Global Engagement Scheme of the Ministry of Culture

• The Global Engagement Scheme of the Ministry of Culture aims to promote India''s rich cultural heritage including Maharashtra, internationally and enhance India''s global image.
• The key Scheme objectives include strengthening cultural ties with foreign nations, promoting bilateral cultural contacts, projecting India''s cultural identity on the world stage and encouraging inbound tourism.
• The Global Engagement Scheme is administered through Indian Missions Abroad and has following 03 components:

Festival of India:

• The artists, practicing Indian art forms, are given opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of ‘Festival of India’. The artists from diverse cultural fields such as Folk Art including Folk Music, Folk Dance, Folk Theatre & Puppetry, Classical and Traditional Dance, Experimental/ Contemporary Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the ‘Festivals of India’ abroad.
• Grant in aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies: Grant in aid is released to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural societies actively functioning in foreign countries through our Indian Missions with the object of fostering closer friendship and cultural contacts between India and foreign country concerned

Contribution Grant to International Organizations :

• Funds are released to International Organizations of which India is a member.
• India is member state of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is a part of several important cultural conventions of UNESCO such as 1972 Convention on World Heritage, 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), Memory of the World (MOW) Programme. 
• India is also a member of Inter-Governmental Organizations like International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) among others.
• There is no provision for specific partnerships with institutions of any State.
• Under the “Festival of India” component of Global Engagement Scheme, all expenditure on deputation of an artist for performing in “Festival of India” is incurred by the Government. Ministry of Culture has empanelled artists/groups from all over India including State of Maharashtra under various art forms and artists are selected from the empanelled list for deputing to perform in the Festivals of India abroad.
• Currently, out of 627 artists/groups empanelled with the Ministry, 37 artists/groups are empanelled from Maharashtra. Of these 7 artists/troupes have been deputed to perform in the following Festivals of India abroad:
• Oman, Netherlands, Ghana (2016-17),
• Venezuela   and Vietnam - Freedom 70 events (2017-18)
• Qatar (2018-19)
• South Africa (2019-20).

NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH) highlights the potential of quantum technology 

•  To accelerate India’s transition into a frontier Tech nation, NITI Aayog has, recently, established the NITI Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH). In partnership with the Data Security Council of India, NITI-FTH has released a strategic paper on the rapid evolution of Quantum Computing, and its implications on National Security and provides strategic perspectives to help India navigate and lead in a transformative era.

Key Takeaways:

• 1. Quantum Technology is often used as an umbrella term for the technological advancements that are specifically governed by the principles of quantum mechanics at its core. It involves developing necessary hardware, software, algorithms, and protocols for design and development of quantum computing devices like quantum computers.
• 2. This technology exploits the principles of quantum mechanics, which include superposition, quantum entanglement, and interference to achieve greater efficiency in large-scale computations.
• 3. Superposition: Quantum computing uses ‘qubit’ (or quantum bit) as its fundamental unit and their stability is crucial for harnessing quantum states for computation. Superposition refers to the ability of these particles to exist in multiple locations simultaneously. This phenomenon persists only until the particle is observed. Once observed, the particle appears at one location and ceases to exist in the others.
• 4. Entanglement: It is another unusual property where particles that have previously interacted can instantaneously influence each other’s behavior, regardless of the distance separating them.
• When one entangled particle is measured, the state of the other particle is immediately determined, even if they are far apart. This intriguing property can help in preventing security breaches in quantum communication by entangling qubits of sender and receiver.
• 5. Interference: It is a wavelike superposition of subatomic particles’ states that affect the probabilities of states of these particles when measured. While entanglement is a phenomenon between two particles, interference is an effect of many particles surrounding each other.
• Interference can be constructive as well as destructive which makes it suitable for use in quantum algorithms for improving accuracies by suppressing less probabilistic outcomes and amplifying high probabilistic outcomes.

