Content:
- Indus treaty with Pak. put on hold
- Indian astronomers throw light on curious case of missing dark matter in a distant galaxy
- Is India witnessing judicial despotism?
- Ministry introduces new competency-based curricula for 10 healthcare professions
- Study reports lipids also guide evolution, not just DNA, proteins
- Experts seek ‘right to cool’ for informal sector workers
Indus treaty with Pak. put on hold
Context : Pahalgam Terror Attack
- Incident: 26 civilians (mainly tourists) were brutally killed in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
- Targeting: Victims reportedly identified and killed based on religious identity.
- Cross-border links: Intelligence inputs indicated links between the attackers and terror groups based in Pakistan.
- National Response: India perceives this as a continuation of Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) ,GS 3(Internal Security)
Five-Pronged Indian Response
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) Put On Hold
- What is IWT: A 1960 agreement between India and Pakistan about sharing water from the Indus River.
- India’s Decision: India suspended cooperation under the treaty until Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism.
- Why It Matters: The suspension could affect Pakistan’s water supply, as it heavily depends on the Indus river.
Closing the Attari Check Post
- Action: India closed the Attari check post, a key border crossing.
- Deadline: Pakistanis in India with valid visas must return by May 1.
- Impact: This stops people and goods from crossing the border through this route.
Cancelling Pakistan’s SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES)
- Action: All visas given to Pakistani nationals under the SAARC scheme are cancelled.
- Deadline: Pakistani nationals in India must leave within 48 hours.
- Reason: Prevents any misuse of travel benefits by people with terrorist links.
Diplomatic Actions
- Action: Pakistan’s defence officials in India are asked to leave (persona non grata).
- India’s Response: India will withdraw its own defence officials and reduce staff in Pakistan’s embassy.
- Effect: This cuts down diplomatic presence in both countries.
Why This Matters
- Water Pressure: India can use the control over water sharing as leverage against Pakistan.
- Escalation Risk: This move might increase tensions, but it also sends a strong message to Pakistan.
- Pakistan’s Role: India wants Pakistan to stop supporting terrorism or face consequences.
Previous Similar Actions
- Past Actions: After earlier attacks (like in Uri and Pulwama), India took similar steps, including military strikes.
- International Involvement: The World Bank, which monitors the IWT, may get involved if Pakistan challenges this decision.
Indian astronomers throw light on curious case of missing dark matter in a distant galaxy
Context: Indian astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have found the reason behind the strange lack of dark matter in the galaxy NGC 1052-DF2.
Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)
Background:
- Dark Matter’s Role: Dark matter is believed to be a key component in galaxy formation.
- Galaxy’s Unusual Nature: NGC 1052-DF2 is an Ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG), which has been found to be deficient in dark matter, contradicting standard galaxy formation models.
Previous Studies:
- Earlier models suggested that the dynamical mass of the galaxy is around 340 million solar masses, while the stars alone account for about 200 million solar masses.
- This indicates that the galaxy has a significant lack of dark matter compared to spiral galaxies like the Milky Way.
Surprising Findings:
- The mass within the galaxy’s observed extent is primarily composed of stars, with dark matter being less than expected.
- This finding challenges the established understanding of dark matter’s role in forming hierarchical structures in the universe.
New Learnings:
- Galaxy Formation: The study raises questions about how galaxies can form with minimal dark matter and what astrophysical processes regulate this.
- Nature of Dark Matter: The findings may offer clues about the true nature of dark matter itself.
Model Construction:
- K. Aditya, the lead astronomer, constructed new models to address the discrepancies in mass estimations of NGC 1052-DF2.
- The models examined different types of dark matter halos, particularly focusing on “cuspy” halos (which have higher densities in the central regions).
- The results showed that models with no dark matter closely resemble models with a “cuspy” dark matter halo, further questioning the traditional view of dark matter’s role.
Implications:
- This study challenges our current understanding of galaxy formation and dark matter, offering new perspectives on both.
- The results could reshape future research on dark matter and its relationship with galaxy evolution.
Is India witnessing judicial despotism?
