PM Modi inaugurated an international, high-speed passenger ferry service in Palk Strait between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India, and Kankesanthurai, near Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
India-Sri Lanka Ferry
The service is operated by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board and Shipping Corporation of India.
It will operate daily, covering the 60-nautical mile (110-km) journey in approximately 3.5 hours.
Passengers are entitled to a 50kg free baggage allowance.
The Indo-Ceylon Express or Board Mail used to operate between Chennai and Colombo via Thoothukudi port.
However, this was stopped in 1982 due to the civil war in the island country.
About Palk Strait
Location
Narrow water body separating Tamil Nadu, India, and Sri Lanka.
Name Origin
Named after Robert Palk, a British Raj-era governor of Madras Presidency (1755-1763).
Geographic Boundaries
Southern boundaries include Pamban Island (India), Adam’s Bridge (shoals), Gulf of Mannar, and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka).
Connection
Connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest.
Alternate Name
Southwestern part of the strait is known as Palk Bay.
Dimensions
Width varies from 40 to 85 miles (64 to 137 km), length is approximately 85 miles, and depth is less than 330 feet (100 meters).
River Inflows
Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu flow into the Palk Strait.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a report highlighting the significant impact of climate change and human activities on Earth’s water circulation systems.
This has direct consequences leading to droughts, extreme rainfall events, and disruptions in water cycles.
What is the Water Cycle?
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.
It involves various processes that allow water to circulate between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and other bodies of water:
Evaporation
Sun’s heat turns surface water into vapor.
Condensation
Vapor forms clouds as it cools in the atmosphere.
Precipitation
Clouds release moisture as rain, snow, or hail.
Runoff & Infiltration
Water flows over land or seeps into the ground.
Transpiration
Plants absorb and release water vapor.
Sublimation
Ice transforms directly into vapor in specific conditions.
Transport
Winds move moisture globally.
Collection
Water gathers in oceans, lakes, and underground sources.
Why is it under stress?
Diverse Impact: Climate change and human activities have led to an erratic hydrological cycle, resulting in both droughts and extreme rainfall events, causing widespread disruptions affecting livelihoods and economies.
Melting Snow and Glaciers: Ongoing melting of snow, ice, and glaciers further exacerbates the risk of extreme weather events, such as floods, posing long-term threats to water security, particularly for millions already facing severe water scarcity.
Global Impact
Global Deviations: Over 50% of global catchment areas experienced deviations from normal river discharge conditions in 2022, primarily due to climate anomalies, such as heatwaves, droughts, La Nina, and El Nino events.
Horn of Africa Drought: Severe drought in the Horn of Africa led to reduced river discharge, affecting food security for 21 million people, while other regions, like the Niger Basin, saw above-average discharge and major floods.
Water Reservoirs Affected: More than 60% of major water reservoirs experienced below-normal inflow, posing challenges to water availability in a changing climate.
Impact on Asian Water Tower
The term “Asian Water Tower (AWT)” typically refers to the vast network of high mountain regions across Asia, particularly in countries like India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Central Asia.
These high mountain regions are the source of many major rivers in Asia, such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong, Indus, and Amu Darya.
The melting snow and glaciers in these mountains provide a continuous supply of freshwater to downstream areas.
This AWT witnessed substantial glacial melting in 2022.
Rising temperatures accelerate water cycle disruptions, leading to heavier precipitation, flooding, and intensified droughts, significantly impacting the water balance.
The Centre seeks to include traditional Indian medicines in the 11th revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
The traditional Indian medicine system is categorized into Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Yoga, Naturopathy, and Homoeopathy
About International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
Purpose
Standardized system for classifying and coding diseases, health conditions, and related information.
Established
1893, by International Statistical Institute (WHO’s predecessor)
Authority
Developed and maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Scope
Covers a wide range of diseases, health conditions, injuries, and health-related factors.
Coding System
Assigns unique alphanumeric codes to each health condition for consistent recording and reporting.
Global Applicability
Internationally recognized and used for health data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Updates
Periodically updated to reflect advances in medical knowledge and changing health trends.
Latest Version
ICD-11 became effective in January 2022.
Uses
Clinical diagnosis, health record documentation, research, health policy, and resource allocation.
India’s quest to update ICD-11
Universal Language: The ICD provides a universal language that enables healthcare professionals worldwide to share standardized information.
