29 April 2025 Current Affairs

World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day (April 25) 2025: Theme 'Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite' Focuses on Reinvestment and Innovation in Malaria Fight.

Malaria

• Caused By: Plasmodium Parasite
• Transmitted to Humans by infected Female Anopheles Mosquitoes.
• There are 5 Plasmodium Species that cause Malaria in Humans. P. Falciparum is Deadliest while P. Vivax is Most Widespread.
• Other Species: P. Malariae, P. Ovale, P. Knowlesi.

1. Related Facts  

• In 1880, French physician Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran discovered Protozoan Parasite Plasmodium as Cause of Malaria.
• Ronald Ross proved transmission through Anopheles Mosquitoes.
• In 2015, Youyou Tu was awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of Artemisinin, which is derived from Sweet Wormwood Plant, Artemisia Annua.

2. RTS,S/ASO1 (Mosquirix)

• 1st Malaria Vaccine.
• Type: Recombinant Protein Vaccine which means it includes DNA from More than One Source.
• Developed By: GlaxoSmithKline, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

3. R21 Vaccine

• 2nd Malaria Vaccine.
• Developed By: Oxford University
• Manufactured By: Serum Institute of India

Efforts Made to Contain Malaria: Global

• WHO Global Malaria Program: To reduce Malaria Case Incidence and Mortality Rates by at least 40% by 2020, at least 75% by 2025 and at least 90% by 2030.
• WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths by at least 90% by 2030, eliminate malaria in ≥35 countries by 2030 and prevent resurgence in malaria-free countries.
• E – 2025 Initiative (2021): Under this, WHO has identified 25 Countries, with potential to eradicate Malaria by 2025. 

1. Related Facts

• 11 Countries have been certified by WHO as Malaria – Free: UAE, Morocco, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan,
• Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Argentina, El Salvador

​Efforts Made to Contain Malaria: India

• National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030: Addresses Vector-borne Diseases, including Malaria, through Prevention and Control Measures. India’s aim is to be Malaria – Free by 2027 and to Eliminate disease by 2030.
• Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): Established by Indian Council of Medical Research, collaborates with partners on Malaria Control Research. 
• High Burden to High Impact Initiative: Initiated in 4 States (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh) in 2019 to focus on Malaria Reduction through Insecticidal Net Distribution. 
• National Malaria Control Programme: Launched in 1953 to address severe impact of malaria. 

WHO

• Founded in 1948
• Members: 194 States
• Director – General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• HQ: Geneva (Switzerland)

World Pandemic Treaty

WHO Set to Ratify Historic Pandemic Treaty at May Assembly, Second Legally Binding Accord After 2003 Tobacco Control.

World Pandemic Treaty

• Established in 2021.
• Aim: To Draft and Negotiate a Convention, Agreement or Other International Instrument to Strengthen Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
• Objective: Prevention Strategies, Preparedness Capacities, Resilience of Health Systems, Equitable Access to Pandemic-related Resources.

Need For a Global Pandemic Treaty

• Unequal Vaccine Distribution During COVID – 19
• Preventable Loss of Lives
• Systemic Failures in Global Response
• A Call for Coordinated Global Action

Key Provisions of Draft Treaty

• Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System: It establishes a framework for sharing pathogens and ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments derived from them.
• Pandemic Prevention via One Health Approach: Treaty encourages integrated surveillance of human, animal, and environmental health.
• Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: Promotes sharing of technology, knowledge, and skills to enhance R&D and production across diverse geographies.
• Health Workforce Mobilisation: Proposes a global pool of trained and multidisciplinary professionals for rapid pandemic response.
• Coordinated Financial Mechanism: Sets up a fund or mechanism to support preparedness and emergency response, especially in lower-income countries.
• Resilient Health Systems: Calls for strengthening core health infrastructure, preparedness drills, and public health communication systems.
• Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network: Establishes a coordinated mechanism for uninterrupted supply and distribution of essential health commodities.

Current Frameworks to Deal with Pandemics

1. International Health Regulations (2005): Legally Binding International instrument coordinated by WHO.

• Requires Countries to Detect, Assess, Report and Respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern.
• Example: COVID - 19 was declared a PHEIC under IHR in 2020.

2. Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN): Network of over 250 Institutions coordinated by WHO.

• Provides Rapid Deployment of Experts during Outbreaks.
• Example: Mobilized Teams for Ebola, Zika and COVID – 19 Responses.

BRICS Land Restoration Partnership

BRICS Land Restoration Partnership has been launched at 15th BRICS Agriculture Meet, held in Brazil

BRICS collectively reiterated their resolve to make Global Agri-Food System Fair, Inclusive, Innovative and Sustainable.

BRICS Land Restoration Partnership

• Aim: To address Land Degradation, Desertification and Loss of Soil Fertility.
• Benefit Small Farmers, Tribal Communities and Local Cultivators through Convergence of Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Innovation.

Brazil (Capital: Brasília)

• Largest Country in South America and 5th Largest Nation in the world.
• Faces Atlantic Ocean and shares Inland Borders with every South American Country except Chile and Ecuador.
• Both Equator and Tropic of Capricorn pass through it.
• Major River: Amazon (World’s Largest River System and World’s Largest remaining Virgin Rainforest).

Initiatives Taken for Sustainable Agriculture

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: Focus on promoting Climate-Resilient Farming, Efficient Water Use and Soil Health Management.
• National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture: Strengthens Agricultural Resilience through Climate-focused Research, Technology Demonstration and Capacity Building.
• Zero Budget Natural Farming
• Per Drop More Crop
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
• AgriStack

BRICS

• Acronym that refers to a Group of 5 Major Emerging National Economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Term BRIC was coined by British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to represent Emerging Economies.
• BRICS Nations have met annually at Formal Summits since 2009.
• South Africa was inducted in 2010.
• Expansion of BRICS: Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE are 6 New Additions to BRICS.

Arun-III Hydro Power Project

Indian Minister Visits Arun-III Hydro Power Project in Nepal, a Landmark in Bilateral Energy Cooperation.

Arun-III Hydro Power Project

• Nepal’s Largest Hydro-Electric Facility (900 MW).
• Implemented By: Arun-III Power Development Company (SAPDC), a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (Joint Venture between Government of India and Government of Himachal Pradesh).
• Located on Arun River in Sankhuwasabha (Nepal).

Sea of Marmara

6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Istanbul, Epicenter in Sea of Marmara.

Sea of Marmara

• Small Inland Sea entirely enclosed within Trans-Continental Boundaries of Turkey.
• Acts as a Natural Divider Asian and European Parts of Turkey.
• Connects to Black Sea in North-East via Bosphorus Strait
• Connects to Aegean Sea in South-West through Dardanelles Strait.
• Functions as a Transitional Zone between Black Sea and Mediterranean.
• India Unveils First Full-Stack Quantum Computer ‘QpiAI-Indus’ on World Quantum Day.

- World Quantum Day, Launched in 2021, Celebrates Planck’s Constant (4.14 × 10⁻¹⁵ eVs) and Raises Awareness on Quantum Science & Technology

- UN has declared 2025 as "International Year of Quantum Science and Technology".

• India Observes National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, Marking 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992 Establishing Local Governance System.
• Mahuadanr (Jharkhand): India’s First and Only Wolf Sanctuary Explores Link Between Tribal Culture and Wolf Behavior.