Prelims Pinpointer 10&11-05-2026

Heatwave

Criteria for Declaring Heatwave

• A heatwave is considered when maximum temperature reaches at least 40°C in plains and 30°C in hilly regions.
• The criteria must be satisfied in at least two stations of a meteorological subdivision for two consecutive days.
• Based on Departure from Normal
  • Heat Wave: Declared when temperature departure from normal ranges between 4.5°C to 6.4°C.
  • Severe Heat Wave: Declared when temperature departure from normal exceeds 6.4°C.

Based on Actual Maximum Temperature

• Heat Wave: Declared when actual maximum temperature is 45°C or above.
• Severe Heat Wave: Declared when actual maximum temperature reaches 47°C or above.

Coastal Heatwave Criteria

• In coastal regions, heatwave may be declared when temperature departure is 4.5°C above normal.
• The actual maximum temperature should also be 37°C or more.

Favourable Conditions for Heatwave

• Presence of hot and dry air masses over a region favours heatwave development.
• Absence of upper atmospheric moisture allows rapid increase in surface temperatures.
• Practically cloudless skies permit maximum solar insolation over affected regions.
• Large amplitude anti-cyclonic circulation supports stable and extremely hot weather conditions.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Context: The Confederation of Indian Industry stated that private sector capital expenditure increased by 67% in September 2025. According to CII, private sector capex reached nearly ₹7.7 lakh crore compared to September 2024 levels.

More In News

• Manufacturing sector committed nearly ₹3.8 lakh crore, led by metals, automobiles, and chemical industries.
• Services sector contributed around ₹3.1 lakh crore, mainly through trading, communications, and IT/ITeS sectors.
• Capacity utilisation reportedly increased to 75.6%, indicating improving industrial activity and investment confidence.
• Bank credit growth approached nearly 14% during the second half of FY26.

About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

• The Confederation of Indian Industry was established in 1895 as a non-government, not-for-profit organisation.
• The organisation collaborates with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry while functioning independently.
• Headquarters of CII is located in New Delhi.
• Aim of CII
  • CII aims to create a conducive environment for industrial growth and economic development.
  • It works towards promoting sustainable development, industrial competitiveness, and global integration of Indian businesses.

Chagos Islands

Location

• The Chagos Archipelago comprises more than 60 small islands located in the central Indian Ocean region.
• The islands are situated:
  • south of the Maldives,
  • and east of Seychelles.
• Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago, hosts a strategically important US-UK military base.

Historical Background

• The Chagos Islands came under British control in 1814 following their cession by France.
• In 1965, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius prior to Mauritian independence.
• The islands were subsequently constituted as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
• Mauritius attained independence from Britain in 1968.

UK–Mauritius Chagos Sovereignty Deal (2025)

• Following a ruling by the UK High Court, the United Kingdom signed a treaty recognising Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
• The agreement provides for a 99-year lease arrangement permitting continued UK-US military presence on Diego Garcia.
• Under the arrangement, the United Kingdom will pay Mauritius approximately £101 million annually during the lease period.

Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

• The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) comprises the Indian Ocean and its surrounding littoral states and island territories.
• The region extends from:
  • the African coast in the west to the Australian coast in the east,
  • and from the Arabian Peninsula in the north to southern Australia in the south.
• The Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest ocean, covering nearly 70.6 million sq. km.
• Strategic Importance
  • The IOR contains some of the world’s most critical Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs).
  • Major maritime chokepoints in the region include:
    • Strait of Malacca
    • Suez Canal
    • Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation established on 7 March 1997.
• It was earlier known as:
  • Indian Ocean Rim Initiative
  • and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
• The Secretariat of IORA is located in Mauritius.
• Membership
  • IORA consists of 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.
  • China is a dialogue partner of IORA.
  • IORA became an observer to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the African Union  in 2015.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Brief Overview

• Hantavirus refers to a family of rodent-borne viruses capable of causing severe illness in humans.
• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a serious respiratory disease associated with hantavirus infections.
• HPS is primarily endemic to the Western Hemisphere.
• Another hantavirus-associated illness, Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), occurs mainly in Europe and Asia.
• Transmission: Infected rodents transmit hantaviruses through urine, faeces, and saliva.

• Human infection usually occurs through inhalation of virus-contaminated particles from rodent excreta.
• Human-to-human transmission is generally uncommon in most hantavirus infections.
• Rare person-to-person transmission has been reported with strains such as the Andes virus.

Types and Hosts

• Different hantavirus strains are associated with different geographical regions and specific rodent hosts.
• The most common HPS-causing hantavirus is carried by the deer mouse.
• Hantaviruses found in Europe and Asia are commonly associated with Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).
• There is currently no specific cure or definitive treatment available for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Hypersonic Missile Development

Context

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully achieved a 1,200-second runtime of an actively cooled scramjet combustor. The test was conducted at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility in Hyderabad. The achievement marks a significant advancement in India’s hypersonic missile technology programme.

About Hypersonic Missiles

• Hypersonic missiles are advanced weapons capable of travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
• These systems can travel at speeds above 6,100 km per hour for sustained durations.
• Hypersonic weapons are considered difficult to intercept using existing air defence systems.
• Strategic Significance
  • Hypersonic systems provide: rapid strike capability, improved survivability, and enhanced penetration against missile defence networks.

About Scramjet Engine

• A Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) is an advanced air-breathing propulsion system used in hypersonic flight.
• The engine utilises supersonic combustion to sustain extremely high-speed flight.
• Key Features
  • Scramjet engines operate using atmospheric oxygen, reducing the need to carry onboard oxidisers.
  • The combustor incorporates advanced flame stabilisation technology for maintaining combustion at extremely high airspeeds.
  • The system uses an indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel.
  • The fuel provides:
    • enhanced cooling,
    • and easier ignition capability.

HPV Vaccination Drive

Key Features of the Vaccination Drive

• The programme will primarily target 14-year-old girls across the country.
• Vaccination will be:
  • voluntary,
  • and provided free of cost through government health facilities.
• The drive will be conducted through:
  • Ayushman Arogya Mandirs,
  • and District Hospitals.

Vaccine Used

• The programme will initially use Gardasil, manufactured by US-based MSD.
• Gardasil is a quadrivalent vaccine protecting against:
  • HPV 16 and 18,
  • and HPV 6 and 11.
• HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

Vaccination Regimen

• India has adopted a single-dose HPV vaccination regimen based on WHO recommendations.
• An optional delayed second dose may be administered after 3–5 years.
• The indigenous vaccine Cervavac has not yet received WHO approval for programme inclusion.

Scientifc Efficacy and Safety

• HPV vaccines are non-live vaccines and do not cause HPV infection.
• More than 500 million doses have been administered globally since 2006 with a strong safety profile.
• Studies indicate nearly 93–100% effectiveness against HPV-related cervical cancers.
• Implementation and Monitoring
  • The programme is being implemented under India’s partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
  • Vaccination coverage will be monitored through the U-WIN digital platform.
  • Unlike routine UIP immunisation, the HPV campaign will operate through special immunisation drives.

About Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• HPV refers to a group of more than 200 related viruses belonging to the Papillomaviridae family.
• These are non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses primarily infecting epithelial cells.
• Classification of HPV Types
  • Low-Risk Types
    • HPV types 6 and 11 commonly cause:
      • genital warts,
      • and benign skin lesions.
  • High-Risk Types
    • HPV types 16 and 18 are considered oncogenic and linked with multiple cancers.
    • These strains account for the majority of cervical cancer cases in India.

WHO Elimination Targets (2030)

• 90% of girls should be fully vaccinated by age 15.
• 70% of women should undergo cervical screening by ages 35 and 45.
• 90% of women identified with cervical disease should receive proper treatment and care.

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Brief Overview

• The Competition Commission of India was established in 2003 under the Competition Act, 2002.
• The Commission became fully operational in 2009.
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Headquarters of the CCI is located in New Delhi.

Composition and Appellate Authority

• The Commission consists of one Chairperson, and six Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Appellate Authority
  • Appeals against CCI orders lie before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.
  • The appellate mechanism operates under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

Major Functions of CCI

• Eliminate Anti-Competitive Practices
  • CCI works to eliminate practices causing an adverse effect on competition in markets.
  • In the Umar Javeed vs Google case, CCI directed Google not to restrict app distribution through side-loading.
  • Side-loading refers to installation of applications outside official app stores.
• Protect Consumer Interests
  • The Commission safeguards consumer interests against abuse of market dominance.
  • CCI imposed penalties on Meta regarding sharing of WhatsApp user data with other Meta companies.
• Advisory Role
  • CCI advises the government on issues relating to market competition and regulatory reforms.
  • It developed a Competition Assessment Toolkit to evaluate laws restricting market competition.

Recent Initiatives

• Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023
  • Deal Value Threshold (DVT)
    • Mergers and acquisitions exceeding ₹2,000 crore deal value must be notified to the CCI.
    • The provision primarily targets large transactions in digital markets.
  • Settlement and Commitment Mechanism
    • The amendment empowers CCI to accept voluntary commitments in specified anti-competitive cases.