Context: Structured negotiation is an increasingly employed dispute resolution technique, offering a collaborative and solution-oriented approach as an alternative to litigation. Widely applicable, it has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in settling disability rights cases, particularly in the United States.

Success in Disability Rights:

• Particularly successful in resolving issues related to inaccessible automated teller machines, point of sale devices, pedestrian signals, and service provider websites.
• Notable achievements include influencing companies like Walmart, CVS, and Caremark to create accessible prescription bottles and driving institutional reforms for more accessible voting machines and websites.

Win-Win Situation:

• Presents a win-win scenario where defaulting service providers aim to avoid litigation costs and negative publicity, while complainants seek barrier-free participation in the marketplace.
• Success hinges on establishing a robust body of disabled-friendly legal precedents.

Challenges in India:

• Red tape and bureaucratic hurdles in Indian courts hinder traditional dispute resolution methods.
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, allows reporting non-compliance to the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), but the impact is yet to be fully realized.
• Paytm's case illustrates that compliance directives can inadvertently result in increased inaccessibility.

Benefits of Structured Negotiation:

• Offers service providers a way to avoid embarrassment, legal fees, and enables Persons with Disabilities to monitor implementation of fixes.
• Emphasizes that the success of alternative dispute resolution is linked to the priority service providers assign to addressing the struggles of persons with disabilities.

Call for Action in India:

• Urges businesses in India to prioritize the needs of disabled users and advocates for the widespread adoption of structured negotiation.

• Highlights that businesses failing to embrace this approach risk losing out on the substantial buying capacity of persons with disabilities.

Conclusion:

• Stresses the need for businesses to prioritize disabled users and sees structured negotiation as a powerful step in achieving this goal.
• Encourages businesses to recognize the potential benefits beyond legal compliance and embrace openness in negotiations.

Context: The Maldives government suspended three of its ministers- Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan- for their ‘derogatory remarks on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the latter's Lakshadweep visit.

News:

In retaliation more than 8,000 hotel bookings, as well as 2,500 flight tickets, have been cancelled after a Maldivian minister insulted Indian PM ,various social media posts claim.

India and Maldives relations:

Strategic Significance: Due to its proximity to India, with Minicoy in Lakshadweep just 70 nautical miles away and the mainland's western coast 300 nautical miles away, the Maldives holds strategic importance for India. This becomes particularly crucial in light of China's increasing assertiveness in the region.

Political Ties: India was among the first countries to recognize the Maldives upon its independence in 1965, establishing a mission in Male in 1972. The two nations share deep-rooted connections in terms of ethnicity, language, culture, religion, and commerce. Founding members of SAARC, the South Asian Economic Union, and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement, they consistently support each other in various multilateral forums.

Strategic Relationship: The Maldives' location in the Indian Ocean, near major shipping lanes crucial for uninterrupted energy supplies to China, Japan, and India, solidifies its role as India's key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It aligns with India's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy.'

Defence Cooperation: The signing of a technical agreement on sharing 'White Shipping Information' facilitates the exchange of prior information on the movements of commercial, non-military vessels. The joint military exercise, Ekuverin, strengthens military ties between India and the Maldives.

Trade and Economic Relations: The 1981 trade agreement ensures the export of essential commodities, and India provides items like rice, wheat flour, sugar, dal, onion, potato, eggs, and construction materials to the Maldives on favorable terms. India maintains a positive Balance of Trade with the Maldives.

Development Assistance: India's assistance in diverse areas, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and technology adoption, has contributed significantly to the Maldives' development. Noteworthy projects include the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Polytechnic, India-Maldives Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Studies, and infrastructure developments like ports, airports, and stadiums.

Crucial Interventions: Operations like Cactus in 1988 prevented a coup attempt, and subsequent initiatives like Operation Neer and assistance during water treatment plant collapse showcased India's commitment to the Maldives' well-being.

Challenges in India-Maldives Relations:

Political Instability: The Maldives has experienced political instability, marked by government changes and a constitutional crisis, causing tensions between India and the Maldives.

