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  • [pib] May 5: World Pulmonary Hypertension Day 

    Why in the news?

    Every year on May 5, pulmonary hypertension organizations and groups around the world participate in World Pulmonary Hypertension Day.

    What is Pulmonary Hypertension?

    • Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs.
    • This elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries can lead to various symptoms and complications, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively to the lungs and the rest of the body.

    Here are some key aspects of pulmonary hypertension:

    Causes:

    1. Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH): In many cases, the exact cause of pulmonary hypertension is unknown, and it is referred to as idiopathic. IPAH is a subtype of PH without an identifiable cause.
    2. Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension: PH can also develop secondary to other underlying conditions, including:
      • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
      • Interstitial lung disease
      • Sleep apnea
      • Connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and lupus
      • Congenital heart diseases
      • HIV infection
      • Liver disease (cirrhosis)
    3. Genetic Factors: Some forms of PH may have a genetic component, with mutations in certain genes predisposing individuals to the condition.

    Features:

    • Symptoms: Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may include:
        • Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
        • Fatigue
        • Chest pain or pressure
        • Dizziness or fainting spells
        • Swelling in the ankles and legs (edema)
        • Bluish lips or skin (cyanosis)
    • Diagnostic Tests: Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension typically involves a combination of medical history review, physical examination, and diagnostic tests, including:
        • Echocardiogram (ECG)
        • Right heart catheterization
        • Pulmonary function tests
        • Chest X-ray
        • CT scan or MRI of the chest
        • Blood tests
    • Treatment: Treatment for pulmonary hypertension aims to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and slow disease progression. Treatment options may include:
      • Medications such as vasodilators, endothelin receptor antagonists, and prostacyclin analogs
      • Oxygen therapy
      • Pulmonary rehabilitation
      • Surgery or a lung transplant in severe cases

    Hypertension Control Initiatives in India:

    • India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) (2017): It was launched to strengthen the hypertension component of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) in primary care public sector facilities in India
    • 75/25 initiative (2023): Union Health Ministry announced the initiative- 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes to be put on Standard Care by 2025, through the Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

     

    PYQ:

    [2021] In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements :​

    1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of egg.​

    2. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father.​

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • It is time to operationalize the Indian Defence University (IDU)

    Why in the news? 

    • While the nature of war remains constant, its changing character imposes a premium on Military Education and the Academic preparation required to cope with security challenges.
    • It is reported that Pakistan has created two universities for its armed forces, while China has three but India has no Defence University even though such a university in India was first proposed in 1967.

    Need for Professional Military Education:

    • Inadequacy of RRU: Comparing the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the IDU is seen as flawed because the RRU’s objectives and curriculum do not specifically address military requirements for managing warfare and executing plans.
    • Long Overdue Realization: The establishment of the IDU has been delayed, despite its critical importance for defense preparedness, fostering a strategic culture, and promoting inter-service integration.
    • Rapidly changing the dynamic of Warfare: The dynamic and chaotic nature of warfare, particularly in regions like Europe and West Asia, requires military officers to be able to produce results despite dealing with unclear initial information and rapidly changing circumstances.
    • Empowerment through PME: To tackle these complex challenges, military officers are empowered through a well-constructed PME continuum. This continuum enhances their abilities to adapt to changing assignments and increasing responsibilities over their long careers.
    • Parallels with U.S. Evolution: The evolution of PME in the United States, as exemplified by the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and ‘Ike’ Skelton’s report to the U.S. Congress, serves as an example of the importance of structured military education in enhancing professionalism and preparedness.

    Slow Progress in the Establishment of IDU:

    • Historical Context: The idea of establishing a Defence Services University was proposed as early as 1967 by the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). This indicates a long-standing recognition of the need for a broad-based education system in the Indian armed forces.
    • Delays in Implementation: Despite proposals and recommendations dating back to the 1960s and 1980s, significant progress towards establishing the IDU was only made after the Kargil conflict in the late 1990s. Even then, progress remained slow, with ‘in principle’ approval granted in May 2010, several years after the conflict.
    • Committee Formation: Following the Kargil conflict, a committee chaired by Dr K. Subrahmanyam was established to examine the issue of establishing the IDU. Based on its recommendations, in May 2010, ‘in principle’ approval was accorded for the setting up of the IDU in Gurgaon. Despite some optimistic reportage in 2017-18, the progress on setting up of the IDU has been rather slow.

