AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (27^th July 2024)

Government slashes prices for targeted cancer drugs

GS 2: Health: Cancer

Why is it in the news?

• In her Budget 2024-25 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced customs duty exemptions on three targeted cancer drugs: trastuzumab deruxtecan, osimertinib, and durvalumab. Previously, these drugs faced a customs duty of around 10%.
• The exemption aims to make these drugs more accessible and reduce the overall cost of cancer therapies in India.

What are Targeted Cancer Drugs?

• Targeted cancer drugs specifically attack cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. They focus on particular genetic changes in cancer cells that drive their growth, division, and spread.
• These drugs generally offer better outcomes and fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy, which affects all cells indiscriminately.
• Newer targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy, train the patient’s immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells rather than targeting the cancer directly.

How Do the Three Drugs Work?

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan:

• It is an antibody-drug conjugate combining a monoclonal antibody with a drug. It targets cancers with the HER-2 receptor, particularly in cases where the cancer has metastasized or is inoperable.
• It serves as a second-line treatment, approved in 2019 for breast cancers and expanded in 2021 to target specific gastrointestinal cancers after conventional therapies have proven ineffective.
• In 2023, it received “tissue-agnostic approval” from the U S Food and Drug administration (FDA), allowing its use for any HER-2 positive cancer.

Osimertinib:

• It treats lung cancers with epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). It blocks these receptors to halt cancer growth.
• Osimertinib is used after surgical removal of the tumour or as a first-line treatment for metastatic cancer. Experts, notes its survival benefits, extending patient life by four to five years.

Durvalumab:

• It is an immunotherapy used for certain lung, biliary tract, bladder, and liver cancers.
• It targets PD-L1 proteins on cancer cells, helping the immune system recognize and kill these cells. It is associated with longer remission and survival rates.

Cancer Profile in India

• Cancer incidence in India is rising, with an estimated 14.6 lakh new cases in 2022, up from 14.2 lakh in 2021 and 13.9 lakh in 2020, according to National Cancer Registry data.
• Deaths due to cancer increased to about 8.08 lakh in 2022, compared to 7.9 lakh in 2021 and 7.7 lakh in 2020.
• Cancer rates are higher among women (103.6 per 100,000 population) compared to men (94.1 per 100,000).
• Common cancers among men include lung, mouth, prostate, tongue, and stomach, while for women, they are breast, cervix, ovary, uterus, and lung.
• According to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, one in nine Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime, with lung cancer affecting one in 68 men and breast cancer one in 29 women.

Additional Information:

What is Cancer?

• Cancer encompasses a range of diseases marked by uncontrolled cell growth and spread of abnormal cells within the body.
• Characteristics: Cancer cells possess the capability to invade healthy tissues and organs, leading to their destruction.
• Normal Cell Cycle vs. Cancer cells: Healthy cells grow, divide, and undergo regulated death, maintaining tissue and organ function, whereas cancer is characterized by genetic mutations that disrupt this cycle, leading to uncontrolled cell division and growth.
• Government initiatives related to cancer include: Promoting vaccination for girls aged 9-14 to prevent cervical cancer (Encouraged in Interim Budget 2024-25), implementing the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke, establishing the National Cancer Grid, observing National Cancer Awareness Day, and advocating for the HPV vaccine.

Assam’s Charaideo Moidams

GS 1: Culture and History: Charaideo Moidams

Why is it in the news?

• Assam’s Charaideo Moidams have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.
• These ancient burial sites, located about 30 km from Sivasagar in eastern Assam, are the royal tombs of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam and the North East from 1228 to 1826 AD.
• The moidams remain sacred to many locals and represent a significant cultural heritage.

