called adenovirus.

Source : Indian Express

5. IDUKKI DAM

With predictions by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) of a fresh bout of heavy rainfall in Kerala starting Wednesday, as a precautionary measure, water was released from the Idukki reservoir.

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This is the second time in three years that water has been released from the reservoir, the largest in the state and one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
Since the reservoir itself does not have shutters, two sluice gates of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the reservoir, were opened by 50 cm to release 100 cumecs of water.
When the shutters are opened, water will first reach the Cheruthoni river through the spillway and join the Periyar river at Vellakayam. Subsequently, the water will travel through areas like Thadiyambad and Karimban, followed by Chelachuvadu, Keerithodu and Pambla forest areas to reach the Lower Periyar dam.
In anticipation of the opening of the Idukki reservoir, shutters of the Bhoothathankettu and Idamalayar dams had already been opened for smooth flow of water.

Source : Indian Express

6. AYUSH VAN

Union Minister of AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Ayush Van, a dedicated forest for Ayurvedic plants in a program held at the Deendayal Port Trust (DPT) – Rotary Forest in the city.

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The Ayush Van was set up in 30 acres of land allotted by DPT in green-belt area where tree plantation is being done to improve greenery in urban area and increase density of tree cover in the Kutch region.

Source : PIB

7. BIO-ECONOMY

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Northeast will be developed as India’s Bio-Economic Hub.

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The Eastern Himalayan Region is one of the mega-biodiversity rich zones and is among the 34 biodiversity Hotspots of the world. There is a need to put these invaluable genetic resources to use for the economic growth of the region through biotechnological interventions.
He was speaking after visit to the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development in Imphal.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, due to consistent and renewed focus of NDA Government, India will be recognized as a Global Bio-manufacturing Hub by 2025 and will figure among the top 5 countries of the world.
He said, India’s Bio-Economy is on its way to achieve 150-billion-dollar target from the current 70 billion-dollar by 2025 and will contribute effectively to vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25.

Source : All India Radio

8. BACHELOR OF SOWA RIGPA MEDICINE AND SURGERY (BSRMS)

The University Grants Commission has issued notification recognizing Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS) under the specified Degrees.

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Duration of the degree will be of minimum of five years and Ten plus Two (10+2) is fixed as entry qualification.
In a gazette notification issued on 14th of October, UGC recognized BSRMS as a new degree under Medicine & Surgery, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Health & Allied Sciences, Pharmacy, Paramedical and Nursing.
Sowa Rigpa is a traditional and popular medicinal practice in the Himalayan region.
So far, only two deemed to be universities, namely Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in Leh and Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) located in Saranath are offering the degree in Sowa Rigpa medicine.
With UGC recognition, any university could offer BSRMS degree in their colleges.

Source: All India Radio

9. MODI VAN

Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off Modi Van under the 'Seva Hi Sangathan' programme to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 20 years as the Head of Government.

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Five Mobile Medical Vans will operate in five Assembly Constituencies in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. They will work under the aegis of Kaushambi Vikas Parishad run by BJP's National Secretary Vinod Sonkar.
The Modi van will consist of a 32-inch television and a high-speed internet service which will broadcast PM Modi's monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat'. The van will also consist of telemedicine. The van has is equipped with a machine that can test 39 blood samples in one go.
This van will be used to administer the oath to the people of the village for cleanliness and plastic-free.
PM Modi completed 20 years as the head of a government, including over 13 years as Gujarat chief minister this month. He served as Gujarat CM between 2001 and 2014.

Source : All India Radio

10. ARMY AVIATION BRIGADE AT MISSAMARI

The Indian Army Aviation has recently got control of Israeli Heron-I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the eastern sector — these were earlier with the Artillery — bringing all aviation assets under one roof and augmenting its ability to keep an eye on Chinese activities across the border.

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The move comes just months after the raising of a new Aviation Brigade at Missamari in Assam.
The Army Aviation Brigade at Missamari was raised in March this year to enable better command and control of aviation resources.
The Brigade operates the Cheetah and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv utility helicopters, Rudra weaponsied ALH and Heron-I UAVs.
Three RPA flights are working under the Army Aviation squadrons which consists of around 14 UAVs.
The Israeli Heron-I UAVs are in the process of being upgraded and officials said they will also be deployed in this sector in due course.

Source : The Hindu

20 OCTOBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

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