Composite

Segregated Prelims CA Compilation
Coverage: January 2021 till April 2022
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PRELIMS 2022
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Please Note: Compilation of May 2021 Till January 2022 will be

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available at the end of February 2022 in Hardcopy Format.

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- Address for above hardcopy will be collected in February 2022.

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INDEX
1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1.1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Organisations, Groups in News ------------------------------- 05
1.2 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - UN Related International Organizations --------------------- 09
1.3 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Agreements, Conventions and Deals ------------------------ 11
1.4 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Conference, Meetings and Summits ------------------------- 14
1.5 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS –India and Bilateral Relations ---------------------------------- 15
1.6 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Health Related -------------------------------------------------- 18
1.7 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – International Places in News --------------------------------- 19
1.8 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Miscellaneous (Logically arranged) --------------------------22
2 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
2.1 SPECIES in NEWS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24
2.2 NEW SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------------27
2.3 ANCIENT SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------28
2.4 INVASIVE SPECIES in NEWS --------------------------------------------------------------------------30
2.5 CYCLONES in NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30
2.6 ISLAND, VALLEY and LAKES in NEWS --------------------------------------------------------------30
2.7 RIVERS in NEWS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32
2.8 PROJECT in NEWS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33
2.9 PARKS AND SANCTUARIES in NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------- 34
2.10 TRIBES and ETHNIC GROUPS in NEWS ----------------------------------------------------------- 38
2.11 ENVIRONMENT and INDIA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39
2.12 ENVIRONMENT and WORLD --------------------------------------------------------------------------45
2.13 ENVIRONMENT– Miscellaneous (Logically arranged) ----------------------------------------------47
3 SCHEMES
3.1 Ministry of Ministry of Jal Shakti--------------------------------------------------------------------------50
3.2 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) -----------------------------------------------------50
3.3 Ministry of Human Resource and Development(MHRD) ----------------------------------------------52
3.4 Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T) ----------------------------------------------------------53
3.5 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW) ----------------------------------------------------54
3.6 Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) -----------------------------------------------55
3.7 Ministry of Labour--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------56
3.8 Ministry of Commerce & Industry ------------------------------------------------------------------------56
3.9 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MEITY) ---------------------------------------58
3.10 Ministry of Finance ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------59
3.11 Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution -------------------------------------------60
3.12 Ministry of Road Transport Highways(MoRTH) -------------------------------------------------------60
3.13 Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) ----------------------------------------------------------------60
3.14 Ministry of Defence -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61
3.15 Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare ---------------------------------------------------------- 62
3.16 Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) -----------------------------------------------------64
3.17Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 64
3.18Ministry of Corporate affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 65
3.19 Ministry of Law ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------65
3.20 Ministry of Home Affairs(MoHA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------66
3.21 NITI Aayog and Related -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------66
3.22 Ministry of Tourism ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------66
3.23 Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) -------------------------------------------66
3.24 Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG) --------------------------------------------------------67
3.25 Ministry of Power and related -----------------------------------------------------------------------------67
3.26 Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E)-----------------------------------------------68
3.27Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)-----------------------------------------68
3.28 Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI) -------------------------------------------------------68
3.29 Ministry of Railways ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------69
3.30Ministry of Panchayati Raj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------69
3.31Ministry of External Affairs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------69
3.32Ministry of EarthSciences--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 70
3.33Ministry of Ports, shippingandWaterways ---------------------------------------------------------------70
3.34Ministry of Fisheries, AnimalHusbandaryandDairying-------------------------------------------------70
3.35Ministry of Mines------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 70
3.36Ministry of Sports------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71
3.37 Miscellaneous -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------71
4 INDEX & REPORTS
4.1 Indices and Reports – International ----------------------------------------------------------------------72
4.2 Indices and Reports- India ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------77
5 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
5.1 SCIENCE and SPACE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------81
5.2 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -----------------------------------------------------------------------91
5.3 BIO-TECHNOLOGY and HEALTH SCIENCES ------------------------------------------------------92
5.4 SCIENCE – ENERGY and FUEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------94
5.5 SCIENCE - General -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------95
6 HEALTH
6.1 HEALTH – Disease in News -----------------------------------------------------------------------------101
6.2 HEALTH – Drugs and strains in news ------------------------------------------------------------------103
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6.3 HEALTH – COVID 19 Related News ----------------------------------------------------------------- 104
6.4 HEALTH – General ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------106
7 POLITY
7.1 POLITY – ACT in News ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------109
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7.2 POLITY- BILLs in News ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------114
7.3 POLITY –CASEs in News--------------------------------------------------------------------------------114
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7.4 POLITY –Articles, Provisions and Concepts in News ------------------------------------------------115
7.5 POLITY – Bodies in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 121
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7.6 POLITY –Policies in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 125

7.7 POLITY –Summits/Conferences in News --------------------------------------------------------------129
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7.8 POLITY – General -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------130

8 ECONOMY
8.1 ECONOMY – General-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------132
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8.2 ECONOMY – Terms in News --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 133

9 DEFENCE
9.1 DEFENCE – Exercises ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------137
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9.2 DEFENCE – Weapons and Ammunitions --------------------------------------------------------------137

9.3 DEFENCE – General --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------139
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10 CULTURE
10.1 PERSONALITIES in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 141
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10.2 HISTORICAL EVENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 143

10.3 MONUMENTS & ARCHITECTURE in News ------------------------------------------------------- 144
10.4 Festivals in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 145
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10.5 PRODUCTS& ARTS in News -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145

10.6 EXCAVATIONS in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 146
10.7 CULTURE – General ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 147
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11 MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 AWARDS in News ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 148
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11.2 IMPORTANT DAYS in News --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 148

11.3MISCELLANEOUS – General -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 149
IR: PRELIMS 2022 (Jan 21 – April 21)| Sunya IAS
1.1) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - International Organisations & Groups in NEWS
 Blue Nature Alliance = It is a global partnership founded and led by five core partners:
Conservation International, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Global Environment Facility,
Minderoo Foundation, and the Rob & Melani Walton Foundation + Their aim is to advance
Ocean Conservation Areas, inclusive of Marine Protected Areas, Other Effective Area-based
Conservation Measures, Indigenous Protected Areas, and other innovative place-based
interventions designed to achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes + The alliance is
working on large-scale efforts in Fiji’s Lau Seascape, Antarctica’s Southern Ocean and the
Tristan da Cunha island group to collectively secure protections over 4.8 million square
kilometers of the ocean
 Boao Forum for Asia = international not for profit organization which was jointly initiated
by 26 member states in 2001, the members have now increased to 29 + India is also a
member of the BFA + its annual conference is held in Boao, Hainan province of China on a
regular basis + The establishment of BFA is modelled on the lines of the World Economic
Forum which bases its annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Thus earning the
name of ‘Davos of the East’ + 2021 conference held at China’s Hainan Province + Theme:
“A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and
Road Cooperation.”
 Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) = Set up in 1963 + joint FAO/WHO
intergovernmental body + responsible for developing the standards, codes of practice,
guidelines and recommendations that constitute the Codex Alimentarius, meaning the
international food code + Codex principles do not have a binding effect on national
legislation + India is hosting the 5th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary
Herbs (CCSCH) established under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) + Spices Board
India is the Secretariat for organising the sessions of the committee
 Education Finance Watch = collaborative effort between the World Bank and UNESCO’s
Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report + Education budgets were cut by 65% of low
and lower-middle income (Includes India) countries while only 33% of high and upper-
middle income countries did so + Current levels of government spending in low and lower-
middle income countries fall short of those required to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
 International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) = IOSCO is international
body established in 1983 that brings together world's securities regulators + It develops,
implements and promotes adherence to internationally recognized standards for securities
regulation + Recently, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), Gujarat
became an associate member of IOSCO which will provide IFSCA, platform to exchange
information at global level on areas of common interests and to learn from the experiences
and best practices of the regulators of other well established financial centres + (1stIFSC in
India has been set up at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) + To regulate
such institutions, government established IFSCA with its head office in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat)
 World Economic Forum(WEF) = international not-for-profit foundation organization
committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and
other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas + established in 1971
+ headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland + Publications: Global Risk Report, Global Gender
Gap Report, Global Competitiveness report
Coverage: Jan 2021 Till April 2021 | www.sunyaias.com | Telegram: t.me/sunyanotes50 Page 5
 Great Reset Initiative = initiative by World Economic Forum + based on the assessment
that the world economy is in deep trouble + current situation has been made worse by factors,
like the effects of the pandemic on global society, the unfolding technological revolution, and
the consequences of climate change + world must act jointly to revamp all aspects of our
societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions + In
short, there is a need for ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism + Great Reset Initiative was launched at
the Davos Agenda of WEF
 EDISON Alliance = World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Essential Digital
Infrastructure and Services Network (EDISON) Alliance + to work towards ensuring global
and equitable access to the digital economy+ It will work with governments and industries to
accelerate digital inclusion + WEF will serve as the secretariat and platform for the Alliance
 World Gold Council(WGC) = Market development organisation for the gold industry +
works across all parts of the industry, from gold mining to investment, and their aim is to
stimulate and sustain demand for gold + members comprise the world’s leading gold mining
companies + HQ: UK + Gold was used as the world reserve currency up through most of the
20th century. The United States used the gold standard until 1971
 E9 Countries = E9 Partnership was first established in 1993, formed to achieve the goals of
UNESCO's Education For All (EFA) + A group of E9 countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China,
Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan) aims at strengthening political will
and collective effort to ensure quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all +
E9 Partnership is working for the achievement of SDG4 – Education 2030
 Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) =
free trade block of Asia Pacific Countries + CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11
countries in the AsiaPacific + CPTPP was formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP). After U.S. withdrawal from TPP, remaining members renamed it CPTPP + CPTPP
features ambitious marketaccesscommitments in trade in goods, services, investment, labour
mobility and government procurement. It also covers the protection of the environment and
labour rights + India is not a member + Recently, UK applied to be latest member.
 Reaching Zero Forum = Recently, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare has
chaired the “Reaching Zero” forum on malaria elimination to celebrate World Malaria Day +
On this occasion, WHO launched E-2025 initiative, under which group of 25 countries have
been identified that have the potential to stamp out malaria within a 5-year timeline + Earlier,
in 2017, WHO launched E-2020 initiative, to support 21 countries in their efforts to get to
zero malaria cases within the 2020 timeline.
 Net Zero Producers’ Forum = formed by Qatar, US, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Norway +
Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would
bring down its emissions to zero. Rather, net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions
are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
 Great Green Wall Initiative = launched by the African Union in 2007 + members: 11
countries located along southern border of Sahara and their international partners + to
address desertification, land degradation and climate change in the Sahel region +
PROGREEN is a World Bank fund dedicated to boosting countries’ efforts to address
landscape degradation
 Arctic Council = High-level intergovernmental forum for Arctic cooperation + was set up in
1996 with the twin-mandate of environmental protection and sustainable development +
Headquarters: Tromsø, Norway + It comprises 8 member states, permanent participants and
observers. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Russia, US, Iceland, Norway, Sweden are member
states + India became an Observer nation in 2013 (India is NOT a member). Various global
initiatives for Arctic:
 Arctic Contaminants Action Programme: Works to prevent and reduce pollution
and environmental risks in the Arctic. ACAP chairmanship rotates between Arctic
Council States every two years.
 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme: It is one of six Working Groups of
the Arctic Council. Monitor and assess the status of the Arctic region with respect to
pollution and climate change issues
 Arctic Marine Tourism Project: Is part of a renewed effort by the Arctic Council to
analyze and promote sustainable tourism across the circumpolar Arctic.
 Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative: Is a project designed to improve the status and
secure the long-term sustainability of declining Arctic breeding migratory bird
populations. It organize activities across four flyways: Americas, African Eurasian,
Circumpolar, East Asian- Australasian.
 Arctic Economic Council: An independent organization that facilitates Arctic
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business-to-business activities. It is open to corporations, partnerships and indigenous
groups that have an economic interest in the Arctic.
 SASEC = formed in 2001 + comprises seven countries namely India, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
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Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar + It aims to increase economic growth by building
cross-border connectivity, energy cooperation, promote regional prosperity, and build a
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better quality of life for the people of the sub-region + SASEC countries share a common
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vision of boosting intraregional trade and cooperation in South Asia, while also developing
connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia through Myanmar, to the People’s Republic of
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China, and the global market + Asian Development Bank (ADB) serves as Secretariat to the
SASEC Program
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 BIMSTEC = Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic

Cooperation (BIMSTEC) + involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East
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Asia(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand) + A BIMSTEC free
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trade agreement is under negotiation + Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country

names + The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka(The organisation did not even have a
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secretariat until 2014) + founded in 1997 with BIST(Bangla, India, srilanka, thailand) +
Bhutan and Nepal joined in 2004 + meeting took place after 4 years in
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Nepal(Kathmandu)(4th Summit) + leaders of BIMSTEC nations have held summits just four
times in 22 years + One of BIMSTEC’s two founding principles is: “Cooperation within
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BIMSTEC will constitute an addition to and not be a substitute for bilateral, regional or
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multilateral cooperation + Last year, BIMSTEC Secretariat has finalized BIMSTEC charter
after 23 years of its inception. In absence of a dedicated charter, BIMSTEC was running with
the spirit of Bangkok Declaration of 1997 + 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial meet, chaired by Sri
Lanka, was held recently
 International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) = 1977 + IFAD works towards
removing poverty and hunger in rural areas all over the world, especially in developing
countries + specialised agency of the United Nations + India is a founder member of IFAD +
Its goal is to empower poor rural men and women in developing countries to achieve higher
incomes and improved food security + IFAD is managed by the two main governing bodies
i.e. the Governing Council and the Executive Board. The Governing Council is the highest
decision-making body of IFAD
 World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) = established in 1924 + Inter-governmental
organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide + recognised as reference
organisation by World Trade Organization (WTO) + works under authority and control of
World Assembly of Delegates consisting of Delegates designated by Governments of all
Member Countries + It recently called for halt to sale of live wild mammals in food markets
to prevent emergence of new diseases such as COVID-19 + India is a member.
 International Commission on Large Dams(ICOLD) = non-governmental International
Organization + sets standards and guidelines to ensure that dams are built and operated
safely, efficiently, economically, and are environmentally sustainable and socially equitable
+ Symposium on Sustainable Development of Dams & River Basins was organised recently.
 International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office ("ISMERLO") = is an
organization that coordinates international submarine search and rescue operations + It was
established in 2003 by NATO and the Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group
(SMERWG) + It consists of an international team of submarine escape and rescue experts
based at Northwood, UK
 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) = ICOMOS is a non-
governmental international organisation dedicated to the conservation of the world's
monuments and sites + Headquartered in Paris, London + founded in 1965
 Council of the European Union = founded in 1967 + to amend, approve or disapprove the
proposals of the European Commission, which has the sole power to propose laws + holds
budgetary power of the Union + It is 3rd of 7 Institutions of the European Union (EU) as
listed in Treaty on European Union + 1 of 3 legislative bodies and together with European
Parliament serves to amend and approve proposals of European Commission, which holds
legislative initiative
 Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) = international organization for regional economic
integration that came into existence in 2015 + The EAEU provides for free movement of
goods, services, capital, and labor within its borders + Members: Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
 Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons (OPCW) = It was established by
the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997 + + It is authorized to perform inspections to
verify that signatory states are complying with the convention, which includes a commitment
to grant inspectors full access to chemical weapons sites + It also performs testing of sites
and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks + OPCW is not a United Nations (UN)
organisation, however, it has a working relationship with the UN + India is a signatory to the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and member of Executive Council of OPCW +
Pursuant to provisions of the Convention, India enacted the Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC) Act, 2000 + Under the Act, National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention
(NACWC) has been established for implementing the provisions of the convention +
Recently, India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has been appointed as external
auditor of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) + Conference
of the State Parties of OPCW selected CAG as the External Auditor for a 3-year term starting
in 2021 + In the past also, India’s CAG has held the position of External Auditor of OPCW
during the period from 1997 to 2003 + Other International posts of India’s CAG:
 Comptroller and Auditor General of India is currently the External Auditor of: World
Health Organization (2020-2023), Food and Agriculture Organization (2020-2025)
and Inter Parliamentary Union (2020-2022)
 CAG is the Chair of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors
 CAG is also member of the Governing Boards of International Organization of
Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)
 Other International efforts at chemical disarmament
 Strasbourg Agreement (1675): first international agreement limiting the use of chemical
weapons and It was signed between France and Germany
 Brussels Convention on the Law and Customs of War (1874) : the agreement never
entered into force
 Hague Convention (1899): It came into existence during Hague Peace Conference.
Contracting parties agreed to ‘abstain from the use of projectiles, the sole object of which
is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases
 Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of Warfare (1925): Commonly known as the Geneva Protocol,
it was signed post World War-I due to public outcry at horrors of chemical warfare and to
prevent its recurrence. However, the protocol does not prohibit the development,
production or possession of chemical weapons. It only bans the use of chemical and
biological weapons in war
 Human Rights Watch = Founded in 1978 + Hq: New York + conducts research and
advocacy on human rights + it pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and
individual human rights abusers to denounce abuse and respect human rights
 Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) = NGO + is a climate activism and advisory
organization in the UK
 ‘Partnership for Quality Infrastructure’= funds infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa
+ This initiative by the Japanese Government, in collaboration with the Asian Development
Bank, other international organizations and other countries, aims to provide approximately
US$110 billion for "quality infrastructure investment" in Asia
1.2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – UN Releated International Organisations

 United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) = UNCDF provides public and
private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs) + It was
established by the UN General Assembly in 1966 + Mandate was modified in 1973 to serve
first and foremost but not exclusively the LDCs.
 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD) = established in 1964
to promote development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy
+ Permanent intergovernmental body + headquartered at Geneva in Switzerland + Some of
the reports published by it are:
 Trade and Development Report
 World Investment Report
 The Least Developed Countries Report
 Information and Economy Report
 Technology and Innovation Report
 Commodities and Development Report
 ECOSOC = ECOSOC is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three
dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental + UN Charter
established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations + Last
year, India was elected to following ECOSOC bodies: UN’s Commission on the Status of
Women, Committee for Programme and Coordination, Commission on Population and
Development + Recently, India elected to 3 more key bodies of UNs economy and social
council (ECOSOC) for 3 year terms:
 Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ): Principal
policy-making body of the UN in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
The member state of CCPCJ are elected by ECOSOC
 Executive Board of UN Women: It is about gender issues. It consists of 41 members
 Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP): It is WFP's supreme
governing body + Comprising 36 states members of Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)
 UNSC resolution 2532 = It demands general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all
situations on its agenda + calls for all parties engaged in armed conflicts to “engage
immediately in durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days” + specifically
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excludes UNSC designated terrorist groups, e.g., Islamic State in Iraq and Levant.
 India to Chair 3 UNSC Committees = India began its eighth term as a non-permanent
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member of the Security Council for the period of 2021-22 + India’s objectives: to raise its
voice against terrorism, speak for the developing world and to bring human-centric inclusive
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solutions to matters of global peace and security + India would chair the following three
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committees of the UNSC, namely Counterterrorism Committee in 2022, Taliban Sanctions

Committee (1988 Sanctions Committee) and Libya Sanctions Committee
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 Committee on World Food Security (CFS) = Established in 1974 as an intergovernmental

body and reformed in 2009 as the foremost inclusive international and intergovernmental
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platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all +
FS holds an annual Plenary session every October in FAO, Rome + India is a Member + It is
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also known as United Nations Committee for World Food Security and is supported by FAO,
IFAD and World Food Programme(WFP) + Recently CFS has endorsed Voluntary
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Guidelines to end hunger

 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) = recognized as a distinct group of developing
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countries facing specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth
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Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (3- 14 June 1992) + This recognition was made
specifically in the context of Agenda 21 + Three geographical regions have been identified
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for the location of SIDS, namely, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean,
Mediterranean and South China Sea.
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 WHO Funds = There are 4 kinds of contributions that make up funding for the WHO. These
are:
 Assessed contributions are the dues countries pay in order to be a member of the
Organization. The amount each Member State must pay is calculated relative to the
country’s wealth and population.
 Voluntary contributions come from Member States (in addition to their assessed
contribution) or from other partners. They can range from flexible to highly
earmarked.
 Core voluntary contributions allow less well-funded activities to benefit from a
better flow of resources and ease implementation bottlenecks that arise when
immediate financing is lacking.
 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Contributions were started in 2011 to
improve and strengthen the sharing of influenza viruses with human pandemic
potential, and to increase the access of developing countries to vaccines and other
pandemic related supplies
 Project ECHO = Project ECHO began in 2003 as a healthcare initiative by one
Scientist(UPSC may trap you by using statements like “Project ECHO was launched by
WHO”, which is not true) + India is beneficiary Project ECHO which is low cost solution for
increasing capacity of health worker in underserved communities to provide patients with
best possible care by using video conferencing technology, communities health worker,
nurses and doctors-generalists by training- learn speciality care from subject matter experts
from each others’ communities informed knowledge + ECHO started as a strategy for
treating Hepatitis-C, and is now responsible for newly trained experts in HIV, Malaria,
Tuberculosis, addictions, mental health and many other conditions
1.3) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Agreements, Conventions and Deals

 Paris Call = is an agreement on nine fundamental cybersecurity principles and a
commitment to work together to promote a safe and secure cyberspace for all + Led by the
French government, the call was first launched in November 2018. It was announced during
the Internet Governance Forum held at UNESCO and the Paris Peace Forum + It is a non-
binding declaration + It calls states, private sector and civil society organizations to work
together to promote security in cyberspace, counter disinformation. Also, it aims to address
new cyber threats endangering citizens and infrastructure + Please Note: Both India and
USA have not joined it yet.
 Neptune Declaration = Recently, the Maritime body MUI urged the government to take
cognisance of ‘Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change’ in order to
formulate the Maritime India Vision 2030 + Neptune Declaration was unveiled at the recent
World Economic Forum(WEF) Davos 2021 Summit + it highlights the main actions that are
required to be taken in order to resolve the crew change crisis
 Alma-Ata declaration = of the World Health Organization + adopted at the International
Conference on Primary Health Care, 1978 + It outlined an integrated, local government-
centric approach with simultaneous focus on access to water, sanitation, shelter and the like
 New START Treaty = US has extended the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)
nuclear arms control treaty with Russia for five years + last remaining arms reduction pact
between US and Russia + went into effect in 2011 + It limits U.S. and Russia to deploying no
more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each and imposes restrictions on the land- and
submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them + treaty contains detailed procedures
for the implementation and verification + New START replaced the 1991 START I treaty,
which expired December 2009, and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions
Treaty (SORT), which terminated when New START entered into force.
 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty = 1987 + cold war era treaty between
Russia and USA to end arms race + US has recently announced that it will withdraw from the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty + INF treaty prohibits US and Russia from
possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to
5,500 kilometers + it does not cover air-launched or sea-launched weapons + INF like many
arms control treaty faces enforcement lacunas as parties take advantage of absence of
verification process
 Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) = UN Treaty on Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on 22 January 2021 + treaty was officially
adopted in 2017 due to efforts by International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
(ICAN) + ICAN is an international coalition of NGO’s running the campaign to advocate
United Nations Weapon Ban treaty in about 100 countries. ICAN also received the 2017
Nobel peace prize due to its efforts + TPNW got its 50 th ratification with Honduras signing it
in October 2020 + At present, 86 member-states have signed the Treaty, and 51 of them have
ratified it + US, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel
(countries possessing nuclear weapons) and NATO alliance did not support it + India
believes that the treaty does not constitute or contribute to the development of customary
international law, nor does it set any new standards or norms + India supports the
commencement of negotiations on a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention in the
Conference on Disarmament, which is the world’s single multilateral disarmament
negotiating forum working on the basis of consensus + Difference between TPNW and NPT:
 TPNW prohibits States Parties to develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise
acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons outright, comprehensively, for all
States Parties, irrespective of whether they possess nuclear weapons, while in the
NPT the non-nuclear-weapon States forsake the option of developing nuclear
weapons
 TPNW focused on prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons, while the NPT is
focused on the transfer, manufacture and acquisition of these weapons
 TPNW complements and supports the NPT's nuclear disarmament and non-
proliferation objectives to pursue negotiations on effective measures for nuclear
disarmament, receive the transfer of or control over nuclear weapons or other
nuclear explosive devices directly or indirectly, Use or threaten to use nuclear
weapons or other nuclear explosive devices etc. + It also obliges States parties to
provide adequate assistance to individuals affected by the use or testing of nuclear
weapons.
 Non-Proliferation Treaty- NPT (1968) = Aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear
weapons and weapons technology prohibits acquisition of nuclear weapons by non-nuclear
states + It represents binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to goal of disarmament by
nuclear-weapon States + It promotes cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear technology
+ Israel, India, and Pakistan never signed it, and North Korea withdrew from the Treaty in
2003.
 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996) = It prohibits all the nuclear explosion in the world
+ U.S., China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan and North Korea that had nuclear power
reactors or research reactors are yet to ratify it + 2 India-sponsored resolutions on nuclear
disarmament adopted by the UNGA are: “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of
Nuclear Weapons”,1982 and ‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’ under the ‘Nuclear weapons’
cluster, 1989
 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons = Adopted in 2017, the legally binding UN
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is entering into force now + India
reiterated that it is neither party to nor bound by any obligations + includes a comprehensive
set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities, including undertakings
not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear
weapons
 Middle East peace plan/West Asia Peace Plan = by US President Donald Trump + aka
Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People +
aimed at solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict + Has been rejected by OIC
 “Solidarity and Stability” Deal = Signed by Gulf leaders to end years-long dispute after
leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar publicly embraced, bringing Doha back into the regional
fold after a three-year-long rift, on allegations of being too close to Iran and backed radical
Islamist groups allegations that Doha denied + Any kind of instability in the Middle East
tends to send up oil prices + India depends on Qatar for 90% of its natural gas requirements
 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the “Iran deal” = agreement on the
Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna in 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United
Kingdom, United States—plus Germany) together with the European Union + Under
JCPOA, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile
of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about two-thirds the number of its gas
centrifuges for 13 years + To monitor and verify Iran’s compliance with the agreement, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have regular access to all Iranian nuclear
facilities + The agreement provides that in return for verifiably abiding by its commitments,
Iran will receive relief from U.S., European Union, and UNSC nuclear-related sanctions +
Trump Administration pulled out of the treaty in 2018 + In 2020, in the aftermath of the
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Baghdad Airport Airstrike that targeted and killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Iran
declared that it would no longer abide by the limitations of the deal but would continue to
coordinate with the IAEA l.c
 System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) = SEEA is a statistical system
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that brings together economic and environmental information into a common framework to
measure the condition of the environment, the contribution of the environment to the
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economy and the impact of the economy on the environment + It consists of 3 parts:
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 SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF): It was adopted by the UN Statistical

