UPSC Key | Chandipura virus, Harappan civilisation, PM 2.5 and more

🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the July edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

Front Page

Harappan society is ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation’ in NCERT’s new textbook

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: GS-I: History of India, Indian culture, and education

What’s the ongoing story- From referring to the Harappan civilisation as the ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ and ‘Indus-Sarasvati’ civilisation, to multiple mentions of the ‘Sarasvati’ river, including noting its desiccation as one of the reasons for the decline of the Harappan society, to a mention of India having had a “prime meridian of its own” called the ‘Ujjayini meridian’ — the new NCERT Class 6 Social Science textbook released on Friday incorporates many new elements.

Prerequisites: 

— Read about the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC)- the Early Harappan Phase, the Mature Harappan Phase, and the Late Harappan Phase.

— Origin of the civilisation, town planning, craft, economy, religion, decline of the civilization.

— Major sites of Indus civilisation in Gujarat and other parts of India.

Key takeaways: 

— In a departure from the past, the textbook makes multiple references to the ‘Sarasvati’ river in the chapter pertaining to the beginning of Indian civilisation. The old History textbook, ‘Our Past I’, mentioned the river only once in a section on the Rig Veda, where it is included among the rivers named in the hymns in the Vedas.

— In the new textbook, the river finds a prominent place in a chapter on the ‘Beginnings of Indian Civilisation’, where the Harappan civilisation is referred to as the ‘Indus-Sarasvati’ or ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ civilisation. It says the ‘Sarasvati’ basin included major cities of the civilisation — Rakhigarhi and Ganweriwala — along with smaller cities and towns. 

— The river, according to the new textbook, “today goes by the name of ‘Ghaggar’ in India and ‘Hakra’ in Pakistan (hence the name ‘Ghaggar-Hakra River’)”, and is now seasonal. In two maps in the book — one that marks out some of the rivers of the sub-continent, and another showing the main settlements of the ‘Indus-Sarasvati civilisation’ — the river has been marked out along with the Indus and its tributaries.

— The river also plays a key role in a section on how the Harappan civilisation declined. It says that two factors are agreed upon: one is “climate change” which caused reduced rainfall, and the other is that the “Sarasvati river dried up in its central basin; suddenly, cities there, such as Kalibangan or Banawali, were abandoned”.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the characteristics of IVC?

— What is the debate about the reasons for the decline of IVC?

— What is the New Education Policy? Is it binding on all states?

Post Read Question:

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is coming up in which Harappan site?

(a) Lothal

(b) Kalibangan

(c) Dholavira

(d) Mohenjo Daro

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Who were the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation?

Delhi cautious as Dhaka in siege, over 100 killed in anti-reservation protests

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story- With more than 100 killed as protests against job quotas convulse Bangladesh and hold Dhaka in siege, New Delhi has been cautious not to comment on what it calls an “internal” matter. 

Prerequisites: 

— Read about the Bangladesh War of Independence (1971) and the history of Bangladesh’s creation.

— What is the history of bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh?

— Who were the Razakars? 

— Map work: Location of Bangladesh and Indian states sharing boundaries with Bangladesh.

Key takeaways: 

— The protests in Bangladesh against the quota for freedom fighters’ families in government jobs has escalated over the last week, since Hasina’s statement on July 14 — “If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?” — sparked outrage among young protestors in the country.

— The bone of contention is the 30 per cent quota reserved for families of Bangladesh freedom fighters in the country’s government jobs. Protesters say these are discriminatory as they benefit families of the ruling Awami League which dons the mantle of the freedom movement. Protestors want the quotas to be scrapped.

— New Delhi’s mission in Dhaka has asked Indian nationals living in Bangladesh to avoid travel and minimise their movement. It has been careful not to comment on the turmoil since Hasina is one of the “most reliable” leaders in the neighbourhood – she was the first head of state to visit India in the third term of the Modi government.

— Amid curfew and an internet shutdown imposed by the Sheikh Hasina government, the Indian mission in Bangladesh has facilitated the return of 978 Indians — 778 through land borders and another 200-odd through flights, the Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday.

For Your Information: 

— The razakars, literally “volunteers”, were a paramilitary force set up by Pakistan’s General Tikka Khan in 1971 to facilitate Islamabad’s control over East Pakistan, and to crush the liberation movement that the Bangabandhu was leading at the time. The collaborationist razakars, working alongside Pakistan’s armed forces, were behind some of the worst atrocities perpetrated on the Bangladeshi people.

— In the popular Bangladeshi memory, razakars are often remembered with greater resentment than even the Pakistani army and bureaucracy. Over the years, the Awami League has often referred to its critics and dissidents — constituted in large measure by Islamists and pro-Pakistan elements — as razakars.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the areas of cooperation and dispute between India and Bangladesh?

— What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?

— What is the Gujral Doctrine and what is its relevance?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: ( UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.

2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.

3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains

What challenges have emerged in India-Bangladesh relations in recent years? What can be the way forward?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Anti-Quota protests in Bangladesh

Chip dreams: As Taipei takes a short step forward, Delhi assures a smooth long road

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors, Economy, Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story- That Taiwan and India ought to be strategic partners, especially in chip fabrication, is a steady refrain in Taipei City and New Delhi. Taiwan is an undisputed world leader and India is keen to make late inroads in this domain. On the ground, however, the partnership faces challenges even as there’s a shared sense of strategic alignment.

Prerequisites: 

— What are semiconductor chips?

— What is fabrication technology?

— Why is Taiwan important for India?

Key takeaways: 

—Despite a strong nudge by former President Tsai Ing-wen to Taiwan’s chip fabrication giants to consider investing in India, there’s only one company that has stepped up — Hsinchu-based Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp or PSMC, one of Taiwan’s smaller chipmakers that fabricates legacy logic and memory chips.

 — The government is keen to address the apprehensions of the industry. Towards this, a senior government official was in Taipei earlier this month to speak with them on issues ranging from the absence of ancillaries or an ecosystem to tech gaps and the dearth of talent.

— Since the escalation in US-China tensions, a number of companies, including those from Taiwan, have looked to diversify from Beijing and consider alternate destinations for their supply chains. India has rolled out a $10 billion chip incentive scheme, which has found some success in attracting the one foundry investment so far.

— MeITY officials have consistently maintained that India has the “talent and deep expertise” to become a global player in the semiconductor value chain and that more interest is expected to come in from global players in fab investments.

— In terms of policy, Taiwanese players share two major concerns: the fact that MeITY, the nodal ministry for overseeing the chip push, is not in-charge of the skilling effort, which is under a different ministry. The other issue is India’s unpredictable trade policy, where duties and new licensing norms are imposed overnight, and the direction of the tariff lines is broadly moving upwards.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the issues concerning the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors?

— What is the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government in the semiconductor sector?

Post-Read Question:

Why is India aiming to become self-sufficient in chip manufacturing? Highlight the government’s initiatives to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

(Thought process: Highlight the significance of indiginisation of the semiconductor ecosystem—connect it with the economy—import bills—India’s mission to atmanirbhar Bharat—look at the semiconductor materials imported from other countries—look at government schemes and various agreements signed by the government.).

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

The chip superstardom: Taiwan’s triumphs and the perils that come with it

Express Network

9 of 78 cases since June due to Chandipura

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Science and technology

What’s the ongoing story- There have been 78 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome — inflammation of the brain, usually due to an infection — since June this year in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, with 28 resulting in death. 

Prerequisites: 

— What is Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection and how is it transmitted?

— What are viral vectors?

— What is the difference between bacterial and viral infections?

Key takeaways: 

— According to data provided by the Union Health Ministry, so far, there have been 75 cases of AES reported from Gujarat, two from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. The National Institute of Virology, Pune, tested 76 samples and confirmed Chandipura virus in nine, all from Gujarat.

—Dr PK Singh, CDHO in Gujarat’s Rajkot, where there are suspected Chandipura cases, said that the outbreak this year may be due to migration of sandflies. “Sandflies are broadly absent in Saurashtra but it is possible that migration is aiding the spread along with environmental factors with the start of the monsoon. It might be possible that the weather may have triggered this,” Singh said.

For Your Information: 

— CHPV is a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which also includes other members such as the lyssavirus that causes rabies. Several species of sandflies like Phlebotomine sandflies and Phlebotomus papatasi, and some mosquito species such as Aedes aegypti (which is also the vector for dengue) are considered vectors of CHPV.

— The CHPV infection presents initially with flu-like symptoms such as acute onset of fever, body ache, and headache. It may then progress to altered sensorium or seizures and encephalitis.

— The infection can only be symptomatically managed as currently there is no specific antiretroviral therapy or vaccine available for treatment. As a result, it becomes crucial to manage brain inflammation to prevent mortality.

— The CHPV infection was first isolated in 1965 while investigating a dengue/chikungunya outbreak in Maharashtra. However, one of the most significant outbreaks of the disease in India was seen in 2003-04 in states such as Maharashtra, northern Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, with the three states reporting more than 300 deaths of children.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the diseases caused by mosquitoes?

— What are the factors behind the outbreak of frequent viral diseases?

— What initiatives have been taken by the government concerning the acute encephalitis syndrome?

Post Read Question:

Consider the following statements about the Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection,

1. It is a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family.

2. The virus resides in the salivary glands of these insects.

3. Phlebotomine sandflies are considered as vectors of CHPV.

4. The virus does not transmit through bites to humans or other vertebrates like domestic animals.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Children deaths in Gujarat: What is the Chandipura Virus infection?

‘Need more focus on PM 2.5’: Study says dust mitigation draining clean air scheme funds

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change.

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Government policies and interventions.

What’s the ongoing story- Road dust mitigation works undertaken to reduce particulate matter 10 (PM10) pollution is draining a lion’s share — 64% — of funds under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), said a new study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) while recommending a shift of focus on curbing the finer, more lethal PM2.5 pollution.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?

— What are PM 10 and PM 2.5?

— Read about the Air Quality Index and National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Key takeaways: 

— The CSE report has appraised efforts to curb air pollution under the national scheme through the lens of fund utilisation, city level performance in improving air quality and implementation gaps.

— The heavy focus on PM10 pollution under NCAP has meant that road paving and widening, pothole repairs, water sprinkling, procurement of mechanised sweepers has accounted for a dominant share in the expenditure under NCAP, the report said.

— A review of the sectoral patterns showed that 64 per cent of the total funds went into road dust mitigation while only 12.63 per cent and 14.51 per cent funds were spent on combustion sources of pollution like vehicles and biomass burning, respectively. A mere 0.61 per cent was spent on industrial pollution control.

— The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is also scrutinising the national scheme in a suo matter is appraising expenditure under NCAP across 53 cities.

For Your Information: 

— India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 to achieve a 20-30 per cent reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024 (base year, 2017). It encompasses a wide range of specific interventions including reduction of vehicular pollution through regulatory norms, promotion of public transport and improvements in roads and bridges; tackling industrial emissions; notification of eight waste management rules, etc. 

— PM 2.5 and PM 10 are extremely fine particulate matter (PM) particles, with the digits accompanying them referring to their diameter. So, PM 10 and PM 2.5 are smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in their diameter, respectively. One micron is about a thousandth of a millimetre and this tiny size has a role to play in how they impact human health. The finer the particles are, the more difficult it gets to protect oneself from them.

—Due to their size, the PM 2.5 particles can easily bypass the nose and throat and can enter the circulatory system. The particles can also lead to chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Byproducts of emissions from factories, vehicular pollution, construction activities and road dust, such particles are not dispersed and stay suspended in the air that we breathe.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the main causes of air pollution in India?

— What are the impacts of air pollution on the different sections of society?

— What initiatives have been taken by the Indian government to control air pollution?

(Thought Process: Read about the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Implementation of BS-VI norms, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT),  Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS), and more)

Post Read Question:

Prelims

In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and annual mean of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1 and 2 only

Mains

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (UPSC CSE 2021)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

PM 2.5, Sulphur Dioxide, and more: What are the pollutants in our air, and how they impact health

Kerala: 14-year-old boy tests positive for Nipah virus

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: GS II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What’s the ongoing story- The Kerala health department on Saturday confirmed that a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram district has tested positive for Nipah virus, adding that it is the fifth time since 2018 that the state has reported the infection.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the Nipah Virus?

— What are the symptoms of the Nipah Virus and how dangerous is it?

Key takeaways: 

— Following the confirmation of the first Nipah case in Kerala, officials of the state health department and Pandikkad panchayat are preparing a route map to ascertain places the boy had visited.

— Since 2018, Kerala has reported five Nipah outbreaks, with only six out of the total 26 patients surviving till date — one each in Kozhikode (2018) and Kochi (2019), and four in Kozhikode (2023). Seventeen of the total 18 infected patients had died in 2018, one (2021), and two (2023). Six Nipah cases were reported in Kozhikode in September 2023, with two of them, including the index case, losing the battle to the virus by the time they were diagnosed.

— To be sure, fruit bats are known as the reservoirs of Nipah virus. During the previous Nipah outbreaks in Kerala, cases were reported from areas having fruit bats; prima facie, it was found that the index cases were exposed to bat-eaten fruits, which led to the infection.

For Your Information: 

— Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a new zoonotic disease that was originally identified in a significant epidemic of 276 confirmed cases in Malaysia and Singapore between September 1998 and May 1999.

— The organism that causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is closely related to Hendra virus.

Points to Ponder: 

— How does Nipah spread or get transmitted?

— How can Nipah virus infection be prevented?

— What are the reasons behind the frequent outbreaks of viral diseases?

Post Read Question:

Consider the following statements about Nipah Virus infection:

1. It is an emerging zoonotic disease reported its first case in Ethiopia in the late 1990s.

2. Large fruit bats are the natural reservoir of Nipah Virus infection.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

 Why Nipah virus keeps returning to Kerala, how its symptoms have changed

 

The World Page

Celebrations and lamentations coincide 50 yrs after Cyprus’s ethnic split

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story- Turkey’s president on Saturday put a damper on hopes for a quick resumption of talks to heal a half-century of ethnic division on Cyprus, reaffirming his support for a two-state deal that Greek Cypriots dismiss as a non-starter.

Prerequisites: 

— Read about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

— Mapwork: Location of Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. (Refer Atlas)

Key takeaways: 

— President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled out a peace deal based on a United Nations-endorsed plan for federation, speaking ahead of a military parade to mark the 50th anniversary of a Turkish invasion that split the island along ethnic lines.

— Although Erdogan has previously rejected the federation plan, Greece and the Greek Cypriots had hoped he would soften his position.

— The anniversary is a festive occasion for Turkish Cypriots in the island’s northern third, who view the invasion as salvation from the Greek-speaking majority’s domination. The invasion followed a coup that aimed at a union with Greece, which was backed by the junta then ruling in Athens.

— The EU, which Cyprus joined in 2004, urged both sides to show “genuine commitment” to a peace deal in line with U.N. resolutions.

For Your Information: 

— Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 after Greek and Turkish Cypriots reached an agreement on a constitution, but a standoff ensued after the first President, Archbishop Makarios, proposed certain amendments. The UN intervened and deployed a peacekeeping force. Turkish forces invaded in 1974, occupied the island’s northern part and expelled a large number of Greek Cypriots; many others abandoned their homes and moved to the south.

— A Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — recognised only by Turkey — was declared in 1983. Many Turkish Cypriots emigrated to the north, settlers were allegedly brought in from the Turkish mainland, and the door for Greek Cypriots to return was almost entirely shut.

Points to Ponder: 

— Why was Cyprus invaded by Turkey?

— What is the status of Indo-Cyprus bilateral relations?

— What is India’s tax treaty with Cyprus?

— What is the significance of Cyprus for India?

Post Read Question:

Which of the following are the bordering countries of the Mediterranean Sea?

1. Turkey

2. France

3. Greece

4. Cyprus

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Cyprus: Divided island seeks an end to 40-year-old conflict

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC4ckaj-dJI?si=9kVa8TcAIX2c9yx5