5 April 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Prostate cancer cases in India set to double by 2040: Lancet
(Page no-8)
(GS 2, Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health)
- Two years ago, a 64-year-old general surgeon in Pune complained of backache and was diagnosed with an advanced stage of prostate cancer that had already spread to his spine.
- Yet he had no early symptoms like difficulty in passing urine.
- Many Indian men, like him, are being diagnosed in late stages and succumbing to the disease, says a latest Lancet Commission paper, which has projected prostate cancer incidence in India to surge sharply by 2040.
- According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer projections, which Lancet has factored in its analysis, prostate cancer incidence in India will double to about 71,000 new cases per year by 2040.
- Prostate cancer accounts for three per cent of all cancers in India, with an estimated 33,000-42,000 new cases diagnosed annually.
3D map of universe may open a window to dark energy
(Page no-8)
(GS 3, Awareness in the fields of Space)
- An international team of researchers has just released the most comprehensive "three-dimensional" map of the universe, which, scientists hope, could reveal some clues about dark energy, the mysterious force that is believed to be causing the universe to expand uncontrollably.
- The researchers, including an Indian team led by Shadab Alam at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, has published its findings from the first year of observations by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, or DESI, a unique piece of equip- ment that, once fitted over a telescope, can capture light from 5,000 galaxies at the same time.
India expresses concern over attack on Iran embassy in Syria
(Page no-8)
(GS 2, Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India's interests)
- India expressed concern over the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria - which is suspected to have been carried out by Israel-and urged all parties to avoid violence.
- Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Thursday: "We have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria on 1 April 2024," Suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's embassy in Syria on Monday in a strike that Tehran said killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders.
Thousands trapped in Cambodia, MEA tells job-seekers to be cautious
(Page no-8)
(GS 2, Indian Diaspora)
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Thursday cautioned Indian nationals against falling prey to traffickers promising lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia.
- This came after The Indian Express reported on March 28 that over 5,000 Indians are allegedly being held against their will in that country and forced to execute cyber frauds on people back home.
- The government estimates that these trapped people have allegedly duped people in India of at least 2500 crore over the past six months.
- The MEA has rescued and repatriated about 250 Indians so far after coordinating with Cambodian Authority.
Night launch of 'Agni Prime' missile successful
(Page no-9)
(GS 3, Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology)
- India has successfully carried out a night launch of new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile 'Agni Prime' from the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, boosting the country's strategic deterrence capability.
- The defence ministry said the test-flight was carried out on Wednesday evening and it met all the trial objectives, validating the reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by a number of range sensors deployed at different locations.
- The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), carried out the flight test of the missile that has a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
Army inducts indigenous Akashteer system
(Page no-9)
(GS 3- Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology)
- The Army has started the induction of control and reporting systems under 'Project Akashdeep' to bolster its air defence capabilities, sources said Thursday.
- The deployment of the systems began with flagging off of the first batch of Control Centres from BEL Ghaziabad on Thursday.
- Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the project is aimed at significantly enhancing the operational efficiency and integration of the Army's air defence mechanisms.
- "The Akashteer Project is a cutting-edge initiative designed to automate air defence control and reporting processes by digitising the entire process," a source said.
The healthcare promise
(Page no-11)
(GS 2, Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health)
- As India prepares for the general elections, it's imperative to acknowledge healthcare as a vital investment for the nation's well- being and prosperity.
- Despite its significance, healthcare often takes a back seat in political discourse. Instead of viewing it as a burden on the exchequer, we must recognise healthcare as a strategic investment that yields invaluable returns in terms of human capital development, economic growth and sustainable development.
- The first step towards prioritising health is to acknowledge its importance in the national budget.
- The government is committed to spending 2.5 per cent of the GDP on health by 2025.
- Given that India's GDP will grow to nearly Rs 323 lakh crore (US $3.8 trillion) by 2025, public health expenditure should rise to Rs 8 lakh crore, with the Centre contributing 40 per cent or Rs 3.23 lakh crore.
- But, the central budget allocation for 2024-25 is Rs 90,000 croгe-only 28 per cent.
RBI defers exchange traded currency derivatives norms
(Page no-13)
(GS 3, Mobilization of Resources)
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday deferred the implementation of its new norms for exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) market to May 3 from April 5.
- This comes after market participants raised concerns over participation in the ETCD market and the run up to the April 5 deadline saw a sharp rise in volatility in the forex market.
- "In view of feedback received and recent developments, it has been decided that these directions (on ETCD) will now come into effect from Friday May 3, 2024," the RBI said in a release.
- It, however, emphasised that the regulatory framework for ETCDs has remained consistent over the years and that there has been no change in the policy approach.
Veg thali prices rise by 7%, non-veg down by 7%: Report
(Page no-13)
(GS 3- Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it)
- The on year cost of a representative, home-cooked vegetarian thali rose by 7 per cent and non- vegetarian thali declined by 7 per cent in March 2024, CRISIL MI&A Research said.
- The cost of the veg thali increased due to a surge of 40 per cent, 36 per cent and 22 per cent on-year in prices of onion, tomato and potato, respectively, due to lower arrivals of onion and potato and low base of last fiscal for tomatoes, Crisil said.
- Amid lower arrivals, prices of rice (accounting for 13 per cent of the veg thali cost) and pulses (9 per cent) increased 14 per cent and 22 per cent on-year, respectively, it said.
- The decrease in the cost of the non-veg thali was due to 16 per cent on-year fall in broiler prices on a high base of last fiscal, Crisil said.
Before SC: Can states levy excise duty on industrial alcohol?
(Page no-14)
(GS 2- Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure)
- Excise duty levied on alcohol is a key component of a state's revenue, with states often adding an additional excise duty on alcohol consumption to drive its income up.
- For example, in 2023, Karnataka hiked the Additional Excise Duty (AED) on Indian Made Liquor (IML) by 20%,
- The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud began hearing arguments on April 2 on whether state governments have the power to regulate and control the sale, distribution, pricing and other factors relating to 'industrial alcohol.
- Industrial alcohol is used as a raw material to create other products, and is not meant for human consumption.
Rules of global engagement
(Page no-14)
(GS 2- Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests)
- After Prime Minister Narendra Modi amplified an RTI reply on Katchatheevu obtained by Tamil Nadu BJP leader KAnnamalai by accusing Indira Gandhi's government of "callously giving away" the island to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister SJaishankar reiterated the talking points in the issue but did not go further.
- Asked whether the Indian government intended to "reopen" the 1974 bilateral pact on Katchatheevu, the diplomat-turned politician said the issue was "sub judice" referring to a petition filed in the Supreme Court by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
- While the controversy is being viewed as a political brownie-point-scoring exercise by the BJP against the DMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu, it has sparked disquiet in the strategic community both in New Delhi and Colombo-especially since it has the imprimatur of the Prime Minister himself.
