Content :

1. Two billion people don’t have safe drinking water
2. U.S.’s heavy duty attack on Iran’s nuke sites
3. Widely used fungicide found to be driving C. tropicalis infections
4. For first time, India breaks into top 100 in global SDG rankings
5. Maritime body sounds alarm on order to retire ‘old’ ships
6. Technique to make CAR T-cells in vivo could transform cancer care
7. Crushed stone is being spread across farms to capture carbon

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Two billion people don’t have safe drinking water

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Context & Scope

• 2 billion people globally lack safe drinking water.
• Over 800,000 deaths annually are linked to diseases from unsafe water.
• Access to clean water is essential for public health, dignity, and development.

Relevance : GS 2(Health ,Social Issues)

Key Definitions

• Safe Drinking Water (SDG 6.1 definition, post-2017):
  Water must be contamination-free, on-premises, and available when needed.
• Improved Water Source (earlier indicator):
  Includes protected pipes, springs, boreholes — but not necessarily safe at the point of use.

Current Global Scenario

• 6 billion people have access to safe water.
• 2 billion lack it — but:
  • Only 156 million rely on surface water (rivers/lakes).
  • The majority use improved sources that are inconveniently located or intermittently available.

Hidden Challenges

• Hours spent collecting water, especially by women and children, affects education and productivity.
• Even improved sources can become contaminated during storage or transit.
• 95% of the world uses improved sources — but not all are safely managed under SDG standards.

Health Implications

• Unsafe water spreads diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis, polio, and causes malnutrition.
• In low-income countries, unsafe water contributes to over 5% of deaths.
• Child mortality and undernutrition are closely linked to water insecurity.

Development Challenges

• Scaling access to basic improved sources is easier than ensuring safely managed household water.
• Requires investments in infrastructure, maintenance, and contamination control.
• Real progress under SDG 6.1 (Clean Water and Sanitation) demands universal access to safe water at home.

Conclusion

• Universal access to safe drinking water (SDG 6) is essential for:
  • Health outcomes
  • Social equity
  • Economic development
  • Achieving broader Sustainable Development Goals

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U.S.’s heavy duty attack on Iran’s nuke sites

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Context & Strategic Significance

• On June 21, 2025, the U.S. launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
• Operation code-named “Midnight Hammer” aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity.
• Marked a direct U.S. military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict that began on June 13.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)

How the Strike Unfolded

• 7 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flew a 37-hour round mission with multiple in-air refuellings.
• First B-2 dropped two GBU-57 MOP ‘bunker busters’ on the deeply buried Fordow site.
• Deception tactics included decoy aircraft flying westward to mislead radar tracking.
• Overall, 14 MOPs and 75 precision-guided munitions (including submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles) were deployed.

 

Why B-2 Bombers and MOPs Were Used

• Fordow site is buried under 80–90 meters of rock and reinforced concrete — beyond Israeli capabilities.
• The GBU-57 MOP is designed for deep penetration, capable of reaching up to 200 feet underground.
• B-2 Spirit is the only U.S. aircraft capable of carrying these 30,000 lb bunker-busters.

Capabilities and Challenges of B-2 Bomber

• Only 19 operational B-2s exist; each costs $2+ billion.
• Extremely stealthy: avoids detection via low radar, heat, sound, and visual signatures.
• Highly maintenance-intensive: requires 100 hours of upkeep for each hour flown.
• Needs climate-controlled hangars to preserve stealth coating and tech.
• Holds record for longest air combat missions (e.g., 44-hour Afghan mission in 2001).

Military and Political Implications

• Mission officially not aimed at regime change, but to “neutralize threats” and support Israel’s self-defence.
• The strike has raised questions about:
  • The actual extent of damage (especially at Fordow).
  • The fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
• May escalate regional tensions and invite retaliatory action from Iran.

Next-Gen Stealth Bomber: B-21 Raider

• U.S. is developing the B-21 Raider, meant to replace aging B-2s.
• Dual-capable, stealth strike bomber with open systems architecture for quick software upgrades.
• Expected unit cost: $550 million; USAF plans to procure 100+ units.

Conclusion

• Operation Midnight Hammer signals a tech-heavy, precision-first U.S. military doctrine.
• Brings into focus the evolving role of stealth aircraft and deep-penetration ordnance.
• Has strategic ramifications for non-proliferation diplomacy, U.S.-Iran relations, and West Asian stability.

