• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022 was awarded jointly to Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry” at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
• The three have been awarded for their work in ‘click chemistry’, in which molecules snap together fast and firmly, without the need for a long, complicated process and too many unwanted byproducts.
• Their work has applications in the field of medical science, including the treatment of cancer. Bertozzi is based at Stanford University in California, Sharpless with Scripps Research, California, and Meldal is at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
• What is click chemistry?
• Click chemistry and bioorthogonal reactions have taken chemistry into the era of functionalism. This is bringing the greatest benefit to humankind. Chemists often try to recreate complex chemical molecules found in nature, and this has applications, among other things, in the field of medicine – how to target and block pathogens in cells. However, this process can be complicated and time-consuming.

About the Carolyn R. Bertozzi:

• Carolyn R. Bertozzi, born 1966 in USA. PhD 1993 from UC Berkeley, CA, USA. Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor at Stanford University, CA, USA.

About the Morten Meldal:

• Morten Meldal, born 1954 in Denmark. PhD 1986 from Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark. Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

About the K. Barry Sharpless:

• Barry Sharpless, was born in 1941 in Philadelphia, PA, USA. PhD 1968 from Stanford University, CA, USA. W. M. Keck Professor at Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA.

• After busting two call centres in Pune and Ahmedabad, which targeted unsuspecting American citizens, the CBI has launched ‘Operation Chakra’ in coordination with Interpol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Australian Federal Police. It has raided 115 locations across the country with local police forces in multiple states, officials said.
• A senior CBI official said, “During the searches so far, cash amounting to Rs 1.8 crore (approx) and 1.5 kg gold (approx) were seized. Bank accounts with an amount of around Rs 1.89 crore have been frozen in Karnataka.”
• He went on to add that digital proofs including mobile phones, laptops and hard disks were seized.
• The official said the searches were conducted at 115 locations. Of these, 87 in 16 states were raided by the CBI in connection with 11 cases. The local police of states and Union Territories covered 28 places. He said the searches were part of an ongoing crackdown against
• “Among the states and UTs, Assam Police raided two places, Andaman and Nicobar Islands police at four places, Chandigarh Police searched three places in the city, Delhi Police covered five locations, Karnataka Police raided 12 locations and Punjab Police covered two locations,” the official said.

• The United Nations peacekeeping chief is undertaking a visit to India, among the largest troop contributing countries for its operations.
• Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Japan. The multi-nation trip starts on Thursday and will continue until October 15.
• Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Wednesday that in New Delhi, Lacroix will participate in a two-day meeting organised by the Challenges Forum, which brings together leading policymakers, practitioners and academics on key issues linked to peace operations.
• The head of the UN peacekeeping will then travel to Abu Dhabi, Islamabad and Tokyo.
• Dujarric said the purpose of Lacroix’s visit is to thank the countries for their contributions and support to UN peacekeeping as well as to update on progress enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping.
• According to information on the website of Challenges Forum, the event Challenges Annual Forum (CAF22) will “gather partners and key stakeholders” on October 6-7 to “discuss how future peace operations can remain relevant in a world of growing geopolitical friction”.
• The CAF22 will be co-hosted by the organisation’s Indian partner the United Service Institution of India (USI).
• Under the overarching theme “Future of Peace Operations”, the three sub-themes for the forum are “Place for Preventive Deployment in Diplomacy”, “Protection of Civilians in Peace Operation” and “Protecting the Protectors”.
• India is one of the largest troop and police contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions and more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in nine out of 12 UN peacekeeping missions at present.
• Since 1950s, India has cumulatively deployed more than 260,000 troops to the missions. Through the years, 177 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice, the highest from any troop-contributing country.

• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Russia-led allies have agreed to cut oil production by two million barrels a day at a Vienna meeting. It is the deepest cuts to oil production since the 2020 COVID pandemic.
• The cut could spur a recovery in oil prices that have dropped to about 90 dollars from 120 dollars three months ago on fears of a global economic recession, rising US interest rates, and a stronger dollar.
• However, the cut in real terms might be less than the headline figure, with multiple OPEC members currently producing less than their assigned quota.
• US President Joe Biden has expressed disappointment over the OPEC cartel’s decision to slash oil production output. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and top economic advisor Brian Deese said the president is disappointed by the shortsighted decision.
• They said the supply cut will hit countries already reeling from high prices while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
• They said President Biden is ordering another dip into the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, with 10 million barrels set to be put on the market next month in an attempt to dampen price rises.

