Society 

What does NEP, 2020 state about languages? - The Hindu 

Tamil Nadu’s resistance to adopting the three-language policy as mandated under the National Education Policy (NEP, 2020) has brought the age-old language debate back under the limelight.

Medium of Instruction

• Primary Education: Home language/ mother tongue/ local/ regional language up to Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
• Post Grade 8: Home/ local language to be continued as a subject wherever possible.
• Rationale: Young children grasp concepts better in their mother tongue.
• Bilingualism Encouraged: Mother tongue along with English from the Foundational Stage.

Findings of AISES on Language in Schools

• Medium of Instruction Decline:
  • 2002 (7th Survey): 92.07% schools taught in mother tongue.
  • 2009 (8th Survey): Dropped to 86.62%.
• Urban-Rural Divide:
  • Rural Schools: 92.39% (2002) → 87.56% (2009).
  • Urban Schools: 90.39% (2002) → 80.99% (2009).

Three-Language Formula

• Previous Formula (1968):
  • Hindi-speaking states: Hindi + English + Modern Indian Language (preferably Southern language).
  • Non-Hindi-speaking states: Hindi + English + Regional Language.
• NEP 2020 Changes:
  • Flexibility introduced; no language imposed on any state.
  • Promotion of Sanskrit: Encouraged in the three-language formula.
  • Classical Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Pali, Persian, and Prakrit to be offered.
• Learning Resources:
  • High-quality textbooks in mother tongue, including science subjects.
  • NCERT released digital books in 104 regional languages/dialects (2024).
  • Assam and Andhra Pradesh introduced bilingual textbooks.
• Implementation Challenges:
  • Lack of teachers for some languages (e.g., Tamil & Telugu in Himachal Pradesh).
  • Tamil, introduced in Haryana (1969), removed in 2010 due to lack of speakers.

Foreign Languages

• Secondary Level: Languages like Korean, Japanese, Thai, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian to be offered.
• CBSE Plan:
  • Till Class 10: Two Indian languages.
  • Class 11 & 12: Option to study one Indian + one foreign language.

 

India's obesity problem - Indian Express 

Stressing upon the importance of staying fit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed obesity as the “root cause of many diseases” even as he shared a report claiming that nearly “44 crore people in India may be obese by 2050”.

Obesity in India

• Obesity Trends in India: India is witnessing a continuous rise in overweight and obese individuals, projected to increase until 2050.
• Adults: India ranked 4th in 1990 but is projected to have the 2nd largest overweight or obese population by 2050.
• Older Adolescents (15-24 years): India overtook China in 2021 for the highest number of overweight and obese individuals.
• Children: India ranks 2nd after China, with the gap expected to narrow by 2050 as India's numbers continue to rise.

Definition of Obesity

• Adults:
  • Overweight: BMI between 25-30.
  • Obese: BMI above 30.
• Children & Adolescents (5-17 years): Classified as per International Obesity Task Force guidelines.
• New Definition (Lancet Commission, 2024):
  • Introduced ‘Clinical Obesity’ and ‘Pre-clinical Obesity’.
  • Diagnosis considers BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, metabolic dysfunctions, and lifestyle impact.

Impact of Rising Obesity

• Increase in Adult Obesity: Most obese children will grow into obese adults.
• Early Onset of Lifestyle Diseases: Higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and cancers.
• Aging Population Challenges: More obesity-related chronic illnesses, increased healthcare costs.
• Increased Healthcare Burden: Higher vulnerability to infections, greater healthcare spending.
• Coexistence with Undernutrition: Malnutrition leads to fat storage mechanisms, increasing obesity risk later.

Causes of the Obesity Epidemic

• Shift to calorie-dense foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.
• Traditional food supply systems were replaced by multinational food corporations.
• Rapid expansion of ultra-processed food markets in low- and middle-income countries, including India.

Solutions and Policy Recommendations

• Protect Local Food Systems: Support traditional agricultural practices and impose taxes on unhealthy foods.
• Investment in Obesity Treatment: Strengthen clinical management in affected regions.
• National-Level Policies: Only 40% of countries have obesity-related policies, dropping to 10% in low-income nations.
• Intervention Research in Low-Income Countries: Most studies focus on high-income settings.
• Use of New Obesity Drugs:
  • GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide show promise but remain costly.
  • WHO rejected including anti-obesity drugs in the essential medicines list in 2023.
  • Market exclusivity for some drugs is ending, allowing cheaper alternatives.

