Syllabus

• Prelims – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Context: Recently, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar addressed the Indian Community in Portugal.

Background:-

• Foreign Minister of Portugal Joao Cravinho also joined Dr Jaishankar.
• In his address, the External Affairs Minister highlighted Portugal’s contribution to promoting closer India-European Union ties.

About India and Portugal:-

IMAGE SOURCE: pinterest.ca

• Portugal is an important country for India in Southern Europe. (Indo-Portuguese Bilateral Relations)
• The bilateral ties have witnessed steady progress in the last 15 years.
• Portugal is supportive of India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
• Both countries participate actively in other multilateral forums and support each other for candidatures.

Historical Background:-

• 1947: The relations between India and Portugal began in 1947 after India’s independence.
• 1949The diplomatic relations were established.
• The bilateral relations, however, went through a troubled phase, after Portugal refused to surrender its enclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli on India’s west coast.
• The diplomatic relations had been completely cut off by 1955.
• Goa was liberated by the Indian military forces in 1961 through Operation Vijay.
• 1974: India and Portugal signed a treaty recognizing the sovereignty of India over Goa, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
• The signing of the treaty was a watershed moment for bilateral relations between India and Portugal.
• 1977: The India-Portugal Joint Commission on Economic Matters was instituted and it has met four times so far.
• 2017-18: bilateral trade reached a total value of USD 937 million. Indian exports stood at USD 747 million and Portuguese exports at USD 190 million.

Significance:-

• India and Portugal have signed seven agreements to boost cooperation in areas including maritime transport, port development, audio-visual co-production, and industrial and intellectual property rights in recent times.
• The trade balance has consistently been in India’s favour.

MUST READ: Russia-Ukraine war

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q1) With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (2019)

1. Japan
2. Russia
3. The United Kingdom
4. The United States of America

Syllabus

• Prelims –POLITY

Context: The Enforcement Directorate is scheduled to question Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy-linked money-laundering case soon.

Background:-

• The investigation agency will record the statement of the Delhi Chief Minister after he deposes before the investigating officer of the case in Delhi.

About Enforcement Directorate:-

• Establishment: 1956.
• Ministry: Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• The Enforcement Directorate is a multi-disciplinary organization
• It is a law enforcement organization tasked with enforcing economic laws and combating economic crime in India, such as money laundering and foreign exchange irregularities.

Functions:-

• The functions of the Directorate include the enforcement of the following Acts:-
  • The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) (Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002)
  • The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA): A civil law under which ED conducts an investigation into suspected contraventions of foreign exchange laws and regulations. (Foreign Exchange Management Act)
  • The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1973
  • Sponsoring Organizations under the 1974 Foreign Exchange Conservation and Smuggling Activity Prevention Act
  • The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA): A law whereby the Directorate is mandated to attach the properties of fugitive economic offenders who have escaped from India warranting arrest and providing for the confiscation of their properties to the Central Government. (Fugitive Economic Offenders)

Structure:-

• Director of Enforcement:-
  • Appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Central Vigilance Commissioner and members comprising of Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary, Secretary DOPT and Revenue Secretary.
  • Tenure: up to 5 years.
• Recruitment of other officers:-
  • Other officers may be recruited directly from other investigative agencies or indirectly.
  • It is made up of representatives from the police, excise, customs, and income tax departments of the Indian Revenue Services (IRS), the Indian Police Services (IPS), and the Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

Powers of ED:-

• Statements recorded before an ED investigation officer (IO) are admissible as evidence in court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• All offences under the PMLA, which the ED deals with, are classified as non-bailable.
• Individuals in ED custody are sent to the nearest police station’s lock-up, irrespective of their status.
• Once the ED attaches properties belonging to an accused, it can be a lengthy and challenging process to retrieve those assets.
• Unlike regular criminal law, under the PMLA, the burden of proof lies with the accused rather than the prosecutor.
• Accused individuals are required to furnish proof in their defence, making it harder to deal with the ED’s investigations.

