Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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C-section use doubled in India between 2005 and 2015: Lancet

News

• The number of babies born in India through caesarean section increased from 9% in 2005-6 to 18.5% in 2015-16, according to The Lancetjournal, which also found that C-section use almost doubled worldwide between 2000 and 2015.

Findings

• While the surgery is still unavailable for many women and children in low-income countries and regions, the procedure is overused in many middle-and high-income settings, said researchers, including those from Ghent University in Belgium.
• In the 10 countries with the highest number of births in 2010-2015 period, there were large differences in caesarean section or C-section use between regions. For instance, differences between provinces in China ranged from 4% to 62%, and inter-state differences in India ranged from 7% to 49%.
• Globally, C-section use has increased by 3.7% each year between 2000-2015 rising from 12% of live births (16 million of 131.9 million) in 2000, to 21% of live births (29.7 million of 140.6 million) in 2015.
• In India, C-section use went up from 9% of births in 2005-6 to 18.5% in 2015-16, the research found.
• C-section is a life-saving intervention for women and newborns when complications occur, such as bleeding, foetal distress, hypertensive disease, and babies in abnormal position.
• In at least 15 countries, C-section use exceeds 40%, researchers said.
• The South Asia region has seen the most rapid increase in use (6.1% per year), with C-section being underused in 2000 but being overused by 2015 (increasing from 7.2% of births via C-section to 18.1%).

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

India wins election to UN Human Rights Council

News

• India was elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates.

Beyond News

• The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections here for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.
• The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.
• In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 votes, Bangladesh 178, Bahrain and Philippines 165 each.
• India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 terms.

Android app ‘Rail Partner’ to provide authentic rail data

News

• Southern Railway has launched a mobile application to provide real-time authentic information on train timings and ancillary services provided by Indian Railways.

Beyond News

• Named ‘Rail Partner’, the Android app rolled out for Indian Railways by the passenger marketing wing of the commercial department of Southern Railway provides an array of information and services and acts as a direct communication medium between passengers and Railways.
• The initiative comes in the wake of complaints that the privately developed mobile apps related to train timings are not providing accurate information.
• The app will come in handy for the visually challenged also as they can use the ‘talk back’ facility on their smartphones.
• The app provides direct call facilities to 20 most required helplines and support services in all divisions such as on-board medical assistance, RPF, GRP, women helpline, e-catering, child helpline, UTS-on-mobile, vigilance, etc., and also the phone numbers of all major stations of Southern Railway.
• A unique menu listing all special trains (other than regular trains) based on the user’s preferred route is also provided. After downloading this app from the Play Store, there is a one-time registration.
• For reserved train timings, the app is developed in such a way that it works both offline and online.
• Online usage will give the most up-to-date data so that customers are encouraged to keep the app in online mode always. SMS-based services include PNR status, spot your train, platform position, and on-board services.
• All contact numbers that a passenger needs during a journey are provided in the app for direct calling. These include security, cleaning, catering, and running information. This is the first time Southern Railway is bringing out a train-running and business development application.

New districts making strides in many aspects

News

• In the first one year of formation of the new districts in Telangana, the authorities had struggled to overcome teething troubles.
• But, after the completion of two years of their existence, they were making strides and won laurels for their administration and implementation of several welfare schemes.

Beyond News

• In spite of staff crunch and lack of adequate infrastructure, the new districts have performed well on a par with old districts on all fronts.
• The erstwhile Karimnagar district was bifurcated into four districts — Karimnagar, Rajanna-Sircilla, Jagtial and Peddapalli.
• Jagtial and Rajanna-Sircilla districts have competed in the implementation of welfare programmes and won accolades.
• Besides, the district had won the national Swach Bharath Award for being declared 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF). The district had successfully achieved first rank in the SSC examination pass percentage in 2017 and 2018.

18 more infected with Zika in Jaipur

News

• Eighteen more people in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district have tested positive for Zika virus, taking the total number to 50, a Union Health Ministry official said .

Beyond News

• The first case had surfaced on September 22. Fogging and other anti-larvae activities are being carried out in Shastri Nagar.
• The department has also issued an advisory for pregnant women staying outside Shastri Nagar not to visit the area.
• A control room has been activated at the National Centre for Disease Control to monitor the situation.
• The number of monitoring teams in Jaipur has been increased from 50 to 170 and a special isolation ward has been created at the Hira Bagh Training Centre to treat the patients.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Cyclone Titli: AP urges Centre to release ₹ 1,200 crores

News

• The Andhra Pradeshgovernment requested the Centre to release ₹ 1,200 crore as interim relief for restoration measures in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts that were battered by cyclone Titli.

Beyond News

• The severe cyclonic storm hit the two districts early, with winds gusting up to 165 kilometers per hour. Heavy rainfall, ranging from 10 cm to 43 cm, was witnessed in different parts of the districts.
• Horticulture was the worst hit with damages to the tune of ₹ 1,000 crore followed by agriculture (₹ 800 crore), power sector (₹ 500 crore), roads and buildings, panchayat raj, rural water supply, irrigation (₹ 100 crore each), animal husbandry and fisheries (₹ 50 crore each), the Chief Minister said further.
• In all, 290 km of roads were damaged along with 8,962 houses, 80 minor irrigation sources and 16 rural water supply tanks.
• Agriculture crops in 1,39,844 hectares, including paddy in 1,36,531 hectares, was damaged in Srikakulam while crops in 308 hectares were lost in Vizianagaram district.
• Banana plantations in 2,424 hectares were also damaged.

Floods in Indonesia kill 11 children, rescuers search for 1 missing

News

• Flash floods killed at least 11 children at an Islamic school in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra , with rescuers searching for one missing student, authorities said.

Beyond News

• The floods hit the area of Mandailing Natal in North Sumatra after torrential rain, destroying over 20 houses.
• Reuters authorities were currently checking for other possible missing victims.
• Photos of the disaster carried in local media depicted rescuers digging through mud and rubble in a collapsed building.

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