Relevance:
Facts for Prelims – Genome editing technologies – Types of genetic mutations, GS Paper III – Science & Technology, Advances in genetic engineering, Precision medicine and rare disease treatment
For Prelims:
- Bhairava, Rachakonda Hills, Ranankudupu, Post-Kakatiya period, Rachakonda Velamas, Dvibhanga pose, Vaistastika position, Naga Torana, Bhogandani Mantapa
For Mains:
- Temple Iconography, Tantric Worship Practices, Warrior Traditions, Regional Dynasties of Telangana, Cultural Heritage Documentation
Why in News?
A rare nine-foot-tall Bhairava sculpture has been documented at Rachakonda Hills in Telangana. The carving, belonging to the post-Kakatiya period, sheds light on ancient tantric worship practices and the warrior traditions of the Rachakonda Velamas.
Location and Discovery
The sculpture was reviewed during research by Kavali Chandrakant, a member of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam (KTCB).
It is carved on a large stone wall inside the Bhogandani Mantapa at Rachakonda Hills, amid Ganapati sculptures. The carving has been described as a distinctive form of Bhairava.
Iconographic Features of the Sculpture
According to KTCB observations:
- The deity stands in dvibhanga pose.
- The legs are positioned in vaistastika stance.
- The figure is depicted with four arms.
Attributes:
- Upper hands hold a damaru and trishula.
- Lower hands carry a bali khadga and a rakta patra.
- A dog is shown leaping upward to catch the blood.
- A devotee is depicted worshipping below.
- To Bhairava’s right, a royal devotee sits in yogapatta posture on a tiger skin, with vessels placed to receive the blood prasada.
The deity is crowned with a Naga Torana, formed by two intertwined serpents with visible fangs.
The sculpture is richly adorned with:
- Serpent earrings
- Necklaces and garlands
- Serpent bands on the chest and knees
- Bracelets and anklets
- Elevated sandals
Ranankudupu and Warrior Traditions
The imagery recalls the Ranankudupu practice associated with the Rachakonda Velamas.
- It was a battle-offering ritual.
- The symbolism of blood collection and the presence of Bhairava’s dog aligns with this tradition.
- It reflects the strong Bhairava devotion among the warrior elites of Rachakonda.
Post-Kakatiya Tantric Influence
The sculpture belongs to the post-Kakatiya tantric tradition.
It underscores the prominence of Bhairava worship during the period and highlights the religious identity of the Rachakonda Velamas, who were renowned devotees of Bhairava.
The carving provides material evidence of tantric practices and martial symbolism embedded in regional temple art.
Conclusion
The rare Bhairava sculpture at Rachakonda Hills offers valuable insight into post-Kakatiya tantric traditions and the warrior ethos of the Rachakonda Velamas. Its distinctive iconography, ritual symbolism, and scale make it an important addition to Telangana’s cultural heritage.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Bhairava sculpture found at Rachakonda Hills:
- It belongs to the post-Kakatiya period.
- The sculpture depicts Bhairava holding a damaru, trishula, bali khadga, and rakta patra.
- The imagery is associated with the Ranankudupu battle-offering practice.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Relevance:
GS III: Science & Technology in governance, environmental governance, disaster management, public health policy
For Prelims:
- Indian Scientific Service (ISS), Civil Services structure, Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, Evidence-based policymaking
For Mains:
- Scientific governance, Indian Scientific Service (ISS), Generalist Civil Service, Scientific Cadre, Evidence-Based Policymaking, Scientific Integrity, Administrative vs Technical Governance, Scientific Independence, Regulatory Science, Climate Governance, Technology Governance
Why in News?
- A proposal has been made to create an Indian Scientific Service (ISS) — a dedicated scientific cadre within government.
- The idea highlights the growing need for scientific expertise in policymaking as governance increasingly deals with technology, climate change, health, and environmental challenges.
Background
- After Independence, India prioritised administrative stability and national integration.
- Governance relied on generalist civil servants (IAS-type system) to manage diverse administrative challenges.
- This system ensured:
- Institutional continuity
- Uniform laws and governance
- Political and territorial integration.
However, 21st-century governance problems are fundamentally different.
Changing Nature of Governance
Earlier challenges:
- Revenue administration
- Law and order
- Institutional coordination
Present challenges:
- Climate change and environmental protection
- Public health and pandemics
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Disaster management
- Nuclear and biotechnology regulation
- Ocean and water resource management
These require specialised scientific knowledge, not administrative experience alone.
Administrator–Scientist Paradox
| Administrators | Scientists |
| Selected through competitive exams | Developed through long research and peer review |
| Trained for coordination & implementation | Trained for inquiry & evidence evaluation |
| Hierarchical decision-making | Independent questioning & experimentation |
| Clear career structure | Limited institutional framework |
Result:
- Scientists work under administrative rules designed for generalists.
- Scientific expertise often remains advisory rather than integral to policymaking.
Problems with Existing System
- Scientists governed by Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
- Administrative culture emphasises:
- Discipline
- Neutrality
- Hierarchy
But science requires:
- Questioning assumptions
- Recording uncertainty
- Presenting evidence even if it challenges policy.
Consequences:
- Scientific inputs used mainly during crises.
- Limited documentation of risks.
- Reduced institutional authority of scientists.
- Science becomes symbolic rather than decision-shaping.
International Practices
Countries with dedicated scientific governance systems:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Japan
Features:
- Scientific integrity protections
- Transparent documentation of advice
- Protection from political interference
- Evidence-based policymaking while elected leaders retain final authority.
What is the Indian Scientific Service (ISS)?
A proposed permanent All-India scientific cadre working alongside civil services.
Key Features:
- National-level recruitment with peer evaluation.
- Scientists embedded within ministries and regulatory bodies.
- Separate service rules suited to scientific work.
- Institutional protection for professional independence.
- Clear distinction between:
- Scientific advice
- Political decision-making.
Proposed ISS Structure (Illustrative Cadres)
- Indian Environmental & Ecological Service
- Indian Climate & Atmospheric Service
- Indian Water & Hydrological Service
- Indian Marine & Ocean Service
- Indian Public Health & Biomedical Service
- Indian Disaster Risk & Resilience Service
- Indian Energy & Resources Service
- Indian Science & Technology Policy Service
- Indian Agricultural & Food Systems Service
- Indian Regulatory Science Service
Expected Benefits
- Evidence-based policymaking
- Better risk assessment and long-term planning
- Stronger environmental and climate governance
- Improved disaster preparedness
- Greater scientific transparency
- Enhanced public trust in policy decisions.
Significance for India
- Supports India’s ambitions in:
- Climate leadership
- Technological innovation
- Public health security
- Sustainable development.
- Moves governance from reactive science use → continuous scientific integration.
Conclusion
- India’s generalist civil service successfully ensured post-Independence stability.
- Modern governance now requires institutionalised scientific reasoning alongside administrative efficiency.
- The Indian Scientific Service would complement — not replace — existing civil services.
- Integrating scientific expertise into governance can strengthen accountability, improve policy quality, and build long-term national resilience.
CARE MCQ
The proposed Indian Scientific Service (ISS) primarily aims to:
- Replace the Indian Administrative Service with technical experts
- Increase the number of research institutions in India
- Integrate scientific expertise directly into policymaking and governance
- Centralise all scientific research under one ministry
Answer: C
Explanation
The Indian Scientific Service (ISS) is proposed to bring scientists directly into government decision-making so that policies are based on scientific evidence.
- It will not replace IAS officers.
- It will not create new research institutions.
- It will not centralise research under one ministry.
Its main goal is to use scientific knowledge while making government policies.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims – Genome editing technologies – Types of genetic mutations, GS Paper III – Science & Technology, Advances in genetic engineering, Precision medicine and rare disease treatment
For Prelims:
- Nonsense mutation, Premature stop codon (TAG), Genome editing, Prime editing, pegRNA (Prime-editing guide RNA), tRNA (Transfer RNA), PERT (Prime-Editing-mediated Readthrough of Premature Termination codons)
For Mains:
- Mutation-class therapy vs disease-specific therapy, Precision medicine approach, Repurposing cellular machinery for treatment, Efficiency comparison of genome-editing methods, Safety considerations in genome editing
Why in News?
A study published in Nature reports a single genome-editing strategy capable of treating multiple genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. Researchers from the Broad Institute, Harvard University, and the University of Minnesota developed a method using prime editing to restore protein production across different disorders.
Background: Genetic Disorders and Nonsense Mutations
- Genetic disorders often arise from small DNA sequence errors.
- Many diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Batten disease, and Tay-Sachs disease occur due to faulty protein production.
- A common error is the nonsense mutation:
- A single incorrect DNA change introduces a premature stop signal (stop codon).
- Protein synthesis stops early.
- Leads to incomplete or non-functional proteins.
- Nonsense mutations account for about one-quarter (25%) of disease-causing genetic changes.
Current Problem
- Each mutation halts protein formation at a different point.
- Therefore, separate therapies must be designed and approved individually.
- This makes treatment development slow, complex, and expensive.
Key Breakthrough
Instead of correcting each mutation separately, researchers developed a strategy called:
PERT – Prime-Editing-Mediated Readthrough of Premature Termination Codons
- Converts a cell’s own gene machinery into a tool that overrides faulty stop signals.
- Enables cells to ignore incorrect instructions and complete protein production.
Understanding Protein Production (Biological Basis)
- DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA).
- mRNA contains three-letter genetic codes called codons.
- Transfer RNA (tRNA) reads codons and delivers matching amino acids.
- Ribosomes join amino acids to form proteins.
- Human cells contain hundreds of tRNA genes, many redundant.
- Altering some tRNAs is generally harmless, making them suitable therapeutic targets.
Repurposing tRNA Genes
Researchers used genome editing to modify tRNAs so they:
- Recognize premature stop signals.
- Insert amino acids instead of stopping translation.
- Allow full-length protein production.
Earlier attempts used natural suppressor tRNAs but faced issues:
- Safety concerns
- Poor durability
- Insufficient efficiency
Prime Editing Approach
- Uses a specialised molecule called prime-editing guide RNA (pegRNA).
- Guides editing machinery to a precise DNA location.
- Inserts required genetic templates without cutting DNA aggressively.
Key Achievement
- Demonstrated that a human tRNA gene can be rewritten to produce suppressor tRNA at safe natural levels.
- Edited cells bypassed premature stop codons while maintaining normal protein production.
Finding Effective Candidates
- Human cells contain 418 tRNA genes.
- Researchers screened them to identify suitable candidates.
- Four tRNAs — for:
- leucine
- arginine
- tyrosine
- serine
showed promise in suppressing the common stop codon TAG.
Optimization
- Thousands of engineered variants were created by:
- Adjusting DNA sequences
- Making structural modifications
- Result: more stable and efficient suppressor tRNAs.
Engineering and Screening
- Over 17,000 configurations were tested.
- Scientists identified a highly efficient prime-editing enzyme named PE6c.
- Combined with an additional guide RNA strategy called PE3:
- Encourages cellular DNA repair machinery to adopt edits.
Efficiency and Safety
- Editing efficiency reached 60–80% in cultured human cells.
- Much higher than traditional gene insertion methods such as:
- Homology-Directed Repair (HDR): typically, 10–20% or lower.
Safety Observations
- No disruption to:
- Overall cellular activity
- Normal protein production
- Edited system distinguished between:
- Faulty stop signals (ignored)
- Natural stop signals (respected)
Disease Models Tested
Technique evaluated in mouse models of diseases caused by premature stop codons:
- Batten disease
- Tay-Sachs disease
- Niemann-Pick C1 disease
Results in Mice
- Delivery achieved using AAV9 viral vector, a common gene-therapy carrier.
- Converted natural mouse tRNA into suppressor tRNA inside living animals.
Observations
- Restoration of missing proteins.
- Enzyme activity increased significantly.
- In Hurler syndrome mouse model:
- Protein activity restored to 1.7% of normal levels.
- Improvement seen in brain, heart, and liver.
- Improved cellular pathology.
- No signs of toxicity observed.
Scientific Significance
- Demonstrates engineered tRNA can restore protein function across multiple diseases.
- Moves gene therapy toward mutation-class treatment instead of disease-specific therapy.
- Could benefit many rare genetic disorders simultaneously.
Expert Views
- Strong laboratory evidence shows engineered tRNA restores protein function.
- Considered an important advance in genome engineering.
- However, challenges remain:
- Efficient delivery methods
- Long-term safety
- Performance across different tissues
Clinical Outlook
- Early clinical success of base editing (targeting TAG stop codons) shows feasibility.
- Viral delivery systems can reach editing sites effectively.
- PERT shows promise but requires further clinical validation before human treatment.
Why This Matters
- Reduces need for designing individual gene therapies.
- Could dramatically lower treatment cost and development time.
- Advances precision medicine and rare disease treatment.
- Represents next-generation genome editing beyond conventional CRISPR approaches.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that prime-editing–based engineered tRNA technology (PERT) can bypass premature stop signals caused by nonsense mutations and restore normal protein production. Instead of creating separate treatments for each genetic disease, a single genome-editing platform may treat multiple disorders, marking a major step toward scalable and cost-effective gene therapy, though clinical delivery and long-term safety remain key challenges.
CARE MCQ
Q. Nonsense mutations primarily result in:
A. Increased protein production
B. Premature termination of protein synthesis
C. Duplication of chromosomes
D. Activation of silent genes
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nonsense mutations introduce premature stop codons, halting protein formation early.