MUST READ: CBI and ED

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022)

1. In India, credit rating agencies are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
2. The rating agency popularly known as ICRA is a public limited company.
3. Brickwork Ratings is an Indian credit rating agency.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) With reference to the ‘Banks Board Bureau (BBB)’, which of the following statements is correct? (2022)

1. The Governor of RBI is the Chairman of BBB.
2. BBB recommends the selection of heads for Public Sector Banks.
3. BBB helps the Public Sector Banks develop strategies and capital raising plans.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, suspected Maoists open fired at forest watchers in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Background:-

• According to forest officials, a group of five suspected Maoists fired towards the skies upon seeing the watchers who then ran and took cover.
• No casualties were reported

About Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary:-

• Area: approximately 55 square kilometers.
• Location: northern part of Kerala.
• It is situated in the Western Ghats.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity.
• The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary was officially established in 1984.
• The sanctuary was created with the primary objective of conserving the diverse flora and fauna of the Western Ghats region.
• The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including several endemic and rare species.
• Vegetation: West Coast tropical evergreen forests, West Coast semi-evergreen forests, South Indian moist deciduous forests, Southern hilltop evergreen forests, and even plantations.
• Flora: Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit), Bischofia javanica (Bischofia Tree), Calophyllum elatum (Maramanjal), Canarium strictum (Black Dammar) etc.
• Fauna: elephants, tigers, leopards, Malabar giant squirrels, barking deer, and various bird species. (Wildlife Protection)
  • The sanctuary is known for its butterfly diversity and the butterfly migration that can be witnessed in December.

MUST READ: Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements : (2023)

1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives
2. of the Nagoya Protocol.
3. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Consider the following trees: (2023)

1. Jackfruit (Artoca7pus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)

How many of the above are deciduous trees?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Syllabus

• Prelims –POLITY

Context: Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)  tightened guidelines for the appointment of State DGPs.

Background:-

• Only police officers with at least six months of service left before retirement will be considered for appointment as the Director General of Police of a State, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said in amended guidelines issued recently.
• In another change, the Empanelment Committee constituted by the UPSC will not assess Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on central deputation for a State DGP’s post if the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informs the State government that “it will not be possible to relieve the officers.”

About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):-

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agency in India. (Central Vigilance Commission)
• It is an independent constitutional body. (Equality Commission)
• The provisions regarding the composition of UPSC, the appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of UPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.
• Parallel to the UPSC at the Centre, there is a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) in the state.
  • The provisions regarding the composition of SPSC, the appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of SPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.

Constitutional Provisions:-

• Article 315: Constitution of Public Service Commissions (PSC) for the Union and for the States of India.
• Article 316: Appointment and term of office of members of UPSC as well as SPSC.
• Article 317: Removal and suspension of a member of both the UPSC or SPSC.
• Article 318: Power to make regulations for the conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission.
• Article 319: Prohibition of holding the office by members of the Commission upon ceasing to be such members.
• Article 320: States the functions of Public Service Commissions.
• Article 321: Power to extend the functions of Public Service Commissions.
• Article 322: Expenses of Public Service Commissions.
• Article 323: Reports of Public Service Commissions.

Composition of Union Public Service Commission:-

• Appointment of Members: The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India.
• Term of Office: Any member of the UPSC shall hold office for a term of six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Reappointment: Any person who has once held the office as a member of a Public Service Commission is ineligible for reappointment to that office.
• Resignation: A member of the Union Public Service Commission may resign from his/her office by submitting a written resignation to the President of India.
• Removal/Suspension of Members: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC shall only be removed from his/her office by order of the President of India.
• The President can suspend the Chairman or any other member from his/her office in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court.
• Conditions for Removal: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC may be removed if he/she:
  • is adjudged
  • engages during his/her term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his/her office.
  • is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
• Regulating the Conditions of Service: In the case of the UPSC, the President of India shall:-
  • Determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service.
  • Make provisions with respect to the number of members of the staff of the Commission and their conditions of service.
• Restriction of Power: The conditions of service of a member of UPSC shall not be amended after his/her appointment which may lead to his/her disadvantage.
• Power to Extend Functions: The Legislature of a State may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the UPSC or the SPSC as respects the services of the Union or the State and also as respects the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution.
• Expenses of UPSC: The expenses of the UPSC including salaries, allowances and pensions of the members or staff of the Commission are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Submission of Reports: The UPSC shall present an annual report to the President of India containing the work done by the Commission.
  • The President shall provide a memorandum explaining the cases where the advice of the Commission was not accepted.
  • The reasons for such non-acceptance are presented before each House of Parliament.

