Daily Current Capsules – 08th May 2020

Prelims Factoids

Vizag gas leak: Styrene gas

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about styrene gas)

What’s the NEWS

A gas leak, reminiscent of the 1984 Bhopal tragedy, has claimed at least

11 lives and affected thousands of residents in five villages in

Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Know! all about styrene

Styrene is a chemical which has the texture of a colourless liquid.

It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene

plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex.

Styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and in natural

foods like fruits and vegetables.

Short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems,

irritation in the eyes, irritation in the mucous membrane, and

gastrointestinal issues.

And long-term exposure could drastically affect the central nervous

system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy.

It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases.

The gas is “non-poisonous” and is only fatal when exposed for longer

durations.

It unclear at the moment whether the deaths are due to direct exposure to

styrene gas or one of its byproducts

Health

AYUSH Sanjivani App

Relevance IN – Prelims ( about Sanjivini App + Ayush based study related to

COVID19) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of

Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What’s the NEWS

The Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry launched the ‘AYUSH

Sanjivani’ App and two AYUSH based studies related to COVID-19

situation

The ‘AYUSH Sanjivani ’ mobile app, which has been launched , will

help to generate data on acceptance and usage of AYUSH advocacies

and measures among the population and its impact in prevention of

COVID 19.

It is developed by Ministry of AYUSH and MEITY and shall reach out to

a target of 50 lakh people.

COVID-19 management has provided a potent platform for alliance

between MoHFW, MoAYUSH and technology organisations such as

CSIR, ICMR, and UGC to not only develop AYUSH interventions and

solutions, but also help in promoting AYUSH knowledge for the larger

good of the global community.

These organisations are joining hands and are being supported and

guided by ICMR and DCGI in propagating the wholesomeness and

holistic health benefits of the age-old traditional medicinal knowledge of

Ayurveda

Three inter-disciplinary studies involving AYUSH interventions for the COVID-

19

Culture

Vesak Global Celebrations

Relevance IN – Prelims(all about Vesak- Buddha Poornima) + Mains GS I (

Indian culture and heritage)

What’s the NEWS

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the virtual Vesak Global

Celebrations on Buddha Purnima

Know! more about Vesak Global Celebrations

Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the

International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), a global Buddhist

umbrella organised the Virtual Prayer Event with the participation

of heads of Buddhist Sanghas from around the world.

The program was live streamed and it was viewed by large audiences in

India ,Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Czech Republic,

France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, S. Korea, Myanmar, Mongolia,

Malaysia, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam among

others.

Vesak- Buddha Poornima, is considered the Triple Blessed Day as it

celebrates Tathagata Gautam Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Maha

Parnirvana.

Know! all about Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti or Vesākha is the most sacred

occasion for the Buddhists.

As per Hindu Mythology Lord Buddha is believed to be the 9th

incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

One among the most important festivals, Buddha Purnima is celebrated

on the full moon day of the Vai shaaka lunar month (that corresponds to

the month of April-May).

This is a special day when Buddhists all over the world commemorate

events of the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautum

Buddha.

On this day the supreme light of realization dawned on Buddha and he

attained Enlightenment(Nirvan) beneath the Bodhi tree at Bodha Gaya.

Buddha passed into eternity(Maha Parinirvana) after completing his

Sahasra Chandra Darshana (80th year) on the full moon day of

Vaishakha.

Initially Buddhism spread from India and gradually assimilated into many

foreign cultures, therefore Buddha Purnima is celebrated in many

different ways all over the world.

Human Resource Development

Modifications in PMRF Scheme to boost research in the country

Relevance IN – Prelims( all about PMRF ) + Mains( GS II GS II Issues relating

to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

Education, Human Resources)

What’s the NEWS

The Human Resource Development Ministry announced that, to boost

research in the country various amendments have been carried out in

Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme.

Know! about the amendments done

After the amendments, now for the students from any recognised

institute/ university (other than IISc/ IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST/CF IIITs),

the requirement of GATE Score is reduced to 650 from 750 apart from

minimum CGPA of 8 or equivalent.

Now there will be two channels of entries, one direct entry and lateral

entry.

In lateral entry, the students, who are pursuing PhD in PMRF granting

institutions (completed 12 months or 24 months as per certain

requirements) can also apply to become fellow under the scheme as per

new guidelines.

NITs, which appear in top 25 institutions as per NIRF Ranking (overall)

can also become PMRF Granting institution.

To boost research a dedicated Division is being created in the ministry

with the name of "Research and Innovation Division".

This division will be headed by a director who will be

coordinating research work of various institutions coming under

MHRD.

Know! about PMRF

The Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme has been

designed for improving the quality of research in various higher

educational institutions in the country.

With attractive fellowships, the scheme seeks to attract the best talent into

research thereby realizing the vision of development through innovation.

The scheme was announced in the Budget 2018-19. The institutes which

can offer PMRF include all the IITs, all the IISERs, Indian Institute of

Science, Bengaluru and some of the top Central Universities/NITs that

offer science and/or technology degrees.

The candidates will be selected through a rigorous selection process and

their performance will be reviewed suitably through a national

convention.

Starting Academic Year 2020-21, candidates can apply for PMRF through

either direct entry channel or lateral entry channel.

Prelims Factoids

Bishnu Sendra Parva 2020

Relevance IN – Prelims( about Bishnu Sendra Parva)

What’s the NEWS

Bishnu Sendra Parva, a hunting festival of tribals, was observed with

only the observance of at-home rituals in Jharkhand. Hence, no animal

was killed during the Bishnu Sendra Parva for the first time.

Know! more about the fest and the tribes

The tribal hunters of Jharkhand did not reach the forests to observe

the hunting festival, also known as Bishu Shikar. Instead, tribals observed

the rituals with bows, arrows, spears and wire mesh outside the forests

No animal was killed during the hunting festival as tribals refrained from

venturing into the forest due to the lockdown.

It is an annual hunting festival observed by tribals of Jharkhand and the

neighbouring Odisha and West Bengal,

While Santhal tribals take up the annual ritual of hunting animals one

day, others, including Ho and Oraon tribes, observe this festival for a

month so that every village gets a chance to hunt down a few animals.

Prelims Factoids

Chhau dancers and artisans-the mask makers of Jharkhand

Relevance IN – Prelims( about chhau dance)

What’s the NEWS

In April every year, for more than a century, this community has

celebrated Spring with chhau, a masked ritual dance drama.

This year, in response to the pandemic and resulting lockdown, the

artisans are instead finding inventive ways to create personal protective

equipment (PPE).

The artisans have created a prototype of chhau PPE. In this the mask is

made the traditional way, layering paper mache, cloth and clay, with an

additional three ply fabric used inside to cover the nostrils.

Know! about Chhau dance

Chhau dance, also spelled as Chau or Chhaau, is a semi classical Indian

dance with martial, tribal and folk traditions, with origins in eastern India.

There are three versions of chhau. Purulia chhau in West Bengal,

Mayurbhanj chhau in Odisha and Seraikela chhau in Jharkhand.

The dance ranges from celebrating martial arts, acrobatics and athletics

performed in festive themes of a folk dance, to a structured dance with

religious themes found in Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism.

The costumes vary between the styles, with Purulia and Serakeilla using

masks to identify the character

The artform features epics and regional legends, using martial art and

acrobatic moves.

Mask making began in Charida, West Bengal, about 150 years ago, and

these colourful masks depicting faces of boldly painted gods, heroes,

birds and animals are still popular today.

Mask makers come from two areas: Charida and Seraikela, as Odisha’s

chhau does not use masks.

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