Increasing Chinese Influence: India is apprehensive about China's growing influence in the Maldives, reflected in substantial infrastructure projects and loans provided by China. The expanding involvement of smaller regional states in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other Chinese ventures raises concerns.

Border Dispute Strategies: China's attempts to resolve border disputes with neighboring countries (excluding India), as observed in the case of Bhutan, serve as part of its strategy to gain influence in the region.

Economic Challenges: The Maldives is grappling with an economic crisis, resulting in delays in implementing development projects and facing issues related to debt.

Divergent Approaches to Terrorism: India expresses worry about the surge in Islamic extremism in the Maldives and urges decisive action from the Maldivian government.

However, the Maldives has its own perspectives and concerns regarding the approach to countering terrorism and extremism.

Tourism Dynamics: While India has traditionally been a significant market for Maldives tourism, the Maldives aims to diversify its tourism sector and reduce dependence on India.

India out policy: Mohamed Muizzu has opted for an ‘India-out’ policy by choosing Turkey as his first foreign destination which is seen as significant swings in foreign policy of Maldives.

Way Forward:

Enhanced Involvement in Maldivian Domestic Politics: India should increase its engagement with the internal political dynamics of the Maldives. The recent Maldivian election highlighted that even minor shifts in the domestic power balance can lead to significant changes in the country's external orientation.

Collaboration with Gulf Allies: India ought to collaborate closely with like-minded partners in the Gulf to avert potential destabilization caused by Turkey in the Maldives.  Saudi Arabia and the UAE, having experienced Turkey's assertiveness in the region, share an interest in preventing the Maldives from falling into a Turkish sphere of influence.

Preventing External Influence: It is crucial for India to work collaboratively with its Gulf partners to safeguard the Maldives from external influences that may lead to destabilization. Addressing potential challenges and ensuring the Maldives maintains a stable external orientation should be a collective effort among India and its Gulf allies.

Context: The Election Commission of India has brought in new rules for allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). 

New rules:

• To qualify for the 'concession of common symbol allotment,' these parties must submit audited accounts for the past three financial years, expenditure statements from the last two elections, and the signature of the authorized office-bearer.
• Upon providing the necessary details, RUPPs will be eligible for the allocation of symbols in accordance with the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order of 1968.
• The implementation of these new rules is set to commence from January 11, 2024.

About the Election Commission of India:

• The Election Commission of India, an independent constitutional authority established under Article 324, is responsible for overseeing electoral processes at the Union and State levels in India.
• Comprising the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners, their tenure is fixed at six years or until the age of 65, with provisions for resignation or removal.

Registered Unrecognised Political Parties :

• Registered Unrecognised Political Parties refer to newly-registered entities or those that have not garnered a sufficient percentage of votes in Assembly or general elections to attain State party status.
• This category also includes parties that have never participated in elections post-registration. Governed by the Representation of the People Act (RPA) of 1951, these parties, constituting only 30% in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, do not enjoy all the benefits accorded to recognized parties.

Requirements for Symbol Allocation:

Allocation of common symbols to RUPPs is contingent on their commitment to fielding "at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State."

Context: The Prime Minister applauded first oil production commences from the complex and difficult deepwater Krishna Godavari basin situated off the coast of Bay of Bengal.

About Krishna-Godavari Basin

• The Krishna-Godavari Basin, situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining Bay of Bengal region, is an extensive deltaic plain formed by the Krishna and Godavari rivers on the east coast of India.
• The KG Basin encompasses both onshore and offshore regions, covering approximately 15,000 sq. km on land and 25,000 sq. km up to the 1000 m isobath offshore.
• Comprising a substantial continental margin, the basin exhibits sediments with a thickness of about 5 km, featuring deposition cycles from the Late Carboniferous to Pleistocene periods.
• Geomorphological units within the basin include upland plains, coastal plains, as well as recent flood and delta plains.
• Recognized for the D-6 block, the Krishna-Godavari Basin is renowned for hosting the largest natural gas reserves in India. The initial discovery of natural gas in the area dates back to 1983, attributed to ONGC.
• The basin serves as a habitat for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, categorized as Vulnerable according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status.