MUST READ: Finance Commission

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following organizations/bodies in India: (2023)

1. The National Commission for Backward Classes
2. The National Human Rights Commission
3. The National Law Commission
4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

How many of the above are constitutional bodies?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q.2) . Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. The Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India.
2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recent studies suggest that India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ may have to face a challenge harder than going to space.

Background:-

• It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

About Deep Ocean Mission:-

• Launched: 2021.
• Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is India’s ambitious quest to explore and harness the depths of the ocean.
• As part of this initiative, India will, for the first time, embark on a journey to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean using an indigenously developed submersible with a three-member crew.
• The mission will require technologies to access and transport tonnes of valuable minerals from the ocean bed in an environmentally safe manner.
• DOM is a mission-mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
  • Blue Economy: sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.
• It is India’s ambitious programme and was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021 at a cost of nearly Rs 4,077 crore over a five-year period in a phased manner.

6 Pillars:-

The mission has six pillars:-

• Development of technologies for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean. The submersible will be equipped with a suite of scientific sensors, tools and an integrated system for mining polymetallic nodules from the central Indian Ocean.
• Development of ocean climate change advisory services, involving an array of ocean observations and models to understand and provide future climate projections.
• Technological innovations for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity.
• Deep-ocean survey and exploration aimed at identifying potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
• Harnessing energy and fresh water from the ocean.
• Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology, as a hub for nurturing talent and driving new opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.
• The ‘New India 2030’ document outlines a blue economy as the sixth core objective for India’s growth. The years 2021-2030 have been designated by the United Nations as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science’.
• DOM is one of nine missions under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC).
• It is imperative that DOM supports the blue economy priority area, blue trade, and blue manufacturing in India.

Significance:-

• Leveraging Ocean Resources.
• The technology and expertise needed in such missions are now available in only five countries – the US, Russia, France, Japan and China.
  • India will now be the sixth country to have it.

MUST READ: Deep-Sea Mining

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022)

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same surface. speed and places a probe on its

Syllabus

• Prelims – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recent studies show that  Air pollution increases the diabetes risk in Chennai and Delhi.

Background:-

• Two studies published in international journals have reported a worrying link between air pollution levels and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Chennai and Delhi.
• The study is notable not because the findings are new, they are not unprecedented but because they have found that the link, which has been indicated in Western countries and more recently in China as well, also holds in urban India.

About Diabetes:-

• Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose).
• Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues.
• It is a condition that happens when the blood sugar (glucose) is too high.
• It develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or any at all, or when the body isn’t responding to the effects of insulin properly.
• Diabetes affects people of all ages.

Types of diabetes:-

• There are several types of diabetes. The most common forms include:-
• Type 2 diabetes: With this type, the body doesn’t make enough insulin, and/or the body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin (insulin resistance).
• This is the most common type of diabetes.
• Prediabetes: The blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
• Type 1 diabetes: This type is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons.
• Gestational diabetes: This type develops in some people during pregnancy.

Symptoms:-

• feeling very thirsty
• needing to urinate more often than usual
• blurred vision
• feeling tired
• losing weight unintentionally

Management and Treatment:-

• Blood sugar monitoring. (Disease Surveillance System)
• Oral diabetes medications.
• Insulin injections.
• Diet management.
• Exercise.

Prevention:-

• Keeping a healthy body weight.
• Staying physically active with at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day.
• Eating a healthy diet and avoiding sugar and saturated fat.
• Avoid smoking tobacco.
• Avoiding stress. (Mental Health)

About Air Pollution:-

• Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or materials. (Delhi and Air Pollution)
• Different types of air pollutants include–
  • Gases: such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons.
  • Particulates: both organic and inorganic.
  • Biological molecules.

Harmful Impacts of Air Pollution:-

• It may cause diseases, allergies and even death in humans.
• It can cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops.
• Can lead to climate change and may damage the natural environment
• Ozone depletion or habitat degradation
• Built hazardous environments (for example, acid rain).

