Content:
- UGC Draft Proposes Biannual Admissions
- SC Eases Anti-Pollution Curbs in NCR
- PSLV-C59 Places PROBA-3 Satellites into Orbit
- Is Syria’s Assad Regime in Danger?
- Bhutan and India Discuss Gelephu and Hydropower Projects
- Tuberculosis and Mental Health
- Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill Gets Nod in Rajya Sabha
UGC Draft Proposes Biannual Admissions
Background
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has published the Draft UGC (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations, 2024.
- These aim to introduce significant flexibility in India’s higher education system.
Relevance : GS 2 ( Governance)
- Roles of UGC :
- Implementation and impact of policies like NEP.
- Social Justice:
- Policies for the development of education.
- Issues related to access and quality of education.
Key Points
- Biannual Enrollment: Students can enroll twice a year (July/August and January/February).
- Dual Degree Option: Allows pursuing two UG or PG programs simultaneously.
- Flexible Admission: Students can enroll in any discipline, irrespective of past academic background, by qualifying relevant entrance exams.
- Multiple Entry and Exit Options: Facilitates varied learning paces and career needs.
- Recognition of Prior Learning: Enables earning credits for previous knowledge and skills.
- Credit Allocation: 50% credits in the major discipline, with others in skills, apprenticeships, or multidisciplinary subjects.
SC Eases Anti-Pollution Curbs in NCR
Context : The Supreme Court relaxed stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to stage-II in NCR due to improved Air Quality Index (AQI) levels since November 30.
Relevance : GS 2 (Judiciary), GS 3(Environment)
Key Points
- Relaxation of Restrictions: GRAP-IV scaled down to GRAP-II, with GRAP-III measures ready for AQI levels above 350.
- Hybrid System: Suggested combining GRAP-III and GRAP-II to manage fluctuating AQI levels.
- Special Protocols: Emphasis on countering farm fires and garbage burning, with ISRO’s support.
- Socioeconomic Impact: Acknowledged effects on daily wagers and construction workers under GRAP-IV restrictions.
- Resumption of Physical Classes: DoE issued a circular for reopening schools following eased restrictions.
PSLV-C59 Places PROBA-3 Satellites into Orbit
Background : Initial launch was scheduled for December 4, 2024, but an anomaly in the propulsion system delayed it by a day.
Relevance : GS 3 (Space)
- Successfully launched PROBA-3, a European Space Agency mission, aboard PSLV-C59.
- The mission highlights ISRO’s precision in satellite placement.
- Mission Details:
- PSLV-C59 rocket (44.5 meters) to carry the European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellites.
- Mission aims to place 550-kg PROBA-3 satellites into a highly elliptical orbit.
- 61st flight of PSLV, 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration.
- Mission Objective:
- Study the Sun’s corona using two satellites in formation that block the solar disk, enabling detailed observation.
- Significance:
- Collaborative mission between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the ESA, supported by ISRO’s expertise.
Is Syria’s Assad Regime in Danger?
Background
- Syrian civil war began in 2011 after Arab Spring protests.
- Led to widespread conflict and instability.
- Competing factions intensified geopolitical tensions.
- Recent events escalated the crisis further.
Relevance :GS-2 (International Relations )
- Assad Regime Under Threat
- Islamist militants, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have captured key territories like Aleppo and Hama, endangering the regime’s stability.
- Russia’s Role in 2016
- Russia’s intervention in 2015 turned the tide for Assad, enabling the recapture of major regions, including Aleppo, by December 2016.
- Recapture of Aleppo
- With Russian air support, Iranian-backed militias, and Hezbollah, the Assad regime successfully regained control of Aleppo.
- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
- HTS evolved from Jabhat al-Nusra (the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and, under Abu Mohammad al-Julani, became the dominant anti-government force in Idlib.
- Recent Militant Gains
- Reduced Russian presence, weakened Iranian forces due to Israeli airstrikes, and Turkish support have bolstered HTS, leading to the capture of key territories.
