Daily Prelims Notes 5 July 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

5 July 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Jowar can emerge as India’s sustainable alternative to wheat, says study
2. One Health: FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH launch research agenda for antimicrobial resistance
3. WHO releases policy recommendations to protect children from the harmful effects of food marketing
4. Was India’s hot summer of 2023 a portend of things to come?
5. NPA write-offs : private banks more aggressive than PSBs
6. MCA and Meity demarcate respective roles, resolve tussle
7. RBI rejects applications of 9 out of 12 entities that sought to set up banks
8. Consumption spending survey
9. Drugmakers to have barcode or QR codes in top 300 drugs
10. SCO calls for multipolar world order as Iran joins grouping
11. Leptospirosis
12. Uddhav camp says Speaker delaying disqualification process
13. Antibiotics with promise — a lifeline India awaits
14. Anaemia
15. Zo peoples of Manipur & Mizoram
16. Goa government proposes to permit water sports

1. Jowar can emerge as India’s sustainable alternative to wheat, says study

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

• Climate experts have been warning that an increase in temperatures due to climate change could adversely impact the yield of wheat, causing concern among wheat-growing countries such as India.

Jowar (sorghum) as an alternative:

• Wheat is highly sensitive to increases in maximum daily temperature during multiple stages of its growth in the post-monsoon and dry winter seasons.
• Jowar (sorghum) can step in as a viable alternative.
• Jowar is able to handle increases in temperature with far less impact on yields.
• Wheat requires 1.4 times more water than jowar owing to the extension of its growth cycle into summer.
• The wheat yields are likely to decrease by 5 per cent coupled with a significant increase in water footprint by 2040.Jowar, in that case, is India’s best bet with its meagre 4 per cent increase in water footprint with the same climatic projections.
• The traditionally grown sorghum or jowar offers resilience to projected climate changes and requires significantly less water than wheat.
• In addition to sorghum (jowar), we can explore millet crops such as pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), foxtail millet, barnyard millet, etc., as a suitable replacement for rice or wheat.

Wheat production in India:

• India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, which recorded a whopping 40 per cent increase in production since the early 2000s.
• There is an urgent need for climate-smart agriculture interventions, particularly in the rabi season.
• The total wheat production in the country has gone up since the turn of the century due both to increases in yield (26 per cent) and increases in area (17 per cent).
• The production of jowar, on the other hand, declined by 5 per cent in the same time period. This decline is despite a 37 per cent increase in yields and is attributed to a 21 per cent loss in the area under production.

Jowar (Sorghum) crop:

• An important food and fodder crop cultivated across India.
• It can be cultivated in both Rabi and Kharif seasons.
• Jowar is the 5th most important cereal crop in the world after rice, wheat, maize & barley.
• The nutritional value of sorghum is the same as that of corn and that is why it is gaining importance as livestock feed.
• Sorghum (or) Jowar is also used for ethanol production, producing grain alcohol, starch production, production of adhesives and paper other than being used as food and feed for livestock.
• Jowar (or) Sorghum cultivation is gaining popularity due to its nature of extreme drought tolerance.

Health benefits of jowar:

• Sorghum/Jowar has packed with calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, protein and fibre.
• It provides good antioxidants.
• It contains B vitamins like thiamin and riboflavin.
• Sorghum/Jowar is also known to be heart-healthy and ‘Jowar Roti’ is widely used in India for its health benefits.
• Jowar helps in weight loss.

Major Sorghum or Jowar production states in India:

1. Maharashtra
2. Karnataka
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Andhra Pradesh
5. Telangana
6. Tamilnadu
7. Gujrat
8. Uttar Pradesh
9. Rajasthan
10. Haryana

Local Names of Jowar in India:-

• Great Millet/Sorghum (English), Juar (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi), Jwari (Marathi), Jola (Kannada), Jonnalu (Telugu),Cholam (Tamil, Malayalam), Janha (Oriya).

