WHY IN NEWS ?

• On 28^thMay, India paid tribute to the freedom fighter, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar) on his birth anniversary.
• He was an Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer and writer.
• He is also known as Swatantrya veer Savarkar.

About:

• Birth:Born on 28^th May, 1883 in Bhagur, a village near Nashik in

Related Organisations and Work:

• Founded a secret society called Abhinav Bharat Society.
  • Went to the United Kingdom and was involved with organizations such as India House and the Free India Society.
  • He was the president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943.
  • Savarkar wrote a book titled ‘The History of the War of Indian Independence’in which he wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
  • He also wrote the book ‘Hindutva: who is hindu ?

WHY IN NEWS ?

• After black and white fungus, the recent case of yellow fungus has become a cause for concern.

About:

• Yellow fungus, also called mucor septic, initially develops by the presence of moulds(a type of fungi) in the environment.
• It may be presentwith unnecessary fatigue, rashes, burning sensation on skin
• Humidity levels below 30-40% can promote the growth of fungus.
• It may not start from the lungs but it invades internal organs of the bodyand affects the entire functioning.

Potential Causes:

• Prolonged use of steroids, contaminated environment, uncontrolled diabetes, unhygienic habits, lesser immunity, comorbidities.
• The treatment for Covid-19includes steroids and immune suppressants that leave the body with weak immunity.

Symptoms:

• Weight loss, reduced appetite, lethargy are the common symptomsof yellow fungus infection.

If not detected in time, symptoms can become more severe including pus leakage, sunken eyes, organ failure, slow healing of wounds and necrosis (cells in the living tissues die prematurely).

Treatment:

• Till now the only known treatment for yellow fungus is Amphotericin B injection, which is an antifungal drug also being used to treat black fungus.

Prevention:

• Maintaining hygiene, not consuming stale food, keeping the humidity in the room in check, etc.

WHY IN NEWS ?

• National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, has commissioned Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel Sajag. It was a nation dedicated to safeguard maritime interests.
  • Highlights
• Offshore Patrol Vessel, Sajag has been constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited, which was commended by NSA for indigenously developing ships for Maritime Armed forces with state-of-the-art machinery, latest technology sensors and equipment.

Patrol boat

• It is a small naval vessel designed for coastal defence, immigration law-enforcement, border protection, search and rescue duties. They can be operated by navy, coast guard, police force or customs and can be commissioned for marine or estuarine or river environments. They are commonly used in border protection roles such as ant-piracy, anti-smuggling, fisheries patrols, and immigration law enforcement.

Classification of Patrol Boat

• Patrol Boats are classified as inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). They are warships of smaller size and include fast attack craft, missile boats and torpedo boats. Offshore patrol vesselsare smallest ship in Navy. However, they are large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Government has increased the scope of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for three more months, overviewing the disruptions caused by the second wave of COVID 19 pandemic. Extension will help businesses across several sectors of economy.
  • About ECLGS 4.0
• 100% guarantee cover to be provided on loans, in hospitals/nursing clinics/medical colleges/homes, up to Rs.2 crore. Loan can be utilized to set up on-site oxygen generation plants. Interest rate on loan was capped at 7.5%.
• Additional ECLGS assistance of up to 10% of outstanding by February 2020 to borrowers who are covered under ECLGS 1.0.
• Ceiling of Rs. 500 Cr. of loan outstanding for eligibility under ECLGS 3.0 will be removed. It is subject to maximum additional ECLGS assistance provided to each borrower which is limited to 40% or Rs.200 crore, whichever is lower.
• Civil Aviation sector will be eligible under ECLGS 3.0
• Validity of ECLGS extended to 30.09.2021.

Significance

Modifications in ECLGS will enhance utility and impact of ECLGS by providing additional support to MSMEs. It will safeguard livelihoods and help in resumption of business activity. It will facilitate flow of institutional credit at reasonable terms.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)

ECLGS was launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package in May 2020. It was launched to overcome the distress caused to the economy due to lockdown. It helped different sectors by providing credit to them. Credit is provided to them for four years besides one year moratorium period on principled repayment

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Amid the country’s battle against covid-19 pandemic and increasing cases of mucormycosis, Doctors in Ghaziabad, Mumbai and Gujarat have reported cases of new disease called ‘aspergillosis’.
  • What is Aspergillosis?
• Aspergillosis is a fungal infection, fungal growth or allergic reaction caused due to Aspergillus fungus. The fungus is found indoors as well as outdoors. It lives on decaying vegetation or dead leaves. This fungal infection is not as deadly as black fungus but it can turn fatal too.

How do people contract this infection?

