UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 01-02-2020
iasparliament
February 01, 2020
Novel Coronavirus
It is a member of the coronavirus family, like other coronaviruses, has come from animals.
New and troubling viruses usually originate in animal hosts; Ebola and flu are other examples.
The virus causes pneumonia, those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties, in severe cases there can be organ failure, As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use.
China’s national health commission has confirmed many Human to human transmission of this disease.
Severity of symptoms may vary some people appear to suffer only mild illness while others are becoming severely ill.
A crucial difference is that unlike flu, there is no vaccine for the new coronavirus, which means it is more difficult for vulnerable members of the population elderly people or those with existing respiratory or immune problems to protect themselves.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers) are both caused by coronaviruses that came from animals.
Yellow Rust Disease
Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) issued an advisory about Yellow Rust detected in wheat crops in parts of Punjab and Haryana.
Yellow Rust disease appears as yellow stripes of powder or dust on leaves and leaf sheaths of the wheat crop.
This yellow powder comes out on clothing or fingers when touched.
The disease can spread rapidly under congenial conditions and affects crop development, and eventually the yield.
This occurs when the rust colonies in the leaves drain the carbohydrates from the plant and reduce the green leaf area.
According to the IIWBR advisory, fungicides will help to contain this disease.
In India, it is a major disease in the Northern Hill Zone and the North-Western Plain Zone and spreads easily during the onset of cool weather and when wind conditions are favourable.
Rain, dew and fog favour the disease’s development.
A new variety of wheat called HD-3226 or Pusa Yashasvi released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, has higher levels of resistance against major rust fungi such as the yellow/stripe, brown/leaf and black/stem.
Beijing +25
The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, was one of the largest ever gatherings of the United Nations, and a critical turning point in the world’s focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 is the most ambitious road map for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere.
In 2020, it will be 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action set strategic objectives and actions for the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern.
The Beijing+25 Regional Review Meeting provided a forum for United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) member States to review progress and identify challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
National Consultation on the review of Beijing +25
To mark of 25 years of the adoption of Beijing Platform for Action, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD), the National Commission for Women (NCW) and UN Women organized a National Consultation on the Review of Beijing+25.
It aims to o galvanize all stakeholders to implement actions that remove the most conspicuous barriers to gender equality.
The consultation will bring together civil society and the women and youth of India, gender equality advocates from all walks of life, in a national public conversation on the urgent actions that need to be taken for the realization of gender equality.
Surajkund Mela
Surajkund is an ancient reservoir of the 10th century located on Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range in Faridabad city of Haryana state.
Surajkund is an artificial Kund ("lake" or reservoir) built in the backdrop of the Aravalli hills with an amphitheater shaped embankment constructed in semicircular form.
king Surajpal of Tomar dynasty in the 10th century built by the Surajkund.
Tomar, a younger son of Anangpal Tomar - the ruler of Delhi, was a sun worshipper and he had therefore built a Sun temple on its western bank.
It is an important biodiversity area within the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor stretching from Sariska Tiger Reserve to Delhi.
Surajkund is known for its annual fair "Surajkund International Craft Mela".
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is being organized since 1987 to display the richness and diversity of handicrafts, handlooms and cultural heritage of India.
Nagoba jatara
Nagoba Jatara is an annual tribal festival held in, Telangana, India.
It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated by Mesaram clan of Gond tribes for 10-30 days.
Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesaram clan offer prayers at the festival.
A ceremony of 'bheting' is integral part of the festival where the new brides are introduced to the clan god during first jatra after their marriage.
During the end of the festival Adivasi will perform ‘warrior’ jumping, an exercise of jumping into the air wielding a thin bamboo stick like a sword.
