Daily Current Affairs – April 22

GS – 2

National

India ranks 142^nd in World Press Freedom Index:

• The World Press Freedom Index says that with no murder of journalists in India in 2019 as compared to 2018, the security situation in the country has improved.
• According to the index, there were 6 murders of journalists in the country in 2018.
• According to the index, in India, there have been violations in press freedom, reprisals that were instigated by corrupt local officials and ambushes by political activities.
• Pakistan ranked 145 dropping three places. Bangladesh ranked 151. Norway ranked first, North Korea was at 180th and China ranked 177th.
• The Index is compiled and published by Reporters without borders, a Paris based non-profit organisation.
• Around 180 countries were ranked in the index. According to the index, South Asia performed the least as compared to all the other regions.

G2O Agricultural ministers Meet:

• The Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attended the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meet through video conferencing. The meet was chaired by Saudi Arabia.
• The nations resolved to work together on nutrition and food security.
• It also aimed to maintain continuity of food supply value chain.
• They also resolved to work together to promote research in agriculture that will help improve sustainability and resilience in agriculture. India shared its measures taken to help the agriculture sector in its operations during lock down.
• The G20 AMIS (Agricultural Market Information System) will help coordinating policy responses. The countries have called for continued support of AMIS through voluntary financial support.
• The meet also stressed on the importance of food losses and wastages due to the disruption in food supply chains.

Government Schemes and Interventions

Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan:

• Gujarat Government begun the third phase of Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan amidst lock down. The scheme is to continue till June 10.
• About the scheme:
• The scheme was launched in 2018 by the Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr Vijay Rupani. Upon the huge success of the scheme, the state government increased the financial contribution of the scheme by 60% during its second phase. The desilted soil is used for farming.
• Following this scheme the Gujarat Government in third phase has planned to deepen lakes, rivers, Check dams before monsoon. It will also remove silts with participation of people under MNREGA.
• Gujarat government planned this to provide employment opportunities to the rural population, especially the migrants. The norms of COVID-19 such as social distancing is to be followed strictly.

GS – 3

Science and Technology

Sepsivac drug:

• The Drugs Controller General of India recently approved the trial of “Sepsivac”.
• The drug is available commercially. With the DCGI approving the drug, CSIR is to start clinical trials of the drug.
• Currently, India is working on the strategy of repurposing of drugs.

About the drug:

• The drug is used to treat Gram Negative Sepsis patients. The symptoms and ailments of both critically ill COVID-19 patients and Gram Negative Sepsis patients are almost similar.
• The immune response of these patients is altered with a massive change in Cytokine profile. The major cause of death of COVID-19 patients is cytokine storm.
• During the cytokine storm, the immune system of the body starts attacking both infected and uninfected cells.
• Cytokines are produced in human body in response to infections. There are different types of cytokines. They are interferons, lymphokines, interleukins and tumor necrosis.

Economy

TIFAC to help in the growth of Indian Economy post COVID-19 lock down:

• Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) is to prepare a revival strategy to help in the growth of Indian Economy post COVID-19 Lock down.
• TIFAC is Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council.
• It is an autonomous organization that was established in 1988. It operates under Department of Science and Technology.
• The Technology Vision 2035 released by PM Modi at the 103rd Science Congress was prepared by TIFAC.
• The strategy is to strengthen Make in India initiative, develop technology driven transparent Public Distribution System, reduce imports, efficient rural health care delivery, adoption of emerging technologies such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, etc. The strategy will also aim to commercialize indigenous technologies.
• The major concern of Government of India is labour shortage that is to occur for more than 6 months after lock down.
• The Government is also expecting 40 million job losses. Almost every sector namely trade, transport, manufacturing, tourism, health care, education are to hit.