Current Affair 1:

Europe Witnesses 30-Fold Increase in Measles Cases

 

News:

The WHO European Region is experiencing an alarming rise in measles cases. Over 30 000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the Region’s 53 Member States between January and October 2023. Compared to 941 cases reported in all of 2022, this represents a more than 30-fold rise.

Some facts about Measles:

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions (coughing or sneezing) or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles.

Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.

Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.

Prevention

Community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. All children should be vaccinated against measles. The vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive.

Children should receive two doses of the vaccine to ensure they are immune. The first dose is usually given at 9 months of age in countries where measles is common and 12–15 months in other countries. A second dose should be given later in childhood, usually at 15–18 months.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for measles. Care giving should focus on relieving symptoms, making the person comfortable and preventing complications.

Drinking enough water and treatments for dehydration can replace fluids lost to diarrhoea or vomiting. Eating a healthy diet is also important.

Latest measles report with respect to India:

Current Affair 2:

WHO releases AI ethics and governance guidance for large multi-modal models

 

News:

The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new guidance on the ethics and governance of large multi-modal models (LMMs) – a type of fast growing generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology with applications across health care.

 

The guidance outlines over 40 recommendations for consideration by governments, technology companies, and health care providers to ensure the appropriate use of LMMs to promote and protect the health of populations.

LMMs have been adopted faster than any consumer application in history, with several platforms – such as ChatGPT, Bard and Bert – entering the public consciousness in 2023.

To create safe and effective LMMs, WHO underlines the need for engagement of various stakeholders: governments, technology companies, healthcare providers, patients, and civil society, in all stages of development and deployment of such technologies, including their oversight and regulation.

Current Affair 3:

eSakshi App Launched to Track Fund Flow Under MPLADS

 

News:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched a new app called eSakshi this week to track the fund flow under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for 2023.

The launching of e-SAKSHI mobile application for Members of Parliament (MPs) under the MPLAD scheme will bring forth a myriad of benefits, revolutionizing the way they engage with and manage development projects in their constituencies.

The mobile app would offer convenience and accessibility, allowing MPs to propose, track, and oversee the projects at their fingertips.

About Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

On 23rd December 1993 Prime Minister had announced the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the Parliament. Initially the MPLADS was under the control of the Ministry of Rural Development. The 1st Guidelines were issued in February 1994, covering the concept, implementation and monitoring of the Scheme. The MPLAD Scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in October 1994.

What is the objective of scheme?

The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies. Right from inception of the Scheme, durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc. are being created.

Read all the points given below. Directly we are taking from guidelines.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has been responsible for the policy formulation, release of funds and prescribing monitoring mechanism for implementation of the Scheme.

1. The Government of India informs the State Nodal Department about the MPLADS funds released to the District Authorities.
2. The District Authorities report the status of MPLADS implementation to the Government of India and State Nodal Department.
3. The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crores.
4. If a Lok Sabha Constituency is spread over more than one District, the Member of Parliament can choose any one of the Districts as Nodal District in his/her constituency.
5. The Rajya Sabha MP can choose any District in his/her State of Election as Nodal District.
6. Nominated Members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can choose any District in the country as Nodal District.
7. Minimum funds mandatorily transferred in the development of Areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.

1. The District Authorities should maintain information and data on implementation of the

provision for SC/ST areas and also furnish the same on quarterly basis to the nodal department of the State Government.

1. Natural & Man-made Calamities: MPLADS works can also be implemented in the areas prone to or affected by the calamities like floods, cyclone, Tsunami, earthquake, hailstorm, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, landslides, tornado, drought, fire, chemical, biological and radiological hazards.
2. District Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner will generally be the District Authority to implement MPLADS in the district.
3. The District Authority shall make the selection of an appropriate Implementing Agency through which a particular work recommended by an MP would be executed;
4. The selection of the Implementing Agency shall be undertaken in accordance with the State Government rules/guidelines applicable for the purpose.
5. Provided that for certain works in certain Central Government Ministries/Organizations (like Railways) where the Implementing Agency has necessarily to be the concerned Central Government Ministry/Organization, the same shall be selected as the Implementing Agency.

Current Affair 4:

Ancient Settlement Discovered at Vadnagar

 

News:

A joint study by the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) has found evidence of cultural continuity in Vadnagar even after the Harappan collapse, thus making it likely that the “Dark Age” was a myth.

A consortium of scientists has now found evidence of a human settlement that is as old as 800 BCE contemporary to late-Vedic/pre-Buddhist Mahajanapadas or oligarchic republics.

The study also indicates that the rise and fall of different kingdoms during the 3,000-year period and recurrent invasions of India by central Asian warriors were driven by severe change in climate like rainfall or droughts.

 

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