$25-mn pandemic fund goes to curb ‘zoonotic’ diseases Why in the News? The Union government has launched a $25-million G-20 pandemic fund project in India to enhance animal health security. The initiative, a partnership with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Food and Agriculture Organization, aims to enhance India's preparedness and response to pandemics by upgrading and expanding animal health laboratories and developing laboratory networks. The aim is to curb zoonotic diseases and strengthen infrastructure in the country. India's Pandemic Fund Project The project, in partnership with ADB, WHO, and FAO, aims to enhance disease surveillance, laboratory infrastructure development, and cross-border collaboration. The fund will be used by August 2026 to create a more integrated system for monitoring and managing "zoonotic" diseases. The initiative aims to bolster animal health security and build a resilient framework for pandemic preparedness and response. Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner Abhijit Mitra emphasized India's high risk of emerging infections and the intensification of zoonotic disease due to climate change. The fund aims to develop human capacity-building initiatives, upgrade data management systems, and enhance analytics capabilities for better risk assessment and communication strategies. Odisha govt. turns its focus on post-cyclone restoration Why in the News? The Odisha government is now focusing on restoration efforts after managing Cyclone Dana with zero-casualty goals. The cyclone caused significant damage to crops, thatched houses, and public infrastructure. The low-pressure system over northern Odisha is expected to weaken further and become insignificant within the next 12 hours. Many villages in Balasore and Bhadrak districts are facing flash floods due to intense rainfall, prompting the Odisha Fire Service to rescue stranded residents. Cyclone Dana Overview Emergence: Third cyclone in North Indian Ocean region, second to landfall along Indian coast in 2024. First cyclone in post monsoon season. Named by Qatar, "Dana" signifies 'generosity' and 'the most perfectly sized, valuable, and beautiful pearl'. Reasons for Intense Rainfall: Intense convection in western sector, causing moisture to condense into water droplets and clouds. • Warm, moist air influx enhances convection, leading to more intense rainfall. Warm, moist air maintains and intensifies the cyclone, resulting in intense rainfall over a small area. How will the LAC agreement pan out on the border? Why in the News? On October 21, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced an agreement with China on "patrolling arrangements" along the Line of Actual Control in India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and resolution of 2020-related issues. Disengagement in Eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh Disengagement is underway at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh, with temporary and semi-permanent structures removed. The process is expected to be completed by October 29. Patrolling will resume in both areas by month-end, with coordination between both sides to avoid face-offs. The agreement was reached after political, diplomatic, and military talks. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has amassed troops and armaments in eastern Ladakh and other areas along the 3,488 km Ladakh-India Corridor (LAC). Both sides have amassed over 50,000 troops on each side, deployed a range of long-range firepower and equipment, and undertaken massive infrastructure build-up. There was an understanding over Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh that Chinese patrols will be allowed like before. On December 9, 2022, Indian soldiers clashed with the Chinese resulting in injuries. The agreement restores the ground status to one that existed before April 2020 at Depsang and Demchok, allowing the Indian Army to patrol up to the Patrolling Points (PP) 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13 in the strategic Depsang area. The agreement addresses the issue of grazing grounds, which have been a major friction point between India and China. The Special Representatives on the boundary question, the apex mechanism to find a political resolution, are expected to meet at an early date to take forward the stalled process. Indian Aviation Threats and the Flight Protocol Key Highlights Flight Protocol for Bomb Threats Over two weeks, Indian carriers including Tata group airlines, IndiGo, Alliance Air, and Star Air have faced a wave of threats, leading to emergency responses and rerouting. Military fighter jet interception of some flights occurred when the crew squawked an emergency transponder code. Despite the threats being determined to be a hoax, they have caused significant flight delays and financial losses to the airlines. Terror Threats Most threats have been through social media. Intelligence agencies are investigating the issue and there is a strong possibility of cases being registered. The threats are largely of an online nature, tracking IP addresses and virtual private network use are in focus. India has nearly 4,000 flight operations in a day, and within the timeline since the threats began, this would mean over 275 threats for 48,000 flights. Aviation Security Architecture Most main security guidelines and directives are rooted in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Annex 17–Aviation Security (Restricted). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security in India is responsible for having standards and measures for the security of civilian flights. Amendments could be planned to the Aircraft Act 1934, the Aircraft Rules 1937, and subordinate pieces of legislation to ensure stringent punishment and placing offenders on a ‘no-fly list’. Treatment of Threats An aviation security expert suggests that hoax calls are of a specific or non-specific nature. Investment in technology such as advanced call tracking systems, AI-powered call analysis, voice stress analysis, comprehensive threat assessment, and rewards and incentives for informers is required. The industry must look at emerging technologies such as quantum computing, having an aviation cybersecurity framework, pitching for a global hoax call database, having AI-powered chatbots for initial threat assessment, and putting in place enhanced psychological profiling of callers. Transplant recipients demystify the fate of donated stem cells Why in the News? A study published in Science Translational Medicine reveals that long-living survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplants undergo changes and mutations in their stem cells post-engraftment. Study on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants Researchers from 16 pairs of donors and recipients found similar rates of mutations and clonal expansion for up to 46 years post-transplant. The study focuses on the impact of donor age and preexisting donor clonal hematopoiesis on transplant recipients' long-term outcomes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants are life-saving procedures for people with blood cancers. The researchers analysed blood samples from donors and recipients, with a median time of 33.6 years post-transplant. All donors had some degree of clonal hematopoiesis variants, but the average mutation rate was similar in donors compared to recipients. The authors concluded no widespread clonal expansion in stem cells even decades after transplant, supporting bone marrow's regenerative capabilities. WHO cagey about publishing Meghalaya polio case details India's Polio Case: WHO and Global Polio Eradication Initiative The WHO and the Health Ministry of India have been hesitant to disclose the details of a polio case in Meghalaya, India. The case was confirmed by the ICMR-NIV Mumbai unit and CDC Atlanta as a type-1 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). The case was not a case of immunodeficiency related vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPV), but rather a live, weakened type-1 virus strain used in the bivalent oral polio vaccine. The case is referred to as VDPV type-1, not circulating VDPV (cVDPV) type-1. Despite sharing all the case details with The Hindu, the WHO has not made any official announcement of the case. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has also not made any official announcement of the case. The WHO Disease Outbreak News website has not posted any information about the Meghalaya polio case. The WHO's secretive approach to Zika virus cases in Gujarat raises questions about the WHO's leniency in publishing the details of the Meghalaya polio case. A string of disappointments Why in the News? next The Supreme Court's ban on barium nitrate and joined crackers has reduced firecracker production, but illegal units have increased, causing more accidents and fatalities. The industry faces regulatory challenges, changing consumer preferences, and the need for modernization in the coming years. Fireworks Industry in Sivakasi Declines due to Supreme Court Ban on Barium Nitrate and Joined Crackers The Supreme Court's ban on barium nitrate and joined crackers has led to a significant decline in Sivakasi's fireworks industry. Businessmen in Sivakasi, known as the 'Fireworks Capital of India', report a 30% reduction in production without the manufacture of joined crackers. Over 300 factories make joined crackers in Sivakasi and neighboring villages. The ban has led to financial losses for manufacturers, who rely on bank loans and borrowings. The ban has also led to the elimination of small crackers, such as 28-wala chorsa or tukkada crackers, which were popular during events like Deepavali and political events. The Supreme Court's 2004 decision allowed the production and bursting of garland crackers, which were popular during events like political events and movie theatres. The industry criticizes the court for misled them, arguing that the waste generated by garland crackers is biodegradable. Rain and Production Decrease in Firecracker Industry Rain has reduced working days and production due to the need for adequate sun light for drying processes. The industry has faced reduced production over the past decade due to economic factors and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales declined during Deepavali last year, leading to accumulation of stock. Court Misled by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) The CPCB used an indirect method to calculate permissible exposure levels for barium nitrate, reducing the 24-hour exposure limit from 500 micrograms per cubic metre for eight hours to 4 micrograms per cubic metre. The CPCB informed the Supreme Court that barium emission from fireworks on Deepavali was about nine times higher than the proposed standard. The study assumed continuous, uniform exposure over 24 hours, which might not always be the case. Barium Nitrate Ban and Strontium Nitrate The Union Ministry of Environment banned barium nitrate without any study. Strontium nitrate, an alternative to barium nitrate, has higher moisture content and spoils the products. The industry is now using strontium nitrate as an alternative, which has a shelf-life of three years. Accidents and Action The ban on barium nitrate and certain types of firecrackers has resulted in a surge of illegal manufacturing and frequent accidents in Sivakasi.