Chandipura Virus (CHPV)
Context: Following recent deaths of children linked to Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection, Gujarat and Rajasthan have intensified surveillance and vector-control measures in their border districts.
About Chandipura Virus
- Discovery: Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an RNA virus belonging to the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It was first isolated in 1965 from Chandipura village in Maharashtra.
- Transmission: It is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
- Certain mosquito species, including Aedes aegypti, have also been implicated as potential vectors. Outbreaks occur mainly during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons.
- Disease Profile: CHPV is an important viral cause of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and predominantly affects children below 15 years.
- The illness progresses rapidly from high fever and vomiting to seizures, altered consciousness and, in severe cases, death within 24–48 hours.
- Diagnosis & Treatment: Diagnosis is confirmed through RT-PCR and IgM ELISA tests. There is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, and management is primarily supportive.
- Geographic Endemicity: The virus is endemic to parts of central and western India, particularly Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Exam Nugget
- Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES): AES is a clinical syndrome, not a specific disease. It is characterised by the acute onset of fever with altered mental status and/or new-onset seizures, and can result from multiple infectious and non-infectious causes, including Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) and Chandipura Virus (CHPV).
- Prevention: Prevention relies on vector control, environmental sanitation, use of insect repellents and bed nets, active surveillance, and early detection and management of suspected cases.
Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco
Context: The Union Government is examining measures to safeguard the interests of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh following a review of the prevailing market situation.
About Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco
- What is it? Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV), also known as Virginia or Bright Leaf Tobacco, is a premium tobacco variety cured in enclosed barns using indirect heat (flues) without exposing the leaves to smoke, producing bright golden-yellow leaves.
- Key Characteristics: It is characterised by its bright leaf colour, high sugar content and mild flavour, making it the principal tobacco used in cigarette manufacturing.
- Cultivation: In India, FCV tobacco is cultivated mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka under a regulated production system.
- Economic Importance: India is the world’s fourth-largest producer of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, after China, Brazil and Zimbabwe. The crop is an important source of foreign exchange earnings and supports the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers.
About Tobacco Board
- Establishment: The Tobacco Board is a statutory body established under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Functions: It regulates FCV tobacco cultivation by fixing the annual crop size, registering growers and curing barns, promoting exports, supporting research and extension activities, and implementing welfare measures for tobacco growers.
- Auction System: The Board markets FCV tobacco through electronic auction platforms, ensuring transparent price discovery, quality-based procurement and direct participation of registered growers and buyers.
Fields Medal 2026
Context: The International Mathematical Union (IMU) announced the recipients of the Fields Medal 2026 during the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) held in Philadelphia, USA.
More on the News
- The 2026 Fields Medal was awarded to Yu Deng (China), John Pardon (USA), Jacob Tsimerman (Canada) and Hong Wang (China).
- Hong Wang became only the third woman to receive the Fields Medal, after Maryam Mirzakhani (2014) and Maryna Viazovska (2022).
- Yu Deng and Hong Wang became the first Chinese nationals to win the Fields Medal, marking a historic milestone for Chinese mathematics.
About the Fields Medal
- About: The Fields Medal is the most prestigious award in mathematics, presented by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) to recognise outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and the promise of future achievement.
- History: Instituted in 1936, the medal is named after Canadian mathematician John Charles (J.C.) Fields, who conceived the award and established the trust that funds it.
- Frequency: It is awarded once every four years during the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM).
- Eligibility: It is awarded to mathematicians below 40 years of age; a recipient’s 40th birthday must not occur before 1 January of the award year.
- Recipients: The IMU selects at least two, with a strong preference for four, recipients in each award cycle.
- Significance: Widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics”, it is considered the discipline’s most prestigious recognition.
INS Malvan
Context: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, the second indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at Karwar, Karnataka, to strengthen coastal defence, littoral security and maritime domain awareness.
About INS Malvan
- Indigenous Warship: Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, INS Malvan has over 80% indigenous content, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- INS Malvan is the second of eight ASW-SWCs, being indigenously built by CSL, Kochi, and the sixth of 16 ASW-SWCs to be commissioned into the Indian Navy.
- Historical Significance: The ship derives its name from the historic coastal town of Malvan (Maharashtra), associated with the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It also carries forward the legacy of its predecessor, an inshore Indian Naval Minesweeper that remained in service till 2003.
- Operational Role: INS Malvan is designed for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and mine warfare, thereby enhancing coastal defence, littoral security and maritime domain awareness. It can also operate seamlessly with larger warships, submarines and maritime aircraft.
About Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
- About: The Mahe class comprises a new generation of indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) developed for operations in littoral (shallow coastal) waters, primarily to detect, track and neutralise enemy submarines.
- Besides ASW, these vessels undertake underwater surveillance, search and rescue, low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying missions.
- Construction: A total of 16 ASW-SWCs are being built for the Indian Navy—8 each by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
- Key Features: The vessels are powered by a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system, enabling high manoeuvrability and reduced underwater noise. They are equipped with advanced sonar systems, lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, enabling effective detection and engagement of underwater threats in the littoral zone.