1-February-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

NCTE AWAITS MINISTRY NOD TO ROLL OUT NATIONAL MISSION FOR MENTORING

SUBJECT: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Education to implement the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM), aimed at providing mentoring to schoolteachers.

Key points:

• The NCTE plans to expand the pool of mentor teachers from 60 to 1,000 to support the NMM initiative.
• Currently, the NMM is in the pilot phase, with about 700 mentee teachers registered on the NMM portal.
• The mission focuses on various areas of mentoring, including instructional modules on Hindi and Mathematics across different school sections, digital education, and socio-emotional learning.
• Other areas of mentoring identified by the mission include inclusive education, professionalism and ethics, classroom management, 21st-century skills, interpersonal skills, action research projects, art-integrated pedagogy, and teacher’s mental health engagement.
• Notably, 30 out of the 60 mentor teachers are Padma awardees, highlighting the caliber of mentors involved in the initiative.
• The NMM aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, emphasizing continuous professional development for teachers.
• The mission aims to create a large pool of professionals to support teachers’ professional and personal growth nationwide.
• Financial support has been allocated, with ₹1.28 crore utilized for digital infrastructure in 2021-22 and an additional ₹2 crore for the pilot phase in 2022-23.
• A draft document, “The Bluebook,” outlining the NMM, has been prepared by the NCTE, awaiting approval for nationwide implementation.

MUSK SAYS FIRST HUMAN HAS RECEIVED NEURALINK IMPLANT

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: THE HINDU

Co-founded by Elon Musk, Neuralink focuses on developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

BCIs aim to directly connect the human brain to computers, potentially assisting in treating brain disorders and injuries.

Recent Milestone:

• Elon Musk announced the successful implantation of Neuralink in a human, marking a significant transition from animal trials to human applications.

Patient Details:

• Limited information about the patient, but Neuralink targets individuals with quadriplegia from spinal cord injuries or ALS.
• The patient is reportedly recovering well, with positive initial results indicating effective neuron spike detection.

Significance of Milestone:

• A noteworthy achievement in the BCI field, showcasing progress towards practical applications with over 40 ongoing trials globally.

Functionality of the Device:

• The implant, roughly the size of a large coin, interfaces with the brain through thin wires implanted in the skull.
• Targets areas controlling movement intention, aiming to enable control over cursors or keyboards through thought.

Risks and Challenges:

• Despite innovative approaches, risks like brain haemorrhage or seizures are associated with brain surgery.
• Long-term effectiveness and safety of BCIs, including Neuralink’s, are under continuous study.

Future of Neuralink:

• Continued clinical trials will focus on gathering data regarding the device’s safety and effectiveness.
• The goal is broad application, assisting individuals with various neurological conditions.

Conclusion:

While Neuralink’s technology holds promise, it is in the early stages, and ongoing research will unveil its potential impacts and limitations.

CORE SECTOR OUTPUT GROWTH SLOWED TO A 14-MONTH LOW IN DECEMBER

SUBJECT: ECONOMY– SOURCE: THE HINDU

India’s eight core sectors witnessed a slowdown in output growth, reaching a 14-month low at 3.8% in December.

The data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry revealed a decline from 8.3% growth a year earlier and a revised 7.9% growth in November 2023.

Sector-wise Performance:

• Electricity Generation: Recorded an eight-month low at 0.6%, contributing to the slump.
• Crude Oil Output: Shrunk for the second consecutive month by 1%, marking the sharpest decline since June 2023.
• Coal Production: Grew by 10.6%, the slowest year-on-year increase in six months but reached its highest level since April 2023.
• Refinery Products and Steel Output: Hit their highest levels since April, with growth rates slowing — refinery products at a nine-month low of 2.6%, and steel at a 14-month low of 5.9%.
• Cement Production: Recovered from a 4% contraction in November, expanding by 1.3% in December, reaching levels not seen since July.
• Fertilisers Production: Grew at a seven-month high rate of 5.8%, with output levels at their highest since May.
• Natural Gas Production: Grew at a three-month low rate of 6.6%.

Overall Impact:

• The core sectors contribute over 40% to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The IIP growth, which stood at 2.4% in November, is expected to persist at similar levels in December, according to analysts.
• IIP numbers for December will be released on February 12.

ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

The Eravikulam National Park (ENP), the natural habitat of the Nilgiri tahr, will be closed for the calving season of the species from February 1 to March 31.