    Way Forward:

    • Government Commitment and Funding: The government should prioritize the establishment of the IDU and allocate sufficient funding for its development and infrastructure.
    • Streamlined Administrative Processes: Efforts should be made to streamline bureaucratic processes involved in setting up the IDU, ensuring that administrative hurdles do not impede progress.
    • Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaboration between various stakeholders, including the armed forces, government agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners, should be facilitated to expedite the establishment of the IDU.

    Mains PYQ 

    Q) Taxila University was one of the oldest universities in the world with which were associated several renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered a university in the modern sense. Discuss.

  • Endosymbiotic Theory and Symbiogenesis

    Why in the news?

    • The endosymbiotic theory suggests that tiny structures in cells called mitochondria and chloroplasts were once independent bacteria.
    • A biologist named Lynn Margulis came up with the idea that cells merged with bacteria, challenging the usual belief that evolution happens mainly through genetic changes.

     What is the Endosymbiotic Theory?

    • The endosymbiotic theory proposes that organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts were once free-living bacteria engulfed by recipient cells.
    • American biologist Lynn Margulis introduced Symbiogenesis, challenging the Neo-Darwinist consensus on genetic mutations driving evolution.
    • Margulis’s Struggle:
    1. Margulis’s manuscript on symbiogenesis faced rejection by academic journals before finally being published in The Journal of Theoretical Biology in 1967.
    2. It took years for mitochondria and chloroplasts to be acknowledged as former free-living bacteria turned endosymbionts.

    Recent Discoveries and Endosymbiotic Theory

    • Recent papers published in Science and Cell have reignited interest in the endosymbiotic theory.
    • The focus is on nitrogen fixation, crucial for proteins and DNA in living organisms.
    • Despite abundant atmospheric nitrogen, plants lack the means to utilize it efficiently.
    • Legumes host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules, aiding in ammonia production for plant use.

    Evolution of Nitroplast

    • Cyanobacterium UCYN-A was found in marine algae, establishing a symbiotic relationship.
    • Nitroplast, a new organelle, co-evolved with its host cell, satisfying criteria for organelle classification.
    • Nitroplast integrates into host cell function and architecture, imports host cell proteins, synchronizes growth, and is inherited during cell division.
    • Nearly half of nitroplast proteins are derived from the host cell.

    Nitrogen Cycle:


    The nitrogen cycle is a crucial biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformation and circulation of nitrogen in various forms within ecosystems. It involves several key steps:

    1. Nitrogen Fixation: This is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-) ions, which are forms of nitrogen that plants can utilize. Nitrogen fixation can occur through biological, atmospheric, and industrial processes. In biological nitrogen fixation, certain bacteria like Rhizobium spp. in the root nodules of leguminous plants or cyanobacteria convert N2 into ammonia.
    2. Ammonification: Ammonification is the process by which organic nitrogen compounds from dead organisms, feces, and other waste materials are converted into ammonia by decomposer organisms like bacteria and fungi during the decay process.
    3. Nitrification: Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+) to nitrite (NO2-) and then to nitrate (NO3-) by nitrifying bacteria such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. This process occurs in aerobic conditions and plays a crucial role in making nitrogen available to plants.
    4. Assimilation: Plants and other organisms take up ammonia, nitrate, or organic nitrogen compounds from the soil to use them in synthesizing proteins, nucleic acids, and other vital nitrogen-containing compounds.
    5. Denitrification: Denitrification is the process by which nitrate (NO3-) is converted back into nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) by denitrifying bacteria under anaerobic conditions. This step completes the cycle by returning nitrogen to the atmosphere, closing the loop.
    6. Ammonium Ionization: In soils and aquatic environments, ammonium ions (NH4+) may undergo ionization, converting to ammonia gas (NH3), which can volatilize and return to the atmosphere.

