6-February-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

GIANT LEAP FOR KALARIPAYATTU

SUBJECT: ART AND CULTURE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

In 2021, the inclusion of Kalaripayattu, a southern Indian martial art, in the Khelo India games sparked increased interest, particularly among boys and girls in Haryana.

About Kalaripayattu:

• Ancient Origin: Traces its roots to ancient knowledge of the human body.
• Historical Origin: Originated in Kerala during 3rd century BC, practiced until 2nd century AD, now found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Training Space: Practiced in a ‘Kalari,’ denoting a gymnasium or symbolic battlefield in Malayalam.
• Historical Reference: Tamil Sangam literature uses ‘Kalari’ for both battlefield and combat arena.
• Historical Significance: One of the world’s oldest martial arts, considered the “Father of Modern Kung Fu.”
• Cultural Integration: Integrates Hindu rituals, Ayurvedic medicinal practices, and elements from yoga and Nata dances.

Weapons and Categories:

Weapons in Kalaripayattu are classified into four groups:

• Cutting, Slicing, Piercing: Swords and daggers.
• Pole Weapons: Spears and axes.
• Bludgeoning Instruments: Sticks and maces.
• Projectiles: Arrows, discuses, catapults, boomerangs, and hand-thrown weapons.

CHAMPAI GOVT. WINS THE FLOOR TEST

SUBJECT: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Champai Soren government secured victory in the floor test at the Jharkhand Assembly with 47 votes in favour.

About Floor Test:

• A floor test serves as a confidence motion to assess support for or against the government within the Legislative Assembly.
• Its primary aim is to determine if the Chief Minister, appointed by the Governor, has the majority’s confidence in the assembly.

Conducting the Floor Test:

• The Chief Minister undergoes a trust vote on the assembly floor, presided over by the Speaker.

Objective and Consequences:

• The objective is to ascertain if the executive enjoys the legislature’s confidence.
• Failure to secure majority support results in the Chief Minister’s resignation and the dissolution of the Council of Ministers.

Exceptions and Legal Aspects:

• The floor test cannot resolve internal party or intra-party disputes, as per a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against the Maharashtra Governor.
• Majority is determined based on present and voting members, excluding absentees.

Governor’s Role:

• The Governor holds powers to prorogue, summon, and dissolve the state legislature under Article 174.
• Article 163 establishes the Council of Ministers to advise the Governor in his functions.

Judicial Precedents:

• The Supreme Court, in cases like SR Bommai (1994) and Nabam Rebia (2015), clarified that a Governor’s call for a floor test, based on reasonable doubt about the government’s confidence, is constitutional.

HIGHER AUTONOMY OF PANCHAYATS LEADS TO BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES

SUBJECT: SCOIETY– SOURCE: THE HINDU

Panchayats with greater autonomy exhibit better health, nutrition, and sanitation outcomes in rural areas.

Collaboration in Healthcare:

Panchayats work with health departments to maintain rural clinics and dispensaries, promoting institutional deliveries, prenatal and postnatal check-ups, and sanitation facilities, thus reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Data Analysis:

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study emphasizes the need for increased autonomy for panchayats based on their role in local governance and health management.

 

• Leading states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh exhibit high scores and low IMRs, while states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh show the opposite trend.

Devolution Index and Autonomy:

• Chart 2 evaluates states’ devolution index, measuring the transfer of subjects, functionaries, and finances to panchayats.
• States with higher devolution scores, like Kerala and Maharashtra, tend to perform better in health indicators.

The index reflects the degree of decision-making power and resource control granted to panchayats, influencing health outcomes positively.

BRAZIL’S G20 EDWG SETS THREE PRIORITIES FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS– SOURCE: DD NEWS

A virtual meeting convened the Education Working Group (EdWG) under the Brazilian G20 Presidency, focusing on global education enhancement.

The Indian delegation, expressing commitment to advancing the global education agenda, emphasized innovative teaching-learning processes, tech-enabled inclusivity, and collaboration.

Indian Delegation’s Key Points:

• Capacity Building: Emphasis on enhancing educational professionals’ capacity through innovative approaches for inclusive and collaborative tech-enabled learning.
• SDGs and LiFE Initiative: Highlighted the pivotal role of education in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative integrating environmental considerations into educational practices.
• Best Practices: Shared insights into India’s best practices aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, encompassing programs like SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, Academic Bank of Credit, and industry collaborations in emerging technologies.

