Content

1. Can vultures help prevent pandemics?
2. First tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition flagged off
3. Working to blend isobutanol with diesel after ethanol blending failed’
4. Clearing the fog: need for revised strategies against Aedes mosquitoes
5. Climate change-induced dengue resulted in 4.6 million additional cases annually

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Can vultures help prevent pandemics?

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Why in News?

• As India’s National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2016–25) nears completion, discussions are underway on its next phase.
• Emerging scholarship and conservation strategies highlight vultures as critical to pandemic preparedness, linking biodiversity conservation to public health security.

Relevance:

• GS-III (Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management): Vulture conservation, ecological services, diclofenac ban.
• GS-II (Health, Governance): One Health, zoonotic spillover, pandemic preparedness.

 

Basics

• Role of Vultures: Nature’s most efficient waste managers — prevent spread of pathogens like anthrax, rabies, Clostridium botulinum.
• Decline in India: From ~40 million in 1980s → >95% decline since 1990s, largely due to diclofenac (veterinary drug).
• Central Asian Flyway (CAF): Migratory corridor (30+ countries) used by millions of birds including vultures.
• Public Health Link: Carcass disposal prevents zoonotic spillovers; absence of vultures increases disease risk.
• Existing Plan (2016–25): Banned toxic veterinary drugs, established breeding centres, awareness campaigns.

Overview

Ecological & Health Significance

• Carcass management: Vultures consume dead animals rapidly, preventing open dumping and feral dog population growth (linked to rabies).
• Pandemic prevention: Reduce risk of zoonotic disease spillover (e.g., anthrax).
• Surveillance role: First scavengers to detect carcasses → potential sentinels in One Health monitoring.

Decline Drivers

• Diclofenac toxicity: Veterinary anti-inflammatory drug, lethal to vultures.
• Habitat risks: Power line electrocution, poorly managed landfills, reduced prey base.
• Underfunded conservation: Limited financial support, fragmented across states.

Regional & Global Dimension

• CAF = Biodiversity + Public Health corridor → carcass sites can become cross-border disease hotspots.
• Links to Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) commitments and WHO SEARO Roadmap (2023–27) for health security.

India’s Strategic Opportunity

• With large CAF-connected populations (Himalayan griffon, cinereous, Eurasian griffon), India can lead global biodiversity-linked health policy.
• Integrating One Health approach (human–animal–environment) with vulture conservation strengthens resilience against pandemics.

Post-2025 Roadmap – 5 Pillars

1. Nationwide telemetry → real-time mapping of habitats, dumps, hotspots.
2. Decision Support System (DSS) → integrate wildlife, livestock, human health data.
3. One Health coordination → link environment, veterinary, public health agencies.
4. Transboundary collaboration → strengthen CAF partnerships, disease monitoring.
5. Community stewardship → empower local groups (esp. women/youth) in carcass management & surveillance.

Cost-effectiveness

• Low investment, high returns: Vulture conservation requires modest funds vs outbreak costs.
• Aligns with Ayushman Bharat (preventive health) and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of resilience.

Conclusion

• Vultures are not just keystone scavengers but guardians of public health.
• Protecting them integrates biodiversity conservation with pandemic prevention and regional health security.
• India has the chance to position itself as a global leader in linking ecological resilience with public health preparedness.

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First tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition flagged off

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Why in News?

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off Samudra Pradakshina, the world’s first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
• 10 women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force are participating.
• Expedition aims to showcase Nari Shakti, armed forces’ jointness, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Relevance :

• GS-I (Society): Women empowerment, Nari Shakti.
• GS-II (Polity & Governance): Tri-service jointness, Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• GS-III (Security, S&T): Maritime capability, blue-water ambitions, defence preparedness.

 

Basics

• Vessel: Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, a 50-foot indigenous yacht.
• Duration: 9 months (Sept 2025 – May 2026).
• Route: ~26,000 nautical miles, following an easterly course.
  • Crosses the Equator twice.
  • Rounds the Three Great Capes – Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope.
• Significance: First-of-its-kind tri-service, all-women global circumnavigation.

Overview

Symbolism & National Vision

• Nari Shakti: Represents women’s empowerment in high-risk, high-skill maritime domains.
• Tri-Service Integration: Highlights jointness of Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Use of indigenously built yacht underscores India’s self-reliance in defence & maritime capabilities.

Strategic Significance

• Blue-water aspirations: Showcases India’s maritime capability and global naval presence.
• Soft Power Diplomacy: Sailing expeditions project India’s commitment to gender equality and sustainable seafaring.
• Geopolitical Signalling: A visible assertion of India’s maritime confidence across critical sea lanes.

Social & Cultural Impact

• Breaking gender stereotypes: Women officers undertaking extreme endurance expedition in male-dominated sphere.
• Inspiration: Encourages more women to join armed forces, particularly after expanded recruitment under Agnipath scheme.
• Public Engagement: National and global awareness campaign linking women’s empowerment with nation-building.

