• The ongoing monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo poses an escalating threat, not just to the nation but to the entire world.
• Also, the World Health Organization has confirmed sexual transmission of monkeypox in the Congo for the first time as the country’s experiences its biggest-ever outbreak.

ABOUT M-POX

• It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans in 1970, also in the DRC.
• Monkeypox, also called mpox, has been endemic in parts of Central and West Africa for decades, where it mostly jumped into humans from animal and caused limited outbreaks.
• The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown – various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
• Transmission can occur through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
• The monkeypox virus causes fever, chills, rash, and lesions on the face or genitals.
• Most people recover within several weeks without requiring hospitalisation.
• There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox infection.

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Survey of India (SoI), historically the custodian of India’s maps, has signed an agreement with a Mumbai-based private company, Genesys International, to prepare three-dimensional maps of several cities and towns.
• Called ‘Digital Twins,’ these maps are three-dimensional representations of cities and when coupled with high-resolution images, can be used in a variety of planning applications.

ABOUT DIGITAL TWINS

• A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system that is constantly updated with real-time data from sensors, IoT devices, and other sources.
• This data allows digital twins to simulate the behavior of their physical counterparts, enabling users to monitor performance, predict potential problems, and optimize operations.
• Digital twins are not just static models; they are dynamic and evolve as the physical object or system changes.
• They can be used to represent a wide variety of things, from individual assets and machines to entire factories, cities, and even people.
• Key aspects of how digital twins are used in the context of IoT-
  • Real-time Monitoring and Control of IoT devices and systems
  • Predictive Maintenance
  • Digital twins enable simulation and modeling of IoT devices or systems under different conditions.
  • Remote Diagnostics and Troubleshooting.
  • In consumer IoT applications, digital twins can be used to create personalized user experiences.
  • Data Analytics and Insights

ABOUT SURVEY OF INDIA

• SoI is the National Mapping Agency of country under Department of Science & Technology.
• The SoI is a historical repository of maps and the arbiter of national and State boundaries
• It also maintains an all-India network of transmitters and receivers called CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) that are interconnected via satellites and provide accurate estimates of position.

• NASA has unveiled a spectacular new image of the Milky Way taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, showing ever greater detail of a region close to the nucleus of our home galaxy — replete with needle-like “unexplained structures” .
• JWST was able to take a detailed snapshot of Sagittarius C.
  • Sagittarius C is a central region of the Milky Way where stars are born
  • It is about 300 light years away from Sagittarius A* , the gargantuan black hole that makes up the central hub of our galaxy.
• The image contains an estimated 500,000 twinkly stars plus a cluster of protostars emerging from dense dark clouds of dust and gas.
  • Protostars are stars in the early stages of formation that are still gathering mass.
  • In the image, a cluster of protostars is visible, emitting outflows that illuminate the surrounding infrared-dark cloud.

ABOUT JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

• JWST is the largest, most powerful infrared space telescope ever built.
• It is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.
• It is placed at Lagrange point 2, approximately 5 million km beyond Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
  • Lagrange Points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system (like the Sun and the Earth) produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
• Its primary mirror is approximately 6.5 metres in diameter.
• It was launched in late 2021, with its first images being released in 2022.
• The telescope was launched with the goal of peering back at the earliest periods of the universe, searching for exoplanets, examining early galaxies, and also charting how stars are formed.

• The Manipur Government has expressed its reservations to the Centre over a hydro-electric modernisation plan in the state’s famous Loktak Lake saying it could be detrimental to the endangered species of Sangai deer apart from disturbing the biodiversity of the lake.

ABOUT SANGAI DEER

• Scientific Name- Rucervus eldii
• The brow-antlered deer, commonly known as the Sangai, a unique and rare species found exclusively in Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP).
  • Keibal Lamjao is the only floating national park in India.
• It is the State animal of Manipur.
• Their unique floating habitat, traditionally known as ‘fumdi’, is made of mats of soil, plants and organic matter.
• Once distributed throughout the Manipur State, Sangai is now restricted to the 40 sq km area park and is numbered less than 100 adult individuals in the wild.
• The animal’s coat is a dark reddish brown during winter months and it becomes a much lighter shade in summer.
• The brow-antlered deer usually consumes grass.
• The deer has been classified as ‘endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and added in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

ABOUT LOKTAK LAKE

• Loktak Lake is regarded as among the most beautiful and ecologically diverse lakes in the Northeast.
• Loktak lake was initially designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.
• Later it was also listed under the Montreux Record in 1993.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has inaugurated the world’s largest single-site solar power plant, the 2-gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project (IPP).
• The plant, located 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city, will generate enough electricity to power almost 200,000 homes.
• It is expected to displace 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated on November 25^th to create awareness of the different types of violence faced by women at different stages in life.
• Since 1981, women’s rights activists have been celebrating International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.
• The theme for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2023 is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.

