Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

Today ’s Important Topic ’s For UPSC Preparation

1. U.S. TALIBAN AGREEMENT TO END 18-YEAR-LONGAFGHAN WAR. 2. J&K USES 2011 DATA FOR DELIMITATION. 3. NPR 2020.

4. NCBS METHOD TO DETECT VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH RARE SKIN CANCER. 5. RED SNOW. 6. GAHIRMATHA DOLPHINS. 7. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK. I U.S. TALIBAN AGREEMENT TO END 18-YEAR-LONG-AFGHAN WAR:  The U.S. signed a deal with the Taliban that could pave the way for a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represents a step towards ending the 18-year-war in the nation.  The deal was signed in the Qatari capital Doha by U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.  The United States said it is committed to reducing the number of its troops to 8,600 from the current 13,000 within 135 days of signing the deal.  It also said it is working with allies to proportionally reduce the number of coalition forces in Afghanistan, if the Taliban were to adhere to its commitments.  A full withdrawal of all foreign forces would occur within 14 months of the deal getting signed if the Taliban holds up its end of the deal, the joint statement said.  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed hope that the deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha would pave the way towards lasting peace.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

II J&K USES 2011 DATA FOR DELIMITATION:  The new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be the only place in the country to undergo a delimitation exercise based on the population figures recorded in the 2011 census.  The latest readjustment of boundaries of constituencies in the States and other Union Territories has been done on the basis of the 2001 census and in future, it will be carried out based on the 2031 census.  The unique provision for J&K was enabled through an amendment introduced in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Act passed by Parliament on August 6 bifurcated the State of J&K into the Union Territories of J&K (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).  Delimitation was last done in J&K in 1995.  Section 63 was introduced in the J&K Reorganisation Act so that the delimitation exercise can be conducted smoothly without overlapping with other provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002.  Section 63 (special provisions as to readjustment of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies) says that “until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published”, it shall not be necessary to readjust

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

the constituencies and any reference to the “latest census figures” shall be construed as a reference to the 2011 census figures.  The Act says the number of seats in the Assembly would be increased from 107 to 114.  The full Delimitation Commission is yet to be appointed.

III NPR 2020: What is NPR (National Population Register)?  The NPR is a database of usual residents in the country who have stayed in a local area for the past six months or more and who intend to remain in the same place for the next six months or more.  The NPR is individual and identity specific unlike the Census which only provides information on the status of the residents of India and population swings.

What does the updated manual of 2020 say?  The NPR 2020 enumeration exercise will be undertaken during April– September this year.  Certain new information will be collected by enumerators in a house-to-house collection exercise such as Aadhaar, mobile, voter ID, passport and driving licence, if available with the residents on a voluntarily basis.  Unlike in the 2010 NPR, the new format for NPR 2020 requires residents to disclose their mother tongue and the places and dates of birth of their parents even if they are not living in the same household at the time or not alive.  Individuals have to disclose the districts and States of their parents’ birth.

Why in News?  The Bihar Assembly passed a unanimous resolution stating that there is no need for a National Register of Citizens in the State and that the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) would be done strictly according to the 2010 format.  An ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that the 2020 format of the NPR has several contentious clauses.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

IV NCBS METHOD TO DETECT VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH RARE SKIN CANCER:  Team from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, has developed a diagnostic system to detect the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma tumours.  Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer.  The researchers have developed a test using the CRISPR-CAS12 technology that can identify the virus in the tumour and give off a fluorescence to indicate the presence of the virus.  This is an important development, both, from the point of view of diagnostics and giving a prognosis for the condition.  Merkel cell carcinoma is associated with old age, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light and a weak immune system.  A virus that is part of the normal skin flora – the Merkel cell polyomavirus – can get integrated in the human genome and undergo a mutation which causes it to promote the cancer.  In studies, in about 60-80% of Merkel cell carcinoma patients, the tumours were found to test positive for the virus.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

 The team adapted a system named DETECTR (DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter) to help them in this endeavour.  We find that if Merkel cell polyoma virus is present at even femto-moles we can detect viral DNA and thereby diagnose the cancer.

