Prelims Facts Corner – 20 October 2023

Trees and Plants mentioned in various phases of Indian cultural history

The celestial stories of plants in India | The Hindu Article

  • Vedic Age – Soma (ephedra), darba grass, barley, and rice, cannabis
  • Every Jain Tirthankar is associated with a sacred tree – Mahavir (sal tree), Rishabhnath (banyan), Vimalnath (jamun), Aranath (mango), Mallinath (ashoka), Neminath (kokum)
  • Buddhism – Buddha’s mother (sal tree), Gautama Buddha (peepal tree), Vipassi Buddha (patali tree)
  • Sangam Literature – Kadampu tree, Vakai tree, Veppu tree

Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR)

Union Education Ministry has directed states to begin implementing the APAAR, also known as “One Nation, One Student ID” which is aligned with National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR).

  • APAAR serves as a registry for institutions, students and faculty by creating lifelong credentials, and Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).
  • ABC is an online repository of academic data that facilitates students’ mobility among higher educational institutions. 
  • It will give a unique identification number to each student (enrolled from pre-primary to higher education).

RISUG (Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance)

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has concluded a seven-year study on the male contraceptive RISUG, finding it to be safe and effective.

  • RISUG is a non-hormonal injectable contraceptive that provides long-lasting sterility with complete reversibility.
  • The study found that RISUG’s pregnancy prevention was 99.02% without any serious side effects.

Places in News – Burtse

Coral reef fossils have been unearthed at 18,000 feet above sea level at Burtse, Ladakh.

  • Location – eastern Ladakh Himalayas (east of Daulat Beg Oldie sector)
  • A strategic road to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) passes through it.

Muthuvan Tribe

Members of Muthuvan tribe of Anamalai hills will be part of the Project Nilgiri Tahr, aimed at protecting Nilgiri Tahr.

  • Population is limited to fragmented habitats in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Occupation – nomadic agriculturists, hunters and trappers.
  • Primary cultivations – coffee, ginger, sugarcane and paddy.
  • Society – Live in hamlets called Kudi (headman – Kani or Moopan)

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