Benefits:

• The commencement of oil production from the deepwater Krishna Godavari basin in India offers several benefits for the country, including:
• Reduced Dependency on Imports: Increased domestic oil production reduces India's reliance on imported oil, enhancing energy security and mitigating the impact of global oil price fluctuations
• Economic Growth: The development of domestic oil Resources contributes to economic growth, creates employment opportunities, and stimulates investment in related industries, thereby boosting the overall economy
• Revenue Generation: Oil production leads to the generation of significant revenue through taxes, royalties, and other contributions, which can be utilized for public welfare and infrastructure development
• Technological Advancement: The exploration and production activities in the deepwater basin drive technological advancements and expertise in the oil and gas sector, fostering innovation and knowledge transfer
• Strategic Importance: The deepwater Krishna Godavari basin's oil production holds strategic significance for India's energy landscape, contributing to the country's long-term energy sustainability and self-sufficiency

Challenges:

The oil production process from the deepwater Krishna Godavari basin can face several challenges:

• Operational Complexity: Deepwater oil production, particularly in the Krishna Godavari basin, involves complex processes and requires advanced technology to handle the unique geological conditions and environmental constraints
• High Costs: The deepwater oil production process can be expensive, and the Krishna Godavari basin's oil production was reportedly delayed due to cost overruns
• Technological Challenges: New methods and techniques are required to make gas production from deep-water deposits economically feasible, as the Krishna-Godavari Basin's geological complexities pose challenges to efficient extraction
• Environmental Concerns: Deepwater oil production can lead to environmental issues, such as oil spills and other environmental impacts, which can damage marine ecosystems and harm local communities
• Regulatory Challenges: The oil and gas sector in India is subject to strict regulations, and the Krishna Godavari basin's production process may face scrutiny and challenges related to compliance with these regulations
• Infrastructure Development: The development of oil production infrastructure, such as platforms and pipelines, in the deepwater Krishna Godavari basin can be challenging due to the remote location and the need for specialized equipment and facilities
• Manpower Development: The oil production process in the deepwater Krishna Godavari basin requires a skilled workforce, and the industry may face challenges in attracting and retaining talent to operate and maintain the complex facilities

Context: A recent study on child marriage in India published in the Lancet noted the overall decrease in child marriage across the country but pointed out that four States, mainly Bihar (16.7%), West Bengal (15.2%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%), and Maharashtra (8.2%) accounted for more than half of the total headcount burden of child marriages in girls.

Key findings:

• The paper titled 'Prevalence of girl and boy child marriage across States and Union Territories in India, 1993–2021: a repeated cross-sectional study' reveals that approximately one in five girls in India is still married below the legal age.
• Notably, the state of West Bengal has experienced the largest absolute increase in the headcount, with a notable rise of 32.3%.
• Girl child marriage has been a persistent challenge for policymakers in West Bengal, as highlighted by the National Family Health Survey-5 conducted in 2019–20, indicating that 41.6% of women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18, a figure consistent with the earlier National Family Health Survey-4.
• In comparison, the national average for women in this age group getting married before 18 stands at 23.3%.

Key interventions:

• Various policy interventions have been implemented by the West Bengal government to address the issue of child marriage. One prominent initiative is the Kanyashree Prakalpa, initiated in October 2013.
• This conditional cash transfer scheme aims to incentivize the education of teenage girls between 13 and 18 years old while concurrently discouraging child marriage.
• The scheme, which has received international recognition with a United Nations Public Service Award in 2017, has been in operation for nearly a decade and, as stated in the West Bengal Budget for 2023–24, has covered almost 81 lakh girls.
• In addition to Kanyashree, the state government has introduced cash incentive schemes for girls' marriages under the 'Rupashree Prakalpa' program.

