In News:

• Daniel Barenboim (Classical Pianist and Conductor) and Ali Abu Awwad (Palestinian Peace Activist) were jointly awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023.
  • Daniel Barenboim was recognized for fostering peace through musical and cultural dialogue initiatives.
  • Ali Abu Awwad was honored for his advocacy of peace through dialogue via his organization Roots, which he founded after serving time in Israeli prison.

Significance of the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:

• The award is given to individuals or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to international peace, disarmament, and development.
• It includes a monetary award of ?25 lakh and a citation.

About the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:

• Established: 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• Objective: To honor sustained efforts towards international peace, the development of humanity, and the promotion of disarmament.
• Past recipients: Includes prominent figures and organizations such as Mikhail Gorbachev, UNICEF, Jimmy Carter, Angela Merkel, ISRO, and Sir David Attenborough.

2022 Awardees:

• The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2022 was awarded to the Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India, in recognition of their contribution as COVID-19 warriors.

Key Takeaways:

• The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards for promoting peace, disarmament, and development worldwide.
• Daniel Barenboim's musical initiatives and Ali Abu Awwad's work through dialogue exemplify efforts to bridge divides and promote peaceful resolutions to conflict.

In News:

Coal India Limited (CIL) under the aegis of the Ministry of Coal, has been conferred with the esteemed Green World Environment Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category along with the distinguished tile of Green World Ambassador.

Key Highlights:

• Reason for the Award:

• The award was granted to CIL for its Thalassemia Bal SewaYojna, a CSR initiative aimed at providing permanent curative treatment for Thalassemia through Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT).
• The scheme provides financial assistance of up to ?10 lakh for BMT and has helped over 600 Thalassemia patients across India.

• Background of the Award:

• The Green Organization, an independent, non-political, non-profit environmental group, conferred the award.
• The organization has been recognizing and promoting environmental best practices and CSR initiatives globally since its establishment in 1994.

• CIL’s Role in CSR:

• CIL has been a pioneer in CSR, with its Thalassemia Bal SewaYojna being the first of its kind among public sector undertakings in India.
• The initiative partners with 17 prominent hospitals across India to provide stem cell transplants for Thalassemia patients.

• CIL’s Contribution to India's Energy Sector:

• CIL is responsible for producing over 80% of India's coal and contributes to 70% of the total coal-based power generation in the country.
• CIL accounts for 55% of India’s total power generation and meets 40% of the primary commercial energy requirements.

• Environmental Initiatives by CIL:

• CIL has adopted various measures to improve environmental sustainability, including:
• Expanding green cover over mined areas.
• Creating eco-parks and tourism spots.
• Providing mine water for domestic and agricultural use to surrounding villages.

• About Coal India Limited (CIL):

• Established: November 1975.
• Headquarters: Kolkata.
• Status: A Maharatna company and the largest coal-producing company in the world.
• Subsidiaries: CIL has seven producing subsidiaries and is a major corporate employer in India.

• About the Green Organization:

• Founded: 1994.
• Nature: Independent, non-political, non-profit organization.
• Objective: To recognize, reward, and promote environmental and CSR best practices worldwide.
• Initiatives: The Green World Awards are part of global efforts to encourage sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

• Significance of the Award:

• The Green World Environment Award highlights CIL’s commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability while maintaining its core role as an energy provider.
• The recognition underscores CIL’s leadership in integrating CSR initiatives with corporate operations to contribute to national development.

In News:

• Minister of Jal Shakti, digitally launched the “Bhu-Neer” portal during the India Water Week 2024.
• Developed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Key Highlights:

• Purpose of the Portal:

• Centralized platform for managing and regulating groundwater resources across India.
• Aims to ensure transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in groundwater usage, facilitating easier access to groundwater withdrawal permits.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly Interface: Simplified interface to streamline the application process for groundwater withdrawal.
• PAN-Based Single ID System: Allows seamless user registration, providing a unique identification for all stakeholders.
• NOC with QR Code: Enables verifiable and trackable compliance documents, ensuring authenticity.
• Improved Version: An enhanced version compared to the previous NOCAP system, with improved efficiency and features.
• Streamlined Process Flow: Simplifies the process for obtaining groundwater withdrawal permits.

Goals and Benefits:

• Promotes the sustainable use of groundwater and ensures compliance with legal frameworks at state and national levels.
• Supports Ease of Doing Business: Aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision by making the groundwater regulation process seamless and faceless, reducing bureaucratic delays.

Public Accessibility:

• The portal is now live and accessible to both project proponents and the general public.
• It offers services such as groundwater withdrawal related queries, tracking applications, and payment of statutory charges.

Impact on Groundwater Management:

• The platform is expected to bring improved groundwater regulation by providing centralized access to policies, compliance details, and sustainable practices related to groundwater use.
• It will contribute significantly to monitoring and sustainable management of India’s groundwater resources, crucial in light of increasing water scarcity.