Role of Quantum computing in reshaping National Security

• The  NITI Frontier Tech Hub’s Quarterly Insight, Future Front points out five ways that quantum technologies reshape national security priorities across multiple domains.
• 1. Cryptography and Cybersecurity: One of the threats facing the public-key encryption algorithm that can impact modern internet security and online banking is fault-tolerant quantum computer (CRQC). The report suggests that countries implement Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), cryptographic algorithms designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, to ensure improved data security.
• 2. Intelligence Gathering: Quantum computing would enhance signals intelligence (SIGINT), allowing nations to intercept, analyze, and decode communications at an unprecedented scale. This would give a country unparalleled intelligence advantages, and reshape espionage and counterintelligence operations.
• 3. Military Applications: Quantum technologies will optimize logistics, resource allocation, and battlefield strategy, making defense operations more efficient. Autonomous military drones and robotic systems will be enhanced through Quantum-enabled AI (Quantum AI). Topology qubit which promises the scalability of qubit systems to a million would take weaponization to a new level allowing the detection of next-gen stealth aircraft and building robust and resilient control systems for autonomous weapons.
•  4. Economic Warfare: “The ability to break current encryption could destabilize financial markets, compromise banking systems, and endanger digital payment infrastructures. Quantum computers could also be used to steal sensitive intellectual property from corporations and governments, leading to a new era of economic espionage”, the release said.
• 5. Geopolitical Power: The report points out that the dominance of a country in quantum technology will give it an edge to shape global technology standards and norms, thus shaping international regulations. As topology qubit promises enhancement of stability and scalability, it will also solidify the dominance of leading quantum nations.

National Quantum Mission

• 1. The National Quantum Mission was announced by the government in 2023 to enhance the country’s capabilities in quantum-related science and technology. It focuses on four key domains or verticals, i.e. Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum  Materials & Devices.
• 2. The Mission has an outlay of Rs 6,003.65 crore, which is used to fund scientific and industrial research projects for eight years (2023-2031). It includes the establishment of four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) dedicated to the four domains or verticals.
• The latest Union Budget has reduced the estimated expenditure for the ongoing financial year from Rs 427 crore to Rs 86 crore. For 2025-26, it is projected to rise to Rs 600 crore.

NASA SPHEREx telescope is launched to study universe’s origins

•  A NASA telescope was launched into space from California on Tuesday for a mission to explore the origins of the universe and to scour the Milky Way galaxy for hidden reservoirs of water, a key ingredient for life.
• The U.S. space agency’s megaphone-shaped SPHEREx – short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer – was carried aloft by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
• During its planned two-year mission, the observatory will collect data on more than 450 million galaxies, as well as more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. It will create a three-dimensional map of the cosmos in 102 colors – individual wavelengths of light – and will study the history and evolution of galaxies.
• The mission aims to deepen the understanding of a phenomenon known as cosmic inflation, referring to the universe’s ra
  pid and exponential expansion from a single point in a fraction of a second after the Big Bang that occurred roughly 13.8 billion years ago.
• “SPHEREx is really trying to get at the origins of the universe – what happened in those very few first instants after the Big Bang,” SPHEREx instrument scientist Phil Korngut of Caltech said.
• “The reigning theory that describes this is called inflation. As its name posits, it proposes that the universe underwent an enormous expansion, going from smaller than the size of an atom, expanding a trillion-trillion fold in just a tiny fraction of a second,” Korngut said.
• Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA headquarters, said SPHEREx is going to search for “reverberations from the Big Bang – the fractions of a second after the Big Bang that echoed into the areas SPHEREx is going to directly observe.”
• SPHEREx will take pictures in every direction around Earth, splitting the light from billions of cosmic sources such as stars and galaxies into their component wavelengths to determine their composition and distance.
• Within our galaxy, SPHEREx will search for reservoirs of water frozen on the surface of interstellar dust grains in large clouds of gas and dust that give rise to stars and planets.
• It will look for water and molecules including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide frozen on the surface of dust grains in molecular clouds, which are dense regions of gas and dust in interstellar space. Scientists believe that reservoirs of ice bound to dust grains in these clouds are where most of the universe’s water forms and dwells.
• Being launched along with SPHEREx is a constellation of satellites for NASA’s PUNCH – short for Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere – mission to better understand the solar wind, the continuous flow of charged particles from the sun.
• The solar wind and other energetic solar events can cause space weather effects that play havoc with human technology, including interfering with satellites and triggering power outages.
• The PUNCH mission is seeking to answer how the sun’s atmosphere transitions to the solar wind, how structures in the solar wind are formed and how these processes influence Earth and the rest of the solar system.
• The mission involves four suitcase-sized satellites that will observe the sun and its environment.
• “Together, they piece together the three-dimensional global view of the solar corona – the sun’s atmosphere – as it turns into the solar wind, which is the material that fills our whole solar system,” said PUNCH mission scientist Nicholeen Viall of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

 The Dandi March marks  95th anniversary

•  (12 March) marks the 95th anniversary of the historic salt march led by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat. The 24-day march from March 12 to April 5, 1930,  ended with the defiance of the law after he made salt at Dandi marking the inauguration of the civil disobedience movement.
• According to Gandhi, civil disobedience was ‘certainly more dangerous than an armed rebellion’, because it ‘can never be put down if the civil resisters are prepared to face extreme hardships’. Civil disobedience ‘is based upon an implicit belief in the absolute efficiency of innocent suffering’.
•  On 6 April 1930, Gandhi along with his followers defiantly broke the salt law by manufacturing salt from the sea. Gandhi told a representative of the Free Press, “With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.”
• With this, the movement spread throughout the countryside. It is estimated that around 60,000 people were arrested by the British. According to the website of gandhismriti, Jawaharlal, Mahadev Desai, and Gandhi’s son Devdas were the first to be sent to jail. The British government declared the Indian National Congress as illegal. Gandhi informed the Viceroy that he was going to raid the government salt works at Dharasana. Before he could proceed, he was arrested and sent to Yeravda Central Jail.
• Raid at Dharsana: After Gandhi’s arrest, Mr. Abbas Tyabji, took over the march to Dharsana but he was also arrested. Sarojini Naidu succeeded Abbas Tyabji who led the march but was met with police brutality. An American journalist, Miller, observed that when the police “rained blows on their heads with steel-shod lathis. Not one of the marchers even raised an arm to fend off the blows. They went down like ninepins.”
• A Similar acts of civil disobedience took place in other parts of India.  Several Colonial laws were broken along with a boycott of foreign cloth and liquor. What started as salt satyagraha soon grew into mass satyagraha. In Bengal, for instance, volunteers led by Satish Chandra Dasgupta walked from Sodepur Ashram to the village of Mahisbathan to make salt. K.F Nariman in Bombay led another group of marchers to Haji Ali Point where they prepared salt at a nearby park.
• The anti-chowkidari (village police) tax along with non-payment of rent was followed in the raiyatwadi areas. There were many violent confrontations with the police and massive tribal invasions of forests in Central Provinces, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• In the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as the Frontier Gandhi, raised a band of non-violent volunteers known as the Khudai Khidmatgars (Red Shirts), who played an active role in the movement. The volunteers were able to capture the town. However, the British were able to reoccupy it soon and unleashed brutality on the Red Shirts which was resisted by non-violence alone.
• In Chittagong, a group of revolutionaries headed by Surjaya Sen launched a campaign against the British. They seized the local armoury and an Independence Proclamation was made in the name of the ‘Independent Republican Army’ and fought a pitched battle on the Jalalabad hill leading to the death of several revolutionaries.
• C. Rajagopalachari led the Civil Disobedience movement in Tamil Nadu. He organised a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930. This was followed by picketing of foreign cloth shops and an anti-liquor campaign.
• In Malabar, Nair Congress leader, Kelappan, organised the salt march. Similarly, in Orissa, the Civil Disobedience movement was carried out under the leadership of Gopabandhu Chaudhary. In Bihar, leaders like Ram Briksha Benipuri, Prof Abdul Bari and Acharya Kripalani led the movement.

Why did Gandhi choose ‘salt’? 

• The 1882 Salt Act gave the British a monopoly in the manufacture and sale of salt. Even though salt was freely available on the coasts of India, Indians were forced to buy it from the colonisers. Gandhi decided that if there was any one product through which civil disobedience could be inaugurated, then it was salt.

Gandhi-Irwin pact

• 1. Gandhi sent an 11-point ultimatum to Irwin on 31st January 1930. These were the 11 demands: Total prohibition, Reduction of the exchange ratio, Reduction of land revenue by 50%, Abolition of the salt tax, Reduction of military expenditure, Reduction of salaries of the highest-grade services, Protective tariff on foreign cloth, Passage of the Coastal Traffic Reservation Bill, Discharge of all political prisoners except those condemned for murder, Abolition of the C.I.D and Issue of licenses to use firearms, for self-defense.
• 2.  When Irwin showed no inclination to meet the demands, Gandhi began his historic Salt March, the Dandi. On January 25, 1931, Viceroy Irwin announced the unconditional release of Gandhi and other Congress leaders to facilitate negotiations.
• 3. On 5th March 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed. It also came to be known as the Delhi Pact. This led to the release of all political prisoners who were not convicted of violence, remission of fines, and return of confiscated lands. Government employees who had resigned from service were treated leniently. The Congress agreed to end the Civil Disobedience Movement and take part in the Second Round Table Conference later that year.

