theIASHub | 06 Aug, 2025 | 4
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Uttarkashi Cloudburst : Recently, Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district was hit by a devastating flash flood, reportedly triggered by a cloudburst and intense rainfall. The sudden surge in the Kheer Ganga River swept through Dharali town, causing extensive damage and destruction.
o Link to Climate Change: Global warming increases atmospheric moisture-holding capacity. This leads to more intense, erratic, and sudden rainfall, making cloudbursts more frequent and severe.
o Prediction Challenges: Cloudbursts are highly localised events, usually affecting areas around 10 km × 10 km, making them difficult to predict accurately.
o Growth of Droplets: As clouds rise higher, water droplets grow larger and more form. Lightning within these clouds often delays rainfall, increasing moisture load.
o Sudden Downpour: When clouds can no longer hold the excess moisture, they burst, releasing intense rainfall over a small area.
o Landslides: Heavy rainfall loosens soil on slopes, triggering landslides that block roads and damage infrastructure.
o Mudflows: A fast-moving mixture of water, soil, and debris engulfs buildings and fields, causing severe destruction.
o Land Subsidence: Excess water pressure weakens the ground, leading to sudden collapses such as cracks, sinkholes, or hillside failure.
CLOVES Syndrome : Recently, CLOVES Syndrome has drawn renewed attention as an extremely rare genetic disorder, with fewer than 200 cases reported worldwide.
o These mutations can cause the enzyme to become overactive, leading to abnormal cell growth.
o PIK3CA mutations are also linked to several cancers, including breast, lung, ovarian, gastric, brain, colon, and rectal cancers.
o The mutation is sporadic and occurs spontaneously during fetal development. It is not hereditary and cannot be passed down genetically.
o Vascular anomalies, such as dilated veins in the chest, arms, and legs, increasing the risk of blood clots.
o Limb overgrowth, large hands or feet with wide gaps between fingers or toes.
o Skin abnormalities, including port-wine stains and raised bumps.
o Spinal issues, including scoliosis or tethered cord.
o Possible kidney complications.
Black Scorpion : Recently, Indian researchers uncovered the biochemical basis behind the potent sting of the glossy black scorpion, a species native to the forests of Eastern and Southern India.
o This discovery marks a significant step forward in addressing a long-neglected public health concern in tropical regions.
o Research Institute: Study conducted by the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
o Objective: First-ever comprehensive biochemical, proteomic, and pharmacological profiling of HB venom to address the scientific gap in scorpion venom research.
o Key Discovery: The venom contains 25 distinct toxins from 8 different protein families, which are responsible for its potent sting.
o Pharmacological Findings: Tested on Swiss albino mice, the venom triggered:
- Systemic toxicity
- Elevated liver enzymes (indicating hepatic stress)
- Organ damage
- A pronounced proinflammatory immune response, pointing to risks like shock or severe allergic reactions in humans.
o Improved medical treatment for scorpion stings.
o Better understanding of venom biology.
o Enhanced public health preparedness in affected regions.
Haat on Wheels Initiative : Recently, on the occasion of the 11th National Handloom Day, the Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), launched the innovative “Haat on Wheels” initiative. An Exclusive Handloom Expo was also inaugurated at Handloom Haat, Janpath.
o Showcasing 116 distinct weaves from across India
o Will travel across Delhi NCR, including: Markets, Residential societies, Art and cultural zones
o Aim : Bridge the gap between weavers and urban consumers
- Promote “Vocal for Local”, sustainable fashion, and indigenous crafts
o Theme of the Year: “My Handloom, My Pride; My Product, My Pride”
Environmental DNA (eDNA) : Recently, scientists have moved beyond traditional methods like catching animals or counting plants and are increasingly using environmental DNA (eDNA) to study biodiversity.
o Working : Scientists collect a few litres of water (or soil/air samples) from the environment.
- The DNA fragments present are filtered and sequenced to detect the presence of different organisms.
- This method can identify a broad spectrum of life forms, including: Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, archaea), Fungi, plants, insects, birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals.
o Highly sensitive, detecting both rare and cryptic species that are hard to observe directly.
o Useful in early detection of invasive species and in forensic identification (e.g., detection of human remains).
o Faster, cheaper, and scalable to large marine and freshwater ecosystems.
o The study also showed how seasonal changes and human interventions (like hydropower) affect biodiversity.
India Cine Hub portal : Recently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting urged States to actively use the India Cine Hub portal to attract and facilitate global film productions at the local level. The Ministry also outlined a roadmap for promoting low-cost cinema infrastructure across the country.
o Aims to create a film-friendly ecosystem and ease of doing business in the media sector and promotes India as a global filming destination.
o A common application form to simplify permission processes.
o Single-window clearance mechanism for all necessary approvals.
o Onboarded (In Progress): 21 States and 6 Union Territories
Indri Lemur : Recently, for the first time, a team of researchers successfully mapped the intestinal microbiome of the Indri lemur.
o Scientific Name: Indri indri
o Distribution and Habitat: Endemic to the remote rainforests of northeastern Madagascar
- Inhabits both coastal and montane rainforests, ranging from sea level up to 1,800 metres in elevation
o Physical Characteristics: Largest living lemur species, measuring 60–70 cm (24–28 inches) in length.
- Possesses a rudimentary tail, large hands and feet, and a round head with a pointed face and furry, rounded ears
- Covered in smooth, silky fur, typically black with white markings on the head, throat, forearms, and buttocks (color patterns vary by region)
o Behaviour and Diet: Diurnal and strictly arboreal
- Moves through the forest by clinging to and leaping between trees in an upright posture
- Herbivorous, feeding on leaves, fruits, flowers, and other vegetation
- Life expectancy in the wild ranges from 15 to 18 years
o Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
WHO-IRCH : Recently, India has been selected to host the WHO–International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) Workshop, marking a significant milestone in advancing global regulatory frameworks for traditional and herbal medicine.
o New Initiatives Introduced: Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) Programme: To improve safety monitoring and reporting of adverse effects in traditional medicines
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