United Nations Environment Programme 

 Syllabus: GS-Paper-2-Important Organizations 

Why in News? 

· Global Climate Litigation Report, 2023 has released by UNEP. 

 · It mentions that climate justice has more than doubled globally since the year 2017.

United Nations Environment Programme:

 · It was established on 5^th June, 1972. 

 · It is the leading global environmental authority.

 · Its headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya. 

 Functions: 

 · It plays an important role in setting the global environmental agenda

 · It promotes the environmental science and also its related information 

 · It formulates the treaties and guidelines in the matters of harmful chemicals, international waterway pollution etc.

 · It finances for the projects related to the environment. 

 Focus Areas: 

 · Climate Change

 · Disasters

 · Chemicals and Pollution 

 · Ecosystem etc. 

 United Nations Environment Assembly: 

 · It is the governing body of UNEP. 

 · It was formed in the year 2012. 

 · It is headed by the bureau and its president. 

 · It is known for being the World’s Highest-level decision making body on the environment. 

 · It meets biennially i.e., once in every two years. 

 Reports released by UNEP:

 · Emission Gap Report 

 · Global Environment Outlook

 · Invest into Healthy Planet 

 · Frontiers etc.

Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023

Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Important Bills 

 Why in News?

· The Rajya Sabha has passed the Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023. 

 Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023: 

 · It is an amendment to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 which authorises the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

· It introduces stringent anti-piracy provisions. 

 · It expands the scope of the law from censorship to cover copyrights also. 

 · This bill proposes a jail term of up to three years and fine up to 5% of the movie’s production to those who use any audiovisual recording device in a place licensed to exhibit films. 

 · It introduces the three age ratings for films requiring adult supervision.

 · U/A has been split into U/A 7+, U/A 13+ AND U/A 16+. 

 Central Board of Film Certification: 

 · It is a statutory body which works under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting 

 · It regulates the public exhibition of the films under the provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952. 

 · CBFC consists of non-official members and also a chairman.

 · Headquarters-Mumbai · Movies are currently certified under 4 categories. 

They are: 1. U, U/A, A &S. 

 Constitutional provisions for Censorship:

· Article 19 (2) of the constitution mentions that the government can impose restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of our country.

Rabies 

 Syllabus: GS-Paper-3-Science & Technology 

Why in News?

· Delhi saw the highest number of deaths due to Rabies with 48 deaths. 

 · It is followed by West Bengal with 38 deaths. 

 · In replying to a question in the Parliament, the Centre says it has launched the National Rabies Control Programme.

Rabies: 

 · It is a zoonotic viral disease. 

 · It can be prevented by vaccination.

 · It is caused by the Ribonucleic Acid which is present in the saliva of some animals. 

 · Examples: Dog, cat, monkey etc. 

 · 28^th September is observed as World Rabies Day 

 Transmission: 

 · It is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. 

 · The bite leads to the deposition of saliva and the virus into the wound.

 · If the virus goes into the body, it indicates 100% death. 

 Treatment:

 · Vaccinating the pets 

 · Staying away from the wildlife etc. 

 Symptoms: 

 · Flu

 · Confusion 

 · Hyperactive

 · Excessive Salivation 

 · Hallucinations etc. 

 National Rabies Control Programme: 

 · It was approved during the 12^th Financial Year by Standing Finance Committee in the year 2013. 

 · It is a central sector scheme. 

 Objectives: 

· To train the health care professionals 

 · To strengthen the Human Rabies Surveillance System. 

 · To strengthen the Regional Laboratories under NRCP for Rabies Diagnosis 

 · To create awareness in the community through advocacy and communication.

Hepatitis

Syllabus: GS-Paper-3-Science & Technology 

Why in News?

· World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every year on 28^th July

· Theme of the World Hepatitis Day 2023 is One Life, One Liver 

 Hepatitis: 

 · Hepatitis refers to the inflammation of the liver.

 · It is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents which leads to a range of health problems. 

 · Some of them are even fatal.

 · There are five types of Hepatitis virus. They are: · Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

· They all cause liver diseases but they differ in some ways which includes modes of transmission, illness, distribution etc. 

 · Among them Type B and C leads to chronic diseases in millions of people. 

 · They are the common cause for Liver cancer and viral hepatitis related deaths. Treatment: 

 · Hepatitis B and C can be treated by effective medications. 

 · Type A and E are self-limiting diseases which does not requires any specific antiviral medicines. 

 Important Points: 

· India has included Hepatitis-B under the Universal Immunization Programme 

 · UIP provides free vaccination against eleven vaccine preventable diseases excluding Hepatitis B.

· Some of the diseases include: 

 a) Tuberculosis b) Diphtheria c) Pertussis d) Measles e) Rubella etc. 

