- NEW, GREENER ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS TURNS URINE INTO PLANT FUEL
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Converts urea in urine into a crystalline peroxide derivative called percarbamide.
- Process Highlights: Uses an activated graphitic carbon catalyst to facilitate two reaction pathways with hydrogen peroxide.
- Operates best at urea concentrations between 15–38%, slightly acidic pH (~4), and just above freezing temperature.
- Benefits & Applications: Addresses wastewater treatment by recovering valuable nitrogen.
- Potential to complete the nitrogen cycle by turning waste into sustainable fertilizer.
- Published study in Nature Catalysis highlights its promise for resource recovery and recycling.
2. MORE SIGNS OF OVERHAULING THE COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Corruption & Red-Tapism:Surveys reveal widespread bribery and coercion in obtaining permits and regulatory approvals, hampering business growth.
- Recent Reforms:The Jan Vishwas Act amendments decriminalized 180 provisions, with a further push (Jan Vishwas 2.0) announced in Budget 2025 to tackle more provisions.
- Recommendations:Calls for a digital-first, unified ‘One Nation, One Business’ identity systemto streamline processes and reduce corruption.
- Global Context:U.S. governance reforms are highlighted as a benchmark, emphasizing the need for a predictable and transparent compliance environment.
3. WHAT’S IN A DISEASE’S NAME?
SUBJECT: SCIENCE
- Stigma & Misinformation:Diseases named after regions(e.g., Spanish flu, West Nile virus) can lead to stigma and racial prejudice.
- WHO Guidelines:In 2015, WHO mandated that new disease names should avoid geographic references and focus on scientific characteristics.
- Recent Examples: Congenital Zika Syndrome renamed to reflect broader fetal damage beyond microcephaly.
- Mpox is now used as a synonym for monkeypox.
- Controversy:The fungus named Trichophyton indotineae has faced criticism for its pejorative connotations, sparking calls for a name change.
4. BUILDING COMPASSION INTO THE HEALTH CATE STRUCTURE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- WHO Report:“Compassion and Primary Health Care” highlights that compassionate care can reduce patient anxiety, shorten hospital stays, and improve recovery.
- Distinctions:Emphasizes that compassion is different from empathy (which can lead to emotional fatigue) and sympathy(a transient, pity based response).
- Benefits:Compassion improves outcomes for patients and reduces stress among healthcare professionals; calls for quality training and a people centric healthcare approach.
- Broader Impact:Advocates extending compassionate practices to mental health care as well.
5. IS RISING CONSUMER CREDIT CAUSE FOR CONCERN?
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Debt Trends:RBI reports household debt rising from 36.6% of GDP (June 2021) to 42.9% (June 2024).
- Asset vs. Consumption:While asset holdings have slightly declined, borrowing for consumption purposes has increased, especially among lower-income households.
- Risk Factors:A higher reliance on unsecured loans (credit cards, personal loans) among sub-prime borrowers raises the risk of defaults, affecting overall macroeconomic stability.
- Economic Multiplier:Increased consumer debt could lower the multiplier effect, potentially dampening economic growth