V RED SNOW: About Red Snow:  Red snow which is also called “watermelon snow” which is located off the coast of Antarctica’s northern most peninsula is caused by an algae that lives in freezing weather that makes white snow looks red.  Watermelon snow was first recorded by Greek philosopher Aristotle over 2000 years ago. He had explained the existence of the reddish snow in “History of Animals”.  This blood red snow in Antarctica was first shared by Ukrainian scientist and biologist Andriy Zotov and this picture is of a research station in Antarctica.  The snow is red because of a red-pigmented, microscopic algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis , which thrives in freezing water as the ice melts.  The algae when exposed to sun during summer, the Usually-Green algae turns pink even red to keep itself warm.  The main concern is that for its survival it absorbs more heat and keep itself warm which is dangerous for the glaciers that are melting away at quick pace.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

VI GAHIRMATHA DOLPHINS: Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary:  Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is located in Odisha. It is located in the Bhitarkanika National Park.It is world famous for Olive Ridley sea turtles.  The 2020 dolphin census revealed that dolphins are migrating out of this marine sanctuary into the deep sea.  Humpback dolphin is a coastal dolphin found in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.  It is found along the coasts of Indian Ocean and coasts of West Africa.  It is listed under appendix I and II of the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

 Migration of dolphins from Odisha’s Gahirmatha marine sanctuary to deep sea; climate change and unfavourable weather; illegal fishing practices — these were the reasons why aquatic mammals’ population saw a decline in the state.  62 dolphins were spotted at Gahirmatha — down from 126 in 2019. Their number was pegged at 307 in 2015.  The state’s total dolphin count was pegged at 233, down from 259 in 2019, according to the new census report. Their total count in 2018 was 469.  Reduction in the dolphin count could be due to their migration from Gahiramatha to Chilika lake and towards the deep sea. Climate change and bad weather could have also pushed them towards deep sea. Their death is an unlikely reason, as only a few carcasses have been found on the beach.  Meanwhile, according to the census report, Irrawaady dolphins saw a spurt in Chilika lake. The count of Irrawaddy dolphins increased to 146 from 130 in 2019.  Irrawaddy dolphins reside in estuaries of Chilika lake. Humpback dolphins live in sea water near the coast at Gahirmatha. Many Irrawaddy dolphins migrated to Chilika Lake from Gahrimatha this year. Erratic and untimely rain due to climate change reduced the saltiness of sea water, due to which humpback dolphins migrated into the deep sea as well.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

VII KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK:  The 430 sq.km national park is located in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.  In 1968 it was given National Park status and in 1985 it was declareed UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) for its unique natural environment.  It is home to World’s largest population of One Horned Rhinoceros i.e. about 68%.  The one-horned rhinoceroses are listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red list of Threatened Species.  It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species.  It encompasses 8 ranges under two wildlife divisions: (1) Eastern Assam and (2) Biswanath along the river Brahmaputra.  Along with the iconic Greater one-horned rhinoceros, the park is the breeding ground of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.  Over the time, the tiger population has also increased in Kaziranga, and that’s the reason why Kaziranga was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006.  Kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, the cotton tree, and elephant Apple are amongst the famous trees that can be seen in the park.

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

WORD OF THE DAY Blasphemy: The definition of blasphemy is saying something concerning God that is very disrespectful.

It can also refer to degrading religious concepts or literature. Blasphemy can be included in speech, an act, writing, music, or art.

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ 1) Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

A) Bhitarkanika National Park B) Keibul Lamjao National Park

C) Keoladeo Ghana National park D) Sultanpur National park 2) Place of Pilgrimage : Location 1) Srisailam : Nallamala Hills 2) Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills 3) Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

A) 1 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1,2 and 3 3) Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for the Industrial Workers’?

A) The Reserve Bank of India B) The Department of Economic Affairs C) The Labour Bureau D) The Department of Personnel and Training

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 01-May-2020

4) Consider the following rivers: 1) Vamsadhara 2) Indravati 3) Pranahita 4) Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari A) B) C) D)

1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1,2 and 4 2 and 3 only

5) With reference to the art and archaeo logical history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

A) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubneshwar B) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli C) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram D) varaha Image at Udayagiri

CORRECT ANSWERS: A) B) C) D) E)

B A C D B