Top News Highlights- 19 July 2024

WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2023 Released

• Global Findings: Childhood immunization coverage stalled in 2023, leaving 2.7 million children unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. Over 50% of unvaccinated children live in 31 conflict-affected countries.
• India Specific: In 2023, 1.6 million children missed crucial DPT and measles vaccinations. India accounted for 2 million zero-dose children (those never reached by routine immunization services).
• Initiatives: Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) since 1985, Mission Indradhanush 2014, and Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 in 2023 to vaccinate children up to 5 years and pregnant women.

Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme

• Current Status: As of December 2023, India’s rooftop solar installed capacity is 11.08 GW, with Gujarat leading at 2.8 GW.
• Potential: Over 25 crore households in India could deploy 637 GW on rooftops.
• Significance: Reduces technical and operational burden, helps achieve renewable energy targets by 2030, and enhances energy security.

Glacial Geoengineering: A Landmark White Paper

Strategies Proposed:

• Ocean-heat transport interventions: Sediment berms or fibrous curtains along seabed.
• Basal-hydrology interventions: Drilling holes to create drainage channels.
• Significance: Can complement decarbonization efforts, halt glacier melting, and restrict sea level rise.
• Concerns: High financial costs, potential ecological disturbances, and termination shock (rapid temperature rise after technology pause).

Relaxation of Area Limits for Critical Minerals under MMDRA

• New Limits: Prospecting License area increased to 100 sq.km and Mining Lease area to 50 sq.km.
• Critical Minerals: Essential for economic development and national security. Include Cobalt, Vanadium, Beryllium, Tungsten, etc.
• Significance: Crucial for renewable energy technologies, defense equipment, and industrial applications. India’s initiatives include forming Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) and membership in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP).

Chandipura Virus Outbreak in Gujarat

• Virus Details: Identified in 1965, primarily affects children aged 9 months-14 years, and associated with acute encephalitis.
• Transmission: Spread through vector-infected sandfly stings, more common in rural areas.
• Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, loose motion, and headache.

Lunar Cave Discovery at the Sea of Tranquillity

• Details: An underground cave accessible from the surface recorded at the Sea of Tranquillity.
• Significance: Provides new insight into lunar evolution and volcanism. Potential shelter for future astronauts from radiation and temperature extremes.

Operation Nanhe Farishtey

• Achievements: Railway Protection Force rescued 84,119 children in need of care and protection across various Indian Railway Zones in the last 7 years.
• Mission Objective: Dedicated to rescuing children across Indian Railways.

Annual Pilgrimage of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj

• Event: Culminates on Ashadhi Ekadashi. Followers of the Warkari sect start the procession from Dehu and Alandi and end in Pandharpur.
• About Sant Dnyaneshwar: A 13th-century Marathi saint and poet, authored Dnyaneshwari (commentary on Bhagavad Gita) and Amrutanubhav. Promoted values of equality, humanity, and compassion.

Key Concepts and Policies

• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): Operational since 1985, aims to vaccinate all children and pregnant women.
• Mission Indradhanush: Launched in 2014 to vaccinate unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women.
• Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme: Targets achieving 40,000 MW installed capacity from rooftop solar projects.
• Geoengineering: Large-scale manipulation of Earth’s climate systems to counteract global warming.
• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDRA): Regulates mining activities and ensures the supply of critical minerals.