Brazil’s focus for the EdWG includes three main priorities:

• Education Professionals: valuing and building the capacity of education professionals,
• Digital Resource Platforms: Focus on connecting managers of digital resource platforms for sharing educational material on Sustainable Development.
• G20 Award: Introduction of the G20 Award for School-Community Engagement as a prestigious recognition.

CANDIDA AURIS

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: NDTV

A deadly fungal infection called Candida auris is spreading rapidly in the United States

About Candida auris (C. auris):

• Emerging Threat: Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast, posing a global health threat.
• Invasive Infections: Capable of causing invasive infections, particularly affecting individuals with weakened immune systems.
• Discovery: First identified in Japan in 2009 and rapidly spread to various countries.

Transmission:

• Healthcare Settings: Mainly contracted in healthcare facilities like hospitals and nursing homes.
• Colonization: Can live on the skin or body parts without causing sickness, referred to as “colonization.”
• Regions Affected: Colonizes specific body areas or causes invasive infections by entering the bloodstream or wounds.
• Spread Mechanism: Transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, equipment, or infected/colonized individuals.

Symptoms:

• Affected Areas: Causes infections in different body parts such as the bloodstream, open wounds, and ears.
• Variability: Symptoms depend on the infection’s location and severity, resembling bacterial infections.
• Common Signs: High fever with persistent chills, unresponsive to antibiotics, may indicate a C. auris infection.

Treatment:

• Antifungal Drugs: Most infections are treatable with antifungal medications.
• Resistance Challenge: Some infections resist all main antifungal classes, requiring more complex combination therapies for treatment.

DUSTED APOLLO (PARNASSIUS STENOSEMUS)

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Dusted Apollo (Parnassius stenosemus) was recently sighted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, marking a remarkable discovery.

Extensive Distribution: This extremely rare butterfly is usually found in the Himalayan region, ranging from Ladakh to West Nepal, with a habitat altitude between 3,500 to 4,800 meters.

Appearance:

Identification Features: Resembling Ladakh Banded Apollo (Parnnasius stoliczkanus), the Dusted Apollo can be distinguished by its complete discal band on the upper forewing, extending from costa to vein one.

• In comparison, Ladakh Banded Apollo’s discal band is incomplete, reaching only up to vein four.

Marginal Band Differences: Notably, the Dusted Apollo has a narrower dark marginal band on the hind wings, while Ladakh Banded Apollo features a broader one.

Other Species and Conservation:

• Regal Apollo: Another rare species, Regal Apollo (Parnnasius charltonius), protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, was also photographed at Manimahesh.
• Apollo Diversity: Himachal Pradesh boasts 11 Apollo species, with five designated as Scheduled species.
• Conservation Importance: The discovery indicates the flourishing diversity of Apollo butterflies in the region, emphasizing the need for conservation.
• Threats and Conservation Measures: Commercially valuable, Apollos face poaching threats. Urgent conservation actions, including community awareness and establishing butterfly parks and reserves, are crucial for their protection.

InTranSE PROGRAM

SUBJECT: ECONOMY– SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

During the “Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024,” Held at IIIT-Delhi three Indigenous Technologies – Thermal camera, CMOS camera, and Fleet Management System – developed by CDAC Thiruvananthapuram under InTranSE program were transferred to 12 Industries.

• Significance: These technologies aim to enhance traffic efficiency, minimize problems, optimize infrastructure usage, provide traffic information to users, reduce travel time, and improve safety and comfort for commuters.

About InTranSE Program:

• Revolutionary Initiative: The Intelligent Transportation System Endeavor (InTranSE) is a collaborative research and development program aimed at transforming transportation systems.
• Ministry Initiative: Launched by the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), it aims to synergize advancements in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
• Academic and R&D Collaboration: Premier academic institutes like IIT, IISc, IIM, and R&D centers like CDAC are brought together under this program.
• Phase-I: From 2009-2012, Phase-I witnessed collaborative efforts leading to the development, implementation, and demonstration of ITS products and solutions.
• Phase-II: The program continued from 2019-2021, focusing on R&D projects collaboratively with leading institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore, and CDAC Thiruvananthapuram.