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  4. UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS| PRELIM BITS 27-01-2025

UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 27-01-2025

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January 27, 2025

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Union Health Ministry has recently sent a team to Pune to assess the situation following a reported outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome with 73 cases so far.

  • It is an autoimmune neurological disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks their peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness that can progress to paralysis.
  • Symptoms – It starts usually with tingling and weakness in the feet and legs before spreading to the upper body, arms and face.
  • It also includes a pins and needles feeling in the toes, fingers, ankles or wrists, back pain, pain in the legs, not being able to walk or climb stairs, trouble with facial movements and double vision.
  • For some people this can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms or face.
  • Affecting age - It can develop over a few days or several weeks. People of any age can be affected, but it is more common in adults and males.
  • The condition is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1/2 per 100,000 population.
  • Causes - The causes of GBS are still not fully understood- in most cases, it occurs after a viral or bacterial infection.
  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infection with the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, which causes gastroenteritis is one of the most common risk factors for GBS.
  • People can also develop GBS after having the flu or other viral infections including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and the Zika virus.
  • In rare instances, vaccinations may increase the risk of people getting GBS, but the chance of this occurring is extremely low.
  • GBS can lead to life-threatening complications when it affects the autonomic nervous system which controls your blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Treatment - There is no known cure for GBS. Treatment includes supportive care and some immunological therapies.

Reference

The Hindu | Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Republic Day Awards

Why in News?

President Draupadi Murmu awards 942 service medals, including 95 for gallantry, for personnel of various central and state police forces on the eve of India’s 76th Republic Day.

Civilian Service Awards

  • The highest honours among the civilian awards are the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Awards – the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.

Civilian Service Awards

Bharat Ratna
  • India’s highest and most prestigious civilian honour, awarded for exceptional service in any field art, literature, science, or public service.
  • The Prime Minister recommends the nominees for this award, and a maximum of 3 persons can be conferred the Bharat Ratna in a year.

Padma Vibhushan

  • It is for distinguished service of higher order.
  • Winners are selected by the Padma Awards committee.
  • Any person working in any field with the exception of Government employees, barring doctors and scientists are eligible for the award.
  • The nomination process is open to the public, and allows people to nominate themselves.

Padma Shri
  • It is for distinguished service in any field. The award winners are selected by the Padma Awards committee.
  • Any person working in any field with the exception of Government employees, barring doctors and scientists are eligible for the award.
  • The nomination process is open to the public, and allows people to nominate themselves.

Service Medals

  • It recognize distinguished service, dedication, and exceptional contributions by personnel in the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, and Police.
  • They are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day.
  • It includes President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

Service Medals

President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM)

  • It is awarded for a special distinguished record in service.

 

The Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM)

  • It is awarded for valuable service characterized by resource and devotion to duty.
  • For the Armed Forces, the highest honours are the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Gallantry Awards

  • Medals for gallantry are awarded to members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and civilians for bravery and heroic action.

Gallantry Awards

Wartime Awards

 
  • Presented to armed forces personnel for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.
  • Highest honours include the Paramvir Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, and the Vir Chakra.

Peacetime Awards

 
  • Highest honours include the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, and the Shaurya Chakra
  • These awards can be awarded to armed forces, paramilitary forces, police, or civilians.

Police Gallantry Medals

 
  • Announced twice a year on Republic Day and Independence Day.
  • The President’s Medal for Gallantry is awarded to those who have done a rare conspicuous gallant act of exceptional courage & skill.
  • The Police Medal for Gallantry recognizes acts of bravery and courage in the line of duty.

Civilian Gallantry Medals

 
  • Recognize civilians for acts of bravery and saving lives.
  • The Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards are given for lifesaving acts of service by people from all walks of life.
  • The National Bravery Awards recognizes children who show exceptional courage.

Reference

The Indian Express | Republic Day 2025

Doctrine of Merger

Why in News?

The Supreme Court recently explained the effect of merging the trial court's decree with that of the decree passed by the High Court in the second appeal.

  • Doctrine of merger – It is a common law principle that states that when a superior court makes a final order on a case, the lower court's order is merged into it.
  • This means that the superior court's order is the final and binding order.
  • Working - The doctrine of merger applies when a lower court's order is challenged in a superior court.
  • The superior court can affirm, modify, or reverse the lower court's order.
  • Once the superior court makes a final order, the lower court's order is merged into it.
  • The superior court's order is the final and binding order.
  • Features - The doctrine of merger prevents more than one order from governing the same subject matter at the same time.
  • It helps determine which order should be enforced when multiple orders are made on the same issue.
  • The doctrine of merger applies in judicial proceedings.
  • It applies when the Supreme Court is exercising its appellate jurisdiction.
  • Judicial Doctrine Overview
    • Statement of judicial propriety.
    • Aims to discipline subordinate adjudicating authorities.
    • Not universally applicable; depends on superior forum jurisdiction and challenge content.

Reference

Live law | Supreme Court Explains Doctrine of Merger

WASP-127b

Why in News?

Recently, the astronomers have detected winds howling on large gaseous planet, WASP-127b.

  • Discovered in – 2016.
  • Located in – Milky Way galaxy approximately 520 lightyears from the earth in a tight orbit around a star.
  • WASP-127b – It is a gas giant exoplanet, which means that it has no rocky or solid surface beneath its atmospheric layers.

An Exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system. Most of them orbit other stars, but some free-floating exoplanets, called Rogue Planets.

  • Instead, below the observed atmosphere lies gas that becomes denser and more pressurized the deeper one goes into the planet.
  • Type – Hot Jupiter, that orbits very close to its host star.
  • Diameter – About 30% larger than Jupiter.
  • Mass – Only 16% (0.1647) of Jupiters, making it one of the puffiest planets ever observed.
  • Orbital Period – It takes 4.2 days to complete 1 orbit of its star.
  • Position – One side of WASP-127b faces its star, the day side.
  • The other side always faces away, the night side.
  • Temperature – 2,060 degrees Fahrenheit, its polar regions less hot than the rest.
  • Composition – Mainly of hydrogen and helium.

Research Findings

The supersonic jet-stream winds circling WASP-127b at about 33,000 km per hour.

  • Speed – The wind circling at its equator are the fastest of their kind on any known planet.

  • Its atmosphere also contains traces of more complex molecules such as carbon monoxide and water.
  • The primary source of energy for these winds is the intense irradiation from the host star.
  • Higher atmospheric wind speeds have been detected on 2 other exoplanets, in winds from their day side to night side.

References

  1. The Hindu| Supersonic Jet-Stream Winds Circling WASP-127b
  2. NASA| WASP-127 b

 

One Liners 27-01-2025

History, Art and Culture

Mannan Community

Raman Rajamannan, the only tribal king of Mannan community participated in the Republic Day parade.

  • Located in – Idukki’s dense forests, Kerala.
  • Origin – Tamil Nadu, where their ancestors fled centuries ago during the Chola-Pandya wars.
  • Governance – Led by the king, Rajamannan, supported by a council of 50 ministers called Kaanis.
  • Occupation – Forest dwellers, farmers, daily wage labourers or employees in the Forest Department.

Geography

South Lhonak Glacial Lake

  • Located in – North Sikkim, at an altitude of 5,200 m.
  • Formation – Due to the melting of the Lhonak glacier.
  • It is one of the largest and fastest growing glacial lakes in Sikkim.

  • Disaster – In 2023, it caused a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) which washed away the 1,200 MW Teesta-III Chungthang Dam.
  • It triggered a landslide about 30 km downstream of the lake.
  • It remains a potential hazard due to its size and the melting glacier.

Polity & Governance

Mukhyamnatri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA)

  • Launched in – 2024.
  • Launched by – Uttar Pradesh.
  • Aim – To make the youth self-reliant and entrepreneurial by providing interest-free loans.
  • Eligibility – Aged 21-40 years.
  • Loan amount – Up to Rs 10 lakh.

International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System

  • Launched in – 2024.
  • Launched by
    • Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
    • Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
  • It identifies and blocks the incoming international calls posing as Indian phone numbers.
  • It is a tool that blocked 90% of all the incoming international calls which were identified as spoofed calls.
  • Spoofing – It is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity.

Sanchar Saathi App & Portal

  • Concept – It reporting fraudulent calls at the fingertips of the citizens.
  • Features – It immensely enhances the ease of reporting any suspected fraud communications.
  • It allowing citizens to report such incidents directly from their mobile phone call logs.

National Co-operative Organic Limited (NCOL)

  • Established in – 2023, under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
  • Vision – Sahakar se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation).
  • NCOL – It is an umbrella organization for aggregation, procurement, certification, testing, branding and marketing of organic products.
  • Purposes – It directly transfer profits from the sale of certified organic produce to farmers' bank accounts.
  • It purchases all certified organic produce from farmers, sells it in the market.

Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS)

  • Established in – 1904, under the Cooperative Credit Societies Act, 1904.
  • Aim – To improve the overall state of agriculture, uplift rural communities and promote inclusive economic growth.
  • PACS – It is the grass root level arms of the short-term co-operative credit structure.
  • Features – It deals directly with the,
    • Rural (agricultural) borrowers.
    • Give those loans and collect repayments of loans.
    • Undertake distribution and marketing functions.
  • It serves as the final link between the ultimate borrowers and the higher financing agencies.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

  • Established in – 1963, by an Act of Parliament in 1963.
  • Functions – Planning, promoting and financing programmes for production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of agricultural produce, food stuffs and other notified commodities.
  • Able to finance projects in the rural industrial cooperative sectors and for certain services.
  • Advanced loans and grants to State Governments for financing primary and secondary level cooperative societies.

Agriculture

Tableau of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)

  • Theme – Honouring India’s Indigenous Cattle Breeds as Icons of Sustainable Rural Growth.
  • Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  • It is the 1st time participation of the ministry in the Republic Day parade.
  • It depicting India’s dominance as the highest milk-producing nation in the world.

Miscellaneous

Gaurav Samman

6 individuals were honoured with Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman on UP Foundation Day.

  • It is one of the highest civilian award of the States.
  • It includes Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarkhand, Jharkhand and Odisha.
  • Awarded to – A person for their extraordinary contribution in any field of human endeavour.
  • Significance – Contributions across diverse fields such as entrepreneurship, science and technology, arts and culture, social development and more.

 
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