Sri Lankan Navy arrests 14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu
Recently, India's Foreign Minister raised concerns over the repeated arrests of Indian fishermen to the President of Sri Lanka.
Background
• The maritime dispute between India and Sri Lanka is linked to fishing rights in the Palk Bay area. Also, the dispute is linked to violations of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegal fishing activities in the area.
Palck Bay is a narrow strip of sea rich in marine resources separating Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka.
1974 Maritime Boundary Agreement:
• Kachchativu Island is located on the Sri Lankan-occupied land of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line.
• However, under this agreement, Indian fishermen are allowed to go to Kachchativu Island for drying nets and for the annual St. Anthony's Church festival.
1976 Maritime Boundary Agreement:
• It further delineated the boundaries in the Gulf of Mannar and the Gulf of Bengal.
Factors fuelling the dispute
• Traditional fishing practices: Due to long-standing fishing patterns, fishermen from Tamil Nadu often cross the IMBL.
• Depletio of fish stocks: This problem is caused by techniques such as bottom trawling. Trawling is a fishing technique that involves dragging a net over the sea floor and collecting and catching target species, such as ground fish or crabs.
Recent measures taken to resolve the dispute
• Joint Working Group (JWG): Its task is to explore joint patrolling and resource management strategies.
• Humanitarian approach: Under this, efforts are being made to adopt a livelihood-based approach to resolve issues related to fishermen.
• Technological intervention: This is needed to prevent fishermen from accidentally crossing the IMBL and promote sustainable fishing practices, for example, using GPS.
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Bombay Blood Group
Recently, doctors have performed a cross-blood transplant in a patient with a rare Bombay blood group(HH Blood Group).
- It is a rare blood group.
- It was first discovered in Mumbai in 1952 by Y. M. Bhede.
- Characteristics: Presence of anti-A, anti-B and anti-11 antibodies in the serum, which can cause agglutination in all blood groups of the ABO system. This occurs when the antibodies present in the serum react with the blood group antigens located on the red blood cells. Agglutination in blood is actually the clumping together of red blood cells (RBCs).
- Clinical features: A person with Bombay blood group cannot be given blood from any ABO group, including type I blood group that has H antigen.
- A person with Bombay blood group can receive blood only from another Bombay blood group donor.
BioLampivaxin, the LSD vaccine developed recently by Bharat Biotech and ICAR has been licensed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.
Lumpy Skin Disease
• It is a viral disease. It mainly affects cows and buffaloes.
• Pathogen: The disease is spread by Lumpy Skin Disease virus of the Capripoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family.
• Symptoms: It may cause fever, skin lumps and even death of the affected animal.
• Transmission: By blood-sucking insects, such as flies, mosquitoes or certain species of ticks.
States receive central funding to combat LSD through training, awareness and vaccination programmes.
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Graphene
Researchers have discovered a new quantum state in the bilayer-trilapore graphene. In this state, electrons form a lattice structure. This structure enables a special type of resistance-free edge currents.
• This discovery can be helpful in quantum computing, as it will provide stability against noise.
Graphene
• Graphene is an allotrope of carbon.
• It consists of a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms. These atoms are tightly bound in a lattice like a honeycomb.
• It is the thinnest, lightest and strongest material, 200 times stronger than steel and 1,000 times lighter than paper. It is 98% transparent, chemically stable and highly conductive.
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Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)
The Government has amended the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines.
• It has been made an integrated component of PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan.
• The objective of PM-AASHA is to ensure remunerative prices to farmers through schemes like Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Scheme (PDPS), Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPPS).
• Objective: To protect farmers from selling perishable agricultural/horticultural produce under pressure during economic crisis.
• Implementation: On request of State/UT Government for procurement.
• MIS will be implemented only when there is a minimum 10% reduction in the prevailing market price in the State/UT as compared to the rates during the previous normal season.
• Procurement/Coverage: Production of crops quantity
The procurement/coverage limit of palm oil has been increased from the existing 20% to 25%.
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South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
The Solvent Extractors Association of India urged the Centre to control the rise in imports of refined soyabean and palm oil from Nepal citing rule of origin.
• Origin: The SAARC Free Trade Agreement "SAFTA" replaced the SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement of 1993 in 2006.
• Members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• Special measures for least developed countries (LDCs): SAFTA has acknowledged the need for special treatment for LDCs in its preamble.
South Asia's intra-regional trade remains low, around 5%, due to poor transport infrastructure, political disputes, etc.
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The government has issued a guideline to implement the provision of Rules of Origin. Under this, no FTA partner country of India will be able to dump the goods of any third country in India by just imposing its own level. This guideline will apply to imports claiming lower customs duty under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
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Cyclone 2025
India and Egypt launched joint military exercise 'Cyclone 2025'.
• Location: Rajasthan.
• Objective: To enhance defence cooperation, improve interoperability and share skills of special forces in desert warfare.
This exercise will run from 11 to 23 February. This is an annual event, which is held in both the countries alternately. The last edition of this exercise was held in Egypt in January 2024.
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Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign launched for elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)
India has launched an advanced five-pronged strategy to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by January 2023 to 2027 and one of the important strategies is the 'Mission Mode India MDA Abhiyaan'.
The Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign is a key component of India's Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) elimination strategy.
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). It is also known as “elephantiasis”.
The disease is caused by microscopic parasitic nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filarioidea.
Infection usually occurs in childhood. It affects the lymphatic system of the human body. This causes abnormal growth of body parts.
Transmitted from person to person through mosquitoes.
Effects: Physical and long-term disability, lymphoedema (swelling of limbs) and hydrocele (swelling of testicles).
What is Mass Drug Administration (MDA)?
Implementing Agency: It is launched under the leadership of National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC).
Objective: To eliminate lymphatic filariasis from 111 endemic districts in 13 states by eliminating microfilariae parasites present in the blood stream of infected individuals.
Treatment
Double drug regimen (DA): Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) and albendazole.
Triple Drug Regimen (IDA): Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC), and Albendazole
Strategy: To eliminate lymphatic filariasis by 2027, ahead of the SDG target of 2030,
Five-pronged strategy -
• Mission Mode Mass Drug Administration (MDA),
• Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP),
• Vector Control (Surveillance and Management),
• High-level Advocacy, and
• Innovative approaches.
National Vector Borne Disease Control Centre (NCVBDC)
• It is a comprehensive programme for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis.
• Vector-borne diseases are infections that spread to humans and animals through the bite of blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.
National Deworming Day (NDD) is celebrated twice a year on 10th February and 10th August.
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