10.04.25

Maternal Mortality Trends

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  • Why in News: The UN’s “Trends in Maternal Mortality: 2000–2023” report highlights India’s maternal mortality trends.

  • India’s Contribution: India is the second-largest contributor to global maternal deaths (7.2%) after Nigeria. 19,000 maternal deaths were recorded in India in 2023.

  • India’s Progress: India’s MMR has decreased significantly, from 384 in 2000 to 80 in 2023, an 86% decline since 1990, exceeding the global average.

  • Global Trends: Global MMR declined from 328 to 197 per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2023 but the pace of progress has slowed.

  • Regional Disparities: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest MMR (454), while Australia and New Zealand have the lowest. Significant variations exist within India as well, with some states lagging behind national average.

  • SDG Target: Achieving SDG target 3.1 (MMR below 70 by 2030) requires a much faster annual rate of reduction.

  • Concerns: Despite progress, India’s high absolute number of maternal deaths indicates gaps in healthcare access and quality.

  • Ministry’s Stand: The Union Health Ministry views comparing India’s MMR to Nigeria’s based on absolute numbers as misleading due to population differences.

  • Challenges: Access to skilled birth care in rural areas and the rise of NCDs like diabetes and hypertension contribute to maternal deaths. Humanitarian funding cuts are impacting essential healthcare.

  • Way Forward: Strengthen primary healthcare, focus on vulnerable regions, integrate policies with SDG 5 and 10, enhance data systems, and leverage digital platforms.

Critical Minerals

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  • National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) Launched (2025): Aims for self-reliance in critical minerals, supporting India’s clean energy goals and national security.

  • Why Critical Minerals Matter: Essential for modern technologies (solar panels, wind turbines, EVs, energy storage) and defense. Supply chain vulnerabilities exist due to limited availability and geographical concentration.

  • India’s Identified Critical Minerals: 30 minerals listed, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements (REEs).

  • Central Government Auctioning Powers: 24 minerals added to Part D of Schedule I of the MMDR Act, 1957, granting the Central Government exclusive auctioning rights.

  • Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM): Established to regularly review the mineral list and guide policy.

  • Geological Survey of India (GSI) Role: Leading exploration efforts, with 1,200 projects planned (2024-25 to 2030-31), and following UNFC classification.

  • Domestic Exploration Boost: GSI intensifies exploration programs, including 195 projects in the 2024-25 field season, with a focus on critical mineral deposits. Over 100 critical mineral blocks are set to be auctioned.

  • International Cooperation: KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) actively pursuing overseas mineral assets, including agreements with Argentina (lithium) and Australia (lithium, cobalt).

  • IREL (India) Limited’s Role: Processing beach sand minerals and operating Rare Earth Extraction and Refining Units, focused on expanding production capacity.

  • Mission Objectives: Secure mineral supply chain, strengthen value chains, encourage recycling, and promote innovation.

  • India’s Climate Goals: NCMM supports India’s targets of reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030, achieving 50% non-fossil electric power capacity by 2030, and reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.

Daulatabad

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  • Fire at Daulatabad Fort: A significant fire erupted at Daulatabad Fort (also known as Devgiri Fort) in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on April 8, 2025.

  • Damage Assessment & Disaster Management: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated damage assessment and is planning a disaster management strategy in response to the fire.

  • Extent of Damage: The fire scorched large areas of grassland and vegetation within the fort, raising concerns about the monument’s safety and ecological balance. The Baradari (pavilion at the summit) was also affected.

  • Impact on Wildlife: The fire disrupted local wildlife, with monkeys and peacocks observed scavenging for food in the charred areas, having lost significant portions of their habitat, especially the shrublands near the Mendha Cannon.

  • Challenges Faced: Firefighters faced challenges due to the fort’s steep terrain. Fort staff assisted in transporting water from the Moti tank.

  • Historical Significance: Daulatabad Fort is a UNESCO-nominated heritage site that served as the capital of multiple dynasties.

  • Disaster Preparedness: Authorities are prioritizing the development of a comprehensive disaster preparedness and response mechanism to safeguard the fort from future threats.

Mahavir Jayanti

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  • Mahavir Jayanti Marked by Navkar Mahamantra Divas: Prime Minister inaugurated Navkar Mahamantra Divas on April 10, 2025, aligning Lord Mahavir’s teachings with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
  • Teachings as Global Solutions: PM Modi emphasized that Lord Mahavir’s principles of non-violence, truth, and compassion offer solutions to global issues like terrorism, war, and environmental degradation.
  • Ahimsa (Non-violence): Advocates for ending all forms of violence, aligning with the UN Charter, Gandhian ethics, and SDG 16.
  • Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness): Promotes sustainable lifestyles, aligning with Mission LiFE and SDG 12 to address environmental concerns.
  • Anekantavada (Many-sidedness): Encourages respect for diverse perspectives, resonating with constitutional morality and secularism.
  • Satya (Truth) and Asteya (Non-stealing): Promote transparency and integrity, guiding ethical business practices and aligning with ESG frameworks.
  • Government’s Commitment: The government is committed to preserving Jain teachings, including declaring Pali and Prakrit as classical languages.
  • Nine Pledges for Well-being: PM Modi urged citizens to adopt nine pledges encompassing water conservation, environmental action, promoting local products, domestic travel, natural farming, healthy lifestyles, helping the poor, and incorporating sports/yoga.
  • Jainism in New Parliament: The influence of Jainism, including idols of Tirthankaras, is visible in the new Parliament building.
  • Interdependence of Life: Jainism recognizes the interdependence of all life, prohibiting violence and offering lessons for peace, harmony, and environmental protection.

IPU Assembly #150

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  • 150th IPU Assembly: Lok Sabha Speaker led the Indian delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

  • India-Uzbekistan Ties: India and Uzbekistan share historical and cultural ties that should be deepened through collaboration in digital technologies, AI, renewable energy, and peaceful nuclear energy.

  • “Nari Shakti Vandan Act”: India emphasized inclusive democracy through the “Nari Shakti Vandan Act”, ensuring greater women representation.

  • “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” & “Sarvajan Hitaya”: India upholds universal values of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family) and “Sarvajan Hitaya” (For the Welfare of All).

  • Parliamentary Cooperation: Proposed regular parliamentary exchanges with Uzbekistan, Israel and Kazakhstan to share best practices and strengthen relations.

  • India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership: Focus on strengthening cooperation in economy, defense, education, and trade; India is now among Uzbekistan’s top 10 trade partners.

  • Uzbekistan Appreciation: Congratulated Uzbekistan for successfully hosting the 150th IPU Assembly.

  • India-Israel Partnership: Highlighted long-standing strategic partnership based on democratic values and collaboration in technology, agriculture, and defense.

  • India-Kazakhstan Relations: Proposed regular dialogues between parliaments to exchange best practices; acknowledged growing cooperation in defense, security, digital technology, energy, and space.

  • Tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lok Sabha Speaker and the Indian delegation paid floral tributes to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent.

Asia-Pacific Climate Costs

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  • Significant Economic Losses: One-third of Asia-Pacific nations face annual economic losses of at least 6% of GDP due to climate-related events like floods, heatwaves, droughts, and cyclones, according to UNESCAP.
  • Average Annual Loss (AAL): The AAL across 30 Asia-Pacific countries averages 4.8% of GDP, exceeding 7% in Fiji, Myanmar, and Pakistan, and reaching nearly 11% in Cambodia.
  • Vulnerable Economies: Eleven countries (Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam) are particularly vulnerable to climate risks from a macroeconomic perspective.
  • Rapid Urbanization & Infrastructure: Rapid urbanization and weak infrastructure, especially in coastal areas, intensify climate risks and losses.
  • Sectoral Impacts: Agriculture faces up to a 14% reduction in rice yields by 2050. Coal and oil-reliant countries face economic disruption due to the renewable energy transition. Fishing stocks could decline by 30% in tropical regions by 2050.
  • India’s Vulnerability: India could face a 24.7% GDP loss by 2070 due to climate impacts, ADB estimates.
  • Extreme Heat in India: India could account for 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses by 2030 due to heat stress. 4.5% of India’s GDP could be at risk from lost labor hours.
  • Rising Sea Levels in India: 32% of India’s coastline experienced erosion (1990-2018), increasing flood risks in coastal cities.
  • Extreme Weather Events in India: India ranks 6th among countries most affected by extreme weather (1993-2023), with USD 180 billion in economic losses.
  • Circular Economy: Asia-Pacific countries should promote circular economy systems to cut emissions.
  • Green Innovation: Encouraging climate-tech startups in areas like carbon capture, and renewable energy production and storage.
  • Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Invest in flood-proof and heat-resistant infrastructure to protect urban areas.
  • Loss and Damage Fund (LDF): Scaling up the LDF is crucial for impactful adaptation in Asia-Pacific.

Sickle Cell Disease

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  • RRI’s Affordable Screening Device: Raman Research Institute (RRI) has developed a cost-effective electro-fluidic device for preliminary screening of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
  • High-Resolution Stiffness Measurement: The device quantifies whole-cell stiffness with high resolution and throughput, differentiating SCD and healthy donor RBCs with high precision.
  • How it Works: The device measures cell volume and stiffness in free-flight and constricted-flight modes, correlating flight time with cellular stiffness.
  • Potential Impact: This technology could change diagnostic methods for blood disorders, offering a rapid way to detect mechanical abnormalities in RBCs. Its portability and cost-efficiency make it suitable for mass-screening in both rural and urban areas.
  • Beyond SCD: Whole cell stiffness measurements have applications in tumor cell detection and veterinary blood disorders. The device principle could also be applied to improve hydrogel materials for drug delivery systems.
  • SCD Basics: SCD is an inherited blood disorder affecting red blood cells (RBCs) due to flawed hemoglobin. Sickled RBCs block blood flow, causing pain, organ damage, anemia, and other complications.
  • Inheritance: SCD is caused by inheriting two sickle cell genes (one from each parent).
  • Symptoms: Include tiredness, swollen hands/feet, jaundice (early), severe pain, anemia, organ damage, and infections (later).
  • Treatments: Bone marrow transplant can cure SCD; other treatments relieve symptoms. Gene therapy has been approved in UK.