Commission as the first international standard for environmental economic
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accounting in 2012. It looks at “individual environmental assets”, such as water

resources, energy resources etc. and how those assets move between the environment
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and the economy

 SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA): It offers a synthesis of current
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knowledge in ecosystem accounting + India is one of 90 countries that have

successfully adopted the ecosystem accounting system including the new framework
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for SEEA EA + India’s effort was led by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) under the Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of
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Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) Project which aims to advance the theory and
practice of ecosystem accounting in India
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 SEEA Applications and Extensions: It illustrates the users of SEEA Central

Framework based accounts how the information can be used in decision-making
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 GloLitter Partnerships Project = Project is implemented by the International Maritime

Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO), with initial funding from the Government of Norway via the Norwegian Agency for
Development Cooperation (Norad) + The project aims to help the maritime transport and
fishing sectors move towards a low-plastics future + Other Global initiatives to reduce
marine litter
 London Convention/Protocol, 1972: one of the first global conventions to protect
the marine environment from human activities.
 MARPOL: IMO's International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships (MARPOL) has regulations on prevention of pollution by garbage, which
prohibits the discharge of plastics (including fishing gear) into the sea from ships
 The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment
from Land-based Activities (GPA): It is a unique intergovernmental mechanism to
counter the issue of land-based pollution + The GPA is the only global
intergovernmental mechanism directly addressing the connectivity between
terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems + under UNEP
1.4) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Conference, Meeting and Summits

 UN Food Systems Summit 2021 = will be hosted by India in Sept 2021 + called by United
Nations Secretary General + to strategize actions for positive change in Agri-food systems in
World to realize the vision of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development + “food system”
refers to constellation of activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and
consuming food
 World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 = Annual event of The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI) + Theme: ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure
environment for all’ + brings together governments, civil society and the thinkers in the
fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors + earlier known as Delhi
Sustainable Development Summit
 World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021 = WSIS Forums are
organized each year, hosted by International Telecommunications Union (ITU), co-organized
by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP + WSIS represents one of the world's largest
annual gathering of the Information and communications technology (ICT)
 Quad Ministerial Meeting = Japan, India, United States and Australia + met for first time in
2007 on side-lines of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit + to
enhance maritime cooperation + met to discuss urgent need to restore democratically elected
government in Myanmar, and priority of strengthening democratic resilience in the broader
region.
 Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Summit = 1st such summit held recently between leaders
of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. + Virtual + Leaders discussed on a variety of issues
ranging for development, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and COVID-19 vaccination
programme + Further, during the QUAD leaders’ summit, all countries agreed to establish
3C’s” working groups (on COVID-19 vaccines, Climate Change and Critical Technology)
[The Hindu Newspaper]
 BRICS India 2021 = India hosts BRICS Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting + first
meeting of BRICS under India Chairmanship in 2021 + BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India,
China, and South Africa + theme: “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation”
 Leaders’ Climate Summit = convened by the US President and was attended by 40 world
leaders, including the Prime Minister of India + They will represent countries which are
members of the Major Economies Forum (India is a member), and those vulnerable to
climate change, among others + The Leaders will exchange views on climate change,
enhancing climate actions, mobilising finance towards climate mitigation and adaptation etc.
 International Virtual Election Visitors Programme (IVEP) 2021 = Hosted recently by
Election Commission of India + Participants: Election management bodies of 26 other
countries and 3 international organisations + provided overview of Indian electoral process
and new initiatives taken by ECI on voter facilitation, transparency and accessibility of
electoral system etc.
 Indian Ocean Region [IOR] Defence Ministers’ conclave = Will be hosted by India during
“Aero India” in Bengaluru + to promote dialogue in an institutional and cooperative
environment that can foster peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region +
Theme: ‘Enhanced Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean’
 9th Heart of Asia Conference = held in Tajikistan + External Affairs Minister of India
attended the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He called for a
“double peace” which means peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan and
also said India supports the Intra-Afghan Negotiations + Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process
started in 2011 + It provides a platform for regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its
center + India is a participating country
 South Asia Multilateral Meet = China has held its 3rd multilateral dialogue with country
from South Asia to take forward closer cooperation on fighting COVID-19 and coordinating
their economic agenda + The third dialogue, hold virtually on January 6, brought together
every country in the region barring India, Bhutan and Maldives + India is NOT part of any
meet so far
 Refugee Convention 1951 = United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee,
and sets out rights of individuals who are granted asylum and responsibilities of nations that
grant asylum + India NOT a member
 Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2021 = annual + leading international forum for key
stakeholders of the energy sector + Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue is hosted and
supported by the German Federal Government and is a joint initiative of the German
Renewable Energy Federation (BEE), the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar), the
German Energy Agency (dena) and eclareon.
 Alaska Meet 2021 = The United States–China talks in Alaska, were a series of meetings
between representatives of China and the United States to discuss a range of issues affecting
their relations [The Hindu Newspaper – Major News, Missed by many standard sources]
 Troika-plus-Pakistan Conference/Russian Conference = Russia has planned to hold a
Troika-plus-Pakistan conference on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia + India will NOT be a
part(Not Invited) + meeting involves consultations between the US, Russia, China, Pakistan
along with the representatives of the Afghanistan government, Taliban, and other senior
Afghan leaders + Please note: In United Nations(UN) led summit proposed by the US, India
was Invited
1.5) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – India and Bilateral Relations

 India-Mauritius relations = Mauritius was the 3rd top source of foreign direct investment
(US$ 2.0 billion) into India in 2020-21, after Singapore and Cayman Islands + India financed
to build Offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Barracuda, and agreed to provide Dornier aircraft and
an Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv to Mauritius + Mauritius also hosts the World Hindi
Secretariat + India was the first to send a medical consignment, Hydrocloroquine (HCQ)
tablet, and vaccine to Mauritius to deal with the COVID pandemic + Mauritius is member of
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium + India has also
extended complete support to Mauritius on issue of Chagos Archipelago (between Mauritius
and the United Kingdom) + Mauritius, also called as “Little India” due to around 75%
population of Indian origin + India has DTAA with Mauritius (Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement (DTAA) is tax treaty between two or more countries to avoid taxing the same
income twice is known as DTAA) + India’s projects inAgalega island of Mauritius caused
disquiet among people of Mauritius and opposition
 Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) = India
and Mauritius signed a $100 million Defence Line of Credit agreement + It was a part of
several understandings including CECPA + India’s first such agreement with an African
country + Using the new framework under the CECPA, India and Mauritius would provide
preferential access to a number of items like surgical equipment, medicine, and textile
products that would cater to market requirements on both sides. “Just to illustrate some of the
benefits + Mauritius will get preferential access for export of 40,000 tonnes of sugar into
India at an early time frame + Both sides have also agreed to negotiate an Automatic Trigger
Safeguard Mechanism (ATSM) for a limited number of highly sensitive products within 2
years of the Signing of the Agreement. This will automatically increase levies once imports
cross a given threshold
 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) = India has signed CEPA
with Japan, Sri Lanka, and South Korea + CEPA is a bilateral agreement that covers trade in
goods and services, investment, competition and intellectual property rights (IPRs).
 Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) = India signed CECA with
Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand + CECA consist of Free Trade Agreement, bilateral
agreement on investment promotion, protection, and cooperation, improved Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), liberal Air Services Agreement, and Open Skies for Charter
Flights and work programme of cooperation in a number of areas including health care,
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education, media, tourism etc. + Other Types of trade agreement are:
 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) = FTA between two or more countries reduces
barriers to imports and exports among them + This is provided through preferential
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trade terms, tariff concession etc.
 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) = This is unilateral trade preferences, include
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Generalized System of Preferences schemes under which developed countries grant
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preferential tariffs to imports from developing countries + Tariffs may be reduced at

low or zero for some products
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 India-Maldives Relations = India has signed $50 million defence agreement with Maldives
to boost maritime capability + signed between the Finance Ministry of Maldives and the
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Export Import Bank of India(EXIM) + India will develop an important naval facility for the
Maldivian armed forces. E.g., Maldives National Defense Force Coast Guard Harbor at
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Sifvaru (UthuruThilafalhu) + India also signed project execution contract for the construction
of roads in Addu + Maldives is member of SAARC, SASEC, Indian Ocean RIM Association
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and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium + India is Maldives’ 4th largest trade partner after
UAE, China and Singapore + Earlier, India has gifted a ‘Made in India’ Patrol Vessel named
"KAAMIYAAB” + India is largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives. However, in 2019
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India has moved to 2nd and is placed just below China + Indians are the second largest
expatriate community in the Maldives + Maldives was the first country to receive Covid-19
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vaccines from India + India Cultural Center (ICC), was established in Male in 2011
 UthuruThilaFalhu(UTF) = India has signed agreement with Maldives for developing
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Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard Harbour at Sifvaru –UthuruThilafalhu (UTF)
 Sri Lankan Tamils issue = Before 2009, Tamil minority in Sri Lanka was facing persecution
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under nationalist Sinhalese government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam + led to a civil
war which ended in 2009 + UN called it a bloodbath and kept it on Human Rights Council’s
agenda ever since
 Category-I Licence to UAE = India has classified Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) from
the UAE as eligible for taking up preferential Category-I FPI licence + it exempts overseas
investors into India-dedicated funds from ambit of indirect transfer taxes under the Income
Tax Act, 1961 + Funds, however, must still pay Securities Transaction Tax (STT) and capital
gains tax on investment gains in Indian assets + Usually, it would be given to only the FATF
countries, but rules were changed by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) + After
Mauritius, UAE is second non-FATF nation to receive this
 India and Europen Union(EU) Trade = India has an untapped export potential of $39.9
billion in the EU and Western Europe + The top products with export potential include
apparel, gems and jewellery, chemicals, machinery, automobile, pharmaceuticals and plastic
+ India benefits from tariff preferences under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP) for several of these products. In fact, India is among the major beneficiaries of the
EU’s GSP, with exports under the GSP valued at nearly $19.4 billion in 2019, accounting for
nearly 37% of India’s merchandise exports to the EU + There are several products where
India has export potential in the EU, but these have “graduated” or are at the brink of
“graduation” under EU GSP. Product graduation applies when average imports of a
product from a beneficiary country exceed 17.5% of EU-GSP imports of the same product
from all beneficiary countries over three years + India’s exports of products such as textiles,
inorganic and organic chemicals, gems and jewellery, iron, steel and their articles, base
metals and automotives are already out of the ambit of EU-GSP benefits + India’s
negotiation for a Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement, which commenced in 2007,
is yet to materialise due to lack of concurrence in areas like automotives and dairy and
marine products + China has already negotiated a comprehensive agreement on investment.
India also needs to negotiate on investment-related aspects with the EU to enhance bilateral
investments and foster stronger value chains, especially in technology-intensive sectors in
which the EU has a comparative advantage + As far as Non-Tariff Measures(NTMs) are
concerned, India faces as many as 414 NTMs in the EU, in a wide array of sectors
 US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative (USIAI) = Launched by Indo-U.S. Science and
Technology Forum (IUSSTF) + It focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation in
critical areas that are priorities for both countries + USSTF is bilateral organization funded
by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Governments of India, and the U.S.
Department of States
 Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) = established under an agreement
between the Governments of India and the United States of America in 2000 + autonomous
bilateral organization jointly funded by both the Governments + It operates through two
bilateral agreements: Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and United States-
India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) + Department of Science &
Technology is nodal departments for IUSSTF
 India-US clean energy agenda 2030 partnership = partnership was launched at the Virtual
Leaders’ Summit on Climate 2021 + Through the Partnership, India and the United States are
firmly committed to working together in achieving their ambitious climate and clean energy
targets + In its new nationally determined contribution, the US has set an economy-wide
target of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030. As
part of its climate mitigation efforts, India has set a target of installing 450 GW of renewable
energy by 2030
 Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research(PACE) = It is the flagship program on
clean energy between the U.S. and India, and operates a jointly managed set of activities
related to energy security, clean energy and climate change issues + PACE focuses on
accelerating the transition to high-performing, low-emission, and energy secure economies.
 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) = signed in 1960, between India and Pakistan + brokered by the
World Bank + It covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers of Indus river
system viz, Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The treaty specifies that waters
from three western rivers viz. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab are reserved for Pakistan, while
waters from eastern rivers viz. Ravi, Sutlej and Beas are for reserved for India. + established
Permanent Indus Commission(PIC) + Recently, 116 th Meeting of the Permanent Indus
Commission held after a gap of more than two and half years between Indian and Pakistani
delegations
 West Container Terminal (WCT) = Sri Lanka recently said that it will develop the West
Container Terminal (WCT) at the Colombo Port, along with India and Japan + The decision
comes a month after Sri Lankan government rejected the two partners from a 2019 tripartite
agreement to jointly develop the East Container Terminal (ECT), citing resistance to “foreign
involvement” + High Commission of India had “approved” Adani Ports, which was to invest
in the ECT project earlier, Japan is yet to name an investor
 Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) = India, Japan and Australia have launched +
supply chain resilience is an approach that helps a country to diversify its supply risk across a
group of supplying nations instead of being dependent on just one or a few + initially
proposed by Japan
 Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment Agreement = Indo-German
Agreement on Marine Litter + Marine Litter is 15-20% of all plastics are entering oceans via
riverine ecosystems of which 90% are contributed by 10 of world’s most polluting rivers,
which includes Ganga and Brahmaputra + It aims to enhance practices to prevent plastic
entering the marine environment + It will support Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban’s
implementation with special focus on preventing plastic litter entering rivers and water
bodies at source
 Strategic Partnership on Water = Recently, India and Netherlands agreed on instituting a
‘Strategic Partnership on Water’ to further deepen the Indo-Dutch cooperation in the water
related sector, and upgrading the Joint Working Group on Water to Ministerial-level + Other
relations between India- Netherlands
 In 2019, India and Netherlands had launched the second phase of the Local
Treatment of Urban Sewage streams for Healthy Reuse (LOTUS-HR) plant as a
part of joint collaboration in New Delhi
 Dutch India Water Alliance for Leadership Initiative (DIWALI) for designing
solutions to water challenges
 Indo-Dutch R&D projects under Namami- Gange Programme
 The Netherlands is India’s 3rd largest trading partner in European Union (EU),
and the 3rd largest FDI investor. Also, India was the 4th largest FDI investor in
the Netherlands in 2019- 20
 Netherlands has the second largest population of Indian origin in Europe after the
UK
1.6) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Health Related

 COVAX Program = Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) + global initiative aimed
at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines + led by Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunizations (GAVI), World Health Organization (WHO), Coalition for Epidemic
Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) etc. + to vaccinate roughly 20% of population in 92 middle
and lower-income nations that cannot afford to pay + Ghana became first country to receive
vaccine under it
 Immunisation Agenda 2030 = Recently, global agencies like the World Health
Organization (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI and others have launched the Immunisation Agenda
2030 (IA2030) during World Immunisation Week + Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030)
sets a global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization for the decade 2021–2030 +
It is based on learnings from Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and aims to address the
unmet targets of the GVAP + Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011–2020 (GVAP) was
developed to realize the ambitions of the Decade of Vaccines – that all individuals and
communities enjoy lives free from vaccine preventable diseases through more equitable
access to vaccines
 Digital Green Certificates = European Commission proposed to create Digital Green
Certificate to facilitate safe and free movement of citizens within European Union (EU) amid
COVID-19 pandemic + It proves that person has been vaccinated against covid-19, or has
received a negative test result or recovered from covid-19 + will be free of cost + All EU
citizens or third-country nationals legally staying in EU can use these certificates to be
exempted from free movement restrictions
1.7) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – International Places in News

 Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu = 3 islands off Jaffna peninsula, located
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in the Palk Bay + Sri Lanka recently cleared Chinese energy project to install ‘hybrid
renewable energy systems’ in these Islands
 Monywa, Sagaing region = in Myanmar + was in news due to security challenges + Please
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Note: Karen National Union: is a political organisation with an armed wing, the Karen
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National Liberation Army, that claims to represent the Karen people of Myanmar
 Sangay Volcano = Ecuador + part of the Pacific Rim’s “Ring of Fire” region
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 Nine-Dash Line Dispute = refers to the South China Sea dispute + China claims by far the
largest portion of territory – an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches hundreds
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of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Haina
 Whitsun Reef = Located in South China Sea near Palawan Island + Whitsun Reef is a reef at
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the northeast extreme limit of the Union Banks in the Spratly Islands of the West Philippine
Sea + It is the largest reef of the Union Banks + Until at least the 1990s it was submerged
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most of the time and was visible above the water only during the low tide, at other times the
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reef could be detected due to the pattern of breaking waves + As of 2016, the reef was
unclaimed, however China has recently moored fishing ships near reef
 Persian Gulf Region = includes 8 countries- Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi
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Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq bordering the Persian Gulf (an extension of the
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Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman) through the Strait of Hormuz) + Persian Gulf and its coastal
areas are the world's largest single source of petroleum (50 percent of the world's oil
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reserves) + Safaniya Oil Field, the world's largest offshore oilfield, is located in the Persian
Gulf + UAE and Saudi Arabia are India’s 3rd and 4th largest trading partners + UAE features
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in the top 10 sources of FDI inflows into India + Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi signed an
agreement to jointly develop the largest refinery in the world in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra +
Fifty-three per cent of India's oil imports and 41 per cent of gas imports come from the
region
 Cape of Good Hope = Due to the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, the option of re-routing
ships via the Cape of Good Hope was explored + It is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast
of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa + Cape of Good Hope route joins Eastern Asia and
Europe to southern parts of Africa + Please Note: Cape of Good Hope is NOT the
southernmost point of South Africa, rather Cape Agulhas is the southernmost point + It is
rocky headland on Atlantic coast of Cape Peninsula in South Africa + Please Note: southern-
most point of Africa is Cape Agulhas
 Thousand Islands (KepulauanSeribu)= chain of islands north of Jakarta’s coast, Indonesia
+ 110 islands +PulauSeribu National Marine Park + initially caused by the volcanoes + Later,
the shifting of tectonic plates results in their consolidation as a grouping of small islands in a
relatively small area
 Semeru Volcano = In Indonesia’s East Java province + highest volcano in Java and one of
the most active + Erupted recently
 West Bank = Landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered
by Jordan to the east and by the Green Line separating it and Israel on the south, west and
north + also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore + was captured by
Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War + Israel snatched it back during the Six Day War of
1967, against the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan + still a point of contention
due to a large number of Palestinians who live there and hope to see the land become a part
of their future state +Israel approves West Bank settlement homes ahead of Trump exit
 Fordow Nuclear Facility = Iran + Recently, Iran begins enriching uranium here, in breach
of nuclear deal
 Galilee Basin = Galilee Basin is spread across 247,000 sq km and is a thermal coal basin.
The basin is located in the Central Australian state of Queensland + Recently, Adani Group
has cleared its last regulatory hurdle to commence work on its controversy-hit Carmichael
coal mine project in Australia with the Queensland State authorities approving its
groundwater management plan
 Suez Canal Blockage = recently choked by the ship named “Ever Given” + The last time the
Suez Canal was closed for navigation was in 1967, after the Six-Day War between Israel and
Arab nations broke out + Prior to that, the channel had been shut for less than a year during
the Suez War of 1956 when Israel, France and Britain invaded Egypt + The 193-km-long
canal across Egypt’s Isthmus of Suez connecting the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the
Red Sea in south — thereby bringing the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean closer — has
been a critical artery for global trade since the mid-19th century + Suez Canal is man-made
channel + It provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around
the Indian and western Pacific oceans
 Oldest Aboriginal rock art = Found in Australia’s Kimberley region + on sloped ceiling of
a rock shelter
 Al Dhafra Airbase = Abu Dhabi, UAE
 Wadi Rum Desert = Aqaba, Jordan
 West Philippine Sea = eastern parts of the South China Sea which are included in the
Philippines' exclusive economic zone
 Port of Keelung = Taiwan
 Cholistan Desert = Pakistan
 Noakhali region = predominantly includes the districts of Noakhali, Feni and Lakshmipur in
Bangladesh
 Kowloon Peninsula = a peninsula that forms southern part of main landmass in territory of
Hong Kong, alongside Victoria Harbour and facing toward Hong Kong island + Hong Kong
is set to grant a site on western Kowloon peninsula, to China’s national security office for its
permanent base in city.
 Red Sea = also the Erythraean Sea + seawater inlet of Indian Ocean, lying between Africa
and Asia + connection to ocean is in south through Bab el Mandeb strait and Gulf of Aden +
To the north lie Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Aqaba, and Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal)
+ The sea is underlain by Red Sea Rift which is part of Great Rift Valley + its salinity is
greater than world average.
 Doomsday Glacier = Also called Thwaites Glacier + in West Antarctica + NASA scientists
have discovered a gigantic cavity, almost 300 metres tall, growing at the bottom of the
Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, indicating rapid decay of the ice sheet and acceleration
in global sea levels due to climate change + cavity discovered by Operation IceBridge + it
contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a metre
 La Soufriere Volcano Eruption = It is an active stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of
Saint Vincent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines + It is the highest peak in Saint Vincent
and has had five recorded explosive eruptions since 1718 + According to reports, Sulphur
dioxide (SO2) emissions from La Soufriere volcano eruption in the Caribbean have reached
all the way to India
 Thousand Islands (KepulauanSeribu)= chain of islands north of Jakarta’s coast, Indonesia
+ 110 islands +PulauSeribu National Marine Park + initially caused by the volcanoes + Later,
the shifting of tectonic plates results in their consolidation as a grouping of small islands in a
relatively small area
 Semeru Volcano = In Indonesia’s East Java province + highest volcano in Java and one of
the most active + Erupted recently
 West Bank = Landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered
by Jordan to the east and by the Green Line separating it and Israel on the south, west and
north + also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore + was captured by
Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War + Israel snatched it back during the Six Day War of
1967, against the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan + still a point of contention
due to a large number of Palestinians who live there and hope to see the land become a part
of their future state +Israel approves West Bank settlement homes ahead of Trump exit
 Fordow Nuclear Facility = Iran + Recently, Iran begins enriching uranium here, in breach
of nuclear deal
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There is no separate Indian places in news in this Part.
1.8) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Miscellaneous

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 LoC = Originally known as Cease-fire Line + redesignated as “Line of Control”
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following Simla Agreement, signed on 3 July 1972 + part of Jammu under Indian control is
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known as Jammu and Kashmir + Pakistani-controlled part is divided into Azad Jammu and
Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan + northernmost point of Line of Control is known as NJ9842
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 Global Youth Mobilization Local Solutions Campaign = Launched recently + to involve

youth in building their lives impacted by pandemic + being supported by World Alliance of
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Young Men’s Christian Associations, World Young Women’s Christian Association, World
Organization of the Scout Movement, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts,
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Duke of Edinburgh’s
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International Award
 Saudi Green Initiative & Middle East Green Initiative = Saudi Green Initiative aims to
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raise the vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution and land degradation,
and preserve marine life. + As part of the Middle East Green initiative, Saudi Arabia will
work with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and regional partners to plant an
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additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region. Saudi Arabia has been sharing its
expertise and know-how with its neighbouring countries to reduce carbon emissions resulting
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from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60% and globally by 10%

