INTEGRATED BATTLE GROUPS (IBG)
Context :
Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane announced that the Army’s new concept of agile Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) as part of the overall force transformation will be operationalised very soon.
Key Facts :
- The IBGs are brigade sized agile self-sufficient combat formations which, can swiftly launch strikes against adversary. They will be able to mobilise within 12-48 hours based on the location.
- Each IBG would be tailor made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three Ts.
- The Army has extensively “test bedded” the IBGs to fine-tune the concept.
DIBANG MULTIPURPOSE PROJECT
Context :
The Forest Advisory Committee, the apex body of the Environment Ministry tasked with deciding whether forest land can be diverted for industrial projects, has once again deferred its decision on Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project has been delayed for over six years because it required diverting 1,165 hectares of forest in a region of rich biodiversity.
About :
- Location: The Project is located on river Dibang, in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Power Generation: The project shall generate 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in a 90% dependable year. This is the largest ever Hydro Electric Project to be constructed in India.
- Type of dam: The project envisages construction of a Concrete Gravity Dam.
- Height: The dam is 278 metres high and will be the highest dam in India once completed.
SAMARTH
Context :
NIT Kurukshetra has implemented Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP), SAMARTH to enhance productivity through better information management and automating the process in the institute.
Aim :
The aim of the e-Governance platform, SAMARTH, is to provide quality education to students across all Universities & Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The objective of this initiative is to automate the processes of the Institute. This initiative will also enhance productivity through better information management in the institute by seamless access to information, and its utilization for various purposes.
About :
- SAMARTH, an e-Governance platform, is an Open Standard Open Source Architecture Automation Engine for Universities and Higher Educational Institutions. It caters to faculty, students and staff at a University/Higher Educational Institutions.
- It has been developed under National Mission of Education in Information and Communication Technology Scheme (NMEICT) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).
- This initiative will enhance the productivity through better information management in the institutes by seamless access to information, and its utilization for various purposes.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES 2020
Context :
International Day of Families is celebrated on 15 May every year. The day is celebrated to raise awareness towards the significance of families and to overcome the aspects that might be negatively affecting these efforts.
Aim :
The day highlights the various issues that plague the families around the world and suggests the necessary measures that can be taken to resolve these and build harmony. The day aims to strengthen a single family, as it will empower and strengthen the entire society and a nation.
Theme :
The theme for 2020 International Day of Families is “Families in Development.” The theme aims to portray the importance of families and their roles in social development. The theme stresses the importance of families and how much they mean in the context of the pandemic COVID-19.
History :
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution and designated the observation of the International Day of Families. The day aims to encourage improved living standards and the social progress of families in the world. The day aims to cater to the changing socio-economic structures affecting the stability of families in different parts of the world. The day was first observed in 1994.
Z-scan Method for Parkinson’s Disease
Context :
Recently, scientists from IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (Kolkata) have developed the Z-scan method to monitor the origin as well as the progression of Parkinson’s disease in human beings.
Aggregation of ASyn :
- An aggregation of a protein called Alpha-synuclein (ASyn) plays a crucial role in the development of Parkinson’s disease.
- Protein aggregation is a biological phenomenon in which destabilized proteins aggregate (i.e., accumulate and clump together) leading to many diseases.
- Alpha-synuclein is a protein found in the human brain, while smaller amounts are found in the heart, muscle and other tissues.
- In the brain, alpha-synuclein is found mainly at the tips of neurons in specialized structures called presynaptic terminals.
- Presynaptic terminals release chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters.
- The release of neurotransmitters relays signals between neurons and is critical for normal brain function.
Use of Z-scan Method :
- The discovered Z-scan method is expected to help in monitoring both the early as well as late stages of the aggregation of ASyn and death of neuronal cells.
- Until now, worldwide studies could not establish any strong relation between ASyn aggregations and subsequent death of neuronal cells observed in Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s Disease :
- Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system.
- It damages nerve cells in the brain dropping the levels of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that sends behavioural signals from the brain to the body.
- The disease causes a variety of “motor” symptoms (symptoms related to movement of the muscles), including rigidity, delayed movement, poor balance, and tremors.
- Medication can help control the symptoms of the disease but it can’t be cured.
- It affects the age group from 6 to 60 years. Worldwide, about 10 million people have been affected by this disease.