India slips in press freedom index, ranks 161 out of 180 nations

India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by the global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Neighbors

In comparison, Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year’s 157th rank. In 2022, India was ranked at 150.

Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022.

Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom, while Vietnam, China and North Korea constituted the bottom three.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) comes out with a global ranking of press freedom every year. RSF is an international NGO whose self-proclaimed aim is to defend and promote media freedom. Headquartered in Paris, it has consultative status with the United Nations. ”.

Freedom of Press in India

• The Constitution, the supreme law of the land, guarantees freedom of speech and expression under Article 19,deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
• Freedom of press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution, which states - "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression".
• In 1950, the Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
• However, Freedom of press is also not absolute. It faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows-
  • Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

Highly pathogenic bird flu virus puts Centre on alert

Housing one of the largest livestock reserves across the world, India is at “risk and vulnerable” to the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1) worldwide, a worry compounded by the threat of mammalian transmission.

Across the world, the virus is being detected among wild birds and other species, which makes the chance of it mutating and becoming harmful greater

H5N1, a highly pathogenic subtype of avian influenza, was detected by the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, Bhopal in the samples received from the Government Poultry Farm at Bokaro, Jharkhand

H5N1 Avian Influenza

• Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses.
  • Infrequently, the virus can infect mammals from birds, a phenomenon called spillover, and rarely can spread between mammals.
• H5N1, a subtype of avian influenza, has the potential to infect other mammals such as minks, ferrets, seals, domestic cats, and others through contact with infected birds, their faeces, or infected bird carcasses.
• Symptoms in Humans:
  • Range from mild to severe influenza-like illnesses such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting.
  • People can also develop severe respiratory illness (e.g., difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia) and altered mental status, seizures etc.
• Avian Influenza in India:
  • In 2019, India has been declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), which has also been notified to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
    • However, in December 2020 and early 2021, outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 and H5N8 were reported in poultry in 15 states in India.
• Treatment:
  • Evidence suggests that some antiviral drugs can reduce the duration of viral replication and improve prospects of survival, however ongoing clinical studies are needed.
• Concerns:
  • The widespread H5N1 outbreaks have substantial economic impact, resulting in significant losses to the poultry industry and threatening food and vaccine security, apart from raising animal welfare and environmental concerns.

Types of Influenza Virus

• There are four types of influenza viruses: influenza A, B, C, and D
• Influenza A and B are the two types of influenza that cause epidemic seasonal infections nearly every year.
• Influenza C mainly occurs in humans, but has been known to also occur in dogs and pigs.
• Influenza D is found mainly in cattle. It’s not known to infect or cause illness in humans yet.

Avian influenza Type A Viruses

• Type A viruses are classified based on two proteins on their surfaces – Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). There are about 18 HA subtypes and 11 NA subtypes.
• Several combinations of these two proteins are possible e.g., H5N1, H7N2, H9N6, H17N10, H18N11 etc.
• All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds, except subtypes H17N10 and H18N11, which have only been found in bats.

“India has been dealing with influenza since 2006-07 and there is no vaccine for high-pathogenic avian influenza. Currently we have checked 1,500 samples from hotspots such as waterbodies and poultry farms. Out of this only one case was found positive from Alappuzha in Kerala. There is nothing to panic about, but we need to be vigilant. We must strengthen our bio-security measures,” added Dr. Mitra.

Curfew in eight districts of Manipur over tribal stir

A curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile Internet services were suspended in the entire northeastern State over the violence during a tribal agitation

Violence broke out during a “tribal solidarity march” called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area to protest against the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who dominate the Imphal Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meitei

• Meitei, also spelt Meetei or Meithei, also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India.
• They are predominantly Vaishnavite Hindus.
• They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry.
• An interesting aspect of the village socio-economic organization in Meitei society is the Marup system (literally means friendship association), a type of cooperative saving and credit institution.
• Culture
  • They speak a Tibeto-Burman language, they differ culturally from the surrounding hill tribes by following Hindu customs.
• Economy
• Rice cultivation on irrigated fields is the basis of their economy. They are keen horse breeders, and polo is a national game.
• Field hockey, boat races, theatrical performances, and dancing—well known throughout India as the Manipuri style—are other pastimes.

The pendant is 20,000 years old. Ancient DNA shows who wore it

• Inside a Siberian (Denisova Cave) cave that has been an archeological treasure trove, an elk’s canine tooth – pierced to become a pendant – was unearthed by scientists with care to avoid contaminating this intriguing artifact made roughly 20,000 years ago.
• Scientists on Wednesday said a new method for extracting ancient DNA identified the object’s long-ago owner – a Stone Age woman closely related to a population of hunter-gatherers known to have lived in a part of Siberia east of the cave site in the foothills of the Altai Mountains in Russia.

New method

• The method can isolate DNA that was present in skin cells, sweat or other bodily fluids and was absorbed by certain types of porous material including bones, teeth and tusks when handled by someone thousands of years ago.
• It became the first prehistoric artifact linked by genetic sleuthing to a specific person.
• Denisova Cave long ago was inhabited at different times by the extinct human species called Denisovans, Neanderthals and our species
• By linking objects with particular people, the technique could shed light on prehistoric social roles and division of labor between the sexes or clarify whether or not an object was even made by our species.