insightsonindia.com
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/04/21/insights-daily-current-events-21-april-2015-2/
It will be fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system. The system enables the ship to engage
shore-based and naval surface targets at long range making it a lethal platform for strike against enemy
targets.
The ships air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise
missiles, will revolve around the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system.
Indigenously developed twin tube torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ships antisubmarine capability.
The vessel is follow-on of P15A-Kolkota class destroyers with enhanced features.
Sources: The Hindu, Wiki.
Children 6 to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or take home rations.
The central government will provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains.
The state government will provide a food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of
food grains.
The Public Distribution System is to be reformed.
The eldest woman in the household, 18 years or above, is the head of the household for the issuance of the
ration card.
There will be state- and district-level redress mechanisms and State Food Commissions will be formed for
implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Act.
The poorest who are covered under the Antodaya yojana will remain entitled to the 35 kg of grains allotted
to them under the mentioned scheme.
The cost of the implementation is estimated to be $22 billion(1.25 lac crore), approximately 1.5% of GDP.
Sources: The Hindu, Wiki, NFSA, PIB.
People with recreational or occupational exposure to rural or outdoor settings (e.g., hunters, herders, forest
workers, farmers) are potentially at risk for infection by contact with infected ticks.
Seasonality is another important risk factor as more cases are reported during the dry season, from
November through June.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis can be made in the early stage of illness by molecular detection by PCR or virus isolation from blood.
Later, serologic testing using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA) can be performed.
Prevention
Doctors say there is no specific treatment for KFD, but early hospitalisation and supportive therapy is
important. Supportive therapy includes the maintenance of hydration and the usual precautions for patients
with bleeding disorders.
A vaccine does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas of India. Additional preventative measures
include insect repellents and wearing protective clothing in areas where ticks are endemic.
Previous outbreaks:
The disease has historically been limited to the western and central districts of Karnataka State, India. However, in
November 2012, samples from humans and monkeys tested positive for KFDV in the southernmost district of the
State which neighbours Tamil Nadu State and Kerala State, indicating the possibility of wider distribution of KFDV.
Sources: The Hindu.
session of Parliament.
One-rank one-pension scheme
This is a scheme which will ensure that soldiers of the same rank and the same length of service receive the same
pension, irrespective of their retirement date. In simple words, it demands equal pensions for those who have
retired in one particular year, as those who retire in another year at the same position, and for the same duration of
services rendered.
The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the
number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank.
So far, there was no such rule. While every pay commission bumps the salaries of government servants,
pensions of ex-servicemen remain the same.
The implementation of one rank, one pension is also expected to push up the Centres defence pension payments
by a record 40 per cent, posing fresh challenges to keep the Centres fiscal deficit within the budgetary target of
4.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Sources: The Hindu, PIB.