‘Smart’ insulin prevents diabetic highs — and deadly lows

•  Scientists have designed a new form of insulin that can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. In animals, this ‘smart’ insulin 1 reduced high blood-sugar concentrations effectively while preventing levels from dropping too low.

Smart Insulin (NNC2215)

• Smart insulin is a drug designed to circulate in the body and turn on when it’s needed and off when it’s not.
• NNC2215 is a smart insulin that consists of two key components:
• A ring-shaped structure and a  glucoside molecule (similar in shape to glucose).

How NNC2215 Works? 

• When blood sugar levels are low, the glucoside binds to the ring, keeping the insulin inactive to prevent further lowering of blood sugar.
• As blood glucose levels rise, glucose replaces the glucoside, causing the insulin to change its shape and become active, helping to lower blood sugar to safer levels.

Diabetes

• Diabetes is a non-communicable disease (NCD) that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. 
• Insulin is the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar (glucose).

Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 Diabetes: The immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and the body produces very little or no insulin.
• Commonly diagnosed in children and young people, hence called Juvenile Diabetes.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin it produces.
• It is often associated with lifestyle factors and is more common in adults.
• Gestational Diabetes: Occurs in women during pregnancy when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin.
• Typically temporary but can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

  Abhidhamma Divas and recognition of Pali as classical language

• The International Abhidhamma Divas celebration organized by the Government of India and International Buddhist Confederation witnessed the participation of  academicians and monks from 14 countries and a significant number of young experts on Buddha Dhamma from various Universities across India.
• Abhidhamma Divas commemorates the descent of Lord Buddha from the celestial realm after teaching Abhidhamma.
• The recent recognition of Pali as a classical language enhances the significance of this year’s Abhidhamma Divas celebrations as Lord Buddha’s teachings on Abhidhamma are originally available in Pali language.
• Pali language which was spoken by Lord Buddha is no longer in common usage. Underlining that language is not just a medium of communicating but the soul of culture and tradition
• Listing down the development projects of the places related to Lord Buddha in India and Nepal as a Buddha circuit,  India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage was being built in Lumbini, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Chair for Buddhist Studies in the Buddhist University in Lumbini was established along with ongoing development projects in many places like Bodh Gaya, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Sanchi, Satna and Rewa.

 Azores Islands

• The regional assembly of Portugal’s Azores Islands authorized the creation of the biggest covered marine area in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals.
• It aims to achieve the goals set by the United Nations of protecting 30% of the Earth’s land and sea by 2030 under a global pact adopted last year.
• The community ensures the preservation of underwater mountain degrees and susceptible marine ecosystems, consisting of deep-sea corals, hydrothermal vents and marine species.

Azores Islands

• The 9-island archipelago is an autonomous region of 1,500 km (932 miles) west of mainland Portugal lies within the North Atlantic Ocean and domestic to specific marine biodiversity.
• The Azores are divided into 3 extensively separated island organizations: the jap organization, the critical group, and the northwestern institution. 
• Their unstable geologic nature is indicated by several earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Centre Hikes MSP for Rabi Crops 2025-26

• The Indian government has announced a significant increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for key rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season. This decision, made by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide farmers with better returns and support agricultural sustainability.

Overview of MSP Increases

• The MSP for wheat has gone up by Rs 150 per quintal which translated into an increase of 6.59 per cent of the previous year’s price of Rs 2,275 per quintal. Minimum selling price MSP is now at Rs 2,425 per quintal. This adjustment is important because wheat is the second largest crop in India after paddy and is a very essential crop.
• In addition to wheat, other rabi crops have also seen increases in their MSPs:
• Barley: It has raised by Rs 130 to Rs 1,980 per quintal.
• Gram: Raised by Rs 210 to Rs 5,650 per quintal
• Lentil (Masur): Increased by Rs 275 to Rs 6, 700 per quintal
• Rapeseed and Mustard: Have been raised by Rs 300 to Rs 5,950 per quintal
• Safflower: Raised to Rs 5,940 per quintal across the earlier raise of Rs 140.
• These are as follows: 2.41 – 7.03 % demonstrate the government interest in ensuring farmers get appropriate prices for their produce.

