Daily Prelims Notes 13 August 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

13 August 2023

Table of Contents

1. India, TB and Its Goal
2. Amazon rainforest | The scramble to save the planet’s lungs
3. Flying fox bats for vigilance while day-roosting, finds study
4. North India more affected by El Nino
5. New Recycling Method for ‘Junk’ Plastic Waste
6. Nyoma ALG Upgradation and Fighter Jet Operations
7. NCERT Forms 19-Member Committee for Textbook Revision
8. First India-made MRI Scanner to Launch for Clinical Work in October
9. Government Plans Law on Protection of Indian Manuscripts

1. India, TB and Its Goal

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Health

What is Tuberculosis:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. .
• TB commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect other parts (extrapulmonary TB)
• Tuberculosis spreads from person to person through the air, when people who are infected with TB infection cough, sneeze or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air.

What is Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB):

• In MDR-TB, the bacteria that cause TB develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs used to cure the disease.
• MDR-TB does not respond to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful anti-TB drugs.
• Treatment options for MDR-TB are limited and expensive.
• CBNAAT (Cartridges Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) is used for early diagnosis of MDR-TB.

What is Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB):

• XDR-TB is a form of multidrug-resistant TB with additional resistance to more anti-TB drugs.
• People who are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, capreomycin) are said to have XDR-TB

Status of TB Cases in India:

• India continues to have the largest share of the global TB burden.
• The total number of incident TB patients (new and relapse) notified during 2021 in India were 33 lakh as opposed to that of 16.28 lakh in 2020.
• In 2022, 22 lakh cases of TB were registered in the country.
• According to the National TB prevalence survey in India 2019-2021 report, nearly 64% did not get tested for TB. It varied from 46% in the case of Kerala to 88% in Haryana.
• 50% of all people with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis have no symptoms and by the time symptoms develop, transmission has probably already occurred.
• There is emerging evidence that TB may not fall under a binary of latent infection (asymptomatic and non-infectious) and active disease (symptomatic and infectious).
• Instead, TB may be a spectrum of disease, including incipient and subclinical stages.
• In 2020, the RNTCP was renamed as the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) to underscore India’s goal to eliminate TB in the country by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination(2017-2025) was developed to achieve the goal.
• Though the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025) outlined a paradigm shift in approach and strategy to achieve the ambitious goal, by 2020, it became clear that the NSP will not be able to meet these objectives.
• A new National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2020-2025) to end TB was launched.

What is National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination:

• It is a framework to guide the activities of all stakeholders whose work is relevant to TB elimination in India.
• It provides goals and strategies for the country’s response to the disease during the period 2017 to 2025.
• It aims to direct the attention of all stakeholders on the most important interventions or activities that the RNTCP believes will bring about significant changes in the incidence, prevalence and mortality of TB.
• It will guide the development of the national project implementation plan (PIP) and state PIPs, as well as district health action plans (DHAP) under the national health mission (NHM).

What is Sputum smear microscopy:

• Sputum smear is a rapid test to detect the presence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) but a single sputum test lacks sensitivity.
• Even when people finally get tested for TB, sputum smear microscopy with about 50% sensitivity has been used for diagnosis in a majority of the cases in India, thus leading to a huge number of missed TB cases.
• Drawbacks:
  • Besides lower sensitivity, smear microscopy is ill-equipped to diagnose rifampicin resistance.
  • Way back in 2014, the WHO guidelines clearly stated that GeneXpert may be used rather than conventional microscopy and culture as the initial diagnostic test in all adults suspected of having TB.

What is Molecular tests for TB:

• Molecular tests are not only more sensitive than smear microscopy, they also help identify rifampicin resistance at the outset.
• The rapid molecular diagnostic machines have been scaled up from 40 in 2014 to 5,090 in 2022.

