Prelims – 27th Nov 23

Operation Samudragupt

Operation Samudragupt was launched by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in January 2022, to intercept contraband that is brought into India through the marine channel
It is part of the Union government’s plan to make India drug-free by 2047
The operation has been initiated by inputs from sources developed by the Naval Intelligence and the NCB.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (meth) is an addictive drug and can cause considerable health adversities that can sometimes result in death
It is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder
Methamphetamine on its own might not cause the heart attack but it can result in a cardiac arrest if consumed in an excess quantity.

Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB)

It was constituted by the Government of India in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
It is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs
Drug abuse control is the responsibility of the central government
It has all the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign

Launched in 2020, in 272 identified districts
It is a three-pronged attack combining the supply curb by NCB, Outreach and Awareness and Demand Reduction effort by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and treatment through Health Department.

Facilitates citizens to report MCC violations such as bribery, gifts, liquor distribution etc.
Developed by ECI.
MCC is set of guidelines issued by the ECI to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections.
The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of the result announcement.
It originated from Assembly elections of Kerala in 1960.
From 1991 ECI decided to enforce MCC more strictly.

BVD is an infectious disease, globally distributed endemic to cattle and other ruminant populations.
It is caused by the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV).
Most animals become exposed through contact with other recently infected or persistently infected (carrier) animals that are shedding the virus.
While this virus has no cure, practising supportive therapies will temporarily help to improve the well-being of the cattle. Infected calves should be culled to prevent the spread of BVD.
Scientists have recently created the first gene-edited calf with resistance to the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV).