UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelimbits 11-07-2025

Supersolid   and Quantum theatre

Why in News?

A team of researchers from Italy, recently froze light into a ‘supersolid’ using ‘quantum theatre.’

• Recent Findings – It marks the first time scientists have managed to couple light with matter to create a supersolid.
• It used a quantum mechanical approach that relied on the properties of polaritons.
• These are hybrid particles that sometimes behave like light and sometimes like matter.
• They are created by coupling photons with packets of energy inside materials, like phonons (vibrational energy) or excitons (electron-hole pairs).
• The researchers used an aluminium gallium arsenide semiconductor platform as a waveguide, a channel through which waves can pass, fitted with a source of excitons and a laser.
• The waveguide had a microscopic structure with a periodic grating.
• The etched ridges influenced the polaritons’ motion, trapping them in a regular pattern.
• The team used a pulsed laser to maintain a dense polariton condensate at a temperature of about –269ºC.
• Quantum theatre - This framework uses concepts from quantum mechanics to analyse theatrical performances, exploring themes like identity, observation, and play.
• Potential applications - Through this experiment photonic supersolids become more accessible for experimentation.
• Helps in producing lossless optical energy transport and optical computing elements.

Reference

The Hindu| supersolid |quantum theatre 

National Biobank

Why in News?

Recently Minister for Science and Technology inaugurated the National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal Population Data study at CSIR-IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology).

• A National Biobank is a large-scale repository designed to collect, store, and manage biological samples (like blood, tissues, DNA) and associated health data (clinical, lifestyle, genomic).
• Launched under - The Phenome India Project.

• Objectives- The Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle.

• Collection of data - A long-term, data-rich study tracking the health trajectories of individuals over several years.
• Involves the collection of clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India.
• Tailored version - The Indian version is tailored to capture the country’s unique diversity, across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Supports early treatment - This initiative will aid early diagnosis, improve therapeutic targeting.
• Treatment of complex diseases - In the fight against complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and rare genetic disorders.
• Individualised treatment - Indian may receive individualised treatment tailored to their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment.
• Disease Recognition - It will help scientists uncover disease patterns, gene-environment interactions, and response to therapies within the Indian context.
• Self-reliance – A bold step toward India’s self-reliance in healthcare data.
• Prospect – It has the potential to evolve into a global benchmark like the UK Biobank.

Reference

PIB| National biobank

Oral Cancer

Why in News?

Recently, it has been suggested that identifying oral cancer in Stages I and II can increase the 5-year survival rate to 80–90%, compared to significantly lower survival when diagnosed at an advanced stage.

• Oral cancer - Cancer that forms in tissues of the oral cavity (the mouth) or the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth).

Oral cancer in India

• Annual cases - Over 1,35,000 new cases reported annually, remains one of the most prevalent cancers in India.
• Disease burden - India accounts for nearly one-third of the global incidence of the disease, according to GLOBOCAN 2020 and the National Cancer Registry Programme.
• Major contributing factors - Use of smokeless tobacco, betel quid, and areca nut, especially in underserved communities.
• Precancerous conditions - Leucoplakia or oral submucous fibrosis.

• Early diagnosis - When diagnosed at an early stage, oral cancer is highly treatable, with five-year survival rates exceeding 80% for Stage I and II cases.
• Use of Advanced tools -VELscope and Oncodiagnoscope should be used to screen suspicious red or white patches in the oral cavity.
• Regular surveillance- High-risk patients who underwent biopsy should be placed under regular surveillance to monitor for any signs of malignant transformation.
• Advanced treatment- Each case is thoroughly evaluated and discussed by a tumour board.
• Individualised diagnosis - Treatment plans are individualised, following internationally recognised protocols.
• 3D printing -It is incorporated in preoperative planning and reconstruction.
• This allows for the creation of accurate anatomical models, simulate surgeries, and fabricates patient-specific surgical guides and reconstruction plates.
• Improvements - These advances have improved surgical accuracy, reduced operating time, and contributed to better postoperative function and aesthetics.
• Postoperative care - Speech therapy, nutritional support, physical rehabilitation, and psychological counselling
• Ongoing follow-up - Ensures early detection of any recurrence or secondary conditions.
• Trios of the treatment - Early diagnosis, tailored treatment, and holistic rehabilitation.

Reference

The Hindu | Oral cancer diagnosis

Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana

Why in the news?

Recently, Punjab government launched the “Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana”.

• About – It is a flagship health insurance scheme to provide cashless treatment to all residents of Punjab.
• Aim - To ensure universal health coverage and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for secondary and tertiary healthcare services.
• Cashless Treatment - Beneficiaries receive completely cashless treatment, including diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, and medicines.
• Eligibility Criteria - All residents of Punjab, including farmers, labourers, and marginalized sections, are covered.
  • Beneficiaries are identified through State Resident Data Hub (SRDH) and NFSA databases.
• Financial Coverage - Each eligible family is entitled to Rs.10 lakh per year for hospitalization and treatment under the scheme.
• Wide Network - The scheme covers over 1,500 procedures across a wide network.
• Empanelled Hospitals - Both public and private hospitals meeting quality and infrastructure criteria are authorized to deliver services.
• Digital Integration - The entire scheme is IT-enabled with a centralized e-card system, online authorization, and real-time monitoring.
• Special Focus - Special attention is given to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, senior citizens, and those with chronic illnesses.
• Grievance Redressal - A robust system is in place for addressing grievances and ensuring timely redressal through helplines and district-level officers.

Reference

Hindustan Times| Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana