Daily Prelims Notes 16 August 2024

August 16, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

16 August 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Dengue control: the unrealised promise of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Dengue Burden in India:

Dengue poses a significant threat to India’s economy, with direct costs amounting to approximately ₹28,300 crore annually and the loss of 5.68 lakh years of young life each year.
Existing vector control measures, including the use of insecticides and community education, have only shown limited success.
The safety and efficacy of India’s two dengue vaccine candidates remain unproven, and effective antiviral agents are yet to be discovered.
The female Aedes mosquito is the primary transmitter of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.
Biological vector control methods, such as sterile insect techniques, show promise due to cost-effectiveness but have limited success.

Wolbachia method to control mosquito population:

The Wolbachia method is simple. When Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carry Wolbachia, the bacteria compete with viruses like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
This makes it harder for viruses to reproduce inside the mosquitoes. And the mosquitoes are much less likely to spread viruses from person to person.
This means that when Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carry natural Wolbachia bacteria, the transmission of viruses like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever is reduced.
Wolbachia strain wMelPop:
- Studies demonstrated that the Wolbachia strain wMelPop could reduce the lifespan of the Aedes mosquito by half.
- Later, the wMel strain was used successfully to promote viral resistance without affecting the mosquito’s lifespan, making it a viable candidate for blocking dengue transmission.

Using wMel to Combat Dengue:

The wMel strain is introduced into mosquito populations through mechanical transfer (transinfection) and subsequent release in urban areas.
Two primary strategies are employed: population suppression and population replacement.
- In Singapore, infected male mosquitoes are released, leading to non-viable eggs upon mating with uninfected females, reducing the Aedes population by 90%.
- Australia’s population replacement strategy involves releasing infected mosquitoes to promote mating and ensure the dominance of wMel mosquitoes in the wild.
Results from Australia indicate a stable wMel genome and a significant reduction in dengue cases, moving towards dengue elimination.
A randomized controlled trial in Indonesia showed a 77% reduction in dengue infection and an 86% reduction in hospitalization in wMel mosquito deployment areas.

Long-term Impact and Classification:

The long-term effects of wMel releases on ecosystems are uncertain; however, Wolbachia does not infect humans or vertebrate animals.
Aedes mosquitoes, introduced to non-African ecosystems through the slave trade and increased global travel, are a recent addition.
The process of wMel transinfection is not considered genetic engineering, as it does not involve genome integration.

wMel Programs in India:

India currently lacks an active wMel mosquito release program.
The Indian Council of Medical Research – Vector Control Research Center (ICMR-VCRC) has developed two colonies of Puducherry wMel Aedes strains, pending government approval.
Recent findings indicate the natural presence of Wolbachia in Aedes mosquitoes in Northeast India, though its significance is unclear.

Source: TH

2. How can traffic which causes air pollution be controlled?

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

The Severity of Air Pollution in India:

Recent reports highlight that 83 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities are in India.
Air pollution has resulted in the deaths of 2.1 million people, second only to China.
Over 99% of India’s population breathes air below WHO‘s recommended quality standards.
The International Energy Associates reports that 12% of India’s CO2 emissions are from road transport, with heavy vehicles contributing the majority of PM2.5 and NOx emissions.
PM2.5 pollutants can reach deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Heavy vehicles contribute to 60-70% of vehicular PM emissions and 40-50% of NOx emissions in urban areas, exacerbating the formation of ground-level ozone and air pollution.

Measures Taken to Combat Air Pollution:

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has developed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms for cars to reduce emissions.
The transition from the Modified India Driving Cycle (MIDC) to the World Light Duty Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) by March 31, 2027, aims to provide a more accurate measure of a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Proposed CAFE III and IV emissions targets are set at 91.7g CO2/km and 70g CO2/km, respectively, encouraging innovation and cleaner technologies.
However, the CAFE norms exclude heavy vehicles like trucks, lorries, and other freight vehicles, which are significant contributors to emissions.

Additional Measures and Challenges:

The government’s vehicle scrappage policy, introduced in 2022, aims to phase out old and polluting vehicles by requiring a “fitness and emissions test” for passenger vehicles older than 20 years and commercial vehicles older than 15 years.
The policy’s implementation in Karnataka is limited due to the presence of only two scrapyards and its voluntary nature.
Maharashtra offers incentives like road tax discounts or new vehicle purchase discounts to encourage scrapping, but the impact on air pollution remains limited.

Vehicle scrappage policy

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms:

CAFE norms aim at lowering fuel consumption (or improving fuel efficiency) of vehicles.
It is achieved by lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Thus, it serves the twin purposes of reducing dependence on oil for fuel and controlling pollution.
Corporate Average refers to sales-volume weighted average for every auto manufacturer.
The norms are applicable for petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG passenger vehicles.
The CAFE regulations are in place in many advanced as well as developing nations, including India.
CAFE regulations in India came into force from April 1, 2017.
Under this, average corporate CO2 emission must be less than 130 gm per km till 2022 and below 113 gm per km thereafter.
In other words, it requires cars to be 10% or more fuel efficient between 2017 and 2021, and 30% or more fuel efficient from 2022, in terms of CO2 emission.

Source: TH

3. SEBI Hits a Wall on ₹76000-Crore Worth Dues in FY2023-24

Sub: Eco

Sec: Capital Market

Difficult to Recover (DTR) Dues:
- SEBI has marked dues worth ₹76,293 crore as Difficult to Recover (DTR) at the end of FY2023-24.
- This amount is 4.1% higher than the ₹73,287 crore recorded in the previous year.
- DTR dues refer to amounts that could not be recovered even after exhausting all possible recovery methods.
SEBI’s Recovery Powers:
- Under Section 28A of the SEBI Act 1992 and corresponding provisions of the SCRA 1956 and Depositories Act 1996, SEBI is empowered to recover monies from individuals or entities that:
  - Fail to pay penalties imposed by an adjudicating officer.
  - Fail to comply with SEBI’s directions for refunding money.
  - Fail to comply with disgorgement orders or payment of fees due to SEBI.
Pending Recovery Certificates:
- As of March 31, 2024, a total of 6,781 recovery certificates were generated, of which 3,871 are still pending, amounting to ₹1.02 lakh crore.
- 61.5% of this amount, or ₹63,206 crore, pertains to collective investment schemes and deemed public issue matters related to PACL and Sahara India Commercial Corporation.
- A total of ₹95,346 crore is under parallel proceedings before various courts and court-appointed committees, including cases involving PACL and Sahara India Commercial Corporation.
Impact of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC):
- SEBI’s recovery proceedings are often subject to directions and approvals from respective courts and committees.
- In cases where the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is invoked, SEBI’s recovery efforts are impacted by the IBC moratorium.
Untraceable Category:
- Out of the 140 DTR certificates classified under the untraceable category, 131 relate to individuals and 9 to firms.
- These untraceable cases amount to ₹13.3 crore and ₹15.7 crore, respectively.
Pending Court Cases:
- There are 418 cases pending before various courts, tribunals, and authorities related to matters where recovery certificates have been drawn.
- A majority of these cases are sub-judice before the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
- Among the DTR cases, 380 companies have been classified as defunct, with an unrecovered amount exceeding ₹3,000 crore.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016 was enacted to provide a unified and comprehensive framework for resolving insolvency and bankruptcy in India.

It replaced various fragmented laws with a uniform procedure, primarily aimed at addressing Non-performing Assets (NPAs) and debt defaults.

Aims and Objectives of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code:

Consolidation and Amendment: Consolidate and amend all existing insolvency laws in India.
Simplification and Expedition: Simplify and expedite the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings in India.
Protection of Interests: Protect the interests of creditors and stakeholders in the company.
Revival of the Company: Ensure the revival of the company in a time-bound manner.

Terminologies under IBC 2016:

Insolvency: A situation where a debtor is unable to pay their debts.
Bankruptcy: A legal proceeding involving a person or business that is unable to repay their outstanding debts.
Liquidation: The process of bringing a business or company to an end, involving the distribution of the company’s assets among creditors and other claimants.
Haircut: The reduction in the value of an asset. For example, if the haircut is 80%, then 80% of the credit owed to its creditors will not be recovered.
Moral Hazard: A situation where an economic actor has an incentive to increase its exposure to risk because they do not bear the full costs of that risk.