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 Global Diabetes Compact = launched by WHO + to better fight diabetes while marking
centenary of insulin discovery + number of diabetics got quadrupled in last 40 years + set
standards for tackling diseases in form of ‘global coverage targets’ for ensuring a wider reach
of diabetes care + will also release ‘global price tag’ that will calculate costs and benefits of
meeting these targets
 Bangladesh - LDC to a Developing Country = UN Committee for Development Policy
(CDP) has recommended graduation of Bangladesh from Least Developed Country (LDC)
category to Developing Country category + Eligibility criteria are: Per capita income, Human
Assets Index, and Economic Vulnerability Index + Usually, countries are given 3 years for
transition but this year due to the pandemic, Bangladesh has been given 5 years i.e. upto
2026
 Myanmar-vs-Burma = When Britishers annexed it, they called it Burma after the dominant
Burman (Bamar) ethnic group + Even after independence in 1948, it retained the same name
+ In 1989, junta adopted a law that replaced Burma with Myanmar, like looking for a way to
leave behind a name inherited from the colonial past, and adopt a new one which could unify
all of its 135 officially recognised ethnic groups, and not just the Burman people.
 Military Coup in Myanmar = Recently, Myanmar (formerly called Burma) military
grabbed power in a coup, third time in the nation’s history since its independence from
British rule in 1948 + Military (also called Junta and Tatmadaw) has alleged that the general
elections held in 2020 were full of irregularities.
 China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Pact = China and Iran have signed a 25-year "strategic
cooperation pact” which includes "political economic and strategic components" + It will
deepen relations between Iran and China and would establish a blueprint for "reciprocal
investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services." + It forms a part
of China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a plan to fund infrastructure projects
and increase its influence overseas
 News Media Bargaining Code = New Legislation of Australia + The News Media
Bargaining Code (or News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) is a
law designed to have large technology platforms that operate in Australia pay local news
publishers for the news content made available or linked on their platforms+ The Mandatory
Bargaining Code is an unusual piece of policy. It attempts to address two problems in one
hit: how to tax large, multinational technology companies; and how to ensure that Australia
maintains a strong, independent media
 Harmonized System of Nomenclature Code (HSN) = multipurpose international product
nomenclature + HS code is 6-digit identification code, in which first two denote HS Chapter,
next two denotes HS heading, and last two denotes HS subheading + Developed by World
Customs Organization (WCO) + It has been made mandatory for GST taxpayer having
turnover of more than Rs 5 crore in preceding financial year, to furnish 6 digits HSN Code
(Harmonized System of Nomenclature Code).
 ‘R2P’ (Responsibility to Protect) resolution = R2P – is an international norm that seeks to
ensure that the international community never again fails to halt the mass atrocity crimes of
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity
 Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) = FONOP is a US Department of Defense
program that involves passages conducted by the US Navy through waters which they
claimed are not the exclusive territory of coastal nations + Recently, US Navy under its
freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) entered India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ),
near Lakshadweep, without requesting India’s prior consent + India opposes this move as
UNCLOS, 1982 does not authorize other states to carry out military exercises or manoeuvres
in the EEZ and on the continental shelf without the consent of the coastal state. It also It
violates Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and other Maritime Zones Act 1976
which notifies the sovereignty of the Indian states over the respective territorial waters.
 Britcoin = Bank of England and Treasury will create Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
called "Britcoin" + new form of digital money that would exist alongside cash and bank
deposits, rather than replacing them + objective: to have more open, greener, and
technologically advanced financial services sector
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
2.1) SPECIES in NEWS

 Himalayan Serow = They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas,
but not in the Trans Himalayan region + There are several species of serows, and all of them
are found in Asia. The Himalayan serow, or Capricornissumatraensis thar, is restricted to the
Himalayan region + It is a mammal between goat and an antelope, found at 2,000-4,000
metres above sea level + IUCN Status - ‘Vulnerable’ + Recently, it has been spotted in
Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam
 Black-Browed Babbler = Recently, a Black-Browed Babbler (Malacocinclaperspicillata)
was rediscovered in south-eastern Kalimantan, the part of Borneo that is administered by
Indonesia + IUCN Red List: Data Deficient + In the 1840s, a mystery bird was caught on an
expedition to the East Indies. It was named as black-browed babbler. No Asian bird has been
missing for as long as Indonesia’s Black-browed Babbler. It has been missing for the last 170
years + This bird is often called 'the biggest enigma in Indonesian ornithology’
 Three-banded Rosefinch= A bird spotted in Arunachal Pradesh at an altitude higher than its
recorded perch in adjoining China has become the 1,340th species of the bird family in India
+ spotted by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) team at Sela pass in Arunachal
Pradesh + It is a resident of southern China and a vagrant in Bhutan + belongs to Fringillidae
family + IUCN status - ‘Least Concern’
 Disk-footed Bat = India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky disks, has been found near
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya + Eudiscopusdenticulus species is known to
thrive in a few localities in Southern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar + IUCN: Least
Concern + Meghalaya has highest number of Disk footed bat + A disk-footed bat has been
recorded for the first time in India
 Kolar Leaf-Nosed Bat = Endemic to India + found in only one cave in Karnataka + IUCN
Status: Critically Endangered + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: It has not been accorded legal
protection under the Act + Recently, Karnataka Forest Department, along with the Bat
Conservation India Trust (BCIT), is getting prepared to save the Kolar leaf-nosed bat from
extinction + BCIT is a non-profit organizationheadquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka
 Snow Leopard = Vulnerable + appendix I of CITES + threats due to poaching and habitat
destruction + it inhabits the Himalayas at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 m across
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal
Pradesh + In Uttarakhand, snow leopards are found in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,
Gangotri National Park, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and other places of altitude between 3000-
4500 meters + Snow leopards are found in 12 countries—including China, Bhutan, Nepal,
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and Mongolia + Himachal Pradesh’s high-altitude hilly
terrain could be harbouring as many as 73 snow leopards as per the first-ever such study on
snow leopards, a top predator of the Indian Himalaya, was completed in January by the
Himachal Pradesh Wildlife Department and the Mysore-based Nature Conservation
Foundation (NCF).
 Woolly Rhino = well-preserved Ice Age woolly rhino has been recovered from permafrost in
Russia's extreme north on the Tirekhtyakh river bank + dated to be 20,000- to 50,000-years-
old + Recent years have seen major discoveries of mammoths, woolly rhinos, Ice Age foal,
and cave lion cubs as the permafrost increasingly melts across vast areas of Siberia because
of global warming
 Caracal = National Board for Wildlife included caracal in the list of critically endangered
species(Such listing is expected to bring central funding to conservation efforts. It is likely to
ensure that the animal is studied comprehensively for the first time, including its home range,
population, prey, etc) + medium-sized wildcat found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat + Its
earliest evidence in subcontinent comes from a fossil dating back to Indus Valley civilization
+ It is also found in Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia + While it flourishes in parts
of Africa, its numbers in Asia are declining + It finds mention in Abul Fazl’sAkbarnama, as a
hunting animal in the time of Akbar + Least concern(due to large numbers in Africa) +
included into the list of critically endangered species by the Standing Committee of National
Board of Wildlife (NBWL)+Their survival in India is endangered due to rapid loss of scrub
and thorn habitat and unchecked human activates in habitat
 Hippopotamus = It is considered to be the second largest land animal (after the elephant) +
These are ungulate mammal that lives along the rivers and lakes throughout sub-Saharan
Africa + also known as water horse + favour shallow areas where they can sleep half-
submerged (“rafting”) as to seek refuge from the heat + IUCN Status: Vulnerable + CITES:
Appendix III + These are Extinct in northern Africa and south of Natal and the Transvaal.
They are common in East Africa, but populations continue to decrease continent wide
 Sahiwal Cow = It is commonly of a reddish dun colour, with more of a dark brownish colour
around the hump and the neck + Sahiwal is considered to be one of the best milch cattle
breed of India + The breed derives its name from Sahiwal area in Montgomery district of
Punjab in Pakistan + These animals are also known as “Lambi Bar”, “Lola”, “Montgomery”,
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“Multani” and “Teli”
 Re-categorization of African Elephants = Recently, IUCN has categorised, savanna
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elephant as “endangered” and much smaller, lighter forest elephant as “critically endangered”
+ Forest elephants occur in the tropical forests of Central Africa and in a range of habitats in
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West Africa + Savanna elephant, which prefers open country and is found in a variety of
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habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa including grasslands and deserts + Difference between Asian
and African Elephant:
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 Asian elephants (found in India) size and ears are smaller than African elephants
 Only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African
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elephants grow tusks

 Asian Elephants have 3 subspecies: Indian, Sri Lankan and Sumatran
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 IUCN of Asian Elephant: Vulnerable

 Platypus = duck-billed mammal + only animal in world to have a beak, fur and webbed feet
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+ endemic to eastern Australia + IUCN Status: Near Threatened + To promote breeding and
rehabilitation of platypus, world’s 1st platypus refuge would-be built-in Australia.
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 Red Panda = found in Sikkim, western Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling of West Bengal
and parts of Meghalaya + state animal of Sikkim + IUCN status: Endangered + Mammals
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found in the mountain forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Myanmar
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 Black-footed Ferret = North America’s only native ferret + considered extinct until seven
were found in 1981 + scientists have successfully cloned it using frozen cells from along-
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dead wild animal + first time any native endangered species has been cloned in US +
Endangeres
 Bar-headed Geese = found in central China and Mongolia and they breed there + They start
migration to the Indian sub-continent during the winter and stay till the end of the season +
Least Concern + They are one of the birds which can fly even at very high altitude. They
come to India and return to their homes by crossing the Himalayan range + The capacity of
bar-headed geese to transport and consume oxygen at high rates in hypoxia distinguishes this
species from similar lowland waterfowl.
 Giant Leatherback Turtle = largest of seven species of sea turtles + nest only in Indonesia,
Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands + Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection
Act, 1972 + found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic
 Indian Star Tortoises = Schedule IV of WPA,1972 + Vulnerable + Prohibited from export

under the foreign trade policy + Liable for confiscation under Customs act,1962 + found in
dry areas and scrub forest in India and Sri Lanka + CITES: Appendix I + The species faces
two threats: loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting for the pet trade
 Indian Pangolin = Endangered + Pangolin species are only scaly mammal on the planet +
Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) + (Chinese
pangolin has been listed as “critically endangered”) + hunted for its meat across the north -
eastern States and in central India, the demand for its scales in China + pangolin scales – like
rhino horns – are made of keratin that produces human hair and nails and has no medicinal
value + features(Pangolin tongue is longer than it’s body + have no teeth + can consume 70
million ants a year) + scientists have radio-tagged the Indian pangolin, an endangered animal
+ Radio-tagging involves attaching a transmitter to an animal to monitor its movement +
Pangolins are among the most trafficked wildlife species in the world. The projected
population declines range from 50% to 80% across the genus + Out of the eight species of
pangolin, the Indian and the Chinese pangolins are found in India. Both these species are
listed under Schedule I Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
 Sturgeon = Sturgeons have existed since the time of dinosaurs, for about 200 million years +
They are called ‘living fossils’ because their appearance has altered very little over the years
+ There are 6 species of sturgeon in the Danube River. Five of them are now listed as
critically endangered + Listed in Appendix II of CITES + According to a report released by
the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), illegal sale of Danube Sturgeon, one of the most
endangered species in the world, is rampant in the lower Danube (River) region, especially in
Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine + Danube is the second longest river in Europe after
the Volga. It rises in the Black Forest mountains of western Germany.
 Mandarin Duck = It is native to East Asia(Eastern China and Southern Japan) but has
established populations in Western Europe and America too + These birds inhabit temperate
forests near wetlands including rivers, streams, bogs, marshes, swamps, and freshwater lakes
+ The duck rarely visits India as it does not fall in its usual migratory route + It was recorded
in 1902 in the Dibru river in the Rongagora area in Tinsukia (Assam). More recently, it was
sighted in Manipur’s Loktak Lake in 2013, and in SaatvoiniBeel in Manas National Park and
Tiger Reserve in Assam’s Baksa district in 2014 + Recently, found in Maguri-Motapungbeel
(or wetland) in Assam’s Tinsukia district + IUCN Status: ‘Least Concern’
 Hilsa = It is Bangladesh’s national fish and was called Matsyaraja – the king of fishes +
Hilsa has a history of migrating to Allahabad in the Ganga river system from Bangladesh +
Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters of the Ganges from the Bay of
Bengal + Anadromous fish i.e., it lives most of its life in the ocean, but during the rainy
season (spawning time), it moves towards the estuary, where the rivers of India and
Bangladesh meet the Bay of Bengal + Fish Pass(fish ladders or fish ways) for hilsa was
constructed by govt in 2019, by redesigning navigation lock at Farakka Barrage and it
facilitated movement of hilsa upstream along Ganga to its spawning grounds
 Whale Shark = ‘filter feeder shark’ i.e., does not eat meat like other sharks + filter sea water
and feed on tiny planktons + very important for marine megafauna like turtles, whales and
sharks + IUCN Status: Endangered + found in all the tropical oceans of the world
 Indus and Ganges river dolphins are two different species = According to an analysis of
the Indus and Ganges River dolphins, it was found they are not one but two separate different
species + Currently, Indus and Ganges River dolphins are classified as two subspecies under
South Asian river dolphins(Platanista gangetica)
 Gangetic River Dolphin: primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and
their tributaries in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal + They prefer deep waters in and
around the confluence of rivers. They also act as an indicator of the health of the
freshwater ecosystem as they can only live in freshwater + population of the Ganges
river dolphins is declining + Endangered + protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972 + Appendix I of CITES
 Indus River Dolphin: Also known as Bhulan + Endangered + can only be found in
the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan and in River Beas, a tributary of the
Indus River in Punjab + They have adapted to life in the muddy river and are
functionally blind + state aquatic animal of Punjab
 Sea Buckthorn = Himachal Pradesh government has decided to start planting Sea buckthorn
in the cold desert areas + It’s a shrub that produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry +
In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such
as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti+ also used as a folk medicine+ In Himachal Pradesh,
it is locally called Himalayan chharma and grows in the wild
 Red sanders = Pterocarpus santalinus + known for its rich hue and therapeutic properties +
endemic to Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka + in 2019,
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) revised its export policy to permit its export, if
it is obtained from cultivated land
 Bamboo Flowering = The ‘gregarious flowering of bamboo’ inside the Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary (WWS) and the nearby Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Gudalur forest division in
Tamil Nadu may pose a threat to wildlife in the Nilgiri biosphere +This phenomenon said to
occur once in the life cycle of bamboo plants + it may adversely affect migration of wild
animals owing to the mass destruction of bamboo groves after the flowering + Thorny
bamboo (BamboosaBambos) is a monocarpic (flowering only once) plant belonging to the
Poaceae family (grass family), and its flowering cycle varies from 40 to 60 years
 Gucchi, or Morel mushroom = Forest produce collected by local farmers and tribal in
Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district + medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties + found in
the temperate forests + priced at over ₹20,000 a kg + GI tag has been sought
 PhysarumPolycephalum = slime mould + stores and retrieves memories even though it has
no brain + This organism’s body consists of a single cell that may stretch to even metres. It
weaves its memories into its network like body
2.2) NEW SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS

 Nacaduba Sinhala RamaswamiiSadasivan = new butterfly species discovered in
Agasthyamalai in Western Ghats + + It is the first time that a butterfly species was
discovered by an all-Indian research team from the Western Ghats + Line Blues are small
butterflies belonging to the subfamily Lycaenidae and their distribution ranges from India
and Sri Lanka to the whole of southeastern Asia, Australia and Samoa
 Brookesia Nana = Recently discovered chameleon from the island country, Madagascar +
world’s smallest adult reptile + Previously, Brookesia micra was thought to be smallest
 SchisturaHiranyakeshi = new small freshwater fish species discovered near Amboli,
Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra + named after Hiranyakeshi River + Hiranyakeshi river is a
left-bank tributary of the Ghataprabha River originating in the western ghats in the
Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra + Ghataprabha River is a tributary of Krishna and Hidkal
Dam is located on this river (Tributaries of Ghataprabha: Hiranyakeshi and Markandeya
rivers)
 Cirrhimuraena Indica = New species of snake eel discovered from ports of Paradip in
Odisha and Petuaghat harbour in West Bengal + name proposed is ‘Indian fringe-lip eel’ or
Cirrhimuraena Indica + Cirrhimureaena genus is represented in Indian waters by
Cirrhimuraenaplayfairii or the fringe-lip snake eel in the Godavari estuarine system
 Arka Shubha variety = the new variety of marigold developed by the Hessarghatta-based
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) + it can be used for extraction of crude
carotene, which is mainly used in the pharmaceutical sector + All marigolds have a carotene
content of up to 1.4%. However, the Arka Shubha variety of marigold has a carotene content
of 2.8%, which is the highest content from a plant source +These flowers can be sold for
ornamental purpose too + Presently, India imports most of its carotene from China and other
countries + The Arka Shubha variety is of use in the poultry sector as well. Its petals could be
used as feed to get quality yolk. It is used as feed for sheep too
 Two new Ant species discovered = from Kerala and Tamil Nadu + OoceraeaJoshii: from
Periyar Tiger Reserve of Kerala and is named in honour of professor Amitabh Joshi — a
distinguished evolutionary biologist from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific
Research (JNCASR) + Ooceraeadecamera: Decamera refers to the ten-segmented antennal
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count. Discovered from Alagarkoil in Madurai
 Few New Fauna species found in India
 Muduga Leaping Frog (Western Ghats)
 Gunther’s Wood Snake (Tamil Nadu)
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 Vaibhav’s Protanilla, Ant species (Goa)
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 South Asian Cnemaspis, Indian Gekkonoid (Eastern Ghats)
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 Pit-Viper Snake (Arunachal Pradesh);

 Schizothoraxsikusirumensis, fish species (Arunachal Pradesh);
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 Punitus Sanctus, freshwater fish (Tamil Nadu)

 Few New Flora species found in India
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 Aloe Trinervis (North-western India)

 Bioluminiscient Mushroom phyllostachydis (Meghalaya)
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 Eriocaulon parvicephalum and Eriocaulon karaavalense (Western Ghats)

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 Portulaca laljii, Wild Sunrose (Andhra Pradesh)

 New Red Algae Species = Recently, two new red algal seaweed species have been
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discovered along India’s coastline of + Red Algae are involved in producing about 40 to 60
per cent of the total global oxygen for both terrestrial habitat and other aquatic habitats +
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They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast, namely the area that is submerged during the
high tide and exposed during low tides + Species of Hypnea contain the biomolecule
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carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry

 Hypnea indica: discovered on Coast of Tamil Nadu & Gujarat
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 Hypnea bullata: discovered from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu and Diu island of
Daman and Diu
2.3) ANCIENT SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS

 Siberian Mammoths = molars of mammoths were discovered near Krestovka River, Adycha
River and Chukochya River + Scientists recovered and sequenced oldest DNA on record,
from the molars of mammoths that roamed Siberia up to 1.2 million years ago + oldest DNA
came from horse in Canada's Yukon Territory
 Purgatorius Fossils = oldest genus in a group of the earliest-known primates called
plesiadapiforms + these ancient mammals were small-bodied and ate specialised diets of
insects and fruits that varied by species + They are estimated to be 65.9 million years old,
about 1,05,000 to 1,39,000 years after the mass extinction event + Based on the age of the
fossils, the scientists said the ancestor of all primates, including the plesiadapiforms and
modern day primates such as lemurs, monkeys and apes, likely lived alongside large
dinosaurs
 Dickinsonia = earliest known living animal + fossils discovered from ‘Auditorium Cave’
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka + only Dickinsonia fossils available in the country + it further
proves the proves the existence of Gondwana land as these are similar to those seen in
southern Australia + (Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka = Archaeological site in foothills of
Vindhyan Mountains on southern edge of central Indian plateau + Madhya Pradesh +
UNESCO World Heritage Site + also known as Bhima’s Lounge (Bhima - Pandava prince
from the Mahabharata))
 Monkeydactyl = new pterosaur fossil was discovered in Tiaojishan Formation of Liaoning,
China, and is believed to be 160 million years old + named Kunpengopterusantipollicatus,
also dubbed “Monkeydactyl” + flying reptile with ‘oldest opposable thumbs’ + Opposability
of thumb is being able to “simultaneously flex, abduct and medially rotate the thumb” in a
way that one is able to bring the tip of thumb to touch tips of other fingers + Along with
humans, some ancient monkeys and apes also had opposable thumbs.
 Cynodonts = are important in evolutionary studies as this group ultimately gave rise to the
present-day mammals. By studying their molar and premolar teeth, we see how they slowly
evolved and modified. Their crown shape shows that these animals are actually intermediate
forms that are very near to the mammalian line of evolution + Cynodonts and living
mammals both belong to a group of egg-laying vertebrates (amniotes) called synapsids. The
close relationship of cynodonts with living mammals is seen in their bones. They also have
differentiated teeth ( for example, different teeth in the front of mouths compared with the
back), a secondary palate in their mouths, which, like humans, allowed them to breathe and
eat at the same time. Some cynodonts show evidence for the inferred presence of whiskers
and fur.
 Trilobites = any member of a group of extinct fossil arthropods easily recognized by their
distinctive three-lobed, three-segmented form. Trilobites, exclusively marine animals, first
appeared at the beginning of the Cambrian Period, about 542 million years ago, when they
dominated the seas + A new study (Science Advances) has found evidence of advanced
breathing organs in 450-million-year-old sea creatures called Trilobites + Fossil studies
showed that trilobites used gill-like structures hanging off their thighs to breathe. This went
unnoticed for decades as scientists thought the upper branch of the leg was non-respiratory
just like the upper branch seen in present-day crustaceans
 Tiki Formation = Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils,
has now yielded a new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like animals that lived
about 220 million years ago. The results showed that they had found a new species, and they
named it Rewaconodon indicus, indicating India, the country it was discovered from + Tiki
Formation is a Late Triassic geologic formation in Madhya Pradesh + Dinosaur remains are
among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been
referred to a specific genus + Phytosaur remains attributable to the genus Volcanosuchushave
also been found in the Tiki Formation
 Denisovans = a cousin of Neanderthals + discovered in 2010 + A rare species of primitive
human roamed the forests of Eurasia 200,000 years ago and may have made tools and even
jewellery + they have so far only been located at the Denisova Cave(cave in the Bashelaksky
Range of the Altai mountains, Siberia, Russia)
2.4) INVASIVE SPECIES in NEWS

 AmynthasAlexandri = An exotic and highly invasive earthworm Amynthasalexandri has
been collected and reported for the first time from Karnataka + They are medium-to-large-
sized, fast-moving worm, which has practically inhabited all the districts of Kerala + Their
original home is Southeast Asia. Earlier, their distribution was in China, Myanmar etc +
Earlier, it was recorded in 15 States/Union Territories in India
2.5) CYCLONES in NEWS

 Cyclone Seroja = tropical cyclone formed recently near western Australian coast + it means
lotus in Indonesian
2.6) ISLAND, VALLEY and LAKES in NEWS

 Chittaura Lake = ChittauraJheel, also known as Ashtwarkajheel is a lake in Uttar Pradesh +
River Teri Nadi flows from this lake + It is believed to be the place where the fight between
Raja Sukhdeo and Ghazi SaiyyadSalarMasud took place in June 1033 + Ashtwarka Muni, the
Guru of Maharaja Janak used to live here in his ashram. Every year, a fair is organized here
on Basant Panchami + Foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development
work of Chittaura Lake would be laid by the Prime Minister soon
 Chilika Lake = Asia's largest brackish water lagoon located in coastal Odisha + separated
from the Bay of Bengal by a 60 km long narrow strip of marshy islands and sand-flats +
Some of the prominent islands like Nalabana, Kalijal, Somolo, Honeymoon, Break-fast,
Birds and Rajahansa inhabited by fishermen families, are popular tourist destinations +
designated as a Ramsar site in 1981(India’s oldest Ramsar site) + Nalabana Bird Sanctuary
and Mangalajodi, the two major places where the birds congregate + The Nalabana Island
within the Chilka lake is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
 Vembanad Lake = Recently, Preliminary steps have been initiated to demolish the illegally
constructed villas on Nediyathuruthu island in Vembanad Lake + Vembanad is the longest
lake in India and the largest lake in the state of Kerala + It is the second-largest Ramsar site
in India only after the Sundarbans in West Bengal + Kochi Port is built around Willingdon
and Vallarpadam Islands on this lake + Government of India has identified the Vembanad
wetland under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme
 DeeporBeel = Assam’s only Ramsar site + Recently district administration has prohibited
community fishing here + Permanent freshwater lake + designated as a Ramsar site in 2002
for sustaining a range of aquatic life forms besides 219 species of birds +MaghorBhogali
Bihu that is preceded by mass fishing in many parts of the state and order was necessary to
prevent fishing, excavation and construction in and around the wetland that has been
shrinking over the years
 Baralacha Pass = Himachal Pradesh + Reopened by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) +
high mountain pass in Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district Himachal Pradesh to Leh
district Ladakh + acts as water-divide between Bhaga river and Yunam river + Situated along
Leh–Manali Highway
 Kailash Range = The Karakoram Range ends on the northern side of the Pangong Tso. The
Kailash Range originates from the southern bank and runs northwest to southeast for over 60
km. The Kailash Ridge is characterised by rugged, broken terrain with heights varying
between 4,000-5,500m + It includes Helmet Top, Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Muggar Hill,
Mukhpari, Rezang La and Rechin La + The Ridge dominates Chushul Bowl; an important
communications centre + In 2020, Indian troops secured Kailash Ridge in an operation that
took the Chinese by surprise
 Dzukou valley =popularly known as the ‘valley of flower’, is located at the border of
Nagaland and Manipur + Dzukou valley and Japfu peak are located adjacent to the
PulieBadze Wildlife Sanctuary (Nagaland) + There are no human habitations within the
forests, but they are home to rare and ‘vulnerable’ (as per the IUCN Red List) birds - Blyth’s
Tragopan (Nagaland’s state bird), the Rufous-necked Hornbill and the Dark-rumped Swift,
among many others. Also found in the forests are endangered Western Hoolock Gibbons +
The valley harbours many species of flowering plants including the endemic DzukouLily-
Lilium chitrangada + It is home to the Angami people + Dzukou valley was in news for 2
weeks long fire
 Little Andaman Island = This island is part of the Little Andaman Group (Little Andaman
is the counterpart of Great Andamans). This island is the fourth largest island in Andamans +
It is famous by the name of its main village and the largest settlement –Hut Bay (rarely
known by its other name Kwate-tu-kwage) + This is considered home to the Onge Tribes,
even though there are multilingual settlers of Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Ranchi
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communities + Lying at the southern end of the archipelago, Hut Bay Jetty is the only harbor
for ships or boats coming into this island from the capital town –Port Blair
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 ‘False Point’ Island Lighthouse = It is situated off the Kendrapara coast + It is the British
era lighthouse and its location close to massive mangrove vegetation infested with crocodiles
makes it an adventurous tourist place on the eastern coast + 180-year-old False Point is the
oldest functional tower in India + Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways seeks to
develop 65 lighthouses on public-private-partnership mode + Ministry wants to develop them
as hubs of tourism under the Sagarmala project
 Jhuran Formation = Jhuran formation in Kutch, Gujarat which is between 145 and 201
million years old + These are haematite concretions and resembles the Martian
blueberries(which are small spheres made up of iron oxide compounds called haematites, and
were found by NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity’ in 2004)
2.7) RIVERS in NEWS

 Beas River = originates near Rohtang Pass, on southern end of PirPanjal Range, close to
source of Ravi + crosses Dhaola Dhar range and takes a south-westerly direction and meets
Satluj river at Harike in Punjab + Nangal hydel channel is on this
 Tsangpo /YarlungZangbo River = longest river of Tibet Autonomous Region, China +
flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, which meets two other rivers in Assam
downstream to become the Brahmaputra + Originating at Angsi Glacier(western Tibet,
southeast of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar) + When leaving the Tibetan Plateau, the
River forms the world's largest and deepest canyon, YarlungTsangpo Grand Canyon + flows
through three districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Upper Siang, Siang and East Siang — before
meeting two other rivers to form the Brahmaputra in Assam downstream
 TiauRiver = which divides the India-Myanmar border, in Mizoram + Tiau River originates
in Mizo Hills in northern Mizoram and ultimately merges with the Tuipui River
 Umngot River = It is one of the cleanest rivers in India + Located in Meghalaya this river is
the natural boundary between Ri Pnar (of Jaintia Hills) with HimaKhyrim (of Khasi Hills)
over which hangs a single span suspension bridge + It is the gateway to Bangladesh
 Sabarmati river = Originates from Aravalli hills,Rajasthan + west flowing river + Mouth:
Gulf of Cambey ( Khambhat) + Ahmedabad city is located along its bank
 Chenab River = It rises in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal
Pradesh state + formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga + It flows
through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, before
flowing into the Indus River + Some of the important projects/dams on Chenab: Ratle Hydro
Electric Project, Salal Dam, DulHasti Hydroelectric Plant and PakalDul Dam (under
construction on a tributary Marusadar River)
 Tsari Chu river = Arunachal Pradesh + It goes down to the confluence with the Subansiri
river + Satellite image shows China built new village in Arunachal Pradesh + on banks
of Tsari Chu river in Upper Subansiri district, south of the McMahon Line
 SabariRiver= Sabari River is one of the main tributaries of Godavari. It originates from the
western slopes of Eastern Ghats in Odisha state from Sinkaram hill + It is also known as
Kolab river in Odisha
 Cauvery River Basin = Cauvery or Kaveri river rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western
Ghats in southwestern Karnataka + It flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls. Before
emptying into the Bay of Bengal south of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, the river breaks into a
large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India.” +
Tributaries: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Lakshmana Theertha, Shimsa, Kabini and Harangi
 Milam Glacier = Kumaon Himalaya + Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand
 Nanda Devi Glacier = Glacier dwells on the Nanda Devi peak which is the second-highest
mountain in the country after Kanchenjunga + Nanda Devi Group of Glaciers refers to the
cluster of glaciers namely Bethartoli, Kururntoli, Nanda Devi North, Nanda Devi South,
Nandakna, Raunth Bank, Dakshini Rishi Bank, Trishul + It is a part of the Garhwal
Himalayas and is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, between the Rishiganga valley
on the west and the Goriganga valley on the east + The glacier is located within the Nanda
Devi Sanctuary and drains west into the Rishiganga + melted water of the Nanda Devi
glacier first flows into the Rishiganga river which later joins Dhauliganga river. Dhauliganga
later merges into Alaknanda river at Vishnuprayag.
2.8) PROJECT in NEWS

 Krishna Raja Sagar Dam = built across river Kaveri + Karnataka + Dam is the creation of
one of the greatest engineers that India had produced, Sir M. Vishweshwaraiah
 Mettur Dam = Tamil Nadu largest Dam + Cauvery river
 Hirakund Dam = Mahandai river + Odisha
 Maithon Dam = Barakar River + Jharkhand
 Ghod Dam = Ghod River + Maharashtra
 LalandarShatoot Dam = Afghanistan, on Kabul river basin + 2nd major dam being built by
India in Afghanistan, after Salma Dam in 2016 + MoU was signed by India and Afghanistan
for its construction + part of New Development Partnership + to meet safe drinking water
needs of Kabul and provide irrigation water to nearby areas
 Linganamakki Dam = constructed by the Karnataka State Government in 1964 + across the
Sharavathi river + It is located about 9 km from Jog Falls
 MaitriSetu = inaugurated recently + built over the Feni river which flows between Indian
boundary in Tripura State and Bangladesh
 Chenab Bridge = world's highest railway bridge and is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-
Baramulla rail link project (USBRL) + Project was declared national project in 2002 +
Bridge is designed for blast load in consultation with DRDO for the first time in India +
Bridge is designed to bear earthquake forces of highest intensity zone-V in India
 Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge = 4 lane bridge connecting Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in
Meghalaya + India’s longest bridge once completed with which Assam & Meghalaya will
have direct connection with West Bengal + located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur
on NH-27 (East-West Corridor), and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in Meghalaya
 Majuli-Jorhat Bridge = Connects Nemati ghat to Kamlabari ghat on Brahmaputra river +
Aims to provide easy and all-time access to people living in Majuli Island with rest of Assam
 World’s highest railway bridge = being constructed over Chenab river in Jammu and
Kashmir + Once completed, it will surpass the record of the Beipan river Shuibai railway
bridge (275 m) in China
 Mettur-Sarabanga Lift Irrigation Project = implemented by Tamil Nadu Government +
aimed at diverting surplus water from Mettur reservoir through 100 tanks, lakes and ponds +
National Green Tribunal has allowed its implementation
 Cauvery-Vellaru-Vaigai-Gundar River Linking Project = Tamil Nadu govt. + river-
linking project + Karnataka Govt. moved Supreme Court against this project [Mark Rivers on
MAP]
 Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) = aims to harvest surplus water available during
rainy season in rivers in southern Rajasthan such as Chambal and its tributaries including
Kunnu, Parvati, Kalisindh + will also supply water to Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and
take care of flood and drought situation in area
 PakalDul Hydro Electric Project = proposed on Marusudar river, tributary of Chenab
river, in Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) = first project under the National River Linking Project
(NRLP) + Under this project water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradeshwill be transferred
to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh(Bundelkhand region) + Both these rivers are tributaries
of River Yamuna + the project will partly submerge the Panna Tiger Reserve in M.P. and
affect the habitat of vultures and jackals. After years of protests, however, it was finally
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cleared by the apex wildlife regulator, the National Board for Wildlife, in 2016 + The project
involves building Dhaudhan dam, Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage.
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Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline = 450 km long eco-friendly Piped Natural Gas
(PNG) pipeline + built by Gas Authority of India Limited i.e., GAIL (India) Ltd.under ‘One
Nation One Gas Grid’ + Note: Kochi is in Kerala while Mangaluru is in Karnataka +
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Horizontal Directional Drilling method was used+ the government has a concrete plan to
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move towards a gas-based economy that would be cheaper, convenient, and environment-
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friendly + the plan was to increase the share of natural gas in the energy sector from the
present 6%to 15% by 2030
 Ratle Hydro Power Project = on river Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir
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+ Joint Venture Company (JVC)will be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power

Corporation and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd.
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 Ramagundam Solar Power Plant = Country’s biggest floating solar power plant +
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developed by NTPC in reservoir of thermal plant Peddapalli district, Telangana + Generation

Capacity: 100 megawatts
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TapovanVishnugad Hydro Power Project = 520MW run-of-river project + on

Dhauliganga River in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
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2.9) PARKS AND SANCTUARIES in NEWS

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 Karlapat Sanctuary = Odisha + 6 elephants died here of haemorrhagic septicaemia +

Haemorrhagic septicaemia is contagious bacterial disease which infects animals that come
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in contact with contaminated water or soil + causes pneumonia + generally spreads in the
period right before and after the monsoons + Can effect cattle, elephants etc)
 Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary = Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve + major catchments for
the tributaries of the Kabani river system + Home to Egyptian vulture, Himalayan griffon,
and Cinereous vultures + Kerala
 Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary = lies on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range,
one of the oldest mountain systems of the world, on Delhi-Haryana border + An area of 1km
around the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Gurugram and Faridabad is an Eco-sensitive
zone + Wildlife habitats inside the sanctuary act as a water recharge zone for Delhi,
Faridabad and Gurugram + In past, Supreme Court mandated the Delhi Government to
constitute a Ridge Management Board for protection of the Delhi Ridge through their orders
in the M.C. Mehta case 1987 + Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the Aravalli Range
covering a distance of about 35km and acts as the green lungs of the capital + Recently,
Ridge Management Board has decided to constitute an expert committee to look into the
proposal of dumping inert (non-reactive) waste in the mines of Asola Bhatti Wildlife
Sanctuary (Delhi) + Inert waste is waste which is neither biologically nor chemically reactive
and is waste which will not decompose or decompose very slowly + Inert waste includes, but
is not limited to: construction and demolition material such as metal, wood, bricks, masonry
and cement concrete; asphalt concrete; metal; tree branches; bottom ash from coal fired
boilers; and waste coal fines from air pollution control equipment
 Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary = sanctuary is a component of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
+ The plateau area is mostly located in Kerala, with small parts in the neighbouring states of
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu + It is home to the last of the surviving vultures in the state.
Also, the cinereous vulture (Aegypiusmonachus) or Eurasian black vulture, can be rarely
seen as well + Tribes: Kurumar, Paniyar, Kattunayakan, Urali, Kurichiar, Adiyar and
Wayanadan Kadar
 Galathea Bay Sanctuary = is part of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (GNBR) comprising
the Galathea National Park and the Campbell Bay National Park + it has one of the best
preserved tropical rainforests in the world + species of fauna includes rare and endemic ones
such as the Nicobar wild pig, Nicobar tree shrew, the Great Nicobar crested serpent eagle,
Nicobar paradise flycatcher and the Nicobar megapode + park is home to the indigenous
Shompen community + Please Note: NITI Aayog has been mandated with the task to steer
the holistic development of the islands sustainably. n this regard, the NITI Aayog came up
with a Great Nicobar Development plan + Recently, Standing Committee of the National
Board for Wildlife (NBWL) denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for
building port and other related infrastructure + Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated
Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) will be the nodal agency for the implementation of
the Great Nicobar Development plan
 Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary = national wetland & Ramsar site + Pong Dam, also known
as Beas Dam, is an earth-fill embankment dam built in 1975 + It has been constructed on the
river Beas in the wet land of Shivalik hills of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, which has
been named as Maharana Pratap Sagar + Sanctuary area is covered with tropical and sub-
tropical forests + Pong Dam lake is fed by Beas River and its numerous perennial tributaries
such as Gaj, Neogal, Binwa, Uhl, Bangana, and Baner + The migratory birds from all over
Hindukush Himalayas and also as far as Siberia come here during winter
 Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary = Karnataka + Located on banks of River Kali + part of Kali
Tiger Reserve (earlier called the DandeliAnshi Tiger Reserve) + Kali Tiger Reserve have 2
protected areas - Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park
 Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary = first known as Mollem Game Sanctuary +
declared wildlife sanctuary in 1969 + part of Mollem National Park + located in Western
Ghats in Goa, along eastern border with Karnataka in town of Molem + National Highway
4A divides it into two parts and the Mormugao - Londa railway line passes through the area
+ several important temples dating to the Kadambas of Goa, and home to waterfalls, such as
Dudhsagar Falls and Tambdi Falls.
 Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary = situated in flood plains of River Brahmaputra + Assam +
called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to similar landscape and vegetation + Boundaries – GarangaBeel
on south and River Brahmaputra on North.
 Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary = Meghalaya + Sanctuary falls in the Eastern Himalayan
Global biodiversity hotspot + The sanctuary supports different species of fauna such as Royal
Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Indian Bison, and Himalayan Black Bear etc + Among the
birds, the rare species which can be spotted here are Manipur Bush Quail, Rufous Necked
Hornbill and Brown Hornbill + Other Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya: Siju Wildlife
Sanctuary, Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary, Baghmara Pitcher Plant Sanctuary and Nokrek
National Park
 Sessa Orchid Sanctuary = Arunachal Pradesh + notified in November 1989 + home to more
than 236 species of orchids, mushrooms and other medicinal plants + only one, where
flowering plants grow in wild.
 Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary = created in 1982 as ‘Dumkhal Sanctuary’ + protected
area in Gujarat state, located in the western Satpura Range south of the Narmada River + It
shares a common boundary with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra + "Shoolpaneshwar" is a
temple of Lord Shiva, which once existed in this region on banks of Narmada + Main tribe:
Vasavas + Recently Center notifies some villages around the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife
Sanctuary as Eco sensitive Zones + Local Tribals are opposing the move as they feel that the
simultaneous implementation of this notification and the formation of SoUTA could dilute
the power vested with villagers under the Panchayat (Extension of Scheduled Areas) Act,
1996 implemented in areas notified under Schedule V of the Constitution
 Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary = Koppal district, Karnataka + Karnataka State Wildlife Board
approved its formation + first-ever ‘Wolf Sanctuary’ + Indian Grey Wolf,is subspecies of
grey wolf + IUCN Status - Least Concern
 Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary = Karnataka
 Virunga National Park = Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
 Bannerghatta Park = Karnataka
 Manas National Park = foot hills of Bhutan-Himalayas, Assam + declared tiger reserve
under Project tiger in 1973 + became UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 + got status of
Biosphere reserve status in 1989 + extends from Sankosh River in west to Dhansiri River in
east + River Manas flows into it + only landscape where Terai Grasslands merge with Bhabar
grasslands
 Wenlock Downs Reserve Forest = is a crucial wildlife corridor, as it allows wildlife from
Sigur plateau to make their way up to the upper Nilgiris + (Sigur Plateau is a plateau in the
north and east of Nilgiri District in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India) + The
landscape is also one of the last remaining patches of Shola and grasslands in the entire
Nilgiris other than Mukurthi National Park + Over 100 hectares of the total expanse of 1,500
hectares of the last remaining grasslands in the Wenlock Downs of the upper Nilgiris is being
slowly eroded by encroachments of the Todas and KotasTribes
 Periyar Tiger Reserve = Declared a Sanctuary during 1950 and declared as Tiger Reserve
during 1978. It gets its name from the River Periyar which has its origin deep inside the
reserve + he major rivers through the reserve are Mullayar and Periyar + The sanctuary
comprises tropical evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous forests and grasslands + For
the first time in the country, the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Kerala has taken up the
training of a tiger cub to equip it to naturally hunt in the forest environment + Some medical
plants endemic to the region are Syzygiumperiyarensis (a tree), Habenariaperiyarensis (an
orchid) and Mucuna pruriensethekkadiensis (a climber) + There are six tribal communities
nestled inside the reserve such as Mannans, Paliyans, Malayarayans, Mala Pandarams, Uralis
and Ulladans
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 Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve = Maharashtra + comprises Navegaon National Park,
Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary
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 Shivalik Elephant Reserve = Uttarakhand government issued a stay on its earlier
government order (GO) to denotify the Shivalik Elephant Reserve + It is the premier and
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only elephant reserve of Uttarakhand + It is home to over 2,000 elephants and has around a
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dozen elephant corridors + Shivalik Elephant Reserve was first identified by the central
government in 1991-92 under ‘Project Elephant’, to arrest man-animal conflict in the region
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and rehabilitate elephants that were held captive

 Similipal Biosphere Reserve = Odisha + It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956
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and brought under Project Tiger in the year 1973 + It was declared a biosphere reserve in
1994 + It has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve since 2009 +
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It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as

Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes 3 protected areas i.e. Similipal Tiger Reserve,
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Hadagarh Wildlife sanctuary and Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary + Two tribes, the ErengaKharias
and the Mankirdias, inhabit the reserve’s forests and practise traditional agricultural activities
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(the collection of seeds and timber)

 Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve = proposed by Odisha government + Gajapati and
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Ganjam districts in Eastern Ghats + transitional zone between southern India and Himalayas,
making it ecological estuary of genetic diversities + inhabited by Soura (PVTG) and Kandha
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tribe + 2nd in State after Similipal Biosphere Reserve (in 1996)

 Tulip garden = Also known as Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden + Srinagar, Jammu
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and Kashmir, India + largest tulip garden in Asia + in the foothills of the Zaberwan range +
Zabarwan Range is a short sub-mountain range between Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan
Range in the central part of the Kashmir Valley
 Protected wetlands of J&K = Recently, some Jammu and Kashmir Lakes declared as
Protected Wetlands + declared by Jammu and Kashmir Wetland Authority + under
Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Wetland (Conversation & Management) rules +
Lakes declared are Srinagar’s Dal Lake, Wular Lake, Nigeen Lake in the Kashmir region and
Sanasar Lake, Manasbal Lake and Purmandal lake or Chotta Kashi (in Samba district) in
Jammu region
 Dal Lake = Lake in Srinagar + urban lake, which is the second largest in the union
territory of Jammu and Kashmir + It is named the "Lake of Flowers", "Jewel in the
crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel" + freshwater Lake + floating gardens,
known as ‘raad’ is a special feature.
 Wular Lake = largest freshwater lakes in Asia + lake basin was formed as a result of
tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River + In ancient times, Wular Lake was
also called Mahapadmasar + Ramsar site + Tulbul Project is a "navigation lock-cum-
control structure" at the mouth of Wular Lake + Wular has considerably shrunk over
the past eight decades
 Nigeen Lake = It is a mildly eutrophic lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir,
India + It is sometimes considered a part of the Dal lake and is connected to it via a
narrow strait
 Purmandal (also called Chhota Kashi) = It is a village located on the Devika River
in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, India + The village and its temples are a
pilgrimage site for Hindus
2.10) TRIBES and ETHNIC GROUPS in NEWS

 Mankidias and Khadias = Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) in Odisha + they
collect Siali fibre and wild honey
 ZO Community = Zo people include all the tribes that come under the Chin-Kuki-Mizo
ethnic group spread across Myanmar, India and Bangladesh + They include a host of tribes,
sub-tribes and clans such as Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi etc + Recently, The Zo Reunification
Organisation (ZORO) comprising the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group of people has also asked
the Centre not to turn away Myanmar nationals who crossed over to escape the military
regime and provide them shelter on humanitarian grounds
 Matua Community = They are Namasudras, a Scheduled Caste group which trace their
ancestry to East Bengal, and many of them entered West Bengal after the formation of
Bangladesh + Matua Mahasangha, a religious reforms movement and a sect, was formed by
Harichand Thakur (1812-1878) in East Bengal in the mid-1800s
 Hazara community = They are the third-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, and are also a
significant minority group in neighboring Pakistan
 Gonda and Baiga Tribes = Gond, group of aboriginal peoples (now officially designated as
Scheduled Tribes) of central and south-central India, about two million in number. They live
in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and
Odisha + Gonds comprise of 2nd largest tribe in India(Bhil and Gond tribes are the largest
tribes occupying first and second position) + Baiga are an ethnic group found in central India
primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of
Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand
2.11) ENVIRONMENT and INDIA

 Biodiversity Heritage Site =areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems -
terrestrial, coastal, and inland and marine waters - having rich biodiversity + can be notified
under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 + Maharashtra government declared
an area at Amboli in Western ghats in Sindhudurg district as a Biodiversity Heritage Site
(BHS) + Devalsari region in Tehri Garhwal district is likely to be declared as first
biodiversity heritage site of Uttarakhand + Last year, a rare day-flying moth,
Achelurabifasciata was spotted in forests of Devalsari for the first time in history + BHS are
areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems having rich biodiversity comprising of
any one or more of the components such as; species richness, high endemism, presence of
rare, past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having
cultural or aesthetic values + Under Biological Diversity Act, 2002 State Government in
consultation with local bodies may notify the areas of biodiversity importance as BHS +
Currently, there are 18 BHS in India
 Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) = Eco-Sensitive Zones or Ecologically Fragile Areas are areas
within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries + ESZs are
notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986 + The
basic aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so
as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing
the protected areas
 Prohibited activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air,
water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP),
commercial use of wood, Tourism activities like hot-air balloons over the National
Park, discharge of effluents or any solid waste or production of hazardous substances.
 Regulated activities: Felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial
use of natural water, erection of electrical cables, drastic change of agriculture
system, e.g. adoption of heavy technology, pesticides etc, widening of roads.
 Permitted activities: Ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater
harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources, adoption of green
technology for all activities
 Geothermal Field Development Project = An agreement for establishing India’s first-ever
geothermal field development project in Leh has been signed + Power project known as
Geothermal Field Development Project will be established at Pugavillage of eastern Ladakh
+ Puga has been identified as the hotspot of geothermal energy in the country (potential of
more than 100 mw of geothermal energies.) + It is to be developed by ONGC Energy,
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, and Power Department of UT Ladakh +
Geothermal energy is the thermal energy generated and stored inside the Earth’s crust + GSI
(Geological Survey of India) has identified 350 geothermal energy locations in the country
which have a potential of 10000 MW GE power + There are seven geothermal provinces in
India: Himalayas - Ladakh, Manikaran, Tapoban; Sohana - Haryana, Rajasthan; West coast –
Maharashtra; Cambay – Khambet; Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA) - Tatapani,
AnhoniSamoni; Godavari – Manuguru; Mahanadi – Bakreshwar + Please Note: Draft
National Policy on Geo-Thermal Energy envisions to establish India as a global leader in
Geothermal power by deployment of Geo-thermal energy capacity of 1000 MW in the initial
phase till 2022
 Snow Leopard Enumeration Project = commenced by the wildlife wing of the Himachal
Pradesh Forest Department + 2018 + with techniques aligned to the protocols prescribed by
the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Snow Leopard
Population Assessment in India (SPAI) + This project is the first systematic effort at a large
regional scale that utilised a stratified sampling design to estimate the snow leopard
population over an area of 26,112 sq. km + using camera trap + The population of the
primary wild ungulate prey of snow leopards — blue sheep and ibex — for the entire snow
leopard habitat was assessed by using the double observer survey technique.
 Spatial Mark-Resight (SMR) Models = recently used for Leopard population tracking +
Wildlife specialists have for long faced challenges estimating the density of leopards in areas
where some of the spotted cats are melanistic or black + Experts from three organisations,
one of them Assam-based Aaranyak, Panthera and World Wide Fund for Nature-India have
come up with a system that helps in properly estimating the leopard population in areas
sustaining a mix of rosette and melanistic individuals + Rosettes are jagged black circular
marks on the tawny coat of a leopard. Like the tiger’s stripes, the rosettes of each leopard are
unique in shape and size, making the species identifiable individually + But melanistic
leopards — commonly called black leopards or black panthers or ghongs (Assamese) —
have been difficult to estimate as their rosettes are invisible + U.S.-based Panthera is the only
organisation in the world devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat
species and their ecosystems + Tropical and subtropical moist forests of South and Southeast
Asia where the frequency of melanistic leopards is high + SMR model borrows the capture
history of the rosette leopards and apply the information on the melanistic leopards to
estimate the entire population size of leopards. This is a significant analytical development
that can help assess the population of leopards across a great part of the species range from
where population estimates are scant.
 India plans first-ever snow leopard survey/Snow Leopard Population Assessment
(SLPAI) = This was released by Ministry of Environment at the 4th steering committee
meeting at GSLEEP + SLPAI has been prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India, Nature
Conservation Foundation, GSLEP technical committee, and Global Tiger Initiative Council,
World Wide Fund for Nature, World Bank, Global Tiger Forum, and Wildlife Conservation
Trust + National-level estimation processes are done for Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants. With
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this protocol, the same can now be done for Snow Leopards
 Marine Turtles in India = Five species of sea turtles are found in Indian waters. These are
the Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys
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imbricata), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) + India is
home to the largest known nesting population of olive ridley turtles. Except Loggerhead
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turtles, the remaining four species nest along the Indian coastline and islands of India +
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Marine turtles play a variety of ecological roles like controlling prey populations, supporting
coastal vegetation through their hatchlings etc + These five species of sea turtles are
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protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 + India has identified all its
important sea turtle nesting habitats as ‘Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas’ of
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India & included in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) -1

