Welcome to TARUN IAS – Your Daily News Analysis for UPSC/IAS Exam Preparation!

Stay informed with relevant current affairs from trusted sources like The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and more. Our daily news analysis includes Prelims Facts and Important Editorials presented in a concise and bulletised format. Get free daily updates at 12 noon (except Sundays). Don\’t miss the Daily Revision Quiz to reinforce your knowledge. Good luck!

Here are the topics covered for 29 August 2023: Karnataka Cultural Festival, Mortality in COVID-19, Kampala Declaration, ECHIDNA, Nabhmitra, National Sports Day.

 

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

1. Karnataka Cultural Festival

 

GS Paper 2:

1. Mortality in COVID-19

 

GS Paper 3:

1. Kampala Declaration
2. ECHIDNA

 

Facts for Prelims:

1. Nabhmitra
2. National Sports Day

 

GS Paper 1

Mortality in COVID-19

Context

1. A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlighted the post-hospitalization mortality rate in former COVID-19 patients.
2. The study\’s detailed analysis of elements like concurrent diseases, age, and vaccination status underscores vulnerabilities and stresses the need for health condition management to decrease the risk of death.

 

Key Highlights

1. A study of 14,419 former COVID-19 patients from 31 Indian medical facilities revealed:
   1. A 6.5% mortality rate a year post-hospital discharge.
   2. Approximately 50% of the deceased died within 28 days post-discharge.
   3. Mortality risk diminishes with time after discharge.
   4. Elderly individuals (60 and above) with multiple health conditions face heightened mortality risks.
2. Of the participants, 17.1% reported post-COVID-19 symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive changes, and concentration challenges.
3. The study mainly focused on all-cause mortality instead of attributing deaths exclusively to Covid-19. All-cause mortality covers a range of death causes, including comorbidities and other variables.
4. Vaccination provides about 60% protection against Covid-19 infection. Vaccines help in decreasing the severity of the disease during hospitalization.
5. The study pinpointed comorbidity, age, and gender as determinants of mortality risk.
6. People with a single comorbid condition faced a risk over 9 times higher of death.
7. Men had a 1.3-fold increased risk, while individuals aged 60 and over had a 2.6-fold heightened risk.
8. The research emphasizes the significance of handling comorbidities to lower mortality risk.
9. Children between the ages of 0 and 18 had a 5.6 times increased risk of death from the four-week to one-year follow-up period.
10. Within the first four weeks after hospital discharge, the risk was 1.7 times higher.
11. Children with severe health issues, such as cancer and kidney diseases, were more likely to succumb.

 

About ICMR

1. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is India\’s premier institution for orchestrating, coordinating, and advocating biomedical research.
2. Established in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA), it was rebranded as ICMR in 1949.
3. Funded by the Indian government through the Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ICMR\’s mission is to drive, synchronize, and apply medical research for societal benefit, converting medical innovations into actionable processes and integrating them into public health.
4. It collaborates with global entities like WHO and UNICEF on various health research endeavours.
5. Additionally, ICMR promotes human resource advancement and reinforces capacity in biomedical research through diverse initiatives and programs.

 

Karnataka Cultural Festival

Context

1. Recently, Sri Lanka hosted the inaugural Karnataka cultural festival, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Karnataka region from India.

 

Highlights of the Events

1. Sri Lanka recently played host to its first-ever Karnataka cultural festival at the Performing Arts University Auditorium in Colombo.
2. The event was organized by the International Cultural Council of India in partnership with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and the M.E Global Peace Foundation.
3. The festival displayed an array of performances representing nearly thirty renowned folk and classical traditions from Karnataka.
4. The audience witnessed various dance forms, both academic and traditional, musical performances, multilingual poetry readings, Mudra dramas, puppet shows (Tholpavakoothu), and more.
5. One of the highlights was a performance by Madhuri Bondre, a distinguished dancer from Karnataka, and her ensemble.
6. The entire program encapsulated the rich cultural essence of Karnataka and underscored the shared cultural legacy between India and Sri Lanka, celebrating the diversity of both nations.

 

About Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre

1. Established in 1998 in Colombo, the centre, originally named the Indian Cultural Centre, was founded with the primary goal of fostering cultural exchange and interactions between India and Sri Lanka.
2. The Centre stands as one of the 24 Indian Cultural Centres instituted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with the aims to:
3. Reinvigorate and fortify cultural ties and mutual understanding between India and other nations.
4. Enhance India-Sri Lanka cultural collaboration by capitalizing on shared cultural aspects.
5. Generate awareness about the diverse facets of Indian culture.

 

ECHIDNA

Context

1. Echidnas are captivating and distinctive creatures belonging to the monotreme category of mammals.

 

About ECHIDNA

1. Monotremes are a unique set of mammals that lay eggs, and echidnas, together with the platypus, are the sole existing representatives of this classification.
2. Echidnas are native to Australia and New Guinea, boasting a range of unique characteristics that pique scientific curiosity.
3. Often likened to a mix between a hedgehog and an anteater, echidnas possess even more fascinating and exceptional qualities than typically perceived.

 

Egg-Laying Mammals

1. Short-beaked echidnas are one of the world\’s five remaining monotreme species.
2. These unique mammals lay eggs via cloacas and care for their young in skin folds that resemble pouches.
3. Evidence suggests echidnas evolved from water-dwelling ancestors, maintaining basic electroreception abilities.
4. Their English name could be derived from the mythological entity, Echidna, mirroring their hybrid characteristics.

 

Kampala Declaration

Context

1. The KDMECC, or Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change, has received endorsement from 48 nations in Africa.

 

Expansion of KDMECC

1. Originally backed by 15 African nations in Kampala, Uganda, in July 2022, the KDMECC aims to practically and efficiently tackle climate-driven migration.
2. A Conference of States, jointly organized by Kenya and Uganda in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), deliberated on extending KDMECC\’s reach across the continent.
3. This broader endorsement equips African countries to present a consolidated position at upcoming key events like the Africa Climate Summit and COP 28.
4. The KDMECC is the premier action-driven framework initiated by Member States to tackle climate-induced migration.
5. Its objective is to offer tangible solutions to the challenges that arise from the intersection of climate change and human mobility.
6. The KDMECC-AFRICA is slated for signature by Member States at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi on September 4, 2023.
7. This extended framework promotes inclusivity, prioritizing the needs and voices of youth, women, and vulnerable groups.
8. It underscores the importance of representing diverse communities, ensuring that the perspectives of youth, women, and the most vulnerable are at the forefront.

 

Facts for Prelims

National Sports Day

1. India observes National Sports Day every year on 29 August in honor of the birth anniversary of hockey icon Major Dhyan Chand Singh.
2. The inaugural National Sports Day was celebrated on August 29, 2012.
3. Thus, 2023 will mark the 12th anniversary of Rashtriya Khel Divas.
4. The theme for the day is \”Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society\”.

 

Nabhmitra

1. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), partnering with the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, has created an innovative tool called \’Nabhmitra\’. This device aims to improve the safety of fishermen while they are at sea.
2. \’Nabhmitra\’ is a cutting-edge satellite-based communication tool.
3. It enables uninterrupted two-way messaging, allowing fishing boats to communicate effortlessly with onshore officials and control hubs.
4. The \’Nabhmitra\’ device is pivotal in transmitting weather updates and cyclone alerts to fishermen.
5. Notably, these notifications are delivered in the regional language, ensuring clear and comprehensible communication.