- CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken several significant steps to promote multilingual education
- The use of the mother tongue in learning is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2022:
- Mother Tongue Emphasis: Encourages the use of a child’s mother tongue or regional and local language as the medium of instruction in schools.
- Development of Educational Materials: In collaboration with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Indian Institute of Languages
- CBSE has developed 52 entry-level primers in various mother tongues and local languages spoken across India Languages Covered: The educational materials cover a wide array of languages, including — Bhutia, Bodo, Garo, Khandeshi, Kinnauri, Kuki, Manipuri, Nepali, Sherpa, and Tulu, among others
- Educational Use: These primers are designed as basal readers for young learners at balvatikas (kindergartens) and anganwadis (rural child care centers), focusing on introducing numerals and basic language skills
- Promotion in Schools: CBSE is actively encouraging schools to promote these primers among teachers and students to help develop strong foundational language skills in the native languages of the learners
2. A DIGNIFIED PEACEFUL PASSING IS EVERYONE’S RIGHT
- The ethical and practical aspects of end-of-life care
- Comparing practices and attitudes in India with those in the West, specifically figures like Ronald Reagan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America, died in 2004 at the age of 93 at his home surrounded by his family
- He had dementia which he lived with for nine years
- His wife, Nancy Reagan, called his last moments of a peaceful death “the greatest gift” he could have given her
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India’s former Prime Minister, died in 2018, nine years after a stroke that had left him non-ambulant.
- The last 35 days of his life were spent in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He died on artificial life support systems.
- Key issues: Advanced Medical Directives
- Importance of having advanced medical directives, or living wills, that specify a person’s wishes regarding end-of-life care
- In the West, a significant portion of people use such directives to avoid unnecessary medical interventions when there is no reasonable quality of life left
- Cultural Differences – Western acceptance of natural death
- The situation in India — there is less public awareness and legal clarity about withholding or withdrawing life support when recovery is unlikely
- Legal and Ethical Challenges – Lack of clear legal frameworks in India for end-of-life care § Including the need for clearer policies on ICU de[1]saturation § The implementation of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders
- Palliative Care – It is an approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life[1]threatening illness
- Public Awareness and Education – Need for increased public education and awareness about end[1]of-life options and
- Benefits of planning for these circumstances through living wills
- Open discussions with healthcare providers
3. ISREALI FORCES SEND TANKS TO RAFAH SEIZE BORDER CROSSING
- Geo-strategic Implications – Impact on Civilians: Closure of key crossings like Rafah and Kerem Shalom affects the flow of aid into Gaza
- Control of Rafah Crossing: A major point for the flow of goods and aid between Egypt and Gaza
- Wider Regional Impact: The conflict could widen rifts between Israel and its allies, affecting broader Middle Eastern geopolitics
- Legal and Ethical Considerations – International Law including the rules of war and treaties
- Ethical Concerns of military strategies that impact large civilian populations
- Such as blockades and forced evacuation
4. PINK BOOTHS, PICK AND DROP FACILITY AT ALL LS POLLING STATIONS FOR ELDERLY
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has implemented several special measures to enhance accessibility, safety, and convenience for voters during the Lok Sabha elections
- Special Booths and Accessibility
- Pink Booths: Seventy polling booths will be managed exclusively by women, aimed at empowering female participation in the electoral process
- Booths Managed by Persons with Disabilities: In a pioneering move, seven polling booths will be fully managed by persons with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and representation
- Accessibility for the Elderly and Disabled: Facilities such as pick-and-drop services, wheelchairs, and 3,500 wheelchairs at polling stations are provided to assist the elderly and differently-abled voters
- Security – Webcasting: Live webcasting will be implemented at 50% of the polling stations to maintain transparency and real-time monitoring.
- Enhanced Security: The deployment of 46 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, 78,578 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards to ensure a secure voting environment.
- Sensitive Polling Booths: A total of 2,891 polling booths have been categorised as sensitive and will be under constant live monitoring to prevent any untoward incidents.
- Heatwave Precautions: Considering the heatwave conditions, shaded waiting areas, safe drinking water, and medical kits with paramedical staff are arranged at each polling station to ensure the comfort and safety of voters.
5. KERALA ON ALERT AS MAN DIES OF WEST NILE FEVER
- West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection
- The disease is spread by the Culex species of mosquitoes
- As per the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Human infection is most often the result of bites from the infected mosquitoes
- This happens when they feed on infected birds, which circulate the virus in their blood for a few days
- The infection was confirmed after samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid of suspected patients were examined at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Lab attached to the medical college hospital
- They were later sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for official confirmation
- Symptoms of the infection include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, stupor, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis
- Most of the symptoms are similar to that of Japanese encephalitis
- However, 80% of the patients need not show any symptoms
- Treatment is supportive for patients with neuro-invasive West Nile virus
- Often involving — hospitalisation, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections
- No vaccine is available for humans
- There has been no human-to-human transmission so far
ONE LINER
- College Dream program to guide higher education under Naan Muthalvan Program 8th May to 13th May
- President Xi Jinping has appointed senior foreign ministry official Xu Feigang as the new Chinese Ambassador to India
