Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to Urban planning;
Why in the News?
World Cities Day is celebrated annually on October 31, highlighting the growing urban population, now at 4.7 billion (57.5% of the total). This year’s theme focuses on empowering youth to drive local sustainability initiatives in urban areas.
What is the theme for this year’s World Cities Day?
- The theme for this year’s World Cities Day is “Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalysing Local Action for Urban Sustainability.”
- It emphasizes the vital role of young people in driving grassroots initiatives to address climate change and promote sustainable urban development.
What led to India’s rapid urbanization?
- Economic Distress: Urbanization in India is largely driven by economic hardships in rural areas, leading to both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban migration.
- COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic exposed the strain on urban infrastructure and highlighted the reverse migration trends, showcasing gaps in urban planning.
- Lack of Census Data: The absence of precise data from the 2021 Census limits understanding and planning for urban population growth, though estimates suggest around 40% of the population resides in urban areas.
- Job Losses from Deindustrialisation: Many cities have experienced deindustrialization since the 1980s, resulting in job losses that push displaced workers to peri-urban areas.
- Overcrowding in Slums: Approximately 40% of India’s urban population lives in slums, exacerbating the challenges associated with rapid urban growth.
How big of a threat do climate change and rising inequality pose to urban growth?
- Climate Change: Indian cities face severe pollution, urban flooding, and heat island effects, which jeopardize urban sustainability and living conditions.
- Rising Inequality: Urban development often caters to wealthier populations, resulting in stark contrasts between exclusive developments and the significant number of urban residents lacking basic housing.
- Social Segregation: Increasing segregation along social and religious lines within urban settings worsens inequality and marginalizes vulnerable groups.
- Governance Limitations: Many urban areas are controlled by undemocratic bodies, limiting the effectiveness of governance and local engagement in urban planning.
- Inadequate Urban Planning: Outdated spatial and temporal planning does not address the needs of a growing urban population, further complicating the impact of climate change and social disparities.
Steps taken by the government:
- Smart Cities Mission: Launched in 2015, this initiative aims to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development by investing in infrastructure, smart technologies, and urban planning to improve the quality of life in cities and enhance urban resilience.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): This mission focuses on providing basic services like water supply, sewage management, and urban transport in cities, promoting sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life for residents.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): This scheme aims to provide affordable housing for all by 2022, addressing the housing shortage and improving living conditions for low-income urban residents, thereby tackling issues related to slums and inadequate housing.
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Way forward:
- Enhance Data-Driven Urban Planning: Need to conduct comprehensive and regular urban censuses to gather accurate demographic data, enabling evidence-based decision-making for urban policies and effective resource allocation.
- Strengthen Community Engagement: The government should foster participatory governance by involving local communities in urban planning and development processes.
Mains PYQ:
Q What are ‘Smart Cities’? examine their relevance for urban development in India. Will it increase rural-urban differences? Give arguments for ‘Smart Villages’ in the light of PURA and RURBAN Mission. (2016)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to health care;
Why in the News?
The Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 presented by WHO indicates that India recorded the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in 2023.
Current Scope of Tuberculosis in India
- High Burden: According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, India accounts for 26% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide, making it the country with the highest TB burden. The report indicates that over 55.9% of global TB cases are concentrated in five countries: India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
- Mortality Rates: Although TB deaths in India have decreased from 580,000 in 2010 to 320,000 in 2023, the country still accounted for 26% of global TB deaths among people with and without HIV in 2023.
- Incidence Trends: The incidence of TB has decreased from 275.7 cases per 100,000 population in 2010 to 194.9 cases in 2023. However, there has been a notable increase in notified TB relapse cases, reaching the highest level since 2010.
- Risk Factors: Individuals with nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, and smoking habits are at the highest risk of contracting TB. The prevalence of TB infection among individuals aged 15 and older is reported at 31.4%, according to the National TB Prevalence Survey conducted from 2019-2021.
- Preventive Treatment Uptake: The number of people receiving preventive treatment has been rising, indicating an increased focus on preventing TB progression among high-risk populations.
