Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Health ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) highly industrialised countries recently recognised antimicrobial resistance was a bigger threat to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) even though fighting it was a shared responsibility.

Concerns associated:

• Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year.
• The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 3.8 per cent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).

Proposed plan by G7

• To establish new international integrated surveillance systems.
• Improve existing systems to monitor AMR and antibiotics use among humans, animals and plants and the effect on the environment.
• Enhance the scientific basis to inform risk assessments and identify opportunities for mitigation.
• To promote prudent and appropriate use of antimicrobials through 2023 by defining national measurable targets on AMR in line with domestic authorities, including antibiotic usage in human health.
• To prepare the upcoming report on infection prevention and control and present it at the World Health Summit in Berlin in October.

What is Antibiotic resistance?

It is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.

Why is Antimicrobial resistance a silent threat of the future?

• Antibiotics have saved millions of lives till date. Unfortunately, they are now becoming ineffective as many infectious diseases have ceased to respond to antibiotics.
• Even though antimicrobial resistance is a natural process, the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process.
• A large number of infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and gonorrhea are becoming very difficult to treat since the antibiotics used for their treatment are becoming less effective.
• Globally, use of antibiotics in animals is expected to increase by 67% by 2030 from 2010 levels. The resistance to antibiotics in germs is a man-made disaster.
• Irresponsible use of antibiotics is rampant in human health, animal health, fisheries, and agriculture.
• Complex surgeries such as organ transplantation and cardiac bypass might become difficult to undertake because of untreatable infectious complications that may result post-surgery.

Measures Taken to Address AMR (India):

• National Programme on AMR containment: Launched in 2012.
• National Action Plan on AMR was launched in April 2017.
• AMR Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) was launched in 2013.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The 50th anniversary of the Stockholm conference is being observed.

About the Stockholm conference:

• The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm between June 5 to June 16, 1972.
• It was the first such worldwide convergence on planetary environment, with the theme ‘Only One Earth’.
• It resulted in the Stockholm Declaration which contained principles and an Action Plan containing recommendations for environmental policy.

The three dimensions of this conference were:

• Countries agreeing not to “harm each other’s environment or the areas beyond national jurisdiction”.
• An action plan to study the threat to Earth’s environment.
• Establishment of an international body called the UN Environment programme (UNEP) to bring in cooperation among countries.

Significance and outcomes of the Stockholm Conference:

• Until 1972, no country had an environment ministry.
• Norwegian delegates returned from the conference to set up a ministry for the environment.
• India set up its ministry of environment and forest in 1985.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

A 24-year-old Vadodara woman announced that she would marry herself in what she described as an “act of self-love”.

• The wedding, being seen as one of the first instances of self-marriage or sologamy in the country

What is sologamy or ‘self-marriage’?

• Sologamy is the act of marrying oneself in a public ceremony, also referred to as self-marriage or autogamy.
• While such a marriage has no legal sanction or status, the symbolic ceremony is used by many as an act to emphasize their self-love and independence.

When did the trend begin?

• It can be traced back to Linda Baker, a dental hygienist from the US, who married herself in 1993
• It is widely considered the first publicized act of self-marriage
• A sologamy divorce was also reported last year when a Brazilian model, announced she was ending her solo-marriage after just 90 days as she had fallen in love with someone else.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

India’s first liquid-mirror telescope- International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) has now entered the commissioning phase and will start scientific observations some time in October this year.

About the International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT):

It is located at an altitude of 2,450 metres on the Devasthal Observatory campus of the Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital district, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

• It is the only liquid-mirror telescope operational anywhere in the world.
• It will also hold the unique tag of being the maiden liquid-telescope globally to be designed exclusively for astronomical purposes.
• This international telescope facility is the result of collaborative work between astronomers from Canada, Belgium and India.

Features of the Telescope:

• Unlike the conventional telescopes that can be steered to track specific stellar source objects, the ILMT will be stationary.
• It will basically carry out observations and imaging at the zenith, that is, of the overhead sky.
• This is a survey telescope having high potential for discovering newer objects.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

For the first time since the Taliban takeover, India has sent an official delegation to Afghanistan, led by Joint secretary at Ministry of External Affairs.

Areas of discussion:

Resumption of stalled infrastructure projects, activation of diplomatic ties, and restarting the issue of visas for Afghan students and patients.

