Context: A stable, prosperous and friendly Bangladesh is in India’s best interests. This is why India will hope that incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returns to power after the January 7 elections.

Background: Bangladesh gained its independence in December 1971; since then, India Bangladesh Relations have been good. India was one of the first nations to recognize it and establish diplomatic ties with it. There are many similarities between India and Bangladesh, including their shared history, languages, and cultures. Bilateral solid relations reflect a comprehensive partnership far beyond a strategic alliance founded on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding.

Significance of Bangladesh elections for India:

• The two nations have a substantial 4,100-km border and share profound historical, cultural, and economic connections. India's optimal scenario involves a stable, prosperous, and amicable Bangladesh.
• The Muslim-majority nation of about 170 million people, Bangladesh is almost surrounded on three sides - barring a 271km (168-mile)-long border with Myanmar in the southeast - by India. For India, Bangladesh is not just a neighbouring country. It's a strategic partner and a close ally, crucial to the security of its north-eastern states.
• Consequently, India strongly supports the current leader, Sheikh Hasina. Regarded as one of India's most trusted friends and allies, she has consistently nurtured a positive and mutually advantageous rapport between the two nations over the years.

What is at stake for India in Bangladesh’s elections?

1. National Security under Hasina's Leadership:

• Before Sheikh Hasina's tenure from 2009, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government was perceived as hostile to India, sheltering anti-India militant groups.
• Hasina's leadership has significantly improved India's security situation through a crackdown on anti-India elements and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation.
•    With the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, maintaining close security ties between India and Bangladesh is crucial.

2. Deep Economic Ties:

Bangladesh has witnessed substantial economic growth, surpassing Pakistan as the second-largest economy in South Asia.

•    In 2022-23, Bangladesh became the fifth-largest export destination for Indian goods, accounting for over 2.7% of all Indian exports, worth $12.2 billion.
•    Under Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh facilitates efficient connectivity to India's Northeast and plays a crucial role in regional economic integration.

3. Regional Cooperation:

•    India envisions Bangladesh as a key player in regional cooperation, connecting the Bay of Bengal littoral and linking South and Southeast Asia.
•    Dhaka hosts the secretariat of BIMSTEC, promoting multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
•    Many countries, including Japan, have invested significantly in Bangladesh in recent years.

4. Political Stability and Democratic Backsliding:

•    Hasina's tenure has brought political stability to Bangladesh, contributing to regional peace and prosperity.
•    Despite allegations of democratic backsliding, Hasina is seen as India's best option, as alternatives could pose a greater threat to democracy and regional stability.

Bangladesh increasing proximity to China- is it a concern?

1. China Relations:

•    Sheikh Hasina's approach toward China is not perceived as detrimental to India, recognizing the global importance of China and its widespread investments.
•    Bangladesh, apart from Bhutan, has demonstrated careful navigation in balancing tensions between India and China.
•    India's primary concern is that Bangladesh, under Hasina, does not compromise India's security, a red line that Dhaka has respected.

2. US Relations:

•    Historical tensions between Bangladesh and the US and UK, stemming from their proximity to Pakistan and negative roles in 1971, contribute to distrust.
•    The US has been critical of Hasina's government, particularly on human rights issues, but there has been recent rethinking in Washington, with a more tempered approach observed by the US Ambassador in Dhaka.
•    During the G20 Summit in Delhi, Hasina's meeting with President Biden and his senior advisors indicates a potential shift in the Biden administration's stance, appreciating India's interests in Bangladesh.

3. India's Expectations for Fair Elections:

• India hopes that Sheikh Hasina ensures a fair and non-violent election process to avoid providing ammunition to domestic and foreign critics.
•    A positive and strategic view of Bangladesh from outsiders hinges on the conduct of the upcoming elections.

World’s interest in election process:

• The global community has a significant interest in ensuring that the election process in Bangladesh proceeds with minimal interference, given the widespread impact of Islamist rule in the country.
• Despite potential flaws or unfairness in the elections, the primary focus should be on encouraging the Awami League, upon returning to power, to resist Chinese influence, restrain Islamist forces, support a responsible and secular opposition, and eliminate Islamist elements within the party.
• It is crucial to find a middle ground between acknowledging the imperfections in the electoral process and safeguarding Bangladesh's democratic and secular values for the sake of global stability and security.

In summary, the upcoming Bangladesh elections pose a intricate challenge for both the nation and the international community. While fair elections may risk empowering radical Islamists, their absence could perpetuate authoritarianism. Striking a delicate balance and ensuring Bangladesh's future as a democratic and secular nation is vital for global stability and peace.

Context: Its near extinction in 1973 was a pivotal moment in India’s conservation history. Now, Corbett has the highest density of wild tigers in the world

Corbett Tiger Reserve:

Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) manages tiger reserves based on a comprehensive Tiger Conservation Plan, covering core and buffer zones across three districts in Uttarakhand. Over the past four years, the reserve has witnessed a substantial increase in tiger population, reaching 260 tigers in 2022, making it the world's highest-density tiger habitat.