Climatic requirements for Sorghum (or) Jowar Farming:-

• Basically, jowar or sorghum is a tropical crop.
• It thrives well at a temperature between 25°C and 32°C but below 16°C is not good for the crop.
• Jowar crop requires rainfall of about 40 cm annually.
• Jowar is an extremely drought-tolerant crop and is recommended for dry regions.
• Too much of moist and prolonged dry conditions are not suitable for jowar cultivation.

Soil Requirements for Sorghum (or) Jowar Farming:-

• Sorghum or Jowar crop adapts a wide range of soils but grows well in sandy loam soils having good drainage.
• Soil pH range of 6 to 7.5 is ideal for its cultivation and better growth.
• The main field should be ploughed and leveled to a fine tilth for weed-free sowing.

2. One Health: FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH launch research agenda for antimicrobial resistance

Subject :Science and technology

Section: Health

Context:

• Four multilateral agencies have launched a priority research agenda on June 28, 2023 to better advocate for increased research and investment in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Initiatives on AMR:

• The ‘Quadripartite’ released the One Health Priority Research Agenda on Antimicrobial Resistance through a webinar. Quadripartite includes:
  • The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
  • The UN Environment Programme (UNEP),
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) and
  • The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
• The organisations work specifically in the areas of human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
• WHO also launched a global research agenda for AMR in human health on June 22, 2023.
  • The agenda prioritises 40 research topics for evidence generation to inform policy and interventions by 2030.
  • It also aims to guide a variety of stakeholders in generating new evidence to address antimicrobial resistance, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
•  The agenda will serve as a guide for countries, research institutes and funding bodies to support One Health AMR research. It will also allow policymakers, researchers, and the multidisciplinary scientific community to collaborate across sectors.

One Health:

• It defined ‘One Health’ as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
• The concept acknowledges the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the larger environment, including ecosystems, are inextricably linked and interdependent.
• At this One Health interface, addressing global health issues necessitates a multisectoral, multidisciplinary response to AMR.
• Using a mixed-methods approach, global experts identified five key pillars as well as three cross-cutting themes, namely gender, vulnerable populations, and sustainability, as follows:

Transmission

• This pillar focuses on the environment, plant, animal, and human sectors where AMR transmission, circulation and spread occur.
• This includes what drives this transmission across these areas, where these interactions occur, and the impact on different sectors.

Integrated surveillance

• This pillar aims to identify cross-cutting priority research questions in order to improve common technical understanding and information exchange among One Health stakeholders.
• The surveillance aims for harmonisation, effectiveness, and implementation of integrated surveillance with a focus on LMICs.

Interventions

• This pillar focuses on programmes, practises, tools, and activities aimed at preventing, containing, or reducing the incidence, prevalence, and spread of AMR.
• This also calls for the best use of existing vaccines, as well as other One Health-related measures to reduce AMR.

Behavioural Insights and Change

• The priority research areas under this pillar are concerned with comprehending behaviour across various groups and actors involved in the development and spread of AMR at the One Health interface.
• It focuses on research addressing human behaviour that affects AMR, including ways to combat it.

Economics and policy

• From a One Health standpoint, this pillar addressed investment and action in AMR prevention and control.
• This pillar also takes into account the cost-effectiveness of an AMR investment case, financial sustainability, and long-term financial impact.

About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

• Antimicrobial Resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs that are used to treat infections.
• It occurs when a microorganism changes over time and no longer responds to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top ten threats to global health.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

3. WHO releases policy recommendations to protect children from the harmful effects of food marketing

Subject :Science and technology

Section: Health

Context:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) released July 3, 2023 new guidelines on shaping policies to protect children from the harmful impacts of food marketing that promote unhealthy dietary choices.

WHO initiative:

• In March 2023,WHO published a set of nutritional criteria which aimed to protect children from marketing that promoted unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• The WHO Europe nutrient profile model helped in the classification of food products to determine whether they are healthy enough to be advertised to children.