Can improved nutrition help prevent TB:

• According to recent reports in Lancet and The Lancet Global Health nutritional support has helped prevent both tuberculosis (TB) among household contacts and mortality among TB patients in a trial in Jharkhand.
• In 2017, the World Health Organization had estimated that undernutrition is responsible for twice the number of TB cases than HIV globally

What was the outcome of the trial:

• The RATIONS (Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status) trial enrolled 2,800 people with pulmonary TB disease and 10,345 household contacts of TB patients.
• While all the TB patients received nutritional support, household contacts were randomly assigned to receive either nutritional support or usual diet alone. There were 5,621 household contacts in the intervention arm and 4,724 contacts in the control group.
• While there were 108 (4%) deaths among TB patients across all body weights, mortality among those under 35 kg body weight (severely underweight) was 7%
• In comparison, in a study carried out by the Chennai Based NIRT in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, which did not provide any nutrition support to the TB patients, mortality was 14% in those weighing under 35 kg; mortality dropped to 4% among those weighing over 35 kg.
• Incidence of TB deaths reduced by 12% with a one­unit increase in BMI and by 23% for a two­unit increase in BMI.
• With nutritional support, at six months, the proportion of those with normal BMI increased from 16.5% to 43.5%.
• In general, extreme undernutrition — BMI less than 13 in men and BMI less than 11 in women — can often be fatal.
• However, in the current trial, more than 85% of such TB patients survived with nutritional support. Over 80% of TB patients had a BMI less than 18.5 and nearly 49% had a BMI less than 16 (severely underweight).
• There was 5% weight gain in the first two months which was associated with 60% lower risk of TB mortality.
• As per a 2022 study undertaken in India, the absence of weight gain during treatment in patients with severe undernutrition was associated with a five fold higher death rate. Among the household contacts, nutritional support led to a 39%­-48% reduction in TB disease in the intervention group compared with the control arm.
• In the study that lasted for six months, 122 people in the control group developed TB whereas the intervention arm had only 96 TB cases. There was a 39% reduction in TB incidence — pulmonary and extrapulmonary — while there was 48% reduction in pulmonary TB.
• The 39%-­48% reduction in TB disease in the household contact intervention arm was after adjusting for confounding factors such as TB preventive treatment to children below five

What effect does undernutrition have:

• According to WHO Global TB report 2022 many new cases of TB are attributable to five risk factors — undernourishment, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among men) and diabetes.
• In TB­endemic countries such as India, undernutrition is the most widely prevalent risk factor, accounting for the “highest population attributable risk for TB in India”
• As per a 2016 paper by NIRT researchers, undernutrition is an important risk factor for progression of latent TB infection to TB disease. It increases the risk of drug toxicity, TB relapse and mortality.
• For each unit reduction in BMI, the risk of TB increases by about 14%.
• Undernourished patients also tend to have poor bioavailability of drugs such as rifampicin, leading to treatment failure and development of multidrug resistance.

How do schemes like Nikshay Poshan Yojan and Ni­kshay Mitra help:

• Nikshay Poshan Yojana is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for nutritional support to TB patients. It was launched in 2018.
• All notified TB cases are provided with a financial incentive of ₹500 per month. 
• According to the 2022 India TB report, seven million TB patients have benefited between 2018 and 2022, and ₹2,089 crore has been disbursed during this period.
• Also, as of March 9, 2023, 55 lakh consented TB patients across India adopted by Ni­kshay Mitras will receive nutritional support

What are some other government measures:

• The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme(NTEP) – Aims to strategically reduce TB burden in India by It was previously known as Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).
• The National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination – It was launched to achieve the target of ending TB by 2025 in a mission mode.It is a multi-pronged approach which aims to detect all TB patients with an emphasis on reaching TB patients seeking care from private providers and undiagnosed TB in high-risk populations
• Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana(Nutritional Support to TB) –  It helps to meet the nutritional requirements of TB patients, especially the underserved
• Patient Provider Support Agencies (PPSA) – To engage the private sector, Patient Provider Support Agencies (PPSA) have been rolled out across 250 districts through the domestic setup and JEET initiative
• Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) – To ensure every diagnosed TB patient is tested to rule out drug resistance before or at the time of treatment initiation itself.
• Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – To bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.
• Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres – To decentralize comprehensive primary healthcare including TB care services at the grassroots level.
• Bedaquiline and Delamanid -Newer drugs like Bedaquiline and Delamanid have also been made available for management of DR-TB.

