The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released in March, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating global risk posed by infectious diseases.
Central idea
The intricate relationship between climate and disease becomes more evident with each passing year. Recent analysis in Nature Climate Change (2022) warns that humans now face a wider array of infectious agents than ever before. More than half of all known infectious diseases affecting humans worsen due to shifting climate patterns.
The Impact of Climate Change on Infections
Habitat Loss and Human-Animal Interaction:
Climate change contributes to habitat loss, pushing disease-carrying animals into closer proximity to human territories.
This increased interaction between humans and wildlife raises the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans.
For example, the Nipah virus outbreaks in Kerala originated from bats and caused fatalities in humans.
Broader Spectrum of Infectious Agents: An analysis published in Nature Climate Change in 2022 warns that humans now face a wider range of infectious agents due to climate change. Over half of all known infectious diseases that threaten humans are exacerbated by changing climate patterns.
New Transmission Routes: Diseases often find new transmission routes due to climate change. This includes transmission through environmental sources as well as through medical tourism and contaminated food and water from once-reliable sources.
Ecosystem Transformation: Climate change is transforming ecosystems by introducing invasive species and extending the range of existing life forms. These changes trigger complex upheavals in ecosystems, making it challenging for ecologists and epidemiologists to predict disease outbreaks.
Manifestation of Climatic Shifts: These climatic shifts are manifesting in severe health crises, including a dengue epidemic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Kolkata, as well as the Nipah outbreak in Kerala.
Human-Induced Health Vulnerability Crisis:
Human-induced climate change is described as unleashing an unprecedented health vulnerability crisis.
India, in particular, has experienced the ominous impact, with early summers and erratic monsoons leading to water scarcity in regions like the Gangetic Plains and Kerala.
Current Surveillance, Reporting, and Challenges
Improved Reporting Over the Decades:
India has made significant progress in reporting disease outbreaks over the past two decades.
Initiatives like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) were introduced to enhance disease surveillance.
For example, in 2008, IDSP reported 553 outbreaks, and by 2017, this number had increased to 1,714.
Transition to the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP):
The IDSP was phased out in favor of a newer system called the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) in 2018.
IHIP is a web-enabled, near-real-time electronic information system that added 20 additional disease conditions compared to IDSP’s 13.
It aimed to provide disaggregated data to its users.
Unfulfilled Expectations: Despite the promise of IHIP, the program has not fully met expectations for real-time tracking of emerging disease outbreaks.
Inadequate Surveillance for Emerging Diseases: The current design of disease surveillance is deemed inadequate for the emerging disease scenario brought about by climate change.
The Need for a Unified Approach: One Health
Interconnectedness of Health: One Health recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health. It emphasizes that these domains are interdependent and that the health of one is intimately linked to the health of the others.
Preventing Disease Outbreaks: The One Health approach is pivotal in preventing disease outbreaks, particularly those originating from animals. It acknowledges that diseases like zoonotic infections (those that can be transmitted from animals to humans), neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental contamination are all interconnected.
Holistic Approach: One Health takes a holistic approach to health surveillance and prevention. It goes beyond traditional disease control strategies and recognizes the need to address health challenges at their source, including the role of ecosystems.
Recommendations for India
Implement one health program: Foster synergy between the central and state governments and their specialized agencies, including animal husbandry, forest and wildlife, municipal corporations, and public health departments. Develop robust surveillance systems and establish lines of responsibility and collaboration.
Coordination and Management: With the influx of funding from sources like the World Bank, enhance the coordination and management of One Health initiatives. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister has played a leading role, but greater collaboration is essential.
Way forward: Looking Beyond Disease X
The Obsession with “Disease X”: While the global focus remains on the mysterious “Disease X,” the ongoing challenges posed by familiar infectious agents like influenza, measles, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and diarrhoea continue to strain public health systems.
Climate Change’s Broader Impact: Climate change is not limited to infectious diseases. It exacerbates injuries and fatalities resulting from extreme weather events, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues.
Nipah’s Wake-Up Call: The re-emergence of the Nipah virus in Kerala serves as a stark wake-up call, emphasizing that a mere biomedical response to diseases is inadequate in the face of evolving threats.
