• The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed by the Lok Sabha with a voice vote on July 19, 2019.
• The bill aims to accelerate the process of appointment of chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

• The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019 amends the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 to include the provision that besides CJI, even a Judge of the Supreme Court can be the chairperson of the NHRC.
• As per the Human Rights Act, only a person who has been the Chief Justice of India can be made the NHRC chairperson.
• Similarly, at state level, the bill proposes amendment to enable any person who has been a judge of a High Court to be the chairperson of SHRC.

• The Human Rights Act 1993 provides that two persons having knowledge of human rights can be appointed as members of the NHRC.
• The bill proposes amendment to extend the appointment to three members, of which at least one should be a woman.
• The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019 proposes reduction of term of office of chairpersons and members of NHRC and SHRC to three years or till the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• The Human Rights Act 1993 states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for five years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.The Bill also allows reappointment of chairpersons of the NHRC and SHRCs.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( facts about Apollo 11 mission) + Mains ( GS III space awareness)
What's the NEWS

• Apollo 11 carried out world's first-ever moon landing. Neil Armstrong became the first person in history to step on the Moon on July 21, 1969.
• Apollo 11 was the first-ever mission to land on the Moon's surface. Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong became the first person in history to walk on the Moon on July 21.

Know! all about Apollo 11 mission

• Apollo 11 space mission was launched by Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969.
• The mission was the fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program. Apollo 11 comprised a command module, service module and a lunar module.
• The command module called Columbia was the only one that returned to earth, it comprised a cabin for the three astronauts.
• Service module- The part supported the command module with propulsion, electrical power, oxygen, and water.
•  The lunar module called Eagle had two stages- descent stage for moon landing and ascent stage to take astronauts back into lunar orbit.
• Apollo 11 space mission entered the lunar orbit three days after its launch. Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin used the Eagle Lunar module to land on the Moon.
• Neil Armstrong became the first person in history to step on the Moon on July 21 and the event was broadcasted on live TV. Armstrong described the event as "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Buzz Aldrin joined him on the moon's surface 19 minutes later.

Know! all about the Apollo missions

• The Apollo programme was dedicated to the national goal set by President John F. Kennedy. The programme received a major setback when a cabin fire in 1997 Apollo 1 mission killed the entire crew during a prelaunch test.
• Apollo 8 was the first manned space mission to the Moon in 1968. However, the spacecraft could not land on the Moon. Apollo 8 became the first mission to orbit another celestial body.
• Following the success of Apollo 11, five other Apollo missions also landed astronauts safely on the Moon and brought them back. The last moon landing was conducted in December 1972.
• Apollo 13, the seventh manned flight to the Moon and the third landing mission was the only one that failed at its goal.
• The Apollo programme is the only one till date to have sent manned space missions beyond low Earth orbit.

International Affairs
Ebola outbreak as global health emergency

Relevance IN - Prelims ( all about ebola)
What's the NEWS

• WHO has declared Ebola outbreak as global health emergency after it spread to Congo's main city, Goma that borders Rwanda.
• Ebola outbreak in DR Congo was declared as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO)
• The Ebola outbreak, considered to be Congo's worst-ever, has already killed over 1700 people in Congo. The deadly Ebola virus now threatens to affect neighbouring nations and infect millions of people.

Know! all about Global Health Emergency

• WHO declared the Congo Ebola outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) after the deadly Ebola virus threatened to spread to a major city near Congo's international border.
• This is the fifth time in history that WHO has declared a public health emergency.
• The previous declarations were for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 that took lives of more than 11000 people, spread of Zika virus in Latin America, 2009 Swine flu epidemic and for polio in 2014.
• WHO only declares a disease or outbreak a global emergency when it threatens to affect other countries and requires a coordinated international response.

Know! about the public health emergency of international concern

• Public health emergency of international concern is defined as an "extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response
• The declaration of a global health emergency will bring larger international focus on the alarming issue and it will also help bring in more financial and technical support.

Know! about Ebola Virus

• Ebola Virus is a rare and deadly disease that mostly infects humans and other primates including monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.
• The virus is caused by an infection with a group of viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Taï Forest, and Bundibugyo viruses) within the genus Ebolavirus.
• Ebola virus was first discovered near the Ebola River in DR Congo in 1976. Ever since then, the virus has been infecting people from time to time, leading to serious Ebola outbreaks across African nations.
• It is not yet clear where Ebola virus comes from. Scientists, based on the nature of similar viruses, believe that the virus is animal-borne, with bats being the most likely source. The bats carrying the virus can transmit it to humans and monkeys.
• The deadly Ebola Virus spreads through direct contact with body fluids and blood of the infected person. The virus also spreads through contact with items contaminated by body fluids. The virus infects a new host through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth.
• Early diagnosis of Ebola virus is difficult as the symptoms are not specific. Similar symptoms appear in many other diseases. Hence, blood tests for viral RNA, viral antibodies or for the Ebola virus itself help confirm the diagnosis.
• There is also no proper treatment and cure for the Ebola virus. Those infected are isolated and provided with supportive therapy and experimental treatment.
• The virus has a high mortality rate. The symptoms of the virus start showing anytime between 2-21 days after contracting the virus.

Bilateral Relations
Hand-in-Hand (8th edition)
India, China To Hold Joint Military Drill In Meghalaya In December
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Hand in Hand exercise) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS

• The next edition of India and China military drill, that was resumed last year following a freeze over the Doklam stand-off, will be held later this year

Know! more about the exercise

• The joint military exercise "Hand-in-Hand" will be held in Umroi near Shillong, Meghalaya. The last exercise, which was the seventh edition, was held in Chengdu in December 2018.
• The two-week long company-level exercise will take place in 2nd half of December while the planning conference to finalise modalities for joint exercise will be held in August 2019.
• The 2019 Hand-in-Hand exercise will be 8^th edition of India and China military drill Around 100-120 infantry troops from both sides will be participating.
•  Both forces will focus on counter-terror operations, establishment of joint command post, joint combat drill, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
  
  

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