• Bengaluru is hosting its first-ever 3-day Kambala event at Palace Grounds, marked by the meticulous setup of large galleries, a sacred puja, and a record-breaking 155-meter track, promising a unique spectacle.
• Kambala is a traditional buffalo race in paddy fields filled with slush and mud which generally takes place in coastal Karnataka.
• Kambala is usually held after the southwest monsoon, once the paddy is harvested.
• Races are held in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts every weekend starting November and the last race of the season is in April.
• During the race, two teams of buffaloes, along with their jockeys, race towards the finish line on parallel race tracks.
• The race goes on all day and winners qualify for subsequent rounds.
• Prizes are also given out to whoever splashes water the highest.
• The traditional sport was recently in the limelight after the release of the blockbuster movie Kantara.

• Indian Green Building Council has introduced new green rating tools as part of its Net Zero mission to accelerate the uptake of green building projects in the country.
  • IGBC launched the mission of ‘Net Zero’ with the vision of facilitating India to become one of the foremost countries in transforming to Net Zero by 2050.
• The new green rating tools of IGBC were launched at the Indian Green Building Congress, held in Chennai.
• They include Net Zero Carbon Rating and upgraded rating systems – Green Existing Building Rating Version 1.0, Green Factory Rating Version 2.0, and Green Campus Rating Version 1.0.
• The new rating tool IGBC Net Zero Carbon (pilot Version) rating system is described as another key step to reduce operational and embodied emissions. The rating system has been developed based on the consensus and support of all the relevant stakeholders.
  • It is a voluntary and consensus-based programme for both new and existing buildings and campuses.
  • The rating tool has been designed to encourage the use of low-embodied carbon materials, optimise the buildings’ performance and use on-site and off-site renewable energy systems and carbon sequestration measures.
• Green Existing Building Rating Version 1.0 is an improved version of the pilot system after taking feedback from all stakeholders, while Green Campus Rating Version 1.0 seeks to rate not just the building alone, but also the building environment.

ABOUT IGBC

• IGBC was established by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001 to actively promote the Green Building concept in India.
• IGBC has facilitated more than 11,500 projects across the country with a green footprint of over 10.42 billion sq ft.
• This has made India a global leader in the sustainable built environment with the second largest green building footprint in the world.

• Karmayogi Prarambh has marked its one-year anniversary
• It is an online orientation programme under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• The program aims to provide all the necessary details related to government policies for newly appointees recruited through Rozgar Melas.
• It includes a set of eight courses curated to help all Rozgar Mela appointees.
• It falls under the purview of Misson Karmayogi.

ABOUT MISSION KARMAYOGI

• National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) – Mission Karmayogi was launched in 2020.
• It aims to create a professional, well-trained and future-looking civil service, that is imbued with a shared understanding of India’s developmental aspirations, national programs and priorities.
• The key philosophy of NPCSCB is to create an ecosystem of competency driven training and Human Resource (HR) management by transitioning from a ‘rules-based’ system to the ‘roles-based’ system.
• The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building has six key pillarse.
  • Policy Framework
  • Institutional Framework
  • Competency Framework
  • Digital Learning Framework iGOT-Karmayogi (Integrated Govemment Online Training Karmayogi Platform)
  • The electronic Human Resource Management (eHRMS) and
  • The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
• The NPCSCB covers all civil servants (including contractual employees) across different ministries, department organisations and agencies of the Union Govemment.

• Justice Fathima Beevi passed away at a hospital in Kollam aged 96.

ABOUT JUSTICE FATHIMA BEEVI

• Fathima Beevi was born to Annaveetil Meeran Sahib and Khadeeja Beevi of Pathanamthitta in 1927.
• She completed her schooling at the Catholicate High School and did an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University College, Thiruvanathapuram.
• She enrolled as lawyer in November 1950.
• She was the first student to complete a degree in law with full marks in all subjects.
• She emerged first in a competitive exam conducted by the Public Service Commission in 1958 and joined the judicial services as a munsiff.
• Years later, she became the first woman member of the country’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.
• She was appointed as a high court judge in 1984 where she continued till 1989.
• She was appointed as a judge in Supreme Court in 1989, a post which she held till 1992.
• She was the first woman in Asia to be appointed as a judge in her country’s apex court.
• After her retirement from SC, Beevi was appointed as Tamil Nadu governor in 1997.