CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The Assam government is preparing for a spectacular Jhumur dance extravaganza featuring 8,000 artists from the tea tribe community.
• Jhumur, a traditional dance form of the tea tribes in Assam, typically takes place during the Autumn season. It is also practiced in select regions of West Bengal. This dance involves young girls performing in open spaces such as fields or beneath trees, accompanied by male members who provide rhythmic vocals and play musical instruments.
• Central to Jhumur is the Madal, a popular two-headed hand drum, which sets the dance's rhythmic foundation. Additionally, a flute and Taals contribute to the music's harmony. The girls perform synchronized movements, holding each other's waists, moving hands and legs in unison.

The dance incorporates songs and dialogues reflecting the daily joys, sorrows, yearnings, and aspirations of common people's lives. Sometimes performed as a ritual worship, for courtship, or even as a prayer for rainfall, Jhumur is believed to have originated as a recreational activity during breaks from strenuous agricultural labor.

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• A state government official recently reassured the public that there is no threat of flooding on the Mahanadi River system.
• The Mahanadi River, one of India's prominent east-flowing peninsular rivers, ranks second in water potential after the Godavari. Known for its significant silt deposition, it originates from the Sihawa range of hills in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district and flows southeastward through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, covering a total distance of 860 km before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• The river's basin spans across major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, with smaller portions extending into Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. It passes through key urban centers like Raipur, Sambalpur, and Cuttack, and its basin covers 141,589 sq. km, constituting 4.3% of India's total geographical area.
• Bounded by the Central India hills to the north, the Eastern Ghats to the south and east, and the Maikal hill range to the west, the Mahanadi is fed by several tributaries including the Seonath, Jonk, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong, and Telen rivers.
• The Hirakud Dam, recognized as the world's longest earthen dam spanning 26 km, is located about 15 km from Sambalpur in Odisha. It serves critical functions in irrigation, flood control, and power generation along the Mahanadi River. Notably, Chilika Lake, designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, receives 61% of its inland flow from the Mahanadi River system, primarily through its distributaries Daya and Bhargabi.

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• Researchers have recently emphasized that a higher-than-expected occurrence of gene mutations among Parkinson's disease patients underscores the need for broader access to genetic testing for this population.
• Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting the nervous system and motor functions. It typically manifests with symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination. Onset usually occurs around the age of 60, with the risk increasing with age. Studies have indicated a higher prevalence in men compared to women.
• The condition results from the degeneration of nerve cells in the substantia nigra of the brain, which produce dopamine, a crucial neurotransmitter for movement coordination. As these cells deteriorate, dopamine production decreases, leading to the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's.
• Diagnosis currently relies on clinical evaluation, as no specific blood tests or imaging scans definitively diagnose Parkinson's disease. While there is no cure, treatments aim to manage symptoms effectively, offering significant improvements in quality of life for patients.
• The research highlighting increased genetic mutations in Parkinson's patients suggests a broader implementation of genetic testing could potentially enhance early detection and personalized management strategies for this challenging disease.

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• The Indian Air Force is currently facing significant challenges due to delays in the delivery of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), sparking concerns about its operational readiness and combat capabilities.
• The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is a 4.5-generation single-seat supersonic multirole fighter aircraft. Developed under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), HAL serves as the primary industrial contractor.
• Initiated in the late 1980s to replace aging MiG-21 and Su-7 aircraft, the Tejas entered service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in July 2016. It stands as India's second indigenous fighter jet following the HAL HF-24 Marut, designed for roles such as offensive air support, close combat, and ground attack.
• The aircraft, available in three production variants—Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A, and a trainer variant—is noted for being the smallest and lightest among contemporary supersonic combat aircraft. Its design incorporates unique features such as a fin without a horizontal tail. Weighing approximately 5,450 kg with a maximum take-off weight of 13,500 kg, it is powered by a single uprated General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine.

Equipped to carry a variety of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and precision-guided weapons, the Tejas LCA remains crucial to bolstering India's defense capabilities, though current delays in its delivery pose operational challenges for the Indian Air Force.

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• The Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers informed the Rajya Sabha that several pharmaceutical companies had been issued notices by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), resulting in the government recovering Rs 73 crore for violations of the Drug Price Control Order.
• Established in 1997 under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995, the NPPA's primary mandate is to fix and revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations. It operates independently as a regulator to ensure medicines are priced reasonably and are accessible across the country.
• Key Functions of NPPA include:
  • Implementing and enforcing provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order as delegated.
  • Addressing legal matters arising from its decisions.
  • Monitoring drug availability, identifying shortages, and taking corrective actions.
  • Collecting and maintaining data on drug production, exports, imports, market shares, and company profitability.
  • Conducting or sponsoring studies related to drug pricing and pharmaceuticals.
  • Providing support to the Central Government on parliamentary matters concerning drugs.
  • NPPA operates as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals within the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, ensuring regulatory oversight to safeguard public access to affordable medicines.

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• Recently, the Union Education Minister launched the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal and initiated the disbursal of Rs 100 crore in stipends to apprentices via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is a key initiative of the Government of India aimed at skilling Indian youth in various trade disciplines. Established under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 (amended in 1973), it provides practical, hands-on On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities to graduate and diploma students, as well as vocational certificate holders.
• Apprenticeships typically range from 6 months to 1 year, during which apprentices receive a stipend. Half of this stipend is reimbursed to the employer by the Government of India. Upon completion of the training, apprentices receive a Certificate of Proficiency issued by the Government of India, recognized nationwide as valid employment experience.
• Key features of the NATS 2.0 Portal include:
  • Facilitating seamless registration and application processes for apprenticeships, enabling industries to manage vacancies and contracts effectively.
  • Providing essential employability skills to young graduates and diploma holders, along with a guaranteed monthly stipend during their apprenticeship.
  • Managing the entire apprenticeship lifecycle, from student registration to vacancy advertisements, applications, contract creation, certification, reporting, and stipend disbursal through DBT.
• Developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Board of Apprenticeship Training/Practical Training (BoATs/BoPT), the portal aims to streamline and enhance the apprenticeship experience for both employers and apprentices alike.

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• Recently, a report from the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highlighted the severe threat faced by four species of sturgeon due to poaching and trafficking.
• Sturgeons, some of the most ancient fish species globally, have inhabited the planet since the time of dinosaurs. They are predominantly found in large river systems, lakes, coastal waters, and inner seas across regions like Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, other parts of Europe, and North America.
• Since 1998, international trade in all sturgeon species has been regulated under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to curb unsustainable harvesting and illegal trade, which have severely depleted wild sturgeon populations.
• Key points from the WWF report include:
  • Sturgeons are heavily targeted for their roe (caviar) and meat, leading to a drastic decline in their numbers worldwide.
  • In the Danube River basin, once home to six sturgeon species, two species—the European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) and the ship sturgeon (A. nudiventris)—are now locally extinct.
  • The remaining four sturgeon species in the Danube Basin are classified as Threatened on the IUCN Red List, with the stellate sturgeon (A. stellatus), Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii), and beluga (Huso huso) listed as Critically Endangered, and the sterlet (A. ruthenus) recently upgraded to Endangered status since 2022.
  • The Lower Danube Basin represents one of the last European regions where sturgeons still reproduce naturally, underscoring its critical importance for sturgeon conservation efforts.
• The WWF report underscores the urgent need for enhanced conservation measures and international cooperation to protect these ancient and vulnerable species from extinction due to illegal activities such as poaching and trafficking.