Operational & Training Value

• Skill demonstration: Demands seamanship, navigation, meteorology, and crisis management under extreme oceanic conditions.
• Joint learning: First time Army, Navy, Air Force officers sail together on a prolonged global mission → fosters inter-service camaraderie.
• Resilience-building: Enhances psychological endurance, leadership, and teamwork in prolonged isolated environments.

Challenges

• Extreme Weather: Rounding Cape Horn and Southern Oceans involves high winds, massive waves, sub-zero conditions.
• Sustenance & Logistics: Requires robust planning for food, medical emergencies, and mid-sea technical support.
• Crew Well-being: Mental health and cohesion critical during 9 months of confined, high-risk voyage.

Conclusion

• Samudra Pradakshina is more than a sailing expedition — it is a national statement of women’s leadership, defence preparedness, and maritime ambition.
• By combining gender empowerment, strategic signalling, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the expedition positions India as a modern maritime power with inclusive values.

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‘Working to blend isobutanol with diesel after ethanol blending failed

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Why is it in News?

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is exploring the feasibility of 10% isobutanol blending with diesel.
• The statement was made during an annual industry meeting on biofuels.

Relevance :

• GS-III (Economy, Environment, Energy): Biofuels, energy security, import reduction.
• GS-III (Agriculture): Farmers’ income, corn & sugarcane demand, food vs fuel debate.
• GS-III (Science & Tech): Alternative fuels, blending technologies, ARAI trials.

Isobutanol & Ethanol Blending

• Isobutanol: A four-carbon alcohol produced via fermentation (from biomass such as corn, sugarcane, or agricultural residues).
• Properties:
  • Higher energy density than ethanol.
  • Lower hygroscopic nature (absorbs less water) → reduces corrosion in engines.
  • Compatible with existing fuel infrastructure.
• Ethanol blending success:
  • India achieved 12% ethanol blending with petrol in 2023-24 (target of 20% by 2025-26).
  • Farmers benefited: Corn prices rose from ₹1,200/quintal → ₹2,600–₹2,800/quintal.
  • Farmers collectively earned ₹42,000 crore from ethanol blending.

Overview

Government Push for Biofuels

• Energy Security: Reduce dependence on crude oil imports (India imports ~85% of crude).
• Farmers’ Income: Diversified demand for crops (corn, sugarcane).
• Environment: Cleaner-burning fuels, lower GHG emissions compared to fossil fuels.
• Export Potential: Government encouraging ethanol producers to enter global markets.
• Industry Demands:
  • Sugar sector wants FRP alignment with rising costs.
  • Higher minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane.
  • Increase in permissible sugar export quota for 2025–26.

Isobutanol-Specific Prospects

• Can complement ethanol in blending programs.
• More efficient combustion properties in diesel engines.
• Potential to tap into corn and sugarcane surplus.

Challenges & Concerns

• Food vs Fuel Debate: Diversion of sugarcane/corn to fuel may impact food prices & availability.
• Water Stress: Sugarcane is water-intensive; large-scale cultivation strains groundwater.
• Economic Viability: Higher production costs of isobutanol compared to ethanol; requires subsidies/market support.
• Technological Barriers: Engine modifications, regulatory approvals, and large-scale production technology readiness.
• Global Competitiveness: Need to keep biofuel prices competitive to succeed in export markets.

Sugar Production Outlook (ISMA)

• 2025–26 season: 349 lakh tonnes, higher than 2024–25.
• Healthy monsoon → strong harvests in Maharashtra & Karnataka.
• Scope for both domestic supply and exports.

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Clearing the fog: need for revised strategies against Aedes mosquitoes

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Why in News?

• Recent rise in dengue, Zika, and chikungunya cases across Indian cities.
• Fogging and fumigation still widely used, despite lack of evidence for effectiveness.
• Experts highlight need for integrated strategies combining personal protection, community action, and innovative top-down interventions.

Relevance :

• GS-II (Health, Governance): Vector-borne diseases, public health policy, community mobilisation.
• GS-III (S&T, Environment): Wolbachia, repellents, vaccine trials, urban resilience.

Basics:

• Aedes aegypti & Aedes albopictus → primary vectors of dengue, Zika, chikungunya.
• Breeding sites: small stagnant water collections (plastic bottles, coconut shells, plant pots, air coolers, tyres).
• Feeding habits:
  • Bites during daytime and under artificial lights at night.
  • Indoor feeders → vaporizers, nets, and outdoor fogging less effective.
• Range: short, 100–200 m → localised community action is crucial.

 

Overview:

Why Current Measures Fail

• Outdoor fumigation/fogging:
  • Temporary effect; mosquitoes quickly return.
  • No endorsement by national/international agencies for routine use.
• Household vaporizers:
  • Aedes least active at night.
  • Mosquitoes evolving tolerance to pyrethroids.
• Bed nets: ineffective, as Aedes bites during the day.

