In News:

Health authorities have issued a caution following suspected cases of West Nile fever in Ernakulam, Kerala.

Key Facts

• Causative agent: West Nile virus (WNV), a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family and Orthoflavivirus genus.
• Transmission: Mainly through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes.
  • Casual human-to-human transmission is not documented.
  • Rare transmission can occur through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, laboratory exposure, and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding.
• Reservoir:Birds are the principal reservoir hosts.
• Vector: Mainly Culex mosquitoes, often associated with stagnant/polluted water; activity is generally higher at night.

Clinical Features

• Around 80% of infections are asymptomatic.
• About 20% develop symptomatic illness.
• <1% develop severe neuroinvasive disease.
• Incubation: Usually 2–6 days, but may range from 2–14 days and can be longer in immunocompromised persons.

Global Distribution & History

• Found mainly in Africa, Europe, Middle East, North America and West Asia.
• First isolated in 1937 from a woman in Uganda's West Nile district.
• Subsequently identified in birds in the Nile Delta in 1953.

Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

• Diagnosis requires laboratory testing along with clinical symptoms and exposure history.
• No licensed human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is currently available.
• Prevention focuses on:
  • Avoiding mosquito bites.
  • Eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
  • Vector-control measures.

In News:

The 80th Independence Day recalls the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the landmark British legislation that ended British rule and created India and Pakistan as independent Dominions.

Key Provisions

• Passed: 4 July 1947; Royal Assent: 18 July 1947; effective: 15 August 1947.
• End of British sovereignty: Terminated British authority over India and removed the title “Emperor of India” from the British monarch.
• Two Dominions: Created India and Pakistan as independent Dominions.
• Governor-General: Viceroy's office was replaced by a Governor-General for each Dominion.
• Constituent Assemblies: Empowered the Constituent Assemblies to frame constitutions and modify/repeal existing laws.
• Princely States: Ended British paramountcy, leaving rulers to decide their future in the context of accession to India/Pakistan.
• Interim constitutional framework: The Government of India Act, 1935 continued, with necessary modifications, until new constitutions were adopted.
• Boundary Commissions: Provided for demarcation of Punjab and Bengal, chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
• Secretary of State for India: The office was abolished.

Background

• Growth of the national movement through the Non-Cooperation Movement and Quit India Movement strengthened the demand for independence.
• Lahore Resolution (1940): Strengthened the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim state.
• Cabinet Mission Plan (1946): Failed to achieve agreement on a united constitutional framework.
• Attlee's February 1947 announcement: Initially set June 1948 as the latest deadline for British withdrawal.
• Mountbatten Plan / 3 June Plan (1947): Accelerated the transfer of power and provided the immediate political basis for the Indian Independence Act.

In News:

The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny of 1946 is being recalled on the 80th Independence Day for its role in weakening British confidence in the loyalty of Indian armed forces and hastening the end of colonial rule.

Key Facts

• Started:18 February 1946, Bombay, as a strike by Indian naval ratings.
• Major trigger: Racial discrimination, poor food and living conditions, unequal pay/status and post-war demobilisation concerns.
• Immediate provocation: Racial abuse by Commander Arthur Frederick King and refusal to address sailors’ grievances.
• Nationalist influence: The INA trials and Subhas Chandra Bose strengthened anti-British sentiment.
• Scale: Spread to naval establishments in Karachi, Visakhapatnam, Jamnagar and Kolkata, involving around 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and nearly 20,000 personnel.
• Naval Strike Committee: Rebels removed British flags and hoisted Congress and Muslim League flags, reflecting a temporary display of nationalist unity.
• Civilian support: Dock workers, mill workers, railway workers and students supported the revolt, particularly in Bombay.
• Demands: Better food and conditions, pay parity, employment after demobilisation, protection against victimisation, access to NAAFI stores, release/fair trials of INA prisoners and withdrawal of Indian troops from Indonesia.

Suppression & End

• British forces used force against the uprising, with at least 400 civilian deaths reported.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Muhammad Ali Jinnah persuaded the sailors to surrender to prevent further violence.
• The mutiny did not achieve immediate political objectives, but its wider psychological impact was significant.

Historical Significance

The revolt demonstrated that Britain could no longer unconditionally rely on Indian armed forces, a fundamental pillar of colonial rule. Along with the INA movement and post-war unrest, the RIN Mutiny contributed to the growing British assessment that continued colonial rule was becoming increasingly difficult.

In News:

Parliament passed the NCDC (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amending the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962, to expand NCDC’s financing and functional mandate.

Key Provisions

• Direct Financial Assistance: NCDC can provide direct loans and grants to any cooperative society/entity engaged in cooperative development, subject to prescribed conditions, beyond national-level and multi-State cooperatives.
• Broader “Foodstuffs” Definition: Includes processed food and other food items notified by the Central Government, widening eligible food-related cooperatives.
• Industrial Cooperatives: Removes the requirement that eligible industrial, cottage and village cooperatives must be located in rural areas.
• Investment Powers: With prior Central Government approval, NCDC can participate in the share capital of cooperatives/entities engaged in cooperative development.
• Information Sharing: NCDC can collect/furnish credit and other information and exchange it with the Central Government, RBI, banks and notified financial institutions.

What is NCDC?

• Established: 1963 under the NCDC Act, 1962.
• Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Cooperation.
• Role: Financial and developmental support for cooperatives in agriculture, processing, storage, cold chains, marketing, dairy, livestock, fisheries, handloom and other sectors.
• NCDC disbursements increased from ?5,735 crore (2014–15) to ?95,182 crore (2024–25).

Federalism Concern

• Cooperative societies confined to one State fall under Entry 32, State List.
• Direct NCDC funding may bypass State Governments, raising concerns over State oversight, monitoring and Centre–State relations.
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies fall under the Union domain and are regulated by the MSCS Act, 2002.

Constitutional Linkages

• 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011:
  • Article 19(1)(c) → right to form cooperative societies.
  • Article 43B → promotes voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management.
  • Inserted Part IXB relating to cooperative societies.
• Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah (2021): Part IXB remains operative concerning multi-State cooperative societies.

In News:

India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Ratna Category-I Defence PSU, has launched the indigenous GARUD High-Resolution Binoculars for the civilian market.

About GARUD

• Origin: Developed from optical equipment used by the Indian Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
• Manufacturer:Ordnance Factory, Dehradun, a unit of IOL under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
• Purpose:Commercialisation of indigenous defence-grade optical technology for civilian applications under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Key Features

• 8× optical magnification
• 7.6° field of view
• ±5 diopter eyesight adjustment
• Weather-resistant, rugged construction
• Anti-slip grip and soft eyecups
• Weight: approximately 610 g

Significance

• Demonstrates civilian commercialisation of defence technologies.
• Expands domestic manufacturing of high-precision optical equipment.
• Provides an indigenous alternative for birdwatching, wildlife conservation, forestry, marine operations, sports and research.
• Supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and diversification of defence-production capabilities.