Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe and often fatal zoonotic disease caused by the Marburg virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, the same family as Ebola.
Transmission
The natural reservoir is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Humans may contract the virus through prolonged exposure to bat-inhabited caves or mines. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials such as bedding and medical equipment. It is not an airborne disease and does not spread through casual contact.
Symptoms
The incubation period is 2–21 days. Early symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases can progress to liver failure, shock, haemorrhage, multi-organ dysfunction and death.
Mortality
The average case-fatality rate is around 50%, with previous outbreaks recording rates ranging from 24% to 88%.
Treatment
There is currently no specific vaccine or approved specific treatment for MVD. Management is mainly supportive care, including intravenous fluids, electrolyte replacement, pain relief and treatment of complications.
Why in News?
Indian Navy warship INS Trikand recently thwarted a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden when pirates fled after the warship approached a bulk carrier.
About INS Trikand
INS Trikand is a frontline guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy and the third and final ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by India. It was built by the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 29 June 2013.
The ship is part of the Western Fleet under the Western Naval Command, headquartered at Mumbai.
Key Features
INS Trikand is approximately 125 metres long, has a displacement of around 4,035 tonnes, and carries a crew of about 180 personnel, including 18 officers. Powered by four gas turbines, it can achieve speeds of over 30 knots.
Weapons and Sensors
The frigate is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, an A190 medium-range gun, 30-mm close-in weapon system, torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, along with an advanced electronic warfare system.
Its weapons and sensors are integrated through the Trebovanie-M Combat Management System, enabling it to engage multiple surface, subsurface and aerial threats simultaneously.
Stealth Capability
INS Trikand incorporates technologies designed to reduce its radar, magnetic and acoustic signatures, giving Talwar-class frigates their reputation as “stealth” frigates.
Helicopter Capability
The ship can operate an integrated Kamov-31 helicopter, particularly suited for airborne early-warning and surveillance roles.
Researchers from the Double Chooz Collaboration in France have achieved the first high-precision measurement of the energy signature of antineutrinos emitted by spent nuclear fuel. This could enable remote monitoring and verification of nuclear facilities.
What are Neutrinos?
Neutrinos are extremely light, electrically neutral subatomic particles that interact very weakly with matter. Because of this weak interaction, enormous numbers of neutrinos can pass through matter and human bodies without being detected.
Antineutrinos from Nuclear Fuel
Nuclear fission produces large quantities of antineutrinos. Importantly, antineutrino emission does not stop immediately when a reactor is shut down.
Radioactive isotopes such as praseodymium-144 and rhodium-106 continue to undergo radioactive decay in partially used and spent nuclear fuel, producing a residual antineutrino flux.
Key Finding
The study detected the residual antineutrino signal associated with both reactor-core fuel and spent fuel. Approximately 56% of the detected signal originated from fuel in reactor cores, while around 44% came from spent fuel stored in nearby cooling pools.
Importance for Nuclear Safeguards
The residual antineutrino signal could provide a non-invasive method of monitoring nuclear fuel. Changes in the measured flux could help inspectors remotely verify spent-fuel inventories, since the clandestine removal of fuel assemblies would potentially reduce the detectable antineutrino signal.
Potential Applications
Antineutrino detection could potentially help estimate plutonium content in reactor cores and monitor fuel use in real time. It could also help identify premature removal of fuel that might be intended for the production of weapons-grade plutonium.
Major Limitation
Current antineutrino detectors are generally large and stationary because substantial shielding is required to reduce cosmic-ray interference. The Double Chooz detector, for example, weighed more than 500 tonnes, including approximately 300 tonnes of shielding.
Why in News?
The Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh has secured fresh investment commitments of ₹2,000 crore, taking the total committed investment to ₹5,500 crore.
About TMZ
The Telecom Manufacturing Zone is India’s first dedicated telecom manufacturing cluster, aimed at creating a globally competitive, end-to-end telecom manufacturing ecosystem.
Key Objectives
The TMZ seeks to transform India from a telecom services-led economy into a telecom products and manufacturing hub under the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.” It focuses on increasing domestic value addition, developing indigenous intellectual property (IP) and promoting telecom exports.
Integrated Manufacturing Ecosystem
The zone will bring together the entire telecom value chain, including design, R&D, testing, manufacturing, semiconductors, optical fibre, telecom equipment, electronic components and allied industries. It will also provide common plug-and-play testing infrastructure.
Employment Generation
The TMZ is expected to create more than 18,000 employment opportunities, supporting both industrial development and skilled workforce creation.
Strategic Advantages of Gwalior
Gwalior provides advantages such as a central geographical location, strong connectivity, skilled workforce, competitive operating costs and an existing industrial ecosystem. Logistics connectivity is also expected to improve with the upcoming Agra–Gwalior Greenfield Expressway.
Implementation
The project will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
The State Government will support the project through land, capital support, skill development, employment-linked incentives and logistics assistance.
In Dr. Lokesh B.H. & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Anr. (2026), the Supreme Court held that Section 498A IPC, now corresponding to Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), can extend protection against cruelty to women in certain live-in relationships that are in the nature of marriage, subject to establishing an intent to marry.
Purposive Interpretation
The Court adopted a purposive interpretation of Section 498A, emphasising that its objective is to prevent domestic cruelty and that such cruelty can occur even without a formally registered marriage.
The Court observed that excluding eligible women in live-in relationships while protecting married women could raise concerns under Article 14, as the distinction may lack a rational connection with the objective of preventing domestic violence.
“Relationship in the Nature of Marriage”
The Court relied on the concept recognised under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Such a relationship may involve shared finances, a domestic life, stability and public recognition as spouses.
However, the protection is not automatically available to every live-in relationship. The Court specifically linked it to the existence of an intent to marry.
Burden of Proof
The initial burden of establishing the intent to marry lies on the woman seeking protection. Since Section 498A involves criminal liability, the Court indicated that a higher standard of proof would be required.
The Court did not prescribe fixed parameters for determining such intent.
DV Act vs Section 498A/BNS Section 85
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 primarily provides civil remedies, such as protection orders and maintenance.
In contrast, Section 498A IPC/Section 85 BNS creates criminal liability for cruelty. Thus, the two legal frameworks serve distinct but complementary purposes.
Safeguard Against Arbitrary Arrest
The Supreme Court reiterated strict compliance with Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014). Arrest should not be automatic merely because a case is registered under the cruelty provision.
The Court directed that live-in partners or their relatives should not be arrested without the required preliminary scrutiny, ensuring protection against unnecessary or arbitrary arrests.
Geographical Indication (GI) tags are increasingly being used to protect India’s cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and local products by linking them to their geographical origin. GI protection helps prevent misuse, improves market recognition, and can strengthen the livelihoods of artisans, farmers, weavers and producer groups.
A Geographical Indication is a designation used for products originating from a specific geographical area, where a particular quality, reputation or characteristic of the product is essentially linked to its geographical origin.
Under Article 22(1) of the TRIPS Agreement, GIs identify goods whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are essentially attributable to their geographic origin.
GIs are recognised under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement.
India regulates GIs under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 and the GI Rules, 2002. The Geographical Indications Registry administers registration and protection.
GI registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for successive 10-year periods. Under Section 27, registration can be cancelled, varied or rectified in specified circumstances, including where it is improperly obtained, misleading or legally non-compliant.
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 reduced GI application and related fees by 80%, while the renewal fee was reduced from ₹3,000 to ₹500.
India has over 800 registered GI products, with 607 granted since 2014, while authorised users increased substantially to around 29,000 by January 2025.
Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are among the leading States in terms of GI-tagged products, according to the figures provided.
Darjeeling Tea was India’s first registered GI.
GI protection helps preserve traditional knowledge, indigenous craftsmanship and cultural heritage while assuring consumers about a product’s origin and authenticity.
By improving market visibility, bargaining power and access to premium markets, GI recognition can improve income opportunities for local producers, artisans, farmers and weavers.
GI recognition can improve international market access and price realisation for Indian products. For example, GI-tagged agricultural products are increasingly being promoted in overseas markets.
Government Measures to Strengthen the GI Ecosystem
PM Ekta Malls provide dedicated spaces for GI products, One District One Product (ODOP) items and handicrafts. The One Station One Product initiative enables artisans, farmers and producer groups to market regional products through railway stations.
GI products are increasingly being linked with cultural and heritage tourism, including initiatives such as weaving-village trails, tea-estate trails and silk tourism.
The MSME Innovative Scheme provides support for GI registration through its Intellectual Property Rights component, while the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts provides assistance for GI enforcement and legal expenses.
The National Handloom Development Programme supports GI-registered handloom products, while APEDA promotes GI-tagged agricultural products through quality improvement, infrastructure development, capacity building and overseas market promotion.
GI protection is increasingly becoming part of India’s trade negotiations, helping Indian GI products gain recognition and protection in foreign markets.
Way Forward
India needs to strengthen authorised-user registration, quality control, enforcement against misuse, digital marketing, tourism integration and export promotion. A stronger GI ecosystem can transform traditional products from local commodities into globally recognised premium brands.
GI tags are not merely intellectual property instruments; they can serve as tools of cultural preservation, rural development, livelihood generation and export-led growth by connecting the identity and economic value of a product directly to its place of origin.
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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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