”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.
In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.
Sickle cell disease (SCD)
What is SCD?
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.
- Healthy red blood cells are round and they move through small blood vessels carrying oxygen to all parts of the body.
- In SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”.
- Sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.
What causes SCD?
- Point mutation in beta globulin gene changing Glu→Val at position 6 in the Beta Globin chain of hemoglobin, results in Hb S.
Who is affected by sickle cell disease?
- SCD affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors come from sub-Saharan Africa; regions in the Western Hemisphere; Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
What health problems does sickle cell disease cause?
- Sickle cells can get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen to organs in the body. These blockages cause repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, serious infections, or even stroke.
- Following are some of the most common complications of SCD:
- “Pain Episode” or “Crisis”: Sickle cells don’t move easily through small blood vessels and can get stuck and clog blood flow. This causes pain that can start suddenly, be mild to severe, and last for any length of time.
- “Infection”: People with SCD, especially infants and children, are more likely to experience severe symptoms of infections such as flu, meningitis, and hepatitis.
- “Hand-Foot Syndrome”: Swelling in the hands and feet, often along with a fever, is caused by the sickle cells getting stuck in the blood vessels and blocking the blood from flowing freely through the hands and feet.
- “Eye Disease”: SCD can affect the blood vessels in the eye and lead to long term damage.
- “Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS)”: Blockage of the flow of blood to the lungs can cause acute chest syndrome. ACS is similar to pneumonia; symptoms include chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever. It can be life threatening and should be treated in a hospital.
- “Stroke”: Sickle cells can clog blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. A stroke can result in lifelong disabilities and learning problems.
How to investigate for sickle cell disease?
- Complete Blood Picture: Low hemoglobin
- HPLC/ Hb electrophoresis: Diagnostic test which quantifies different types of hemoglobin.
- Genetic testing: To detect the defective gene.
G7 Summit
In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Schloss Elmau, Germany tomorrow for the G7 Summit at the invitation of Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.
- Besides India, Germany has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the summit.
- The Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in two sessions at the G-7 Summit on Monday.
- The first session relates to Climate, Energy and Health and the second session is on Food Security and Gender Equality.
What is the G7?
- The G7 consists of seven of the world’s richest countries, which meet annually to typically discuss global security, economic, and climate concerns.
- The G7 chair can invite other nations, and the leaders of Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa are expected to attend.
- Although Russia joined the group in 1998—and the name changed to G8—the country has been excluded since 2014 after annexing Crimea.
- The G7, as it is now known, was first formed in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, which had led to a deep recession and rising inflation. France, Italy, Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and West Germany formed the initial Group of Six in 1975 to discuss the ensuing economic concerns. Canada joined the group in 1976.
- This year, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to be in attendance.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Know about NTCA
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been constituted under section 38 L (1) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Further, as per the section 38 L, sub section 2 of the said Act, the authority consists of the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests ( as Chairperson), the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (as Vice-Chairperson), three members of Parliament, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other members.
- The authority derives its power from section 38 O (1) of WLPA, 1972 and functions under the guidance of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and members.
What is the NTCAs mandate?
- Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal.
- Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure.
- Providing for an oversight by Parliament.
- Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- Established in 1982, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an internationally acclaimed Institution, which offers a training program, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
- The Institute is actively engaged in research across the breadth of the country on biodiversity-related issues.
- The Institute’s idyllic campus that has been carefully developed to create state-of-the-art infrastructure encourages scholarly work.
Bharat NCAP
In News
- Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approved the Draft GSR Notification to introduce Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program).
What is NCAP & its Possible Benefits?
- With NCAP, automobiles in India shall be accorded Star Ratings based upon their performance in Crash Tests.
- Bharat-NCAP will serve as a consumer-centric platform allowing customers to opt for safer cars based upon their star-ratings, while promoting a healthy competition among OEMs in India to manufacture safer vehicles.
- Star Rating of Indian Cars based on Crash Tests is extremely crucial not only to ensure structural and passenger safety in cars, but to also increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.
- The testing protocol of Bharat NCAP shall be aligned with Global Crash Test Protocols factoring in the existing Indian regulations, allowing OEMs to get their vehicles tested at India’s own in-house testing facilities.
- Bharat NCAP will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar with the mission of making India the Number one automobile hub in the world.