Eravikulam National Park (ENP)

• Situated along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala.
• Declared as a National Park in 1978.
• Spans an area of 97 sq.km.
• Houses the highest peak in south India, Anamudi (2695 meters).

Flora:

• Dominated by rolling grasslands with patches of shola forests.
• Notable flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Pittosporum tetraspermium, and more.
• Rich in balsams and orchids, including the once thought extinct Brachycorythis wightii.

Fauna:

• Home to diverse wildlife including Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog.
• Half of the world’s Nilgiri Tahr population resides here.
• Hosts the Atlas moth, the largest of its kind globally, along with 140 bird species and over 100 butterfly varieties.

Nilgiri Tahr: Key Facts

• Endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
• Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius.
• Known for climbing steep cliffs, earning the nickname Mountain Monarch.
• State animal of Tamil Nadu.
• Primarily found in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala.

Habitat and Features:

• Inhabit open montane grassland habitats at elevations of 1200 to 2600 m in the South Western Ghats.
• Stocky body with short, coarse fur and curved horns.
• Males have larger horns, reaching up to 40 cm.
• Adult males develop a light grey area or ‘saddle’ on their backs, hence called ‘saddlebacks’.
• Coat color is short grey-brown or dark.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List:
• Protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I.

BHARAT 5G PORTAL

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: ECONOMIC TIMES

Bharat 5G Portal was Launched by the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC), on the sidelines of ‘Bharat Telecom 2024’.

Features of Bharat 5G Portal:

• Comprehensive platform for startups, industry, and academia focusing on quantum, 6G, IPR, and 5G domains.
• Includes Future Tech-Experts registration portal with PANIIT USA to advise the Indian Telecom ecosystem towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Acts as a centralized solution for quantum, IPR, PoCs/Pilot, 5G, and 6G-related works, capturing academic R&D, industry standards, OEMs, startups/MSMEs, and subject matter experts.
• Aims to enhance India’s 5G capabilities, foster innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within the telecom sector.

Other 5G Initiatives in India:

• Prime Minister awarded 100 “5G Use Case Labs” to educational institutions across the country during the India Mobile Congress.
• These labs are connected through a dedicated portal (Digital network of 100 5G Labs).
• Serve as knowledge dissemination platforms for institutions, students, and startups to test and develop 5G use cases.
• Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) is responsible for implementing the installation of 100 Labs and developing the portal.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: ECONOMIC TIMES

• Progressive brain condition leading to a decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills.
• Most common type of dementia, constituting 60-80% of all dementia cases.
• Affects parts of the brain controlling thought, memory, and language.
• Typically impacts individuals aged 65 and over, with only 10% occurring in younger people.

Causes and Symptoms:

• Exact cause not fully understood, influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
• Early signs include forgetting recent events, progressing to serious memory problems and the inability to perform daily tasks.

Treatment:

• No cure for Alzheimer’s, but medications and therapies can help manage symptoms temporarily.

Understanding Dementia:

• General term for impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions interfering with everyday activities.
• Alzheimer’s is the most common type, but other forms include Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Mixed Dementia.
• Not a part of normal aging, and it mostly affects older adults.

 E INK DISPLAYS

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS

E-readers, like Kindle, offer a unique reading experience with E Ink displays. E Ink technology, developed at MIT in the 1990s, is owned by E Ink Corporation.

Working of E Ink Displays:

• Microcapsules and Charges: Microcapsules contain charged white and black particles in fluid. Electrical charges move particles to the surface, forming text and images.
• Reflective Light: Unlike LCD/LED displays, E Ink reflects ambient light, resembling paper and reducing eye strain.
• Energy Efficiency: Minimal power consumption as energy is used only during image changes, ensuring long battery life.
• Outdoor Legibility: High contrast and readability even in bright light, ideal for outdoor use.

Differentiating E Ink from E Paper:

• E Ink specifically uses microcapsules, while E Paper encompasses screens mimicking real paper.

Applications of E Ink Displays:

• E-Readers: Popular in Kindle and Kobo for clear text in sunlight.
• Mobile Devices: Brief stint in early cell phones, with recent revival for reduced screen time.
• Urban Applications: Used in bus stop displays, walking direction signs, and E Ink menu boards in restaurants.

Pros and Cons:

• Advantages: Low power consumption minimized eye strain, and outdoor readability.
• Drawbacks: Slower refresh rates, limitations in colour and resolution, and relatively expensive for larger sizes.