DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS -APRIL 7

1World Health Day -April 7th

On World Health Day 2026, WHO unites and mobilizes the world under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.”

celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet.

The WHO was established on 7 April 1948

Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland

Its first priorities were to control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, and to improve maternal and child health, nutrition and environmental hygiene

2Six MPs from Tamil Nadu took oath as Rajya Sabha members on Monday.

Tiruchi Siva & J. Constandine Ravindran (DMK)

M. Thambi Durai (AIADMK)

Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK)

Christopher Manickam (INC)

L.K. Sudhish (DMDK)

Rajya sabha election method

Lok Sabha members are elected directly by the voters, Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by the people, that is, by the elected Members of a state’s Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

How many Rajya Sabha members a state can send depends on its population.

MLAs vote in the Rajya Sabha elections in what is called proportional representation with the single transferable vote (STV) system. Each MLA’s vote is counted only once

In this system, MLAs don’t vote for each seat.

Instead, the MLAs are given a paper with the names of all candidates. They have to give their order of preference for each candidate, marking 1,2,3… against their names.

The ballot is open but MLAs have to show their ballots to an authorised agent from their party to prevent practices such as cross-voting

Strength Of The Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha currently has 245 members, including 233 elected members and 12 nominated. As per the constitutional limit, the Upper House strength cannot exceed 250

Tenure

6years

As a permanent body, the house is not subject to dissolution; instead, one-third of its members retire every two years, with elections held to fill the vacant seats.

Constitutional Provision

Article 79: Establishes the Parliament with the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) as one of its two houses.

Article 80: Defines the composition with a maximum of 250 members: 12 nominated by the President (arts, science, etc.) and up to 238 representing States/UTs.

Article 83(1): Establishes the Rajya Sabha as a permanent body, not subject to dissolution, with one-third of members retiring every two years.

Fourth Schedule: Allocates seats to the states and union territories.

3. Central Government Provided Vaccine for Cervical Cancer to Girl Children -age of 9-14 to TN

Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb).

Various strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) play a role in causing most cervical cancer

In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after breast cancer

World Health Organisation’s Global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer proposes:

The following 90-70-90 targets must be met by 2030 for countries to be on the path towards cervical cancer elimination

90% of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years.

70% of women are screened with a high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age.

90% of women identified with the cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre cancer treated, and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed

4.Manhattan Principles-One Health Concept

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) introduced the term “One World-One Health” in 2007 along with 12 recommendations (the Manhattan Principles) that focused on establishing a more holistic approach to preventing epidemic disease and maintaining ecosystem integrity.

vWe are reminded of the close relationship between human and animal health by recent epidemics of the West Nile Virus, Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, SARS, monkey pox, Mad Cow Disease, and Avian Influenza.

5. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)

PMSSY was announced in2006. with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country

Components -It has two components:

Setting up new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).

Upgradation of government medical colleges in various states.

As of April 2026, there are 25 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in India, with 20 fully functional and 5 under construction

6. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

It is a central sector scheme aiming to create a unified digital health infrastructure in India

Launched in 2021

Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA)

7. TUBERCULOSIS

NEWS: What TB reveals about India’s urban health system

India continues to bear the largest burden of tuberculosis globally, accounting for nearly onefourth of the world’s TB case

TB is a bacterial infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) affecting the lungs, spreading through the airIt is preventable and curable with antibiotics.

The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to infants to prevent TB.

1.National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)

In 2020, the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was renamed the NTEP with the goal to eliminate TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030.

2.Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA)-Launched in 2022

3.Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative, part of the PMTBMBA, encourages individuals, NGOs, and corporations to support TB patients with nutritional, social, or economic aid for six months

What is the summit being held in Lyon from April 5 to 7,2026?

Answer : The One Health Summit will focus on the main factors contributing to infectious and non-communicable diseases