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Arsenic Contamination of Food Chain

Why in News A recent study in Bihar has found Arsenic contamination not only in groundwater but in the food chain as well. The research...

16 Sep 2021 Health
Mu Variant of Covid-19

Why in News Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has added a new variant of Covid-19 in the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) and named it...

16 Sep 2021 Health
Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021

Why in News Recently, the Jal Shakti Ministry launched Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021 or rural cleanliness survey 2021 under Swachh Bharat Mission...

13 Sep 2021 Health
Towards A Zero Carbon Future

This article is based upon Green hydrogen, a new ally for a zero carbon future which was published in The Hindu on 09/09/2021. It talks about the...

11 Sep 2021 Health
Alternative to Crop Stubble Burning

This article is based on the article From Waste To Wealth: An alternative to Punjab’s crop stubble burning which was published in The Hindu...

09 Sep 2021 Health
Pollen Calendar: Chandigarh

Why in News The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Panjab University have created a Pollen Calendar (PC) for...

08 Sep 2021 Health
Tuberculosis

Why in News Centenary celebration is being observed for the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which is presently the sole vaccine...

06 Sep 2021 Health
Dementia

Why in News Recently, the WHO (World Health Organisation) released a report ‘Global status report on the public health response to...

04 Sep 2021 Health
Sand and Dust Storms Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific

Why in News According to a new United Nations (UN) report, more than 500 million people in India and more than 80% of the entire populations of...

01 Sep 2021 Health
Covid-19 Endemicity

Why in News According to the World Health Organization (WHO) India seems to be entering some stage of Covid-19 endemicity where there is low- to...

01 Sep 2021 Health
West Nile Virus Infections

Why in News Recently, Russia warned of a possible increase in West Nile Virus (WNV) Infections this autumn as mild temperatures and heavy...

31 Aug 2021 Health
Nutritional Security Through Food Fortification

This article is based on Biofortified food can lead India from food security to nutrition security, which was published in The Indian Express on...

30 Aug 2021 Health
Chikungunya Vaccine

Why in News Recently, International Vaccine Institute (IVI) has announced that Bharat Biotech’s Chikungunya vaccine candidate (BBV87) has...

27 Aug 2021 Health
Delta Variant Sub-lineage AY.12

Why in News According to a report by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a new sub-lineage AY.12 of the Delta variant of Covid-19...

26 Aug 2021 Health
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Why in News Recently, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has launched Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) immunisation drive for...

26 Aug 2021 Health
Human Trials for New HIV Vaccine

Why in News Moderna, the Massachusetts-based American biotechnology company, will begin human trials for its novel mRNA vaccine (mRNA-1644) for HIV...

24 Aug 2021 Health
Polio

Why in News Recently, India has decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees against Polio for free as a preventive measure against the Wild Polio...

23 Aug 2021 Health
Rise in Heat Waves

Why in News According to a recent study, more than 3,56,000 people died in 2019 as a result of extreme heat and that number is likely to grow in the...

23 Aug 2021 Health
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)

Why in News Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) approximately 20.32 lakh Covid-19 tests and 7.08 lakh treatments...

17 Aug 2021 Health
SAMVAD Initiative

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 2nd phase of the SAMVAD programme. The second phase was launched...

