UPSC Prelims Bits Today (08-September-2022)

”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

Onam

Why in news?

This year, Onam festivities began on August 30, and will conclude on September 8.

Know about Onam

• The festival of Onam is celebrated throughout the state of Kerala. Kerala during Onam is marked by happiness, excitement and enjoyment among all sections of people.
• Onam is the festival to commemorate Shri Vamana and Raja Bali. Vamana Bhagavaan declaring Bali as next Indra(in Sarvani Manvantara) and assuring that Bali will be protected by him.
• It is the time of the year when a good harvest has been gathered all over Kerala, resulting in plenitude and happiness.
• The celebrations for Onam are held for ten days, beginning with the atham asterism in the month of Chingam (August / September) as per the local calendar.

iNCOVACC

Why in news?

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday approved the country’s first intra-nasal Covid-19 vaccine — Bharat Biotech’s iNCOVACC — for restricted emergency use in those aged above 18 years.

Know about iNCOVACC

• iNCOVACC is a chimpanzee adenovirus vectored recombinant nasal vaccine that has been specifically formulated to allow intra-nasal delivery through nasal drops.
• The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost effective in low- and middle-income coun¬tries, the company said.
• The vaccine is stable at 2-8°C.
• Intra-nasal Covid-19 vaccines can prime immune cells in the thin mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, the spot through which the Sars-CoV-2 virus enters the body. Therefore, it can stop the virus from replicating at its entry and spreading to the lungs and other parts of the body.

ASTERX

Why in news?

India is planning to participate in a joint Space military exercise with France, Russia or US.

Know about ASTERX

• France had launched its first military exercise in space to evaluate its ability to defend its satellites and other defense equipment from an attack.
  The exercise, codenamed “AsterX” in memory of the first French satellite from 1965, will be based on 18 simulated events in an operations room.
  During the drill, the French military monitored a potentially dangerous space object as well as a threat to its own satellite from another foreign power possessing a considerable space force.

College Cluster Plan

Why in news?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has finalized guidelines for transforming colleges and universities into multidisciplinary institutions.

What is UGCs College Cluster Plan?

• It is a short of guidelines, in accordance with NEP 2020, for transforming colleges and universities into multi-disciplinary institutions.
• The guidelines prescribe three approaches, which include clustering of institutions located in proximity, merger of single-stream institutions with other multi-disciplinary institutions and strengthening of existing establishments by setting up of new departments.
• The goal is to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035.

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