 

Polity 

Are unique electoral ID numbers being duplicated? - The Hindu 

Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the ruling BJP was “with the blessings of Election Commission of India [EC]” including voters from other States in the West Bengal voters’ list. 

EPIC Card

• About: A 10-digit voter ID card number issued by the Election Commission (EC).
• Role: A unique alphanumeric code assigned to each registered voter to prevent impersonation.
• Introduction: 1993 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 to enhance transparency.
• Assignment: Through ERONET, a digital platform managing electoral rolls across States and UTs.

EC’s Response on Duplicate EPIC Numbers

• Reason for duplication: Before ERONET, a decentralized manual system led to identical EPIC numbers in different States/UTs.
• Rectification plan: ERONET 2.0 will ensure unique EPIC numbers for all voters.

 

Economy 

How, why apex court limited the power of arrest under GST, Customs Acts - Indian Express 

Last week, the Supreme Court sought to curb the misuse of provisions allowing officials to arrest persons accused of violating the Customs Act, 1962, and the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (CGST Act).

Exercise of Police Powers

• SC Judgement: Held that officers under the Customs Act and CGST Act are not police officers but have similar powers (investigation, arrest, seizure, interrogation).
• Bar on officers: Cannot exceed the powers of a police officer in charge of a police station and must follow the same procedural standards.

Application of CrPC

• Sections 4 and 5 of CrPC apply unless a special act provides otherwise.
• Restrictions on police arrest also apply to Customs officers, including:
  • Magistrate presentation within 24 hours of arrest.
  • Informing a family member or friend about the arrest.
  • Right to an advocate's presence during interrogation.

Power of Arrest

• Customs Act (Section 104):
  • Cognizable offences (e.g., prohibited goods, customs duty evasion over ₹50 lakh) allow arrest without a warrant.
  • Non-cognizable offences require a Magistrate’s warrant for arrest.

• CGST Act (Section 132):

• Classifies offences as cognizable and non-cognizable based on severity.

SC Observations on Arrest Without Warrant

• Kejriwal v. ED case: SC ruled that arrest without a warrant is an extreme power and must follow safeguards under Section 19 of PMLA:
  • Possession of sufficient material by the officer.
  • Reason to believe in the arrestee’s guilt.
  • Immediate communication of arrest grounds.
• Radhika Agarwal case: SC extended these conditions to Customs and CGST officers, warning against arbitrary arrests.

SC Guidelines on Arrest Powers under Customs & CGST Acts

• Material in Possession:
  • Arrest requires concrete evidence recorded in writing, confirming guilt (Kejriwal case).
  • Officers must consider all case materials, including exculpatory evidence.
  • Radhika Agarwal case: Customs officers cannot base arrests on mere suspicion.
• Reasons to Believe:
  • Officers must record clear reasons for believing an arrestee is guilty.
  • Courts cannot review merits but can check logical connection to case material.
  • Though not explicitly required under the Customs and CGST Acts, reason recording is implicitly necessary due to classification of offences.
• Providing Grounds of Arrest:
  • Arrestee must be informed of the reason to believe in their guilt.
  • Ensures the right to challenge arrest or apply for bail.
  • Radhika Agarwal case: SC reaffirmed the need for transparency in arrests.
• Misuse of Arrest Powers:
  • SC refused to strike down arrest powers but noted coercion in tax recovery.
  • Found merit in claims that taxpayers were forced to pay dues under threat of arrest.
  • Ruled such coercion illegal and impermissible; victims can seek refunds.
  • Directed CBIC to frame guidelines preventing misuse of arrest powers.

 

Environment 

Madhav National Park becomes India’s 58th Tiger Reserve - The Hindu 

The Centre declared the Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh as the country’s 58th tiger reserve on Sunday, with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav making the announcement. The newly added Tiger Reserve is also the ninth from the State to get the recognition.

Madhav National Park

• Location: In Madhya Pradesh, on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands.

