In a significant step to address the climate crisis, aiming to reduce the impact of extreme weather changes and increase community resilience to climate change, the Ministry of Earth Sciences launched Mission Mausam in September 2024.

The mission will be implemented by the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting.

By 2026, the mission aims to:

• Establish an advanced weather surveillance system.

• Enhance the accuracy of weather forecasting across temporal and spatial scales.

• Develop data-driven methodologies for weather research and management.

• Strengthen capacity building in weather monitoring and forecasting.

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• A new study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology links increased cell phone call time to a higher risk of cardiovascular events like stroke and heart failure.

• Poor sleep, psychological distress, and neuroticism (2.25%-11.50%) are significant drivers of this association.

• Regular cellphone users had a 4% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.06)  compared to non regular users. The risk increased with more time spent on calls.

• The risk is more pronounced in smokers (P for interaction 0.001) and people with diabetes (P for interaction 0.037).

• The study was conducted by analyzing data from a large cohort of 444,027 participants over a significant period of 12.3 years. Information of cellphone usage, including call duration was collected and monitored the participants’ health outcomes, particularly cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart failure.

• The study is observational and cannot prove causation. They suggest focusing on overall healthy lifestyle habits to reduce cardiovascular risk.

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India marked World Ozone Day 2024 with a focus on the Montreal Protocol's critical role in both protecting the ozone layer and combating climate change.

- The event focused on the theme "Montreal Protocol - Advancing Climate Actions", emphasizing the protocol's crucial role in both ozone layer protection and broader climate action initiatives.

- Union Environment Secretary Ms. Leena Nandan highlighted India's strong commitment to the Montreal Protocol, with successful implementation of phase-out targets ahead of schedule. This has not only benefitted the ozone layer but also contributed significantly to global climate change efforts.

- She also emphasized the importance of Prime Minister Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative, promoting a sustainable future and protecting the environment.

- The event included the release of publications on sustainable cooling technologies and the launch of awareness campaigns to promote climate-friendly lifestyles.

The celebration served as a reminder of the vital role of the Montreal Protocol in safeguarding the ozone layer and its impact on global climate action.

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India has the world's largest TB laboratory network and a dedicated National TB Elimination Program (NTEP).

The NTEP has been working tirelessly to detect and treat TB patients, and the introduction of BPaLM is another key step in this fight.

India has approved a new, shorter treatment regimen for Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), marking a significant step towards the country's goal of eliminating TB by 2025.

- The new treatment, called BPaLM, combines four drugs: Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin.

- BPaLM is proven to be safer, more effective, and quicker than previous MDR-TB treatments, curing patients in just six months (compared to up to 20 months previously).

- The introduction of BPaLM is expected to significantly accelerate India's progress towards its ambitious goal of ending TB.

The government is committed to eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.

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A suspected case of monkeypox in India has been confirmed as a travel-related infection. The individual, a young male, recently returned from a country experiencing active monkeypox transmission.

- The patient has tested positive for the West African clade 2 of the Mpox virus, different from the strain currently causing a global health emergency. This strain has been seen in India previously, with 30 cases reported since July 2022.

- The patient is isolated at a designated medical facility and is clinically stable with no serious health complications.

-  This case is an isolated incident, and there is currently no risk to the general public.

- Authorities are conducting contact tracing and monitoring to prevent any potential spread.

This case is not related to the current global monkeypox outbreak, which is primarily associated

with clade 1 of the virus.

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India carries a significant burden of infant and child mortality, and improving sanitation is crucial to improving child survival. This study investigated the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), India's ambitious sanitation program, on infant and under-five mortality rates (IMR and U5MR) from 2011 to 2020.

- The researchers used data from 35 Indian states and 640 districts, analyzing changes in IMR, U5MR, and toilet access over time.

- They employed two-way fixed effects regression models to control for confounding factors and estimate the association between toilet construction and child mortality.

- The study found a strong inverse association between increased toilet access and child mortality in India.

- Districts with over 30% of households receiving toilets under SBM saw a 5.3 lower IMR and a 6.8 lower U5MR.

