In News:

Russian state corporation Rostec has claimed that its Light Multipurpose Guided Rocket, also known as Izdeliye 305 or “Product 305,” has demonstrated remarkable resistance to jamming and interference on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Missile Overview

• Name: Izdeliye 305 (Product 305), also known as LMUR (Light Multipurpose Guided Rocket)
• Primary Use: Deployed by Russia’s Mi-28NM and Ka-52M attack helicopters.
• Function: Designed to target and destroy armored vehicles, fortifications, pillboxes, and watercraft with high precision.

Key Features

• Sniper-Like Accuracy: The missile is touted for its exceptional precision in targeting, making it one of Russia’s most successful guided weapons.
• Resistance to Jamming: The missile’s control channel has shown remarkable resistance to enemy electronic warfare (EW) systems, making it effective even in contested environments.
  • No instances of the missile's control channel being suppressed during the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
• Versatile Guidance Systems: The missile operates in several modes:
  • Fire-and-Forget: The missile locks onto the target before launch and operates autonomously post-launch.
  • Remote Control Mode: The operator guides the missile to the target after it locks onto coordinates and transmits live imagery to the operator’s screen.
  • Inertial + Homing Mode: The missile initially flies inertially toward target coordinates, then activates its homing system for final target guidance.
• High Explosive Warhead: Equipped with a 25-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the LMUR is effective against a variety of targets.

Technical Specifications

• Weight: 105 kg (231 lbs)
• Range: Up to 9 miles, double the range of traditional Russian anti-tank missiles, providing the tactical advantage of engaging from beyond line-of-sight.
• Warhead: 25 kg high-explosive fragmentation for effective target destruction.
• Guidance: A combination of inertial navigation, satellite positioning, thermal imaging, and a two-way communication channel for real-time control.

Deployment and Use

• Helicopter Integration: Primarily used on Mi-28NM and Ka-52M attack helicopters, and also on the Mi-8MNP-2 for special operations.
• Combat Experience:
  • The missile was actively used in Ukraine where it played a key role in countering Ukraine’s NATO-backed counteroffensive operations.
  • It was previously tested in Syria against various targets, showcasing its capabilities before full operational deployment in 2022.

Significance in Ukraine Conflict

• Impact on Ukrainian Forces: The missile’s long range and resistance to EW have made it a critical component of Russia’s aerial operations, hampering Ukraine’s battlefield progress, particularly against heavily fortified positions and NATO-backed counteroffensive efforts.

Strategic Advantage: The missile’s ability to engage targets from a distance while evading jamming attempts gives it a significant edge in modern warfare.

In News:

The Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will confer the 5th National Water Awards 2023 on October 22nd 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. 

Organizing Body:

• Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Department: Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR)
• Purpose: To recognize and honor individuals, organizations, and bodies that have made significant contributions to water conservation and management.

Award Categories

1. Best State
2. Best District
3. Best Village Panchayat
4. Best Urban Local Body
5. Best School or College
6. Best Industry
7. Best Water User Association
8. Best Institution (other than school or college)
9. Best Civil Society Organization

Winners

• Best State:
  • 1st Prize: Odisha
  • 2nd Prize: Uttar Pradesh
  • 3rd Prize (joint): Gujarat & Puducherry
  • Other Awards: Winners in the remaining categories have been recognized, with citations, trophies, and cash prizes provided in certain categories.

Objectives of the National Water Awards

• Promote Water Conservation: Raise awareness about the importance of water and encourage effective water usage practices.
• Recognize Efforts: Celebrate the work of individuals, institutions, and organizations contributing to the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ (Water-rich India).
• National Campaign: Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been working to spread awareness on water management and conservation through extensive national campaigns.

History and Background

• The National Water Awards (NWAs) were launched in 2018 by the DoWR, RD & GR to foster awareness and action on water-related issues.
• Awards were given for 2019, 2020, and 2022, but there were no awards in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The awards aim to inspire best practices in water usage, conservation, and management across India, involving government bodies, industries, communities, and civil society.

