UPSC Prelims News of 16 February 2023
Marburg Virus
Context: The Equatorial Guinea has confirmed its first outbreak of the highly infectious Marburg Virus Disease.
What is Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)?
- Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe illness that causes viral haemorrhagic fever in humans (it was formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever).
- The virus was first identified after simultaneous outbreaks in Frankfurt and Marburg, Germany, from where it derives its name and Belgrade, Serbia in 1967.
- Those first infected were exposed to Ugandan imported African green monkeys or their tissues.
- A person infected with the virus experiences sudden illness with symptoms like high fever, severe headache and discomfort.
![Marburg Virus Disease](https://www.mediafire.com/file/qkgvfcxi65te4gt/Marburg-Virus.png)
How Does MVD Spread?
- Like Ebola, the Marburg virus is transmitted to primates from bats which are considered natural hosts of the virus.
- It spreads among humans via direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, or surfaces contaminated with fluids, like bedsheets and clothes.
- The disease can also spread during burial ceremonies if there is direct contact with the body of the deceased.
- Both the Marburg and Ebola viruses belong to the Filoviridae family and the diseases caused by the two present clinical similarities.
![How Does MVD Spread](https://www.mediafire.com/file/0hy692y7lbzue3c/MVD-Spread.png)
Is MVD Curable?
- The virus takes between two and 21 days to incubate.
- As of now, there are no authorised vaccines or drugs to treat the Marburg virus disease.
- According to the WHO, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms can improve chances of survival.
UPSC Prelims News 15 February 2023
Volatiles
Context: A new research of meteorites suggests that some of the well-known volatiles may have come from outer solar system, i.e. from beyond the region of Jupiter planet.
About Volatiles
- Volatiles are elements or compounds that change from solid or liquid state into vapour at relatively low temperatures.
- Planetary scientists often classify volatiles with exceptionally low melting points.
- The most common volatiles include carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, hydrogen, methane, sulfur dioxide and water.
- Without the contribution of outer Solar System material, the Earth would have had fewer concentrations of volatiles, making the planet drier and potentially unable to nourish and sustain life.
- Significance of Volatiles:
- They play a major role in pollinator attraction by terrestrial plants and as insect pheromones, becoming a mediating agent of so-called ‘tritrophic interactions’.
- In Geology, they play a major role in magmatic differentiation, collection of ore-forming materials, the heat budget of igneous bodies, fracturing of surrounding rocks, and emplacement.
- Deep volatiles play critical roles in driving volcanic and plate tectonic processes on our plane.
Payment Aggregators
Context: Recently, RBI granted in-principal authorization to 32 entities to operate as online payment aggregators.
About
- Payment Aggregators (PAs) are entities that facilitate e-commerce sites and merchants in accepting payment instruments from the customers for completion of their payment obligations.
- Online payment aggregators are entities that onboard digital merchants and accept payments on their behalf after getting a license from the banking regulator.
Authorization
- Non-bank PAs will require authorization from the RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSSA).
- A Payment Aggregator should be a company incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956 / 2013.
- Banks provide Payment Aggregator services as part of their normal banking relationship and do not, therefore, require a separate authorization from RBI.
- PGs will be considered as ‘technology providers’ or ‘outsourcing partners’ of banks or non-banks, as the case may be.
![Payment Aggregators](https://www.mediafire.com/file/d33iq6s2ru2erhy/Payment-Aggregators.png)
Arthanariswara Sivalinga
Context: Recently, Arthanariswara Sivalinga dating back to the 4th Century found at Pedakonduru in Guntur District.
About
- Anandeswara temple was built in the 4th century CE by the Anandagotris.
- Dynasty ruled from Chejarla and Kantheru in the Guntur district and installed the Sivalinga carved with a small image of Arthanariswara, representing half Siva and half Parvati on its front side.
- Linga carved with a sculpture of Arthanariswara was the only one of its kind in the entire country.
- Individual sculptures of Arthanariswara are found from the Kushana times (one such example dated to the 1st century CE, now in Mathura Museum) but not on Sivalinga.
- Brahma, Saraswati, Mahishamardini, and Surya sculptures scattered on the premises of the temple datable to the 12th century CE and inscriptions dated 1170 CE, 1173 CE, and 1317 CE.
![Arthanariswara Sivalinga](https://www.mediafire.com/file/0txz61k3zgoeybq/Arthanariswara-Sivalinga.png)
Krishi Udan 2.0 Scheme
Context: Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 is expected to increase the share of air carriage of Agri-produce like horticulture, fishery, livestock, and processed products.
