Current Context : U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in how multicellular organisms grow and live.

ABOUT MICRORNA

• MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules, typically 21-22 nucleotides long, that do not code for proteins but regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.
• Role: miRNAs bind to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to either silence them or degrade them, controlling protein production in cells.
• Discovery: Ambros and Ruvkun’s pioneering research in Caenorhabditis elegansled to the identification of miRNAs, particularly the lin-4 and let-7 genes, which regulate other genes during developmental stages.

Significance: Their findings have shown that miRNAs are conserved across a wide range of organisms, including humans, and play a critical role in development, aging, and diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative conditions.

ABOUT NOBEL PRIZE

• The Nobel Prize is a prestigious set of international awards given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions in six categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences
• Established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, these prizes are awarded by different committees and organizations, depending on the category.

2024 Nobel Prize Recipients:

• Physics: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their pioneering work in using physics principles to develop foundational methods in machine learning and artificial neural networks.
• Physiology or Medicine: The Nobel Prize in this category went to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of

Current Context : According to a new study India’s reliance on kerosene-based lamps accounts for about 10 per cent of the total residential black carbon emissions.

ABOUT BLACK CARBON:

Black carbon, or soot, is a major component of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter).

• It results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biomass (wood, cow dung) and other organic materials.

Sources:

• Primary sources in India include traditional cookstoves, diesel engines, forest fires, wildfires, and agricultural burning.

Environmental Impact:

• Black carbon has a warming impact that is 460 to 1,500 times higher than CO₂.
• It absorbs sunlight, increasing local temperatures and accelerating glacier melting, especially in regions like the Gangotri Glacier.

Seasonal Influence:

• Black carbon concentration near Gangotri Glacier rises by 400 times during summer, primarily due to increased emissions from forest fires and agricultural burning​

Current Context : The Prime Minister of India recently launched the Unified Genomic Chip for the benefit of livestock, as part of a larger initiative by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).

ABOUT UNIFIED GENOMIC CHIP:

• Aim : to improve cattle quality and increase dairy farming efficiency in India by helping farmers identify high-quality young bulls at an early stage.
• The chip is available in two variants:
• ‘Gau Chip’ for cattle.
• ‘Mahish Chip’for buffaloes.
• Developed by the DAHD under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
• Purpose: The purpose of this chip is to help the farmers to make informed decisions on animal selection by identifying young, high-quality bulls at an early age.

BENEFITS:

• Helps farmers identify high-quality livestock early, enhancing milk production.
• Facilitates better breed selection, improving overall cattle genetics and productivity.

Ultimately aims to boost the dairy farming sector’s profitability and sustainability.

Current Context : The Union Health Ministry has doubled the monthly nutrition support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana from the existing Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month for all TB patients, during treatment.

CHANGES IN NI-KSHAY POSHAN YOJANA (NPY)

Increased Nutritional Support:

• Monthly financial support for TB patients has been doubled from ₹500 to ₹1,000 for the entire treatment duration.

Special Allocation:

• An additional budget of ₹1,040 crore has been allocated by the government to support the increased assistance.

Energy Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS):

• EDNS introduced for underweight TB patients (BMI <18.5 kg/m²), covering about 12 lakh patients for the initial two months of treatment.

Expansion to Household Contacts:

• Under the Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative, household contacts of TB patients will also receive food baskets to boost immunity and reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT):

• Nutritional support is provided through DBT, ensuring that funds reach the beneficiaries directly into their bank accounts.

About Ni-Kshay Portal:

• Managed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it tracks and monitors TB treatment, improving data collection and intervention.
• Aim : to achieve a TB-Free India by 2025, by providing comprehensive support for patient care and recovery.

Current Context : Recently, India’s Minister of Health, JP Nadda, has been elected as the Chairperson for the 77th Session (RC77) of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region.

• The session took place from October 7–9, 2024, in New Delhi, India.

ABOUT REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIA (SEARO)

• It is the main governing body for the WHO in the region.
• It is composed of representatives from the 11 Member States in the region, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
• The Regional Committee meets annually to discuss regional health priorities, review progress, Formulate policies, Consider, revise, and endorse new initiatives and Adopt resolutions and make decisions.

Current Context : Recently, The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has suspended the membership of the Delhi Zoo over concerns about the treatment of its lone African elephant named Shankar.

ABOUT WAZA

• It is a global organization that supports and guides zoos, aquariums, and other organizations in their efforts to care for and conserve animals and their habitats.
• Established: WAZA was initially formed in 1935 and became an international NGO in 1949.
• Purpose: It aims to promote high standards of animal welfare and husbandry, and foster collaboration among zoos and aquariums worldwide.
• Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• Membership: WAZA has nearly 400 members, which include leading zoos, aquariums, and other related organizations globally

Current Context : Senior diplomat Ajit Vinayak Gupte has been appointed India’s next ambassador to Germany.

• He is currently India’s envoy in Egypt.
• He has previously held the position of Ambassador to Denmark from November 2017 to March 2021.

INDIA AND GERMANY RELATIONS:

Diplomatic ties were established in 1951, with consistent engagement at high levels.

Trade and Investment:

• Germany is currently 12th largest trading partner for India, with bilateral trade around €24 billion as of 2021.
• Significant German investments in sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, and manufacturing.

Defense Cooperation:

• Joint military exercises and defense dialogues enhance security collaboration.
• Cooperation in defense technology, including submarine projects.

Current Context : Shri Sanjeev Kumar Singla has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to France.

• He is currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Israel.
• He is an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1997 batch.

INDIA-FRANCE RELATIONS:

Defense Cooperation:

• Strong ties, including the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets and P-75 Scorpene submarines.
• Joint military exercises like VARUNA and FRINJEX enhance interoperability.

Economic Relations:

• Significant agreements, such as Air India’s order for 250 aircraft from Airbus.
• High-level visits by Indian ministers to bolster business and economic ties.

Space Collaboration:

• Over 50 years of partnership between ISRO and the French Space Agency (CNES).
• Recent agreements on future launch vehicle technologies and Earth Observation missions.

Cultural and Educational Exchange:

Initiatives like ‘Villa Swagatam’ enhance cultural appreciation and artistic exchanges.

Observed on the second Thursday of October month.

• This year it falls on 10^th
• Aim : to increase awareness about attention to vision impairment and blindness.
• Theme : Love Your Eyes
• It’s coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Current Context : India has been chosen to host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup in 2025.

• The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation have confirmed this event.
• The event will witness the participation of 24 countries from six continents, featuring 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams.