2024 on track to be hottest year on record

• The WMO State of the Climate 2024 Update once again issues a Red Alert at the sheer pace of climate change in a single generation, turbo-charged by ever-increasing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. 
• It highlighted that 2015-2024 period will be the warmest ten years on record. The loss of ice from glaciers, sea-level rise and ocean heating are accelerating. Extreme weather is wreaking havoc on communities and economies across the world, it added.
• The January-September 2024 global mean surface air temperature was 1.54°C (with a margin of uncertainty of ±0.13°C) above the pre-industrial average, boosted by a warming El Nino event, according to an analysis of six international datasets used by WMO.
• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) combines data from NOAA, NASA, the UK Met Office, and the Japan Meteorological Agency, among others, emphasizing the interdisciplinary and international approach to climate monitoring.

Key points of the report:

• Record-breaking Heat: 2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record, potentially the first year to surpass the 1.5°C temperature increase over the preindustrial average—an alarming indicator for climate goals set by the Paris Agreement.
• Temperature Data: Analysis from January to October 2024 shows a global average temperature anomaly of 1.62°C above pre-industrial levels, with October alone at 1.65°C above. This marks 2024 as the second consecutive year of record-breaking global temperatures.
• Increased Ocean Temperatures: October 2024 recorded the second-highest average sea surface temperatures since the preindustrial era, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Warmer oceans directly contribute to intensified weather events.

Extreme Weather Events Linked to Climate Change: 

• The report highlights recent extreme weather events, including:
• Catastrophic floods in Spain (October–November) causing over 200 fatalities.
• Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, showing rapid intensification due to ocean warming.
• Cyclone Asna in India, with record-breaking rainfall and unusual land formation, impacting Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Atmospheric Moisture Rise: According to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, a 1°C rise in global temperature increases atmospheric moisture by 7 per cent, fueling extreme weather events. This underscores the urgency to address climate change impacts on the hydrological cycle.
• Implications for Climate Policy: The report serves as a call to action for COP29, encouraging nations to enhance climate action commitments as the world edges closer to the critical 1.5°C threshold.

World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
• It is the UN system’s authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.
• The WMO has 193 Members, including 187 Member States and 6 territories, maintaining their own meteorological services.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organisation (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
• Established in 1950, WMO became the specialised agency of the UN in 1951 for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences. 
• WMO facilitates the free and unrestricted exchange of data and information, products and services in real or near-real time on matters relating to safety and security of society, economic welfare and the protection of the environment. It contributes to policy formulation in these areas at national and international levels.

ICAR-NRC EQUINE EARNS PRESTIGIOUS WOAH STATUS

• ICAR-NRC Equine has achieved an international honor by being designated as a Reference Laboratory by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
• This status highlights India''s dedication to advancing animal health research in combating equine piroplasmosis, a disease affecting horses, donkeys, mules, and similar animals.

What is the ICAR-NRC Equine?

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRC Equine) is a research center focused on the health and wellbeing of equines (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.).
• Located in Hisar, Haryana, the center now joins a select group of laboratories recognized globally for its standards in animal disease diagnostics and research.

Why is the WOAH Recognition Important?

• Receiving WOAH Reference Laboratory status is a significant achievement because it confirms that ICAR-NRC Equine meets the highest global standards for animal health research and diagnostics. As a WOAH Reference Laboratory, ICAR-NRC Equine will:
• Work with other countries to share research and technical expertise.
• Offer advanced diagnostic services to help detect and control equine diseases.
• Conduct important research, especially on equine piroplasmosis, benefiting both national and international equine industries.

India''s Equine Population

• India has around 0.55 million equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, which play essential roles in livelihoods and industries. Key states with high equine populations include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana. This designation enhances India’s reputation in animal health on a global scale.

What is Equine Piroplasmosis?

• Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease affecting horses, donkeys, and mules. Caused by two parasites—Babesia caballi and Theileria equi—it impacts the health and productivity of these animals. The disease can lead to severe economic losses due to health deterioration, decreased productivity, and export restrictions on equines.

Tools for Combating Equine Piroplasmosis

• ICAR-NRC Equine has developed several advanced tools for detecting equine piroplasmosis:
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) identifies antibodies related to the disease. Competitive ELISA helps in precise detection of antibodies.
• Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test detects antibodies by examining fluorescent markers.
• PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) detects the presence of the disease-causing parasites directly from blood samples.
• These tools help in early diagnosis, making it easier to manage and control the disease.

 ICAR

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India. It was established    on 16 July 1929. It reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture. The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president. It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.

WOAH

• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), formerly the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1924, coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control. The primary objective of WOAH is to control epizootic diseases and prevent their spread. Further objectives include the sharing of transparent, scientific information; international solidarity; sanitary safety; and the promotion of veterinary services‚ food safety and animal welfare.
• WOAH is recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as an international reference for the safe trade of animals and animal products regarding risks due to animal diseases and zoonoses.
• WOAH is not a part of the United Nations (UN) system

Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as 51st CJI

• Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI). President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him at a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 11.
• He succeeds Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who demitted office on November 10.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and former CJI J.S. Khehar were among those present on the occasion, besides Justice Chandrachud.
• Justice Khanna will serve as the CJI for a little over six months and demit office on May 13, 2025, on attaining the age of 65 years.

Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?

• Justice Khanna, who served as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019, has been part of several landmark judgments such as upholding the sanctity of EVMs, scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the granting of interim bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
• Born on May 14, 1960, he studied law at the Campus Law Centre of Delhi University.
• Justice Khanna was the executive chairman of the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA).
• He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and initially practised in the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex here, and later, in the Delhi High Court.
• He had a long tenure as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. In 2004, he was appointed as the standing counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• Justice Khanna had also argued in a number of criminal cases at the Delhi High Court as an additional public prosecutor and as an amicus curiae.

 He was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and was made a permanent judge in 2006.

• He was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court of India in January 2019.
• Justice Khanna was part of the bench that ruled in favour of the government in the Article 370 abrogation. He has also struck down the electoral bonds scheme.
• In May 2023, Justice Khanna was part of a bench that held that the Supreme Court can have the discretion to dissolve the marriage by passing a decree of divorce by mutual consent on the grounds of ‘irretrievable breakdown’ by invoking powers under Article 142.

 Justice Khanna was also part of the five-judge Constitution Bench which upheld the 2010 landmark judgment of the Delhi High Court bringing the Chief Justice of India’s office under Right to Information. 

• Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of prominent former Supreme Court judge H.R. Khanna.
• Justice H.R. Khanna, the uncle of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, hit the headlines by resigning in 1976 after he wrote a dissenting verdict in the infamous ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency. The majority verdict of a Constitution bench, upholding the abrogation of fundamental rights during the Emergency, was considered a “black spot” on the judiciary.
• Justice H.R. Khanna declared the move unconstitutional and against the rule of law and paid a price as the then central government superseded him and made Justice M.H. Beg the next CJI.
• Justice H.R. Khanna was part of the landmark verdict propounding the basic structure doctrine in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973.

Process for appointment of CJI

• The Chief Justice of India and the judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
• According to the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which governs the process of appointment of judges in higher judiciary, the outgoing CJI initiates the process of naming the successor after getting a communication from the law ministry. 
• The MoP, however, does not specify the time limit for the initiation of the process of recommending the name of the successor CJI.
• Appointment to the office of the CJI should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office. 
• The Union minister of law, justice and company affairs would, at the appropriate time, seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
• Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior-most Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with other judges as envisaged in Article 124(2) of the Constitution would be made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
• After receipt of the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, the Union minister of law, justice and company affairs will put up the recommendation to the Prime Minister who will advise the President in the matter of appointment.

Nagaland Issue

• The NSCN-IM accuses the government of violating the Framework Agreement’s principles, specifically in failing to recognize Nagalim’s ''unique history and sovereign identity.''
• The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has issued an ultimatum, warning it may resume violent armed resistance if the Union government does not honour the 2015 Framework Agreement, signed to address the Naga political issue.
• The group’s statement also calls for third-party mediation to resolve stalled negotiations, which hinge on NSCN-IM’s demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution.

