About Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP):

• It is a decentralized, state-based surveillance programme in the country.
• It was launched with World Bank assistance in November 2004 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Objectives: To strengthen/maintain a decentralized laboratory-based IT enabled disease surveillance system for epidemic-prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and respond to outbreaks in the early rising phase through trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
• Programme Components:
  • Integration and decentralization of surveillance activities through the establishment of surveillance units at the Centre, State, and District levels.
  • Human Resource Development: Training of State Surveillance Officers, District Surveillance Officers, RRT, and other medical and paramedical staff on principles of disease surveillance.
  • Use of Information Communication Technology for collection, collation, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of data.
  • Strengthening of public health laboratories.
  • Inter sectoral coordination for zoonotic diseases.
• Data Management:
  • Under IDSP, data is collected on epidemic-prone diseases on a weekly basis (Monday–Sunday).
  • The information is collected in three specified reporting formats, namely “S”(suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases), and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases), filled by Health Workers, Clinicians, and Laboratory staff, respectively.
  • IDSP receives disease outbreak reports from the States/UTs on a weekly basis. Even NIL weekly reporting is mandated, and compilation of disease outbreaks/alerts is done on a weekly basis.
  • The weekly data gives information on the disease trendsand seasonality of diseases.
  • Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the RRTs to diagnose and control the outbreak.
  • Data analysis and actions are being undertaken by respective State/District Surveillance Units.

Q1: What are Zoonotic Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases are infections that are spread between people and animals. These infections are caused by germs, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Some can be severe and life threatening, such as rabies, and others may be milder and get better on their own.

Source: Over 1800 disease outbreaks reported across country last year: Govt

About Mako Missile:

• It is an air-launched hypersonic multi-mission missile.
• It was developed by Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace and defense manufacturer.
• It will be the world’s first hypersonic weapon that could be fired from the internal weapons bay of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets: the F-35 and the F-22 Raptor.
• It can be used for a wide range of missions, including targets at sea, in the air, and on land.
• Features:
  • Named after the fastest shark in the seas, Mako blazes down on time-sensitive targets, and it penetrates advanced air-defense systems to engage these high-value targets at or below hypersonic speeds, depending on mission requirements.
  • It can achieve speeds over Mach 5 with high maneuverability, making it difficult to intercept.
  • It represents one of Lockheed Martin’s first generation of missiles designed within an entirely “digital engineering ecosystem”.
  • It weighs close to 590 kg with a diameter of 13 inches and an approximate length of 4 meters.

What are Hypersonic Missiles?

• A hypersonic missile is a weapon system which flies at least at the speed of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and is manoeuvrable.
• These missiles are extremely fast and far harder for surface-to-air missile defence systems to target.

Q1: What are Ballistic Missiles?

A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target. They are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. They can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions. They can be launched from aircraft, ships, and submarines, in addition to land-based silos and mobile platforms.

Source: Strengthening US Security: The Introduction of the Mako Hypersonic Missile

About Mettur Dam:

• It is one of the largest dams in India, built in 1934. 
• Location: It is located at Mettur, District Salem in Tamil Nadu.
• It is constructed in a gorge, where the Kaveri River enters the plains.
• Features:
  • It is a masonry gravity dam.
  • The length of the dam is 1700 m with a maximum level of 120 feet and a capacity of 93.4 tmc ft. 
  • The dam creates Stanley Reservoir. 
  • Set at the foot of the dam in 1937 is the Mettur hydroelectric and thermal power plant, with a hydropower generation of 32 MW.
  • There is a park adjoining the Dam on the opposite side with lawns and fountains, and also has the Muniappan/Aiyanar statue in the vicinity.
• It provides irrigation facilities to parts of Salem, the length of Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappali, and Thanjavur districts for 271,000 acres (110,000 ha) of farmland.

Key Facts about Kaveri River:

• Kaveri River, also known as Cauvery River, is one of the major rivers of southern India, which is considered sacrosanct by the Hindus.
• Course:
  • It rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghatsin southwestern Karnataka, at an elevation of 1.341m (4,400 ft.) above mean sea level.
  • It flows in the south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and then across the southeastern lowlands, and finally surrenders in the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths.
  • The total length of the river from origin to outfall is 800 km.
• It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and south and by the ridges separating it from the Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north. 
• The Cauvery basin extends over the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, draining an area of 81,155 Sq.km
• Tributaries: Its important tributaries joining from left are the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha, and the Arkavati, whereas the Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil, and the Amaravati joins from right.
• Dams: Dams constructed across the river are Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, and Mettur Dam, and the Banasura Sagar Dam on the Kabini River, which is a tributary of the Kaveri River.

Q1: What is a gravity dam?

A gravity dam is a type of dam structure that is primarily designed to resist the force of gravity and hold back water or other materials. It relies on its own weight and mass to counteract the horizontal pressure exerted by the water or other materials it is retaining. Gravity dams are among the oldest and most common types of dams used for various purposes, including water supply, irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.

