Should mpox be labelled a sexually transmitted disease?

• Mpox was first declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022, when an outbreak of the the clade 2b strain gripped several countries in Africa -- and while this strain has continued to spread, but at lower levels, cases of a newly-identified and more potent variant, clade 1b, which began to be reported in the latter half of 2024, are still widespread in parts of Central Africa and are also being seen through travel-associated infections from Europe, Asia and North America as welL
• As mpox cases continue to rise globally, experts remain divided on whether the disease should be classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
• While some argue that such a designation could help focus public health interventions, Indian health professionals caution that it may lead to increased stigma, ultimately hindering effective response efforts.
• Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. 
• Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. There are two distinct clades of the virus: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb).
• A global outbreak of clade IIb began in 2022 and continues to this day, including in some African countries. There are also growing outbreaks of clades Ia and Ib affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa. As of August 2024, clade Ib has also been detected beyond Africa.
• The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, but various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible. 
• A major point of discussion among researchers is whether mpox should be classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which would lead to targeted public health measures to control its spread.
• While some experts argue that classifying mpox as an STD would help focus interventions, others warn that such a label could lead to stigma and hinder containment efforts.
• Indian public health experts warn that branding mpox as an STD could discourage individuals from seeking timely medical care due to societal stigma. Instead, they advocate for broader awareness campaigns that emphasize all modes of transmission while ensuring affected individuals receive necessary support.

Key Facts

•  Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
•  There are two distinct clades of the virus: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb). In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by the clade IIb strain. 
• Mpox continues to be a threat today, and an upsurge of cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries caused by clades Ia and Ib has raised concern.
• There are vaccines for mpox. Vaccination should be considered along with other public health interventions. 
• Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. 
•  Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with someone who has mpox, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. During pregnancy, the virus may be passed to the fetus, or to the newborn during or after birth.
• Mpox is treated with supportive care for symptoms such as pain and fever, with close attention to nutrition, hydration, skin care, prevention of secondary infections and treatment of co-infections, including HIV where present.

Arguments for Classifying Mpox as an STD

• During the 2022 outbreak, studies showed that 98% of diagnosed mpox cases were linked to sexual transmission, primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM) and bisexual individuals.
•  Based on these findings, some scientists suggested that the transmission pattern of mpox aligns with the characteristics of an STD.

 Concerns Over Stigma and Misclassification

• However, other experts believe that classifying mpox as an STD could have negative consequences. In the same Clinical Infectious Diseases issue, researchers Aniruddha Hazra and Joseph N. Cherabie pointed out that historical mpox outbreaks in Africa primarily spread through non-sexual means, such as household contact or animal-to-human transmission through the consumption of bushmeat.
• They cautioned that labeling mpox as an STD might divert attention away from pediatric cases and other vulnerable groups. The fear is that a strict focus on sexual transmission could reduce efforts to prevent non-sexual transmissions, which have been common in past outbreaks.

Kerala’s Experience Challenges STD Labeling

• In India, Kerala has been at the forefront of managing mpox cases. The state recorded its first case of the clade 1b strain in a traveler returning from the United Arab Emirates.
• Two more cases were detected in January 2025, but all patients recovered successfully with no secondary infections, reducing fears of a widespread outbreak.
• Given Kerala’s experience, public health experts have raised concerns about classifying mpox as an STD. They emphasized that public health strategies should consider the psychological and social impact of labeling mpox as an STD, particularly in communities where stigma around MSM and STDs remains strong.
•  “The success of public health strategies depends on the context in which they are implemented.
• Currently, people are reporting mild lesions and voluntarily seeking treatment because mpox is seen as an infectious disease. However, if it is labeled an STD, particularly one linked to MSM, people may avoid seeking medical help, leading to further transmission.”
• He further pointed out that despite advances in HIV treatment and awareness, stigma against HIV-positive individuals persists. “Unlike HIV, mpox is rarely fatal. If people choose to remain under the radar and avoid treatment, the risk of human-to-human transmission will increase significantly.”

India’s Public Health Approach: A Balanced Strategy

• Health officials in Kerala stress the need for an approach that considers India’s social and cultural context. Many mpox patients in Kerala, including those from the 2022 outbreak, were individuals working in the Middle East who returned to India after being infected. Officials fear that classifying mpox as an STD could lead to unintended social consequences, such as marital problems for returning patients.
• A Kerala Health Department official explained, “Our information, education, and communication (IEC) strategies are carefully crafted to prevent unnecessary stigma. Attaching labels like STD or MSM to mpox could lead to social problems, including the dissolution of marriages.”
• Additionally, a team from the Union Health Ministry that visited Kerala to assess the mpox situation sought to identify the possible sources of infection among patients. However, none of the patients admitted to engaging in sexual activity. The official added, “While we understand the primary transmission route, our priority is treating patients and preventing further spread rather than forcing them to disclose personal details.”

Biovet’s Breakthrough LSD Vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease Gets Approval

• The Lumpy Skin Disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle and buffaloes, causing economic losses for dairy farmers due to reduced milk production, weight loss, and even fatalities.
• The introduction of BIOLUMPIVAXIN provides a much-needed solution to controlling and eradicating LSD in India. With its ability to differentiate vaccinated animals from naturally infected ones, the vaccine will enhance disease surveillance and prevention measures.

The Development Process

• The BIOLUMPIVAXIN vaccine is a live-attenuated marker vaccine, developed using the LSD virus strain from Ranchi/2019. The research and development process spanned three years and was a collaborative effort between ICAR-NRCE and Biovet. The project was led by NRCE , with ICAR playing a crucial role in ensuring that the vaccine meets global standards for animal health.

 A Game-Changer for India’s Livestock Industry

• “Veterinarians and epidemiologists can now easily distinguish between animals vaccinated with BIOLUMPIVAXIN® and those previously infected with LSD.”
• The CDSCO approval will reduce India’s dependence on imported vaccines, boosting the country’s self-reliance in veterinary medicine.
• This milestone is expected to play a vital role in achieving a disease-free livestock population and ensuring better health for dairy cattle and buffaloes across the country.

 A Unique and Effective Vaccine

• BIOLUMPIVAXIN is the only vaccine of its kind worldwide for LSD. It is designed to be both safe and effective while offering a unique feature that differentiates between naturally infected animals and those that have been vaccinated. This differentiation is crucial for veterinarians and epidemiologists in controlling and monitoring the spread of the disease.
• The vaccine underwent rigorous testing at two of India’s premier veterinary research institutes—ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). These tests confirmed the vaccine’s quality, safety, and efficacy, making it a breakthrough development in the fight against LSD.

A Step Toward a Healthier Future

• With the approval and introduction of BIOLUMPIVAXIN, India is taking a major step toward strengthening its veterinary healthcare system. The vaccine is expected to help millions of livestock farmers by ensuring the well-being of their animals, improving productivity, and supporting the country’s dairy industry.
• As India continues to develop innovative solutions in veterinary medicine, this groundbreaking vaccine is a testament to the nation’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency and global leadership in animal health.

Adaptation in India: Where are the schemes and money?

• The government of India in the Economic Survey 2024-25 had highlighted the significance of adaptation to the adverse impacts of global warming and consequent climate change and lamented the lack of international climate finance for the same but has not adequately supported adaptation action with finance in its Budget 2025-26.
• In fact, the word ‘climate’ was mentioned only thrice in the finance minister’s budget speech and the word ‘adaptation’ was not mentioned even once. The word ‘resilience’ was mentioned a couple of times and only once in the ‘climate’ context.
• The phrases ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ were not mentioned even once in the speech despite India being the seventh most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change in the world, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. 
• Adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change is a wide subject with diverse aspects trickling down to almost all sectors of the economy and is often conflated with general development.
•  According to some, one can think of adaptation as development activities that keep in mind that global warming and consequent climate change are ongoing, urgent and impacting the present and will not just impact the future.
• Even then, some dedicated focus is required on adaptation schemes, perhaps just to understand how the impacts of climate change on various sectors of the economy and communities are intensifying and what needs to be done to adapt to them.
• Under the budget estimates for the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the National Adaptation Fund (NAF), Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) were shifted from schemes to non-schemes and moved to the secretariat budget head of the ministry without a clear budget outlay.
• All these three budget heads haven’t received any budget allocation since 2022-23. The actual spending under these budget heads which happened last in 2022-23 were Rs 21.95 crore for NAF, Rs 26.60 crore for NMHS and Rs 31.98 crore for CCAP.
• While the NAF or the NAF for Climate Change (NAFCC) is crucial for executing projects on different aspects of adaptation across the country, mainly related to agriculture and animal husbandry, the NMHS is crucial to understand adaptation and ecological security in the fragile region of the Himalayas spread across 13 states and UTs of the country.
• The CCAP or the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), on the other hand, defines eight missions related to climate change and was formulated in 2008. The NAPCC has not been revised since then, despite the rapid changes in India’s climate in the last decade-and-a-half and their intensifying impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people.
• The NAFCC administered and implemented by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established in 2015 “to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the states and union territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.”
• An update from the MoEFCC published by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on August 5, 2024, stated that 30 projects have been sanctioned under the NAFCC across 27 states and UTs with a total project cost of Rs 847.48 crore.
• A NAFCC project titled Climate Resilient Interventions in Dairy Sector in Coastal and Arid Areas in Andhra Pradesh was sanctioned on August 16, 2016, with a total budget of Rs 12,71,36,316 for three districts of Andhra Pradesh — Anantapuramu (Anathapur), Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore (Nellore) and Vijayanagaram (Vizianagaram).
• One of the components of the project was to establish community-based best practices for managing heat stress and impacts of cyclones on dairy animals.
• Of the total sanctioned budget, an amount of Rs 6,35,68,108 was released to NABARD on October 26, 2016, and Rs 5,12,78,000 was released by NABARD to the executing entity on August 11, 2017, which is not named. The executing entity was able to utilise only Rs 2,28,49,000 of this amount.
• “The challenges encountered in implementation of the project include delays in land identification & alienation, identification of civil engineering executive agency & technical resource agency, finalization of climate resilient animal hostel design,” said the PIB update, based on a response by Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state of MoEFCC, in the Lok Sabha on August 5, 2024.
• The PIB update also informs that the NAFCC was made a non-scheme in November 2022 without citing any reasons for doing so or stating if the objectives of the fund had been fulfilled.
• The National Coastal Mission scheme which is related to the sustainable management of India’s coastline and has some component of climate change adaptation to it has had its budget outlay reduced from Rs 8 crore to Rs 2 crore.
• A central scheme under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — Ocean services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) which is crucial for building better models for understanding the changes occurring in the Indian Ocean region — has not been allotted any budget in 2025-26. It was not allotted any money in 2024-25 as well. 
• The research activities carried out under the O-SMART scheme could also be important for understanding the changing character of tropical cyclones and the south west monsoon, which then becomes crucial for understanding their impacts on lives and livelihoods and adaptation to the same.
• But all is not gloom and doom in the Budget 2025-26 in terms of adaptation to climate change.
• One of the climate change-related programmes under the NAPCC and MoEFCC which has received an increased budget allocation in Budget 2025-26 is the National Mission for a Green India (NMGI) with Rs 220 crore, up from Rs 160 crore in 2024-25. The NMGI implements projects on afforestation and fire prevention and management across the country.
• Another important aspect of adaptation is observing how changes are occurring to weather patterns over India and how they can be understood in the context of global warming and consequent climate change.
• To this end, the Government of India introduced ‘Mission Mausam’ on September 13 2024, with a budget outlay of Rs 2,000 crore over 2024-26.
• “Mission Mausam has the goal of making Bharat a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation, so as to mitigate the impact of climate change and extreme weather events and strengthen the resilience of the communities,” said the PIB in a press release.
• “The mission aims to establish 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), 60 Radio Sonde/Radio Wind (RS/RW) stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 Wind Profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 Urban testbed, 1 Process testbed, 1 Ocean Research station and 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations with upper air observation,” the press release added.
• Even with these steps much more was required in terms of new schemes and budget allocation to old schemes in Budget 2025-26 for an enhanced understanding of adaptation to global warming and consequent climate change in India. 