MUST READ: National Clean Air Campaign

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986? (2022)

1. Central Water Commission
2. Central Ground Water Board
3. Central Ground Water Authority
4. National Water Development Agency

Q.2) The “Common Carbon Metric” supported by UNEP, has been developed for (2021)

1. Assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
2. Enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading
3. Enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries
4. Assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit of time

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured new views of a stunning nebula, revealing never-before-seen details.

Background:-

• A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust often formed from the debris of dying or exploding stars.
• These clouds are also cradles of new stars, with the gas and dust providing the building blocks for stellar formation.

About James Webb Space Telescope (JWST):-

• Launched: 2021.
• Type: Orbiter.
• Launched by: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
• Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 rocket, provided by the European Space Agency (ESA).
• Launch site: French Guiana.
• Objective: to find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe and to see stars forming planetary systems.
• The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s largest, most powerful, and most complex space science telescope ever built.
• It is an infrared observatory orbiting the Sun. (International Space Station (ISS))
• It is NASA’s largest and most powerful space science telescope.

Functions of the telescope:-

• It will study every phase in the history of our universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the big bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own solar system.
• It will build on the Hubble Space Telescope’s (ISRO’s hybrid propulsion system)
  • NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope: it is the first astronomical observatory placed into orbit around Earth with the ability to record images in wavelengths of light spanning from ultraviolet to near-infrared.
• It will look deeper into the cosmos and thus further back in time than is possible with Hubble.
• It will attempt to detect the light from the very first population of stars in the Universe to switch on more than 13.5 billion years ago.

MUST READ: Exoplanets

SOURCE: SCIENCE ALERT

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1)  Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System? (2023)

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Israel
4. Japan

Q.2) If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? (2022)

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur in equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
2. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
3. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Syllabus

• Mains – GS II – Indian Constitution

Context: Copyright refers to the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. In simpler terms, copyright is the right to copy. This means that the original creators of products and anyone they give authorization to are the only ones with the exclusive right to reproduce the work.

Copyright law gives creators of original material the exclusive right to further use and duplicate that material for a given amount of time. Once a copyright expires, the copyrighted item becomes public domain.

Legal Provision Available Regarding Copyright Infringement

• Copyright ensures certain minimum safeguards of the rights of authors over their creations, thereby protecting and rewarding creativity.
• Copyright Act of 1957, protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and cinematograph films and sound recordings from unauthorized uses.
• Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works enjoy protection for the life time of the author plus 60 years beyond i.e. 60 years after his death.
• In case of joint authorship, the term of copyright is to be construed as a reference to the author who dies at last.
• It gives broadcasting reproduction right to every broadcaster which is valid for 25 years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in the broadcast has been done.
• Copyright Board Act provides for the establishment of the Copyright Board and empowers Central Government to constitute the same for settlement of disputes, granting of licenses, etc.
• The copyright infringement is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 3 years.

Issues With the Act

• A copyright is created the moment a piece of art or music or literature is fixed on a medium, provided it is original.
• Unlike trademark law, it is not mandatory under the Copyright Act to register copyrights as a necessary precondition in order to enforce the same.
• Whether the piece of art or music or literature is original or not is another complicated question of law.
• There is the question of whether the use of the copyrighted work is permissible under all the provisions in Section 52 of the Copyright Act outlining the exceptions to copyright infringement.
• For example, if a work is qualified for protection under the Designs Act of 2000, it can no longer claim protection under the Copyright Act once it is reproduced beyond a certain threshold.
• Determining the copyright infringement would require the court to apply the test of substantial similarity on a case-by-case basis.

Supreme Court Judgements

• In the Knit Pro International v. The State of NCT, the SC held that the offence of copyright infringement under Section 63 of the Copyright Act is a cognizable and non ¬bailable offence.
• The bench held that if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for three years and onwards but not more than seven years (3-7 years), the offence is a cognizable offence.
• As a result, it takes away the right of the accused to post a bail bond with the police and shifts the responsibility on to the courts for judicial determination on a case-by-case basis.
• Cr.P.C. defines cognizable offence as an offence for which the police officer can arrest the convict without a warrant and can start investigation without the due permission of the court.These are the offences that are usually very serious and generally heinous in nature such as rape, murder, kidnapping, dowry death etc.

