India participates in 2nd Session of IALA Council

IOCR Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

Why in the News?

India is serving as a Vice President to the 2nd Session of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (and Lighthouse Activities) (IALA) Council held in Nice, France.

About IALA:

Overview: It is the global authority headquartered near Paris, France, responsible for standardizing and harmonizing marine aids to navigation (AtoN), including lighthouses, buoys, and electronic navigation systems.
Establishment: IALA was founded in 1957 as a non-governmental organization and officially became an intergovernmental organization (IGO) on August 22, 2024, following ratification by 34 countries.
Mission: Its mission is to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable maritime navigation by promoting uniform standards, modern technology, and global cooperation.
Relevance: IALA plays a crucial role in reducing maritime accidents, protecting marine environments, and supporting developing nations through training and technical assistance.

Structure and Features:

Membership: The organization consists of 80+ member countries, along with commercial maritime companies, training institutions, and scientific bodies.
General Assembly: The supreme decision-making body, which meets every four years to define broad policies and strategic direction.
Council: The executive body composed of 24 elected members, meeting twice annually to oversee day-to-day governance and technical progress.
Technical Committees: Specialized groups focused on areas such as digital navigation technologies, marine engineering, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and sustainable navigation systems.
Key Innovations:
- Maritime Buoyage System: Unified over 30 local buoyage systems into two global regions (Region A and Region B).
- Pioneered technologies like Differential GPS (DGPS), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), and e-navigation frameworks.
Global Partnerships: IALA works closely with international bodies like the IMO (International Maritime Organization), IHO (International Hydrographic Organization), and ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

India and IALA:

Founding Member: India is a founding member of IALA and has been a Council member since 1980, represented by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).
Infrastructure Contributions: India has implemented Integrated Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) across 12 major ports, enhancing navigational safety and efficiency.
Upcoming Hosting: India will host the 3rd IALA General Assembly in December 2025 and the IALA Conference in 2027, both scheduled to take place in Mumbai.

[UPSC 2017] Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.

2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only* (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Poson Poya festival in Sri Lanka

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Why in the News?

Sri Lanka is celebrating Poson Poya festival which commemorates the arrival of Buddhism over 2,000 years ago.

About Poson Poya Festival:

Overview: Poson Poya is the second most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, following Vesak in religious significance.
Date of Observance: It is celebrated on the full moon day of June, which corresponds to the seventh month of the Sinhalese calendar.
Historical Commemoration: The festival marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 236 BCE, when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka, met King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.
Key Locations: Celebrations are held across the island, with the most sacred observances taking place at Mihintale and Anuradhapura.
Ritual Activities: Devotees engage in temple visits, meditation, offerings, and acts of charity (Dana) as part of spiritual practice.
Cultural Expressions: Communities organize free food stalls (Dansalas), decorate homes and streets with lanterns, and display illuminated panels of Buddhist stories.

How did Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka?

Following the Third Buddhist Council (held in 250 BC in Pataliputra) during Ashoka’s reign, it was decided to send missionaries to various regions, including Sri Lanka, to spread Buddhism.
The mission to Sri Lanka was led by Mahinda (Mahendra), Ashoka’s son, who converted King Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura to Buddhism.
After several royal ladies expressed interest in joining the Buddhist monastic order, Mahinda sent for his sister, Sanghamitra, to initiate them.
- Both siblings lived in Anuradhapura for the rest of their lives.
She played a pivotal role in establishing the Order of Nuns (Bhikkhuni Sangha or Meheini Sasna) in Sri Lanka, which later spread to other Theravada Buddhist countries like Burma, China, and Thailand.

[UPSC 2024] Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on:

Options: (a) Prajnaparamita Sutra (b) Visuddhimagga (c) Sarvastivada Vinaya * (d) Lalitavistra

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

PM pays tributes to Sant Kabir

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Why in the News?

Prime Minister paid tributes to Sant Kabir Das on his birth anniversary.

PM pays tributes to Sant Kabir

About Sant Kabir:

Birth: Sant Kabir was likely born between 1398 and 1440 in Kashi (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) and passed away in 1518. According to legend, he was born to a Brahmin widow and later adopted by a Muslim couple, Niru and Nima.
Early Life: He was raised in the julaha (weaver) community, Kabir’s upbringing among the socially marginalized deeply shaped his teachings on equality and anti-casteism.
Spiritual Awakening: Though raised in a Muslim household, Kabir became a disciple of Swami Ramananda, a Vaishnava Bhakti saint, and was also influenced by Sufi mysticism, particularly through Shaikh Taqqi.
Death: Kabir died in Maghar (Uttar Pradesh) in 1518.
Legacy Site: Legend says his body miraculously vanished, leaving only flowers, which were divided between Hindus and Muslims. Today, a temple and a dargah stand at his burial site.