Naga Insurgency

• The Naga insurgency, India''s oldest, is aimed at creating a separate homeland of Nagalim that unites parts of India''s mountainous northeast with areas of neighbouring Myanmar for ethnic Naga people. About 20,000 people have died in the conflict since it began in 1947.
• British Annexation: Assam was annexed by the British in 1826, and the Naga Hills became part of British India in 1881.
• Formation of NNC: The Naga National Council (NNC) was established in April 1946 to promote social and political upliftment of the Nagas.
• Rise of Naga Independence Movement: Radical leader Angami Zapu Phizo''s return from Burma in 1947 strengthened the NNC faction demanding full independence.

Shillong Accord & Split of NNC

• Shillong Accord (1975): An agreement signed between the Government of India and some NNC leaders to abjure violence and seek a solution within the Indian Constitution.
• Opposition to Accord: Phizo, Isak Swu, and Thuingaleng Muivah opposed the accord, leading to a split.
• Formation of NSCN (1980): Isak Swu and Muivah formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
• NSCN Split (1988): NSCN split into two factions: NSCN (I-M) led by Isak & Muivah, and NSCN (K) led by Khaplang.

Demand for Greater Nagaland

• NSCN (I-M) initially sought an independent nation including present Nagaland, Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, and parts of Myanmar. Another demand was to integrate Naga-inhabited districts of Manipur with the state of Nagaland under the Indian Constitution.

Naga Peace Accord

• The Naga Peace Accord is a peace treaty, signed, on 3 August 2015, between the Government of India, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), to end the insurgency in the state of Nagaland in Northeast India.
• The Naga peace talks refer to talks undertaken between the Indian government and the various stakeholders in Nagaland to resolve decades-old disputes. Some of these issues date back to the colonial era.

Historical Background:

2015 Framework Agreement (FA):

• The Framework Agreement was signed by the government and the Naga leaders in 2015, making it a landmark agreement which is likely to pave way for permanent solution to the age-old Naga problem. Signing of the ‘Framework Agreement’ between GOI and NSCN-IM, on 03 August 2015, is perceived as a step towards restoration of peace in Nagaland in India.

Obstacles to Naga Peace Accord and Framework Agreement of 2015

• Defining of Greater Nagaland, called ‘Nagalim’.
• Integration of adjoining Naga inhibited areas.
• Unity amongst all Naga groups, despite the NSCN (IM) being the strongest and the lead group.
• Building up of greater confidence among the Naga groups, the state government and the Centre.

Way Forward:

NGT flags deteriorating water quality of Ganga in Uttar Pradesh

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has observed that the water quality in the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh is deteriorating because of the discharge of sewage or sullage into the river.
• Earlier, while considering the prevention and control of pollution in the Ganga, the green body sought compliance reports from various states, including Uttar Pradesh.
• In an order dated November 6, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said according to the report from Uttar Pradesh, there was a gap of 128 million litres per day (MLD) in sewage treatment in Prayagraj district.
• Also, 25 untapped drains discharged untreated sewage into the Ganga in the district and 15 untapped drains discharged the sullage into the Yamuna, the bench said.

India’s National River

• River Ganga has significant economic, environmental and cultural value in India. Rising in the Himalayas and flowing into the Bay of Bengal, the river traverses a course of more than 2,500 km through the plains of north and eastern India. 
• The river passes through mainly five states — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• The Ganga basin – which also extends into parts of Nepal, China and Bangladesh – accounts for 26 per cent of India’s landmass, 30 per cent of its water resources. Over 40 per cent of India''s gross domestic product is generated in the densely populated basin. 
• The river is facing pressures from human and economic activities that impact its water quality and flows.
• Over 80 per cent of the pollution load in the Ganga comes from untreated domestic wastewater from towns and cities along the river and its tributaries.
• Following the declaration of Ganga as the National River in 2008, there was a paradigm shift in the efforts at cleaning the river. 

