Why is it in the News?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024.

What is the Bacterial Pathogens Priority List?

• The Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL) is a crucial tool in the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Background:

• In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) created the first BPPL to guide investment in the research and development (R&D) of new antibacterial treatments, listing 13 bacterial pathogens (phenotypes).
• The list was developed using the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method, a scientific approach that evaluates and ranks alternatives based on multiple criteria, ensuring systematic and transparent decision-making.
• The 2024 WHO BPPL expands to cover 24 pathogens across 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, categorizing them into critical, high, and medium priority groups to guide R&D and public health efforts.

Significance:

• The BPPL directs priorities for R&D and investment in AMR, highlighting the necessity for region-specific strategies to combat resistance effectively.
• It is aimed at developers of antibacterial medicines, academic and public research institutions, research funders, public-private partnerships involved in AMR R&D, and policymakers responsible for AMR policies and programs.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to persist or grow in the presence of drugs designed to inhibit or kill them.
• These drugs, called antimicrobials, are used to treat infectious diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites.
• When microorganisms become resistant to antimicrobials, standard treatments are often ineffective, and in some cases, no drugs provide effective therapy.
• Consequently, treatments fail and this increases illness and mortality in humans, animals and plants.
• For agriculture, this causes production losses, damages livelihoods and jeopardizes food security.
• Moreover, AMR can spread among different hosts and the environment, and antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms can contaminate the food chain.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global threat of increasing concern to human and animal health.
• It also has implications for food safety, food security and the economic well-being of millions of farming households.

Why is it in the News?

Characterized by its marble pillars and intricate latticework, Chausath Khamba (64 pillars) stands adjacent to the Nizamuddin dargah, a 14th-century shrine erected in honor of the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.

About the Chausath Khamba:

• Chausath Khamba was built in AD 1623 - 24 to serve as a tomb for Mirza Aziz Koka, the foster brother of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
  • It is so called on account of the 64 (chausath) monolithic marble pillars (khamba) and stands close to his father, Atgah Khan’s tomb, at the edge of the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
• The tomb enclosure is entered through a lofty arched gateway and has a large sunken forecourt.
  • The mausoleum is unique on account of it being built entirely of marble, with 25 marble domes supporting the flat roof of the structure.
  • The plan for Chausath Khamba could have been inspired by the wooden garden pavilions from Persia - such as the Chihil Sutun, and in turn, the Chausath Khamba seems to have inspired the architectural design for Emperor Shahjahan’s Diwan-i-Aam, Hall of Audience.
• Each facade of the square structure has five marble arches inset with marble jaallis or lattice screens and a doorway in the central arch providing access to the tomb.
  • The column capitals are intricately carved with simple yet striking pendentives bridging the square floor plan to the circular dome above.
• The structure also finds mention in Sir Gordon Risley Hearn’s book The Seven Cities of Delhi.
• As per author and historian Sam Dalrymple, the edifice embodies the architectural style of Gujarat and Ahmedabad within Delhi, serving as the Urs Mahal for hosting festivities during the commemoration of Nizamuddin's passing.
  • This illustrates the historical dissemination of regional architectural influences across India over centuries.

Why is it in the News?

Google DeepMind recently revealed its latest AI gaming agent called SIMA or Scalable Instructable Multiworld Agent, which can follow natural language instructions to perform tasks across video game environments.

What is SIMA?

• Scalable Instructable Multiworld Agent (SIMA) is an AI Agent, which is different from AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google Gemini.
  • AI models are trained on a vast data set and are limited when it comes to working on their own.
  • On the other hand, an AI Agent can process data and take action themselves.
• SIMA can be called a generalist AI Agent that is capable of doing different kinds of tasks.
• It is like a virtual buddy who can understand and follow instructions in all sorts of virtual environments – from exploring mysterious dungeons to building lavish castles.
• It can accomplish tasks or solve challenges assigned to it.
• It is essentially a super-smart computer program that can be thought of as a digital explorer, having the ability to understand what you want and help create it in the virtual world.

How does SIMA work?

• SIMA  can understand commands as it has been trained to process human language.
  • So when we ask it to build a castle or find the treasure chest, it understands exactly what these commands mean.
• One distinct feature of this AI Agent is that it is capable of learning and adapting.
  • SIMA does this through the interactions it has with the user.
  • The more we interact with SIMA, the smarter it gets by learning from its experiences and improves over time.
  • This makes it better at understanding and fulfilling user requests.
• Based on the current stage of AI development, it is a big feat for an AI system to be able to play even one game.
  • However, SIMA goes beyond that and can follow instructions in a variety of game settings.
  • This could potentially introduce more helpful AI agents for other environments.