• In Maharashtra,  the 66th Dhammachakra Pravartan Day is being celebrated with full zeal and fervor at DeekshaBhoomi in Nagpur.
• Architect of the Indian Constitution Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism on the day of Viajaydashmi on 14th October 1956 with lakhs of his followers at Dikshabhoomi in Nagpur.
• From that date, the day is celebrated as DhammaChakra pravartan day. To pay their respects to the Central memorial of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, on the occasion of DhammaChakra pravartan day, millions of followers have reached Deekshabhoomi from all corners of the country and state

• The Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP) will be held on 7th Oct 2022.
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will lead business delegation to Washington DC and Houston, USA.
• Mr Puri will also interact with World Bank Officials on Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure.
• The revamped USISCEP was launched in accordance with U.S -India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in April last year.
• The partnership continues to advance energy security and innovation and deploying technical solutions through five pillars.
• These are Responsible Oil and Gas Pillar, Power and Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Growth and Emerging Fuels and technologies.

• India has emerged as the world’s largest producer and second largest exporter of sugar.
• In Sugar Season 2021-22, a record of more than five thousand lakh metric tons of sugarcane was produced in the country. Out of this, 35 lakh metric ton sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 lakh metric ton of sugar was produced by sugar mills.
• Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Ministry said, the season has proven to be a watershed season for the Indian Sugar Sector. Records highest sugar exports of over 109 lakh metric tons have been registered.
• The Ministry said, supportive international prices and Central government Policy led to this feat of the Indian Sugar Industry. These exports earned foreign currency of about 40 thousand crore rupees.

• The Forest Department will conduct a census of musk deer, blue sheep and brown bear at the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu this month.
• GHNP Divisional Forest Officer Nishant Mandotra said the counting of these rare species of wild animals in the park would be started after Dasehra from the second week of October. The officer said about 15 to 20 teams would be formed to undertake the census. Assistance would be taken from volunteers along with staff of the Forest Department. The data on these wild animals would be revealed by the end of October.
• “High-altitude areas are the habitat of these three wild animals. Blue sheep is present at about 3,500 m, musk deer at 3,000 m and brown bear is found at an altitude of about 2,500 to 2,800 m above sea level,” Mandotra said.
• He said different parameters had been kept for determining the population of these species. Musk deer will be counted through the silent drive method by observing them from around their habitat, while brown bear and blue sheep would be counted by scanning method with binoculars or other equipment.
• Although the park management has carried out the exercise of counting rare species from time to time, there still isn’t any concrete data on the presence of these wild animals in the park.
• About 10 to 12 musk deer habitats were found in the park, where the average number density was two per km, about two decades ago. Their density had increased to 10 to 11 per km in 2019. The present figure of musk deer would be disclosed after the census.
• The park has assisted in growth of these rare species along with the conservation of biodiversity. It is illegal to hunt any wild animal, including musk deer, in the park. About 35 trap cameras have been installed by the park management at sensitive places to keep an eye on poaching. The census of rare species of birds in the park was also carried out in April and May.
• The GHNP was constituted in 1984 and formally declared a National Park in 1999 to protect its diverse components of flora and fauna. The United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation had given it the status of World Heritage Site (WHS) in 2014.
• It is the only viable protected area of 1,171 sq km, including 265 sq km of ecozone, in the world which has unique Himalayan biological diversity and protected endangered and threatened wildlife species. The process of increasing its area to 3,120 sq km is also underway.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the fully functional All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Himachal Pradesh’s
• The AIIMS — whose foundational stone was also laid by the prime minister in October 2017 has been established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
• AIIMS Bilaspur, constructed at a cost of more than one thousand four hundred seventy crore rupees is a state-of-the-art hospital with 18 specialty and 17 super specialty departments, 18 modular operation theatres and 750 beds with 64 ICU beds.
• It is spread over 247 acres, the hospital is equipped with 24 hours emergency and dialysis facilities, modern diagnostic machines like ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI etc., Amrit Pharmacy and Jan Aushadhi Kendra and also a 30-bedded AYUSH block.

• World Teachers’ Day or International Teachers’ Day is observed every year on October 5. This is a day to celebrate, thank and honour teachers for their contributions to their students. On this day, many also come together and organise meetings, conferences and such to identify problems being faced by teachers of the country as well as globally and find solutions to those issues.

World Teachers’ Day 2022: Theme

• This year marks the 28th anniversary of World Teachers’ Day and the theme is “The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers”.

 History:

• Set up in 1994 after the UNESCO Recommendation concerning teachers, the day celebrates the marking of “teaching in freedom” in 1996. October 5 was proclaimed as World Teachers’ Day by UNESCO in 1994, with the aim of honouring the adoption of UNESCO/ILO Recommendation. After the adoption of this recommendation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared October 5 to be World Teachers’ Day.
• This was a part of the intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris that recognised the status of teachers in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• World Teachers’ Day acknowledges the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 International Labour Organization (ILO)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation concerning the status of teachers. The recommendation concerning the status of higher education teaching personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 recommendation