CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The Ministry of Textiles in India is expanding its research and development efforts to explore new natural fibers, including milkweed fiber.
• About Milkweed Fiber:
  • Milkweed fiber is derived from the seeds of the milkweed plant. The milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L) belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family and the Asclepias genus, and is commonly referred to as stubborn weed. In India, it is found growing wild in states like Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The plant is rich in a milky sap that is present in its leaves, stems, and pods.
  • Properties of Milkweed Fiber: The fiber contains oily substances and lignin, a woody component that makes it fragile and difficult to spin. It also has a hydrophobic-oleophobic surface due to the natural waxes coating the fiber.
  • Applications: Milkweed fiber is used in the paper industry. It also serves as an insulating filling material. Additionally, it is utilized in water safety products like life jackets and belts. Studies have shown that the fiber has the ability to absorb oil while repelling water, making it an ideal material for oil spill cleanup efforts.

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• Recently, a team of wildlife conservationists successfully tagged an almost-blind Ganges river dolphin for the first time.
• This dolphin is a freshwater species and one of the few river dolphins found in the world.
• Habitat: The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems, spanning Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Other Names: It is also known as the blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, and South Asian river dolphin.
• It plays a vital role as an umbrella species for these river ecosystems and has been designated as India’s National Aquatic Animal.
• Appearance: The Ganges river dolphin is characterized by its long, thin snout, rounded belly, stocky body, and large flippers.
• Features:
  • The dolphin can only survive in freshwater and is essentially blind, relying on echolocation to hunt.
  • It uses ultrasonic sounds that bounce off fish and other prey to locate food.
  • With a highly developed bio-sonar system, it is able to hunt effectively, even in murky waters.
  • As a mammal, it needs to surface every 30-120 seconds for air, and due to the distinctive sound it makes when breathing, it is often called the "Susu."
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule-I
• Tagging the Ganges River Dolphin:
  • This tagging initiative is part of a project by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in partnership with the Assam Forest Department and biodiversity conservation group Aaranyak.
  • How It Works: The lightweight tags transmit signals that are compatible with Argos satellite systems, allowing tracking even with limited surfacing time. The tags are designed to minimize interference with the dolphin’s movement.
• Funding: The project is funded by the National CAMPA Authority.
• Significance: Under Project Dolphin, the tagging is expected to provide valuable insights into the dolphin's seasonal and migratory patterns, its range, distribution, and how it uses its habitat, especially in fragmented or disturbed river systems.

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• Recent studies suggest that climate change is significantly altering the Himalayan tree landscape, with drought-resistant fir trees increasingly replacing the Himalayan birch trees.
• The Himalayan birch is a deciduous broadleaved species that dominates the Himalayan region.
• Distribution:
  • This tree is commonly found across the altitudinal range of 3100 to 3800 meters in the north-western Himalayas and can grow at elevations up to 4,500 meters in the Western Himalayas.
• Features:
  • The birch has a high tolerance for freezing temperatures, enabling it to establish a treeline in the Himalayan region.
  • It is a long-lived species, surviving up to 400 years, and is the only angiosperm in the Himalayas that dominates extensive areas at sub-alpine altitudes.
• Ecological Significance:
  • The Himalayan birch plays a crucial role in preserving the ecosystem by reducing soil erosion and forming a protective bio-shield for forests and sub-alpine meadows below the treeline.
• Research Highlights:
  • Birch trees are struggling to thrive due to stress from rising temperatures and reduced moisture.
  • The birch, which requires more moisture, is increasingly unable to grow because of heat-related dryness.
  • Fir and birch trees are in competition for space, sunlight, water, and nutrients, making it even harder for the birch to thrive.
  • Climate change-driven disturbances, such as early snowmelt, snow fungi, avalanches, landslides, insect outbreaks, hotter droughts, and wildfires, are further hindering the survival and growth of less resilient species like birch.
• Environmental Impact:
  • The shift from deciduous birch trees to evergreen fir trees could disrupt various ecological processes. These changes may affect the rate of litter decomposition, carbon and nitrogen cycling, water-use efficiency, interactions with animals and fungi, and energy fluxes, potentially altering the overall composition of alpine plant communities.

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• The Government of India recently launched a 100-day tuberculosis (TB) campaign aimed at active screening in 347 high-risk districts. In the first week of the campaign, 6,267 new TB cases were identified.
• Understanding Tuberculosis (TB):
  • Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs. TB is both curable and preventable if diagnosed early and treated correctly.
• There are two types of TB infections:
  • Latent TB: In this phase, the bacteria remain inactive in the body and do not cause symptoms. While not contagious, it can become active.
  • Active TB: This stage occurs when the bacteria cause symptoms and can be transmitted to others.
• Globally, about one-quarter of the population is estimated to have latent TB.
• Those infected with TB bacteria face a 5-15% lifetime risk of developing active TB.
• Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, malnutrition, diabetes, or those who use tobacco, are at a higher risk of falling ill with TB.
• Transmission of Tuberculosis:
  • TB spreads through the air from person to person.
  • When someone with lung TB coughs, sneezes, or spits, they release TB bacteria into the air, and inhaling even a few droplets of contaminated air can cause infection.
• Key Facts and Objectives of the Campaign:
  • Over 5 lakh individuals have been screened actively through health and wellness centers and 850 mobile testing vans.
  • Target Population: The campaign aims to reach 25 crore vulnerable individuals, including:
  • Family members of TB patients.
  • People with conditions such as diabetes, HIV, or those who smoke or drink heavily.
  • Individuals with a BMI below 18.5 or a history of TB.
  • Screening and Diagnostic Efforts: Camps are set up at health and wellness centers, supported by 850 mobile testing vans.
  • Screening focuses on symptoms such as persistent cough (lasting 15+ days), fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, breathlessness, chest pain, and blood in sputum.
  • Reduction in Missing Cases: The gap between estimated and detected TB cases has decreased from 15 lakh to 2.5 lakh, according to the Health Ministry.
• Focus on High-Risk Groups and Areas:
  • Targeted Demographics: The campaign reaches out to groups like students, youth, corporate employees, and laborers in sectors such as brick kilns, mining, construction sites, and tea gardens.
  • High-Risk Districts: 347 districts are included in the campaign, covering 38 tribal areas, 27 mining zones, and 47 aspirational districts.
  • States with the highest number of districts involved in the campaign are Karnataka (31), Maharashtra (30), and Madhya Pradesh (23).