Daily Current Affairs :  30-11-2020

Table of Contents :

1. India’s push for gender equity in science
2. Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)
3. One Nation One Election
4. Hualong Oneis
5. RT-LAMP for detecting COVID-19
6. Bilateral ties between India and Seychelles
7. Intelligent-sharing Agreement
8. Sphaerotheca Bengaluru
9. Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR Method
10. Mission COVID Suraksha

1.India’s push for gender equity in science

Recently, the new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of the Department of Science & Technology has called for increasing the participation of women in science.

• The concept borrows from a programme started by the UK in 2005 called the Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network).

Why India need gender equity in Science?

• The DST has also found that women are either not promoted, or very often drop out mid-career to attend to their families.

• According to DST figures, in 2015-16, the share of women involved in scientific research and development was 14.71%, after it had actually increased from 13% in 2000-2001 to 29% in 2014-15.

• The women researchers typically work in either academia or the public sector while men tend to predominate in the private sector, where the opportunities for advancement and the salaries tend to be better.

Challenges Ahead of Women in Science

• Social Conditioning: It is the most acute problem throughout one’s childhood and adolescence.

  • The dangerous spin-off brought about by social conditioning of children is when they develop cognitive biases as adults.

• Caregiver: Women are often considered as caregivers for the family and there is more emphasis on time-off policies for new mothers and not concerned on academic and research contribution of women.

• Stigmas towards women still exist: The gender bias and discrimination is prevalent in different areas, including publishing in peer reviewed journals.

  • There is a deeply chauvinistic society where men are in positions of leadership and women are not allowed for a position of leadership.

Initiatives taken by Government to promote Women in Science

• Vigyan Jyoti is an initiative that will create a level-playing field for the meritorious girls in high school to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education. 

• The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) will develop a comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing the Gender Equality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

• An online portal for science and technology resources for women will provide E-resources related to all women-specific government schemes, scholarships, fellowships, career counseling with details of subject area experts from various disciplines in science and technology.

• Women Scientist Scheme (WOS) was launched in 2002, which is aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists who desire to return to mainstream science after a break in career due to social responsibilities.

• Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) was launched in 2014 to bring gender parity in Science &Technology through gender mainstreaming.

• Women technology parks (WTPs) act as a single-window hub for convergence of diversified technologies, leading to the socio-economic development of women through capacity building and adoption of location-specific technologies.

• INDO-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM) initiated in 2017–18 aims to provide opportunities to Indian women scientists, engineers and technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in USA to enhance their research capacities and capabilities.

Athena SWAN Charter

 

It is an evaluation and accreditation programme in the UK enhancing gender equity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).

 

The participating research organisations and academic institutions are required to analyse data on gender equity and develop action plans for improvement.

 

It was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in STEM.

 

Source: Indian Express

2.Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

Amid the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police have prepared a three-tier security cover in the coastal areas and an organisation named the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) was set up in 2014.

Need for Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

• The ten Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists who carried out the 26/11 attacks had entered Mumbai through the sea, using inflatable speedboats.

• The aftermath of the attacks bought several vulnerabilities of coastal security into the fore and IMAC was created so that another dastardly act like the 26/11 attacks do not take place.

• The Indian Navy is responsible for overall maritime security (coastal and offshore) and is supposed to be assisted in coastal security by the Coast Guard, State Marine Police and other agencies.

• In 2009, the Coast Guard was additionally designated as the authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters, and thrust was given to enhance surveillance in territorial waters by all agencies including the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Customs.

About Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

• It is the nodal centre for maritime security information collation and dissemination.

• It is jointly operated by the Navy based in Gurugram.

• It is the cornerstone of the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network for monitoring maritime traffic in India’s area of interest.

Functions of Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

• IMAC’s task is to facilitate exchange of maritime security information among various national stakeholders, and generate a common operational picture.

• It is important to note that IMAC tracks only non-military or commercial ships, known as white shipping.

  • The military ships, or grey hull ships, are tracked by the Directorate of Naval Operations.

• IMAC focuses on ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Sources of Data for IMAC

• 51 nodes across the country run by the Navy or the Coast Guard and there are 46 stations in the Coastal Radar Chain that have radars, optical and meteorological sensors.

• The Vessel and Air Traffic Management System under the Petroleum Ministry.

• The National Automatic Identification System, which has 87 stations.

• The Long-Range Identification and Trading Information from 174 countries, which comes from the Directorate General of Shipping.

• India’s White Shipping Information Exchange Agreements with 36 countries and three multinational constructs

• Space-based AIS that provide information on offshore and deep sea vessels, sanctioned vessels list, additional databases, intelligence inputs, and information about research vessels.

Source: Indian Express

3.One Nation One Election

Recently, the Prime Minister has again raised the pitch for “One Nation, One Election” and a single voter list for all polls.

Background

• The simultaneous elections are not new to India because they were the norm until 1967.

• The dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969 and that of the Lok Sabha in December 1970 was followed by separate elections held for State Assemblies and Parliament.

• The idea of reverting to simultaneous polls was mooted in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983.

• The Law Commission’s Report also referred to it in 1999 and the recent push came ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Advantages of One Nation One Election

• Speedy Development Work: It aims to prevent the impact of the model code of conduct on development works every few months due to frequent spread-out polls.

• Advantageous to the Government’s treasury: The simultaneous polls will reduce enormous costs involved in separate elections.

• Smooth functioning of the Government Machinery: The system will help ruling parties focus on governance instead of being constantly in election mode.

• According to the Law Commission, the simultaneous polls will boost voter turnout.

Arguments against One Nation One Election

• Local issues will fade out: The national and state issues are different, and holding simultaneous elections is likely to affect the judgment of voters.

• Since elections will be held once in five years, it will reduce the government's accountability to the people and repeated elections keep legislators on their toes and increases accountability.

• When an election in a State is postponed until the synchronised phase, President’s rule will have to be imposed in the interim period in that state which will be a blow to democracy and federalism.

Source: The Hindu

4.Hualong Oneis

Recently, a reactor named ‘Hualong One’ was powered up for the first time.

About Hualong One

• It is China’s first domestically made nuclear reactor.

• It can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and cut carbon emissions by 8.16 million tons.

• It marks China breaking the monopoly of foreign nuclear power technology and officially entering the technology’s first batch of advanced countries.

Source: Indian Express

5.RT-LAMP for detecting COVID-19

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers have discovered a new technology ‘RT-LAMP’ for the detection of COVID-19.

Current Method

• The current method for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis is the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

  • It detects the presence of viral nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swab samples.

• The RT-PCR test requires extensive training for potential users and also requires complex and costly equipment.

• The COVID-19 serology tests are also in use to detect antigens that are associated with the virus infection.

• The serology immunoassay lacks the necessary accuracy to be a reliable diagnostic test due to its low sensitivity and high false-negative/positive rates.

Why new method of detection of COVID-19?

• The COVID-19 is highly infective and everyday thousands of people are newly infected because there is no effective vaccine against COVID-19.

• There is a strong need for rapid, specific and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection technology to control and contain the virus.

• There is an urgent need to build the national testing capacity above what is achievable with currently available test kits which is possible with RT-LAMP technology which shows great promise as a detection tool.

What is RT-LAMP Technology?

• The RT-LAMP test is Reverse Transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification technology.

• It is a one-step nucleic acid amplification method to multiply specific sequences of RNA of the coronavirus.

• Under this technology, the RNA is first made into cDNA (copy DNA) by the usual reverse transcription and then, the DNA is amplified by the LAMP technique.

Why RT-LAMP over RT-PCR?

• The RT-PCR test needs different temperatures in one cycle and the PCR test needs expensive thermal cycler as well as the real time PCR machines.

  • The new RT-LAMP technology is done at 65 degrees C, where the DNA amplification is done at a constant temperature (isothermal).

• The quantity of DNA amplified in the LAMP technology is hundred thousand times more than that is taking place in PCR.

• The important advantage of the LAMP technology is that the assay is so fast that results can be obtained within 30 minutes and positive samples are amplified as early as 10 minutes.

• LAMP-based reagents are to be stored at 4 degree C (ordinary fridge), whereas the PCR-based reagents are to be stored and transported at –20 degrees C, which needs deep freezers that escalate the cost.

• The LAMP technology does not need laborious preparation as in the case of RT-PCR.

• The LAMP technology has been recently validated by the Indian Council of Medical Research with sensitivity 98.7% and specificity 100%.

Source: The Hindu

6.Bilateral ties between India and Seychelles

Recently, India has vowed to further enhance its strategic partnership with Seychelles in the post-COVID era during the External Affairs Minister's High-Level meeting with the country's top leadership.

Key Highlights

• The meeting emphasized India’s commitment to support the interests and aspirations of Seychelles and take this cooperation to a higher level.

• The discussions underscored the need to further expand and deepen bilateral engagement.

• It aims to coordinate and cooperate to counter the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The meeting stressed the need to strengthen shared efforts to combat drug trafficking, IUU (Illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, piracy and climate change while protecting the ocean ecosystem.

• The visit assumes significance as India is developing infrastructure in Seychelles to expand its footprint in the strategically-key region in the Indian Ocean where China has been trying to enhance its military presence.

India’s approach towards Seychelles

• The centrality of Seychelles to India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) has characterised India’s policy towards the Indian Ocean Region.

• Seychelles had a particular priority, both under the Neighbourhood First policy and the SAGAR outlook.

Security and Growth for All in the Region

 

India’s policy on maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is based on the approach of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

 

The four elements of SAGAR are:

 

The first element is to do everything to safeguard our mainland and islands and defend our interests.

 

The second element is to deepen economic and security cooperation with friends in the region, especially our maritime neighbours and island states.

