Current Affair Category: Health

India’s First Dengue Vaccine Approval: Regulatory Milestone: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Qdenga (TAK-003), developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, making it the country’s first authorized dengue vaccine. Target Audience: Approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years, addressing a critical gap in managing the nation’s fast-growing mosquito-borne disease burden. Mechanism & […]

Cyclosporiasis Outbreak (GS Paper II: Health/GS Paper III: Science & Tech) Context: A major surge of Cyclosporiasis cases has been reported across the US (particularly in Michigan and Ohio). Key Trigger: Contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico and served at specific food chains. About Cyclosporiasis: Pathogen: Caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Transmission: […]

Why in the News? White Gut Disease (also known as White Feces Disease) is in the news because of a recent outbreak in shrimp ponds across Andhra Pradesh. White Gut Disease (WGD), commonly known as White Feces Syndrome (WFS), continues to be a major health challenge in the global shrimp aquaculture sector, posing a severe […]

Why in news? Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, with production commencing at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district. The first commercially produced batch of Matcha tea was sold at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre for Rs 3,000, reflecting encouraging market interest in the […]

Why in news? The Centre has granted in-principle approval to the NPPA to allow a price increase for two essential chemotherapy drugs: Cisplatin and Carboplatin. This move, executed under Para 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), aims to resolve a nationwide supply crunch that has disrupted cancer treatment protocols at major hospitals. The […]

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the findings of the NFHS-6 (2023-24). The survey covered nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts, providing a granular view of India’s demographic and health transition. Key Performance Indicators (Successes): The survey indicates a positive trajectory in critical health parameters, reflecting the impact of targeted national […]

Sample Registration System (SRS) Report: Key Demographic Trends  1. Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The Total Fertility Rate represents the average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years. Below Replacement Level: India’s TFR has remained stable at 1.9 for the fifth consecutive year, well below the replacement level of 2.1. Note: A […]

The Somato-Cognitive Action Network (SCAN) is a recently discovered brain network that links thinking (cognition), body sensations, and movement (action) into one integrated system. What exactly is SCAN? Location: It is located mainly in the primary motor cortex (M1), positioned between areas controlling specific body parts (like the hand, foot, or mouth). Whole-Body Control: Unlike […]

Why in the News? The The ANMOL (Advanced Newborn Monitoring for Optimal Lifecare)  scheme was a centerpiece of the Delhi Budget presented on March 24, 2026, by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. It addresses the high financial and social burden of genetic and metabolic disorders, which often go undiagnosed until irreversible damage (like brain damage or […]

UNIGME Report 2025: Why in News? United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) Report 2025 has identified India as a “key contributor” to the global and regional reduction of under-five and neonatal mortality. The report specifically praises India’s ability to scale up public health interventions in a populous and diverse environment, leading to […]