Landslides in West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh

Recently, heavy rainfall triggered a series of deadly landslides across the Himalayan districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, and Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh.

• Definition: A landslide is the rapid downward movement of rock, debris, or soil caused by gravity, often triggered by rainfall, earthquakes, or human disturbances.
• Mechanism: Landslides occur when the downward gravitational force exceeds the binding strength of the slope materials (e.g., soil, rock), resulting in large-scale mass movement.
• Natural Triggers: Long monsoon spells, seismic tremors, volcanic activity, snowmelt, inadequate drainage, rapid river incision, and glacial retreat.
• Human Factors: Deforestation, slope cutting for roads, unregulated construction, quarrying, and alteration of natural drainage channels.
• Flagship Project: National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (NLRMP) was launched to strengthen hazard mapping, real-time monitoring, and early warning systems in 66 landslide-prone districts in India.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the nodal agency for the project.

Landslide Distribution in India

• Extent in India: About 12.6% of India’s non-snow-covered land, or nearly 0.42 million square kilometres, is vulnerable to landslides (GSI). 42% of the vulnerable area is in the Northeastern region.
• Regional Share: The North-Western Himalayas account for 66.5% of landslides, followed by the North-Eastern Himalayas (18.8%) and the Western Ghats (14.7%).
• States Hotspots: Mizoram recorded the highest number of landslides with 12,385 cases (1998-2022), followed by Uttarakhand (11,219) and Jammu & Kashmir (7280).
• District Hotspots: Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal districts in Uttarakhand report the highest landslide density, especially along the Alaknanda valley and Char Dham route.

E-Cigarettes and the Rising Health Risks

WHO’s first global estimate of e-cigarette use reveals that teens are nine times more likely to vape than adults.

Key Findings of WHO’s Report

• 15 million teens (13–15 yrs) use e-cigarettes, and youth are 9 times more likely to vape than adults.
• Total Vapers: >100 million globally, including 86 million adults, mainly in high-income countries.
• Tobacco users declined from 1.38 billion (2000) → 1.2 billion (2024).
• Regional Trends
• Southeast Asia: Male tobacco use fell from 70% → 37% (2000–2024).
• Europe: Now the highest tobacco prevalence (24.1% overall).

Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019

• Complete Ban: The Act prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of all electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).
• Prohibited Activities: No individual or company can trade, advertise, or promote e-cigarettes.
• Penalties:
• Manufacture, sale, or advertisement: Imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine up to ₹1 lakh (first offence); for subsequent offences, imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine up to ₹5 lakh.
• Storage of e-cigarettes: Imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine up to ₹50,000, or both.
• Exemptions: The Act does not apply to approved research and testing activities.

Challenges in the Implementation of the Act in India

• Online Sales: A 2023 study by the NGO Voluntary Health Association of India found that over 60% of e-cigarette products were accessible via e-commerce platforms in India.
• Youth Targeting: Influencer marketing on social media and flavour-based products attract minors.
• Absence of Cessation Support: Only 1 in 5 tobacco users in India has access to counselling or nicotine replacement therapy (Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2022).
• Product Innovation: New disposable and flavoured devices enter the market under alternative brand names, evading customs and enforcement scrutiny.

Way Forward

• Digital Surveillance: Deploy AI-based monitoring tools to detect online vape sales and social-media promotions. E.g. Inspired by the EU’s “Track & Trace” digital monitoring system.
• Youth Awareness Campaigns: Integrate anti-vaping education under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP). E.g. New Zealand’s “Vape-Free Schools” policy to reduce adolescent exposure.
• Cessation Infrastructure: Expand quit-support helplines like “mCessation Programme” under Digital India, which has already helped over 3 million tobacco users attempt quitting.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Create a central “Nicotine Product Enforcement Task Force” involving the MoHFW, IT Ministry, and the Customs.

National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control

Recently, the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) reported over 4,000 dengue cases in Telangana between April and August 2025.

National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control

• Nodal agency under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for prevention of vector-borne diseases.
• Implements the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and provides technical and financial support to States/UTs.
• Focuses on six major diseases — malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, kala-azar, and lymphatic filariasis; malaria, kala-azar, and lymphatic filariasis are targeted for elimination, while others are closely monitored for outbreaks.
• Facilitates surveillance, capacity building, entomological research, and quality control to strengthen disease prevention and control.
• Key initiatives include the National Anti-Malaria Programme, Kala-azar Control Programme, National Filaria Control Programme, and Dengue & Chikungunya Control Programme.

SC Issues Nationwide Directions for Road Safety

The Supreme Court has directed all States and UTs to formulate comprehensive road safety rules within six months.

Key Directives Issued by SC

• Framing of Rules: States and UTs must include provisions on helmet enforcement, pedestrian crossings, wrong-lane driving, unsafe overtaking, and LED headlight.
• Helmet Enforcement: Authorities will ensure compliance for both riders and pillion passengers through e-enforcement systems, including camera surveillance and digital challans.
• Pedestrian Safety: Safe crossings, shaded waiting zones, tactile paving, and adherence to Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards at bus terminals, metro, and railway stations.
• Accountability: Under Section 198A of the MV Act, officials and contractors can be personally liable for pedestrian deaths caused by poor road design or maintenance.
• LED Headlights & Hooters: The court directed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and State authorities to define maximum luminance and beam angles.
• Also directed to ban unauthorised red-blue strobe lights and hooters completely.

Grievance Redressal and Monitoring

• States, municipal bodies, and the NHAI must create a dedicated online grievance redressal system for complaints on footpath maintenance, encroachment, and pedestrian issues.
• The system must include a review mechanism for unresolved complaints.
• The Supreme Court will continue to monitor compliance and review progress after seven months.

India–Qatar Joint Meetings 2025

The Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, co-chaired the Qatar–India Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation and addressed the Joint Business Council meeting in Doha with his Qatari counterpart.

Key Highlights

• Trade Expansion: Both sides recognised untapped trade potential and agreed to double bilateral trade (USD 14 billion in FY25) by 2030.
• CEPA Progress: They reaffirmed the establishment of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to enhance trade and investment flows.
• Energy Partnership: India acknowledged Qatar’s long-term agreement for LNG supply of 7.5 million tonnes per year from 2028.
• Digital Cooperation: India launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Doha, making it the eighth country to accept UPI.

United Arab Emirates Introduces Sugar Tax *

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will implement a sugar tax on sweetened beverages beginning January 1, 2026, to decrease high sugar consumption and promote public health.

• The new legislation aligns with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s regional framework for a tiered volumetric excise on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

Sugar Tax

• A sugar tax is a fiscal policy that raises the price of sweetened beverages through taxation to decrease excessive sugar consumption and promote healthier lifestyles.
• Objectives: The measure aims to lower the burden of sugar-related illnesses (e.g., obesity, diabetes, etc.) while raising funds for public health programs.
• India Policy: India imposes a 40% sin tax on sugary drinks, in addition to 28% GST and 12% compensation cess, making the overall tax burden among the highest worldwide.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional political and economic alliance established to promote political, financial, and security cooperation among member nations.
• Formation: Founded in 1981, as a response to the Iran-Iraq War and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it comprises six Arab states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Security Arm: The Peninsula Shield Force, established in 1984, serves as the GCC’s joint military force.

Defence Manufacturing Target of ₹3 Lakh Crore by 2029

India has set an ambitious target to achieve ₹3 lakh crore in defence manufacturing and ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.

Rising Domestic Defence Production

• India’s defence production reached a record ₹1.5 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, a sharp increase from ₹46,000 crore in 2014.
• Approximately 25% of annual procurement is now reserved for MSMEs, with over 350 items earmarked exclusively.
• In FY 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence awarded 92% of contracts to the domestic industry.
• Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 targets ₹1.75 lakh crore in production and ₹35,000 crore in exports by 2025.

Defence Startups on the Rise

• Defence Minister has urged entrepreneurs to create India’s first defence unicorn, a $1 billion startup that would signify the maturity of the domestic defence ecosystem.
• Since its launch in 2018, the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme has supported over 650 innovators and led to prototype procurements worth ₹3,000 crore.
• Under the new Defence Procurement Manual (DPM-2025), startups will receive assured five-year contracts, which can be extended for another five years.

Government Initiatives for Defence Production

• The government introduced Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) to ban imports of specific items and promote domestic manufacturing.

• Indigenous manufacturing is gaining momentum, with 64% of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft parts made locally.
• Liberalised FDI policy allows up to 74% through the automatic route and higher.

Wildfire Smoke & Rising Mortality

Researchers warn that if current warming trends persist, wildfire smoke exposure could kill 70,000 Americans annually by 2050 +

The study links rising temperatures, worsening wildfires, and PM2.5 pollution to major health threats.

Key Facts from the Research

• Annual smoke-related deaths projected to reach 70,000 (by 2050) vs. ~12,000 currently. (Nature, 2025)
• Over 2 million cumulative deaths expected by 2050 if emissions persist.
• Planet warmed 1.3°C since the Industrial Revolution.
• Frequency of extreme wildfires has doubled in two decades. (Stanford–Harvard study, 2025)
• Regional Hotspots:
• +4,500 annual smoke-related deaths in California.
• New York, Texas, Washington: 1,800–2,000 additional annual deaths each.
• 50% of total deaths expected in the Eastern U.S. due to higher population density.

Impacts of Global Wildfires

• Public Health Crisis: Wildfire smoke (PM2.5) exposure causes over 3 lakh premature deaths annually, leading to spikes in respiratory and cardiac diseases (WHO, 2024).
• Climate Feedback Loop: Fires release billions of tonnes of CO₂, worsening global warming and triggering more frequent and intense fires.
• Biodiversity Loss: Massive habitat destruction in ecosystems like the Amazon and Australian bushlands, threatening endangered species and disrupting food chains.
• Economic Damage: Global wildfire losses crossed $120 billion in 2024, affecting tourism, agriculture, and property, especially in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Way Forward

• Regional Fire Cooperation: Establish cross-border wildfire response & data-sharing systems. E.g. ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
• Climate-Resilient Forestry: Promote fire-resistant tree species and restore degraded lands. E.g. UN-REDD, Bonn Challenge – restore 350M ha by 2030)
• Early Warning Systems: Deploy satellite-based fire alerts and AI smoke models. E.g. Global Wildland Fire Network – FAO initiative)
• Public Health Protection: Strengthen air quality monitoring & issue smoke advisories. E.g. WHO–UNEP Global Alliance on Health & Pollution

Viridans Streptococci Causing Heart Attacks

A study by researchers in Finland found that viridans streptococci, a group of common oral bacteria, can evade the immune system and directly contribute to fatal heart attacks.

Viridans Streptococci

• Viridans streptococci are Gram-positive bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the oral cavity and the digestive, respiratory, & female reproductive tracts of healthy individuals.
• They can cause dental cavities, gum infections, and infective endocarditis (a severe infection of the heart valves) when they enter the bloodstream through gum injuries or dental procedures.
• Survival Mechanism: These bacteria can form sticky layers called biofilms, which enable them to attach to tissue surfaces & evade detection by the immune system; this makes them resistant to antibiotics.
• Treatment: Preventive measures include maintaining good oral hygiene & treating gum disease early.

How Do They Trigger Heart Attacks?

• These bacteria enter and stay hidden in the fatty deposits of the coronary arteries by forming biofilms.
• When these fatty deposits rupture, bacterial fragments come into contact with the bloodstream.
• This activates Toll-Like Receptor-2 (TLR2), triggering inflammation and clot formation that block blood flow and cause a heart attack.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2025

• John Clarke (UK), Michel Devoret (France), and John Martinis (USA) won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for demonstrating Macroscopic Quantum Tunnelling in visible electrical circuits.

• Their discovery confirmed that quantum phenomena, once thought limited to subatomic particles, can also manifest in macroscopic systems, expanding the boundaries of quantum mechanics.

Macroscopic Quantum Tunnelling (MQT)

• Macroscopic quantum tunnelling occurs when a large-scale system crosses an energy barrier (quantum tunnelling) without having enough classical energy to do so.
• Energy Barrier: It is a region of higher potential energy that classically prevents particles or systems from moving across.
• Quantum Principle: This tunnelling phenomenon occurs because of wave-particle duality, where matter behaves both as a particle and a wave.
• Significance: Demonstrating MQT in visible circuits bridges the gap between quantum and classical physics, paving the way for quantum technologies.

Josephson Junction

• A Josephson junction consists of two superconductors separated by an ultrathin insulating layer that allows quantum tunnelling of electron pairs.
• Mechanism: Cooper pairs pass through the insulating barrier via Quantum Tunnelling, producing a supercurrent to flow without any applied voltage.
• Qubits: These junctions form the building blocks of quantum bits (qubits) used in quantum computers.
• Innovation: Clarke and his team improved shielding and cooling techniques to precisely isolate the setup from interference and confirm quantum effects on a macroscopic scale.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (Australia), and Omar M. Yaghi (USA) for developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline, porous materials made of metal ions as “nodes” connected by organic molecules called “linkers.”
• Functionality: Their lattice structure creates large cavities that can store substances, catalyse reactions, or conduct electricity.
• Porosity: MOFs have large internal surface areas, often exceeding 7,000 square meters per gram, which allows for remarkable molecular adsorption and storage capacity.
• Tunable Design: By modifying metal nodes and linkers, chemists can accurately control pore size, geometry, and reactivity for specialised applications.

Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks

• Water Harvesting: Extracts water from desert air using temperature-driven vapour release cycles.
• Gas Storage: Captures and stores carbon dioxide & hydrogen for clean energy and climate mitigation.
• Pollution Removal: Filters toxic substances like PFAS from contaminated water sources.
• Drug Degradation: Breaks down residual pharmaceuticals in wastewater, preventing ecological toxicity.
• Metal Recovery: Extracts rare earth elements from industrial wastewater for recycling and reuse.
• Catalysis: Accelerates decomposition of hydrocarbons and antibiotics in polluted environments.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Day

IAF Day is celebrated annually on October 8 to commemorate the establishment of IAF in 1932 as an auxiliary wing of the British Royal Air Force. The 2025 celebration marked the 93^rd anniversary with the theme “Beyond Boundaries: Guardians of the Sky.”