CURRENT AFFAIRS - 14 Sep 2023

• Nipah Virus Outbreaks in Kerala: Concerns and Implications

○ Nipah surfaced in Kerala in 2019
§ There was a warning about the potential for annual
outbreaks due to the prevalence of Pteropus medius
bats, the key reservoirs of the virus
○ While there have been four occurrences of the virus, three
outbreaks were centred in Kozhikode, near each other. Only
one case, in 2019, was reported outside this area in Ernakulam
○ Causes and Speculations
§ The reason for the virus spillover in specific regions
despite the widespread presence of the bats remains
uncertain
§ Assumptions include human contact with fruits
contaminated by bat saliva or bat droppings
○ Call for Research
§ P.O. Nameer from Kerala Agricultural University
emphasized the necessity to study the virus dynamics in
bats to understand the factors behind the spillover,
including the role of —
□ Geography, climate change, and specific timelines
• After an outbreak is controlled, research on NiV typically becomes a
lower priority, leading to a lack of continuous study and
understanding
• Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister
remarked that women could be appointed priests in the 35,000-odd
temples in the state is long overdue
• In a year’s time S. Krishnaveni, S. Ramya and Ranjitha will become
assistant priests at Sri Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu, following
the ‘Pancharathra agama’
○ They are the first three women to have undergone the
training
○ They have studied at the Archakar Training School run by the
Sri Ranganathar Temple in Srirangam
• Reasons to open up temples to women priests:
○ Raj Kali Kuer vs Ram Rattan Pandey 1955 case: This judgment
notes that many priestly offices in Indian temples were
hereditary
§ The Supreme Court held that women have the right to
succeed to religious office
○ The authority of men, or of Brahmins, to conduct rituals is not
literally vested in any religious texts including Srimad Bhagvad
○ Completing the Bhakti revolution: The single biggest
achievement of the Bhakti movement is elevating the dignity
of the emotion among the public and marginalising the ritual
conformism of Brahmanism
§ So, the Opening up of inner sanctum ritual to all
people is in line with completing the Bhakti revolution

READ — A mockery of pedagogic ethics, the breaking of a bond — P8

• According to a report, ‘Elephant Corridors of India’ — the number
of Elephant corridors in India — 150
• West Bengal topped the list with 26 such corridors
• The report said that the intensity of elephant use has increased in 59
corridors
READ — The complex path to biofuel sustainability — P8
READ — Protecting floodplains is the need of the hour — P9
• Ahead of the just concluded G-20 summit, the United Nations
climate secretariat made public a ‘synthesis report’
○ Report on the results of three meetings held so far
○ To discuss progress achieved by countries in achieving the
goals of the Paris Agreement of 2015
• The report lays out 17 ‘key findings’
○ It overall suggests that the world is not on track to achieve
Paris Agreement targets, though there was still a “rapidly
narrowing” window for countries to get their act together
• These 17 headline statements say that
○ Governments need to support ways to transition their
economies away from fossil fuel businesses
○ States and communities must strengthen efforts
• The Delhi Declaration for the first time formally recognises the
massive jump in finance necessary for the world to transition to a
renewable energy economy

• Ongoing issue related to the issuance of permanent disability

certificates for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in India

• Issue with Sickle Cell Disease Disability Certificates in India

○ There's been a delay of nearly three years in issuing
permanent disability certificates for those above five years old
with SCD
○ Role of Ministries
§ The Health Ministry sets the criteria for disability
certificates
§ The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry issues
these certificates
§ Tribal Affairs Ministry advocates for the certificates given
the disease's prevalence among tribal populations
• Government's Approach
○ The Union government is publicising its aim to eradicate SCD
by 2047
○ However, despite the disease's chronic nature, patients only
receive certificates with a three-year validity
• Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized that the focus is
currently on “detection”, with a project to screen around seven
crore tribal individuals across 17 regions
• Push for Permanent Certificates
○ Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has been advocating for
permanent disability certificates
○ The disease was added to the list of disabilities in 2016, but the
certificates were only valid for a year
○ After concerns were raised about the renewal process and the
progressive nature of the disease, the validity was extended to
three years
○ Discussions regarding the possibility of issuing permanent
certificates began in 2020, emphasising the disease's chronic
progression
• What Next?
○ A special committee was formed to address concerns related
to disability certificates
○ The Health Ministry is currently reviewing criteria and rules for
all 21 disabilities
○ Their report, which might address the issue of permanent
certificates for SCD patients, is expected in about a month
• Parliamentary Recommendation —
○ In a report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee
acknowledged SCD as a lifelong ailment
○ Given the rarity and cost of potential cures, especially among
tribal communities, the committee has recommended the
issuance of permanent disability certificates for qualifying SCD
patients above the age of five

READ — Russia will help with North Korea’s satellite plan: Putin — P15

• Minister for Road Transport said there was no need to make it

mandatory for carmakers to install six airbags in cars after the
introduction of the new crash test rules
• Last year he would make it mandatory for all passenger cars to have
a minimum of six airbags from October 1, 2023
○ A year later than originally planned because of opposition
from some carmakers