Institutional Framework of the IBC:

Insolvency Professionals:
- Role: Administer the resolution process, manage the debtor’s assets, and provide information for creditors’ decision-making.
Insolvency Professional Agencies:
- Role: Register insolvency professionals, conduct exams to certify them, and enforce a code of conduct.
Information Utilities:
- Role: Maintain records of debts given by creditors along with details of repayments or dishonors of debt.
Adjudicating Authorities:
- Role: Approve the initiation of the resolution process, appoint insolvency professionals, and approve creditors’ final decisions.
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT): Acts as the adjudicating authority for companies and limited liability entities.
Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT): Serves as the adjudicating authority for individuals and partnership firms.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI):
Role: Regulates insolvency professionals, professional agencies, and information utilities established under the Code.

4. Why the Worst of Food Inflation May Be Over

Sub: Eco

Sec: Inflation

Recent Trends in Food Inflation:
- Retail food inflation remained above 8% from November 2023 to June 2024.
- The year-on-year increase in the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) fell to 5.4% in July 2024, down from 9.4% in June 2024.
- The sharp decline is partly due to a high base effect from July 2023 when inflation was at 11.5%.
- Despite the decline, the monthly CFPI rise from June to July 2024 (2.8%) translates to an annualized inflation of 33.8%.
Impact of Monsoon on Crop Sowing:
- The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on May 30, slightly ahead of schedule.
- June 2024 recorded 10.9% below normal rainfall, but July saw a revival with 9% above normal rainfall.
August 2024 has so far recorded 15.4% above normal rainfall, bringing the cumulative surplus for the season to 4.8% as of August 15.
- The good monsoon has led to higher acreage under most kharif crops this year compared to 2023 and the normal coverage for this time.
Farmers’ Response to Prices:
- Farmers have sown more of crops like arhar (pigeon pea) and maize due to high market prices above the Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
Cotton sowing is down due to flat prices, long cropping duration, and risks of insect pests like the pink bollworm.
- Farmers have shifted to crops like groundnut, soyabean, and maize, which have shorter maturity periods and potentially better returns.
Global Food Price Trends:
- Global food inflation has been in negative territory since December 2022.
- The FAO Food Price Index averaged 120.8 points in July 2024, 3.1% down from July 2023.
- The Cereal Price Index has seen a sharper fall from 173.5 points in May 2022 to 110.8 points in July 2024.
- Low international prices make imports more feasible, reducing the risk of imported inflation.
Domestic Stocks and Future Outlook:
- Wheat stocks in government warehouses were the third lowest on August 1, 2024, at 268.12 lakh tonnes.
- Rice stocks were the highest ever for the same date at 454.83 lakh tonnes.
- A monsoon-aided bumper kharif crop may allow the relaxation of export bans and stockholding limits on various commodities.
- Reservoir levels are at 65% of total storage capacity, higher than both last year and the 10-year average.
- There is a high probability of La Niña emerging during September-November, which could bring robust rainfall, benefiting the rabi cropping season.
Uncertainty Remains:
- Despite the optimistic outlook, the harvesting of kharif crops is still at least a month away, and rabi crops won’t be harvested until March-end 2025.
- Food inflation uncertainty is likely to continue until these harvests are completed.

Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)

The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) is a crucial economic indicator that measures the change in retail prices of food items consumed by the population.

It focuses exclusively on the price changes of food items in a consumer’s basket of goods and services, making it a specific measure of inflation related to food.

Definition:
- CFPI is a measure of change in retail prices specifically for food items consumed by the population.
- It is a sub-component of the broader Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is used to monitor inflation focused on food prices.
Purpose and Use:
- The CFPI is utilized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to track inflation, especially in the food sector.
- It helps policymakers understand price changes in the food sector and make informed decisions regarding monetary policy.
Categories and Data Release:
- The Central Statistics Office (CSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), began releasing CFPI data separately for rural, urban, and combined categories on an all-India basis from May 2014.
Methodology:
- The CFPI is calculated monthly, using a similar methodology to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- The base year used for CFPI calculations is 2012. The base year was revised from 2010 to 2012 by the CSO in January 2015.

Base Effect

Base Effect is a concept in economics and statistics that describes the impact that the comparison of current data with data from a previous period (the base period) has on the percentage change in a measure, such as inflation, GDP growth, or other indices and it refers to the distortion in percentage change in a variable due to the base year or period against which the comparison is made.

When the base period’s value is unusually high or low, it can make the percentage change in the current period appear smaller or larger than it actually is.

Example in Inflation: Suppose inflation was very low in the base year. When inflation is calculated for the current year against this low base, the current inflation rate might appear higher than usual, even if there is only a small absolute increase in prices.

5. Why climate change poses an existential threat to Panama Canal

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The first ship passed through the Panama Canal on August 15, 1914, exactly 110 years ago.
Now, the Panama Canal is facing existential threat due to climate change.

About Panama Canal:

The 82-km long artificial waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama.
It remains one of the greatest feats of engineering in history
It saves approximately 12,600 km in a trip between New York and San Francisco, and is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.

Why does the canal face an existential threat?

The canal operates on a system of locks and artificial lakes, particularly Lake Gatun that provides water needed to operate the locks.
However, there has been a trend of drop in the water levels of Lake Gatun due to droughts.
Low water level in Lake Gatun is affecting the canal’s capability to handle ships.

System of water elevators

The Panama Canal is a sophisticated, highly-engineered system which uses a series of locks and elevators to take ships from one end to the other.
This is needed because the two oceans that the Panama Canal connects lie at different elevations, with the Pacific slightly higher than the Atlantic.
This difference means that for a ship entering the canal through the Atlantic, it needs to gain elevation during its journey to the Pacific. This is achieved using a lock system which lifts and drops vessels to the required sea level at either end of the canal.

How a set of locks works:

A ship approaches the first, lowest chamber of a lock, which lies at sea level;
The locked gate opens to allow the ship into the chamber, and closes behind it;
The valve between the first and second chamber (at a higher elevation) is opened to increase the water level of the first chamber;
The gate between the two chambers is opened once the water level is equalised, and the ship enters the next chamber.
This process is repeated to gain elevation.
The reverse process occurs when lowering ships back to sea level.

Threat of climate change:

The Panama Canal needs massive amounts of fresh water to facilitate the passage of ships using this system of locks. Most of this water is supplied from Lake Gatun.
According to a report by New York Times, the passage of a single ship needs more than 50 million gallons (almost 200 million litres) of water.
Last year, lower water levels in Lake Gatun meant that far fewer ships could pass through the canal every day.

A contentious solution

The solution proposed by the Panama Canal authorities is to create a second source of water for the canal by creating a dam on the Rio Indio.
This could potentially secure water availability for the next 50 years, but has sparked controversy due to displacement issues.

6. The improbable 800 km journey of Stonehenge’s centre stone, and why that matters

Sub: History

Sec: Ancient India

Context:

Latest geochemical analysis suggests that the six-tonne monolith Altar Stone partially buried at the heart of Stonehenge was brought to its present location from Orcadian Basin, 800 km away in the far north of Scotland.
Earlier, it was believed to have come from Wales.

Study and findings:

The latest study focused on the origin of the Altar Stone, a partially buried slab of sandstone lying at the centre of the stone circle.
The study used dating and chemical analysis of tiny zircon, rutile and apatite crystals from fragments of the centre stone to trace its source to the Old Red Sandstone formations in the Orcadian Basin in the northeast of Scotland and the Orkney Islands.
The findings of the study show that the construction of Stonehenge was a far greater collaborative effort than scientists previously realised, and suggests that neolithic Britain might have been far more integrated than previously thought.