Why is it in the News?

The Maharashtra cabinet recently decided to ask the Ministry of Railways to rename Mumbai Central Station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth.

Who was Nana Jagannath Shankarseth?

• Nana Jagannath Shankarseth was a social reformer, educationist, and philanthropist and often described as the “architect” of Mumbai (then Bombay).
• He made extremely valuable contributions in terms of both ideas and money to multiple sectors, to lay a strong foundation for the city.
• Shankarseth was greatly inspired by the legendary merchant and philanthropist Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.
• As a social reformer and community leader, Shankarseth earned the goodwill of both Indians and the British.
• He became the first Indian to be nominated to the Legislative Council of Bombay.

Shankarseth’s Most Significant Contributions:

• Education: Shankarseth was deeply committed to the growth and spread of education in Bombay, and donated land owned by his family for educational institutions.
  • Like many social reformers of his age, he believed that Indians could progress through education.
  • He also worked for the education of girls and women.
• Shankarseth founded the Native School of Bombay, which was renamed first as the Bombay Native Institution, and then as the Board of Education.
  • Finally, this institution evolved into the prestigious Elphinstone College.
• Museum, Temples: Shankarseth was among the wealthy donors who helped promote Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla, which was designed by a famous London-based architect.
  • The Bhawani Shankar Temple near Nana Chowk was Shankarseth’s tribute to his late mother Bhawanibai Murkute.
  • He also built a Ram temple.
• Railways: The first train in India ran between Boribunder and Thane on April 16, 1853.
  • The 34-km project was undertaken by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company.
  • The committee that gave the project impetus included Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and Nana Shankarseth.

Why is it in the News?

Recently India commissioned the atmospheric testbed facility near Bhopal, equipped with high-end instruments to record vital parameters for enhancing weather models and conducting advanced studies on the Indian monsoons, with construction commencing in early 2018.

What is the Atmospheric Research Testbed (ART)?

• The ART is an open-field, focused observational and analytical research programme at Silkheda.
• The facility aims to conduct ground-based observations of weather parameters like temperature, wind speeds, etc., and in-situ (on-site) observations of the transient synoptic systems – like low-pressure areas and depressions that form in the Bay of Bengal – during the southwest monsoon season from June to September.
• Studying these systems and their associated cloud parameters will be used to generate high volumes of data over a long period.
  • It can then be compared with the existing weather models so that improvements can be made to obtain accurate rainfall predictions.
• The setup at ART will also be used for calibrating and validating various satellite-based observations, part of weather predictions and forecasting.
• Spread over 100 acres, the ART has been developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for Rs 125 crore.
• The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, is in charge of the operations.
• Under the first phase, remote sensing-based and in-situ measurements using 25 meteorological instruments have commenced.
• In the second phase, ART will deploy instruments such as a radar wind profiler and balloon-bound radiosonde, and soil moisture and temperature measuring equipment.

What instruments are ART equipped with?

• To obtain continuous observations of convection, clouds, and precipitation, and monitor the major modes of variabilities, the ART is equipped with over two dozen high-end instruments, radars, and more.
  • At 72 meters, ART will house India’s tallest meteorological tower.
• Some of the instruments deployed are an aethalometer for performing aerosol studies, a cloud condensation nuclei counter, a laser ceilometer to measure cloud sizes, a micro rain radar to calculate raindrop size and its distribution, and a Ka-band cloud radar and a C-band Doppler weather radar to help track the movement of rain-bearing systems over this zone.

Why is having an Atmospheric Research Testbed important?

• At present, 45% of India’s labor force is employed in the agriculture sector and much of Indian agriculture is rain-fed.
• Cultivation along the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ), which spans the central India region from Gujarat to West Bengal, is primarily rainfall-fed.
• The southwest monsoon season accounts for 70 percent of the country’s annual average rainfall (880mm).
• Throughout India, the majority of Kharif cultivation is undertaken between July and August, which see an average monthly rainfall of 280.4mm and 254.9mm (1971–2020 average), respectively.
• During this four-month-long season, several rain-bearing synoptic systems, namely the low pressures or depressions, develop in the Bay of Bengal.
• Inherently, these systems move westwards/northwestwards over to the Indian mainland and pass through the MCZ, causing bountiful rainfall.