• Terrain: Part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills, with plateaus and valleys.
• Lakes: Sakhya Sagar & Madhav Sagar.

Rivers:

• North & Northeast: Forms the Amarnadi catchment.
• East: Forms the Sind River catchment along the park boundary.

• Geology: Eastern part has Vindhyan sedimentary rocks (sandstone, shale, limestone).
• Forest Types:
  • Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests
  • Dry thorn forests (typical of North-Western Madhya Pradesh)
• Trees: Kardhai, Salai, Dhaora, Khair.
• Understory: Ber, Makor, Karonda.
• Riparian species: Jamun, Mahua (along nullahs).
• Herbivores: Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsinga, Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer.
• Carnivores: Leopard, Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Wild Dog.

Bar-Headed Goose - Indian Express 

A bar-headed goose (Anser indicus), a rare migratory bird, was sighted for the first time in Morshing village, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, recently.

Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus)

• About: A Migratory bird and one of the highest-flying species.

• Height: Flies at 25,000 feet over the Himalayas, enduring low oxygen and extreme temperatures.
• Native: Central Asia (breeds here).
• Migrates: South Asia in winters (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, etc.).
• India: Found from northeast to southern regions.
• Breeding: High-altitude lakes.
• Wintering: Freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, rocky regions, and farmlands.
• Color: Gray body, white head with two brownish-black bars.
• Bill & Legs: Pink, orange, or yellow.
• Wingspan: 140-160 cm.
• Size: Males slightly larger than females.
• Breeding: Monogamous and seasonal breeders.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Sci and Tech 

How scammers use Gen AI, and what you can do to protect yourself - The Hindu 

Last year, the U.S. FBI issued a warning, stating that criminals are increasingly exploiting generative artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud on a larger scale, making their schemes more convincing. 

Generative AI 

Use of Generative AI in Fraud:

• Unregulated AI tools: Enable scammers to create realistic multimedia scams.
• Text generators: Craft grammatically correct deceptive messages in multiple languages.
• Malicious code: Generates fake websites to compromise victims' systems.
• AI-generated images: Create deepfakes, fake documents, and explicit content for extortion.
• Voice cloning: Mimics real people to execute fake distress calls for monetary fraud.
• AI videos: Help scammers orchestrate fake scenarios, like deepfake video calls showing victims in distress.

Warning Signs of AI-Generated Fraud

• Unexpected money requests, even from known contacts.
• Surprise financial demands (gift card redemption, prize claims, fines, bail payments).
• Unfamiliar texts/media files—avoid opening them on unsecured devices.
• Aggressive/intimidating tactics in scams like 'digital arrest'.
• Urgency & secrecy used to force compliance.
• Deepfake impersonation—verify directly with the concerned person instead of trusting visual proof.

Protection Against AI-Enabled Crime

• Use a family password: To verify identity before acting on urgent money requests.
• Secure minors’ and elders’ devices: Set social media to private mode.

• Educate children: Help them to identify AI-generated content.

• Dating apps: Report AI-generated profiles, avoid financial transactions, and stay on-platform until trust is established.
• Charitable donations: Verify authenticity of images and organizations before donating.
• Do not trust AI-generated police/military profiles: Genuine officers do not demand money via video calls.
• Report AI scams

 

HANTAVIRUS - Indian Express 

New Mexico officials recently released the autopsy results of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa. The autopsy concluded that she had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), with no other diseases or trauma being detected.

Hantavirus

• Meaning: A rodent-borne virus causing serious illness in humans.
• Spread: Through urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents (not human-to-human).
• Types of Hantavirus Diseases
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):
    • Found in the Western Hemisphere.
    • Main carrier: Deer mouse.
  • Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS):
    • Common in Europe and Asia.
• Early signs: Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, muscle aches).
• Advanced stage: Respiratory distress due to fluid in lungs.
• Mortality rate: 38% for those with respiratory symptoms.
• Treatment: No known cure, but early detection is critical.
• Supportive care: Antivirals for symptom management, respiratory support if needed.

Preventive measures:

• Use wet cleaning methods (avoid vacuuming/brooming).
• Wear gloves, N95 mask, and use bleach/disinfectants to clean contaminated areas.