16 Aug 2021 Health

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		'article_id' => (int) 9796,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Arsenic Contamination of Food Chain',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study in Bihar has found&nbsp;<strong>Arsenic contamination</strong> not only in groundwater but in<strong> the food chain</strong> as well.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research study was a part of the <strong>Project Nature and Nurture in Arsenic Induced Toxicity of Bihar</strong> jointly funded by the<strong> British Council in the United Kingdom</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong></a> in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Food Chain Contamination:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631779954_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631779954_image4.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Arsenic has found its way into the food chain - mainly <strong>rice, wheat and potato.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Arsenic <strong>contamination in groundwater has been a growing concern in several parts</strong> of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Arsenic is present <strong>in the groundwater as it is used on a large scale for irrigation by farmers.</strong> That is how it finds its way into the food chain as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food vs Water Contamination:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The food had more arsenic content than drinking water, even when arsenic levels in drinking water was above the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> provisional guide value of 10 micrograms per litre (&mu;g/L).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>concentration was higher in cooked rice compared to raw rice.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arsenic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631779933_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631779933_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is an <strong>odourless and tasteless metalloid</strong> widely distributed in the earth&rsquo;s crust.</li>
<li>It is naturally present at high levels in the earth crust and groundwater of a number of countries. <strong>It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arsenic Poisoning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It can <strong>get into the human body through drinking water as well as eating food</strong> that has been contaminated with arsenic.</li>
<li><strong>Arsenicosis</strong> is the medical word for <strong>arsenic poisoning,</strong> which occurs due to accumulation of large amounts of arsenic in the body.</li>
<li>It <strong>leads to adverse health effects through inhibition of essential enzymes,</strong> which ultimately leads to death from multi-system organ failure.</li>
<li>Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can cause<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-cancer-awareness-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cancer</a> and skin lesions.</strong> It has also been associated with <strong>cardiovascular disease</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-diabetes-day-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>diabetes.</strong></a></li>
<li>In utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to <strong>negative impacts on cognitive development</strong> and increased deaths in young adults.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken:</strong> Under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development</strong></a>, the indicator of "safely managed drinking water services" calls for tracking the population accessing drinking water which is free of faecal contamination and priority chemical contaminants, including arsenic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a> is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.</li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-urban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)</strong></a> has also been launched.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an urgent need to <strong>monitor irrigation water quality along with drinking water.</strong></li>
<li>What is required is to <strong>make its mitigation a success by involving the public in planning and maintenance,</strong> while also giving states the necessary push.</li>
<li>The <strong>remedial measures</strong> include a variety of options, ranging from removing arsenic from groundwater after it is extracted, searching alternative aquifers, reducing the level within the aquifer itself, dilution of the contaminants by artificial recharge, blending with potable water etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/arsenic-now-in-wheat-potato-and-more-than-that-in-drinking-water-in-rural-bihar-79032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9792,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mu Variant of Covid-19',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> has added <strong>a new variant of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-covid-pandemic-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> in the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) and named it Mu (B.1.621)</strong>. It has also <strong>added C.1.2 as a new VOI.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/b-1-617-indian-double-mutant-strain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium)</strong></a>, India has so far not seen Mu and C.1.2, and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-delta-plus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delta variant</strong></a> and its sub-lineages continue to be the main <strong>Variants of Concern (VOC)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>C.1.2 is a sub-lineage of the C.1 variant described in South Africa</strong> but did not spread globally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mu belongs to the lineage B.1.621 variant</strong> and named after the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet. It was <strong>first detected in Colombia in January 2021</strong>.</li>
<li>It has a constellation of mutations that <strong>indicate potential properties of immune escape</strong>. It has several substitutions affecting the <a href="/printpdf/factor-d-protein-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Spike Protein</strong></a> and amino acid changes.</li>
<li>It has <strong>seen mutations</strong>, E484K, N501Y, P681H, D614G, which have been reported in other VOIs and VOCs.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>fifth &lsquo;VOI&rsquo;</strong> to be monitored by WHO. The <strong>other four</strong> VOIs are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Eta (lineage B.1.525), Iota (lineage B.1.526), Kappa (lineage B.1.617.1), and Lambda (lineage C.37).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Variants of Interest:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A variant is placed in the VOI list if it is seen to have <strong>certain &ldquo;genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect virus characteristics</strong> such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic or therapeutic escape&rdquo;.</li>
<li>To be added to the VOI list, a variant must also be <strong>&ldquo;identified to cause significant community transmission or multiple Covid-19 clusters in multiple countries&rdquo;,</strong> and suggest &ldquo;an emerging risk to global public health&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Variants of Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A VOI can become a VOC if it is demonstrated to be <strong>associated with an increase in transmissibility or virulence</strong>, or with a <strong>&ldquo;decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures</strong> or available diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Currently, <strong>four variants</strong> of the coronavirus are designated as variants of concern:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Alpha</strong> (lineage B.1.1.7, the so-called &lsquo;UK variant&rsquo;), <strong>Beta</strong> (lineage B.1.351, &lsquo;South Africa variant&rsquo;),<strong> Gamma</strong> (lineage P.1, &lsquo;Brazil variant&rsquo;), Delta (lineage B.1.617.2).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mutation, Variant and Strain</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When a virus replicates it doesn&rsquo;t always manage to produce an exact copy of itself.</li>
<li>This means that, over time, the virus may start to differ slightly in terms of its genetic sequence.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631771360_image8.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631771360_image8.png" style="float: right;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Any <strong>changes to the viral genetic sequence during this process</strong> is known as a <strong>Mutation</strong>.</li>
<li>Viruses with <strong>new mutations</strong> are sometimes called <strong>Variants.</strong> Variants can differ by one or multiple mutations.</li>
<li>When a new variant has <strong>different functional properties to the original virus</strong> and becomes established in a population, it is <strong>sometimes referred to as a New Strain</strong> of the virus. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All strains are variants, but not all variants are strains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-mu-variant-covid-19-interest-7499224/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9734,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Jal Shakti Ministry</strong> launched <strong>Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021</strong> or rural cleanliness survey 2021 under<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swachh-bharat-mission-grameen-phase-ii-1#:~:text=About%3A%20It%20emphasizes%20the%20sustainability,1%2C40%2C881%20crores." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Before this,</strong> the Swachh Survekshan Grameen had been carried out by the Ministry<strong> in 2018 and 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Swachh Survekshan Urban 2021</strong> is to be announced. It was introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2016.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Assesses the <strong>state of hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation in rural India</strong> as a part of the Centre&rsquo;s initiative to award <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drop-in-open-defecation-wash-report#:~:text=ODF%2B%2B%3A%20This%20status%20is,drains%2C%20water%20bodies%20or%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status</strong></a> to villages. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ODF-plus status <strong>aims to ensure management of solid as well as liquid waste</strong> and is an<strong> upgradation of ODF status</strong> in which construction of adequate toilets was required so that people did not have to defecate in the open.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>carried out by an expert agency.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As part of the 2021 rural cleanliness survey, as many as <strong>17,475 villages spanning across 698 districts</strong> would be covered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weightage to Different Elements:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Direct Observation of sanitation at public places -<strong>30%</strong></li>
<li>Citizen&rsquo;s Feedback -<strong>35%</strong></li>
<li>Service Level Progress on sanitation related parameters <strong>-35%</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It emphasizes the<strong> sustainability of achievements under phase I</strong> and to provide adequate facilities for <strong>Solid/Liquid &amp; plastic Waste Management (SLWM)</strong> in rural India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be implemented from <strong>2020-21 to 2024-25</strong> in a mission mode with a total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding Pattern:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fund sharing pattern between <strong>Centre and States</strong> will be 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&amp;K; 60:40 for other States; and 100% for other Union Territories.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Funding Norms for SLWM have been rationalized and changed to <strong>per capita basis</strong> in place of the number of households.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage, the Prime Minister of India had<strong> launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2<sub>nd</sub> October 2014.</strong></li>
<li>Under the mission, all villages, Gram Panchayats, Districts, States and Union Territories in India<strong> declared themselves "Open-Defecation Free" (ODF) by 2<sup>nd</sup> October 2019,</strong> the 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong></a>, by constructing over 100 million toilets in rural India.</li>
<li>SBM is <strong>being implemented by</strong> the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (M/o HUA) and by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for urban and rural areas respectively.</li>
<li>In the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Budget 2021-22</strong></a>, the <strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 was announced</strong> to be implemented over five years &ndash; 2021 till 2026 &ndash; with an outlay of Rs. 1.41 lakh crore.</li>
<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II</strong> was launched in 2020.</li>
<li>It further led to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong></a> for addressing water security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Schemes as part of SBM:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-portal-of-gobardhan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GOBAR-DHAN</a> (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) Scheme:</strong> Launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2018 and aims to <strong>augment income of farmers</strong> by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG).</li>
<li><strong>Individual Household Latrines (IHHL): Individuals get around 15 thousand</strong> for the construction of toilets.</li>
<li><strong>Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan:</strong> The <strong>Ministry of Education</strong> launched the Swachh Vidyalaya Programme with an objective to provide separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools within one year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1753604" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9731,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Towards A Zero Carbon Future',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based upon <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/green-hydrogen-a-new-ally-for-a-zero-carbon-future/article36369777.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green hydrogen, a new ally for a zero carbon future</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 09/09/2021. It talks about the need for alternative sources of energy and the significance of Green Hydrogen in &ldquo;Zero Carbon dioxide Emissions&rdquo;.</p>
</div>
<p>The quest for discovering alternatives to fossil fuels, responsible for the production of over 830 MT per annum of carbon dioxide, has been going on for years.</p>
<p>The latest studies by scientists have signalled the crucial issue of climate vulnerability, especially for the Asian countries. The forthcoming <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>26<sup>th</sup> UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow</strong></a> will re-examine the climate adaptation measures and coordinated action plans to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gases.</p>
<p>In the light of finding an alternative source for powering India&rsquo;s industries and lighting its homes with zero emissions of CO<sub>2</sub>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/green-hydrogen-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Hydrogen</strong></a> is a compelling option to rely on.</p>
<h3>Green Hydrogen</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hydrogen and Green Hydrogen:</strong> It is the most abundant element on the planet having<strong> energy density almost three times that of diesel,</strong> but present rarely in its pure form.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hydrogen is designated with different colours depending upon its production technique; <strong>Black hydrogen</strong> is produced by use of fossil fuel, whereas<strong> Pink hydrogen</strong> is produced through electrolysis, but using energy from nuclear power sources.</li>
