UPSC QUIZ 11.05.2024

Explanation:

• The India Meteorological Department has warned of severe heatwave conditions affecting extensive areas of eastern India and the Gangetic Plain.
• As the world grapples with the waning phase of the strong El Niño of 2023.
• This highlights the challenge of understanding how global warming affects local weather. Additionally, the presence of anticyclones further complicates the situation, exacerbating the severity of heat waves in affected areas.

Role Do Heat Waves Play in Global Warming

• Heat waves result from climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels that add Greenhouse Gases (GHG) to the atmosphere.
• These gasses trap more heat energy, increasing average and extreme temperatures.
• GHG emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times.
• That warmer baseline means higher temperatures can be reached during extreme heat events.

Explanation:

• Recently, there has been a shift towards constructed wetlands, which are a more comprehensive and nature-based solution for industrial wastewater treatment, as compared to traditional methods that have proven inadequate in addressing the array of pollutants present.

Constructed Wetlands

• Constructed wetlands are engineered systems designed to replicate the natural processes of wetlands for wastewater treatment.
• They consist of carefully selected vegetation, soil, and water that work together to purify wastewater.
• These wetlands are specifically designed to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms and plants that can break down pollutants and improve water quality.

Explanation:

• India has achieved a significant milestone in the medical goods business, becoming a net exporter of medical consumables and disposables for the first time in the fiscal year 2022-23.This marks a reversal of an old trend where imports of such products outweighed exports.

Status of India's Pharmaceutical Industry

• India has historically been dependent on imports for medical consumables and disposables. India has now reversed this trend, indicating a shift towards self-sufficiency in this sector.
• India is the largest manufacturer of generic medicines globally. Its pharmaceutical industry plays a crucial role in global healthcare, providing affordable generic medicines.
• It is currently valued at USD 50 billion as a major pharmaceutical exporter, with over 200+ countries served by Indian pharma exports.
• It is expected to reach USD 65 Billion by 2024 and to USD 130 Billion by 2030.

Explanation:

• Excessive rainfall in Assam is actively reshaping the course of the Jiadhal River, causing soil erosion and posing a significant threat to agriculture.
• Originating at an altitude of 1247 meters in the Sub-Himalayan Mountains of Arunachal Pradesh, the river serves as a northern tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• It flows through a narrow valley in Arunachal Pradesh and the river originates in the plains of Assam, specifically in Dhemaji district, which is known as the "Sorrow of Dhemaji" due to annual floods and erosion.
• It flows downstream from Gogamukh, which has been renamed Kumotiya River.
• As a northern sub-tributary of the Brahmaputra River, it merges with the Subansiri River near its end point, increasing the water volume and power of the Brahmaputra.

Explanation:

• The Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved the proposal to conduct Phase II clinical trials of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Live Attenuated) vaccine.
• MTBVAC is the first vaccine against human-derived Mycobacterium tuberculosis to begin clinical trials in adults in India.
• Bharat Biotech International Limited in collaboration with Spanish biotechnology company Biofabri has initiated a series of clinical trials to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of MTBVAC in India.
• MTBVAC is being developed for two purposes: as a more effective and potentially longer-lasting vaccine than BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Guerin) for infants and to prevent tuberculosis (TB) in adults and adolescents. Developing vaccines for those for which there is currently no effective vaccine.
• MTBVAC is the only vaccine against tuberculosis in clinical trials that is based on a genetically modified form of the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from humans.Some other CDRI programs are adaptive housing in Dominica, adaptive transportation networks in Papua New Guinea and advanced early warning systems in the Dominican Republic and Fiji.