Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

What is the news : In the pandemic,a 19th century portrait of three women from Mysore has been going viral as "one of the most important scientific pictures in the history of medicine in India".

Who are the three women?

• Believed to be painted in 1805 by Irish-born artist Thomas Hickey, the oil on canvas was initially thought to be portraits of "dancing girls or courtesans". In the 1990s, Dr Nigel Chancellor, historian at Cambridge University, pointed out that the painting was of historic significance and depicted one of the first vaccine drives in India, with bejewelled women from the W  adiyar dynasty posing for Hickey.
• The youngest woman, on the right, has been identified as Devajammani, the younger queen of King Krishnaraja Wadiyar III. She has her hand on her left arm, suggesting she has been vaccinated against smallpox, which had led to numerous deaths in India over the years. On the left, meanwhile, is the older queen, who has pigmentation around her mouth, which could possibly be a sign of surviving smallpox, probably through variolation, which would often lead to a mild infection that resulted in lasting immunity.
• According to a catalogue note that accompanied the canvas's 2007 sale at Sotheby's, the woman in the middle is one of the king's sisters.

How and when did the smallpox vaccine reach India?

• The smallpox vaccine, discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796, was the first successful vaccine to be developed.
• On June 14, 1802, Anna Dusthall, an Anglo-Indian toddler, was the first person in India to be successfully vaccinated against the virus that relied on the cowpox virus, "a mild cousin of smallpox" to trigger immunity.
• The "vaccine vesicle" that came on the arm of the receiver was a source of lymphatic fluid or pus that would act as a vaccine, leading to an arm-to-arm immunisation chain.
• The vaccine subsequently travelled to different parts of India, including Hyderabad, Cochin, Madras and Mysore.

How the British inoculated India, and the role played by the canvas?

• While the lymph was at times reportedly dried and sealed between glass plates to be transported, it often did not survive long journeys, due to which the British had to primarily rely on a human chain.
• There was also opposition from the domestic population on the introduction of the cowpox virus and also because some believed the goddess of smallpox would be angered by the vaccination.
• With Tipu Sultan defeated in Mysore, and the reinstatement of the Wadiyars, the East India Company was trying to strengthen its position in South India and protect the expat population from an epidemic, making vaccination essential.
• Queen Lakshmi Ammanni, who had lost her husband to smallpox, supported their cause and wanted to vaccine her population against the deadly virus. The painting was supposed to encourage participation in the vaccination drive.

What :

Section 304B in The Indian Penal Code states that -

Dowry death.—

(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or har­assment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death. Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section, “dowry” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961).

(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprison­ment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.

What is the news : The Supreme Court indicated in a judgment on Friday that a straitjacket and literal interpretation of a penal provision on dowry death may have blunted the battle against the “long-standing social evil”.

What is the news : Recently,  GST council meet was held to review pandemic needs

GST Council:

• Is a constitutional body under Article 279A. It makes recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax and was introduced by the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016.
• Is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.
• Is considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get due representation. The Economic Survey 2017-18 also hailed the GST Council for its cooperative federalism technology which brings together the Center and States and can be applied to many other policy reforms.

Other Details

• Every decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council shall be taken at a meeting by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting, in accordance with the following principles, namely:
• The vote of the Central Government shall have a weightage of one third of the total votes cast, and
• The votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast in that meeting

Highlights of the meeting :

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council failed to agree on immediate tax breaks for critical pandemic relief supplies, including COVID-19 vaccines, and constituted a Group of Ministers to recommend individual items’ tax rates by June 8.

What is the news :  Government has constituted a panel of state ministers to examine valuation of services by online gaming to levy goods and services tax (GST). They will also examine services by casinos and race courses.

About Panel: Panel comprises of seven-members, was convened by Gujarat Deputy Chief, Minister Nitin Patel. Other members include- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P Thiagarajan, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, and Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Function of the Panel

Panel

• Will examine “valuation of services” as well as examine if any alternate legal provision is required to provide a better means of valuation for these services. It will also examine impact of such valuation on other services like lottery.
• Will submit its report, in six months, to GST Council headed by Union Finance Minister and comprising state Finance Ministers.

What was the need of panel?

In India, Online gaming is currently in nascent stages which thus leads to issues revolving around taxation and valuation. Thus, the panel has been set up to understand, examine and resolve uncertainty on valuation of services by these companies.

GST on Services

Presently, 18 percent GST is levied on services like casinos, horse racing and online gaming. Now, panel will decide method of valuing these services.

What is the news: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued guidelines for Toll centres to reduce waiting time to 10 seconds per vehicle at any point of time.

What is yellow line: According to the guidelines, yellow lines at toll plazas will reduce the waiting queue of vehicles to 100 metres even during peak hours. If queue is beyond 100 metres, vehicles at the front will pass without paying toll.

Background

NHAI highlights, it has successfully transitioned to 100 per cent cashless tolling from February 2021. Overall FASTag penetration has reached to 96 per cent to 99 per cent penetration. As the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) penetration is increasing in India, NHAI is emphasising to have a new design and construct upcoming toll plazas based on traffic projections for next 10 years.