The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century in India, which replaces the previous National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986.

• The Ministry of Education formed a committee under Dr. K Kasturirangan, which outlined this new policy. 
• The National Education Policy 2020 proposes various reforms in school and higher education, including technical education, that are suited to 21st-century needs. 
• 5 foundational pillars of NEP 2020: Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.
• This policy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• It aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.

How is NEP 2020 different from the earlier policies?

The National Policy on Education (NPE) was first formulated in 1968, based on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission. The NPE 1986 focussed on providing education to all sections of society, promoting primary education, and establishing open universities. Later, the Plan of Action (POA) 1992 had special emphasis on early childhood care and education and the universalization of elementary education. 

The NEP 2020 stands apart and marks a departure from the earlier policies on the following grounds.

• Focus on holistic development: By emphasizing on critical thinking, discussion, and analytical learning to enrich India's talent and human resource pool.
• Integration of vocational education: The policy recognizes the importance of vocational education and aims to integrate it with mainstream education.
• Emphasis on technology-enabled learning: The new education policy recognizes the importance of technology in education and encourages the use of digital tools and platforms to enhance the learning experience.
• Promotion of multilingualism along with the right to choose: The new policy emphasizes the importance of multilingualism and encourages the teaching of regional languages alongside English and Hindi with the much-needed flexibility.
• Flexible and multidisciplinary curriculum: NEP 2020 offers subject selection, software training in schools, transfer of credits, multiple entries, and exit system to allow for more internal autonomy to institutions.

What are the targets set under NEP 2020?

• Universalization of education from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to Secondary Education by 2030, aligning with SDG 4.
• Attaining Foundational Learning & Numeracy Skills through National Mission by 2025.
• 100% GER in Pre-School to Secondary Level by 2030.
• 50% GER in Higher Education by 2035.
• Bring back 2 Crore children to the mainstream through the open schooling system.
• Teachers to be prepared for assessment reforms by 2023
• Inclusive & Equitable Education System by 2030.

What are the provisions of NEP 2020?

School Education 

• Ensuring Universal Access at all levels of school education
  • NEP 2020 emphasizes ensuring universal access to school education at all levels, from preschool to secondary. 
• Early Childhood Care & Education with new curriculum and pedagogical structure
  • With emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education, the 10+2 structure of school curricula will be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure.
  • This will bring the hitherto uncovered age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum, which has been recognized globally as the crucial stage for the development of the mental faculties of a child.

• Attaining Foundational Literacy and Numeracy 
  • As an urgent and necessary prerequisite to learning, NEP 2020 calls for setting up of a  National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
• Reforms in school curricula and pedagogy
  • Students will have increased flexibility and choice of subjects. 
  • There will be no rigid separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extracurricular activities, and between vocational and academic streams.
  • Vocational education will start in schools from the 6th grade and include internships.
• Teacher training and management
  • The existing B.Ed. programme for teacher training will be replaced by a four-year integrated programme with high-quality content, pedagogy, and practical training.
  • A national curriculum framework for teacher education will be formulated by the National Council for Teacher Education(NCTE) in consultation with NCERT.
• Multilingualism and the power of language
  • The policy has emphasized the mother tongue as the medium of instruction until Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. 
  • Sanskrit to be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option for students, including in the three-language formula.
• Assessment and Accreditation
  • A new National Assessment Centre-Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) will be set up as a standard-setting body.

Higher Education

• Holistic multidisciplinary education
  • The policy envisages broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic undergraduate  education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education, and multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification.
  • An Academic Bank of Credit is to be established for digitally storing academic credits earned from different  HEIs.
  • The National Research Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education.
• Regulation
  • Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be an overarching umbrella body for higher education, excluding medical and legal education.
• Technology in education
  • An autonomous body, the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, and administration.
• Promotion of Indian languages
  • NEP recommends setting up an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI), National Institute (or Institutes) for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit, strengthening of Sanskrit and all language departments in HEIs.
• Internationalization of Higher Education 
  • High-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.  
  • Similarly, selected top global universities will be permitted to operate in India. 

