Current Affairs – January 11, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Sites} Absence of Prehistoric Cave Paintings in the Levant

Context (IE): A new study explores why prehistoric humans in the Levant, including modern-day Palestine, Israel, and surrounding areas, did not create cave paintings, unlike their European counterparts.

Prehistoric Art in the Levant

Levantine Prehistoric Region: Includes present-day Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Upper Palaeolithic Period: Timeframe of 43,000–28,000 years ago.
No Cave Art Found: Despite abundant caves and archaeological evidence, no decorated Upper Palaeolithic caves have been discovered in the Levant.
Evidence of Other Art Forms: Prehistoric humans in the Levant did produce art but not cave paintings.

Aurignacian Culture

Aurignacian: A European archaeological culture known for its early cave art, figurines, and symbolic objects during the Upper Paleolithic period.
Timeframe & Geography: 43,000–28,000 years ago; primarily in Western Europe & parts of the Levant.
Key Traits: Known for stone and ivory figurines, beads, and cave paintings.

Connections between Levant and Aurignacian

Aurignacian Connection to Levant: Physical and cultural contacts existed between Aurignacian groups in Europe and the Levant during the same period.
Aurignacian Tools: Both Levantine and European groups used similar tools and artistic objects.

Source: Britannica
Cognitive Abilities: Prehistoric humans in the Levant had the cognitive capabilities for creating art, suggesting a potential cultural or environmental reason for the absence of cave paintings.
Archaeological Evidence: Extensive research supports the cognitive and cultural similarities between Levantine and European prehistoric humans.

Theories for Absence of Cave Art in Levant

Ritualistic Purpose of Art: Cave art in Europe might have served to mediate human relations with the cosmos, particularly in response to ecological anxieties.
Decline of Megaherbivores in Levant: Unlike Europe, the Levant’s megaherbivores, such as elephants, had already declined by the end of the Lower Paleolithic, before the Aurignacian period.
Impact on Art Creation: Without the same ecological pressures or megafauna extinction, there may have been less need for ritualistic cave art in the Levant.

Context (TH): Indian medical education is undergoing rapid changes, yet several gaps have emerged.

Regulation of Medical Education in India

National Medical Commission (NMC): The NMC regulates medical education, sets standards, and grants approval for medical colleges in India.
State Medical Councils: They oversee the implementation of NMC guidelines at the state level and regulate medical professionals.
Entrance and Licensing Exams: Entrance exams like NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) for admission and NEXT (National Exit Test) for licensing ensure uniform assessment across the country.

Current Gaps in Medical Education

Curriculum Issues

Clinical Training Deficit: Bedside teaching has nearly disappeared due to inverted schedules prioritising morning lectures over clinical rotations.
Theoretical Overload: Despite Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME), more focus is placed on lectures, with limited practical application.
Standardized Practices Lacking: Irregular implementation of CBME across institutions leads to inconsistent training quality.

Regulatory Shortcomings

Inspection Gaps: Inconsistent and irregular inspections allow subpar institutions to operate.
Relaxed Norms: Eased criteria for establishing medical colleges compromise education quality.

Infrastructure and Faculty Deficit

Inadequate Facilities: Many new colleges lack essential infrastructure, including laboratories & libraries.
Shortages: Shortage of qualified faculty affects teacher-student engagement & learning outcomes.
Poor Faculty-Student Ratios: Reverse of Western standards, hindering effective mentorship and academic interaction.

Quality Decline

Lower Standards: Reduced failure rates suggest declining rigour, with even mediocre students passing.
NEXT Implementation Delays: Uncertainty in the rollout of the NEXT affects uniform assessment.

Rapid Expansion

Increased Colleges and Seats: Medical colleges increased from under 100 in 1970 to 766 in 2024, with MBBS seats rising from 64,464 to 1,15,812 in a decade.
Policy Push: Upgrading district hospitals into colleges aims to improve healthcare access.

Challenges of Rapid Expansion

Quantity Over Quality: Expansion without adequate infrastructure undermines education standards.
Misaligned Western Models: Copying Western practices without local adaptation leads to inefficiencies.

Recommendations for Reform

Revive Bedside Teaching: Reinstate morning clinical rotations for hands-on patient interaction.
Streamline CBME: Ensure uniform and practical implementation of competency-based education.
Adapt Curriculum to Local Needs: Customize teaching practices to address India-specific challenges.
Consistent Inspections: Implement regular, unbiased evaluations of institutions to maintain quality.
Stringent Approval Norms: Avoid politically-driven relaxation of standards to establish medical colleges.
Enhance Facilities: Invest to equip institutions with necessary infrastructure (labs, libraries & hospitals).
Recruit Faculty: Incentivize qualified professionals to join academia to address faculty shortages.
Expedite NEXT Rollout: Develop clear guidelines & implement the test for uniform assessment.

Context (TH): Cornell University has transferred its AnemiaPhone technology to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to enhance anaemia detection across India.

