Cold Wave
Relevance:
Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has forecasted severe cold wave conditions in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Key Points
- Cold Wave: A rapid fall in temperature within 24 hours to a level requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities.
- Cold Wave Conditions:
- For the plains, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two consecutive days.
- For coastal stations, the threshold value of minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius is rarely reached. However, the local people feel discomfort due to the wind chill factor which reduces the minimum temperature by a few degrees depending upon the wind speed.
- A wind chill factor is a measure of the cooling effect of the wind on the temperature of the air.
- India’s Core Cold Wave Zone: India’s ‘core cold wave zone’ covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Q.1) In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the: (2022)
- First half of the month of June
- Second half of the month of June
- First half of the month of July
- Second half of the month of July
Ethylene Glycol
Relevance:
The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers issued a gazette notification titled Ethylene Glycol (Quality Control) Order, 2022 on December 29, a day after Uzbekistan alleged 18 child deaths in Samarkand from consumption of a medicinal syrup manufactured by an Indian drugmaker.
About
- Diethylene glycol (DEG) and Ethylene glycol both are sweet-tasting, colourless, odourless liquid
- Commonly used in the commercial preparation of antifreeze.
- Ethylene glycol is used in the production of polyester fibres, paints and polyethene terephthalate (PET)
- DEG because of its hygroscopic property, is used in brake fluid, cigarettes, treatment of paper and some dyes.
- It is an excellent solvent for many relatively insoluble substances.
Related Regulations in India:
The Drugs and Cosmetics Act
- The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central and state regulators for regulation of drugs and cosmetics.
- It provides the regulatory guidelines for issuing licenses to manufacture Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani medicines.
- It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere to the prescribed requirements for licensing of manufacturing units & medicines including proof of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO)
- Prescribes standards and measures for ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics and devices in the country.
- Regulates the market authorization of new drugs and clinical trials standards.
- Supervises drug imports and approves licences to manufacture the above-mentioned products.
- CDSCO regulates export of drugs in India, any manufacturer with the certification from CDSCO can export drugs outside India.
Drugs Controller General of India
- DCGI is the head of department of the CDSCO of the Government of India responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
- DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.
Ethylene Glycol (Quality Control) Order, 2022:
- The order came after the Centre consulted the Bureau of Indian Standards on the matter.
- In respect of specific goods or articles, the Bureau of Indian Standards shall be the certifying and enforcing authority.
- Any person who contravenes the provisions of this Order shall be punishable under the provisions of the said Act.
Source: DownToEarth
Kalasa-Banduri Project
Relevance:
The Govt of India recently approved Karnataka’s Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project which is facing opposition from Goa and Maharashtra.
About Kalasa – Banduri Project
- It is undertaken by the Government of Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the three districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag.
- It involves building across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the Mahadayi river to divert water to the Malaprabha river (a tributary of Krishna river).
- Malaprabha river supplies the drinking water to Dharwad, Belgaum, and Gadag districts.
- Kalasa-Banduri project was planned in 1989; Goa raised an objection to it.
- The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up in 2010. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are parties to the tribunal.
Mahadayi River
- The Mahadayi river rises in Karnataka (Western Ghats) from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district.
- Flowing westward, it enters the north Goa districts.
- Several streams join the flow of the river to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa.
- It joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
- Distribution: Of the total area, 375 sq km lies in Karnataka, 77 sq km in Maharashtra and remaining 1580 sq km is in Goa.
Source: The Hindu
Mobile app ‘Prahari’
Relevance:
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah launched the Border Security Force (BSF) mobile app ‘Prahari’.
Key Features:
- Through the ‘Prahari’ app, jawans can get personal and service-related information, housing, Ayushman- Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and leave related information on their mobile.
- Other Features of the App Include:
- Availability of Bio Data
- Grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS)”
- Information on various welfare schemes
- The app will also connect the Jawans with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs
BSF
- The Border Security Force is India’s border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India.
- It was raised in the wake of the 1965 war in 1965.
- It is the only CAPF to have a Water Wing, Air Wing and an Artillery Regiment.
- It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- It currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
Source: PIB
