2nd September 2025

1. Study on Cancer Cases in India: Recently, India’s latest four-year cancer registry analysis revealed significant gender and regional disparities in cancer incidence, highlighting the urgent need for stronger state and national cancer care strategies.

• Key Highlights: The study, based on data from 43 population-based cancer registries between 2015 and 2019, recorded 7 lakh cancer cases and 2 lakh deaths.
  • Researchers estimate that in 2024 alone, the country witnessed 15 lakh cancer cases and 8 lakh cancer-related deaths.
  • Women accounted for 51% of cancer cases but only 45% of deaths.
  • Oral cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most common cancer among men.
  • The highest cancer incidence was reported from the northeastern states, particularly Aizawl.
  • Oral cancer emerged as the most common cancer among men in 14 registries and among women in 4 registries. Despite a decline in tobacco consumption — from 34% (2009–10) to 28% (2016–17) — oral cancer continues to rise.
  • Although women had a higher incidence of cancers, their survival outcomes were better.
  • Breast cancer alone accounted for 30% of female cancers, underscoring the importance of early detection through screening.

2. Exercise Yudh Abhyas: Recently, an Indian Army contingent departed for Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA, to participate in the 21st edition of the India–USA Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025.

• About Yudh Abhyas: It is an annual joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the US Army.

• The Indian contingent includes soldiers from a battalion of the Madras Regiment.
• Conducted over two weeks, covering a broad range of tactical drills.
  
• Key activities: Heliborne operations
  - Use of surveillance assets and unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
  - Rock craft and mountain warfare
  - Casualty evacuation and combat medical aid
  - Integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems

• Other India–USA Military Exercises: Army: Vajra Prahar

• Navy: Malabar (with Japan and Australia)
• Air Force: Cope India, Red Flag (multilateral)

3.  Tiny Computer For Cosmic Dawn: Recently, a computer as small as a credit card was created to help study one of the biggest mysteries of the universe, the Cosmic Dawn, the time when the first stars and galaxies lit up the universe.

• Key Findings: Scientists aim to capture the faint 21-cm radio signal from hydrogen atoms, which carries imprints of events from the Universe’s earliest phase.

• On Earth, this signal is masked by radio interference (e.g., FM transmissions), hence the need for a lunar far-side mission, the quietest place for radio astronomy.
• PRATUSH (Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen) is the proposed space payload by Raman Research Institute (RRI), funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
• It is designed as a radiometer in lunar orbit to answer questions about the first stars and galaxies.
• The PRATUSH radiometer system uses: Antenna to capture signals, Analog receiver to amplify them, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) to process cosmic data and SBC (single-board computer) (e.g., Raspberry Pi) as master controller for data recording, calibration, and smooth system operation

4. 4-nitro-substituted benzylic diselenide 7: Recently, Indian researchers successfully made a new nitro-substituted organoselenium compound that shows promise in fighting one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

• Key Findings: The compound is 4-nitro-substituted benzylic diselenide 7, synthesized through nucleophilic substitution of benzylic halides with Na₂Se₂ and NaHSe, obtained from elemental selenium reduction under inert atmosphere.

• Demonstrated ability to reduce invasiveness of TNBC cells by modulating multiple signalling pathways.
• In Swiss albino mice with breast adenocarcinoma, it: Decreased tumour volume
• Reduced angiogenesis and metastasis
• Extended lifespan of animals
• Works by blocking oncogenic pathways: Akt/mTOR pathway and ERK pathway
• Generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces inflammation, damaging cancer cells’ DNA and promoting cell death.
• Represents a multitarget anticancer strategy, attacking cancer survival mechanisms from multiple angles.
  - Supports further development of organoselenium compounds as effective cancer therapies.

5. Study on River Flow: Recently, researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) published a study in Science. The study explains what determines whether rivers flow as single-thread or multi-thread systems.

• Key Findings: It uses 36 years of satellite data and advanced image analysis to explain what determines whether rivers flow as single-thread or multi-thread systems.
  • Analysed 84 rivers worldwide over 36 years (1985–2021) using Landsat satellite data.
  • Applied a technique called particle image velocimetry to track erosion and deposition dynamics.
  • Single-thread rivers: Maintain equilibrium — material eroded from one bank is balanced by deposition on the opposite side, keeping width stable.
  • Multi-thread rivers: Show more erosion than deposition, causing widening and splitting into multiple channels. Thus, erosion drives river splitting.
  • Significance: Single- and multi-thread rivers differ in flood and erosion risks, ecosystem services, and water resources, making this mechanism important in climate-resilient river management.
  • Human interference: Dams, dikes, sediment mining, agriculture, and channel confinement have historically altered rivers, often shifting them from multi-thread to single-thread systems.

6. Bairabi–Sairang Rail Line: Recently, Mizoram is set to enter a new era of connectivity with the upcoming inauguration of the 51-km Bairabi (Assam)–Sairang (Aizawl) broad gauge rail line.

• Project overview: Part of Indian Railways’ mission to connect all Northeastern States by 2030.
  • Connects Mizoram capital Aizawl (via Sairang, 20 km away) with the national railway network.
  • Links to Silchar (Assam) via Bhodahpur Junction, integrating with Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Cuts travel time between Silchar and Aizawl from ~10 hours by road to ~3 hours by train.
  • Provides a more affordable transport option compared to flights.
  • Expected to boost tourism and economic activity in Mizoram.
  • Train ride (~80 minutes one way) passes through picturesque hillocks, forests, streams, and rivers, adding tourism potential.

7. CEREBO: Recently, in a major step to reduce deaths and disabilities caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) unveiled CEREBO.

• About CEREBO: A portable, non-invasive brain injury diagnostic device introduced by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• Aim: Reduce mortality and disabilities caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI), especially in rural areas with limited CT/MRI access.
• Developed by ICMR, MDMS, AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research.
• Detects intracranial bleeding and edema in <1 minute.
• Safe for infants and pregnant women.
• Uses near-infrared spectroscopy + machine learning.
• Importance: Provides colour-coded, radiation-free, cost-effective results.
  -  Alternative where CT/MRI access is limited or delayed.

• About TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury): Caused by sudden trauma or head injury, disrupting brain function.

• Ranges from mild (concussion) to severe with long-term impairments.
• Symptoms may be delayed or invisible, risk of permanent brain damage if untreated.
• Long-term consequences: cognitive issues, behavioural/emotional changes, physical disability, higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

8. ‘Adi Vaani’: Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the beta version of ‘Adi Vaani’, a mobile and web-based translation platform for Adivasi languages. The initiative aims to bridge communication gaps and empower tribal youth digitally.

• About Adi Vaani: Translation capabilities: Adivasi languages to and from Hindi and English

• Languages supported in Phase I: Gondi, Bhili, Mundari, Santali (currently functional)
• Upcoming additions: Kui and Garo
• Availability: To be launched soon on Android and iOS app stores
• Use of authentic linguistic data collected by State Tribal Research Institutes
• The app is expected to be a valuable tool for remote tribal communities, enabling smoother communication with government services, healthcare, and educational platforms.

9. Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 Report: Recently, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) released the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report, based on global pollution data from 2023.

• Key Findings: It shows that air pollution has become India’s most severe health threat, reducing the country’s average life expectancy by 3.5 years.

• All of India breathes air dirtier than the WHO annual safe limit of PM2.5 = 5 µg/m³.
• 46% of India’s population lives in areas breaching India’s own national PM2.5 standard of 40 µg/m³.
• Northern plains are the worst affected, exposing 544 million people to dangerous air.
• Delhi could gain the most: reducing PM2.5 to WHO levels may add 2 years to life expectancy.
• Even the cleanest parts of India could see +9.4 months life expectancy with clean air.
• Pandemic years (2020–21) saw lower pollution, but 2023 levels rose again.
• Global findings (2023): Average PM2.5 was 5% higher than 2022, nearly 5x WHO safe limit.
  - Air pollution identified as the greatest external threat to human life expectancy.
  - South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan) is heavily affected, blanketed by cross-border emissions.
  - Bangladesh: most polluted country in the region, with PM2.5 levels 12x WHO limit.

10. Clopidogrel: Recently, medical insights revealed that clopidogrel, a widely used antiplatelet drug, may provide better protection than aspirin for the long-term prevention of heart attacks.

• About Clopidogrel: An antiplatelet drug that prevents blood clots and is prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, and unstable angina.

• It works by blocking platelet activity, which lowers the likelihood of serious cardiovascular events.
• Common Uses: Prevention of heart attacks
  - Prevention of strokes
  - Treatment of peripheral artery disease
  - Prevention of clot formation after medical procedures
  - Reducing clot risk in patients with atrial fibrillation
• Dosage and duration depend on the patient’s age, health condition, and response to therapy.