08 May 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related DISASTER MANAGEMENT 1. What high-temperature maps get wrong about heatwaves ENVIRONMENT 1. The unseen effects of climate change on mental health D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. A dignified peaceful passing is everyone’s right ENVIRONMENT 1. Plastic solution F. Prelims Facts 1. Kerala on alert as man dies of West Nile fever G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
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C. GS 3 Related
Category: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. What high-temperature maps get wrong about heatwaves
Syllabus: Disaster and Disaster Management
Mains: Need for better forecast of heatwaves
Introduction:
- Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer in duration, drawing increased attention due to climate change.
- Predicting heatwaves accurately is challenging, especially at a hyperlocal scale, crucial for disaster management.
- Heatwaves occur as anomalies, exceeding expected seasonal temperatures, which is a vital point for public comprehension.
Limitations of Total Temperature Maps:
- Total temperature maps, often used by reputable scientific organizations, can be alarming but may also be misleading.
- These maps depict absolute temperature values rather than anomalies, which are essential for understanding heatwaves.
- Anomalies, derived by subtracting long-term average temperatures from recorded values, provide clearer insights into heatwave patterns.
Importance of Anomaly Maps for Disaster Management:
- Anomaly maps offer crucial information for disaster management by highlighting location-specific heatwave patterns.
- Such maps enable more effective and efficient disaster preparedness and response, especially in resource-constrained settings.
- Forecasts and early warning systems, based on anomaly maps, can be improved through downscaling techniques, enhancing accuracy and relevance.
Addressing Challenges and Moving Forward:
- Downscaling forecast models to neighbourhood scales using AI and machine learning can enhance the precision of early warnings.
- Utilizing anomaly maps instead of total temperature maps can prevent unnecessary alarms and ensure credibility in weather forecasting.
- Continuous improvement in forecasting systems and early warning mechanisms is essential for mitigating the impact of heatwaves and other extreme weather events.
Nut Graf: Understanding and predicting heatwaves is crucial for disaster management. While total temperature maps can be misleading, anomaly maps offer vital insights. Improving forecast accuracy and using anomaly maps can enhance disaster preparedness and response.
Category: ENVIRONMENT
1. The unseen effects of climate change on mental health
Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains: Impact of climate change on mental health
Introduction:
- Climate change’s compounding effects rapidly influence various aspects of human life.
- It disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and contributes to psychological afflictions like eco-anxiety and solastalgia.
- It can worsen existing mental health conditions.
Study Findings on Heat-Related Deaths and Mental Health:
- A 2021 study in British Columbia found that an extreme heat event affected those with schizophrenia more than those with kidney or heart disease.
- Schizophrenia patients were at higher risk of succumbing to heat-related deaths.
- Unexpectedly, schizophrenia patients were more affected than those with physical ailments during the heatwave.
Factors Contributing to Vulnerability:
- Dysfunction of the hypothalamus, responsible for regulating body temperature, is a key factor.
- Certain antipsychotic medications may interfere with the hypothalamus’s function and raise body temperature.
- Psychotic symptoms and anosognosia further complicate the ability to seek help.
- Marginalization, economic status, and loneliness exacerbate vulnerability, as seen in past heat events.
Recommendations:
- Antipsychotic medications should not be discontinued but managed alongside interventions like counselling.
- Education on recognizing and addressing heat-related illnesses is crucial, especially for caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia.
- Climate change’s nonlinear effects underscore the need for comprehensive understanding and action to mitigate its impacts on mental health.
Nut Graf: Climate change exacerbates mental health issues, with a recent study revealing schizophrenia patients as particularly vulnerable to heat-related deaths. Understanding these complexities is crucial for tailored interventions amid escalating climate challenges.
D. GS 4 Related
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E. Editorials
Category: POLITY
1. A dignified peaceful passing is everyone’s right
Syllabus: GS-2, Indian Constitution: Features, Significant Provisions
Mains: Palliative Care and Living Will
Introduction: Dignified End-of-Life Choices
- Ronald Reagan’s peaceful passing at home surrounded by loved ones stands in contrast to Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s prolonged hospitalisation on life support.
- In India, 70% of critical patients die on life support, often alone in ICUs, creating emotional and financial burdens for families.
Contrasting Practices:
- Euro-American countries prioritise natural death and palliative care, with a focus on respecting individual preferences and dignity in dying.
- In India, a significant number of critical illness patients are subjected to prolonged ICU stays on life support, often against their preferences, leading to physical, emotional, and financial strain for families.
Ethical Concerns and Medical Practices:
- Despite ethical principles emphasising the mitigation of suffering, ICU practices in India often prioritize prolonging life without considering the quality of life.
- The routinization of intensive care deaths in India reflects societal attitudes towards death and a lack of preparedness in families.
- The absence of clear legal frameworks for end-of-life care adds to the confusion and hampers the implementation of advance directives.