What is electronic toll collection: It is a wireless system that automatically collect usage fee or toll charged to vehicles using toll roads, toll bridges, HOV lanes and toll tunnels. It is a faster alternative unlike toll booths, where vehicles stop and driver manually pays toll with cash or card.  FASTag is one such example.

About FASTag: This electronic toll collection system in India is operated by NHAI. It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make toll payments directly from prepaid or savings account linked to it. The tag is affixed on windscreen of vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. State-run oil marketing companies like IOC, BPCL and HPCL signed MoUs in 2019 to enable use of FASTag to do purchases at petrol pumps.

What : A new sub-genus of cricket recently discovered

Where : Kurra caves of Chhattisgarh

Details :

• It was discovered by a team of zoologists headed by Dr Ranjana Jaiswara of the Zoology Department of Panjab University, Chandigarh,
• The new subgenus was named Jayanti after Professor Jayant Biswas, one of the leading cave explorers in the country, who assisted the team

What is Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897: Arachnomimus is the genus name given by Swiss Entomologist Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1878 to crickets that resembled spiders. This is apt because crickets of this group are commonly called spider crickets because of their smaller body size and long legs.

How is the newly discovered subgenus different: The newly discovered subgenus, Indimimus, is different from the two subgenera, Arachnomimus and Euarachnomimus, because of the male genitalia structure, explains Dr Jaiswara. Insects have a lock-and-key model genitalia structure which is unique to each subgenus. Genus and subgenus are taxonomic levels created by taxonomists to classify organisms. A genus is represented by a set of diagnostic characters. Certain variations in characters compel taxonomists to divide the genus into subgenus and document the variation.

Why is the discovery significant?

• Crickets are noticeable for their loud calls, especially at night. Male crickets produce this sound by rubbing their wings against each other to attract females. The females listen to these calls using ears located on their legs and approach the males for mating and reproduction.
• Interestingly, males of the new Jayanti subgenus cannot produce sound and their females don't have ears. The crickets were found on the walls of the Kurra caves which don't have light inside. They may be communicating by beating their abdomen or any other body part on the cave walls. Vibrational communication is one of the softest but fastest modes of signal transmission. Further studies on their skills of vibrational communication may help in designing hearing aids for human which can capture quietest signals and amplify to an audible hearing range, the researchers explain.

NOTE : With the discovery of Jayanti from India, the genus Arachnomimus is now known from 12 species.

What : National AI Portal of India

What is the news : The ‘National AI Portal (https://indiaai.gov.in)’, celebrated its first anniversary on May 28, 2021.

About the portal :

• The portal aims to aid the development of solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It will act as a one-stop digital platform for AI-related developments in India, investment funds in AI, sharing resource details of startups, companies, and educational institutions related to AI in India.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT and IT Industry body NASSCOM has jointly developed the portal

Recent news : Veer Savarkar Jayanti was celebrated recently

When : May 28

About :

• Name - Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
• Date of Birth: 28 May, 1883
• Died: 26 February, 1966
• Place of Birth: Bhagpur, Nashik (Maharashtra)
• Place of Death: Mumbai
• Cause of Death: Fasting (Sallekhana Prayopavesa)
• Father's Name: Damodar Savarkar
• Mother's Name: Yashoda Savarkar
• Wife: Yamunabai
• Brothers: Ganesh and Narayan
• Sister: Mainabai
• Political party: Hindu Mahasabha
• Religious Views: Atheist
• Education: Bachelor of Arts from Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra
• Profession: Lawyer, politician, writer, and activist
• Barrister at the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London
• Prison Journey: Veer Savarkar was prisoned by the Britishers for about 50 years, for revolting against Morley Minto reforms.He was shifted to Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• His famous slogan: "Hinduize all Politics and Militarise Hindudom".
• Famous as: For his contribution to the Indian Independence Movement
• He wrote 'The Indian War of Independence'. In his book 'Kale Pani', he mentioned his cellular jail struggle of Indian Independence. He criticised Mahatma Gandhi's politics and wrote a book titled 'Gandhi Gondhal'. He penned several poems like 'Jayostute' and 'Sagara Pran Talmalala'. He also created several neologisms like 'Hutatma', 'Digdarshak', 'Doordhwani', 'Sansad', Tanklekhan', 'Mahapaur' etc. among others.

When : May 28 every year

Why : 28 May (28/5) was chosen as the date because it highlights average menstrual cycle. Women start menstruating after every 28 days and it lasts for 5 days on average.

By : Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global movement which seeks to normalise menstruation. It was initiated by German non-profit organisation “WASH United” which is also a global coordinator for this day.  It was first launched in 2014.

Aim of the day: The day aims to shed taboos associated menstruation, to break the silence and to change negative social norms.

Theme of year 2021: “Action and Investment in Menstrual Hygiene and Health”.