Traditional Medicine Module: The 11th revision includes a module dedicated to traditional medicine conditions, offering a standardized way to collect and report data on these conditions internationally.
Formal Recognition: Ayurveda and related Indian traditional healthcare systems are formally recognized and widely practised in India, making a strong case for their inclusion.
Chinese Medicine Inclusion: After a decade of consultations, ICD-11 included Module-1, covering traditional medicine conditions originating in ancient China.
The Centre has introduced a Green Credit Program (GCP) that allows individuals and entities to earn Green Credits, which can be traded on a dedicated exchange.
What is the Green Credit Program (GCP)?
Objective: Aims to establish a competitive, market-based approach encouraging diverse stakeholders to undertake environmental actions.
Nodal Agency: Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Mechanics of Green Credit
Voluntary Participation: Reflects inclusivity, as engagement in the program is entirely voluntary.
Entities: The program extends to a diverse range of entities, encompassing individuals, industries, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), urban local bodies (ULBs), gram panchayats, and private sectors.
Tradability: Tradable, fostering participation in a proposed domestic market platform.
Certificates: Upon approval, applicants receive Green Credit certificates.
Covered Activities
Qualifying Activities: The program includes various activities such as tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, mangrove conservation, eco-mark initiatives, sustainable building, and infrastructure development.
Registration and Verification: Participants must register their activities on the program’s website, which will undergo verification by a designated agency.
How are Green Credits computed?
Equitable Calculation: Green Credits are determined based on resource equivalence, scalability, scope, size, and other relevant parameters, aiming to achieve desired environmental outcomes.
Credit Registry: A dedicated Green Credit Registry will oversee the tracking and management of these credits.
Trading Platform: An administrator will establish and maintain a trading platform for the exchange of Green Credits within the domestic market.
Alignment with Legal Obligations
Non-Tradable for Legal Compliance: Green Credits obtained for legal compliance purposes will not be tradable, ensuring adherence to existing laws.
Independent from Carbon Credit Scheme: The GCP operates separately from the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023, established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
Additional Climate Benefits: Activities generating Green Credits may also yield climate-related advantages, such as carbon emissions reduction, potentially resulting in the acquisition of carbon credits.
2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Goldin’s groundbreaking work highlights that the key to addressing the underrepresentation and underpayment of women lies not in their homes but in the labor market.
Central idea
In the realm of economic orthodoxy, long-held beliefs attributed women’s absence from the labor force to childcare responsibilities and lower education levels, perpetuating a gender pay gap. However, Claudia Goldin, the esteemed 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, challenged these notions and offered a fresh perspective.
Goldin’ theory
Claudia Goldin’s lifetime of research has bestowed a name and a voice upon these women’s challenges.
She meticulously traces the evolution of the American economy from agriculture to manufacturing to services, revealing that women were historically excluded from market activities.
Only when jobs expanded beyond factories into offices, schools, and hospitals did women gain access to the workforce.
Despite their increasing educational achievements, women continued to earn less than their male counterparts.
Goldin’s theory attributes this persistent wage gap to the difficulty women face in pursuing jobs with demanding responsibilities.
A Solution for Gender Equity
Reduce Reliance on Heroic Efforts: Goldin suggests moving away from a culture of greedy work that rewards extreme efforts. Instead, organizations should create roles that don’t require superhuman commitments, promoting work-life balance.
Promote Moderate Work Hours: Goldin’s solution includes advocating for reasonable work hours, benefiting both genders and avoiding productivity issues associated with excessively long hours.
Provide Predictable Schedules: Emphasizing stable work hours helps employees better plan family responsibilities and reduces stress, contributing to gender equity.
Institutional Support: Supporting institutions should include educational reforms to ease parental homework burdens and urban planning that reduces commuting, making it easier for both men and women to balance work and personal life.
The Road Ahead in India
Service Sector Opportunities: India’s growing service sector offers the prospect of increased employment opportunities for women. This aligns with Goldin’s observation that women found jobs when economic production shifted from factories to offices, schools, and hospitals.
Rising Education Levels: With a continuous increase in women’s educational achievements, there is a growing potential to enhance their participation in the workforce. This trend mirrors Goldin’s emphasis on education as a factor that can boost employability.
Declining Fertility Rates: The decreasing fertility rates in India can contribute to freeing up more of women’s time, potentially facilitating higher workforce participation, as Goldin also noted the impact of declining fertility on women’s ability to engage in the labor market.