The Role of Ecosystems: Protecting ecosystems becomes paramount as they play a crucial role in mitigating climate-induced infectious diseases and maintaining overall ecological balance.
Fostering Collaboration: Collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, health departments, environmental bodies, and the public, is essential to effectively address these complex challenges.
Proactive Safeguarding: The road ahead demands concerted efforts not only to adapt to climate change but also to proactively safeguard our planet and the well-being of its inhabitants for a resilient and healthier future.
Conclusion
The urgent need for a One Health approach to combat climate-induced infectious diseases is clear. India must prioritize collaboration, surveillance, and ecosystem protection to effectively address this growing threat and secure a healthier future for its population.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced withdrawal of the monsoon.
What is Monsoon Withdrawal/Retreat?
In India, retreating monsoon is the withdrawal of south-west monsoon winds from North India.
The withdrawal is gradual and takes about three months.
With the retreat of the monsoons, the clouds disappear and the sky becomes clear. The day temperature starts falling steeply.
Monsoon rains weaken all over India except few southeastern states.
It is helpful in Rabi crop cultivation.
Factors affecting the retreat
Two predominant factors cause the phenomenon:
(1) Land topography
First, the low mountain range in each region runs from north to south, shielding it from west-bound winds that trigger summer monsoon.
After summer, the range aids in the ‘orographic lift’ or rising of east-bound air mass from a lower to higher elevation, forming clouds and resulting in rain.
(2) Atmospheric convection
The second factor is atmospheric convection or vertical movement of air.
As the earth is heated by the sun, different surfaces absorb different amounts of energy and convection may occur where the surface heats up very rapidly.
As the surface warms, it heats the overlying air, which gradually becomes less dense than the surrounding air and begins to rise.
This condition is more favorable from September to February because of the role played by sea surface temperature or water temperature.
Immediate factors influencing withdrawal
The withdrawal of the monsoon is based on meteorological conditions such as-
Anti-cyclonic circulation (dry air that is the opposite of a cyclone)
Absence of rain in the past five days and
Dry weather conditions over the region
When does it occur?
The monsoon withdrawal is a long-drawn process and extends into mid-October, though the IMD considers September 30 to be the final day of the season over India.
The rain after that is categorised as “post-monsoon” rainfall.
A groundbreaking 21-meter-long ship, constructed using an age-old technique of stitching wooden planks with ropes, cords, coconut fibers, natural resins, and oils, is scheduled to embark ‘Baliyatra’ from Odisha to Bali, Indonesia.
The initiative, led by the Govt. of India, aims to rekindle the nation’s rich maritime tradition and heritage.
This remarkable journey will be manned by a crew from the Indian Navy.
Early Evidence of Maritime Trade
Ancient Maritime Trade: The presence of maritime trade networks dating back to circa 3300-1300 BCE is supported by evidence from the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and coastal sites along the Arabian Sea. The engineering marvel of the dock at Lothal in Gujarat stands as a testament to the Indus civilization’s profound understanding of tides and winds.
Historical Accounts: Ancient texts, including the Vedas (circa 1500-500 BCE), contain vivid accounts of seafaring adventures and the associated risks. Furthermore, the Jataka Tales (circa 300 BCE-400 CE) and Tamil Sangam literature (circa 300 BCE-300 CE) provide explicit references to maritime activities.
Challenges in Recognizing Maritime Heritage
Historiographical Biases: Historians have often marginalized India’s maritime heritage in favor of narratives centered on land-based polities. This bias has led to the neglect of India’s maritime contributions.
Emergence of Deep-Sea Voyages: The 1st century BCE witnessed intensified mid-ocean voyages driven by the Roman Empire’s demand for Eastern commodities, which harnessed monsoon winds and marked a significant turning point in maritime activity.
Ancient Indian Boats and Shipbuilding
Limited Knowledge: The field of marine archaeology in India remains at an early stage of development, with primary insights derived from boat-building traditions, artistic depictions, and literary sources.
Traditional Boat-Building Techniques: Indian boat construction traditions favor stitching planks of wood together instead of using nails. These traditions encompass coir-stitched, jong (Southeast Asian), and Austronesian methods, each employing various stitching techniques.
Wood Selection: Selection of wood types for shipbuilding depended on their suitability for specific ship components. Mangrove wood excelled in creating sturdy dowels, while teak was preferred for planks, keels, stem, and stern posts.
India’s Role in Maritime Trade
Trade Lake of the Indian Ocean: By the Common Era, the Indian Ocean had evolved into a thriving trade network, with India positioned at its heart. This network facilitated trade connections between India and Europe via the Middle East and Africa in the west, as well as Southeast Asia, China, and Malaysia in the east.
Evidence of Scale: Estimates indicate the colossal scale of trade, with customs taxes collected from the Red Sea trade route alone contributing significantly to the Roman exchequer.
Uncovering a Hidden Past
Ongoing Exploration: Recent excavations have provided substantial insights into India’s maritime history. Nevertheless, experts acknowledge that numerous discoveries await on this journey of exploration.
Need for Investment: Marine archaeology in India requires increased funding and recognition to unlock its full potential and contribute meaningfully to humanity’s understanding of the past.
Value of Knowledge: Scientific archaeology’s pursuit of India’s deep maritime past offers the potential for immense benefits to humanity. Engaging with this history challenges conventional narratives and represents a subversive yet essential endeavor.
Conclusion
The forthcoming voyage of the stitched ship symbolizes India’s dedicated efforts to rejuvenate its maritime heritage, shedding light on the forgotten history of Indian seafarers and their remarkable vessels.
Through exploration and study, India seeks to restore the rightful place of its maritime legacy in the annals of history.
The Central government’s regulations mandated long-duration smoking warnings for films and TV series on OTT platforms like Hotstar, Amazon, and Netflix.
Streaming websites voiced objections, raising concerns about user experience.
Recent Development
According to a recent report, the government has agreed to find “pragmatic solutions” for stricter tobacco warnings on OTT platforms.
A closed-door meeting saw streaming executives engage with Health Ministry and Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry officials.
Why Smoking Warnings in Indian Entertainment?
Linking Health Impact and Public Perception: The introduction of smoking warnings in Indian entertainment stems from the connection between smoking’s health impact and its portrayal to the public. The goal is to communicate clear information about the health risks associated with smoking and discourage its use.
Regulation Evolution: The Indian government has a history of regulating how smoking is portrayed. The Cinematograph Act of 1952 prohibited the “glamorization” of tobacco in movies, and the Cable Television Networks Amendment Act of 2000 banned tobacco and alcohol advertising on cable TV.
Historical Context
Factors Leading to Consensus: Several factors contributed to a growing national consensus on tobacco control, including increased health awareness, new laws and enforcement, judicial rulings (e.g., the 2008 ban on public smoking), civil society efforts, global support for tobacco control, and the influence of the World Health Organization.
COTPA and Health Ministry Notification: Under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), signed into law in May 2003, the Health Ministry introduced a notification prohibiting the display of tobacco products in cinema and television programs.
Content Rules: This notification required films and shows produced before it to include health warnings regarding smoking as a prominent scroll at the bottom of the screen. It also recommended prohibiting smoking in public places and using pictorial health warnings covering 85% of tobacco product display areas.
Legal Challenges: Legal challenges arose as some filmmakers and actors argued that these rules violated their freedom of speech. The Delhi HC quashed the notification in 2009, but the Supreme Court later upheld the rules.
Introduction of Health Spots
Consensus-Building Efforts: Amid legal disputes, I&B Ministry appointed a new minister, leading to attempts to reach consensus. In 2011, the Health Ministry introduced new rules after consultations with I&B Ministry, aiming to make them more practical and implementable.
Health Spots in Old Content: For films and shows made before these rules, anti-tobacco health spots or messages were required at the beginning and middle of television programs, made available to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Requirements for New Content: New films and TV shows with smoking scenes were to provide an “editorial justification” to the CBFC, include anti-tobacco health spots, display a prominent static message during tobacco product scenes, and feature an audio-visual disclaimer on the ill effects of tobacco use.
Implementation Challenges
A study revealed that while many movies implemented at least one element of the film rules on tobacco imagery, few fully complied.
Compliance with other aspects of COTPA, such as restrictions on selling cigarettes near schools, has also been lacking.