 Dolphin Census = Odisha has released the final data on the dolphin census + The population
of dolphins in Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake, and along the Odisha coast has
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doubled this year compared with last year + Three species were recorded: Irrawaddy, bottle-
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nose and humpback dolphins

 Irrawaddy dolphins: Found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in
three rivers: the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the
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Mekong (China) + Endangered

 Indo- Pacific Bottlenose dolphins: Lives in the waters around India, northern
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Australia, South China, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa + Near
Threatened
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 Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins: They occurs within the Indian Ocean from
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South Africa to India + Endangered + protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife

Protection Act, 1972 + Appendix I of CITES
 Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 = Launched in 2008 + joint programme of Assam Forest
Department, Worldwide Fund for Nature India (WWF-India), Bodoland Territorial Council,
and International Rhino Foundation + to achieve rhino population to 3,000 by establishing
populations in seven protected areas in Assam by 2020 + 7 protected areas of Assam -
Pabitora WS, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Laokhowa WS,
Burachapori WS and DibruSaikhowa WS+ 2 adult one-horned rhinos were recently
translocated from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas National Park, under the aegis of
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) + IUCN Status: Vulnerable
 Tiger Relocation Project Failed = first such project in India + initiated in 2018 where in, a
male from Kanha Tiger Reserve and a female from Bandhavgarh, MP were relocated
to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha, to shore up tiger population in state + Recently, Tigress
Sundari was relocated back to MP due to severe protests by local villagers
 IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU = Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and
Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia +
India, being a signatory of the IOSEA Marine Turtles MOU, launched ‘National Marine
Turtle Action Plan’ (2021-2026) + IOSEA agreement aims to maintain and recover marine
turtle populations + Six species of marine turtles are covered by IOSEA: the Loggerhead
(Vulnerable), Olive ridley (Vulnerable), Green (Endangered), Hawksbill(Critically
Endangered), Leatherback (Vulnerable) and Flatback (Data Deficient). All of them are found
to migrate and nest within the IOSEA region
 Dindori Project = In 2013-14, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
supported an initiative to revive Kodo and Kutki Millets cultivation in Dindori district of
Madhya Pradesh + The project began with about 1500 women-farmers, mostly from the
Gonda and Baiga tribes¸ growing these two minor millets (Kodo and Kutki) + The identified
farmers were supplied good-quality seeds, scientific training + (Jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl
millet) and ragi (finger millet) are the three major millet crops currently grown in India +
Kodo, kutki, chenna and sanwa are bio-genetically diverse and indigenous varieties of “small
millets” + Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Haryana are the major producers of Millets) + Please Note: India, Nigeria and
China are the largest producers of millets in the world, accounting for more than 55% of the
global production + In India, pearl millet is the fourth-most widely cultivated food crop after
rice, wheat and maize
 Carbon Watch App = Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to
launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual +
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a carbon footprint is a measure of the
impact people’s activities have on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the
burning of fossil fuels and is expressed as a weight of CO2 emissions produced in tonnes +
(Carbon footprint is different from ecological footprint. While the carbon footprint measures
the emission of gases that contribute to global warming, the ecological footprint focuses on
measuring the use of bio-productive space)
 Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines = Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate
Change + It is estimated that between 9,000-10,000 cetaceans are bycaught annually across
India in mechanised vessels + Objective is to improve coordination between various
independent Government and civil society responding to Marine megafauna stranding.
 Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Assessment = It is assessment, by International Centre for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), comprising of important scientific research on
the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable mountain development +
ICIMOD is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the
eight regional member countries of the HKH – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan + Based in Kathmandu, Nepal
 Economic impact of Green Verdicts Study = Commissioned by NITI Aayog + to examine
the “unintended economic consequences” of judicial decisions that have hindered and stalled
big-ticket projects on environmental grounds + The study is to be undertaken by the Jaipur-
headquartered CUTS (Consumer Unity and Trust Society) Centre for Competition,
Investment and Economic Regulation, that also has an international presence
 Heavy Metal Water Pollution in India = industrial wastewater contributes nearly 20% of
the total volume of wastewater generated in the Ganga basin + Heavy metal refers to any
metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low
concentrations + Examples include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As)
 Anthropogenic Sources: Industrial & Domestic Waste, Agricultural and
Livestock, Transport Emissions
 Natural Sources: Volcanic activity, metal evaporation from soil and water, soil
erosion, geological weathering etc.
 INCOIS to go for Aerial Mapping of Ocean Floor = Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS) is planning to take the help of the National Remote Sensing
Centre (NRSC) for aerial mapping of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep to
get a better picture of the ocean floor, also called ‘bathymetric’ study + It will conduct
bathymetric study with NRSC of Andaman, Lakshadweep islands + NRSC has already done
a similar high resolution topographic Airborne Laser Terrain Mapping (ALTM) for the
entire coastal areas of the country and NRSC is in the process of integrating the data for a 3D
multi-hazard mapping of both the east and west coastline for a more precise picture of the
ocean floor + INCOIS scientists with their counterparts in the Chennai-based National
Institute of Ocean Technology and an United States independent scientific agency,
Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, have been mining the data
recorded by a unique ‘Flux Buoy’ retrieved from the Bay of Bengal off the Kolkota coast
recently
 Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM) = Indian government
announced the establishment of the first CWCM + it will be a part of the National Centre for
Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai - under the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change + It would serve as knowledge hub and enable exchange between
State/ UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, researchers, etc + would also assist the
national and State/ UT Governments in the design and implementation of policy and
regulatory frameworks, management planning, monitoring and targeted research for its
conservation.
 Global ‘Tree City’ status = won by Hyderabad + awardedby Arbor Day Foundation jointly
with UN Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) + for its commitment to growing and
maintaining urban and community forestry + State government’s Haritha Haram programme
and its initiative for Urban Forest Parks + only city in India to have this status + Hyderabad
has won a green contest among cities in India, and emerged one of the ‘Tree Cities of the
World’
 Chipko Movement = non-violent agitation in1973 against the felling of trees by contractors
+ Chipko Movement was initiated by Sundarlal Bahuguna, in 1973 + It resulted in a 15-year
ban on chopping of green trees in 1980 + Champions of the movement were local women -
Gaura Devi, Sudesha Devi andBachni Devi + Chipko Movement followed Gandhian
philosophy of peaceful resistance + However, the original Chipko andolan dates back to the
18th century and It was started by the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan. A group of villagers
led by Amrita Devi, laid down their lives while protecting trees from being felled on the
orders of the then King of Jodhpur
 Asia Environmental Enforcement Award = Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has
received Asia Environmental Enforcement Award-2020 presented by United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) + WCCB has been awarded under the category
‘Innovation’ for “Operation WILDNET-II” + Operation WILDNET: WCCB organized this
operation to drag attention of enforcement agencies on illegal wildlife trade over internet
using Social Media Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp etc. + Earlier WCCB has
received the award in the same category in 2018 + award publicly recognises excellence in
controlling transboundary environmental crime + Awards are given to individuals and/or
government organizations/teams + 2020 Awards were given by UNEP in partnership with
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES), and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
 Asian Desert Dust & Indian Summer Monsoon = new study explains how dust from
deserts in West, Central and East Asia plays important role in Indian Summer Monsoon + It
also explains how Indian Summer Monsoon have reverse effect and can increase winds in
West Asia to produce yet more dust + Dust aerosols from deserts in West China such as
Taklamakan desert and Gobi Desert can be transported eastward to eastern China and can
influence the East Asia summer monsoon + Dust swarms can influence moisture transport,
increase precipitation, rainfall + Dust swarms from the desert when lifted by strong winds
can absorb solar radiation and become hot. This can cause heating of the atmosphere, change
the air pressure, wind circulation patterns, influence moisture transport and increase
precipitation and rainfall. A strong monsoon can also transport air to West Asia and again
pick up a lot of dust. The researchers say this is a positive feedback loop
 IMD Forecasts normal monsoon this year = In its first long-range forecast for Southwest
Monsoon 2021, India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted normal rainfall (96-104%
of the LPA) over the country as a whole + LPA refers to the average monsoon rainfall from
1961-2010 which stands at 88 cm + IMD also developed a separate forecast for the Monsoon
Core Zone (MCZ), which represents most of the rainfed agriculture region in the country +
IMD issues a two-stage forecast for the southwest monsoon season: one in April and other in
May/June + These forecasts are prepared using the state of-the-art Statistical Ensemble
Forecasting system (SEFS) and dynamical global climate forecasting system (CFS) model +
This year, IMD developed a Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) forecasting system based on
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coupled global climate models (CGCMs) from different global climate prediction and
research centers + MME is a universally accepted technique, which is used to improve the
skill of forecasts and reduce forecast errors when compared to a single model-based
approach.
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 Asian Waterbird Census 2020 = Annual event in which thousands of volunteers across
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Asia and Australia count waterbirds in the wetlands of their country + This event happens
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every January + This event is coordinated by wetlands International and forms part of global
waterbird monitoring programme called the International Waterbird Census (IWC) + It was
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started in the year 1987 + Its main focus is to monitor the status of waterbirds and the
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wetlands + In India, the AWC is annually coordinated by the Bombay Natural history
Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International+ Recently, 2-day Asian Waterbird Census-2020
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commenced in Andhra Pradesh

 Transfats levels in foods = Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has
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capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022
from the current permissible limit of 5% through an amendment to the Food Safety and
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Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on sales ) Regulations + The revised regulation

applies to edible refined oils vanaspati (partially hydrogenated oils), margarine, bakery
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shortenings and other mediums of cooking such as vegetable and fat spreads and mixed fat
spreads + Transfats are associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and death from
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coronary heart disease + According to the WHO approximately 5.4 lakh deaths takes place
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each year globally because of the intake of industrially produced trans fatty acids + WHO has
also called for the global elimination of transfats by 2023 + It was in 2011 that India first
passed a regulation that set a TFA limit of 10% in oils and fats, which was further reduced to
5% in 2015
 NCAVES Project = In 2017, the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) and the European Union (EU) launched the NCAVES Project + project is
funded by the EU through its Partnership Instrument and aims to assist the five participating
partner countries, namely Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, to advance the
knowledge agenda on environmental-economic accounting, and in particular ecosystem
accounting + In India, the NCAVES project is being implemented by the MoSPI in close
collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) + Achievements of MoSPI under the
project include Publication of “EnviStats India”, on an annual basis since 2018, which is a
compilation of the Environment Accounts as per the UN-SEEA framework and Development
of the India-EVL Tool which is essentially a look-up tool giving a snapshot of the values of
various ecosystem services in the different States of the country + Recently, MoSPI also
released ‘Ecosystem Accounts for India - Report of the NCAVES Project’, which provides
an overview of work undertaken in India as part of the NCAVES project
 NCAVES India Forum = Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services
(NCAVES) + organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, United
Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), European Union and UN Environment + Natural Capital
Accounting is a tool that can help measure full extent of country’s natural capital. It also
provides a perspective on the link between economy, ecology and environment
 National Marine Turtle Action Plan = Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate
Change (MoEF&CC) has released ‘Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National
Marine Turtle Action Plan’ + they contain ways and means to promote inter-sectoral action
for conservation
 E-Waste management in India = Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) passed the first law on e-waste management in 2011, based on Extended
Producer Responsibility wherein the producer of EEE has the responsibility of managing
such equipment after its ‘end of life + Thereafter, the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016
were enacted in supersession of the 2011 Rules where a manufacturer, dealer, refurbisher and
Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) were also brought under the ambit of these
Rules + E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 have been amended by the Centre in 2018
whoseobjective is to channelize the e-waste generated in the country towards authorized
dismantlers and recyclers in order to further formalize the e-waste recycling sector + India’s
first E-waste clinic is going to be set up in Bhopal that would enable segregation, processing
and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units
 Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) = CAQM was formed by an
ordinance in October 2020 + Permanent statutory authority with 20 members + To be chaired
by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary + The Commission will
be a statutory authority + It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution
control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan + It will have the powers to
issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution + It has
Exclusive jurisdiction over the NCR, including areas in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and
Rajasthan, in matters of air pollution, and will be working along with CPCB and ISRO, apart
from the respective state government
 Flue Gas Desulphurization = Refers to removal of Sulphur Dioxide from exhaust flue gases
generated in furnaces, boilers, and other industrial processes due to thermal processing,
treatment, and combustion + Centre had initially set 2017 deadline for thermal power plants
to comply with emissions standards for installing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units +
Ministry of Power has proposed pushing back deadlines for adoption of new emission norms
by coal fired power plants, saying “an unworkable time schedule” would burden utilities and
lead to an increase in power tariffs
 Advisory on Human-Wildlife Conflict = Standing Committee of National Board of

Wildlife (NBWL) has approved it + makes prescriptions for the States/Union Territories for
dealing with HWC situations + seeks expedited inter-departmental coordinated and effective
actions + empowers gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the
WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972
 Vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh = Arunachal Pradesh could be India’s prime producer of
vanadium which ishigh-value metal used to strengthen steel and titanium + In India, it is
recovered as a by-product from the slag collected from the processing of vanadiferous
magnetite ores + But now promising concentrations of vanadium has been found in the
palaeo-proterozoic carbonaceous phyllite rocks in the Depo and Tamang areas + Exploration
is being carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI)
 Lithium Reserves in India = Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research
(AMD), Department of Atomic Energy, is carrying out domestic exploration for lithium in
geological domains of the country + 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources is found in the
pegmatites (igneous rocks) of Marlagalla-Allapatna region, along the Nagamangala Schist
Belt of Karnataka + there is some potential for recovering lithium from the brines of
Sambhar and Pachpadra in Rajasthan, and Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat
2.12) ENVIRONMENT and WORLD

 Green Climate Fund(GCF) = adopted as a financial mechanism of UNFCCC at the end of
2011 in CoP 16(Cancun) + largest multilateral fund + support projects, programmes, policies
and other activities in developing country for combating climate change + has an
independent legal status + follows a ‘country-driven approach’ + MOEFCC is India’s
Nationally Designated Authority (NDA) for the GCF + NABARD has been accredited by
Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board as one of the National Implementing Entity (NIE) for GCF
in India + based in South Korea + World Bank serves as the interim trustee of the GCF + the
Fund functions under the guidance of and remains accountable to the UNFCCC Conference
of Parties + In 2019, developed countries are expected to make available $100 billion
annually to developing countries, according to a 2010 agreement in Cancun + In 2016,
developed countries published a road map to $100 billion
 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) = CBD provides a global legal framework
for action on biodiversity + entered into force in 1993 + It’s a near universal convention with
a participation of 196 member countries + Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing
body of the CBD. It meets every two years, or as needed + Secretariat of the CBD (SCBD) is
based in Montreal, Canada + Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) is the flagship publication
of the CBD + India being a signatory to CBD, enacted the Biodiversity Act in 2002. It has
same objectives as that of CBD. The Act has a 3 tier institutional Structure (refer to the
infographics) for facilitating its implementation
 System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) = SEEA is a statistical system
that brings together economic and environmental information into a common framework to
measure the condition of the environment, the contribution of the environment to the
economy and the impact of the economy on the environment + It consists of 3 parts + SEEA
Central Framework (SEEA CF): It was adopted by the UN Statistical Commission as the
first international standard for environmental economic accounting in 2012. It looks at
“individual environmental assets”, such as water resources, energy resources etc. and how
those assets move between the environment and the economy + SEEA Ecosystem
Accounting (SEEA EA): It offers a synthesis of current knowledge in ecosystem accounting
+ SEEA Applications and Extensions: It illustrates the users of SEEA Central Framework
based accounts how the information can be used in decision-making
 Nagoya protocol on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) = Recently, Brazil became the
130th country to ratify the Nagoya Protocol + It was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan as a
supplementary agreement to the convention on biological diversity + Nagoya Protocol
applies to genetic resources as well as traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic
resources + 3 Core obligations for its contracting Parties: Access obligations, Benefit sharing
obligations, Compliance obligations + Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House is a web
based platform to share information to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol
 Climate Goal of Nations = US aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 50% to 52% below
2005 levels by 2030 + Japan will cut its emissions by 44% from 2005 levels + Canada has
committed to cut 40%-45% from 2005 levels + China, world’s largest emitter of greenhouse
gases, has pledged that its emissions will peak by around 2030 + India has not yet set date for
when its emissions will peak, though it has announced goals for increasing use of cleaner
energy sources and slowing its growth in fossil-fuel consumption
 Major Economies Forum(MEF) = or Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
(MEF) + founded in 2009 + It aimed to push for a way forward on climate change without
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attention to the differentiated responsibilities and historical responsibilities + Recently, USA
gave a call to resume the Major Economies Forum (MEF) + India is a member of MEF
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Earth Hour 2021 = Organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the one-hour lights out
event (8:30 - 9:30 pm) is held worldwide toward end of March + It started as a light out event
in Sydney, Australia in 2007+ Theme: climate change to save earth
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 Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 = hosted online by the Netherlands government + will
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have a focus on securing new investments to ensure that millions of smallholder farmers can
adapt to the stresses of climate on food production + It launched an Adaptation Action
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Agenda that sets out clear commitments to deliver concrete new endeavours and partnerships
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to make our world more resilient to the effects of climate change

 High Ambition Coalition (HAS) = or High Ambition Coalition (HAS) for Nature and
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People + The coalition is aiming to ensure that a new global framework to protect the Earth's
natural systems, plants and animals be adopted at COP15 + High Ambition Coalition (HAC)
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for Nature and People, formed in 2019, is an interregional group of more than 50 countries
co-chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom + 30x30 approach: is the key
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goals of HAC and aim increased spatial targets to protect or effectively conserve at least 30%
of the planet (land and sea) by 2030, i.e., 30x30 approach + Recently, At one planet summit,
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HAC call onto all States to join it before 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biodiversity (CBD COP 15) to be held in Kunming, China (2021)
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 One Planet Summit = co-organized by France, United Nations and World Bank since 2017
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+ brings together governments, international organizations, businesses and NGOs for

preservation of biodiversity
 Basel Convention = Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is a multilateral treaty aimed at suppressing
environmentally and socially detrimental hazardous waste trading patterns + adopted in 1989
and it came into force in 1992 + India became a party to the Basel Convention in 1992 +
Basel Convention obliges its Parties to ensure that such wastes are managed and disposed of
in an environmentally sound manner + E-waste, due to its constitution, often contains
hazardous elements
 International Year of Millets = United Nations General Assembly unanimously approved
the resolution sponsored by India to declare 2023 as International Year of Millets + In 2018,
India had proposed to celebrate 2023 as International Year of Millets at Food and Agriculture
Organization(FAO) + In India, area under millet declined from 37 million ha in 1965-66 to
14.72 million ha in 2016-17 + Please Note: Indian Government has declared 2018 as
National Year of Millets + Government measures to promote millet production
 Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion
(INSIMP): was launched in 2011-12 to promote millets as “nutricereals’ and enhance
India's nutritional security. It is a part of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
 Integrated Cereals Development Programmes: in Coarse Cereals under Macro
Management of Agriculture scheme to increase the overall productivity under specific
crop-based systems
2.13) MISCELLANEOUS
 Tropical Cyclones Shift = A new study has found that tropical cyclones across the globe
have been moving westward by 30 km per decade since 1982 + This is putting them closer to
land and making them more dangerous + But Atlantic hurricane basin didn’t show any
westward shift, which could be because it is more closely surrounded by continents + Busiest
tropical cyclone basin is in western Pacific, where the westward shift is twice as big as the
global average
 Carbon Flux = A carbon flux is the amount of carbon exchanged between Earth's carbon
pools - the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things - and is typically measured in units of
gigatonnes of carbon per year (GtC/yr)
 Bio-restoration = new technology for ecological restoration for mangroves of Sunderbans,
West Bengal, Ramsar site and UNESCO World Heritage site + It means reviving native
ecosystem in degraded areas while maintaining diversity of original flora and fauna through
regeneration but bringing down the regeneration period to 4 to 5 years.
 Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) = also known as Gulf Stream +
Recent data suggests that it is at its weakest in more than a millennium, and climate
breakdown is the probable cause + It is a large system of ocean currents carrying warm
surface water from the equator up north, and sending cold, low-salinity deep water back
down south + It works like a giant conveyor belt and is driven by differences in temperature
and salt content + ocean conveyor gets its start in the Norwegian Sea, where warm water
from the Gulf Stream heats the atmosphere in the cold northern latitudes + AMOC influences
the climate of the east coast of North America and the west coast of Europe + It brings warm
and mild weather to Europe + Recent studies have found that rising temperatures in the
Indian Ocean can help boost the AMOC and delay slow down
 Emissions from Grasslands = A new study shows that emissions of methane (CH4) and
nitrous oxide (N2O) from grasslands increased by factor of 2.5 since 1750 mainly due to
increased emissions from livestock + This has more than compensated for reduced emissions
from shrinking number of wild grazers + Net carbon sink effect of grasslands was estimated
to have intensified over the last century but mainly in sparsely-grazed, natural grasslands +
Conversely, over the last decade, grasslands intensively managed by humans have become a
net source of greenhouse gas emissions.
 Antarctic Ozone Hole = According to World Meteorological Organization (WMO), one of
the deepest, largest gap in the ozone layer has closed + annually occurring ozone hole over
the Antarctic had rapidly grown from mid-August and peaked in early October 2020 +
expansion was driven by a strong, stable and cold polar vortex and very cold temperatures in
stratosphere + same meteorological factors also contributed to the record 2020 Arctic ozone
hole, which has also closed + Do you know about Polar Vortex and stratospheric clouds? +
Ozone layer is the common termfor the high concentration ofozone that is found in
thestratosphere + Atmospheric ozone absorbsultraviolet (UV) radiationfrom the sun,

particularlyharmful UVB-type rays
 Polar Vortex =Itis a low pressure area of wide expanse of swirling cold air in polar regions
+ It always exists near the poles, weakens in summerand strengthens in winter + The term
"vortex" refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air thathelps keep the colder air near the
Poles + A stronger polar vortex tends to fence in the cold (by bottling up all thecold air at
poles), while a weaker one allows cold outbursts to visit themid-latitudes + On occasions,
this vortex can become disturbed, more so in theNorthern Hemisphere, because of the
different arrangement of land andsea in the two hemispheres
 Miyawaki Technique = Miyawaki method, developed by a Japanese botanist Akira
Miyawaki after whom it is named, involves planting saplings in small areas, causing them to
“fight” for resources and grow nearly 10 times quicker + Method of Afforestation +
Miyawaki forests are tiny forests grown on small plots of land in 2 to 3 years and are self-
sustaining, like a forest
 Millets = Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown as cereal crops or grains
+ India is the largest producer of millets in the world + Area under millet: Rajasthan >
Maharashtra > Karnataka + They are Gluten-free which is advantageous for people suffering
from diabetes + They are anti-carcinogenic foods and anti-hypertensive + Millets reduce
inflammation and improves digestion + Millet crops sequester carbon from the atmosphere
while paddy fields emit methane, a greenhouse gas + Millets are called ‘Famine reserves’ as
they have a short growing season of 65 days + They are classified into Major Millets and
Minor Millets based on their grain size
 Flash Droughts = those that occur very quickly, with soil moisture depleting rapidly +
Normally, droughts take months to develop, but these happen within a week or in two weeks’
time + Several factors including atmospheric anomalies, anthropogenic greenhouse gas
emissions play an important role
 Marine Heat Waves = Heatwaves that occur in the ocean are known as marine heat waves
(MHWs) + A MHWs is defined when seawater temperatures exceed a seasonally-varying
threshold for at least 5 consecutive days. Successive heatwaves with gaps of 2 days or less
are considered part of the same event + MHWs occur when ocean temperatures are extremely
warm for an extended period of time which in turn have significant impacts on marine
ecosystems and industries + Marine heatwaves can occur in summer or winter
 Major millets: sorgum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet(ragi) + Major Millets grow
in Kharif season (July to October): Pearl millet/bajra, finger millet/ragi (cereals), and jowar
are kharif crops
 Minor millets: foxtail, little kodo, proso and barnyard millet
 Psuedo millets: amaranth (rajgira) and buckwheat (kuttu) + These are not part of the
botanical family to which true grains belong, however they are nutritionally similar
and used in similar ways to true grains
 Reduced Cropping Intensity in Winter = Due to severe groundwater depletion, cropping
intensity or amount of land planted in winter season may decrease by upto 20% by 2025 +
Some important winter crops are wheat, barley, mustard and peas
 Green Contracts = ‘Green contracts’ refer to commercial contracts which mandate that
contracting parties cut down greenhouse gas emissions at different stages of delivery of
goods/services, including design, manufacturing, transportation, operations and waste
disposal, as applicable to the industry
 Sadiya Earthquake = First geological evidence of an earthquake at Himebasti Village on
the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, documented by historians as Sadiya earthquake
+ recorded to have caused massive destruction and almost destroyed town in 1697 CE + It
can contribute to a seismic hazard map of eastern Himalaya, which can facilitate construction
and planning
 Landscape Approach = is about balancing competing land use demands in a way that is best
for human well-being and the environment. It means creating solutions that consider food
and livelihoods, finance, rights, restoration and progress towards climate and development
goals
 Chemicals of Concern = U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the
establishment of a "chemicals of concern" list and action plans that could prompt restrictions
on four types of synthetic chemicals + There are many chemical presents in cosmetic and
personal care products, some of these are:
 Phthalates: Phthalates are used as plasticisers and solvents, and can be found in
fragrances, hair products, skin lotions, nail polish and nail hardeners + They have
endocrine disruption effects, early puberty in girls, reproductive organ abnormalities etc
+ The chemicals list included butyrate TXIB and citrate ATBC which are used as pthalate
substitutes
 Parabens: Parabens are preservatives used in many cosmetics, with methyl paraben
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being the most commonly used + Parabens have been found to have endocrine disruption
effects in lab tests, although the relevance to humans isn't well understood
 Triclosan: Triclosan is a preservative and antibacterial agent found in personal care
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products such as antiperspirant, soap, hand wash and toothpaste + Tests on mammals and
other animals have shown endocrine disruptor effects + There are also concerns that it
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may contribute to antibiotic resistance
[We have covered the most important Chemical of concerns in NEWS]
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 Health effects of hazardous metals:

 Mercury (Hg) = Minamata disease
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 Arsenic (As) = Black foot disease

 Cadmium (Cd) = Itai-Itai disease
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 Nitrates = Blue baby syndrome (Methemoglobinemia)

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SCHEMES: PRELIMS 2022 (Jan 21 – April 21)| Sunya IAS
1.1) Ministry of Ministry of Jal Shakti
 Swachh Iconic Places = By Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,
Tourism Ministry, Ministry of Culture and the concerned State/UT govt. + 12 iconic sites to
be transformed into ‘Swachh Tourist Destinations’ under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen
(SBM-G) + for enhancing the experience of visitors by improving the sanitation and
cleanliness standards at and around the sites + Involves various ministries and private sector
as partners
 Catch the Rain Campaign = Jan Andolan campaign + The campaign will be implemented
by the National Water Mission(NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti + It aims to take water
conservation at the grass-roots level through people’s participation. The campaign intends to
accelerate water conservation across the country + Tag line: Catch the rain, where it falls,
when it falls + campaign will take place across the country, in both rural and urban areas + It
will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 (the pre-monsoon and monsoon period)
in the country
 Water Quality Information Management System- WQMIS Framework = Launched by
Jal Shakti Ministry + Water Quality Testing Framework was recently rolled out under Jal
Jeevan Mission and All results of testing will be fed into the Water Quality Information
Management System (WQMIS) + It is a portal developed with the support of the Indian
Council of Medical Research(ICMR) + Network of National Accreditation Board for Testing
and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs will be set up in every State, district
and block over the next year
 National River Linking Project (NRLP) = The idea of interlinking of rivers was first
proposed by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1850s. It was then revived in 1972 by K.L. Rao, then
India’s minister of power and irrigation + a total of 30 river links were identified under
NRLP formally known as the National Perspective Plan + It is being managed by the
National Water Development Agency (NWDA). The project is also called as the inter-basin
transfer of water which includes three components:
 The northern Himalayan rivers interlinking component
 The southern peninsular component.
 The intrastate river linking component.
 Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) = Scheme "FMBAP" has
been framed by merging the components of two continuing XII Plan schemes titled "Flood
Management Programme (FMP)" and "River Management Activities and Works related to
Border Areas (RMBA) + aim of the Scheme is to assist the State Governments to provide
reasonable degree of protection against floods in critical areas
1.2) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)

 National Urban Digital Mission = launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) + create shared
digital infrastructure for urban India by consolidating and cross-leveraging various digital
initiatives of MoHUA + give rise to standards, specifications, and certifications, across 3
pillars of people, process, and platforms
 City Innovation Exchange (CiX) =Launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs +
‘open innovation’ process + to design-test-deliver on solutions to pressing urban challenges +
Philosophy: ‘everyone is an innovator’ + Smart Cities Mission will partner with Startup
India, Atal Innovation Mission, AGNIi and etc. for it
 Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge = by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs + to
work with Indian cities and their partners to improve public space, mobility, data
management across city agencies, etc + under the Smart Cities Mission + shortlisted cities
would carry out projects for making early childhood-friendly neighbourhoods
 Smart Code Platform = Smart Code Platform was recently launched + Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs + Smart Code is a platform that enables all ecosystem stakeholders to
contribute to a repository of open-source code for various solutions and applications for
urban governance + The source code will be free to use without any licensing or subscription
fees + It is designed to address the challenges that urban local bodies (ULBs) face in the
development and deployment of digital applications + It shall enable cities to take advantage
of existing codes and customising them to suit local needs, rather than having to develop new
solutions from scratch
 India Urban Data Exchange(IUDX) = open-source software platform developed by Smart
Cities Mission and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru + facilitates secure exchange
of Smart City data amongst data platforms, 3 rd party authenticated and authorised
applications, and other sources + serves as interface for data providers and data users to
share, request, and access datasets related to cities, urban governance, and urban service
delivery.
 Technograhis = Enrolment Module for TECHNOGRAHIS has been launched by Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) + TECHNOGRAHIS are students from IITs, NITs,
engineering, planning and architecture colleges, faculty members etc + These students will
visit Live Laboratories at six Light House Projects (LHPs) sites for learning, consultation,
generation of ideas and solutions etc
 EatSmart Cities Challenge = It is envisioned as a competition among cities to recognize
their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India + The
challenge is open to all Smart Cities, capital cities of States /UTs, and cities with a population
of more than 5 lakh + It is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in
association with FSSAI.
 Transport 4 All Challenge = launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and
Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)(It is a NGO) + It aims to develop
digital solutions that will make public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable for
all + All the Smart Cities Mission cities, capitals of states and union territories (UTs), and all
cities with a population of over 5 lakhs—are eligible for the Challenge
 Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) = PMAY-G was launched in 2016
by restructuring Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) + IAY was launched during 1985-86 as a sub-
scheme of RLEGP (Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme) + Scheme aims at
providing a pucca house, with basic amenities, to all homeless and those households living in
kutcha and dilapidated house, by 2022 + Eligibility: Identification of beneficiaries as per the
housing deprivation parameters and exclusion criteria prescribed under Socio Economic
Caste Census (SECC) 2011 after due verification by Gram Sabha
 Governance & Accelerated Livelihoods (GOALS) project = In partnership with the
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme),
through the GOALS project, helps promote affordable housing for the rural poor + The first
component of this has been to provide beneficiary households with a wider range of choices
in terms of housing designs, materials and construction technologies + These choices are
tailored to local conditions, aim to enhance user benefits and reduce the environmental
footprint of housing
 Light House Projects (LHPs) = LHPs under Global Housing Technology Challenge India
(GHTC-India) will be constructed across 6 cities in 6 states + GHTC-India under Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs to get the best globally available innovative construction
technologies through a challenge process + LHPs are model housing projects with houses
built with shortlisted alternate technology suitable to the geo-climatic and hazard conditions
of the region
1.3) Ministry of Human Resource and Development(MHRD)/Ministry of Education

 SamagraSiksha Scheme = To treat school education holistically without segmentation from
preschool to Class XII + To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of
school education + It envisages the ‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper
primary, secondary to senior secondary levels +Subsumes the three erstwhile Schemes of
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and
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Teacher Education (TE) + Under Samagra Shiksha, States and UTs are supported for
strengthening of existing government schools, and for creation and augmentation of
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infrastructure facilities based on proposals received from respective States/UTs + The
scheme also envisages an annual recurring composite school grant varying from ` 25,000/- to
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` 1,00,000/- per annum depending upon the enrollment of students, for all government
schools. Each school is required to spend at least 10 per cent of the composite school grant
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on activities related to Swachhata Action Plan + scheme also provides for annual
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maintenance and repair of existing school building, toilets etc + various interventions for
improvement of quality of education such as induction and in-service training of teachers and
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school heads, learning enhancement programmes, use of ICT in education etc

 KAPILA = Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness (KAPILA)
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Campaign + for creating Intellectual Property Literacy and patent awareness + objectives:
creating awareness regarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Higher Education
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Institutions (HEIs); enabling of IP protection of inventions originating from faculty and

students of HEIs; development of Credit Course on IPR; training program on IPR for faculty
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and students of HEIs and sensitization and development of vibrant IP filing system +
Ministry of Education
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 MERITE Project = Government is planning to replace the Technical Education Quality

Improvement Programme (TEQIP) with a new programme MERITE Project + the MERITE
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Project is still in the conceptual stage and has not yet received Cabinet approval
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 TEQIP [Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme] = In the year 2002, the
ministry of Human Resource and Development launched the TEQIP scheme + The project
commenced with the World Bank assistance + TEQIP is coming to an end in 2021, leaving
more than 1,200 assistant professors out of a job and some rural colleges bereft of half their
faculty + The measures under TEQIP include:
 Institution based: accreditation of the courses through NBA, governance reforms,
improving the processes, digital initiatives, securing autonomy for the colleges.
 Student based: improving the quality of teaching, teacher training, equipping the class
rooms, revision of syllabus, industry interaction, compulsory internships for students,
training the students in industry-relevant skills, preparing them for the GATE exam
etc
 SARTHAQ Plan = Students' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement through Quality
Education (SARTHAQ)', developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy
(Ministry of Education), is an indicative and suggestive implementation plan for school
education + SARTHAQ is aimed at meeting the diverse national and global challenges of the
present and the future and help the students to imbibe 21stcentury skills along with India’s
tradition, culture and value system
 Kala Utsav = Initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now called
Ministry of Education) under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan + to promote arts in
education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students at the secondary
stage in the country
1.4) Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T)

 SAKSHAM(Shramik Shakti Manch) = initiative of Technology Information, Forecasting
and Assessment Council (TIFAC) + dynamic job portal for mapping the skills of labourers +
will directly connect labourers with MSMEs eliminating middlemen/ labour contractor.
 Seaweed Mission = for commercial farming of seaweeds and its processing for value
addition towards boosting national economy + initiated by Technology Information,
Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)
 CSIR Floriculture Mission = Floriculture is a branch of horticulture that deals with the
cultivation, processing and marketing of ornamental plants and maintenance of gardens +In
the mission, available knowledge base in Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) Institutes will be utilized and leveraged to help Indian farmers and industry + It will
be implemented in collaboration with Directorate of Floriculture (ICAR); KVIC; APEDA;
TRIFED; Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), and Universities + Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research abbreviated as CSIR was established in 1942 as an
autonomous body and comes under Ministry of Science & Technology
 Purple Revolution = by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of
Integrative Medicine, Jammu + Launched under Aroma Mission with help from IIM-Jammu
+ farmers in Doda district had their incomes quadrupled after shifting from maize to lavender
cultivation, which is being called lavender cultivation + Purpose of Aroma Mission is to
boost cultivation of plants for essential oils which have aromatic medicinal properties
 Swachhta Saarthi Fellowships = Launched by Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA)
to Government of India + under “Waste to Wealth” Mission of PM’s Science, Technology,
and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) + It has 3 categories - School students from
9th to 12th class, College students (UG, PG, Research students) and Citizens working in
community + It recognizes people engaged in tackling challenge of waste management,
scientifically and sustainably
 National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) = Launched in 2015 + It aims at establishing
supercomputer facilities across 70 national R&D institutions and connecting them onto a
National Knowledge Network + Other supercomputers installed under NSM are PARAM-
Shivay, PARAM Shakti and PARAM Brahma
 MANAS App = Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System + Aim to build a
healthier and happier community, to empower it to nurture its innate potential for building a
Swasth and Atmanirbhar Bharat + MANAS was endorsed as a national program by the Prime
Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) to promote
wellbeing across age groups + It is developed by NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Armed Forces
Medical College (AFMC) Pune and C-DAC Bengaluru + MANAS was initiated by the
Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
 Project Pyrasol = to transform urban organic waste into biochar and energy in smart cities+
was awarded to CSIR-CLRI by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) +
IGSTC is established by India and Germany to facilitate Indo-German R&D networking with
emphasis on industry participation, applied research and technology development +
foundation stone of integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot plant was recently laid at
Chennai.
 FIST Scheme = Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology (FIST) Scheme +
launched in 2000 to strengthen the Science and Technology (S&T) infrastructure + It is
considered as complimentary support for enabling Departments/ Centres/ Schools/ Colleges
to pursue research activities more effectively + duration of support for each project will be
for a period not exceeding 5 years.
 Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) = Indian digital knowledge repository of
traditional knowledge especially about medicinal plants and formulations used in Indian
systems of medicine + Initiated in 2001 + It is collaboration between Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of S&T, and AYUSH Deptt, Ministry of AYUSH
1.5) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW)

 Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 = launched by Union Minister of Health and Family
Welfare along with IMI 3.0 portal + Focus will be children and pregnant women who have
missed their vaccine doses due to COVID-19 pandemic + Beneficiaries from migration areas
and hard to reach areas will be targeted.
 Expanded Programme on Immunization = Initiated in 1978 + In 1985 , the programme
was renamed ‘Universal Immunization Programme’ under which about 12 different vaccines
are provided through the government health system + other than inoculation there is a three-
tier system at the district, state and national levels to monitor coverage and adverse events
and to ensure that the vaccine adhere to quality norms
 NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana = launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2018 +
centrally sponsored scheme under National Health Mission (NHM) + provides Rs. 500 per
month to all TB patients towards nutritional support for the duration of their treatment
 NIKSHAY Portal = web enabled patient management system for TB control under National
Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) + developed and maintained by Central TB
Division (CTD) in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC), and WHO +
functions as National TB Surveillance System and enables reporting of various surveillance
data to Government of India + For private sector providers who notify TB patient gets
incentive of Rs.500 on notification and another Rs.500 for updating patient’s treatment
outcome
 Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi(PMSSN) = Recently approved as single non-
lapsable reserve fund for health in Public Account + It will have proceeds of 4% Health and
Education Cess levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007 + entrusted to Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) + It will finance various schemes like Ayushman
Bharat, National Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana etc
 Anemia Mukt Bharat Strategy = It is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare and UNICEF + It provides preventive and curative mechanisms through a 6x6x6
strategy including six target beneficiaries, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms
for all stakeholders to achieve the envisaged target of anaemia reduction under the POSHAN
Abhiyaan + The target beneficiaries are Children (6-59 months), Children(5-9 years),
Adolescent Girls & Boys of 10-19 years, Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years),
Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers
 Integrated Health Information Platform(IHIP) = Launched by MoH&FW + It is highly
refined version of presently used Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) digital
platform + It will track 33 diseases (as compared to the earlier 18 diseases) and will ensure
near-real-time data in digital mode + It will provide a health information system developed
for real time, case-based information, integrated analytics, advanced visualization capability
+ India is the first country in the world to adopt such an Advanced Digital Surveillance
System
 National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) = launched in 2003-04 +
It is an umbrella programme for the prevention and control of six vector borne diseases
namely Malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, kala-azar and lymphatic
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filariasis
 Tribal TB Initiative = a unique partnership between the Ministry of Health and Family
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Welfare and Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the cascade of TB care and support
services among Tribal Populations in India + The technical assistance for this initiate will be
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provided by USAID
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1.6) Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)

 Samarthya Umbrella Scheme = Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, another important
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nutrition scheme, has been grouped with BetiBachaoBetiPadhao, and two other schemes for
women, under the new umbrella of Samarthya + It is the efforts towards rationalising the
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schemes on the recommendations of 15th Finance commission

 Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme = scheme aims to empower rural women through
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community participation + The scheme envisages community engagement through College

Student Volunteers to empower rural women in 115 aspirational districts as part of block
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level initiatives + Ministry of Women and Child Development

 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme = Ministry of Women & Child Development +
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launched in 2015 + aims to address the declining Child Sex Ratio and related issues of
empowerment of women on a lifecycle continuum + It is a tri-ministerial convergent effort of
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Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Education +
Objectives of the Scheme: Prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, ensure survival &
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protection of the girl child and Ensuring education and participation of the girl child
 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana = 2015 + saving scheme was launched by the Government of
India as a part of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign + to encourage parents of a girl-child to
stock a fund for their education and marriage + People can open the Sukanya Samridhi
account at any India Post office or branch of authorised commercial banks. The parents or the
legal guardian can open the account for a girl child before she attains the age of 10 years.
After turning 10, a girl can manage her account. The scheme allows one account per child
and two accounts in a family. However, there is an exception for twins and triplets
 Mission Kalpatru = Program under Ministry of Women and Child development to eradicate
Malnutrition + Under Mission Kalpatru, government aims to plant around 200 Million trees
as ‘food forests’ for long term nutritional requirements + Recently, Ministry has seek loans
from five different multinational development banks to implement new and existing schemes,
including a research centre on child development as well as plantation of 200 million trees
under mission Kalpatru to eradicate malnutrition + Please Note:
 PoshanAbhiyaan or Nutrition Mission – assisted by World Bank
 Mission Kalpatru - assisted by Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA)
 ‘One Stop Centres’ Scheme - assisted by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB)
 Ministry plans an infrastructure upgrade vis-a-vis sanitation, setting up child-friendly
toilets, provision of safe disposal of sanitary napkins and ensuring awareness about
health and sanitation measures - assisted by New Development Bank(NDB)
 All Major Schemes Of MoWCD Classified Under 3 Umbrella Schemes
1. Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0: It includes Umbrella Integrated Child
Development Services - Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyan, Scheme for
Adolescent Girls, National Creche Scheme
2. Mission VATSALYA: Initiatives taken to ensure safety and well-being of children +
Schemes are Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services
3. Mission Shakti: It will consist of policies and schemes for protection and
empowerment of women + schemes included are:
 SAMBAL (One Stop Centre, Mahila Police Volunteer, Women's
Helpline/Swadhar/Ujjawala/Wid ow Homes etc.)
 SAMARTHYA (BetiBachaoBetiPadhao, Creche, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana
Yojana/ Gender Budgeting/Rese arch/)
1.7) Ministry of Labour

 Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana = implemented by the Employee’s State Insurance
(ESI) Corporation + It offers cash compensation to insured persons when they are rendered
unemployed + ESIC decided that in cases where the employer has shown “Zero” contribution
for employee for some months before exiting him from system, relief for such period of
“Zero” contribution, shall also be allowed.
1.8) Ministry of Commerce

 One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme = Operationally merged with ‘Districts as
Export Hub’ Initiative + ‘Districts as Export Hub’ initiative is being implemented by
Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce with Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder + to convert each
district of the country into an Export Hub by identifying products with export potential in the
district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products, etc + Department of Commerce
through DGFT is engaging with State and Central government agencies to promote the
initiative of One District One Product. The objective is to convert each District of the country
into an Export Hub by identifying products with export potential in the District, addressing
bottlenecks for exporting these products + District Export Promotion Committees: The
primary function of the DEPC is to prepare and act on District Specific Export Action Plans
in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders from the Center, State and the District.
District Export Promotion Committees have been notified in the Districts of all the States
except West Bengal
 Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) = approved for next four years from 2021-22 +
provide seed funding to eligible startups + Seed Funding is very early investment to business
to help it grow + implemented from 1st April 2021
 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Programme = Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a
set of initiatives for providing accelerated patent prosecution procedures by sharing
information between some patent offices + This would allow patent applicant to demand fast-
tracking of his patent application by showing that his product or process has already been
granted patent in Japan + India and Japan have agreed to recognize each other’s offices to act
mutually as competent International Searching and International Preliminary Examining
Authority (ISA/IPEA) for any international patent application filed with them + Monitored
by the Indian Patent Office (IPO) under the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade
Marks, India (CGPDTM) with patent offices of various other interest countries or region
 AtmanirbharNiveshak Mitra = To be launched by Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry + under “Invest India”
agency + for handholding and facilitation, information dissemination, and facilitation of
domestic investors.
 e-SANTA Platform = Launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry and aims to connect
aqua farmers and the buyers + e-SANTA Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA
farmers' Trade in Aquaculture + The farmers can freely list their produce and quote their
price while the exporters have the freedom to list their requirements + Platform is available
in many languages, which will help the local population
 National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) = is an extension arm of Marine
Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry Govt.
of India + Established in 2007 + The objectives of NaCSA are to encourage and uplift the
small and marginal farmers through organization of clusters and maintaining Best
Management Practices in shrimp culture)
 Shaphari Scheme = Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) has
developed a certification scheme for aquaculture products called ‘Shaphari’, a Sanksrit word
that means the superior quality of fishery products suitable for human consumption +
Shaphari scheme is based on the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s
technical guidelines on aquaculture certification + It will have two components — certifying
hatcheries for the quality of their seeds and, separately, approving shrimp farms that adopt
the requisite good practices + The certification of hatcheries will help farmers easily identify
good quality seed producers + Those who successfully clear multiple audits of their
operations shall be granted a certificate for a period of two years
 Startup India Initiative = Launched in 2016 and intended to catalyse startup culture +
Startup India Initiative has rolled out several programs. These programs are managed by a
dedicated Startup India Team, which reports to DPIIT + Self-certification and compliances of
9 environment and labour laws through startup India web portal/mobile app, Fast track
startup patent applications are provided + As per Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill 2018
(IBB), Startups with simple debt structures may be wound up within a period of 90 days +
SIDBI has setup Fund of Funds for investment into startups set up by the govt with an
initialscorpus of INR 2,500 Cr and a total corpus INR 10,000 Cr over a period of four years+
Income Tax exemptions for 3 years, Capital Gains Tax exemption to people investing such
gains in the Govt recognised Fund for Funds and Tax exemption on Investments above Fair
Market Value (FMV) are other features of the Initiative
 Fund of Funds = for investing with experienced fund managers who have a strong
track record and enable them to attract further institutional investors to invest in their
funds
 Strategic Fund = aimed at growth and development stage investments in
projects/companies in a broad range of sectors that are of economic and commercial
importance and are likely to benefit from India’s growth trajectory over the medium
to long-term
 Sovereign Wealth Fund = consists of pools of money derived from a country's
reserves, set aside for investment purposes to benefit the country's economy and
citizens + The funding for a sovereign wealth fund comes from central bank reserves
that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses, and from revenue generated
from the exports of natural resources.
 What is a Start-up?= Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry has defined a startup as an entity that is
incorporated as a private limited company or Registered as a partnership firm or
Registered as a limited liability partnership in India + an entity will be considered a
start-up upto a period of ten years from the date of incorporation/registration,
provided it has an annual turnover not exceeding Rs 100 crore in any preceding
financial year, If it works towards innovation, development or improvement of
products or processes or services + India is currently the third-largest startup
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ecosystem in the world
 New Industrial Development Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir (J&K IDS, 2021) = Central
Sector Scheme for the development of Industries in Jammu & Kashmir and nurturing the
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existing industries in J&K by providing them working capital support at the rate of 5% for 5
years + Ministry of Commerce & Industry
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1.9) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MEITY)

 SANDES = instant messaging platform on lines of Whatsapp launched by National
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Informatics Centre + government instant messaging system (GIMS) + used by both

the central and state government officials for intra and inter-organisation communication +
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allows a user to mark message as confidential, which will allow the recipient to be made
aware of the same + does not allow the user to change their email id or registered phone
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number + released for the common public recently

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 ‘AI Gamechangers’ Programme = launched by National Association of Software and

Services Companies (NASSCOM) + It will provide platform for startups, enterprises,
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academia, governments, and NGOs to showcase their AI-based products and solutions.
 INDIAai = National AI Portal of India + a central hub for everything AI in India and beyond
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was joint initiative Ministry of Electronics and IT, National e-Governance Division and
NASSCOM
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 #FOSS4GOV Innovation Challenge = announced by Ministry of Electronics & Information