Reshaping the environment, as proposed by Claudia Goldin
Workplace Restructuring: Reducing the reliance on extreme efforts and creating roles that allow for a better work-life balance, particularly for women.
Moderating Work Hours: Promoting reasonable work hours to improve work-life equilibrium, avoiding productivity issues associated with excessively long hours.
Ensuring Predictable Schedules: Establishing stable work schedules to facilitate family planning and reduce stress, thus promoting gender equity.
Supportive Institutions: Reforms in education and urban planning to ease parental responsibilities and reduce commuting times, enabling both men and women to better balance their professional and personal lives.
Conclusion
To ensure the continued progress of gender convergence in labor market outcomes, we must heed her call for workplace reform and the development of supportive institutions. By doing so, we can pave the way for a more equitable and balanced future for both men and women in the workforce.
The demand for doctors exceeds the supply in large parts of India.
Central idea
The demand for doctors in India consistently surpasses the available supply, while the pursuit of medical education often outstrips the number of seats available. Reducing this demand-supply gap in medical education has proven to be a challenging endeavor, with potential implications for the availability of healthcare professionals.
Expanding Medical Education
Over the last decade, India has made significant strides in expanding medical colleges and seats at both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) levels.
UG seats have nearly tripled, PG seats have almost quadrupled, and the number of medical colleges has doubled since 2010-11.
Despite this expansion, in 2021, India had only 4.1 medical graduates per lakh population, falling behind countries like China, Israel, the US, and the UK.
Challenges in scaling
Regulatory and Financial Constraints: On average, Indian medical colleges offer 153 UG seats per college, significantly fewer than Eastern Europe (220) and China (930). This discrepancy is a result of regulatory and financial constraints.
Infrastructure Limitations: Expanding UG seats in a public medical college from 150 to 200 required additional resources, such as a larger library, increased daily outpatient department (OPD) footfalls, and more nursing staff, as per the draft guidelines for establishing new medical colleges in 2015.
Quality Maintenance: Concerns that disproportionate scaling can impact the quality of pedagogy and, subsequently, the quality of doctors produced
Faculty Shortages: Both public and private colleges face teaching faculty shortages, despite better remuneration structures in public colleges. Scaling up can further strain the already limited pool of qualified teaching staff.
Economic Viability for Private Colleges: Investing in scaling can be risky for private colleges if seats remain vacant and costs aren’t recovered. This can lead to high capitation fees and price distortions.
Curriculum Limitations: The nature of the competency-based curriculum dictates constraints on scalability. For example, there can’t be more than 15 students surrounding a bed or in any other practical class.
Equity Concerns: The goal of producing doctors evenly across regions might not result in efficient production. Migration of doctors from states with higher production can be an issue.
Value addition box
Innovations from the US
India’s competency-based curriculum is akin to that of the US, which has successfully scaled up the production of doctors by optimizing resource utilization.
Innovations, such as involving practicing MD doctors as mentors for medical students and integrating interprofessional education (IPE) into the curriculum, have enhanced the quality of education and reduced the faculty requirements.
Quality vs. Scale vs. Equity: A triad of challenges
Quality:
Ensuring the highest standards of medical education, which translates into competent, skilled, and ethical practitioners.
The competency-based curriculum in India requires small-group teaching to ensure a thorough understanding and hands-on experience for students.
There’s a concern that rapid scaling could lead to a decline in the quality of education and subsequently the quality of doctors produced.
Quality assurance becomes even more critical given the life-and-death implications of medical practice.
Scale:
Increasing the number of medical graduates to meet the country’s healthcare needs.
Despite the expansion of UG and PG seats in medical colleges, the demand-supply gap persists.
Regulatory, infrastructural, and financial constraints pose significant challenges in scaling up.
Equity:
The National Medical Commission prioritizes an even distribution of medical colleges and seats. They aim for localized doctor production to ensure different regions have adequate healthcare.
Policies such as the cap on UG seats and the location restrictions of new colleges highlight this focus.
However, this might not lead to efficient doctor production due to phenomena like interstate migration of doctors.
Way forward
Regulatory Reforms: Streamline regulations to facilitate the establishment and expansion of medical colleges while ensuring quality standards.
Faculty Development: Prioritize investment in faculty development programs to address shortages and retain experienced educators.
Technology Integration: Embrace technology to enhance scalability and access to medical education, including e-learning and telemedicine tools.
