Sarna Code
Jharkhand Government is seeking recognition of Sarna religious code for tribals.
- Sarna followers are nature worshippers who do not consider themselves Hindus and have been fighting for a separate religious identity for decades.
- So far, the census surveys have included them as “others” in the religion column.
- Believers of Sarna faith do not practice idol worship, nor do they adhere to the concept of the Varna system, heaven-hell, etc.
- Holy grail of Sarna faith is “Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land)” and its followers pray to trees and hills.
Rating Framework for Digital Connectivity
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a Consultation Paper on “Regulation on Rating Framework for Digital Connectivity in Buildings or Areas”.
- WiredScore certification: It is an independent digital connectivity benchmark and working.
- Europe’s Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for rating the smart readiness of Buildings.
- SPIRE rating framework assesses smart buildings holistically.
Lough Neagh Lake
The demand has been made in the UK to bring the Lough Neagh lake under Public Ownership.
- It is a Ramsar Site and the largest freshwater lake in the UK.
- It is also home to the largest commercial wild eel fishery in Europe.
- Lake is facing threats due to blue-green algal bloom (due to Cyanobacteria) caused by –
- Rising water temperature
- Invasive species (Zebra Mussels)
- Eutrophication (water runoff having excess nutrients from fertiliser).
Conocarpus trees
Conocarpus tree is an invasive mangrove species, recently banned by Gujarat government. Earlier, Telangana government had also banned it.
- Native to tropical regions of the world.
- It is widely used in public spaces for its ornamental looks.
- Flowering in this tree takes place in Winter and the particles spreading from it causes cold, coughing, asthma, allergy etc. harms to human beings nearby.
- Roots of this species go deep inside soil and develop extensively, damaging telecommunication lines, drainage lines and freshwater systems.
MicroRNA (miRNA)
A recent study in US showed a miRNA called ‘let-7’ is crucial for fighting cancer.
- miRNAs are small, highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules.
- It controls gene expression by binding target mRNA (messenger RNA) to prevent protein production.
- mRNA is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis.
- It is found in most eukaryotes, including humans.
- miRNA account for 1-5% of the human genome and regulate at least 30% of protein-coding genes.