Current Context : Recently, Rwanda, a landlocked country in central Africa, declared an outbreak of Marburg virus.

ABOUT MARBURG VIRUS

• Marburg virus causes a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola.
• Discovery and Origin: First identified in 1967 during outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. The virus was linked to laboratory workers exposed to infected monkeys from Uganda.
• The Rousettus aegyptiacus (Egyptian fruit bat) is believed to be the natural reservoir of the Marburg virus, which is then transmitted to humans.

TRANSMISSION:

• Human-to-human transmission occurs via direct contact with blood, body fluids (such as saliva, sweat, urine), or tissues of infected individuals.
• Contaminated surfaces or materials (e.g., bedding, clothing) can also spread the virus.
• Symptoms : High fever, severe headache, and general malaise.
• Mortality Rate: MVD has a high fatality rate, ranging from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus strain and case management.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available. Supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of symptoms, improves survival chances.
• Recent Outbreak: In 2023, an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) occurred in Equatorial Guinea, raising global health concerns.

Current Index : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers and High-Performance Computing systems — ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’ — to the nation.

ABOUT PARAM SUPERCOMPUTERS

• Developed by: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, India.
• Name Origin: “PARAM” means “supreme” in Sanskrit and is also an acronym for “PARAllel Machine.”
• Managed under: National Supercomputing Mission, jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Implementation: By C-DAC Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
• Applications: Used in fields such as Weather and Climate Modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Bioinformatics, and Material Science.
• AI Capabilities: Offers frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Machine Learning and Deep Learning, along with Compute and Storage as cloud services.

Current Index : Recently, at least 43 people, including 37 children, drowned and three others went missing while taking holy dips in rivers and ponds during the ‘Jivitputrika’ festival in Bihar.

ABOUT FESTIVAL

• Observed in: Primarily in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal by Hindu mothers.
• Purpose:Mothers fast for the well-being, long life, and prosperity of their children.
• Duration:Celebrated over three days.
• Day 1 (Nahai-Khai):Mothers take a purifying bath and eat a special meal.
• Day 2 (Main Fast):A nirjala fast (no food or water) is observed.
• Day 3 (Paaran):The fast is broken with a meal.
• Mythological Significance:Linked to the story of King Jimutavahana, symbolizing sacrifice and devotion.
• Cultural Importance:A widely practiced festival, promoting family well-being and cultural values.

Current Index : Trinidad & Tobago has become the first country in the Caribbean region to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform.

ABOUT TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Location:

• Island country in the southeastern West Indies, located in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Close to South America, northeast of Venezuela and northwest of Guyana.

Geographical Features:

• Mountain Ranges:Includes the Northern Range, an extension of the Andes Mountains from Venezuela.
• Highest Point :Mount Aripo.
• Major Rivers :Ortoire and Caroni
• Natural Resource:Pitch Lake in Trinidad is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt.

Independence & Government:

• Gained independence from the UK on August 31, 1962.
• Republic within the Commonwealth, with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.

Current Index : Recently, a report reviled that Russia used thermobaric weapons in Ukraine war.

ABOUT THERMOBARIC WEAPON:

• Working Mechanism: Releases a fuel cloud that ignites using oxygen from the air, creating a powerful explosion.
• Blast and Vacuum Effect: Produces a high-pressure blast, followed by a vacuum effect as oxygen is consumed.
• Alternative Names: Also called vacuum bombs or enhanced blast weapons.
• Destruction Capacity: Can destroy buildings and cause serious harm to the human body due to extreme heat and pressure.
• Uses: Effective against fortified areas like bunkers.
• Legal Implications: Not banned for military use, but its use on civilians could be considered a war crime.

Current Context : India has become World’s third largest Producer and Consumer of Ethanol.

About Ethanol :

Ethanol is a renewable biofuel derived from organic materials, primarily sugarcane, corn, and other biomass.

• It is widely used in blended fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and as an alternative to fossil fuels.

India’s Ethanol Production:

• India has become the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of ethanol.
• The country is increasing ethanol production mainly from sugarcane and diversifying to other feedstocks like corn and biomass.

Ethanol Blending Program (EBP):

• India has been promoting the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP)to blend ethanol with petrol.
• The government has set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending by 2025to reduce dependence on crude oil imports, improve energy security, and reduce carbon emissions.

Economic and Environmental Impact:

• Ethanol blending helps farmers, especially sugarcane growers, by creating demand for their produce.
• It contributes to reducing carbon emissions and supports India’s commitment to renewable energy and climate change mitigation.

Current Index : India has secured a position on the 15-member Steering Committee of the GlobE Network, an international anti-corruption body, following a multi-stage voting process during the plenary session held in Beijing .

ABOUT GLOBE NETWORK

• The GlobE Network (Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities) is an initiative aimed at combating international corruption and financial crime through global cooperation.
• Formation: Launched under the G20 framework to enhance member countries’ abilities to combat corruption.
• Launched on June 3, 2021, during a UN General Assembly session focused on anti-corruption.
• Membership: Comprises 121 member countries and 219 member authorities.

India’s Role:

• India is on the steering committee, represented by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is the central authority for India in this network.

Global Impact:

• Promotes exchange of criminal intelligence and development of strategies against corruption.
• Assists in recovering assets linked to financial crimes.

Celebrated on October 2 each year.

• The day honors the birth of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, recognizing his contributions to the nation.
• This year marks the 120th birth anniversary of this great leader.

ABOUT

• Birth: Born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.
• Role in Freedom Struggle: Actively participated in India’s fight for independence.
• Prime Minister: Became the Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Slogan: Coined the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer), emphasizing the importance of soldiers and farmers.
• Death: Died in 1966 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan under mysterious circumstances.

Celebrated on 02 October.

• Aim : to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of the Indian independence movement and a pioneer of non-violence.

ABOUT

• Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.
• Known as the Father of the Nation for his pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule through non-violent civil disobedience.

IMP. FACT

• In 2007, the United Nations declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence in recognition of Gandhi’s philosophy.
• International Day of Non-Violence also celebrated on 02 October.

Current Context : India has ranked 39th out of 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024.

• Released by:World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Criteria for Innovation:Institutions, human capital, research, infrastructure, investment, credit, knowledge creation, diffusion, and creative outputs.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Top Performers:Switzerland (1st), followed by Sweden, US, and Singapore.
• India’s Ranking:39th globally (up from 40th in 2023), 1st among lower middle-income economies.
• India’s Strengths:Strong in ICT services exports, venture capital, and intangible asset intensity.

GII 2024 Theme: Social Entrepreneurship

• Developing innovative solutions to address social/environmental challenges without profit as the main goal.
• Global Impact:
  • Economic Contribution: ~$2 trillion to global GDP.
  • Employment: 10-11 million social enterprises, ~30 million social entrepreneurs.
  • Tackles poverty, environmental issues, and social injustice.

ABOUT WIPO

• Established:1967 as a UN specialized agency.
• Mission:Develop a fair, global IP system that promotes creativity and innovation for economic growth.
• Members:193 countries (India joined in 1975).
• Major Treaties:
  • Paris Convention (1998)
  • Berne Convention (1928)
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty (1998)
• Headquarters:Geneva, Switzerland.