Other Recommendations

• Financing education: 
  • The NEP reaffirmed the commitment of spending 6% of GDP as public investment in education.
• Adult education
  • The Policy aims to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy.
  • A national curriculum framework for adult education will be developed to cover five broad areas: 
    • Foundational literacy and numeracy
    • Critical life skills (such as financial and digital literacy)
    • Vocational skills development
    • Basic education (equivalent of middle and secondary education)
    • Continuing education (through engaging courses in arts, technology, sports, and culture)

Major Initiatives Taken Under NEP 2020?

• PM Schools for Rising India (SHRI): PM-SHRI scheme aims to provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive, and joyful school environment.
  • It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in September 2022 for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country.
  • Rs. 630 crore has been allocated to upgrade schools under the PM SHRI initiative.
• NIPUN Bharat: The vision of National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy(NIPUN) Bharat Mission is to create an enabling environment to ensure the universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy, so that every child achieves the desired learning competencies in reading, writing, and numeracy by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
• PM e-VIDYA: The initiative aimed to promote online education and digital learning by providing various e-learning platforms like DIKSHA and offering e-books and e-contents to students across the country.
• NCF FS and Jadui Pitara: Launch of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS)and Jadui Pitara for play-based learning teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3 to 8 years
• NISHTHA: The National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) is a capacity-building program for teachers and school principals in India.
• NDEAR: National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR), an architectural blueprint, that lays down a set of guiding principles and building blocks to enable the creation of digital technology-based applications pertaining to education.
• Academic Frameworks: Introduction of National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) to facilitate credit transfer and academic flexibility.
• Increased Investment in Education: The policy advocates for both the Central government and State Governments to allocate a combined 6% of GDP to education.
  • In alignment with this vision, the Ministry of Education has witnessed a budget of Rs. 1,12,899 crore in 2023-24, indicating a 13.68% increment from 2020-21.
• International Campuses and Partnerships: NEP 2020 supports Indian universities in establishing campuses abroad and inviting foreign institutions to operate in India.
  • Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed for the establishment of IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, reflecting India's global educational outreach.
• Educational Innovation in GIFT City:
  • NEP 2020's innovative approach extends to Gujarat's GIFT City where world-class foreign universities and institutions are permitted to offer specialized courses.
    • This move, free from domestic regulations, aims to nurture high-end human resources for financial services and technology.

What are the Other Related Initiatives?

• World-Class Institutions Scheme: The World Class Institutions Scheme, initiated in 2017, aims to create affordable, top-notch academic and research facilities.
  • The scheme designates "Institutions of Eminence" (IoEs) to promote academic excellence.
  • To date, 12 institutions, including eight public and four private ones, have been identified as IoEs, a testament to India's commitment to providing world-class education.
• Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) and SPARC: GIAN focuses on tapping the expertise of scientists and entrepreneurs, including those of Indian origin, to bolster India's academic resources.
  • The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) enhances research ecosystems by fostering collaborations between Indian and foreign institutions.
  • These initiatives contribute to elevating research quality and promoting knowledge exchange.

Criticisms of NEP 2020?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has received mixed reactions and criticisms from various stakeholders. Some of the major criticisms of NEP 2020 are

• Emphasis on privatization: Critics argue that NEP 2020 promotes privatization of education by encouraging public-private partnerships, which may lead to the exclusion of marginalized communities from quality education.
• Centralization of power: NEP 2020 has been criticized for centralizing power in the hands of the central government, as it gives the central government the authority to set up a National Educational Technology Forum and a National Research Foundation.
• Lack of clarity on implementation: NEP 2020 lacks clarity on the implementation of various reforms, and it does not provide a roadmap for the effective implementation of the policy.
• Lack of consultation: Some critics have argued that NEP 2020 was developed without adequate consultation with all stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students.
• Lack of coordination: NEP 2020 has faced criticism for legal complexities arising from the coexistence of two policies, the Right to Education Act 2009 and the new policy.

Explorers and naturalists have been curious why some areas are more biodiverse than others.

What is Humboldt’s enigma?

• It is a term used to describe the puzzle of why some mountain regions, especially in the tropics, have exceptionally high biodiversity, contrary to the expected decrease in diversity away from the equator.
• It is named after Alexander von Humboldt, a 19th-century naturalist who explored the relationship between climate, geography, and species distribution.
• Humboldt’s enigma challenges the conventional wisdom that the most biodiverse areas are the lowland tropical forests.
• Tropical diversity- They have more energy, resources and ecological niches leading to higher biodiversity.
• The diversity decreases away from the tropics, but mountains have been an important exception which is the essence of Humboldt’s enigma
• Mountain diversity- Mountains play a key role in generating and maintaining diversity.
• The factors that drive biodiversity on mountains such as climate, geology and evolutionary processes.

What drives the biodiversity in mountain?

• Mountains can act as cradle or museum of species, depending on their history and stability.
• Geological process- Uplifts result in new habitats where new species arise, so the habitats are cradles.
  • Northern Andes in South America have diverse biomes and habitats supported by rich variety of species across elevation.
• Climatic conditions- Species on some climatologically stable mountains persist there for long time, so these spots are museums that accumulate many such species over time.
  • Shola Sky Island in India- Sholicola and the Montecincla ancient bird species have survived in isolated peaks of Western Ghats
• Geological heterogeneity- A key factor in biodiversity formation as different types of rocks and soils influence plant diversity and adaptation.
• Mountains with more geological diversity tend to have more biodiversity.
  • Eastern Himalayas have groups of birds which evolved elsewhere and dispersed to the Himalaya, resulting in higher diversity there.

What lies ahead?

• There is a need for more fine scale data on species distribution and evolution especially in under studies regions like the Eastern Ghats India to know about the rich biodiversity.
• National programmes such as National Mission on Himalayan Studies, the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, and the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing should be strengthened, bolstered by the will to support basic research on diversity

Recently the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a study found that over half of the nearly 10,000 hospital patients surveyed were given antibiotics to prevent, rather than treat, infection.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.

• It is defined as resistance of micro-organisms to an antimicrobial agent to which they were first sensitive.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
• Indian context- The present serious concern is that multiple types of bacteria like E. coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, enterococcus have even become resistant to some of the latest generation antibiotics.

• AMR causes higher mortality and morbidity due to drug resistant infections.

What are the key highlights of the report?

India carries one of the largest burdens of drug-resistant pathogens worldwide.

What are the causes of AMR?

The World Health Organization (WHO) included AMR as one of the top 10 threats to public health in 2019.

• Indiscriminate use- The inappropriate use of antibioticsin non-bacterial infections both because of prescribing practices and the use of over-the-counter antibiotics.
• Lack of research- Inadequate laboratory facilities to inform clinicians rapidly about what would be an appropriate antibiotic even in bacterial infections, based on cultures.
• Lack of capacity building- Due to lack of adequate training in antibiotic selection, escalation and de-escalation.
• Lack of regulation- Inadequate monitoring of AMR and control of antibiotic and dispensing practices by health systems in spite of repeated warnings.
• Market promotion- The pharmaceutical industry is incentivizing the antibiotic prescribing practices of doctors.
• Superbugs- Inappropriate use of antibiotics and other molecules used to treat or prevent infections in the human, animal and agricultural sectors generate bugs that are resistant to these drugs.
• Improper sanitation- This leads to the spread of superbugs due to inadequate infection prevention in healthcare institutions.
• Lack of support- AMR is a complex socio-economic and political challenge and not just a scientific issue, it needs support from the pharmaceutical industry, awareness to the patients etc.,
• Speedy treatment- The course of antibiotics is cheaper than the investigation of patients, which is time consuming.
• Infrastructural deficit- India lacks laboratories to speed up the patient’s investigation making it costly, which results in over prescription of antibiotics.

