Context (TOI): The longest-living survivor of rapid-ageing disease progeria died at the age of 28.
About Progeria
Also called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, it is a rare genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly. Diseased Newborns appear healthy at birth but show signs of ageing within 1-2 years.
Affected children experience slowed growth and have difficultygaining weight.
Progeria does not affect intelligence or brain development.
Symptoms: Hair loss (baldness), Prominent eyes, Wrinkled, aged skin, thin, beaked nose, small face compared to head size, loss of fat under the skin.
As they grow older, children develop age-related conditions like bone loss, hardening of the arteries and heart disease. It is fatal, with most children dying from heart problems or strokes.
The average life expectancy is around 15 years, but some may live up to 20 years.
There is no cure, but the drug lonafarnib can slow diseaseprogression.
{Prelims – Envi} Annual Review by IRENA
Context (PIB): A report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted the achievements of India’s RE sector.
Key Findings
The renewable energy (RE) workforce increased to 16.2 million globally in 2022 from 13.7 million.
An estimated 1.02 million jobs in India will be related to renewable energy in 2023.
Hydropower was India’s largest employer in the renewable sector, providing around 453,000 jobs and accounting for 20% of the global total, second only to China.
India added 9.7 GW of solar PV capacity in 2023 and ranked fifth globally for new installations and cumulative capacity, which reached 72.7 GW by the end of the year.
India is the second-largest PV manufacturer globally after China. In 2023, India had a cumulative installed wind power capacity of 44.7 GW, ranking fourth globally.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
It is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge, and promote RE adoption and sustainable use. It was first suggested by 1980 Brandt Report activities.
It is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on RE. It has observer status with UN.
As of July 2022, 168 states and the EU are members of IRENA. India is a founding Member.
HQ:Abu Dhabi.
United Nations General Assembly declared January 26 as the International Day of Clean Energy.
{Prelims – Envi} Plankton Bloom
Context (DTE): A recent study highlights an unusual plankton bloom off the coast of Madagascar. Dust emissions from drought-strickenSouthern Africa drove the bloom.
A plankton bloom refers to a rapid increase in the population of plankton in an aquatic environment, often resulting in a visible change in the water’s colour.
Madagascar
Location: It is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeasterncoast of Africa.
Colonial Past: Madagascar was a French colony from 1896 until its independence in 1960.
Dust Emissions: Dust was carried by wind from Southern Africa to Madagascar. Dust deposition in nutrient-poor waters southeast of Madagascar.
Drought Conditions:Climate change has intensified droughts in Southern Africa. Vegetation loss leads to increased soil erosion and dust emissions.
Nutrient Availability: High levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Nutrient runoff from agricultural and urban areas.
Light and Temperature: Adequate sunlight for photosynthesis and favourable water temperatures.
{Prelims – S&T – Defence} ADITI 2.0 and DISC Scheme
Context (PIB): Recently, the Defence Minister launched ADITI 2.0, the second edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies and the 12th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC-12) during DefConnect 4.0.
Aim: Develop 30 critical and strategic deep-tech defence technologies within the proposed timeframe.
Eligibility: Start-ups can receive a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for research, development, and innovation in defence technology.
Technology Watch Tool: Aims to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.
Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC)
Aim: To support Start-ups, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and Innovators to develop prototypes and commercialise products/solutions for National Defence and Security.