CURRENT AFFAIRS CAPSULE – JULY 22, 2020

News: sero-surveillance study conducted by National Center for Disease Control [NCDC], MoHFW, in Delhi.

About Study

• Survey teams were formed for all 11 districts of Delhi and samples were collected from selected individuals after taking written informed consent.  
• Their sera were tested for IgG antibodies and infection using COVID KAVACH ELISA approved by Indian Council for Medical Research [ICMR].
• It is one of the largest sero-prevalence studies conducted in the country using the ELISA testing.
• These tests performed are not a diagnostic test but only provides information about past infection due to SARSCoV-2 in individuals.
• Repeated sero-surveillance or antibody testing done over time generates important evidence for assessing the spread of the pandemic from time to time.

Study results

• Study suggests prevalence of IgG antibodies across Delhi is 23.48%.
• Study results suggests large number of infected persons remain asymptomatic.
• Prevalence believed to be contained due to proactive measures taken by Delhi government. However, a significant proportion of population is vulnerable. 
• More efforts are required such as physical distancing, use of face mask/cover, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoidance of crowded places etc.

About ELISA (enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay) testing 

B cells of the immune system produces Y-shaped protein i.e. antibodies in response to exposure to antigens. Antibodies binds to the antigens entered into the body and tags them for attack from immune system. 

Formation of antibody is not a very rapid process. IgM are 1st antibodies developed in the body i.e. within 7 to 10 days after exposure. It is only after about 10 to 14 days, the body begins making IgG antibodies, that is much stronger compared to IgM antibodies.

The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is a technique used to detect antibodies in a person for the exposure to infectious diseases. 

Term enzyme-linked suggests it uses enzymes to detect presence of antibodies in a blood sample

ELISA test is of two types depending on the antibodies: (1) immunoglobulin M (IgM), (2) immunoglobulin G (IgG).

• Immunoglobulin M (IgM): detects antibodies produced in early stages of infection
• Immunoglobulin G (IgG): detects antibodies developed in later stage of infection

In May, ICMR Approved Covid Kavach ELISA IgG test developed through the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

ELISA test for Covid-19 is only approved for sero-surveys i.e. for estimating the proportion of population exposed to COVID-19. It is not a diagnostics test. It suggests the level of public health interventions required in an area.  

RT-PCR (reverse-polymerase chain reaction) tests are used for diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19 in individuals. It is a confirmatory test for COVID-19.

News: US-India Business Council’s India Ideas Summit is ongoing. 

About summit 

• India Ideas Summit marks the 45th anniversary of the formation of US-India Business Council.
• The theme for this year’s India Ideas Summit is ‘Building a Better Future’.
• Summit will feature high-level presence from Indian and US government policymakers, state-level officials, and thought leaders from business and society.
• The Summit will witness discussions on areas including India-US cooperation and future of the relation between the two counties in a post pandemic world.
• Last year, 44th summit was organised at the US Chamber of Commerce at Washington D.C., addressed by Mike Pompeo (US Secretary of State). 

About USIBC

• USIBC (US-India Business Council) was Formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization for advancing U.S.-India commercial ties. 
• Council serves as a direct link between business and Government leaders, resulting in increased trade and investment.
• The Council is the largest bilateral trade association in the United States.

News: SC given 7 days to centre to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai) to install a smog tower in Delhi. 

About the case 

• On January 13, SC ordered centre to install an experimental smog tower at the busy Anand Vihar intersection in the National Capital. 
• 3 months time limit was provided for completion of the project, but 7 months have been passed, order is yet to be completed. 
• The project was be funded by the Union government, and monitored by Ministry of Environment and Forests. 
• Now, court has warned to initiate contempt if its order was not implemented.

What are Smog towers?

Smog towers are structures fitted with multiple layers of air filters, works as large-scale air purifiers. 

These towers clean the air of pollutants (PM 2.5 and 10) as it passes through them. After the cleaning, the tower releases clean air.

These towers use carbon nanofibers as a major component. 

China has similar tower of over 100 metres in China’s Xi’an city to combat air pollution in the city.  The Xi’an tower is dubbed the world’s largest, and has reportedly brought down PM 2.5 by 19% in an area of around 6 sq km in its vicinity.

News: Around 85 lakh rural households were provided with tap connections since its launch. 

Achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission

• More than 10% of the target households have been provided with tap connections in 7 States viz. Bihar, Telangana, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram. 
• Other States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Manipur have shown a good progress. 
• About 24.30% of rural households have already been provided with the tap connections, out of 18.93 Crore rural households in the country. 
• Around 1 lakh households are being provided daily with tap connections.
• Now objective of the program is to cover remaining 14.33 Crore households in a time-bound manner while ensuring the functionality of all tap connections.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

Implemented by: Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with states. 

Aim: To provide potable water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis through tap connections to every rural household in the country by 2024. Although many states and UTs have committed to achieve the goal before 2024.

Monitoring of the progress on mission is being done on day-to-day basis. 

In 2020-21, a sum of Rs. 23,500 Crore has been allocated for the implementation of JJM. 50% of 15th Finance Commission grants to Rural Local Bodies, i.e. Rs. 30,375 Crore have also been earmarked for water supply and sanitation.

News: the IT Ministry in an e-mail to banned companies has reminded that it would be a penal offence under the Information Technology Act if any of the listed applications were still available or operating.

About Chinese app ban

on June 29, government banned 59 apps of Chinese origin, including popular ones such as TikTok, SHAREIt, UC Browser, CamScanner, Helo, Weibo, WeChat and Club Factory.

Reasons of app ban

As per IT ministry, it received many complaints from various sources, including misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India.

Many people have raised their concerns with Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) regarding security of data and loss of privacy in using these apps. 

Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre also provided “exhaustive recommendations” to government for the actions. 

Although this move was seen as a retaliatory action against Chinese aggression in Galwan valley, government didn’t use reference to the incident directly. 

As per government this move was taken “for safety, security, defence, sovereignty & integrity of India and to protect data & privacy of people of India”. 

Courtesy: Economic Times

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000

Section was introduced by an amendment to the Act in 2008. This act provides Central government with the power to block public access to any information online — whether on websites or mobile apps. 

Applicability: Act will apply if any website or app threatens India’s defence, its sovereignty and integrity, friendly relations with foreign countries and public order.

Procedure for blocking access is provided under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

News: India had recorded a trade surplus in June for the first time in 18 years.

News details

Causes behind surplus trade in India

Courtesy – The Hindu (Red line represents trade balance; blue line represents total trade)