Prelims Focus 12th April 2025

Legionnaires’ Disease

In News: Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW) have issued a public alert due to a recent spike in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney. This outbreak has raised concerns about possible contamination in air conditioning systems, particularly cooling towers, which are known to harbor the Legionella bacteria responsible for the disease.

Background of Legionnaires’ Disease

• Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, commonly found in water systems. 
• It is not transmitted from person to person but can be contracted by inhaling contaminated water particles or aerosols. 
• The disease typically manifests with symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath, and can develop within 2 to 10 days after exposure.

Prevention and Control Measures

• Preventing Legionnaires’ disease involves regular maintenance and disinfection of cooling towers and other water systems to limit bacterial growth. 
• Individuals can reduce exposure by avoiding inhalation of contaminated aerosols and following proper hygiene practices when handling potting mix or soil.

PM POSHAN Scheme:

In News: The Indian government has announced a significant enhancement in the material costs under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme, formerly known as the midday meal scheme. This increase aims to improve the nutritional quality of meals provided to schoolchildren across the country.

Scheme Overview

• Coverage: The PM POSHAN scheme provides one hot cooked meal per school day to over 11 crore students studying in Balvatika and classes 1 to 8 across 10.36 lakh government and government-aided schools.
• Funding Pattern: The scheme operates on a 60:40 funding model between the Centre and the states.
• Nutritional Support: The meals include essential ingredients such as pulses, vegetables, oil, and spices, with specific quantities allocated for each category of students.

Impact and Objectives

• Nutritional Improvement: The scheme aims to enhance the nutritional status of school-going children, which is crucial for their health and academic performance.
• School Attendance: By providing meals, it encourages poor children to attend school regularly, thereby improving enrollment and retention rates.
• opular in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura, reflecting the place’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
• Features: It combines dramatic storytelling, music, dance, and social commentary.
  • Performances are marked through complicated costumes, dramatic gestures, loud dialogues, and often moral messaging.
• Theme: Mythological memories, historical tales and current social problems.

Jatra Utsav

In News: Tripura is about to organise a Jatra Utsav with the intention of preserving its traditional art bureaucracy, way of life, and heritage.

• Jatra or Jatrapala is a popular traditional Bengali people theatre form, usually finished in open-air arenas, allowing interaction with the audience.
• The phrase ‘Jatra’ means “journey,” indicating its origins as a journeying theatrical overall performance.
• Region: Jatrapala is popular in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura, reflecting the place’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
• Features: It combines dramatic storytelling, music, dance, and social commentary.
  • Performances are marked through complicated costumes, dramatic gestures, loud dialogues, and often moral messaging.
• Theme: Mythological memories, historical tales and current social problems.

Chittorgarh Fort

In News: The Rajasthan government informed the Supreme Court that it’s “actively considering” a complete ban on mining activities up to 10 kilometres from the outer boundary of the ancient Chittorgarh Fort.

• Chittorgarh Fort was constructed within the 7th century AD by Chitrangada Mori, a ruler of the Maurya dynasty of Rajasthan.
• In 728 AD, it was captured by the rulers of Mewar, who made it their capital and turned it into a middle of Rajput strength and resistance.
• The fort received prominence as a stronghold of Mewar’s pride and sovereignty.
• As in step with Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem Padmavat, Alauddin Khilji besieged the citadel in his quest to attain Queen Padmini, the wife of Rana Ratan Singh.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 beneath the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
• The fort is accessed through seven large gates (pols). It is surrounded by thick stone partitions with robust ramparts for defense.
• Internal complexes consist of Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory) and Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame).
  • Vijay Stambh (Victory Tower) – Built by Rana Kumbha to have fun victory over Malwa; nine testimonies tall, intricately carved.
  • Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame) – Dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras; embellished with Jain sculptures.

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