• 12 Nov 2025

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Why in News?

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), a major type of adult blood cancer in Uttar Pradesh, can now be effectively managed with one targeted pill a day.

• This breakthrough was highlighted at the pre-conference meeting of Haematocon-2025, organised by the Indian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT) and Uttar Pradesh Haematology Group (UPHG).

Key Points

• About: CML is a form of blood cancer that affects adults and accounts for 30% of all adult leukemia cases in India.
  • The disease occurs in approximately 5 out of 1 lakh people.
  • CML is caused by a genetic mutation known as the Philadelphia chromosome, which leads to abnormal growth of white blood cells.
• Treatment: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), like Imatinib and its newer versions, have transformed CML treatment over the past two decades.
  • The introduction of TKIs, taken as a single daily pill, has transformed CML from a fatal disease into a manageable condition, allowing patients to lead normal life spans.
• Cost: CML treatment with TKIs can cost as low as ₹1,600 per month, with affordable generic versions available through Jan Aushadhi pharmacies.
• Significance: Targeted therapy has transformed CML from a fatal disease to a manageable condition, with modern treatments boosting long-term survival rates to over 90%.

Devha River

Why in News? 

A petition has been filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take urgent action to protect the Devha River in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh, from severe pollution. 

Key Points 

• Devha River: 
  • The Devha River, also called Devbhooti Ganga, is believed to be older than the Ganga River. 
  • It originates in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand and flows toward Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.  
  • Its tributary Khakra River joins Devha at Bramhachari Ghat, on the outskirts of Pilibhit. The river has its confluence with the Ganga near Farrukhabad. 
• About the Petition: 
  • The petition alleges that nine drains in Pilibhit city are discharging untreated wastewater directly into the Devha River, leading to ecological degradation. 
  • A bioremediation proposal to clean the sewage was submitted a year ago but remains pending approval.

GreenMind AI

Why in News? 

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has launched ‘GreenMind AI’, an artificial intelligence–powered environmental information assistant. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • It is developed by Axion Labs. 
  • Its objective is to centralize Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) environmental data, rules, and permissions on a single digital platform, making regulatory information easier to access for citizens, industries, and professionals. 
  • It uses natural-language AI to simplify complex environmental norms and enhance public understanding and compliance. 
• Core Components: 
  • Public Chatbot: An AI-based virtual assistant that allows users to ask questions about MPCB norms, permits, and environmental guidelines in simple language, delivering accurate, source-linked answers instantly. 
  • Internal AI Portal: A dedicated interface for MPCB officers that integrates and cross-references regulatory data, improving efficiency in decision-making, documentation, and inter-departmental coordination. 
  • Admin Panel: A secure management dashboard enabling MPCB administrators to update circulars, track real-time user queries, monitor citizen engagement, and ensure data transparency. 

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)

Why in News? 

Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs inaugurated India’s first megawatt-hour (MWh) scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) in Greater Noida. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • The 3 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is developed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)’s NETRA (National Energy Technology Research Alliance)  
  • It aims to demonstrate Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technology for large-scale renewable energy integration and grid stability. 
• Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB): 
  • It uses vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store and discharge electricity efficiently. 
  • The system offers long operational life, and excellent scalability compared to lithium-ion batteries. 
  • Non-flammable electrolytes make it safer for large-scale energy storage applications. 
  • It is well-suited for grid-scale renewable energy storage, microgrids, and peak-load management. 
  • VRFBs are increasingly viewed as a sustainable alternative for integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid. 

Sukhatal Lake

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand High Court has sought a report from the Nainital District Development Authority regarding the ongoing beautification and construction works at Sukhatal Lake.

Key Points 

• Sukhatal is a freshwater lake located about 1.5 km from Nainital town, and it feeds the Naini Lake through its wetland characteristics. 
• The lake remains filled with water for only about three months in a year, and stays dry for the rest of the time, which is why it is named Sukhatal (“dry lake”). 
• Earlier, it was known as Khudariya Tal, as its water used to flow into the outermost part of the Nainital Lake. 
• In 1841, when Peter Barron discovered Nainital, the lake remained filled for most of the year, and ice skating was done here during winters. 
• After 1992, due to excessive construction around the lake and climate change, it has remained mostly dry. 
• The ongoing beautification project aims at both tourism promotion and ecological conservation. 

Madhya Pradesh Named Top Achiever in BRAP 2024

Why in News? 

Madhya Pradesh has been recognised as the Top Achiever State under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2024, released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 

Key Points 

• About The Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP): 
  • It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 
  • It aims to evaluate and promote reforms by States and Union Territories that make doing business easier, faster, and more transparent. 
  • The framework covers over 300 reform points across key areas such as business entry, land allotment, labour regulation, environmental clearance, and service delivery. 
  • Based on reform implementation, States and UTs are ranked under Top Achievers, Achievers, Aspirers, and Emerging Business Ecosystems categories. 
  • The plan seeks to promote competitive federalism, foster peer learning, and strengthen India’s investment and business environment. 
• State Performance Highlights: 
  • Madhya Pradesh emerged as a Top Achiever in four key reform areas of Business Entry, Labour Regulation Enablers, Land Administration, and Services Sector. 
  • It also hosted large-scale industry promotion events such as the Global Investors Summit in Bhopal, highlighting its focus on attracting domestic and global investments. 
  • The state government emphasised transforming “Ease of Doing Business” into the “Speed, Scale, and Skill of Doing Business” to strengthen industrial competitiveness and job creation. 

‘Maru Jwala’ Drills in Rajasthan

Why in News? 

The Indian Armed Forces conducted the ‘Maru Jwala’ phase of Operation Trishul on 11th November, 2025, in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, as part of the country’s largest tri-services exercise. 

Key Points 

• Maru Jwala Exercise: 
• The exercise featured T-90 Bhishma tanks, precision missile launches, UAV surveillance, and live-fire drills, testing the Army–Air Force joint combat strategy for desert operations. 
• It demonstrated real-time coordination between land and air forces, validating the integrated theatre command approach. 
• Agadawa Air Strip: 
• The 3 km long Agadawa Air Strip, located on National Highway 925A in Barmer district, about 40 km from the Pakistan border, hosted emergency landing and take-off drills in this exercise involving Rafale, Tejas, and Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. 
• Originally inaugurated in September 2021, the strip is India’s first national highway-based emergency landing facility, built jointly by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).