• People can come in contact with the fungus by breathing in microscopic “aspergillus spores” from the environment. Though people come in contact with the fungus daily but never contract Because, aspergillosis infects people suffering from lung disease or weak immune system. It causes infections in organs and other allergic reactions.

Types of Aspergillosis

• There are 5 types of aspergillosis namely, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma (fungus ball), allergic Aspergillus sinusitis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and invasive aspergillosis. But, COVID-19 patients are being diagnosed with rare sinus pulmonary aspergillosis.

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched a PM-CARES for Children scheme for children orphaned due to COVID-19. As per data, about 577 children have lost their parents till date.
  • About PM-CARES for Children scheme
• Children who lost either parents or surviving parents or legal guardians or adoptive parents due to COVID-19 disease, will be supported through the PM-CARES fund.
• Under the PM-CARES scheme, contributions will be made through the PM CARES Fund till they attain the age of 18 years. Contribution will help in creating a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for them
• They will be given a monthly stipend for five years starting from 18 years till 23 years to fulfil their personal requirements.
• After they attain 23 years of age, they will be given a full amount of Rs 10 lakh to use it professionally or personally.
• Scheme will ensure free education for such kids by giving them admissions in nearest Kendriya Vidyalayas or private schools fees for which will be given from the PM CARES fund.
• Provisions are there for educating kids between 11 to 18 years in residential schools like Sainik Schools and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
• All expenditure concerned with child’s education such as expenditure on notebooks, textbooks and uniform will be made through the PM CARES Fund.
• Students going for higher education will be given education loans for which PM CARES will pay interest and scholarships.
• They will also be enrolled under Ayushman Bharat Scheme to provide them health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh till 18 years. Premium will be made by the PM CARES Fund.

WHY IN NEWS ?

• World No Tobacco Day is being observed on May 31, 2021 under the theme “Commit to quit”.  It is observed since 1987 after member states of World Health Organisation created “World No Tobacco

Why is this day significant?

• As per Lancet study, in some three decades, about 200 million deaths were caused by smoking tobacco use while the annual economic costs because of smoking tobacco use is more than US $1 trillion.
• Further, one in six non-communicable disease-related deaths is due to smoking tobacco.
• Lancet has identified Tobacco control as a crucial and necessary “ part” to reach WHO’s global goals of 25 percent reduction in ”premature mortality” from non-communicable diseases by 2025 to comply with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Thus, this day becomes important to raise awareness among people of the harmful effects of smoking Tobacco.

Top Smoking countries

• 10 countries with the largest number of tobacco smokers as of 2019 are- China, India, Indonesia, USA, Russia, Bangladesh, Japan, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
• Day” to bring global attention towards tobacco epidemic and associated preventable death.

WHY IN NEWS ?

• NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a beautiful photo of a spiral galaxy called “NGC 691”.
  • What is NGC 691?
• It is an unbarred spiral galaxy located about 125 million light-years away in the Aries It was discovered by German-born British astronomer William Herschel in November, 1786. Spiral galaxy is the foremost member of NGC 691 group which is the collection of nine galaxies with different shapes and colours. It is referred to as “LEDA 6793, UGC 1305 and TC 448”. The Spiral galaxy has a diameter of 130,000 light-years.

WHY IN NEWS ?

• NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a beautiful photo of a spiral galaxy called “NGC 691”.
  • What is NGC 691?
• It is an unbarred spiral galaxy located about 125 million light-years away in the Aries It was discovered by German-born British astronomer William Herschel in November, 1786. Spiral galaxy is the foremost member of NGC 691 group which is the collection of nine galaxies with different shapes and colours. It is referred to as “LEDA 6793, UGC 1305 and TC 448”. The Spiral galaxy has a diameter of 130,000 light-years.

WHY IN NEWS?

• The 43rd GST Council met under the Chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister recently.

Key points:

• As a COVID-19 relief measure, a number of specified COVID-19 related goods such as medical oxygen, oxygen concentrators and other oxygen storage and transportation equipment, etc., have been recommended for full exemption from IGST.
• In view of rising Black Fungus cases, the exemption from IGST has been extended to Amphotericin B.
• To support the LympahticFilarisis (an endemic) elimination programme being conducted in collaboration with WHO, the GST rate on Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablets has been recommended for reduction to 5% (from 12%).
• GST on MRO services in respect of ships/vessels shall be reduced to 5% (from 18%).
• An Amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayer’s was also announced, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fees.
• Annual return filing has also been simplified.

The Council has recommended amending the CGST Act to allow for self-certification of reconciliation statements, instead of getting it certified by Chartered Accountants