<li><strong>Green hydrogen is a zero-carbon</strong> fuel produced from <strong>electrolysis</strong> using renewable energy (wind or solar) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Green Hydrogen:</strong> Generation of power via natural resources like Green hydrogen will be a major step forward in achieving the target of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-transforming-to-a-net-zero-emissions-energy-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;net zero&rsquo; emissions.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-energy-outlook-2021-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)</strong></a>, India is the world&rsquo;s fourth largest energy consuming country after China, USA and EU and<strong> will overtake the EU to become the third largest energy consumer by 2030.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For a country with such a high level of energy consumption, shifting to a renewable source of energy becomes even more important considering the present climate vulnerabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken for Adopting Green Hydrogen:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian Railways have recently announced the <a href="/state-pcs-current-affairs/countrys-first-passenger-train-to-run-on-hydrogen-fuel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>country&rsquo;s first experiment of a hydrogen-fuel cell technology-based train</strong></a> by retrofitting an existing diesel engine. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-budget-2021-for-green-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Budget (2021-22)</strong></a> has announced a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-hydrogen-energy-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM)</strong></a> for using hydrogen as an energy source.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> is also prioritising plans to manufacture renewable energy by utilising <strong>&lsquo;idle-land-banks&rsquo;</strong> for solar and wind energy generation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is working to establish a mega<strong> $5 billion green hydrogen manufacturing unit</strong> covering a land-size as large as that of Belgium, in the northern-western part of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the Asia-Pacific sub-continent, <strong>Japan</strong> and <strong>South Korea</strong> are on the front foot in terms of hydrogen policy making.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Japan&rsquo;s <strong>Basic Hydrogen Strategy</strong> sets out the country&rsquo;s action plan till 2030, including the establishment of an international supply chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631362062_1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631362062_1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="512" height="225" /></a></p>
<h3>Issues Associated</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>An Expensive Source:</strong> The production cost of green hydrogen has been considered to be a prime obstacle. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/renewable-power-generation-costs-in-2020-irena" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA)</strong></a>, the production cost of this &lsquo;green source of energy&rsquo; is <strong>expected to be around $1.5 per kilogram</strong> (for nations having perpetual sunshine and vast unused land), by the year 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Large Investments Required:</strong> The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and in industries <strong>requires mammoth investment in R&amp;D</strong> of such technology and <strong>infrastructure for production, storage, transportation and demand creation</strong> for hydrogen.</li>
<li><strong>Availability of Electrolysers:</strong> The shortage of electrolysers (a device which splits water to form H2 and O2 using electricity) can become a roadblock for meeting the estimated requirement on green hydrogen. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>cost of electrolysers has the highest share in the total production cost</strong> of green hydrogen.</li>
<li>Manufacturing capacity of such electrolysers may require investments between Rs 15,000-20,000 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Decentralised Production:</strong> Decentralised hydrogen production must be promoted through <strong>open access of renewable power to an electrolyser.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There shall be mechanisms to<strong> ensure access to round-the-clock renewable power supply</strong> for decentralised hydrogen production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wheeling Electricity:</strong> It is a more viable option than transportation of hydrogen by trucks. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, wheeling electricity from a solar plant in Kutch to a refinery in Vadodara could lower the transportation cost by 60%, compared to delivering hydrogen using trucks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Blending Hydrogen:</strong> Blending a certain percentage of green hydrogen with grey hydrogen <strong>for existing applications</strong> like oil refining and fertilizers, depending on the viability gap. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandating new greenfield capacities of hydrogen applications like oil refining and fertilizers to use only green hydrogen from a future cut-off date (to avoid long term lock-ins).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cooperation:</strong> India should form a <strong>regional alliance with countries</strong> South Korea, Japan and Singapore <strong>to export green hydrogen</strong> from coastal India to help them reach their net-zero ambitions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Power generation by green hydrogen will be a viable solution to achieve the target of &lsquo;net-zero&rsquo; emission to remain under 1.5&deg; C. It will also be a leap forward in minimising the dependence on conventional fossil fuels.</p>
<p>It is high time to catch up with the rest of the world by going in for clean energy, decarbonising the economy and adopting &lsquo;Green hydrogen&rsquo; as an environment-friendly and safe fuel for the next generations.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fffa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Green hydrogen as an alternative source of energy can be the long-sought solution of the problem of global warming and GHG emissions. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9698,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Alternative to Crop Stubble Burning',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/from-waste-to-wealth-an-alternative-to-punjabs-crop-stubble-burning/article36375696.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>From Waste To Wealth: An alternative to Punjab&rsquo;s crop stubble burning</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on 09/09/2021. It talks about the issues of stubble burning and the alternative ways to deal with it.</p>
</div>
<p>In the monsoon months, paddy cultivation is in full swing in the Indo-Gangetic plains, which cover the Indian States of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The same farmers who are toiling hard to bring food to our plates will soon engage in the highly unhealthy practice of stubble burning, a common sight in Indian paddy waste management.</p>
<p>Though cheaper and faster in the interim, stubble burning is incredibly unsustainable for the environment &ndash; it fills the air with soot, dispels nutrients out of the soil, and leads to several other ecological complications.</p>
<p>In this context, it is of utmost importance to find out the alternate solution to deal with the issue of stubble warming.</p>
<h3>Hazards of stubble burning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Contribution to Atmospheric Pollution:</strong> Stubble burning is a significant contributor to atmospheric pollution, coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> after industrial and vehicular emissions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Asian countries such as China, around 60% of total biomass emissions come from stubble burning. At the same time, globally, it constitutes about one-fourth of the total biomass burning (inclusive of forest fires).</li>
<li>The awful haze surrounding India&rsquo;s<strong> national capital region (NCR)</strong> has been directly linked to stubble burning, coinciding with burning periods in October-November.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human Health Impacts:</strong> Several health effects have been noticed that arise from the resultant air pollution, ranging from skin and eyes irritation to severe neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prolonged exposure to high pollution also leads to an increase in mortality rates &ndash; as per research, the life expectancy of Delhi inhabitants has decreased by about 6.4 years due to their exposure to high levels of pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Detrimental to the Soil&rsquo;s Health:</strong> It strips soil of its essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(NPK)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It raises soil temperature to about 42&deg;C, thus displacing or killing important microorganisms up to a depth of about 2.5 cm.</li>
<li>It hampers agriculture productivity because pollutants in the atmosphere lead to acid rain and prolonged exposure to particulate pollution favours growths of pests or diseases.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ozone-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ground-level ozone</strong></a> produced by stubble burning affects the plant&rsquo;s metabolism, and penetrates and destroys its leaves, causing severe damage to crops in northern parts of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Costs to the Economy:</strong> As per reports, tourists&rsquo; inflow has decreased in Delhi by about 25-30% due to the increase in air pollution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is estimated that air pollution has a USD 2.9 trillion economic cost, equating to 3.3% of the world&rsquo;s GDP.</li>
<li>14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are from India (mostly from Delhi, UP, and other northern States), and the issue costs the country USD 150 billion per year on average.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Adoption of Alternative Method</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Alternatives:</strong> Despite being aware of the ill effects of stubble burning, it continues to be the modus operandi for farmers regarding post-harvest waste management.Closer-to-ground interaction reveals that the farmers do not have much choice.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Capacity:</strong> Let us take the example of Punjab, where farmers harvest almost 80% of the rice crop using combine harvesters which leave stubble stalks around 15 cm high. For paddy and wheat, the stubble generated is 1.5 times the grain. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are difficult to either remove or incorporate into the soil through manual labour or using farm equipment, both of which are economically not viable for an average farmer.</li>
<li>Markets for other methods of paddy residue management are fragmented; for instance, together, the seven biomass power plants in Punjab consume 1 million metric tons of paddy straw annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Stubble Management Infrastructure:</strong> As a result of the lack of infrastructure for waste management, farmers set almost 15.4 million metric tons (out of the 19.7 MMT) on fire in open fields (Punjab government 2017). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This method is sought after as it is cheaper and faster for the farmer, helping them clear the land in time before the next cropping cycle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Alternative to Stubble Burning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bio Enzyme-PUSA:</strong> The<strong> Indian Agriculture Research Institute</strong> has devised a radical solution for stubble burning in the form of a bio-enzyme called PUSA. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When sprayed, this enzyme decomposes the stubble in 20-25 days, turning it into manure, further improving the soil quality.</li>
<li>It leads to an increase in organic carbon and soil health while significantly reducing the fertiliser expense for the next cropping cycle.</li>
<li>Being a sustainable agriculture practice, it also cuts back on the emission of greenhouse gases and prevents the release of toxins and soot into the air.</li>
<li>When practised over a while, it considerably increases the soil&rsquo;s nutrient health and microbial activity, both of which ensure better yield at reduced input costs for the farmers as well as organic produce for the consumers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grassroot Participation with Public Private Partnership:</strong> This calls for active public-private partnerships, where resources are moved to the grassroots and solutions are deployed in time to benefit society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers should be onboarded into the scheme developed for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Enabled Smart Revolution:</strong> Stubble burning is one of the many ramifications of the green revolution. It is time to correct it and give our farmers a new and sustainable impetus: A Smart Revolution! <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Technology will be the primary enabler here, helping to scale, reach and extend the benefits of a shared economy to the farmers.</li>
<li>With <strong>digitisation</strong> and a commitment to enabling sustainable practices and outcomes, we can seed the benefits of sustainable agriculture in farmers&rsquo; minds.</li>
<li>If done well, the soil and air will be healthier, water tables replenished, and farmers will be earning more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In-situ treatment, Ex-situ treatment of stubble and Changing Cropping Pattern:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For in-situ management (eg. crop residue management by zero-tiller machines and use of bio-decomposers) the government is currently giving equipment to farmers to mix the stubble back into the soil, so that they do not have to burn it, but everyone is not getting these machines. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government should ensure their availability to everyone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similarly, in ex-situ management (eg. use of rice straw as cattle fodder), some companies have started collecting stubble for their use, but we need more action on this front</li>
<li>There is also a need to change the cropping pattern as the current pattern (Paddy in drier North west India) is not suitable for the declining water table.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Alternative Use:</strong> Instead of burning the stubble, it can be used in different ways like <strong>cattle feed, compost manure, roofing in rural areas,</strong> biomass energy, mushroom cultivation, <strong>packing materials,</strong> fuel, paper, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-ethanol-roadmap#:~:text=The%20Government%20of%20India%20has,blended%20with%20petrol%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-ethanol</strong></a> and industrial production, etc.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Though a cheaper and faster way to get rid of stubble waste, stubble burning is incredibly unsustainable for the environment. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 9672,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pollen Calendar: Chandigarh',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Panjab University have<strong> created a Pollen Calendar (PC) for Chandigarh,</strong> arguably the first for any city in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The pollen calendar was created<strong> after studying airborne pollen and its seasonal variations for about two years.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631093098_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1631093098_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="360" height="207" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PCs <strong>represent the time dynamics of airborne pollen</strong> present in a particular geographical area. They <strong>yield readily accessible visual details about various airborne pollen present throughout the year</strong> in a single picture.</li>
