Health
Gap between two doses of Covishield Vaccine extended from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on recommendation of COVID Working Group

Relevance IN - Prelims (about role of NEGVAC and NTAGI)
What's the NEWS

• The COVID Working Group chaired by Dr N K Arora has recommended extension of the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12-16 weeks.
• The present gap between the two doses of COVISHIELD vaccine is 6-8 weeks.
• Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of COVISHIELD vaccine. No change in interval of COVAXIN vaccine doses was recommended.
• The recommendation of the COVID Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog in its meeting on 12^th May 2021.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also accepted this recommendation of the COVID Working Group for extension of the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12 -16 weeks.

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC)

• NEGVAC constituted by the government is providing guidance on prioritisation of population groups, procurement and inventory management, vaccine selection and vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism
• It was set up in August 2020 under the chairmanship of Niti Aayog member VK Paul, to conceptualise a strategy for coronavirus vaccine delivery in India.
• National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) in consultation with State Governments and all relevant stakeholders have prepared and presented a detailed blueprint of vaccine storage, distribution, and administration.

National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI)

• The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) was established by an order of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2001.
• As India's apex advisory body on immunization, the NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the MoHFW on provision of vaccination and immunization services for the effective control of vaccine preventable diseases in the country.
• Since its establishment, the NTAGI has been reconstituted twice, in 2010 and 2013.
• The NTAGI now includes a Standing Technical Sub-Committee (STSC).
• The STSC is tasked with undertaking technical review of scientific evidence on matters related to immunization policy and programmes.
• Final recommendations are drafted by the NTAGI taking into account the scientific review by the STSC and any other relevant evidence.
• The recommendations by NEGVAC will be deliberated in the meeting by NTAGI, an advisory committee for immunisation today.
• The experts will deliberate whether to increase the dose interval or shorten it.
• The NEGVAC suggestions are not binding on NTAGI

Geophysical phenomena
Cyclone Tauktae

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Cyclone Tauktae) + Mains (GS I Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc)
What's the NEWS

• It is likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" within six hours, and may hit the Gujarat coast
• Over the next 12 hours, Cyclone Tauktae is likely to intensify further into a "very severe cyclonic storm" and is expected to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya
• This is the first cyclonic storm this year as India fights a deadly second wave of COVID-19, which has led to a surge in the country's caseload and death count.
• Its name was suggested by Myanmar. It's a Burmese word meaning gecko, a "highly vocal lizard

Know! about the process of naming the cyclone

• The naming of the cyclones is done by the World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC).
• The WMO/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) has members from 13 countries - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen which decide the name of the cyclone.
• In 2004, the group, which comprised eight countries then, had finalised a list of 64 names - eight names from each country.
• Amphan, the cyclone that hit India last year in May, was the last name on that list. Nisarga, another cyclone that originated in the Arabian Sea last year, was the first name from the fresh list. It was named by Bangladesh.
• In 2018, the WMO/ESCAP expanded the list to include five more countries. Last year, a new list was released that has 169 names of cyclones, a compilation of 13 suggestions each from 13 countries.
• Since tropical cyclones can last for a week and more, there can be more than one cyclone at a time. Names are thus given to the storms so that forecasters avoid confusion.
• In general, tropical cyclones are named according to the rules at regional level.
• In the Indian ocean and South Pacific region, tropical cyclones receive names alphabetically, and women and men's names are alternated.
• The panel, which had eight members in 2004, had finalised a list of 64 names - eight names from each country.
• The name Amphan for the cyclone that wreaked havoc in India last year was the last name on that list.
• The WMO/ESCAP committee expanded the list of members in 2018 to include five more countries. Last year, a new list was released that has 169 names of cyclones, a compilation of 13 suggestions each from 13 countries.
• If the storm causes a large number of deaths or damages, any member of the WMO's hurricane, typhoon and tropical cyclone committees can request the withdrawal of the cyclone's name from the naming list.
• A replacement name is then submitted to the committee concerned and voted upon.
• Nations in the Northern Indian ocean began using a new system for naming tropical cyclones in 2000; the names are listed alphabetically country wise, and are neutral gender wise.
• The common rule is that the name list is proposed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of WMO Members of a specific region, and approved by the respective tropical cyclone regional bodies at their annual/biennual sessions.

