Prelims Factoids
Israel's Iron Dome rocket defence system

Relevance In - Prelims ( all about Iron Dome aerial defence system
What's the NEWS

• The Iron Dome aerial defence system just intercepted a Hamas Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that crossed from Gaza into Israel
• Hamas has fired more than 1,500 rockets from Gaza all the way into Israel.
• The night sky over Israel has been ablaze with interceptor missiles from Iron Dome shooting down the incoming rockets in the sky.

Know! about Iron Dome

• Iron Dome is a multi-mission system capable of intercepting rockets, artillery, mortars and Precision Guided Munitions like very short range air defence (V-SHORAD) systems as well as aircraft, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) over short ranges of up to 70 km.
• It is an all-weather system and can engage multiple targets simultaneously and can be deployed over land and sea.
• Iron Dome is jointly manufactured by Rafael Advanced Systems and has been in service with Israeli Air Force since 2011.
• The radar system was developed by Elta. Its development was prompted after a series of rocket attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and Hamas in the 2000s.
• An Iron Dome battery consists of a battle management control unit, a detection and tracking radar and a firing unit of three vertical launchers, with 20 interceptor missiles each.
• The interceptor missile uses a proximity fuse to detonate the target warhead in the air.
• The Iron Dome is deployed in a layered defence along with David's Sling and Arrow missile defence system which are designed for medium- and long-range threats.
• The system has intercepted thousands of rockets so far and, according to Rafael Advanced Systems, its success rate is over 90%.
• The I-DOME is the mobile variant with all components on a single truck and C-DOME is the naval version for deployment on ships.

Limitations

• One of the possible limitations is the system's inability to cope with very short range threats as estimates put the Iron Dome's minimum interception range at 5-7 kilometres.
• Among the threats mentioned were mortars, whose range usually does not exceed several kilometres, he noted.
• The system is built to intercept a certain of projectiles and can be overwhelmed by a more capable adversary.

Prelims Factoids
Mucormycosis
Relevance In - Prelims (all about Mucormycosis)
Know! all about Mucormycosis

• Mucormycosis, a fungal infection, is being reported in a few COVID-19 patients during or post recovery.
• Mucormycosis or black fungus is a complication caused by fungal infection.
• People catch mucormycosis by coming in contact with the fungal spores in the environment.
• It can also develop on the skin after the fungus enters the skin through a cut, scrape, burn, or other type of skin trauma.
• The disease is being detected among patients who are recovering or have recovered from COVID-19.
• Moreover, anyone who is diabetic and whose immune system is not functioning well needs to be on the guard against this.

According to an advisory issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the following conditions in COVID-19 patients increase the risk of mucormycosis infection:

1. Uncontrolled diabetes
2. Weakening of immune system due to use of steroids
3. Prolonged ICU/hospital stay
4. Co-morbidities / post organ transplant / cancer
5. Voriconazole therapy (used to treat serious fungal infections)

How it is related with COVID-19

• The disease is caused by a set of micro-organisms known as mucormycetes, which are present naturally in the environment, seen mostly in soil and in decaying organic matter like leaves, compost and piles.

• In normal course, our body's immune system successfully fights such fungal infections. However, we know that COVID-19 affects our immune system. Moreover, the treatment of COVID-19 patients involves intake of drugs like dexamethasone, which suppress our immune system response.
• Due to these factors, COVID-19 patients face a renewed risk of failing the battle against attacks mounted by organisms such as mucormycetes.

What are the common symptoms?

• Mucormycosis begins to manifest as skin infection in the air pockets located behind our forehead, nose, cheekbones, and in between the eyes and teeth.
• It then spreads to eyes, lungs and can even spread to the brain. It leads to blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing of blood.

