APSC Assam Yearbook 2021 : Latest Current Affairs

Unemployment Rate fell to 10.9 % in June from 23.5 % in May 2020

With Unlock 1 from 8th June 2020, economic activities have resumed in the country as a result of which after two months the unemployment rate has fallen significantly. As per the data for the month of June 2020 released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate in June 2020 was 10.9 percent in India (Urban-12.02 % and Rural- 10.52%).

The unemployment rate reached an all-time high of 23.52 percent in the country in the month of April due to the nationwide lockdown. It remained similar in May 2020 with 23.48 percent. But with the significant fall in June 2020 and the GST collection for June 2020 reaching 91 percent of the GST collection in June 2019, it can be suggested that the worst for the Indian economy has passed for now.

With Unlock 2 beginning on 1st July 2020, it can be expected that the Unemployment Rate can further normalize during the month.

 

Unemployment Rate in India has continuously declined

As per data by CMIE, the unemployment rate in India on 8th June was 21.33 percent. Since then, this rate has declined every day.

State-wise Unemployment Rate in June 2020

Assam with 0.6 percent unemployment had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in the month of June 2020, while Haryana with 33.6 percent had the highest unemployment rate in June 2020 among all the states in the country.

RMRC Dibrugarh becomes the 4th Laboratory in India to isolate COVID-19 Virus Strain

The Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR’s) regional centre at Assam’s Dibrugarh- Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) has successfully able to isolate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus strain. This success will open up avenues to conduct COVID-19 related studies such as from the development of a potential vaccine to making other uses of cultures of the SARS-COV-2 for the development of therapeutic antibodies, testing effectiveness against disinfectants etc.

Type of the Strain Isolated

There are 2 types of strains of the novel Coronavirus: L type and S type. RMRC scientists have confirmed that they have isolated the L-type strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The S type strain has slowly been disappearing from across the world.

Type of Mutation of the isolated Strain

The virus strain isolated is of A2a mutation type. The A2a mutation type is the most dominant type of Novel Coronavirus. Until the month of April 2020, 10 different types of mutation of the virus have been identified by scientists across the world.

Other Indian Laboratories to Isolate the Strain

RMRC Dibrugarh is the 4th laboratory in India to isolate the cell of the Novel Coronavirus. It is the 3rd Government Laboratory to do so after National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and CSIR’s Hyderabad based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech to date is the only private laboratory in India to have isolated the strain of the virus.

No Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple for the first time in Recorded History

At the centuries-old historic Kamakhya Temple at Guwahati, for the first time in six centuries of record available from 1565, the 5 days Ambubachi Mela will not be organized due by keeping in mind the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus.

Every year the fair draws lakhs of pilgrims, tourists, Sadhus, and others from all over the country. As per the Assam State Tourism, a minimum of 5 lakh devotees attend the fair that also includes many foreigners.

The rituals of Ambubachi Mahayogi will be performed by the priests of the temple by maintaining the social distancing norms. The Mahayogi will be performed at the Devalaya from 07:53:15 am- 22nd June to 8:16:55 pm- 25th June.

Kamakhya Temple will remain closed for the devotees till the 30th of June 2020 as per the decision taken by the Kamakhya Devalaya Management Committee.

Kamakhya Temple

The Hindu temple located at the Nilachal Hill is dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya. The temple as per history was built by King Narakasura. As per the official records available from 1565, the temple was rebuilt by Koch King Naranarayan.

Kamakhya is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths (each of the 51 Shakti Peeths represents a body part of Lord Shiva’s companion, Sati).

Low Cost Covid-19 Diagnostic Kits developed by IIT Guwahati

In association with the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and RR Animal Healthcare Limited, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, kits for diagnosing Covid-19 has been developed by using material that is available in the local market. 3 different types of diagnosis low-cost kits have been developed; they are Ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation kits, Viral Transport Media (VTM) kits, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits. The materials used for manufacturing the kits are as per the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Two batches of the Kits have been handed over to GMCH and the National Health Mission, Assam at present.

VTM Kits

These Kits are used to collect the sample safely to the laboratory for testing. The VTM Kit must keep the sample specimen intact if any virus is present in the sample until the testing procedure for it can be completed in a laboratory; hence the quality of the VTM Kit is important for accurate results.

The VTM Kit developed at IIT Guwahati is said to preserve the viability of viruses at refrigerated temperature for up to 72 hours.

This VTM Kit of IIT Guwahati can be used to collect both oral and as well as nasal sample specimens. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has validated the VTM Kits as safe to use.

RT-PCR Kits

A complementary Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is generated in this type of Kit, an enzyme Reverse Transcriptase (RT) is used to generate the DNA from an isolated and purified RNA. This converted and newly formed DNA is then used to check the presence of the Covid-19 virus in the sample specimen.

Assam Baghjan Oil Well Fire

On June 9, 2020, a massive fire engulfed the Baghjan oil well of Assam. The well of the Oil India Limited had blown out on May 27, 2020 and has been leaking gas for the past 14 days.

Highlights

The accident is causing huge damages and is leaking gas. The smoke from the site could be seen from 10 km of radius. The Indian Air Force has been helping in firefighting operations. The Indian Army has also reached the place and is in operation.

The National Disaster Response Force team was deployed since the time of gas leak.

Environmental Impacts

The incident is depositing gas condensate in the Maguri Beel Wet Land. This is affecting the flora and fauna of the region. Carcasses of endangered Gangetic dolphins and aquatic life are seen floating in the Dibru-Saikhowa National park. The paddy fields, wetlands and ponds have also been contaminated and the threats are increasing.

Around 6,000 people living around the natural gas producing well have been evacuated. Rs 30,000 have been announced for these affected families. The tea growers in the region also have complained layers of gas condensates in tea garden.

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