    Significance of the Nitroplasts

    • Agriculture: Nitroplasts offer potential solutions for reducing the harmful effects of industrial ammonia production.
    • Biotechnology: Biotechnological applications may include engineering host cells and nitroplasts for efficient nitrogen fixation in plants.

    PYQ:

    [2021] In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?​

    (a) Carbon cycle

    (b) Nitrogen cycle

    (c) Phosphorus cycle

    (d) Sulphur cycle

  • This is the year to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track

    Why in the News? 

    2024 is an election year across the world and newly elected governments need to focus on the all-important sustainability issue. Year 2024 is an election year across the world.

    • At least 64 countries, both developed and developing, accounting for 49% of the world population, will go to the polls.

    Causes of Global Slow Progress: 

    • Impact of Global Crises: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises virtually halted progress towards the SDGs. These crises have diverted attention and resources away from sustainable development efforts.
    • Neglect of Environmental Goals: There has been little to no attention towards goals related to the environment and biodiversity, including responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, and life on land.
    • Defiance of Integrated Nature of SDGs: The current practice of pursuing SDGs is criticized for defying the integrated and indivisible nature of the goals. This lack of integration hampers efforts to achieve sustainable development outcomes comprehensively.
    • Risk of Environmental Degradation: The slow progress and neglect of environmental goals pose a significant risk of accelerated environmental degradation. This threatens the overarching target of balancing human well-being and a healthy environment.

    Why the world is not on track to achieve most SDGs by 2030?

    • Insufficient Progress: Despite reaffirmations of commitment by world leaders, progress towards achieving the SDGs remains slow. The world is only on track to meet 15% of the 169 targets that comprise the 17 goals.
    • Investment Gap: There is a significant gap in investment for SDGs, particularly in developing countries. The estimated investment gap exceeds $4 trillion, with nearly $2 trillion needed for the energy transition alone.
    • Lack of Synergistic Action: There is a lack of synergistic action in addressing SDGs, despite the integrated nature of the goals. Few studies and empirical evidence exist on the synergies and trade-offs among SDGs, hindering progress.
    • Barriers to Synergies: Various barriers, including knowledge gaps, political and institutional barriers, and economic issues, impede synergistic action.Inadequate data collection, and an inability to attribute co-benefits to specific actions hinder progress.
    • Misaligned Policies: Policies may be misaligned, leading to barriers for meeting greater targets. For example, ambitious renewable energy targets may not align with smaller-scale of steps taken to achieve SDG goal.
    • Limited Understanding of Cost Estimation: Exploiting resources without considering climate change impacts and synergistic opportunities can be detrimental to national and global efforts.

    Way forward:

    • Call for Action: There is a call for action to strengthen the environment for synergistic action, transparently identify opportunities and limits to synergies, and develop reporting frameworks to assess the value created from specific SDG interventions.
    • Urgent Action Areas Identified: The UN SDG Report, 2023 identified five key areas for urgent action, including commitments of governments, concrete policies to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, strengthening of national and subnational capacity, recommitment of the international community, and strengthening of the UN development system.
    • Global Reaffirmation and Commitment: World leaders acknowledged the situation and reaffirmed their commitments to delivering the SDGs by 2030. However, the effectiveness of these global pronouncements at the ground level remains uncertain.

    Mains PYQ 

    Q National Education Policy 2020 isin conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020)

  • National Council for Agriculture and Rural Transformation (NCART): A New Vision for Agriculture Sector

    Why in the news?

    The Centre is contemplating the establishment of the National Council for Agriculture and Rural Transformation (NCART), envisioned as a federal body to formulate policies and programs for the agricultural sector.

    What is NCART?

    • The NCART is a proposed federal body aimed at coordinating and driving actions in the agriculture sector in India.
    • It would have representation of both the Centre and States.
    • The idea for NCART has been proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare as part of its 100-day action plan for the new government.
    • It draws inspiration from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council.

    Terms of Reference of NCART:

    • Policy Formulation: NCART is envisioned as an overarching federal body responsible for devising policies and programs to promote agricultural and rural development.
    • Coordination: One of the key objectives of NCART is to ensure coordinated actions across various stakeholders involved in the agriculture sector, including the central government, state governments, and other relevant entities.
    • Consultative Body: NCART is expected to include representation from both the central and state governments, similar to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, to ensure a consultative approach in decision-making.
    • Legal Status: While the GST Council is a constitutional body, the exact status of NCART is yet to be finalized.

