Daily Current Affairs September 16, 2024

1. DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 SEPTEMBER 2024 History and Art & Culture - Prelims - General Studies I Sri Vijaya Puram Context Recently, the central government renamed Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. Prelim Question 1. Recently, the Capital city of Union Territory has been renamed as ‘Sri Vijyapuram’ by the central government. Where was the ancient ‘Sri Vijaya’ after which it has been named was located? A. Andaman and Nicobar Island B. Thailand C. Sri Lanka D. Indonesia Answer: D About ● Port Blair is the capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar. It was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram by the central government through a notification. The change in the name of the city was termed as removing the ‘Colonial Imprints’ from the country. ● 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

2. Current Nomenclature ● The city was named ‘Port Blair’ after Archibald Blair who was a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine. ● He was the first officer to carry out a thorough survey of the Andaman Islands. ● He set out on a survey mission along the coasts of India, Iran, and Arabia in 1772. After that, he partic- ipated in a number of missions, including those in the Chagos archipelago, Diamond Harbour and the Hooghly River. ● The Andaman and Nicobar Island Group was used for a number of activities by the authorities of the East India Company. ● Penal Colony: After the revolt of 1857, a large number of prisoners were sent to Port Blair and thus it emerged as a Penal Colony for the British. It enjoyed this status till independence and housed many freedom fighters such as Veer Damodar Savarkar. ● It also served as a ‘Safe Abode’ for the officers of the East India Company during any revolt in the sub-continent. Sri Vijyapuram: Connections with Imperial Cholas ● Naval Base: Many historical evidences indicate that the Andaman Islands were used as a strategic naval base by the 11th-century Chola emperor, Rajendra I. ● The base was used to carry out an attack on Srivijaya, which is currently located in present-day Indone- sia. ● Thanjavur Inscription: According to the Chola Period inscription found in Thanjavur, dated to 1050 CE, the Cholas referred to the island as Ma-Nakkavaram land (great open/ naked land). Source: The Indian Express 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

3. Mains - General Studies III - Science and Technology Monkey Pox Vaccine Context Recently, the World Health Organisation approved the Mpox Vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic. Prelims Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to the approval of the Mpox vaccine by WHO: 1) It will pave the way for countries across the world to use the vaccine. 2) It will help the GAVI vaccine alliance and UNICEF to distribute free vaccines in African Countries. 3) It will provide licenses to vaccine manufacturers across the world to use the Bavarian Nordic formula to manufacture vaccines. Which of the following statement (s) is/are not correct? A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 Only C. 1 and 3 Only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: C About ● ● Last month, Mpox was declared a public emergency of international concern by WHO. The monkeypox virus is an orthopox virus. It causes Mpox disease which showcases symptoms similar to smallpox but less severe. There have been rising cases of Mpox in the African continent since May 2022. ● Mpox: Type, Transmission, Symptoms and Prevention ● Zoonosis: Mpox is a zoonosis i.e. a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. The cases of Mpox is often found close to tropical rainforests where there are animals that carry the virus. ● Animals affected by Mpox: There is evidence of monkeypox virus infection in animals such as squir- rels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others. Transmission of the Mpox 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

4. Treatment of Mpox (monkeypox) Raising Community Awareness: Prevention and control of mpox can be done by raising awareness in communities and educating health workers to prevent infection and stop transmission. Avoiding Certain Activities: Close contact with infected people or contaminated materials should be avoided. Further, gloves and other personal protective clothing and equipment should be worn while taking care of the sick, whether in a health facility or the home. Avoiding Sick and Dead Animals: For Mpox infections which result from a primary animal-to-human transmission, contact with sick or dead animals should be avoided. All foods containing animal meat or parts need to be properly cooked before eating. Approval of WHO of Mpox Vaccine ● The WHO has approved the Mpox vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic. It is the first authorization for the use of a vaccine against Mpox in adults. ● The authorization by WHO means that donors like Vaccines Alliance Gavi and UNICEF can buy it. ● WHO approved the two-dose Mpox vaccine for people aged 18 and above. ● The mpox vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic was already been authorized by numerous countries across Europe and North America during the global mpox outbreak in 2022. Conclusion The approval by the WHO to the Mpox vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic has paved the way for free vaccine supply by the vaccine alliance GAVI and UNICEF to poor nations of Africa. It will help to eradicate the menace of Mpox which has been declared as public emergency of international concern by WHO. ● ● ● Source: The Hindu, WHO, Medicalbuyer. co 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com