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Technology + to accelerate adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in Govt. + it
calls upon FOSS innovators, technology entrepreneurs and Indian Startups to submit
implementable open source product innovations with possible applications for Govtech in
Health, Education, Agriculture, Urban Governance etc.
 E-waste Awareness Programme = Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) + under Digital India + to create awareness among the public about the hazards of e-
waste recycling by the unorganised sector, and to educate them about alternate methods of
disposing their e-waste
 National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) = GSI is in consultation with BISAG-N, a
national institute under Ministry of Information & Technology for development of NGDR +
BISAG-N - Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo informatics + flagship
initiative for collation of all the geoscience data of the country involving GSI, other national
organizations, private sector agencies working in the domain and other stakeholders + It will
integrate the collected data by GSI and the similar organizations to build a repository on the
digital medium entailing multiple user access
 National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) = not for-profit organization (section 8 of the
Companies Act 2013), established in 2003 + It acts as a neutral meeting point of the Internet
service providers (ISPs) with the primary objective of facilitating the exchange of domestic
internet traffic between peering ISP members + Recently, NIXI Launched 3 new initiative
 IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru) - It’s a joint effort of Dept. of Telecommunication, MeitY
& community to promote adoption of IPv6 + The expert panel group has members from
government and private organizations
 NIXI-IPINDEX - It is a portal for the Internet community to showcase the IPv6 adoption
rate in India and across the world + (IPv6) is the most recent version of the Internet
Protocol (IP). It is a communications protocol that provides an identification and location
system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet known as IP
address. Also, IPv6 is more secure and fast as compared to IPv4
 NIXI Academy - To educate technical/non-technical people in India to learn and relearn
technologies like IPv6
1.10) Ministry of Finance

 Senior Citizen Savings’ Scheme = A Senior Citizens’ Saving Scheme (SCSS) account is an
account that offers retirement benefits and is backed by the Government of India + Senior
citizens residing in India can avail the benefits of the account by investing a lump sum in the
scheme, either individually or jointly + The account will provide access to regular income
post-retirement along with income tax benefits + an account holder may operate more than
one account under the scheme subject to the condition that the deposits in all the accounts
taken together shall not exceed the maximum limit, i.e. Rs.15 lakh + Beneficiaries: Senior
citizens of India aged 60 years or above, Retired defense personnel above 50 years of age etc.
 National Small Savings Fund(NSSF) = NSSF in the Public Account of India was
established in 1999 + Fund is administered by Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic
Affairs) under National Small Savings Fund (Custody and Investment) Rules, 2001, framed
by the President under Article 283 (1) of the Constitution + The objective of NSSF is to de-
link small savings transactions from the Consolidated Fund of India and ensure their
operation in a transparent and self-sustaining manner
 ECLGS 3.0 = The government has extended the ₹3-lakh-crore emergency credit line
guarantee scheme by another three months till June 30 and also widened its scope to new
sectors, including hospitality, travel and tourism + ECLGS 3.0 would involve extending
credit of up to 40% of total credit outstanding across all lending institutions as on Februar y
29, 2020 + The tenor of loans granted under ECLGS 3.0 would be 6 years, including a
moratorium period of 2 years + Please Note: National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company
(NCGTC) is the guarantee provider under the ECLGS scheme + [Read about ECLGS in
earlier editions]
 Indian Customs Electronics Gateway (ICEGATE) = Indian Customs Electronic Gateway
(ICEGATE) is the national portal of Indian Customs of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (CBIC) that provides e-filing services to the Trade, Cargo Carriers and other
Trading Partners electronically + CBIC, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
 Single Window Interface for Facilitation of Trade (SWIFT)/‘SWIFT’ Initiative =
Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)(Now CBIC) has launched ‘SWIFT’ + Single
Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) provides a single-point interface for
clearance and is expected to reduce documentation and costs
1.11) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

 One Nation One Standard Mission = Started in 2019 + to ensure quality products and
services to consumers in country + Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will be responsible + all
areas of production and services be included, bringing national uniformity and
standardization + to bring uniformity and said labs testing in India should be of global
standards + Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
 E-Daakhil Portal = For online redressal of consumer grievances + developed by National
Informatics Centre(NIC) + launched by National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission
(NCDRC) in 2020 under Consumer Protection Act, 2019 + empowers consumers to file
complaints and payment of requisite fees online for redressal + facilitates consumer
commissions to scrutinize complaints online to accept, reject or forward complaint for further
processing.
1.12) Ministry of Road Transport Highways(MoRTH)

 Mahabahu Brahmaputra Initiative = aims at providing seamless connectivity to Eastern
parts of India and includes various development activities for people living around River
Brahmaputra and River Barak + along with Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-
Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari and shilanyas of
Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa and various tourist jetties on River
Brahmaputra [Mark River Barak & Brahmaputra on Map]
 Project Dantak = established in 1961 by Border Road Organization + It was tasked to
construct the pioneering motorable roads in Bhutan. + Some notable projects executed by the
project include the construction of Paro Airport, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway,
Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure etc.
1.13) Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD)

 Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) Scheme = has been launched in 10
States this year and will be rolled out across the country by March 2022, the Department of
Land Resources + Centre plans to issue a 14-digit identification number to every plot of land
in the country within a year + It will subsequently integrate its land records database with
revenue court records and bank records, as well as Aadhaar numbers on a voluntary basis +
This is the next step in the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme
(DILRMP), which began in 2008
 Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme(DILRMP) = 2008 +Ministry of
Rural Development + Formed by merger of two centrally sponsored schemes namely:
Computerization of Land Records (CLR), Strengthening of Revenue Administration and
Updating of Land Records (SRA&ULR) + It has 3 components: Computerization of land
record, Survey/re-survey & Computerization of Registration + The State Governments/UT
Administrations will implement it with financial and technical supports from the Dept. of
Land Resources + Recently, Union Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has
released a booklet on “Best Practices in Digital India Land Records Modernization
Programme (DILRMP)”
 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) = RSETIs are unique skill
development organisations operating in districts across the country. They are engaged in
developing skill among the unskilled/semi-skilled persons + RSETIs are sponsored and
managed by different banks (Bank led initiative) + Ministry of Rural Development + To start
the initiative, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, advised the
banks in 2009 to set up one RSETI in each district by the concerned Lead Bank with the
support of the State Government + applicable to all the categories of unemployed youth in
the age group of 18-45 years, with aptitude to take up self-employment or wage employment
 Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission = rural development schemes implemented by
Ministry of Rural Development + focuses on integrated development of rural clusters by
stimulating local economic development, enhancing basic services, and creating well planned
Rurban clusters.
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 Gender Samvaad = joint attempt between Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and
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Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) + to generate greater awareness on gender related
interventions under DAY-NRLM and best practices, with a focus on hearing voices from the
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states and the field.
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 Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) = Department of Rural Development,

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing MKSP + to empower women in agriculture
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by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, as also to

create and sustain their agriculture-based livelihoods.
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1.14) Ministry of Defence

 e-Chhawani Portal = online multi-tenancy central platform + to provide citizen-centric
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municipal services to the citizens across 62 Cantonment Boards + residents of cantonment

areas can register their complaints regarding civic issues and resolve them while sitting at
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home + People can get their documents like trade licence, sewerage connectivity applications
can be made through the portal + Developed by: eGov Foundation, Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL), Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) and National Informatics
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Centre (NIC) + Ministry of Defence + Cantonment Board areUrban local body, established
for municipal administration for civilian population in the cantonment area, under
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Cantonments Act of 2006 . These works under Defence Ministry

 One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme = Implies uniform pension to personal based on
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rank and length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement in defence veterans +
approved in 2015 + effective from 30th June 2014 + based on recommendation of
Koshiyaricommittee + Defence ministry has appointed committee to look into its loopholes
and modalities of revision
 Project Ladakh Ignited Minds = aimed at providing better training facilities to
disadvantaged Ladakhi students to give them opportunity to study in niche educational
institutes + initiated by Fire and Fury Corps of Indian Army with the support of HPCL +
implemented by NIEDO(NGO) + In the first batch, comprising 20 girls, 45 students from
Leh and Kargil districts, would get training for JEE and NEET entrance examinations
1.15) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)
 Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP) = Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is implementing farmer’s welfare scheme SMSP under
National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) + NMAET is to
restructure and further strengthen agricultural extension and thereby, enabling the delivery of
appropriate technology + SMSP will cover the entire gamut of seed production chain, from
production of nucleus seed to supply of certified seeds + It aims to produce and supply
quality seeds to farmers to enhance production and productivity in the country through
various components namely Seed Village Programme, National Seed Reserve, Boosting Seed
Production in Private Sector and Strengthening of Quality Control Infrastructure Facilities
 Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme = Launched by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’
Welfare in 2015 + village level Soil Testing Labs will be set up by youth having education in
agriculture, Women Self Help Groups, FPOs etc. + focuses on enabling employment
generation after appropriate skill development + SHC is a printed report that a farmer will be
handed over for each of his holdings + It provides two sets of fertilizer recommendations for
six crops including recommendations of organic manures + 12 parameters: pH, Electrical
Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K),
Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu)
 GOBAR-DHAN Portal = Jointly launched by Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of
Petroleum; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Ministry of Jal
Shakti + Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme converts
cattle dung and solid waste to compost, biogas and bio-CNG + one village in every district of
the country would be selected for its implementation
 One District One Focus Product = Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and
Ministry of Food Processing Industries has finalized the products for One District One Focus
Product (ODOFP) +Products - Agricultural, horticultural, animal husbandry, poultry, milk,
fisheries, aquaculture, marine and processed food sectors + Ministry of Food Processing
Industries will support these products under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing
Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme - provides incentives to promoter and micro-enterprises +
This scheme needs to be implemented by State Governments
 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme = Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare + under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) + to incentivize the
farmers to take up sericulture-based Agroforestry models thereby contributing to the Make in
India and Make for the World vision + Implementing agency: Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW)
 Large Area Certification (LAC) Scheme = organic certification for an area is given under
this scheme of PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) certification programme + Under
LAC, each village in the area is considered as one cluster/group + Certification is renewed on
annual basis through verification by a process of peer appraisals as per the process of PGS-
India + Recently, area of UT of A&N Islands becomes the first large contiguous territory to
be conferred with organic certification under ‘Large Area Certification’ scheme + For
certification at Individual level, there is another scheme named organic certification support
scheme under PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana)
 Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) = Aim: To provide financial assistance to
startups for proof of concept, prototype development + Launched by: Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) + It will support an estimated 3,600
entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next 4 yrs + Grants of upto Rs. 5 crore will be
provided to the eligible incubators selected by Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) +
Eligibility Conditions:
 A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of
application.
 Startups should not have received more than Rs. 10 lakh of monetary support under
any other Central or State Government scheme.
 Madhu Kranti Portal = initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers’ Welfare under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) + for online
registration to achieve traceability source of honey and other beehive products on a digital
platform.
 PM-KISAN Scheme = Central Sector Scheme + 100% funding from Government of India +
Under the scheme Income support of Rs.6000/- per year is provided to all land holding
farmer families across the country, irrespective of land size, in three equal instalments of
Rs.2000/- every four months + Amount is released by the Central Government directly into
the bank accounts of the eligible farmers under Direct Benefit Transfer mode + Farmer's
family is defined as a family comprising of husband, wife and minor children + There are
around 11 crore beneficiaries registered under the scheme + Responsibility of identification
of beneficiary farmer families rests with the State / UT governments + Benefit shall be paid
to only those farmers families whose names are entered into the land records except for
Forest dwellers, North-eastern states and Jharkhand which has separates provisions for land
records + Scheme excludes people like institutional land holders, constitutional post holders,
ministers/MLAs/MPs/State Legislature/Mayor, retired or serving govt employee, pensioner
with > Rs. 10,000 monthly pensions, people paying service tax, Professionals like doctors,
lawyers etc [REMEMBER EXCLUSION]
 PM Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) = Completed 5 years recently + Central Government’s
flagship crop insurance scheme launched in 2016 +it replaced the earlier two schemes
National Agricultural Insurance Scheme and Modified NAIS + aims to provide insurance and
financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure and targets to bring 50% of cultivated
area under crop insurance + scheme was made voluntary for all farmers(which was one of the
challenges in success of the scheme) after its revamp in February 2020. Further, the states
have also been provided flexibility to rationalise the sum insured so that adequate benefit can
be availed by farmers + All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the
season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible + Coverage of Crops: State
government notifies major crops for the Rabi and Kharif seasons[So, NOT for all crops] +
Farmers pay just 1.5% premium for rabi, 2% premium for kharif and 5% for commercial
crops + all farmers in a particular area must pay the same premium and have the same claim
payments + It aims to prevent sowing/planting risks, loss to standing crop, post-harvest
losses and localised calamities (no revenue protection)
1.16) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

 National Solar Mission = One of the 8 key National Mission which comprise India’s
National Action Plan on Climate Change + Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
+ target to achieve 100 GW of installed capacity of solar energy by the end of 2022 + Out of
this, 40 GW is the target set for the SRT System (Solar roof top) + At present the SRT
systems account only for 12% of solar power generation.
 Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme (Phase-II) = Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy + it is being implemented by DISCOMs (Distribution companies) + objective of the
programme is to achieve a cumulative capacity of 40 GW by the year 2022 through Grid
Connected SRT System + DISCOMs are compensated for the additional expenditure they
incur on implementing the programme
 SRISTI (Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India)
=Lunched in 2017 by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy + It incentivises the
installation of roof top solar projects in India.A central financial assistance will be provided
only for installation of roof top solar plants in residential sectors.It is an evolutionary step
towards a DISCOM-driven model of rooftop solar adoption
 SPIN web portal = National Web Portal deployed by the MNRE + to assist in the
implementation of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme.
 Surya Mitra Scheme =Ministry of New and Renewable Energy + To provide skill training
to rural youth in handling solar installations + The scheme is aimed at creating 50,000 trained
solar photovoltaic technicians by March 2020 + Special emphasis is given to skill youth from
SC/ST/OBC categories + The qualification required to participate in the program is ITI
(Electrical & Wireman) / Diploma in Engineering + The programme is 100% funded by GOI
and implemented by National Institute for Solar Energy (NISE) across the country + National
Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is an autonomous institution of Ministry of New &
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Renewable Energy (MNRE)
 PM-KUSUM Scheme = Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the Prime
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Minister’s Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam UtthanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme has come
up in Jaipur (Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh
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units of electricity every year + Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) + It aims
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to support installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid,
in grid-connected areas + objective is to provide financial and water security + Recent budget
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expanded the scope for the scheme with 20 lakh farmers to be provided assistance to install
standalone solar pumps; another 15 lakh farmers to be given help to solarise their grid-
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connected pump sets + PM-KUSUM consists of three components and aims to add a solar
capacity of 30.8 GW by 2022:
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 Component-A: 10,000 MW of decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected renewable

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power plants.
 Component-B: Installation of two million standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps.
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 Component-C: Solarisation of 1.5 million grid-connected solar-powered agriculture

pumps.
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1.17) Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA)

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 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras Initiative = aims to promote MFPs-centric livelihood

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development of tribal gatherers and artisans + It mainstreams tribal community by promoting

primary level value addition to MFP at grassroots level + Implementing agency: Ministry of
Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department at Central Level and TRIFED as Nodal Agency at State
Level + 1770 Van DhanKendras were sanctioned so far in 22 States and 1 UT
 TRIFOOD Parks = Food processing centres aiming at promoting value addition to minor
forest produce + joint initiative of TRIFED (under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs) and the
Ministry of Food Processing + launched under the Van Dhan Yojana in 2020 + The parks
procure raw materials from the Van DhanKendras and process them to be sold across the
country through Tribes India outlets
 Anamaya Initiative = Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Tribal Health
Collaborative (THC) 'Anamaya' + It is an initiative bringing together governments,
philanthropists, national and international foundations, Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs)/Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to end all preventable deaths among the
tribal communities of Indi + It will converge efforts of various Government agencies and
organizations + It is a multi-stakeholder initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs supported
by Piramal Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
 Sankalp se Siddhi Drive = The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of
India (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has launched “Sankalp se Siddhi” -
Village and Digital Connect Drive + The main aim of this drive is to activate the Van Dhan
Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) in the villages
 Shram Shakthi Portal = National Migration Support Portal + launched by Ministry of
Tribal Affairs (MoTA) + This would effectively help in the smooth formulation of State and
National level programs for migrant workers
 Shramshakti Digital Data Solution = To be launched jointly by Ministry of Tribal Affairs
and Goa Government + National migration support portal aimed at the smooth functioning of
national and state level programmes for migrant workers.
 Sustainable Livelihoods For Tribal Households in India = TRIFED has entered into a
project titled “Sustainable Livelihoods For Tribal Households in India” with The LINK Fund
+ LINK Fund (headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland) is a practitioner-led fund that works to
end extreme poverty and mitigate the effects of climate change + Initiative aims to work
together towards Tribal Development and employment generation by providing support to
tribals for increasing value addition in their products.
1.18) Ministry of Corporate Affairs

 IEPFA Mobile App = mobile app of Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority
(IEPFA) + established in 2016 under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 + Authority
is entrusted with the responsibility of administration of the Investor Education Protection
Fund (IEPF) + The mobile app aims at achieving the goal of financial literacy, spreading
investor awareness, education, etc + The app will have the facility of tracking the status and
progress of IEPF claim refund process + Ministry of Cooperate Affairs
1.19) Ministry of Law

 SUPACE Portal = Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency (SUPACE) +
Artificial Intelligence (AI) portal which collects relevant facts and laws and makes them
available to a judge + It is not designed to take decisions, but only to process facts and to
make them available to judges looking for an input for a decision + Ministry of Law
1.20) Ministry of Home Affairs(MoHA)

 Cyber Volunteer Scheme = Ministry of Home Affairs + “cybercrime volunteers” plan
targets to rope in around 500 persons to flag unlawful content on the Internet for
“improvement in the cybercrime ecosystem of India” + The programme will include 200
“cyber awareness promoters” and 50 “cyber experts” + Envisaged by Indian Cyber Crime
Coordination Centre (I4C)
 Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces = launched recently
+ extending benefit of central health insurance programme to personnel of all armed police
forces in country + personnel of CAPF, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard (NSG)
and their families will be covered + health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the
government + cover of 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care
hospitalization across public and private empaneled hospitals in India
1.21) NITI Aayog and Related

 AIM-PRIME = Program For Researchers On Innovations, Market-Readiness &
Entrepreneurship + launched by the NITI Aayog in collaboration with Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) + This initiative builds on the foundation laid by Atal Innovation
Mission (AIM) to support startups and provides specialized services to transition research to
industry + It is an initiative to promote and support science based deep-tech startups &
ventures across India + It will be implemented by Venture Center - a nonprofit technology
business incubator + The program is catalyzed by the office of the Principal Scientific
Advisor, and the Pune Knowledge Cluster.
 Production Linked Incentive Scheme for food processing industry = It has been formulated
based on the PLI scheme of NITl Aayog under "AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan for
Enhancing India's Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports" + Pan India Scheme +
Implemented through a Project Management Agency + Ministry of Food Processing
Industries would approve selection of applicants under scheme + Coverage under the PLI
Scheme will not affect eligibility under other schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada
Yojana + Ready to cook food, Ready to Eat food and Organic food are also covered
 Poshan Gyan = National digital repository on health and nutrition + launched by NITI
Aayog with Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, and Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation + will help to make nutrition a ‘Jan Andolan’ (People’s
Movement) + conceptualized as source, enabling search of communication materials on 14
thematic areas of health and nutrition
1.22) Ministry of Tourism

 Dekho Apna Desh Campaign = Initiated by Ministry of Tourism, during function on
Mygov platform + to promote domestic tourism and to develop local economy + During
lockdown, webinars were organised to create awareness and promote tourism destinations in
India.
1.23) Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME)

 Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) = 2005 + Ministry
of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) + Focuses on strengthening cluster
governance systems with active participation of stakeholders + Regular Cluster (500 artisans)
with Government assistance of up to Rs.2.5 crore + Major Cluster (more than 500 artisans)
with Government assistance up to Rs.5 crore
 Project RE-HAB = sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission + Khadi and Village
Industries Commission (KVIC) installed bee boxes across elephant paths in southern
Karnataka to block entrance of elephants to human habitations
1.24) Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG)

 Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project = Launched in 2016 + under Ministry of Petroleum
and Natural Gas + implemented by Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) + A natural gas
pipeline between Dobhi (Bihar) and Durgapur (West Bengal) will be laid under the Pradhan
Mantri Urja Ganga Project + also known as Jagdishpur-Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra Natural
Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) project + to provide piped LPG gas to residents of the eastern region
of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles + will facilitate UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West
Bengal and Odisha
 SAKSHAM (SanrakshanKshamta Mahotsav) = organised by Petroleum Conservation
Research Association (PCRA) + to sensitize the masses about conservation and efficient use
of petroleum products + PCRA is a registered society set up under Ministry of Petroleum &
Natural Gas
1.25) Ministry of Power and related

 Energy Efficiency Enterprise (E3) Certification Programme = for Brick manufacturing
Sector + by Ministry of Power, under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' + will be awarded to those
enterprises whose specific energy consumption will be 25% lower than the national baseline
+ lead to cost savings to builders and energy savings to occupiers of buildings due to better
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thermal comfort and improved insulation properties +India is world's 2 nd largest producer of
bricks + Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is Government's initiative to mark 75 years of India's
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Independence + to showcase accomplishments since 1947 so as to instil a sense of pride and
to create a vision for 'India@2047'
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 Gram Ujala or Gram Unnatjyoti By Affordable Leds For All (Ujala) Programme =
Launched recently by Ministry of Power + Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a
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wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), will distribute high
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quality LED bulbs, at an affordable cost of 10 rupees per bulb in rural areas + 7 watt and 12-
watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty will be given to rural consumers against submission of
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working Incandescent bulbs +financed entirely through carbon credits and will be the first
such programme in India
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 Go Electric Campaign = launched by Ministry of Power + Objective: Creating awareness

among masses on benefits of adopting Electric Vehicles and Electric Cooking appliances
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such as Induction cook hobs, Electric pressure cooker etc.