About Stonehenge:

Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire,
There is no clarity on why, how and by whom it was built.
Construction at Stonehenge began roughly 5,000 years ago, with changes and additions made over the next two millennia.
The site’s iconic stone slabs are divided into two groups.
- The first group includes 30 tall, upright sarsens (sandstone blocks impregnated with silica) which make up the outer circle.
- The second group is made of about 80 bluestones, which research suggests came from the Mynydd Preseli mountains in western Wales.
It is considered as a British cultural icon.
The site was was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986.

An improbable journey

The exact reasons and method used for the transportation of the Altar Stone from Scotland to Stonehenge remains unclear.

7. Turkiye and Iraq agree on military pact against Kurd separatists

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Turkiye and Iraq agreed on a military cooperation pact that will see joint training and command centres against Kurdish separatists, with Baghdad saying it will ban the PKK as a party.
The pact follows signs of a thaw in relations between Ankara and Baghdad, which have been strained by a Turkish military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq.

Details about the pact:

In addition to fighting militant organisations the pact also talks about securing their border against smuggling and illegal migration.
A joint security coordination centre will be created in Baghdad and a joint training and cooperation centre at Bashiqa near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
Iraq has agreed to add the PKK to the list of banned parties.

Kurdistan Workers’ Party:

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK has been involved in an on-and-off armed insurgency against Turkiye since 1984.
It was was founded by the Marxist revolutionary Abdullah Ocalan in 1978 to create an independent Kurdistan.
PKK is labelled a “terror organisation” by Turkiye, the United States and European Union.
PKK has bases in northern Iraq from where it launches attacks into Turkiye.

Kurdistan:

Kurdistan, or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo-cultural region in West Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population.
It spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria.
Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region runs along the border with Turkiye.

8. WHO has called the latest mpox outbreak an ‘emergency of international concern’

Subject: Science and Tech

Sec: Health

Context:

The World Health Organisation, sounding its highest level of alarm, declared mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the second time the infection has received the designation in as many years — the outbreak between July 2022 and May 2023 was also declared as PHEIC.The decision to sound the alarm was taken after an upsurge of cases reported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries.

Mpox (monkeypox):

It is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
There are two known types (clades) of mpox virus — one that originated in Central Africa (Clade I) and one that originated in West Africa (Clade II).
Symptoms: Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Transmission: Human-to-human transmission of mpox occurs through direct contact with body fluids, lesions, prolonged face-to-face contact, including sexual contact, and indirect contact with contaminated clothing or bedding.
Treatment: There are no specific treatments for monkeypox virus infection.Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems.

Current concern around Mpox:

The current concern stems from the spread of clade Ib of the MPXV, which is predominantly transmitted through sexual contact.
Organisms belonging to a clade share common ancestors. When it comes to mpox, there are two different clades: clade I and clade II, with the former deadlier than the latter.
Historically, clade I infections have spread through zoonotic spillover events — transmitted from animals to humans in close proximity.
Clade Ia infections that spread this way continue to affect parts of DRC where the disease was endemic.
Now, over 100 cases of clade 1b infections have been reported in four countries neighbouring DRC — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda — that have not reported mpox before.

Vaccines for mpox:

There are at least two vaccines currently in use for mpox, which have been recommended by the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.
Last week, an Emergency Use Listing for mpox vaccines was triggered by the WHO, which will accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval.
This listing also enables bodies such as GAVI and UNICEF to procure vaccines for distribution in these countries.

International Health Regulations

About:

While disease outbreaks and other acute public health risks are often unpredictable and require a range of responses, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
The IHR are an instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States. The IHR grew out of the response to deadly epidemics that once overran Europe.
They create rights and obligations for countries, including the requirement to report public health events. The Regulations also outline the criteria to determine whether or not a particular event constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern”.
At the same time, the IHR require countries to designate a National IHR Focal Point for communications with WHO, to establish and maintain core capacities for surveillance and response, including at designated points of entry.
Additional provisions address the areas of international travel and transport such as the health documents required for international traffic.
Finally, the IHR introduce important safeguards to protect the rights of travellers and other persons in relation to the treatment of personal data, informed consent and non-discrimination in the application of health measures under the Regulations.

How does IHR Emergency Committee work?

The Emergency Committee is made up of international experts who provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) The Committee provides views on:

whether the event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC);
the Temporary Recommendations that should be taken by the country experiencing an emergency of international concern, or by other countries, to prevent or reduce the international spread of disease and avoid unnecessary interference with international trade and travel; and
the termination of a PHEIC.

The Director-General makes the final determination of a PHEIC and Temporary Recommendations to address the situation, based on advice from the Emergency Committee, information provided by the State Parties, scientific experts and an assessment of risk to human health, risk of international spread of disease and of risk of interference with international travel.

Under the IHR (2005), Temporary Recommendations automatically expire three months after their issuance. Emergency Committees are therefore reconvened at least every 3 months to review the current epidemiological situation and to review whether the event continues to be a public health emergency of international concern and whether changes need to be made to the Temporary Recommendations. A statement of the Emergency Committee meeting is published on the WHO website after each meeting of the Committee.

What is Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?

A PHEIC is defined in the IHR (2005) as, “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response”. This definition implies a situation that is:

serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected;
carries implications for public health beyond the affected State’s national border; and
may require immediate international action.

9. New AI platform will connect farmers and scientists over phone, aid in pest control

Subject: Science and Tech

Sec: Agriculture

Context:

The Union Government launched the AI-based National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) that will help farmers to connect with agriculture scientists and experts on controlling pests using their phone.

Aim of NPSS:

The aim of NPSS is to reduce the dependence of farmers on pesticide retailers and inculcate a scientific approach among them towards pest management.
NPSS will analyse the latest data on pests using AI tools to help farmers and experts in pest control and management.
If we know the pest attack immediately and at the beginning of the attack, it will help in This system will help in identifying the pests and controlling it.
The Centre envisages connecting scientists with the fields using the platform. Farmers can take photos of the infested crops or the insect using the NPSS platform.
This system cures the diseases at proper time using technology. It will help in accurate diagnosis and accurate treatment. This will build the confidence among farmers and production will also increase. It will save the soil too. It is a technological platform and it needs no additional funding.

National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS):

The NPSS is an AI-based platform launched by the government on August 15, 2024.
It is designed to help farmers connect with agricultural scientists and experts for effective pest control using their phones.
It aims to reduce farmers’ dependence on pesticide retailers.
It provides data for selected crops i.e. Rice, Cotton, Maize, Mango and Chilies.

10. KP.1 and KP.2 strains responsible for COVID-19 resurgence, says Minister in Parliament

Subject: Science and Tech

Sec: Health

Context:

Two strains, namely KP.1 and KP.2, are responsible for the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in India, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda told the Lower House during a recent session of Parliament.

More on News:

These strains evolved from the JN1 Omicron variant and are highly transmissible, causing symptoms that include fever, cold, cough, sore throat, body ache, and fatigue, which were generally not severe.
He admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic saw the emergence of various strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The KP mutant strain had been reported from Maharashtra (417), West Bengal (157), Uttarakhand (64), Rajasthan (48), and Gujarat (42). Until June 15, India had sequenced 336,892 SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes, out of which 301,451 were sequenced by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing (INSACOG).

Highest proportional increase of COVID-19 Cases in India: WHO

The Minister said the Government has taken measures to monitor the spread of new strains.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has implemented the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) in all 36 States/UTs as part of the National Health Mission.
The programme is responsible for the surveillance of 40 plus epidemic prone diseases. A constant watch is maintained for emerging and re-emerging diseases. The Department of Health Research (DHR) has sanctioned 163 Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) across India to improve virus detection and research.
The House was also informed that the Central Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to prepare the country for public health emergencies such as new and emerging disease outbreaks. PM-ABHIM will enhance the capacity of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care facilities and institutes to identify and manage new and emerging diseases.
The strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), establishment of regional NCDCs, setting up of a network of Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories, strengthening of public health units at points of entry, establishment of Health Emergency The NCDC says that the INSACOG network conducts Whole Genomic Sequencing for the timely detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Visakhapatnam’s first co-morbid death of 2023 sparks fears of a year-end COVID-19 resurgence.