Anaemia is a condition characterised by a deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin, leading to fatigue, weakness, and other health issues.

AnemiaPhone

A portable device for rapid screening and diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia.
Functionality: Utilizes a small blood sample from a finger stick applied to a test strip; results are analysed by a reader and uploaded to a clinical database via mobile devices.
Accessibility: Enables rapid, on-site screening without extensive laboratory infrastructure.
Affordability: Cost-effective solution for widespread anaemia screening.
Ease of Use: Minimal training is required for healthcare workers to operate the device.

Working

Sample Requirement: Single drop of blood from a finger stick.
Analysis Time: Few minutes for result generation.
Data Transmission: Results uploaded via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled devices to a clinical database.
Portability: Designed for use in various settings, including homes, clinics, and during door-to-door healthcare surveys.

Significance for India

Anaemia Prevalence: Affects 50%-70% of pregnant women in India.
Potential Impact: Aims to enhance the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme by providing accessible and affordable diagnostic tools, particularly benefiting women and children.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Breaching 1.5°C

Context (IE): In 2024, global temperature surpassed the 1.5°C threshold, reaching 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, raising concerns about climate tipping points & the urgency of mitigation measures.

Contributing factors

Rising Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Persistent emissions from fossil fuel use continue to drive global warming.
Despite commitments under Paris Agreement, emission reductions remain insufficient to meet targets.

Exceptional Warming Events

2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm, surpassing the previous record of 2016 (strong El Niño year).
Recent warming attributed to mild El Niño, underwater volcanic eruptions (Tonga, 2022), and reduced sulphur dioxide emissions from the shipping industry.

Impact of El Niño and La Niña

El Niño: Contributed to recent temp spikes. Leads to warming by altering ocean-atmosphere interactions.
La Niña: Temporarily offsets global warming but is typically followed by El Niño, causing rebounds.

Climate Tipping Points

Crossing 1.5°C heightens the risk of triggering irreversible changes in natural systems, such as ice sheet melting and deforestation feedback loops.

Major Implications of Crossing 1.5°C

Severe Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, cyclones, floods, and droughts, causing public health and agricultural challenges.
Ocean Warming and Coral Bleaching: Rising ocean temperatures disrupt marine ecosystems, lead to widespread coral bleaching, and accelerate sea-level rise, threatening coastal areas.
Cryosphere Warming: Melting glaciers and polar ice contribute to rising sea levels, endangering low-lying communities.
Economic & Social Strains: Rising temperatures impact agriculture, water availability & energy demand, worsening socio-economic inequalities & increasing financial burdens, espl. for developing countries.
Extreme Weather Damages: Escalating damages from extreme weather events strain national economies and global financial systems.
International Agreement Challenges: While short-term breaches don’t indicate Paris Agreement failure, insufficient emission cuts could result in long-term breaches, reducing the likelihood of staying within the 1.5°C target.

Mitigation Strategies

Reducing GHG Emissions: Rapid decarbonisation of energy, transport, and industry; adoption of carbon capture technologies and reforestation to enhance carbon sinks.
Sustainable Development Practices: Promote sustainable agriculture, water management, and resilient infrastructure to reduce climate vulnerability.
Strengthening Climate Governance: Enhance global cooperation through climate finance and strengthen Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Advancing Climate Science: Increase funding for research to refine prediction models and understand climate feedback systems.
Promoting Green Innovations: Develop low-carbon technologies and green industrial processes for long-term sustainability.

Role of Key Organizations in Climate Monitoring

World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Publishes annual climate reports, provides global climate forecasts, and leads disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation initiatives.
Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S): Monitors global temperatures, provides critical climate indicator data, and offers tools for climate adaptation planning.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Tracks oceanic and atmospheric changes, contributing to El Niño/La Niña forecasts and global climate reports.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Garudakshi Portal

Context (IE): Karnataka’s Forest Department has launched the Garudakshi portal with pilot implementation in Bengaluru Urban, Bhadravathi, Sirsi & Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary divisions.
Introduced by the Karnataka Forest Department in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India to facilitate online registration of FIRs related to wildlife and forest offences.

The Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Division in Karnataka includes areas surrounding the Male Mahadeshwara Hills, located in the Chamarajanagar district. This sanctuary is part of the larger Biligiri Ranganatha Hills (BR Hills) range and is known for its rich biodiversity, including several species of flora and fauna.

Mandatory Online FIR Registration: Modeled on the police’s online FIR system, FIR registration via the portal will be compulsory upon implementation.
Automation: Auto-generates formats for reports and complaints.
Public Access: Enables public complaints via mobile phones or emails.
Modules Included: Online Forest Offence Registration; Investigation Module tracks case progress and assists investigators; Reporting Module provides insights into trends, complaints, and chargesheets filed; Legacy Case Registration Module converts existing cases into digital format.