2. Amazon rainforest | The scramble to save the planet’s lungs

Subject : Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context:

• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) meeting was held in Belem do Para, Brazil.

Details:

• Countries include: Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana.
• The outcome of this meeting was the “Belem declaration”, which called for cooperation between the countries to ensure the survival of the humongous Amazon rainforest, that constitutes a significant portion of these countries, by conserving its biodiversity and natural resources.

Belem declaration:

• It called for the advancement of debt-for-climate action, financed by developed countries.
• It promised concerted efforts to arrest deforestation by illegal mining and logging, bring about integrated fire management, besides law enforcement for protecting the rights of Indigenous people inextricably linked to the rainforest ecosystem.
• It called for inviting development banks in the region to work together by pooling funds into a green coalition and which shall provide for conservation and employment and income opportunities for poorer people linked to the Amazon’s economy.
• Drawbacks:
  • It does not clarify the goals such as the protection of 80% of the forest from deforestation and degradation (as proposed by Colombia) or zero deforestation by 2030.
• ‘United for Our Forests’ declaration:
  • In this declaration the governments of these countries reaffirmed the imperatives from the previous declaration related to arresting deforestation and the need for sustainable economic practices to go with environmental protection.

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO):

• Established: 25 February 1995
• Headquarters:Brasília, Brazil
• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is an international organization aimed at the promotion of sustainable development of the Amazon Basin.
• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) was signed on 3 July 1978 and amended in 1998.
• Group members — Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Amazon rainforests:

• The Amazon rainforest or Amazonia constitutes close to 1.3% of the planet’s surface and 4.1% of the earth’s land surface, but as a biome, the Amazon is host to 10% of the world’s wildlife species and some more, as we are still discovering new species in this epic mass of life in Latin America.
• Some of the species found in the Amazon are not found anywhere else.
• The Amazon itself is the largest river by volume of water in the world, draining from Iquitos in Peru, across Brazil and discharging into the Atlantic ocean.
• Countries with amazon rainforests: 60% of it is in Brazil, 13% is in Peru, 8% in Bolivia, 7% and 6% respectively in Colombia and Venezuela, and nearly 3% each in Guyana and Suriname and around 1% in French Guiana and Ecuador.
• Ecological contributions:
  • In all, by storing around 76 billion tonnes of carbon, the Amazon rainforest helps stabilise the world’s climate.
  • Moisture from the Amazon is responsible for rainfall for many parts of Latin America, contributing to agriculture, storage of water in urban reservoirs as well.

Deforestation in Amazon rainforests:

• The carbon emissions from the Amazon increased by 117 percent in 2020 compared to the annual average for 2010 to 2018.
• Deforestation is pushing it dangerously close to a “tipping point”, beyond which trees would die off and release their carbon stores back into the atmosphere, with catastrophic consequences for the climate.
• Brazil, which holds around 60 percent of the Amazon, has pledged to eradicate illegal deforestation by 2030.
• Deforestation has already wiped out around one-fifth of the rainforest.
• Savannization:
• If 20% or 25% of the forest is destroyed, the forest will enter a process of savannization and that would represent the death of the forest.

Way forward:

• Countries can emulate the European Union’s law that requires EU-based companies to ensure their imports are “deforestation-free”.

3. Flying fox bats for vigilance while day-roosting, finds study

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• India’s largest species of bats, named after a canine fabled to be sly, spends 7% of its day-roosting time being environmentally vigilant, a new study has said.

