GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Recent advances in 'multi-omics' approaches have significantly enhanced the diagnosis and treatment of diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and cancers in India. This transformation has been driven by innovations in genomics and the rapid development of health infrastructure, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is Multi-omics?

• Multi-omicsis a powerful predictive and diagnostic approach, which helps to understand a complex, heterogeneous disease like cancer.
• It brings together multiple complex ‘omics’ datasets, which machine learning and AI can translate into meaningful biological insights.

Recent Significant Transformation (Multi-omics Integration)

• Genome India: This project has completed sequencing 10,000 genomes from 99 ethnic groups to develop a reference genome for Indian people, aiding in the creation of low-cost diagnostics and research tools.
• IndiGen: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) sequenced genomes of 1,008 individuals to analyze genetic diseases, develop affordable screening methods, and optimize treatments.
• Multi-omics Approach: Combining genomics with other extensive datasets on proteins (proteomics), gene expression (transcriptomics), and chemical changes regulating gene expression (epigenomics) to tackle diseases more effectively.

Disease-specific Applications

• Tuberculosis: The Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS) is sequencing 32,000 TB clinical strains to map genetic diversity, correlate mutations with drug resistance, and develop a sequence-based method for determining drug resistance. This effort includes collecting clinical samples and metadata, isolating genetic material, and conducting whole-genome sequencing.
• Cancers: The Indian Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-India) aims to identify population-specific genetic variations linked to cancer risk and treatment response. This initiative is part of a broader effort to facilitate personalized medicine and develop targeted therapies based on genetic profiling.

Rare Genetic Disorders and Antimicrobial Resistance

• Mission PRaGeD: This initiative focuses on raising awareness, performing genetic diagnoses, discovering new genes or variants, providing counseling, and developing new therapies for rare genetic diseases affecting children in India. It incorporates data from the IndiGen project and uses next-generation sequencing to manage rare diseases.
• Antimicrobial Resistance: Genomics and metagenomics help predict antibiotic resistance profiles without culturing bacteria, aiding in the judicious use of antibiotics. This is particularly valuable for slow-growing pathogens like the tuberculosis bacterium, allowing clinicians to make informed treatment decisions.

Impact and Future Directions

• Human Dignity and Quality of Life: Multi-omics approaches have the potential to break cycles of poverty and exploitation associated with disease, improving health outcomes and enhancing human dignity.
• AI and ML Integration: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential for managing large genomic datasets, predicting disease risk, and developing diagnostic and therapeutic tools. These technologies help analyze extensive data sets, identify disease-causing variants, and develop treatment strategies.
• Comprehensive Healthcare: Emphasizes the need for a holistic approach, addressing root causes, strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing coordination between health and research entities, and investing in health infrastructure to support the expansion and integration of multi-omics technologies.

Mains Practice Question

Q: “Discuss how the integration of multi-omics approaches is revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of diseases like tuberculosis and cancers in India. What are the challenges and future prospects of these innovations?”

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for its ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission, aiming to bring back samples from the Moon. This mission involves unique challenges and innovative strategies, including assembling spacecraft parts in space.

What is Chandrayaan-4?

• Chandrayaan-4 will be launched in multiple parts due to the spacecraft's size exceeding the carrying capacity of ISRO's most powerful rocket. The components will be assembled in space before heading to the Moon.
• This approach is similar to the construction of the International Space Station.
• It will be the first time a lunar mission adopts this method, potentially setting a new precedent in space exploration. ISRO is developing new docking capabilities to join spacecraft parts in both Earth and Moon orbits.
• Chandrayaan-4 is expected to be beyond the carrying capacity of even the most powerful rocket that ISROcurrently has.

Technological Marvel and Testing

• Spadex Mission: To test the docking capabilities required for Chandrayaan-4, ISRO will conduct a mission called Spadex later this year. This mission will demonstrate in-space docking, a crucial step for the success of Chandrayaan-4.
• Configuration and Capabilities: The configuration involves developing technologies to dock modules in space, which will be essential for future complex missions. A detailed study and internal review of the Chandrayaan-4 mission are complete, and cost estimates will soon be submitted for government approval.

Future Missions and Space Station Plans

• Vision 2047: ISRO's long-term vision includes plans for India’s own space station by 2035 and sending humans to the Moon by 2040. The future Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) will also be assembled in space through multiple launches.
• Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): ISRO is developing the NGLV, a heavy rocket with an upgraded design to handle larger missions. A new launch complex is being created to accommodate this 4,000-ton rocket, essential for future missions.

