ANSWER: D

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

• Recently, a report by the Kerala Forest department stated that Snakebites results in the highest number of human deaths nearly double that of wild elephants.

About

• As per ICMR study India has seen an estimated 1.2 million (12 lakh) snakebite deaths from 2000 to 2019, an average of 58,000.
• India accounts for almost 50% of global snakebite deaths.
• The snakebite envenoming (poisoning from snake bites)was classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a high-priority neglected tropical disease.

Snakebite Envenoming 

• Snakebite envenoming is a poten tially life-threatening disease caused by toxins in the bite of a venomous snake. Envenoming can also be caused by having venom sprayed into the eyes by certain species of snakes that have the ability to spit venom as a defence measure.
• Snake venom contains a number of enzymes or proteinaceous substances, present in varying amounts according to the species of snake, which attack the blood, the nervous system, or other tissues.

Impacts of Snake biting

• Some venoms produce direct toxic effects, but not all of them are lethal to human beings. Some are systemically lethal (e.g., the venom of the rattlesnake), whereas some are destructive primarily to tissue in the vicinity of the bite but may cause the development of gangrene.
• It is considered a poor person’s disease or a rural problem. People who get bitten by snakes are usually from marginalised communities, rural backgrounds, women, and children.
• Big four medically significant snakes:It is a theory that claims that four species of snakes in South Asia, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, spectacled cobra, and the common krait bite people the most in this region.
• In India, around 90% of snakebites are caused by the ‘big four’.

Cure of Snake Biting

• Snake antivenoms are effective treatments to prevent or reverse most of the harmful effects of snakebite envenoming. They are included in the WHO Essential Medicines List.
• Antivenoms: Antivenoms are purified antibodies against venoms or venom components. Antivenoms are produced from antibodies made by animals to injected venoms. Antivenom is the only definitive treatment for effective bites by venomous snakes.
• Antivenoms making process: To make life-saving antivenoms, scientists enlist the help of horses that live on specialized ranches.
  • The scientists inject the animals with a tiny, harmless dose of venom, which causes their immune systems to produce antibodies proteins that attack and disable the venom toxins.
  • Then the scientists can collect the antibodies and use them to treat people who have been bitten or stung.

Steps taken 

• Inclusion of snakebite management in the curriculum of training institutions of state public health departments in India, mandatory short-term training of medical graduates during their internship and also as a part of the induction training on joining state health services in India.
• Snakebite prevention is to be included under a national programme by the Union government.
• A multi-sectoral approach of community awareness, capacity building of healthcare facilities for reducing the mortality and morbidity due to snakebite envenoming in India.
• Every village-level health centre has Anti Snake Venom (ASV), which is the first stage of treatment, something that wasn’t easily available in rural India before.
• Even WHO launched its roadmap with an aim to halve death and disability from snakebite by 2030.

ANSWER: B

• For the first time, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has unravelled genetic makeup of native Indian cow breeds i.e., Kasargod Dwarf, Kasargod Kapila, Vechur, and Ongole.
• Native Indian cows have special abilities such as tolerant to heat, resistant to certain diseases.
  • Till now, there is no genome of Indian cows available and country dependent other countries.
• The scientists have identified a specific set of genes in the native Indian cow breeds that showed sequence and structural variation compared to the genes of the western cattle species. This may provide valuable insights into how Indian breeds adapt to tropical conditions.
  • The genome structure can be used to improve the breeding and management of these cows, leading to increased productivity and sustainability in the Indian cattle industry, said IISER.
• The genome is like a blueprint or a set of instructions required by an organism, like a plant or animal, to live and survive.
  • It’s made up of tiny units called genes, which contain the information needed for the organism to grow, develop, and function properly.
• By understanding the genome, scientists can learn important information about the organism, like how it might be related to certain diseases or traits.

 ANSWER: C

• The Khadi Fashion Show was organised to establish new dimensions of Khadi, to further promote the excellent design of Khadi garments-apparels, and accessories for Khadi fashion promotion, and to promote Khadi as a brand all over the world.
• Mega Khadi fashion show, first ever on Rann of Kutch, was organized by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• Rann of Kutch is a salt marshy land in Thar Desert in Kachchh district of western Gujarat.
• It is one of the largest salt deserts in world.
• It includes Great Rann of Kachchh, Little Rann of Kachchh and Banni grassland.
• It is part of Indian wild ass sanctuary, and Kachchh desert wildlife sanctuary.
• It is home to the only remaining population of chestnut-coloured Indian wild ass (khur), as well as blue-bulls, blackbuck and chinkara.

ANSWER: D

• Armenia appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order Azerbaijan to dissolve the road blockade isolating Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • Nagorno-Karabakh is within Azerbaijan but had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces since 1994when a separatist war ended.
• The conflict can be traced back to the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of Ottoman, Russian and the Persian empires.
• The self-declaration of independence by Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1991 in the backdrop of an imminent collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh — supported by Armenia.

ANSWER: C

• Flipping is the process of transferring entire ownership of an Indian company to an overseas entity.
• It is generally accompanied by a transfer of all intellectual property and data owned by an Indian company.
• It effectively transforms an Indian company into a 100% subsidiary of a foreign entity.
• Reverse Flipping is the process of shifting the domicile of those companies back to India who flipped earlier.
• The Economic Survey 2023 stated that Indian startups are exploring ‘reverse flipping’, or shifting their domicile back to India, with easy access to capital from private equity and venture capital, changes in rules regarding round-tripping, and the growing maturity of India’s capital market.
• The Survey also put forward measures like simplifying multiple tax layers, resolving uncertainty due to tax litigation, especially of employee stock ownership plans, exploring the incubation and funding landscape for startups in emerging fields like social innovation and impact investment, and facilitating mentorship programmes through partnerships with established private entities.

ANSWER: C

• Barsar town in Hamirpur will soon have a fire station for which an amount of Rs 6 crore has been earmarked. This was stated by Barsar MLA while addressing a gathering at Ralli-Jajri village.
  • The MLA said that Chief Minister had sanctioned funds for the same.
• The fire station would be equipped with latest fire-fighting equipment and vehicles.
• The constituency has vast area under pine forests, which are highly sensitive to fire.

About Barsar

• Barsaris a historical town which has its roots linked to the Sidh Shri Baba Balak Nath Ji, a Hindu deity located in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Located primarily on the Foothills Of Western Shivalik Range Of The Outer Himalayas on National Highway 503 A , it is a major Business and Educational Hub in the district.
• Barsar Hilltop overlooks Lake Govind Sagar due South West and The Dhauladhar Himalayas due north.
• Founded by Rajput Prince as a Princely state, used their clan name Barsar (a clan of rajput) as the name of state.
  • After separation of India it was merged in India. Now it is also a part of Himachal Pradesh.
• It also serves as one of five tehsil headquarters in the Hamirpur district.
• Barsar Hilltop separates Hamirpur to Una District at an elevation of 1015 M above sea level.

 ANSWER: D

• Four Eklavya model residential schools opened in the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh will soon get new teachers. In the Union Budget on Wednesday, it has been announced to fill the posts of 38,800 teachers and supporting staff in Eklavya schools across the country.
• Eklavya model residential schools have been opened in Pangi, Bharmour, Nichar and Lahaul in the state. With the announcement of the Union Finance Minister, the unemployed youth of the state now have the hope of becoming teachers in these schools.
• Eklavya School has a capacity of 480 students. Students from VI to VIII can study here.
• Eklavya schools are opened in areas with 50 percent scheduled caste and 20 percent tribal population. Along with studies in these schools, many activities are conducted to promote sports, local art and culture.
• These schools come under the state governments. The budget is received from the central government for their establishment.

ANSWER: C

 ANSWER: C

 ANSWER: C