National Turmeric Board

Context:

• National Turmeric Board (NTB) with Nizamabad headquarters launched

More info:

• Farmers growing turmeric, known as ‘Golden Spice’, are spread across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and others.
• NTB will help boost their incomes and also give impetus to increase production especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where there is a lot of potential.
• NTB will promote research and development of new turmeric products; provide value addition of turmeric related products for marketing abroad.
• The Board will also look into creating awareness on the essential and medical properties of turmeric, ways to increase its yield and boost logistics and supply chain to foster trade into newer markets.
• Representatives from various central ministries, from among exporters, producers’ bodies and farmers from various States will be added to NTB.
• The Board will also ensure quality and safety standards of turmeric production and exports.
• Last year, an area of 3.05 lakh hectares was under turmeric cultivation in the country with a production of 10.74 lakh tonnes or over 70% of global turmeric production.
• There are 30 varieties of turmeric produced in India and it is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world with more than 62% share of world trade.
• During 2023-24, 1.62 lakh tonnes of turmeric and turmeric products valued at $226.5 million was exported.
• With NTB, every year, the central government will allocate special funds in the budget, a price stabilization fund will be set up and in the event of crop loss due to natural calamities, measures will be taken to ensure crop insurance so that farmers do not face losses.

Cervical cancer  

Context:

• Across India, 50,000 physicians to be trained to eradicate cervical cancer through HPV vaccination

Introduction:

• This January, which is marked as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has partnered with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) in a drive to eliminate cervical cancer from India.
• The collaboration focuses on widespread vaccination and enhancing physician training.
• As part of this initiative, a one-year training programme has been introduced, aimed at educating over 50,000 IMA physicians from Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 cities.
• These physicians will receive specialised training from FOGSI experts, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat cervical cancer effectively.
• Cervical cancer continues to pose a significant public health challenge in India, with the country accounting for 77,348 deaths annually.
• India contributes to 25% of the global cervical cancer mortality, highlighting the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat the disease.
• A key strategy in addressing this issue is increasing the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, a critical tool in preventing cervical cancer.
• This effort seeks to bolster the country’s fight against one of its most prevalent preventable cancers.
• The programme underscores the role of general physicians, gynaecologists, and pediatricians in promoting HPV vaccination and addressing vaccine hesitancy, aligning with the government’s vision of a ‘Cervical Cancer Mukt Bharat’.
• The training modules will include evidence-based guidelines and practical strategies for confidently recommending the HPV vaccine.
• By equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to address vaccine hesitancy, this initiative directly supports the Government of India’s plan to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer through HPV vaccination.

About Cervical cancer:

• Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina).
• Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
• Although most infections with HPV resolve spontaneously and cause no symptoms, persistent infection can cause cervical cancer in women.
• Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women.
• In 2022, an estimated 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 350,000 women died from the disease.
• Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for, and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases.

Collaborative expertise:

• The programme’s development is supported by the Cancer Foundation of India and the American Cancer Society, ensuring it aligns with global best practices.
• National Convenor of the HPV Program highlighted the scientific evidence backing HPV vaccination and its critical role in cancer prevention.
• India needs more and more physicians to strongly advocate for HPV vaccination, one of the safest vaccines that prevents cancer.
• Backed by strong scientific evidence from India and globally, there is no doubt about its effectiveness.
• National president of IMA highlighted the significance of empowering physicians with accurate knowledge to bridge awareness gaps and enhance vaccine uptake.
• This collaboration is not just a professional commitment but a personal mission to ensure Indian girls are protected from cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer: a preventable tragedy

• Cervical cancer is on its way to elimination globally, and one of the key strategies to eliminate it is to vaccinate 90% young girls (9 to 14 years) against HPV to prevent cervical cancer in their adulthood.
• The HPV vaccine has been proven to be highly effective in preventing infections that are the primary cause of cervical cancer.
• FOGSI president underscored the initiative’s importance, marking it as a key presidential programme.
• “HPV vaccination is a powerful tool in eliminating cervical cancer. We will not stop until we achieve our collective goal,” she affirmed.
• This initiative not only enhances HPV vaccine recommendations but also positions healthcare providers as influential advocates at sub-national, district, and block levels.
• It represents a significant stride in supporting the national HPV vaccine programme rollout and safeguarding the health of India’s future generations, said the IMA.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0

Context:

• Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 to be held from February 15, with a focus on philosophy of Rishi Agastya

More info:

• The theme of Kashi Tamil Sangamam’s third edition is “Rishi Agastya”.
• Kashi Tamil Sangam will be held in the background of Kumbh Mela and spoke on the focal point of the Sangamam – the philosophy of Agastya.
• Union Education Ministry is the key organiser of the event, to be held in Namo Ghat in Varanasi.
• A document on Agastya temples in Tamil Nadu and another one in Siddha medicines will be released during the event.

Theme for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0:

• The main theme in this year’s event is highlighting the significant contributions of Sage Agasthyar to the Siddha System of Medicine (Bharatiya Chikitsa), Classical Tamil Literature, and also his contributions in the cultural unity of the Nation.
• This year the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is coinciding with two important events namely the celebration of Maha Kumbh at Sangam, Prayagraj and the consecration of Ramjanmabhoomi temple at Ayodhya.
• In this edition, around 1000 people under 5 categories (Students, Teachers, Farmers & Artisans, Professionals and small Entrepreneurs, women, and Researchers) will participate in this Kashi Tamil Sangamam this year.

About Rishi Agastya:

• There is no particular date for the birth of Agastya but he lived from (1200-1500 BCE) and Ramayana it has been described that he lived in the Danka forest in the southern part of Vindhya Hills.
• Agastya is known for his popular works which were “Agastya Samhita” and “Naadi Shastra” both these works were based in the field of he was strongest ‘medical’ and ‘astronomy’.
• Agastya is considered the father of medicine in Indian history among all the other streams.

Agastya Samhita:

• This was the book on medicines by Agastya Muni.
• In this book he has included the description of medicines and instructions for creating medicines for various diseases like fever, abdominal problems, cancer, bone problems, eye problems, and brain problems as well which was done years ago.

Naadi Shastra:

• In this book by Agastya it’s the science of astronomy.
• In this book he tried to presume the rebirth of people and living and to be born in the world, and lives of people who are dead.
• In the book, more than 1000 such presumptions are mentioned and are also saved by thousands of generations.
• It now also is believed by the devotees that it’s the best way to predict someone’s future and knowing the past which is considered a great invention!

Textual Sources:

Vedas:

• Agastya has been mentioned in all the four Vedas of Hinduism.
• He had run a school called “Gurukul” as evidenced by hymns and was also an author of the “Rigveda” in 1.165 to 1.191 the hymns.
• He was a known sage of the Vedic Era and most of the Rigveda written by other sages have been referred to as Agastya.

Ramayana:

• The sage of Indian era Agastya has been mentioned in the Hindu epic “Ramayana” in most of the chapters through his Hermitage (ashram) located at the banks of river Godavari.
• It also mentioned that Rama praises Agastya as a great lord who can do what gods find is impossible.

Mahabharat:

• The sage Agastya’s story has been mentioned in one more Hindu epic which the second one “Mahabharat” in the chapters he has been described by the conversation between Yudhishtara and Lomasa as an epic sage who had many powers of digestion and indigestion.

Puranas:

• The Puranic literature in the Hindu religion had numerous stories about Agastya which is more elaborate, inconsistent, and more fascinating.
• Many had mentioned him as the Saptarishi (seven greatest rishis) and others mentioned him as the eighth or eleven talented sage of Hinduism.

Other mentions of Agastya:

• Tamil texts considered Agastya the father of the Tamil Language.
• Siddhar: In this Agastya is considered the most accomplished or successful Siddhar.
• Buddhist Texts: Agastya has appeared in the 1st millennium in Buddhist texts.
• Saraswati Stotram and Lakshmi Stotram.

Legacy:

• Agastya Muni’s legacy is in the form of temples in Tamil Nadu:
• Sri Lobamudra Samedha Agasthiyar Temple, in Arulmigu Chidambara Vinayagar.
• Sri Agasthiyar Temple, in Agasthiyar falls, in Papanasam Tirunelveli.

HAMAS

Context:

• Hamas has accepted draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages

About Hamas:

• HAMAS formed in late 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising).
• Its roots are in the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it is supported by a robust sociopolitical structure inside the Palestinian territories.
• The group’s charter calls for establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel and rejects all agreements made between the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and Israel.
• HAMAS’ strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank.
• HAMAS has a military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades that has conducted many anti-Israel attacks in both Israel and the Palestinian territories since the 1990s.
• The group in early 2006 won legislative elections in the Palestinian territories, ending the secular Fatah party’s hold on the Palestinian Authority and challenging Fatah’s leadership of the Palestinian nationalist movement.
• HAMAS continues to refuse to recognize or renounce violent resistance against Israel.
• The US Government has designated HAMAS a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
• HAMAS has not renounced violent resistance against Israel even while pursuing reconciliation with Fatah.