Note :-We are running little late as far as the date is concerned , but the time lag will be over soon.We can end it in a single day , but that may compromise our quality, thus we have taken up this approach to fill the gap one step at a time without any impact on quality.Don’t miss this article or the article that are about to come, they will be of vital importance as far as exam is concerned.Ignorance is unafforadable. A single error can cost a year, kindly don’t procrastinate.

Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS)

The Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) Programme was launched in 1982 with the objectives of developing and demonstrating scientific methods and techniques for local level planning. It envisions enabling people, communities and institutions of Local Self-Governance with requisite databases and Science & Technology tools for informed participation in local level governance.

The objective of the Programme is to set up integrated geo-spatial databases at lower area units like Districts and Sub-Districts, demonstrating their utility in various application sectors like Rural Development by developing Village Information Systems and Urban Development by Municipal GIS systems. The other areas of application include Water Resources Management, Conservation of Environment & Forests, Mining & Mineral Explorations, Natural Disaster Management with special reference to Landslides, Infrastructure Development, Capacity Building and Human Resource Development, promoting and providing R&D support in emerging areas of Geospatial Technologies, forging linkage with stakeholders, and documenting and disseminating the Programme outputs amongst the end user agencies.

National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board

In order to provide dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), a National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board has been constituted. The Board shall work as an umbrella organization that governs and promotes this segment of tourism in an organized manner. The Ministry would drive the promotion of Medical & Wellness Tourism and will act as a facilitator and support the medical/wellness segment in promoting tourism and promoting India as a medical and wellness destination. The Board held its first meeting on 13th January 2016 and will look into the issues relating to visa issues, accreditation of hospitals and allied services as well as marketing and promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism.

Buddhist Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities. The Ministry has identified Buddhist Circuit as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.

*Check editorials for details

Prevalence of Sickle Cell Anaemia Among Tribals

The prevalence of Sickle Cell Anemia is higher in the tribal belt of Central, Western and Southern India; not so much in the tribes of North-East India. It is chiefly confined to dravidians and pre-dravidians tribes inhabiting malaria endemic regions. There is a little worthwhile treatment for the disease as of now but with management of disease, severity and complications can be curtailed to improve the quality of life and life span. The sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance.

Government has decided to screen three crore tribal children across the country to find the incidences of Sickle Cell Anemia among them. The children with Sickle Cell trait or disease are counselled through their parents not to marry the other carrying trait or disease in order to control spread of the disease to next generation. The Ministry organised regional training workshops in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to facilitate State/ UTs to train adequate manpower to undertake the screening exercise using a simple and cost effective screening test developed by ICMR. In addition, Department of Biotechnology is involved in research to find cure of the disease.

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

The term sickle cell disease (SCD) describes a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. People with SCD have abnormal hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S or sickle hemoglobin, in their red blood cells.

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

“Inherited” means that the disease is passed by genes from parents to their children. SCD is not contagious. A person cannot catch it, like a cold or infection, from someone else.

People who have SCD inherit two abnormal hemoglobin genes, one from each parent. In all forms of SCD, at least one of the two abnormal genes causes a person’s body to make hemoglobin S. When a person has two hemoglobin S genes, Hemoglobin SS, the disease is called sickle cell anemia. This is the most common and often most severe kind of SCD.

Hemoglobin SC disease and hemoglobin Sβ thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) are two other common forms of SCD.

Some Forms of Sickle Cell Disease

• Hemoglobin SS
• Hemoglobin SC
• Hemoglobin Sβ⁰ thalassemia
• Hemoglobin Sβ⁺ thalassemia
• Hemoglobin SD
• Hemoglobin SE

Overview

Cells in tissues need a steady supply of oxygen to work well. Normally, hemoglobin in red blood cells takes up oxygen in the lungs and carries it to all the tissues of the body.

Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are disc shaped (like a doughnut without a hole). This shape allows the cells to be flexible so that they can move through large and small blood vessels to deliver oxygen.