<li>PCs are <strong>location-specific,</strong> with concentrations closely related to locally distributed flora.</li>
<li><strong>Europe, UK and the US are using regional pollen calendars</strong> in a big way to <strong>prevent and diagnose allergic rhinitis/hay fever</strong> and predict the timing and severity of the pollen season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pollen:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pollen grains are <strong>male biological structures</strong> with the primary role of fertilisation, but when inhaled by humans, they may strain the respiratory system and cause allergies.</li>
<li>Pollen is <strong>released by plants,</strong> making millions of people suffer from hay fever, pollinosis and allergic rhinitis.</li>
<li>About<strong> 20-30% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis</strong> or hay fever in India, and approximately <strong>15% develop <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-respiratory-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asthma</a>.</strong></li>
<li>According to a study by PGIMER, <strong>Airborne pollen dominating seasons are spring and autumn</strong> with maximum species when the phenological and meteorological parameters are considered favorable for pollen grains' growth, dispersion, and transmission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Planting <strong>monoecious plants</strong> (male and female flowers on the same plant). Hibiscus, lilies, and holly are examples of such plants.</li>
<li>Planting <strong>trees/shrubs that release no or little pollen.</strong> Trees such as palms, nettle, safeda, white mulberry (shahtoot), congress grass, pine, have a high incidence of pollen.</li>
<li><strong>Non-allergic or entomophilous plant species</strong> such as rose, jasmine, salvia, Bougainvillea, Raat ki rani and sunflower.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1752542" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9625,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Tuberculosis',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Centenary celebration is being observed for the <strong>Bacille Calmette-Gu&eacute;rin (BCG)</strong> vaccine, which is presently the <strong>sole vaccine</strong> available for the prevention of <strong>Tuberculosis (TB).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TB is <strong>caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis,</strong> belonging to the Mycobacteriaceae family consisting of about 200 members. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of Mycobacteria cause diseases like TB and<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/leprosy-health-gs-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Leprosy</strong></a> in humans and others infect a wide range of animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In humans, TB <strong>most commonly affects the lungs</strong> (pulmonary TB), but it can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB).</li>
<li>TB is <strong>a very ancient disease</strong> and has been documented to have <strong>existed in Egypt as early as 3000 BC.</strong></li>
<li>TB is<strong> a treatable and curable disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TB is <strong>spread from person to person through the air.</strong> When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Impact of TB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, 87% of new TB cases occurred in the 30 high TB burden countries.</li>
<li>Eight countries accounted for<strong> two thirds of the new TB cases:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa.</li>
<li><strong>India reported 1.8 million TB cases</strong> between January and December 2020 as compared to 2.4 million the year before.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, <strong>MDR-TB remained a public health crisis</strong> and a health security threat.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>MultiDrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)</strong> is a strain of TB that cannot be treated with the two most powerful first-line treatment anti-TB drugs. <strong>Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB)</strong> is a form of TB caused by bacteria that are resistant to several of the most effective anti-TB drugs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>BCG Vaccine:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BCG was developed by two Frenchmen, Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin,<strong> by modifying a strain of Mycobacterium bovis</strong> (that causes TB in cattle). It was <strong>first used in humans in 1921.</strong></li>
<li>In India, BCG was <strong>first introduced in a limited scale in 1948</strong> and became <strong>a part of the National TB Control Programme in 1962.</strong></li>
<li>In addition to its primary use as a vaccine against TB, it<strong> protects against respiratory and bacterial infections of the newborns,</strong> and other mycobacterial diseases like <strong>Leprosy and Buruli&rsquo;s ulcer.</strong></li>
<li>It is also used as <strong>an immunotherapy agent</strong> in cancer of the urinary bladder and malignant melanoma.</li>
<li><strong>One intriguing fact</strong> about BCG is that it works well in some geographic locations and not so well in others. Generally, <strong>the farther a country is from the equator, the higher is the efficiency.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has a high efficacy in the UK, Norway, Sweden and Denmark; and little or no efficacy in countries on or near the equator like India, Kenya and Malawi, where the burden of TB is higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHO (World Health Organisation)</strong> </a>has launched a joint initiative<strong> &ldquo;Find. Treat. All. #EndTB&rdquo;</strong> with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Fund</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stop-tb-partnership-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Stop TB</strong> <strong>Partnership.</strong></a></li>
<li>WHO also releases the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Tuberculosis Report.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Strategic Plan (NSP)</strong></a> for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025),<strong> The Nikshay Ecosystem</strong> (National TB information system), <strong>Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY</strong>- financial support), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-harega-desh-jeetega-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign.</strong></a></li>
<li>Currently, two vaccines <strong>VPM (Vaccine Projekt Management) 1002 and MIP (Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii)</strong> have been developed and identified for TB, and are under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Phase-3 clinical trial.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/bcg-vaccine-100-years-and-counting/article36158137.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9614,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Dementia',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> WHO (World Health Organisation)</strong></a> released a report <strong>&lsquo;Global status report on the public health response to dementia&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It takes stock of progress made to date towards the 2025 global targets for dementia laid out in the WHO&rsquo;s <strong>&lsquo;Global Dementia Action Plan&rsquo;</strong> published in 2017.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a syndrome</strong> &ndash; usually of a chronic or progressive nature &ndash; that leads to <strong>deterioration in cognitive function</strong> (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from the <strong>usual consequences of biological ageing.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>affects</strong> memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the <strong>consciousness is not affected.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>65% of total deaths <strong>due to dementia are women</strong>, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to dementia are roughly 60% higher in women than in men.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Memory loss, Difficulties with thinking</strong>, Visual perception, Self-management, Problem solving or language and the ability to focus and pay attention.</li>
<li><strong>Personality changes</strong>, like depression, agitation, paranoia, and mood swings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When <strong>brain cells are damaged</strong> then dementia may occur. It can be<strong> caused by a head injury, a stroke, a brain tumour</strong> or due to <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV infection</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is <strong>currently no treatment available to cure dementia</strong>, though numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dementia is currently the <strong>seventh leading cause of death</strong> among all diseases and one of the <strong>major causes of disability</strong> and dependency among older people worldwide.</li>
<li>More than <strong>55 million people</strong> (8.1% of women and 5.4% of men over 65 years) are <strong>living with dementia.</strong></li>
<li>This number is estimated to rise to 78 million by 2030 and to 139 million by 2050.</li>
<li>WHO&rsquo;s <strong>Western Pacific Region has the highest number of people with dementia</strong> (20.1 million), followed by the European Region (14.1 million).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>WHO&rsquo;s Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides a comprehensive blueprint for addressing dementia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Dementia Observatory:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is an international surveillance platform to <strong>facilitate monitoring and sharing of information</strong> on dementia policies, service delivery, epidemiology and research.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Guidelines on Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>provides evidence- based recommendations</strong> on interventions for reducing modifiable risk factors for dementia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mental Health Gap Action Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a resource for <strong>generalists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries</strong>, to help them provide first-line care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Alzheimer&rsquo;s and Related Disorders Society of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>calls for the government to have its plan or policy on dementia</strong> which must be implemented in all states and funded and monitored by the health ministry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission</strong>:</a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable &amp; quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/world-failing-to-address-dementia-challenge-who-report-7487910/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1630755832784000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Tbp9yqQ8Ie2fMmWqwG9R_" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9556,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Sand and Dust Storms Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a new <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN)</strong></a> report, more than<strong> 500 million people in India</strong> and<strong> more than 80% of the entire populations</strong> of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are <strong>exposed to medium and high levels of poor air quality due to sand and dust storms.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> risk of impacts from sand and dust storms is projected to increase in the 2030s</strong> due to more extreme drought conditions in parts of Western Australia, south-easternTurkey, Iran and Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sand and Dust Storms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sand and dust storms are <strong>common meteorological hazards</strong> in arid and semi-arid regions.</li>
<li>They are usually caused by <strong>thunderstorms &ndash; or strong pressure gradients</strong> associated with <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cyclones</a></strong> &ndash; which increase wind speed over a wide area.</li>
<li>Some <strong>40% of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aerosol-levels-hit-20-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aerosols</a> in the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere)</strong> are dust particles from wind erosion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Sources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main sources of these mineral dusts are the <strong>arid regions of Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and China.</strong></li>
<li>Comparatively, <strong>Australia, America and South Africa make minor,</strong> but still important, contributions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Negative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Impact on Power Plants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They can interfere with energy infrastructure, adversely affecting electricity transmission lines and causing power outages.</li>
<li>India, China and Pakistan witnessed <strong>1,584 gigawatt-hours (gWh), 679 gWh and 555 gHw of energy loss,</strong> respectively.</li>
<li>These losses amounted to over<strong> Rs. 782 crore for India per year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affect Source of Freshwater:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Very high dust deposition also occurs in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hindu-kush-himalayan-mountains#:~:text=ICIMOD%20is%20an%20intergovernmental%20knowledge,Myanmar%2C%20Nepal%2C%20and%20Pakistan." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himalaya-Hindu Kush mountain range</strong></a> and the <strong>Tibetan Plateau,</strong> the so-called <strong>&lsquo;third pole&rsquo;</strong> that are the sources for fresh water for more than 1.3 billion people in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increases Melting of Ice:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The deposition of dust on glaciers induces a <strong>warming effect,</strong> increasing the melting of ice, with direct and indirect impacts on society through numerous issues, including food security, energy production, agriculture, water stress and flood regimes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Farmland:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Dust deposition<strong> impacted large portions of farmland</strong> in Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Much of this dust is characterised by<strong> high salt content, making it toxic for plants.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>reduces yield,</strong> posing a significant threat to the production of irrigated cotton and other crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They directly affect <strong>11 of the 17 United Nations-mandated <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)</a>:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ending poverty in all forms, Ending hunger, Good health and well-being, Affordable and clean energy, Decent work and economic growth, Climate action, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positive:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They can<strong> increase the nutrient content in the areas of deposition</strong> and benefit vegetation.</li>
<li>Dust <strong>deposited on water bodies can alter their chemical characteristics,</strong> triggering both positive as well as adverse outcomes.</li>