- The study also used placebo, falsification, and robustness checks to support these findings.

Improved sanitation programs, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), can significantly enhance population health, especially in developing countries.

India's decrease in infant and child mortality rates after implementing SBM indicates that widespread access to toilets may have prevented between 60,000 and 70,000 infant deaths each year.

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• The National Health Authority (NHA) and IIT Kanpur have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a digital public goods platform for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

• This platform will include a federated learning system, an open benchmarking platform for comparing AI models, and a consent management system.

• The initiative, overseen by the NHA, aims to unlock AI’s potential for improving health outcomes, especially in disease diagnosis.

• According to the Union Health Secretary, the platform will enhance the accessibility of high-quality health data for researchers while ensuring privacy and security.

• The collaboration seeks to foster trust in AI healthcare applications and improve the efficiency of India’s healthcare system by addressing fragmented data access and creating reliable benchmarks for AI models.

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• AB PM-JAY(Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme is now expanded to cover all the senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio economic status.

• The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card

• Approximately 4.5 crore families will benefit from the scheme, providing ₹5 lakh health insurance per family.

• Senior citizens in families already covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh for themselves.

• Private health insurance holders and ESIC members are also eligible.

• Beneficiaries of schemes such as CGHS(Central Government Health Scheme), ECHS(Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme), and CAPF(Ayushman Central Armed Police Force ) may opt for AB PM-JAY or retain their existing schemes.

The scheme has already benefited 55 crore people and covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, including 49% women beneficiaries

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• NITI Aayog held a National Seminar on 'Sustainable Rural Livelihoods'.

• The seminar highlighted key issues like market linkages, resilient agriculture, and rural entrepreneurship..

• Discussions stressed India's growth potential through SMART Villages and inclusive rural economies, focusing on financial inclusion, job creation, and decentralized community-led initiatives,also highlighted the importance of Gram Panchayats, women-led institutions, and civil society in driving rural progress.

• Experts emphasized  on climate vulnerabilities and the need for a comprehensive groundwater law.

The seminar advocated for empowering rural communities, connecting producers to larger markets, and expanding employment in emerging sectors such as construction and green economies

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• The Prime Minister introduced the 'SUBHADRA' scheme in Bhubaneswar, targeting single women.

• Fund transfers were initiated for more than 10 lakh women as part of the scheme.

• He released the first installment of assistance for nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) across 14 states.

• The Awaas+ 2024 App was launched to facilitate surveys of additional households for PMAY.

• He emphasized welfare initiatives for Dalits and tribal communities through the PM Janman Yojana.

• The Vishwakarma Yojana was introduced to preserve traditional skills, offering financial assistance and training for artisans.

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The report provides guidance for the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination strategy from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The methodology included reviewing data in 40 public meetings since June 2020. ACIP assessed vaccine efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness using the GRADE system. The analysis found that updated vaccines offer moderate protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death, although their effectiveness diminishes over time. Vaccination is advised for everyone aged six months and older, with special focus on high-risk populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Economic evaluations show that vaccines are most cost-effective for those aged 65 and older. The report concludes that the 2024–2025 vaccines, which target the currently circulating Omicron strains (JN.1 and KP.2), are essential for ongoing protection and reducing severe outcomes, with a priority on ensuring equitable access

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The research evaluated the impact of an inflatable colon exhibit on colorectal cancer (CRC) knowledge and screening intentions among 940 men at two state fairs in the Midwest in 2023. Using an observational cohort design, participants completed a presurvey, walked through the inflatable colon, and then completed a postsurvey. The surveys assessed changes in both actual and perceived knowledge of CRC and intentions to undergo screening. Results revealed a notable improvement in understanding key CRC concepts, such as the role of polyp removal in cancer prevention. Men over 45 had higher factual knowledge but lower perceived awareness. A majority (95.4%) found the exhibit to be an effective educational tool. The study concluded that community-based efforts, like the inflatable colon, are effective in boosting CRC knowledge and encouraging screening. It highlights the importance of using state fairs and similar events to reach underserved groups and promote early cancer detection.

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