- Key Actors in Syria
- Assad Regime: Backed by Russia, Iran, and Shia militias
- HTS: Controls Idlib, with Islamist ideology
- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): Includes Kurdish YPG, controls parts of northern Syria.
- Implications
- The regime faces renewed conflict, risking prolonged instability.
- Reinforcements from Iran and Iraqi militias are being sought to counter militant advances.
Bhutan and India Discuss Gelephu and Hydropower Projects
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema in New Delhi to discuss bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
Relevance: GS 2(International Relations)
- Gelephu Mindfulness City Project:
- India reassured support for the Gelephu project, aimed at fostering economic prosperity in Bhutan and border areas.
- Focus on strengthening investment and economic linkages.
- Hydropower Sector:
- Discussions included the near-completion of the 1020-MW Punatsangchhu-II project.
- Agreement on the early conclusion of the Punatsangchhu-I project.
- Plans to finalize modalities for new hydropower and reservoir-based projects.
- Cross-Border Connectivity:
- Joint efforts to enhance connectivity through rail lines and digital networks.
- Regional and Strategic Context:
- The visit follows diplomatic setbacks in India’s neighborhood, including challenges in Bangladesh and Nepal.
- Bhutan’s collaboration with Indian private players like the Adani Group was also highlighted.
- Adani Group Involvement:
- Bhutan has engaged with Adani for investments in infrastructure and renewable energy.
- Bhutan has not commented on recent controversies involving Adani, unlike other neighboring countries.
Tuberculosis and Mental Health
Relevance: GS-2 (Health)
- Stigma and Mental Health Impact:
- TB carries a deep stigma due to its association with contagiousness, poverty, and unhealthy behavior.
- Social and self-stigma contribute to mental health challenges like hopelessness, despair, and impaired decision-making.
- Co-Epidemic of TB and Mental Health:
- Mental illness and TB are interlinked
- Mental health issues can increase vulnerability to TB, and TB stigma exacerbates mental health problems.
- Up to 84% of TB patients experience depression.
- TB Treatment and Mental Health:
- TB treatment has long durations and severe side effects, which negatively affect mental health and self-confidence.
- Physical changes, such as rashes and psychotic episodes, also contribute to mental health distress.
- Bidirectional Relationship:
- Mental health issues, such as depression, increase the risk of TB due to weakened immune systems.
- Mental health disorders, including addiction (tobacco, alcohol, narcotics), correlate with a higher incidence of TB.
- Mental Health Screening :
- Despite routine screening for diabetes and HIV in TB patients, mental health screening is often overlooked in TB care.
- India should introduce mental health screening and psychological support as part of TB care to improve treatment adherence and outcomes.
- Digital Therapies:
- Remote digital therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), have shown promise in managing depression in TB patients
- India can leverage smartphone penetration to provide mental health services for TB patients.
- Community Engagement:
- Community-based support systems can help destigmatize TB and mental health issues.
- Support groups and informational campaigns can provide vital resources for TB-affected individuals and their families.
- Recommendations:
- Integrated policies should address both TB and mental health.
- Policymakers should allocate resources to mental health services within TB programs, ensuring mental health is considered at every stage of TB care.
- Urgency of Mental Health Care:
- TB cannot be effectively eliminated without addressing the mental health needs of patients.
- Training more psychiatrists and improving referral systems for psychiatric care is essential due to the shortage of mental health professionals in India.
Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill Gets Nod in Rajya Sabha
- Background: The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 5, 2024, after being introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 31, 2024.
Relevance: GS 2 (Governance)
- Single-Window Clearance: Licensing for aviation personnel is shifted from the Department of Telecom to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- Regulation of Aircraft Design:The Bill expands regulatory oversight to include aircraft design.
- Penalties:Introduces fines and imprisonment for dangerous activities near airports.
- Second Appeal Mechanism: Provides a mechanism for appealing penalties under the Bill.
- Government Control: Regulatory bodies like DGCA, BCAS, and AAIB remain under Central government supervision.
