Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 07 May 2021

::NATIONAL::

Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020 has been notified by Ministry of Labour & Employment covering applicability of Aadhaar.
Though it gives the mandate to the ministry to collect Aadhaar data, no benefit will be denied to workers for want of Aadhaar.

About Social Security Code:

The Code has subsumed nine regulations relating to social security, retirement and employee benefits.
It has enhanced the coverage, extended the benefit to all workers in the organised /unorganised sectors.

Canadian researchers have published first structural images of a mutation in B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19virus.
B.1.1.7 variant, first reported by World Health Organization in December, 2020 has an unusually large number of mutations (it may explain why the B.1.1.7 variant is more infectious).
Cryo-electron microscopes (cryo-EM) was used to “visualise the detailed shapes of viruses and proteins. This Imaging technology uses beams of electrons to picture the samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures.

The Taliban has captured Afghanistan’s second-biggest dam after months of fierce fighting in their former bastion of Kandahar, the insurgents and officials.
Dahla Dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital, was now under Taliban control.

About:

The Dahla Dam, also known as Arghandab Dam, is located in the Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan.
It was constructed in 1952, it is said to be the second largest dam in Afghanistan.
The Dahla Dam is built on the Arghandab River.

Recently, Karen rebels seized army base nearThai border.
It is Myanmar’s oldest rebel group representing ethnic minority Karen communities in Karen, or Kayin, State,bordering Thailand.
Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the KNU, has been battling Myanmar’s government since 1949.
Its aim is self-determination for the Karen people in a region.

Reserve Bank of India bought 42 tonnes of gold in the last fiscal year to diversify forex assets.
Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies. These reserves are used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy.
RBI’s Forex reserve comprised of foreign currency assets, gold. Special Drawing Rights of International Monetary Fund (IMF), and reserve position in the IMF.

A recent study concluded that Long-term exposure to NO2 pollution can affect lung function and increase the risk of pulmonary disease.

About NO2:

NO2 is one of a group of highly reactive gases known as oxides of nitrogen or nitrogen oxides (NOx).
NO2 primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel.
NO2 and other nitrogen oxides are also precursors for a number of harmful secondary air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter, and play a role in the formation of acid rain.

Indian rowers Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh qualified for the Olympics in men’s lightweight double sculls event after finishing second in the final race of the Asia/Oceania Continental Qualifying Regatta in Tokyo on Friday.
Another Indian, Jakar Khan finished fourth in the men’s singles sculls final which offers five Olympic quotas but he missed out as a country gets only one qualifying spot from this regatta.
The top three qualify for Olympics in men’s lightweight double sculls event.