HMPV infection not new, no cause for alarm: Centre

The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been in circulation globally, even in India, the Health Ministry said, while stating that none of those infected in India have any travel history and all are recovering well. "The virus occurrence in India is not new," it said. The clarification came after the infection was confirmed in two infants in Karnataka and one in Gujarat. HMPV spreads through air, by way of respiration. This can affect persons of all age groups.

The Collegium and changes - it may still be early days

The collegium, the accounts say, will now conduct interviews of candidates who have been recommended for elevation as judges to the High Courts. The panel will also, to the extent possible, exclude from selection those whose close relatives have served or continue to serve as judges of the High Courts or the Supreme Court. At its foundation, the collegium is a product of judge-made law. Thus, it seems to forever stand at a crossroad. It has no formal rules to bind it; it is answerable to nobody; and its functioning - whether it is in the publication of its decisions or in the opacity and the mystique of its methods is suffused in a certain ad hocism.

Enhancing governance the digital way

In recent years, India has embarked on an ambitious journey toward digital governance - a transformation designed not only to improve citizen services but also to bolster the capabilities of government employees. Digital governance represents a paradigm shift in how government employees and associated service providers or intermediaries such as contractors should engage with their work. The adoption of technology in governance facilitates more effective communication, informed decision-making, and streamlined workflows. Initiatives such as the iGOT Karmayogi platform have taken centre-stage. Launched in 2020, this online training portal aims to equip government officials with essential skills in data analytics, public administration, and digital technologies. The flexibility of personalised learning paths fosters continuous improvement – a vital trait where adaptability defines success.

The end of global climate policy

The climate conference in Baku in 2024 turned the climate treaty on its head by scrapping the defining feature of the post-colonial world divided between 'donors' and 'recipients' and suggesting the need for an alternate global sustainability forum. The shift requires that developing countries take charge of their own destiny. The purpose of the climate treaty in 1992 was to collectively deal with a common concern. In an unequal world, this was defined by the G7 reducing future emissions of carbon dioxide despite the treaty acknowledging cumulative emissions alone matter. Developing countries agreed to take on a problem they did not create in exchange for technology transfer and funds, not realising that the imbalance in research capacity had set the stage for shifting the burden. The backbone of the current arrangement is the disconnect between academic treatment and rules and practice, providing continuing advantage to the G7.

Decoding the National Anthem controversy

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi left the Legislative Assembly without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year complaining that the National Anthem was not played before his scheduled address. Last year too, he had refused to read out his address.

As per convention, the State anthem - ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu' – is played at the - beginning of the Governor's address. The National Anthem is played at the end of the address. The practice of playing the State anthem at the commencement of the Governor's address and the national anthem at the end in the Tamil Nadu Assembly was introduced in July 1991 when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, led by Jayalalithaa, was in power. At that time, Bhishma Narain Singh was Governor. Prior to that, the Governor would enter the House, deliver the address, and leave.

What is the human metapneumovirus?

China's diseases control authority said that it was piloting a monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin. The country was already witnessing an upward trend in overall infections as of mid-December, and is expecting to see more respiratory infections in the winter and spring. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that causes mild infections similar to that caused by a common cold. First identified by scientists in 2001, the virus belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, of which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles and mumps are also members. HMPV can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and is generally seen in winter and early spring. HMPV spreads through contact with an infected person or touching objects that have the virus on them. This can be through secretions from coughs and sneezes; close contact with someone who has the infection by shaking hands, hugging; touching a doorknob or a phone or a keyboard that may be contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes. There is no vaccine and no specific antiviral to treat HMPV.

UGC revises guidelines for appointment of V-Cs

The University Grants Commission has revised the selection process for Vice- Chancellors, according to the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, released by Union Education Minister. Clearing the ambiguity, the UGC has given the powers to Chancellors or Visitors to constitute the three- member search-cum-selection committee to appoint Vice-Chancellors.

Leaves flutter in space: ISRO's experiment reaches milestone

A batch of cowpea seeds which were taken into orbit by an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission and which recently sprouted has unveiled their first leaves. The CROPS payload, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is envisioned as a multi-phase platform to develop and evolve the ISRO's capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extraterrestrial environments.

Social media accounts can be deleted after death: draft rules

A key provision of the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 could lead to the disappearance of the social media accounts of the deceased. This essentially means that social media companies, e-commerce firms, and online gaming companies - the three types of enterprises outlined specifically in the Rules - will have to proactively delete inactive accounts, a provision which may erase public facing social media accounts of individuals who died in recent years.