His Teachings, Literary Style, and Cultural Impact:

Poetic Style: Kabir wrote in a mix of Hindi, Khari Boli, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Urdu, Persian, and Marwari. His most famous compositions are Dohe (couplets) and Pads (devotional songs), noted for their simplicity, spiritual insight, and bold social critique.
Advocacy: He was a strong proponent of Nirguna Bhakti, the worship of a formless, attributeless God. He referred to this divine presence as Ram, Allah, or Shabda, emphasizing that God transcends name and form.
Spiritual Themes: Kabir’s work reflects non-dualism (Advaita) from the Upanishads and monotheism (Tawhid) from Islam. He believed that salvation lies in inner realization, not through scriptures, priests, or rituals.
Opposition to Ritualism: He condemned idolatry, pilgrimage, fasting, and caste-based discrimination, urging people to seek God within themselves.
Social Reform Focus: Kabir stood firmly for social equality, rejecting casteism and religious divisions. His verses challenged orthodoxy and critiqued hollow practices in every community.
Influence on Sikhism and Bhakti Movement: His poems are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, highlighting his impact on Sikhism. He also inspired spiritual figures like Guru Nanak, Dadu Dayal, and Jiwan Das.
Cultural Legacy: The Kabir Panth, a spiritual tradition based on his teachings, has over 9.6 million adherents today. Kabir is respected in Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism alike.

[2019] Consider the following statements:

1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.

2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

ISRO Missions and Discoveries

Voyager Tardigrades Experiment

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the News?

As part of his upcoming two-week stay on the International Space Station (ISS) under Axiom-4 Mission, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will conduct the Voyager Tardigrades experiment.

Voyager Tardigrades Experiment

What are Tardigrades?

Tardigrades, also called “water bears” or “moss piglets”, are microscopic aquatic animals that have existed for around 600 million years.
They are about 0.5 mm long, with four pairs of clawed legs and a specialized mouth for sucking nutrients from plant cells and tiny invertebrates.
Tardigrades live in diverse habitats, including mosses, lichens, mountaintops, ocean depths, and even Antarctica.
They are famous for their extreme resilience, having survived all five major mass extinction events and capable of enduring conditions that would kill most other life forms.

About Voyager Tardigrades Experiment:

Overview: The experiment will be conducted by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla during his mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Experimental Process: Tardigrades will be transported in their dormant “tun” state, then revived and observed in microgravity conditions.
Research Focus: The experiment will examine how space radiation and microgravity affect tardigrade survival, reproduction, and DNA repair mechanisms.
Scientific Objective: Researchers aim to identify genes responsible for space resilience in tardigrades and apply these insights to enhance astronaut protection and preserve biological materials during long-term space travel.

Significance of Tardigrades in Space Research:

Extreme Survivors: They are among the most resilient organisms on Earth, capable of surviving temperatures from near absolute zero to over 150°C, intense radiation, deep-sea pressure, and even the vacuum of space.
Dormancy Mechanisms: Their survival strategy relies on cryptobiosis and anhydrobiosis, where their metabolism drops nearly to zero and water content is drastically reduced.
Protective Proteins: They produce unique proteins like CAHS, which form a gel-like matrix around cells to protect them from damage in extreme environments.
Biomedical Applications: Studying these proteins may help scientists develop radiation shields for astronauts, preserve human tissues and organs, and advance cryopreservation techniques.
Agricultural and Material Use: Insights from tardigrades could also lead to engineering drought-resistant crops and designing new biomaterials for use on Earth and in space.

[UPSC 2012] Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created?

1. To enable them to withstand drought

2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce

3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations

4. To increase their shelf life.

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only* (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Magnetic Isolation and Concentration Cryo-electron Microscopy (MagIC)

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the news?

Researchers from Rockefeller University introduced MagIC, a new method that allows cryo-EM to work with samples up to 100 times more dilute, making it easier to study rare or hard-to-purify molecules.

About Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM):

Cryo-EM is a powerful microscope method used by scientists to see the 3D shapes of very small things like proteins, viruses, and cell parts.
In cryo-EM:
- The sample is frozen very fast to keep it in its natural shape.
- An electron beam is used instead of light to capture detailed images at extremely cold temperatures.
It helps in:
- Understanding how diseases work
- Designing new medicines
- Studying cell processes
Problem: Cryo-EM usually needs a lot of the molecule to work well.
- If the sample is too dilute (too weak), it’s hard to get good images.
Why MagIC helps: It solves this big problem by concentrating and organizing particles using magnetism and smart software, making cryo-EM work even for rare or tiny amounts of molecules.

