Daily Prelims Notes 30 October 2024

October 30, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

30 October 2024

Table Of Contents

1. More than one in three tree species threatened with extinction, finds IUCN’s first Global Tree Assessment

Sub: Env

Sec: Biodiversity

Global Tree Assessment:

The first-ever Global Tree Assessment, launched by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, has revealed a critical threat to global biodiversity: nearly 38% of tree species worldwide are now at risk of extinction.

Key Findings:

Extent of Threat: 16,425 out of 47,282 assessed tree species face the risk of extinction, meaning over one in three species could be lost.
The number of threatened tree species surpasses the total of threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians combined.
Trees are endangered in 192 countries, with islands particularly vulnerable due to urban development, agriculture, and invasive species.

Causes of Decline:

Deforestation and Land Use: South America, with the highest tree diversity, has 3,356 tree species at risk, mainly due to deforestation for agriculture and livestock.
Climate Change: Rising sea levels, storms, and other extreme events increasingly threaten trees, especially in tropical regions.
Dependence on Trees: Over 5,000 tree species on the IUCN Red List are used for timber, and 2,000 for food, fuel, and medicine, underscoring the risk to essential resources.

Importance of Trees:

Ecosystem Role: Trees are vital for carbon and water cycles, soil formation, and climate regulation, supporting a wide range of other plants, fungi, and animals.
Forest-Dependent Species: Many globally threatened birds and other wildlife rely on forests, heightening the interconnected risk from tree loss.

2. Centre releases standard veterinary treatment guidelines for livestock and poultry

Sub :Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, launched the Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) for livestock and poultry.
Developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by USAID, these guidelines aim to standardize veterinary treatment across India, ensuring improved animal health and responsible drug use.

Key Details of SVTGs:

Purpose: To guide veterinarians, animal health professionals, and paraprofessionals in delivering standardized, rational treatment for various animal diseases.
Available as a compact digital manual for easy access on mobile devices.
A “Live” document updated every 2-3 years based on field feedback and advancements in veterinary practices.

Content Structure:

Animal Types Covered: Guidelines cover diseases in cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, camels, equines, mithuns, and yaks.
Disease Categories: Includes infectious, non-infectious, and parasitic diseases, with specific chapters on each.
- Details Provided: Etiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, preventive measures, and dosage/duration for various drugs, including antimicrobial and ethnoveterinary medicine.

Focus on Poultry Health:

Diseases Covered:
- Viral: New Castle Disease, Avian Influenza, Marek’s Disease, Fowl-pox, and more.
- Bacterial: Avian Mycoplasmosis, E. coli infections, Salmonella, Infectious Coryza, Fowl Cholera.
- Parasitic: Coccidiosis.
Biosecurity & Vaccination: Emphasis on biosecurity practices to control pathogen spread, with detailed vaccination schedules for various poultry types (commercial layers, broilers, backyard poultry).

Goals and Impact:

Curbing Irrational Treatment: Standardizes treatment practices to reduce misuse of veterinary drugs.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): By regulating antibiotic use and focusing on preventive measures (e.g., vaccination, biosecurity), the SVTGs contribute to the fight against AMR—a growing threat to both animal and human health.
Policy Guidance: Provides policymakers with a framework to assess the quality of veterinary medicines and animal health services, helping to inform budgetary decisions.

Antibiotic Resistance:

Medicines that are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections are called Antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. When we say antibiotic resistance, it means bacteria are resistant to antibiotics and not humans.

Antimicrobial Resistance:

It is a broader term, encompassing resistance to drugs to treat infections caused by other microbes as well, such as parasites, viruses, and fungi.

Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.

As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.

Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

Reasons for Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance:

The misuse of antimicrobials in medicine and inappropriate use in agriculture.

Contamination around pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where untreated waste releases large amounts of active antimicrobials into the environment.

3. WHO activates Global Health Emergency Corps for the first time over mpox outbreak

Sub : IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, activated the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), in response to a significant mpox outbreak affecting multiple regions, particularly in Africa.
This mobilization highlights an urgent global effort to control mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

Mpox:

Caused by the MPXV virus and spreads primarily through close contact.
Symptoms: Fever, headache, back pain, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive pox-like rash lasting 2-3 weeks.
Incubation Period: Symptoms typically appear within 21 days of exposure.
Current Situation: Africa has reported over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths this year, with cases identified in 18 African countries and the clade 1b strain also detected in other regions, including India, Sweden, and Thailand.

Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC):

The Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), founded in 2023 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to address the gaps identified during the COVID-19 pandemic, represents WHO’s commitment to a unified, rapid, and efficient global health emergency response.
Purpose and Structure:
- Created to build a strong, diverse workforce ready to respond to health emergencies
- Consists of trained health professionals from various fields
- Designed to provide quick deployment capabilities during crises
Main Functions:
- Emergency response deployment
- Capacity building in countries
- Technical expertise during health crises
- Support for disease outbreak management
- Coordination of international health responses
Key Actions by GHEC:
- Support to Affected Countries: Focusing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other nations with high mpox prevalence.
- Workforce Deployment: Mobilized 56 experts to eight countries, enhancing local response capacities.
- Core Strategies: Case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccination, clinical and home care, infection prevention, community engagement, and logistical support.

Recent WHO Initiatives:

PHEIC Declarations: WHO classified mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in 2022 and reaffirmed this on August 14, 2024, in response to recent outbreaks.
Assessments and Preparedness: Pharmaceutical manufacturers have been asked to assess their readiness to provide diagnostics, while GHEC has identified 22 critical areas for response improvements in partnership with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes.

4. Understanding the Short-Lived Immunity of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines: Challenges and Future Directions

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have been groundbreaking, yet concerns are growing regarding the rapid decline in their effectiveness. Recent studies are shedding light on why these vaccines may not produce the long-lasting immunity seen in other vaccines. This article explores these findings and delves into the mechanisms behind vaccine-induced immunity, focusing on the role of long-lasting plasma cells (LLPCs) and implications for future vaccine development.

Rapid Waning of Immunity:

COVID-19 vaccines, especially mRNA-based ones, have shown a faster decline in immunity compared to many traditional vaccines. The main reason for this decline appears to be the lack of LLPCs in the bone marrow, which are essential for prolonged antibody production.

About Long-Lasting Plasma Cells (LLPCs):

LLPCs are vital for long-term immunity as they continuously produce antibodies against specific antigens, even without repeated exposure, contributing to lasting protection against diseases.

They develop from activated B-cells in structures called germinal centres found within lymph nodes and the spleen, a process often involving helper T-cells that aid in the maturation and specialization of these plasma cells.

After their formation, LLPCs migrate to bone marrow “niches” where they receive essential survival signals from surrounding stromal cells and factors like APRIL (A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand), allowing them to remain functional for years or even decades.

For effective vaccines, LLPCs are key as they provide the durable antibody response needed to prevent re-infection. However, not all vaccines successfully induce LLPCs, which is a focus of ongoing research for enhancing vaccine durability.

Distinction from Short-Lived Plasma Cells (SLPCs): Unlike SLPCs, which provide an immediate, short-term antibody response and then die off, LLPCs can maintain an antibody response over long periods without needing to re-encounter the antigen.

About Bone Marrow Niches: These specialized environments provide crucial cytokines and other factors that ensure LLPCs remain active and functional, a process essential to long-lasting immunity. Researchers are investigating ways to mimic these niches in vaccine designs to create more enduring immune responses.

Findings on COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced LLPCs:

A study published in Nature Medicine examined LLPCs in individuals who had received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

LLPCs were compared for COVID-19, influenza, and tetanus vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine-induced LLPCs were significantly lower than those for influenza and tetanus, indicating shorter immunity duration.

IgG and IgA Analysis: Antibody-secreting cells specific to different immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) echoed these results, showing a deficiency in COVID-19-specific LLPCs.

About Antibody:

Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, is a Y shaped protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen.

Antibodies recognize and attack onto antigens in order to remove them from the body.

Each tip of the “Y” of an antibody contains a paratope (analogous to a lock) that is specific for one particular epitope (analogous to a key) on an antigen, allowing these two structures to bind together with precision.

Using this binding mechanism, an antibody can tag a microbe or an infected cell and can neutralize it directly.

The main types of antibodies (immunoglobulins) include:

IgG. These are the most abundant types of antibodies in your plasma. They detoxify harmful substances and provide long-term protection.

IgM. These are the first antibodies made by B cells in response to antigens.

IgA. These antibodies collect antigens and remove them from your body in your mucus or other body fluids.

IgE. These antibodies trigger allergies and protect against parasites. Small amounts are in your skin, lungs, and mucosal membranes.

IgD. These antibodies bind to B cells and signal them to release IgM antibodies.

The Role of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Structure

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spikes spaced around 20–25 nanometres apart, which may hinder B-cell receptor (BCR) cross-linking—a process vital for generating LLPCs.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines rely heavily on this spike protein as the primary immunogenic element. This spacing may partially explain why immunity from these vaccines fades more quickly.

Some researchers remain sceptical, suggesting spike spacing might not fully account for the lack of LLPCs, indicating that other factors could contribute to the waning immunity.

5. Delay in GE’s F-404 Engine Deliveries for LCA-Mk1A Sparks Penalty Clause Activation

Sub :Sci

Sec: Defence

Why in News

General Electric (GE) is expected to deliver F-404 jet engines for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A by March or April 2025 after extended delays. The delay has resulted in India invoking a penalty clause due to contractually overdue delivery timelines. The engines are crucial to powering India’s indigenous fighter aircraft fleet under the $716-million deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

About the F404 Engine:

Produced by GE Aerospace, the F404 is a reliable, afterburning turbofan engine designed primarily for military use.

Originally developed to power the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, it has since become adaptable for various aircraft and roles.

Engine Variants:

F404-GE-IN20: Used in India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, this variant provides approximately 19,000 pounds of thrust and includes advanced Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) for enhanced reliability.
F404-GE-103: Powers the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk trainer, designed for the U.S. Air Force.
F404-RM12: A variant co-developed with Volvo Aero specifically for the Saab Gripen fighter jet.
F404-GE-402: Enhanced for fuel efficiency, this variant powers F/A-18 Hornet models.

The F404 engine series delivers high performance with thrust levels between 10,500 and 19,000 pounds, depending on the model, supporting both high-altitude interception and low-altitude attack missions.

The F404 series includes single-crystal turbine blades and high-temperature materials, improving the engine’s heat resistance and overall durability.

About India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A:

The LCA Mk1A is a fourth-generation, single-engine, multi-role light fighter aircraft, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the “Tejas” program in India.

Created for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the LCA Mk1A focuses on air defence, close air support, and reconnaissance missions, complementing heavier fighters like the Su-30MKI.

Specifications:

Weight: The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) is about 13.5 tons.
Engine: Powered by the GE F404-IN20 engine, providing around 19,000 pounds of thrust, optimized for agility and speed.
Range: It has a combat range of about 500 kilometres (km) and a ferry range of up to 1,750 km.
Speed: Maximum speed is approximately Mach 1.6 (around 1,975 km/h).
Service Ceiling: The aircraft can reach altitudes of up to 52,500 feet.

Avionics: The Mk1A features modern avionics with a fully digital, fly-by-wire flight control system and advanced radar, including Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

Equipped to carry beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, and advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems.

The Mk1A’s low weight and high thrust-to-weight ratio enhance its manoeuvrability, making it suitable for both offensive and defensive operations.

Designed with minimal radar cross-section (RCS) to enhance survivability.

Enhances India’s airpower by replacing aging fleets such as the MiG-21.

About the Penalty Clause:

The penalty clause in defence contracts is a provision that imposes financial or legal penalties on contractors if they fail to meet specific contractual obligations, such as delivery timelines, performance standards, or technical specifications.

