Author: karthik

Revised National Action Plan on Glanders Syllabus: GS2/Health Context: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has issued a revised National Action Plan to combat the spread of Glanders, a highly infectious zoonotic disease.   About Glanders Causative Agent: Bacterium Burkholderia mallei. Primary Hosts: Equines – horses, donkeys, and mules. Transmission: Spread among animals through direct contact or contaminated feed/water. Carnivores can be infected by consuming contaminated meat. Zoonotic: Can infect humans, leading to nasal, pulmonary, or septicemic forms of the disease.   Global Status: Eradicated in North America, Australia, and Europe. Sporadic occurrences still reported in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Legal Framework: Classified as a notifiable disease under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals (PCICDA) Act, 2009.   Significance of Revised Action Plan Aims at strengthening surveillance, early detection, diagnosis, quarantine, and biosecurity measures. Critical for protecting the livelihoods of equine-dependent communities (transport, tourism, rural economy). Supports India’s compliance with OIE/WOAH international reporting standards on animal diseases. Consider the following statements with reference to Glanders disease: It is caused by a Gram-negative bacterium that primarily infects equines. It has been eradicated in Asia but still occurs in parts of Europe and North America. It is a zoonotic disease and is notifiable under Indian law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A) 1 onlyB) 1 and 3 onlyC) 2 and 3 onlyD) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B) 1 and 3 only Explanation: Burkholderia mallei is a Gram-negative bacterium affecting horses, donkeys, and mules . Statement 2 is incorrect → It has been eradicated in Europe & North America, but sporadically persists in Asia . It is zoonotic and notifiable under the PCICDA Act, 2009 Samvatsari Syllabus: GS1/Culture  Context Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Samvatsari, describing it as a festival that represents forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation.   About Samvatsari Samvatsari is the sacred concluding day of the Jain festival Paryushan Parva. It emphasizes forgiveness (kṣamā), humility, compassion, and reconciliation. On this day, Jains traditionally greet each other with “Micchami Dukkadam”, which means:“May all the wrongs done by me be forgiven.” The practice promotes introspection, spiritual peace, and harmonious relationships.   About Paryushan Parva A major Jain festival of spiritual reflection, penance, and renunciation. Observed by both Shwetambara and Digambara sects, with slight variations in rituals: Shwetambaras: observe it for 8 days. Digambaras: observe it for 10 days (known as Das Lakshan Parva). Core practices include: Fasting, meditation, scriptural study, vows of non-violence, and self-discipline. Strengthening values of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), aparigraha (non-possessiveness).   Significance Encourages self-purification, moral responsibility, and social harmony. Enhances interpersonal trust by fostering forgiveness and compassion. Embodies Jain philosophy of universal brotherhood and peace.     Consider the following statements regarding Samvatsari: It is the concluding day of the Jain festival Paryushan, primarily observed by the Digambara sect. The greeting “Micchami Dukkadam” exchanged during this festival symbolizes seeking and granting forgiveness. The festival emphasizes reconciliation and renewal of social and spiritual bonds. Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 onlyb) 2 and 3 onlyc) 1 and 3 onlyd) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: b) 2 and 3 only Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: Samvatsari is the concluding day of Paryushan celebrated mainly by the Shwetambara sect, while the Digambara sect observes the Das Lakshan Parva. Statements 2 and 3 are correct as forgiveness and reconciliation are central to Samvatsari. Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) Syllabus :GS2/Governance   In News The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has collaborated with the Department of School Education to integrate the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) status of Aadhaar-linked school children into the UDISE+ system.   Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) Background & Nodal Authority: UDISE+ is a comprehensive Educational Management Information System (EMIS), functioning under the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. It builds upon the earlier UDISE (2012-13), upgraded to UDISE+ in 2018-19 for enhanced digital integration and real-time monitoring.   Key Features: Centralized Platform: Acts as a single-window database where schools upload information.   Scope of Data: Covers details of: School infrastructure and facilities (toilets, electricity, internet, libraries, laboratories, etc.). Enrolment, attendance, and dropout rates of students. Teachers’ profiles, qualifications, and training. Validation & Reliability: Data undergoes multi-level scrutiny at block, district, state, and national levels, ensuring credibility.   Significance: One of the largest education databases in the world, with coverage of both government and private schools. Provides authentic and real-time statistics for policy planning, including schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, NEP-2020 implementation, and mid-day meal monitoring. Now, with UIDAI integration, it will also help track biometric update compliance for Aadhaar-seeded school children, crucial for targeted welfare delivery and inclusion. With reference to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), consider the following statements: It functions under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. It covers both government and private schools across India. The system was upgraded to UDISE+ in 2018–19 to enable real-time data collection. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Options:A) 1 and 2 onlyB) 2 and 3 onlyC) 1 and 3 onlyD) 1, 2 and 3 Answer:  B) 2 and 3 only Explanation: Incorrect – UDISE+ comes under the Department of School Education & Literacy, not Higher Education. Correct – It covers both government and private schools, making it one of the largest databases globally. Correct – The upgrade to UDISE+ in 2018-19 aimed at real-time, digital data collection. Restructuring and Extension of the PM SVANidhi Syllabus: GS2/Governance Context The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme, extending its lending period until March 31, 2030, while enhancing loan amounts and expanding coverage.   About the Scheme Launch: June 2020, under the Government’s COVID-19 relief package. Objective: To provide affordable working capital loans to street vendors severely impacted by the pandemic.   Recent Updates Extension: Lending period extended from December 31,