Green banks’ coalition goes bust: Biggest American fossil funders exit Net Zero alliance

• It is widely agreed that the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Azerbaijan, informally dubbed the ‘finance COP’, was a failure. It did not ensure that developing countries secured a fair deal on climate finance.
• Barely three months later, six of the largest American banks, which are also deeply entangled in fossil fuel financing, have formally exited the UN-backed Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). 
• As of January 6, 2025, Bank of America, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have left the alliance. This follows the departure of Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs in December 2024. Most recently, JP Morgan has also withdrawn from the alliance. Effectively, only three American banks remain: Amalgamated Bank, Areti Bank and Climate First Bank — but these do not hold nearly as much global influence as the larger banks that have exited.

What is NZBA?

• The NZBA is a ‘bank-led, UN-convened’ group of leading banks from around the world committed to aligning their lending, investment and capital market activities with Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to its website.
• Through collective knowledge-sharing, the frameworks developed by the NZBA aim to assist members in setting and achieving “credible science-based Net Zero targets for 2030 or sooner.”
• More specifically, the alliance requires a commitment statement to be signed by bank CEOs as a precondition for membership.
• According to the NZBA website, one of the key commitments is to transition all operational and attributable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their lending and investment portfolios to align with pathways to Net Zero by mid-century or earlier.
• The GHG emissions covered in the commitment include Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, with Scope 3 requiring banks to account for all categories of their clients’ emissions “where significant and where data allow.”
• In essence, the Net Zero plan is meant to cover both the banks’ own emissions and those of the entities they finance. Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions (direct and indirect) of both the banks and their clients are to be included.
•  However, the document specifies that ‘off-balance sheet activities’, such as assisting a client in issuing bonds for a particular activity, are not currently included but will be incorporated in the next iteration of commitments.
• Launched ahead of COP26 in Glasgow under the UNEP Finance Initiative, the alliance boasts 136 members across 44 countries, with a collective asset base of $57 trillion. It was established at the same time as the better-known Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). 
• GFANZ is a growing group of private-sector entities aiming to foster collaboration in the financial services sector to support the objectives of the Paris Agreement — and the NZBA is one of several sectoral alliances under this umbrella. But climate campaigners have criticised this approach since its inception, questioning its effectiveness in delivering meaningful emissions reductions.

Why are they leaving?

• Statements suggest that the increasing exodus of major banks from climate alliances is linked to growing Republican opposition to ‘green’ and ESG (environmental, social and governance) policies in the US and is true for financial actors in general. 
• For example, members of another UN-linked climate coalition, the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance, have come under Republican scrutiny in recent years, alleging that because the big players with enormous power are collectively advocating for strong Net Zero plans for their clients, they are ‘depriving disfavoured companies’ of economic opportunities and pressuring them to comply. 
• In the US, antitrust laws refer to legislation designed to prevent “anticompetitive conduct and mergers” to ensure a fair marketplace. However, Republicans interpret the collective alignment of financial institutions with Paris Agreement goals as a threat to carbon-intensive businesses, arguing that such group commitments could ‘starve fossil fuel-related companies of credit’ and other financial opportunities. Yet, the legality, premise and intent of these allegations have been hotly debated.
• Other lawsuits and increased Republican-led scrutiny of ESG policies in the US are based on criticism that large financial institutions, by integrating climate considerations into their operations, are deprioritising their fundamental responsibility of ensuring high returns for investors.
• With the return of known climate-denier Donald Trump to the White House, the urgency for major banks to shield themselves from political scrutiny appears to have intensified. However, despite all this movement, critics argue that the NZBA’s role in driving real climate impact is questionable at best.

Has the NZBA ever made a difference?

• It has been previously reported that American banks have largely obstructed the setting of higher climate finance and Net Zero targets compared to their European counterparts. They remained part of the NZBA and GFANZ after initially threatening to leave, only because the coalitions reiterated that their commitments were not mandatory — highlighting the limitations of voluntary pledges, particularly in climate action. 
• More importantly, data suggests that membership in the NZBA has not actually curtailed fossil fuel financing by US banks. In 2023, JPMorgan Chase provided $41 billion to oil, gas and coal companies, while Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo ranked among the top five global financiers of fossil fuels between 2016 and 2023.
• Legal experts in the US have suggested that membership in the NZBA may have been little more than virtue signalling. With a new president in office, perhaps the banks’ strategy to appease critics — and avoid legal scrutiny — must shift gears accordingly.

