1. Lyme Disease: Emergence of a Tick-Borne Threat 

2. Vocal for Local Initiative. 

3. Global Methane Tracker 2024. 

4. International Day of Mathematics. 

5. PB-SHABD Platform.. 

1. Lyme Disease: Emergence of a Tick-Borne Threat

News:

• A recent case of Lyme disease has been reported in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, raising concerns about the spread of this vector-borne illness.

About Lyme Disease:

• Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks.

Transmission:

• Notably, Lyme disease cannot spread between humans or from pets to humans. Additionally, it is not transmitted through air, food, or water. Other common vectors such as lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies do not carry or transmit the disease.
• The disease is prevalent in wooded and grassy areas worldwide, particularly during warmer months, and is most commonly reported in regions of North America, Europe, and certain parts of Asia.

Symptoms:

• Early symptoms typically appear between 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bite, including fever, headache, fatigue, and the hallmark "bull's-eye" red rash known as erythema migrans (EM).
• Erythema migrans serves as a critical diagnostic indicator, facilitating early detection and management of Lyme disease. If left untreated, the infection can progress to severe complications affecting the joints, heart, and nervous system.

Treatment:

• The standard treatment for Lyme disease involves antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, particularly in the early stages of the infection.
• In advanced stages, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary to address the persistent infection and mitigate potential complications.

General Studies Paper 3: Health issues; Vector-borne diseases and their prevention and management strategies.

1. Vocal for Local Initiative

Context:

• NITI Aayog has recently launched the 'Vocal for Local' initiative under its Aspirational Blocks Programme, aiming to foster self-reliance and sustainable growth.

About the Initiative:

• The initiative seeks to promote local products from 500 aspirational blocks, consolidating them under the Aakanksha brand, which can potentially tap into international markets.
• A dedicated window on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal has been established to facilitate the procurement of these products.
• Partnerships will provide support for e-commerce onboarding, linkages establishment, financial/digital literacy, certification, and skill enhancement.

Key Facts about Government e-Marketplace (GeM):

• GeM, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as an online platform for public procurement, offering common use goods and services to government departments, organizations, and PSUs.
• Purchases made through GeM are authorized and mandated by the Ministry of Finance under the General Financial Rules, 2017.
• The platform is managed by GeM SPV, a 100% Government-owned non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Facts about Aspirational Blocks Programme:

• Launched in alignment with the Aspirational District Programme, the initiative targets 112 districts to enhance their development performance.
• The programme now extends to 500 districts across 31 States and Union Territories, primarily focusing on areas requiring additional assistance for holistic development.

Euscorpiops Krachan: A Newly Discovered Species

• Researchers have recently identified a new species of scorpion, named Euscorpiops Krachan, found in Thailand's Krachan National Park.
• Belonging to the subgenus Euscopiops, this scorpion exhibits limited distribution and is typically found in mountainous regions with abundant rock crevices.
• Notably small, reaching just over 1 inch in length, these scorpions display brownish coloration with females being darker than males, possessing eight eyes and legs.
• Similar to other species in the Scorpiops genus, Euscorpiops Krachan likely employs ambush or sit-and-wait foraging strategies while hunting.

General Studies Paper 2: Government policies and initiatives for development in various sectors; Initiatives for vulnerable and marginalized sections.

General Studies Paper 3: Biodiversity and conservation efforts; Sustainable development and environmental conservation.

1. Global Methane Tracker 2024

Context:

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Global Methane Tracker 2024, highlighting concerning trends in methane emissions from fuel use.

About the Global Methane Tracker:

• An annual report by the IEA, the Global Methane Tracker provides insights into methane emissions from the energy sector, incorporating data from various sources including scientific studies, measurements, and satellite information.

Highlights:

• Methane emissions from fuel use in 2023 reached nearly record highs, totaling 120 million tonnes (Mt), with a slight increase compared to the previous year.
• Additionally, bioenergy, a renewable energy source derived from plant and animal waste, contributed another 10 million tons of emissions.
• Approximately 80 million tons of methane emissions stemmed from just 10 countries, with the United States leading in emissions from oil and gas operations, followed closely by Russia. China led in emissions from coal operations.
• Despite emissions reductions observed in certain regions, overall methane emissions remain excessively high, posing challenges to meeting global climate goals.
• To achieve the Paris Agreement's target of limiting warming to 1.5°C, methane emissions from fossil fuels must be reduced by 75 percent by 2030.
• The IEA estimated that meeting this goal would require approximately $170 billion in investment, representing less than 5 percent of the income generated by the fossil fuel industry in 2023.

General Studies Paper 3: Environmental conservation and climate change mitigation strategies; International agreements and initiatives for climate action.

1. International Day of Mathematics

Context:

• The International Day of Mathematics (IDM), also known as Pi Day, is observed annually on March 14 to celebrate the mathematical constant Pi.

About International Day of Mathematics:

• IDM is observed on March 14 each year to honor the mathematical constant Pi.
• The theme for the International Day of Mathematics 2024 is 'Playing with Math', emphasizing the interactive and exploratory nature of mathematical concepts.

Significance of March 14:

• March 14 (3/14) aligns with the first three digits of Pi, which is approximately 3.14, hence the celebration on this date.

Historical Background:

• The first Pi Day was celebrated in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
• In 2009, the United States House of Representatives officially designated March 14 as Pi Day.
• UNESCO recognized Pi Day as the 'International Day of Mathematics' during its general conference in 2019.
• Interestingly, mathematician and physicist Albert Einstein, renowned for his contributions to the theory of relativity, was born on Pi Day in 1879.

Understanding Pi (π):

• Pi is a mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
• It is an irrational number, with an infinite decimal expansion that cannot be exactly determined.
• Pi is commonly approximated as 3.14 or represented as 22/7.
• The concept of Pi has been known for thousands of years, with ancient civilizations like the Babylonians and Greeks exploring its properties.
• The symbol for Pi, 'π', was introduced by British mathematician William Jones in 1706.

Applications of Pi:

• Pi finds extensive use in various mathematical and scientific calculations, including geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more.
• Its significance extends beyond theoretical mathematics to practical applications in engineering, physics, and many other fields.

General Studies Paper 3: Fundamental mathematical concepts and their applications in science and technology; Contributions of mathematicians to the advancement of human knowledge.

1. PB-SHABD Platform

Context:

• The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting has inaugurated PB-SHABD, a news sharing service developed by Prasar Bharati.

About PB-SHABD:

• PB-SHABD, which stands for Prasar Bharti - Shared Audio Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination, is a platform designed to provide daily news feeds in various formats such as video, audio, text, and photos to subscribers across the media landscape.
• Powered by Prasar Bharati's extensive network of reporters, correspondents, and stringers, PB-SHABD aims to deliver the latest news from different parts of the country.
• It serves as a centralized source of news content for all organizations and offers news stories in major Indian languages across fifty categories.
• The shared feeds can be utilized for customized storytelling across different platforms, enhancing content creation and dissemination strategies.

Introductory Offer:

• PB-SHABD service is being introduced free of cost for the first year, providing an opportunity for smaller newspapers, TV channels, and digital portals to access high-quality news content without financial constraints.

What is Prasar Bharati?

• Prasar Bharati is the Public Service Broadcaster of India, established in 1997 under the Prasar Bharati Act as a statutory autonomous body.
• Its primary objective is to conduct public broadcasting services aimed at informing and entertaining the public.
• Prasar Bharati comprises the Doordarshan Television Network and All India Radio, which were previously media units under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• The headquarters of Prasar Bharati is located in New Delhi.

General Studies Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Role of media and its influence on society.

General Studies Paper 3: Role of technology in dissemination of information; Functions and responsibilities of public institutions.