What is MagIC (Magnetic Isolation and Concentration cryo-EM)?

Overview: It is a new method developed by scientists in the U.S. to make it easier to study rare biological molecules under a special microscope called cryo-EM.
Sampling involved: Normally, cryo-EM needs the molecules in a sample to be very concentrated, which is hard when the molecules are rare or hard to collect.
MagIC solves this problem by using:
- Tiny magnetic beads (50 nanometers wide) that stick to the molecules researchers want to study.
- A magnet that pulls these beads together into one area.
This way, even when the solution has less than 0.0005 milligrams per milliliter of the molecules, scientists can still get useful images.

Key Features of MagIC:

Magnetic Pulling: After molecules stick to the tiny magnetic beads, a magnet pulls them into clusters, making them easier to see.
Low Sample Requirement: Only 5 nanograms of sample per grid are needed. That’s a very tiny amount—much less than earlier methods.
Faster Imaging: The magnetic beads are easy to see, so scientists can quickly find areas with useful particles in the microscope.
Smart Software – DuSTER (Duplicated Selection to Exclude Rubbish):
- It helps remove bad or blurry images and keep only the clear ones.
- It picks each particle twice and only keeps it if the location matches both times.
MagIC works with samples that are 100 times more dilute than what cryo-EM could handle before.

[UPSC 2023] ‘Aerial metagenomics’ best refers to which one of the following situations?

Options: (a) Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go* (b) Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat (c) Using air-borne devices to colect blood samples from moving animals (d) Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land surfaces and water bodies

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

India’s Population hits 146.39 Cr: UNFPA

IOCR Prelims Only | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Population & Associated Issues

Why in the News?

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report titled “State of the World Population 2025: The Real Fertility Crisis”, India’s population has reached an estimated 146.39 crore, officially making it the world’s most populous nation.

India’s Population hits 146.39 Cr: UNFPA

About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):

Origin: The organisation was established in 1969 as the UN Fund for Population Activities and renamed in 1987 as the UN Population Fund.
Headquarters: Its global headquarters is located in New York.
Mission Statement: UNFPA works to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Mandate: To promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, including family planning, safe motherhood, and gender equality.
Governance Structure: UNFPA reports to a 36-member Executive Board, with representation from all regions, and receives guidance from ECOSOC and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Global Presence: UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, in coordination with national governments and UN development partners.
Key Functions: It supports population censuses, family planning programs, and thematic health surveys, and engages in interagency frameworks like UN Development Group (UNDG) and UN Chief Executives Board (CEB).
Technical Role: UNFPA also provides research funding, technical assistance, and advocacy support to promote reproductive health and demographic planning.

Key Population Trends from the UNFPA Report (2025):

Data Sources: The report draws on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and projections from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
India’s Population: As of 2025, India’s population is estimated at 146.39 crore (1.4639 billion), making it the most populous country in the world.
China’s Population: China’s population now stands at 141.61 crore (1.4161 billion), placing it second.
Total Fertility Rate: India’s TFR has declined to 1.9, which is below the replacement level of 2.1, indicating a trend toward population stabilisation.
Population Forecast: India’s population is expected to peak at around 170 crores in the coming decades and begin to decline within 40 years.
Life Expectancy: As of 2025, the average life expectancy is 71 years for men and 74 years for women.
Age Distribution: 68% of Indians are in the working-age group (15–64), while 7% are aged 65 and above, with life expectancy at 71 years (men) and 74 years (women).

Back2Basics: Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

TFR measures the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive lifetime.
A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level, where each generation replaces itself without growing or shrinking.
According to the 2021 Sample Registration System by the Registrar General of India, the TFR had already reached 2.0, indicating that India had attained replacement level fertility nationally.

[UPSC 2009] Consider the following statements:

1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.

2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

Which of the statements given abova is/are correct ?

Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

KATRIN Experiment sets strongest Limit on Neutrino Mass

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the News?

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment (KATRIN) in Germany has achieved a major breakthrough in the search to measure the mass of the neutrino.

What are Neutrinos?

Neutrinos are tiny, electrically neutral subatomic particles with an extremely small mass.
They come in 3 types (or “flavours”): electron, muon, and tau neutrinos.
Neutrinos are produced in nuclear reactions, such as those in the Sun, nuclear reactors, and supernovae.
They rarely interact with matter, making them very difficult to detect.
Their ability to change from one flavour to another (called oscillation) proves they have mass.
Neutrinos challenge the Standard Model of physics, hinting at undiscovered particles or forces.

