Current Affairs Quiz 22 December 2023

Ans: C

National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS):

• The National Tele Mental Health Programme, also known as Tele MANAS, was launched in October 2022.
• Its primary aim is to offer free tele-mental health services across the entire country, especially targeting individuals in remote or underserved areas.

Reach and Infrastructure:

• The program is currently operational through 42 active Tele Manas cells spread across 31 states and Union Territories.
• Toll-free numbers facilitate access to the services, with options available in 20 different languages to cater to diverse populations.

Two-tier System:

• Tier 1: Comprising state Tele MANAS cells equipped with trained counsellors and mental health specialists, ensuring immediate support and assistance.
• Tier 2: Involving specialists from District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) or Medical College resources, providing physical consultations or audiovisual consultations through e-Sanjeevani.

Services Offered:

• Tele Counselling: Trained counsellors offer telephonic counselling to individuals seeking mental health support.
• Tele Consultation: Mental health professionals provide consultation services when required for more comprehensive assessment and guidance.
• Referral Services: The program facilitates referrals to other Mental Health Establishments, including Medical Colleges, District Mental Health Program (DMHP) services, and specialty institutes, for specialized treatment if needed.

Ans: C

Brain Fog

• Brain fog is not a medical condition in itself but rather a symptom of other underlying medical conditions.
• It refers to a range of symptoms that can affect a person’s ability to think clearly.

Symptoms:

• Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus or mental clarity.
• Examples of behaviors associated with brain fog include forgetting tasks, taking longer to complete simple tasks, feeling frequently distracted, and experiencing mental fatigue while working.

Causes:

• Brain fog is often linked to lifestyle factors that contribute to hormonal imbalances.
• Factors that may cause brain fog include exposure to electromagnetic radiation from electronic devices, stress reducing blood flow to the brain, lack of sleep and exercise, dietary issues like food allergies or sensitivities, exposure to toxins, pollution, chemical substances, insecticides, and certain medications.

Treatment:

• The treatment for brain fog depends on identifying and addressing the underlying cause.
• For instance, if the brain fog is related to anemia, taking iron supplements may help by increasing red blood cell production and reducing brain fog symptoms.

Ans: C

Cannabis Medicine Project

• The ‘Cannabis Research Project’ led by CSIR-IIIM Jammu is a pioneering initiative in India, undertaken in partnership with a Canadian firm under the Science & Technology Ministry.
• This project aims to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of Cannabis for patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer, epilepsy, and other malignancies.
• It is a significant step towards harnessing the positive properties of Cannabis for medicinal purposes, despite its association with substance abuse.

Ans;- b) Taiwan and Phillipines

Explanation;-

• The Luzon Strait is the strait between Taiwan and Luzon island of the Philippines, the islands recently in news due to typhoon hit in Phillipines.

• The strait thereby connects the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea in the western Pacific Ocean.

• This body of water is an important strait for shipping and communications.

• Many ships from the Americas use this route to go to important East Asian ports.

Ans: C

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

• The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) launched on 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an insurance service for farmers for their yields.
• PMFBY is in line with One Nation – One Scheme theme.
• The PMFBY will replace the existing two schemes National Agricultural Insurance Scheme as well as the Modified NAIS.
• The Scheme shall be implemented through a multi-agency framework by selected insurance companies under the overall guidance & control of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India (GOI) and the concerned State in co-ordination with various other agencies.
• Premium cost over and above the farmer share is equally subsidized by States and the Central Government of India. However, the Central Government shares 90% of the premium subsidy for North Eastern States to promote the uptake in the region.

Objectives

• To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
• To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
• To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
• To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.