Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. The SMILE mission highlights the growing importance of space weather monitoring in the modern world. Discuss.
- Q. The recent Ebola outbreak and WHO’s declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern highlight the need for stronger global health security. Discuss the challenges in controlling zoonotic outbreaks and suggest a way forward.
Q. The SMILE mission highlights the growing importance of space weather monitoring in the modern world. Discuss.
(GS Paper III – Science and Technology, Space Technology, SMILE Mission)
Introduction:
The SMILE Mission, jointly developed by the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to study the interaction between solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. It is important because modern societies depend heavily on satellites, GPS, communication networks, electricity grids and space-based services.
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Importance of Space Weather Monitoring
- Protection of satellites:
Solar storms can damage satellite electronics and disturb satellite operations. Space weather monitoring helps operators take preventive steps. - Communication and navigation security:
GPS, satellite phones, aviation communication and defence communication can be affected by solar activity. - Protection of power grids:
Strong solar storms can induce currents in power transmission systems and disturb electricity supply. - Astronaut safety:
Solar radiation is dangerous for astronauts. Better forecasting helps protect human spaceflight missions. - Disaster preparedness:
Early warnings of solar storms can help governments and industries protect critical infrastructure.
Role of SMILE Mission
- SMILE will provide X-ray and ultraviolet observations of Earth’s magnetosphere.
- It will help scientists understand how Earth’s magnetic shield reacts to solar wind.
- It can improve the accuracy of space weather forecasting.
- It will support long-term research on Sun-Earth interaction.
Relevance for India
India depends on satellites for communication, navigation, weather forecasting, agriculture, disaster management and defence. Therefore, better understanding of space weather is important for national security and economic stability.
Way Forward
India should strengthen space weather research through ISRO and academic institutions. International cooperation, real-time data sharing and better early warning systems are necessary to protect critical infrastructure.
Conclusion:
The SMILE mission shows that space weather is not only a scientific issue but also a matter of economic security, technological safety and disaster preparedness. As human dependence on space systems increases, studying Earth’s magnetic shield becomes essential for sustainable and secure development.
Q. The recent Ebola outbreak and WHO’s declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern highlight the need for stronger global health security. Discuss the challenges in controlling zoonotic outbreaks and suggest a way forward.
(GS Paper II: Health, Governance and International Institutions)
Introduction:
The World Health Organization recently declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, with reported confirmed cases, suspected cases and deaths in affected regions. A PHEIC is declared when a health event is serious, sudden, unusual, capable of international spread and requires coordinated global action.
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Nature of Ebola and Zoonotic Risk
Ebola virus disease is a severe zoonotic disease. It can spread from animals to humans and then from human to human through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, blood, secretions, organs and contaminated materials. Wild animals such as fruit bats, non-human primates, monkeys and forest antelope are linked with spillover risks.
The disease has an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, and symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and kidney or liver dysfunction. This makes early detection important but also difficult because symptoms may resemble other diseases.
Challenges in Controlling Zoonotic Outbreaks
- Limited treatment and vaccine options:
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, for which vaccine and treatment options are more limited compared with some other Ebola variants. - Difficulty in early diagnosis:
Initial symptoms are similar to many common infections. This can delay testing, isolation and treatment. - Cross-border movement:
Movement between affected regions of DRC and Uganda increases the risk of international spread. - Weak health systems:
Health systems in conflict-affected or remote regions may lack testing facilities, trained staff and isolation infrastructure. - Risk to health workers:
Ebola can spread in health facilities if infection prevention and control practices are weak. - Social stigma and misinformation:
Fear and misinformation may prevent people from reporting symptoms or seeking medical care. - Traditional burial practices:
Direct contact with bodies during burial ceremonies can increase transmission risk.
Measures Needed for Control
Effective Ebola control needs a combination of medical, administrative and community-level measures.
- Rapid identification and isolation of suspected and confirmed cases.
- Contact tracing and 21-day monitoring of exposed persons.
- Safe and dignified burials to reduce transmission.
- Strict infection control in hospitals and treatment centres.
- Laboratory testing and surveillance for early detection.
- Supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of complications.
- Community engagement to reduce fear and build trust.
- Targeted use of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies wherever available and relevant.
Way Forward
The global response must focus on One Health, which links human health, animal health and environmental health. Surveillance should be strengthened in forest areas, border zones and regions with high human-animal interaction. Countries should improve laboratory networks, train frontline health workers and ensure rapid data-sharing.
International cooperation is also essential. WHO, affected countries, research institutions and donor agencies must work together for vaccines, diagnostics, logistics and public health capacity. Instead of unnecessary border closures, better screening, cross-border coordination and community-level monitoring should be adopted.
Conclusion:
The Ebola outbreak shows that zoonotic diseases can quickly become international health threats. Strong public health systems, early warning mechanisms, community trust and international cooperation are essential to control such outbreaks. A One Health-based approach is necessary for long-term global health security and pandemic preparedness.
