PM-DIVINE Scheme
Why in News
• The population-based cancer registry of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows that the Northeast region has the highest incidence of cancer in India.
Key point
• The national average of cancer patients in the country is around 90-120 per lakh population every year, while in the Northeast region it ranges to 220-270 patients per lakh population.
• As per the ICMR report, more than 45,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed every year in the Northeast region.
• Considering the need for cancer care in the North East region, a private hospital by a voluntary organization for the treatment of cancer patients was established in 1974 in Guwahati, Assam by Dr. B. Barua Cancer Institute (BBCI) was established.
• In the year 1980, the Institute was recognized as a Regional Cancer Center for Treatment and Research by the Government of India and since November 1989, BBCI was supported by the Government of Assam, Development Council of North Eastern Region (DAE), and Government of India.
• In September 2017, the Institute was transferred to DAE with existing personnel, assets and liabilities under the administrative control of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
• 14,000 new cancer patients and 200,000 chronic cancer patients visit the BBCI every year for diagnosis, treatment and screening.
• BBCI has state-of-the-art facilities for the treatment of common cancers of the North East region. However, statistics show that treatment facilities in the region are still limited.
• According to the ICMR report, 95 percent patients from Sikkim, 58 percent patients from Nagaland, 16 percent patients from Manipur, 13 percent patients from Meghalaya go outside Northeast region for cancer treatment.
• In addition, some cancers such as pediatric and adult hematolymphoid (blood cancer) malignancies are among the curable cancer diseases and, if treated appropriately, patients can live to live long and fruitful lives.
• The expertise in the treatment of these cancers is limited to a few specialized centers in the country, one of which is the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
• Establishment of a dedicated Pediatric Oncology Block in the North Eastern Region will create human resource and expertise for the care of these cancer patients.
“Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the Northeast”
• A new scheme in the Union Budget 2022-23, “Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the Northeast”, in short, PM-DIVINE, will be implemented through the North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
• The objective of the new scheme is to finance infrastructure in the spirit of Prime Minister Gatishakti, as well as support social development projects conceptualized based on the felt needs of the Northeast.
• For the year 2022-23, an initial allocation of Rs 1,500 crore was made for the PM-DIVINE scheme and one of the major projects to be launched during the year is “For the Management of Pediatric and Adult Hematolymphoid Cancer in Northeast India Establishment of dedicated services.
• This project at an estimated cost of Rs.129 crores was done by Dr. B. Borua Cancer Institute (BBCI) will be set up in Guwahati.
• This initiative is expected to give a major boost to cancer care in the region, as over the past 11 years, 3,855 pediatric and adult hematolymphoid cancer patients were admitted to the BBCI for treatment.
• Furthermore, due to the lack of adequate facilities other than BBCI in the Northeast region, there may be many more patients who require this specialized care, but cannot get it closer to home and may be referred to other patients across the country.
• With the establishment of a dedicated Pediatric Oncology Block in the region, treatment for this group of diseases can be offered to around 1,000 patients annually, which will significantly reduce patient costs and immensely benefit the people of the North East region.
GS PAPER II
Sustainable Cities India Program
Why in News
• The World Economic Forum and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a jointly designed ‘Sustainable Cities India Programme’, which aims to enhance the energy, transport and infrastructure of cities. To create an enabling environment to provide decarbonization solutions in the built environment sectors.
Key point
• This initiative is particularly noteworthy as it follows India’s commitment to turn net zero by 2070 as a climate mitigation response by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in COP-26.
• The ‘Sustainable Cities India Program’ aims to enable cities to decarbonize in an orderly and sustainable manner, which will reduce emissions and provide resilient and equitable urban ecosystems.
• The Forum and the NIUA will optimize the Forum’s City Sprint process and solution toolbox for decarbonization in the context of five to seven Indian cities over two years.
• The City Sprint process is a series of multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder workshops involving leaders from business, government and civil society, specifically implementing it to enable decarbonization through clean electrification and distribution. it happens.
• The workshop series results in a shortlist of relevant policies and business models that not only minimize emissions but maximize system value, such as improved air quality or job creation.
• It will also help jumpstart and/or accelerate City Sprints Net Zero planning and action. The City Sprint process utilizes the Toolbox of Solutions – a digital platform that contains over 200 examples of clean electrification, efficiency and smart infrastructure – for buildings, energy systems and mobility from more than 110 cities around the world.
• The City Sprint process will also enable cities to deliver pilot solutions. After that based on the findings, India will be able to contribute 10 to 40 best case studies, which will be integrated into the solution’s toolbox and displayed across the world.
• According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2022, densely populated countries like India that are heavily dependent on agriculture are particularly vulnerable to climate insecurity.
• Decarbonization in cities is a real opportunity to keep global warming below 2°C and cities in India can make a huge contribution to reach this goal.
About Net Zero Carbon Cities
• The World Economic Forum’s Net Zero Carbon Cities Mission aims to create an enabling environment for clean electrification and distribution, resulting in urban decarbonization and resilience.
• The objective of the program is to promote public-private cooperation to bridge the gap in the energy, built environment and transportation sectors.
About NIUA
• National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) established in the year 1976 is India’s premier national think tank on urban planning and development.
• As a center for creation and dissemination of cutting edge research in the urban sector, NIUA seeks to provide innovative solutions to address the challenges of rapid urbanization India and pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable cities of the future.
GS PAPER II
Climate change likely to favor soil-borne plant pathogens for diseases like dry root rot of chickpea in future
Why in News
• Indian scientists have found that dry root rot (DRR) disease with high temperature, drought conditions and soil moisture are favorable conditions.