Mains Practice Question

Q: “Discuss the significance of ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 mission and its innovative approach of in-space assembly. What challenges does this mission present, and how can they be addressed?”

India's installed rooftop solar (RTS) capacity has seen significant growth, with a record increase of 2.99 GW in 2023-2024. As of March 31, the total installed RTS capacity in India was 11.87 GW. This growth underscores the need for a sustained push to harness India's vast RTS potential to meet the rising energy demands.

Key Highlights of the RTS Programme

• Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission: Launched in January 2010, aiming to produce 20 GW of solar energy by 2022, later revised to 100 GW with a 40 GW RTS component.
• Current Status: As of December 2022, India had installed 7.5 GW of RTS capacity, extending the 40 GW target to 2026. The overall RTS potential is approximately 796 GW.
• Future Targets: To achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with 280 GW from solar, RTS must contribute around 100 GW.

State-wise Performance

• Gujarat: Leading with an installed RTS capacity of 3,456 MW, attributed to quick approval processes, a large number of installers, and high consumer awareness.
• Maharashtra: Following with 2,072 MW, driven by robust policies and a conducive regulatory environment.
• Rajasthan: Boasts the highest RTS potential (1,154 MW) due to its land area and high solar irradiance, supported by streamlined approvals and financial incentives.
• Other States: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have also performed well, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand face challenges like bureaucratic hurdles and lack of infrastructure.

Challenges and Solutions

• Economic Viability: Government subsidies and low-cost financing options are crucial. Increasing the number of financial institutions offering RTS loans can make these systems more accessible.
• Technological Advancements: Promoting R&D in solar technology, energy storage solutions, and smart-grid infrastructure can reduce costs and improve system reliability.
• Skill Development: Training programs like 'Suryamitra' can build a skilled workforce to support the growing RTS sector.
• Regulatory Framework: Updating net-metering regulations, grid-integration standards, and building codes is essential to address emerging challenges and facilitate smooth implementation.

Implications on Energy Security

• Energy Independence: Expanding RTS can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing India's energy security.
• Environmental Benefits: Increased use of solar energy can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
• Economic Growth: Developing the RTS sector can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and provide reliable power to underserved areas.

Need for Equity in Solarification

• Inclusive Growth: Ensuring equitable access to RTS systems across urban and rural areas can bridge the energy divide.
• Support for Marginalized Communities: Providing targeted subsidies and incentives can help marginalized communities adopt RTS, ensuring they benefit from renewable energy advancements.

Mains Practice Question

Q: “How well is India tapping its rooftop solar potential? Discuss the challenges and suggest measures to enhance the adoption of rooftop solar systems in India.”

South African scientists have initiated a pioneering project ‘Rhisotope’ to inject radioactive material into live rhino horns, aiming to deter poaching by making the horns easier to detect at border posts.

Key Highlights of the Initiative

• Project Name: Rhisotope project
• Goal: to deter poachers who kill the animals for their horns
• Method: Injection of low-dose radioactive material into rhino horns
• Detection: Radioactive material detectable by radiation detectors at international borders
• Duration: Radioactive material expected to last 5 years on the horn

Reasons Behind Rhino Poaching

• Demand in Asian Markets: Rhino horns used in traditional medicine
• High Black Market Value: Horn prices rival gold and cocaine by weight
• Poverty and Unemployment: Drives local involvement in poaching
• Weak Law Enforcement: Inadequate anti-poaching measures in some areas
• Impact of Rhino Poaching
• Population Decline: 499 rhinos killed in South Africa in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022
• Ecosystem Imbalance: Rhinos play a crucial role in maintaining savanna ecosystems
• Economic Losses: Affects wildlife tourism and local economies
• International Relations: Strains between source and demand countries

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Evaluate the effectiveness of international efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. Suggest innovative measures that could be adopted to strengthen the global response to this issue.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was officially recognised as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha.

What is the role of Leader of Opposition (LoP)?

• A Leader of Opposition is the PM-in-waiting.
• The LoP holds an important position in a parliamentary democracy. 
• He is a part of the high-level committee that selects the
  • Chief Election Commissioners
  • heads of central agencies like the CBI and ED. 
  • Lokpal
  • Chief Vigilance Commissioner
  • National Human Rights Commission chairperson.
• LoP is a “shadow Prime Minister”: According to the ‘Practice and Procedure of Parliament’, a manual published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, as a shadow Prime Minister, the LoP has to be prepared to “take up the responsibility of forming a government if his party secures a majority at an election or if the government resigns or is defeated.”
• The position — both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — has statutory recognition. The LoP is given salary and certain other facilities and amenities as mandated by The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

A recent report highlighted that there has been a significant decline in usage of e-rupee, India’s digital currency, dropping to just one-tenth of its peak in December.

What is e-rupee?

• In 2022, the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) had launched the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) — digital rupee or e-rupee (e?).
• A CBDC is the legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form. It is the same as a fiatcurrency and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency. Only its form is different.
• E-rupee is a digital form of currency issued by the RBI, akin to digital currency notes. It is regulated and backed by the RBI, ensuring it has intrinsic value and is recognized as legal tender.
• Types of CBDCs:
  • Retail CBDCs:These are designed for general public use in everyday transactions, akin to the way physical cash is used currently.
  • Wholesale CBDCs:These are intended for use by financial institutions for interbank settlements and other wholesale transactions, enhancing efficiency and security in large-scale financial operations.

Australia’s Lizard Island, nestled in the northern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, has recently been thrust into the global spotlight due to a catastrophic event—mass coral bleaching. The island has become a tragic emblem of the escalating impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.

Key Findings

• Approximately 97 percent of the coral reefs surrounding Lizard Island have succumbed to bleaching and subsequent mortality.
• Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel algae, turning them white and leaving them vulnerable to disease and death.
• The severity of bleaching observed at Lizard Island underscores the rapid and devastating consequences of prolonged heat stress on marine biodiversity.
• About Lizard Island
  • Lizard Island is located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland.
  • It is part of the larger Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning coral formations and diverse marine life.

Human activities and changing weather patterns are threatening the Pink Flamingos, world’s largest migratory bird colony.

About Flamingos

• Flamingos belong to the family Phoenicopteridae
• They are nomads since they do not generally have permeant homes. 
• Flamingoes are considered social birds and can be found in flocks of a few pairs, increasing to tens of thousands.
• Pink color: Carotenoids are pigments that are red-orange in color. When flamingos eat foods containing carotenoids, the pigment is transferred to their body and broken down causing the flamingo to be pink.

Lake Natron and Its Ecosystem

• Lake Natron, nestled in northern Tanzania within Africa's Great Rift Valley, is home to millions of pink flamingos painting its alkaline waters. However, this iconic display of nature's beauty faces grave threats from human activities and climate change, jeopardizing the world's largest migratory bird colony.
• Lake Natron and its neighboring lakes, like Lake Bogoria in Kenya, are hostile environments for most life forms due to their high temperatures and chemical composition, characterized by caustic soda and hypersaline waters.

India's diverse geological features and landscapes, representing billions of years of Earth's history, are at risk due to lack of conservation efforts and public awareness. There is an urgent need to improve geological literacy and protect these non-cultural heritage sites.

Importance of Geological Conservation:

• Educational Value: Geo-heritage sites serve as natural laboratories, providing insights into Earth's history and fostering geological literacy.
• Scientific Significance: These sites preserve evidence of ancient life, celestial impacts, and geological processes, crucial for scientific research.
• Heritage Preservation: Geological features represent India's non-cultural heritage, showcasing the country's diverse morphology and evolutionary history.

Challenges in Geo-conservation in India:

• Lack of Legal Framework: Unlike biodiversity conservation, India lacks specific legislation for geo-heritage conservation.
• Destructive Activities: Development projects, real estate growth, and stone mining (covering over 10% of India's total area) threaten geological sites.
• Limited Authority: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has notified 34 geological monuments but lacks regulatory powers to implement preservation measures.

Global Progress and India's Position:

• International Initiatives: UNESCO has prepared guidelines for geo-parks, with 169 Global Geoparks across 44 countries as of now.
• Legislative Measures: Many countries have implemented laws to conserve geological heritage, while India, despite being a signatory, lacks such legislation.
• Failed Attempts: The 2009 National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill and the 2022 Draft Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics Bill have not progressed significantly.

