Zoonotic Outbreaks
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
In News
- As per the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), zoonotic outbreaks significantly increased over the years, particularly post-pandemic.
Key Findings of the Study
- Prevalence of Zoonotic Outbreaks: Over 8% (583 out of 6,948) of the reported outbreaks were zoonotic (spread from animals to humans).
- Peak Seasonality: Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during the months of June, July, and August.
- Leading Zoonotic Diseases: Japanese encephalitis accounted for the largest share (29.5%) then Leptospirosis (18.7%) & scrub typhus (13.9%).
- Geographical Distribution: The Northeast part of India contributed the highest proportion (35.8%) of zoonotic disease outbreaks followed by the southern region (31.7%) & western region (15.4%).
Why is Zoonotic Surveillance Significant?
- Due to climate change, deforestation, and expanding urbanisation, human-wildlife contact is increasing which can elevate the chances of pathogen spillover from animals to humans & threatens to strain India’s already burdened public health infrastructure.
Initiatives Taken to Combat Zoonotic Diseases
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) was launched in 2004 to track epidemic-prone diseases.
- The National One Health Mission envisioned under the Department of Biotechnology aims to integrate animal health, human health, and environment monitoring.
- National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) (Zoonosis Division) conducts outbreak investigations and develops standard treatment protocols for zoonotic diseases like JE, leptospirosis, brucellosis, and rabies.
Source: TH
1st Round of India-Chile CEPA Negotiation Concludes
Syllabus: GS2/ IR
In News
- India and Chile have completed the first round of negotiations for a proposed comprehensive free trade agreement.
About
- The next round of negotiations is expected in July-August, 2025. India and Chile aim to conclude their trade negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2026.
- India and Chile already have a Partial Scope Agreement (PSA) since 2007, which was expanded in 2017.
- Despite this, trade volumes remained modest, with bilateral trade standing at around $3 billion in 2023–24, dominated by copper imports from Chile and automobiles and pharmaceuticals from India.
Key Points
- The Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiating the India-Chile CEPA were signed on May 8, 2025.
- The first round of CEPA negotiations covered 17 thematic tracks, including trade in goods, services, movement of natural persons, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures, investment promotion, MSMEs, and critical minerals.
- The CEPA aims to unlock the full potential of the trade and commercial relationship between India and Chile, boosting employment, bilateral trade, and economic growth.
| About Chile – Location: 1. The western part of South America. 2. The capital and largest city is Santiago, and its national language is Spanish. 3. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. 4. Chile is the southernmost country in the world, the closest to Antarctica. Borders: 1. It shares land borders with Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Climate and Topography: 1. Chile is home to a significant portion of the Andes, the world’s longest continental mountain range. 2. Located in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is renowned as the driest non-polar desert in the world. 3. Loa River is the longest river of Chile. 4. Chile is located along a highly seismic and volcanic zone, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, due to the subduction of the Nazca and Antarctic plates in the South American plate. – Resources: 1. Chile is the world’s largest producer of copper. 2. As a member of the “Lithium Triangle” (along with Argentina and Bolivia), Chile holds over 75% of global lithium reserves, primarily found under salt flats. – Membership: 1. UN, OECD, Pacific Alliance, CELAC |
Source: PIB
Goa Achieves Full Functional Literacy under ULLAS
Syllabus: GS2/ Education
Context
- Goa has officially achieved the status of a fully literate state under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).
- It has become the second state in India after Mizoram, to surpass the 95% literacy threshold, as defined by national standards.
ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme)
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.
- The scheme, aligned with NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 years and above) who can’t go to school.
- It has five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education.
- The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to make India Jan Jan Saakshar and is based on the spirit of Kartavya Bodh and is being implemented on volunteerism.
| About Literacy – As per the Office of the Registrar General of India, a literate person is someone aged 7 or above who can read and write with understanding in any language. – The Department of School Education and Literacy has introduced a refined definition of literacy aligned with NEP 2020 and SDG 4.6 goals. 1. Literacy is now defined as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, along with critical life skills such as digital and financial literacy. This expanded definition aims to ensure full societal participation and economic progress. 2. A state/UT achieving 95% literacy is considered fully literate. |
Source: PIB
City Gas Distribution (CGD) Project
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,010 crore City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal, aiming to expand clean energy infrastructure.
More About the News
- The PM outlined India’s progress in expanding its gas network, noting that city gas services have grown from 66 districts in 2014 to over 550 today.
- He credited schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for improving the lives of poor women by providing LPG access and reducing indoor pollution.
- He also stressed the importance of the Urja Ganga project in bringing gas pipelines to eastern India, boosting energy access and job creation.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) project
- The City Gas Distribution (CGD) project, worth over Rs 1010 crore, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments and industries .
- It will also provide Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations in line with the Minimum Work Program (MWP) targets stipulated by the Government.
- It falls under the Minimum Work Programme (MWP) targets set by the government to expand India’s gas-based economy.
- It will provide convenient, reliable, environment-friendly and cost-effective fuel supply and create employment opportunities in the region.
Source :PIB
Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2024
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2024 compiled by ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM).
Global Scenario
- Record Number of Launches: 2024 recorded 261 launch attempts globally — the highest since the space age began — with 254 successful launches that placed 2,963 objects in orbit, including 2,578 operational satellites.
- Lunar Ambitions Resurface: Five lunar missions were launched in 2024, indicating renewed global interest in lunar exploration.
- Space Debris from Break-ups: Three major on-orbit break-up events occurred in 2024.
- A major incident involving China’s Long March rocket (CZ-6A) contributed ~650 catalogued debris.
- Net addition of 702 fragmented objects, significantly higher than the 69 in 2023.
- Record Re-entries and Impact of Solar Activity: 2,095 catalogued objects re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.
Indian Scenario
- Total Launched: 136 Indian spacecraft in Earth orbit till 2024, including those from private and academic institutions.
- Operational Satellites: 22 in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 31 in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
- Active deep space missions: Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter (CH2O)
- Aditya-L1 at Sun-Earth Lagrange point.
- Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module, relocated to a high Earth orbit.
- Historical Debris: The PSLV-C3 upper stage, which broke up in 2001, created 371 debris, with 41 pieces still in orbit.
- Satellite Re-entries: 31 Indian satellites have decayed so far and 9 re-entered in 2024.
Source: ISRO
National Florence Nightingale Award 2025
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- The President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 to nurses at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
About the Award
- Named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, it was instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- It recognizes meritorious services of nurses and nursing professionals who contribute significantly to society.
- A total of 15 awards are given in the category of Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife, Registered Nurses and Midwife and Registered Lady Visitor.
- Eligible recipients include nursing personnel working in Central/State Governments, Union Territories, and Voluntary Organizations, whether in hospitals, community settings, educational institutions, or administration.
- Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, Cash Award of Rs.1,00,000/- and a medal.
Source: PIB
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Syllabus :Miscellaneous
In News
Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old Indian-American student from Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling “eclaircissement” in the 21st round.
- Zaki is only the fifth speller in Bee history to win after coming in second place the year before.
Scripps National Spelling Bee
- It is a U.S. educational program and it aims to help students enhance spelling, expand vocabulary, understand concepts, and develop proper English usage.
- It is run as a not-for-profit by The E.W. Scripps Company.
- The first Spelling Bee competition was held in 1925 in Washington, DC, and only nine kids participated.
- This year, more than 200 students competed.
- Nupur Lala was the first Indian-American to win the competition in 1999.
Source :ET