• This disease damages the root and trunk of gram. This work will be useful for development of disease resistance and better management strategies.
Key point
• Dry root rot causes reduced plant vigor, green leaf discoloration, slow growth and stunted death.
• If there is extensive root damage, then the leaves of the plant dry up with sudden wilting. As global average temperatures rise, not much is known about the new pathogens that cause disease in plants. These also include a Macrophomina phaseolina. It is a soil borne necrotrophic (host) which causes root rot disease in gram.
• Presently the states of Central and South of India have been identified as the most affected area by DRR disease. In these states, a total of 5 to 35 percent of the gram crop is infected.
• Keeping in view the destructive potential of this pathogen and the potential for a pandemic in the near future, a team led by Dr. Mamta Sharma from ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) developed the science behind DRR in chickpea. The initiative to know
• The disease-monitoring team has found that high temperatures between 30 and 35 °C, dry conditions and soil moisture below 60 per cent are favorable conditions for dry root rot (DRR). Huh.
• This work, conducted at ICRISAT’s Center of Excellence on Climate Change, is supported and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This has proved the close association of this disease with climatic factors. The results have been published in Frontiers in Plant Science.
• These scientists have explained that Macrophomina survives in a wide range of environmental conditions. Even under extreme conditions of temperature, soil pH (potential of hydrogen value) and moisture.
• DRR disease is very high during flowering and pod formation stages in gram crop under high temperature and drought conditions. Scientists are now exploring how to use this study to develop resistance to disease and better management strategies.
• Apart from this, the team is also trying to address the disease favorable conditions identified from molecular point of view.
• In a recent breakthrough in gene expression studies, scientists have identified some promising genes encoding for enzymes such as chitinase and endochitinase.
• This DRR can provide some degree of protection against infection.
• The ICRISAT team in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has also taken several multi-pronged approaches including continuous surveillance, improved detection techniques, development and testing of predictive models, etc. to fight such deadly plant related diseases.
GS PAPER II
Dharma Guardian-2022
Why in News
• Joint military exercise “Dharma Guardian-2022” between India and Japan will be conducted from 27 February 2022 to 10 March 2022 at the Foreign Training Node, Belagavi (Belgaum, Karnataka).
Key point
• Military exercise Dharma Guardian-2022 is an annual exercise program, which is being conducted in India since 2018.
• Notably, in the series of military training exercises conducted by India with various countries, the exercise “Dharma Guardian” with Japan is decisive and extremely important in the context of the security challenges faced by both the countries in the backdrop of the current global situation.
• Platoon level joint training on combat operations in jungle and semi urban/urban areas is also being organized during this exercise.
• Experienced soldiers from 15th Battalion of Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of Indian Army and 30th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise this year for planning and execution of various skills in jungle and semi urban/urban areas. To share experiences gained during combat operations to enhance interoperability.
• A contingent of Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces arrived at the exercise site on 25 February 2022.
• The 12-day long joint military training exercise includes house intervention drills, raids on terrorist hideouts in semi-urban areas, first aid, and unarmed combat and close quarter combat firing exercises, where both sides jointly assess potential threats. Will train, plan and execute during a series of well-developed tactical exercises to neutralize. The Joint Field Training Exercise, Joint War Discussion and Joint Demonstration will culminate with a two-day validation exercise scheduled on March 08 and 09, 2022.
• Special emphasis is being given to enhance strategic skills and enhance inter-operability between forces and promote one-army-to-military relations to combat global terrorism.
• “Exercise Dharma Guardian” will increase the level of defense cooperation between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, which in turn will further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.
GS PAPER II
Impact of Russo-Ukraine War on India
Why in News
• Russia has attacked many areas of Ukraine on the morning of 24 February 2022. Russia has recognized the rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine.
Impact on India
• India has trade relations with both Russia and Ukraine and many citizens of India live in these two countries.
• Most of the people in Ukraine go to study from India. In Russia, many Indians go for studies as well as for jobs. Due to the mutual tension between the two countries, not only the Indian citizens may have to face problems in the coming days.
• According to the Indian Embassy in Russia, about 14 thousand Indians live in Russia. There are about 5 thousand students among them. At the same time, there are about 500 businessmen. These businessmen are involved in the business of tea, coffee, rice and spices.
• Ukraine has the largest number of medical students. Around 18 to 20 thousand students study here. Medical education in Ukraine is done at less than half the cost of India.
• The deep impact of this war on the Indian economy can be seen because if this war progresses to the third world war, then there will definitely be a negative effect on business activities.
• First of all, the price of crude oil, which has already gone to $ 101 a barrel, may increase further and it will prove to be very negative for India. The country’s import spending will increase, due to which the trade deficit will also go up.
• The increase in the price of oil will also affect the freight movement and due to this, food items like vegetables-fruits, pulses, oil etc. are all expected to become expensive.
• The war between Russia-Ukraine in India has started showing signs of rising inflation.
• According to a report, the share of natural gas in India’s total fuel consumption is about 6 percent. India imports 56 percent of this 6 percent.
• These imports mostly come from countries like Qatar, Russia, Australia, Norway. Russia is the largest exporter of natural gas to Western Europe and pipelines are laid in this area. If something happens to this pipeline, the supply may be disrupted and prices will be affected.
• Most refined sunflower in the world is exported from Ukraine. Russia ranks second in refined supply after Ukraine.
• If the war between the two countries goes on for a long time, there may be a shortage of sunflower oil used in homes.
• Ukraine’s market is also huge for fertilizers for India.
• A large quantity of fertilizer comes to India from here. Also Ukraine sells some turbines of the Indian Navy. Pearls, precious stones and metals are imported from Russia.