India’s assistance so far:

• In terms of humanitarian assistance, India has sent 20,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat, 13 tonnes of medicines, 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines, and winter clothing for the Afghan people so far.
• This aid has been distributed through international organisations like the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, and UNICEF because India doesn’t have people on the ground to distribute it.

 India’s stand on Afghanistan after Taliban takeover:

• • Under India’s presidency, UNSC adopted resolution 2593. It stated that the territory of Afghanistan is not to be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
  • Participated in the UN High-Level Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan held in September. In this meeting, India called for normalisation of regular commercial operations of Kabul airport which could help the flow of relief material to Afghans.

• India hosted the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in November 2021.

Issue 

Taliban has taken full control of Afghanistan. People have no jobs and incomes. Over 22 million Afghans will suffer food insecurity last winter as a drought driven by climate change adds to their woes. This will force them to choose between migration and starvation.

Significance of Afghan Stability

• Can have spill over to Neighbouring central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan etc
• Taliban resurgence will revive extremism in the region and the region can become a safe sanctuary for Let,ISIS etc.
• Civil war in Afghanistan will lead to a refugee crisis in Central Asia and beyond.
• Afghanistan’s stability will help the Central Asian countries with the shortest access to the seaports of the Indian ocean.
• Afghanistan has been an important link in the regional trade, cultural, playing the role of a connecting bridge for Central and the rest of the world.

Need of India to engage with Taliban

• Taliban is now having a significant presence in Afghanistan.
• India is already having huge investment in Afghanistan. To secure assets worth $3 billion, India should engage with all parties in Afghanistan.
• Taliban engaging with Pakistan deep state will not be in India’s best interest.
• If India does not engage now Russia, Iran, Pakistan and China will emerge as the shapers of Afghanistan’s political and geopolitical destiny, which for sure will be detrimental to Indian interests.

Need of the hour:

• Urgent need to collectively act for the safety of Afghan civilians by checking violence by Taliban
• Afghanistan should be given enough space in Central Asian architectures like SCO (Shanghai cooperation organisation)
• The USA, Iran, China, and Russia should actively involve India to maintain stability in Afghanistan.
• Unified action for the refugee crisis if it arises.
• Indian engagement with Taliban to maintain peace with immediate neighbours.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Illegal variety occupies about a fifth of GM cotton seed market

• A flourishing illegal trade in a new unapproved herbicide-tolerant variety has come to occupy nearly a fifth of the genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds market in India.
• Farmers’ organizations say since the unapproved seeds help them in weed management and cut costs, they would continue to use it.
• The illegal seed manufacturers claim the presence of herbicide trait (HT Bt) in the seeds they sell are capable of controlling pink bollworm.
• Bayer-Mahyco has submitted the application for the approval for HT Bt cotton last year, the regulator (GEAC) is yet to take a call.

Why HTBt?

• Since its introduction two decades ago, Bt cotton has led to a dramatic rise in India’s cotton yield and thereby, production but over the last two-three years, the yield has come down marginally.
• Since the introduction of Bollgard-I, which was the country’s first GM crop approved for commercialisation in 2002, followed by Bollgard II, a pest-resistant variety which protects the crop from bollworm, in 2006, the GEAC has not approved any new varieties.
• HTBt plants allow farmers to spray herbicides to get rid of weeds without harming the plants
• Cotton production in the 2021-22 crop years (July-June) declined 5% to 34 million bales (MB) from its peak of 35.9 MB in 2013-14.

What should be done?

• Since the illegal seeds contain unknown and unapproved traits, these could contaminate regular seeds, thereby putting legitimate seed growers at risk
• The government should facilitate faster approval of newly-developed seeds so that farmers get access to quality seeds and thereby, reduce the labour cost

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

• GEAC is India’s top biotech regulatory agency and a statutory organization under the Environment Protection Act, 1986
• It functions under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• It is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
• GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF & CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

• The Foreign Minister of China, is currently on an eight-day visit to ten Pacific Island Countries (PICs), and has co-hosted with Fiji the Second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers Meeting
• During the meeting, China’s effort to push through a comprehensive framework deal failed to gain consensus among the PICs.
• Though this has raised regional concerns about China’s growing footprint in the Pacific islands, it has also been seen as a demonstration of China’s limitations in the region.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

