26 Nov 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Indian Coast Guard conducts 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise
2. Union Health Ministry decides to proactively review preparedness 
measures against respiratory illnesses
3. Ladakh will soon have South East Asia's first Night Sky Sanctuary

1. Indian Coast Guard conducts 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise

Syllabus: GS III, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: National Level Pollution Response Exercise, National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan

Context:  The 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-IX) was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard on November 25, 2023 off Vadinar, Gujarat to test preparedness for oil spills..

• Representatives from government ministries, coastal state governments, ports, oil handling agencies, and other stakeholders participated. 
• Over 31 foreign observers and 80 delegates also took part.
• The exercise tested coordination between agencies under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) to respond to a simulated marine oil spill.
• The Indian Coast Guard deployed ships, helicopters, planes equipped for pollution response. 
• This displayed India’s industrial ability to combat spills. 
• The Indian Coast Guard assumed duties to protect India’s marine environment in 1986. 
• It later created the NOSDCP approved in 1993 and established Pollution Response Centers.
• Robust oil spill response is critical as India imports 75% of its energy needs by sea. Though risky, preventing spills is vital for ships and port oil facilities.
• The Indian Coast Guard functions as the Central Coordinating Authority for responding to oil spills in Indian waters.

2. Union Health Ministry decides to proactively review preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses

Syllabus: GS II, Social Issues

Prelims: Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Mycoplasma pneumonia

Context:  Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) shared information about an increase in respiratory illnesses in northern China. This surge is mainly attributed to common causes like influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and COVID-19.

• As per WHO, the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions along with the winter season, plus the cyclical pattern of illnesses like Mycoplasma pneumonia have led to the spike in respiratory diseases.
• While WHO has requested more information from Chinese officials, the current assessment is that there is no need for alarm right now.
• In light of these reports, India’s Union Health Ministry has decided to review preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses. 
• States were instructed to implement the “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy” for integrated monitoring of influenza-like and severe acute respiratory illnesses.
• They were also asked to closely track trends of such illnesses, particularly among children and teenagers and to upload the data on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project portal.
• States were further advised to send nasal and throat swab samples of patients with severe respiratory illnesses, especially children and adolescents, to Virus Research and Diagnostic Labs for testing.
• Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme(IDSP): 
  • IDSP is a major public health initiative under National Health Mission
  • It aims to rapidly detect disease outbreaks through real-time monitoring
  • Operates across all states and union territories in India
  • Implements early response to outbreaks via trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)
  • Decentralized, laboratory-supported, IT-enabled disease surveillance system will facilitate quick reaction to rising epidemics.

3. Ladakh will soon have South East Asia’s first Night Sky Sanctuary

Syllabus: GS III, Science & Technology

Prelims: South East Asia’s first Night Sky Sanctuary

Context: Ladakh will soon have South East Asia’s first Night Sky Sanctuary. 

• The Sanctuary is being set up with the help of Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bengaluru
• The Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle village in Eastern Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
• It will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes
• Spread over 1,073 square kms, the Night Sky Reserve is located within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is adjacent to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, the second-highest optical telescope in the world, of Indian Institute of Astrophysics at Hanle
• The Indian Astronomical Observatory is located at an elevation of 4500 metres
• It will boost Astro-tourism in India
• The Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bengaluru is affiliated to the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

Read the previous PIB articles here.