Source: Inflow into Mettur dam increases to 1.18 lakh cusecs; warning issued for low-lying areas

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre: 

• It is an autonomous international organization established in 1986.
• It is for cooperation in and implementation of disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific region.
• Vision: Safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction" and its geographical remit is Asia and the Pacific
• Member countries: India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the founding members.
• Governance: The organs of ADPC, defined in the ADPC Charter include the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, the Advisory Council and the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC), which are the governing or advisory bodies of ADPC.
• ADPC's international Charter was signed by nine founding member countries and it was put into effect in 2018 through the ratification by all the founding members.
• As of January 2020, ADPC is operating as an autonomous international organization governed by the Board of Trustees.
• Headquarter: Bangkok, Thailand and sub-centers in the country of operations are the operational parts of ADPC.

Q1: What is Disaster risk reduction?

It is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and reduce the causal factors of disasters.

Source: India assumes the Chair of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC)

About E-Upahaar Portal:

• It is an auction portal of the President's Secretariat (office of the President of India), Rashtrapati Bhavan for auctioning of gift items presented to Hon'ble President and former Presidents of India.
• The portal was launched by the President of India, on July 25, 2024,
• It is conceptualized, designed, developed and hosted by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The aim of this initiative is not only to increase citizen engagement but also to support noble cause. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to help children in need.

Key facts about the National Informatics Centre

• It was established in 1976 to provide technology-driven solutions to Central and State Governments.
• It works under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The NIC's primary focus is to provide e-Government solutions and support to various government departments.
• NIC, through its ICT Network, “NICNET”, has institutional linkages with all the Ministries /Departments of the Central Government, 36 State Governments/ Union Territories across India.
• The following major activities are being undertaken:
  • Setting up of ICT Infrastructure
  • Implementation of National and State Level e-Governance Projects/Products
  • Consultancy to the Government departments
  • Research & Development

Q1: What is an auction?

An auction in simple words is the process of selling or buying goods or services by inviting competing bids from multiple service providers or vendors. The competing participants may or may not know the identities or actions of other competitors.

Source: Rashtrapati Bhavan to auction selected gift items received by the Presidents through E-Upahaar portal

About Notified Disaster: 

• In India, the Disaster Management Act, 2005, defines a disaster as a "catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence" arising from natural or man-made causes that results in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment.
• Currently 12 disasters are classified as Notified Disaster namely: Cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack and frost and cold wave.
• Presently the notified list of disasters eligible for National Disaster Response Fund/State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) assistance.

What are Heat waves?

• The basic criteria for IMD to declare a heatwave are when a place's temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius (°C) in the plains, 37°C in coastal areas, and 30°C in the hills.
• These temperature values are the thresholds established by the IMD for the declaration of heatwaves in India.

Key facts about National Disaster Management Authority 

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) plays a crucial role in laying down policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management in India.
• It aims to promote a national resolve to mitigate the damage and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters through sustained and collective efforts.

Q1: What is the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)?

It is constituted under Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, supplements SDRF of a State, in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in SDRF.

Source: Centre has no plans to include heatwave as ‘notified disaster’

About Indexation:

• It is the process of adjusting the original purchase price of an asset or investment in order to neutralise the impact of inflation on it.
  • Inflation reduces the value of money over time, and therefore, when an asset is sold or an investment is redeemed, indexation helps in arriving at the cost of acquisition with the impact of inflation over the holding period factored in.
• The cost of acquisition thus arrived at, is called the indexed cost of acquisition. It resets the base for calculation of gains or losses from the sale or redemption.
  • The returns calculated on the indexed cost of acquisition are generally seen as more realistic than absolute gains calculated on the basis of the actual price at the time of purchase.
• Indexation is an efficient way of preventing draining of your returns on investments in the form of taxes.
• Indexation is applicable to long-term investments, which include debt fund and other asset classes. Indexation helps in adjusting the purchase price of the investments. 

What is capital gains tax?

• A capital gains tax is a tax imposed on the sale of an asset. It is calculated as the difference between the sale price of the property and its purchase price.
• Any gain or loss incurred from the sale of a house property may be subject to tax under the 'Capital Gains' head. 
• Types: Depending on the period an asset is held with the owner, there are two types of capital gains - Short-term Capital Gains and Long-term Capital Gains.

Q1: What Is Taxation?

Taxation is a term for when a taxing authority, usually a government, levies or imposes a financial obligation on its citizens or residents. Paying taxes to governments or officials has been a mainstay of civilization since ancient times.

Source: What is indexation in calculating long term capital gains tax? Does the removal of indexation benefit in the Budget mean you will pay more tax?

About Tell Umm Amer Heritage site:

• It is situated on the coastal dunes of the Nuseirat Municipality, just 10 km south of Gaza city.
• It is an ancient Christian monastery founded in the fourth century by Hilarion the Great (291-371 CE).
• It is also known as the ‘Monastery of Saint Hilarion.
• It was the first monastic community in the Holy Land, laying the groundwork for the spread of monastic practices in the region.
• The monastery occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of major trade and communication routes between Asia and Africa.

Key facts about UNESCO

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). 
• The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture. 
• The agency’s permanent headquarters are in Paris, France.
• Parent Organisation - United Nations Economic and Social Council
• The primary goals of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, and to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. 
• UNESCO believes that these areas are crucial for building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world.

Q1: What is the United Nations?

The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization that was established with the purpose of promoting international cooperation and maintaining peace and security among its member states.

Source: Why inclusion of Gaza’s Tell Umm Amer in the World Heritage Site List matters