India to use urban solid waste in road construction (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- The Centre has declared its plan to integrate road construction with the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0. The objective is to utilize inert materials derived from solid waste for constructing embankments along national highways.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has drafted a policy on the use of inert waste material, demonstrating success in pilot projects.
Key Highlights:
- The policy is designed to address the challenge of managing urban solid waste while also meeting the growing demand for earth or soil required for constructing embankments.
- This initiative aims to cut costs and decrease dependence on fossil fuels.
- The policy is nearing finalisation, and once the waste is segregated by removing plastic, glass, and metals, it will be utilized in road construction. Employing waste in road construction is expected to yield several benefits and offer a viable solution to the issue of garbage dumping.
- The ministry is also considering a policy to use recycled wastewater and mix plastic and old tires in bitumen for road construction. They hope the policy will increase the demand and consumption of solid waste, as it happened in the case of fly ash usage.
- Initially, when it was proposed to use coal ash, there were few takers. However, the situation has changed, and now fly ash is not easily available.
Why it matters?
- The Ministry had already used inert material from municipal solid waste in road construction under the Dholera project in Ahmedabad, the first stretch of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and Urban Extension Road II that connects NH 44 and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway on NH 48 in Delhi.
- The policy also addresses fundamental issues, including considerations about whether municipal corporations or councils should receive incentives for supplying solid waste and investing in segregation plants.
- The waste from Delhi's three landfill sites in Ghazipur, Okhla, and Bhalaswa will be used in the construction of Urban Extension Road (UER) 2, the third ring road of the capital.
- Rs 700 crore will be used from the Central Road Fund to construct, repair, maintain, and beautify roads in the project to convert waste into roads.
Way Forward:
- The government's initiative to use solid waste in road construction is a significant step towards sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions.
Mushroom derived bioactive compounds have potential to combat COVID-19 and other viral infections
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Natural anti-infective, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic products derived from a wide range of easily sourced mushrooms and their bioactive molecules have the potential to combat Covid, according to a new paper.
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic brought the focus on bioactive ingredients that boost the immune system.
- Consequently, scientists worldwide resumed intensive studies on bioactive compounds that can boost the immune system to protect against SARS-CoV-2 and limit the accelerated transmission of this virus.
- Consequently, bioactive compounds from herbal sources and edible mushrooms gained commercial interest due to their easy availability, high antioxidant activity, nutritional value, and low side effects.
Recent research:
- Mushrooms are a popular source of food and North-East India is home to diverse groups of edible mushrooms.
- This increasing popularity of mushrooms led researchers to critically analyse the importance of edible mushroom and natural compounds from mushroom to attenuate the complications against COVID-19 and other viral infections.
Potential:
- The scientists have assessed the roles and mechanisms of 13 different mushroom-derived bioactive compounds in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pathophysiology associated with its infection, such as lung infection, inflammation, cytokine storm, and thrombotic and cardiovascular effects.
- Their study said that mushrooms contain bioactive polysaccharides and compounds with immunomodulating, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and other medicinal properties.
- It also said that mushroom-based drugs are being tested in human trials, with promising results against SARS-CoV-2.
- The main advantages of using edible mushroom against viral infections are- they can be used as a nutraceutical supplement with no side-effects and can be act as an immunity booster.
Way Forward:
- The study also suggests that there are huge opportunities for better understanding the role of mushroom-derived bioactive compounds by in-depth pre-clinical and clinical studies.
- In this regard a coordination between researcher, health professionals, and policymakers are warranted.
Indian Navy unveils new epaulettes for admirals
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- The Indian Navy recently unveiled the new design of epaulettes for admirals, with the octagon in the new design drawn from the naval ensign and inspired by rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
- The Navy is also set to rename some of the ranks now in British nomenclature to reflect an Indian connection.
What are the new epaulletes for?
- The new epaulettes are for the ranks of Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, Surgeon Vice Admiral and Surgeon Rear Admiral.
- Barring the medical officers, there would be around 100 officers of rank Rear Admiral and onwards, in the Navy.
How are the new epaulettes different from the earlier ones?
- The new epaulettes have the new golden Navy button carrying the new naval crest which was unveiled last year, a red octagon as the backing to the national emblem, and a sword and a telescope. The ones for the medical officers have a red border as well.
- The earlier epaulettes for the same ranks did have a red backing for the national emblem, but not an octagonal one. Moreover, the button at the top of the epaulette reflected the old crest of the Navy which had a fouled anchor—a colonial era vestige.
- The old epaulettes carried a baton and a sword, but new ones carry an Indian sword and a telescope. The stars on the new epaulettes are also designed differently than the older ones.
What do the new epaulettes signify?
- The new Navy button reflects the new crest, sans the fouled anchor which was a colonial era vestige. As per the Navy, the red octagon reflects the eight cardinal directions indicative of an all-round long-term vision.
- It is inspired by the new naval ensign that was unveiled in 2022 and inspired from the Rajmudra of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who had built the massive Maratha Navy which has a rich maritime legacy.
- The Indian sword represents being the cutting edge of national power and winning wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge, while the telescope symbolises a long-term vision, foresight, and a weather-eye in the changing world.
Why the change?
- The change is in line with the Indian Armed Forces’ increasing efforts in the last two years to discard their colonial-era vestiges, customs and traditions.
- The Navy is learnt to be soon allowing Indian attires in their officers’ mess and wardrooms. The Navy has also reviewed the British-inherited ranks held by sailors and is set to Indianise them soon.