Biodiversity and Eco-Tourism:

•    CTR boasts a richly-forested, highly-biodiverse landscape attracting various enthusiasts, researchers, and tourists.
•    The reserve offers an eco-spiritual experience, and witnessing the majestic tigers contributes to the wilderness allure.

Forest Staff and Conservation Efforts:

• The dedicated forest staff plays a crucial role in protecting, improving, and maintaining the reserve's ecosystem.
•    Recent measures include timely payments, regular rations, provision of weapons for defense, and emergency medical support for the forest staff.
•    Engaging with senior forest officials facilitates experience-sharing and addresses on-field challenges for effective conservation.

Grassland and Water Management:

•    CTR adopts a multi-pronged approach to grassland and water management, essential for the breeding and sustenance of various wildlife species, including the apex predator, the tiger.
•    Palatable grasses are developed, invasive weed species are eradicated, and water requirements are met through strategic landscape management practices.

Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity:

•    Strategic wildlife corridors are vital for gene pool exchange among tigers and elephants, addressing the challenge of habitat fragmentation.
•    Ensuring unhindered movement through underpasses, overbridges, elevated roads, and proper urban planning is essential.

Community Engagement and Initiatives:

•    Collaborative efforts involve initiatives like beehive fencing to guard crops, generating economic opportunities for local stakeholders.
•    "Living with Tigers" initiatives in villages and schools aim to raise awareness and cultivate safe behavioral practices in the context of human-wildlife conflicts.

Human-Wildlife Conflict:

•    Rising human-elephant and tiger-human conflicts pose challenges, with the forest department implementing robust measures for wildlife protection.
•    Poaching activities have been eradicated, and digital patrolling, under the E-eye project, enhances surveillance.

Cultural and Conservation Significance:

• Cultural Significance: Tigers are considered the country's brother in many tribes, and India has thousands of years of history related to tigers.The tiger is also a significant part of religious and mythological iconography, and its conservation is seen as a way to protect the country's cultural heritage
• Ecosystem Balance: Tigers are apex predators, and their presence in ecosystems is crucial for maintaining the balance between predators and prey, as well as the overall health of the ecosystem. The revival of the tiger population in India has contributed to numerous environmental benefits, including improved water quality and the protection of other species
• Community Involvement: The future of tiger reserves, their wildlife, and their people are inextricably interlinked, and the conservation efforts in India emphasize the need for continued community involvement and cultural renaissance. The "Living with Tigers" initiative is an example of such efforts, aiming to foster behavioral and response awareness among school children and local communities

Reducing human wildlife conflict:

The measures to deal with human-tiger conflict in India include a range of strategies aimed at minimizing contact between wild tigers and humans, as well as mitigating the negative impacts of such interactions. Some of the key measures and solutions proposed to address human-tiger conflict in India are:

Relocation of Human Settlements: Relocating human settlements from areas with high tiger activity is a preventive measure aimed at altering the ecological setting to reduce conflict instances.

Compensation Schemes: Implementing successful compensation schemes for human-tiger conflicts, such as providing interim relief to victims, is an important measure to address the economic impact of wildlife-related incidents

Wildlife Corridors: Establishing and rehabilitating wildlife corridors to promote genetic diversity and enable tiger movement, thereby reducing the likelihood of tigers venturing into human-occupied areas

Reducing Tiger Injuries: Efforts to minimize tiger injuries, often caused by snares, traps, or gunshot, can help reduce instances of tigers attacking people and livestock

Awareness and Education: Improving communication and interaction between the forest department and local communities, as well as raising awareness about human-wildlife conflict, is crucial to sensitizing people about the issue and fostering coexistence

The future of CTR, its wildlife, and its people are interconnected, emphasizing the importance of sustained conservation efforts for the well-being of the entire ecosystem.

Context: Antimicrobial resistance is a health issue that will negate advances in medicine

News:

The 'First Multicentric Point Prevalence Survey of Antibiotic Use at 20 NAC-NET Sites India 2021-22,' conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control under the Health Ministry, has revealed alarming statistics.

• More than 70% of patients in tertiary-care hospitals across 15 States and two Union Territories were prescribed antibiotics, with over 50% having the potential to cause AMR.
•  Notably, 55% of patients received antibiotics as a preventive measure, while only 45% were prescribed antibiotics for actual infections, and of this, merely 6% were based on the identification of specific bacteria.

Antimicrobial Resistance

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, to resist the effects of drugs designed to combat infections. This crisis is exacerbated by inappropriate medical and animal husbandry practices, as highlighted in the survey.
• Over time, these microorganisms undergo changes that make them unresponsive to the medications, rendering infections more challenging to treat and escalating the risks of disease transmission, severe illness, and death.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognizes AMR as a significant global health threat, listing it among the top ten. Microorganisms that develop resistance to antimicrobials are commonly referred to as "superbugs."
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that bacterial AMR directly caused 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.
• In India, more than 56,000 newborn deaths occur annually due to sepsis caused by organisms resistant to initial antibiotics. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that Covid patients acquiring drug-resistant infections in hospitals face a mortality rate of approximately 50-60%.
• A notable example of AMR is the emergence of the multi-drug resistance determinant known as New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), which originated from this region.
• Furthermore, multi-drug resistant typhoid originating from South Asia has affected regions like Africa, Europe, and other parts of Asia. This underscores the global implications and challenges posed by the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Concerns Regarding AMR:

1. Life-threatening Condition:

•   The rise of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a significant challenge in treating life-threatening conditions like sepsis.
•    Antibiotic failure is contributing to preventable deaths, especially in cases where antibiotics are unable to combat infections effectively.

2. Reduction in Medical Advances:

•    AMR is eroding and reversing decades of medical progress, particularly in the treatment of prevalent diseases such as tuberculosis and various forms of cancer.
•    The efficacy of antibiotics, a cornerstone in medical advancements, is being compromised by the growing threat of resistance.

3. Achievements of Goals:

•    The emergence of AMR jeopardizes the achievements of Millennium Development Goals and poses a threat to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.
•    Progress made in improving global health and well-being is at risk due to the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance.

4. Increase in Superbugs:

•    Untreated wastewater from medical facilities contains chemical compounds that contribute to the proliferation of superbugs.
•    The unregulated discharge of chemical compounds fosters the development and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms.

5. Expanding with Time:

•    The combination of self-medication practices and over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic availability has led to some of the highest rates of antibiotic resistance globally.
•    The widespread misuse and availability of antibiotics without proper medical oversight contribute to the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance over time.

Way Forward to Address AMR:

1. Multipronged Strategy:

•    Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) necessitates a comprehensive strategy involving multiple sectors. Developing new drugs should not overshadow measures to judiciously use existing antimicrobials.
•    Implementing improved infection control practices, ensuring quality diagnostics, and educating the public about antimicrobials have proven effective in reducing antimicrobial pressure, a key factor in resistance.
•    A coordinated plan, supported by appropriate funding and led by a designated coordinating agency, is essential for success.

2. One Health Approach:

•    Recognizing the potential regression to a pre-antibiotic era, a One Health Approach is crucial for addressing AMR. This approach involves integrated cooperation across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
•    The development of antibiotic resistance breakers (ARBs) to restore the effectiveness of older antibiotic classes is vital for combating AMR.

3. Effective Surveillance and Data Management:

• Strategies must be adopted to optimize antibiotic use across various disciplines, exercising prudence, including in the discharge of pharmaceutical effluents.
•    Robust microbiological surveillance in agriculture, livestock, and pharmaceutical manufacturing can inform policy actions to mitigate AMR.
•    Promoting research to address data deficiencies related to AMR is essential for evidence-based assessment and intervention, contributing to the overall fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Both doctors and the government play crucial roles in regulating drug use, with a particular emphasis on the latter. Patients' expectations for immediate relief need to align with the realities of medical science, which lacks magical remedies. Ultimately, the agency with the authority to establish strict regulations on antimicrobial use and promote and fund research on new antibiotics will determine the line between life and death.

Context:  Recently, the Similipal Kai Chutney made with kai pimpudi (red weaver ants) by the tribal people of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district received the geographical identity tag.

News:

The application was made by The Mayurbhanj Kai Society Ltd in 2020 for registration in Class 30 under sub-section (1) of section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

About Kai chutney:

It comprises essential nutrients such as proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, and amino acids, contributing to the enhancement of the immune system.

About Red Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) in Mayurbhanj, Odisha:

• Red Weaver Ants are native to the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha.
• Classification:
  • These ants are categorized into workers, major workers, and queens.
  • Workers and major workers typically display an orange coloration, while queens exhibit a greenish-brown hue.

Diet:

They primarily feed on small insects and other invertebrates, including beetles, flies, and hymenopterans.

Benefits:

• Medicinal Oil: The tribes in the region utilize these ants as a SOURCE of medicinal oil, employing it to treat conditions such as rheumatism, gout, ringworm, and other ailments.

  Bio-control Agents: Recognized as bio-control agents, these ants play a crucial role in safeguarding various tropical crops from insect pests, serving as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical insecticides.

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a distinctive sign applied to products originating from a specific geographical area, possessing characteristics or a reputation uniquely linked to that origin. Geographical Indications fall within the realm of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) as outlined in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

These indications are commonly employed for a range of products, including but not limited to agricultural produce, food items, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial goods.

Context: The five new candidates of BRICS formally became members on January 1, 2024.

Introduction of New Members to BRICS:

Expansion of BRICS: The inclusion of five new members, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, marks a significant enlargement of the BRICS alliance.

Argentina's Withdrawal: Argentina has opted to retract its initial decision to join the expanding BRICS group of nations.

Importance: This expansion represents a noteworthy shift in the global landscape, highlighting the increasing trend towards multipolarity.

BRICS Summit 2024: The upcoming BRICS summit in Russia, scheduled for October 2024, is poised for a substantial transformation as it broadens its membership to encompass five additional nations, alongside the original founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.