Connect the Dots 

1. Why do we need copyright acts? Analyze the copyright laws in other countries.

Syllabus

• Mains – GS III –Science and Technology

Context: CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy) is a groundbreaking immunotherapy approach used to treat certain types of cancer, primarily hematological malignancies like B-cell lymphomas and leukemia. This therapy involves the genetic engineering of a patient’s own T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. As per the Globocan estimates, the cancer burden worldwide is expected to be 28.4 million cases in 2040, a 47% rise from 2020, due to demographic changes.

How Does it Work?

• T cells are white blood cells responsible for identifying and fighting illness and infection.
• Each T cell has a receptor that can recognize antigens (proteins or molecules recognized by the immune system).
• Cancer cells may have antigens that the immune system does not recognize as abnormal, allowing cancer to evade the immune response.
• CAR-T cells are genetically engineered in the lab to express a new receptor that can bind to cancer cells and effectively kill them.
• The process involves several steps, including:
  • Collecting T Cells: Blood is drawn from the patient’s arm, and T cells are separated from the blood using an apheresis machine.
  • Engineering T Cells: In a laboratory, the T cells are modified by adding a manufactured CAR, and they are allowed to multiply and grow.
  • Infusing CAR-T Cells: Once enough CAR-T cells are prepared, they are injected back into the patient’s arm.
    • Chemotherapy may be recommended before CAR-T cell infusion to enhance treatment effectiveness.
    • The process can take place in an outpatient infusion center or a hospital setting.
• CAR-T cell therapy is effective against certain types of cancer, especially when other treatments are ineffective.
• It is currently FDA-approved for treating hematological malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Significance

• CAR T-cell therapies are even more specific than targeted agents and directly stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight cancer, leading to greater clinical efficacy.
• That’s why they’re referred to as “living drugs.”

Challenges

• Preparation: The difficulty of preparing CAR T-cell therapies has been a major hindrance to their widespread use. The first successful clinical trial was published a decade ago, and the first indigenously developed therapy in India was performed in 2021.
• Side Effects: In certain kinds of leukaemias and lymphomas, the efficacy is as high as 90%, whereas in other types of cancers it is significantly lower. The potential side-effects are also significant, associated with cytokine release syndrome (a widespread activation of the immune system and collateral damage to the body’s normal cells) and neurological symptoms (severe confusion, seizures, and speech impairment).
• Affordability: Introduction of CAR T-cell therapy in India can face challenges of cost and value. Critics argue that developing CAR T-cell therapy in India may not be cost-effective as it will still be unaffordable for most people.

What Are T Cells?

• T cells, also known as T lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that play a central role in the immune response.
• T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity, which means they help the body recognize and respond to foreign substances, such as viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells, such as cancer cells.
• There are two major types of T cells, the helper T cell and the cytotoxic T cell. As the names suggest, helper T cells ‘help’ other cells of the immune system, whilst cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected cells and tumors.

Government Initiatives Related to Cancer Treatment

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke: Launched with the aim to prevent and control these diseases thorough awareness generation, behaviour and life-style changes, early diagnosis of persons with high levels of risk factors.
• National Cancer Grid: Formed in 2012, it is a network of major cancer centers, research institutes, patient groups and charitable institutions across India with the mandate of establishing uniform standards of patient care for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, providing specialized training and education in oncology and facilitating collaborative basic, translational and clinical research in cancer.
• National Cancer Awareness Day: 7th November in India every year since 2014 to create public awareness about early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer.

CONCLUSION

CAR T-cell therapy is a promising and innovative approach to treating cancer. It involves the genetic modification of a patient’s T cells to create chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target specific cancer cells. This treatment has shown great promise in clinical trials and has already been approved for the treatment of certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma.

Connect the Dots

1. What are the potential disadvantages of CAR T-Cell therapy?

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I :

Deep Ocean Mission is a mission-mode project to support the Green Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.

Statement-II :

Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean is one of the pillars of this mission.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) With reference to the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, consider the following statements:

1. It is located in the northern part of Karnataka.
2. It is situated in the Eastern Ghats.
3. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 2 only

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  2nd November  2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – c