Current Affairs August 2014
| 23517Current Affairs August 2014
Current Affairs 1'st August 2014
1. Deputy National Security Adviser Nehchal Sandhu resigned
Deputy National Security Adviser Nehchal Sandhu resigned on 30 July 2014.
2. No conclusive data available on effects of Mobile Phone/Tower on Health: ICMR
As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),there are no conclusive data available on the issue of Health Hazards due to radiation emitted from cell phone and cell phone tower.Some scientific evidences indicate some bio-effects and potential adverse health effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR). As per ICMR, WHO/International Agency for research on Cancer has categorized radio frequency electromagnetic field as possible carcinogenic agent to humans. ICMR has initiated a multi-disciplinary cohort study in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) to investigate adverse effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR),if any, emitted from cell phone on adult Indian population.The study intends to examine whether use of cell phone is linked with reproductive dysfunctions, infertility, neurological disorders (cognitive behaviour, sleep related disorders, depression etc.),cardiovascular disorders, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) disorders and promote cancer, if any in human volunteers.
Key Findings reported by some studies:
- Cytogenetic damage in tissues of some individuals using cell phone over a period of time.
- Study conducted animals indicated considerable reduction in testicular size, weight and in sperm counts after chronic exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) imitated from cell phone which may lead to infertility.
- Headache, dizziness, numbness in the thigh, and heaviness in the chest among mobile phone.
- Long term and intensive mobile phone use may cause inner ear damage.
- Increase in peak heart rate, serum total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides concentration in acute RFR.
- Microwave radiation caused an increase in erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, a significant DNA strand break in brain cells and the loss of spatial memory in mice.
- Microwave exposure adversely affects male fertility.
- Reduction in melatonin or an increase in caspase-3, creatine kinase, and calcium ion may cause significant damage in rat brain due to chronic exposure of microwave radiations. These biomarkers indicate possible health implications of such exposures.
- Prolonged exposure to non-ionizing Microwave radiation may lead to infertility.
- Study conducted on animal concluded that 3G mobile phone radiations affect the brain function and cause several neurological disorders. It also indicated testicular impairment in male Westar rats due to long-term exposure of Microwave.
- Measure taken in India:
- India has adopted Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation limits prescribed by International Commission on non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
- In addition to this, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has prescribed stricter precautionary limits for EMF radiation from mobile tower which is 1/10th of the limits suggested internationally by ICNIRP.
- With a view to ensure adherence to the prescribed EMF radiation limits from mobile tower in India, self-certificates are required to be submitted by telecom service providers as per the guidelines issued by DoT.
- To inspect this, regular audit of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites is conducted by Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) field units.
- If any BTS site is found to infringing the prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken by imposing a penalty of Rs.10 lakh per BTS per incidence.
3. Dipa Karmakar became first Indian woman gymnast to win medal in Commonwealth Games
Dipa Karmakar on 31 July 2014 became the first Indian woman gymnast and second person of the country to win a medal
4. Supreme court asks Centre to submit proposal to expedite criminal justice system
The Supreme Court has said that the judiciary cannot fast-track cases against MPs and in fact asked the government to submit a proposal within a month to expedite the Criminal justice system in India. The apex court also observed that the pace of criminal justice system is not satisfactory in the country.This statement from Supreme Court came because recently, PM Narendra Modi had asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to devise a mechanism to adjudicate criminal and other court cases against politicians within a year.
5. Sierra Leone declared Ebola public health emergency
President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma on 30 July 2014 declared a public health emergency in Sierra Leone to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak.
6. SC appointed one-man commission to probe 2006 Meerut fire tragedy
SC has appointed a former Justice SB Sinha commission to probe the 2006 Meerut Fire tragedy. It will summit its report by 31 January 2015.
7. Government conferred Navratna status on CONCOR
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India granted Navratna status to Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR).The company provides logistics solution and has the largest network of 62 Inland Container Depots (ICDs)/container freight stations in India. Besides providing inland transport by rail for containers, it has also expanded to cover management of ports, air cargo complexes and setting up cold-chain.The Government of India (GoI) controls 61.80% stake in CONCOR.
8. Arunachal Pradesh District Planning Committee (Amendment) Bill, 2014 passed in Assembly
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has passed the Arunachal Pradesh District Planning Committee (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
9. Robert Frederick Panara: Pioneer of Deaf Studies passed away
Robert Frederick Panara (94),the pioneer of deaf studies passed away in Rochester, US. Robert was an author, a poet, a professor who later went on to become the first deaf teacher within the mainstream Higher Education in the US. He helped translate Shakespeareâs Macbeth, Hamlet and Othell