Advocacy for Palliative Care and Living Wills:
- The World Health Organization’s recognition of palliative care as a fundamental right underscores the need for dignified end-of-life options.
- The Supreme Court of India’s acknowledgement of the right to health includes palliative care, potentially paving the way for improved end-of-life care policies.
- Encouraging individuals to create living wills and discuss their end-of-life preferences with family members can empower them to ensure a peaceful passing aligned with their wishes.
Nut Graf: In examining end-of-life care, the contrasting experiences of Ronald Reagan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee highlight global disparities. While Western countries prioritize natural death with dignity, India struggles with ethical and legal complexities, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making and improved palliative care.
Category: ENVIRONMENT
Syllabus: GS-3, Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains: Challenges in the elimination of plastic
Context: Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations
- The Global Plastics Treaty aims to eliminate plastic use through negotiations involving 175 UN member nations.
- The recent round of negotiations failed to reach an agreement due to economic concerns, primarily from oil-producing countries.
- Disagreements persist over hard deadlines for plastic production reduction and decision-making processes within the treaty.
India’s Perspective and Plastic Regulations:
- India advocates for addressing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of alternatives in any treaty, drawing parallels to the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility.’
- In 2022, India implemented the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, banning 19 categories of single-use plastics, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Global Distribution of Plastic Pollution:
- Brazil, China, India, and the U.S. are major contributors to global plastic waste, responsible for 60% according to a report by EA Earth Action.
- Plastic pollution cannot be effectively addressed solely through treaties; significant investment in alternative products and affordability is necessary.
The Need for Investment in Alternatives:
- Transitioning away from plastic requires substantial investment in alternative products and ensuring their affordability.
- Realistic targets for reducing plastic pollution must be set alongside comprehensive efforts to develop viable alternatives.
Nut Graf: Global efforts to tackle plastic pollution face hurdles in treaty negotiations, with economic concerns and differing perspectives on deadlines and decision-making processes. India’s stance emphasizes the need for affordability and accessibility of alternatives, highlighting the complexity of addressing this global challenge.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Kerala on alert as man dies of West Nile fever
Context:
- Kerala is on high alert following a death attributed to West Nile fever.
- Eight cases have surfaced across Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur districts.
- The Health Minister has assured the public and initiated preventive measures.
About West Nile Fever:
- Symptoms and Transmission:
- Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
- Spread primarily by Culex mosquitoes via infected bird bites; no human-to-human transmission observed.
- Treatment involves supportive care, hospitalization, intravenous fluids, and prevention of secondary infections; no vaccine is available for humans.
- Diagnostic Process:
- Infection is confirmed through blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples analyzed at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Lab.
- Samples have been forwarded to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for official confirmation.
Way Forward:
- Preventive Measures:
- Intensified pre-monsoon cleaning drives to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
- Collaborative efforts between health authorities and local administrations for effective control measures.
- Public Awareness:
- Educational campaigns on symptoms and preventive measures to raise public awareness.
- Vigilance among healthcare professionals for early case identification and treatment.
- Research and Treatment:
- Continued research into vaccine development and improved treatment strategies.
- Supportive treatment for patients with neuro-invasive West Nile virus, focusing on hospitalization and preventing secondary infections.
G. Tidbits
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H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Broadcast Seva Portal:
- It is an online portal solution for speedy filing and processing of applications of broadcasters for various kinds of licenses, permissions, registrations, etc.
- It was launched in 2024 as a major step towards promoting Ease of Doing Business.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: Broadcast Seva Portal was launched in 2022.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Rafah Crossing, often seen in the news:
- It is the southernmost exit point from the Gaza Strip.
- It shares a border with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
- It is the only exit that does not lead to Israeli territory.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- One only
- Two only
- All three
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: All three statements are correct.
Q3. Which of these border crossings in and out of Gaza was exclusively being used for the movement of commercial goods?
- Erez
- Kerem Shalom
- Rafah
- Both (a) and (b)
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of Gaza is exclusively used for the movement of commercial goods.
Q4. Which of these statements is/are correct with respect to the West Nile Virus?
- It is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus.
- It is a flavivirus related to the viruses that are also responsible for causing St. Louis encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.
Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA):
- It was created in 2012, as an outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Brazil.
- It sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance, and defines policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges.
- At the UNEA in 2022, the world’s nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024 to address the world’s plastic pollution crisis.
How many of these statements is/ are correct?
- One only
- Two only
- All three
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: All three statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the ethical, cultural, and legal challenges in implementing effective palliative care and advance medical directives (living wills) in India. Suggest measures to improve the quality of end-of-life care. (10 marks, 150 words) [GS-2, Polity]
- Discuss the multifaceted impact of extreme heat events on vulnerable populations. Analyze the role of climate change in exacerbating these challenges and suggest targeted policy measures to mitigate the risks. (10 marks, 150 words) [GS-3, Environment]
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