Significance

• The National Water Awards serve as a platform to recognize the innovative initiatives taken by various stakeholders in addressing water challenges.

The awards contribute to furthering the government’s mission of achieving sustainable water management practices across the nation.

In News:

• Chile and the United Kingdom have prepared a proposal to recognize fungi as an independent kingdom, termed "Funga", alongside flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
• This will be presented at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Cali, Colombia in October 2024.
• Why Funga?
• Fungi (e.g., mushrooms, moulds, yeast, lichen) play crucial ecological roles, but have historically been overlooked in conservation strategies.
• Fungi contribute significantly to decomposition, forest regeneration, carbon sequestration, and the global nutrient cycle.
• The recognition aims to strengthen fungal conservation by integrating fungi into global legislation and policies.
• Ecological Importance of Fungi:
• Decomposition: Fungi break down organic matter, facilitating nutrient recycling in ecosystems.
• Symbiotic Relationships: Many fungi form crucial symbiotic relationships with plants (e.g., mycorrhizal associations) and animals.
• Climate Mitigation: Boreal forest fungi absorb large amounts of carbon through symbiosis with plants, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
• Pollution Remediation: Fungi can help clean polluted soils by breaking down toxins.
• Food Production: Fungi are essential for producing common foods like bread, cheese, wine, beer, and chocolate.
• Health: Fungi produce antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) and aid in mammalian digestion.
• Scientific Recognition:
• In August 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized fungi as one of the three kingdoms of life, alongside plants and animals.
• The 3F initiative (Flora, Fauna, and Funga), led by Giuliana Furci, aims to promote the international recognition and protection of fungi.
• Diversity and Research Gaps:
• Only 8% of the estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species have been formally described.
• Approximately 2,000 new fungal species are discovered annually, indicating the vast underexplored diversity of fungi.
• Threats to Fungi:
• Fungi face significant threats from deforestation, climate change, pollution, overharvesting, and fungicide use.
• These threats disrupt the symbiotic relationships fungi share with plants and animals, leading to ecosystem instability.
• Nitrogen enrichment in soils and habitat loss further exacerbate these risks.

Key Facts About Fungi

• Biological Characteristics:
• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with rigid cell walls made of chitin (distinct from the cellulose found in plant cell walls).
• They are heterotrophic, meaning they absorb nutrients from their environment through external digestion (secreting enzymes to break down organic material before absorption).
• Reproductive Strategies:
• Fungi reproduce both asexually (via spores) and sexually, ensuring their proliferation across ecosystems.
• Growth Form:
• Fungi grow primarily as mycelium, a network of hyphae (filamentous structures) that helps in nutrient absorption and environmental interaction.
• Symbiotic Relationships:
• Fungi form mycorrhizal relationships with plants, enhancing nutrient exchange, and lichen associations with algae, providing mutual benefits in extreme environments.

In News:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the Alinity m MPXV Assay under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure.
• The test, developed by Abbott Molecular Inc., will help expand diagnostic capacity in countries experiencing Mpox outbreaks, particularly in Africa.
• Importance of Early Diagnosis:
• Early diagnosis enables timely treatment and virus control.
• It is critical for improving Mpox surveillance, especially in areas with high transmission.

Current Mpox Situation

• Global Context:
  • Over 30,000 suspected cases reported in Africa in 2024.
• India has reported 30 cases since the WHO declared Mpox a global health emergency in August 2024.
• Testing Capacity:
• Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming cases have been a significant barrier to controlling the spread, especially in Africa.
• In India, 35 laboratories are currently equipped to test suspected Mpox cases.

Mpox Diagnostic Test Details

• Alinity m MPXV Assay:
• A real-time PCR test that detects monkeypox virus (MPXV) DNA from skin lesion swabs.
• Used by trained clinical laboratory personnel proficient in PCR techniques.
• Helps confirm suspected Mpox cases from pustular or vesicular rash samples.
• WHO's Role:
• The Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure accelerates the availability of life-saving products during public health emergencies.
• WHO aims to increase access to quality-assured diagnostics in regions most affected by Mpox.

