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One Liners 17-06-2025
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History, Art and Culture
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Servants of India Society (SIS)
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) has formally demanded that the Servants of India Society (SIS), its parent body, be placed under a neutral administrator.
- Servants of India Society (SIS) – Was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, along with G.K. Devadhar, A.V. Patwardhan, and N.A. Dravid, in Pune, India, on June 12, 1905.
- Objectives – To train individuals who were willing to devote their lives to the country's cause in a religious spirit, for political education and agitation, and to promote the national interest of the Indian people through constitutional means.
- Young missionaries – The members of the Society were considered as young missionaries of Indian nationalism.
- The SIS played a critical role in the Indian Independence movement, and its legacy continues to influence Indian politics and society today.
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Geography
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Sharda River
Four teenagers recently drowned after being swept away while bathing in Sharda river near Devraghat in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh.
- Sarda River – River of northern India and western Nepal.
- It rises as the Kali River in far northern Uttarakhand state in the Great Himalayas on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif.
- The river then flows generally south-southwest, where it constitutes the border between Uttarakhand state and Nepal.
- Major tributaries – Are the Dhauliganga, Goriganga and Sarju.
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Polity & Governance
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National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
The NCLT has recently initiated insolvency proceedings against Gensol Engineering and its subsidiary Gensol EV Lease, appointing interim resolution professionals.
- National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) – Was constituted by the union government under the section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013.
- Benches of NCLT – In the first phase the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has set up eleven Benches, one Principal Bench at New Delhi and ten other Benches.
- These Benches are headed by the President Chief Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar and comprises of sixteen Judicial Members and 9 Technical Members at different locations.
Rajasthan’s Cash Plus model
The recently released report card on Rajasthan’s Cash Plus model indicates a 49% rise in early breastfeeding (now reaching 90% of newborns).
Cash Plus Model
- Convergence Approach – It combines financial aid (cash transfers) with counselling, home visits, and group sessions focused on nutrition and health.
- Augments National Scheme – It enhances the national Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) by including second-time mothers.
- Pilot and Scale-up – Launched in late 2020 in five districts, it expanded statewide in 2022 with an allocated budget of 210 crore rupees annually, targeting 3.5 lakh second-time pregnant women.
Key Achievements and Impact:
- Improved Health Indicators – A three-year study showed significant improvements:
- 49% rise in early breastfeeding (now 90%).
- 49% improvement in dietary diversity for pregnant women.
- 54% more women using cash for nutrition.
- 44% increased receptiveness to home-based counselling.
- Behavioral Change – The model promotes healthy dietary practices, encourages institutional deliveries, and strengthens community support.
- Beneficiary Impact – Over 3.3 million women have directly benefited, with 80% reporting improved affordability and access to nutritious food due to increased awareness and counselling.
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International Relations and Issues
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Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plants
Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, will lead an international consortium to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant.
- Location – The two-reactor plant will be built in the village of Ulken, approximately 400 km northwest of Almaty.
- Technology – The plant will utilize advanced Russian VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors.
Kazakhstan is one of the world's biggest uranium producers but currently relies mostly on coal-powered plants for its electricity, supplemented by some hydroelectric plants and the growing renewable energy sector.
- Capacity Goal – Kazakhstan aims to have 2.4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2035.
- Financing – Work has begun on attracting state export financing from the Russian Federation for the project.
- Energy Diversification – This move is significant as Kazakhstan, a major uranium producer, currently relies predominantly on coal for its electricity.
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Agriculture
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KUSUM-C scheme
KUSUM-C scheme inaugurated by Siddaramaiah, Chief Ministe of Karnataka.
- PM- KUSUM-C – Is a scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), aimed at solarizing existing grid connected agriculture pumps.
- Under this component, farmers with grid-connected pumps can double their pump capacity in KW by installing solar PV.
- KUSUM-C in Karnataka – 389 electricity supply substations in our State are being solarised.
- Solar units with a capacity of 2,396 megawatts (MW) will power 1,555 agricultural feeders with solar electricity.
- As a result, 6,32,794 agricultural pump sets will receive solar power.
- This will not only provide quality electricity to farmers during the daytime but also reduce power wastage.”
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Environment
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Flue Gas Desulphurisation Units
A committee of experts, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) has recently recommended that India do away with a decade-long policy of mandating Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units in all coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs).
- Flue gas – Is emitted as a by-product of combustion of fossil fuels.
- It mainly contains pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, etc.
- Purpose – FGD units are crucial systems installed in power plants, primarily coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs), to specifically remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from flue gas, a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion.