WHO Guidelines and Recommendations:

• The guidelines build on the 2010 WHO ‘Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children’ and take into consideration more recent evidence specific to children and to the context of food marketing.
• The guideline recommends the implementation of comprehensive mandatory policies to protect children of all ages from the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages that are high in saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt (HFSS).
  • There has been limited national action and children continue to be exposed to marketing for HFSS foods.
• Policies should include the country’s nutritional situation, cultural context, locally available foods, dietary customs, available resources and capacities, and existing governance structures andmechanisms among others.
• WHO recommended mandatory regulation of marketing of HFSS foods and non-alcoholic beverages, having previously made more allowances for a range of policy approaches.
• Another change is the guideline’s use of the definition of a child from the Convention on the Rights of the Child to be unequivocal that policies should protect all children.
• The guideline called for countries to use a nutrient profile model and adopt policies comprehensive enough to minimise intra- and inter-medium migration to avoid restrictions on marketing in regulated channels or settings.

Food marketing:

• The most frequently marketed food categories were fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, chocolate and confectionery, salty and savoury snacks, sweet bakery items and snacks, breakfast cereals and desserts.
• Evidence showed that food marketing mainly promoted HFSS foods.
• Food marketing was prevalent in places such as schools and sports clubs where children gather; during children’s television viewing times; in digital spaces popular among young people and in magazines targeting children and adolescents.
• New marketing media have also evolved, most notably digital marketing, which poses a growing concern.
• Research and studies show that the marketing of HFSS foods remains pervasive and persuasive across the globe.

Unhealthy Food as global public health risk:

• Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of global public health risk contributing to undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCD).
• According to a survey ‘Know your diet-School children survey’ conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE):
  • Most school children were not eating a balanced diet, with about 66 per cent of children having a low frequency of intake of cereals and millets.
  • Around 45 per cent of children had a low frequency of intake of vegetables.
  • The packaged food was more popular among children than non-packaged food and around 53 per cent children consumed packaged food or beverages at least once a day.

What are the 7 Key Processes that FSSAI Follow?

1. Set standards for food products
2. Develop safe food practices
3. License food businesses
4. Ensure compliance through inspections
5. Test food for standards
6. Train and build capacity
7. Citizens Outreach

What is FSSAI?

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
• Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI.
• Headquarters: Delhi.

What are the Functions of FSSAI?

• Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.
• Granting FSSAI food safety license and certification for food businesses.
• Laying down procedures and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.
• To provide suggestions to the government in framing the policies.
• To collect data regarding contaminants in food products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system.
• Creating an information network across the country about food safety.
• Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

4. Was India’s hot summer of 2023 a portend of things to come?

Subject :Geography

Section: Climatology

Context:

• India has been experiencing more and more instances of severe heatwaves, rendering these months more and more dreadful.

Increasing trends of heatwaves:

• A recent report from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated an increasing trend in the number and duration of heatwaves, based on data from March to June from 1961 to 2020.
• This year, heatwaves started as early as March 3, and many areas reported temperatures that were higher than average. The number of days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius has also increased of late.
• The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report warned of prolonged rain-free periods along with excessive rainfall in many parts of the world. In recent decades, India has recorded several such extreme events.
• An October 2017 study conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, reported that there was a three-fold increase in widespread extreme events from 1950 to 2015.

Changing weather patterns

• Climate change is increasing both the frequency and the intensity of extreme weather events.
  • The Indian monsoon is becoming short but intense with bursts of rain, and delayed withdrawal.
  • High monsoon rainfall variability and continuous warming raise the probability of dry and hot extremes, with profound implications for agriculture, water resources, and India’s overall economy.
  • Due to changes water cycle, some weather events have become drier while others have become wetter which leads to more evaporation and eventually causes more precipitation.
• There is also a strong connection between land and ocean heatwaves, driven by atmospheric circulation, increase in sea-surface temperature, and feedback mechanisms that exacerbate the intensity and duration of extreme temperatures.

Role of Marine heatwaves:

• The oceans play a key role in the formation of monsoon winds and in keeping the monsoon alive.
• When extreme heat warms their waters, the change in temperature can lead to cascading effects, such as marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and ice melting faster at the poles.
• Marine heatwaves are periods of temperature much higher than the average seasonal temperature in that region.
  • The Indian Ocean recorded six marine heatwaves over a period of 52 days in 2021. They used to be rare in this water body but today are an annual occurrence.
• A low pressure develops over the Indian subcontinent when the land heats up during the summer. The moisture for monsoon rains is thus carried by the winds as they blow in from the Indian Ocean.
• However, rainfall over the land decreases when ocean heatwaves occur, as the winds are drawn to areas over the ocean instead of land.

