Art and Culture 

Onam festivities kick off with vibrant Atham pageantry - The Hindu

About Onam 

• State: The annual harvest festival of Kerala
• Mythological Significance: The festival marks the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali, a benevolent ruler who is believed to visit Kerala during Onam.

• Month: It typically occurs in August or September, during the Malayalam month of Chingam
• Nature: 10-day harvest festival begins on Atham (first day of Onam) and concludes on Thiruvonam (last day). Onam marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest season in Kerala
• Main Events:
  • Pookalam: Floral decorations laid out in front of homes.
  • Onasadya: A grand feast with a variety of traditional dishes served on banana leaves.
  • Vallam Kali: The famous snake boat races held in the backwaters of Kerala.
  • Pulikali: Traditional tiger dances performed in the streets.

Geography

Yettinahole project will cover more dry areas -The Hindu

Context

• The first stage of the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project was inaugurated on September 6, 2024. The project aims to address long-standing water scarcity issues in seven drought-prone districts in Karnataka.
• The project will utilize water from four tributaries of the Netravati River: Yettinahole, Kadumanehole, Kerihole, and Hongadahalla.

World Affairs 

Formalised ‘gender apartheid’: What Taliban’s new law means for women - Indian Express

Context

• The Taliban have introduced a new law in Afghanistan that formalizes a series of repressive measures against women, effectively amounting to what has been described as "gender apartheid."
  • Gender Apartheid: A system of segregation or discrimination based on gender, resulting in social, political, or economic inequalities.
• The law mandates strict dress codes for women, bans them from public singing or reading aloud, and enforces other restrictions, reinforcing the Taliban's conservative interpretation of Islamic law.
• The law also imposes restrictions on men’s appearance, sanctions persecution of LGBTQ people and religious minorities, and expands the powers of Taliban’s morality inspectors.

The new law 

Possible Way Out

• International Diplomatic Pressure: The international community, particularly Western nations, can continue to press for change through diplomatic channels.
• Support to Afghan Civil Society: Providing support and a platform for Afghan women's rights activists and organizations can help sustain internal resistance.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Directing humanitarian aid through UN agencies and NGOs to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable.

Quad leaders scheduled to meet in U.S. on September 21 - The Hindu

Context

• The Quad leaders—U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—are scheduled to meet in the U.S. on September 21, 2024. This summit will take place in advance of the UN meetings, marking a notable occasion as it will be hosted by the U.S., and not India as previously planned.

Environment 

Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) Methodology - Indian Express

Context

• Each food bank reduces the same volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as removing 900 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year, according to estimates based on data from a new methodology termed as Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME). 

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Global Methane Hub

• About: A philanthropic organization dedicated to reducing methane emissions globally and boosting philanthropic resources allocated specifically to methane reduction.
• Contribution: Donated $10 million to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition(CCAC) to financially assist 30 countries with developing plans to reduce their methane emissions. 

Sci & Tech

Night time light pollution linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk: what a new study says - Indian Express

Context

• A recent study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience has highlighted a potential link between exposure to artificial light at night and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Conducted by researchers from Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, the study suggests that night-time light pollution could be a new environmental factor contributing to Alzheimer’s, especially early-onset cases.

 Analysis of the Study 

• The study suggests that exposure to artificial light at night could be an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer’s, particularly early-onset cases(occurs before the age of 65). This adds a new dimension to our understanding of Alzheimer’s and highlights the need to consider environmental factors like light pollution.
• Circadian Rhythm Disruption: Light pollution interferes with the natural circadian rhythms, which are crucial for maintaining healthy sleep patterns. Disruption of these rhythms has been linked to increased risks of several conditions that are also known risk factors for Alzheimer’s, such as obesity, diabetes, and depression.
  • Circadian Rhythm: The natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.
• Policy Implications: The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to recognize light pollution as a public health concern and to implement measures to mitigate its effects, especially in urban areas.

Health Ministry approves new treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant TB - The Hindu

Context

• The Union Health Ministry has approved a new treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in India. The new BPaLM regimen, which includes Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin, has been recognized as a safer, more effective, and quicker treatment option compared to existing methods. 
• This development marks a significant step in India's efforts to combat drug-resistant TB and accelerate the elimination of the disease.

Prior regimens for MDR-TB 

• They required up to 20 months of treatment, with multiple drugs and significant side effects. These regimens were less effective and involved a higher cost burden.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 
• It primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
• TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
• Treatment, First-Line Drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide are commonly used to treat TB.
• Drug-Resistant TB:
  • Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB): a form of tuberculosis that is resistant to at least the two most potent TB drugs, Isoniazid and Rifampicin
  • Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB): Resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin, plus at least one fluoroquinolone and one of the three injectable second-line drugs.
• Vaccination: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can help protect against severe forms of TB in children.

Defence 

India successfully carries out launch of Agni-4 ballistic missile - PIB

Context

• A successful test launch of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-4 was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha on September 6, 2024. The test launch was aimed at validating all operational and technical parameters of the missile system.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) - 1983

• An ambitious initiative launched by the Government of India in 1983 under the leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• The IGMDP focused on the development of five core missile systems:
  • Prithvi: Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)
  • Agni: Ballistic Missile Family
  • Akash: Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
  • Trishul:Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
  • Nag: Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

5th India-Maldives Defence Cooperation Dialogue held in New Delhi - PIB 

Context

• Recetly, the 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) between India and the Maldives was held in New Delhi. The dialogue served as a platform for both countries to discuss bilateral defence cooperation, implementation of ongoing projects, and other areas of mutual interest, highlighting the strengthening strategic partnership between the two nations.

The Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) 

• The Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) serves as a formal framework for regular consultation and dialogue on defence-related issues between the two countries. It is held annually or bi-annually, alternately in India and the Maldives.