Current Affairs 15th July 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

How Weight Loss Drugs Work

Context: Recently, an expert committee of India’s drug regulator has approved the weight loss drug tirzepatide, with final approval pending.

Semaglutide (Wegovy) vs. Tirzepatide (Zepbound): Weight Loss Medicines

• Both are polypeptides (small proteins) that increase levels of naturally-occurring hormones
• They primarily affect glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1)
• GLP-1 controls weight through: a) Brain mechanisms b) Digestive tract functions
• Effects of Increased GLP-1:
  • Stimulates neurons to alter gut function
  • Creates a sense of fullness
  • Activates neural pathways in the brain
  • Triggers satiety (feeling of being satisfied after eating)
  • Helps manage glucose levels, making them effective for diabetes treatment.
• Key Differences:
  • Semaglutide: a) Targets only GLP-1 receptors
  • Tirzepatide: a) Targets GLP-1 receptors b) Additionally boosts glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)
• Additional Effects of GIP: Regulates weight through: a) Receptors in the brain b) Receptors in fat cells
• Common Side Effects: Include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal and systemic reactions.
• Serious Risks: There is a noted risk of thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer, particularly for users with a family history of specific thyroid conditions.

Reaffirming a Right

Context: The recent Supreme Court ruling in Mohd Abdul Samad vs The State of Telangana addresses the right of a divorced Muslim woman to claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.

More in News

• This verdict is significant as it revisits and extends the discussions started by the Shah Bano case in 1985, leading to the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act of 1986 (MWA).
• This act initially provided for maintenance during the iddat period and additional future provisions but created confusion about the applicability of Section 125 post-divorce.

Legal Interpretation and Precedent

• The ruling resonates with the decision in Danial Latifi and Another vs Union of India (2001), where the Court, assessing the constitutionality of the MWA, mandated that a husband should make provisions for the divorced wife’s maintenance for the iddat period and her future needs within that period.
• The Supreme Court emphasised that Section 125 of the CrPC and Section 3 of the MWA operate independently, covering different aspects of maintenance rights.
• It was highlighted that denying maintenance under Section 125 could infringe upon fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.

Implications

• The Court’s judgement reinforces the non-exclusivity of the MWA over Section 125, ensuring that a divorced Muslim woman’s rights to maintenance align with those available to other women under secular provisions.
• The court’s earlier remarks in Fuzlunbi v K Khader Vali and Another (1980) were noted, underscoring the secular intent of Section 125 as a social welfare mechanism not confined to any single religious or regional group but applicable universally across all women.

Product information made mandatory on bulk packages

Context: Amendment of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 with respect to pre-packaged commodities meant for retail sale.

About Amendment

• Amendment requires for declaration of mandatory information like
  • Name and address of the manufacturer/ packer/ importer, country of origin,
  • Common or generic name of the commodity, net quantity,
  • Month and year of manufacture, MRP etc.
• Exceptions to the Amendment:
  • Packages of commodities containing quantity of more than 25 kilogram or 25 litre
  • Cement, fertilizer and agricultural farm produce sold in bags above 50 kilogram;
  • Packaged commodities meant for industrial consumers or institutional consumers.
• The legal metrology act was enacted in 2011 with the purpose of setting standards of weights and measures across the country.
• Significance: Revised provision will help in:
  • Establishing uniform standards/ requirements for packaged commodities,
  • Promoting consistency and fairness across different brands and product
  • Help consumers in making informed choices based on complete information.

Almatti Dam

Context: Rise in water storage in Almatti dam.

About Almatti Dam

• The Almatti Dam, also known as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, is built across the Krishna River in Karnataka. It is a multipurpose dam used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control.
• Krishna River originates from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) and flows through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries of Krishna River:
  • Right Bank: Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra
  • Left Bank: Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru, and Munneru

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