DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

A recent study conducted across seven antenatal clinics involving more than 3,000 pregnant women has revealed that early Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) affects nearly one in five pregnant women. This finding highlights the rising burden of metabolic disorders during pregnancy.

About Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a condition characterized by glucose intolerance that is first diagnosed during pregnancy.
It is most commonly detected between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, although early onset cases are increasingly being reported.

Causes of GDM

GDM occurs due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy.

• The placenta produces hormones that are essential to sustain pregnancy and provide nutrients to the growing fetus.

• These hormones block the action of insulin, reducing the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.

• This phenomenon is known as the “contra-insulin effect”, which typically begins between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Symptoms

In most cases, gestational diabetes is asymptomatic and is detected only through screening.
When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Excessive thirst

• Frequent urination

• Fatigue

• Nausea

Risk Factors

The risk of developing GDM is higher in women with the following conditions:

• Overweight or obesity

• Advanced maternal age (especially above 45 years)

• Family history of diabetes

• History of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Treatment and Management

Gestational diabetes can be effectively controlled through:

• Lifestyle modifications, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity

• Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels

• Medication or insulin therapy, when lifestyle changes alone are insufficient

Early diagnosis and appropriate management significantly reduce risks to both the mother and the fetus.

Significance

• GDM poses serious risks such as pregnancy complications, macrosomia, and future type 2 diabetes in both mother and child.

• The rising prevalence of GDM underscores the need for early screening, awareness, and preventive healthcare strategies during pregnancy.

A recent study has warned that regions with heavy artemisinin usage and favourable environmental conditions could emerge as new hotspots for artemisinin resistance. The study also highlights that in some parts of Africa, the frequency of resistance markers is gradually increasing, which could threaten the effectiveness of malaria treatment in the future.

Background and Discovery

Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua). The drug is obtained by drying the leaves and using a solvent to extract the active compound. The therapeutic benefits of artemisinin were discovered in the 1970s, marking a major breakthrough in malaria treatment, especially at a time when parasites were developing resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Mechanism of Action

Artemisinin is effective against all malaria-causing Plasmodium species. It primarily acts on the blood stage of the parasite, where it disrupts the parasite’s ability to replicate within red blood cells, leading to a rapid reduction in parasite load.

Pharmacological Characteristics

One of the key features of artemisinin is its short half-life, as it is eliminated from the body within a few hours. Due to this, artemisinin alone cannot completely eliminate the malaria parasite, and there is a risk of developing resistance if used as monotherapy.

Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy (ACT)

To overcome its short duration, artemisinin is always used in combination with a longer-acting partner drug. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as the first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This combination therapy prevents treatment failure and slows the emergence of resistance.

Derivatives and Clinical Importance

Several derivatives of artemisinin, including artesunate and artemether, are widely used. Artesunate is particularly important because it is highly effective in severe malaria and is the only artemisinin derivative that can be administered intravenously, making it critical in emergency care.

Hybrid mutual funds are investment schemes that invest in more than one asset class, mainly equity (stocks) and debt (bonds), and in some cases gold, REITs and InvITs. Their main objective is to provide a balanced combination of growth and stability by diversifying investments across different assets. These funds are also known as asset allocation funds because they follow a pre-decided or flexible investment pattern.

Working Mechanism of Hybrid Mutual Funds

Hybrid mutual funds invest a portion of the portfolio in equity for capital growth, while the remaining portion is invested in debt or other safer instruments to reduce risk. The fund manager regularly rebalances the portfolio to maintain the targeted asset allocation. This automatic rebalancing helps control market risk and eliminates the need for investors to manage allocations on their own.

Significance of Hybrid Mutual Funds

Hybrid mutual funds are popular because they spread risk across multiple asset classes, which results in lower volatility compared to pure equity funds. They aim to deliver more stable and consistent returns, making them suitable for moderate-risk investors and those who lack the expertise or time to rebalance portfolios themselves.

Tax Benefits of Hybrid Mutual Funds

Income from traditional debt mutual funds or direct debt investments is taxed as per the investor’s income tax slab, which can go up to 30%. However, hybrid mutual funds with more than 65% exposure to equity (including arbitrage) are treated as equity funds for tax purposes. In such cases, long-term capital gains (LTCG) on investments held for more than one year are taxed at lower rates, making these funds more tax-efficient than regular debt investments.

Major Types of Hybrid Mutual Funds

Equity Savings Funds invest 10–25% in equity, with the remaining amount in debt and arbitrage, offering low risk and stable returns.

Balanced Hybrid Funds allocate 40–60% each to equity and debt, aiming to balance growth with stability.

Aggressive Hybrid Funds invest 65–80% in equity, providing higher growth potential along with higher risk.

Dynamic Asset Allocation or Balanced Advantage Funds shift between equity and debt based on market conditions and valuations, helping manage risk across market cycles.

Multi-Asset Allocation Funds invest in at least three asset classes such as equity, debt and gold, ensuring broader diversification and reduced concentration risk.

Recently, the Indian Army showcased a range of indigenous technologies, including Ekam AI and the SAMBHAV project, during the Vijay Diwas celebrations. These initiatives highlight India’s growing focus on self-reliance, secure digital systems, and defence innovation.

About Ekam AI

Ekam AI is a fully indigenous and secure artificial intelligence platform developed specifically for use in sensitive and strategic environments. It is designed to function without reliance on foreign software or external cloud infrastructure.

Key Features of Ekam AI

• It enables users to analyse information, manage documents, and support decision-making efficiently.

• It operates without dependence on foreign software or external cloud systems, ensuring higher security.

• It allows personnel at different hierarchical levels to use AI-enabled tools without requiring specialised technical expertise.

Significance of Ekam AI

By ensuring complete data security and data sovereignty, Ekam AI represents a major step towards building trusted, indigenous digital systems for national security and governance.

About SAMBHAV Project

SAMBHAV is a portable communication system designed to provide mobile connectivity through satellite support. It is especially useful in areas where conventional communication networks are unavailable or damaged.

Key Features of SAMBHAV

• The system can be rapidly deployed in remote, border, or disaster-affected areas.

• It enhances communication capabilities for both soldiers and civilians during emergencies.

Significance of SAMBHAV

The SAMBHAV project demonstrates how defence-driven innovation can also contribute to strengthening national communication infrastructure, particularly in crisis situations.

What is Vijay Diwas?

Vijay Diwas is observed every year on 16 December to commemorate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan in the 1971 war. This victory led to the liberation of Bangladesh and stands as a significant milestone in India’s military history

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently organised a National Workshop on Project Mausam titled “Islands at the Crossroads of Maritime Networks within the Indian Ocean Region.” The workshop highlighted the importance of documenting maritime heritage and cultural, commercial, and religious interactions among countries in the Indian Ocean.

About Project Mausam

Project Mausam is an initiative launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Culture with the aim of exploring the multi-faceted Indian Ocean world. The project collates archaeological and historical research to document the diversity of cultural, commercial, and religious interactions in the region. A total of 39 Indian Ocean countries have been identified under the project.

One of the main objectives of Project Mausam is to inscribe selected sites as trans-national nominations on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The project also promotes research on maritime routes through international scientific seminars and meetings, adopting a multidisciplinary approach. It encourages the production of specialized scholarly works, as well as publications for the general public, to promote a broader understanding of shared heritage and multiple identities.

The project has two major units:

1. Project Research Unit, responsible for historical and archaeological research.

2. World Heritage Nomination Unit, which handles proposals for UNESCO inscription.

The project is implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), with research support from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the National Museum as associate bodies.

Significance of Project Mausam

Project Mausam strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy by highlighting its maritime heritage. It promotes a shared understanding of heritage across countries in the Indian Ocean and facilitates international collaboration in history, archaeology, and cultural studies.

Mission Mausam

Mission Mausam, launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is distinct from Project Mausam. Its purpose is to improve weather and climate services through timely observation, modeling, and forecasting, supporting sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, and rural development.

Mission Mausam is implemented by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). A key focus of the mission is cloud physics research, which is crucial for effective weather modification. To support this effort, India is establishing its first cloud chamber at IITM, Pune, to advance research in this field.

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

Recently, India reaffirmed its commitment to the ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and religious harmony at the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum held in Riyadh. This reflects India’s continued emphasis on intercultural dialogue and global peace initiatives.

About the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was established in 2005 as a political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General. The initiative was co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Türkiye. It was created to serve as a soft-power political tool of the UN Secretary-General for conflict prevention and conflict resolution across cultures and nations.

Functions of UNAOC

• Global Network: UNAOC maintains a global network of partners, including states, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations, and the private sector, to improve cross-cultural relations.

• Global Forum: The Global Forum is the highest-profile event of UNAOC. It brings together prominent personalities, current and potential partners, and representatives from different sectors to discuss intercultural dialogue and cooperation.

• Funding: The UN Secretary-General has established a voluntary Trust Fund to support UNAOC projects, activities, outreach, and core operational and human resource needs. The Trust Fund is administered by the UN Secretariat in accordance with UN Financial Regulations and Rules.

• UNAOC receives voluntary contributions from member states, international organizations, private sector, and foundations.

Secretariat

The UNAOC Secretariat is headquartered in New York, USA, and is responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of UNAOC initiatives under the guidance of the High Representative.

Significance

• UNAOC promotes peace, religious harmony, and intercultural understanding globally.

• It serves as a platform for dialogue to prevent conflicts and strengthen international cooperation.

• India’s participation highlights its commitment to the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“the world is one family”.