Also, refer to Karnataka National Parks; Wildlife Sanctuaries in Karnataka.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Tiger Movement

Context (IE | IE): Recent sightings of tigers moving across vast distances in India highlight their natural dispersal tendencies and the challenges of habitat connectivity.

Key Facts and Patterns

Natural Dispersal: Tigers are solitary, territorial animals dispersing to establish exclusive hunting and reproductive zones.
Male Dispersal Dominance: Males disperse farther (upto 650km) than females due to territorial conflicts.
Non-Linear Paths: Tigers traverse human landscapes, forests, and fragmented habitats, adapting to diverse environments.
Longest Documented Journey: 2,000 km across four states, covering a 650 km linear distance (2023).

Technologies Used to Track Tiger Movements

Radio-Telemetry: Tracks movement across regions; reveals their ability to navigate non-forest areas.
GPS Collar Monitoring: Used to study distances covered and resting site patterns.
Camera Trapping: Records tiger presence at altitudes (seen upto 13,800 ft, showcasing adaptability).

Conservation Challenges

Fragmented Habitats: Highways, railways, and canals disrupt dispersal paths.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Increased tiger movement in human-dominated areas can lead to conflicts.
Carrying Capacity Strains: Overcrowding in reserves forces tigers to seek new territories.

Efforts to Improve Connectivity

Wildlife Corridors: Linking fragmented habitats to facilitate safe movement.
Relocation Strategies: Reintroducing tigers in low-density areas to balance populations.
Monitoring Systems: Enhancing real-time tracking using advanced telemetry and AI tools.

Also refer to Conservation Requirements for Tigers, Initiatives for tiger protection.

{Prelims – PIN World – Australia} Rottnest Island

Context (CNN): Recent seaplane crash near Rottnest Island, Australia.
Cessna 208 Caravan involved in the Incident: Single-engine turboprop, commonly used for passenger and cargo transport, is a seaplane variant equipped for water takeoffs and landings.

About Rottnest Island

Known as Wadjemup to the Whadjuk Noongar people, holding cultural significance.
Proximity to Mainland: Located 19 km off the coast of Fremantle, near Perth, Western Australia.

Significance of Rottnest Island

Historical Use: Served as an internment camp during World War I and a defense base in World War II.
Tourism: Popular for snorkeling, cycling, and wildlife observation, especially quokka sightings.
Quokka Habitat: Home to the Quokka (Setonix brachyurus), a rare marsupial on the mainland.
Marine Environment: Features 63 beaches and 20 bays, supporting over 135 species of tropical fish and various coral species.

Quokka

Physical Appearance: Small, herbivorous marsupial with a round, compact body, short fur, and a distinctive smile-like expression. Its fur is typically brown-grey with lighter patches on the belly.
Behaviour: Quokkas are nocturnal. They are known for being social and curious, often approaching humans for food, though they are not aggressive.
Habitat: Native to Australia, quokkas are primarily found on Rottnest Island, with a small population on the mainland in bushland areas. They thrive in shrubland and woodlands, often near water sources.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
Threats: Habitat loss, predation by introduced species, and limited distribution.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Role of Androgen Receptors in Birds

Context (TH): A recent study used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to block androgen receptor functions and emphasised the critical role of androgen signalling for the normal physiological and sexual development of both male and female birds.

Androgen Receptors

Androgen receptors are proteins that bind to androgen hormones like testosterone, playing a crucial role in sexual development, fertility, and physiological processes in both males and females.

In humans, animals and birds alike, androgen receptors mediate the effects of androgens (such as testosterone), influencing male sexual development, secondary sexual characteristics (deep voice, body hair), fertility & behaviour while also impacting females’ reproductive health & other functions.

Key Findings of the Recent Study

Fertility and Development

Both male and female chickens without androgen receptors are infertile.
Males developed testicles, while females developed ovaries, but both were smaller than chickens with functional androgen receptors.

Sexual Development in Females

Female chickens lacking androgen receptors failed to develop and lay eggs.
The bursa of Fabricius, crucial for sexual maturation, did not shrink as expected in the absence of androgen receptors, indicating a delay or failure in sexual maturation.

Sex-Specific Traits

Despite the absence of androgen receptors, certain sex-specific traits like tail feathers and spurs remained unaffected.
However, sexual behaviours like crowing (in males) were absent in receptor-deficient chickens, even when exposed to testosterone.

Role in Sexual Maturation

Androgens, like testosterone, play a significant role in the development of sexual ornaments (e.g., combs, head decorations) in both male and female chickens.
Complex Interaction: Testosterone (via androgen receptors) and estrogen (via estrogen receptors) both contribute to sexual development, with their roles interlinked and essential for complete maturation.
Impact on Behavior: Males lacking androgen receptors did not crow despite exposure to testosterone, indicating that androgen receptors are involved in regulating certain sexual behaviours.
Combs did not develop in chickens without androgen receptors, even when exposed to testosterone.