About KATRIN Experiment:

What is it: The KATRIN experiment is based at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and aims to measure the absolute mass of electron antineutrinos with unmatched precision.
Launch and Operation: It was inaugurated in 2018 and began data collection in 2019, with its latest results derived from 259 days of measurements.
Scientific Principle: KATRIN uses tritium beta decay, where tritium breaks into helium, an electron, and a neutrino, to study the energy spectrum of emitted electrons.
Focus Area: The experiment analyzes electrons near the energy endpoint, since they are most influenced by the neutrino mass.

How KATRIN measures Neutrino mass?

KATRIN focuses on electrons that are emitted with energies close to the maximum limit (called the endpoint), which are most affected by the neutrino mass.
A retarding electric field filters out lower-energy electrons, allowing only the highest-energy ones to be measured precisely.
By analyzing millions of such decay events, KATRIN estimates the upper limit on the neutrino mass.

India’s Achievements in Neutrino Observations:

Historical Detection: India was among the first countries to detect atmospheric neutrinos in 1965 at the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), marking a pioneering achievement in neutrino physics.
INO Project: The India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is under development in Tamil Nadu, set to become a premier underground research facility.
Flagship Detector: INO will house the Iron Calorimeter (ICAL), a 50,000-tonne magnetized detector, which will be the largest of its kind in the world.
Applications: INO will advance detector technologies, enable training in high-energy physics, and have potential applications in medical imaging and electronics.
Global Integration: India’s involvement in neutrino science positions it to contribute unique insights to global efforts, complementing projects like IceCube.

[UPSC 2010] India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega science project under the 11th five-Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements:

1. Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light.

2.Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay.

3.Neutrinos have a negligible, but nonzero mass.

4.Trillions of Neutrinos pass through human body every second.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1,2 and 3 (c) 2,3 and 4 (d) 1,2,3 and 4 *

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

[pib] Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

PIB Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

At the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, India made a powerful case for urgent international cooperation to protect the world’s oceans.

About United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC)

What is it: The UNOC is a major international forum dedicated to supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water.
Primary Focus: It promotes the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.
Multi-Stakeholder Participation: UNOC brings together governments, NGOs, academia, intergovernmental organizations, private companies, and Indigenous communities to address ocean-related challenges.
Key Themes: The conference tackles issues like marine pollution, overfishing, climate change, and habitat degradation, and encourages policy coordination and financial pledges.
Timeline of Conferences:
- 2017: First conference in New York, co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden
- 2022: Second in Lisbon, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya
- 2025: Third in Nice, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica
- 2028: Fourth conference to be hosted by Chile and South Korea (yet to be announced officially)
Legal Framework: UNOC operates within the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Financial and Policy Impact: Since 2014, UNOC has mobilized over $130 billion and generated 2,160+ voluntary commitments toward protecting ocean health.

Major Indian Initiatives Showcased at UNOC3 (2025):

Deep Ocean Mission: India showcased progress on the ‘Samudrayaan’ mission, a deep-sea manned submersible targeting 6,000-meter depth by 2026.
Plastic Pollution Action: India emphasized the national ban on single-use plastics and the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign, which has cleaned 1,000+ km of coastline and removed over 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste. A draft Marine Litter Policy has been prepared and India strongly supports a Global Plastics Treaty.
Blue Economy Development: Under the Sagarmala Programme, $80 billion has been invested in port-led infrastructure. An additional $2.5 billion has been deployed under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, leading to a 10% rise in fish production and creation of 1,000+ fish farmer producer organizations.
Marine Biodiversity Efforts: India expanded Marine Protected Areas to 6.6% of its Exclusive Economic Zone and restored over 10,000 hectares of mangroves.
Marine Data Transparency: India launched the SAHAV Portal, a digital ocean governance platform for science-based and transparent decision-making.
International Leadership: India co-led the ‘Blue Talks’ with France and Costa Rica, participated in high-level panels, and advocated for equitable ocean data access and capacity-building in developing nations.

Back2Basics: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

UNCLOS is a global treaty that regulates all maritime activities and ocean space.
It defines maritime zones such as: Internal Waters (within the baseline), Territorial Sea (up to 12 nautical miles), Contiguous Zone (up to 24 nautical miles), Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (up to 200 nautical miles), High Seas, which lie beyond national jurisdiction.
It came into force in 1994 and has 169 parties (as of 2024), including India, but not the U.S.
It established the International Seabed Authority and declared the deep seabed as the “common heritage of mankind.”
India ratified UNCLOS in 1995 and uses it to claim maritime rights, including its extended continental shelf.
It supports freedom of navigation and advocates for a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS.

