Daily Current Affairs

To The Point Notes

 

Science and Technology

Longitude Prize Awarded for Rapid UTI Test

PA-100 AST System

• Winner of Longitude Prize on AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance)
• High-tech, rapid point-of-care test for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Automated analyzer using microfluidics and phase contrast microscopy
• Provides targeted antibiotic treatment in under 1 hour, reducing AMR risk

How it Works

• Tests against common UTI bacteria (E. coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus)
• Traps bacteria in microfluidic chambers and exposes them to 5 different antibiotics
• Analyzes bacterial growth rate to determine effective antibiotic

Significance of UTIs and AMRs

• UTIs are a common bacterial infection driving antibiotic overuse
• Empiric treatment (educated guess) is common due to lack of rapid tests
• This approach fuels AMR, a global health crisis
• AMR deaths reached 1.3 million in 2019, projected to reach 10 million by 2050

Economic Impact of AMR

• Global economy could lose up to $4 trillion by 2030 and $100 trillion by 2050
• AMR is a significant threat to public health and global economic stability

 

 

Health

Truenat Platform

Truenat Platform

• Developed by Molbio Diagnostics (India)
• Real-time, quantitative micro-PCR system
• Portable, battery-operated for use in labs, health centers, and remote settings
• Tests for over 40 diseases including TB, COVID-19, and more

Impact on TB Diagnosis

• Provides rapid molecular testing for various forms of tuberculosis
• Lauded by WHO for its role in combating TB at the 77th World Health Assembly
• Supports India’s efforts towards TB elimination

India’s TB Scenario

• TB incidence rate declined 16% between 2015 and 2022 (199 per lakh population in 2022)
• TB mortality rate declined 18% between 2015 and 2022 (23 per lakh population in 2022)

Key Initiatives

• National Strategic Plan (2017-2025)
• National TB Elimination Program (NTEP)
• National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD)
• Drug Sensitive-TB Treatment as per NTEP
• Ni-kshay Portal

 

 

 

Economy

Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND)

About FIU-IND

• Established in 2004 under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Reports to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the Finance Minister.
• Analyzes financial information to identify suspicious transactions.
• Plays a key role in anti-money laundering (AML) and combating terror financing (CFT).
• Collaborates with domestic and international agencies to fight financial crimes.

Recent News

• Fined Axis Bank for failing to report suspicious transactions linked to NSG (National Security Guard).

 

 

Environment

Greater Adjutant Stork

Scientific Name: Leptoptilos dubius

Habitat

• Historically found across South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Now mainly in Assam, India, with smaller population in Bhagalpur, Bihar.
• Primarily found in Brahmaputra valley (Guwahati, Morigaon, Nagaon districts).

Threatened by: Rapid urbanization in Assam.

Protection Status

• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV

Diet:

• Primarily carnivorous scavenger (fish, frogs, snakes, carrion) similar to vultures.

Significance

• Considered the mount of Vishnu in Hinduism (Garuda Maharaj or Guru Garuda).
• Helps farmers by controlling rats and other pests.

Conservation Efforts

• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Assam Forest Department are involved in:
  • Habitat restoration
  • Captive breeding programs
  • Community education initiatives

 

 

Polity

Mercy Petitions in India

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 72: Empowers President to grant pardons, reprieves, etc. for offenses against central laws or death sentences.
• Article 161: Similar powers to Governors for state laws.
• No time limit for filing mercy petitions.
• President/Governors have discretion to accept or reject petitions.

Recent News

• President rejected mercy petition of a terrorist convicted in the 2000 Red Fort attack.