Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability. Read more at World Health Organisation. Leprosy continues to be a ground … Continue reading Prelims Revision – 2 (From July, 2018)

Meghalaya is the first state to pass a social audit legislation, the Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act. This act mandates social audit over 21 schemes and 11 departments. Social audits are mandatory as per the 73rd CAA, 1993, through with the Village communities are empowered to conduct social audit of all … Continue reading Prelims Revision – 1 (From July, 2018)

‘The Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report’ was released recently by the Canadian Cancer Society which documents global progress on plain packaging.  Indian packaging has the warning on 85% of both sides. The Union Health Ministry’s notification on the new set of 85% pictorial health warnings for mandatory display on both sides of the … Continue reading PRELIMS REVISION-39

Zika cases were on a Rise in Rajasthan in October 2018. Zika virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected, in newborn children. … Continue reading PRELIMS REVISION-38

The unmanned BepiColombo spacecraft is a joint effort of European and Japanese space agencies for a joint mission to Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. Mercury’s extreme temperatures, the intense gravity pull of the sun and blistering solar radiation make for hellish conditions.  BepiColombo will release two probes — Bepi and Mio — that will … Continue reading Prelims Revision-37

The Government of India has initiated the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) with a view to address cyclone risks in the country.The overall objective of the Project is to undertake suitable structural and non-structural measures to mitigate the effects of cyclones in the coastal states and UTs of India. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) … Continue reading Prelims Revision-36

Indias nuclear triad, stated in its nuclear doctrine, is operational after indigenous ballistic missile nuclear submarine INS Arihant achieved a milestone by conducting its first deterrence patrol. Arihant is now prowling the deep seas carrying ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. Given India’s stated position of ‘No-First-Use’ (NFU) in launching nuclear weapons, the SSBN is … Continue reading Prelims Revision-35

The 25th edition of the India-Singaporebilateral naval exercise, SIMBEX, took place at the tri-services command in Port Blair. Changi Naval Base, officially known as RSS Singapura - Changi Naval Base, is the latest naval facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The Shia community of Kashmir is associated with the ‘papier mache’ art. The Mughal … Continue reading Prelims Revision-34

Astronomers have discovered a frozen planet with a mass over three times that of the Earth, orbiting the closest solitary star to the Sun. The potentially rocky planet, known as Barnard’s star b, is a ‘super-Earth’ and orbits around its host star once every 233 days. Barnard’s star is the next closest star to the … Continue reading Prelims Revision-33

The Strait of Malacca or Straits of Malacca is a narrow, 550 mi stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. As the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. US sanctions under the … Continue reading Prelims Revision-32