    India’s Agriculture Expenses:

    • Despite agriculture being a state subject, the Centre has significantly increased budgetary allocations for the Agriculture Ministry.
    • Budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare surged from Rs. 27,662.67 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,25,035.79 crore in 2023-24 BE.

  • Why are Indian spices facing the heat? | Explained

    Why in the News?

    Many have announced an investigation into possible contamination of spice mixes sold by top Indian brands like MDH and Everest Masalas.

    • Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in a recent note held, “With nearly $700 million worth of exports to critical markets at stake.”

    What is Ethylene Oxide (ETO)?

    • Ethylene oxide is a flammable, colorless gas at temperature above 51.3 F (10.7 C). When used directly in the gaseous form or in non-explosive gaseous mixtures with nitrogen or carbon dioxide, ETO serves as a disinfectant, fumigant, sterilizing agent, and insecticide.
    • ETO has also been reported to be produced from natural sources. In certain plants, ethylene (a natural plant growth regulator) is degraded to ethylene oxide. ETO ia also generated from water – logged soil, manure and sewage sludge.

    What are the health concerns?

    • ETO Usage and Contamination: ETO is a prohibited pesticide that is used as a sterilizing agent in the food industry, including spices.
    • Toxicity and Carcinogenicity: Residues of ETO can lead to the formation of toxic and carcinogenic compounds, such as ethylene glycol. Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide is associated with various health risks, including cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.
    • Previous Incidents: Indian-made products, including cough syrups, have been linked to incidents where ethylene glycol contamination resulted in fatalities, particularly among children in countries like Cameroon, Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.
    • Regulatory Response: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has banned the use of ETO and has flagged contamination issues in Indian spices in the past. A recent EFSA report highlighted carcinogenic chemicals found in numerous products linked to India.

    Which countries have flagged safety of Indian spices?

    • Hong Kong: Suspended the sale of three MDH spice blends and Everest fish curry masala due to high levels of ethylene oxide (ETO).
    • Singapore: Ordered a recall of Everest spice mix, stating that ethylene oxide makes the spices unfit for human consumption and poses a cancer risk.
    • United States: The FDA is aware of the reports and is gathering additional information about the situation.
    • Maldives: The Maldives FDA has suspended the sale of spices produced by Everest and MDH.
    • Australia: Food Standards of Australia and New Zealand is working with international counterparts to understand the issue and determine if further action is required.
    • Bangladesh: Gathering information on companies importing possibly contaminated products and plans to carry out examinations if necessary.

    What are the operational challenges faced by the Indian government?

    • Lack of Standardized Protocol System: India’s diverse food landscape, the lack of standardised monitoring and intentional food fraud may prevent manufacturers from efficiently tracing ingredients and assessing potential risks.
    • Lack of Database: Many companies struggle to trace ingredients, especially raw agricultural commodities, due to the lack of standardised recordkeeping and intentional food fraud. This prevents manufacturers from assessing potential risks, compromising the safety of the entire food supply chain.
    • Traceability is particularly challenging for small and medium sized businesses with limited resources.

    What steps is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) taking to improve the safety of spices?

    • Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): The FSMA rules address both domestically produced and imported foods.
      • For example, the preventive controls rule requires food facilities, including those that manufacture spices, to conduct a hazard analysis, identify hazards reasonably likely to occur, and establish preventive controls for such hazards.
    • Spices Board and its Measures: The Spices Board announced mandatory testing of consignments shipped to Singapore and Hong Kong, and gathering technical details and analytical reports from relevant food and drug agencies.
    • Issuance of Guidelines: A circular dated April 30 contains guidelines to exporters on preventing ETO contamination, developed after discussions with the Indian spice industry.
      • Measures include voluntary testing of ETO during raw and final stages, storing ETO treated products separately, and incorporating critical control points in hazard analysis.