Climate risk amplification:

• Amplification is what happens when certain climate-related factors and/or events interact with each other or happen at the same time, intensifying or exacerbating the overall risks and consequences associated with climate change.
  • A good example is the warm and dry conditions that have put Canada on course for its worst-ever wildfire destruction this year.
• Such amplification happens in the form of various feedback loops and interconnected processes in the earth’s climate system and also occurs as a result of an El Niño, prolonged hot days, dry monsoons, and/or ocean heatwaves occurring together, compounding risks across sectors.
• Such a combination will also affect water availability, soil moisture, and crop output while increasing food prices and lowering incomes.
• The co-occurrence of heatwaves and droughts can also lead to wildfires, tree mortality, and a higher risk of thermal powerplant failures.

Ultimately, the risks can push sensitive and vulnerable systems over a tipping point, ultimately avalanching into drastic consequences for socio-ecological systems

5. NPA write-offs : private banks more aggressive than PSBs

Subject :Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

In News: Private sector banks (PVBs) have been more aggressive in writing-off bad loans than public sector banks (PSBs) as per the latest financial stability report by RBI.

Key Points:

• Banks write off to rid their balance sheets of these loans and improve the impaired loans/NPA
• The write-offs to gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) ratio of PVBs at 9 per cent in FY23 was much higher than 22.2 per cent of PSBs
• Both categories of banks stepped up write-offs vis-a-vis preceding two years.
• This difference is explained by:
  • PVBs resort to technical write-offs to improve market sentiments towards their stock as the balance sheet shows reduced GNPA ratio. This is an important tool for PVBs as they raise capital in the form of equity or debt more often than PSBs.
  • Strong PVBs with higher net interest margin and significant non-interest income (over 30 per cent), are able to post higher operating profit. So, they are in a position to make higher provisions than PSBs.
  • By removing the assets from the balance sheet the taxable income of banks gets reduced.
  • PVBs generally resort to first year write-off in case of unsecured account even in the of it becoming impaired. PSBs even with provision availability, write-off only after two years.

6. MCA and Meity demarcate respective roles, resolve tussle

Subject :Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

In News:

MCA and MeitY officials arrive at a clear demarcation of their respective roles in regulation of digital markets.

Key Points:

• There was frequent turf war between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) over regulation of the digital markets, with both having jurisdiction because the sector involves both technology matters as well as competition issues.
• Centre has now made it clear that Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) would be the nodal Ministry to look into all the “competition issues in the digital market” and the Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY) will look into sector-specific & technical issues.
• Clarity of roles and oversight areas is critical as it comes at a time when the Government is working towards introducing several pieces of legislations including Digital India Act and Digital Competition law for regulating various facets of the booming digital market in India.
• Significance:
  • Firstly, it is now clear that the upcoming Digital India Act by MeitY will not have provisions around competition issues of technology or gatekeeper platforms.
  • Secondly, the upcoming Digital Competition law would as planned look to bring digital gatekeepers including AI platforms under an ex-ante framework to be introduced through the legislation.
• MCA appointed an inter ministerial panel Committee on Digital Competition law (CDCL) to look into matters involving both the ministries.
  • CDCL was already tasked to examine the need for a separate legal framework for ex-ante regulation of Systemically Important Digital Intermediaries (SIDIs)
  • The CDCL is in the last lap of firming up a draft of the Digital Competition Law.

7. RBI rejects applications of 9 out of 12 entities that sought to set up banks

Subject :Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

In News: RBI has rejected the applications of nine out of 12 entities that applied for a licence to set up a bank under the guidelines for ‘on tap’ licensing of universal banks and small finance banks.