Vision of the Portal:

• In line with the government’s broader goals of digitalization, transparency, and environmental sustainability, the “Bhu-Neer” portal marks a significant step in efficient water resource management.

In News:

• Nafithromycin is India's first indigenously developed antibiotic aimed at combating drug-resistant pneumonia, developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• The drug is being marketed under the trade name "Miqnaf" by Wockhardt.

Significance in Combating Drug Resistance:

• Nafithromycin addresses Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), a serious disease caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
• Pneumonia is responsible for over 2 million deaths globally annually, with India facing 23% of the global burden.
• The drug is 10 times more effective than current treatments like azithromycin, requiring only three doses for effective treatment, offering a safer and faster solution.

Biotechnology Sector and Public-Private Collaboration:

• BIRAC, under the Department of Biotechnology, supported the research and development of Nafithromycin.
• This achievement underscores the public-private collaboration between the government and pharmaceutical industry, demonstrating India’s capacity to develop indigenous solutions for global health challenges.

Global Health Implications:

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis that prolongs illnesses and raises healthcare costs.
• The new antibiotic offers a vital solution to multi-drug-resistant pathogens, contributing significantly to global health.
• India’s leadership in addressing AMR positions the country as a major player in biotechnology innovation.

Importance for Vulnerable Populations:

• Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems (e.g., diabetes, cancer patients), are particularly affected by drug-resistant pneumonia.
• Nafithromycin offers a much-needed therapeutic option for these groups.

Impact of AMR Awareness:

• The launch coincides with World AMR Awareness Week, emphasizing the urgency of tackling antimicrobial resistance.
• Public awareness, fostered by the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased the focus on biotechnology and its potential to address global health challenges.

Future Prospects:

• Nafithromycin is awaiting final approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for manufacturing and public use.
• The launch is expected to lead to future breakthroughs in antibiotic development and contribute significantly to improving public health.

In News:

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis with nearly half of all children – about 1 billion – living in countries that face a high risk of climate and environmental hazards, the UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report, said.

Key Highlights:

Environmental Hazards and Children’s Health:

• Children face an increasingly unpredictable and hazardous environment due to climate change, environmental crises, and frontier technologies.
• Nearly 1 billion children live in countries facing high risks from climate and environmental hazards.
• Children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to pollution, extreme weather, and environmental hazards.
• Air pollution, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events harm children's respiratory health, increase the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue, and impact food security and access.

Impact of Climate Change:

• Climate destabilization, biodiversity loss, and pollution are intensifying globally.
• Climate-related disasters (e.g., floods) affect water supplies, causing waterborne diseases, a leading cause of death in children under five.
• Extreme weather events, such as floods, can cause trauma, anxiety, and displacement for children.
• By the 2050s, more children will be exposed to extreme climate hazards compared to the 2000s.
• School closures, affecting 400 million children since 2022 due to extreme weather, disrupt education and hinder economic growth.

Projections for Child Survival and Life Expectancy:

• Newborn survival rates: Projected to rise by nearly 4 percentage points to over 98% globally by the 2050s.
• Probability of surviving to age 5: Expected to increase to 99.5%.
• Life expectancy: Expected to rise to 81 years for girls and 76 years for boys by the 2050s.

Child Population Trends by 2050:

• Global child population expected to stabilize at 2.3 billion by the 2050s.
• South Asia, Eastern/Southern Africa, and West/Central Africa will have the largest child populations, facing significant challenges in meeting children’s basic needs.
• These regions also face climate risks, inadequate digital infrastructure, and socio-economic challenges.

Technological Advancements:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI), neurotechnology, renewable energy, and vaccine breakthroughs could significantly improve childhood well-being.
• Digitalization: While it can empower children, it also exposes them to online risks, including sexual exploitation and abuse.

Socio-Economic Conditions and Inequality:

• 23% of children projected to live in low-income countries by 2050, a significant increase from 11% in the 2000s.
• GDP per capita in East Asia, Pacific, and South Asia expected to more than double from the 2020s to the 2050s.
• Growing inequalities between high- and low-income countries, particularly in terms of digital access and infrastructure.

Urbanization and Child Welfare:

• By the 2050s, nearly 60% of children globally will live in urban areas, up from 44% in the 2000s.
• Ensuring healthier and more secure urban environments is critical for improving future childhoods.
• Over 95% of people in high-income countries are connected to the internet, compared to just 26% in low-income countries, exacerbating inequalities.

Key Takeaways:

• Children are facing a more hazardous environment than ever before, influenced by climate change, technological developments, and demographic shifts.
• Proactive measures are needed to mitigate environmental risks, promote digital inclusion, and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for children globally.