Melioidosis

Melioidosis

Why in the News?

A recent study highlights how climate factors, especially those related to the monsoon, influence the spread of melioidosis.

What is Melioidosis?
Melioidosis is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is linked to rainfall, temperature, and humidity, and is primarily contracted through the inoculation, inhalation, or ingestion of soil- and water-dwelling environmental bacteria.

South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, accounts for 44% of global melioidosis cases, with Odisha being a hotspot due to its agriculture and extreme weather conditions. The disease is also prevalent in Northern Australia and Southeast Asia.

Symptoms & Severity:
Melioidosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild skin infections to severe pneumonia and sepsis. In septic cases, the fatality rate can be as high as 50%. The disease is not transmitted from animals to humans, and human-to-human transmission is rare.

Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diverse Symptoms: The disease manifests in various forms, making it difficult to diagnose and treat.

• Diagnostic Difficulties: It is often misidentified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a more common bacterium, leading to incorrect treatment.

• Complex Treatment: Treatment requires prolonged antibiotic therapy (12-20 weeks), and recurrence is possible if not managed properly.

Pi Day

Pi Day

Why in the News?

Pi Day is celebrated every year on March 14th to honor the mathematical constant π (pi). The day also marks the birth anniversary of Albert Einstein (1879) and the death anniversary of Stephen Hawking (2018).

Significance of Pi:
Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter and is an irrational, infinite number. The Greek letter π was first introduced in 1706 by Welsh mathematician William Jones, inspired by the words “periphery” and “perimeter.”

India’s Contribution to Pi:
Aryabhata (476-550 CE), an Indian mathematician and astronomer, approximated pi as 3.1416 in his work Aryabhatiya.
Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, in 1914, published the first algorithms for calculating pi to millions of digits.

Applications of Pi:
Pi is crucial in mathematics and engineering for calculating properties of circles, wave equations, and structural designs.
Space agencies like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rely on pi to determine orbital paths, satellite positioning, and spacecraft trajectories.
Pi is also used in everyday life, such as in the construction of domes and bridges, making it a fundamental constant in both science and technology.

Tags : UPSC 2025 current affairs preparation, UPSC current affairs January 2025, UPSC 2025 daily current affairs, Best sources for UPSC current affairs 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs for prelims, UPSC 2025 current affairs for mains, Important current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC current affairs strategy 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs notes, UPSC current affairs PDF 2025, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 preparation, UPSC 2025 current affairs online classes, UPSC current affairs quiz 2025, How to study current affairs for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs magazines, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 prelims and mains, Current affairs updates for UPSC 2025, UPSC 2025 current affairs analysis, Current affairs for UPSC 2025 PDF download, UPSC 2025 current affairs important topics, UPSC reading comprehension tips, UPSC reading comprehension practice papers,  UPSC reading comprehension strategy, UPSC reading comprehension questions,  UPSC reading comprehension exercises,  How to improve reading comprehension for UPSC, UPSC reading comprehension question papers PDF,  Important reading comprehension topics for UPSC, UPSC reading comprehension passage solutions, UPSC reading comprehension best books, UPSC GS reading comprehension examples, UPSC Prelims reading comprehension preparation,

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Why in the News?

The Central Government, in collaboration with various States, has approved the development of 116 new tourist destinations under initiatives like Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD), and the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme
Launched in 2020-21 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the SASCI scheme aims to assist state governments in capital investment projects, thus boosting capital expenditure and enhancing economic productivity.

What is the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS)?
The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2015, is a 100% centrally funded initiative (Central Sector Scheme) designed to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in India.

The scheme focuses on the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits across India, such as those focused on Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Heritage, and Northeast tourism. It offers financial support to State Governments, Union Territory (UT) Administrations, and Central Agencies for developing tourism infrastructure.

The operation and maintenance (O&M) of approved projects is the responsibility of the respective State/UT governments.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0):
SD2.0 takes a more holistic approach to the development of sustainable and responsible tourism destinations. It aligns with the ‘Vocal for Local’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives and aims to boost private sector investments in tourism, hospitality, and asset management. This approach shifts from circuit-based tourism to a destination-centric model that fosters long-term growth.

Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD):
CBDD is a sub-scheme under SD2.0, taking a competitive approach to develop tourism destinations. It emphasizes sustainability, digitalization, skill development, MSME support, and effective management of tourism sites.

What is the Current Status of the Tourism Sector in India?