Daily Prelims Notes 4 August 2024

August 4, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

4 August 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Kerala to declare Wayanad landslide ‘state disaster’, as Centre declines ‘national disaster’ tag

Sub: Geo

Sec: Indian physical geo

Context:

The Union government has declined to declare the Wayanad landslides a national disaster.

Details:

The Kerala government issued an order declaring Meppadi Panchayat as “disaster-affected” after the official death toll exceeded 200.
Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan mentioned that the state government requested the central government to declare the event a national disaster, but the request was denied due to legal issues.
The affected areas include Kottapadi Village, Vellarmala Village, and Thrikkaipetta Village in Vythiri Taluk of Wayanad.
The order states that Meppadi Grama Panchayath be declared disaster-affected from July 30, 2024, and a formal gazette notification will follow.
The state disaster declaration allows for increased compensation and access to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
The national disaster tag is needed for central compensation to assist in house construction and rehabilitation of displaced persons.
Declaring a national disaster helps set up a relief fund with contributions from the Union and state governments, but there are no clear criteria for such a declaration.

What is a national disaster?

There is no provision, executive or legal, to declare a natural calamity as a national calamity.
Hence there is no fixed criterion to define any calamity as a national calamity.
In this regard, the 10th Finance Commission (1995-2000) examined a proposal.
The proposal was to term a disaster “a national calamity of rarest severity” if it affects one-third of the state’s population.
The panel did not define a “calamity of rare severity”.
But it stated that a calamity of rare severity would necessarily have to be adjudged on a case-to-case basis.
It would have to take into account:
- the intensity and magnitude of the calamity
- the level of assistance needed
- the capacity of the state to tackle the problem
- the alternatives and flexibility available within the plans to provide relief, etc
Accordingly, 2013 Uttarakhand flood and 2014 Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh were classified as calamities of “severe nature”.

What are the benefits of such a declaration?

On declaration as a calamity of “rare severity”/”severe nature”, support to the state government is provided at the national level.
The Centre also considers additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund.
A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is set up, with the corpus shared 3:1 between Centre and state.
When CRF resources are inadequate, additional assistance is considered from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF).
NCCF is funded 100% by the Centre.
Relief in repayment of loans or grant of fresh loans to the affected persons on concessional terms are also considered.

How is the funding decided?

It works as per the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009.
The National Crisis Management Committee deals with major crises that have serious or national ramifications.
It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
The inter-ministerial central teams are deputed to the affected states.
They make assessment of damage and relief assistance required.
An inter-ministerial group, headed by the Union Home Secretary, studies the assessment.
It then recommends the quantum of assistance from the NDRF/NCCF.
Based on this, a high-level committee approves the central assistance.
It comprises of Finance Minister as chairman, and Home Minister, Agriculture Minister, and others as members.

Source: DH

2. Millets are India’s solution to global challenges on nutrition, water scarcity and climate change: PM

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco geo

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted millet farming as India’s solution to global issues of nutrition, water scarcity, and climate change.

Details:

Modi emphasized a holistic approach of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ to tackle sustainable agriculture and food system challenges.
He identified nutrition, along with water shortage and climate change, as significant challenges and presented millets (‘Shri Anna’) as a superfood requiring minimal water for maximum production.
Modi expressed India’s readiness to share its millet resources with the world.

32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE):

Held in Delhi.
Theme “Transformation towards sustainable agri-food systems,” will showcase India’s proactive approach to agricultural challenges and advancements in farm research and policy.
65 years ago, the conference was concerned about India’s food security, but now India provides solutions for global food and nutrition security.
India’s status as a food surplus country and a leading producer of milk, pulses, spices, food grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar, tea, and farmed fish has been highlighted.
PM of India mentioned that India has developed rice varieties requiring 25% less water than traditional varieties.

Millets:

It is a collective term referring to a number of small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.
Some of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), and Variga (Proso millet).
The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in Indus civilization and was one of the first plants domesticated for food.
It is grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore people in Asia & Africa.
India is the largest producer of millet in the world.
- Top millet producing states: Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
It accounts for 20% of global production and 80% of Asia’s production.
Global Distribution:
- India, Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millets in the world, accounting for more than 55% of the global production.
- For many years, India was a major producer of millets. However, in recent years, millet production has increased dramatically in Africa.

Why are Millets Considered Important ‘Nutri-Cereals’?

Climate Resilient Staple Food Crops: Millets are drought-resistant, require less water and can grow in poor soil conditions. This makes them a suitable food crop for areas with unpredictable weather patterns and water scarcity.
Rich in nutrients: Millets are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Gluten-free: Millets are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Adaptable: Millets can be grown in a variety of soils and climates, making them a versatile crop option for farmers.
Sustainable: Millets are often grown using traditional farming methods, which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than modern, industrial farming practices.

