Prelims Focus 10th May 2025
Kozhikode Gets WHO Recognition as Age-Friendly City
In News: Kozhikode metropolis has acquired global popularity by becoming a member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC).
- An age-pleasant metropolis ensures that urban environments, infrastructure, and services are accessible and inclusive for older adults. It addresses demanding situations related to:
- Accessible public areas (parks, transportation, buildings),
- Affordable and appropriate housing, healthcare access and social support,
- Age-pleasant communication tool,
- Participation in community activities.
Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)
In News: Scientists from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, and Washington University School of Medicine have found a new subtype of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), bringing the entire recognized subtypes to fourteen.
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- Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a sort of monogenic diabetes first described as a mild and asymptomatic form of diabetes that was observed in non-obese children, young people, and teenagers.
- It is due to defects in pancreatic islet cellular development that impairs insulin secretion.
- It is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant style, and patients commonly have heterozygous mutations.
- Latest Developments
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- The newly recognized genetic version, discovered in Indian sufferers, influences potassium channel characteristic in pancreatic cells, leading to disrupted insulin secretion and a shift from congenital hyperinsulinism to diabetes.
- Unlike other MODY paperwork, it does not reply to traditional treatments like sulphonylureas.
Arnala
In News: The Indian Navy has formally inducted INS Arnala, the first of a new class of indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), at a time of heightened military tensions with Pakistan. This delivery comes as both nations have engaged in cross-border strikes and naval mobilization following a major terrorist attack in Kashmir and subsequent retaliatory operations.
Key Features
- Type: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC)
- Length: 77 meters
- Propulsion: Diesel engine with waterjet propulsion
- Indigenous Content: Over 80% components sourced domestically
- Roles:
- Anti-submarine warfare in coastal/shallow waters
- Underwater surveillance
- Search and rescue
- Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)
- Mine laying
- Significance: Enhances Indian Navy’s coastal defense and submarine detection capabilities
- Built by: L&T Shipyard, designed by GRSE, Kolkata
- Symbolism: Named after historic Arnala Fort, reflecting India’s maritime heritage
India–Chile CEPA
In News: India and Chile have recently signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to commence negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The first round of talks is scheduled for May 26–30, 2025, in New Delhi, marking a significant step toward deepening economic integration and cooperation between the two nations.
- Recently, India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to begin negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Key Aspects of the CEPA Initiative:
Building on Existing Agreements:
- The CEPA aims to expand upon the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) that has been in place since 2006. The PTA was further expanded in 2016 and has served as the foundation for robust bilateral trade.
Broader Sectoral Coverage:
- Unlike the PTA, which primarily focused on tariff concessions for select goods, the CEPA seeks to include a much wider array of sectors:
- Digital services
- Investment promotion and cooperation
- Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Critical minerals (such as copper and lithium)
- Other emerging areas of mutual interest
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