Why is it important to have data about monsoons over central India?

• Studies have correlated the all-India rainfall performance to the rainfall received over the central India region, highlighting its importance.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues rainfall forecasts for the country’s four homogeneous regions – north, west, east, and south peninsular India.
  • In addition, it issues a special rainfall forecast for the MCZ, which is considered India’s food bowl.
• However, there is still limited understanding of the role of these synoptic systems, their associated cloud physics, cloud properties, and their overall role in enhancing the monsoon rainfall.
• Central India, therefore, acts as a natural laboratory for scientists and meteorologists to perform a hands-on study of the Indian monsoons.
  • They can record data and make observations about the allied systems, clouds, and other associated physical and atmospheric parameters.
• Additionally, climate change is driving erratic rainfall patterns in tropical regions, like India.
• It has also strengthened the low-pressure systems, which are aided by high temperatures.
  • This results in very heavy rainfall recorded along their trajectory during the monsoons.
• Now, with ART, scientists will be able to generate and obtain long-term observations on cloud microphysics, precipitation, convection, and land-surface properties, among a host of other parameters.
• This information will be assimilated and fed into the numerical weather models to enhance forecast output, especially the rainfall forecasts.
• More accurate forecasts will ultimately help the farming community plan their activities better.

Why Madhya Pradesh?

• The ART has been established at Silkheda, a location that falls directly in line with the path of major rain-bearing synoptic systems.
  • This will facilitate direct monitoring and tracking.
• Besides, the locality is pristine and free of anthropogenic and other pollutants, making it the best site in central India for setting up sensitive, high-end meteorological instruments and observatories for recording data.

Why is it in the News?

At least nine people were injured after an explosion at the bustling Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area recently, possibly by an improvised explosive device (IED).

What is Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)?

• An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) refers to a makeshift explosive device constructed and deployed unorthodoxly or improvised.
• These devices are typically crafted using commonly available materials, including explosives, triggers, and containers, often to cause destruction, injury, or death.
• IEDs can vary widely in design and complexity, ranging from simple pipe bombs to more intricate devices incorporating timers, remote controls, or even cellular communication for activation.
• IEDs can be deployed using a vehicle, carried, placed, or thrown by a person, delivered in a package, or concealed on the roadside.
• Due to their adaptable nature, IEDs are commonly used by insurgents, terrorists, and other malicious actors to carry out attacks against both military and civilian targets.
• Their unpredictable nature and often concealed placement make them particularly challenging for security forces to detect and mitigate.
• Efforts to counter IED threats involve a combination of technological advancements, intelligence gathering, and counterinsurgency strategies aimed at identifying and neutralizing these devices before they can cause harm.

Types of IEDs:

• Vehicle-Borne IEDs: Among the most destructive forms of IEDs are those concealed within vehicles. These can be driven to specific locations and detonated, causing massive explosions capable of levelling buildings.
• Suicide Bombings: Suicide bombings involve individuals strapping IEDs to their bodies, becoming human carriers of destruction. This method inflicts maximum damage in densely populated areas.
• Package IEDs: Package IEDs are small devices hidden in innocuous-looking packages. They are often placed in public spaces, targeting unsuspecting victims.

Methods of IED Initiation:

• Remote Control: IEDs can be remotely triggered using various methods, such as cell phones or radio signals, allowing attackers to maintain a safe distance from the explosion.
• Pressure Activation: Pressure-sensitive IEDs detonate when a certain amount of pressure is applied, making them lethal traps for those who inadvertently trigger them.
• Timers: IEDs can also be equipped with timers, which delay the explosion to occur at a specific time, further complicating detection and prevention.

The Devastating Impact of IEDs:

• The aftermath of IED explosions is often catastrophic, leading to loss of life, severe injuries, and widespread damage to infrastructure.
  • The psychological impact on survivors and affected communities can be long-lasting.

Detection Technologies and Challenges:

• Detection technologies such as (Metal Detectors, X-ray and Imaging Scanners, Explosive Trace Detection (ETD), and Sniffer Dogs) play a critical role in countering the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), but they also face numerous challenges due to the evolving nature of these devices.

Why is it in the News?

Recently, the Centre has agreed to examine whether the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution can be implemented in Ladakh.

What is the Sixth Schedule?

• The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.
• ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of 5 years and can make laws, rules and regulations with regard to land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, village- and town-level policing, inheritance, marriage and divorce, social customs and mining, etc.
  • The Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam is an exception with more than 40 members and the right to make laws on 39 issues.
• The Sixth Schedule applies to the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura (one Council).

