Prelims Focus

Prelims Focus 4th August 2026

04/08/2026

9 2 minutes read

Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy

In News: Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy’s 166th birth anniversary is celebrated on 2nd August.

He was the founder of the first Pharmaceutical Company in India – Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (1901).
He is considered the father of modern chemical science in India and was instrumental in fostering scientific education in India.
He also founded the first modern Indian research school in Chemistry.
He is remembered for his discovery of mercurous nitrite (1896). It created a new avenue for research in metal nitrites and paved the way for modern chemical research in India.

Shipki La Pass

In News: After six years, India-China cross-border trade was reactivated at Shipki-La.

Motorable mountain pass of Kinnaur District with an elevation of 3,930 m in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Trade consisted of wool, horses, borax, turquoise and gold from Tibet, grains, spices, dried fruit, timber and metal products from India.
These exchanges promoted local livelihoods, handicrafts and local culture.
The road was closed following the Sino-Indian War in 1962 and affected by the Doklam stand-off and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shipki La was more than just a trade route. It was a common Buddhist faith, a pastoral lifestyle, and a common culture among the people on the two sides of the border.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY)

In News: The Centre’s flagship employment-linked incentive scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), is one year old now.

PM-VBRY is a Central Sector Scheme, 2025 and it is run by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
Aim: To boost employment, improve employability and improve social security in all sectors, especially in the manufacturing sector.
The scheme is designed to provide employment opportunities of over 3.5 crore jobs to the nation.
Features:
- Incentives are given to first-time employees up to a maximum of ₹15,000.
- The government provides a reward of up to ₹3,000 for each new employee to the employer.

Leptospirosis

In News: Kerala is experiencing a sharp rise in leptospirosis (rat fever) cases and fatalities during the monsoon season, driven by late diagnoses, rapid disease progression, and multi-organ failure. By July 2026, the state recorded a cumulative total of over 1,390 confirmed cases and 63 confirmed deaths, with July alone accounting for 30 confirmed and 19 probable deaths.

About Leptospirosis

Core Definiton: Zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Leptospira bacteria.
Transmission Path: Enters humans via skin abrasions or mucous membranes after exposure to water or soil contaminated with infected animal urine.
Acute Symptoms: Rapid onset of high fever, severe headache, red eyes, and calf muscle pain.
Delayed Phase: Risk of progression to Weil’s disease, which involves kidney injury, liver failure (jaundice), and pulmonary hemorrhage.
Clinical Treatment: Effectively managed with early oral doxycycline or intravenous penicillin for advanced cases.
Core Prevention: Consists of using waterproof footwear/gloves, cleaning skin wounds, and targeted medical chemoprophylaxis.

Ebola Outbreak

In News: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains out of control, making it the country’s largest and fastest-growing ever recorded.

Key Highlights

The Pathogen: The crisis is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain (BDBV). Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific approved therapy available for Bundibugyo.
Current Scale: The outbreak has recorded over 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, maintaining a high case fatality rate of 44%.
Geographic Spread: The epicentre remains heavily concentrated in the Ituri province. However, it has actively expanded across 5 provinces and nearly 50 health zones in eastern DRC.
Compounding Challenges: Ground containment is heavily restricted by armed conflict involving regional rebel groups, mass population displacement, community mistrust, and acute funding shortages.