Current Affairs 19th March 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Dengue Vaccine

Context:

• Indian Immunologicals Ltd. (IIL) has finished the first phase of clinical trials to determine the safety of the dengue vaccine.
• The company is also developing a vaccine for the Zika virus and for the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).

About Dengue

• Cause: Dengue virus (DENV)
• Transmission: Bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito (primarily)
• Severity:
  • Classic dengue fever: Most common, with flu-like symptoms (high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, rash). Recovery within 1-2 weeks.
  • Severe dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever): Less frequent, but can lead to serious bleeding, blood pressure drop (shock), and death.
• Prevalence: More common in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Treatment:
  • No specific cure exists.
  • Early detection and proper medical care are crucial for severe cases, reducing fatality rates significantly.
• Prevention: Dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia) is available (US approval: 2019).

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NCLAT

Context: The newly appointed board of debt-ridden IL&FS has urgently sought appellate tribunal NCLAT’s intervention to restrain 11 public sector lenders from initiating proceedings to declare group companies as “wilful defaulters”.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

• Establishment:
  • Constituted under the Companies Act, 2013 (Section 410).
  • Effective date: June 1, 2016.
• Purpose: Provides a specialised forum for appeals related to company law, insolvency, and competition law.
• Responsibilities: Hears appeals against orders from:
  • National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT) on insolvency and bankruptcy matters (IBC).
  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under specific sections of the IBC.
  • Competition Commission of India (CCI).
  • National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Composition:
  • Chairperson with judicial and technical members.
  • Members appointed by the Central Government based on relevant expertise (law, finance, accounting, management, administration).
• Case Resolution:
  • Reviews appeals from aggrieved parties.
  • Conducts hearings and issues decisions.
  • Authority to confirm, modify, or cancel appealed orders.
  • Target timeframe for resolving appeals: six months from receipt.

Disqualification of MLAs

Context: The Supreme Court has decided to consider a petition from Tamil Nadu, requesting the Court’s assistance in reinstating K Ponmudy as a Minister.

Disqualification Criteria for MLA

Under the Constitution

• Office of Profit: Disqualification if holding an office of profit under the Government of India or a state, or an office declared by state law.
• Mental Capacity: Disqualification if declared of unsound mind by a competent court.
• Legal and Financial Status: Disqualification if charge-sheeted, declared bankrupt or insolvent.
• Citizenship: Disqualification if not a citizen of India or has acquired citizenship of a foreign state, or shows allegiance to a foreign state.

Under Schedule 10 (Anti-Defection Act)

• Voluntary Resignation: Disqualification if voluntarily giving up membership of the political party.
• Voting Contrary to Party: Disqualification if voting or abstaining from voting contrary to the party’s directive without prior permission.

Under Representation of the People Act, 1951

• Election Malpractice: Disqualification if found guilty of illegal election practices.
• Criminal Conviction: Disqualification if convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for varying terms under Sections 8 (1), (2), and (3).

Check here For Detailed Information About Anti Defection Law

Examples, Case Studies and Data Points for Value addition

Health (GS 2): National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) data – Odisha has topped the list of states for malaria cases in 2023 (18.7%).

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