Why does Ladakh want to be part of the Sixth Schedule?

• There was much enthusiasm initially, mostly in Leh, after the August 5, 2019 decisions that created two new Union Territories.
  • The Buddhist-dominated Leh district had long demanded UT status because it felt neglected by the erstwhile state government, which was dominated by politicians from Kashmir and Jammu.
• This development has sparked concerns among locals regarding potential challenges related to identity preservation, resource allocation, and administrative oversight.
• Also, the changed domicile policy in Jammu and Kashmir has raised fears in the region about its own land, employment, demography, and cultural identity.
• The UT has two Hill councils in Leh and Kargil, but neither is under the Sixth Schedule.
• Their powers are limited to the collection of some local taxes such as parking fees and allotment and use of land vested by the Centre.
• The Sixth Schedule empowers the Governor of the State to designate specific areas as administrative units within the Autonomous Districts and Autonomous Regions.

Can Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule?

• In September 2019, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommended the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, noting that the new UT was predominantly tribal (more than 97%), people from other parts of the country had been restricted from purchasing or acquiring land there, and its distinct cultural heritage needed preservation.
  • Notably, no region outside the Northeast has been included in the Sixth Schedule.
  • In fact, even in Manipur, which has predominantly tribal populations in some places, the autonomous councils are not included in the Sixth Schedule.
  • Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which are totally tribal, are also not in the Sixth Schedule.
• “Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule would be difficult.
• The Constitution is very clear, the Sixth Schedule is for the Northeast.
  • For tribal areas in the rest of the country, there is the Fifth Schedule.
• However, it remains the prerogative of the government — it can, if it so decides, bring a Bill to amend the Constitution for this purpose.

Why is it in the News?

The CBI conducted searches at the premises of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik and 29 other locations recently in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru Hydropower project.

What are the Corruption Allegations Surrounding the Kiru Hydel Project?

• During his tenure as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019, Satya Pal Malik claimed that he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe to approve two files, one of which pertained to the project.
• In 2022, the J&K government requested a CBI investigation into alleged misconduct, previously highlighted by Satya Pal Malik, in the awarding of two government contracts.
• Concerns have been raised regarding the award of civil works, particularly to Patel Engineering Ltd, a prominent infrastructure and construction company established in 1949.
• The CBI has initiated action against the former CVPPPL chairman, MD, and Directors, as well as Patel Engineering.
• According to the FIR, an inquiry by the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Power Department had been conducted.
• The FIR alleges non-compliance with e-tendering guidelines in the awarding of civil works for the project.
• Additionally, accusations of substandard work and failure to employ local youth have been levelled against the hydel project.

What is the Kiru Hydel Power Project?

• The 624MW Kiru hydroelectric project is being developed as a run-of-river scheme in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, a union territory in India.
• Location of the Kiru project: The Kiru hydropower project is being built along the Chenab River near the villages of Patharnakki and Kiru, approximately 42 km from Kishtwar.
  • It will be located between the Kirthai II hydroelectric project to its upstream and the Kwar hydroelectric project to its downstream.
• The project is being developed by the Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPPPL) joint venture (JV) between:
  • National Hydroelectric Power (NHPC, 49%)
  • Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development (JKSPDC, 49%) and
  • The Power Trading Corporation (PTC, 2%)
• The Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) awarded environmental clearance for the hydroelectric project in 2016 while the foundation stone was laid in February 2019.
• The project is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,287 crore and is expected to start commercial operations in July 2025.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the investment in the project in March 2019.
• Apart from helping address the energy demand across northern India and the state’s rural areas, it could aid small-scale and cottage industries.

Advantages of the Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project:

• This project aims to alleviate the energy shortage in Northern India while also enhancing the transportation, education, healthcare, and road infrastructure in the area.
• By bringing electricity to rural communities, the project will lessen the reliance of residents on alternative energy sources.
• The heightened power availability will foster the growth of small-scale and cottage industries, generating employment opportunities and revenue for the local populace.

What is a Run-of-river Project?

• Run-of-river hydropower is a facility that channels flowing water from a river through a canal or penstock to spin a turbine.
• Typically a run-of-river project will have little or no storage facility.
• Run-of-river provides a continuous supply of electricity (base load), with some flexibility of operation for daily fluctuations in demand through water flow that is regulated by the facility.