It serves as a safeguard, ensuring that delays or non-compliance do not compromise critical defence projects and that the contractor remains accountable.

In the context of the LCA Mk1A, General Electric (GE) was contracted to supply F404 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the lead manufacturer of the LCA Mk1A.

Due to logistical issues, GE has faced delays in delivering these engines, which has affected the production timeline for the LCA Mk1A.

Given the delay, HAL has invoked the penalty clause against GE as per the contractual terms. This clause is typically triggered when delays or other violations exceed an acceptable or pre-defined limit set in the agreement.

Financial penalties may include a percentage of the contract value deducted per day, week, or month of delay, based on the severity and impact of the delay.

6. New Israeli laws bar UNRWA from operating on its soil

Sub : IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

Israel recently passed two significant laws that pose a threat to the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
These laws could hinder the agency’s ability to provide essential aid to people in Gaza.

Key Provisions of the Laws:

The first law prohibits UNRWA from conducting any activities or providing services within Israeli territory. This move is seen as a direct attempt to limit the agency’s operational capabilities.
The second law would cut Israel’s diplomatic relations with UNRWA, effectively isolating the agency and undermining its efforts to assist Palestinian refugees.

Implications of the law:

With the ban on UNRWA, the agency’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance will be severely restricted.
The laws may strain Israel’s relationships with its international allies, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights and humanitarian assistance.
The laws could make peace efforts more difficult.

About UNRWA:

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 to provide aid to Palestinians who were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
The UN agency operates in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, countries where the refugees took shelter after their expulsion.
UNRWA was originally headquartered in Beirut but was moved to Vienna in 1978.
Though it was established as a temporary body, in the absence of a solution to the Palestine refugee problem, the General Assembly has repeatedly renewed UNRWA’s mandate, most recently extending it until 30 June 2026.

7. Shah unveils mobile app for birth and death registration

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Health

Context:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application aimed at enhancing governance through technology. This initiative is expected to streamline the registration of births and deaths across the country.
The app was developed by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

Features of the CRS mobile app:

The application allows citizens to register births and deaths at any time and from any location, using their state’s official language.
The app will significantly reduce the time required for registration, making the process more hassle-free for users.

Digital Registration Mandate:

According to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, all births and deaths reported in the country from October 1, 2023, will need to be digitally registered through the official portal, crsorgi.gov.in.
The digital birth certificates generated will serve as a single document to validate the date of birth for various essential services, including educational admissions, government job applications, and marriage registrations.

Other purposes:

The centralised database of CSR will help update the National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, property registration and electoral rolls.

8. NPPA seeks cut in prices of anti-cancer medications

Sub :Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has instructed manufacturers to lower the maximum retail prices of three significant anti-cancer drugs: Trastuzumab, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab.
This action aligns with the government’s goal of ensuring that essential medicines are available at affordable prices.

Waiver of customs duty:

This directive follows the Union Budget 2024-25, where the government announced an exemption from customs duty for these three anti-cancer medicines.
The Department of Revenue, under the Ministry of Finance, has recently issued a notification that reduces the customs duty on these drugs to zero.

About NPPA:

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) in 1997 under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
It fixes ceiling prices of scheduled essential drugs and monitors Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of remaining non-scheduled medical devices, which have been regulated as drugs.

9. National Ayurveda Day

Sub : History

Sec: Ancient India

National Ayurveda Day is celebrated annually in India to promote the traditional Indian system of medicine known as Ayurveda. This day typically falls on Dhanvantari Jayanti, which is observed two days before Diwali. Dhanvantari, considered the god of medicine in Hindu mythology, is worshiped for health and healing.

Key Points:

Objective: To increase awareness about the holistic benefits of Ayurveda, which emphasizes prevention and wellness through natural treatments, diet, and lifestyle.
History: The Ministry of AYUSH initiated National Ayurveda Day in 2016 as part of efforts to preserve and promote traditional medicine systems.
Activities: Various events are organized across India, including seminars, workshops, and health camps to educate the public on Ayurveda’s principles.
Theme: Each year focuses on a theme, such as Ayurveda’s role in public health or managing modern lifestyle diseases.