National Green Tribunal

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. 
• It is a specialised body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. 
• NGT has five places of sitting — the principal bench at New Delhi and zonal benches at Pune, Kolkata, Bhopal and Chennai. 
• The Tribunal is headed by the chairperson who sits in the principal bench and has at least ten but not more than twenty judicial members and at least ten but not more than twenty expert members.
• Any person seeking relief and compensation for environmental damage involving subjects in the legislations mentioned in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 may approach the Tribunal.

Why was NGT set up?

• The precursor to the NGT Act was the 186th Report of the Law Commission of India submitted in March 2003 which came after the Supreme Court repeatedly urged Parliament through various judgments to establish specialised environmental courts, with qualified judges and technical experts on the bench. 
• The Supreme Court also put forward that there should be direct appeals to the Supreme Court from such environmental courts. 
• The Law Commission then recommended creation of a specialised court to deal with the environmental issues. The Law Commission expressed the view that it is not convenient for the High Courts and the Supreme Court to make local inquiries or to receive evidence. 

 Moreover, the superior Courts will not have access to expert environmental scientists on permanent basis to assist them. 

• The NGT was conceived as a complementary specialised forum to deal with all multidisciplinary environmental issues, both as original as well as an appellate authority. 
• The specialised forum was also made free from the rules of evidence applicable to normal courts and was permitted to lay down its own procedure to entertain oral and documentary evidence, consult experts, etc with specific mandate to observe the principles of natural justice.
• The right to a healthy environment has been construed as a part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution in the judicial pronouncement in India.
• The NGT is set up under the constitutional mandate under Entry 13 List I of Schedule VII to enforce Article 21 in regard to the environment and the Tribunal was conferred special jurisdiction for enforcement of environmental rights.

PYPIM

• Israeli researchers from the Israel Institute of Technology have created a new kind of software that could make computers faster and more energy-efficient.
• This technology, called in-memory processing, allows computers to handle data directly in memory instead of relying heavily on the central processing unit (CPU).

Understanding the Problem

• In modern computers, there is a gap between how fast data can be processed and how quickly it can be moved between memory and the CPU. This gap is called the "memory wall." When data is transferred between memory and the CPU, it takes up time and energy, slowing down the overall speed.
• Computers usually need to send data back and forth between the CPU and memory, which creates a bottleneck, or slow point.

What is In-Memory Processing?

• In-memory processing allows computers to do some calculations right where the data is stored—in memory. This approach reduces the need to transfer data to the CPU for every task. By handling data directly in memory, computers can save time and energy, making them faster and more efficient.

How Does PyPIM Work?

• To support this new type of processing, the researchers developed a platform called PyPIM.
• PyPIM combines the Python programming language with processing-in-memory (PIM) technology. PyPIM introduces new ways to do calculations in memory directly, without having to rely on the CPU as much.
• With PyPIM, developers can write programs that allow computers to use PIM, using Python—a popular programming language.
• To make it easier for developers, the researchers also created a simulation tool. This tool allows developers to test how much faster their programs could run using in-memory processing.

Benefits of Using PyPIM

• Using PyPIM has shown many advantages:
• Tasks like math calculations and certain algorithms are completed much faster.
• Since less data needs to be moved around, it uses less power.
• Programmers can make these improvements without needing to learn a completely new language.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is often called the "brain" of the computer. It handles most of the calculations, decision-making, and data processing that allow the computer to run programs and perform tasks. The CPU works by following instructions from software to carry out actions quickly and accurately. It’s a crucial component that processes information and makes computers functional.

Memory

• Memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory), is the temporary storage space in a computer. It holds data and instructions while the CPU processes them. When you open a program or file, it’s loaded from the hard drive into memory, where it can be accessed quickly. Unlike a hard drive, which stores data permanently, memory only holds data temporarily. Once the computer is turned off, the information in memory is erased.

STATE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that India''s agri-food systems have a hidden cost of $1.3 trillion, mainly due to unhealthy diets.

