Answer: C
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, usually
fatal infection of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) caused by Naegleria
fowleri, a type of free-living ameba.
● As it can infect the brain and destroy the tissues there, this one-celled organism is also
called ‘brain-eating amoeba’.
How does the disease occur?
● The amoeba thrives in warm freshwater like lakes, ponds, and rivers, and can also survive
in poorly maintained swimming pools. Infection usually occurs when people swim in
these water bodies during hot summers, especially when the water level is low.
● The amoeba enters through the nose, travels to the brain, and causes brain tissue damage
and swelling.
● Statement 2 is correct: The infection does not spread from person to person.
● Children are more vulnerable.
Symptoms
● Early symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
● The disease quickly worsens, causing symptoms like a stiff neck, confusion, lack of focus,
loss of balance, and hallucinations.
● It often leads to coma and death within five days, with most people dying within one to 18
days.
● These infections, though rare, are fatal and 97% of the patients don’t survive.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
● PAM can be diagnosed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
○ PCR works by amplifying the DNA of amoeba if present in the sample.
○ CSF is a clear, colorless liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord.
● There are no standard treatment methods available to treat PAM. Miltefosine, a broad- spectrum antimicrobial drug, Azithromycin and Amphotericin B are some of the medicines currently being utilized to treat the infection.
● Statement 3 is correct: No vaccine is available for the prevention of PAM.

Guest Lecture on Israel Palestine Issue

A Open Session by, Dr. Stanly Johny, a prominent figure in the field of geopolitics, and also the International Affairs Editor at The Hindu. He holds a Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has extensive experience in journalism and academia. And also he is a Visiting Faculty at our Officers IAS Academy, Chennai. Join us for an insightful session on the Israel-Palestine issue, exploring the key players, perspectives, and the current political landscape. Don't miss out—register now!

Date and Time - 23rd Jan 2025 (Thursday) | 10 AM
Venue - Officers IAS Academy, Chennai

To Register - https://forms.gle/Z2idHrssUNhiK9R3A

Contact -
+919677174226 | +9196771 20226

#IsraelPalestineConflict #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #CurrentAffairs #UPSCPreparation
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#FutureOfficers

1. Gulf of Aden, often seen in news, shares its borders with which of the following countries?
1. Ethiopia
2. Djibouti
3. Somalia
4. Yemen

Answer: B

2. Consider the following statements about rat-hole mining:
1. It is a method of extracting coal.
2. This practice is widely supported by environmental regulations in India.
3. It is an advanced and highly safe method to extract coal

From the map, Ethiopia does not have access to the Gulf of Aden. Hence, B is the correct answer.

Answer: A
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: Rat hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow,
horizontal seams. This practice is prevalent in Assam and Meghalaya.
● The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large
enough for one person to descend and extract coal.
● Once the pits are dug, miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal
seams.
● The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and
baskets. Concerns
● Rat hole mining poses significant safety and environmental hazards. The mines are typically unregulated, lacking safety measures such as proper ventilation, structural support, or safety gear for the workers.
● The mining process can cause land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.
● This method of mining has faced severe criticism due to its hazardous working conditions, and numerous accidents leading to injuries and fatalities.
● Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the practice in 2015, but it continues to persist due to the absence of viable alternative livelihoods for the local population.

3. Consider the following statements about the Minimum Support Price (MSP)
1) It is a form of market intervention by the Government to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
2) It is announced at the beginning of the sowing season by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Answer: C
Explanation
Both the statements are correct.
● Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government to
insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
● MSP is the price at which the government procures certain crops from farmers to ensure
support price to farmers and affordable prices to the consumer.
● The minimum support prices are announced by the Government at the beginning of the
sowing season for certain crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission
for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
About CACP
● The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices is an attached office of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It came into existence in 1965.
● It is mandated to recommend MSPs to incentivize the cultivators to adopt modern
technology and raise productivity and overall grain production in line with the emerging
demand patterns in the country.
How many crops does the minimum support price cover?

● As of now, CACP recommends MSPs of 23 commodities, which comprise 7 cereals (paddy,
wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, barley and ragi), 5 pulses (gram, tur, moong, urad,
lentil), 7 oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soyabean, seasmum, sunflower,
safflower, niger seed), and 4 commercial crops (copra, sugarcane, cotton and raw jute).
● CACP submits its recommendations to the government. The Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister takes a final decision on the
level of MSPs and other recommendations made by CACP.
Why in News?
● The Union Cabinet has approved MSP hikes for all kharif season crops, in alignment with
the government’s policy of keeping MSPs at least 1.5 times above the cost of production,
aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers.
How is the production cost arrived at?
● As per CACP, there are three definitions of production cost which includes A2, A2+FL and
C2.
○ A2 covers all paid-out expenses, including cash and in kind. It includes costs on
seeds, chemicals, hired labour, irrigation, fertilisers and fuel.
○ A2+FL covers actual paid cost and also unpaid family labour.
○ C2 cost method is more comprehensive and makes the calculation by including a
wider range of inputs. It includes actual paid out costs, imputed value of family
labour, interest on the value of owned capital assets, rent paid for leased-in
land and the rental value of owned land.

● CACP considers both A2+FL and C2 costs while recommending MSP.
● It should be noted that there is currently no statutory backing for these prices, nor any
law mandating their enforcement.

4. Consider the following statements about the Goods & Services Tax (GST) Council.
1. It is a constitutional body to make recommendations to the Union and the States on important issues related to GST.
2. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
3. Every decision of the Council is taken by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting.