About Shingella:

• It is an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.
• The four species of Shigella are: Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii and Shigella dysenteriae.
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, Stomach pain or cramps, Fever, Nausea or vomiting.
• Transmission: It is very contagious. People get infected with shigella when they come in contact with and swallow small amounts of bacteria from the stool of a person

 Who is infected with shigella?

• Children under age 5 are most likely to get shigella infection, but it can occur at any age. 
• Vaccine: Currently, there are no vaccines available for shigella.
• Precautions: Wash your hands thoroughly before and after a meal. Wash your hands properly after a bowel movement. Ensure the water that you drink is clean and the fruits and vegetables are fresh.
• Disease burden: It has been estimated that shigella triggers a huge disease burden globally, causing nearly 125 million diarrhoeal episodes annually and around 1,60,000 deaths, with a third of these associated with children under five years of age.

Q1: What is Bacteria?

Bacteria are microscopic single-celled prokaryotic organisms that play a crucial role in the ecosystem and have a significant impact on human health. Bacteria can be found all over the world, including the top of the mountains or the deeper trenches in the oceans.

Source: ICMR back in race to offer world’s 1st vaccine for deadly shigella, to tie up with Indian manufacturer

About Agri SURE’ fund: 

• Agri fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises (Agri-SURE) supports start-ups and agripreneurs.
• It provides support through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support to start-ups working in Agriculture and allied sectors.
• This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India's agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
  • While NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture are contributing ₹250 crore each, the rest ₹250 crore is from other institutions.
  • The fund is structured to support about 85 agri start-ups with investment sizes of up to ₹25 crore each by the end of its term. T
• Its main focus areas include promoting innovative, technology-driven initiatives in agriculture, enhancing the farm produce value chain, creating new rural ecosystem linkages and infrastructure, generating employment, and supporting Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs).
• The fund would encourage entrepreneurship through IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers, driving sustainable growth and development in the agricultural sector.
• NABVENTURES a fully owned subsidiary of NABARD will act as the fund manager.

Q1: What is NABARD?

It is a financial institution that was set up by the Indian government to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development in the country.It is the main regulatory body in the country’s rural banking system.

Source: NABARD announces ₹750 crore ‘Agri SURE’ fund to promote innovation in agriculture

About International Maritime Organisation (IMO):

• It is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
• It has an integral role in meeting the targets set out in UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
• The IMO sets policies for international shipping and sets regulations on safety, security, and environmental best practices.
• The IMO is not responsible for enforcing its policies; when a government accepts an IMO policy, that policy becomes a national law that is the government's responsibility to enforce.
• It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
• Formation: It was established as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) in 1948, became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1959, and was renamed the International Maritime Organization in 1982.
• It currently has 174 member states.
• Structure:
  • Assembly: It is the highest governing body of the IMO. It consists of all Member States, and it meets once every two years in regular sessions. The Assembly is responsible for approving the work program, voting the budget, and electing the Council.
  • Council: It is the Executive Organ of the IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
  • Committees: The five policy-making committees are responsible for the development, review, updating, and approval of the organization’s guidelines and regulations.
• Funding for the IMO comes from contributions by member states, as well as voluntary donations and commercial activities.
• Headquarters: London.

Q1: What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Source: India Raises Seafarer Abandonment Crisis At IMO; Secures Membership In Key Working Group

About Pakke Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is situated north of the river Brahmaputra in the transition zone between the Assam plains and the hilly forests of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is surrounded by the Tenga Reserve Forest to the north, Doimara Reserve Forest on the west, Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam) on the south and some agricultural land as well as Papum Reserve Forest on the east.
• It is bounded by the Bhareli or Kameng River in the west and north, and by the Pakke River in the east. 
• Total Area: 862 sq.km.
• The reserves elevations range from 100 to 2,000 m (330 to 6,560 ft).
• The landscape has high species diversity and endemicity as it forms the transition zone between the Indian and Malayan eco-regions.
• Vegetation: The habitat types in the park include lowland semi-evergreen, evergreen forest, and Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests.
• The Nyishi tribe inhibits the area and plays a great role in its conservation.
• Flora:
  • Polyalthia simiarum, Pterospermum acerifolium, Sterculia alata, Stereospermum chelonioides, Ailanthus grandis, and Duabanga grandiflor.
  • About eight species of bamboo occur in the area.

Fauna: Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, wild dog jackal, Himalayan black bear, binturong, elephant, gaur, sambar, hog deer, barking deer, wild boar, yellow throated Martin, Malayan giant squirrel, flying squirrel, etc.

Q1: What is a Tiger Reserve?

Tiger Reserve is a legally declared protected area dedicated to the conservation of striped big cats. A tiger reserve, on the other hand, could be a national park or wildlife sanctuary. The Sariska Tiger Reserve, for example, is also a national park.

Source: Arunachal Pradesh: 4-Month-Old Asiatic Bear Cub Rescued In Lohit District

About Patriot Air Defence System:

• The Patriot (MIM-104), which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is an all-altitude, all-weather surface-to-air missile defense system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft.
• It is the U.S. Army’s most advanced air defense system.
• It is a combat-proven air defence system operated by the USand a number of its allies, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain, and Taiwan.
• The system was first used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War, with batteries protecting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel, and later used during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
• Features:
  • It is a mobile system that usually includes powerful radar, a control station, a power generator, launch stations, and other support vehicles.
  • It is equipped with a track-via-missile (TVM) guidance system. Midcourse correction commands are transmitted to the guidance system from the mobile engagement control centre.
  • Depending on the version in use, the interceptor missiles can reach an altitude of more than 24 kilometersand hit targets up to 160 kilometers away.
  • The system's radar has a range of over 150 km (93 miles).
  • The minimum flight time is less than nine seconds, while the maximum is three and a half minute

Q1: What is Iron Dome?

Iron Dome is Israel’s air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets, intercepting them in the air above the state. It is capable of successfully handling multiple rockets at a time. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, the system became operational in March 2011.

Source: U.S., allies announce additional air defence systems for Ukraine

About Cholera:

• It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. 
• Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.
• The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Cholera outbreaks are more common in warm climates.
• Cholera is often predictable and preventable. It can ultimately be eliminated where access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as good hygiene practices, are ensured and sustained for the whole population.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection.
  • Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious.
  • About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated.
• Treatment:
  • Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.
  • Treatment for cholera can include:
    • Rehydration therapy
    • Antibiotics
    • Zinc supplementation for children

Q1: What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Source: Cholera outbreak in India: Multiple cases reported in parts of Kerala, Gujarat—Know all about symptoms and treatment

About Sarus crane:

• It is the tallest flying bird in the world.
• Scientific name: Grus Antigone
  • Distribution: They live in Southeast Asia, northern India and in northern Australia.
  • Habitat: They live mainly in wetlands such as canals, marshes and ponds, sometimes near humans.
• Appearance
  • It has a predominantly grey plumage with a naked red head and upper neck and pale red legs.
  • They are regarded as the least social crane species, found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four. 
• They are monogamous birds and pairs mate for life.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES : Appendix II
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV 

Threats: The main threat to the Sarus crane in India is habitat loss and degradation due to draining the wetland and conversion of land for agriculture.

Q1:What are Constructed wetlands?

Constructed wetlands are engineered structures designed to replicate the functions of natural wetlands. They are composed of meticulously chosen vegetation, soil and water, orchestrated to facilitate a seamless process of purification.

Source: Census reveals surge in Sarus crane population across Uttar Pradesh

About World Population Prospects Report: 

• Key findings of the report
• The world’s population is expected to continue growing over the coming 50-60 years, reaching a peak of around 10.3 billion people in the mid-2080s, up from 8.2 billion in 2024.
• After peaking, the global population is projected to start declining gradually, falling to 10.2 billion people by the end of the century.
• Fertility Rate: Currently, the global fertility rate stands at 2.25 live births per woman,1 down from 3.31 births in 1990.
  • More than half of all countries and areas globally have fertility below the replacement level of 2.1 live births per woman.
• Life expectancy: Globally, life expectancy at birth reached 73.3 years in 2024, an increase of 8.4 years since 1995. Further reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.4 years globally in 2054.
• India's population in 2024 is projected at 1.45 billion and this will peak to 1.69 billion in 2054. 

Key facts about United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

• It works closely with governments and stakeholders to help countries around the world meet their economic, social and environmental goals.
• It has been helping countries to find common ground on sustainable development, population, social matters, financing for development and many other issues.
• It supports building national strategies and plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN DESA also plays a key role in assessing progress towards the SDGs through its analytical products, policy advice and technical assistance.
• Headquarter: New York (USA)

Q1: What is the Total fertility rate?

Total fertility rate (TFR) is a measure of the number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime, given the current birth rates.

Source: India's population to peak in early 2060s to 1.7 billion before declining: United Nations

About Makhana Cultivation:

• Foxnut, commonly known as Makhana, is an important aquatic crop.
• It is grown in stagnant perennial water bodies like ponds, land depressions, oxbow lakes, swamps and ditches.
• It is a plant of tropical and subtropical climate.
• Makhana plant is considered as native of South-East Asia and China, but distributed to almost every part of the world.
• Required climatic conditions
  • Temperature: 200C to 350 C
  • Relative humidity :50% to 90%
  • Annual rainfall: 100 cm to 250 cm
  • Soil: Smooth loamy soil
• In India it is mainly distributed in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh but commercially produced in few states only.
• Bihar in India is the leading state in its production and processing. It is estimated that Bihar accounts for more than 80 percent of total Makhana production in the country.
• Makhana is a product approved under the Union government’s One District One Product scheme, under which subsidies are provided to food processors for branding, marketing, and developing infrastructure.
• Benefits of Makhana
  • It is a kind of hydrophyte used both as drug and food which exhibits much application and development prospect in the fields of medicine, food and economy.
  • Makhana is the seed of a cash aquatic crop, which was popularly used as herb and food in China. Makhana possessed high nutritional value and many medical and health protection effects.

Q1: What is One District One Product scheme?

 It was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, to help districts reach their full potential, foster economic and socio-cultural growth, and create employment opportunities, especially, in rural areas. This initiative is carried out with the ‘Districts as Exports Hub’ initiative by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce.

Source: Makhana cultivation in Bihar | Running on vegetable protein