Debate over OTT Smoking Warnings
Content Library Concerns: I&B Ministry which regulates streaming platforms, expressed concerns about implementing warnings in existing content, foreign content, and health spots. It suggested displaying an appropriate health warning when users log in.
OTT Industry Concerns: In May, India ordered OTT platforms to insert static health warnings and anti-tobacco disclaimers. OTT executives raised concerns about the potential need to edit vast amounts of existing content, impacting user experience and creators’ freedom of expression.
The RBI has issued a directive requiring commercial banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), collectively referred to as Regulated Entities (REs), to disclose borrower information.
This disclosure pertains to borrowers whose secured assets have been repossessed under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act).
What is the SARFAESI Act?
Objective: The SARFAESI Act, introduced in 2002, is formally known as the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act. Its primary objective is to protect financial institutions against loan defaults.
Empowering Banks: The Act empowers banks to seize, manage, or sell securities pledged as collateral for loans, facilitating the recovery of bad debts without the need for court intervention.
Broad Application: The SARFAESI Act applies nationwide and covers all types of assets, whether movable or immovable, provided as security to lenders.
Aim of the SARFAESI Act
The SARFAESI Act serves two key purposes:
Efficient NPA Recovery: It streamlines and expedites the recovery of non-performing assets (NPAs) for financial institutions and banks.
Asset Auction: It enables financial organizations and banks to auction residential and commercial assets in cases of borrower default.
Why was such a Law needed?
Pre-SARFAESI Era: Before the enactment of the SARFAESI Act in December 2002, financial institutions and banks faced complex procedures for recovering bad debts.
Legal Complexity: Lenders had to navigate legal complexities, resorting to civil courts or designated tribunals to secure ‘security interests’ for recovering defaulted loans, resulting in slow and cumbersome debt recovery.
Powers Granted to Banks under the Law
Default Trigger: The SARFAESI Act comes into play when a borrower defaults on payments for more than six months.
Notice Period: The lender is required to issue a notice to the borrower, providing them with a 60-day window to clear their outstanding dues.
Asset Possession: If the borrower fails to comply within the stipulated period, the financial institution gains the right to take possession of the secured assets and manage, transfer, or sell them.
Appellate Avenue: The defaulter has the option to appeal to an appellate authority established under the law within 30 days of receiving a notice from the lender.
SARFAESI Act: Applicability
The SARFAESI Act primarily deals with various legal aspects related to:
Registration of asset reconstruction companies.
Acquisition of rights or interest in financial assets.
The Parliament Standing Committee on Education presented a report during a special parliamentary session focused on the “Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Higher Education.”
Report Highlights
Salient NEP Features: The report examined the key aspects of NEP’s application in higher education and assessed the progress achieved thus far. The committee engaged with representatives from State governments, Union Ministries, higher education institutions, and stakeholders to compile the report.
State’s Role: The report emphasized the significance of State governments, as approximately 70% of the country’s 1,043 universities operate under State Acts. Furthermore, 94% of students are enrolled in State or private institutions, while only 6% attend Central higher educational institutions.
Key Issues Discussed
Rigid Disciplinary Separation: The committee addressed issues such as the inflexible division of disciplines in higher education.
Limited Access in Disadvantaged Areas: It acknowledged the limited access to higher education in socio-economically disadvantaged regions.
Language of Instruction: The report highlighted the dearth of higher education institutes (HEIs) offering education in local languages.
Faculty Shortage: The committee noted the shortage of faculty members in HEIs.
Lack of Autonomy: Concerns about institutional autonomy and insufficient emphasis on research were also raised.
Regulatory System: The report identified the regulatory system as ineffective and criticized low standards of undergraduate education.
Recommendations
Expansion of Multidisciplinary HEIs: The committee recommended that by 2030, every district in India should have at least one multidisciplinary higher education institution.
Enrolment Ratio Increase: It called for increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education, including vocational education, from 26.3% in 2018 to 50% by 2035.
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs): Actions proposed included allocating suitable funds for SEDGs, setting higher enrolment targets for SEDGs, improving gender balance in HEI admissions, offering more financial assistance and scholarships, ensuring inclusive admission processes and curricula, enhancing employability potential of higher education programs, and developing courses taught in regional languages and bilingually.