New, greener electrochemical process turns urine into plant fuel

•  In the 17th-century, a German alchemist named Hennig Brandt was on a quest to find the “philosopher’s stone”, a mysterious object that could turn any ordinary metal into gold. When he realised the golden colour of urine, he believed it contained tiny particles of the precious metal.
• Recent advancements in sustainable agriculture have spotlighted the potential of urine as a valuable resource.
•  A new electrochemical technique has emerged, transforming urea from urine into a solid form called percarbamide. This process not only addresses the challenges of wastewater treatment but also promotes nutrient recycling in agriculture.

Chemical Process Involved

• Electrochemical Conversion: Urea (CH₄N₂O) undergoes electrochemical splitting, forming ammonia, hydrogen ions (H⁺), and reactive intermediates.
• Hydrogen ions interact with urea to produce per carbamide in the presence of an activated graphite-carbon catalyst.
• Catalyst Role: Activated graphite-carbon enhances hydrogen bonding, increasing efficiency.
• It accelerates two reaction pathways leading to per carbamide formation.

Advantages of Percarbamide

• Sustainable Nutrient Release: 
• Gradual nitrogen release supports long-term plant growth.
• Slow oxygen release enhances soil aeration and root respiration.
• Environmental Benefits: Prevents eutrophication by controlling nutrient runoff into water bodies.
• Promotes efficient nutrient recycling from urine, reducing chemical fertilizer dependency.
• Potential Applications
• Urban Wastewater Management: Enhances nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment plants. Provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional waste disposal.
• Agricultural Use: Ideal for sustainable farming, especially in resource-limited regions. Reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers while improving soil health.

Composition of Urine

• Urine is primarily composed of water, accounting for 95% of its volume. The remaining 5% contains amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are crucial for plant health and growth. The average adult produces approximately 450-680 litres of urine annually, yielding about 4 kg of nitrogen and 0.3 kg of phosphorus.

Challenges in Utilising Urine

• Despite its nutrient content, extracting urea from urine presents challenges. The presence of salts and other compounds complicates the separation process. Traditional methods lack efficiency, leading to the disposal of this valuable resource.

Applications in Wastewater Treatment

• The new technique not only recycles nutrients but also addresses wastewater treatment issues. By converting urine into a usable solid, it reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal. This approach aligns with global sustainability goals.

Future Implications

• The potential for urine recycling is vast. It can revolutionise how we approach waste management and agriculture. By integrating nutrient recovery with wastewater treatment, this method paves the way for more sustainable farming practices.

World''s strongest ocean current is slowing down as ice sheets pump water

•  The world''s strongest ocean current is slowing down and scientists are blaming it on the unchecked melting Antarctic ice sheet. 
• The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which flows across Antarctica from west to east plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and ocean circulation.
•  Researchers from the University of Melbourne analysed a high-resolution ocean and sea ice simulation of ocean currents, heat transport and other factors to diagnose the impact of changing temperature, saltiness and wind conditions. 
• "The ocean is extremely complex and finely balanced. If this current ''engine'' breaks down, there could be severe consequences, including more climate variability, with greater extremes in certain regions, and accelerated global warming due to a reduction in the ocean''s capacity to act as a carbon sink," Associate Professor Bishakhdatta Gayen said. 
• As Antarctic ice melts, vast amounts of freshwater flow into the Southern Ocean, altering its salinity and density. These changes affect the movement of ocean currents, including the ACC, which acts as a crucial driver of the global ocean conveyor belt that distributes heat, nutrients, and carbon dioxide across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
• Beyond its role in regulating climate, the ACC serves as a natural barrier preventing invasive species from reaching Antarctica. A weakening current could allow non-native marine life, such as bull kelp or molluscs, to disrupt Antarctic ecosystems, altering food sources for native species like penguins.

 Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)

• Main Antarctic Ocean Currents

 Solar Revolution: PM Surya Ghar achieves milestone of 10 lakh solar installations

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, has crossed a historic milestone with 10 lakh homes now powered by solar energy as of March 10 as per an official statement from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on Thursday.
• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024, the scheme is transforming India’s energy landscape. With 47.3 lakh applications received, the government has disbursed Rs. 4,770 crore in subsidies to 6.13 lakh beneficiaries, making solar energy more accessible to Indian households.
• A key feature of the scheme is its easy financing options, including collateral-free loans up to Rs. 2 lakh at a 6.75% subsidized interest rate provided by 12 Public Sector Banks. So far, 3.10 lakh loan applications have been received, with 1.58 lakh sanctioned and 1.28 lakh disbursed, ensuring financial inclusion. The scheme boasts a swift 15-day subsidy transfer process and has enabled many households to enjoy zero electricity bills.

Significant Progress Across States

• Several states have made remarkable progress in implementing the scheme. Chandigarh and Daman & Diu have achieved 100% of their rooftop solar targets for government buildings, while Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu have significantly contributed to the installation figures. The government aims to reach 1 crore solar-powered households by 2026-27, monitoring progress across all states to ensure timely execution.
• Among the top-performing states, Gujarat leads with 3,51,273 households benefiting, accounting for 41.47% of installations. Kerala follows with 65,423 households (7.73%), while Uttar Pradesh has 73,602 households (8.69%).

Key Benefits

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana offers several advantages. Households receive free electricity through subsidized rooftop solar panels, significantly reducing their energy costs.
• The widespread adoption of solar power is projected to save the government Rs. 75,000 crore annually in electricity costs. Solar installations also reduce carbon emissions, contributing to India’s goal of lowering its carbon footprint. Each solar installation offsets carbon emissions equivalent to planting 100 trees, driving India towards a cleaner and self-reliant future.

Subsidy Details

• Subsidies under the scheme depend on the household’s average monthly electricity consumption. For households with 0-150 units of monthly consumption, 1-2 kW solar plants are suitable, with subsidies ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000. For households consuming 150-300 units, a 2-3 kW plant is appropriate, with subsidies ranging from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 78,000. For consumption above 300 units, subsidies of ₹78,000 are provided for solar plants above 3 kW. Households can apply through the National Portal, which assists with vendor selection, system size information, and more. Subsidies are processed within 15 days after submission.

Impact and Future Goals  

• The scheme is expected to add 30 GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop installations by 2027, significantly boosting India’s renewable energy targets. Over the 25-year lifespan of these systems, it is estimated that they will generate 1000 billion units (BU) of electricity while reducing CO2 emissions by 720 million tonnes. Furthermore, the scheme is projected to create 17 lakh direct jobs, supporting the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. By mandating the use of domestically produced solar modules and cells, the scheme strengthens India’s renewable energy ecosystem.

Model Solar Villages

• A unique component of the scheme is the creation of “Model Solar Villages,” with one village per district selected to demonstrate solar energy adoption and promote energy self-reliance. With Rs. 1 crore allocated to each selected village, the initiative aims to set a benchmark for solar energy use across India.

What is fluoride and why is it added to the US water supply?

• Utah is poised to become the first state to prohibit fluoride in its water systems, just weeks after fluoride-critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and promotes dental health. Here is what you need to know about fluoridation of drinking water as a public health measure:

WHAT IS FLUORIDE AND WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

• Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in water, soil and air that has been demonstrated to prevent dental cavities, or tooth decay. It works by strengthening the tooth’s enamel, its hard outer surface, making it more resistant to the acid produced by bacteria that cause tooth decay. Fluoride also reverses early tooth decay by replacing and preventing loss of minerals in teeth.
• Prior to the beginning of community water fluoridation, tooth decay was widespread and severe among Americans. After fluoride was added in many places to the U.S. water supply, tooth decay declined in both children and adults, and complete tooth loss in older adults became more rare, according to federal health officials.

WHEN DID WATER FLUORIDATION AS A POLICY BEGIN?

• In the early 20th century, some U.S. researchers observed that people who lived in areas where community water supplies had naturally occurring high levels of fluoride had teeth that were resistant to decay.
• In 1945, the Michigan city of Grand Rapids became the first to add fluoride to its water supply in a controlled manner, kicking off what was in effect a large-scale public health experiment. Data over a 15-year span showed a reduction of more than 60% in tooth decay among 30,000 school children in Grand Rapids, demonstrating fluoride’s protective benefits.
• By the 1950s, the U.S. government’s Public Health Service and the American Dental Association acknowledged the success of water fluoridation in reducing cavities. This led to the broad U.S. adoption of adding fluoride in community water supplies and eventually its inclusion in dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.
• No federal law mandates fluoridation of water supplies. The decision to fluoridate water is typically made by municipal governments, city councils or local water authorities.