Initiatives taken by the Government:

National Millets Mission (NMM): NMM was launched in 2007 to promote the production and consumption of millets.
MAHARISHI (Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative): An initiative proposed by India towards advancing research in the field of millets and other ancient grains.
Price Support Scheme (PSS): Provides financial assistance to farmers for the cultivation of millets.
Development of Value-Added Products: Encourages the production of value-added millet-based products to increase the demand and consumption of millets.
Promoting Millets in PDS: The government has introduced millets in the Public Distribution System to make it accessible and affordable to the masses.
Promotion of Organic Farming: The government is promoting organic farming of millets to increase the production and consumption of organic millets.

Source: TH

3. 39% TB cases found during Tamil Nadu TB survey had no symptoms

Subject: Science and Tech

Sec: Health

Context:

The first-of-its-kind TB prevalence cross-sectional survey was carried out among individuals aged older than 15 years across Tamil Nadu from February 2021 to July 2022. Based on the survey findings, the authors of the study from the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR-NIRT), Chennai have recommended that the State TB programme should prioritise the use of chest X-rays for earlier detection of cases and for cutting the transmission chain, and upscale the molecular tests to increase the yield.

More on News:

Symptoms of TB and/or abnormal chest X-rays were tested for TB using Xpert, smear microscopy, and liquid culture.
The survey identified 244 microbiologically confirmed TB cases. Among the 244 patients with TB, only 5% (133 people) reported having symptoms of TB, while 92.6% (224 people) had chest X-ray abnormalities.
The most important finding from the survey is that 39% (94 people) of the TB cases detected had no TB symptoms, otherwise called subclinical TB.
All 94 people with TB, who were initially picked up based on chest X-ray abnormalities and subjected to sputum examination, were found to be bacteriologically positive, thus confirming TB disease.
This highlights the importance of using chest X-ray for screening even in people who do not exhibit any symptoms.
Currently, the TB programme in Tamil Nadu offers chest X-rays only for those with symptoms. Based on the survey findings, the State should prioritise the use of chest X-rays for earlier case detection and increase the yield.
The use of chest X-ray as a preliminary screening tool along with molecular diagnostics will surely help in better detection of cases.
Although cough expels large quantities of droplets leading to increased transmission risk, respiratory droplets can also be expelled without cough such as during singing, talking, and tidal breathing.

Tuberculosis:

Bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can practically affect any organ of the body. The most common ones are the lungs, pleura (lining around the lungs), lymph nodes, intestines, spine, and brain.
Transmission:
- It is an airborne infection that spreads through close contact with the infected, especially in densely populated spaces with poor ventilation.
Symptoms:
- Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
Infection Prevalence:
- Every year, 10 million people fall ill with TB. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 5 million people die from TB each year– making it the world’s top infectious killer.
- TB is theleading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
- Most of the people who fall ill with TB live in low- and middle-income countries, but TB is present all over the world. About half of all people with TB can be found in 8 countries:Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and South Africa.

Inactive Tuberculosis:

Tuberculosis (TB) germs can live in the body for years without making you sick. This is called inactive TB or latent TB infection.
People with inactive TB do not feel sick, do not have symptoms, and cannot spread TB germs to others.
Without treatment, inactive TB can develop into active TB disease at any time and make you sick.

4. New Alzheimer’s blood test

Subject: Science and Tech

Sec: Health

Context:

Researchers have developed a new blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease that helps diagnose the disease even at the early stage of mild cognitive impairment. Scientists at Lund University in Sweden have shown that PrecivityAD2, a new blood test, is about 90% accurate in identifying AD in people experiencing cognitive symptoms.

Practitioners excited about the test:

According to statistics, one in five women and one in 10 men develop dementia due to AD (Alzheimer’s disease). Individuals with cognitive symptoms are first seen in primary care, with a minority being referred to secondary care.
A blood test has been the Holy Grail for diagnosis of AD, since even current, modern methods of diagnosis involve very expensive and complex amyloid or Tau Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
The other alternative is to draw cerebrospinal fluid via a painful procedure, lumbar puncture.

What does the test do?

The test works by measuring a combination of two ratios within a blood sample: plasma phosphorylated-tau217 (also called p-tau217) to not-phosphorylated-tau21 and two types of amyloid-beta: AB42 and AB40.
In comparison to the blood test that had an accuracy of 91%, dementia specialists identified clinical Alzheimer disease with a diagnostic accuracy of 73%.
In primary care, physicians had a diagnostic accuracy of 61%.
This would be an accurate blood test for AD and that it could streamline the diagnostic workup and treatment of AD.
The significance is that there are several drugs that work in the early stages of the disease, and an early, cost-effective, simple diagnosis will go a long way for patients.