Personal Protection – First Line of Defence

• Protective clothing: loose, full-body coverage (esp. Sep–Nov peak).
• Topical repellents (WHO/CDC approved):
  • DEET (20%) → gold standard; ~6 hrs protection, safe for pregnancy/lactation.
  • Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone → safe, effective, but not widely available in India.
  • PMD (lemon eucalyptus extract) → effective but not for children <3 yrs.
• Ineffective “natural” oils (citronella, etc.) → short-lived, irritant, unsafe in undiluted form.
• Spatial emanators (transfluthrin-coated materials) → 34% risk reduction in trials.

Community Mobilisation – Bottom-Up Action

• Larval source reduction:
  • Cleaning air coolers, discarded containers, indoor plants, flower vases.
  • Not reusing old cooler grass, covering water storage containers.
• Randomised trials evidence:
  • Camino Verde study: 29% reduction in dengue via community-led cleanups.
  • Chennai study: container lids cut larval risk by 94%.
• India-specific campaign: “10 Weeks, 10 AM, 10 Minutes” → weekly neighbourhood clean-up drives.
• ASHA workers’ role: disseminating behavioural change communication.

Top-Down Innovations

• Wolbachia mosquitoes:
  • Release of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria → block viral transmission.
  • Successfully deployed in 15 countries.
  • Barriers in India: high cost, weak institutional push.
• Dengue vaccine trials: ongoing, but no cross-protection for Zika/chikungunya.
• Policy gaps: absence of systemic push for DEET availability and community education.

Structural Challenges

• Plastic pollution: discarded plastics → key larval habitats; waste management is directly tied to ABVD control.
• Chemical larvicides (temephos): shown to increase dengue risk due to false security + resistance development.
• Public misinformation: preference for “natural” repellents and mistrust of DEET.
• Weak urban health systems: over-reliance on municipal fogging, little investment in local community-led interventions.

Way Forward

• Integrated approach:
  • Bottom-up: community-led source reduction + personal protection.
  • Top-down: Wolbachia deployment, spatial emanators, vaccine development.
• Urban governance reform: link RWA initiatives with municipal corporations.
• Health communication: counter misinformation on repellents; promote safe, effective alternatives.
• Institutional support: scale up ASHA workers’ role, ensure repellents’ availability, incentivise innovations.
• Policy focus: plastic waste management, water management, and urban resilience planning.

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Climate change-induced dengue resulted in 4.6 million additional cases annually

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Why in News?

• A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS, Sept 2025) links climate change directly to rising dengue cases.
• Found 4.6 million additional annual cases (1995–2014) across 21 countries in Asia & Americas due to higher temperatures.
• By 2050, cases may more than double in cooler regions, impacting 260+ million people.

Relevance:

• GS II (Governance & Health): Public health preparedness, disease surveillance, role of community health workers.
• GS III (Environment & Science): Climate change impact, vector-borne diseases, One Health approach, use of vaccines and Wolbachia.

Basics

• Dengue virus: Transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito.
• Symptoms: Fever, body pain; severe cases → bleeding, organ failure.
• Habitat drivers: Warm temperatures, erratic rainfall, urban waterlogging.
• “Goldilocks Zone” → Dengue peaks at ~27.8°C; rises as cooler regions warm, drops slightly if too hot.

 

Overview

• Current Trends
  • Climate change caused ~18% of cases across study regions (1995–2014).
  • 1.4 million observations analysed; first robust causal evidence linking warming to disease burden.
  • Net global effect: Sharp rise in dengue incidence despite some declines in hottest areas.
• Future Risks
  • Projected 25% spread increase by 2050 (esp. SE Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, S. America).
  • 49–76% spike possible under higher emission scenarios.
  • Dengue range expanding: Local cases now in US (California, Texas, Hawaii, Florida) & Europe.
  • Urbanisation, migration, and viral evolution add to risks.
• Public Health Concerns
  • Data gaps: India & Africa excluded due to underreporting → actual burden underestimated.
  • Health system strain: Dengue already among fastest-rising global vector-borne diseases.
  • Pandemic angle: Mosquito-borne outbreaks linked to climate instability → part of One Health challenge.
• Mitigation & Adaptation
  • Climate action: Aggressive emission cuts reduce long-term risk.
  • Vector control: Beyond fogging → community clean-ups, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, spatial repellents.
  • Vaccines: Under trial; potential game-changer but limited by strain diversity.
  • Health system strengthening: Surveillance, rapid diagnostics, ASHA-led awareness campaigns.

Conclusion

• Dengue surge exemplifies climate-health nexus: rising temperatures → shifting disease geography.
• Calls for integrating climate mitigation + One Health approach + resilient urban planning into public health strategies.
• India, with endemic dengue and climate vulnerabilities, must act as a leader in vector-borne disease preparedness.