Flying fox bats:

• Pteropus (suborder Yinpterochiroptera) is a genus of megabats which are among the largest bats in the world.
• They are commonly known as fruit bats or flying foxes, among other colloquial names.
• They live in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, East Africa, and some oceanic islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Flying foxes eat fruit and other plant matter, and occasionally consume insects as well.
• They locate resources with their keen sense of smell. Most, but not all, are nocturnal. They navigate with keen eyesight, as they cannot echolocate.
• There are at least 60 extant species in the genus.
• They are generally considered a vermin as they raid orchards.
• It had a similar official status under the Schedule V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 until it was put on the Schedule II list, entailing a higher degree of protection.
• Ecological role:
  • It is a keystone species.
    • A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance, impacting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of other species in an ecological community.
  • It causes seed dispersals of many plants in tropical systems.
  • Vigilance behaviour.
  • Being external roosters, the flying fox is exposed to predators and disturbances apart from environmental indicators such as heat and light.
• Threats:
  • The biggest threat to the flying fox is from humans.
  • Hunting for meat and medicine and probable threats like the felling of roost trees have contributed to the dramatic decrease in the population of the species.

4. North India more affected by El Nino

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• A study suggests that the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)  affects vast regions of India differently.

Details of the study:

• Since 1981 monsoon rainfall over Central India — known as the monsoon core zone and where agriculture is largely rainfed — is increasingly getting disassociated from the ENSO with only 10% of droughts or excess rains linked to ENSO fluctuations.
• On the other hand, the ENSO link to North India was strengthening, with 70% of rainfall fluctuations linked to the ENSO cycle.
• In southern India, the relationship has remained largely stable.
• While past research into monsoon patterns have suggested a “weakening” of the relationship between ENSO and monsoon, the latest suggests that this too has varied since 1901.
• The ENSO–ISMR (Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall) inverse relationship started getting stronger from 1901 to 1940, became stable from 1941 to 1980 and then the relationship has weakened in the recent epoch (1981 onwards).
• Consequences:
  • The ENSO dominance over the core monsoon zone is weak, which means that seasonal prediction over this region has become less predictable in the recent decades.
  • Other factors like Indian Ocean warming should be monitored for the core monsoon zone, due to its impact on the strength of the monsoon trough and the depressions.

Monsoon rainfall in India:

• Monsoon rainfall, which accounts for 80% of India’s annual rainfall, is influenced by two broad factors:
  • The external one is the impact of ENSO which influences the trade winds and their ability to carry warm, moist air towards India around monsoon.
  • The other, internal, is the ‘monsoon trough — an elongated low-pressure area which extends from over Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal.
• This trough swings between north and south India through the monsoon bringing rain wherever it is active and is fed on moisture brought in from the Bay of Bengal (and the Arabian Sea to a lesser extent) in the form of low-level cyclones called ‘depressions.’

For details of El-Nino, La-Nina and ENSO: https://optimizeias.com/el-nino-and-la-nina-2/ 

5. New Recycling Method for ‘Junk’ Plastic Waste

Subject : Environment

Section: Pollution

Introduction

• Presenting an innovative technique to address the challenge of recycling non-recyclable plastics effectively.
• Aims to foster sustainable waste management and bolster economic incentives for plastic recycling.

Pyrolysis Process

• Pyrolysis involves thermally decomposing plastics at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen.
• Pyrolysis oil is a complex mixture comprising olefins, aromatics, and other hydrocarbon compounds.
• Olefins, such as ethylene (C2H4) and propylene (C3H6), constitute fundamental building blocks for producing plastics, detergents, and various petrochemical products.

Chemical Conversion

• The conventional energy-intensive steam cracking process uses high temperatures and pressure to convert petroleum into olefins.
• The innovative technique employs homogenous hydroformylation catalysis, a less energy-intensive process, to convert olefins recovered from pyrolysis oil.
• Hydroformylation, also known as the oxo process, involves the addition of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to olefins, yielding aldehydes that can be further reduced into valuable industrial alcohols.

Applications and Value

• Alcohols used in solvents, chemicals, and polymers.
• Transformation of olefins to fatty acids, e.g., oleic acid.
• Fatty acids crucial for high-demand surfactants and detergents.

Implications for the Recycling Industry

Industry Adoption

• Global companies investing in pyrolysis oil facilities.
• New technique offers eco-friendly, economically viable solution.
• Circular economy principles supported through pyrolysis oil transformation.

