Current Affairs – August 21, 2024

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Geomomrphology} Glacial Lakes

• Context (TH): Rising moraine-dammed lakes in Himachal Pradesh and Tibet threaten downstream life and infrastructure.

• The shrinking of the cryospheric cover due to climate change leads to rapid glacier reduction in the Himalayas increasing unstable high-altitude glacial lakes.
• Glacial lakes in the Satluj River catchment nearly doubled from 562 in 2019 to 1,048 in 2023.
• The Upper Satluj basin shows a higher concentration of glacial lakes, signaling greater climate impact in high-altitude areas compared to lower regions.

Concerns

• Increased water volume and glacier calving heighten the risk of avalanches and outbursts.
• Rapid glacier melt and reduced winter snowfall would lead to habitat destruction.

Read more > Types of Glacial Lakes, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood of South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, Increasing Natural disaster in the Himalayas

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} OTT Platforms and the Telecom Act

• Context (TH): The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) stated that OTT communication platforms (like WhatsApp) are ‘access services’ under the Telecommunications Act of 2023.

• This interpretation supports the licensing of OTT apps which telecom firms have been advocating to ensure fair competition. However, there are privacy and net neutrality concerns as such regulations could undermine the equal treatment of internet traffic.

Read more > Telecom Bill 2023, Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI), Telecom Industry

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Cancer Screening

• Context (TH): Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests show promise for cancer screening by detecting multiple cancers via blood samples.

• Cancer screening is the process of testing for cancer before any symptoms.
• Early cancer detection significantly improves survival rates and reduces treatment costs.
• In India, only 0.2-2% of people are screened (limited to cervical, breast, and oral) due to anxiety, embarrassment, lack of support and limited infrastructure and accessibility.
• Countries like the UK aim to increase early-stage diagnoses to 75% by 2028.
• Many countries (like Australia) have national screening programs.

Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Tests

• MCED tests detect cancer signals identifying up to 50 cancer types, without reliable early screening tests, including ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers.
• Combining MCED tests with traditional methods reduces false positives and detects up to 400,000 additional cases.
• Advantages: They pinpoint cancer locations, detect aggressive cancers, offer reasonable sensitivity at an affordable price and have high specificity.
• Risks: Overdiagnosis & overtreatment, leading to unnecessary physical, psychological & financial strain.
• These tests are not yet FDA-approved in the US or Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)–approved in India and are available as Laboratory-Developed Tests.

Read More> Cancer | Causes of Cancer, Lancet Commission Report on Cancer Care in India

{GS3 – IE – Securities} SEBI Chairperson

• Context (TH): SEBI Chairperson and her husband denied allegations levelled against them by short seller Hindenburg as baseless.

• Current Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch is the first woman to hold the position, while D. R. Mehta is the longest-serving Chairperson.
• Appointment: Appointed by the Government of India for a maximum period of 5 years or till 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Procedure for Appointment:
  • Candidates are shortlisted by the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC) headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
  • Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by a panel comprising the Economic Affairs Secretary and three external members with domain knowledge.
  • The Appointments Committee of Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, considers the panel’s recommendations and appoints the Chairperson.

Read more > SEBI’s Notice to Hindenburg

{GS3 – Infra – Railways} Train Accidents in India

• Context (TH | BS): Sabarmati Express derailed near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh after its engine struck an object on the tracks.

• India saw an average of 44 consequential train accidents per year over the 5 years ending FY23.
• Consequential accidents include those causing injuries, fatalities, disruption of rail traffic, or damage to railway property.
• There has been one collision every 3.6 months in the last 64 months.
• The central region reported the highest share in 2022-23 (17% of accidents).
• However, accidents have decreased by nearly 90% since 2000-01, (470 accidents), to 48 in 2022-23.

Causes of Railway Accidents

• Poor track maintenance and safety lapses as seen in the 2022 Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailment in West Bengal.
• Negligence and improper train spacing as seen in the 2020 collision between a goods train and a passenger train in Andhra Pradesh.
• Inadequate safety measures and warning systems have caused accidents at level crossings as seen in the 2016 Punjab train-bus collision.
• Signal failures due to system malfunctions and human errors have led to major accidents, such as the 2017 Kuneru train derailment in Andhra Pradesh and a 2021 collision in Telangana.
• Overcrowding and over-speeding as seen in the 2015 Mumbai stampede at Elphinstone station, where a train-related panic led to many deaths.
• Infrastructure defects from poor maintenance, overloaded routes, human errors by railway staff due to fatigue, corruption, have resulted in accidents.

Government Initiatives

• Kavach System: Indian Railways’ latest automatic train protection system uses RFID, GPS, and electronic devices to enhance safety.
• GPS-based Fog Safety Device (FSD): Provides real-time signal and landmark information for safe navigation in foggy conditions.
• Complete Track Circuiting: For electrical verification of track occupancy.
• LHB Coaches: Advanced coaches designed for higher speed, safety, and comfort with anti-climbing couplers and fire detection systems.
• Modern Track Structure: Utilizes stronger tracks and bridges, including Prestressed Concrete Sleepers and higher Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, for smoother travel.
• Online Track Monitoring System: Web-based system for tracking asset monitoring and optimized maintenance decisions.
• Vigilance Control Devices: Monitors loco pilots’ alertness to prevent accidents due to human error.
• Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh: The Fund was established in 2017-18 to reduce accidents through track renewals, signaling, and rolling stock investments.
• Fire Notices: Displayed in coaches to inform passengers about fire safety rules and prohibitions.
• Retro-reflective Sigma Boards: Installed to warn crew of upcoming signals in low-visibility conditions.
• Electrical/Electronic Interlocking: Automated systems for controlling train movements through advanced electrical circuits and relays.

