National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Latest News

Recently, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) concluded the closing ceremony marking the completion of the first phase of the ‘desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyaan’ with Historic Five Guinness World Records.

About National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

• It is the statutory body constituted under NCISM Act, 2020.
• This act provides for a medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable medical education, ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine in all parts of the country.

Composition of National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

• It consists of 29 members, appointed by the central government. 
• A search committee will recommend names to the central government for the post of Chairperson, part time members, and presidents of the four autonomous boards set up under the NCISM. 

Functions of National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

• Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine
• Assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure.
• Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of Indian System of Medicine of the regulations made under the Bill
• Ensuring coordination among the autonomous boards.

National Commission for Indian System of Medicine FAQs

Q1: Which ministry is NCISM under?

Ans: Ministry of Ayush, India

Q2: Who is the father of the Indian System of Medicine?

Ans: Acharya Charak

Q3: When was NCISM formed?

Ans: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine was formed in 2020 by the Government of India as a statutory body by passing The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Bill.

Source: PIB

Extended Reality Latest News

The XR Creator Hackathon is being organised by Wavelaps in association with the WAVES 2025 initiative of the Ministry Information and Broadcasting.

About Extended Reality

• Extended reality (XR) represents a fusion of immersive technologies that blend the physical and virtual worlds, encompassing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies.
• All immersive technologies extend the reality we experience by either blending the virtual and “real” worlds or by creating a fully immersive experience.

Augmented Reality 

• In AR, virtual information and objects are overlaid on the real world.
• This experience enhances the real world with digital details such as images, text, and animation.
• You can access the experience through AR glasses or via screens, tablets, and smartphones. 
• This means users are not isolated from the real world and can still interact and see what’s going on in front of them.

Virtual Reality

• In contrast to AR, in a VR experience, users are fully immersed in a simulated digital environment. 
• Individuals must put on a VR headset or head-mounted display to get a 360 -degree view of an artificial world that fools their brain into believing they are, e.g., walking on the moon, swimming under the ocean or stepping into whatever new world the VR developers created. 

Mixed Reality

• In mixed reality, digital and real-world objects co-exist and can interact with one another in real-time. 
• This is the latest immersive technology and is sometimes referred to as hybrid reality. 
• It requires an MR headset and a lot more processing power than VR or AR.

What is the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025?

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
• WAVES 2025 is designed as a pivotal platform for ideas, collaboration, and innovation within the media and entertainment (M&E) industry. 
• It will serve as a forum for India to position itself as a global leader in content creation, technology integration, and creative industry growth.

Extended Reality FAQs

Q1. What are the three types of extended reality?

Ans. The three types of Extended Reality (XR) are Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).

Q2. What are the key features of extended reality?

Ans. With XR, users can experience simulated environments, interact with digital objects, and gain new perspectives.

Q3. What is metaverse?

Ans. It refers to a virtual or digital universe where people can interact with each other and digital objects in a shared online space.

Source: TH

Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement Latest News

Recently, farmers protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders are observed February 23 as Pagri Sambhal Diwas, in honour of Ajit Singh, paternal uncle of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

About Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement

• It was started by Ajit Singh in 1907, to protest against three agricultural laws imposed by the British.
• Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ literally translates to ‘take care of your turban, o farmer’, and invokes self respect and honour.
• The slogan “Pagri Sambhal Jatta” was coined by Banke Dayal, a nationalist poet, and became a symbol of resistance.
• The three laws were: The Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900; The Punjab Land Colonisation Act, 1906; and The Doab Bari Act, 1907.
  • The Punjab Land Alienation Act restricted the rights of farmers to sell or mortgage their land freely.
  • It favored moneylenders and landlords, making it difficult for peasants to escape debt.
  • The Punjab Land Colonisation Act gave the British control over land ownership in the newly developed Chenab Colony (now in Pakistan). Farmers had to transfer their land to the British government upon death instead of passing it to their heirs.
  • The Doab Bari Act, 1907, too, took away farmers’ ownership rights over their lands, effectively reducing them to contract workers.
  • Along with this, the British raised taxes on agricultural land and water for irrigation, increasing the financial burden on farmers. Many small farmers and peasants were forced into debt and land loss.
• Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) formed the Bharat Mata Society, a revolutionary group for farmers. Lala Lajpat Rai and other leaders also supported the movement.

Impact of the Pagri Sambhal Movement

• Pagri Sambhal Jatta was one of the first major farmer movements against British rule, laying the foundation for future resistance in Punjab.
• The agitation led to mass protests and civil disobedience. Due to intense pressure, the British government withdrew some of the oppressive clauses of the laws.
• The movement inspired future protests, including the Ghadar Movement and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary activities.

Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement FAQs

Q1. What is the pagdi sambhal movement?

Ans. The Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement was a peasant uprising in 1907 against British policies that targeted farmers.

Q2. Who started the Bharat Mata journal?

Ans. Sardar Ajit Singh started the Bharat Mata journal.

Q3. Who among the following wrote the famous song Pagri Sambhal Jatta?

