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:

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.