<li>Dust particles that carry iron can enrich parts of oceans,<strong> improving the phytoplankton balance and impacting marine food webs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their impacts are complex, and thus, they represent <strong>an important emerging issue for policy-makers in the Asia-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>Member States<strong> need to strategize their joint actions,</strong> considering gaining a deeper understanding of the socio-economic impact of sand and dust storms, establishing a coordinated monitoring and early warning system with an impact-based focus, and coordinating actions in most at-risk and exposed geographical areas to mitigate the risks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/sand-and-dust-storms-impact-over-500-million-in-india-study-78736" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9553,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Covid-19 Endemicity',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>India seems to be entering some stage of <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-covid-pandemic-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> endemicity</strong> where there is<strong> low- to moderate-level transmission.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Endemicity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An endemic disease is a disease that is <strong>always present in a certain population or a given geographical region.</strong></li>
<li>Some examples of endemics include <strong>chicken pox and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malaria</a>,</strong> where there are a predictable number of cases every year in certain parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Endemic vs Epidemic vs Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Endemic diseases are often confused with epidemics. However, an <strong>epidemic refers to an outbreak of a disease.</strong> An epidemic occurs when a disease is spreading through one or more populations. In contrast, the endemic disease is one that is constantly present in a group or geographic area. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Pandemics</strong> are worldwide epidemics. A pandemic affects more people and takes more lives than an epidemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under certain circumstances, an <strong>epidemic can lead to a disease becoming endemic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Covid's Endemicity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only those pathogens can be eradicated that <strong>don&rsquo;t have animals (another species) as a reservoir. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-research-on-smallpox-about-its-origins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smallpox</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-polio-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polio</a></strong> are human virus examples, <strong>rinderpest</strong> is a cattle virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It means if there is a <strong>virus/pathogen that is present in some animal reservoir</strong> then it <strong>can transmit again once the level of immunity wanes in the population</strong> against the disease caused by it.</li>
<li>In the case of <strong>coronavirus disease,</strong> it will <strong>continue to circulate as it is present in the animal reservoir. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>On Immunity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If <strong>enough people are vaccinated or have been exposed</strong> to the infection, then the <strong>virus will cause symptomatic infection but not disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Future Cases:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As long as the <strong>new variant does not come with much more transmissibility</strong> than <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-delta-plus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delta variant</strong></a>, it is more likely that<strong> there will be a steady level of cases, with some regions,</strong> especially of low prior seroprevalence and low vaccination rates, seeing spikes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/covid-cases-endemic-in-india-who-7479128/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9541,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'West Nile Virus Infections',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Russia warned of a possible increase in West Nile Virus (WNV) Infections</strong> this autumn as mild temperatures and heavy precipitation create favourable conditions for the mosquitos that carry it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1630394917_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1630394917_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a member of the flavivirus genus</strong> and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.</li>
<li>WNV is <strong>commonly found in</strong> Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.</li>
<li>Older people, children and those with weakened immune systems are most <strong>at risk.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Origin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WNV was first isolated in a woman in the<strong> West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>identified in birds</strong> in the Nile delta region <strong>in 1953.</strong> Before 1997, WNV was not considered pathogenic for birds.</li>
<li><strong>Human infections</strong> attributable to WNV have been <strong>reported in many countries for over 50 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WNV is <strong>an infectious disease spread by infected mosquitoes.</strong> It <strong>spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected Culex mosquito.</strong> It can <strong>lead to a fatal neurological disease in humans.</strong></li>
<li>The virus <strong>causes West Nile fever in around 20% of cases,</strong> according to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a>. It is related to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/zika-virus-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dengue-prevention-and-identification" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dengue</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/yellow-fever-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Yellow Fever Viruses.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Those infected usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms.</li>
<li>The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. They can last a few days to several weeks, and usually go away on their own.</li>
<li>If West Nile virus enters the brain, it can be life-threatening. It <strong>may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, </strong>or<strong> inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>no specific vaccines or treatments</strong> for human WNV disease.</li>
<li>The best way to avoid WNV is<strong> to prevent mosquito bites.</strong></li>
<li>Treatment is supportive for patients with neuro-invasive West Nile virus, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/west-nile-virus-russia-autumn-7478913/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9528,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Nutritional Security Through Food Fortification',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-red-fort-independence-day-nutrition-biofortified-crops-7475993/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biofortified food can lead India from food security to nutrition security</a></strong>, which was published in The Indian Express on 30/08/2021. It evaluates the idea of food fortification to deal with nutritional insecurity and suggest the way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>The Prime Minister emphasised the need to ensure &ldquo;poshan&rdquo; (nutrition) to the country&rsquo;s women and children. He announced that, by 2024, rice provided to the poor under any government scheme &mdash; <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PDS</strong></a>,<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/midday-meal-scheme-new-study" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> mid-day-meal</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anganwadi-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anganwadi</a></strong> &mdash; will be fortified.</p>
<p>Leveraging science to attack the complex challenge of malnutrition, particularly for low-income and vulnerable sections of the society, who cannot afford balanced diversified diets, can be a good intervention. This step can have its own challenges.</p>
<p><strong>Advantages of Food Fortification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increase in Nutritional Value:</strong> The biofortified crops have 1.5 to 3 times higher levels of protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids compared to the traditional varieties.</li>
<li><strong>Safer Method of Fortification:</strong> It is worth noting that these varieties are not genetically modified &mdash; they have been developed through conventional crop breeding techniques by the scientists. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the addition of micronutrients to food does not pose a health risk to people. The quantity added is so small and so well regulated as per prescribed standards that likelihood of an overdose of nutrients is unlikely.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutritional Security at Large:</strong> Since the nutrients are added to staple foods that are widely consumed, this is an excellent method to <strong>improve the health of a large section of the population, all at once.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Does Not Require Behaviour Change:</strong> It does not require any changes in food habits and patterns of people. It is a socio-culturally acceptable way to deliver nutrients to people.</li>
<li><strong>It does not alter the characteristics of the food</strong>&mdash;the taste, the feel, the look.</li>
<li><strong>Quick Results:</strong> It can be implemented quickly as well as show results in improvement of health in a relatively short period of time.</li>
<li><strong>Cost Effective:</strong> This method is cost-effective especially if advantage is taken of the existing technology and delivery platforms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Copenhagen Consensus</strong> estimates that every <strong>1 Rupee spent on fortification results in 9 Rupees</strong> in benefits to the economy.</li>
<li>It requires an initial investment to purchase both the equipment and the vitamin and mineral premix, but overall costs of fortification are extremely low. Even when all program costs are passed on to consumers, the price increase is approximately 1-2%, less than normal price variation. Thus it has a high benefit-to-cost ratio.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Scenario</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently, 15.3% of the country&rsquo;s population is undernourished, and India has the highest proportion of &ldquo;stunted&rdquo; (30%) and &ldquo;wasted&rdquo; children (17.3%) below five years of age, as per the FAO&rsquo;s recent report, &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world#:~:text=A%20report%20titled%20%27The%20State,on%20food%20intake%20and%20malnutrition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2021</strong></a>&rsquo;. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These figures indicate that India is at a critical juncture with respect to nutritional security and will not be able to achieve the UN&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sdg-india-index-2020-21-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)</strong></a> of eliminating all forms of malnutrition by 2030 in the business-as-usual scenario.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors for Nutritional Insecurity: Access to nutritious food</strong> is only one of the determinants of nutrition. Other factors like poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation (especially toilets), low levels of immunisation and education, especially of women, contribute equally to this dismal situation.</li>
<li>As per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)</strong></a> website, <strong>21 varieties of biofortified staples</strong> including wheat, rice, maize, millets, mustard, groundnut had been developed by 2019-20.</li>
<li>A research team at the <strong>National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute</strong> in Mohali has also developed <strong>biofortified coloured wheat (black, blue, purple)</strong> that is rich in zinc and anthocyanins. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been roped in to multiply the production of this wheat variety. This points towards the beginning of a new journey, from food security to nutritional security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Adverse Impacts of Food Fortification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Not a Substitute of Good Nutrition:</strong> While fortified foods contain increased amounts of selected micronutrients, they are not a substitute for a good quality diet that supplies adequate amounts of energy, protein, essential fats and other food constituents required for optimal health.</li>
<li><strong>Fails to Cater to the Poorest Segment of the Population:</strong> Poorest segments of the general population have restricted access to fortified foods in the open markets due to low purchasing power and an underdeveloped distribution channel.</li>
<li><strong>Inconclusive Evidence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Evidence supporting fortification is inconclusive and certainly not adequate before major national policies are rolled out.</li>
<li>Many of the studies which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are sponsored by food companies who would benefit from it, leading to conflicts of interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Can Have Detrimental Effects:</strong> Adding one or two synthetic chemical vitamins and minerals will not solve the larger problem, and in undernourished populations can lead to many detrimental effects like toxicity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A study showed <strong>iron fortification causing gut inflammation</strong> and pathogenic gut microbiota profile in undernourished children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decrease Value of Natural Food:</strong> Once iron-fortified rice is sold as the remedy to anaemia, the value and the choice of naturally iron-rich foods like millets, varieties of green leafy vegetables, flesh foods, liver, to name a few, will have been suppressed by a policy of silence.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increasing <strong>Women&rsquo;s Nutritional Literacy:</strong> There is a direct correlation between mothers&rsquo; education and the wellbeing of children. Children with mothers who have no education have the least diversified diets and suffer from stunting and wasting and are anaemic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hence, programmes for improving the educational status of girls and reducing the school dropout rates, particularly at the secondary and higher educational levels, need to be promoted.</li>
<li>The <strong>Global Nutrition Report (2014)</strong> estimates that <strong>every dollar invested</strong> in a proven nutrition programme offers<strong> benefits worth 16 dollars.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Expenditure on Agri-R&amp;D:</strong> Innovations in biofortified food can alleviate malnutrition only when they are scaled up with supporting policies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would require increasing expenditure on agri-R&amp;D and incentivising farmers by linking their produce to lucrative markets through sustainable value chains and distribution channels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Private Investment:</strong> The government can also rope in the private sector to create a market segment for premium-quality biofortified foods to cater to high-end consumers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, trusts run by the <strong>TATA group are supporting different states</strong> to initiate fortification of milk with Vitamin A and D.</li>
<li>Other private dairies should also be encouraged to scale up milk fortification across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Level Programme:</strong> A national awareness drive on the lines of the<strong> &ldquo;Salt Iodisation Programme&rdquo;</strong> launched by the government in 1962 to replace ordinary salt with iodised salt, can play an important role at the individual and community levels to achieve the desired goals of poshan for all.</li>
<li><strong>Branding, awareness campaigns, social and behavioural change</strong> initiatives, such as community-level counselling, dialogue, media engagement and advocacy, especially amongst marginalised communities, can promote consumption of locally-available, nutrient-dense affordable foods among the poor and children.</li>
