UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 23-12-2020
iasparliament
December 23, 2020
Positive Pay System
On January 1, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India will introduce the ‘Positive Pay System’ for cheque transactions above Rs. 50,000.
The concept of Positive Pay involves a process of reconfirming key details of large-value cheques.
Under this process, the issuer of the cheque electronically submits certain minimum details of that cheque to the drawee bank.
These details will be cross-checked before the cheque is presented for payment by the Cheque Truncation System (CTS).
Any discrepancy is flagged by CTS to the drawee bank and presenting bank, who then take redressal measures.
Availing of this facility would be at the discretion of the account holder.
However, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5 lakh and above.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will develop the facility of Positive Pay in CTS, and make it available to participant banks.
ACE2 Enzyme
A new research has found that the human enzyme ACE2 may be offering protection to women against Covid-19 disease.
ACE2 enzyme enables the novel coronavirus to infect the cell.
It is a key in protecting against cardiovascular, lung and kidney diseases.
ACE2 is a gene linked to the X chromosome. Women have twice as many active genetic instructions to make ACE2.
Because of their chromosomes, women (XX chromosome) have two copies of the ACE2 gene and men (XY chromosome) have only one copy.
This makes female Covid-19 patients face less severe disease complications and a lower risk of dying than male patients.
Ethanol Blended Petrol
Indian government has proposed the adoption of E20 fuel for vehicular use to curb vehicle emissions and reduce the country’s oil import bill. Currently, only 10% of ethanol blend is permissible in India.
E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol with gasoline (petrol) and can be used as an alternative to the fuels currently available.
Ethanol is a common by-product that comes from agricultural feedstock like corn, hemp, potato, etc.
It can be used as a bio-fuel in Flexi-fuel vehicles.
Ethanol is greener than gasoline because the corn and crop plantations absorb CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow.
However, ethanol is less efficient as a fuel. It has lower energy content than energy-rich gasoline and diesel.
The rule delivers less power when burned, which in return results in more fuel consumption and lower mileage.
Also, blends over E15 (15% ethanol) is highly corrosive for older vehicles as the alcohol can break down old rubber seals and can damage engines.
Shigellosis
Shigellosis is a highly contagious intestinal disease caused by Shigella.
Usually a person gets infected after taking contaminated water or stale food. It can be transmitted after using a common toilet also.
The main symptoms of the infection include diarrhoea, often containing blood or mucus in stool, stomach pain, cramps, fever and vomiting.
An infected person shows minor symptoms in a day or two but it may take a week or so to show acute symptoms.
Children under 10 are most susceptible to contract the infection, though the elderly can also get infected.
For controlling the spread, super-chlorination of wells and inspection of eateries, including hotels should be done in the affected region.
OneWeb Satellites
Bharti Global and U.K. government-led OneWeb announced the launch of 36 communications satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The recent launch is one of the many steps taken to operationalise one of the world’s first LEO constellations.
This takes the total in-orbit constellation to 110 satellites, part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.
OneWeb’s system will help meet existing and future demand by delivering broadband connectivity to the communities, towns, regions left unconnected or under-connected.
OneWeb aims to offer high-speed internet from its constellation of satellites in India by mid-2022.
Source: The Indian Express, Financial Express, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Economic Times
