Prelims Focus – 27th February 2024

1.Makha Bucha

Recent news

Nearly 100,000 worshippers in Bangkok gathered on Makha Bucha to show their reverence for the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples, Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalyayana.

Details

• Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalyayana are significant followers of the Buddha who are frequently portrayed alongside him in Buddhist artwork, with Sariputra on his right and Maudgalyayana on his left.
• Relics from India were brought to Bangkok and enshrined in a pagoda at Sanam Luang Pavilion for public viewing on February 23rd. Makha Bucha, a Buddhist holiday celebrated in various countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, commemorates a three-day period.
• Makha Bucha Day is an important Buddhist holiday that honours the gathering of 1,250 enlightened monks, known as the Chaturangasannibat, which is considered a religious miracle in Buddhist tradition.

2.Edwards syndrome

Recent news

Scientists have found evidence of chromosomal disorders in ancient skeletons, dating back around 5,500 years. This includes six instances of Down syndrome and one instance of Edwards syndrome.

Details

• Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18. 
• It severely affects the development and growth of a child’s body. 
• Symptoms include low birth weight, multiple birth defects, and distinct physical characteristics. 
• There are three types of trisomy 18: complete, mosaic, and partial. 
• Treatment aims to address the symptoms, such as heart problems, breathing issues, and infections, as there are no specific treatments for the condition.

3.Blanets

In News: The dust clouds around supermassive black holes are the perfect breeding ground for Blanets.

• • Scientists in Japan have said that planets can form in large clouds of dust and gas.

• Formation:
• • Planets form when dust and gas around a dwarf star collide and accumulate.
  • A similar process may be occurring near supermassive black holes, where planets form in the disc and are eventually enveloped.
• Blanets can also grow in mass up to 3,000 times the mass of Earth, due to the active galactic nucleus and the fact that the black hole has an orbit of about 100 billion kilometers.
• The blanket would have a very long orbit, taking about a million years to complete its orbit around the host black hole.

4.Assam Repeals Muslim Marriage Act

In News: Assam’s government is to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935.

• • The practice is in accordance with the laws of the Muslim personal laws. It prescribes the procedure for registering Muslim marriages and divorces.
  • The law empowers the state to issue licenses to “any person, if Muslim” to register marriages and divorces, and Muslim registrars are considered civil servants
  • The 2010 amendment replaced the word ‘voluntary’ with ‘compulsory’ in the original law, making it compulsory to register Muslim marriages and divorces in Assam.

• Rationale behind repealing the Act

• • The move is the primary step towards implementing Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
  • This decision is such a step towards prohibiting child marriages in Assam.
  • The Act contains provisions allowing marriage registration even if the bride and groom have not reached the legal marriageable age of 18 and 21, respectively.

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