MPox

Context:

• PM monitors MPox situation, directs more surveillance

News:

• World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for the second time in two years following its outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its spread to over a dozen countries in Africa.

Mpox (monkeypox):

• It is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Anyone can get mpox.
• Monkeypox virus: It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. The two genetic clades of the virus are clades I and II.
• The virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970).
• Mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animals to people.
• Following eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa.
• The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
• Symptoms: Skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Transmission: It can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
• It spreads from contact with infected persons, through touch, kissing, or sex
• Pregnant persons may pass the virus on to their unborn baby.
• Test: Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.
• Treatment: Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.
• Several antivirals, such as tecovirimat, originally developed to treat smallpox have been used to treat mpox and further studies are underway.
• In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by a strain known as clade IIb.
• Prevention: Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has mpox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)

Context:

• CCPA imposes fine on IAS coaching centre for misleading ad

CCPA:

• Establishment: The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 paved the way to protect, promote and enforce the rights of class of consumers.
• The Act incorporated provisions to further strengthen consumer rights, such as establishment of a regulatory authority, namely, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
• Objective: It regulates matters relating to violation of consumer rights, misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice which are prejudicial to the interest of consumers as a class and public at large.
• It is continuously working for consumer protection and empowerment of consumers by enforcement of progressive legislations by ensuring that no person shall engage in any practice for the sale of goods and services which contravenes the provisions of the Act.

POWERs AND FUNCTIONs OF CCPA:

• Enquire / investigation for violations of consumer rights or unfair trade practices.
• File complaints before the Consumer Commission.
• Review the matters relating to consumer rights.
• Recommend adoption of international covenants on consumer rights.
• Promote research in the field of consumer rights.
• Promote awareness on consumer rights.
• Protect consumers’ interest.
• Issue safety notices to alert consumers against hazardous or unsafe goods or services.
• Advise the Ministries and Departments of the Central and State Governments on consumer welfare measures.
• Issue necessary guidelines to prevent unfair trade practices.

EMPOWERED TO:

• Conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights.
• Issue Directions to recall, refund and discontinuation of practices in matters of violation of rights of consumers as well as for unfair trade practice.
• Discontinue/modify the false/misleading advertisement or may impose penalties.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Context:

• FSSAI has launched a project to assess microplastic contamination in food products and develop methods for its detection.

FSSAI:

• It is a statutory body under the administration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• It regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food articles, while also establishing standards to ensure food safety.
• It was established by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• It is headed by a non-executive chairperson, appointed by the central government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
• It consists of a chairperson and 22 members.
• It is responsible for setting standards for food so that there is one body to deal with and no confusion in the minds of consumers, traders, manufacturers, and investors.
• FSSAI License or Registration is required for any food business in India that manufactures, stores, transports, or distributes food.
• It appoints food safety authorities on the state level.

Statutory powers of FSSAI:

• Framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards
• Laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing
• Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government
• Contributing to the development of international technical standards in food
• Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks, etc.
• Disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India.

Main aim of FSSAI:

• Lay down science-based standards for articles on food
• To regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, import, and sale of food
• To facilitate the safety of food

Enforcement:

• Food Safety Officers are responsible for enforcing and executing the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 within their designated areas.
• The authority of a Food Safety Officer to enter and inspect premises is equal to that of a police officer equipped with a search warrant under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• They are authorized to collect samples for analysis by a Food Analyst.

Consumer outreach:

• Consumers can connect to FSSAI through various channels.
• Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) portal for concerns regarding misleading claims and advertisements too is operated.

State Food Safety Index (SFSI):

• It was developed in 2018 in collaboration with the FSSAI.
• It was created to motivate the States and Union Territories to improve their performance and work towards establishing an appropriate food safety ecosystem.

SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)

Context:

• ISRO launches the third and final developmental flight of the SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

SSLV:

• 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
• 2m in diameter and 34m in length with lift off weight of ~120 tonnes.
• Capable of launching ~500kg satellite in 500km planar orbit from SDSC/SHAR.

Key features of SSLV:

• Low cost, with low turn-around time
• Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites
• Launch on demand feasibility
• Minimal launch infrastructure requirements

Payload Capability:

• Single/Multi Satellites – Nano, Micro and Mini satellites
• Single Satellite up to 500kg in 500km planar orbit
• Three Multiple satellites ranging from 10kg to 300kg into 500km Planar Orbit

SSLV-D3/EOS-08 Mission:

• The third developmental flight of SSLV is successful. The SSLV-D3 placed EOS-08 precisely into the orbit.
• This flight completes the SSLV Development Project and enables operational missions by Indian industry and NSIL (New Space India Limited).

Mission objectives:

• Demonstration of repeatable flight performance of SSLV Vehicle Systems.
• Injection of EOS-08 satellite and SR-0 DEMOSAT passenger satellite into 475 km circular orbit.

EOS-08:

• It is a first-of-its-kind mission built on a standard ISRO’s Microsat/IMS-1 bus with a suite of advanced payloads for observation in IR range, novel GNSS-R Payload and SiC UV dosimeter.

The primary objectives of the mission are design and development of:

• Payload instruments compatible to micro satellite bus and with new technologies that are required for future operational satellites.

ISRO’s IMS-1 Bus system:

• Capabilities are considerably improved with the induction of various new technologies in terms of enhanced power generation (16%), more payload mass (33%), increased data download rate (5 times data rate & FACM mode) and more data storage (12 times) in EOS-08 Mission.

NSIL (New Space India Limited):

• It enables Indian industries to scale up high-technology manufacturing base for space programme through technology transfer mechanism.