UPSC Editorials Quiz : 8 August 2024

Solution: C)

Two people in the Brazilian state of Bahia were the first people to die from Oropouche fever, the country’s health ministry reported July 25, 2024.

Oropouche is common in Latin America and the Caribbean. The virus was first detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. But it has been detected in Europe. Italy reported its first-ever case of Oropouche in June 2024. It was also the first case ever to be detected in continental Europe.

Oropouche fever is primarily transmitted through the bites of infected midges and mosquitoes, particularly the Culicoides paraensis midge. This mode of transmission is typical for many vector-borne diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus enters the human body when an infected vector feeds on human blood, introducing the pathogen into the bloodstream. This method of transmission explains why the disease is more prevalent in areas where these vectors thrive and why climate conditions can influence its spread.

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Solution: c)

The Supreme Court’s ruling in this case established a crucial procedural safeguard for arrested individuals. By mandating the written disclosure of arrest grounds at the time of arrest, it ensures transparency in the arrest process and allows the accused to understand the basis of their detention immediately. This requirement serves multiple purposes: it protects against arbitrary arrests, enables the accused to prepare their defense promptly, and upholds the fundamental right to personal liberty. The immediacy of this disclosure is particularly significant in the context of laws like PMLA, where bail provisions are stringent, making the validity of the arrest itself a critical factor in potential legal challenges.

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Solution: a)

Only Statement 2 is correct.

There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease — to date. Symptoms of the disease are similar to dengue and typically start between four and eight days after the bite. The onset is sudden, and symptoms usually include fever, headaches, pain, chills, joint stiffness and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

Most patients recover in about seven days. According to the WHO, severe cases are rare. There is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment available for the disease. This suggests that hospitalization is not typically required for most patients with Oropouche fever.

Given that the disease is transmitted by insects and has been associated with certain climate conditions, it’s likely that climate change could influence its spread.

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Solution: a)

NIPUN Bharat (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) is indeed focused on improving foundational literacy and numeracy skills in children by Grade 3. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s recommendations to ensure early childhood education and development.

NIPUN Bharat was launched on July 5, 2021, which was after the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on July 29, 2020. The NIPUN Bharat mission was, in fact, a result of the recommendations made in NEP 2020.

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Solution: d)

Young women in India are not joining the labour force at a rate comparable to the rest of the educated world. According to latest data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, the over-all female labour force participation rate — LFPR shows the percentage of the population which is looking for a job — in India is only 37% (41.5% in rural, 25.4% in urban India). For women in the 15-29 age-group, the LFPR is even lower at 24.5%.

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