16 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2023
2. A case of JN.1, a subvariant of COVID-19, found in Kerala
3. Kashi Tamil Sangamam

1. Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2023

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023 Index

Context: The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry released the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023 report.

Details:

• The LEADS index was first published in 2018, following the model of the Logistics Performance Index of the World Bank.
• The LEADS 2023 index emphasises a positive shift in the states’ performance across key pillars – Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, and Operating and Regulatory Environment.

Image: LEADS 2023

Image source: PIB

• According to the report, 23 States/UTs have notified their State Logistics policies, and 16 States/UTs have granted industry status to logistics.
• The report ranks states based on their logistics ecosystem, highlights key logistics-related challenges faced by stakeholders, and includes suggestive recommendations.
• The index serves as an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic growth.

2. A case of JN.1, a subvariant of COVID-19, found in Kerala

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & Technology

Prelims: JN.1, a subvariant of COVID-19, INSACOG

Context: A case of the JN.1 subvariant of COVID-19 has been detected in Kerala as part of the ongoing routine surveillance activity by INSACOG.

Details: 

• The JN.1 is a sub-variant of the Pirola variant (BA.2.86) of Omicron. It was first detected in the United States in September 2023.
• An infected person with the JN.1 subvariant will show mild symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI), such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and headache.
• According to the US Centers for Disease Control, there is only one change between JN.1 and BA.2.86 in the spike protein, and the vaccines are effective against the new subvariant.

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 

• INSACOG is a joint initiative by the Union Health Ministry, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• It is a consortium of laboratories designed to monitor the genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2, aiding in understanding how the virus spreads and evolves.

3. Kashi Tamil Sangamam

Syllabus: GS-1, Culture

Prelims: Kashi Tamil Sangamam 

Context: The Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam on 17th December 2023.

Details:

• The second phase of Kashi Tamil Sangamam will be conducted between the 17th and 30th of December in Kashi (Varanasi). 
• In this event, seven groups consisting of Students (Ganga), Teachers (Yamuna), Spiritual (Saraswati), Farmers and Artisans (Narmada), Professionals (Godavari), Writers (Sindhu), and Traders and Businessmen (Kaveri), named after seven sacred rivers of India, will travel from Tamil Nadu to Kashi.
• It is organised as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to uphold the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and is aimed at reviving the cultural ties between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.
• The first phase of Kashi Tamil Sangam was conducted between the 19th of November 2022 and December 16, 2022.
• The Ministry of Education is the nodal agency for conducting Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

Read more on Kashi Tamil Sangamam in the link.

Read previous PIB articles here.