Prelims Factoids
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs)
Relevance In - Prelims (about PMBJK) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs), Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), Distributors and other stakeholders have come together and are contributing in the fight against the current wave of Covid 19 pandemic.
• In the year 2020-21, when the COVID 19 crisis started, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) rendered essential services to the nation.
• The stores remained functional during lockdown and maintained operations as part of their commitment to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential medicines.
• A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of top three branded medicines.
• Therefore, the price of Jan Aushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 80% to 90% of the market price of branded medicines.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs)

• PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendras known as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra.
• Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJPK) have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-ordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra.
• The campaign was undertaken through sale of generic medicines through exclusive outlets namely "Jan Aushadhi Medical Store" in various districts of the country.
• In September 2015, the 'Jan Aushadhi Scheme' was revamped as 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana' (PMJAY). In November 2016, to give further impetus to the scheme, it was again renamed as "Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana" (PMBJP).

Prelims Factoids
Basava Jayanthi
Relevance In - Prelims ( about Basava Jayanthi)
What's the NEWS

• Basava Jayanthi traditionally observed by the Lingayats of the Indian state of Karnataka.
• Basava Jayanthi is a holiday traditionally observed by the Lingayats of the Indian state of Karnataka.
• It marks the birthday of Basavanna, a 12th-century poet-philosopher and the founding saint of the Lingayat tradition. The holiday is celebrated throughout South India, primarily in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Basavanna believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for all.
• He founded Anubhava Mantapa, an academy which included Lingayat mystics, saints, and philosophers.

Government Schemes
PM-KISAN

Relevance In - Prelims ( about PM -KISAN ) + GS II ( government policies and interventions for the welfare for certain section of population + GS III farmers welfare)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released 8th instalment of financial benefit of Rs 2,06,67,75,66,000 to 9,50,67,601 beneficiary farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan Yojana) is a government scheme through which all small and marginal farmers will get up to Rs 6,000 per year as minimum income support.
• Under the PM-KISAN scheme, all landholding farmers' families shall be provided the financial benefit of Rs. 6000 per annum per family payable in three equal installments of Rs. 2000 each, every four months.
• The PM Kisan Yojana came into effect on December 1, 2018. The definition of the family for the scheme is husband, wife, and minor children. State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
• The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Defence
GOA MARITIME SYMPOSIUM (GMS) - 2021

Relevance In - Prelims ( about PGMS -2021 + about Littoral countries)
What's the NEWS

• Towards fostering friendly relations with its maritime neighbours, Indian Navy hosted ‘GMS-21' under the aegis of Naval War College, Goa on 11 and 12 May 21.

Know! about GMS 2021

• The event for the first time was hosted in virtual mode, with online participation of Naval representatives from 13 Indian Ocean Littoral countries, which included India, Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• The theme for GMS-21 was focused on "Maritime Security and Emerging Non-Traditional Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies," with emphasis on capacity building amongst the IOR Navies to tackle emerging common maritime threats.
• With the Indian Ocean becoming the locus of 21st century strategic landscape, the symposium will play a constructive role in bringing together the stakeholders who have a role in evolving strategies, policies and implementation mechanisms on the issues of common interest in maritime domain.
• In addition to presenting cooperative strategies for enhancing interoperability among partner maritime agencies, the event provided a forum for articulation of views on the crucial maritime issues, followed by theme based discussions.

Prelims Factoids
Punjab to join COVAX facility
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about COVAX platform)
What's the NEWS

• The Punjab government decided to join the global COVAX alliance for sourcing the immunisation shots at the best price.
• By doing so, Punjab will become the first state in the country to take the initiative of addressing the vaccine shortage amid the deadly second wave of the pandemic
• The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting, which also approved the purchase of Covaxin for industrial workers, for whose vaccination, the industry has expressed willingness to pay.

Know! about COVAX

• Abbreviated as COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access is a worldwide initiative aimed at providing equitable access to anti-Covid vaccines.
• COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside key delivery partner UNICEF.
• It is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.
• Already, about a dozen states, including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi have decided to issue or floated global tenders for procurement of Covid vaccines.

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