What is the way forward?

• Promote research- The need of the hour is linking labs to all levels of clinical setups and the fast transmission of infection-related data between the lab and the clinician.
• Holistic approach- The rate of AMR is directly proportional to steady and strong governance, infrastructure, sanitation, poverty, access to clean drinking water, etc.,
• Patient safety measures- The factors such as sanitation in hospitals, basic access to personal hygiene and infection control, are vital.
• Enhance infection prevention- The basic steps such as washing hands regularly, use of sanitizers helped a lot to keep the infection under control during COVID-19, such practices must be adopted to prevent AMR.

All 4 shankaracharyas will not attend Ram temple inauguration in 2024.

• Birth – Kalady village on the bank of the River Periyar in Kerala.
• Period – Between 788 and 820 AD.
• Guru – Govinda Bhagavatpada.
• Works – Visiting spiritual centres, challenging prevalent philosophical traditions, and establishing mathas, organising monastic orders and a proponent of Advaita Vedanta.
• Spiritual visits – From Kanchi in Tamil Nadu to Kamrup in Assam, from Kashmir, Kedar & Badri dhams in the Himalayas to Kashi on the bank of the Ganga and Puri on the Bay of Bengal.
• Contributions – He is also popularly identified as the author of 116 works, including celebrated commentaries (or bhashyas) on 10 Upanishads, the Brahmasutra, and the Bhagavad Gita.
• Shankara’s legacy – His mathas are seen as keepers of Hindu faith and traditions and imagined of Hindu India transcending the political boundaries of his time.

Advaita Vedanta

• A school of Hindu philosophy and spiritual discipline.
• Proponent – Adi Shankara
• Principles – Radical nondualism, it posits that all that we perceive is ultimately illusory (maya), and that the principle of brahman is the only true reality of all things, transcending empirical plurality.
• Fundamental thrust – It lies in the unity of atman or individual consciousness, and brahman or the ultimate reality.
• Spread – Through systematised theories of metaphysics, language, and epistemology.

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), also known as Darjeeling zoo was successful in breeding 77 snow leopards since the 1980s.

Darjeeling Zoo is the world’s 2^nd largest Snow Leopard breeding program next to New York’s Bronx Zoo.

• Scientific Name – Panthera uncia
• They are referred as the ‘ghost of the mountains’ for  their camouflaging ability.
• Nativity – The alpine regions of Central Asia.
• Habitat – Rugged mountainous areas or non-forested areas covering an altitude between 3200m-5200m.
• Growing conditions – They have thick white-gray coat spotted with large black rosettes which helps them blend with Asia’s steep and rocky, high mountains and helps them to survive harsh cold climates.
• During the winter months, they are likely to descend to lower elevations.
• In India – Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, which contributes to about 5% of the global snow leopard range.

Conservation of Snow Leopard

• Protection Status
  • IUCN status is Vulnerable
  • Appendix I of Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
  • Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
• Project Snow Leopard – India’s centrally-supported program to conserve the species and habitats.
• SECURE Himalaya – It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

GSLEP – Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme is an alliance of 12 snow leopard range countries, multi-lateral institutions, NGOs, scientists and local communities to conserve them.

• Krizna Jama, also known as Cross Cave or Cold Cave under Cross Mountain, is a cave in Slovenia.
• It's located in the Loz Valley, between the Loz Karst Field, Cerknica Karst Field, and Bloke Plateau.

Krizna Jama is the 4^th biggest known underground ecosystem in the world in terms of biodiversity.

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently released “The Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) Book” & Food Safety on Wheels (FSW).
• DART booklet is a compilation of common quick tests for detection of food adulterants by the citizens themselves so as to induce awareness among the consumers about food safety.

A mobile food testing van called Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) was launched to reach remote areas and conduct training and awareness activities & to promote awareness campaigns.