Implications of the MSP Hike

• The government being desirous that the MSPs should be established at bare minimum 1.5 times the all India weighted average cost of production. In the case of the wheat this translates into an expected profit margin of about 105% this will encourage farmers to continue producing this important grain.

Regional Impact

• Uttar Pradesh tops other states as the largest producer of wheat in India, with Madhya Pradesh and Punjab as second and third producers, respectively. With the increase of MSP, these areas are expected to benefit from the policy because most of the households in these regions depend on wheat farming.
• However, sources of risk and uncertainty in the accomplishment of procurement targets and effective support of farmers across the marketing season have not yet been fully eliminated. The government is aware of these problems and is still trying to find out ways to improve the procurement process and farmers’ participation.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, the recent hike in MSPs for rabi crops signifies a robust commitment from the Indian government towards farmer welfare and agricultural sustainability.

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024 

• MPI is published annually by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.
• The index makes use of 10 indicators across these 3 dimensions. 
• If a family is disadvantaged in one-third or more of those indicators, it’s considered multi dimensionally terrible.

Key Findings

• Across 112 nations and 6.3 billion people, 1.1 billion people (18.3 percent) live in acute multidimensional poverty.
• Poor people stay in rural areas: 962 million (83.7 percent) live in rural regions.
• Around 70.7 percent of all poor people stay in rural areas of Sub- Saharan Africa (463 million) and South Asia (350 million).
• The five countries with the largest quantity of people residing in poverty are India (234 million), Pakistan (93 million), Ethiopia (86 million), Nigeria (74 million) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (66 million).
• Together, those five nations account for nearly half (48.1 percent) of the 1.1 billion poor people.
• Approximately 584 million people below 18 are living in extreme poverty, making up 27.9% of all children globally, as compared to 13.5% of adults.
• Poverty in conflicted areas: The report cited that 2023 witnessed more conflicts than at any time since World War II inflicting displacement of over 117 million people.
• Nearly 40% of the 1.1 billion people stay in poverty, about 455 million, are situated in countries experiencing conflict. 

Reasons for India’s poor performance

• Regional Disparities: Rural poverty rates stay high due to insufficient infrastructure, bad carrier shipping, and restricted financial opportunities outside agriculture.
• Poor nutrition: India struggles with severe malnutrition, particularly amongst children.
• Quality of education: The quality of education in many government-run colleges is terrible, leading to insufficient studying consequences. 
• Water and sanitation: Poor access to secure consuming water and insufficient sanitation, specifically in rural regions, maintains to push many households into multidimensional poverty.
• Economic setbacks: The COVID-19 pandemic critically disrupted India’s economy, leading to job losses, decreased earning, and expanded vulnerabilities for millions of households. 

Government Steps for Poverty relief 

• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: It offers prison entitlement to 67% of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in city regions) to receive notably backed foodgrains.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) (2016): This initiative was introduced to offer LPG (liquefied petroleum gasoline) connections to women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• Ayushman Bharat scheme: It gives medical health insurance policies of as much as ₹5 lakh per family per year to protect beneficiaries from the financial burden of high priced scientific treatments, thereby stopping them from falling deeper into poverty because of healthcare costs.
• National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan): Launched in 2018, the project targets to lessen malnutrition through specializing in stunting, undernutrition, and anemia, particularly amongst children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. 
• Right to Education Act (RTE): The RTE Act, enacted in 2009, affords free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 years. 
• Swachh Bharat Mission: The task ambitions to achieve universal sanitation insurance with the aid of building bathrooms and promoting cleanliness.

Way Ahead

• India has made substantial strides in poverty reduction through various initiatives however there’s room for in addition development.
• Promoting sustainable livelihoods, enhancing the nature of service transport, and leveraging digital solutions for higher implementation will make sure that multidimensional poverty maintains to say.

Pyrocystis noctiluca

• It is a specific bioluminescent phytoplankton species which is capable of inflating its size during its migration. 
• This species can expand to six times its original size of a few hundred microns, aiding its buoyancy. 

