Cotent :
- Misinformation a bigger threat than COVID-19 uptick
- Monsoon woes
- Strengthening the U.S.-India subsea cable agenda
Misinformation a bigger threat than COVID-19 uptick
Current COVID-19 Situation
- Uptick in cases in India since mid-May 2025, rising from a few to a few hundred daily.
- Wastewater surveillance confirms increased viral load in some Indian cities.
- Similar trends in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Korea.
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Governance)
Practice Question : “Misinformation is a bigger threat than the current COVID-19 uptick.” Discuss in the context of India’s public health governance.(250 Words)
Variant Context
- The dominant variant: JN.1 (Pirola) — an Omicron sub-variant, not new.
- First detected in August 2023 in Luxembourg; circulating in India since late 2023.
- No significant clinical difference from parent Omicron variant.
- Sub-lineages like LF.7 and NB.1.8 also detected — no added severity.
Reasons for Case Uptick
- Persistence of virus: SARS-CoV-2 likely to become endemic and seasonal, similar to flu.
- Mutation-prone nature: RNA viruses mutate frequently, causing new sub-lineages.
- Increased testing and surveillance: Boost in detection due to precautionary response to regional trends.
Epidemiological Trends
- Possible seasonal pattern emerging: Every 8–10 months in India (waves in Jan 2022, early 2023, Dec 2023-Jan 2024, July-Aug 2024, May 2025).
- Hybrid immunity (natural + vaccine) doesn’t prevent infection, but reduces severity.
- No surge in hospitalizations or severe cases observed.
Numbers in Perspective
- Daily COVID-19 cases (200–300) = 1 case per 45–70 lakh population.
- Daily burden of other diseases:
- TB: ~8,000 new cases/day; ~900 deaths/day.
- Influenza virus: ~390 deaths/day.
- RSV disease: ~310 deaths/day.
- Air pollution-related diseases: much higher.
- COVID-19’s current impact is minor compared to other ongoing health challenges.
Misleading Metrics
- ‘Active case’ counts are outdated and misleading — used during the initial pandemic when immunity was low.
- With widespread hybrid immunity, most individuals become non-infectious within a day or two.
On Vaccination
- No need for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses for the general population.
- Memory cells in the immune system provide long-term protection from severe disease.
- Flu and age-appropriate vaccines are more beneficial, especially for high-risk individuals.
Key Concerns
- Infodemic (misinformation) is a bigger threat than the current uptick in infections.
- Overreaction could strain health systems, cause panic, and lead to response fatigue.
Way Forward
- Avoid panic; adopt a rational, epidemiological, and proportionate response.
- COVID-19 should now be treated like any mild respiratory illness unless new evidence suggests otherwise.
- Government and citizens should:
- Monitor trends.
- Avoid rumour-mongering.
- Maintain public trust by avoiding false alarms.
Monsoon woes
Onset & Its Impact
- The southwest monsoon has begun forcefully, entering via Kerala (Arabian Sea branch) and Andaman-Nicobar/Northeast (Bay of Bengal branch).
- The Bay of Bengal branch often brings early and intense rains to northeastern States, frequently triggering floods and landslides.
Relevance : GS 1(Geography ) , GS 3(Disaster Management)
Practice Question : “Monsoon woes in Northeast India demand region-specific disaster management and long-term mitigation strategies.” Discuss.(250 Words)
Current Situation in Northeast India (As of May-End & Early June)
- Assam:
- 10 major rivers are above danger levels.
- Over 3 lakh people affected across 19 districts.
- Tripura:
- Experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall; more downpours expected.
- Sikkim:
- Landslides in North Sikkim trapped ~1,500 tourists.
- A bus fell into Teesta River; fatalities and missing passengers reported.
- Overall toll (as of May 31):
- At least 52 deaths due to floods, landslides, flash floods, lightning.
Structural & Climatic Concerns
- Despite IMD’s projection of below-normal monsoon for the northeast, the region’s base rainfall is inherently high → makes even “normal” rains damaging.
- Northeast receives two monsoons:
- June–September (Southwest)
- October–December (Retreating/Northeast monsoon)
- This makes it a year-round vulnerable region.
Chronic Issues
- Inadequate infrastructure due to:
- Challenging terrain.
- Neglected investment & planning.
- Disasters recur annually, yet no significant long-term mitigation framework is in place.
Need for Long-term Planning
- Call for a sustainable, region-specific flood and landslide mitigation strategy.
- Requires:
- Centre–State collaboration.
- Comprehensive vulnerability mapping.
- Resilient infrastructure development.
- Pre-disaster planning and early warning systems.
Strengthening the U.S.-India subsea cable agenda
Strategic Context
- U.S.-India ties are expanding across trade and technology, especially under the TRUST framework (successor to iCET).
- Subsea cables, vital for 95%+ of global Internet traffic, are emerging as a critical digital infrastructure priority.
- China’s Digital Silk Road expansion in the Indo-Pacific underscores the urgency of trusted alternatives.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) , GS 3(Technology)
Practice Question : “Examine the strategic significance of subsea cables in the U.S.-India partnership and discuss how both countries can strengthen cooperation to enhance digital resilience in the Indo-Pacific.” (250 Words)
Why Subsea Cables Matter
- Subsea cables connect continents, enable cloud services, and support critical infrastructure.
- They are essential for:
- Digital economy functioning.
- National security.
- Regional strategic influence.
India’s Current Landscape
- India has 17 subsea cables (vs Singapore’s 26) — underutilized potential.
- Geographical advantages:
- 11,098 km coastline.
- Central location in Indo-Pacific.
- Rising data demand and digital economy.
- Yet, cable landing stations are overly concentrated in Mumbai (15/17 landings within a 6-km stretch).
- High risk of disruption due to natural disasters or sabotage.
Strategic & Economic Opportunity
- India is well-placed to become a global subsea cable transit hub:
- Near major maritime chokepoints (Hormuz, Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb).
- Central to Africa-Asia and Europe-Asia cable routes.
- Positioned to serve dynamic emerging economies (e.g., Indonesia, Africa).
- Domestic bandwidth demand growing at 38% CAGR (2021–2028).
Challenges and Barriers
- Regulatory complexity:
- Over 50 approvals needed from multiple ministries for undersea cable projects.
- Dependency on foreign-flagged repair ships:
- Ships based in Singapore/Dubai take 3–5 months to respond to faults.
- Cumbersome clearance processes → long downtimes and commercial loss.
Recommended Steps
India Must:
- Simplify licensing and regulatory clearance for cable projects.
- Develop a domestic repair ecosystem:
- Indian-flagged repair ships.
- Dedicated depot infrastructure.
- Diversify cable landing sites to build network redundancy.
U.S. Must:
- Provide concessional financing and technical assistance.
- Encourage U.S. firms to anchor undersea cable projects (e.g., Meta’s 50,000-km initiative).
- Collaborate under the TRUST framework to promote secure and diversified subsea routes.
Conclusion
- Subsea cable collaboration will:
- Boost digital resilience of the Indo-Pacific.
- Counter China’s influence in the region.
- Deepen strategic and commercial ties between India and the U.S.
- It must be treated as a frontline strategic priority under the evolving bilateral and Quad partnerships.
