9 Sep | UPSC Current Affairs: VisioNxt, National Test House, Presbyopia, Financialisation, and More

UPSC GS 2

VisioNxt

• News: The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh recently launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
• Definition:
  • • VisioNxt is India’s first trend insights and forecasting initiative, established in 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. 
    • It was initially conceived at NIFT Delhi (Creative Lab) and NIFT Chennai (Insights Lab), and is now centralized in Chennai.
    •  The initiative focuses on delivering trend insights and forecasting specifically for the Indian fashion and retail market.

• Mission and Objectives:
  • • The primary mission of VisioNxt is to identify, map, and analyze geo-specific trends that reflect the cultural diversity, socio-economic nuances, and positive plurality of India. 
    • By collating comprehensive trends and insights, it aims to empower the Indian fashion industry with localized data.
    •  The initiative combines both artificial intelligence (AI) and emotional intelligence (EI) to generate accurate fashion trend insights and forecasts.
• Services Offered:
  • • VisioNxt offers a variety of services, including trend-related consultancy, academic courses, and workshops. 
    • These services help professionals in the fashion industry stay informed about current trends and equip them with the tools needed to create targeted collections for Indian consumers.
• Significance of the Initiative:
  • • India’s entry into the trend forecasting space provides multiple benefits.
    •  It reduces reliance on global forecasting agencies, offers unique insights into Indian fashion consumers, and integrates the country’s strengths in information technology with the textile sector.
    •  By combining artificial and human intelligence, VisioNxt provides a holistic approach to understanding fashion trends in India.
• Support for the Fashion Industry:
  • • The VisioNxt portal makes its trend insights and reports available in both Hindi and English, aiming to support weavers, manufacturers, retailers, domestic businesses, homegrown designers, and fashion brands.
    • This allows these stakeholders to design, produce, and launch consumer-focused collections tailored to India’s diverse population.
• Launch of Paridhi and DeepVision:
  • • VisioNxt is set to launch its first inclusive fashion trend forecast, known as ‘Paridhi,’ which will be accompanied by a web portal dedicated to disseminating India-specific fashion trends. 
    • The initiative has developed a unique prediction model called “DeepVision,” which decodes patterns and interprets fashion trends, offering a unique forecasting tool tailored to the Indian market.

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National Test House

• News: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in the Ministry of Power (MoP) and National Test House (NTH) have signed a MoU to strengthen the standards and labelling (S&L) programme and ensure high quality of energy-efficient appliances.
• Definition: The NTH operates as a subordinate office under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and the Department of Consumer Affairs in India.
• Role: It stands as India’s largest and most diverse central government testing laboratory.
• History: The National Test House, initially known as the Government Test House, has a long history that began in 1912.

• Functions: 
  • • Testing and Evaluation: Currently, NTH provides testing, evaluation, and calibration services for both raw materials and finished products. These services are available at its branches located in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Varanasi .
    • Welder Certification: Provides certification for welders under the Central Authority for Testing and Certification of Welders.
    • Industry Support: Assists industries in creating local products for export and import substitution and supports their quality assurance initiatives.
    • Standards Development: Collaborates with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in developing national standards.
    • Research and Development: Assists industries and user organizations in R&D projects related to test engineering.
    • Accreditation Support: It is the pioneering governmental entity in India for drone certification.
• Importance:
  • •  NTH is India’s largest multi-location multidisciplinary industrial central government’s testing laboratory dealing with almost all sorts of testing, calibration and quality evaluation related to industry, commerce, trade etc. as per international and national standards.

Enemy Property in India

• News: A parcel of land in Uttar Pradesh, previously owned by the family of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, is set to be auctioned under the provisions of The Enemy Property Act. 
• What is Enemy Property?
  • • Enemy property refers to assets that belong to or are held on behalf of individuals or entities from a country that has committed external aggression against India. 
    • These properties are managed under The Enemy Property Act of 1968, which defines an ‘enemy’ as a nation and its citizens involved in such aggression. 
    • In India, this primarily refers to Pakistan and China.
    • The Tashkent Declaration of January 10, 1966, included a clause that said India and Pakistan would discuss the return of the property and assets taken over by either side in connection with the conflict. 
    • However, the Government of Pakistan disposed of all such properties in their country in 1971.
• Origins of Enemy Property:
  • • Enemy properties are those left behind by individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and took citizenship there after the partition of India in 1947 or after the 1962 war with China.
    •  These properties, once owned by citizens who were later classified as enemies, are managed by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.

