THE HINDU EDITORIAL SUMMARY

TOPIC-1 : Preparing India for Water Stress and Climate Resilience

GS-1 MAINS : WATER 

SHORT NOTES OR REVISION NOTES 

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Question : Evaluate India’s water challenges and their implications for climate resilience

Context:

• IMD predicts hotter summer and longer heatwaves (April-June).
• Earth Day (April 22) – Climate is the economy now.

India’s Water Challenges:

• 18% of world’s population on 2.4% of land area.
• 4% of global freshwater resources.
• Nearly half its rivers polluted.
• 150 primary reservoirs at 38% capacity.
• Largest user of groundwater in the world.
• 3/4 of districts are hotspots for extreme climate events.

Shifting From Disaster Response to Climate Action:

• Sudden shocks (heavy rainfall, water scarcity) & slow stresses (reduced soil retention, changing rainfall patterns).
• Seasonal disaster response not enough.
• Climate action needs all sectors, not limited tree plantation drives.

Water’s Role in the Economy:

• Connects hydrological, food, and energy systems.
• Precipitation – source of soil moisture (green water) and surface/groundwater (blue water).
• Blue and green water impact food production and agriculture (45% of workforce).
• Changing monsoon patterns – increased short-duration heavy rain affecting crops.
• Water – key component for clean energy transition (green hydrogen, pumped storage hydro).

Water and Climate Threats:

• 75% of natural disasters in last 20 years water-related (UN).
• Flood events in India increased 20 times (1970-2019, CEEW).
• Freshwater – one of the nine transgressed planetary boundaries (2023 study).

Ingredients of Water Security:

• Right policies recognizing water-food-energy interactions.
• Judicious use of blue and green water (water accounting, reuse).
• Financial tools for climate adaptation in the water sector.

The Way Forward:

• Systemic change takes time, but a start is possible:
  • Coherent water, energy, and climate policies.
  • Data-driven baselines for water savings.
  • New financial instruments for adaptation investments.
• Water security is the first step towards climate resilience.

 

 

THE HINDU EDITORIAL SUMMARY

TOPIC-2 : Mpox Virus: A Genomic Shapeshifter

GS-2 MAINS : HEALTH 

SHORT NOTES OR REVISION NOTES 

QUESTION : Discuss the significance of the 2022-2023 global outbreak of Mpox virus in raising awareness about emerging infectious diseases.

 Context:

• Poxviruses, like smallpox, have caused significant human illness.

Mpox Outbreak:

• 2022-2023 global outbreak raised awareness about mpox.
• Previously called “monkeypox,” the name is considered inaccurate.
• Mpox has multiple lineages circulating in humans.
• 2022 outbreak involved clade IIb, highly transmissible through close contact.
• Mortality rate: 1-10% (based on WHO data).
• Outbreak primarily spread through sexual transmission.
• New infections are declining, but unvaccinated individuals remain at risk.

Mpox’s “Genomic Accordion”:

• Mpox is a DNA virus with a repeating sequence of bases.
• Two main clades: I (higher mortality) and II.
• Clades further divided into sub-clades (lineages).
• Mpox evades pressure by expanding or contracting its genome:
  • Duplicating genes/mutations (expansion)
  • Deleting or inactivating genes (contraction)
• This process is called “genomic accordions.”

Importance of Genomic Surveillance:

• Studying mpox genomes helps understand its evolution.
• Reveals how the virus adapts to infect humans and animals.
• Crucial for preventing future outbreaks.

Conclusion:

• Mpox’s potential for rapid spread necessitates continued vigilance.
• Studying viral genomes and implementing public health measures are key to mitigating future threats.