Judicial Review and Judicial Activism:
- Judicial review is a critical aspect of India’s constitutional structure, inferred from Article 13, even though not explicitly mentioned in the constitution.
- It ensures that laws violating the constitution are void and is part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
- Judicial activism and judicial review are two sides of the same coin, with activism stepping in during extreme cases for safeguarding rights.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary)
Judicial Powers and Accountability:
- Critics argue that recent Supreme Court judgments show a rise in judicial powers without accountability.
- Critics question the motives behind certain decisions, particularly with powers under Article 142, which allows the court to ensure “complete justice.”
- However, such powers have been used judiciously in landmark cases like the Ram Janmabhoomi judgment and mob lynching guidelines, supporting democracy and public welfare.
Opposition’s Criticism of Judicial Review:
- Judicial review has faced criticism from those in power, as unelected judges quashing laws of elected governments .
- However, most constitutional scholars argue that judicial review, especially on matters related to fundamental rights or federalism, is necessary for upholding constitutional supremacy.
Supreme Court’s Relationship with Government:
- Despite occasional setbacks for the government, like the NJAC ruling and the electoral bond scheme, the Supreme Court has mostly upheld government decisions during the Modi era.
- The court’s actions on issues like demonetization, same-sex marriage, and the Citizenship Amendment Act reflect its alignment with the executive in many cases.
The Role of Courts in Democracy:
- The judiciary’s role is not to replace the legislature but to ensure the constitution is upheld and people’s rights are protected.
- Fair criticism of judges is welcome, but attributing motives or blaming them for violations of the separation of powers is not justified.
Judiciary’s Responsibility and Limits:
- Judiciary should not take over governance but should act when there is a violation of constitutional rights or when governance fails to deliver justice.
- Article 142 has not been used recklessly; the court has remained cautious in its interventions, ensuring democracy and constitutional integrity are preserved.
Governors and Constitutional Oversight:
- Judicial oversight has prevented unelected Governors from assuming unconstitutional powers.
- The court’s intervention in the Tamil Nadu case, where it set timelines for Governor actions, reflects its responsibility in upholding democratic functioning, without amending the constitution.
- The judiciary’s role is to keep all government organs within constitutional limits.
Conclusion:
- Judicial review is an essential mechanism to preserve democracy, constitutional supremacy, and citizens’ rights.
- While the judiciary must not overstep its bounds, its interventions are sometimes necessary to ensure that the constitutional structure is upheld, especially in exceptional cases of misuse of power by the executive or legislature.
Ministry introduces new competency-based curricula for 10 healthcare professions
Introduction of New Curricula:
The Union Health Ministry launched new competency-based curricula for 10 allied healthcare professions in collaboration with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).
Relevance : GS 2(Education)
Professions Covered: The curricula cover professions such as:
- Physiotherapy
- Applied psychology and behavioural health
- Optometry
- Nutrition and dietetics
- Dialysis therapy technology
- Radiotherapy technology
- Medical radiology and imaging technology
- Anaesthesia and operation theatre technology
- Health information management
- Physician associates
Purpose:
- Uniformity: Aimed at standardizing training across the country for allied healthcare professionals.
- Global Competence: Designed to create globally competent professionals to address the increasing prevalence of diseases and rising demand for allied services.
Health Secretary’s Statement:
- Benchmarking Quality: The revision is seen as a step towards ensuring the consistency and high quality of healthcare professional training.
- International Perspective: India is preparing its healthcare professionals for a global workforce, ensuring that the training aligns with international standards.
Impact on Healthcare:
- Holistic Healthcare Role: The curricula will enhance roles in preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare.
- Industry Alignment: Aimed at aligning educational outcomes with industry needs, improving skill-based training effectiveness.
- Career Mobility: Enhances career mobility and professional recognition for allied health professionals.
Regulatory Mechanisms and Capacity Building: Emphasis on establishing strong regulatory mechanisms and building capacity to ensure successful implementation of the new curricula.
Global and National Significance: The curricula not only focus on India’s healthcare needs but also aim to prepare professionals to contribute globally.