Alzheimer’s Disease:

It is a brain condition that causes a progressive decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills.
It is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases.
It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
The condition usually affects people aged 65 years and over, with only 10% of cases occurring in people younger than this.
Cause: The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Symptoms:
- The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations.
- Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
Treatment: There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but certain medications and therapies can help manage symptoms temporarily.

Dementia:

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. However, there are several other types of dementia, each with its own underlying causes. Some of the common types of dementia include: Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Mixed Dementia.
Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

5. Underwater mapping reveals insights into melting of Antarctica’s ice shelves

Subject: Geo

Sec: Climatology

Context:

New research documents never-seen-before shapes formed at the base of a West Antarctic ice shelf. An autonomous underwater vehicle found these features — including tear-shaped indents — exclusively in areas with higher melting rates by underlying warm ocean water.

Ice shelf:

An ice shelf is a mass of glacial ice, fed from land by tributary glaciers, that floats in the sea above an ice shelf cavity.
- An ice sheet, such as theWest Antarctic ice sheet, covers vast land areas, holding a substantial amount of freshwater
- The two major ice sheets in the world, Greenland and Antarctica,collectively possess around two-thirds of the Earth’s freshwater.
When ice sheets gain or lose mass, they respectively contribute to a fall or rise in global mean sea levels.

Dotson Ice Shelf:

Dotson Ice Shelf is part of the West Antarctic ice sheet and next to Thwaites Glacier, which is considered to have a potentially large impact on future sea level rise due to its size and location.
Brought to the Amundsen Sea through ocean circulation, warm salty water is a significant driver of ice melt and, thus, sea level rise.
This bottom-up melting, called basal melt, thins and hollows out cavities at the base of floating ice shelves, reducing or eliminating structural support for grounded ice that flows into them.
The physical dynamics of basal melt have been poorly understood because the process occurs in deep water under ice — an environment best explored by autonomous vehicles.
Basal melt patterns at the base of the Dotson Ice Shelf (DIS) located in West Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea.

Findings:

From January to March 2022, the team sent an AUV with multibeam sonar up to 17 km into a basal melt cavity to chart its topography over 140 sq. km.
They found some things as expected, for example the glacier melts faster where strong underwater currents erode its base.
Using the submersible, they were able to measure the currents below the glacier for the first time and prove why the western part of Dotson Ice Shelf melts so fast. They also found evidence of very high melt at vertical fractures that extend through the glacier.
During the expedition, the vehicle also recorded data about the salinity, temperature, and currents of the water below the ice shelf.
Overall, the findings indicate that previously unquantified basal melt mechanisms are happening beneath Dotson Ice Shelf and likely other ice shelves.

6. The gender issue in the Imane Khelif vs Angela Carini boxing match controversy

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Algeria’s Imane Khelif defeated Angela Carini in 46 seconds.
Her gender attracted speculation and abuse, even as the Olympics’ committee supported her admission as a woman athlete.

More on the news?

The participation of trans women, and women having certain “masculine” biological characteristics like higher testosterone levels, in women’s sports has long been a subject of polarizing debate.

Why did Khelif’s win spark a controversy?

In 2023, Imane Khelif and Chinese Taipei boxer Lin Yu-ting were banned from competing in the (International Boxing Association’s)IBA’s World Championship in New Delhi after failing a confidential “gender eligibility” test.
However, both boxers are now competing at the Paris Olympics because the IBA was derecognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over governance and financial issues.
The IOC-appointed unit which is governing the competition in Paris only requires the gender stated in an athlete’s passport for eligibility, and Khelif’s passport identifies her as female.
Following Khelif’s win and the subsequent abuse, the IOC stated that all Olympic boxers complied with eligibility and entry regulations.

How testosterone is impacting athletic performance?

The SRY gene, found on the Y chromosome, is responsible for the production of testosterone.
Multiple studies have attempted to decode the impact that this hormone has on physical characteristics.
This is because testosterone increases muscle mass and strength, bone size and strength (density), and circulating hemoglobin.
Other studies note that data on the matter is inadequate at present.

What is Disorders of Sex Development(DSD)?

Disorders of sex development (DSDs), also known as differences in sex development or variations in sex characteristics (VSC) are congenital conditions affecting the reproductive system, in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical.
People with DSD are genetically male but phenotypically female, meaning they have a female appearance and female external genitalia.
DSDs facilitate greater testosterone production, and other consequent athletic advantages.
The eligibility regulations of World Athletics requires DSD athletes need to keep their testosterone level to below 2.5 nmol/L for at least 24 months before they become eligible to participate in any event.

International Olympic Committee (IOC):

The IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement and is responsible for organising the modern Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
The IOC is the governing body of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), which are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic Movement.