    Way forward:

    • Enhanced Regulatory Oversight: Strengthen regulatory bodies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ensure strict adherence to food safety standards and regulations. Implement regular inspections, audits, and enforcement actions to monitor compliance with safety guidelines.
    • Improved Traceability Systems: Develop and implement robust traceability systems across the food supply chain to track the origin and movement of ingredients and products. Utilize technology such as blockchain and RFID tagging to enhance transparency and accountability.

    Mains question for practice 

    Q Explain the health risks associated with ethylene oxide (ETO) contamination in spices.

    Mains PYQ

    Q Elaborate the policy taken by the Government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector. (UPSC IAS/2019)

  • A computer science conundrum that could transform healthcare

    Why in the News? 

    Indian Health Care system faces a new set of complex problems that seem to be harder to solve because of their inherent complexity and the constraints they threaten to impose on resources.

    Quick Problems versus Complex Problems in Health Care:

    • Healthcare is filled with complex problems. Consider scheduling in a hospital: assigning doctors and nurses to shifts, booking operating theatres for surgeries, and organizing patient appointments.
    • It is an intricate puzzle that requires considering various factors — staff availability, urgency of medical cases, etc. — and potential changes such as emergency cases and cancellations.
    • The Quick Problems vs Complex Problems in Health Care question is this: there can be a shortcut to solve ‘Complex Problems’ problems as quickly as ‘Quick Problems’ problems.
    • The implication is that if Quick Problems equals Complex Problems, we could quickly find the optimal solution to these scheduling problems, thus significantly improving patient care.

    Implications for the Healthcare System:

    • Impact on Antibiotic Resistance: Quick analysis of bacterial genomes and prediction of resistance patterns could lead to more effective antibiotic prescriptions, improving patient outcomes and combating antibiotic resistance.
    • Advancement in Cancer Treatment: Swift identification of the optimal treatment for individual cancer patients could save lives by effectively tackling the complexity of cancer mutations and treatment options.
    • Optimization of Insurance Decision-Making: Insurance companies grappling with ‘NP’ problems in determining premiums and packages could benefit from a shortcut provided by solving the P versus NP problem. This could lead to fairer and more accurate premiums and conditions for customers.
    • Better utilization of Government health sector funding: Efficiently solving complex problems could lead to better utilization of government spending on healthcare, minimizing leakage and contributing to achieving universal health coverage.
    • Resource Constraint Reduction and Improved Health Outcomes: By solving complex healthcare problems more efficiently, there is the potential to dramatically reduce resource constraints and improve health outcomes broadly.

    Way Forward: Governments can enact policies and regulations that promote the responsible use of technology in healthcare and incentivize the adoption of evidence-based practices. This includes establishing standards for data privacy and security, fostering transparency in algorithmic decision-making, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.

    Mains PYQ 

    Q Public health system has limitation in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you suggest? (UPSC IAS/2015)

  • Moon occulting the Antares (Jyeshtha)

    Why in the news?

    • The Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) captured the moon passing in front of Antares, a bright red star.
    • Moon occasionally occults bright stars such as Antares and planets as it orbits the Earth once a month.

    About Antares (Jyeshtha)

    • Antares is a red supergiant star also called ‘Alpha Scorpii,’ located in the constellation of Scorpius.
    • It is visible in the southern sky during the summer months in the northern hemisphere.
    • It is often referred to as the “heart of the scorpion” due to its location within the Scorpius constellation and its striking red color.
    • It is a massive star, with a diameter estimated to be around 700 times that of the Sun.
    • It has a relatively low surface temperature compared to other stars, which gives it its distinctive red color.
    • The distance to Antares from Earth is approximately 550 light-years, making it one of the closest red supergiant stars to our solar system.

    What is Occultation?

    • An occultation is a total or a partial cut-off of the light of a celestial body due to its passage behind another body.
    • The finest example of an occultation is the solar eclipse.
    • Strictly speaking, it is not an eclipse, but a lunar occultation of the sun.

     

    PYQ:

    [2012] A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village, which was situated 5 km East of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction, but he located the pole-star. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the _______.

    (a) Direction facing the pole-star

    (b) Direction opposite to the pole-star

    (c) Direction keeping the pole-star to his left

    (d) Direction keeping the pole-star to his right

  • An Animal Protection Bill that must be moved in June

    Why in the News? 

