Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• The Kerala government is carrying out a unique programme called “Namath Basai” of teaching tribal children in their mother tongue.
• The programme, implemented by the SamagraSiksha Kerala (SSK), has succeeded in retaining hundreds of tribal children in their online classes by making them feel at home with the language of instruction.
• It offers pre-recorded classes through a YouTube channel in three tribal languages in Attappady valley in Palakkad District Kerala.
• These languages are Irula, Muduka and Kurumba.
• Namath Basai is being introduced in the tribal belts of Wayanad and Idukki as well. Classes are offered in the Oorali, Mutuvan and Paniya languages in Idukki.

Explanation :

Myopia

• Myopia is the term used to define being shortsighted.
• A myopic person has clear vision when looking at objects close to them, but distant objects will appear blurred. This is because light is focused in front of the retina and, being too far forward in the eye, things in the distance look blurred.

Presbyopia

• It occurs when your eyes gradually lose the ability to see things clearly up close. It is a normal part of aging.

Hypermetropia

• Sometimes called hyperopia, is the term used to define being longsighted.
• If one is hypermetropic, the image of a nearby object is formed behind the retina. This means that light is focused too far back in the eye, causing things which are close up to appear blurred.

Explanation :

• The ISA is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21), with 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn as prospective members.
• The overarching objective of the ISA is to collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.
• The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights.
• After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states world-wide.
• When the ISA Framework Agreement entered into force on December 6th, 2017, ISA formally became a de-jure treaty based International Intergovernmental Organization, headquartered at Gurugram (Haryana, India).

Explanation :

Gallantry Awards

• The gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – on Republic Day and Independence Day.
• Order of precedence: ParamVir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.

Wartime gallantry awards

• Established on 26th January, 1950 with effect from 15th August, 1947.
• ParamVir Chakra: Highest-military award in India. Awarded for National bravery in the presence of enemy.
• MahaVir Chakra: Second-highest military decoration in India. Awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in presence of enemy, whether on land, at sea or in air.
• Vir Chakra: Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry.

Peacetime gallantry awards

• Established on 4th January, 1952 with effect from 15th August, 1947.
• Ashoka Chakra: An Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the ParamVir Chakra.
• Kirti Chakra: Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
• Shaurya Chakra: Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.