Positive Pay System
- On January 1, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India will introduce the ‘Positive Pay System’ for cheque transactions above Rs. 50,000.
- The concept of Positive Pay involves a process of reconfirming key details of large-value cheques.
- Under this process, the issuer of the cheque electronically submits certain minimum details of that cheque to the drawee bank.
- These details will be cross-checked before the cheque is presented for payment by the Cheque Truncation System (CTS).
- Any discrepancy is flagged by CTS to the drawee bank and presenting bank, who then take redressal measures.
- Availing of this facility would be at the discretion of the account holder.
- However, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5 lakh and above.
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will develop the facility of Positive Pay in CTS, and make it available to participant banks.
ACE2 Enzyme
- A new research has found that the human enzyme ACE2 may be offering protection to women against Covid-19 disease.
- ACE2 enzyme enables the novel coronavirus to infect the cell.
- It is a key in protecting against cardiovascular, lung and kidney diseases.
- ACE2 is a gene linked to the X chromosome. Women have twice as many active genetic instructions to make ACE2.
- Because of their chromosomes, women (XX chromosome) have two copies of the ACE2 gene and men (XY chromosome) have only one copy.
- This makes female Covid-19 patients face less severe disease complications and a lower risk of dying than male patients.
Ethanol Blended Petrol
- Indian government has proposed the adoption of E20 fuel for vehicular use to curb vehicle emissions and reduce the country’s oil import bill. Currently, only 10% of ethanol blend is permissible in India.
- E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol with gasoline (petrol) and can be used as an alternative to the fuels currently available.
- Ethanol is a common by-product that comes from agricultural feedstock like corn, hemp, potato, etc.
- It can be used as a bio-fuel in Flexi-fuel vehicles.
- Ethanol is greener than gasoline because the corn and crop plantations absorb CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow.
- However, ethanol is less efficient as a fuel. It has lower energy content than energy-rich gasoline and diesel.
- The rule delivers less power when burned, which in return results in more fuel consumption and lower mileage.
- Also, blends over E15 (15% ethanol) is highly corrosive for older vehicles as the alcohol can break down old rubber seals and can damage engines.
Shigellosis
- Shigellosis is a highly contagious intestinal disease caused by Shigella.
- Usually a person gets infected after taking contaminated water or stale food. It can be transmitted after using a common toilet also.
- The main symptoms of the infection include diarrhoea, often containing blood or mucus in stool, stomach pain, cramps, fever and vomiting.
- An infected person shows minor symptoms in a day or two but it may take a week or so to show acute symptoms.
- Children under 10 are most susceptible to contract the infection, though the elderly can also get infected.
- For controlling the spread, super-chlorination of wells and inspection of eateries, including hotels should be done in the affected region.
OneWeb Satellites
- Bharti Global and U.K. government-led OneWeb announced the launch of 36 communications satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- The recent launch is one of the many steps taken to operationalise one of the world’s first LEO constellations.
- This takes the total in-orbit constellation to 110 satellites, part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.
- OneWeb’s system will help meet existing and future demand by delivering broadband connectivity to the communities, towns, regions left unconnected or under-connected.
- OneWeb aims to offer high-speed internet from its constellation of satellites in India by mid-2022.
Source: The Indian Express, Financial Express, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Economic Times