    Presently, Croatia has imposed stricter penalties for acts of cruelty, especially the abandonment of domestic pets. Countries across the world are reforming their animal cruelty laws and enhancing punishments for animal cruelty.

    On punishment theories:

    • Inadequacies in the PCA Act (1960): The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act) is the primary legislation criminalizing various forms of cruelty towards animals in India.
    • Failure to Achieve Objectives: Despite being in place for several decades, the PCA Act has failed to achieve its main objective of preventing cruelty to animals effectively.

    Theories of punishment suggest that punishment serves three main goals:

    • Retribution: Retribution refers to punishment imposed to avenge the crime committed.In the context of animal cruelty, retribution could involve imposing punishment on perpetrators to seek justice for the harm inflicted on animals.
    • Deterrence: It aims to prevent future crimes by imposing punishment that dissuades both the perpetrator and the general public from engaging in similar behavior.
    • Reformation or Rehabilitation: It focuses on reforming the behavior of the perpetrator to prevent future offenses.

    Issues in PCA 1960 : 

    • Bail and Non-Cognisable Offences: Many offences under the PCA Act are bailable and non-cognisable, allowing accused individuals to seek bail easily and preventing immediate police action without court permission. This delays justice and hampers effective enforcement.
    • Inadequate Fines: The fines prescribed under the PCA Act have remained unchanged for over 130 years, rendering them insignificant and failing to act as a deterrent against animal cruelty. In many cases, fines are as low as ₹10, which does not reflect the seriousness of the offenses.
    • Discretionary Sentencing: The law grants courts discretion to choose between imposing imprisonment or a fine on offenders, even for severe cases of animal cruelty. This leniency allows perpetrators to evade appropriate punishment, undermining the deterrent effect of the law.
    • Lack of Rehabilitation Measures: The PCA Act lacks provisions for alternative forms of punishment such as community service, which could help reform perpetrators and address the root causes of animal cruelty.

    Steps taken by Government:

    • In November 2022, the Draft PCA (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was published by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for public comments. Despite widespread public support for the Draft Bill, it was not tabled in Parliament.
    • The Draft Bill includes significant amendments to the 1960 Act such as the inclusion of the five fundamental freedoms for animals, enhancement of the punishments and the amounts of money to be paid as fines for various offences, and addition of new cognisable offences.

    Way forward 

    • Legislative Reforms: Need to table the Draft PCA (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in Parliament for consideration and enactment.Enhance penalties and fines for animal cruelty to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and act as a deterrent.
    • Promotion of Public Awareness: Launch campaigns and awareness programs to educate the public about animal welfare and the consequences of cruelty.

    Mains PYQ 

    Q Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture. (UPSC IAS/2022)

  • [pib] 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46)

    Why in the news?

    The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) in Kochi, Kerala.

    About Antarctic Treaty

    Details
    Signing and Entry into Force
    • Signed on December 1, 1959 at Washington DC.
    • Entered into force on June 23, 1961.
    • 12 Initial Countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the UK, and the US.
    Objective Ensure Antarctica remains exclusively for peaceful purposes, free from international discord.
    Key Provisions
    • Art. I: Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only
    • Art. II: Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation
    • Art. III:  Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available

     
    Territorial Claims
    • Prohibits new territorial claims.
    • Preserves existing territorial sovereignty claims.
    Disarmament
    • Prohibits testing of nuclear weapons.
    • Prohibits disposal of radioactive waste
    Consultative Meetings Annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) where member states discuss treaty implementation and cooperation
    Environmental Protection
    • Promotes protection of Antarctic environment.
    • Prohibits activities causing pollution or environmental damage
    Mineral Resource Exploitation
    • Bans mining activities until at least 2048.
    • Requires consensus for any review or modification
    Membership
      • 54 parties as of 2024.
      • 29 Consultative Parties actively participate in decision-making.
      • 25 Non-Consultative Parties.
    • India ratified the treaty in 1983.
    Madrid Protocol
    • Adopted in 1991.
    • Entered into force in 1998.
    • Strengthens environmental protection measures in Antarctic.