Economic Benefits

• Waste plastics become high-value alcohols.
• Alcohols valued from $1,200 to $6,000 per ton.
• Utilizes existing technology, streamlining scalability

Collaborative Research

• Cross-disciplinary collaboration: chemical engineering, chemistry, economics.
• Optimization of the process and economic feasibility.

Conventional Waste Plastic Management Processes: Pros and Cons

6. Nyoma ALG Upgradation and Fighter Jet Operations

Subject : Science and Technology

Section: Defence

Context:

In line with ongoing LAC infrastructure development, expansion work began on Nyoma ALG in eastern Ladakh.

Infrastructure Development and Runway Expansion:

• Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) expansion is underway as part of LAC development.
• Runway extended beyond 9,000 feet for fighter jet accommodation.
• Construction ongoing, expected to finish in 2-3 years.

High-Altitude Capability Enhancement:

• Fighter jet engines adapted for high-altitude operation, by IAF.
• Jets enabled to start at Nyoma’s 13,700 feet elevation.

Strategic Significance and Operational Role:

• Nyoma’s proximity to LAC is pivotal for defense purposes.
• Used during the 2020 stand-off for deploying helicopters and intelligence gathering.
• Upgraded ALG facilitates rapid deployment near LAC.

Countering China’s Strategy:

• China’s LAC infrastructure advancements include missile and radar systems.
• Nyoma upgrade counters China’s “Anti Access Area Denial (A2AD)” strategy.
  • China’s A2AD refers to restricting the adversary’s access to key locations identified as strategic in nature.
• Focus on enhancing defensive capabilities against China’s developments.

Choice of Nyoma and Environmental Factors:

• Nyoma is chosen for its expandable runway and favourable weather conditions.
• Environmental clearances obtained considering Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Strategic planning to ensure efficient utilization of Nyoma ALG.

Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)

Initially, Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) were temporary airfields established during World War II for rapid air support to ground troops, strategically located near battlefronts.

• Location: ALGs are strategically placed near battlefronts, reducing aircraft response time and enabling rapid support.
• Basic Setup: ALGs have basic facilities like runways and parking, using simple construction methods like gravel runways and steel matting.
• Examples: In Normandy (Europe), ALG A-21 supported D-Day landings. In the Pacific, ALG Noemfoor aided operations against Japan.
• Versatility: ALGs accommodate various aircraft types, supporting roles from air combat to supply and evacuation.
• Challenges: Limited facilities, weather sensitivity, and vulnerability to attacks posed challenges.
• Modern Equivalent: Today’s Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) or Forward Operating Positions (FOPs) serve similar purposes with updated tactics.
• In India at LAC

1. Nyoma ALG in Ladakh.
2. Daulat Beg-Oldie (DBO) ALG in Ladakh.
3. Fukche ALG in Ladakh.
4. ALGs in Leh and
5. Thoise (Leh).

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated on Changthang Plateau in Ladakh, India.
• Tso Moriri Lake: Hosts one of the world’s highest lakes, Tso Moriri, at an elevation of 4595 meters.
• Also encompasses Tso Kar and Pangong Tso lakes.
• Korzok Monastery: Found on the north-western shore of Tso Moriri, in the Korzok village.

Prominent Fauna: Includes snow leopard, kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass – LC), and argali (Great Tibetan Sheep – NT).

7. NCERT Forms 19-Member Committee for Textbook Revision

Subject: Polity

Section: National body

Context

The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has established a high-powered committee to revise and develop new textbooks for Grades 3 to 12, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP).

Committee Members 

Chairperson and Co-Chairperson:

• Shri M. C. Pant, Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) – Chairperson
• Prof. Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University – Co-Chairperson

Committee’s Responsibilities

• The committee is tasked with revising and developing school syllabus, textbooks, and teaching-learning materials for Grades 3 to 12.
• It will also appropriately revise existing textbooks of Classes 1 and 2 to ensure a smooth transition between classes.
• The curriculum will align with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) developed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Curricular Area Groups (CAGs)

• The NSTC will be assisted by Curricular Area Groups (CAGs) to develop textbooks and learning materials for different subjects.
• The Chairperson and Co-Chairperson of NSTC will form CAGs with experts and support from NCERT.
• Experts from various domains will be invited as needed.

