A novel smartphone-enabled platform has been developed to detect amyloid-β (Aβ), a biomarker associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The platform uses a fluorescence-responsive small molecule as a probe, offering a simple, cost-effective and accessible approach to biomarker detection.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by memory loss, cognitive decline and behavioural impairment. It is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, accounting for approximately 60–80% of all dementia cases.
The disease disrupts communication between brain cells, gradually reducing a person’s cognitive and functional abilities. It usually affects people aged 65 years and above.
A key feature of Alzheimer’s disease is the misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) proteins. These proteins self-assemble into fibrils and accumulate outside brain cells, forming extracellular amyloid plaques.
These plaques contribute to neurotoxic processes that lead to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration, affecting memory and other cognitive functions.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood. It is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Early symptoms commonly include forgetting recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, individuals may develop severe memory problems and gradually lose the ability to perform everyday activities independently.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, certain medications and therapies can help manage symptoms and provide temporary benefits.
Why in News?
A Kutch-based non-profit organisation is planting Khara Guggal and Mitha Guggal across five villages to restore native medicinal heritage and biodiversity on community grazing lands.
About Guggal Plant
The Guggal plant is a spiny shrub or small tree belonging to the Burseraceae family. Its resin, known as guggul, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda.
Distribution
Guggal is native to India, Arabia and Pakistan. In India, it is found mainly in the arid and rocky regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Characteristics of the Guggal Plant
Bark: The plant has ash-coloured bark that separates into large, rough flakes, exposing an underlying layer of bark that also peels away.
Foliage: The plant remains without foliage for most of the year, reflecting its adaptation to dry environmental conditions.
Climate and Soil: Guggal prefers arid and semi-arid climates and can tolerate poor soil conditions. It grows well in sandy to silt-loam soils with low organic matter content.
Drought and Salinity Resistance: The plant is drought-resistant and salinity-tolerant, making it suitable for cultivation in dry and degraded landscapes.
Growth and Germination: Guggal seeds do not germinate easily, and the saplings take a long time to mature, approximately 10 years.
Uses of Guggal Gum
1. Traditional Uses
The resin obtained from the Guggal plant is known as guggul. It is used as incense and in the preparation of lacquers, varnishes, ointments and perfumes, where it can act as a fixative. It is also widely used in traditional medicine, particularly Ayurveda.
2. Medicinal Uses
Traditional medicinal applications of guggul include the treatment of conditions such as nervous disorders, hemiplegia, leprosy, marasmus, muscle spasms and neuralgia. These are reported traditional uses and should not be interpreted as established evidence of effectiveness for these conditions.
3. Modern Therapeutic Research
Guggul-gum extract has been studied for its interaction with the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR). This receptor plays a role in regulating cholesterol metabolism and bile-acid production in the liver.
The resin is valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its traditional therapeutic applications.
Ecological Significance
Planting Guggal on community grazing lands can help conserve native plant species, restore local biodiversity and preserve traditional medicinal knowledge. Its ability to tolerate drought, salinity and poor soils makes it a useful species for restoration efforts in arid and semi-arid regions.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), has launched the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Cohort 3 under the Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS) Scheme.
The Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) implemented through the MeitY Startup Hub.
The scheme aims to discover, support, grow and accelerate startups in India's Tier-II and Tier-III cities. It seeks to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of emerging regions and connect them more closely with India's growing innovation ecosystem.
GENESIS supports startups and innovators through different components, including Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), Pilot (EIR), Investment and DeepTech funding, as described in the source. These components support startups from the early stages of ideation and experimentation to validation, investment and scaling.
The scheme has a total budget outlay of ₹490 crore.
Under the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) component, eligible innovators can receive financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per startup. This support helps innovators, students and entrepreneurs at the ideation and prototype stages develop their ideas into pilot-ready solutions.
The third EIR cohort supports innovations in emerging and advanced technology sectors. These include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), semiconductor and VLSI technologies, cybersecurity, blockchain, quantum technologies, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), spatial technologies and immersive technologies.
Applicants must be Indian citizens. Eligible applicants may include entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, students, and founders or co-founders of early-stage startups.
The proposed innovation must fall within Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1–4. These stages cover the development process from initial ideation and proof of concept to prototypes, Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and early validation.
An incorporated startup must be less than two years old as of the application date and must be based in a Tier-II or Tier-III city.
Applicants must ensure that the proposed idea or startup has not received financial assistance exceeding ₹10 lakh under any Central or State Government scheme.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced the Information Technology Resilience Index (ITRI) for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to assess the resilience and functioning of their information technology systems.
The Information Technology Resilience Index (ITRI) is designed to evaluate the functioning, reliability and resilience of IT systems operated by Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), including stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations.
The initiative aims to strengthen regulatory oversight of IT systems and identify emerging weaknesses at an early stage so that institutions can take timely corrective measures and reduce the risk of technological disruptions.
The ITRI will be calculated using a uniform set of nine parameters, each carrying a specific weightage to ensure comparability across different Market Infrastructure Institutions.
These parameters include availability, security, integrity, governance, reliability and monitoring, business continuity, modularity and flexibility, scalability, and other relevant factors.
Availability and security will carry the highest weightage of 20% each. The source specifies a weightage of 10% each for integrity, governance, reliability and monitoring, business continuity, and modularity and flexibility.
The source does not specify the individual weightages for scalability and other relevant factors.
Market Infrastructure Institutions will be required to calculate the ITRI every six months, within 60 days of the end of each half-year.
They must also submit a comparative analysis of two consecutive half-years on a rolling basis, along with details of corrective actions already taken or proposed. These reports must be submitted to their Standing Committee on Technology (SCOT) and governing boards.
Market Infrastructure Institutions will also be required to develop an Early Warning System (EWS) to detect any deterioration in ITRI parameters at an early stage.
The system will help identify weaknesses that could potentially lead to performance issues, system slowness or other disruptions, enabling institutions to take appropriate remedial measures in a timely manner.
The ITRI is intended to strengthen the technological resilience of India’s securities market by promoting systematic assessment of IT systems and early identification of vulnerabilities. It will also encourage regular monitoring, accountability and timely corrective action among Market Infrastructure Institutions.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs recently launched the full-fledged Adi Vaani Platform during a three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums held in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Adi Vaani is India’s first AI-powered translator for tribal languages. It aims to bridge communication gaps between tribal and non-tribal communities while protecting and preserving endangered tribal languages through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The platform has been developed by a national consortium of leading institutions under the leadership of IIT Delhi, along with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad and IIIT Nava Raipur. The consortium has collaborated with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Meghalaya.
The platform uses refined deployments of AI models such as No Language Left Behind (NLLB) and IndicTrans2, adapted for low-resource tribal languages.
Bridging Communication Gaps: The platform aims to enable real-time translation between Hindi, English and tribal languages, using both text and speech.
Language Learning: It provides interactive language-learning facilities for students and beginners.
Preserving Cultural Heritage: It supports the digital preservation of folklore, oral traditions and tribal cultural heritage.
Improving Digital Inclusion: It aims to support digital literacy, healthcare communication and civic inclusion in tribal communities.
Awareness of Government Schemes: The platform can help tribal communities understand government schemes and important speeches through language translation.
The platform can convert images and documents into editable text within seconds, helping users access information across language barriers.
It can transcribe live speech and audio files into text and translate the content into indigenous languages.
Users can speak or upload speech in Hindi or English and receive voice translations in tribal languages such as Santali, Mundari and Bhili.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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