Sickle hemoglobin is not like normal hemoglobin. It can form stiff rods within the red cell, changing it into a crescent, or sickle shape.

Sickle-shaped cells are not flexible and can stick to vessel walls, causing a blockage that slows or stops the flow of blood. When this happens, oxygen can’t reach nearby tissues.

Normal Red Cells and Sickle Red Cells

The lack of tissue oxygen can cause attacks of sudden, severe pain, called pain crises. These pain attacks can occur without warning, and a person often needs to go to the hospital for effective treatment.

Most children with SCD are pain free between painful crises, but adolescents and adults may also suffer with chronic ongoing pain.

The red cell sickling and poor oxygen delivery can also cause organ damage. Over a lifetime, SCD can harm a person’s spleen, brain, eyes, lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, penis, joints, bones, or skin.

Sickle cells can’t change shape easily, so they tend to burst apart or hemolyze. Normal red blood cells live about 90 to 120 days, but sickle cells last only 10 to 20 days.

The body is always making new red blood cells to replace the old cells; however, in SCD the body may have trouble keeping up with how fast the cells are being destroyed. Because of this, the number of red blood cells is usually lower than normal. This condition, called anemia, can make a person have less energy.

Outlook

Sickle cell disease is a life-long illness. The severity of the disease varies widely from person to person.

In high-income countries like the United States, the life expectancy of a person with SCD is now about 40–60 years. In 1973, the average lifespan of a person with SCD in the United States was only 14 years. Advances in the diagnosis and care of SCD have made this improvement possible.

At the present time, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only cure for SCD. Unfortunately, most people with SCD are either too old for a transplant or don’t have a relative who is a good enough genetic match for them to act as a donor. A well-matched donor is needed to have the best chance for a successful transplant.

There are effective treatments that can reduce symptoms and prolong life. Early diagnosis and regular medical care to prevent complications also contribute to improved well-being.

Snapshot:-

Symptoms:-

Inclusion of Communities of Puducherry in ST List

Importance of this news:- The tribe names can be asked for mapping questions in prelims

UT Administration of Puducherry has submitted the proposal for declaration of communities namely (i) Irular (including Villi and Vettaikaran); (ii) Kattunayakan; (iii) Malalikuravan; (iv) Yerukkula; and (v) Kuruman as Scheduled Tribe.

Target for generation of nuclear power

The Integrated Energy Policy formulated in the year 2006 had envisaged reaching a nuclear power capacity of 63,000 MW by 2032. Further, the government in its recent submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) has also stated that efforts are being made to achieve 63 GW installed capacity by the year 2032, if supply of fuel is ensured.

Rahuri in Ahmednagar Becomes First to have Digi-Locker

Rahuri Municipal Council of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra today became the first Municipal Council to attain the status of integrated with digital locker for the issuance of all essential Documents.

CORPAT:-

The Indonesian Navy and the Indian Navy have been participating in coordinated patrol (CORPAT) twice a year since 2002 to keep this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping and international trade.

Vidyanjali:-

The Central Government is working on a pilot programme ‘Vidyanjali’ to involve retired teachers, retired government officials including retired defense personnel, retired professionals, people from Indian diaspora and women who are home makers to volunteer for co-scholastic activities in schools. These volunteers will not be replacement for regular teachers and will not be involved in formal teaching. In a meeting of State Education Ministers held on February 08th, 2016 by the Ministry of HRD, nineteen States/UTs had expressed willingness to participate in this programme on pilot basis.

Setting up of New Courts

In accordance with the recommendations made by the Jaswant Singh commission and judgment pronounced by the Apex Court,High Court are established after due consideration of a complete proposal from the State Government, which is to provide infrastructure and meet the expenditure, along with the consent of the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, which is required to look after the day to day administration of the High Court and its Bench. The proposal should also have the consent of the Governor of the concerned State.

Requests for establishment of High Court Benches in different parts of the country have been received from various sources, including some State Governments. However, at present there is no proposal complete in all aspects pending for consideration by the Central Government.