Ans. Banke Dayal

Source: IE

Soliga Tribe Latest News

Recently, the Prime Minister of India made a reference to the Soliga Tribal people of BRT Tiger Reserve in the 119th edition of Mann Ki Baat and appreciated their contribution to tiger conservation. 

About Soliga Tribes

• They are a group of indigenous, forest-dwelling people found mostly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• The term "Soliga" literally translates to "children of bamboo", which reflects the tribe's relationship with nature and their belief that they too have emerged from it.
• They reside in the peripheral forest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
• Soligas was the first tribal community living inside a tiger reserve and getting their forest rights recognised by a court in a judgment in 2011.
• Language of Soliga Tribes : The Dravidian language sholaga is spoken by the Soliga. They also speak Kannada and Tamil.
• The Soligas live in single-room huts, built of bamboo and mud.
• They believe in coexisting with the environment and have indigenous ways of using nature to make unique utility products, such as the ‘jottai’, which is a cup made out of leaves.
• Religion of Soliga Tribes : Along with adhering to Hindu customs, the Soliga people practice naturism and animism.

Economy of Soliga Tribes

• The traditional economy of the Soliga is mostly based on shifting cultivation and collection of minor forest produce.
• Honey is an important part of the diet for the Soliga people, who still forage large parts of their food from the biodiversity-rich Ghats.

Soliga Tribe FAQs

Q1. Which caste is Soliga?

Ans. Soligaru, more popularly known as Soliga, is a Scheduled Tribe of Mysore State.

Q2. What language do the Soliga tribe speak?

Ans. Sholaga

Q3. What is the population of Soliga?

Ans. According to the 2011 Census, the population of Soliga is about 33,871 in Karnataka and 5,965 in Tamil Nadu. 

Source: TH

International Finance Corporation Latest News

Recently, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has decided against investing in a proposed $40 million loan for waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration projects in Gujarat, India.

About International Finance Corporation

• It is the private lending arm of the World Bank.
• It was established in 1956 as a member of the World Bank Group, focused on investing in economic development.

Functions of International Finance Corporation

• It provides financing of private-enterprise investment in developing countries around the world, through both loans and direct investments.
• It also provides advisory services to encourage the development of private enterprises in nations that might lack the necessary infrastructure or liquidity for businesses to secure financing.
• It mobilizes capital from other lenders and investors through loan participations, parallel loans and other means.
• Governance: It is owned and governed by its member countries. It is a corporation whose shareholders are member governments that provide paid-in capital and have the right to vote on its matters.
• The President of the World Bank Group is also the President of the IFC.
• Headquarter: Washington, D.C

International Finance Corporation FAQs

Q1: What is the International Finance Corporation?

Ans: It is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries.

Q2: What is the role of IFC in India?

Ans: IFC has a leading role in financing infrastructure projects in India and advising client governments on public-private partnerships. 

Source: DTH

Palk Strait Latest News

In a fresh incident, 32 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching along the Palk Straits recently.

About Palk Strait

• It is an inlet of the Bay of Bengal between southeastern India and northern Sri Lanka. 
• It is bounded on the south by Pamban Island (India), Adam’s (Rama’s) Bridge (a chain of shoals), the Gulf of Mannar, and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka). 
• The southwestern portion of the strait is also called Palk Bay. 
• The strait is named after Robert Palk, who was a governor of Madras Presidency (1755-1763) during the Company Raj period.
• The strait is 40 to 85 miles wide, 85 miles long, and less than 330 feet (100 metres) deep. 
• It receives several rivers, including the Vaigai (India), and it contains many islands on the Sri Lankan side. 
• The port of Jaffna, the commercial centre for northern Sri Lanka, lies on the strait. 
• The shoals and numerous islands long have limited transit through the strait to smaller vessels. 

Palk Strait FAQs

Q1. Which strait separates Sri Lanka from India?

Ans. The Palk Strait separates India from Sri Lanka.

Q2. Where is Ram Setu?

Ans. Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) is a chain of limestone shoals connecting Rameswaram Island (India) to Mannar Island (Sri Lanka) across the Palk Strait.

Q3. Which two seas are connected by Palk Strait?

Ans. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. 

Source: TH

Northern Pintail Duck Latest News

A flock of rare northern pintail ducks has been recently spotted at an unprecedented altitude of 13,500 feet in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

About Northern Pintail Duck

• It is a graceful, migratory waterfowl celebrated for its striking appearance and fascinating behavior. 
• Scientific Name: Anas acuta

Northern Pintail Duck Distribution

• Sometimes referred to as the northern nomads, northern pintails have extensive migratory routes. 
• They have been found on every continent except Antarctica but typically do not live or breed south of the equator.

Northern Pintail Duck Features 

• They are named for their long central tail feathers ending in what appears to be a point. 
• The male is a buff-gray color with a chocolate-covered head, a wide white strip on his chest and black patterning on his back. 
• Females and non-breeding males are mottled brown with a light chest, and neck.
• These large ducks can reach over 60 centimeters long and weigh over one kilogram.
• Their wingspan spreads up to 91 centimeters.
• Their aerodynamic build makes them fast flyers, capable of reaching speeds up to 48 mph.
• In the wild, northern pintails can live up to 22 years old.
• Conservation Status: 'Least Concern’ under the IUCN Red List. 