[UPSC 2022] With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:

1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.

2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

HKU5 Bat Viruses pose potential Pandemic Risk

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

A new study warns that HKU5 bat coronaviruses, closely related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are just one mutation away from infecting humans.

Back2Basics: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
It is a species of coronavirus which infects humans, bats, and camels.

About HKU5 Virus and Its Characteristics:

Classification: HKU5 is a bat coronavirus that belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus).
Origin: It was first identified in the Japanese pipistrelle bat in Hong Kong. “HKU” in the name refers to the University of Hong Kong, where the virus was identified.
Virology: HKU5 is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, structurally similar to other high-risk coronaviruses.
Spread: The virus has been detected in bats across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, indicating widespread natural reservoirs.
Cell Entry Mechanism: Like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5 uses the ACE2 receptor to infect cells, but current strains bind effectively only to bat ACE2, not human ACE2.
Recent Developments: In 2025, a new variant called HKU5-CoV-2 was isolated in China, and lab studies show it can infect human airway and gut cells, though less efficiently than SARS-CoV-2.
Genetic Similarity: HKU5 is genetically close to both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, though it has not yet been detected in humans.

Threats and Risks Associated with HKU5 Virus:

Near-Human Infectivity: HKU5 is considered just one mutation away from gaining the ability to infect humans via the ACE2 receptor.
Cross-Species Transmission: Certain HKU5 strains have already jumped into minks, demonstrating its capacity to cross species barriers.
Pandemic Potential: If HKU5 acquires mutations allowing efficient use of human ACE2, it could pose a significant zoonotic pandemic threat.
Relation to Deadly Viruses: Its structural similarity to MERS-CoV, which has a 34% fatality rate, places HKU5 in a high-risk category if human infection occurs.

[UPSC 2015] H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news concerning which one of the following diseases?

Options: (a) AIDS (b) Bird flu (c) Dengue (d) Swine flu*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Kashmir Merino: India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the News?

Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have successfully created India’s first gene-edited sheep—a Kashmir Merino breed.

Kashmir Merino: India's First Gene-Edited Sheep

About Kashmir Merino Sheep:

Overview: Kashmir Merino is a high-quality domestic sheep breed known for its fine wool and ability to thrive in cold climates.
Genetics: It was developed by crossbreeding exotic Merino rams with local sheep breeds in Jammu and Kashmir.
Characteristics: The breed produces soft, dense wool with high fibre quality, making it valuable for the textile industry.
Resilience: It is well-adapted to high-altitude Himalayan conditions, including extreme cold and low oxygen levels.
Significance: It plays a key role in regional livestock economies, contributing significantly to wool and mutton production in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gene-Editing Breakthrough in Kashmir Merino:

Gene Targeted: Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the myostatin gene, which normally inhibits muscle growth.
Impact: Disabling this gene led to a 30% increase in muscle mass, resulting in higher meat yield and improved economic returns for farmers.
Lab-to-Field Success: The edited embryo was developed in a laboratory and then successfully implanted into a surrogate mother, marking a full-cycle gene-editing achievement.
Biotech Significance: This success represents a major advancement in India’s livestock biotechnology, opening new paths for research in disease resistance, wool quality enhancement, and production of transgenic proteins.

[UPSC 2017] What is the application of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology?

Options: (a) Production of biolarvicides (b) Manufacture of biodegradable plastics (c) Reproductive cloning of animals* (d) Production of organisms free of diseases

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Type: Prelims Only

Why in the News?

About IALA:

Structure and Features:

India and IALA:

Why in the News?

About Poson Poya Festival:

How did Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka?

Why in the News?

About Sant Kabir:

His Teachings, Literary Style, and Cultural Impact:

Why in the News?

What are Tardigrades?

About Voyager Tardigrades Experiment:

Significance of Tardigrades in Space Research:

Why in the news?

About Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM):

What is MagIC (Magnetic Isolation and Concentration cryo-EM)?

Key Features of MagIC:

Why in the News?

About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):

Key Population Trends from the UNFPA Report (2025):

Back2Basics: Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Why in the News?

What are Neutrinos?

About KATRIN Experiment:

How KATRIN measures Neutrino mass?

India’s Achievements in Neutrino Observations:

Why in the News?

About United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC)

Major Indian Initiatives Showcased at UNOC3 (2025):

Back2Basics: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Why in the News?

Back2Basics: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)

About HKU5 Virus and Its Characteristics:

Threats and Risks Associated with HKU5 Virus:

Why in the News?

About Kashmir Merino Sheep:

Gene-Editing Breakthrough in Kashmir Merino: