Consider the following statements with respect to I-Familia
It is a global database to identify missing persons through family DNA and help the police solve cases in member countries.
It was launched by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
2)Aihole inscription, is known as the Cradle of Indian architecture, was issued under the reign of
a) Chalukyas
b) Rashtrakutas
c) Marathas
d) Pallavas
3)According to experts, which of the following statements regarding Kalibangan is/are correct?
Kalibangan in Rajasthan has given the evidence of the earliest ploughed agricultural field ever revealed through an excavation.
It is also a site which has given an evidence of earliest archaeologically recorded Earthquake.
Select the correct answer code:
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Prelims Specific News Items :-
1) PM eVidya programme:- PM e-Vidya programme was launched as a COVID-19 relief measures. Under the programme, expert committee has made detailed recommendations on creating accessible special e-content for Divyang, or children with disabilities.
Why in News :- Education Ministry has announced New norms for digital content.
Guidelines are based on four guiding principles, stipulating that all resources must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for disabled students.
They recommend that all textbooks be made digitally accessible in a phased manner, so that they are available in multiple formats such as text, audio, video and sign language with turnon and turnoff features.
The guidelines provide strategies to produce supplementary content for varying disabilities, including students who face visual and hearing challenges, those on the autism spectrum, those with intellectual or special learning disabilities, and those with multiple disabilities.
2)Weyan, a remote village in Bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir became India’s first village to vaccinate all its adult population against COVID-19.
3)UN ECOSOC :-
The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
ECOSOC’s 54 members are elected for three-year terms by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with 14 allocated to African states, 11 to Asian states, six to eastern European states, 10 to Latin American and Caribbean states and 13 to western European and other states.
The 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.
It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
Why in News :-
4)Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law formalizing Russia’s withdrawal from Open Skies Treaty, after United States withdrew from pact in 2020.
Open Skies Treaty is an international treaty that allow nations to collect information on one another’s military forces to increase transparency.
Treaty on Open Skies is a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over entire territory of participating countries.
Open Skies Treaty first Signed in 1992 and came in force in 2002.
5) Crackdown on fake medicines :- Interpol-led Operation Pangea XIV targeted sale of counterfeit health products. Codenamed “Operation Pangea XIV”, the exercise was coordinated by Interpol.
6)Rengma Tribes :- Rengma is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland and Assam states of India.
The Rengma Nagas in Assam have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an autonomous district council.
The Sixth schedule of the Constitution protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through creation of autonomous development councils that can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture and others. As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The specified tribal areas are the North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong and the Bodoland Territorial Area in Assam. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has 26 seats and elections are due in 2022.
There were three Burmese invasions of Assam between 1817 and 1826, during which time the Kingdom of Assam (Ahom) came under the control of Burma from 1821 to 1825. The British, who were earlier reluctant to colonise Assam, came into direct contact with a belligerent Burmese occupying force.
7)CARA and Hague Convention :-
In India, an Indian citizen or a non-resident Indian (NRI) can adopt a child under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956 and the Guardian and Wards Act of 1890.
About CARA:
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptionsin accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.
CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies.
CARA is also mandated to frame regulations on adoption-related matters from time to time as per Section 68 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Hague Convention is a multilateral treaty which came into existence on 1st December 1983. It is an international treaty to ensure the prompt return of the child who has been “abducted” from the country of their “habitual residence”. The Convention applies to children age under 16 years.
8) BRICS Statement on how to achieve a just and inclusive Global Order/ Multilateralism :-
Crackdown on fake medicines :- Interpol-led
Operation Pangea XIV targeted sale of counterfeit health products. Codenamed “Operation Pangea XIV”, the exercise was coordinated by Interpol.
“The BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System laid out the following principles,” he added.
- “First, it should make global governance more inclusive, representative and participatory to facilitate greater and more meaningful participation of developing and least developed countries.
- Second, it should be based on inclusive consultation and collaboration for the benefit of all.
- Third, it should make multilateral organisations more responsive, action oriented and solution oriented based on the norms and principles of international law and the spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality, mutual beneficial cooperation.
- Fourth, it should use innovative and inclusive solutions, including digital and technological tools.
- Fifth, it should strengthen capacities of individual States and international organisations.
- Sixth, it should promote people centered international cooperation at the core.
Editorials of the Day
Editorial 01 : Bring genomic sequencing into the pandemic fight
Author says that two things are very necessary to prevent the Covid-19 Pandemic.
- Vaccination
- Study on Genome Sequencing : This will help in the study and research on the virus variant. Author says that the genome sequencing study has not been done thoroughly in India.
If there is one tool in the COVID-19 pandemic response, which India has been slow in adoption and has used sub-optimally, it is genomic sequencing.
An effective COVID-19 pandemic response requires, inter alia, keeping track of emerging variants (total 10 till now including variants of interest and concern) and then conducting further studies about their transmissibility, immune escape and potential to cause severe disease. Therefore, genomic sequencing becomes one of the first steps in this important process.
Though the procedural steps such as setting up the Indian SARSCoV2 Genomic Consortia, or INSACOG have
been taken, the sequencing has remained at a very low level of a few thousand cases only.
What are the necessary steps ahead :-
First, India needs to scale up genomic sequencing, across all States.
Second, the Indian government needs to invest and support more scientific and operational research
on vaccine effectiveness.
Third, there are early indications of immune escape and reduced vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant (especially after one shot).