GS-3 | SCIENCE & TECH

1. Euthanasia (Passive Euthanasia Case – Supreme Court)

Subtopic: Medical Ethics & Constitutional Rights

Value Addition:

• Derived from Greek: eu (good) + thanatos (death).

• Euthanasia Types:

  • Passive: Withdrawal of life support; legally allowed in India.

  • Active: Intentional act to cause death; illegal in India.

  • Consent Types: Voluntary, Non-voluntary, Involuntary.

• Legal Position (India):

  • Recognised under Common Cause vs Union of India (2018).

  • Part of Article 21 – Right to Die with Dignity.

  • Requires hospital medical board + district board evaluation.

  • Allows Living Will / Advance Directive.

• Current Case: SC directs medical evaluation for a quadriplegic patient in vegetative state for 10 years.

• Quadriplegia: Paralysis of four limbs, commonly from cervical spinal cord injury; permanent and debilitating.

Subject Analysis:

• Tests India’s actual implementation of passive euthanasia protocols.

• Strengthens legal clarity on patient autonomy under Article 21.

• Highlights ethical tension between sanctity of life vs freedom from prolonged suffering.

• Relevant for GS3 – Science & Tech (medical ethics) and GS2 – Governance / Judiciary.

2. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Subtopic: Neurodegeneration & Public Health

Value Addition:

• Progressive disease destroying motor neurons.

• Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

• Epidemiology:

  • Common between 55–75 years.

  • Men more affected.

  • Cases projected to rise 69% by 2040 due to ageing.

• Clinical Effects:

  • Loss of voluntary muscle control.

  • Progressive weakness → paralysis → respiratory failure.

  • Cognition mostly preserved.

• Symptoms: Fasciculations, cramps, dysphagia, dysarthria, gait difficulty.

• Management:

  • No cure; supportive therapies (physio, speech, respiratory support).

  • Riluzole/Edaravone slow decline.

Subject Analysis:

• Highlights rising burden of neurodegenerative diseases globally.

• Important for planning geriatric healthcare infrastructure.

• Relevant for GS3 – Science / Health / Disease mechanisms.

GS-3 | ENVIRONMENT

3. Manchurian Walnut (Juglans mandshurica)

Subtopic: Plant Biochemistry & Sustainable Agriculture

Value Addition:

• Deciduous tree native to Manchuria, Korea, Far East Russia.

• Highly cold-resistant (up to –45°C).

• Grows rapidly: 2 m/year in early decades; lifespan ~300 years.

• Medicinal Uses: Analgesic, antifungal, antiparasitic.

• Economic Uses: Fruits (jams), high-value wood, carpentry.

• New Finding: Leaves show strong natural herbicidal properties.

Subject Analysis:

• Potential for eco-friendly weed management reducing dependence on chemical herbicides.

• Supports India’s push for sustainable agriculture & bio-inputs.

• Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Sustainable Farming.

4. Cuban Gar (Atractosteus tristoechus)

Subtopic: Freshwater Biodiversity & Invasive Species Threat

Value Addition:

• Prehistoric fish lineage (~100 million years old).

• Found in Zapata Swamp, western Cuba.

• Traits:

  • Air-breathing ability → survives extreme low oxygen.

  • High tolerance to polluted water.

  • Ambush predator feeding on fish & crustaceans.

• Threats:

  • Habitat loss.

  • Invasive African walking catfish—competes for food and preys on juveniles.

  • Wetland hydrology alteration & pollution.

• Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN).

Subject Analysis:

• Shows interaction of invasive species + habitat degradation.

• A strong example of wetland restoration and species recovery efforts.

• Relevant for GS3 – Biodiversity Conservation.

GS-1 | ART & CULTURE

5. Abujhmadiya (Abujhmaria) Tribe

Subtopic: PVTGs & Cultural Anthropology

Value Addition:

• Sub-group of Gonds, living in Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh.

• Classified as PVTG → lowest development indicators, vulnerable to displacement.

• Language: Abuj Maria; also Hindi & Chhattisgarhi.

• Belief System:

  • Animism → worship nature spirits linked to forests & agriculture.

• Tattoo Tradition (Godana):

  • Women use tattoos as cultural identity & social markers.

• Festivals:

  • Saja Festival – agricultural prosperity.

  • Bastar Dussehra – clan rituals & dances.

• Livelihood:

  • Subsistence agriculture: rice, pulses, maize.

  • Hunting, fishing, NTFP collection (tendu, mahua, honey).

• Social Structure: Clan-based governance & traditional justice.

Subject Analysis:

• Important case for tribal autonomy, cultural preservation, and PVTG welfare.

• Useful for debates on development vs indigenous rights.

• Relevant for GS1 – Society & Culture / GS2 – Welfare Schemes.

GS-3 | SCIENCE & TECH

6. Hoya dawodiensis (New Species — Arunachal Pradesh)

Subtopic: Botanical Exploration & Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity

Value Addition:

• Newly discovered species in Vijaynagar, Changlang — a remote, biodiversity-rich zone.

• Belongs to Hoya (wax plant) genus known for star-shaped waxy flowers.

• Habitat Traits:

  • Grows in humid, forested environments.

  • Adapted to indirect sunlight, airy soils.

• Significance:

  • Adds to the growing flora inventory of Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Region accessible only by air or multi-day foot trek → under-explored.

Subject Analysis:

• Reinforces Arunachal as a global biodiversity hotspot.

• Shows importance of taxonomic research for conservation planning.

• Relevant for GS3 – Biodiversity / Environment.
  

GS-3 | ENVIRONMENT

7. Ningaloo Reef (Australia)

Subtopic: Marine Ecology & Climate Change

Value Addition:

• Australia’s largest fringing reef; length 300 km; UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Home to 250 coral species, 500+ fish species, whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dugongs.

• Unique as a reef where tropical & temperate waters mix.

• Recent survey shows ~70% coral mortality due to heatwaves & warm currents.

• Key tourism hotspot → snorkelling & sustainable recreation.

Subject Analysis:

• Demonstrates how marine heatwaves are collapsing even “pristine” reef systems.

• Illustrates climate impacts on coastal economies, fisheries, biodiversity.

• Useful for GS1/GS3 – Climate Change, Marine Ecosystems.