Strategies and Programs Implemented by Govt to Reduce TB Incidence
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP): This program aims to eliminate TB by 2025 through various strategies including early diagnosis, treatment support, and preventive measures.
- TB Preventive Therapy (TPT): The introduction of TPT marks a significant shift in TB care in India. It focuses on providing preventive treatment to individuals at high risk of developing active TB.
- Project Axshya Plus: Launched with support from the Global Fund, this project implements comprehensive interventions such as contact tracing, testing for infection, and managing latent TB infections.
- Increased Funding: Domestic funding for TB prevention and treatment increased by 38% in 2023 to $253 million, although international funding has declined during the same period.
- Community Engagement Initiatives: Programs like the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan encourage community involvement in supporting TB patients through initiatives like Ni-kshay Mitras.
- Digital Health Initiatives: The NTEP leverages digital platforms for monitoring patient progress and ensuring adherence to treatment protocols through tools like the Nikshay portal.
- Awareness Campaigns: Public health campaigns aim to reduce stigma associated with TB and educate communities about prevention and treatment options.
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Challenges India Faces in Eliminating Tuberculosis by 2025
- Funding and Infrastructure Gaps: Despite increases in domestic funding, overall financial resources remain lower than pre-COVID levels, impacting program implementation and outreach efforts.
- Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, hampers access to timely diagnosis and treatment for many patients.
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted TB services significantly, leading to a backlog of undiagnosed cases and impacting ongoing treatment programs.
- Stigma and Discrimination: Stigma associated with TB continues to deter individuals from seeking diagnosis and treatment, which can lead to delayed care and increased transmission rates.
- Social determinants such as poverty, malnutrition, and living conditions contribute to higher susceptibility to TB among vulnerable populations.
- Drug Resistance Issues: The rise of drug-resistant strains of TB poses significant challenges for effective treatment and control strategies.
- Multi-sectoral Coordination Challenges: Effective elimination requires collaboration across various sectors (healthcare, education, social services), which can be challenging due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Way forward:
- Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Coordination: There is a need to foster collaboration among healthcare, education, and social services to address the social determinants of TB.
- Enhancing Accessibility and Outreach: Need to improve access to TB diagnosis and treatment in rural areas by investing in healthcare infrastructure, training local health workers, and implementing mobile health units.
Mains PYQ:
Q Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (2014)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to Infrastructure;
Why in the News?
- The October 25, 2024, incident where a Qatar Airways Boeing 787’s landing gear sank into a collapsed ramp at Doha underscores the importance of runway safety concerns.
- Similar risks exist in Chennai Airport’s expansion plans and the greenfield project at Parandur, where soil stability and structural integrity are critical issues that must not be overlooked.
Background
- The Chennai airport expansion, initially proposed in 2007, faced design and safety issues, including unsuitable soil for a parallel runway and violations in bridge construction standards, raising concerns about infrastructure reliability and potential flooding risks in future projects.
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What are the specific challenges and risks pilots face when landing at these airports?
- Runway Integrity: Pilots may encounter challenges if the runway or taxiways have structural weaknesses or are poorly designed, such as in the case of Doha, where the ground beneath collapsed under the aircraft’s weight.
- Crosswinds and Weather Conditions: Airports located near water bodies or in regions with extreme weather may present challenges during landing, such as turbulence from crosswinds or sudden weather changes, increasing the risk of hard landings or runway excursions.
- Ground Handling: The condition of the ground infrastructure, including taxiways and ramps, is critical. Pilots must be cautious of soft spots or areas not properly constructed to withstand aircraft weight, which can lead to accidents.
- Limited Runway Width and Length: Airports with insufficient runway dimensions may restrict landing and takeoff performance for larger aircraft, posing risks during adverse conditions where longer stopping distances are required.
- Inadequate Visual Aids: Poorly designed lighting and navigational aids can impair a pilot’s ability to assess runway conditions, especially in low visibility scenarios.
- Safety Compliance: Non-compliance with international aviation standards during the design and construction phases may lead to operational hazards that pilots must navigate.