Competency-Based Curriculum: Continue to implement competency-based curricula to produce doctors with practical skills and real-world readiness.
Incentives for Rural Service: Develop and implement policies that incentivize medical graduates to serve in underserved rural areas, addressing healthcare disparities.
Public-Private Collaboration: Foster collaboration between public and private sectors to expand the availability of medical education seats and improve educational infrastructure.
Conclusion
Bridging the gap between the demand for doctors and the supply of medical education is a multifaceted challenge in India. To meet the growing healthcare needs of the population, policymakers must carefully consider the trade-offs between quality, scale, and equity in medical education.
The theme for World Food Day (October 16) this year—’Water is Life, Water is Food’ —calls for urgent action in managing water wisely.
Central idea
Water is the essence of life, a resource that nourishes not just humanity but every ecosystem on this planet. However, as this year’s World Food Day theme rightly points out, water is also food. In the light of increasing climate extremes, managing this precious resource wisely has never been more urgent.
Impact of Climate Change on Crop Yields
Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to decrease by 20% in 2050 and 47% in 2080 if no adaptation measures are taken.
Irrigated rice yields are also expected to decline, with a projected decrease of 3.5% in 2050 and 5% in 2080 scenarios.
Wheat yields could face substantial reductions, with a projected decrease of 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080.
Kharif maize yields are also at risk, with projected declines of 18% in 2050 and 23% in 2080.
Climate change, without adequate adaptation measures, not only reduces crop yields but also lowers the nutritional quality of the produce.
Challenges associated with poor water management
Degraded Freshwater Supplies and Ecosystems: Decades of mismanagement, misuse, and pollution have resulted in the degradation of freshwater supplies and ecosystems. This has had a detrimental impact on the availability of clean water for agriculture and other essential needs.
Vulnerability of Small-Scale Producers: Small-scale farmers, who represent over 80% of farmers globally, are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate shocks, land degradation, and water scarcity.
Land Degradation: Approximately 40% of the world’s land area is degraded, which means that it is less productive for agriculture. This further reduces the available land for farming, exacerbating the challenges faced by small-scale producers.
Climate Impacts: Extreme weather events and variability in water availability are disrupting agricultural production. These changes are altering agro-ecological conditions and shifting growing seasons, making it challenging for farmers to predict and adapt to changing conditions.
Effects on Crop Productivity: Changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures have adverse effects on crop productivity. Reduced yields and food availability can result from these climate-related factors, which can contribute to food insecurity and hunger.
Do not scroll past this
FAO Crop Forecasting Framework:
The FAO is working on a pilot project in several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The project aims to develop a crop forecasting framework and model that incorporates climate data, soil characteristics, and market information.
This information can help rainfed farmers make informed decisions about their crops, potentially contributing to food security by improving agricultural planning and management.
Climate change adaptation
FAO Initiatives:
Supports sustainable agrifood systems and climate-smart agriculture.
Initiated the farmer water school programme in Uttar Pradesh.
Supported the Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems project which benefits 638 habitations with hydrological monitoring.
IFAD’s Focus:
Prioritizes climate change adaptation in its core strategies.
Invests in preserving soil health, water resources, and integrating modern technologies with indigenous systems.
Implements projects in Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Mizoram emphasizing climate-resilient practices.
WFP Collaboration:
Partners with the Government of Odisha focusing on women farmers.
Employs solar technologies and promotes millet-value chains for climate resilience.
Steps needed
Overall Strategy: Prioritize political commitment and concrete investment for global food and nutrition security. Promote innovative technologies to enhance farmer productivity.
Climate Change Adaptation: Formulate strategies to adapt to climate change. Foster resilience against environmental and economic shocks.
Agricultural Practices: Implement sustainable and economically feasible irrigation and water management techniques. Minimize the climate footprint in agricultural production. Address bio-hazards and environmental pollution.
Infrastructure and Supply Chain: Prioritize sanitation and potable water supply for rural areas. Advocate for efficient food and water recycling methods.
Regulation and Management: Strengthen sustainable and fair water regulations. Improve management, access, and ownership systems for resources.
UN’s Collaborative Projects: Collaborate with the Indian Government on projects such as Solar 4 Resilience, Secure Fishing, and the revival of millets for renewable energy and food security.
Conclusion
Climate change is making water more scarce and unpredictable. Droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events are becoming more common. World Food Day is a reminder that we all have a role to play in achieving food and nutrition security for all. By working together, we can create a world where everyone has enough to eat and drink.