Way Forward for India:

• Inventory Creation: Develop a comprehensive inventory of prospective geo-sites beyond the 34 identified by GSI.
• Legislative Action: Frame geo-conservation legislation similar to the Biological Diversity Act 2002.
• Institutional Framework: Establish a 'National Geo-Conservation Authority' with independent observers, ensuring autonomy for researchers and private collectors.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q. Discuss the importance of geological heritage conservation in India. How can the country balance development needs with the preservation of its geological features?

The 2024 general election resulted in the numerically largest Opposition in Lok Sabha history, with over 234 seats. This has reignited discussions about the role and significance of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Indian parliamentary democracy.

Historical and Legal Framework of LoP:

• Definition and Recognition: The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 first defined the LoP as the leader of the party in opposition with the greatest numerical strength.
• Numerical Requirement: To be recognized as LoP, a party needs 10% of the House strength (54 seats in Lok Sabha) as per Speaker's Direction 121 from the 1950s.
• Impact of 10th Schedule: The 10th Schedule's recognition of all political parties as "parties" regardless of size has made the earlier categorization of parties and groups less relevant.

Significance and Challenges of LoP in Indian Context:

• Westminster Tradition: In Westminster tradition, the LoP is considered the Prime Minister-in-waiting and forms a shadow cabinet to scrutinize government policies.
• Indian Adaptation: India hasn't adopted the shadow cabinet system, and the 1977 Act doesn't define specific functions for the LoP.
• Opposition Unity: The LoP faces challenges in uniting a diverse opposition without the power-sharing arrangements available to ruling coalitions.

Impact of 2024 Election on Opposition's Role:

• Increased Influence: The unprecedented 234+ opposition members have boosted opposition morale and influence in parliamentary proceedings.
• Parliamentary Dynamics: This new dynamic can affect question admissions, bill debates, committee referrals, and other House functions.
• LoP's Responsibility: The LoP has a crucial responsibility to maintain opposition unity and effectively communicate government failures to the public.

Potential for Strengthening Democratic Traditions:

• Communication Channels: British tradition encourages direct communication between the Prime Minister and LoP on major policy initiatives.
• Historical Precedents: Historical examples, like Nehru's engagement with opposition leaders, demonstrate the value of respectful parliamentary discourse.
• Opportunity for Normalcy: The large opposition presents an opportunity to restore normalcy and constructive debate in Parliament.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q. Compare and contrast the concept of a 'shadow cabinet' in the Westminster system with the functioning of opposition in the Indian Parliament.

A U.S. Congressional delegation's visit to Dharamshala and their public rally supporting Tibet's freedom has brought attention to India's stance on the Tibet issue and its relations with China and the U.S.

U.S. Congressional Delegation's Visit and Its Implications:

• Timing and Purpose: The delegation arrived shortly after the passage of the 'Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act' in the U.S. Congress.
• Public Rally: For the first time in recent years, a public rally of this kind was held in India, with U.S. officials making strong statements against China's Tibet policy.
• Indian Government's Response: India's External Affairs Minister and Prime Minister met with the delegation, indicating a considered decision by New Delhi.

India's Tibet Policy and Its Challenges:

• Historical Stance: India has offered refuge to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees since 1959, without publicly articulating concerns about their treatment.
• Policy Evolution: Since 2010, India has stopped articulating a 'One China' policy due to China's actions against India's territorial integrity.
• Balancing Act: India maintains a delicate balance, recognizing the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader while not officially recognizing the Tibetan Government in Exile.

Concerns Over India's Position:

• Perceived Weakness: Allowing U.S. politicians to take center stage on the Tibet issue in India could be interpreted as a sign of weakness rather than strength.
• Loss of Control: India risks losing control of its carefully calibrated foreign policy narrative on Tibet.
• Diminishing Role: India's space as an important external figure in the Tibet issue may be diminished by growing U.S.-China contestations.

Way Forward for India:

• Reclaiming Voice: India needs to move decisively to reclaim its own voice and pace in its policy narrative on Tibet.
• Future Considerations: New Delhi must consider the future of its Tibet policy, especially regarding the question of the Dalai Lama's succession.
• Strategic Balance: India should maintain its strategic autonomy while balancing its relations with China and the U.S. on the Tibet issue.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q. Analyze India's evolving policy on Tibet since 1959 and discuss how recent geopolitical developments have impacted this stance.