What is the News ?

A recent study has shown that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is becoming more prevalent among contemporary women in India.

Facts About:

• PCOS is a prevalent hormonal issue that primarily affects women in their childbearing years.
• Symptoms: PCOS is associated with irregular ovulation, elevated androgen (male hormone) levels, and the presence of numerous small ovarian cysts.

                   It can result in missed or irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, acne, fertility challenges, and weight gain.

• Causes: PCOS often has a genetic component, with a family history of diabetes or obesity being common.

                   Environmental factors that promote an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and high stress levels can also contribute.

• Treatment: Managing PCOS involves lifestyle adjustments, medications, and fertility treatments to address its symptoms and complications.
• PCOS is a concern for one out of every five women in India, and 60% of those seeking infertility treatments are doing so because of issues related to PCOS.

What is the News ?

Researchers have recently extracted Ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the desiccated skin and muscle of a Tasmanian tiger that had been stored at a museum in Stockholm since 1891.

Facts About:

• The Tasmanian tiger had a wolf-like appearance, distinguished by tiger-like stripes along its back.
• Regrettably, the last known Tasmanian tiger passed away in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936.
• This large carnivorous marsupial is now considered extinct.
• Among the family Thylacinidae, it stood as the sole survivor into modern times.
• Its habitat once spanned across continental Australia, reaching as far north as New Guinea and as far south as Tasmania.
• As an apex predator, it hunted kangaroos and various other prey.

What is RNA?

• RNA, short for Ribonucleic acid, is a complex compound with a high molecular weight, and it plays a crucial role in cellular protein synthesis.
• In some viruses, RNA takes on the role of carrying genetic codes, replacing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
• RNA is composed of ribose nucleotides, which are nitrogenous bases attached to a ribose sugar via phosphodiester bonds.
• The nitrogenous bases found in RNA include adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
• Unlike DNA, RNA is a single-stranded molecule responsible for carrying genetic information.
• RNA's primary function is to synthesize the diverse array of proteins required by an organism for survival, while also regulating cell metabolism.

What is the News ?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India has recently earned a 10-year recognition status from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

Facts About:

WFME is a worldwide organization dedicated to the training and education of medical doctors.

Their mission is to work towards better healthcare for all people.

WFME's primary goal is to elevate the quality of medical education on a global scale by promoting the highest scientific and ethical standards.

They achieve this goal through several means, including:

• Establishing standards in medical education
• Advocating for the accreditation of medical schools
• Developing databases related to medical education
• Initiating projects focused on the future of medicine and medical education
• Publishing informative materials and forming partnerships

WFME was established in 1972 and has its headquarters in Ferney-Voltaire, France.

Notably, WFME is the organization that officially represents medical teachers and medical teaching institutions on a global scale, serving as their voice before the World Health Organization (WHO).

WFME's accreditation program plays a crucial role in ensuring that medical institutions meet and uphold the highest international standards in education and training.

What is the News ?

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) recently launched the mobile application and web portal for the General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES).

Facts About:

• This innovative portal and mobile application aim to revolutionize agricultural practices across the nation.
• The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has developed this technology-driven solution to expand the reach, scope, and effectiveness of government initiatives in the development process.
• Automating the GCES process ensures timely reporting of crop statistics and data accuracy.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Information: The portal and app serve as a complete repository of yield estimates, encompassing village-specific GCES plans, plot details where crop cutting experiments occur, and post-harvest crop and driage weights.
• Geo-referencing: The mobile app offers a crucial feature that allows field workers to define the boundaries of experimental plots and upload photos of both the plots and the crops within them.
• This feature enhances data transparency and accuracy.

What is the News ?

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh recently revealed a 108-feet tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya, an ancient Vedic scholar and teacher from the 8th century, in Omkareshwar.

Facts About:

• Adi Shankaracharya, also known as Shankara, was an ancient Indian philosopher and theologian who lived around the 8th century CE.
• Birthplace: He was born in Kalady, a village in what is now Kerala.

His Philosophical Contributions:

• His most famous achievement was his role in developing and spreading Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes non-duality.
• He brought together the ideas of 'Advaita Vedanta' and explained the core concepts of the Upanishads.
• Shankaracharya's significant work involved uniting six sub-sects known as 'Shanmata,' which translates to 'six religions.' This concept recognized six supreme deities, all part of one divine power.
• He also established the 'Dashanami Sampradaya,' which promotes a monastic way of life.
• While he strongly believed in ancient Hinduism, he criticized the 'Mimamsa school of Hinduism,' which focused primarily on rituals.
• Founding of Four Mathas: He founded four important monastic centers in India, each associated with one of the cardinal directions:

                Sringeri in the south

                Dwarka in the west

                Puri in the east, and

                Badrinath in the north.