Down’s syndrome and Beta (β) Thalassemia are commonly prevalent genetic diseases worldwide. Down’s syndrome is predominantly caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 or trisomy 21. Maternal age above 35 years significantly increases the chances of a Down’s syndrome birth. In India, there are approximately 21,000 Down’s syndrome births every year. β-Thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by abnormal synthesis of the β chains of hemoglobin. India has over 35-45 million carriers of this disease. This is a survey-based study, which aims to understand the epidemiology of Down’s syndrome and Beta Thalassemia in the Indian population. This online survey was answered by 297 Indian or Indian origin adults. Both females and males were the respondents. Results of the study indicated that prevalence of Down’s syndrome is low in India while that of β-thalassemia is moderate. The correlation between the maternal and paternal ages at the time of birth of a Downs syndrome affected person was determined and the analyses showed that there was a positive correlation.

The number of road traffic deaths continues to climb, reaching 1.35 million deaths globally in 2016 and road traffic injury is now the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years (WHO, 2018). Road safety is officially recognized as a global safety issue and it is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a questionnaire based analysis, which aims to understand the outlook of the general public regarding the current road safety system and to understand the level of awareness regarding the same. It also aims to compare the perspective of drivers and non-drivers towards traffic rules. Majority of the participants were from the age group of 15-30 years as they are most directly affected by road accidents. Our objective is to understand the shortcomings in the current road safety system through the perspective of the general public, which can then help in implementing a more efficient system in order to decrease the number of road accidents. Inadequate traffic system also significantly affects the economic growth of the region. According to the World Road Statistics, 2018, India ranks 1st in the number of road accident deaths hence there is an urgent need to understand the root cause for such a high number of accidents and to find solutions for this issue. Our results show that there is a need to implement stricter rules for road safety and this perspective of the general public is not affected by the status of the individual (driver, non-driver). It also suggests the need for increasing the level of licence tests conducted. Increasing awareness at an early stage among the people regarding the seriousness of following traffic rules can help prevent road accidents at the baseline level.

The number of road traffic deaths continues to climb, reaching 1.35 million deaths globally in 2016 and road traffic injury is now the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years (WHO, 2018). Road safety is officially recognized as a global safety issue and it is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a questionnaire based analysis, which aims to understand the outlook of the general public regarding the current road safety system and to understand the level of awareness regarding the same. It also aims to compare the perspective of drivers and non-drivers towards traffic rules. Majority of the participants were from the age group of 15-30 years as they are most directly affected by road accidents. Our objective is to understand the shortcomings in the current road safety system through the perspective of the general public, which can then help in implementing a more efficient system in order to decrease the number of road accidents. Inadequate traffic system also significantly affects the economic growth of the region. According to the World Road Statistics, 2018, India ranks 1st in the number of road accident deaths hence there is an urgent need to understand the root cause for such a high number of accidents and to find solutions for this issue. Our results show that there is a need to implement stricter rules for road safety and this perspective of the general public is not affected by the status of the individual (driver, non-driver). It also suggests the need for increasing the level of licence tests conducted. Increasing awareness at an early stage among the people regarding the seriousness of following traffic rules can help prevent road accidents at the baseline level

Immunity is the body’s defence system to fight various pathogenic agents including bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents. Healthy people with a healthy immune system can fight infections better than those who are immunocompromised. Studies have shown that diet plays a key role in improving the immune response. Also, the consumption of certain herbs and spices has been associated with health benefits. India is among the leading countries to consume significant amounts of spices. The consumption of spices in the form of a concoction increased further during the COVID-19 pandemic. This concoction is traditionally called Kadha. Over time, people have realized the benefits of Kadha not just in fighting infection but in overcoming various health conditions. The current study surveyed around 83 people from India to understand the use of Kadha within the general population in India as a source to boost immunity. It also aimed to understand their perspective on the most suitable spice. This preliminary survey highlights that among the surveyed population, the majority of the participants considered Kadha as an immune booster (75%) that helps in relieving colds and coughs (73%). The majority of participants selected turmeric (68%) and clove (66%) as spices that help to boost immunity and fight infections.