Hello UPSC warriors! Drowning in the intricate Harappan seals? Mystified by the Mauryan art or the Chola architecture?
Art & Culture, Ancient and Medieval History are not just sections in the UPSC GS syllabus; they’re vast universes waiting to be explored.
But here’s the catch – it’s so easy to get lost in the layers of dynasties, sculptures, dance forms, and temple architectures.
Just when you think you’ve got the Gupta period down, UPSC throws a curveball about the Sangam literature or Ajanta frescoes!
Navigating through this maze might seem daunting, but what if you had a blueprint?
https://youtu.be/H-SeAPHd4v0
Enter Ayush Tripathi Sir and his game-changing session. Let him be your torchbearer, illuminating those dark corners of Art & Culture and Ancient-Medieval History that often get overlooked.
Ready to transform your UPSC prep?
18-Day Roadmap for Ancient and Medieval History, and Art & Culture
Step by Step strategy & approach: FREE Session by Ayush sir
Don’t Spend Months—Invest Just 18 Days of guided Self-Study
About #StartLikeATopper Series
A streamlined set of power-packed sessions aimed at the most effective UPSC syllabus coverage, one subject at a time, giving you a laser-focused approach.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill lecture. It’s a strategic blueprint packed with actionable insights that will pivot your approach from “learning” to “strategic learning.”
This isn’t just another strategy session; it’s your lifeline to transform those boring Ancient Medieval history prep into a wholesome learning experience.
Don’t just study hard; study smart with the #StartLikeATopper Series.
FREE Session: UPSC Art and Culture, Ancient and Medieval History in 18 days
Registration details for Session 4 of #StartLikeATopper series
Topic: 18-Day Roadmap for Art & Culture, Ancient-Medieval History GS syllabus for UPSC Prelims & Mains
Date: 17th Oct 2023
Time: 7:30 pm
Fee: FREE and Open to all
Zoom Meeting Link will be sent via your registered email address.
Who Is This For?
Aspirants finding Art & Culture to be a tough nut to crack.
Beginners who wish to build a solid foundation in Art and Culture.
Those who have faced challenges in previous attempts due to this section.
Aspirants looking to enhance answer-writing skills specifically for these topics.
Why you must attend this session?
In this comprehensive session, Ayush Sir will share:
Which Books are Essential? Ayush Sir will guide aspirants on the key references for Art & Culture, Ancient and Medieval History.
Topic-Wise Significance for UPSC Prelims 2024-25. Detailed insights on critical topics from the vast syllabus of Art & Culture, and from Ancient to Medieval Indian History.
Alternative Resources Beyond Books. Ayush Sir will pinpoint certain indispensable online sources, which provide value beyond the standard reading materials.
Decoding Previous Year Papers. A walkthrough of questions from Ancient, Medieval History, and Art & Culture sections from Mains & Prelims 2016-2023.
Mastering the Art of Efficient Revision. Tips on revisiting key concepts from Mauryan Empire to the Mughal Dynasty, from temple architecture to classical dance forms, ensuring retention.
Last 5 Years’ Current Affairs on Art, Culture, and History. How to seamlessly integrate current events with traditional knowledge for a comprehensive preparation?
Daily Time Management for Art & Culture, Ancient and Medieval History. Strategies to optimize your daily routine, ensuring effective coverage and revision.
Unique Mnemonics for History & Art and Culture. Employ the mnemonics favored by toppers to remember intricate details from our rich historical past and diverse cultural tapestry.
Issues you might be facing in Covering Art and Culture GS Syllabus, including Ancient and Medieval History, for UPSC Prelims and Mains:
Depth and Breadth: Art and Culture spans vast periods and involves intricate details which often intimidates aspirants.
Interlinking Aspects: Aspirants often find it challenging to connect the dots between art forms, cultural practices, historical events, and their significance.
Limited Resources: There’s a dearth of comprehensive resources that holistically cover this segment of the syllabus.
Variability: The unpredictability in the number and nature of questions posed from this section each year.
Answer Framing: Aspirants often struggle with framing articulate answers that showcase their comprehensive understanding of art forms and their historical evolution.
You can expect:
Insightful Analysis: Deep-dive into the core areas of Art and Culture, providing clarity on essential topics.
Strategic Approach: Guidance on how to tactically cover the vast syllabus efficiently and effectively.