About
- Krishi UDAN was launched on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realization.
- Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 enhances the existing provisions, mainly focusing on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, North-Eastern States, and tribal areas.
- All the airports in the NER States including Assam are covered under the Scheme.
- The main objective of the Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 is to increase the share of air carriage in the modal mix for transportation of Agri-produce, which includes horticulture, fishery, livestock, and processed products.
- The Scheme aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time-bound air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce originating especially from North East (including Assam), hilly and tribal regions of the country.
- Krishi Udan Scheme is a convergence scheme where eight Ministries/Departments namely Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Development of North-eastern Region (DoNER) would leverage their existing schemes to strengthen the logistics for transportation of Agri-produce.
![Krishi Udan 2.0 Scheme](https://www.mediafire.com/file/ywpsz417cgqlf3q/Krishi-Udan-20-Scheme.png)
Ayurveda
Context: Recent studies have observed that Ayurvedic herbals and supplements are well documented causes for severe liver and kidney injury, sometimes leading to death or organ transplantation.
About Ayurveda:
- Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India over 5,000 years ago.
- The word Ayurveda derived from AYU and VEDA. AYU means life, VEDA means science or knowledge, Ayurveda means the science of life.
- It is based on the belief that good health depends on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
- It is divided into three main branches
- Nara Ayurveda: dealing with human life.
- Satva Ayurveda: dealing with animal life and its diseases.
- Vriksha Ayurveda: dealing with plant life, its growth and diseases.
- Ayurvedic medicine uses a holistic approach to diagnose and treat illness, emphasizing the use of natural remedies through medicinal herbs, lifestyle modifications, and dietary changes to promote overall well-being.
- While Ayurveda is considered a complementary or alternative medicine in the West, it is an important part of traditional medicine in India and continues to be practiced by millions of people around the world.
- In March 2013, the AYUSH Department came out with guidelines for Good Clinical Practices for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) medicines.
Vibrant Villages Programme
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the “Vibrant Villages Programme” (VVP) for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore.
About the Scheme:
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that will provide funds for development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities in 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks 4 states and 1 UT along the northern land border of the country.
- This will help in achieving inclusive growth and retaining the population in the border areas.
- The scheme aids to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local natural human and other resources of these border villages.
- The development of growth centres are on “Hub and Spoke Model” through promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship, leveraging the tourism potential.
- This is done through promotion of local cultural, traditional knowledge and heritage and development of sustainable eco-agribusinesses on the concept of “One village-One product” through community based organisations, Cooperatives, SHGs, NGOs etc.
- In the first phase 663 Villages will be taken up in the programme.
- Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district administration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
- Key outcomes expected: connectivity with all weather road, drinking water, 24×7 electricity – Solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centers, multi-purpose centers and health and wellness Centers.
- There will not be overlap with Border Area Development Programme. Out of financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore 2500 crore rupees will be used for roads.
Liquid Nano Urea
Context: Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers has inaugurated IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid Plants at Aonla and Phulpur in UP
About Nano Urea
- Nano Urea is essentially urea in the form of a nano-particle.
- Urea is a chemical nitrogen fertiliser which artificially provides nitrogen, a major nutrient required by plants.
- The size of a nano nitrogen particle varies from 20-50 nm. (A nanometre is equal to a billionth of a metre.)
Significance of Nano Urea
- Reduce use of fertilisers: It is aimed at reducing the unbalanced and indiscriminate use of conventional urea, increase crop productivity, and reduce soil, water, and air pollution.
- High Efficiency: While conventional urea has an efficiency of about 25 per cent, the efficiency of liquid nano urea can be as high as 85-90 per cent.
- It is proven to increase the crop yield by an average of 8 per cent along with improving the quality of farm produce by providing better nutrition to crops.
- Low Cost: Costing proposition of nano urea liquid should make it more favourable over conventional urea as its 500 ml bottle will be priced at Rs 240.
- Better Absorption: Liquid nano urea is sprayed directly on the leaves and gets absorbed by the plant.
- Sustainable: Upon penetration, these nano-particles reach plant parts where nitrogen is required and release nutrients in a controlled manner, thereby reducing usage while also reducing wastage into the environment.
![Liquid Nano Urea](https://www.mediafire.com/file/e4yz4skwx3d183k/Liquid-Nano-Urea.png)