Whatsapp 93125-11015 For Details
1. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) addresses the rising burden of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, contributing to 63% of deaths in India. The program focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, and management through infrastructure strengthening, training, and health promotion. It includes screening for diabetes, hypertension, and cancers, and the establishment of NCD clinics and cardiac care units. ASHAs and ANMs are trained for detection and management. Financial support is provided under the National Health Mission with a Centre-State share. The program established numerous clinics and mobile applications for tracking NCD data. The WHO Global Action Plan aims to reduce premature NCD deaths by one-third by 2030.
2. The 55th GST Council Meeting introduced several key decisions. The GST rate on used Electric Vehicles (EVs) was raised to 18%, aligning with non-electric vehicles, with GST applicable only to the margin in business sales. There will be no GST on penal charges by banks and NBFCs for loan violations. Payment aggregators handling payments under Rs 2,000 are exempt, but this does not extend to payment gateways or other fintech services. The Council decided not to include Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) under GST due to opposition from states. GST exemptions were granted for black pepper and raisins directly supplied by farmers, and gene therapy and surface-to-air missiles. The compensation cess was reduced to 0.1% for supplies to merchant exporters. Regarding popcorn, caramelized popcorn is taxed at 18%, while salted popcorn is taxed at 5% or 12% based on packaging. The GST Council, a constitutional body, advises on GST implementation, but its recommendations are not binding.
3. Cephalopods are a class of ocean-dwelling, intelligent invertebrates that include octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. These animals belong to the broader group of molluscs, soft-bodied invertebrates often enclosed in a calcium carbonate shell. While early cephalopods had protective shells, most modern species have evolved traits such as high intelligence, flexible arms, and camouflage abilities. They are classified into three superorders: Octopodiforms (octopuses), Decapodiforms (squid, cuttlefish), and Nautiloids (nautiluses). Cephalopods have a unique anatomy where their head is connected to their arms, with octopuses having eight arms and squids having ten. They are known for their exceptional vision and visual camouflage, although they are likely colorblind. Cephalopods use jet propulsion for movement, and their blood is blue due to copper-based hemocyanin. Interestingly, much of the neurons in cephalopods are located outside their brain, particularly in their arms, which are capable of independent actions.
4. India's Deep Ocean Mission recently achieved a significant milestone by imaging an active hydrothermal vent 4,500 meters below the Indian Ocean's surface, enhancing India's efforts in mineral exploration and deep-sea research. Hydrothermal vents are underwater hot springs found near tectonic plates, where hot water and minerals from beneath the Earth's crust are expelled into the ocean. These vents form when seawater percolates through fissures in the ocean crust, coming into contact with magma and heating up to high temperatures. There are two main types: black smokers, emitting iron sulfides and forming black chimneys, and white smokers, releasing barium, calcium, and silicon. These vents are rich in minerals like copper, gold, and silver, and they support unique ecosystems of chemosynthetic organisms. Other similar geothermal features include hot springs, geysers, fumaroles, and mudpots, all of which are heated by geothermal energy from Earth's interior.
5. A recent study in Genome Research reveals that deletion mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) significantly contribute to muscle loss with age. Mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles of cells, are essential for generating ATP, which powers cellular processes. Mutations in mtDNA impair mitochondrial function, leading to reduced ATP production, muscle cell death, and atrophy. The study highlights that chimeric genes—formed by fusion of different mitochondrial genes due to mutations—disrupt normal mtDNA expression, accelerating mitochondrial dysfunction. Older individuals showed a two-fold increase in chimeric mitochondrial mRNA, exacerbating aging in muscle and brain tissues. These mutations and chimeric mRNA are identified as biomarkers for biological aging, offering potential pathways for therapies to delay age-related muscle decline.