So why does this matter?

• It is interesting to note that none of the banks have provided concrete reasons for leaving the NZBA as yet and almost all have made statements underscoring their continued commitment to Net Zero emissions — just not through the alliance.
• Other criticisms of NZBA have included the fact that a ‘Net Zero by 2050’ target is already outdated given the rapidly shrinking global carbon budget; that the commitments operate more as guidelines rather than enforceable standards; and that the alliance did not explicitly require banks to reduce fossil fuel financing in the first place.
• Given these shortcomings, it may not be entirely accurate to consider the exits a major setback for global efforts to align finance with the Paris Agreement’s goals. Some of the world’s largest banks have now backtracked on their climate commitments , which were considered one step away from mere greenwashing by some. 
• Within the broader climate policy discourse, this development fits into the ongoing debate surrounding Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement, which calls for “making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.” 
• Arguably, the departure of these banks leaves one less space to hold facilitators of fossil fuel expansion accountable — a setback nonetheless. The tangible, long-term effects of these exits, however, remain to be seen

Half Circle to circularity: Review of Draft Notification on EPR for paper waste and sanitary products

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released a draft notification proposing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging made from paper, glass, and metal, as well as sanitary products. 
• The notification arrives a year after Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a comprehensive report in December 2023 to address the same concerns. 
• The CSE publication proposed developing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for paper waste to reduce dependency on imported wastepaper and increase the use of domestically available raw materials. 
• Historically, management of waste generated from materials like paper, glass and metal has fallen under the ambit of the Solid Waste Management Rules. 
• The latest draft EPR guidelines introduce a framework where producers, importers and brand owners (PIBOs) are responsible for collecting and recycling the packaging waste they generate. This system aims to reduce the burden on landfills and promote circularity in resource utilisation. 

Falling short of circularity: EPR for Paper Waste

• The current guidelines primarily focus on packaging-grade paper, which, while representing 60 per cent of total paper production, already boasts a relatively high collection rate of around 60 per cent. This indicates that a mature recycling system for this segment is in place. 
• However, a far more critical segment is writing and printing paper, constituting 30 per cent of production, yet with a lower collection rate of a mere 40 per cent.
• CSE emphasises the need to include this segment under EPR, given that paper made from virgin fibres can be recycled multiple times (six to seven times) throughout its lifecycle.
• So the limited scope fails to capitalise on the full potential of wastepaper circularity and undermines efforts to reduce the reliance on imported wastepaper for writing and printing paper.

Settling for lenient targets of recovery

• CSE has proposed ambitious recovery targets for recycled fiber-based (RCF) paper industries:
• 95 per cent domestic recovery rate by 2028: This aggressive target aims to significantly boost domestic recycling efforts.
• Limited international sourcing: Importing wastepaper should be restricted to a mere five per cent of total raw material needs.
• Focus on domestic sources: Prioritise the use of recycled or virgin wastepaper sourced entirely within the country.
• However, the draft EPR guidelines limit these targets to packaging-grade paper. This exclusion may undermine the broader goal of comprehensive waste management. Targeting a 70 per cent recovery rate by 2026-27 is overly lenient and essentially redundant, as this target has already been almost achieved. 
• Furthermore, as suggested by CSE, a recovery rate of 95 per cent from 2027-28 onwards is more appropriate, considering the fraction of imported material. However, the draft notification aims for only 85 per cent during that timeframe.

Beyond the bin

• While this draft EPR guidelines represent a positive step towards sustainable waste management, a closer analysis reveals crucial gaps that need to be addressed to create a truly robust and effective framework.
• The CSE, in its aforementioned report highlighted several recommendations, some of which have been incorporated in the draft, while others remain unaddressed.
• The draft guidelines clearly demonstrate the government''s intent to move towards a circular economy model for managing packaging waste.
• However, to realise the full potential of EPR and achieve a truly circular system, the MoEF&CC should seriously consider incorporating the missing elements highlighted by the CSE. Addressing these limitations will ensure a more robust, inclusive, and effective EPR framework, ultimately leading to increased domestic wastepaper recovery, reduced reliance on imports, and environmental sustainability.