Northern Pintail Duck FAQs

Q1. Is pintail duck a migratory bird in India?

Ans. Yes, the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a migratory bird in India.

Q2. What is the lifespan of northern pintail?

Ans. Pintails can live as long as 22 years in the wild.

Q3. What is the rarest duck in the world?

Ans. The Madagascar Pochard (Aythya innotata) is considered the rarest duck in the world.

Source: NEN

HKU5-CoV-2 Latest News

A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been identified in China.

About HKU5-CoV-2

• It is a newly discovered bat coronavirus.
• It closely resembles the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 pandemic.
• It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). 
• It can bind to human ACE2 receptors, similar to SARS-CoV-2. This suggests it has the potential for animal-to-human transmission.
• HKU5-CoV-2 has a lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to infect humans on a large scale remains uncertain.
• The virus binds not just to human ACE2 but also to multiple mammalian species, meaning it could spread through an intermediate animal before reaching humans.
• There are no confirmed cases of HKU5-CoV-2 in humans yet, so its symptoms are unknown. 
• The discovery was made by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, often referred to as "Batwoman" for her extensive research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute, China.

HKU5-CoV-2 FAQs

Q1. What is a coronavirus?

Ans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses in humans.

Q2. How long can COVID last?

Ans. COVID-19 lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. 

Q3. Do viruses have DNA?

Ans. Viruses can have either DNA or RNA, but not both. 

Source: NDTV

Zagros Mountains Latest News

Recently, a geologist said that a hilly area surrounding the Zagros Mountains in Iraq is being pulled into Earth. 

About Zagros Mountains

• It is a major mountain range in Central Asia.
• Formation of Zagros Mountains: Scientists estimate that these Mountains were formed during orogenic episodes triggered by the sliding of the Arabian Plate underneath the Eurasian Plate during the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs.
• Historically, the Zagros Mountains have acted as a natural barrier betweenseveral cultures andempires of the ancient and modern worlds alike.
• It extends for a distance of 1,500 kilometers in a northwest to southeast direction from the border areas between eastern Turkey and northern Iraq across the Iranian Plateau, ending at the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran.
• Highest Peak:Mount Dena, with a peak achieving an elevation of 14,465 feet, is the highest peak in the Zagros Mountain system.
• The most commonly seen geological structural materials of the Zagros Mountains are Limestone and shale rocks from the Mesozoic Era and Paleogene Period.
• Climate of Zagros Mountains: A semi-arid temperateclimate prevails in the region, wherein the bitter winters are severely cold and experience deadly temperatures drop, while summers are highly arid.
• Vegetation of Zagros Mountains: It consists of temperate broad-leaved forests, dominated by oak and pistachio trees, as well as dense ground covers of steppe vegetation.

Zagros Mountains FAQs

Q1. Why are the Zagros Mountains so important?

Ans. The mountains are an imposing natural barrier and have traditionally provided the boundary between cultural and political entities, including the early Mesopotamian and Median cultures, the Parthian and Roman empires.

Q2. What is the ancient city in the Zagros Mountains?

Ans. Susa

Q3. What lies between Elburz and Zagros?

Ans. Iranian plateau lies between elbruz and zagros mountains ranges

Source: IE

Ex Gratia Payment Latest News

The Ministry of Railways handed over wads of cash in bundles of notes of Rs 100 and 50 after announcing that it would provide Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the 18 deceased in the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station recently.

About Ex Gratia Payment

• An ex gratia payment is a type of payment made by an organization, government, etc., to an individual for damages or claims without recognizing any legal obligation.
• “Ex gratia” means “by favor” or “by virtue of grace” in Latin. 
• Thus, an ex gratia payment is a voluntary payment that is not a part of an organization’s legal liability.
• Ex gratia payments are not common since companies or other organizations are usually only willing to cover the payments under legal enforcement. 
• However, some organizations use ex gratia payments to express their goodwill to maintain good long-term relationships with the payment receivers.
• For example, a company experienced a bad year and decided to lay off a large number of employees. 
  • In addition to compensating the employees according to legal terms, the company may also pay extra amounts to show its benevolence. 
  • It can help the company to lower the negative effect of the job cuts on its public image.
• Ex gratia payments are not taxable in India unless they are made in lieu of salary or wages. 
• The amount of the payment is not limited, but it is generally based on the individual's or group's needs and circumstances.

Ex Gratia Payment FAQs

Q1. What is the maximum ex gratia amount?

Ans. There is no limit on how much an ex gratia payment can be. 

Q2. What is another word for ex gratia payment?

Ans. Ex gratia translates to 'by favour' and literally means a voluntary payment or a gift.

Q3. What is gratuity in salary?

Ans. Gratuity is a financial benefit given to an employee as a token of appreciation for their service .

Source: IE