Current Affairs 7 March 2024 for UPSC And State PSC Exam

Table of Contents

HOLISTIC PROGRESS CARD

News- The NCERT is launching a ‘holistic progress card’ (HPC) to transform student evaluations by offering a broader assessment of their educational journey.

About

Developed by PARAKH under NCERT, aligning with NEP 2020.
Targets foundational (Classes 1-2), preparatory (Classes 3-5), and middle stages (Classes 6-8).
Introduces a paradigm shift in student evaluation.
Incorporates feedback from parents, classmates, and student self-evaluations.
Offers a comprehensive view of academic, cognitive, socio-emotional, and creative skills.
Aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) for learner-centric evaluations.

Features

Shifts from traditional marks/grades to 360-degree evaluations.
Emphasizes active participation and regular assessment through class activities.
Focuses on applying diverse skills to understand concepts.
Highlights student strengths and identifies areas needing improvement.
Includes self and peer evaluations by students.
Promotes reflection on personal progress and creativity.
Encourages setting personal and academic goals in middle school, supported by an “ambition card.”
Involves parents in the educational process and balances screen time with extracurricular activities.
Utilizes peer evaluation to assess contributions to class activities.

Benefits

The HPC goes beyond numerical grades, focusing on descriptive and analytical evaluations that encompass academic achievements as well as the development of critical skills in a child.
It promotes a shift from summative to formative assessment, fostering competency-based evaluation and holistic growth.

Majuli Masks

News- The traditional masks and manuscript paintings from Majuli in Assam have recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About

Handmade masks for depicting characters in bhaonas, devotional theatrical performances.
Introduced by reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th-16th century.
Used to represent gods, demons, animals, and birds in plays.
Vary in size from face-only to full-body coverage.
Crafted from bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, wood, and riverine materials.
Traditionally used in sattras (monasteries) but now also gaining contemporary relevance.
Sattras serve as centers for religious, social, and cultural reforms initiated by Sankardeva and his disciples.

Key facts about Majuli manuscript painting

Originating in the 16th century, practiced on Sanchi pat (manuscripts made from Sanchi or agar tree bark).
Utilizes homemade ink for painting.
The Adya Dasama of the Bhagwat Purana in Assamese by Srimanta Sankardev is an early example.
Enjoyed patronage from Ahom kings and remains prevalent in Majuli’s sattras.

Rad51

News- Scientists have recently pinpointed the RAD51 protein as crucial in blocking DNA from being copied again, thus preventing re-replication.

About

RAD51 gene encodes a protein for homologous recombination and DNA repair.
It searches for and invades matching DNA sequences to facilitate precise DNA repair.
RAD51 binds to broken DNA, forming a protective protein sheath, and initiating repair.
DNA breaks occur due to radiation, environmental factors, and during chromosome genetic material exchange in cell division.
In normal cells, RAD51 works with proteins including BRCA1 and BRCA2 to repair DNA.
BRCA2 guides RAD51 to DNA damage sites, while BRCA1’s interaction with RAD51 aids in DNA damage response.
These interactions help maintain cellular genetic stability by repairing DNA.

Homologous Recombination

Genetic recombination between similar/identical nucleic acids (DNA or RNA).
Repairs DNA double-strand breaks via homologous recombinational repair (HRR).
Generates new DNA combinations during meiosis for genetic variation.
Aids in evolutionary adaptation by creating diverse genetic sequences.
Facilitates horizontal gene transfer among bacteria and viruses, spreading antibiotic resistance.