• Amendments to the Act:
  • • In 2017, the Parliament passed The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, which modified the original 1968 Act and The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act of 1971. 
    • The amendments expanded the definitions of “enemy subject” and “enemy firm” to include legal heirs and successors of an enemy, regardless of their nationality. 
    • It also included firms succeeding an enemy firm, irrespective of the nationality of its members or partners.
• Custodian of Enemy Property:
  • • The amended law ensures that enemy property remains vested in the Custodian even if the original enemy subject or firm ceases to exist due to death, winding up of business, or change of nationality. 
    • This applies even if the legal heir or successor is an Indian citizen or a citizen of a non-enemy country.
• Distribution of Enemy Properties:
  • • The maximum number of enemy properties is in Uttar Pradesh, with 4,991 properties. West Bengal follows with 2,735 properties, while Delhi has 487 enemy properties.

UPSC GS 3

Presbyopia

• News: Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India for its new eye drop PresVu eye Drops which is the first of its kind in India. 
• What is Presbyopia?
  • • Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects. 
    • People usually start to develop presbyopia at around the age of 40. 
• Cause of Presbyopia:
  • •  Age-related changes to eyes cause presbyopia. 
    • During the first few decades of life, one’s eye’s lens is soft and flexible.
    • This ability (accommodation) allows light to land on our retina so we can see objects clearly.
    • As we get older, our lens grows less flexible and has trouble focusing light as it should.
    •  This leads to symptoms of presbyopia that begin in one’s 40s.
• How does PresVu work?
  • • The active ingredient in PresVu is pilocarpine, which contracts the iris muscles.
    • By controlling the size of the pupil, pilocarpine helps the eyes focus better on nearby objects.
    • This improves vision clarity for individuals affected by presbyopia.
    • PresVu utilizes “advanced dynamic buffer technology” to adapt to the pH levels of tears.
• Usage and Side Effects:
  • • PresVu is a prescription-only medicine with effects lasting four to six hours.
    • It should not be used by individuals with inflammation of the iris.
    • Regular use may cause side effects such as itching, redness, eyebrow pain, and muscle spasms in the eyes.

Financialisation

• News: India’s Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran recently cautioned against ‘financialization’. 
• What is Financialisation?
  • • Financialisation refers to the growing size and importance of a country’s financial sector in relation to its overall economy. 
    • It highlights a shift from traditional industrial or productive activities, such as manufacturing, to financial activities focused on the trading, management, and speculation of financial assets.
• Influence on Economic Policy:
  • • This process sees financial markets, institutions, and elites gaining greater influence over economic policy and outcomes. 
    • As financialisation deepens, it brings a broader range of transactions and market players into greater intersection with various parts of the economy and society.
• Shift from Industrial Capitalism:
  • • Financialisation is a characteristic of economies that have moved away from industrial capitalism, marking a transition from production-focused activities to those centered on financial activities. 
    • This shift has profound implications for both macroeconomic structures and microeconomic behavior.
• Economic Impact:
  • • Financialisation affects the structure and operation of financial markets, influencing corporate behavior and shaping economic policies.
    •  A key outcome of this trend has been a disproportionate rise in incomes within the financial sector, outpacing growth in other parts of the economy.

Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary

• News: It would take years to undo the ecological damage caused by the rare weather phenomenon that damaged one lakh trees in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Definition:
  • • Eturunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a sanctuary in 1953 and is located near the border of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. 
    • It is well-known for its rich biodiversity and tribal heritage.
• Rivers:
  • • The sanctuary is bisected by the perennial river Dayyam Vagu, which divides it into two parts. 
    • Additionally, the River Godavari also flows through the sanctuary, enhancing its ecological significance.
• Cultural Significance:
  • • Eturunagaram is famous for the Sammakka Sarakka Jathra (Medaram Jatara), one of Asia’s largest tribal festivals, which takes place here every two years, attracting millions of devotees.
    • Medaram Jatara: Medaram Jatara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest Tribal Community of Telangana- the Koya tribe for four days. 
    • As the largest tribal fair in Asia, Medaram Jathara is conducted in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. 
    • It is celebrated once in two years in the month of ‘Magha’ (February) on the full moon day. Saralamma was the daughter of Sammakka. 
    • Her idol, according to the rituals, is installed in a temple at Kannepalli, a small village near Medaram.
• Vegetation:
  • • The sanctuary falls under the tropical dry deciduous type of vegetation. It is abundant in teak, bamboo, and other species like madhuca and terminalia.
    •  The region is also known for its climbers, which are a unique feature spread throughout the sanctuary.
• Flora:
  • • The sanctuary’s flora includes a rich variety of trees such as teak, bamboo, madhuca, and terminalia, making it a vital ecological zone.
• Fauna:
  • • Eturunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several keystone species, including the Mugger crocodiles, Indian gaur and giant squirrel. 
    • Other species found in the sanctuary include tigers, leopards, jackals, sloth bears, panthers, wolves, wild dogs, chousingha, and sambar.