<li><strong>Need For Multi-pronged Approach:</strong> It must be recognised that in the long run, India needs a multi-pronged approach(access to basic infrastructure (electricity, drinking water and sanitation)) to eliminate the root cause of this complex problem. That approach should include the following initiatives.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfcf0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Food fortification is an excellent method to improve the nutritional health of a large section of the population, all at once. Critically discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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		'article_id' => (int) 9490,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Chikungunya Vaccine',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> International Vaccine Institute (IVI)</strong> has announced that<strong> Bharat Biotech&rsquo;s Chikungunya vaccine candidate (BBV87)</strong> has entered into <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covaxin-approved-for-human-clinical-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Phase II and III clinical trials</strong></a>. Currently,<strong> there is no commercial chikungunya vaccine.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Vaccine:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BBV87 is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inactivated-virus-vaccine-in-focus-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inactivated virus vaccine</strong></a>, similar to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covaxin-approved-for-human-clinical-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covaxin</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Inactivated vaccines contain viruses whose genetic material has been destroyed by heat, chemicals or radiation so they cannot infect cells and replicate, but can still trigger an immune response.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bharat Biotech's Chikungunya vaccine candidate was developed in partnership with the <strong>International Vaccine Institute (IVI).</strong></li>
<li>Development of Chikungunya Vaccine is an initiative of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)</strong></a>, as part of the<strong> Global Chikungunya Vaccine Clinical Development Program (GCCDP).</strong></li>
<li>It was funded by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations</strong></a> (CEPI) with support from the Ind-CEPI mission of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chikungunya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Chikungunya is <strong>a mosquito-borne viral disease</strong> first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952.</li>
<li>The name is derived from the <strong>local Kimakonde language</strong> and means &ldquo;to become contorted&rdquo;, evoking the stooped appearance of patients suffering acute joint pain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is most often spread to people by <strong>Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.</strong> These are the <strong>same mosquitoes that transmit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dengue-prevention-and-identification" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dengue virus</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Mosquitoes acquire the infection by biting infected humans or animals.</li>
<li>Weather conditions also affect their breeding and survival.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Include severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rashes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Currently, there are <strong>no vaccines or antiviral drugs available to cure Chikungunya,</strong> and the treatment is only focused on relieving the symptoms associated with the infection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons Behind the Spurt in Cases:</strong> There has been an increasing incidence of vector borne diseases in urban, peri-urban and rural areas because of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Haphazard <strong>urbanisation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Deficient water and solid waste management</strong> leading to proliferation of mosquito breeding sites.</li>
<li><strong>Absence of specific antiviral drug</strong> or vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Control Chikungunya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP)</strong> is a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of <strong>vector borne diseases namely Malaria, Filaria, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Dengue and Chikungunya.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It works under the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/international-vaccine-institute-and-bharat-biotech-launch-phase-ii-and-iii-trials-for-chikungunya-vaccine-7471148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9477,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Delta Variant Sub-lineage AY.12',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report by the <strong>Indian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sars-cov-2-new-variants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SARS-CoV-2</a> Genomics Consortium (INSACOG),</strong> a new <strong>sub-lineage AY.12 of the Delta variant </strong>of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> that was recently classified in Israel is now being <strong>reported in many parts of India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INSACOG is a <strong>multi-laboratory, multi-agency, Pan-India network</strong> to monitor genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 by a sentinel sequencing effort.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>INSACOG has pointed out that <strong>several cases in India classified as Delta</strong> are now being <strong>reclassified as AY.12</strong> and these numbers are under close watch.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>reclassification is primarily to assist micro-epidemiology</strong> and is <strong>not based on acquisition of significant <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mutated-novel-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mutations</a>.</strong> Thus, it is not currently known whether AY.12 is clinically different from Delta.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While<strong> no worrying factors have been found</strong> linked to the<strong> AY.12,</strong> it has come on INSACOG&rsquo;s radar as it is said to be driving the <strong>surge in Israel despite 60% vaccination in the country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delta Variant:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>B.1.617.2&mdash;also termed the <strong>Delta variant&mdash;</strong>is believed to<strong> spread faster than other variants.</strong> The Delta variant is <strong>highly contagious, more than twice as contagious as previous variants.</strong></li>
<li>It has birthed several sub-lineages called<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-delta-plus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Delta plus&rsquo;</strong> </a>variants that<strong> bear most of its characteristic</strong> mutations but are <strong>different in other ways.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason behind Delta Variant being more Infectious:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key <strong>amino acid mutation</strong> may be behind the high infectivity of the Delta variant.</li>
<li>A team of recherars has zeroed in on a key mutation that alters a single amino acid in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.</li>
<li>The change is called P681R and transforms a proline residue into an arginine.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Arginine is a <strong>chemical building block called an amino acid.</strong></li>
<li>Proline disrupts <strong>protein secondary structure</strong> by inhibiting the backbone to conform to an alpha-helix or beta-sheet conformation</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Virus Variant</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Variants of a virus</strong> have one or more <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mutated-novel-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mutations</a></strong> that differentiate it from the<strong> other variants that are in circulation.</strong> While most mutations are deleterious for the virus, some make it easier for the virus to survive.</li>
<li>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sars-cov-2-new-variants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SARS-CoV-2</a> (Corona) virus</strong> is <strong>evolving fast because of the scale at which it has infected people around the world.</strong> High levels of circulation mean it is easier for the virus to change as it is able to replicate faster.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delta-variant-sub-lineage-ay12-found-in-india/article36105490.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9473,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh</strong> has launched <strong>Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) immunisation</strong> drive for infants.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in December 2020, I<strong>ndia&rsquo;s first fully indigenously developed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-vaccine-pneumosil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Pneumosil&rdquo;</a></strong> was launched.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It prevents <strong>pneumococcal disease.</strong> It can <strong>protect both children and adults from pneumococcal disease.</strong></li>
<li>The vaccine is a <strong>mix of several bacteria of the pneumococci family</strong>, which are known to <strong>cause pneumonia</strong>&mdash;hence &lsquo;<strong>conjugate&rsquo; is included in the name of the vaccine.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/typbar-tcv-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conjugate vaccines</strong></a> are made using a combination of two different components.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pneumococcal disease:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pneumococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called <em><strong>Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.</strong></em> Most people carry pneumococcus in their nose and throat, where the bacteria do not cause any symptoms.</li>
<li>However, <strong>sometimes the bacteria grow and spread to other parts of the body</strong> and that&rsquo;s when people become sick.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These bacteria can cause many types of illnesses, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forum-on-childhood-pneumonia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pneumonia</strong></a>, which is an <strong>infection of the lungs</strong>. Pneumococcal bacteria are one of the <strong>most common causes of pneumonia.</strong></li>
<li>Besides pneumonia, <strong>pneumococcal bacteria can also cause:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Ear</strong> infections.</li>
<li><strong>Sinus</strong> infections.</li>
<li><strong>Meningitis</strong> (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord).</li>
<li><strong>Bacteremia</strong> (infection of the blood).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Doctors consider some of these infections &ldquo;invasive&rdquo;. Invasive disease means that <strong>germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germ.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerable Population:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Anyone can get <strong>pneumococcal disease</strong>, but <strong>children under 2 years of age</strong>, people with certain medical conditions, <strong>adults 65 years or older, and cigarette smokers are at the highest risk.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pneumonia had been a major cause of <strong>infant and child mortality</strong>. According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, pneumonia accounts for 15% of all deaths of children under 5 years.</li>
<li>It was estimated that the<strong> disease affected around 16 lakh children and caused the death of nearly 68,700 children</strong> across the country in the year 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government of India is ensuring <strong>equitable access to those to the underprivileged and underserved</strong> by making it available under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-3-0-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Immunization Program (UIP)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-3-0-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goal</a> 3</strong> calls for an end to <strong>preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.</strong> It also specifies that<strong> all countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality</strong> to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Neonatal mortality</strong> is defined as death within the <strong>first 28 days of life.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Universal Immunization Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in 1985 to <strong>prevent mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women</strong> against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.</li>
<li>Under UIP, <strong>free of cost vaccination is provided against twelve vaccine-preventable diseases</strong> i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-tb-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-cases-of-diphtheria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Diphtheria</strong></a>, Pertussis, Tetanus, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-polio-day-2020#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%2024th%20October,)%20Polio%20Vaccine%20(IPV)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polio</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hepatitis B</strong></a>, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measles-2?live_classes&amp;campaignid=13858042066&amp;adgroupid=125499505579&amp;keyword=&amp;device=c&amp;network=g&amp;creative=537177660371&amp;placement=&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw95yJBhAgEiwAmRrutA7nAXxhNTnJvCBpVRoIPJqTWRr7m7rP0F5a8joBUfXuEVlUI25zDhoCXCoQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Measles</strong></a>, Rubella, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/japanese-encephalitis-je?live_classes&amp;campaignid=13858042066&amp;adgroupid=125499505579&amp;keyword=&amp;device=c&amp;network=g&amp;creative=537177660371&amp;placement=&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw95yJBhAgEiwAmRrutAV4Inn_RNXP9hiNqhDEEvmqvgndns7MT-x9WS9G0FlZCfC2TGLbghoC2uYQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese Encephalitis (JE)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rotavirus-vaccination-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rotavirus diarrhoea</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The programme is one of the <strong>largest health programmes in the world.</strong> Despite being operational for many years, UIP has been able to <strong>fully immunize only 65% of children under 1 year of age.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chief-minister-launches-pcv-immunisation-drive-for-infants/article36109145.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9441,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Human Trials for New HIV Vaccine',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Moderna,</strong> the Massachusetts-based American biotechnology company, will begin <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covaxin-approved-for-human-clinical-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human trials</a> for its novel <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hgco19-mrna-vaccine-candidate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mRNA</a> vaccine (mRNA-1644) for<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope#:~:text=Human%20Immunodeficiency%20Virus%20(HIV)&amp;text=T%20cells%20are%20those%20cells,it%20can%20never%20be%20removed." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first trial for an mRNA vaccine for HIV</strong> after the success of<strong> mRNA vaccines with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>.</strong></li>