About Mpox

• What is Mpox?
• Zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus (family Poxviridae).
• Closely related to smallpox, but generally less severe in humans.
• Transmission:
• Spread via physical contact with infected lesions, body fluids, or contaminated materials.
• Can also spread through animal bites, or activities like hunting, skinning, or eating infected animals.
• Two Clades:
• Clade I: Predominantly in Central and East Africa.
• Clade II: More common in West Africa; linked to the 2022 outbreak.
• Symptoms:
• Rashes, blisters, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes.
• Lesions typically scab over as they heal.
• Most people experience mild symptoms, but children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are at greater risk.

Treatment and Prevention

• No Specific Cure:
• Supportive care (e.g., pain relief, hydration) is recommended.
• In some cases, antivirals like tecovirimat (developed for smallpox) may be used under exceptional circumstances.
• Vaccination:
• Three smallpox vaccines are recommended for at-risk individuals: MVA-BN, LC16, and OrthopoxVac.
• Mass vaccination is not recommended by WHO.

In News:

Recently, the Chief Justice of India unveiled the ‘new lady justice’ statue in the Supreme Court premises that replaced the ‘original lady justice’. The new statue is clothed in a saree, has shed the blindfold and holds scales on one hand and the Indian Constitution on the other.

Symbolism of the New Statue

• Design:
• Clad in a saree, symbolizing Indian tradition.
• No blindfold, with open eyes, conveying that justice "sees" all equally.
• Holds the Indian Constitution in one hand and scales of justice in the other.
• Significance:
• Aimed at decolonization of the judiciary, replacing colonial symbols with representations that reflect India's identity and values.
• The open eyes represent that justice is not blind, addressing social diversity, discrimination, and constitutional provisions for upliftment of underprivileged sections.
• The Constitution in place of a sword symbolizes its supremacy in India’s legal system.

Historical Context of Lady Justice

• Origin:
• Rooted in Roman mythology; Justitia, the goddess of justice, symbolized by scales, sword, and a blindfold.
• Blindfold added in the Renaissance as a satire on corrupt legal systems but later reinterpreted as a symbol of impartiality, representing justice without bias, irrespective of wealth, power, or social status.
• Scales: Balance in weighing both sides before judgment.
• Sword: Authority and power of law, to protect and punish.

Rationale for Change in India

• Colonial Legacy:
• The 'lady justice' symbol became prominent during British rule, reflecting colonial influence in India's legal system.
• Decolonial Intent:
• The shift from Western attire (robe) to a saree connects the statue to Indian traditions.
• Open eyes emphasize that Indian justice is not blind and addresses social inequalities directly.
• The Constitution's prominence underscores its role as the supreme guiding document in the Indian legal system.

Current Judicial System Challenges

• Pending Cases:
• Over 5 crore cases are pending across courts in India.
• Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition for a three-year timeline to resolve the backlog, citing the overwhelming volume of cases.
• Urgent Reforms Needed:
• Finalize the Memorandum of Procedure:
•  
• Still pending after 8 years; addresses transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
• Representation in Judiciary:
  • • Backward classes, SCs, STs, and minorities are underrepresented in higher judiciary (less than 25%), and women are underrepresented (less than 15%).
    • Appointments should reflect India's social diversity.
• Vacancies in Courts:
• • High Courts operate at 60-70% strength, contributing to a massive case backlog of over 60 lakh cases.
  • Lower courts have 4.4 crore pending cases; vacancies must be filled by states promptly.
• Priority for Constitutional Cases:
• • Cases concerning the constitutional validity of laws and individual liberty should be prioritized by the judiciary.

Conclusion

• The new Lady Justice statue is not just a symbolic change but reflects a broader effort to realign India’s judiciary with its social and constitutional values.
• To ensure fair and prompt justice, there is an urgent need to address systemic delays, fill vacancies, and improve diversity in judicial appointments.
• Only then will the judiciary truly embody the principles of impartiality and justice, as represented by the new statue.