Water Spinach

• News:  The versatile water spinach can boost folic acid levels. 
• Definition:
  • • Water spinach is a semi-aquatic perennial plant native to tropical and subtropical regions, believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia. 
    •  It is a perennial vegetable and cultivated throughout the world.  
    • It is commercially cultivated in countries like Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia, while in the United States and India, it typically grows in the wild as a weed.
• Distribution in India:
  • • In India, water spinach is commonly found growing along paddy fields, ponds, and rivers, particularly during the monsoon season in July and August. 
    • The plant is known by various regional names, such as kalmi saag in West Bengal, naari ka saag in Uttar Pradesh, nalichi-bhaji in Marathi, and sarkaraivalli in Tamil.
    • Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat are leading producing states of spinach in India.
• Global Production:
  • • The biggest producer of spinach by far is China followed by the USA, Japan, Turkey and Indonesia. 

• Growing Conditions:
  • • It grows rapidly under optimal conditions, though care must be taken to ensure the water used is neither saline nor stagnant.
    • It can be grown on any type of soil having good drainage capacity. But it gives good results when grown on sandy loam and alluvial soil. 
    • Spinach is sown throughout the year. For winter season, best time for sowing is from September to October. For spring season complete sowing from Mid-February to April. 
• Research and Benefits:
  • • Researchers in India, Pakistan, and the United States have found water spinach to be effective against lead poisoning. 
    • The plant also contains medium levels of beta carotene, calcium, vitamin E, and iron, as well as medium-to-high levels of ascorbic acid.
    •  The substantial quantities of phyto-antioxidants in its leaves may provide a beneficial effect against the drug doxorubicin.

BPaLM Regimen

• News:  The Union Health Ministry has recently introduced the BPaLM regimen to treat Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under the National TB Elimination Program.
• Definition: 
  • • The BPaLM regimen is a new treatment protocol designed for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). 
    • It was launched by the Union Health Ministry as part of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP).

• Composition:
  • • The regimen includes four drugs: Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and optionally Moxifloxacin. 
    • The key component, Pretomanid, is a newly approved anti-TB drug that was licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• Efficacy:
  • • The BPaLM regimen offers a safer and more effective alternative to traditional MDR-TB treatments. 
    • It is an all-oral treatment with a reduced pill burden, making it more patient-friendly. It shortens the treatment duration to just six months, compared to the previous 20 months, and is associated with fewer side effects.
• National TB Elimination Program (NTEP):
  • • NTEP is a public health initiative by the Government of India, aiming to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. 
    • It operates as a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Health Mission, with shared resources between the State and Central Governments.
• DOTS Strategy:
  • • The program is based on the Directly Observed Treatment with short-course chemotherapy (DOTS) strategy. 
    • This strategy ensures that TB patients are diagnosed and treated effectively by guaranteeing the availability of the full drug course and monitoring patient adherence to treatment.
    • Free Services: NTEP offers free, quality tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services throughout the country.
    • NI-KSHAY Portal: NI-KSHAY is a web-enabled patient management system designed for TB control under the NTEP. It plays a key role in tracking and managing TB cases across India.

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Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant

• News: Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and the Nuclear Power Cooperation of India signed a memorandum of understanding for the maintenance and operations of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.
• Definition: 
  • • The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is located in Al Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, approximately 53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais on the Arabian Gulf. 
    • It holds the distinction of being the first nuclear energy plant in the Arab world.
• Construction and Operations:
  • • Construction of the plant began in July 2012, and it started operations in 2020 with the commissioning of the first of its four reactors. 
    • Once all reactors are fully operational, the plant will help prevent the release of up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

• Power Generation:
  • • The plant is designed to produce 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year, which is expected to meet up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs—comparable to New Zealand’s annual consumption.
• Industrial Support:
  • • The energy generated by the Barakah plant will supply power to major companies, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emirates Steel, and Emirates Global Aluminium, supporting the UAE’s industrial growth.