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a>, there were around <strong>37.7 million living with HIV as of 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>mRNA Vaccine vs Traditional Vaccines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vaccines work by training the body to recognise and respond to the proteins produced by disease-causing organisms, such as a virus or bacteria.</li>
<li><strong>Traditional vaccines are made up of small or inactivated doses of the whole disease-causing organism, or the proteins that it produces,</strong> which are introduced into the body to provoke the immune system into mounting a response.</li>
<li><strong>mRNA vaccines tricks the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They<strong> work by using mRNA, or messenger RNA,</strong> which is the molecule that essentially puts DNA instructions into action. Inside a cell, mRNA is used as a template to build a protein.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>mRNA vaccine for HIV:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The vaccine is expected to work similar to the<strong> Covid-19 vaccine</strong> &mdash; by getting the <strong>body&rsquo;s cells to produce the HIV virus&rsquo; spike protein</strong> triggering an immune response.</li>
<li>The <strong>larger purpose of stimulating the B cells</strong> is to generate what are called <strong>broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs),</strong> which are specialised blood proteins that attach to the surface proteins of HIV and disable them by accessing key but hard-to-reach regions on the virus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>B-cells</strong> fight bacteria and viruses by making Y-shaped proteins called antibodies, which are specific to each pathogen and are able to lock onto the surface of an invading cell and mark it for destruction by other immune cells.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Over the last decade, there have been<strong> advances in identifying new bnAbs from HIV-infected individuals</strong> that were seen to target very specific sites in the outer envelope of the HIV.</li>
<li><strong>Lab-based analysis and tests on animals</strong> have improved the understanding of how the knowledge of these sites can be used to make immunogens. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An <strong>immunogen</strong> refers to a molecule that is capable of eliciting an immune response by an organism&rsquo;s immune system, whereas an antigen refers to a molecule that is capable of binding to the product of that immune response.</li>
<li>So, <strong>an immunogen is necessarily an antigen, but an antigen may not necessarily be an immunogen.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>RNA-based immunogens</strong> are believed to be a promising alternative because they <strong>do not involve the use of a live virus, can be made relatively easily, can be quickly deployed and safely administered. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Issue of Reach:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The experience with the <strong>Moderna and Pfizer vaccines shows,</strong> getting <strong>essential jabs to the regions</strong> where they are most needed is the biggest stumbling block. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of the people living with HIV, <strong>over two-thirds are in Africa.</strong> Any success in containing the HIV pandemic would mean drastically cutting the rates of transmission there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitive to Temperature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>m-RNA vaccines are sensitive to temperature in storage,</strong> and is a challenge for developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mutation of HIV:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>HIV has mutated into several variants</strong> and is an insidious virus, and it will be many years before definitive proof of the success of the m-RNA approach can be established.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HIV <strong>attacks CD4, a type of White Blood Cell (T cells)</strong> in the body&rsquo;s immune system. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>T cells are those cells that move around the body detecting anomalies and infections in cells.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After entering the body, <strong>HIV multiplies itself and destroys CD4 cells,</strong> thus severely <strong>damaging the human immune system.</strong> Once this virus enters the body, it can never be removed.</li>
<li>The CD4 count of a person infected with HIV reduces significantly. In a healthy body, CD4 count is between 500- 1600, but in an infected body, it can go as low as 200.</li>
<li>Weak immune system makes a person prone to opportunistic infections and cancer. It becomes difficult for a person infected with this virus to recover from even a minor injury or sickness.</li>
<li>By receiving treatment, severe forms of HIV can be prevented.</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiatives: The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hiv-aids-act-2017-implemented" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV &amp; AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-coalition-against-hiv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Sunrise</a>,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-aids-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 90-90-90</a>, The Red Ribbon, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-for-aids-tb-and-malaria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/explained-how-will-human-trials-for-new-hiv-vaccine-work/article36039000.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9428,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Polio',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-initiates-probe-into-type-2-polio-virus-contamination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polio</strong></a> for free as a preventive measure against the<strong> Wild Polio Virus.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Afghanistan</strong> and <strong>Pakistan</strong> are the only two countries in the world where polio is still <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/endemic-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Endemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Polio is a crippling and potentially <strong>deadly viral infectious disease</strong> that affects the nervous system.</li>
<li>There are three individual and immunologically<strong> distinct wild poliovirus strains:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Wild Poliovirus type 1</strong> (WPV1)</li>
<li><strong>Wild Poliovirus type 2</strong> (WPV2)</li>
<li><strong>Wild Poliovirus type 3</strong> (WPV3)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Symptomatically, all three strains are identical, in that <strong>they cause irreversible paralysis or even death.</strong> However, there are <strong>genetic and virological differences, which make these three strains separate viruses</strong> which must each be eradicated individually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Spread:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The virus is transmitted by <strong>person-to-person mainly through the faecal-oral route</strong> or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, through contaminated water or food).</li>
<li>It largely<strong> affects children under 5 years of age.</strong> The virus <strong>multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, pain in the arms and legs, etc.</li>
<li>In rare cases, polio infection <strong>causes permanent loss of muscle function (paralysis).</strong></li>
<li>Polio can be fatal<strong> if the muscles used for breathing are paralysed or if there is an infection of the brain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevention and Cure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is no cure, but it can be prevented through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/immunisation-agenda-2030" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Immunisation.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-initiates-probe-into-type-2-polio-virus-contamination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oral Polio Vaccine</a> (OPV):</strong> It is given orally as a birth dose for institutional deliveries, then primary three doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks and one booster dose at 16-24 months of age.</li>
<li><strong>Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV):</strong> It is introduced as an additional dose along with the 3<sup>rd</sup> dose of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-cases-of-diphtheria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus)</strong> </a>under the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Universal Immunisation Programme</a> (UIP).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Outbreaks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, polio outbreaks were recorded in the <strong>Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana, Myanmar, China, Cameroon, Indonesia and Iran,</strong> which were mostly vaccine-derived in which a rare strain of the virus genetically mutated from the strain in the vaccine.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=46af3b128c215065822d363716461e3bda556ba2-1603783779-0-AQqcs23ihmqDWEzYzOTw2ZLATgIFQrHLyN5UDI9GBGfKb9Nw6xIYXLD0XnsFATPLOkfD2ZIVKdPR85H55F206a0f9GZts0saMxAhtaEPfgrhVvdmt1OJXAitkoMUI1kseMQy2zf139HzrBNbjXjnkjBU32U9ZV4g6ZcJqRi9mMAB561nxsXTYQ0xvOeMKpygwOvzDwD6cY1egBaUEjw3iJqc0WkEBOK4028DSYOwSuMjadzLHFPyVwpmZfyb84dZ_dr_kapwYLQirV2MCCF_91vIO2eij1RpbJ84rCBMDccLERI_E41MmQ2Hyi8VIBPaivX75tTOX_KkU7jr1AiSBqM7_RWVPUCfXAZ1yOgXbbm9CrULYC20iLnBLuT4Svbjp8gM0xv_EFdmeQkDb7czMzhwQ1HyOsQDEG8WcmiBLdGEAdOptYKzCFHncq_6M6AK4kfz2ej8Z0A-FaqgYwTTguS-w7zQBxsYYuEqzXHLCZvQyaPk0J0L7oTP3t_7TlORsOWGsOmAKQ_ElyvspVavQfhx4e2CZca_3TK39T_rJuhMzKO4vZLIXkgIapT95fY5bq6P-bXz035wlU6WxMOy9lwYci1ShV8wMuy4ZWv5gJ6M8N_FYuwbkYHRpSRvLq1CWWQtrwb6ov9nCCg8AQrexBc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHO (World Health Organisation)</strong></a>, if the <strong>oral vaccine-virus</strong> is excreted and allowed to circulate in an unimmunised or under-immunised population for at least 12 months, it can <strong>mutate to cause infections.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India &amp; Polio:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India received <strong>polio-free certification by the WHO in 2014,</strong> after three years of zero cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This achievement has been spurred by the successful <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pulse Polio Campaign</a> in which all children were administered polio drops.</strong></li>
<li>The last case due to wild poliovirus in the country was detected on 13<sup>th</sup> January 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Polio Eradication Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Polio Eradication Initiative:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was launched in 1988 by the <strong>Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI),</strong> by national governments and WHO. Presently, 80% of the world&rsquo;s population is now living in certified polio-free regions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An estimated 1.5 million childhood deaths have been prevented, through the systemic administration of vitamin A during polio immunization activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-polio-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Polio Day</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is observed every year on <strong>24<sup>th</sup> October</strong> in order to call on countries to stay vigilant in their fight against the disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pulse Polio Programme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was started with an objective of achieving hundred percent coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-3-0-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was a nationwide immunisation drive to mark the 25 years of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pulse polio programme</strong> </a>(2019-20).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Universal Immunization Programme (UIP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was launched in 1985 with the modification to <strong>&lsquo;Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>objectives of the Programme include:</strong> Rapidly increasing immunization coverage, Improving the quality of services, Establishing a reliable cold chain system to the health facility level, Introducing a district-wise system for monitoring of performance, Achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/afghan-returnees-vaccinated-polio-india-7465341/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9424,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Rise in Heat Waves',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent study, <strong>more than 3,56,000 people died in 2019</strong> as a result of extreme heat and that number is likely to grow in the future.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heat waves</a> across the world</strong> have been alarming in terms of <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming</strong> </a>and have been<strong> attributed to climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Heat Waves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Heat wave is <strong>a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to the human body</strong> when exposed.</li>
<li><strong>In India,</strong> heat waves typically occur<strong> between March and June,</strong> and in some rare cases even extend till July.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A heat wave is<strong> a period of abnormally high temperatures,</strong> more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western and South Central parts of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> India Meteorological Department</strong> requires that temperatures should reach at least 40&deg;C in the plains and at least 30&deg;C in the hilly regions, and should reflect an increase of at least 5&deg;C-6&deg;C above the normal temperature to be classified as a heatwave.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Heat Waves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Heat Strokes:</strong> The very high temperatures or humid conditions pose an elevated risk of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> heat stroke</strong></a> or heat exhaustion.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Older people and people with chronic illness such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-mortality-from-cardio-vascular-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heart disease</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-respiratory-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>respiratory disease</strong></a>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-diabetes-day-2019#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,is%20%E2%80%9CFamily%20and%20Diabetes%E2%80%9D." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>diabetes</strong></a> are more susceptible to heatstroke, as the body&rsquo;s ability to regulate heat deteriorates with age.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Healthcare Costs:</strong> Effects from extreme heat are also associated with increased hospitalisations and emergency room visits, increased deaths from cardio-respiratory and other diseases, mental health issues, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Lessens Workers&rsquo; Productivity:</strong> Extreme heat also lessens worker productivity, especially among the more than 1 billion workers who are exposed to high heat on a regular basis. These workers often report reduced work output due to heat stress.</li>
<li><strong>Risk of Wildfires:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-dome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heat domes</strong></a> act as fuel to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/forest-fires-a-very-big-concern" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wildfires</strong></a>, which destroys a lot of land area every year in countries like the US.</li>
<li><strong>Prevents Cloud Formation:</strong> The condition also prevents clouds from forming, <strong>allowing for more radiation from the sun to hit the ground.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Effect on Vegetation:</strong> The trapping of heat can also damage crops, dry out vegetation and result in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-ni%C3%B1o-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>droughts.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Increased Energy Demands:</strong> The sweltering heat wave also <strong>leads to rise in energy demand,</strong> especially electricity, leading to pushing up rates.</li>
