Daily Prelims 12th February 2024

1. Alaskapox :-

• It is an orthopox virus  that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015. 
• It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox. 
• Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans. 
• Current evidence indicates that the Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals. The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews. 
• Signs and Symptoms: 

• • Symptoms of Alaskapox include one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain. 
  • Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks. 
  • Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness. 

• Can people with Alaskapox infect other people? 

• • While human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox has not yet been observed, some orthopoxviruses can spread by direct contact with lesions (particularly broken skin contact with lesion secretions). 

2. Sangeet Natak Academy:

• It is India’s national academy of music, dance and drama. 
• It was created by a resolution of the Ministry of Education, with P.V. Rajamannar as its first Chairman. 
• It was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and drama. 
• Presently, it is an Autonomous Body of the Ministry of Culture. 
• The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years. 
• It is fully funded by the Government for the implementation of its schemes and programmes. 
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists. 

• The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama; and has in 2006 instituted annual awards to young artists – the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. 

3. SWATI Portal :

• It is aimed at creating a single online portal representing Indian Women and Girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine). 
• The database of the SWATI Portal will serve in policy-making to address the challenges of Gender-gap. 
• The Portal is a complete interactive database; and the first of its kind in India which is developed, hosted and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi.  

4. Features of UPI :

• Unlike traditional methods, UPI simplifies transfers using the recipient’s UPI ID, be it a mobile number, QR code, or Virtual Payment Address, eliminating account numbers. 
• It eliminates the need to enter bank details or other sensitive information each time a customer initiates a transaction. 
• A consistent UPI transaction PIN across apps enhances cross-operability, enabling 24/7 transactions. 
• UPI operates as a digital public infrastructure, allowing seamless interactions for all players, including merchants and customers, without transaction costs. 
• UPI uses technologies like the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and the Aadhaar-Enabled Payment System (AEPS) to ensure that payments between accounts go smoothly. 
• It facilitates push (pay) and pull (receive) transactions and even works for over-the-counter or barcode payments, as well as for multiple recurring payments such as utility bills, school fees, and other subscriptions. 
• It also works with “Peer-to-Peer” requests, which can be scheduled and paid for based on need and convenience. 

Places in News 

Kawal Tiger Reserve :- 

• Location: 

• • It is located in the northeastern part of Telangana(Old Adilabad district), with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other. 
  • It forms part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands. 

• The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012. 
• Rivers: The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary. 
• Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves. 
• Habitat: It has diverse habitats comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams and water bodies. 
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest. 
• Flora: 

• • Teak is found extensively, along with Bamboo. 
  • As many as 673 plant species have been recorded, and the important ones are Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc. 

• Fauna: 

• • It has a faunal diversity which is typical of the Deccan Plateau. 
  • The major wild animals include nilgai, chousingha, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, tiger, leopard, and jungle cat.