About Moidams

• A moidam is a tumulus, or mound of earth, built over a grave of Ahom royalty and aristocracy. Charaideo exclusively contains moidams of Ahom royals, while other moidams of aristocrats and chiefs are scattered across Eastern Assam, between Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
• Each moidam features one or more chambers in a vault, covered by a hemi-spherical earthen mound with grass. A pavilion, called chow chali, and a low octagonal wall with a single entrance encircle the mound.
• Unlike Hindus who practice cremation, the Ahoms, originating from the Tai people, practiced burial. The size of a moidam often reflects the deceased’s power and status, though most moidams are unidentified except those of Gadhadhar Singha and Rudra Singha.
• The buried were interred with items for the afterlife, along with servants, horses, livestock, and even wives, resembling the royal tombs of ancient China and the Pyramids of the Egyptian Pharaohs and earning the Charaideo moidams the nickname “Pyramids of Assam.”
• Although subject to vandalism by treasure seekers in early 20th CE, the group of Moidams in Choraideo has been systematically restored to safeguard its structural integrity.

Significance of Charaideo

• The name Charaideo derives from three Tai Ahom words: Che (city/town), Rai (shine), and Doi (hill), meaning “a shining town situated on a hilltop.”
• Established as the first Ahom capital in 1253 AD by King Sukaphaa, Charaideo remained a symbolic centre of power throughout the Ahom rule. Even after Sukaphaa’s burial there in 1856, subsequent Ahom royals chose it as their final resting place.
• Today, Charaideo’s moidams are major tourist attractions, with over 150 in the region, though only 30 are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
• The concentration and scale of these moidams, along with their location in sacred Tai-Ahom land, distinguish them from similar burial sites in East and Southeast Asia.

About the Ahom Kingdom and its Relevance:

• Established in 1228 in Assam’s Brahmaputra valley, the Ahom kingdom, founded by the 13th-century ruler Chaolung Sukapha in 1253, maintained its sovereignty for 600 years.
• The Ahoms were one of India’s longest-reigning dynasties, extending from modern-day Bangladesh to deep inside Burma, renowned for their administrative prowess and military valor.
• The Ahom dynasty governed Assam for about six centuries until it was annexed by the British in 1826 under the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• Historians highlights their significance as a unified Assamese force resisting the Mughal Empire, a narrative that resonates with current nationalist sentiments.
• The 400th birth anniversary of Ahom general and folk hero Lachit Borphukan was celebrated in New Delhi in 2023, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising his courage and leadership.

• Despite their origins from South Chinese dynasties, the Ahoms are celebrated as influential Indian rulers with a lasting legacy.

Additional Information:

What are UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites?

• A World Heritage Site is a location recognized by UNESCO for its exceptional unique cultural or natural significance under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972.
• The convention establishes a framework for global cooperation in safeguarding and conserving cultural treasures and natural landscapes worldwide.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Committee administers the international ‘World Heritage Programme,’ responsible for maintaining the list of World Heritage Sites globally.
• Sites are categorized into three types:
• Cultural heritage sites encompass historic buildings, town sites, significant archaeological sites, and monumental sculptures or paintings.
• Natural heritage sites include areas with exceptional ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as habitats for endangered species.
• Mixed heritage sites feature elements of both cultural and natural significance.
• India has 42 World Heritage Sites (34 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and 1 mixed site).
• India holds the second-highest number of World Heritage sites in the Asia Pacific region.
• Italy has the maximum world sites at 59 followed by China (57), Germany (52), France (52) and Spain (50).

Surprising ‘Dark Oxygen’ discovery and its implications for Deep-Sea Mining

GS 1/3: Geography/Environment and Biodiversity: Deep Sea Mining

Why is it in the news?

• On July 22, 2024, researchers reported a groundbreaking discovery of oxygen being produced in the deep ocean, where photosynthesis is impossible due to darkness. This finding, detailed in Nature Geoscience, suggests the existence of previously unknown ecosystems.
• Scientists observed that oxygen levels in some areas of the abyssal zone—where sunlight does not penetrate—were rising, contrary to expected declines. This phenomenon was linked to the presence of polymetallic nodules on the seafloor, which might be generating electric charges capable of splitting H2O – into hydrogen and oxygen.

More about the news

• The research team, consisting of scientists from Germany, the U.K., and the U.S., studied the Clarion-Clipperton Zone off Mexico’s west coast. This region, known for its high concentration of polymetallic nodules, is a significant target for deep-sea mining due to its vast reserves of manganese, copper, and nickel.
• Their experiments at a depth of 4 km revealed that the voltage on the nodules’ surfaces could build up enough to split water molecules, producing oxygen. This ‘dark oxygen’ challenges the previously held belief that photosynthesis was the sole source of oxygen in such environments.
• Deep-sea mining, aimed at extracting these polymetallic nodules, poses potential risks to marine ecosystems dependent on this newly discovered ‘dark oxygen’.
• The International Seabed Authority has granted mining contracts to various entities, including India, China, and other countries. However, the environmental impact of such mining activities remains a concern.
• Previous studies, like the Disturbance and Recolonisation (DISCOL) Experiment, have shown that mining can have long-lasting effects on marine environments, with disturbances persisting for decades.
• Given the potential impact of deep-sea mining on these unique ecosystems and the newly discovered oxygen source, there is increasing pressure to assess and mitigate environmental risks.
• On July 20, 2024, three major European insurance companies announced they would exclude deep-sea mining from their portfolios, reflecting growing concerns about its sustainability.
• Hence, the discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ adds to the challenges facing deep-sea mining, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to protect these delicate and poorly understood marine environments.

Bihar’s new anti-paper leak law and other similar State laws

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Bihar’s Anti-paper leak law

Why is it in the news?

• The Bihar Assembly recently passed the Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, to tackle question paper leaks and malpractices in government recruitment exams.
• This move follows a CBI investigation revealing gangs responsible for leaking the NEET-UG 2024 exam paper.

More about the news

• Under the new law, offenders face imprisonment ranging from 3 to 5 years and fines up to ₹10 lakh. Service providers implicated in organized crime could face penalties up to ₹1 crore, service suspension, and asset seizure.
• Investigations will be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
• Bihar has a history of paper leaks, leading to the cancellation of various exams, including the Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE 3.0) and the Bihar Constable Recruitment Examination 2023.
• The new legislation aims to address these issues by imposing stringent penalties on individuals and organizations involved in cheating.
• The central law prescribes even harsher penalties for organized crime related to exam malpractices, with imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore.
• Other states, such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Haryana, have enacted similar laws to combat exam malpractices. These laws prescribe severe punishments, including long prison terms and hefty fines, for individuals and organizations involved in cheating.
• For instance, Rajasthan’s law imposes up to 10 years in prison and fines up to ₹1 crore for organized cheating, while Jharkhand’s law includes life imprisonment for service providers involved in cheating and bans repeat offenders from exams for life.
• Uttarakhand’s law imposes up to 10 years in prison and fines up to ₹10 crore for service providers, with examinees facing bans from exams upon the filing of a chargesheet.
• Despite these stringent measures, the effectiveness of these laws as deterrents remains questionable.
• States like Uttar Pradesh have continued to experience paper leaks despite having anti-cheating laws in place for decades.
• Critics argue that the integrity of recruitment agencies and the appointment of qualified professionals over political appointees are crucial to effectively curbing exam malpractices.
• In Gujarat, allegations of corruption within recruitment agencies linked to the RSS and BJP have been raised, highlighting the need for systemic reforms.
• Hence, the effectiveness of anti-cheating laws hinges not only on strict penalties but also on the integrity and competence of the bodies responsible for administering exams and ensuring fair practices.

National Mission for Manuscripts

GS 1: Culture and History: Manusrcipts

Why is it in the news?

• The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) is actively working to document, conserve, digitize, and share India’s manuscript heritage.
• According to the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), India possesses an estimated 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts like Brahmi, Kushan, Gaudi, Lepcha, and Maithili.

More about the news

• The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, launched in February 2003 with the mandate of identifying, documenting, conserving and making accessible the manuscript heritage of India.
• The manuscripts cover various themes, textures, aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations, and illustrations.
• The NMM is a national level comprehensive initiative which works towards fulfilling its motto, ‘conserving the past for the future’.
• Approximately 75% of existing manuscripts are in Sanskrit, while 25% are in regional languages.
• NMM has digitized 3.3 lakh manuscripts, containing about 3.1 crore folios. Over 1.18 lakh manuscripts have been uploaded, but only about 70,000 are available online for public access.
• The mission has documented approximately 5.2 million manuscripts across India and conserved 90 million folios.
• The mission has established over 100 Manuscripts Resource Centres and Manuscripts Conservation Centres across India.