INSACOG is a consortium of 67 laboratories and 400+ sentinel sites to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2.
The NCDC acts as the lead agency for Indian SARS CoV2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
“Maintaining hygiene, a high level of awareness, early detection, and management of the disease, strict Central government surveillance measures, keeping medical staff alert about virulent strains, and keeping hospitals in a state of preparedness to manage any surge is the way forward. The general public must also be alert and take particular care of vulnerable groups,’.
States and Union Territories have been advised to ensure adequate testing in all districts as per COVID-19 testing guidelines, maintain a state of constant vigil over the COVID situation, ensure adequate testing, including a higher number of RT-PCR tests, and send positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG laboratories.

Evolution of the KP.1 and KP.2 Strains:

The KP.1 and KP.2 strains have evolved from the 1 Omicron variant, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 that has been widely prevalent in many parts of the world.
These strains exhibit high transmissibility, which has contributed to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases across several states in India.

Clinical Impact of the KP Strains:

Although the1 and KP.2 strains are highly transmissible, they have not been associated with increased severity of illness.
The symptoms reported, such as fever, cold, cough, sore throat, body ache, and fatigue, are generally mild and have not led to a significant rise in hospitalizations.
Union Health Minister emphasized that the government has taken appropriate measures to monitor these new strains and has assured the public that the situation is under control.

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing (INSACOG):

It is a national initiative established in 2020, by the Government of India to monitor and analyze genomic variations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
This multi-agency consortium includes 54 laboratories and is coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

INSACOG’s primary objectives are to:

Monitor genomic variations of SARS-CoV-2 through systematic sequencing.
Analyze the relationship between these genomic variations and epidemiological trends, which aids in understanding transmission dynamics and outbreak patterns.
Investigate clinical correlations, including the impact of variants on disease severity and vaccine efficacy

Trump-Musk interview on X reportedly hit by DDoS attack: What it means

What is a DDoS attack?

A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack simply means that a website or any other online service cannot be accessed because it has been the target of attacks from a malicious
According to the US government’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, this targeting is done by directing a large number of users against a particular online server at the same time to “flood” it.
Bots can also be used to overwhelm the network, resulting in slow loading times or a total pause in internet services.
Computers connect to the Internet and one another through unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned to each device. The data they exchange is divided into smaller chunks, called “packets”.
By using up a resource’s available bandwidth, DDoS attacks prevent these resources from responding to legitimate connection requests and packets.”
In the case of a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, multiple sources work against one target. This makes the culprit harder to locate.

How do DoS and DDoS attacks work?

There are different ways of carrying out DOS attacks. Botnets, which are networks of compromised devices, can be deployed by potential attackers.
In a “Smurf Attack”, the attacker sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) broadcast packets to several hosts. The ICMP can be normally used to communicate data transmission errors to systems, but in this case, attackers send it maliciously.
While communicating, attackers use a spoofed source IP address which actually belongs to the target machine. As the target machines respond, they end up flooding their own servers, resulting in a DDoS attack.
Then there is an “SYN flood”, which occurs when an attacker sends a request to connect to the target server but does not complete the connection. Normally, the request source asks for a connection, and then the target accepts by sending an acknowledgement. Finally, the request source finalises the connection.
In this case, the attacker sends a request and receives an acknowledgement, but does not complete the connection. Multiple, targeted incomplete connections again result in a load for the server, making it difficult to complete legitimate connections smoothly.

What are the signs of a DoS attack and how can it be dealt with?

Slowing internet speed and inability to access an online service are signs of a DoS attack. However, firewalls and online security systems are the best sources for verifying this because internet issues can also be the result of other factors.

Types of Cyber Attacks

Malware, short for malicious software refers to any kind of software that is designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network. Ransomware, Spy ware, Worms, viruses, and Trojans are all varieties of malware.
Phishing: It is the method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive e-mails and websites.
Denial of Service attacks: A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is an attack meant to shut down a machine or network, making it inaccessible to its intended users. DoS attacks accomplish this by flooding the target with traffic, or sending it information that triggers a crash.
Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, also known as eavesdropping attacks, occur when attackers insert themselves into a two-party transaction. Once the attackers interrupt the traffic, they can filter and steal data.