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Here are the topics covered for 19 January 2024:
GS-2: Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, Walk-in Model, Iran-Pakistan
GS-3: Indian Innovation Centre for Graphene
Facts For Prelims: Disease X, Papillomavirus
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023
Context
- NGO Pratham has recently released its ASER 2023: Beyond Basics.
Key Highlights of the Report
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- For 14-18 years rural youth.
- 86.6% are enrolled in either school or college.
- 84% of the young population have completed 8 or more years of schooling.
- 56.4% and 31.3% are pursuing Humanities and Science beyond standard X. Only 0.7% studying agriculture.
- 25% still cannot read standard II level fluently in their regional language.
- Females have outperformed males in regional language.
- Only 5.6% of youth are taking vocational training.
- 95% of males and 90% of females knew how to use a smartphone.
- The out-of-school rate for females in this age group is only 0.2%.
ASER Report
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- A citizen-led survey was initiated in 2005.
- It offers insights into rural Indian children\’s education.
- Beyond Basics focuses on awareness, abilities, activities, and aspirations of youth aged 14 to 18.
Walk-in Model
- To eliminate tuberculosis (nationwide) by 2025, Tamil Nadu has taken a step forward by setting up a one-stop TB solution
TB in Tamil Nadu
- A recent survey in Tamil Nadu revealed a TB prevalence of 210 per lakh population between 2019 and 2022.
- This translates to 126 cases notified per lakh people in 2022 alone.
- The state aims to significantly reduce TB deaths and incidence rates by 2025 and 2030, respectively, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are key to reaching these ambitious targets.
Walk-in Centre One-Stop TB Solution
- Over 100 walk-in centers have already been established, with the ambitious goal of expanding to all 424 upgraded Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state.
- What to expect at a Walk-in Centre:
- Diagnostic tests: Both microscopy and Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) will be available, providing accurate and timely diagnoses.
- Chest X-ray access: If needed, patients will be referred to the nearest community health center, government taluk hospital, or government medical college hospital for X-ray facilities.
- Prompt treatment: Once diagnosed, treatment should begin within 24 hours to maximize effectiveness and prevent further spread of the disease.
- Holistic care: Patients with TB will also be screened for other immunocompromising diseases like HIV, ensuring comprehensive care and improved overall health outcomes.
- The potential of these Centres:
- Increase TB case detection: Early diagnosis is crucial for effective TB control and prevention.
- Improve treatment adherence: Convenient access to care can encourage patients to complete their treatment regimens, leading to better cure rates.
- Reduce stigma associated with TB: By offering accessible and confidential services, the initiative can help break down barriers and encourage people to seek help.
Iran-Pakistan
Context
- Recent military engagement between Iran and Pakistan has disturbed regional peace and has put India in the spotlight.
Iran-Pakistan Relations
- Before the Islamic Revolution (1979) both Iran & Pakistan were allied with the United States and joined the Baghdad Pact in 1955, a military alliance modelled on NATO.
- Iran even supported Pakistan during its war against India in 1965 and 1971.
- Iran was against the liberation of Bangladesh and termed it as the disintegration of Pakistan.
- The change of Iran\’s leader who was a Shia led to the change in dynamics between both countries as Pakistan was a Sunni-majority.
- Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran become a sworn enemy of the US and Pakistan has become a close US ally in its neighbor.
- Iran (in its foreign policy) started exporting revolution to the Arab neighbors who were oil-rich kingdoms. However, Pakistan’s continued strategic ties with these Arab kingdoms increased animosity with Iran.
- USSR’s withdrawal from Afghanistan further deepened the differences as Iran supported the alliance against the Taliban (a Pakistani creation).
India’s Stand
- While acknowledging the incident as internal to Iran and Pakistan, India emphasized its unwavering opposition to terrorism and understanding of self-defense actions.
- Strategic analyst C Raja Mohan highlighted the mirroring claims against Pakistan for harboring militants, similar to India\’s justification for the 2019 Balakot surgical strikes.
- Raja Mohan further interprets Pakistan\’s response as a multi-pronged message. It\’s directed at Iran, but also serves as a warning to India and the Pakistani Taliban, aiming to deter potential future cross-border attacks.
Indian Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG)
Context
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has recently established the IICG in Kochi, Kerala.
About IICG
- It is India’s first Graphene center.
- It is a joint venture between Tata Steel Limited, the Digital University of Kerala, and the Centre for Material for Electronics Technology.
- It will support the Graphene-Aurora program to foster R&D, product innovation, and capacity building.
What is Graphene?
- A two-dimensional allotrope of carbon arranged in a hexagonal lattice like a honeycomb.
- The heating of Graphite, Coal Tar, and Shellac in an inert atmosphere led to the formation of Graphene.
- It has been used in electronics, biomedical, defense, and ultra-sensitive sensors.
Facts For Prelims
Disease X
- The World Economic Forum has recently begun its session on novel ‘Disease X’.
- ‘X’ refers to ‘unexpected’.
- WHO introduced this in 2018 as an unknown pathogen that can cause a serious international epidemic.
- It has been placed as a high-priority disease such as Ebola and Zika to raise awareness.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- HPV is the most common STI.
- There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s.
- There are many different types of HPV.
- Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers.
- However, some vaccines can stop these health problems from happening.
- HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes).