<li><strong>Power Related Issues:</strong> Heat waves are often <strong>high mortality disasters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Avoiding heat-related disasters depends on the resilience of the electrical grid, which can fail if electricity demand due to air conditioning use exceeds supply.</li>
<li>As a result, there is the <strong>double risk of infrastructure failure and health impacts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cooling Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Effective and environmentally sustainable cooling measures can protect from the worst health impacts of heat.</li>
<li>These range from increasing green space in cities, wall coatings that reflect heat from buildings, and widespread use of electric fans and other widely available personal cooling techniques.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change Mitigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate change mitigation<strong> to reduce carbon emissions</strong> and alter the further warming of the planet can also help.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Prevention Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Identifying timely and effective prevention and response measures, particularly for low-resource settings can help in mitigating the problem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Global forums dealing with climate change issues&mdash;such as the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/davos-dialogue-world-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Economic Forum</a></strong>, <strong>First Global Forum on Heat and Health, </strong>and<strong> the Global Forum for Environment-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OECD</a></strong>&mdash;also focus on heat waves by investing in research on health risks of extreme heat, climate and weather information, advice on surviving heat waves, partnerships and capacity building, and communications and outreach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)</strong></a> has issued<strong> guidelines</strong> on dealing with heatwaves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, India <strong>does not recognise heatwaves as a disaster</strong> under its Disaster Management Act (2005).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>In alignment with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a>, the study calls for global warming to be limited to 1.5&deg;C to avoid substantial heat-related mortality in the future. Reducing the health impacts of extreme heat is an urgent priority and should include immediate changes to infrastructure, urban environment, and individual behaviour to prevent heat-related deaths.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/extreme-heat-climate-change-lancet-study-7462419/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: IE</a></strong></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9326,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)</strong></a> approximately 20.32 lakh <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> tests and <strong>7.08 lakh treatments</strong> were authorised from April 2020 to July 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It offers a sum insured of <strong>Rs.5 lakh per family</strong> for secondary care (which doesn&rsquo;t involve a super specialist) as well as tertiary care (which involves a super specialist).</li>
<li><strong>Under PMJAY, cashless and paperless access to services</strong> are provided to the beneficiaries at the point of service.</li>
<li><strong>Health Benefit Packages</strong> covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, cost of medicines and diagnostics. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Packaged rates (Rates that include everything so that each product or service is not charged for separately).</strong></li>
<li>They are <strong>flexible,</strong> but they<strong> can&rsquo;t charge the beneficiary once fixed by the hospitals.</strong></li>
<li>The scheme also has <strong>prescribed a daily limit for medical management.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>entitlement-based scheme</strong> that targets the beneficiaries as identified by latest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/socio-economic-and-caste-census" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Once identified by the database, the beneficiary is considered insured and can walk into any empanelled hospital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The funding for the scheme is shared &ndash; <strong>60:40 for all states and UTs with their own legislature, 90:10</strong> in Northeast states and Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand and <strong>100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Agency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>National Health Authority (NHA)</strong> has been constituted as an autonomous entity under the <strong>Society Registration Act, 1860</strong> for <strong>effective implementation of PM-JAY</strong> in alliance with state governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>State Health Agency (SHA)</strong> is the<strong> apex body of the State Government</strong> responsible for the<strong> implementation of AB PM-JAY in the State.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cooperation of States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since <strong>health is a State subject and States are expected to contribute 40%</strong> funding for the scheme, it will be <strong>critical to streamline and harmonise the existing State health insurance schemes to PMJAY.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Delhi</strong> have not implemented PMJAY.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Burden of Costs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Costs are a contested area</strong> between the care-providers and the Centre, and many for-profit hospitals see the government&rsquo;s proposals as unviable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Health Capacities:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> ill-equipped public sector health capacities</strong> calls for necessary <strong>partnerships and coalitions with private sector providers.</strong></li>
<li>In such circumstances, the provision of services can be ensured only if the providers are held accountable for their services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unnecessary Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The National Health Policy 2017 proposed<strong> &ldquo;strategic purchasing&rdquo; of services from secondary and tertiary hospitals for a fee.</strong></li>
<li>The contracts with the healthcare providers who will receive the financial compensation package should <strong>clearly spell out the strict following of notified guidelines and standard treatment protocols</strong> in order to keep a check on potential for unnecessary treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Achievements:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Beneficial for Poor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In around the<strong> first 200 days of implementation,</strong> PM-JAY has benefitted more than <strong>20.8 lakh poor and deprived people</strong> who received free treatment worth more than Rs. 5,000 crores.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>During Covid-19:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A<strong> key design feature of PM-JAY</strong> from the beginning of the scheme is <strong>portability,</strong> which <strong>helps to ensure that a PM-JAY-eligible migrant worker</strong> can access the <strong>scheme&rsquo;s services in any empanelled hospital across the country,</strong> irrespective of their state of residence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-covid-19-emergency-response-package-phase-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Covid-19 Emergency Response &amp; Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ECRP-II package)</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This scheme is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> with some Central Sector components.</li>
<li>Launched recently, it <strong>aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness</strong> for early prevention, detection and management, with a focus on <strong>health infrastructure development including for Paediatric Care and with measurable outcomes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The vast ambition of the <strong>AB-PMJAY programme presents</strong> an opportunity to<strong> pursue the systemic reform</strong> that India requires to meet its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage-1#:~:text=It%20talks%20about%20challenges%20and,equitable%20quality%20healthcare%20for%20all." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Health Coverage (UHC)</strong></a> aims. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will require an<strong> injection of resources into a chronically underfunded health system,</strong> but this must be accompanied by a focus on the <strong>interrelated issues of governance, quality control, and stewardship</strong> if the scheme is to sustainably accelerate India towards UHC.</li>
<li><strong>Public expenditure on health care in India</strong> remains at levels amongst the <strong>lowest in the world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Making good use of technology and innovation</strong> can further reduce the<strong> overall cost of healthcare. AI-powered mobile applications</strong> can provide high-quality, low-cost, patient-centric, smart wellness solutions. The<strong> scalable and inter-operable IT platform</strong> for the<strong> Ayushman Bharat is a positive step in this direction.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-20-lakh-covid-19-tests-done-under-ab-pm-jay-from-april-2020-to-july-2021/article35899561.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9307,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'SAMVAD Initiative',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Women and Child Development</strong> has launched the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> phase of the SAMVAD programme</strong>. The second phase was <strong>launched on the completion of one year of programme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The programme is <strong>aimed at mental health outreach for children</strong> who are abandoned and orphaned, child survivors of trafficking, or in conflict with law.</li>
<li>Earlier, the government had announced a special <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-for-children-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;PM-CARES for Children&rdquo; scheme</strong></a> for all those orphaned due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Stands for: Support, Advocacy &amp; Mental health interventions</strong> for children in <strong>Vulnerable circumstances and Distress (SAMVAD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Funded By:</strong> The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
<li><strong>Implementing Body:</strong> It is led by the <strong>National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NIMHANS is the apex centre of mental health and neuroscience education. It operates autonomously <strong>under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, on the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs, NIMHANS, issued a set of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/managing-mental-health-issues-in-prisoners-nimhans-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>guidelines on the management of mental health issues</strong></a> of the <strong>prisoners and prison staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>national initiative and integrated resource</strong> that works in child <strong>protection, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-mental-health-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mental health</a> and psychosocial care of children</strong> in difficult circumstances.</li>
<li>It encompasses a<strong> specialized training curriculum</strong> on childhood trauma, interventions for children in conflict with the law, forensics in child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health.</li>
<li><strong>Education </strong>and<strong> mental health support</strong> to children with special needs, protection and care in the context of adoption.</li>
<li>The initiative is providing coping mechanisms for children in distress by <strong>training close to 1 lakh stakeholders</strong> comprising Child Protection Functionaries, tele-counsellors, educators, law professionals among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integration with Local Bodies:</strong> The initiative aims to<strong> foster care and integration of child protection and mental health</strong> in the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Panchayati Raj systems</strong></a> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>aspirational districts</strong></a> across the country to facilitate awareness generation and improve service delivery at the grassroot level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mental Health</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the WHO, mental health is &lsquo;a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.&rsquo;</li>
<li>Like Physical health, Mental health is also important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scenario in India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A report published in The Lancet Psychiatry in February 2020 indicates that in <strong>2017, there were 197.3 million people with mental disorders in India.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> top mental illnesses</strong> were depressive disorder (45.7 million) and anxiety disorder (44.9 million).</li>
<li>The contribution of mental disorders to the total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-mental-health-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)</strong></a> in India increased from 2.5% in 1990 to 4.7% in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by the Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Mental Health Program (NMHP):</strong> To address the huge burden of mental disorders and shortage of qualified professionals in the field of mental health, the government has been implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) since 1982.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Program was re-strategize in 2003 to include two schemes, viz. <strong>Modernization of State Mental Hospitals and Up-gradation of Psychiatric Wings of Medical Colleges/General Hospitals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mental HealthCare Act 2017:</strong> It guarantees every affected person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services run or funded by the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has significantly<strong> reduced the scope for the use of Section 309 IPC</strong> and made the attempt to commit suicide punishable only as an exception.</li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/mental-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017</strong></a> came into force in 2018 to meet the requirements of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-principles-for-people-with-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</strong> </a>which <strong>India ratified in 2007</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-mental-health-rehabilitation-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KIRAN</strong></a>: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a<strong> 24/7 toll-free helpline</strong> to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/manodarpan-mental-health-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Manodarpan Initiative</strong></a>: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>. It is aimed to provide psychosocial support to students, family members and teachers for their mental health and well-being during the times of Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID%3D1745898&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1629108217070931&amp;usg=AOvVaw04eiJLtqdUYefY0Jys5rps" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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