Study reports lipids also guide evolution, not just DNA, proteins
Context :
The study from Swasti Raychaudhuri’s lab at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, examines the interaction between lipids and membrane proteins, particularly respiratory complex 1 (RC1)
Relevance : GS 3(Science ,Technology ,Research )
RC1 Complex and Lipid Interaction:
- RC1 is essential for cellular energy production during respiration and is made up of proteins that interact with the lipid-rich mitochondrial inner membrane.
- Mutations in RC1 that affect lipid interaction were identified, indicating that lipid-protein interactions are crucial for the complex’s stability and function.
Lipid Variety and Evolution:
- Researchshoweddifferences in lipid structures between plants and animals, particularly in the kinkiness of lipid tails, which affects membrane flexibility.
- Plant lipids, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, have greater structural flexibility, likely a response to environmental stresses like heat and drought.
- Proteins co-evolve with lipids to maintain functionality, as shown in the study’s finding that human and plant RC1 complexes can only interact with their respective lipids.
Lipid-Protein Co-evolution:
- This study supports the concept of lipid-protein co-evolution, particularly in mitochondrial membranes.
- Lipids may influence protein functionality and evolution, demanding a broader perspective in evolutionary biology.
Implications for Human Health:
- Lipids’ role in cell function, including cholesterol regulation (via drugs like statins), needs further understanding to optimize medical treatments.
- Lipid-protein interactions also have implications for controlling pathogen entry into cells, offering potential new avenues for disease prevention and treatment.
Challenges in Lipid Research:
- Lipids are complex molecules that vary in structure and composition, influenced by diet and environmental factors.
- Current research tools are not fully equipped to study lipids’ complexities, hindering deeper exploration into their role in biology and evolution.
Conclusion:
- The study calls for a shift in how scientists view lipids, moving beyond traditional models to explore their evolutionary and medical significance.
- Further research into lipids can enhance both our understanding of evolution and improve health outcomes, especially in the context of diseases related to lipid metabolism.
Experts seek ‘right to cool’ for informal sector workers
Urgent Measures for Informal Workers:
- Climate experts have proposed several immediate actions to protect informal sector workers during extreme heat, including:
- Paid heat leave for workers affected by high temperatures.
- Free water ATMs at labor hubs to ensure access to hydration.
- Legal recognition of the ‘right to cool’ to guarantee cooling infrastructure and thermal comfort.
Relevance :GS 2(Social Justice)
Impact on Informal Sector Workers:
- Over 80% of Delhi’s informal workers, including street vendors, construction laborers, and ragpickers, are at risk due to extreme heat.
- Women in the informal workforce are disproportionately affected by heat-related health issues and income loss.
Economic Impact of Heat:
- A GreenpeaceIndia report revealed that:
- 61% of street vendors lose more than 40% of their daily income during extreme heat.
- 75% of street vendors lack access to cooling infrastructure, highlighting significant disparities in working conditions.
Health Risks:
- Extreme heat exacerbates cases of dehydration, heatstroke, and chronic illnesses such as kidney damage among informal workers.
- Urgent intervention is needed to address these health risks, especially during increasing heatwave days predicted for summer.
Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning:
- With 82% of working women in India engaged in informal labor, there is a strong need for gender-responsive urban planning.
- Facilities such as shelters, drinking water stations, and public amenities must be designed to be accessible and welcoming to women, ensuring equitable protection against extreme heat.
Policy Recommendations:
- Experts call for a ‘right to cool’ under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which would ensure access to shaded bus stops, cooling shelters, and thermal comfort for all.
- City-level heat action plans should be created with enforceable measures, including:
- Non-negotiable paid time off during extreme heat.
- Water stations and cooling shelters on red-alert days.
Proposed Solutions:
- Installation of shaded canopies in high-traffic areas made from heat-reflective materials.
- Deployment of mobile cooling stations equipped with fans and basic first-aid facilities to provide immediate relief.
- Setting up water ATMs near labor hubs to ensure informal workers stay hydrated.
Call for Equitable Cooling Access:
- Experts emphasize that cooling disparities must be addressed as a basic human right, with particular attention to vulnerable populations like informal workers and women.
