Read Current Affairs
- An e-learning platform has been established with the aim of boosting the skills and capabilities of Gramin Dak Sevaks and employees of the Postal Department.
- It serves as a hub for enhancing knowledge and expertise within the postal service sector.
- The Meghdoot Awards, prestigious accolades bestowed by India Post, celebrate the exemplary achievements of employees within the Department of Posts.
- Instituted in 1984, these awards were designed to acknowledge exceptional contributions and inspire postal staff to strive for excellence.
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has developed the DIP (Digital Intelligence Platform), a secure and comprehensive system aimed at combatting the misuse of telecom resources and data.
- DIP facilitates intelligence sharing and information exchange among a diverse array of stakeholders, including telecom service providers, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), banks, and financial institutions.
- This platform serves as a vital tool for coordinating efforts to address telecom-related crimes and safeguarding sensitive data.
- INS Jatayu stands as a pivotal addition to the Indian Navy's arsenal, significantly bolstering its operational capabilities within the Indian Ocean region, particularly for missions focused on countering piracy, narcotics trafficking, and conducting surveillance.
- Situated strategically in Minicoy, INS Jatayu falls under the jurisdiction of the Southern Naval Command's Naval Officer in Charge (Lakshadweep), positioning it advantageously for maritime security operations in the area.
- Claude, developed by Anthropic, comprises a group of Large Language Models (LLMs) designed to understand and generate human-like text, marking a significant advancement in AI technology.
- LLMs represent a specific category of generative AI models, tailored to comprehend and produce text-based content with remarkable accuracy and coherence.
- Claude is equipped to handle various input formats, including text, voice messages, and documents, showcasing its versatility and adaptability in communication.
- Viscose Staple Fiber (VSF) is a semi-synthetic material derived from wood or cotton pulp, possessing properties similar to cotton, such as versatility, breathability, and biodegradability.
- Its production process involves the conversion of natural materials into fibers, resulting in a material that shares many characteristics with cotton while offering additional advantages.
- VSF has gained popularity in various industries due to its versatility and eco-friendly nature, making it a preferred choice for textiles, apparels, and other consumer goods.
- The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution initiated the launch of the ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ (Digital Gateway) by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), marking a significant step towards modernizing farmers' warehousing logistics and ensuring equitable prices for their agricultural produce.
WDRA, established in October 2010 under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act of 2007, plays a pivotal role in the development and regulation of warehouses across India.
- Obelisks represent a unique category of virus-like entities discovered within the human body and the broader global microbiome, composed of diverse RNA molecules.
- These entities exhibit distinctive rod-like structures reminiscent of iconic obelisks, with genetic sequences typically around 1,000 nucleotides in length.
- Unlike known biological agents, obelisks display genetic compositions that do not align with any recognized organisms or pathogens, highlighting their novelty and enigmatic nature.
- Bharat Tex 2024, hailed as the largest global textile event in India, reached its conclusion at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, drawing inspiration from the Prime Minister of India's visionary 5F Vision.
- The '5F' Vision encapsulates a comprehensive approach spanning from 'Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign', reflecting a holistic strategy for the textile industry's growth and development.
Bharat Tex emerged as a pivotal platform for launching transformative initiatives aimed at revolutionizing the textile value chain and fostering innovation and sustainability.
- The GARBH-Ini-GA2 program stands as a flagship initiative under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, emphasizing advancements in prenatal care and maternal health.
- Central to the GARBH-Ini-GA2 program is the utilization of genetic algorithms, a sophisticated optimization technique inspired by principles of evolution and natural selection.
- Developed through a collaborative effort between researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, GARBH-Ini-GA2 introduces an India-specific artificial intelligence model known as Garbhini-GA2.
- The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways introduced the Harit Nauka guidelines, a significant initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact within India's inland water transport sector.
- According to these guidelines, all states are required to prioritize the adoption of green fuels for at least 50% of their inland waterways-based passenger fleets within the next decade.