 International Big Cat Alliance comes into force as a treaty-based inter-governmental international organisation

• The IBCA is now a full-fledged treaty-based inter-governmental international organisation and international legal entity, the statement added.
• The development comes even as five countries — Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Somalia, and Republic of Liberia — have ratified the Framework Agreement under Article VIII (1), formalising their membership in IBCA.
• Twenty-seven countries, including India, have consented to join the IBCA.
• The IBCA serves as a collaborative platform, fostering partnerships among big cat range and non-range countries, conservation organisations, and international stakeholders to reverse the decline of 7 major big cat populations — lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, snow leopard, puma and jaguar — and restore their habitats
• “With this milestone, #IBCA is poised to unite conservation efforts on a global scale, ensuring the long-term survival of these magnificent predators and securing our ecological future,” .
• ‘Big Cat’ is a term that is used in informal speech to apply to any large species of the family Felidae. Usually, it applies to the members of the genus Panthera. These include:
• 1.      Tiger (Panthera tigris)
• 2.      Lion (Panthera leo)
• 3.      Jaguar (Panthera onca)
• 4.      Leopard (Panthera pardus)
• 5.      Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
•  All these cats can usually make vocalisations known as ‘roars’. The lion has the loudest roar, which can be heard 8-10 kilometres away. The snow leopard, at one time, was not included in this group. It was classified as Uncia uncia. Later, it was re-classified as part of Panthera.
• Two other cats — Puma (Puma concolor) and Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) — are not part of Panthera. But they are usually included in most listings of ‘big cats’.
•  The Indian subcontinent has been historically home to the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, Indian/Asiatic cheetah as well as Snow leopard. The cheetah was declared extinct in 1952. In 2022, the Government of India embarked on an ambitious programme to introduce African cheetahs to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

What is IBCA?

• The IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
• The Union Cabinet, in its meeting held on February 29, 2024, approved the establishment of IBCA with headquarters in India. 
•  It was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma — with membership of all UN countries/the range countries harbouring the said species and non-range countries where historically these species are not found but interested to support big cat conservation.
• The IBCA was established by the government of India, through the nodal organisation National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve a common goal of conservation of big cats at global level. 
• This unified approach, bolstered by financial support, aims to bolster the conservation agenda, halt the decline in big cat populations, and reverse current trends.
•  IBCA envisages synergy through a collaborative platform for increased dissemination of gold standard big cat conservation practices, provides access to a central common repository of technical know-how and corpus of funds, strengthens the existing species-specific intergovernmental platforms, networks and transnational initiatives on conservation and protection and assists securing our ecological future and mitigate adverse effects of climate change.

 Cabinet Approves Continuation and Restructuring of Skill India Programme

• The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of Central Sector Scheme ‘Skill India Programme’ till 2026 with an overlay outlay of Rs 8,800 crore.
• The three key components — Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme — are now combined under the composite Skill India Programme.
• The allocation towards PMKVY 4.0 is Rs 6,000 crore, PM-NAPS Rs 1,942 crore and JSS Rs 858 crore.
• There are more than 2.27 crore beneficiaries till date under these three flagships schemes.
• S The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the continuation and restructuring of the Central Sector Scheme ‘Skill India Programme (SIP)’ till 2026 with an overlay outlay of Rs.8,800 crore from the period 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• This approval underscores the government’s commitment to building a skilled, future-ready workforce by integrating demand-driven, technology-enabled, and industry-aligned training across the country.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme – the three key components, are now combined under the composite Central Sector Scheme of “Skill India Programme”.
•    These initiatives aim to provide structured skill development, on-the-job training, and community-based learning, ensuring that both urban and rural populations, including marginalized communities, have access to high-quality vocational education.
• Under the three flagships schemes of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, there are more than 2.27 Crore beneficiaries till date.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0:

• PMKVY 4.0 scheme provides NSQF aligned skill development training through Short-Term Training (STT) including Special Projects (SP) and reskilling and upskilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with its target beneficiary being 15-59 years of age.
• The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0) has undergone transformational changes to make skill development training industry oriented, aligned with national priorities with increased accessibility. A key shift under the scheme is the integration of On-the-Job Training (OJT) within short-term skilling programs, ensuring that trainees gain real-world exposure and industry experience.
• To keep pace with evolving industry demands and advent of new age technology, 400+ new courses on AI, 5G technology, Cybersecurity, Green Hydrogen, Drone Technology, have been introduced, focusing on emerging technologies and future skills.
• The blended and flexible learning model now incorporates digital delivery, making training more flexible and scalable. To provide targeted, industry-relevant skills, enabling learners to upskill, reskill, and enhance employability in high-demand job roles, the program introduces micro-credential and National Occupational Standards (NoS)-based courses ranging from 7.5 to 30 hours.
• To maximize cross utilization of existing infrastructure and to expand access to quality training, Skill Hubs have been established across premier academic institutions, including IITs, NITs, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Kendriya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), PM Shri Schools, Toolrooms, NILET, CIPET etc.
• PMKVY 4.0 ensures industry-aligned training with curriculum available in multiple regional languages, making skilling more inclusive and accessible.
• Under PMKVY 4.0, a whole-of-government approach has been adopted to drive inter-ministerial convergence, ensuring the seamless execution of skilling initiatives across sectors. The scheme caters to the skilling components of various skill development and entrepreneurship schemes, maximizing impact and resource efficiency.
• Key collaborations include PM Vishwakarma under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, NAL JAL Mitra etc.
• To enhance efficiency, procedural changes have been introduced, including the realignment of the demand assessment strategy to better identify sectoral skill gaps and industry needs.
• A key reform in PMKVY 4.0 is the "Ease of Doing Business" approach, which has significantly reduced the compliance burden, making participation in the scheme more streamlined and efficient.

PM National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS):

• The National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India.
• The Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) supports seamless transition from education to work, ensuring apprentices gain industry-specific skills through real-world exposure.
• To support both apprentices and establishments in India, 25% of the stipend, up to Rs.1,500 per month per apprentice, will be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) during the training period, provided by the Central Government.
• The scheme is designed for individuals aged 14 to 35 years, ensuring inclusive access to skill development opportunities across various demographics.
• NAPS encourages apprenticeship opportunities in prevailing manufacturing including emerging fields such as AI, robotics, blockchain, green energy, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• This aligns skilling initiatives with futuristic job markets and industry trend. The scheme also encourages enrolment of apprentices in small establishments especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and those located in the underserved areas such as aspirational districts and North-East Region.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme:

• The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme is a community-centric skilling initiative designed to make vocational training accessible, flexible, and inclusive, particularly for women, rural youth, and economically disadvantaged groups and caters to the age group of 15 -45 years of age.
• By delivering low-cost, doorstep training with flexible schedules, JSS ensures that skilling opportunities reach those who need them the most, fostering both self-employment and wage-based livelihoods.
• Beyond skill development, the program plays a vital role in social empowerment, creating awareness on health, hygiene, financial literacy, gender equality, and education within communities JSS is linked with key initiatives of the Government like: PM JANMAN, Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS), etc. to promote inclusive skilling.
• Aligned with national frameworks, all certifications under the Skill India Program are mapped to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and seamlessly integrated with DigiLocker and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), ensuring formal recognition of skills and enabling smooth transitions into employment and higher education.
• With the continuation of the Skill India Programme, the government seeks to reinforce its commitment to lifelong learning, recognizing the importance of continuous upskilling and reskilling in today’s rapidly changing employment landscape.
• The initiative will directly contribute to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, ensuring that workforce development policies remain aligned with economic and industrial trends.
• The Skill India Programme plays a crucial role in equipping India’s workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. By integrating industry-relevant training, emerging technologies, and international mobility initiatives, the program aims to create a highly skilled and competitive workforce.
• As a key driver of economic empowerment, Skill India contributes to employment generation, entrepreneurship, and productivity enhancement across sectors. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) remains committed to strengthening vocational education, expanding apprenticeship opportunities, and fostering lifelong learning, ensuring that India''s workforce is future-ready and positioned as a global leader in skill-based employment.

Skill India Mission

• The aim of Skill India Mission is to create an end-to-end implementation framework for skill development, which presents opportunities for life-long learning. 
• Under this Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skilling, re-skilling and upskilling programmes through a comprehensive network of skill  development centres/institutes across the country including rural areas under various schemes.
• The programme is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in various sectors and to promote economic growth by enhancing the skills of individuals, especially youth and marginalized communities.

