WHO adopts “Human Challenge Trial” to develop new vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced eight candidates to enter human trials. Several people step forward to participate in human challenge trial as the race to develop new vaccine for the virus is increasing.

What is Human Challenge Trial?

• The trial involves infecting volunteers intentionally with COVID-19 virus. 
• This is done to speed up the process of vaccine development.

Vaccine Development

The Vaccine development takes several years to develop through three phases of clinical trials. This includes

• Phase 1: During this phase small groups of people receive the vaccine
• Phase 2: Vaccine is given to those people whose characteristics are similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended.
• Phase 3: Vaccine is given to several thousands to test the safety and efficacy. During this phase, the participants either receive placebo or vaccine. Placebo is something that looks like treatment but is not in reality. It can be a sugar solution or saline.

The Human Challenge Trial is not new. Earlier, similar trials were conducted for malaria as well.

Benefits

The main benefit of the human challenge trial is that it accelerates testing. Many efficacious vaccines shall be available more quickly. Also, the number of people required in phase 3 of these trials is less than the regular trials.

Mizoram provides industrial status to Sports

The Mizoram State Government has recently provided industrial status to Sports. This has been done by the government to attract investment in the Sports industry.

Highlights

• The Mizoram Government is framing new industrial policy under which the sports have been included as sports category. 
• The State of Mizoram is known for its great interests towards sports. 
• Of all the footballers in the north east states, Mizoram has pool of football players that play in leading clubs of India. 
• The state has also done extremely well in hockey and weightlifting as well.
• Apart from these games, Mizoram is also known for its great interests and achievements in wrestling and other indigenous games such as relay eaces using bamboo (Kalchhet kal), Insuknawra (rod pushing), Inarpathai (cock fighting), etc.

Indian Super League

• Indian Super League is considered as one of the top football leagues in India. 
• At least 150 players in the league are from Mizoram. 
• The league was launched in 2013 with the aim of growing the sport of football in India.
• The league was first launched by the all India football Federation, Star Sports and Reliance.

Emission Norms of L7 category of BS VI notified

On May 24, 2020, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified emission norms for L7 category for BS VI. With the notification, the BS VI process L, M and N category vehicles in the country gets completed.

Highlights

• The emission norms will encourage the production of quadricycles. 
• The quadricycle segment in India was introduced in less than 2 years. 
• Thus, the full-fledged production has not completely begun.
• The quadricycle segment was introduced in 2018 for both commercial and private use.

What is a Quadricycle?

• Quadricycle is a vehicle that is of the size of a three wheeler but runs with four wheels. The Quadricycle was inserted as “Non-Transport” under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
• Quadricycles are not allowed for transporting cargo in India. 
• They have to undergo vigorous crash tests and meet the safety norms of Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme.

L7 category

• The vehicles with four wheels with mass more than 400 kg are placed under L7 category.

Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANTIA) finds high energy particles from ice

The NASA researchers have found high energy particles erupting from ice in the Antarctic region. The researchers believe that these particles are proof to parallel universe.

ANTIA

• The ANTIA is high-energy cosmic neutrino that detect radio pulses that are being emitted by Antarctic ice sheet. 
• The neutrinos in the ice produce radio pulses due to Askaryan effect.
• The ANTIA instrument detect cosmic-ray neutrinos through a scientific ballon that is flying in the region of Antarctica. 
• It is the first NASA observatory of neutrinos. 
• The researchers have special interest for neutrinos as they are the only particle that reach the earth unattenuated.

Askaryan Effect

• It is the phenomenon where a particle travelling at a velocity faster than light in a dense electric medium, produces shower of secondary charged particles. 
• The dense electric medium can be ice, salt of lunar regolith.

ANTIA’s detections

• The ANTIA has so far made four major cosmic ray detections. 
• The cosmic rays that are coming from the sky are reflected off the ice. 
• However, two of these detections have proofs that they are generated from the ice below.

Enrolments in ESIC Social Security Scheme increases to 821,000

On May 23, 2020, the payroll data of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was released. The data says that around 821,000 new members have joined ESIC social security scheme.

Highlights

• The data was released by National Statistical Office (NSO). 
• According to the data the subscribers to the scheme in 2018-19 were 14.9 million and it increased to 38.3 million in March 2020.
• The NSO report issues data of several social security schemes such as PFRDA, EPFO. 
• This is being done since 2018 covering the period 2017-18.

ESIC

• The Employment State Insurance Scheme was launched in 1952 under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948. 
• The act was the first legislative social security step for workers in India.
• The scheme was designed to help employees fight against their sickness, disablement, maternity and death due to employment.

Recent Developments in the Scheme

• In June 2020, the Government of India reduced the rate of contribution under the scheme. 
• The employer contribution was reduced from 4.75% to 3.25% and Employee contribution was reduced from 1.75% to 0.75%. 
• Also, the employees that are earning Rs 137 or less per day are exempted from payment of their contribution.
• Recently, to meet the salary bills of the workers during COVID-19 lock down period, the Government of India ruled to appropriate funds of ESIC

World Steel report: India’s steel output declined by 65%

On May 24, 2020, the World Steel Association released the World Steel Report. According to the report, the crude steel report of India declined by 65%. During April 2020, the steel output of India was 3.13 million tonnes.

Highlights

• In April 2019, according to the report, India produced 9.02 million tonnes. 
• In March 2020, India faced a decline of 14% steel output as compared to March 2019.
• The report also says that the global steel output declined by 13%. 
• In April 2019, the global steel output was 157.67 million tonnes. 
• In April 2020, the output declined to 137.09 million tonnes.

National Steel Policy

• India is currently operating under its National Steel Policy 2017. 
• Under the policy, India is to increase its steel production to 300 million tonnes by 2030. 
• It also aims to make India self-sufficient in steel. 
• It also aims to build a globally competitive steel industrial output in the country.

Key Findings of the report

• China has reported 1.7% fall in steel production. 
• This is the first time China is facing an output decline. 
• US faced a decline of 32%. South Korea’s steel production declined by 8.4%.
• The other global steel producers such as European Union, France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Russia, Ukraine and Brazil also faced decline in their output.

ICMR to replace HCQ with anti-HIV drug; Kangra Tea Suggested

The Indian Council of Medical Research recently revised its advisories on Hydroxychloroquine. The Council is considering to replace the drug with anti-HIV drugs.

Highlights

• The HCQ drug was recommended for asymptomatic health care workers. 
• However, the ineffectiveness and side effects of the drug is making the council look into alternatives. 
• The assessment of using HCQ by the Task Force says that front line workers working against COVID-19 are facing side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting. 
• This has made the council look for alternates to the drug.
• The anti-HIV drugs are being recommended to replace HCQ. 
• Apart from these drugs, the Kangra Tea has also been suggested.

Kangra Tea

• Kangra Tea is a tea variety from Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. 
• The tea received GI tag in 2005.
• The Kangra Tea is a Chinese variety called Camelia sinensis that was first planted in 1848. 
• The 1905 earthquake and its damages forced the British to close several of the KAngra Tea factories in the region. 
• Later, it was replenished in 2012.