Table of Contents
The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
Fuel Cut-Off Led to Air India Jet Crash: Report
- The first investigation into last month’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad showed that the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787-8 moved to the cut-off position just three seconds after take-off, which stopped the engine power.
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s report said both engines’ switches went from RUN to CUT-OFF within one second of each other, exactly at 1.38.42 p.m., just after the plane left the ground.
- A recording from the cockpit showed one pilot asking the other why the fuel supply was cut off, but the second pilot said he didn’t do it, so it is still not known why the switches moved.
- The report did not mention whether the switches moved by accident or on purpose, nor did it give the full talk between the pilots or confirm which pilot asked the question.
- Amit Singh, an aviation safety expert, said that unless it is explained how a locked switch moved to CUT-OFF and shown when system failures happened, the real reason for the deadly crash remains unknown.
- About thirty seconds after the switches moved, a pilot sent out a distress call saying “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,” but air traffic control could not confirm which flight it was before they saw the plane crash outside the airport area.
- The US Federal Aviation Administration had warned back in December 2018 that the Boeing 787-8’s fuel switch lock might disengage, but Air India did not check the switches as it was not compulsory to do so.
- Investigators checked the plane’s maintenance records and found no issues with the fuel control switch since 2023 when its throttle control module in the cockpit was last changed, and no faults were noted in recent checks either.
- Around ten to twelve seconds after shutting down, the switches went back to RUN at 1.38.52 and 1.38.54 p.m.; only one engine started getting power again while the other kept slowing down, making things worse.
- The aircraft’s black box stopped recording at 1.39.11 p.m., just seventeen seconds after the switches went back; by then, both engines had already failed, causing the crash that killed at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground.
Student from IIM-Calcutta Detained Over Rape Allegation on Campus
- Kolkata Police arrested Premanand Mahaveer Toppanavar, a 26-year-old IIM Calcutta student, for allegedly raping a mental health counsellor at the hostel after she filed a complaint at Haridevpur police station.
- A case was registered under Sections 64 (punishment for rape) and 123 (causing hurt using poison, etc., intending to commit an offence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as stated by the police.
- Premanand, who is in his second year at IIM Calcutta and comes from Karnataka, was taken to court after his arrest and sent to police custody until July 19, as confirmed by Kolkata Police officials.
- This incident comes less than three weeks after a 24-year-old student was allegedly gang raped and assaulted inside South Calcutta Law College, raising serious concerns about women’s safety in city colleges.
- According to the survivor, she met Premanand at the Lake View hostel on campus; they ate pizza and drank water together, after which she started feeling dizzy and was not allowed to leave.
- She said she lost consciousness soon after feeling dizzy in the hostel and was raped; her statement is the basis for the FIR filed at Haridevpur police station late Friday night.
- In court, defence lawyer Subrata Sardar questioned how the time of the crime and FIR were both at 8.30 p.m., asking how the survivor reached the police so quickly if it happened at that time.
- The defence also asked how the survivor entered the campus without logging visitor details, as is compulsory for all visitors, and said the entire situation seems suspicious and needs clarification.
- Public prosecutor Sourin Ghosal said the accused’s phone, found at the scene of the alleged crime, needs to be unlocked for investigation and added that the accused was influential, so detailed police work is needed.
- Saibal Chattopadhyay, Director in-charge of IIM Calcutta, said on Saturday that the institute is treating the case very seriously and is fully supporting the police in their investigation.
Third Phase Dengue Vaccine Trials in India Close to Full Enrolment
- After ICMR and Panacea Biotec announced the start of third phase trials, about 8,000 out of the planned 10,000 people have already joined India’s dengue vaccine trials, according to Dr. Manoj Murhekar.
- The trials are being carried out at 20 different locations in India. Dr. Murhekar explained that since all four kinds of dengue viruses are found in the country, it is crucial to have a vaccine that works against each type.
- Most of the funding for these trials is provided by ICMR, while Panacea Biotec is also contributing some part of the cost. People taking part will be followed up for two years at centres in Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Delhi.
- At present, India does not have any approved medicine or licensed vaccine for dengue. The Union Health Ministry called this a landmark trial to test DengiAll, India’s first home-made tetravalent dengue vaccine by Panacea Biotec.
- The first person in this third phase trial was given the vaccine last year at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, starting the large-scale testing process.
- The initial two phases of testing for India’s dengue vaccine finished in 2018-19 and gave promising outcomes. Since then, Panacea Biotec has continued its efforts to further develop the vaccine for final approval.
- The tetravalent dengue vaccine strain TV003/TV005 was first developed by the US National Institutes of Health and showed good results worldwide in animal and human trials for safety and strong protection against all types.
- Panacea Biotec is one of three Indian companies that got this strain and has progressed the most in making the vaccine, doing major work to create a final vaccine and getting a process patent for it.
- Dengue continues to be a major public health concern in India, placing it among the top 30 countries with the most reported cases. Worldwide, over 129 countries had dengue infections by the end of 2023.
- In India, approximately 75-80% of dengue cases do not show symptoms but can still be transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
- In India, around 75-80% of dengue infections have no symptoms but still spread through Aedes mosquitoes. Among those who show symptoms, children have a higher risk of hospitalisation and death, while adults can face serious problems.
- In severe cases among adults, dengue can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, both of which can be fatal. There are four types of dengue viruses and low cross-protection, so a person can get dengue many times.
Important questions
- According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s report, at what exact time did both engines’ switches move to the CUTOFF position after lift-off?
- What warning did the US Federal Aviation Administration issue in December 2018 regarding the Boeing 787-8’s fuel switch lock?
- Under which Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was the IIM Calcutta student Premanand Mahaveer Toppanavar booked?
- During the court hearing related to the alleged rape case at IIM Calcutta, what doubt did defence lawyer Subrata Sardar raise regarding the reported time of the incident and the time when the survivor filed the FIR?
- Which vaccine is being tested as India’s first home-made tetravalent dengue vaccine according to the Union Health Ministry?
- How many participants have enrolled so far out of the targeted 10,000 for India’s dengue vaccine third phase trial as per Dr. Manoj Murhekar?
Important vocabulary
- Preliminary: happening before something more complete or final.
- Cockpit: the section of an aircraft where the pilots sit and operate its controls.
- Distress call: an emergency message sent for help.
- Throttle: a part that regulates how much power or speed an engine produces.
- Allegedly: claimed to have happened without definite proof yet.
- Custody: when someone is kept under police or legal control.
- FIR (First Information Report): the first formal complaint given to police about a crime.
- Prosecutor: a lawyer who conducts the case against an accused person.
- Tetravalent: effective against four different virus types.
- Enrolment: the process of registering or joining officially.
- Serotypes: different types or forms within the same species of a virus or bacteria.
- Immunogenicity: the capacity of something to cause the body’s immune system to react.
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