Key Points:

• RBI since 2016 has started giving ‘on tap’ banking license for both universal banks (UBs) and small finance banks (SFBs).
• After assessment of the applications as per guidelines, applicants were not found suitable for granting of in-principle approval to set up a small finance bank/universal bank.
• What is the On Tap licence system?
  • On-tap licensing means that the window for getting a bank license from RBI is open throughout the year.
  • Earlier, RBI used to invite applications for giving bank licenses, and prospective players submitted their applications within a fixed time-frame as prescribed by RBI.
  • The last time RBI granted UB licenses was in 2015 to Bandhan Bank and IDFC Bank.
  • It approved Unity SFB in 2021 to rescue the scam-hit Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank.

What is the difference between UBs and SFBs?

• UBs are financial entities like commercial banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, etc. that undertake multiple financial transactions.
• Small Finance Banks (SFBs) are focused financial institutions registered as a public limited company providing banking and credit services to unserved & unbanked regions of the country like marginal farmers, MSMEs, and other non-risk sharing financial activities with RBI’s prior approval.
• UBs were underscored as a development financial institution (DFI) by the Narsimham committee and the concept of SFBs was laid down in Raghuram Rajan Committee.

8. Consumption spending survey

Subject :Economy

Section: National Income

In News: Maharashtra facing widening inequality as per the shelved 2017-18 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey or HCES.

Key Points:

• Centre had junked the findings of the HCES, conducted from July 2017 to June 2018, the only official estimates on consumer spending currently available are from the 2011-12 Survey.
• Rural population saw their average monthly spends fall, as this was just 45% of the ₹4,400-odd spent by average households in cities in 2017-18. This proportion stood at 54% in 2011-12.
• Central sample data was not published by NSO, State sample results are not compared with Central sample results.

9. Drugmakers to have barcode or QR codes in top 300 drugs

Subject : Schemes

In News: Government has introduced Quick Response (QR) Code or bar code on the packaging label of the top 300 drug formulations under the Drugs (Eighth Amendment) Rules, 2022

Key Points:

• These QR codes will help verify the authenticity and traceability of the drugs.
• Companies would be able to track their products and identify and recall drugs if the supply chain was compromised.
• The system will also have a trail of ingredients going into the drug and the distribution chain involved in getting the drug to the consumer.
• As per a study by GS1 and the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI):
  • Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturers did not have product visibility till point of care.
  • More than 50 per cent of them lose 1 per cent of their sales due to expiry and pilferage. track and trace system
• The QR code system will address these issues

10. SCO calls for multipolar world order as Iran joins grouping

Subject : International Relations

Section: Groupings

Concept :

• The virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), chaired by Mr Modi, addressed the importance of establishing a “more representative” and multipolar world order.
• The summit witnessed the induction of Iran as the ninth member of the SCO.

Expansion and Composition of SCO:

• The SCO now consists of China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Iran’s induction as the latest member reflects the SCO’s commitment to broadening its representation.

Agreements and Declarations:

• The New Delhi Declaration: Outlined areas of cooperation between SCO countries.
• Joint Statement on Countering Radicalisation: Addressed the need to combat radicalisation and promote stability.
• Joint Statement on Digital Transformation: India offered expertise on digital payment interfaces for sharing within the SCO.

Concerns and Lack of Consensus:

• India’s stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): India abstained from supporting the BRI paragraphs in the joint statement due to its inclusion of projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
• India’s absence from the SCO Economic Development Strategy 2030: India’s refusal to participate in the joint statement suggests a lack of consensus within the group.

SCO’s Stance on Sanctions and Currency Use:

• Joint criticism of non-UN sanctions: SCO members expressed opposition to sanctions on Russia and Iran, considering them incompatible with international law and negatively impacting other countries.
• Exploring the use of national currencies: SCO members agreed to explore the use of national currencies for payments within the group to bypass dollar-based international transactions.

Global Challenges and Vision:

• The Delhi Declaration’s focus: The declaration acknowledged global challenges such as conflicts, market turbulence, supply chain instability, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Commitment to a multipolar world order: The member states reaffirmed their commitment to a more representative, democratic, just, and multipolar world order based on international law, multilateralism, and equal cooperation, with the UN playing a central coordinating role.

For further notes on SCO , refer – https://optimizeias.com/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco/

11. Leptospirosis

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Health

Concept :

About the disease:

• It is a potentially fatal zoonotic bacterial disease that tends to have large outbreaks after heavy rain or flooding.
• The disease is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans, or leptospira.
• It is a contagious disease in animals but is occasionally transmitted to humans in certain environmental conditions.
• The disease has been called “ilijwara” in Kannada and “elipani” in Malayalam, both meaning “rat fever”.
• Host: The carriers of the disease can be either wild or domestic animals, including rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
• Climate: The disease is more prevalent in warm, humid countries and in both urban and rural areas.

Magnitude of the disease:

• It affects an estimated 1.03 million people every year, killing around 60,000.
• The burden of leptospirosis is expected to increase in the future as the urban poor population in many tropical countries increases even as sanitary infrastructure falls short.
• In India, thousands of people are affected by leptospirosis every year.
• Within India, studies have found that leptospirosis is more common in the south, although this could be due to the region’s better healthcare and thus better disease detection.

Challenges:

• misdiagnosis (its symptoms mimic those of dengue, malaria, and hepatitis),
• limited access to reliable diagnostics,
• lack of awareness among treating physicians, and
• lack of environmental surveillance.

12. Uddhav camp says Speaker delaying disqualification process

Subject : Polity

Section: Parliament

Concept :

• Shiv Sena (UBT) has once again knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, seeking direction to the Maharashtra assembly speaker to expeditiously adjudicate the disqualification petitions filed against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other Sena MLAs, who had tied up with the BJP to form a new government in June 2022, in a time-bound manner.
• The petition said the speaker, despite the categorical direction of the top court in its May 11 judgment that the pending disqualification petitions must be decided within a reasonable period, has chosen to not conduct a single hearing.

How much time can a Speaker take to decide disqualification petitions?

• While there have been court verdicts regarding the time that a Speaker should take to decide on disqualification petitions, there is no strict binding timeline that has been established.
• The Supreme Court’s 2020 verdict in the KeishamMeghachandra Singh case is particularly relevant in this regard.
• The verdict becomes relevant in three aspects: time period for a Speaker to decide on disqualification, suggestion to Parliament to decide if Speaker is the right person to decide on disqualifications, and observations regarding the court’s power to interfere in case of delay.

Reasonable Time Limit

• The Supreme Court had set three months as the outer limit for deciding disqualification petitions, unless the case involves exceptional circumstances for which there’s good reason.
• A three-judge bench had said that the Speaker, in acting as a Tribunal under the Tenth Schedule, is bound to decide disqualification petitions within a reasonable period. However, what constitutes a reasonable time frame will depend on the specific circumstances of each case.
• However, it has been suggested to Parliament to consider amending the Constitution to establish an independent mechanism, such as a permanent tribunal headed by retired judges, to decide disputes under the Tenth Schedule.

Can Courts Interfere In Case of a Delay?

• The court’s 2020 verdict also addressed the issue of court interference in cases of delay. It held that if a Speaker refrains from deciding a petition within a reasonable time, it constitutes an error that attracts the jurisdiction of the High Court for judicial review.
• The Supreme Court clarified that this question had already been answered in the 2007 Rajendra Singh Rana case, which held that the failure of a Speaker to exercise jurisdiction allows for judicial review.

Role of Speaker

• The Anti-Defection law is clear that the question of disqualification or otherwise under the Tenth Schedule is to be decided by the Speaker.
• The Courts have only the power of judicial review and any a prior intervention is ruled out.
• It is an established precedent that the Speaker as the Head of Legislature and being a constitutional authority is not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Courts.
• However, this applies in respect of the conduct of legislative business where the Speaker is supreme and final authority.
• However, in areas wherein the Speaker is expected to function as a quasi-judicial authority under the Tenth Schedule, it would definitely invite judicial review and the Office of the Speaker cannot claim any special privilege.

For further notes on Office of Speaker , refer – https://optimizeias.com/speaker-of-lok-sabha-2/

13. Antibiotics with promise — a lifeline India awaits

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Health

Concept :

• In the relentless battle against highly drug ­resistant infections, a team of doctors recently witnessed a glimmer of hope amid the challenges they faced. An Indian innovation was made to deal with drug resistant pathogens.

Promising Antibiotics

• An Indian Innovation: A promising antibiotic, cefepime/zidebactam, developed by Indian researchers, combines two active components to combat drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Made by Japan: Cederocol, a licenced antibiotic in several countries, developed by a Japanese company, has demonstrated excellent efficacy against drug­ resistant infections.
• This extraordinary case underscores the urgent importance of granting EUA for antibiotics currently in phase 3 trials or licensed from other countries.

Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA):

• The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority assists in strengthening the nation’s public health defenses against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
• It also deals with infectious diseases, by facilitating the availability and use of medical countermeasures (MCMs) required during public health emergencies.

Need for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA)

• Antibiotics that have been properly tested or confirmed to be effective in the fight against superbugs are critical.
• Millions of lives are lost each year as a result of the inadequacy of current antibiotics in the face of these tough infections.
• The lack of effective antibiotics to tackle drug-resistant diseases endangers countless lives.
• It is heartbreaking to see patients suffer from diseases simply because available antibiotics have lost their efficacy due to developing resistance.
• Drug resistance has rendered previously successful therapies ineffective.

For further notes on Anti-biotic resistance , refer – https://optimizeias.com/antibiotic-resistance/

14. Anaemia

Subject : Science and Technology

Section: Health

Concept :

• Anaemia in India has gained attention with the proposal to remove an anaemia-related question from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and replace it with a more extensive Diet and Biomarker (DAB) survey.
• A study recommending lower haemoglobin norms for India has faced criticism from nutritionists and obstetricians and gynaecologists, highlighting the importance of well-informed policies.
• A multi-country study in The Lancet emphasised the need for informed anaemia measurement, handling, and interventions in India.

Anaemia

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.
• Haemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen and if there are too few red blood cells or not enough haemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath among others.
• Cause:
• Anaemia, according to WHO, may be caused by several factors. The most common nutritional cause of anaemia is iron deficiency although deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A are also important causes.

Inclusion of Anaemia in new Survey- Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I)

• Though anaemia is being dropped from the NFHS, it will be covered in a new survey that was launched in 2022.
• The new survey called the Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I) is to be conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and funded by ICMR.
• It is meant to map the diet, nutrition and health status, and provide a correct estimate of anaemia among urban and rural populations using venous samples.
• The study is expected to provide nutrient composition data on cooked and uncooked foods from all regions and states of the country by collecting food samples from households.
• It is expected to reflect not only intake but also nutrient metabolism, bioavailability, and effects of diet on physiological and disease processes.
• According to some experts, DABS is envisaged as a periodic survey, but there has been no firm commitment from the government on this. A lot could depend on the success or failure of the first survey.

15. Zo peoples of Manipur & Mizoram

Subject :Geography

Section : Human geography

Concept :

• Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s emotional appeal to restore peace in Manipur through a tweet on Tuesday came on the same day as the main opposition in his state, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), called for a reunification of the Zo people in view of the continuing ethnic violence between the dominant Meiteis and the Kuki-Zomi tribes in the neighbouring state.

About Zo People:

• The Zo people are an ethnic group which inhabit areas of India, Myanmar and the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh.
• The word Zo is used to describe an ethnic group, which is also known as the Chin, the Mizo, the Kuki, or a number of other names based on geographic distribution, that speaks the Kuki-Chin languages.
• They are from same origin which is known as Sinlung.
• They spread throughout the northeastern states of India, northwestern Myanmar (mainly in Chin State, Sagaing Division and Arakan State) and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
• In northeastern India, they are present in Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam.
• Th Mizo people of Mizoram and the Kuki-Zomi communities in Manipur have a strong kinship with the Chins across the border.