Infrastructure for Physically Challenged: Specific infrastructural enhancements were recommended to support physically challenged students, along with strict enforcement of non-discrimination and anti-harassment rules.
NEP Implementation in Jammu and Kashmir: The committee commended Jammu and Kashmir for its prompt implementation of NEP in all higher educational institutions from the 2022 academic session. It noted positive changes in teaching methods leading to enhanced lifelong learning opportunities for students.
Funding Enhancement and Diversification
Effective Use of HEFA: The committee suggested improving the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) to enhance funding for HEIs.
Diversified Funding Sources: It advised HEFA to diversify funding sources beyond government allocations by exploring partnerships with private sector organizations, philanthropic foundations, and international financial institutions.
Loan Interest Rates: The committee recommended reviewing and adjusting interest rates on loans provided by HEFA to make them more competitive and affordable for HEIs.
Concerns about MEME Program
Feasibility Challenges: The panel raised concerns about the feasibility of implementing the multiple entry and multiple exit (MEME) system in Indian institutions.
Predictability Issues: MEME’s flexible structure, effective in Western educational institutions, might pose challenges in the country. Predicting student entry and exit numbers could disrupt the pupil-teacher ratio.
UPSC aspirants often find themselves knee-deep in the intricate details of our Constitution, the vast landscape of governance, and the roles and responsibilities of our institutions.
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Registration details for Session 2 of #StartLikeATopper series
Topic: How to cover UPSC GS Polity syllabus for Prelims and Mains in just 21 days? Detailed approach, important topics, and strategic blueprint
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Time: 7:30 pm
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Aspirants looking for a structured approach to mastering or revising UPSC Polity Syllabus.
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Why aspirants face issues in UPSC Polity syllabus coverage?
The UPSC Polity syllabus for both Prelims and Mains is extensive and multifaceted. As a result, aspirants face a variety of challenges while preparing. Here are some of the prominent issues faced by them:
Volume of the Syllabus: The Polity syllabus is vast, ranging from historical aspects of the Indian Constitution to its contemporary challenges.
Conceptual Clarity: Many topics, like Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, and federalism, require deep conceptual understanding. Grasping these concepts and their nuances can be tricky.
Interlinking Topics: Aspirants often struggle with understanding the interconnectedness of topics, such as how the Preamble sets the tone for the entire Constitution or how DPSPs relate to Fundamental Duties.
Dynamic Nature: UPSC often asks questions that relate static Polity concepts to current events. Staying updated with such dynamic intersections can be daunting.
Answer Writing: For Mains, it’s not just about what you know but how you present it. Aspirants often struggle with structuring their answers and providing balanced viewpoints.
Differentiating between Prelims and Mains: While Prelims is more about factual recall and understanding, Mains demands analytical skills. Many aspirants find it challenging to switch between these modes of study.
Legal Language: The Indian Constitution and many other polity resources are written in legal language which can be complex and hard to understand for beginners.
Case Laws: Important Supreme Court and High Court judgements that interpret the Constitution are essential for the Mains. Remembering these judgements and their implications can be difficult.
Time Management: Given the vastness of the syllabus, aspirants often struggle with allocating appropriate time to Polity, balancing it with other subjects.
Reliability of Sources: With numerous books, coaching materials, and online resources available, choosing the right study material becomes a challenge.
Evolution of Polity: Understanding the evolution of Indian Polity, from the Regulating Act to the Indian Councils Act, to the present Constitution, can be a complex journey.
Overcoming these challenges requires a combination of structured study, practice, regular revision, and staying updated with current affairs related to Polity.
Mastering Polity is not about quantity, but quality of time invested.
What can you expect to learn from the session?
Understanding the upcoming trend, UPSC’s new paradigm is evolving. How UPSC has changed over the past couple of years and how you should adapt?
Chucking old ways of UPSC preparation and building a solid foundation that is flexible and adaptable.
Basic syllabus mastery: NCERTs and Standard Bookslike Laxminkanth- Learn which sections of NCERTs and Standard Books are essential for UPSC and how to make effective notes from them.
NCERT & Standard book Selection: Discover the must-read NCERTs that provide a comprehensive understanding
We’ll be sharing a personalized study plan after the webinar
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