 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• It is a United Nations specialized agency tasked with improving nutrition, increasing agricultural productivity, raising rural populations'' living standards, and contributing to global economic growth.
• The FAO headquarters are in Rome, Italy.
•  The FAO currently includes 194 member nations, including India.

Reports published by the FAO include:

• The State of the World''s Forests (SOFO)
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA)
• The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO)
• The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)

Key Highlight of the Recent Report

Conclusion

• The FAO report aims to promote a nutritional value based transformation of agrifood systems to increase their sustainability, resilience, inclusiveness, and efficiency. 
• The transformation should recognize hidden costs and make informed decisions to increase the societal value of agrifood systems, with a focus on food security, nutrition, biodiversity conservation, and cultural identity.

Surge in ransomware attacks puts healthcare infra at risk

• An alarming surge in ransomware attacks is putting the world’s healthcare infrastructure at critical risk, endangering patient safety and destabilising health systems, the head of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) warned, as the Security Council convened to discuss strategies to counter the growing threat.

What is ransomware?

• Ransomware is a category of malware that gains access to systems and makes them unusable to its legitimate users, either by encrypting different files on targeted systems or locking the system’s screen unless a ransom is paid. Ransomware actors also threaten to sell or leak any exfiltrated data, if the ransom is not paid.
• • Ransomware attacks are a form of cyberattacks, in which a malicious actor “takes over” or “locks” files on a single computer or an entire network.
• The attacks have grown in scale and sophistication over the years, with the price tag now in the tens of billions each year.
•  According to a 2021 global survey, more than one-third of health institutions reported at least one ransomware attack in the preceding year, and a third among them reported paying a ransom.
• Although there are countless strains of ransomware, they mainly fall into two main categories:
• i) Crypto Ransomware encrypts files on a computer so that they become unusable.
• ii) Locker Ransomware blocks standard computer functions from being accessed.

How does ransomware work?

• 1) Access: Attackers gain access to your network. They establish control and plant malicious encryption software. They may also take copies of your data and threaten to leak it.
• 2) Activation: The malware is activated, locking devices and causing the data across the network to be encrypted, meaning you can no longer access it.
• 3) Ransom demand: Usually you will then receive an on-screen notification from the cyber criminal, explaining the ransom and how to make the payment to unlock your computer or regain access to your data. 
• Payment is usually demanded via an anonymous web page and usually in a cryptocurrency.

Issue of life and death

• WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasised the severe impact of cyberattacks on hospitals and healthcare services, calling for urgent and collective global action to address this growing crisis.

 Ransomware and other cyberattacks on hospitals and other health facilities are not just issues of security and confidentiality, they can be issues of life and death, he said.

• The digital transformation of healthcare, combined with the high value of health data, has made the sector a prime target for cybercriminals. 
• Tedros cited examples of the 2020 ransomware attack on Brno University Hospital in Czechia and a May 2021 breach of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE).
• Cyberattacks also extended beyond hospitals to disrupt the broader biomedical supply chain.
• During the pandemic, vulnerabilities were exposed in companies manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, clinical trial software vendors, and laboratories.
• WHO chief highlighted the concerning reality that, even when ransoms are paid, access to encrypted data is not guaranteed.
• Eduardo Conrado, President of Ascension Healthcare, a US-based non-profit healthcare provider, shared firsthand insights into the harsh realities of ransomware attacks.
• He detailed the May 2024 cyberattack on Ascension, which severely disrupted operations across its 120 hospitals.
• The attack encrypted thousands of computer systems, rendering electronic health records inaccessible and affecting key diagnostic services, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) and computed tomography (CT) scans.
• Nurses were unable to look up patient records from their computer stations and were forced to comb through paper back-ups. Imaging teams were unable to quickly send the latest scans up to surgeons waiting in the operating rooms.
• These disruptions not only delayed care but increased patient risk and placed an extraordinary burden on medical staff already contending with high-stress conditions.
• Restoring operations took 37 days, during which the backlog of paper records grew to a towering mile-high equivalent. Ascension spent about $130 million on its response to the attack and lost approximately $900 million in operating revenue as of the end of fiscal year 2024.