HOW WIDESPREAD IS FLUORIDATION IN THE U.S.?

• About 63% of all Americans have fluoride in their community water systems, according to CDC statistics as of 2022.
• According to the American Dental Association, the average cost per year for U.S. communities to fluoridate their water supplies ranges from 50 cents per person for large communities to $3 per person for small communities.
• In most of the world, fluoride is not added to the public water supply. Some countries add fluoride to table salt. In some regions, fluoride levels in water are naturally high.

ARE FLUORIDE LEVELS REGULATED?

• The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that drinking water levels for fluoride remain below 0.7 milligrams per liter. Levels above 1.5 mg/L are known to increase health risks such as bone fractures, thyroid disease and nervous system damage.
• The enforceable limit as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is 4.0 mg/L. A federal judge in California recently ordered the EPA to strengthen its regulations.

WHAT COMPANIES MAKE FLUORIDE?

• Fluorosilicic acid is the compound most widely used in water systems as it yields free fluoride rapidly when mixed with water. J.R. Simplot and Nutrien’s NTR.TO PCS Phosphate Company are among companies that manufacture the product, according to the EPA.
• Total U.S. domestic production of fluorosilicic acid from phosphate rock was approximately 29 million kilograms (32,000 tons) in 2019, according to EPA statistics.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO RECENT STUDIES RAISE ABOUT FLUORIDE?

• A review published in October 2024 by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews raised questions about the value of fluoridation of public drinking water in wealthy countries based on the findings of 157 studies.
• The research suggests that given the widespread addition of fluoride to toothpaste since 1975, community water fluoridation may now have only modest benefits in reducing tooth decay and increasing cavity-free children, compared to the effects seen in earlier studies. New lawsuits, however, are challenging manufacturers on the safety of fluoride levels in toothpaste, too.
• The review also found there is not enough evidence to determine the impact of stopping fluoridation or its effect on socioeconomic disparities in dental health.
• In January, researchers who analyzed 74 studies from 10 countries found IQs were lower in children with higher fluoride exposure. In four studies with a low risk of bias involving  4,179 children, urinary fluoride concentrations at levels reportedly common in developed countries were associated with lower IQ scores, the researchers reported.

Scrub typhus fueling rising fever hospitalisations in India? Know what new study says

• Rural communities face a high risk of potentially life-threatening scrub typhus infections, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, released.
• Scrub typhus is a severe infection caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, a member of the rickettsia family. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected larval mites, also known as chiggers.
• The study, which examined 32,000 people in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, identified scrub typhus as a leading yet under-recognized cause of fever-related hospitalizations.
• Published in the New study,  conducted in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers found a high incidence of scrub typhus over a two-year period, with nearly 10 percent of the population infected annually.
• While most infections were asymptomatic, between 8 percent and 15 percent of those infected developed a fever that often required hospitalization and intensive care due to severe illness.
• “After COVID-19, scrub typhus was the most significant cause of fever in our study, accounting for nearly 30 percent of fever-related hospitalizations,” said lead author Carol Devamani, MD, from CMC Vellore’s Department of Community Medicine.
• “Despite its prevalence and the availability of treatment, scrub typhus is frequently overlooked as a potential cause of fever. Diagnostic tests exist in major hospitals but are not widely available in local communities,” .
• Symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and a rash, typically appearing around 10 days after infection. A blackened sore often develops at the site of the chigger bite, aiding in diagnosis.
•  A new study has revealed scrub typhus’ infection could be an “under-recognised” leading cause of hospitalisations for fever. The researchers of the study found that scrub typhus affects around a tenth of rural populations in India every year.
• Scrub typhus infection is spread by the bite of an infected larval mite (chigger). The study, conducted by the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), looked at over 32,000 people from across 37 rural villages in Tamil Nadu.
• If left untreated, scrub typhus can lead to severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, meningitis, and kidney failure, which can be fatal.
• The infection can be treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline and azithromycin, but no vaccine is currently available for prevention.
• During the study, five people died due to scrub typhus-related complications.
• Researchers also noted that under-reporting of fever cases posed a limitation to the study.
• “Our findings highlight the urgent need to educate communities about the risks of scrub typhus and to enhance diagnostic capabilities at the community level. Only by doing so can we reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and prevent fatal cases,”.