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Yearly Archives: 2025

Yeast Shows Physics can Give Rise to Multicellular Life Sans Mutations 

Context

  • A new study on Snowflake yeast by National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) scientists offers an ‘unconventional view’ of how major changes first arise in the course of evolution.

    • The Scientific Puzzle

  • According to current understanding, growth should stop once inner cells can’t get nutrients.
  • However, snowflake yeast in the lab continued to grow beyond expected limits.
  • Scientists wanted to understand how nutrients were still reaching all cells.

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    India-ASEAN Trade Deal Review

    Context

  • Over the last one year, India has held nine meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to review the trade agreement signed with the grouping, but no progress has been made on any item.

    • About

  • The original agreement was signed in 2009.
  • India opened 71% of its tariff lines to the ASEAN countries whereas countries like Indonesia opened 41%, Vietnam 66.5%, and Thailand 67%.
  • In the last 15 years, India’s exports to ASEAN have doubled, but the imports have tripled.
  • These factors necessitated a review of the deal.

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    First-Ever Household Income Survey in 2026

    Context

  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct the first-ever Household Income Survey in 2026.

    • Significance of the Household Income Survey

  • First Accurate Mapping of Income Distribution: Despite decades of data on consumption, poverty, and employment, India lacks official statistics on household income levels and distribution.
  • The survey fills a critical gap, enabling policymakers to understand income inequality, inter-regional disparities, and the actual spread of economic growth.
  • Targeting of Welfare Schemes: The government can more effectively design and implement subsidies, social protection, and direct benefit transfers, moving toward evidence-based and inclusive policymaking.
  • Analysis of Technology Impact: The survey will assess how digital platforms, gig work, automation, and informal employment influence household earnings, an area underexplored by existing datasets.

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    10th WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic

    In News

  • WHO has released the 10th edition of its Global Tobacco Epidemic Report, assessing progress in tobacco control since the launch of the MPOWER strategy in 2008.

    • Key Findings of the Report

  • Widespread Impact: Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one of the MPOWER policy prescriptions, collectively benefiting over 6.1 billion people. 
  • Most Progress: Among all MPOWER measures, large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages have seen the most widespread and consistent implementation. 
  • India’s Leadership in Digital Content Regulation: India has notably become the first country globally to apply tobacco control regulations specifically to digital streaming content. 
  • India’s Strong Stance on TAPS: India has implemented stringent measures to curb tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) across all forms of media. This aligns with the “E” (Enforce bans) in MPOWER and is a critical step in reducing tobacco appeal.

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    Challenges Before IAEA After Attacks on Iran’s Nuclear Sites

    In News

  • Iran is considering a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing the agency’s alleged failure to remain impartial and fulfill its obligations. 

    • Background 

  • The announcement came as the IAEA convened an emergency Board of Governors meeting in Vienna following the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and Israel’s earlier strike on the Arak Heavy Water Reactor.
  • Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon state.
  • In that capacity, it had to mandatorily enter into a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which allows the organisation to install its own equipment to monitor activities, including radiation levels.
  • Iran accuses the IAEA of becoming a political tool and insists it will not resume cooperation without “objective guarantees.”

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    Child Labour Rescues in 2024–25: C-LAB

    Context

  • Recently, the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB), in partnership with the Just Rights for Children (JRC) network, released a report related to child labour rescues in 2024–25.

    • Reasons Behind Child Labour in India

  • Poverty and Economic Compulsion: According to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, poverty remains the primary driver of child labour.
  • Families struggling to meet basic needs often rely on children to supplement household income, especially in rural and informal sectors.
  • Lack of Access to Quality Education: Many children drop out of school due to poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, or financial constraints.
  • Once out of school, they are more likely to enter the workforce.

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    यीस्ट से पता चलता है कि भौतिकी उत्परिवर्तन के बिना बहुकोशिकीय जीवन को जन्म दे सकती है

    संदर्भ 

  • नेशनल सेंटर फॉर बायोलॉजिकल साइंसेज़ (NCBS) के वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा स्नोफ्लेक यीस्ट पर एक नए अध्ययन ने यह दिखाया है कि विकास की प्रक्रिया में बड़े बदलाव कैसे प्रारंभिक चरणों में एक पारंपरिक दृष्टिकोण से हटकर हो सकते हैं।

    • यीस्ट क्या है? 

  • यीस्ट एक एककोशिकीय कवक (फंगस) है। सामान्यतः उपयोग में:
  • बेकिंग में (ब्रेड को फूलाने के लिए)
  • अल्कोहल निर्माण में (किण्वन प्रक्रिया में)
  • वैज्ञानिक शोध में (मॉडल जीव के रूप में)

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    2026 में प्रथम बार घरेलू आय सर्वेक्षण

    संदर्भ 

  • सांख्यिकी और कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन मंत्रालय (MoSPI) वर्ष 2026 में प्रथम बार घरेलू आय सर्वेक्षण (Household Income Survey) आयोजित करेगा।

    • परिचय 

  • यह भारत का प्रथम व्यापक, राष्ट्रीय स्तर का सर्वेक्षण होगा जो पूरी तरह से घरेलू आय पर केंद्रित होगा, जिसमें ग्रामीण और शहरी दोनों क्षेत्रों को शामिल किया जाएगा। 
  • प्रमुख एजेंसी: यह सर्वेक्षण सांख्यिकी और कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन मंत्रालय (MoSPI) के अंतर्गत राष्ट्रीय नमूना सर्वेक्षण कार्यालय (NSSO) द्वारा किया जाएगा। 

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    वैश्विक तम्बाकू महामारी पर WHO की 10वीं रिपोर्ट

    संदर्भ 

  • विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (WHO) ने वैश्विक तंबाकू महामारी रिपोर्ट (Global Tobacco Epidemic Report) के 10वें संस्करण को जारी किया है, जिसमें 2008 में MPOWER रणनीति की शुरुआत के बाद से तंबाकू नियंत्रण में हुई प्रगति का मूल्यांकन किया गया है। 

    • रिपोर्ट के मुख्य निष्कर्ष 

  • व्यापक प्रभाव: 2007 से अब तक 155 देशों ने कम से कम एक MPOWER नीति अपनाई है, जिससे संयुक्त रूप से 6.1 अरब से अधिक लोगों को लाभ हुआ है। 
  • सबसे अधिक प्रगति: MPOWER उपायों में, सिगरेट पैकेटों पर बड़े ग्राफिक स्वास्थ्य चेतावनी लेबल की सबसे व्यापक और सुसंगत क्रियान्वयन देखा गया है। 

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