Resource Guidance: Introduction to the most relevant resources, notes, and materials for preparation.
Pillars of Art and Culture GS Syllabus, including Ancient and Medieval:
Architectural Heritage: Temples, mosques, forts, and other historical structures.
Performing Arts: Dance, music, theatre traditions across regions.
Visual Arts: Paintings, sculptures, and other art forms.
Literary Traditions: Ancient scriptures, texts, and regional literature.
Cultural Practices and Festivals: Rituals, festivals, and practices that showcase India’s diversity.
Historical Evolution: Rise and fall of ancient and medieval empires, their contributions to art and culture.
Mastering Art and Culture 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 Books 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
CivilsDaily’s FREE Current Affairs package and personalized UPSC study plan
Post-webinar you will get your Personalized study plan, important PDFs, timetable framework, and mentorship session.
Based on your UPSC prep situation (working aspirant, full-time aspirant), your learning style, previous attempts, and other such factors, we will be preparing and sharing a personalized PDF study plan for you.
Kawar Lake, Bihar’s only Ramsar Site, is experiencing a significant decrease in water levels and degradation.
However, it is drying up due to negligence.
About Kanwar Lake/ Kabartal Wetland
The Kanwar Lake is Asia’s largest oxbow lake situated in the Begusarai district of Bihar.
It is a residual oxbow lake, formed due to the meandering of Gandak River, a tributary of Ganga.
It was declared a Ramsar site in 2020, making it the first wetland in Bihar to be included in the Ramsar convention.
This lake draws water from the confluence of the Gandak, the Bia and the Kareh river – is situated near Manjhaul, 22 km northwest of Begusarai, the district headquarters.
Various threats to Kanwar Lake
Challenges include migratory bird hunting, agricultural activities around wetland areas, and government policies related to wetland management and conservation.
This decline has negatively impacted the livelihoods of around 20,000 Nishad community members in nearby villages who depend on fishing.
Bihar’s Wetland Potential
Bihar possesses a substantial area of wetlands, covering around 4.4% of its total geographical area, according to data from ISRO.
Despite its wetland potential, Bihar has only one recognized Ramsar site out of a total of 75 in India.
Potential Wetlands
Bihar has proposed several wetlands for Ramsar designation, including Kusheshwarsthan, Barela, Goga Bil, Nagiand Nakti dams, Udaipur Lake, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, and Gokul Reservoir.
These wetlands are home to a range of wildlife, including migratory birds and endangered species like dolphins.
Back2Basics:
Ramsar Convention
Purpose
International treaty aimed at conserving and promoting the sustainable use of wetlands.
Establishment
Established on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.
Participating Countries
171 contracting parties (countries) as of September 2021.
India and Ramsar Convention
The first Ramsar Site in India, the Chilika Lake in Odisha, was designated in 1981.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted market authorization to CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T) cell therapy, a groundbreaking cancer treatment developed by ImmunoACT, an IIT-Bombay spin-off.
This authorization paves the way for its commercial introduction in India.
About CAR-T Cell Therapy
What is it?
CAR-T cell therapy stands for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.
It is a type of cancer immunotherapy that uses the patient’s own T cells, genetically modified in a laboratory to enhance their ability to locate and destroy cancer cells.
How does it work?
T cells are white blood cells responsible for identifying and fighting illness and infection.
Each T cell has a receptor that can recognize antigens (proteins or molecules recognized by the immune system).
Cancer cells may have antigens that the immune system does not recognize as abnormal, allowing cancer to evade the immune response.
CAR-T cells are genetically engineered in the lab to express a new receptor that can bind to cancer cells and effectively kill them.
Therapy Process
The process involves several steps, including:
1. Collecting T Cells: Blood is drawn from the patient’s arm, and T cells are separated from the blood using an apheresis machine.
2. Engineering T Cells: In a laboratory, the T cells are modified by adding a manufactured CAR, and they are allowed to multiply and grow.
3. Infusing CAR-T Cells: Once enough CAR-T cells are prepared, they are injected back into the patient’s arm.
Chemotherapy may be recommended before CAR-T cell infusion to enhance treatment effectiveness.
The process can take place in an outpatient infusion center or a hospital setting.
Cancers Treated
CAR-T cell therapy is effective against certain types of cancer, especially when other treatments are ineffective.
It is currently FDA-approved for treating haematological malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