How do airport design and infrastructure impact aviation safety?
- Structural Reliability: The strength and reliability of runway surfaces directly affect safety. Insufficient ground support may lead to structural failures under heavy loads, as seen in the Doha incident.
- Drainage Systems: Effective drainage systems are vital for preventing water accumulation on runways, which can lead to hydroplaning and loss of control during landings.
- Environmental Considerations: The placement of airports in flood-prone areas without adequate flood management strategies can compromise safety during heavy rainfall, as experienced in Chennai.
- Design Standards: Compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards is crucial for ensuring that airports are capable of safely accommodating various aircraft types.
- Construction Quality: The choice of construction materials and techniques directly impacts the longevity and safety of airport infrastructure. Cost-cutting measures may lead to substandard designs.
What measures are being taken to enhance pilot training and operational procedures at these high-risk airports? (Way forward)
- Enhanced Simulation Training: Pilots receive advanced simulation training to handle specific challenges associated with landing at high-risk airports, including crosswind landings and emergencies on compromised runways.
- Regular Safety Audits: Conduct audits and inspections of airport facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with safety standards and identify potential hazards.
- Real-time Weather Updates: Implementation of systems that provide pilots with real-time updates on weather conditions and runway status, helping them make informed decisions during landings.
- Collaboration with Engineers: Continuous collaboration between pilots and airport engineers during the planning and construction phases to address potential safety issues upfront.
- Training on Emergency Protocols: Training programs that include scenarios specific to airports with known risks, ensuring pilots are prepared for emergencies related to runway or taxiway failures.
Mains PYQ:
Q Examine the development of Airports in India through joint ventures under Public – Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard. (2017)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gompertz Model
Why in the News?
Indian researchers have developed a predictive model based on the Gompertz Model to estimate a newborn’s birth weight using routine pregnancy scans.
What is the Gompertz Model?
- It is a mathematical model developed by English mathematician Benjamin Gompertz in the early 19th century.
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- It was originally designed to model population growth in a constrained environment, such as a specific geographic region.
- The model uses an S-shaped (sigmoid) curve to represent growth patterns that start slowly, accelerate, and then slow again as they approach a plateau.
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- Biology: The Gompertz Model is used to study tumor growth and cell population dynamics, reflecting constrained growth in biological systems.
- Epidemiology: Applied in predicting the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, capturing how transmission rates slow with interventions.
- Ecology: Useful for modelling species population growth in habitats with limited resources, aiding conservation and ecosystem management.
- Healthcare: Recently adapted to predict foetal birth weight, helping identify potential risks associated with low or high birth weight.
- Aging Research: Employed to analyze mortality rates and lifespan patterns, contributing to studies on aging and longevity.
Recent Research and Significance
- Recent research has applied the Gompertz Model in predicting foetal birth weight using routine scans, as shown by researchers from IISER Pune and IMSc Chennai, offering a non-invasive alternative for maternal health.
- The model is used in tumor growth studies, allowing researchers to understand and predict cancer progression.
- Its predictive accuracy under constrained conditions makes it useful for biological systems, including population growth and cell dynamics.
- In healthcare, it supports early detection and intervention for conditions impacted by growth patterns, such as low or high birth weight risks.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Glacial Lakes
Why in the News?
Since 1977, the South Lhonak Lake, a glacial lake in Sikkim has expanded significantly, growing from 17 hectares to 167 hectares by 2023.
Formation of Glacial Lakes:
- When a glacier melts and retreats, the hollow left behind often fills with water, creating a glacial lake.
- The rocky moraine at the glacier’s end can act as a natural dam, holding the water to form the lake.
- Glacial lakes act as hydrological buffers, regulating water flow from melting ice, which can sometimes pose challenges to downstream communities.
- Glacial lakes often have a vivid blue color, similar to swimming pools, due to the scattering of light by fine rock particles (rock flour) in the water.
- There are several types of glacial lakes, each formed by specific processes and glacier dynamics:
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- Moraine-Dammed Lakes: Formed when moraine debris piles up at the end of a glacier and traps meltwater behind it. These are common and pose risks of outburst flooding.
