September 23,2023

by | Sep 25, 2023 | Uncategorized

HANGZHOU 2022 ASIAN GAMES

Why in News?

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has cancelledhis visit to the Asian Games.

About Asian Games:

  • The Asian Games is the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years.
  • The symbol for the Asian Games is the rising sun with interlocking rings.
  • The first-ever Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951.
  • India is a founder member of Asian Games.
  • Appu, the Indian elephant, was the first mascot to be used for the Asian Games.

About the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, China:

  • The 19th Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou, China, from 23rd September 2023 to 8th October 2023. (Postponed due to the Covid-19).
  • The mascots of the 19th Asian Games are a group of robots named: Chenchen, Congcong, Lianlaian.
  • The torch of the 19th Asian Games is named “Eternal Flame”. of 1939

   

  DENGUE

Why is in news?

Dengue: Officials to step up vector control measures and surveillance in Tamil Nadu.

About the disease:

  • “Dengue is under the list of notifiable diseases under the Public Health Act, of 1939.
  • Every medical practitioner should report to the local health authority if they come across such cases.
  • Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease.
  • It is transmitted by several species of female mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally Aedes aegypti.
  • This mosquito also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika infection.

Symptoms:

  • High fever
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle and joint pains
  • Skin Rash

ELEPHANT CENSUS

Why is in news?

Wildlife Institute of India has completed the DNA-based elephant census.

 About Elephant census:

  • Elephant census is conducted once in 5 years  under the aegis of Project elephant.
  • India has about 27,000 Asian Elephants.
  • It is the world’s largest population of the species.
  • As per Elephant Census (2017), Karnataka has the highest number of elephants.
  • A census exercise of elephants has been carried out with the help of DNA samples.
  • The Wildlife Institute of India has completed this census in all the sanctuaries of the country.
  • The census was collected with the help of DNA samples taken from elephant dung.
  • Camera traps were used to help with the calculation.
  • The DNA profiling is expected to help identify elephant corridors and reduce human-elephant conflict.

About Project Elephant:

  • Launch year : 1992
  • Centrally-sponsored scheme
  • Aim : To protect elephants and improve their habitat and corridors, reduce human-elephant conflict.
  • Protection Status of Asian Elephants
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
  • CITES: Appendix I

PORTABLE DEVICE FOR DETECTING WATER, SOIL QUALITY.

Why is in news?

IIT Madras develops portable device to detect water, soil quality.

About the device:

  • The objective is to develop a device that a lay person can operate and detect heavy metals in soil.
  • The device can detect copper, zinc and mercury.
  • The drinking water is affected by fluoride, arsenic and heavy metal contamination, according to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  • Such contamination reduces agricultural yield and human health adversely.
  • The device can be used by farmers to decide on crop cultivation.

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES 2023

  • The International Day of Sign Languages is observed on 23 September.
  • This day provides an opportunity to support and save the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of deaf people.
  • This day was first celebrated in 2018 during the International Week of the Deaf.
  • Theme for 2023: “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”

 

NEWS IN SHORT :

  • Foreign Ministers of the Quad (India, Australia, Japan and the U.S.) met along the fringes of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). They reaffirmed the group’s commitment to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region, where disputes are settled in accordance with international law.

 

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that it has not received signals from the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover.

 

  • Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport Tourism and Culture has asked the government to revise the rules of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. This Act prohibits construction around 100 metres and regulates construction around 300 metres of all monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).