TNPSC Current Affairs April 08, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs April 08, 2020 (08/04/2020)

 

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Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt., Schemes and their Utilities

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

Pharmacists, popularly known as “Swasth ke Sipahi”, of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, are delivering essential services and medicines at doorstep of patients and elderly under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) of the Government of India.

Background:

Working as part of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK), they are extending essential services by making available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the common People of the country and the elderly persons at their doorstep to fight Corona pandemic. This is supporting the government’s initiative of practicing social distancing.

About PMBJP:

‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. Of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendra’s known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency of PMBJP. BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs.

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Topic: International Diary of Events

Interpol

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has warned member countries that cybercriminals were attempting to target major hospitals and other institutions on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 with ransomware. Interpol has also issued a ‘Purple Notice’.

What has the Interpol said? Organisations at the forefront of the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak have also become targets of ransomware attacks, which were “designed to lock them out of their critical systems in an attempt to extort payments”.

Cybercriminals are using ransomware to hold hospitals and medical services digitally hostage, preventing them from accessing vital files and systems until a ransom is paid.

Locking hospitals out of their critical systems will not only delay the swift medical response required during these unprecedented times, it could directly lead to deaths.

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Topic: International Organizations, Latest Diary of Events

UN Women

The UN Women has urged member-states to include prevention of violence against women in their action plans on COVID-19. It has also called the rise in gender-based violence a “shadow pandemic”.

Other suggestions made by UN Women:

Member states should consider shelters and helplines essential services. Police and justice services must mobilise to ensure that incidents of violence against women and girls are given high priority with no impunity for perpetrators.

Why these measures are necessary?

Globally 243 million women and girls aged 15-49 have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months. The number is likely to increase as security, health and money worries heighten tensions and strains are accentuated by cramped and confined living conditions.

How lockdown is worsening the situation?

According to emerging data, violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has ‘intensified’.

As per data compiled by the U.N. body, France has seen a 30% increase in domestic violence since the lockdown on March 17.

In Argentina, emergency calls for domestic violence cases have increased by 25% since the lockdown on March 20 and Cyprus (30%), Singapore (33%) have also registered an increase in calls.

Canada, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. have also registered an increase in cases of domestic violence and demand for emergency shelter.

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Topic: India and it’s Foreign Relations, Latest Diary of Events

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID)

So far, India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). All these have been shared by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology.

Background:

Early in March, India became the fifth country in the world to sequence the genome of the novel Coronavirus, or Covid-19, and share its data with the international community.

What is genomic sequencing?

Genomic sequencing is a technique that allows us to read and interpret genetic information found within DNA or RNA.

Why is it important to understand the genomic sequence of COVID-19?

The SARS-CoV2 genome, as it is formally known, has about 30,000 base pairs, somewhat like a long string with 30,000 places where each one of these occupy one of four chemicals called nucleotides.

This long string, with its unique combination of nucleotides, is what uniquely identifies the virus and is called its genomic sequence. A look at virus genome sequences from patient samples that test positive for COVID-19 helps researchers to understand how the virus is evolving as it spreads. So far, there are over 1,000 COVID-19 genomes that have been published worldwide.

Therefore, sequencing is necessary because: It helps track the transmission route of the virus globally. It can determine how quickly the virus is adapting as it spreads. It identifies targets to therapies. It is required to understand the role of co-infection.

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Topic: Profile of States, Public Awareness and General Administration

Delhi’s ‘5T’ war against virus

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a “5T plan” created by his government to contain COVID-19 spread in Delhi. These five Ts are testing, tracing, treatment, teamwork and tracking-monitoring.

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Topic: Latest Diary of events

World Health Day

April 7 is observed as ‘World Health Day’ This was the day in 1948 when the World Health Organisation was founded.

The theme for the World Health Day 2020 is “Support Nurses and Midwives”.

WHO chose the year 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife” because of the contribution of nurses and midwives in making the world a healthier place.

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Topic: New Appointments

CM of Madhya Pradesh

BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sworn in as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. This is the fourth time Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been administered the oath of office as CM. Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the 32nd Chief Minister of the state. Earlier, Kamalnath from the Indian National Congress Party resigned the CM post.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Health

Bio Fortified Carrots developed by farmer scientist

A farmer scientist of Junagadh district, Gujarat Shri Vallabhai Vastambhai Marvaniya developed biofortified carrots. The carrots are locally called “Madhuban Gajar”. It is rich in β-carotene and iron.

Key facts:

The biofortified carrot variety is benefiting more than 150 local farmers. The yield of the variety is 40 to 50 tonnes per hectare. The variety has been cultivated in over 1000 hectares of land this season.

The biofortified carrot has been developed through selection method. It has 277.75 mg/kg of β-Carotene and 276.7 mg/kg of iron.

The farmer scientist was awarded with Padma Shri in 2019 for his contribution in the field of agriculture and in specific to carrots.