Oversight and Support

• A National Oversight Committee (NOC) will be constituted to support the NSTC’s work.
• The NSTC will be assisted by a Programme Office set up by the NCERT, providing necessary expertise and support.
• More than 1,000 subject experts will be engaged in curriculum development and textbook designing across different domains and subjects.

Publication and Timeline

• Textbooks and learning materials will cover curricular areas mentioned in the NCF-SE, including subjects and support materials.
• The finalized materials will be published and distributed by the NCERT.
• The committee aims to complete the revision process by the end of the current academic year, preparing new textbooks for the next academic year (2024-25).

NCERT:

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization established in 1961.
• Its mission is to enhance the quality of school education in India through curriculum development, textbooks, research, and teacher training.

Evolution of NCERT:

• 1961: NCERT was established to standardize education and create quality textbooks for schools across India.
• 1970s-80s: NCERT shifted its focus to child-centered education, promoting activity-based learning methods.
• 1980s-2000s: The development of National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs) began, guiding curriculum design and teaching practices.
• Recent Years: NCERT embraced technology, conducted research, and expanded its role in policy advice and educational research, aligning with contemporary educational trends.

National Curriculum Framework (NCF):

• NCF is a guideline document created by NCERT to shape curriculum, teaching, and assessment strategies.
• It emphasizes holistic development, conceptual understanding, and innovative pedagogical approaches.

Evolution of NCF:

• 1975: The first NCF introduced holistic education and learner-centric approaches.
• 1988: The second NCF emphasized integrated learning and a flexible curriculum.
• 2000: The third NCF focused on stress-free education, experiential learning, and social awareness.
• 2005: The fourth NCF highlighted inclusive education, life skills, and assessment reforms.

2023: National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) developed by the K. Kasturirangan-led steering committee as a part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

8. First India-made MRI Scanner to Launch for Clinical Work in October

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Health

Indigenous Innovation and Unique Features

• Developed by Bengaluru-based Voxelgrids Innovations Private Limited.
• Innovations include avoiding reliance on scarce liquid helium, bottom-up software design, and customized hardware.
• Design also enables faster scans and reduced scan time.

Helium Shortage and Current MRI Challenges

• Helium scarcity is due to being sourced primarily from natural gas reserves, which are becoming increasingly scarce.
• Global helium shortage, worsened by the Russia-Ukraine war, impacting MRI facilities, including in India.
• Helium’s primary use in MRI is as a coolant to maintain low temperatures for superconducting magnets.

The Innovative Solution

• Voxelgrids’ MRI scanner avoids dependence on liquid helium by using liquid nitrogen for cooling.
• Clinically validated product to be unveiled in October at Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bengaluru.
• Addresses accessibility issues for MRI scans in India, especially in rural areas.

Current MRI Scanning Situation in India

• India has around 4,500 MRI scanners, far below (one-third)  the required number for its population.
• Scarcity leads to higher costs, ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 for MRI services.
• Customized machines by multinational companies come with high costs, limiting accessibility.

Development Journey and Funding

• Dr. Arjun Arunachalam’s journey from learning MRI technology to founding Voxelgrids.
• Collaborations and funding challenges until receiving support from Tata Trusts in 2016.
• ₹12 crore grant from BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) in 2019 enabled the company to establish its dedicated facility.
• Voxelgrids has plans to build 10 more MRI scanners to expand its impact.
• Clinical certification from CDSCO received, enabling commercial sales and wider use.

Comparison with Other Initiatives

• SAMEER’s (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research) 2015 initiative to build an Indian MRI machine.

BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)

Introduction and Purpose

• It was founded as a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• Nurtures biotechnology innovation in India.
• Aims to accelerate research, development, and commercialization of biotech products.

SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research)

Foundation and Focus

• Established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in 1984.
• SAMEER was set up as an autonomous Research & Development (R&D) laboratory in Mumbai under the then Department of Electronics, Government of India.
• It was created with a broad mandate to undertake R&D work in the areas of Microwave Engineering and Electromagnetic Engineering Technology.

Origins and Evolution

• SAMEER is an offshoot of the Special Microwave Products Unit (SMPU) established in 1977 at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai.
• SAMEER, Mumbai, was formally set up in 1984, focusing on microwave and electromagnetic technologies.

How MRI works:

• Magnetic Fields: Strong magnets create a uniform magnetic field around the body.
• RF Pulses: Radiofrequency pulses disrupt the alignment of protons in body water molecules.
• Relaxation: Protons realign with the magnetic field, releasing energy as signals.
• Signal Detection: Detectors collect emitted signals from the body.
• Spatial Encoding: Gradients encode spatial information of signals.
• Data Acquisition: Collected data forms “k-space” with raw images.
• Image Reconstruction: Computer algorithms process data to create detailed images.
• Tissue Differentiation: Varying relaxation times provide contrast between tissues.
• Types of Images: Different sequences create various types of images.
• Clinical Use: Used to diagnose diseases in the brain, organs, joints, and more.
• Soft Tissue Imaging: Particularly effective for high-resolution soft tissue images.
• Safety: Safe, no ionizing radiation; caution with metal implants.

Helium and nitrogen as superconductor coolants:

9. Government Plans Law on Protection of Indian Manuscripts

Subject : History

Section: Art and culture

Introduction

• Indian manuscripts hold valuable historical and cultural significance.
• The government is proposing the National Manuscripts Bill, 2023, for protecting and preserving these manuscripts.
• The primary goals include documentation, cataloging, maintaining accurate information, and regulating access to manuscripts.

Content and Significance of Indian Manuscripts

• Indian manuscripts cover various themes: history, religion, literature, astrology, and more.
• They are composed of materials like palm leaves, paper, cloth, and bark.
• Manuscripts are written in diverse ancient scripts like Brahmi, Kushan, Gaudi, Lepcha, and Maithili.
• About 75% of manuscripts are in Sanskrit, while 25% are in regional languages.

National Manuscripts Authority (NMA)

• The proposed establishment of a 10-member NMA as the apex policy-making body.
• Culture Minister to be the Chairperson, members include Secretaries of Culture, Finance, and Education, the Vice-Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, special invitees, and private agencies.
• NMA’s responsibilities include digitization, conservation, preservation, editing, and publication of manuscripts.

NMA’s Powers and Functions

• NMA will regulate access to manuscripts, with the powers of a civil court.
• It will have an investigative wing to inquire into thefts and desecrations.
• Collaboration with educational institutions for fellowships and scholarships related to manuscripts.
• Creation of a dedicated digital portal for indexing, cataloging, uploading, and downloading manuscripts.
• Authority to take possession of unique and important manuscripts from private owners, with compensation set by an expert committee.

Protection and Preservation Measures

• Preventing loss due to damage or theft.
• Collaboration with universities and agencies for manuscript study.
• Efforts to integrate manuscript interpretation with livelihood, fostering socio-cultural importance.

National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM)

• An autonomous body under the Culture Ministry.
• Mandated with preserving India’s vast manuscript wealth.
• Estimated 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts.
• NMM has digitized 3.3 lakh manuscripts, containing about 3.1 crore folios.

Challenges and Digitization

• Limited availability: Only 70,000 manuscripts are accessible online out of 1.18 lakh uploaded.
• Prominent repositories: Sarasvati Mahal Library, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, and Oriental Research Institute.

Global Interest 

• Surveys and documentation of Indian manuscripts abroad could increase global interest.

Historical Example: Bakhshali Manuscript

• The Bakhshali Manuscript was discovered in 1881 in the village of Bakhshali, now in Pakistan.
• The mathematical manuscript was written on birch bark.
• Contains various mathematical problems and solutions, place-value system
• Dated back to the third or fourth century A.D.
• Currently housed in the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford.