A multi-city study examining the short-term health impacts of air pollution in India has been published in the Lancet Planetary Health.

Key Observations:

• Approximately 33,000 annual deaths can be attributed to PM 2.5 pollution in 10 cities of India.
• Deaths are higher in Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata etc because of higher average exposure, possibly the nature of sources and population.
• WHO Guidelines: 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre).
  • Indian air quality standards prescribe 60 µg/m3 of PM2.5 over a 24-hour period.

The Supreme Court affirmed that the constitutional right of a speedy trial, as enshrined in Article 21, applies to all cases regardless of the crime's gravity.

Speedy Trial as Constitutional Right 

• It emphasizes that defendant should be tried for their alleged crimes within a reasonable time period.
• In Kartar Singh Vs State of Punjab (1994), a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unequivocally construed the right of speedy trial as a fundamental right.
  • Other Important Judgement: Abdul Rehman Antulay vs RS Nayak 
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the new code that has replaced Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), has sought to address delayed justice

In response to Zika virus cases reported in Maharashtra, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to state governments to stop its spread.

About Zika Virus

• Transmitted: Primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito Aedes aegypti.
  • It bites during the day. It is also responsible for transmitting dengue. 
• Health Concerns: Non-fatal in nature but associated with microcephaly (reduced head size) of babies born to affected pregnant women.
  • It can also trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis etc. 
• Vaccine: No vaccine available to prevent or medicine for it.

New Zealand has denied India's request for a certification trademark equivalent to a geographical indication (GI) tag on basmati rice as it is grown outside of India also.

• Earlier, On the same ground rejected by Australia.

About APEDA

• Established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act,1985.
• Promotes exports and takes care of GI registration for Indian products abroad, filing the certification of trademark applications.
• Serves as the Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board, overseeing the accreditation of Certification Bodies for organic exports under the National Programme for Organic Production.

Researchers have carried out an analysis of the mechanisms underlying the flexibility of crystals of MOFs.

• They attributed the flexibility to large structural rearrangements associated with soft and hard vibrations within a crystal.

About MOFs

• Large class of crystalline materials which has ability to absorb gases, such as carbon dioxide, and store them as well as act as filters for crude oil purification.
  • It is due to the presence of nanopores.
• Limited stability and mechanical weakness have hindered their broader applications.

New Chairperson of National Medical Commission (NMC) has been appointed. 

About NMC

• Genesis: It is a statutory body constituted by an act of Parliament known as National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• Aim: Improve access to quality and affordable medical education
• Functions:
  • Lay down policies for regulating medical institutions, medical researchers and medical professionals.
  • Ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards, etc

The Union government constituted eight Cabinet committees.

About Cabinet committees

• These are constituted under the Transaction of Business Rules,1961.
• The cabinet makes use of the committee system to facilitate decision-making in specific areas.
• These include cabinet committees on:
  • Appointments
  • Accommodation
  • Economic Affairs
  • Parliamentary Affairs
  • Political Affairs
  • Security
  • Investment and Growth
  • Skill, employment and livelihood

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recorded a new species of forest-dwelling horned frog from the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh).

• New species has been named after the dominant Apatani community in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Apatani Tribe

• The tribe Found in Ziro valley and known for their effective traditional village council called bulyañ. 
• Region of tribe has been included in UNESCO’s Tentative List as living Cultural Landscape (where man and environment have harmoniously existed together in a state of interdependence). 
• Major Festival: Dree and Myok
• Major Dances: Daminda, and Pree dance

Recently, Kerala’s Chief Minister asserted that the Pachathuruthu initiative will key a role in achieving ambitious Net Zero Carbon target of State. 

About Pachathuruthu project

• Aims to create man-made mini-forests. 
• Initiative will help in protecting natural forest biodiversity by planting a variety of indigenous plants in barren lands. 
  • Also, it will aid in carbon sequestration, mitigating the impact of urban heat island etc.
• These projects are planned by mobilizing the masses through participatory campaigns and through coordination and leadership of the Local Self-Government Institutions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults.

• It is expected to help more than 750 million tobacco users who want to quit all forms of tobacco but find it difficult to do so.
• More than 60 per cent of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users want to quit, yet 70 per cent lack access to effective cessation services.
  • Reasons: inefficient health systems, lack of resources, etc.
• Recommendations combine medication and behavioural interventions.