Objectives of the Skill India Programme:

• Skilling the Workforce: Enhance the employability of youth by providing them with skills relevant to the job market.
• Job Creation and Entrepreneurship: Encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship among trained individuals.
• Addressing Skill Gaps: Bridge the skill gap in various sectors and industries, ensuring that the Indian workforce can meet the growing demands of the economy.
• Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that skill development reaches marginalised and rural communities, providing them with equal opportunities for economic advancement.
• Future-Ready Workforce: Focus on integrating technology and digital tools into training programmes, making sure that the workforce is prepared for future job markets.

Contamination, landslides: Potential dangers of mining world''s largest lithium deposit

• The world is moving fast to embrace electric vehicles over fuel-based ones. Lithium-ion batteries are the fuel for these newly desired vehicles.
• The world’s largest known lithium deposit is in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, a white salt desert that spans thousands of kilometres in Bolivia.
• Scientists conducted a study on the implications of mining lithium at the Salar de Uyuni. The study reported in Environmental Science & Technology Letters informs strategies to manage future mining operations more sustainably and protect the fragile Salar environment.
• Even though mining in this region is in the preliminary stage, in the long run, it can lead to the depletion of groundwater levels and even landslides.
• Scientists conducted a chemical analysis of the brine solution from eight ponds, where they found the arsenic levels to be nearly 50 parts per million, 1,400 times higher than the benchmark considered ecologically acceptable by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
• one of the researchers, acclaimed, “This arsenic level is extremely high. My group has worked all over the world — in Africa, Europe, Vietnam, India — and I don’t think we ever measured that level of arsenic.”
• The leaking of brine from one pond to another might lead to  bioaccumulation, which can affect the biodiversity of the region. For instance, Flamingos which feed on local brine shrimp, are sensitive to arsenic at levels above 8 parts per million.
• The team also found a higher concentration of boron in evaporation ponds. However, the levels of both arsenic and boron in the lithium processing plants were much lower, even lower than in the natural brine.
• The team investigated the potential repercussions of taking spent brine — that is, brine left over after lithium is removed — or wastewater from lithium processing and injecting it back into the lithium deposit. The lithium mining industry has indicated these approaches can counteract land subsidence.
• One potential solution to preventing land subsidence would be to carefully blend spent brine with wastewater to achieve a chemical balance with the natural brine, as said by the authors. They also added that further investigation is needed into this.
• “We see lithium as the future for energy security, so we’re trying to analyse it from different angles to ensure sustainable development and supplies,” .

Fruit flies aboard Gaganyaan-1, India''s maiden human space flight.

• A team of scientists from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai are planning to launch fruit flies aboard Gaganyaan-1, India''s maiden human space flight.
• The fruit flies will be used to assess how space travel affects living organisms and what kind of biological changes and stresses they go through during the flight.
• The team will be sending fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), which share close to 75% of the genetic pathways that influence human disease. This trait makes them ideal for studying biological phenomena.
• Our experiments with Drosophila will simulate the effects of short-term space travel – around seven days of microgravity – to understand how it impacts metabolic fitness and healthspan.
•  “Most studies so far have focused on long-term exposure aboard the International Space Station (ISS). We’re filling a gap in understanding the aftermath of shorter missions like Gaganyaan.
• The flies will be placed in multiple vials and will be monitored in real-time. With the lifespan of the flies around 5-60 days, they are apt for the full 5-7-day-long flight of Gaganyaan Mission.
• The team will focus on studying SIRT1 gene, which is a key gene that encodes the SIRT1 protein, which belongs to the sirtuin family of enzymes. These enzymes play a crucial role in cellular regulation, ageing, metabolism, and stress resistance.
• "We will investigate whether manipulating SIRT1 levels can shield organisms from the adverse effects of space travel. This could open new possibilities for dietary or pharmaceutical interventions to improve health outcomes for astronauts
• The maiden flight of the Gaganyaan mission, which involves sending Indian astronauts in a specially designed spacecraft to low-earth orbit and bringing them back safely, will be conducted next year.
• The program includes two uncrewed test flights followed by a crewed mission, with the first uncrewed flight scheduled for 2025.