Important Facts for Prelims (28th January 2019)

• 28 Jan 2019

'BHARAT PARV'

• The 4^th edition of the Bharat Parv is being organized by Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with other central Ministries and State Governments from 26^th to 31^st January 2019.
• The prime objective is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country, to promote the idea of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
• It includes highlights of the Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (static and moving), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Crafts Mela , Cultural Performances from different regions of the country.

Bharat Ratna Award

• President Ramnath Kovind conferred the Bharat Ratna, on former President Pranab Mukherjee, along with social activist Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous), and Assamese musician Bhupen Hazarika (posthumous).
• The Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India), instituted in 1954 is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year.
• Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–Shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award.
• Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.

DAMaN Initiative: Odisha

• Odisha Government had launched a malaria control programme – "Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN)" initiative.
• This programme involves mass screening for malaria with treatment of positive cases along with intensified surveillance, mosquito control measures and regular health education activities throughout the year.
• For mass screening and treatment of patients in inaccessible areas, District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2), an open-source web-based surveillance for malaria is used.
• Odisha, which accounts for over 40% per cent malaria burden of the entire country, has reported about 85% decline in average monthly malaria cases in the State.

Malaria

• Malaria, is caused by protozoan parasite plasmodium.
• When this mosquito bites, the parasite is released into the bloodstream. The parasites continue to infect red blood cells.
• Malaria is typically found in tropical and subtropical climates where the parasites can live.
• According to The World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report of 2018; India is the only country among the 11 highest-burden countries that saw substantial progress in reducing disease burden.
• India had pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030 at the East Asia Summit, 2015.
• India has launched the five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (NSPME) (2017-2022).
• This has marked a shift in focus from malaria “control” to “elimination”.
• NSPME includes the target of ending malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 districts by 2022.

National Chilika Bird Festival

• Recently the second National Chilika Bird Festival kickstarted at Mangalajodi in Chilika.
• The festival is organised to promote eco-tourism and preservation of birds in Odisha.
• National Chilika Bird Festival Award was given to Mangalajodi Eco-tourism Group for their active involvement in bird protection.
• Mangalajodi, situated in the North Eastern Part of Chilika, is known as the "Birds Paradise of Asia" as the place witnesses the highest gathering of more than 10 Lakh species of birds.
• Chilika Lake lies in the Central Asian Flyway stopover site for migratory birds from the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions during their onward and return migration along the east coast.
• Chilika lake, located in the coastal Odisha is Asia's largest brackish water lagoon.
• Chilika lake with its rich bio-diversity and socio-economic importance has been a designated Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance) since 1981.
• Another major attraction at Chilika is Irrawaddy dolphins which are often spotted off Satapada Island in Chilka Lake.

TRAIN 18

• Indian Railways’ fastest train, Train 18 named, Vande Bharat Express.
• India's first engineless semi-high speed train – "Train 18" - was rolled out by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Features: CCTV cameras, diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps, GPS-based passenger information system.
• Train 18 was the only new train announced in Budget-2018. It is manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at half the cost of import.
• The railways will now focus on another project – Train 20 - the next generation aluminium-bodied sleeper class trains that will replace the Rajdhani Express trains and is expected to be rolled out by 2020.