10.06.21 Daily [Assam] APSC Current Affairs

WhileAssamchief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called on the states immigrant Muslim Population to practise decent family planning practice, the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) of 2019-20 released by the Union health minister in December shows that this community has seen the sharpest fall in fertility since 2005-06.

Muslims in Assam have recorded the most dramatic decline in fertility since NFHS-3, which was conducted 14 years earlier. While the number of children who would be born per woman or the total fertility rate (TFR) of the Muslim community in Assam at 2.4 is higher than the 1.6 for Hindus and 1.5 for Christians, the reduction in fertility among Muslims has been from 3.6 in 2005-06 to 2.4 in 2019-20, a drop of 1.3 compared to 0.4 among Hindus for the same period, although from a lower base.

The TFR of 2.4 among Muslims in Assam is only a little over what demographers call replacement level fertility, or the TFR level at which just enough babies are born to maintain population levels constant.

This is pegged at 2.1 and Indias overall TFR is 2.2. NFHS-5 data also shows that cultural and geographical factors as well as level of development are more important determinants of fertility than religion.

The TFR for Hindus too is low in Jammu & Kashmir at 1.32. Of the nine states in NFHS-5, the TFR is above replacement level in the Muslim community in just two states, Kerala (2.3) and Bihar (3.6), which are at two ends of the development spectrum. This shows that beyond just cultural and geographic factors, the level of development of a specific community is also a determinant of its TFR.

The Department of Biotechnology supported the first CAR-T cell therapy performed at ACTREC at Tata Hospital in Mumbai.

The first CAR-T cell therapy was performed in June 2021 at the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai.

This is a first in India gene therapy that is in the early stages of a pilot clinical trial.The trial was conducted by IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai partly supported by the BIRAC-PACE scheme.

The central government’s National Biopharma Mission-BIRAC has approved 19.15 Cr for the team to conduct a first-in-human phase-1/2 clinical trial of the CAR-T cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy:

It is a type of treatment in which a patient’s T cells (a type of immune system cell) are altered in the laboratory to attack cancer cells.

T cells are extracted from the patient’s blood. Then, in the laboratory, the gene for a special receptor that binds to a specific protein on the patient’s cancer cells is added to the T cells.

The unique receptor is known as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). A large number of CAR T cells are grown in the laboratory and infused into the patient.

It is used to treat certain types of blood cancers and is being researched for other cancers as well.

Interpol has launched a new global Database called “I-Familia” to identify missing persons through family DNA and help the Police resolve outstanding cases in member countries.

I-Familia is the first global database for identifying missing people based on international DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) kinship matching.

When direct comparison is not possible, the database uses DNA samples from family members to identify missing people or unidentified human remains.

Family members must give their permission for their data to be used for international searching.

It builds on Interpol’s long track record of success with direct DNA matching.

The DEFENCE Minister issued an E-booklet titled ’20 Reforms in 2020,’ which highlights the major reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2020.

The following are the major reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2020:

Department of Military Affairs & Chief of the Defence Staff
Self-Reliance in Defence
Increased Defence Exports
Defence Acquisitions
Reforming Defence R&D
Digital Transformation
Strengthening Border
Participation of Women in Armed Forces
Reforms in National Cadet Corps
Aid to Civil Administration during Covid-19
Help beyond Boundaries

The Ministry of Power is implementing energy-saving measures with the goal of lowering CO2 emissions levels in the Environment from industries, establishments, and the use of equipment/appliances.

In this regard, the Power Ministry is implementing the PAT Scheme.

The Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Scheme is an important programme for large industries and establishments.

This scheme aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of energy Savings by upgrading technologies or implementing in-house energy-saving measures.

The scheme provides mandatory targets for identified large-scale units, and issues excess energy saved as energy-saving certificates, which are tradable tools.

Different industries and establishments have different Energy Efficiency targets based on their energy consumption and potential for energy savings.

Times Higher Education Asia college rankings 2021, three Indian universities secured positions in the top hundred list.

IISc Bangalore, IIT Ropar and IIT Indore have secured ranks among the top one hundred universities in Asia. Like remaining year, not a single Indian varsity made it to the elite top 10. IISc Bangalore ranked at thirty seventh position. IIT Ropar is positioned at 55th rank and IIT Indore at 78th rank amongst the top one hundred universities.

Tsinghua University, China has received the first function in the Asia university rankings 2021. The 2d location is also secured by means of Chinas Peking University. The 0.33 and fifth ranks have been secured with the aid of Singapore varsities. Whereas, the University of Hong Kong is at fourth rank.