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Widely used fungicide found to be driving C. tropicalis infections

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Context & Concern

• Candida tropicalis is a major fungal pathogen in India and globally, with a mortality rate of 55–60%.
• Increasing cases of drug-resistant C. tropicalis infections are being observed in clinical settings.
• Azole antifungals like fluconazole and voriconazole are becoming less effective.

Relevance : GS 2(Health) ,GS 3(Science)

Key Finding

• A study published in PLoS Biology links azole-resistance in C. tropicalis to the widespread agricultural use of the fungicide tebuconazole.
• Tebuconazole, a triazole fungicide, accumulates in the environment and triggers cross-resistance in clinical fungal strains.

Mechanism of Resistance: Ploidy Plasticity

• Resistant strains showed aneuploidy: abnormal chromosome numbers (haploid to triploid).
• These chromosomal alterations enhance drug resistance but reduce growth rate in drug-free environments.
• Resistant strains showed:
  • Duplications (e.g., of TAC1 gene → overproduction of drug-efflux proteins).
  • Deletions (e.g., of HMG1 gene → enhanced ergosterol synthesis and drug resistance).

Public Health Implications

• Resistant strains were more virulent in mice, even under antifungal treatment.
• Shows how agricultural misuse of antifungals can create clinical superbugs, threatening human health.
• Highlights interconnectedness of environment, agriculture, and public health (One Health concept).

Serendipitous Discoveries

• First-time discovery of stable haploid strains of C. tropicalis — capable of mating, increasing potential for genetic spread of resistance.
• Two naturally haploid clinical strains were also found in global genome data.

Larger Message

• The study warns against reckless use of triazoles in agriculture, which may drive antifungal resistance in human pathogens.
• It echoes the warning: “Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind” — stressing unintended consequences of unsustainable practices.

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For first time, India breaks into top 100 in global SDG rankings

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Context : India’s Performance in 2025 SDG Index

• India ranks 99th out of 167 countries in the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, breaking into the top 100 for the first time.
• India’s SDG Index score: 67, up from its 2024 rank of 109.
• This reflects steady improvement over recent years:
  • 2021: 120
  • 2022: 121
  • 2023: 112
  • 2024: 109 → 2025: 99

Relevance : GS 2(Governance ) , GS 3(SDG)

Comparative Regional Rankings

• China: Rank 49 (74.4)
• Bhutan: 74 (70.5)
• Nepal: 85 (68.6)
• Bangladesh: 114 (63.9)
• Pakistan: 140 (57)
• Sri Lanka: 93
• Maldives: 53

About the SDG Index

• Published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• Measures progress toward the 17 SDGs adopted by UN member states in 2015.
• Score out of 100: full achievement of all SDGs.
• Report lead: Economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Global Trends and Concerns

• Only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be met by 2030.
• Global stagnation attributed to:
  • Geopolitical conflicts
  • Structural vulnerabilities
  • Limited fiscal space in many countries.

Top Performers

• Europe dominates the top ranks:
  • Finland, Sweden, Denmark – top 3.
  • 19 of top 20 countries are in Europe.

• Even top-ranked nations face sustainability challenges like:
  • Climate change
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Unsustainable consumption patterns

• Requires accelerated action in lagging goals like:
  • Climate action (SDG 13)
  • Gender equality (SDG 5)
  • Quality education (SDG 4)
  • Health (SDG 3)

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Maritime body sounds alarm on order to retire ‘old’ ships

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Context :

• DG Shipping Order 6/2023 mandates the retirement of ships over 20 years old.
• International Maritime Federation (IMF) warns that this could lead to:
  • Premature scrapping of 700+ Indian-flagged vessels.
  • Loss of 20,000+ seafaring jobs.
  • Indirect livelihood impact on over 1 lakh people.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance ),GS 3(Infrastructure ,Transport)

Key Concerns Raised by IMF

• Blanket age-based ban lacks flexibility and ignores actual vessel condition.
• Disproportionate penalties imposed on Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) companies add to the burden.
• IMF terms these measures as existential threats to India’s maritime ecosystem.

Global Context & Contradictions

• Global data from over 1.3 lakh vessels and 3.7 lakh safety inspections suggest:
  • Older ships (25+ years) often show better safety records than newer ones.
  • Attributed to:
    • Rigorous maintenance routines.
    • Survivorship bias — only robust, well-maintained older ships remain in service.

Implications for India

• Coastal shipping and blue economy ambitions could suffer due to reduced fleet size.
• Threatens India’s goal to expand domestic shipping capacity and reduce dependency on foreign vessels.
• Could disincentivise private investment in Indian-flagged ships.

