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Recently, two US officials have shown symptoms of a mystery illness that is linked to Havana Syndrome. In 2020, a report by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), US found directed microwave radiation to be the plausible cause of the Havana syndrome. Increasing number of cases is being considered a mass psychogenic illness. Mass psychogenic illness is when people in a group start feeling …

Recently, Lithuania quit China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern Europe, by calling it “divisive”, now it is 16+1. Lithuania (Baltic Country) urged other EU (European Union) members to pursue “a much more effective 27+1 approach and communication with China.” Important points: The 17+1 (China and Central and Eastern Europe Countries) initiative is a China-led format founded in 2012 in Budapest with an aim to expand cooperation between Beijing and …

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has formulated Kharif Strategy 2021 to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils. Kharif Season Crops are sown from June to July and Harvesting is done in between September-October. Crops are: Rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, soyabean etc. States are: Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of …

Recently, the United Arab Emirates announced an offer to host the 28th session of Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC in Abu Dhabi in 2023. COP 26 was postponed in 2020 and will take place in Glasgow, UK in November 2021. Important points: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit or the …

Recently, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) released its Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap – named ‘Net Zero by 2050’. It is the World’s first comprehensive energy roadmap which comes ahead of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 climate change convention in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. ‘Net zero emissions’ refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions …

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has sent a notice to WhatsApp asking it to withdraw a controversial update to its privacy policy which might be a threat to Data Protection of Indians. Important points: According to WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy, users would no longer be able to stop the app from sharing data (such as …

As the central government asks states to notify black fungus or mucormycosis an epidemic, an infection called white fungus or Candidiasis has also been found to affect some people. Covid-19 patients are more prone to white fungus as it affects the lungs and similar symptoms are created like that of coronavirus. Black fungus is a serious …

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give transgender persons a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,500. Important points: Immediate subsistence assistance to trans persons would be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which beneficiaries can register with the National Institute of Social Defence. NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered under Societies …

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved India’s first self-use Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for Covid-19 named as CoviSelf. It is developed by MyLab Discovery Solutions, a Pune-based molecular company. ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, and is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. Important …

An enormous iceberg ‘A-76’ has calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, lying in the Weddell Sea, in Antarctica It measures around 4320 sq km in size – currently making it the largest berg in the world. Important points: The newly calved berg ‘A-76’ was spotted in recent satellite images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission. Sentinel-1 …

Recently, India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation as well as on maritime security. Important points: The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important speaker at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. India is a member of IORA but not a member of GCC and Arab …

Recently, China has completed construction of a strategically significant highway enabling greater access to remote areas along the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh in India. Important points: The construction began in 2014 and is part of a wider infrastructure push in border areas in Tibet. The highway passes through the Grand Canyon of the Brahmaputra river (Yarlung Zangbo in …

The Union Government has integrated the E-Way Bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID. Important points: E-Way Bill is usually a unique bill number generated for the specific consignment involving the movement of goods. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, EWBs are mandatory for inter-state transportation of goods valued over Rs. 50,000 from …

Recently, China’s spacecraft Tianwen-1 landed on Mars carrying its first Mars rover named Zhurong. It became the third country to land on Mars after the US and Soviet Union. China’s previous ‘Yinghuo-1’ Mars mission, which was supported by a Russian spacecraft, had failed after it did not leave the earth’s orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean in 2012. Important points: The Tianwen-1 …

Setting up of 22 new regional AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) has been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) so far. Important points: PMSSY was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in …

The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres. In 2020, the government had added affordable rental housing projects to the list of sectors recognised as infrastructure. Important points: Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre has been included in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and …

Recently, the Punjab government has announced the formation of Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state. Section 5 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 says the “State government may, by notification, vary the limits and alter the numbers of tehsils, districts and divisions into which the State is divided.” History of Malerkotla: The Malerkoltla …

Recently, a report was published which gave details of who makes single-use plastic, 130 million tons a year at last count, and who makes money from it. The report was published by Minderoo, a nonprofit organization based in Australia along with academics at the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Environment Institute. Important points: Half of the …

The effectiveness of the Social Security Code (SS Code) 2020 in helping the informal workforce is questioned by many. With SS Code 2020, two other codes were passed which are Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 and Industrial Relations Code, 2020. The SS Code 2020 subsumes nine regulations relating to social security, retirement and …

International Museum Day is observed on 18th May every year to raise awareness among people about the museums. 2021 Theme: The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine. Important points: The Day was instituted in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) ICOM is a membership association and a non-governmental organisation which establishes professional and ethical standards for museum activities. …