Way Forward

• Establishment of Confidential Incident Reporting System: Implement a system for confidential reporting of safety deviations.
• Inspection and Patrolling: Conduct regular inspections and patrolling of tracks and bridges for defect monitoring and safety assurance.
• Transformation of Management Mindset: Shift from fault-finding to a focus on shared safety commitment and staff feedback.
• Rethinking the Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) Scheme: Evaluate and potentially revise the scheme to enhance specialization and loyalty.
• Modernize Infrastructure: Upgrade tracks, and bridges, and implement automated systems for real-time monitoring while balancing investments in modern coaches with safety.
• Enforce Strict Regulations: Ensure rigorous adherence to safety protocols, and stringent penalties for non-compliance, and establish an independent regulatory body to oversee safety standards.
• Elimination of Level Crossings: Replace with Road Overbridges (ROBs) or Road Underbridges (RUBs).
• Global Practices: Implement systems like the UK’s Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) and European Train Control System (ETCS) for automatic train halting and continuous communication.
• Introduce ATC and CATIS: Use Japan’s Automatic Train Control for speed control and Comprehensive Automatic Train Inspection System (CATIS) for detecting defects using sensors and cameras.
• Implement Earthquake Early Warning Systems: Develop and integrate Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS) to alert trains during seismic events and enhance safety.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Tiger Deaths

• Context (IE): The NTCA sought a response from the Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Department regarding the deaths of 43 tigers b/w 2021 & 2023 in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) and Shahdol Forest Circle.

• Causes: Non-adherence to NTCA’s Standard Operating Procedures, staff shortages, budget constraints, lack of regular field directors, medical negligence, inadequate investigation, negligence of officials, and internal fights.

Read More > Project Tiger

{Prelims – In News} Horseshoe Crabs

• Context (TH): Habitat loss, illegal harvesting, and destructive fishing practices endanger horseshoe crabs in India and necessitate urgent conservation efforts.

• Benefits: Their blue blood properties detects bacteria, helps in testing medicines & medical equipments. The outer layer contains chitin, which aids in healing wounds and treating burns.

{Prelims – In News} Jan Poshan Kendras

• Context (TH): Ration shops are to be renamed as ‘Jan Poshan Kendras.’

• Jan Poshan Kendras are a pilot project under Union Food Ministry aimed at increasing the income of ration dealers at 60 selected Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and UP.
• The project allows FPS dealers to diversify their inventory beyond subsidised grains.
• It will allocate 50% of the space for nutrition products and 50% for other household items.
• The Ministry has also launched FPS Sahay application and Mera Ration app 2.0.
• FPS Sahay: An application that will help ration dealers for paperless, presence-less, collateral-free, cash flow-based financing.
• Mera Ration App 2.0: Help the consumers to get information about the public distribution system.

{Prelims – In News} Zoopharmacognosy

• Context (TH): A Sumatran orangutan treats a facial wound using a Fibraurea tinctoria plant.

• Zoopharmacognosy is the study of animals self-medicating with natural substances to treat diseases and ailments. Neanderthals had chewed on yarrow and chamomile for medicinal purposes.
• Similarly, pregnant elephants in Kenya consume plants from the Boraginaceae plants to induce delivery.

{Prelims – PIN World – NA} Lake Gatun

• Context (IE): The Panama Canal, an important shipping lane around the world, faces an existential threat due to fall in the level of Lake Gatun, an artificial water reservoir vital to the operation of the canal system.

• Lake Gatun was formed by damming the Chagres River and its smaller affluents at Gatun.
• The lake’s main function is to hold sufficient water in the Gaillard Cut to the south for canal passage and for use in the canal’s locks during dry spells. Guacha Island is present in the centre of the lake.
• Panama Canal is a crucial shipping route that connects Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthumus of Panama in Central America.

  

  Credit: BBC

Read more> Panama Canal.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

• Context (TH): fMRI can reveal depression subtypes and treatments that could work.

• Functional MRI (fMRI) is a type of MRI scan that maps brain activity by tracking blood oxygen levels in different areas of the brain by using an extremely powerful magnet, radio waves and computer processing to generate highly detailed 3D pictures of the brain. There is no radiation risk.
• The machine can capture abnormal electrical activity in the brain and identify the subtype of depression.

Read More > Mental health in India

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Maltodextrin

• Context (MNT): Maltodextrin, a safe additive in foods, might pose risks for people with diabetes.

• Maltodextrin is a white, relatively tasteless powder that dissolves in water.
• It is made from starchy foods such as corn, potato, wheat, tapioca, or rice.
• It has no nutritional value. However, it is a very easy-to-digest carbohydrate.

Benefits

• It thickens foods or liquids to bind the ingredients together and improves texture, flavor and shelf life.
• It is inexpensive and replaces sugar or fat in low calorie, processed foods.
• It is used additive in pasta, cooked cereals, rice, meat substitutes, baked goods, frozen meals.
• It is also used in lotions, hair-care products, and livestock feed.
• It is often added to sports drinks and snacks, as it can provide energy rapidly.

Issues

• Higher glycemic index: Leads to a rapid spike in blood sugar levels, posing risks for people with diabetes.
• Health and environmental risks: Wheat may contain gluten, which poses health risks. GM corn is a common source of maltodextrin, causing environemental risks.
• Disrupt balance of gut bacteria: Leads to inflammatory bowel diseases and intestine damage.

Alternatives

• Guar gum, pectin (a carbohydrate from fruits, vegetables, and seeds), tapioca starch, and arrowroot starch can be used as food additives to thicken or stabilize foods.
• Sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and erythritol, can be used as flavoring alternatives.
• Products like stevia can be used as sweeteners.