Know! the benefits of naming a cyclone

• Naming helps the scientific community, experts, disaster management teams, and the general public to identify each cyclone.
• It removes confusion if two or more cyclones are occurring simultaneously over the region.
• It allows to disseminate warnings effectively to a much wider audience and increases community preparedness.
• Naming also helps in future reference when a past cyclone needs to be mentioned or discussed.

Culture
NAIMISHA 2021

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NAIMISHA 2021.)
What's the NEWS

• The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi is creating a virtual museum space through its online summer programme NAIMISHA 2021.

Know! more about NAIMISHA 2021

• This unique art fiesta will provide a platform to create and engage with the arts. The current duration of the programme is 17^th May to 13^th June 2021.
• The planned workshops and hosts of related events are expected to spark imagination, creativity and interest in visual and other related arts.
• The idea behind designing and delivering online interactive programmes is to provide a creative outlet to children, and indeed all interested adults.
• Lead artists have joined the programme as teachers and mentors to add zest to this unique pedagogic carnival.
• Workshops have been designed on painting, sculpture, print making and videography and puppeteering and other related arts.
• The NGMA NAIMISHA portal will also stream a curated film festival for the participants from NGMA's private collection.
• The exhibition of selected artworks from NAIMISHA 2021 will be displayed on NGMA's website and SO-HAM the cultural media platform of NGMA for public viewing soon.

Prelims Factoids
SECI Organizes Online Yoga Workshop for Employees

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

• In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Solar Energy Corporation of India , a Central Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has arranged a Yoga workshop for all its employees.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI)

• It is a CPSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), set up on 20th September, 2011
• It is the only CPSU dedicated to the solar energy sector
• It has been established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
• It is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking dedicated to the solar energy sector.
• The company's mandate has been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain and the company will be renamed to Renewable Energy Corporation of India (RECI).
• The company is responsible for implementation of a number of government schemes,major ones being the VGF schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under NSM, solar park scheme and grid-connected solar rooftop scheme, along with a host of other specialised schemes such as defence scheme, canal-top scheme, and Indo-Pak border scheme.
• In addition, SECI has ventured into solar project development on turnkey basis for several PSUs.
• The company also has a power-trading licence and is active in this domain through trading of solar power from projects set up under the schemes being implemented by it.

Space Awareness
China's first Mars mission - Tianwen-1

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about china's first Mars Mission) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• China landed a spacecraft on Mars carrying its first Mars rover
• China had in July last year launched its first Mars mission, called Tianwen-1, meaning Questions to Heaven, carrying a lander and rover.
• Tianwen-1 had been in orbit since February, and on Saturday, a lander descended successfully on to the surface of the red planet carrying a rover named Zhurong,
• Only the Soviet Union and the United States had previously carried out a successful landing on Mars.

Know! more about the mission

• The rover will provide "first-hand materials for research on the planet's space environment, surface topography, and soil structure

• China had previously tried to launch a Mars orbiter along with Russia in 2011, but that failed to enter orbit. This attempt, on its own, hit the target.
• The Mars mission, along with China's lunar mission and its space station, are key elements in its space programme.
• In 2019, the fourth lunar probe, Chang'e-4, carried out the world's first landing on the far side of the moon. The Mars mission was launched the following year.
• China is also investing heavily in its manned space programme, as plans accelerate for its first space station, set to be functional by the end of next year and only the second space station after the International Space Station.
• Last month, a Long March-5B Y2 rocket carried out the first of three components for the space station, called the Tianhe or Heavenly Harmony module.

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