- Mechanism – They neutralize acidic SO2 using a basic compound. Common types include:
- Dry Sorbent Injection – Powdered sorbent (e.g., limestone) reacts with SO2 and is then removed.
- Wet Limestone Treatment – SO2 passes through a limestone slurry, forming stable gypsum with industrial applications; this is the most common and highly efficient method.
- Seawater Treatment – Used in coastal plants, where seawater absorbs and is subsequently treated to remove SO2.
- Why SO2 is Harmful – SO2 is a major air pollutant causing global warming, respiratory problems in humans, and significantly contributing to the formation of harmful secondary particulate matter (PM2.5).
- Status in India:
- Mandated by the Environment Ministry in 2015 for all 537 coal-fired TPPs, with deadlines repeatedly pushed.
- As of April 2025, only 39 TPPs had installed FGD units.
- Recent policy shifts, including a proposed rollback of the mandate, raise concerns despite prior investments like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
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Security
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Rudrastra
The Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has recently completed a test of its Hybrid VTOL UAV, Rudrastra, at the Pokharan Firing Range.
- Vertical Take-off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (VTOL UAV) – Can take off and land vertically with no need for runways, which makes them effective and versatile for special manoeuvres like surveillance, mapping and delivery, especially in tough terrains.
- Rudrastra – Indigenous hybrid VTOL UAV developed by the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
- Rudrastra had reliable performance, maintaining a stable real-time video link while operating over a mission radius of more than 50 km.
- The UAV recorded a total range exceeding 170 km, including loitering time over the target area.
- It achieved an estimated endurance of 1.5 hours.
- The performance met key operational requirements for battlefield deployment.
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Science
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Genomic Insights into Long COVID
A recent Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) published in Nature Genetics identified a genetic link to Long COVID, specifically near the FOXP4 gene.
- FOXP4 Gene Link – The study found a strong association between Long COVID and a variant (rs9367106) near the FOXP4 gene on chromosome 6.
- Individuals with the 'C' version of this variant were significantly more likely to develop Long COVID.
- Lung and Immune Connection – The FOXP4 gene is highly active in lung tissue, particularly in type 2 alveolar cells crucial for lung function, tissue repair, and immune response.
- This suggests a direct link between lung health and persistent post-COVID symptoms.
- Independent of Initial Severity – The gene's influence was observed even in non-hospitalised patients, indicating its role is not solely tied to the initial infection's severity.
- Diverse Study – The GWAS included data from 33 groups across 19 countries, emphasizing the importance of diverse genetic data for reliable and globally relevant findings.
Implications for India:
- High Burden, Limited Data – India faces a substantial Long COVID burden, yet its representation in global genetic studies, including this one, is often limited.
- This creates a "genomic gap" in understanding disease prevalence and genetic influences within Indian populations.
- Leveraging Genome-India – Projects like the GenomeIndia Project, which has already cataloged genetic variations from diverse Indian populations, are critical.
- This foundational data can support future India-specific GWAS on Long COVID, enabling tailored clinical and diagnostic approaches.
- Public Health Strategy – Understanding genetic predispositions can inform targeted public health interventions, improve diagnostic capabilities, and facilitate the development of personalized treatments for Long COVID in India.
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Miscellaneous
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Karnataka’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Karnataka has further declined by five points from 63 per lakh live births in 2019-21 to 58 in 2020-22 but it continues to be the highest among the five southern States.
MMR Trends and Current Status:
- Steady Decline – Karnataka's MMR has consistently decreased, reaching 58 per lakh live births in 2020-22, down from 63 in 2019-21 and 108 in 2014-16.
- This signifies sustained improvement in maternal health indicators.
- Positive Outlook – Despite tragic isolated incidents like the Ballari deaths, the State Health Department views this as a "positive trend," reflecting better access to antenatal care, institutional deliveries, and emergency obstetric services.
Regional Comparison and National Standing:
- Southern Disparity – At 58, Karnataka's MMR is currently the highest among the five southern states.
- This contrasts sharply with Kerala's impressive 18, highlighting regional variations in health outcomes and effective public health models.
- National Position – Karnataka stands eighth nationally in terms of MMR.
Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG):
- Ahead of Schedule – Karnataka is one of eight Indian states to have achieved the United Nations' SDG target of reducing MMR to 70 per lakh live births by 2030, well in advance.
- Significance – Achieving this SDG target is a critical indicator of improved public health and the state's commitment to saving women's lives during pregnancy and childbirth.
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