Key Facts Related to Vertical Migration of Phytoplankton:

• Vertical Migration: Many plankton travel from the cold, dark depths of the ocean to the surface, then drift back down into the darkness in a continuous cycle called vertical migration. 
• The movement mechanism of single-celled phytoplankton, especially those without swimming appendages, remains largely unexplained. 
• Density Dynamics of Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton are generally 5%-10% denser than seawater, which poses a challenge for their ability to remain near the surface for photosynthesis. 
• Pyrocystis noctiluca cells behave like little submarines which can control their density so they can choose where they want to reach the ocean’s surface. 
• Ballooning Mechanism: The research team utilised a “gravity machine” which can alter water pressure and density, mimicking the ocean’s depths.  
• The team found that inflated cells were less dense than the surrounding seawater, allowing them to float toward the surface despite gravity. 
• Inflation During Cell Division: The inflation process occurs naturally during the phytoplankton’s cell cycle.  
• When a single cell divides, an internal structure called a vacuole acts as a flexible water tank, taking in freshwater and causing the new cells to swell.  
• This inflation allows the lighter daughter cells to float upward, reaching the nutrient-rich surface waters. 
• The entire cell cycle of Pyrocystis noctiluca lasts approximately seven days, which aligns with the vertical pursuit of light and essential nutrients. 

What are Planktons? 

•  Plankton are microscopic organisms that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, serving as the foundation of the entire marine food web. 
• An organism is classified as plankton if it is carried by tides and currents and lacks the ability to swim against these forces. 

Types of Plankton: 

• Phytoplankton: Plant-like organisms that perform photosynthesis, converting sunlight into energy, and are vital for producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. E.g., Cyanobacteria, Blue-green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates. 
• Phytoplankton depend on nutrients like phosphate, nitrate, and calcium from their environment to thrive. 
• Zooplankton: Animal-like organisms that include microscopic animals (such as krill and sea snails) and weak swimmers like jellyfish. E.g., Radiolarians, Foraminiferans, cnidarians, crustaceans, chordates, and molluscs. 
• Size of Planktons: Plankton can vary in size, from microscopic organisms to larger species like crustaceans and jellyfish. 
• Role in the Marine Food Web: Phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web, supporting various marine life. 
• Zooplankton primarily feed on phytoplankton and, in turn, serve as food for larger marine animals, creating a critical food chain link. 
• E.g., Krill are a major component of the diet of humpback, right, and blue whales.  
• Migration Patterns: During the day, zooplankton drift to deeper waters to evade predators, but at night, they rise to the surface to feed on phytoplankton.  
• This process is considered the largest migration on Earth; so many animals make this journey that it can be observed from space. 
• Habitat: Plankton inhabit both saltwater and freshwater ecosystems.   
• Clearer waters typically indicate fewer plankton, while more turbid waters (cloudy or muddy) are often richer in plankton. 

 Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

 The Rajasthan forest department has stopped the construction of a major complex, inside the buffer zone of critical tiger habitat of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

• Violation: The construction was deemed illegal as it was located within the critical tiger habitat.
• Environmental Concerns of construction
• Tiger Habitat: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is a critical habitat for tigers, and any construction within the reserve is considered a violation of the Forest Conservation Act 1980. 
• Dense Tiger Reserve: RTR is the third most dense tiger reserve in India, with 71 tigers and cubs.

 Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Location:  Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan.
• Establishment: Established as a Sawai Madhopur game sanctuary in 1955.
• Game sanctuary is the protected area for the conservation of wildlife, particularly game animals that are hunted for sports. 
• Declared as a national park in 1980.
• The reserve is a part of the larger Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, which includes Kailadevi Sanctuary and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary.

Area and Topography

• Area: The reserve spans approximately 1,334 square kilometers, with the core zone covering 392 square kilometers.
• Topography: The park features rugged hills, plateaus, grasslands, forests, lakes, and rivers.
• Ranthambore Fort: The famous Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adds to the park’s appeal.

Flora and Fauna

• Flora: The reserve has a diverse ecosystem with dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and scrublands. Dominant tree species include dhak, banyan, pipal, and various acacias.
• Fauna: The Bengal tiger is the primary attraction. 
• Other wildlife includes leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, deer, nilgai, wild boar, and Indian foxes.

Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve

•  Since 2015, 14 leopards, 7 tigers, and a bear have died on railway tracks in Madhya Pradesh, prompting the state wildlife department to raise concerns over the Barkheda-Budni railway line project, a 26.5 km track passing through Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.

 Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve

• The Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the Vindhya Hills, features a rocky forest and an aquatic environment. 
• Existence: The sanctuary was first notified in 1976 and then extended in 1983. 
• Background: The proposal to declare Ratapani wildlife sanctuary as tiger reserve has been begun since 2008. 
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has accorded in principle approval to notify Ratapani wildlife sanctuary as the tiger reserve in 2011. 
• Kolar River forms the western boundary of the Sanctuary. 
• The sanctuary also includes Bhimbetka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient rock shelters and paintings.
• Flora and Fauna:
• Fauna: Chinkara, Sloth Bears, and the Paradise Flycatcher (state bird of Madhya Pradesh).
• Flora: Predominantly dry and moist deciduous forests.

Unique Drug Delivery Method to Improve Treatment of Brain Tuberculosis

• In an exciting new development, researchers have created a unique way to deliver Tuberculosis (TB) medicines directly to the brain bypassing the challenging blood-brain barrier (BBB) that limits the effectiveness of many brain TB medicines. This innovative drug delivery method can effectively treat brain TB, a life-threatening condition with high mortality rate.

• Tuberculosis (TB) that affects the brain, called Central Nervous System Tuberculosis (CNS-TB), is one of the most dangerous forms of TB, often leading to severe complications or death. One of the biggest challenges in treating CNS-TB is that the drugs used to treat TB struggle to reach the brain because of a protective barrier known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This barrier prevents many medicines from entering the brain, limiting their effectiveness.
• Traditional treatments involve high doses of oral anti-TB drugs, but these often fail to achieve effective concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This limitation underscored the need for more effective delivery methods that can target the brain directly.
• Scientists at Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, used tiny particles made of a natural material called chitosan, to deliver TB medicines directly to the brain through the nose, bypassing the BBB.
• The scientists team developed chitosan nano-aggregates, tiny clusters of nanoparticles made from chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable material. These tiny particles, known as nanoparticles, were then made into slightly larger clusters called nano-aggregates, designed for easy nasal delivery. They can hold TB drugs like isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF). 
• The drug delivery technology used was nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery, which utilizes the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways in the nasal cavity to bypass the BBB. By delivering the drug through the nasal route, the nano-aggregates can transport the drugs directly into the brain, significantly improving drug bioavailability at the infection site.
• Besides, chitosan is known for its mucoadhesive properties, and sticks to the nasal mucosa, which helps the nano-aggregates stay in place and prolongs the time they can release the drug, enhancing its therapeutic effectiveness.
• The spray-drying process used to form the nano-aggregates also ensures that they are stable, easy to administer intranasally, and can be efficiently absorbed into the brain tissues. This approach enables a much more targeted treatment of CNS-TB
• This study is the first to show that delivering TB drugs through the nose using these advanced particles can effectively treat brain TB. The new treatment not only makes sure the medicine reaches the brain but also helps reduce the inflammation caused by the infection.
• It could be applied to treat other brain infections, neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), brain tumours, and epilepsy by enabling efficient drug delivery to the brain.

 World Iodine Deficiency Day

• World Iodine Deficiency Day, also known as Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day, is observed annually on 21st October. The day aims to raise awareness about the essential role of iodine in maintaining good health and to emphasize the consequences of iodine deficiency
• Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate metabolism and are crucial for fetal and infant development. Found in foods and iodized salt, iodine exists in several forms, including sodium and potassium salts, inorganic iodine (I2), iodate, and iodide. Iodide, the most common form, is quickly absorbed in the stomach and used by the thyroid for hormone production. Most excess iodide is excreted through urine
• Iodine deficiency has multiple adverse effects on growth and development and is the most common cause of preventable intellectual disability in the world. Iodine deficiency disorders result from inadequate thyroid hormone production secondary to insufficient iodine. During pregnancy and early infancy, iodine deficiency can cause irreversible effects.

• If a person’s iodine intake falls below approximately 10–20 mcg/day, hypothyroidism occurs, a condition that is frequently accompanied by goitre.
• Goitre is usually the earliest clinical sign of iodine deficiency.
• In pregnant women, iodine deficiency of this magnitude can cause major Neuro developmental deficits and growth retardation in the fetus as well as miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Chronic, severe iodine deficiency in utero causes cretinism, a conditions characterized by intellectual disability, deaf mutism, motor spasticity,stunted growth, delayed sexual maturation, and other physical and neurological abnormalities.
• In infants and children, less severe iodine deficiency can also cause neurodevelopmental deficits such as somewhat lower than average intelligence as measured by IQ.
• Mild to moderate maternal iodine deficiency has also been associated with an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
• In adults, mild to moderate iodine deficiency can cause goiter as well as impaired mental function and work productivity secondary to hypothyroidism.
• Chronic iodine deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of the follicular form of thyroid cancer.

National Efforts to Eradicate Iodine Deficiency 

• Recognizing the serious health implications of iodine deficiency, the Government of India initiated national efforts to combat the problem through the National Goitre Control Programme (NGCP) in 1962. This program marked a significant step toward addressing iodine deficiency, which was linked to conditions such as mental and physical retardation, cretinism, and stillbirths.
• In 1992, the program was broadened and renamed the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) to cover a wider range of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and ensure its implementation across all States and Union Territories.

Primary goals of NIDDCP include:

• Reducing the prevalence of IDD to below 5% nationwide.
• Achieving 100% consumption of adequately iodized salt (with 15 ppm of iodine) at the household level.
• To accomplish these goals, the programme focuses on several

 key objectives:

• Conducting surveys to assess the magnitude of IDD in different districts.
• Replacing common salt with iodized salt in affected regions.
• Conducting resurveys every five years to measure the impact of iodized salt on IDD.
• Monitoring iodized salt quality and urinary iodine excretion through laboratory testing.
• Promoting health education and public awareness about iodine’s role in preventing IDD.
• A major policy decision was made in 1984 to iodize all edible salt in India, which became a phased initiative starting in 1986. By 1992, the country aimed to fully transition to iodized salt. Today, India produces 65 lakh metric tonnes of iodized salt annually, which is sufficient to meet the needs of its population. This ongoing national effort underscores the government’s commitment to eradicating iodine deficiency and improving public health. 
• Achievements of the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP)
• The implementation of the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) has led to significant achievements in the reduction of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) across India:
• Reduction in Total Goiter Rate (TGR): The programme has substantially reduced the Total Goiter Rate, a key indicator of iodine deficiency, across the country.
• Increased Iodized Salt Production & Consumption: The production of iodized salt has reached 65 lakh metric tonnes (MT) annually, which is sufficient to meet the dietary needs of the Indian population.
• Regulatory Measures: Under Regulation 2.3.12 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011, the sale of common salt for direct human consumption is prohibited unless the salt is iodized, ensuring nationwide use of iodized salt.
• Establishment of Monitoring Laboratories: A National Reference Laboratory for monitoring iodine deficiency disorders has been established at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, along with four regional laboratories at NIN, Hyderabad, AIIH&PH, Kolkata, AIIMS, and NCDC, Delhi. These laboratories conduct training, monitoring, and quality control of salt and urine testing for iodine levels.
• State-Level Implementation: 35 States/UTs have set up IDD Control Cells within their respective State Health Directorates, and an equal number have established State IDD Monitoring Laboratories to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
• Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Activities: Extensive IEC campaigns have been carried out to raise public awareness about the importance of regularly consuming iodized salt to prevent IDD.

Global efforts to combat iodine deficiency 

• Global efforts to combat iodine deficiency have been significant, with initiatives like Iodine Deficiency Day focusing on raising awareness about the critical role iodine plays in thyroid function, growth, and development. Globally, an estimated 1.88 billion people are at risk of inadequate iodine intake, impacting nearly 30% of school-aged children. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have championed universal salt iodization since 1993, resulting in over 120 countries adopting iodization programs.
• These concerted efforts have led to a significant reduction in iodine deficiency disorders across India, contributing to the improvement of public health.