Policy Suggestions

• Adopt a condition-based approach rather than fixed age limits.
• Ensure proportionality in penalties for RPSL companies.
• Align domestic norms with international maritime practices and safety standards.

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Technique to make CAR T-cells in vivo could transform cancer care

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What is CAR T-cell therapy?

• A form of immunotherapy where T-cells are genetically modified to detect and destroy cancer cells.
• Conventional method: T-cells are extracted, engineered with CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) in labs, and re-infused.
• Target cancers: Mostly B-cell driven cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma.

Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)

Current Challenges in CAR T-cell Therapy

• Complex & expensive: ₹60–70 lakh per patient in India.
• Requires:
  • Personalised lab-based engineering
  • Viral vectors for gene delivery
  • Chemotherapy for immune suppression
• Risk of severe side effects: cytokine storms, secondary infections, and genetic complications.

New Breakthrough: In Vivo CAR T-cell Engineering

• Published in Science (June 2025): Researchers used mRNA + lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver CAR instructions inside the body.
• Target: CD8+ T-cells using antibody-tagged LNPs.
• No need for:
  • Cell extraction
  • Lab processing
  • Chemotherapy

Key Preclinical Results

• In mice: Tumours regressed after in vivo reprogramming.
• In monkeys:
  • B cells depleted in multiple organs
  • 85–95% T-cell reprogramming achieved after 2–3 infusions
  • Some immune reset observed in autoimmune models.

Advantages of In Vivo Approach

• Temporary modification via mRNA reduces long-term genetic risks.
• No chemotherapy required → safer for elderly/comorbid patients.
• Potential for mass production and standardised dosing, like vaccines or biologic drugs.
• Uses Lipid 829: a biodegradable carrier with lower inflammation risk.

Safety Considerations

• Mild inflammation seen; manageable with premedication.
• One monkey developed severe immune reaction (HLH) → underlines need for careful dosing.
• Human trials essential to verify safety, reproducibility, and long-term effects.

Relevance for India

• High burden of B-cell cancers (e.g., DLBCL, ALL).
• Rising autoimmune cases post-COVID.
• Existing barriers: Few specialised centres, high costs, limited trained personnel.
• This new infusion-based method could democratise access to CAR T therapy in low-resource settings.

Broader Implications

• Could transform oncology and autoimmune treatment models.
• May set precedent for in vivo gene therapy platforms.
• Offers a path to affordable personalised medicine in developing countries.

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Crushed stone is being spread across farms to capture carbon

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What is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)?

• A climate mitigation technique that accelerates natural rock weathering to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• Involves spreading finely crushed quick-weathering rocks (like basalt) on farmlands.
• Used in sugarcane fields (Brazil, Australia), tea plantations (India), and oil palm fields (Malaysia).

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

How It Works

• Weathering: CO₂ reacts with water forming carbonic acid, which breaks down rocks.
• This forms bicarbonates, eventually converting into limestone, locking away CO₂.
• ERW increases:
  • Rock surface area (via grinding)
  • Contact with air, water, and soil.

Effectiveness: What Studies Show

• A U.S. study: 50 tonnes of basalt per hectare/year could remove up to 10.5 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare over 4 years.
• Field studies in Malaysia & Australia show lower CO₂ removal rates, suggesting earlier overestimation.
• Carbon capture depends on:
  • Rock type & particle size
  • Soil chemistry
  • Temperature & moisture
  • Land management practices

Challenges in Measuring CO₂ Removal

• Carbon capture often inferred via cation release, but:
  • Cations are produced by all acids, not just carbonic acid.
  • Hence, it may overestimate CO₂ uptake.
• Better calibration and metrics are needed to accurately assess ERW impact.

Other Environmental & Agricultural Benefits

• Increases soil alkalinity → improves:
  • Crop growth
  • Nutrient availability
  • Soil formation
• May reduce acid runoff from soil → prevents CO₂ release from rivers/oceans.

Risks & Limitations

• Finely crushed rock may contain heavy metals (e.g., nickel, chromium).
• Health hazards for workers due to dust inhalation → requires protective gear.
• Uncertain scale of actual CO₂ mitigation vs theoretical predictions.

Carbon Credit Potential

• Attracting corporate interest: Tech firms, airlines, fashion brands are investing in ERW for carbon offsetting.
• Could become a part of carbon markets, if standardised and measurable.