16. Goa government proposes to permit water sports

Subject : Geography

Section :Rivers in news

Concept :

• Goa has 11 different rivers that fulfil the freshwater requirement for its people. These 11 rivers are Mandovi, Zuari, Mandre, Sal, Galjibag, Saleri, Colval, Talpona, Terekhol, Baga, and Harmal. In this article, we will learn more about these rivers one by one.

Mandovi river:

• Mandovi is known as the largest and most important river in Goa. This river is also known by its previous name Goamati. The name of the state Goa is believed to have originated from the name of the river Goamati.
• This river has a significant place in the heart of the people of Goa. The length of this river is around 81 km.
• This river is known as ‘Mahadayi’ in Karnataka and Sattari taluka of Goa state. ‘Mahadayi’ means ‘The great mother’. This name is given to the river because it nourishes the culture and ecosystem of Sattari taluka in Goa.

Terekhol river:

• Terekhol river originates in the Manohargad in the Sahyadris, located in the northwestern area. It flows along the border of Goa in a southwest direction. This river enters the Arabian Sea.
• The length of this river is 27.5 km. It enters the state of Goa near Patradevi. Terekhol is an important river for the people of Pernem as it fulfils the requirement of water and nourishes the ecosystem of the Pedne. Aronde is another name for this river.

Zuari River:

• Mandovi and Zuari are the two most important rivers of Goa. It is the longest river in the state of Goa. But it’s basin is second largest after Mandovi. Zuari was also known as Aghanashini in earlier times. The meaning of Aghanashini is ‘the destroyer of the Sun’.
• It is also known as the Tidal river. The originating point of the river Zuari lies in the Dighi Ghat, located in Karnataka. This river flows in a zigzag path. It is about 145 km long. It meets the Arabian Sea.
• Zuari basin extends from Netravali to Panjim. It covers nearly 27% of the area of Goa. Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the basin of the Zuari river.

Chapora River:

• Chapora river originates in the Ramghat in Chandgad. This river follows a zig-zag path and discharges into the Arabian Sea.
• It meets the Arabian Sea near the historic fort of Chapora, hence the name Chapora. This is a 32 km long river. There are three tributaries of the river Colval, namely Sal, KalanaVirnoda and Parshe.
• Talpan River:
• Talpan is an important river in Canacona, a city in south Goa. It originates in the Amba Ghat in Canacona. This river is about 31 km in length. The Talpan river has three main tributaries,namelyGaondongriBhatpal, Nadke and Khalvade.

Galgibaga River:

• The river Galgibaga flows in the southern part of Goa. Galgibaga gets its water from two rivers, namely Mashe and Loliye. River Galgibaga originates in the northern district of Karnataka. Galgibaga flows in the Northwest area. The length of this river is about 15 km. Finally, it meets the Arabian Sea.

Sal River:

• Sal River flows in the Southern part of Goa. It rises near Verna and flows along the coastal region. It meets the Arabian Sea at Betul. This river has two tributaries named Navelim and Cuncolim. It is 35 km long.

Saleri River:

• The Saleri river originates near the border of Barcem and Gokuldham villages of Quepem. This river meets the Arabian Sea near Devakaran village. Padi river, which is 4 km long, and the Moore river, which is 6 km long, join the Saleri river.
• The Padi originates from the jungle of Padi hill and joins the Saleri river. Today, increasing agriculture, deforestation and other man-made activities are responsible for threatening the existence of this river.

Mandre River:

• The Mandre river originates from the jungle of Corgao. It flows through Mandre, Corgao, and meets the Arabian Sea. It is 8.75 km long. This river is projected to be extinct due to increased human activities near the river.
• Harmal River:
• The Harmal river originates in the Corgao. It flows for a distance of about 11 km in the west direction. Finally, it enters the Arabian Sea. The infrastructure projects undertaken for tourism purposes have adversely affected the river.

Baga River:

• The Baga river is the smallest river in Goa. It rises from the jungle of Assagao. A small stream of water from the Saligao hill meets the Baga river at Arpora. It is 10 km long. The river joins the Arabian Sea. Garbage disposal and sewerage treatment are the two main reasons for the pollution of the Baga river. Various tourism activities have seriously destroyed the river’s natural drainage.