Current Affairs Digest: August 28, 2024
📰 Current Affairs Digest: August 28, 2024
🏭 NGT Cracks Down on Punjab's Waste Management
Why in news: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has fined Punjab Government ₹1,000 crore for poor waste management.
🔑 Key Points:
- Fine to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Highlights challenges in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management
- Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) responsible for waste management
💡 Significance:
- Emphasizes need for better waste management practices
- Promotes circular economy and long-term planning
💊 Supreme Court Protects Consumers from Misleading Ayush Ads
Why in news: SC stayed Ayush Ministry's notification omitting rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
🔑 Key Points:
- Rule 170 prohibits misleading advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani drugs
- Addresses issues like violation of consumer rights and potential health risks
- Initiatives include GAMA portal and Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements
💡 Significance:
- Protects consumers from false claims
- Ensures ethical advertising practices in healthcare
📚 Classical Languages Seek Autonomy
Why in news: Centres for Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia demand autonomy for proper functioning.
🔑 Key Points:
- India has six classical languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia
- Challenges include financial dependency, high vacancy, and unequal funding
- Benefits of classical status: International awards, Centre of Excellence, UGC chairs
💡 Significance:
- Promotes preservation and development of classical languages
- Ensures equal treatment of all classical languages
👰 Himachal Pradesh Raises Women's Marriage Age
Why in news: Himachal Pradesh Assembly passes bill raising marriage age for women from 18 to 21.
🔑 Key Points:
- Amends The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
- Benefits: Gender equality, improved reproductive health, women empowerment
- Concerns: Potential increase in illegal marriages, impact on marginalized communities
💡 Significance:
- Aligns with SDG5 (Gender Equality) and SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities)
- Addresses social and cultural patriarchal norms
🏥 National Medical Register (NMR) Portal Launched
Why in news: Union Health Minister launches comprehensive database for registered allopathic doctors.
🔑 Key Points:
- Mandated under National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019
- Linked with Aadhaar ID for authenticity
- Functions as electronic register of licensed medical practitioners
💡 Significance:
- Strengthens digital healthcare ecosystem
- Improves access to quality medical professionals
💉 Breakthrough in Vaccine Technology
Why in news: Indian Immunologicals Limited develops needle-free intra-nasal booster vaccine using Codon De-optimisation Technology (CDT).
🔑 Key Points:
- CDT involves decreasing underrepresented codon pairs
- Benefits: Efficient virus attenuation, safe, takes less time
- Applied in development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
💡 Significance:
- Advances in vaccine technology
- Potential for quicker and safer vaccine development
⚖️ Sanction for Prosecuting Public Servants
Why in news: Karnataka Governor approves investigation for prosecution of Chief Minister.
🔑 Key Points:
- Requirement of sanction before prosecution of public servants
- Legal Framework: Section 218 of BNSS, Sections 17A and 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act
- Competent authority: State/Central government or authority with power to remove public servant
💡 Significance:
- Protects public servants from malicious prosecution
- Ensures accountability in public service
🏆 7th Anubhav Awards Ceremony
Why in news: Ceremony to be held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
🔑 Key Points:
- Given by Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare
- Based on experiences shared by retiring central government employees
- Aim: To foster good governance and administrative reforms
💡 Significance:
- Recognizes contributions of retiring employees
- Helps improve future governance practices
🌐 Axis of Resistance: A Geopolitical Force
Why in news: Experts believe Iran can launch an attack on Israel through 'axis of resistance' coalition.
🔑 Key Points:
- Network of autonomous militant Islamist groups led by Iran
- Members: Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthis
- Hezbollah is the biggest and most capable member
💡 Significance:
- Influences geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East
- Potential impact on regional stability
🌱 Green Shoots in FMCG Sector
Why in news: RBI highlights role of rural economy as green shoots in FMCG sector.
🔑 Key Points:
- Green Shoots: Signs of economic growth after a downturn
- FMCG sector: Characterized by high turnover consumer packaged goods
- Examples: Detergents, toiletries, cosmetics
💡 Significance:
- Indicates potential economic recovery
- Highlights importance of rural economy in FMCG growth
💧 New Oral Cholera Vaccine: Hillchol
Why in news: Bharat Biotech launches Hillchol, an oral cholera vaccine.
🔑 Key Points:
- Inactivated, single-strain oral vaccine for children older than one year
- Addresses global shortage of cholera vaccines
- Cholera: Acute diarrheal infection caused by Vibrio Cholerae bacteria
💡 Significance:
- Potential to reduce cholera outbreaks globally
- Improves public health measures against waterborne diseases
💰 India's First AT-1 Perpetual Bond
Why in news: First additional Tier I (AT-1) perpetual bond issued after recent rule changes.
🔑 Key Points:
- Perpetual bonds: Fund-raising instruments without maturity date
- Pay coupon or interest at fixed date for perpetuity
- Investors can get principal back by selling in secondary market or when issuer redeems
💡 Significance:
- New avenue for long-term fund-raising
- Potential impact on financial markets
☀️ Solar Paraboloid: The Future of Solar Energy
Why in news: Solar Paraboloid seen as frontier technology in improving solar energy efficiency.
🔑 Key Points:
- Advanced form of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
- Uses Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC)
- Advantages: High temperature operation, higher thermal efficiency
- Challenges: High upfront costs, infrastructure requirements
💡 Significance:
- Potential to enhance solar energy efficiency
- Contributes to renewable energy advancements
🌊 Rising Sea Levels Threaten Pacific Islands
Why in news: WMO report shows sea level rise faster in Pacific Ocean than global average.
🔑 Key Points:
- Pacific Islands at higher risk despite low emissions contribution
- Vulnerabilities: Low elevation, coastal population concentration
- Impacts: Threatens infrastructure and communities
💡 Significance:
- Highlights climate change impacts on vulnerable regions
- Emphasizes need for global climate action
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