ABOUT LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS :

GEOGRAPHY: 36 islands across 12 atolls, closest to Kerala, on which it depends for essential supplies. Only 10 of the islands are inhabited. Once a part of Malabar district of the Madras Presidency, Lakshadweep was given Union Territory status following Kerala state’s formation in 1956.

DEMOGRAPHY: With a population of 65,000 (2011 Census), Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory. It has the highest population share of Muslims (96%) and Scheduled Tribes (94.8%) among the UTs. Residents speak Malayalam and Dhivehi.

POLITICS: The UT is served by a Lok Sabha MP, currently Mohd Faizal P P (NCP) since 2014. The NCP and the Congress are the dominant parties; the BJP and Communist parties too have units. P M Sayeed won 10 consecutive terms during 1967-2004, eight of these on a Congress ticket. His son Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed was MP between 2009 and 2014.

WHAT ARE PROPOSALS AND WHY IS THE PROTEST

COW SLAUGHTER & BEEF

PROPOSAL: An order from the Administration seeks to ban the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and buffalo without a certificate from a competent authority. It prohibits the sale, transport and storage of beef and beef products. Penalties include a jail term up to one year and a fine of Rs 10,000. The Administration has not provided an explanation on why the rule was brought in.

PROTEST: Residents view the rule as a direct infringement on their culture and eating habits. They allege the rule was decided without consultation with local bodies.

TWO-CHILD POLICY

PROPOSAL: Under the Draft Panchayat Regulation 2021, the Administration aims to bar people with more than two children from becoming a member of the gram panchayat. For those who already have more than two children, the regulation does not disqualify them provided they do not have further children after the date on which the rule comes into effect.

PROTEST: Locals have questioned the motive. The NCP and the Congress too have opposed the move.

SERVING LIQUOR TO TOURISTS

PROPOSAL: The Administration has decided to allow liquor to be served at resorts on inhabited islands. Currently, prohibition is in place on all inhabited islands, with liquor served only at resorts on the uninhabited Bangaram island. Collector S Asker Ali clarified that liquor permits would be given only to resorts for tourists, not for locals.

PROTEST: Residents have alleged that the move will lead to a proliferation of liquor sales on the island, which had been observing near-prohibition until now.

LAND ACQUISITION POWERS

PROPOSAL: The Administration brought in a draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) to oversee development of towns on the islands, with sweeping changes in the way land can be acquired and utilised. It talks of declaration of ‘planning areas’ and constitution of ‘planning and development authorities’ for preparing a land use map and register, ostensibly for large projects.

PROTEST: Residents have protested against the way it was prepared and pushed through without consultation. They fear large infrastructure and tourism projects can destabilise the ecology, and that the notification gives powers to the Administration to remove small landholdings of ST residents.

ANTI-GOONDA REGULATION

PROPOSAL: The draft Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation provides for powers to detain a person for up to one year to prevent him from “acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”. It allows for detention for anti-social activities from six months to a year without legal representation. The Collector said while the island remains peaceful, there have been reports of drugs being found along with weapons and live ammunition. He said the regulation is required to keep the “youth from getting misguided by illegal businesses”.

PROTEST: Residents are sceptical of the need for such a stringent law in a UT with one of the lowest crime rates in the country. They allege it has been brought in to arrest those opposed to the Administration.

COVID-19 SOPS

PROPOSAL: For a year, Lakshadweep did not record any case of Covid-19 , thanks to stringent quarantine protocols and testing of inbound travellers. Last December, Covid-19 SOPs were diluted by doing away with mandatory quarantine for travellers at Kochi and Kavaratti. Instead, anyone with a negative RT-PCR certificate issued in the previous 48 hours could travel to Lakshadweep. The Administration said the SOPs were changed in accordance with Home Ministry rules and to allow for reopening of the economy.

PROTEST: The change led to the island losing its ‘green zone’ tag and a spurt in infections in subsequent months. As of May 28, the Union Territory has reported over 7,300 cases and 28 deaths. Islanders blame the Administration for mismanagement in handling of the pandemic.

• Bengaluru based space transportation company Bellatrix Aerospace has tested India’s first privately built Hall Thruster, an efficient electric propulsion system for satellites. The tests were carried out at the Spacecraft Propulsion Research Laboratory at SID-IISc.
• Scientists of Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have achieved another milestone in this journey, with the development of a 'Saline Gargle RT-PCR Method' for testing COVID-19 samples.
• Bashar al-Assad was re-elected as President for a fourth term in war-ravaged Syria, amid accusations that polls were “neither free nor fair”.
• Union Education Minister has approved proposal to provide monetary assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to students under Mid-Day meal scheme.
• Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, launched 60 Starlink Broadband Satellites with Falcon 9 first stage booster into the orbit. Starlinks are satellite internet constellation, constructed by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access. It was 85th landing by SpaceX’s reusable launch system development program.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has designed clothing which use special fibres to sense movement of person via touch.
• Hong Kong mountaineer, Tsang Yin-hung, recorded “world’s fastest ascent of Everest by a woman” in just 26 hours.