- Kettle Lakes: This was created when a chunk of glacier ice is buried in the moraine and eventually melts, leaving a depression filled with water.
- Cirque Lakes: Formed in circular basins (cirques) carved by glaciers at high elevations. These lakes are often small and located at the glacier’s original head.
- Pro-glacial Lakes: Situated in front of the glacier, between the ice and the moraine dam. These lakes are sometimes formed when the glacier’s snout melts and deposits water in the valley.
- Tarn Lakes: Formed in depressions left behind in the cirques or basins after the glacier has completely melted.
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Major Glacial Lakes in India
India’s Himalayan region is home to numerous glacial lakes, each with unique characteristics:
- Gurudongmar Lake (Sikkim): One of the highest lakes in the world at 5,430 meters above sea level, fed by glacial melt and known for its religious significance.
- Chandra Taal (Himachal Pradesh): A stunning crescent-shaped lake in the Lahaul-Spiti region at 4,300 meters. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fed by glacier melt.
- Samiti Lake (Sikkim): Located along the trek to Kanchenjunga and known for its clear blue waters and reflective quality.
- Satopanth Tal (Uttarakhand): Found in the Garhwal Himalayas, this lake lies close to Satopanth Glacier and is considered sacred by locals.
- South Lhonak Lake (Sikkim): A growing lake fed by three glaciers, expanding rapidly due to climate change and posing risks of glacial lake outburst floods.
PYQ:
[2019] Consider the following pairs:
Glacier: River
- Bandarpunch: Yamuna
- Bara Shigri: Chenab
- Milam: Mandakini
- Siachen: Nubra
- Zemu: Manas
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 3 and 5 only |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Why in the News?
A recent study from Michigan Medicine found that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common sleep disorder, increases the risk of dementia (loss of cognitive functioning) in adults, especially in women.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
- OSA is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to blocked airways.
- It is marked by episodes of disrupted or restricted breathing, leading to brief awakenings throughout the night.
- Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air, morning headaches, and daytime drowsiness.
- Risk Factors: Common in individuals who are overweight, have large tonsils or suffer from nasal congestion.
- In India, approximately 10.4 lakh people are reported to suffer from OSA, as per government data.
- Untreated OSA is associated with various health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.
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Recent Findings on OSA and Dementia Risk
- A study from Michigan Medicine found a link between OSA and increased dementia risk, especially in older adults over 50.
- Women with known or suspected OSA were found to have a higher likelihood of developing dementia compared to men, with dementia diagnoses increasing as women age.
- Another study by NIMHANS focused on the link between stroke and OSA.
- 105 stroke patients over the age of 50 were studied using polysomnography (PSG), which tracks brain waves and sleep breathing patterns.
- Results showed that 88% of stroke patients had sleep apnea soon after their stroke, with 38% having severe OSA.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
Why in the news?
Employees of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) institutions have expressed concerns over the delay in revising their pay scales.
About the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR):
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Details |
| Establishment |
It was established as an Autonomous organization, in 1969 on the recommendation of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee (National Income Committee). |
| Nodal Ministry |
Operates under the Ministry of Education. |
| Function |
Promote, fund, and support social science research in India. |
| Objectives |
• Encourage social science research
• Fund and coordinate research in various branches
• Collaborate with international research organizations
• Provide policy recommendations based on research |
| Organizational Structure |
It is governed by a Council of eminent scholars and policymakers, supported by 24 research institutes and 6 regional centers. |
| Research Institutes |
Funds institutes such as:
• Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram
• Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru
• Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSS), Kolkata
• Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Pune |
| Key Programs and Initiatives |
• ICSSR Data Service: National repository for social science data
• NASSDOC: Documentation and library services
• Workshops and conferences to enhance research capabilities |
| International Collaboration |
Collaborates with organizations like UNESCO and the Indian Council of World Affairs for joint projects and scholar exchanges. |
PYQ:
[2013] Which of the following bodies is/are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
1. National Development Council
2. Planning Commission
3. Zonal Councils
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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