- By 2045, the goal is to achieve complete transition to green fuels, ensuring that 100% of inland waterway passenger vessels operate on environmentally friendly alternatives.
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) serves as the premier global watchdog focused on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, established in 1989 following a G-7 meeting held in Paris.
- Initially, FATF's primary objective revolved around studying and formulating measures to counteract the phenomenon of money laundering, addressing its implications on global financial systems.
- However, in the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, which saw coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States, FATF expanded its mandate to include efforts aimed at thwarting the financing of terrorism.
- MILAN 2024 marks the 12th edition of the biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise, hosted at Visakhapatnam, operating under the auspices of the Eastern Naval Command.
- The primary objective of MILAN is to foster professional collaboration and camaraderie among participating naval forces while gaining valuable experience in conducting multilateral large-force operations at sea.
- MILAN originated in 1995 with its inaugural edition held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, laying the foundation for subsequent iterations of this prestigious naval exercise.
- The registration process for newspapers and periodicals is now governed by the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, along with its corresponding Rules, which recently came into effect, signaling a modernization of regulatory frameworks in this domain.
- The enactment of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, marks a significant departure from the colonial-era Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867, reflecting a contemporary approach towards overseeing the registration of newspapers and periodicals in India.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently highlighted that India's energy-related carbon emissions surged by approximately 190 million tonnes in 2023, attributed to robust GDP growth and adverse monsoon conditions, despite the country maintaining significantly lower per capita emissions compared to the global average.
- The IEA operates as an independent intergovernmental organization operating within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), dedicated to collaborating with governments and industry stakeholders to shape a secure and sustainable energy future worldwide.
- Established in response to the 1973-1974 oil crisis, triggered by a significant oil embargo that led to soaring prices and exposed the vulnerability of industrialized nations reliant on oil imports, the IEA was founded in 1974 with a primary focus on ensuring the security of global oil supplies.
- Amphipods represent a diverse category of malacostracan crustaceans, exhibiting traits similar to those observed in crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, contributing to their classification as a distinct and varied group within marine ecosystems.
- Within the marine food chain, amphipods play a vital role, serving as integral components in various trophic levels and contributing to the overall biodiversity and ecological balance of coastal environments.
Due to their ecological significance, amphipods serve as valuable indicators for assessing the impact of climate change and evaluating the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems, providing crucial insights into environmental conditions and ecosystem dynamics.
- May 1, 2024, marks the ten-year anniversary since the enactment of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act in 2014, reflecting a significant milestone in the legal framework governing street vending in India.
- The Street Vendors Act, 2014, was introduced with the primary objective of legitimizing the vending rights of street vendors, thereby offering them legal recognition and protection within urban areas.
- Additionally, the Act delineates mechanisms for addressing grievances and disputes arising within the street vending sector, proposing the establishment of Grievance Redressal Committees chaired by judicial authorities to adjudicate on matters concerning vendor rights and entitlements.
- The Supreme Court recently reinstated a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs awarded by a district consumer forum in a medical negligence case, highlighting the misapplication of the 'eggshell skull' legal principle by both state and central consumer courts.
- The 'eggshell skull' principle is a fundamental tenet of common law applied in civil litigation, dictating that all victims should receive full compensation for their losses, regardless of any preexisting conditions or vulnerabilities that may make them more susceptible to injury.
- Essentially, this doctrine ensures that a defendant cannot evade liability for exacerbating a preexisting condition or injury due to their negligence, emphasizing the principle of accountability and ensuring justice for the victim.
- AstraZeneca (AZ) recently acknowledged that its Covid vaccine may lead to the development of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a rare but potentially serious condition characterized by the occurrence of blood clots (thrombosis) in conjunction with low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which are essential for blood clotting.
- TTS often manifests with blood clots occurring in unusual locations within the body, such as the brain (resulting in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or the abdomen, presenting a distinctive set of symptoms indicative of the condition's severity.
- Common symptoms associated with TTS include severe or persistent headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, and easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin, extending beyond the injection site.