Mucormycosis
- Covid-19 has triggered Mucormycosis or black fungus in some patients.
- Mucormycosis is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes which exist in the environment.
- Symptoms include face numbness, one-side nose obstruction, swelling in the eye or cheeks, and black dry crusts in the nose.
- Early detection can prevent loss of eyesight, nose or jaw, and 50% mortality in cases where it affects the brain.
- It mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
Red List of Indian Grasshoppers
- The Grasshopper Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is initiating the Red List Assessment of grasshoppers in India for the first time.
- So far, none of the Indian grasshopper species has been listed in the Red Data Book.
- The assessment would be initiated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) on the border between Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
- This assessment will include 30 endemic species of the NBR along with the new species of grasshopper ‘Tettilobus trishula’ or ‘Shiva’s pygmy trishula’ discovered in the Eravikulam National Park, Kerala.
- Red List of Threatened Species, founded in 1964, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
NFHS-5
- The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report is released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- This report analysed domestic violence under three categories:
- Married women between 18 and 49 years who have ever experienced Spousal violence (both physical and sexual violence)
- Physical violence during pregnancy
- Young women aged between 18 and 29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
- According to the latest NFHS-5 (2019-2020) report, gender-based violence across most Indian states declined in the past 5 years.
PM’s Special Scholarship Scheme
- This scheme aims to build the capacities of the youths of J&K and Ladakh by Educating, Enabling and Empowering them to compete in the normal course.
- It is implemented by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
- Under the scheme, these youths are supported by way of scholarship in two parts namely the academic fee & maintenance allowance.
- The academic fee is paid to the institution where the student is provided admission after on-line counselling process conducted by the AICTE.
- This academic fee covers tuition fee and other components as per the ceiling fixed for various professional, medical and other UG courses.
- In order to meet expenditure towards hostel accommodation, mess expenses, books & stationery etc., a fixed amount of Rs.1.00 Lakh is provided to the beneficiary.
Golden Peacock Environment Management Award
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) received this award for 2020.
- This award acknowledges organisations with significant achievements in the field of Environment Management.
- This award was instituted in 1998 by World Environment Foundation (WEF), as one among the Golden Peacock Awards at national level.
Golden Peacock Awards
- These awards were instituted by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991.
- [“Institute of Directors” is registered as a Society, under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, in India.]
- These annual awards are given at the national and global level.
- All institutions whether public, private, non-profit, government, business, manufacturing and service sector are eligible to apply.
Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu, PIB, Down To Earth