IIM-Ahmedabad launches agri land price index

• The index is aimed at removing uncertainty in the agricultural land valuation.
• The index, a prelude to a nationwide gauge to monitor farm land prices, was developed for 107 districts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, benchmarking land prices for rural and semi-urban areas.
• It would be reliable source in terms of benchmarking land prices and help in conversion of agricultural land into real estate or for industrial use.
• The index would help the government in adopting more scientific measures for providing compensation for land acquisition besides helping financial institutions in underwriting of loan and insurance contracts.
• It would also ensure visibility in movement of agricultural land prices across the country.
• The factors identified for determining the agricultural land price include irrigation facilities, distance to nearest town or airport and proximity to international airport.

Findings

• Agriculture land in Karnataka is the most expensive followed by Telangana
• Average agricultural land prices in Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, are reported at Rs 0.93 crore, Rs 0.81 crore and Rs 0.77 crore per acre, respectively, while prices in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are Rs 0.58 crore, Rs 0.49 crore and Rs 0.47 crore, respectively.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The forest department of Bihar has established an elephant rescue centre at Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) to rehabilitate stray, abandoned and injured elephants

• The facility is in the process of getting approval from the central government
• VTR is spread over 899 square kilometres in West Champaran district, with Nepal to its north and Uttar Pradesh to its west.
• VTR provides the perfect atmosphere for elephant habitation
• Several elephants stray into VTR from neighboring Chitwan National Park in Nepal
• The plan is not without drawbacks: The risk of human-animal conflicts, though not new, will remain high

Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve is the only tiger reserve in Bihar and forms the easternmost limit of India’s Himalayan Terai forests.
• The forest contains a mix of bhabar and terai tracts and is located in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone.
• In 1978, it was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
• In 1990, Valmiki National Park was established.
• The Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is the country’s 18th Tiger Reserve. Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wild Sanctuary make up the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
• The tiger reserve shares a border with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park.
• The park is bisected by two rivers: the Gandak and the Masan River. Valmiki wildlife sanctuary is bordered on the west by the River Gandak.
• It enters India at Valmikinagar, where it is joined by two rivulets, Sonha and Pachnad, to form the holy Triveni confluence.
• A diverse range of flora and fauna can be found in the Valmiki National Park. Moisture-bearing Sal forests, dry-bearing Sal forests, moist mixed deciduous forests without Sal, cane, and tropical seasonal swamp forests with reed beds and wet grasslands make up the park.
• Fauna includes – Mammals: tiger, rhinoceros, black bear, leopard, wild dog, wild buffalo, wild boar, hyena, leopard cat, wild cat, etc
• Reptiles – Python, Cobra, King cobra, Krait, Banded krait, Sand boa, Crocodiles, etc
• Indian bison and one-horned rhinoceros frequently migrate from Chitwan to Valmikinagar.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper c

The Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI) chose to withdraw its advisory two days after it was issued, encouraging users to desist from distributing photocopies of their Aadhaar Card. The notification has been withdrawn to avoid any misinterpretation.

What did the UIDAI advisory say?

• Holders should utilise a masked Aadhaar card instead of the traditional photocopy.
• The document must not be downloaded from a cybercafe or a public computer, and if it is, it must be wiped from the system permanently.
• The first eight numbers of the twelve-digit ID are hidden behind ‘XXXX’ characters in ‘Masked Aadhaar.’

What does the law say on usage of Aadhar and its safety?

• The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 makes it clear that Aadhaar authentication is necessary for availing subsidies, benefits and services that are financed from the Consolidated Fund of India.
• The requesting entity would have to obtain the consent of the individual before collecting his/her identity and ensure that the information is only used for authentication purposes on the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR).
• The Act makes it clear that confidentiality needs to be maintained and the authenticated information cannot be used for anything other than the specified purpose.
• Identity information or authentication records would only be liable to be produced pursuant to an order of the High Court or Supreme Court, or by someone of the Secretary rank or above in the interest of national security.

 About UIDAI:

• The UIDAI is a statutory authority established on 12th July 2016.
• Parent body: Works under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Initially, the UIDAI was set up by the Government of India in January 2009, as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission.
• Mandate: The UIDAI is mandated to assign a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number (Aadhaar) to all the residents of India.
• Total: As of 31st October 2021, UIDAI had issued 131.68 crore Aadhaar numbers.