 

The third element dwells on the approach that collective action and cooperation will advance peace and security in our maritime region.

 

The fourth element is to enhance the prospects for sustainable development for all.

 

The fifth element emanates from the recognition that there are other nations around the world, with strong interests and stakes in the region.

 

Source: The Hindu

7.Intelligent-sharing Agreement

Recently, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed to expand the scope of intelligence-sharing agreement.

Background

• The dialogue was held against the backdrop of China’s growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean and the India-China border standoff.

• New Delhi has focused on shoring up security linkages with key neighbours in recent months.

Key Highlights

• It aims to tackle to tackle common threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering.

• The sides agreed to broad base cooperation by expanding the scope to improve intelligence-sharing and include issues like radicalisation, extremism, arms and human trafficking, cybersecurity and effect of climate change on the maritime environment.

• The representatives of the three sides also agreed to meet regularly for discussions and to ensure timely implementation of decisions made at the meeting.

• It was decided to hold deputy NSA-level working group meetings biannually for cooperation at the operational level.

• The significance of the trilateral forum is in promoting cooperation in the Indian Ocean region to discuss maritime security environment.

Importance of Maldives to India

• Maldives is an important member of SAARC and it is important for India to have Maldives on board to maintain its leadership in the region.

• It is strategically located along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

  • Maldives archipelago comprising 1,200 coral islands lies next to key shipping lanes which ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan and India.

• India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links.

• India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and later established its mission at Male in 1972.

• India is a preferred destination for Maldivians for education, medical treatment, recreation and business.

Source: The Hindu

8.Sphaerotheca Bengaluru

Recently, a team of researchers has confirmed the discovery of ‘Sphaerotheca Bengaluru’.

About Sphaerotheca Bengaluru

• It is a type of burrowing frog discovered outside its natural habitat and named after Bengaluru city.

• It was discovered in 2018 by Deepak P, an Assistant Professor at Mount Carmel College in the city.

• The newly discovered frog species were part of the research team’s efforts in documenting ‘Amphibians in the Deccan Plateau parts of Karnataka’.

• The new species was described based on the morphological differences and molecular approach with the known species of the burrowing frogs.

Burrowing Frog

 

The Indian burrowing frog (Sphaerotheca Breviceps) is a species of frog found in South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar).

 

It is listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

The habitat ranges from dry, arid land to moist deciduous forest.

 

Source: The Indian Express

9.Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR Method

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a dry swab-direct RT-PCR testing method for the COVID-19 virus.

What is Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR Method?

• It is developed by CSIRs constituent lab Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Hyderabad for scaling up of SARS-CoV-2 detection.

• It is a simple variation of the existing gold standard RT-PCR method and can easily scale up the testing by 2 to 3 fold with no new investment of resources.

• The Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR method involves collecting and transporting the nasal swab in dry state.

• The step of RNA isolation from the sample is omitted and involves only simple processing of the sample followed by direct RT-PCR using the kit recommended by ICMR.

Significance of Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR Method

• The Dry Swab Method makes the transportation and handling of the samples easy and less prone to spillage and spread of infection.

• The elimination of the step of RNA isolation offers a huge benefit over the conventional method, as the RNA isolation is a major bottleneck in terms of time, cost and trained manpower.

• The Dry-Swab Direct RT-PCR method is cost effective, easy to implement with no requirement of new kits and existing manpower can perform this with no additional training.

  • Viral Transport Medium (VTM) and RNA extraction both add a significant burden on money and time required for mass testing for coronavirus.

Source: LiveMint

10.Mission COVID Suraksha

Recently, the Government of India has announced the third stimulus package of Rs. 900 Crore for the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’.

About Mission COVID Suraksha

• It is an Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission with an end-to-end focus from preclinical development through clinical development and manufacturing and regulatory facilitation.

• Under the mission, the grant will be provided to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for Research & Development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines.

• It will help accelerate development of approximately 5-6 vaccine candidates and ensure that these are brought closer to licensure and introduction in market for consideration of regulatory authorities.

• The important objectives of the fund will be:

• • Accelerating pre-clinical & clinical development;

  • Licensure of COVID-19 vaccine candidates that are currently in clinical stages or ready to enter clinical stage of development, establishing clinical trial sites;

  • Supporting development of common harmonized protocols, trainings, data management systems, regulatory submissions, internal and external quality management systems and accreditations;

  • Strengthening the existing immunoassay laboratories, central laboratories; and

  • Suitable facilities for animal studies, production facilities and other testing facilities to support COVID-19 vaccine development

Need for Mission COVID Suraksha

• Mission COVID Suraksha is the targeted effort to enable development of indigenous, affordable and accessible vaccines for India and will complement the National Mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• India has exhibited enormous strength in vaccine manufacturing and India’s vaccine manufacturers will develop affordable and accessible vaccine not only for India but the world.

Source: PIB

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