The Chief Minister of Kerala had sent a request in the year 2005 for setting up a bench of Kerala High Court at Thiruvananthapuram. The Chief Justice of High Court of Kerala has not approved the establishment of the High Court Bench at Thiruvananthapuram.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, provides for setting up of a separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh. The Act also provides that once separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh is established, the existing High Court will go to the State of Telangana. However, separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh could not be established yet as the State government has not yet completed all the necessary infrastructure for setting up of a separate High Court.

Gauhati High Court is common High Court for State of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh. Separate High Courts have been established w.e.f. 23.03.2013 in the States of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura. Separate High Courts for the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram have not been established because the State Governments has not completed creation of necessary infrastructure. A statement showing the detail of the High Courts functioning in North-Eastern States alongwith the sanctioned/working strength of Judges in enclosed as Annexure.

Article 130 of the Constitution states that the Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint, the Law Commission, in its 229^th Report had also suggested that a Constitutional Bench be set up at Delhi to deal with Constitutional and other allied issues of national importance and four Cassation Benches be set up in the Northern region at Delhi, the Southern region at Chennai/Hyderabad, the Eastern region at Kolkata and Western region at Mumbai to deal with all appellate work arising court of the orders/judgments of the High Courts of the particular region.

However, the Supreme Court has not agreed to such a proposal. There is also a Public Interest Litigation being heard by the Supreme Court on the need to set up a National Court of Appeal. The matter is sub-judice.

Use of Hindi Language in Courts

Article 348 (1) of the Constitution of India provides that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High court shall be in English Language until Parliament by law otherwise provides. Under Article 348 (2), the Governor of the State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorize the use of the Hindi language or any other language used for any official purpose of the State, in the proceedings of the High Court having its principal seat in that State provided that decrees, judgments or orders passed by such High Courts shall be in English.

Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, provides that the use of Hindi or official language of a State in addition to the English language may be authorized, with the consent of the President of India, by the Governor of the State for purpose of judgments etc. made by the High Court for that State.

Government had taken up with the Supreme Court of India the proposals of the Governments of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka seeking consent of the President of India for allowing regional languages in the proceedings of their High Courts. However, the Full Court of the Supreme Court disapproved these proposals.

The provision of optional use of Hindi in proceedings has already been made in the High Courts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

Encouraging Growth in Power Sector

For monitoring ongoing/delayed power projects for their timely completion:

• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) monitors the progress of under construction power projects through frequent site visits and interaction with the developers, equipment suppliers and other stakeholders to identify issues critical for commissioning of projects and help in resolving them.

• Regular reviews are also undertaken by Ministry of Power, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Cabinet Secretariat to identify the areas of constraint and facilitate faster resolution of inter- ministerial and other outstanding issues.

• A Power Project Monitoring Panel (PPMP) has been set up by the Ministry of Power for monitoring of on-going Thermal and Hydro Generation projects targeted for commissioning during the 12th Plan and beyond along with the associated transmission system.

• Issues are also raised in PRAGATI, for proactive governance and timely implementation, as and when required.

For development of Power Sector, the following schemes have been launched:

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna (DDUGJY) for :-

(i) Separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders facilitating judicious restoring of supply to agricultural & non-agriculture consumers in the rural areas; and

(ii) Strengthening and augmentation of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers / feeders / consumers

(iii)Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks in the urban areas;

(iv) National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) for planning, monitoring and implementation of policies & programs related to development of smart grid in India

Water Crisis

Cleaning of Hindon River:-

The assessment of the water quality of river Hindon by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicates that the river is not meeting the criteria with respect to Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, BOD, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform. The Dissolved Oxygen as low as 0.4 mg/l has been observed downstream Saharanpur. The high level of BOD can be attributed to discharge of industrial effluents from number of electroplating and tannery units. River Hindon receives the municipal as well as industrial effluents from the township of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Meerut, Baghpat and Gautam Buddhnagar.

Important take away form this news from exam perspective:-

1. Hindon is a tributary of Yamuna
2. Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, BOD, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform are the parameters used to determine pollution level of a river