 · The countries which have successfully controlled Hepatitis B in Southeast Asia region are: 1. Bangladesh 2. Bhutan 3. Nepal 4. Thailand

MERS-CoV 

 Syllabus: GS-Paper-3-Science & Technology

Why in News?

A person in Abu Dhabi has infected with MERS-CoV 

 MERS-CoV: 

 · It stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.

 · It was first discovered in the year 2012. 

 · It is a viral respiratory disease. 

 · It is fatal by approximately 35%. ·

 It is a zoonotic disease which means it is transmitted between the animals and people. 

 · It is linked to human infections in dromedary camels in several member states in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. 

 Symptoms:

 · Fever 

 · Cough

 · Shortness of Breath

 · Pneumonia

 · Gastrointestinal symptoms etc. 

 Prevention: 

 · Currently there is no availability of vaccine or treatment 

 Transmission: 

· It is transmitted from human-human through close contact and also in healthcare settings. 

 · Human-human transmission is limited outside the healthcare setting.

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services 

 Syllabus: Prelims-Important Organizations 

 Why in News? 

 · A joint expedition of ocean scientists from India, Bangladesh and Mauritius was organised by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service (INCOIS) under the regional framework of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) has concluded 

 Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Centre: 

· It is an autonomous organization works under the Ministry of Earth Science.

 · It was established in the year 1999.

 · Headquarters: Hyderabad

 · It is a unit of Earth System Science Organization.

 · It is aimed to provide the best possible ocean information. 

 · It provides the advisory services to the society, industries, government agencies etc.

 · It promotes constant improvement through systematic and focused research.

 Colombo Security Conclave:

· It was formed in the year 2011. 

 · It was formed as a trilateral maritime security grouping of the countries India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. 

 · Later it has welcome Mauritius as the fourth member during its fifth meeting.

 · Bangladesh and Seychelles are participating as the observer countries. 

 Objectives: 

· To counter terrorism

 · To maintain maritime safety and security 

 · To combat trafficking

 · To provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief 

 · To promote cyber security

 To protect critical infrastructure and technology

National Institute of Oceanography 

 Syllabus: Prelims-Important Organizations

Why in News? 

The Indian Coast Guard has rescued the research ship of the National Institute of Oceanography.

 National Institute of Oceanography: 

 · It is a multi-disciplinary oceanographic research institute which was established in the year 1966. 

 · It is one of the 37 constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. 

 · Headquarters: Dona Paula, Goa 

 · Its regional centres are located in Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. 

 Functions: 

 · It deals with the four branches of oceanography. They are: 1. Biological 2. Chemical 3. Geological 4. Physical

 · It also deals with ocean engineering, marine instrumentation and marine archaeology 

 · It operates two research vessels knowns as: 1. RV Sindhu Sankalp 2. RV Sindhu Sadhana 

 · They are equipped for multidisciplinary oceanographic observations 

 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research: 

 · It was established in the year 1942. 

 · Its headquarters is located in New Delhi

· It is an autonomous organization which comes under Societies Registration Act, 1860.

 · It is funded by the Ministry of Science & Technology 

 · It covers many streams such as Oceanography, geophysics, drugs, biotechnology, environmental engineering, information technology, aeronautics radio and space physics, genomics etc. 

 Composition:

· Prime Minister is the President of the Organization 

 · Union Minister of Science and Technology is the Vice President of the Organization

 · The Director-General is head of the governing body 

 · It even consists of advisory body with 15 members.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding UNEP: 

 1. It was established in the year 1944. 

 2. Its headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya. 

 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a. Only 1 

 b. Only 2 

 c. Both 1&2 

 d. Neither 1 nor 2

2.Which of the following statements are correct regarding Central Board of Film Certification. 

 1. It is a statutory body which works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

 2. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi 

 3. Movies are currently certified under 5 categories 

 Which of the above statements are incorrect? 

 a. Only 1&2

 b. Only 2&3

 c. All of the above

 d. None of the above

3.Consider the following statements regarding Rabies:

 1. It is a zoonotic viral disease 

 2. It is caused by the Ribonucleic Acid which is present in the saliva of some animals. 

 3. 28^th October is observed as World Rabies Day 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

4.Consider the following statements regarding Hepatitis: 

 Statement-I: World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every year on 28^th July 

 Statement-II: Theme of the World Hepatitis Day 2023 is One Life, One Liver 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

5.Consider the following statements regarding MERS-CoV: 

 Statement-I: It is a zoonotic disease 

 Statement-II: Currently there is no availability of vaccine or treatment 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

6.Consider the following statements regarding Colombo Security Conclave: 

 Statement-I: It was formed in the year 2011. 

 Statement-II: It was formed as a trilateral maritime security grouping of the countries India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

7.Consider the following statements regarding National Institute of Oceanography: 

 1. It is one of the 40 constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. 

 2. Its headquarters is located in Mumbai 

 3. It operates three research vessels

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None