CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The Central government has recently appointed new members to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), effective immediately.
• Overview of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC):
  • The MPC was established following a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to implement a new inflation-targeting monetary policy framework. The Finance Act of 2016 amended the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) to create a formal and institutional framework for the MPC.
  • According to Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, the central government has the authority to form a six-member MPC.
• Functions:
  • The primary responsibility of the MPC is to determine the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) needed to keep inflation within a defined target range. This committee replaced the previous Technical Advisory Committee.
• Composition:
  • The MPC consists of six members: the RBI Governor (Chairperson), the RBI Deputy Governor responsible for monetary policy, one official appointed by the RBI Board, and three members representing the Government of India. External members serve a term of four years.
  • For meetings, a quorum of four members is required, including at least one from the Governor or, in their absence, the Deputy Governor. Decisions are made by majority vote; in the event of a tie, the RBI Governor casts the deciding vote. The MPC's decisions are binding on the RBI.
• The Monetary Policy Department (MPD) of the RBI supports the MPC in developing the monetary policy.

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• The Sahara Desert is experiencing a remarkable change as heavy rains introduce unexpected greenery to its dry terrain.
• Overview of the Sahara Desert:
  • The Sahara, situated in Northern Africa, is the largest hot desert in the world and ranks as the third most expansive desert overall, following the polar deserts of Antarctica and the northern Arctic. It covers an area of over 9,200,000 square kilometers, accounting for about 8% of the Earth's landmass.
  • This vast desert occupies a significant part of North Africa, representing approximately 31% of the entire continent. Countries within the Sahara include Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Chad, Niger, parts of Sudan, a small area of Nigeria, and a portion of Burkina Faso.
  • The desert is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains to the north, the Red Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the semi-arid Sahel region to the south. The landscape is primarily composed of barren rocky plateaus, salt flats, sand dunes, mountains, and dry valleys.
  • The Nile and Niger rivers, along with seasonal lakes and aquifers, serve as the primary sources of water for the desert's oases. The highest point in the Sahara is Emi Koussi, a volcano in the Tibesti Mountains of Chad, which rises to 3,415 meters.
  • The Sahel region acts as a transitional zone between the hot desert climate in the north and the humid savannas found in Sub-Saharan Africa to the south.

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• The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand, with a budget allocation of approximately ₹80,000 crore.
• About the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:
  • This initiative aims to promote comprehensive development in tribal villages, aiming to bring significant changes to the socio-economic conditions of the region. The program will encompass around 63,843 villages, benefiting over 50 million tribal people across 549 districts and 2,911 blocks, specifically targeting tribal-majority areas and aspirational blocks in 30 states and union territories.
  • The Abhiyan seeks to address critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods through 25 targeted interventions coordinated by 17 different ministries of the Government of India. Its goal is to ensure the holistic and sustainable development of tribal communities.
  • The total funding for the scheme is ₹79,156 crore, with the central government contributing ₹56,333 crore and the state governments providing ₹22,823 crore. This initiative builds on the experiences and successes of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), which was launched in November 2023.
  • The PM JANMAN program has a budget of ₹24,104 crore and focuses specifically on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) population.

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• The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has recently announced its decision to voluntarily withdraw its sickle cell disease treatment, Oxbryta, from global markets due to new clinical data suggesting a link between the drug and “fatal events.”
• About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD):
  • Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.
• Impact on Blood Flow:
  • Under normal circumstances, RBCs are disc-shaped and flexible, allowing them to navigate easily through blood vessels. In individuals with SCD, however, the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin S, causes the RBCs to adopt a sickle or crescent shape. These misshapen cells are rigid and can obstruct blood flow, impairing oxygen delivery to various tissues.
• Causes:
  • SCD is caused by a defective gene known as the sickle cell gene. A child will develop SCD only if they inherit two copies of this gene—one from each parent.
• Symptoms:
  • Early Stage: Symptoms may include extreme fatigue or irritability due to anemia, painful swelling of the hands and feet, and jaundice.
  • Later Stage: Individuals may experience severe pain, increased anemia, organ damage, and a higher susceptibility to infections.
• Treatments:
  • A bone marrow transplant (or stem cell transplant) has the potential to cure SCD. However, several treatments are available to alleviate symptoms, reduce complications, and extend life expectancy. Gene therapy is also being investigated as a possible cure, with the UK recently becoming the first country to approve a gene therapy treatment for SCD.

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• Biologists, along with community partners and the public, have been responding to reports of stranded manatees in Florida following the recent impact of Hurricane Helene.
• About Manatees:
  • Manatees are aquatic mammals classified within the Sirenia order, which also includes dugongs. While manatees and dugongs share similar physical characteristics and behaviors, the most notable difference lies in their tails: manatees possess paddle-shaped tails, whereas dugongs have fluked tails that resemble those of whales.
• Habitat:
  • Manatees are typically found in shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers. There are three recognized species of manatee:
  • Amazonian Manatee: Inhabiting the Amazon River and freshwater regions of South America, this species is exclusively found in freshwater.
  • African Manatee: Found in tropical waters of West Africa.
  • Caribbean Manatee: Commonly located in Florida and the West Indies.
• Features:
  • Adult manatees can grow up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) long and weigh as much as 1,660 kilograms. They have a dull gray, blackish, or brown coloration, with stout bodies that taper to a flat, rounded tail used for propulsion. Their forelimbs are adapted into flippers, and they lack hind limbs. To breathe, manatees must surface for air.
• Lifespan:
  • Manatees can live between 50 to 60 years. As herbivores, they graze on seagrasses along the seabed, earning them the nickname "sea cow." They can spend up to eight hours a day feeding and consume 4 to 9 percent of their body weight in aquatic plants daily.
  • Manatees are generally solitary, except for mothers with their calves or males pursuing receptive females.
• Conservation Status:
  • All three manatee species are classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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• Recently, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) of the Government of India, in collaboration with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), launched the SARTHIE 1.0 initiative.
• This program aims to empower marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, transgender individuals, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, people involved in begging, as well as denotified and nomadic tribes, among others.
• SARTHIE 1.0 aligns with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on goals related to poverty eradication, inequality reduction, and the promotion of social protection policies that foster greater equality for all.
• The initiative seeks to bridge the awareness gap and provide legal support to facilitate the effective implementation of social welfare programs. It creates synergy between the executive and judiciary branches, further strengthening the foundation of social justice.

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• Recently, a honey badger has been captured on camera for the first time in the Terai East Forest Division (TEFD) of Uttarakhand.
• Also known as the Ratel, this remarkable animal is related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers. Honey badgers are omnivorous, nocturnal mammals that belong to the weasel family. They are recognized for their strong, curved claws, which they use to dig burrows for shelter. Their diet is quite varied, including small animals, fruits, and honey.
• These creatures are typically solitary and possess an impressive ability to twist and turn, allowing them to evade predators.
• Distribution:
  • Honey badgers are found across parts of Africa and Asia. In India, they have also been recorded in several locations, including Bannerghatta National Park in Karnataka, Chilika Lagoon in Odisha, and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Honey badgers play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by preying on smaller animals and pests, which helps control populations and protect crops. They also contribute to nutrient cycling by enriching the soil through their diet and waste. Furthermore, they serve as important indicators of ecosystem health, promoting a diverse and thriving environment for other species.
• Conservation Status:
  • According to the IUCN, honey badgers are classified as Least Concern, and they are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.