5 July 2024, The Hindu
Grave concern
Page 8
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- The ambitious goal of eradicating wild-type poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) by 2026 appears to have become tougher.
- WPV1, which is endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan, is showing signs of a resurgence since 2023.
- With Afghanistan and Pakistan reporting six WPV1 cases each in 2023 — there were two cases in Afghanistan and 20 cases in Pakistan in 2022 — the total incidence of type-1 cases in both countries in 2023 might appear to have nearly halved.
- But with six cases in Afghanistan and five cases in Pakistan already this year, there appears to be an uptick.
- If this continues, the total cases being reported from the two countries might be close to or even surpass the 2022 numbers.
- The concern about WPV1 is not limited to the number of cases in children.
- The circulation of the virus in the environment is seen to be rising, and, most importantly, after a gap of two years, positive environmental samples have been increasingly collected in Pakistan, in 2023 and till early June this year, from cities which have been historical reservoirs for the virus.
Computer literacy in India needs a reboo
Page 8
GS 3: General awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, bio-technology
- Computer literacy is essential in today’s world as critical services such as banking, health care and various government services have become digital.
- Computer literacy implies the knowledge and the ability to use computers and technology efficiently.
- It ensures that individuals can access and use these services effectively, enhancing their quality of life.
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of computer and Internet access, from ordering groceries and online education to managing banking and health-care services.
- Recognising this, the Indian government launched the Digital India campaign in 2015 to transform the country into a digitally empowered society.
The shape of a five-year climate agenda for India
Page 8
Prelims syllabus: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
- As the new government settles in, what it does to scale up climate action will affect every Ministry, new and old, and every sector, big and small.
- Some of its choices would be pivotal to how India structures its economic path in a sustainable way, positions itself as the voice of the Global South at the right tables, and fights for climate finance and justice over the next five years.
The lack of leadership at TISS
Page 10
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
‘India, U.S. share goals to prevent Ukraine conflict from spreading’
Page 12
GS 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
- Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the United States has had continuous communications with India about what the two can do “together” to hold Russia “to account”, the U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on July 4.
- India and the U.S. share the goals of “preventing this conflict from spreading, promoting stability in the Middle East, and efforts to establish a future Palestinian state”, he said, in an email interview to The Hindu.
- Welcoming India’s support in providing humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine, Mr. Garcetti said that the U.S. appreciated the strength of the strategic partnership with India to “coordinate and exchange perspectives” on such challenges.
Industry Ministry pushes for lower duties on input imports
Page 15
GS 3: Indian Economy (international trade)
- The Commerce and Industry Ministry has made a pitch for reducing high tariffs on the import of inputs for electronics and other sectors, responding to industry concerns that tariff-induced costs will nullify gains from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme vis-a-vis rivals like China and Vietnam.
- However, there is no proposal to reconsider the restrictions placed on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from countries sharing land borders with India through Press Note 3, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said to a query from The Hindu.
Education ‘remains the most effective contraceptive’
Page 20
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- Last year, India overtook China as the world’s most populous country.
- According to United Nations estimates, India’s population which is currently 1.4 billion, will peak at 1.7 billion or so in 2064 before settling at 1.53 billion in 2100.
- But even though these numbers are staggering, data indicates that population growth is slowing —the total fertility rate has dipped below the replacement level of 2.1 and is projected to dip further.
