Today in History (August 13^th, 1961)

The infamous Berlin Wall, which would come to symbolize the division between East and West during the Cold War, began construction on this day. Erected by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), the wall physically and ideologically separated West Berlin from East Berlin, standing as a stark reminder of the global political tensions of the time.

Let’s revise

A) Which of the following countries are included in the waiver for local clinical trials?

1. India, Brazil, Russia
2. USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, EU
3. China, South Korea, Singapore
4. Germany, France, Italy

Answer: 2) USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, EU
Explanation: The waiver applies to drugs approved in the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the EU.

B) What is an orphan drug?

1. A drug that treats conditions affecting more than 5 lakh persons in India
2. A drug intended for rare diseases affecting no more than 5 lakh persons in India
3. A drug used only in emergency situations
4. A drug used for treating common illnesses

Answer: 2) A drug intended for rare diseases affecting no more than 5 lakh persons in India
Explanation: Orphan drugs are designed for rare diseases with a prevalence of fewer than 5 lakh persons in India.

C) Who is the final regulatory authority for the approval of clinical trials in India?

1. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
2. CDSCO
3. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
4. Central Government

Answer: 3) Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
Explanation: The DCGI, who is also the head of CDSCO, is the final authority for the approval of clinical trials in India.

D) Which organization is responsible for the approval of drugs in India under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940?

1. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
2. Central Licensing Authority
3. CDSCO
4. National Institute of Health

Answer: 3) CDSCO
Explanation: CDSCO is responsible for the approval of drugs, clinical trials, and setting drug standards in India.

E) What has the study published in the Nature journal highlighted about the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)?

1. The GBR is experiencing increased fish populations.
2. The GBR is facing repeated mass coral bleaching due to high sea surface temperatures.
3. The GBR has seen a decrease in sea temperatures.
4. The GBR is unaffected by changes in sea temperatures.

Answer: 2) The GBR is facing repeated mass coral bleaching due to high sea surface temperatures.
Explanation: The study highlights that high sea surface temperatures are causing repeated mass coral bleaching events on the GBR, threatening coral colonies.

F) What is coral bleaching?

1. When corals grow additional algae
2. When corals turn black due to increased temperatures
3. When corals expel symbiotic algae and turn completely white due to stress
4. When corals absorb more light and nutrients

Answer: 3) When corals expel symbiotic algae and turn completely white due to stress
Explanation: Coral bleaching occurs when corals are stressed by changes such as temperature, light, or nutrients, leading them to expel their symbiotic algae and turn white.

G) Which of the following is NOT a factor responsible for coral bleaching?

1. Heat stress from raised water temperatures
2. Increased UV radiation
3. Runoff and pollution
4. Decreased ocean acidity

Answer: 4) Decreased Ocean acidity
Explanation: Decreased ocean acidity is not a factor contributing to coral bleaching. Instead, factors include heat stress, increased UV radiation, runoff, pollution, and ocean acidification.

H) Which journal published the study on the highest ocean heat and its impact on the GBR?

1. Science
2. Nature
3. The Lancet
4. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Answer: 2) Nature
Explanation: The study regarding the highest ocean heat and its impact on the GBR was published in the journal Nature.

I) Where is the largest coral reef system in the world located?

1. Off the coast of Florida, USA
2. In the Red Sea
3. Off the coast of Queensland, Australia
4. In the Caribbean Sea

Answer: 3) Off the coast of Queensland, Australia
Explanation: The largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea.

J) What are coral reefs primarily created by?

1. Large fish species
2. Seaweed and algae
3. Millions of tiny polyps forming carbonate structures
4. Marine sediment deposits

Answer: 3) Millions of tiny polyps forming carbonate structures
Explanation: Coral reefs are created by millions of tiny coral polyps that form large carbonate structures over time.

K) Where are more than one-third of the world’s coral reefs located?

1. In the Mediterranean Sea
2. In tropical waters around Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines
3. In the Arctic Ocean
4. In the Atlantic Ocean near South America

Answer: 2) In tropical waters around Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines
Explanation: More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the tropical waters of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

L) Which of the following areas in India is NOT known for coral reefs?

1. Gulf of Kutch
2. Gulf of Mannar
3. Andaman & Nicobar
4. Himalayan foothills

Answer: 4) Himalayan foothills
Explanation: Coral reefs in India are found in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep, but not in the Himalayan foothills.

Summary of Today’s News

Institutional ranking framework

NIRF Ranking 2024: The much-anticipated National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2024 were released today by the Ministry of Education.
IIT-Madras:

• Retained the top spot in the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) overall rankings for the sixth consecutive year.
• Maintained the number one position in engineering for the ninth year since 2016.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru:

• Ranked the top institution in the universities and research categories.
• Has held these top positions since 2016 (universities) and 2021 (research).

IIM-Ahmedabad:

• Continues to be the top management institute for the fifth consecutive year since 2020.

AIIMS, New Delhi:

• Retained the top spot in medical sciences for the seventh consecutive year.

IIT-Bombay:

• Named the best institution for innovation, followed by IIT-Madras and IIT-Delhi.

Other Top Institutions:

• Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi: Best college for pharmacy.
• Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai: Best college for dental science.
• Hindu College and Miranda House, New Delhi: Top two in the colleges category.

Architecture and Planning:

• IIT-Roorkee: Retained first place for the fourth consecutive year.

Law:

• National Law School of India University, Bengaluru: Best law school for the seventh consecutive year.

Agriculture:

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi: Best institution for agriculture and allied sectors.

State Public Universities:

• Anna University, Chennai: Top in the State public universities category.
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune: Second and third in the State public universities category.

Open Universities:

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi: Best open university.

Skill Universities:

• Symbiosis Skill and Professional University, Pune: Best in the skill universities category.

Participation and Expansion:

• A total of 6,517 institutions participated in the ranking, with 10,845 applications submitted.
• The Ministry is considering adding sustainability as a ranking criterion and possibly including institutions from neighboring countries to enhance the ranking’s comprehensiveness.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Context:

• An expedition team from the Ministry of Defence, led by ‘Divyang’ Uday Kumar, made history by hoisting the largest Indian flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro.

About Mount Kilimanjaro

• It is a dormant volcano situated in Tanzania, East Africa.
• It holds the title of the highest peak (5,895 meters) in Africa.
• The mountain is also the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, meaning it is not part of a mountain range.
• Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi.
• It is a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site ‘Kilimanjaro National Park’.

Vikram Sarabhai

Context:

• The birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai is celebrated every year on August 12.

Background:

• Vikram Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919 at Ahmedabad in an affluent family of progressive industrialists.
• Returned to India in 1947 after studying at Cambridge.
• Founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947, at the age of 28.

Contributions: Known as the Father of the Indian Space Program.

• Initiated the Indian Space Programme in 1960 with a vision of leveraging space technology for national development.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formally established on August 15, 1969.
• Initiated the project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite.
• The first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.
• Worked with Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear science program, set up the first rocket launching station in India.
• Awards and Honours: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962).
• Padma Bhushan (1966).
• Padma Vibhushan (posthumous, 1972).
• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram is named in his memory.
• The Dr. Sarabhai Crater on the Moon was named in his honour in 1974.