The day serves as a reminder of Ayurveda’s contributions to healthcare, emphasizing balance between mind, body, and spirit.

Who was Dhanvantari

Lord Dhanvantari holds a significant role in Ayurveda’s history, revered as the physician of the Gods and a skilled surgeon.
In Hinduism, worshipers seek his blessings for effective healing.
Legend has it that, as the king of Kashi i.e. Divodasa,, Dhanvantari taught the science of Ayurveda to sages, including the renowned surgeon Susruta.
Dhanvantari recasted Brahma’s Ayurveda into 8 divisionsi.eshalya, shalakya, kayachikitsa, bhutavidya, kaumarabhrtya, agadatantra, rasayanatantra, vajikaranatantra and began teaching within the framework of pratyaksa (perception), agama (authoritative scripture), anumana (inference) and upamana (analogy).
He is also considered an avatar of Vishnu, and a well-known tale depicts him emerging from the churning ocean with a bowl of nectar during the quest for the elixir of life.
In the context of Ayurveda, physicians of the School of Atreya were known to refer surgical cases to practitioners from the School of Dhanvantari.

What is the meaning of the name:

The term “dhanus” is a symbolic representation indicating the science of surgery, and Dhanvantari, having mastered it, is associated with this knowledge.
The word “dhanvan” is linked to the concept of a desert, as seen in RigVeda [V.36.1], where “dhanvachara” signifies someone moving in a desert.
This aligns with a Vedic mantra expressing Lord Vishnu as akin to a place in the desert where water is provided to travelers (dhanvanivaprapaasi).
Therefore, Dhanvantari, as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu holding a pot of nectar, symbolizes a nourishing oasis in the desert of worldly existence.

History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the science of life is one of the ancient and comprehensive systems of health care. The quest for good health and long life is probably as old as human existence. Four Vedas considered as oldest Indian literatures composed between 5000 and 1000 BC have information on treatment by plants and natural procedures. Reference of medicine and surgery are also found in Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. However, Ayurveda was established as a fully grown medical system from the period of Samhita (compendium) i.e., around 1000 BC. The compendia like Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita were written in a systematic manner with eight specialties during this period. The essential details of Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita were compiled and further updated in the treatises Astanga Sahgraha and Astanga Hrdaya authored by Vrddha Vagbhata and Vagbhata during 6 – 7 Century AD. Thus, the main three treatises called Brhattrayi i.e., Caraka Samhita, Susruta Samhita and Astanga Sangraha formed the basis for subsequent scholars to write texts.

Around 200 BC, medical students from different parts of the world used to come to the ancient University of Takshashila to learn Ayurveda. From 200 to 700 AD, University of Nalanda also attracted foreign medical students mainly from Japan, China etc. The Egyptians learnt about Ayurveda long before the invasion of Alexander in 400 BC through their sea-trade with India. Greeks and Romans came to know about it after their invasion. In the early part of the first millennium Ayurveda spread to the East through Buddhism and greatly influenced the Tibetan and Chinese system of medicine and herbology.

Around 800 A.D., Nagarjuna has conducted extensive studies on the medicinal applications of various metals. Many exotic and indigenous drugs for new uses are found place in Ayurvedic literature. After 16th Century, there have been inclusions of diagnosis and treatment of new diseases based on modern medical science.

In 1827, the first Ayurveda course was started in India at the Government Sanskrit College, Calcutta. By the beginning of 20th Century, many Ayurveda colleges were established in India under the patronage of provincial Rulers. Ayurveda gained more ground beginning in the 1970s, as a gradual recognition of the value of Ayurveda revived. Lots of academic work was done during the 20th century and many books were written and seminars and symposia were held.

Presently Ayurveda has well-regulated undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate education in India. A commendable network of practitioners and manufacturers exists. Infrastructure development in private and public sectors has improved the outreach to the community in a commendable way.