 SAATHEE Portal = State-wise Actions on Annual Targets and Headways on Energy
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Efficiency + launched by Ministry of Power + developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency

(BEE) + to facilitate real-time monitoring of the progress of implementation of various
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energy conservation endeavours at state level

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1.26) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E)

 Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan/Accessible India Campaign = is conceptualised by the
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Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) as a nation-wide

flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility + three pillars of Sugamya Bharat
Abhiyan: Built Environment Accessibility, Transportation System Accessibility &
Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility + Initiatives under Sugamya
Bharat Abhiyan are:
 Sugamya Bharat app — a crowd-sourcing mobile application is a means for sensitising
and enhancing accessibility
 CSR Funds: Organisations, both public and private are encouraged to use their CSR
funds for building accessible infrastructure
 Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index: is to be used by the government to assess the
effort of various industries on how are they making their workplace ready for Persons
with Disabilities (PwD) + Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI in collaboration this index
 Sugamya Pustakalaya: is an online library for Persons with print disabilities as part of
the Accessible India (Sugamya Bharat) Campaign
1.27) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

 Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana = centrally sponsored scheme + for entrepreneurship
education and training + implemented by Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) for 2016-17 to 2020-21 period (5 years).
 ‘Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women’ Project
= implemented by MSDE in collaboration with Deutsche
GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany + to improve the framework
conditions for businesses managed by women in India, especially women micro
entrepreneurs
 PMKVY 3.0 = 3rd phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) + launched
for the period of 2020-2021 + It would make skill development more demand-driven and
decentralised in its approach, with focus on digital technology and Industry 4.0 skills + 3.0
will be more trainee-centric and learner-centric+ implemented by National Skill
Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship + The basic premise for the scheme is to create skilled and certified
workforce + Components of the Scheme are Short Term Training (STT), Recognition of
Prior Learning (RPL) and Special Projects + STT is imparted to school/college dropouts or
unemployed and Training is carried out according to the National Skills Qualification
Framework(NSQF) + Individuals with prior learning experience or skills are assessed and
certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component + Special Projects
component is meant for projects that require some deviation from the terms and conditions of
Short-Term Training under PMKVY depending on special needs in terms of geography,
demography and social groups
1.28) Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI)

 Prime Minister-Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) =
Centrally Sponsored Scheme + Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in
partnership with the State/ UT Governments, has launched an all India Centrally Sponsored
PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises Scheme (PM FME Scheme) for
providing financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food
processing enterprises with total outlay of Rs 10,000 crores over the period 2020- 2025 + The
scheme is expected to benefit 2 lakh micro food processing units through credit linked
subsidy + Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap benefit of scale
in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. The
States need to identify one food product per district keeping in view the existing clusters and
availability of raw material. Support for common infrastructure and branding & marketing
would be for that product. The Scheme also places focus on waste to wealth products, minor
forest products and Aspirational Districts [LAST Sentence could be used by UPSC to frame
Question]
1.29) Ministry of Railways

 Oxygen Express = run by Indian Railway + is carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO)
tankers for Covid-19 patients + First Oxygen Express is running from Visakhapatnam to
Mumbai through Ro-Ro service of Indian Railways + green corridor was also created
between Lucknow to Varanasi for another Oxygen Express.
1.30) Ministry of Panchayati Raj

 e-Property Cards = distributed on National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April 2021) under
SWAMITVA scheme
1.31) Ministry of External Affairs

 ‘Vaccine Maitri’ campaign = aimed at provisioning COVID-19 vaccines to countries both
near to and away from its immediate neighborhood, is one of the most important recent
initiatives to leverage its science and technological advantages for the furtherance of its
foreign policy objectives.
 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) = PBD is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen
the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India + PBD is
held on January 9 as it was on this day in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from
South Africa + Observed by Ministry of External Affairs + Pravasi Bharatiya
Samman Awards: It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI),
Person of Indian Origin (POI); or an organisation or institution established and run by NRI or
POI
 Government’s efforts towards engaging Indian Diaspora=
 Global Pravasi Rishta Portal: It has been established for better communication with
Pravasi Bhartiyas+ Ministry of External Affairs
 Know India Programme: Ministry of External Affairs + three-week orientation
programme for diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on
different facets of life in India
 Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY):Skill development scheme of the Ministry
of External Affairs, aimed at enhancing the skill set of potential emigrant workers in
select sectors and job roles
 Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit: It aims to bring out
comprehensive roadmap to leverage the expertise and knowledge of global Indian
researcher for solving emerging challenges + Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik
(VAIBHAV) Summit is a collaborative initiative by S&T and Academic
Organisations of India to enable deliberations on thought process, practices and R&D
culture with a problem solving approach for well defined objectives
 Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): set up in 2009, is aimed at assisting
Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the ‘most deserving
cases’ on a ‘means tested basis’+At the national level, India has established such
funds which levy small fees from consular services to support Indian nationals caught
in crisis situations abroad.
1.32) Ministry of EarthSciences
 Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)
Scheme = Pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES) + ensure last-mile connectivity of the weather based services to the end -user, a large
number of agencies like the Krishi VigyanaKendras of ICAR, universities and local
municipalities are roped in thus generating employment opportunities to many people
1.33) Ministry of PortsShipping & Waterways

 Sagarmala Seaplane Services Project = By the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways +
under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) framework through prospective airline operators +
implementation by Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL)
1.34) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

 National Aviation Influenza Plan = Ministry of fishery and animal husbandry + Avian
Influenza viruses have been circulating with four known major outbreaks recorded in the last
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century. India notified the first outbreak of Avian Influenza in 2006. Infections in human is
not yet reported in India + Though the disease has an animal origin, there is no direct
evidence that AI viruses can be transmitted to human via consumption of contaminated
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poultry products + In India the disease spread mainly from migratory birds coming onto the
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country during the winter months. However, secondary spread by human handling cannot be
ruled out + In 2005, the department of animal husbandry and dairying, had prepared an
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action plan which was revised in 2006, 2012, 2015 and 2021, for the guidance of state govt in
the prevention, control and containment of AI
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1.35) Ministry of Mines

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 National Baseline Geoscience Data Generation Programmes = To expedite exploration

activities of Geological Survey of India (GSI) + to complete some major National level
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surveys by 2024 + it will adopt deep penetration geophysical techniques such as Magneto-
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Telluric Surveys and Deep Seismic Reflection Surveys (DSRS) + It has also initiated the
National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR).
 National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM) = by Geological Survey of India (GSI) + all
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India program to cover the entire surface area of India by geochemical sampling + will
generate distribution pattern of 62 elements (samples collected at 1km x 1km grid) for
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managing and developing natural resources, etc. +

 National Aero Geophysical Mapping Program (NAGMP) = by Geological Survey of
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India (GSI) +to delineate concealed, deep seated structure/ litho-units capable of hosting
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mineralization, etc. + for the first time that the multi-sensor aero-geophysical surveys
(magnetic gradiometry and spectrometric) are being carried out + done by adopting such
large regional scale survey parameters of 300 m traverse line spacing with aircraft flown at
80 m above ground level.
1.36) Ministry of Sports

 Khelo India Youth Games = Khelo India Youth games were launched in 2018 + for under-
17 years and under-21 years + Conducted annually + Winners are given an annual
scholarship of ₹5 lakh for eight years to prepare for international sporting events + In a recent
move, the Sports Ministry inducted 4 indigenous martial art forms:
 Kalaripayattu of Kerala:It is also considered to be one of the oldest fighting system
in existence + The word Kalari first appears in Sangam literature to describe both a
battlefield and combat arena
 Mallakhamb of Central India:Traditional form of gymnastics performed with a
wooden pole (made of wood from Sheesham or Indian rosewood and polished with
castor oil), a cane, or a rope + Though Madhya Pradesh declared Mallakhamb the
State sport only in 2013, it had been developed as a competitive sport since 1981
 Gatka of Punjab: Style of fighting with wooden sticks that originated in Punjab in
the 15th Century. The bana and chola are worn for ritualistic performances but when
performed as a sport, the practitioner wears track pants and T-shirt, and the stick is no
longer the size of a man
 Thang-ta of Manipur: It combines ritual, demonstration and combat and involves a
variety of dance forms and warrior drills
1.37) Miscellaneous
 Assam Chah Bagichar Dhan Puraskar Mela Scheme = By the Assam govt + in 2017- 18
+ to encourage people to open bank accounts in tea garden areas + workers of tea community
will receive Rs. 2500 in their bank accounts + Eligibility: Residents of Assam and who work
on tea gardens and Women belonging to BPL category
 Orunudoi Scheme = Launched in December 2020 by the Assam Government + monthly
assistance of Rs 830 is transferred to women members of marginalised families of Assam
 Happiness Curriculum = Launched by Uttar Pradesh government + to support students in
their journey to sustainable happiness through engagement in meaningful and reflective
stories and activities
 SAAMAR Campaign = launched by Jharkhand government + SAAMAR (Strategic Action
for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anaemia Reduction) campaign + to identify anaemic
women and malnourished children through Anganwadi Centres, and subsequently treated at
Malnutrition Treatment Centre + will capitalize on the Tejaswini Project + (Tejaswini
Project = is financed by World Bank + The project is being delivered in 17 Districts of
Jharkhand + Full form is Tejaswini Socio-Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and
Young Women (AGYW) Project and seeks to empower adolescent girls with basic life skills)
 "NIRAMAYA" Scheme = is the Free Medicines Distribution Scheme of the Govt. of
Odisha
INDICES & REPORTS: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
4.1) Indices and Reports - INTERNATIONAL
 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report = by UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) + called for more ambitious climate action plans
to achieve Paris Agreement target of containing global temperature rise to 2oC (ideally
1.5°C) by end of century
 Technology and Innovation Report 2020 = by United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) + India’s actual index ranking is 43, while the estimated one based
on per capita income is 108 + India was the biggest ‘overperformer’ in frontier technologies
than the country's per capita Gross Domestic Products (GDP) would suggest
 Global Investment Trend Monitor = by UNCTAD + Global FDI collapsed in 2020 by 42%
where decline was more in developed countries + FDI in India rose by 13% in 2020 boosted
by digital sector
 World Report on Hearing = by WHO + WHO defines disabling hearing loss as greater than
40 decibels (dB) loss in adults and greater than 30 dB in children + Reasons for disability -
Exposure to excessive noise, genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious
diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs and ageing.
 World Alzheimer Reports = Released every year by ADI + Alzheimer’s Disease
International (ADI) is the international federation of Alzheimer and dementia associations
around the world; in official relations with the World Health Organization
 Food Waste Index Report 2021 = released by United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) + to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 (SGD 12.3). i.e.,
halving per-capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses
along production and supply chains + India wasted 50 kg/capita/year + 17% of all food
available at consumer levels was wasted in 2019
 World Food Price Index = Released by Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) + It
measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar +
It rose for a seventh consecutive month + it is still down more than 25% from its historical
peak in 2011
 State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Report = Released by UN Department of
Economic and Social Affairs(UNDESA) + Theme: Rights to Land, territories and resources
report + Report mentions the recognition and protection of land titles and tenure of
indigenous people is crucial to attaining SDGs + Indigenous peoples in India comprise 8.6%
of the national population, almost 90% of them living in rural areas + In India, 705 ethnic
groups are notified as Scheduled Tribes (STs) spread across 30 States or Union Territories,
these are considered to be India’s indigenous peoples that includes 75 identified PVTGs +
(Also, read about: Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 1957 = First international
treaty to specifically deal with indigenous rights + Article 1 indicates that self-identification
as indigenous or tribal shall be regarded as a fundamental criterion + It was replaced with
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989)
 World Happiness Report, 2021 = released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions
Network + Sustainable Development Solutions Network has been operating since 2012 under
the auspices of the UN Secretary-General + Top 5 countries were – Finland (topped the list
for fourth straight year), Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Sweden +
India ranked 139th out of the 149 countries in the list + Afghanistan was ranked the least
happy country
 State of World Population Report 2021= released by UN Population Fund (UNFPA) + first
time UN report has focused on bodily autonomy, defined as power and agency to make
choices about your body without fear of violence or having someone else decide it for you +
theme: ‘My Body is My Own’
 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021 = released by United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) + India is estimated
to record economic growth of 7% in 2021-22, over contraction of 7.7% in 2020 + Theme:
“Towards post-Covid-19 resilient economies”
 World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021 =releasedby United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) + It said that the world economy was hit by a
once-in-a-century crisis a Great Disruption unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 +
India's economy is projected to grow at 7.3% in 2021 + global economy shrank by 4.3% in
2020, over two-and-a-half times more than during the global financial crisis of 2009
 2nd World Ocean Assessment = released by United Nations recently + first World Ocean
Assessment was completed in 2015 + Key findings of the Report are:
 The number of dead zones in the oceans has doubled. Dead Zone is a common term
used for Hypoxia. That is, the areas with reduced level of oxygen. They are those
areas where the marine organisms in the ocean face Hypoxia. Hypoxia is a medical
condition where the person faces difficulty in breathing. So far, scientists have found
400 dead zones in the ocean. The largest dead zone is located in the Arabian sea. This
covers almost 63,700 square miles in Gulf of Oman
 90% of the Mangrove Seagrass and marsh plant species are facing extinction
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 30% of seabird species are facing the threat of extinction
 The heat content in the oceans has more than doubled since 1990
 15% of the Sandy beaches are seeing retreating shorelines
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Adaptation Gap Report 2020 = released by UNEP + informs national and international
efforts to advance climate change adaptation + Adaptation cost includes costs of planning,
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preparing for, facilitating and implementing adaptation measures Adaptation Finance refers
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to the flow of funds to developing countries to help them tide over the damages caused by
weather events from climate change + Adaptation Finance Gap is the difference between
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Adaptation Cost and Adaptation Finance

 International Migration Report 2020 = by UN + found that the global migration has
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slowed down by nearly 30%, owing to restrictions that were put in place to contain the
ongoing coronavirus pandemic + two-thirds of registered migrants lived in less than 20
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countries + India has the largest diaspora of 18 million people

 Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society Report =
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Recently released by World Bank

 Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) 2019 = published by the World Bank +
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highlights the constraints faced by farmers + Among 101 countries covered, India ranked 49
on the EBA aggregate score + The 8 indicators of evaluation are supplying seed, registering
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fertilizer, securing water, registering machinery, sustaining livestock, protecting plant health,
trading food, and accessing finance + The comparative score of India on supplying seed,
trading food, and accessing finance indicators is high
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 World Development Report 2021 = Released by World Bank + It highlighted the concept
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of Public Intent Data and its transformative role in the public sector + Title: ‘World
Development Report 2021: Data for Better lives + Public intent data is data collected with
the intent of serving the public good by informing the design, execution, monitoring, and
evaluation of public policy, or through other activities
 South Asia Economic Focus Report = biennial report published by World Bank + Title:
Spring 2021: South Asia Vaccinates + The report includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
 World Economic Outlook = ByInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) + It had projected
Indian economy growth rate @ 11.5% in 2021 + It suggests that India will be the only major
economy to register a double-digit growth this year, followed by China + published twice a
year + released by IMF + Theme: ‘Managing Divergent Recoveries’
 Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index = Released by the Economist Intelligence Unit
(EIU) + India ranked 10th out of 11 + It measures their readiness in adopting personalised
healthcare, enabling the right care to be tailored to the right person at the right time
 Democracy Index 2020/Democracy in Sickness and in Health Index 2020 = Released by
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) + It has classified 167 countries, as full democracies,
flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes + It also looked at the impact
of the Covid-19 pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world + India had slipped
two places to 53rd position due to the democratic backsliding by authorities and crackdowns
on civil liberties + India has been classified as a 'flawed democracy' along with countries
such as the U.S., France, Belgium and Brazil.
 ‘Indian Cities in Post-Pandemic World’ Report = by the World Economic Forum (WEF)
+ highlights the country’s most pressing urban challenges that were further exacerbated by
the COVID-19 pandemic + average of 25-30 people migrate to cities from rural areas every
single minute + 35% per cent of all urban households cannot afford housing at market prices
 Global Gender Gap Index 2021 = released by World Economic Forum + examines the
drivers of gender gaps and outlines the policies and practices needed for a gender-inclusive
recovery + scores countries from 0 (inequality) to 1 (equality) + Iceland topped the index +
India got 140th rank, 3rd worst performer in South Asia
 Global Risks Report 2021 = by World Economic Forum + Economic fragility and societal
divisions are set to increase + Infectious diseases followed by climate action failures are the
biggest global risk for the coming decade + Economic fragility and long-term health impacts
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue
 State of the Global Climate 2020 = released by World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) + lockdowns and shutdowns to curb Covid-19 pandemic would lower emissions and
reduce the impact on climate, however it failed to put brake on climate change drivers and
accelerating impacts + 2020 was one of the three warmest years on record, despite a cooling
La Niña event + The past six years, including 2020, have been the six warmest years on
record + WMO issued the first state of the climate report in 1993
 World’s Forgotten Fishes Report = by WWF and 15 other international organizations + It
called all governments to back implementation of global Emergency Recovery Plan for
freshwater biodiversity + Nearly a 3rdof all freshwater fishare threatened with extinction
 World Energy Transitions Outlook Report = previewed at Berlin Energy Transition
Dialogue 2021 + released by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) + It
proposes energy transition solutions to contain rise of temperature to 1.5°C and halt global
warming + Covid-19 crisis offers an unexpected opportunity to decouple their economies
from fossil fuels and accelerate shift to renewable energy sources
 Global ENERGY REVIEW 2021 = International Energy Agency (IEA) released the annual
Global Energy Review which assesses the direction of energy demand and carbon dioxide
emissions that are taking in 2021 + (International Energy Agency (IEA) = IEA is an
autonomous intergovernmental organisation within the OECD framework, headed by its
Executive Director + Governing Board is the main decision-making body of the IEA. It is
composed of energy ministers or their senior representatives from each Member country + It
was created in 1974 to help co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the
supply of oil + A candidate country to the IEA must be a member country of the OECD +
India became associate member of IEA in 2017(NOT a member yet))
 India Energy Outlook 2021 = released by International Energy Agency (IEA) + India will
overtake the European Union as the world’s 3rd-largest energy consumer by 2030 + At
present, India is 4th-largest global energy consumer behind China, United States and EU
 Henley Passport Index 2021 = Ranking is based on the data from International Air
Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all world’s passports according to destinations their
holders can access without prior visa + Japan ranks first while India ranks 85 th
 Renewable Capacity Statistics Report 2021 = released by International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) + 260 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity was added
worldwide in 2020 + More than 80% of all new electricity capacity added in 2020 was
renewable.
 Trade Policy Review(TPR) of India = 7th Trade Policy Review(TPR) of India at WTO
begins recently +TPR involves a comprehensive peer review of the member’s national trade
policies +India’s last TPR took place in 2015 + TPR noted that strong economic growth led
to an improvement in socio-economic indicators, such as per-capita income and life
expectancy in India + As per TPR, India’s trade policy remained largely unchanged. India
continues to rely on trade policy instruments such as the tariff, export taxes, minimum import
prices, import and export restrictions, and licensing
 Top10VPN Report = Assessed Economic Impact due to Internet shutdowns+ Report by the
UK-based privacy and security research firm Top10VPN + India suffered the biggest
economic impact in the world in 2020 due to Internet shutdowns + Internet shutdown is an
intentional disruption of Internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible
or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a location, often to exert control
over the flow of information
 “Global Britain, Global Broker” Report = Proposes blueprint for Britain’s future foreign
policy after Brexit + It terms Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India as “Difficult
4”countries where citizens do not have the capacity to fight for their rights + classification
has been made by Chatham House, UK-based policy institute also known as the Royal
Institute of International Affairs
 Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report = It is an annual report submitted by the U.S.
Trade Representative (USTR) to the US Congress + The report describes the Trump
administration’s revocation of India’s preferential trading status under the Generalised
System of Preferences (GSP) program in June 2019 and the ensuing discussion to achieve a
mini trade deal (“package”) throughout 2020
 Human Rights Report 2020 = Released by U.S. State Department, Submitted to US
Congress annually + It observed that, in India, harassment and detention of journalists critical
of government continued, although government generally respected freedom of expression +
Government’s requests for user data from Internet companies had increased “dramatically.”
 Economic Freedom Index, 2021 = published by US conservative think-tank, The Heritage
Foundation + The index ranks 12 indicators from property rights to financial freedom under
four categories: rule of law, size of government, regulatory efficiency and open markets +
India was ranked at 26th out of 40 countries among Asia-Pacific countries and 121st globally
(out of 184) + Singapore topped the index
 Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of US =
released by U.S. Treasury + evaluated U.S.’s 20 biggest trading partners + India is one of 11
countries on ‘Monitoring List’ with regard to their currency practices + it defines currency
manipulation as when countries deliberately influence exchange rate between their currency
and US dollar to gain “unfair competitive advantage in international trade”.
 Global Hunger Index(GHI) 2020 = Annual Report: Jointly published by Concern
Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe since 2006 +India has been ranked at 94 among 107
countries in the GHI 2020 (India was ranked 102 in 2019) + With a score of 27.2, India has a
level of hunger that is “serious” + The Global Hunger Index score is calculated on four
indicators — undernourishment; child wasting, that is the share of children under the age of
five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; child stunting, that
is children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic
undernutrition; and child mortality, the mortality rate of children under five years+ India
produces more than the estimated amount required to feed the entire population + The
country ranks first in millets and second in rice and wheat production in the world + India
has moved away from dependence on food aid to become a net food exporter + data for the
GHI indicators come from the United Nations and other multilateral agencies, including the
WHO and the World Bank + GHI is a peer-reviewed annual report [Please focus on last 2
statements, these were debated in March 2021 Month]
 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021= released by Quacquarelli Symonds
(QS), British company + Previously called Times Higher Education – QS world University
rankings + only international ranking to have received the approval of International Ranking
Expert Group (IREG) + 12 Indian Institutions have secured positions in top 100 + MIT
University of US topped the rankings
 Freedom in the World Report 2021= Released by Freedom House, watchdog of human
rights + The Freedom in the World 2021 report has downgraded India’s status from ‘Free’ to
‘Partly Free’ + The most free countries in the world, with a score of 100, are Finland,
Norway and Sweden, while the least free with a score of 1 are Tibet and Syria+ categories:
“free”, “partly free” or “not free”+ Report has been Titled as “Democracy Under Siege”
 World Press Freedom Index 2021 = published each year by the international journalism
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not-for-profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) + It is topped by Norway, while
Eritrea is at bottom + India slipped to 142 from133 + The parameters include pluralism,
media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework,
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transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and
information
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 Report on International Arms Transfers = by Stockholm International Peace Research
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Institute (SIPRI) + Largest arms exporters in 2016-20 - US, Russia, France, Germany, China
+ Top importers in 2016-20 - Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia, China + India’s arms
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imports fell 33% between 2011-15 and 2016-20 + Top recipients of India’s arms - Myanmar,
Sri Lanka, Mauritius.
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 Inequality Index = by ‘Oxfam International’ with Development Finance International +

monitors what the governments are doing through their policy commitments and actions to
reduce inequality and tackle the gap between the rich and poor + 3 basic pillars: Public
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Services (health, education and social protection), Progressive Tax and Workers Rights +
placed India at rank 151 in terms of workers’ rights and 129 overall out of 158 countries + 3 rd
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edition + It measure in three areas Public services (health, education and social protection),
Taxation and Worker’s rights
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 Corruption Perception Index 2020 = Released byTransparency International (TI) + India

slipped 6 places to 86th among 180 countries + It ranks countries by their perceived levels of
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public sector corruption according to experts and business people + Transparency

International is a German non-governmental organization founded in 1993, headquartered in
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Berlin, Germany
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 Opportunity Index 2021’ Report = by LinkedIn + in Asia Pacific (APAC) region + 89% of
women were negatively impacted by pandemic + 85% working women believe they have
missed out on a raise, promotion, or work offer because of their gender + More women in
India have experienced impact of gender on career development when compared to APAC
region
 Report on Light Pollution = published by Royal Astronomical Society + first-ever study
that took into account overall impact of space objects around Earth + conducted by Slovak
Academy of Sciences and Comenius University in Slovakia + objects sent to space that orbit
Earth increase the overall brightness of night sky by 10% above natural levels + Large fleets
of communication satellites in space not just add to the light pollution but also collide and
form more debris.
 Global Climate Risk Index 2021 = It has been released by Germanwatch (an NGO based in
Germany) + Index analyses to what extent countries and regions have been affected by
impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc. + India was the
seventh worst-hit country due to extreme weather events in 2019 (Mozambique is the worst-
affected) + There were eight tropical cyclones in India. Six of them were “very severe
 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021 = Chandler Institute of Governance
(CIG) is an international non-profit organisation, headquartered in Singapore + India has
been ranked 49th in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), which classifies 104
countries in terms of government capabilities and outcomes + Finland topped the CGGI list +
The index focuses on seven pillars: leadership and foresight; robust laws and policies; strong
institutions; financial stewardship; attractive marketplace; global influence and reputation;
and helping people rise
4.2) Indices and Reports - INDIA

 National Coal Index (NCI) = Ministry of Coal has started Commercial Auction of coal
mines on revenue share basis using NCI + The base year for the NCI is FY 2017-18 + NCI is
composed of a set of 5 sub-indices: 3 for Non-Coking Coal and 2 for Coking Coal + Prices of
coal from all the sales channels of coal, including import, as existing today are taken into
account for compiling the NCI
 Pey Jal Survekshan = Drinking water survey under Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) + by Union
Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry + The Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan has been launched in 10
cities(NOT Pan India)
 Ease of Living Index 2020 = by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs + assessment tool
that evaluates quality of life and impact of various initiatives for urban development + seeks
to accelerate India's urban development outcomes, including achievement of Sustainable
Development Goals + EoLI 2020 report aims to measure the well-being of Indian citizens in
111 cities, across the pillars of Quality of Life, Economic-ability, Sustainability and Citizen
Perception Survey + EoLI 2020 ranks Bengaluru at top and Srinagar at bottom among
Million plus population cities, while Shimla at top and Muzaffarpur at bottom among Less
than million population cities
 Municipal Performance Index 2020 = by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs + to
assess and analyse performance of Indian municipalities based on their defined set of
functions + 5 verticals - Services, Finance, Policy, Technology and Governance + Indore
topped the index in municipalities with million-plus population, while New Delhi in cities
with less than a million people
 Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2021 = 6th edition of the annual cleanliness survey which
introduced in 2016 + Ministry of Housing and Housing Affairs (MoHUA) + Survey is
conducted by MoHUA with Quality Council of India as its implementation partner + waste
management and remediation of landfills have been brought to this edition + SS 2021 has
introduced a new performance category Prerak DAUUR Samman which will have five
performance categories (‘Platinum’, ‘Gold’, ’Silver’, ’Bronze’, ’Copper’) + Please Note:
Water + status ensures that no untreated wastewater is released into the environment
 State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL = This index evaluates and ranks all the
states according to their performance, growth, level of maturity, policy framework, and
implementation environment in the SRT sector + It has been designed by MNRE and its
partners.
 Renewable Energy = As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy data, total installed
capacity of solar power overtook total wind power capacity was 38,684 MW + India has
target of 175 GW of renewable energy by the year 2022, with 100 GW of solar power +
Solar> Wind> Small Hydro> Biomass
 State of Environment Report, 2021 = released by the Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE) + The country is all set to usher in a “pandemic generation”, with 375 million children
(from newborns to 14-year-olds) likely to suffer long-lasting impacts. The challenges could
range from being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education
and work productivity + Over 500 million children have been forced out of school globally
and India accounts for more than half of them + India’s air, water and land have become
more polluted between 2009 and 2018
 Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Report = by Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change + Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park
(GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh have performed the best among the surveyed protected areas +
Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was the worst performer + GHNP was awarded
UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the criteria of ‘outstanding significance for
biodiversity conservation’
 National Climate Vulnerability Assessment Report = The Department of Science and
Technology has released a report titled ‘The Report Climate Vulnerability Assessment for
Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’ + National Climate
Vulnerability Assessment Report identifies the most vulnerable states and districts in India,
as per the current climate risk and key drivers of vulnerability + Indicators: Several key
drivers of Vulnerability used by the report for the assessment, For instance: 1) percentage of
the population living below the poverty line; 2) income share from natural resources; 3) Also,
the proportion of marginal and small landholdings, 4) women’s participation in the
workforce, and; 5) the density of healthcare workers among others
 Report on Currency and Finance = by Reserve Bank of India + current inflation target of
4% with a +/-2% tolerance band + Trend inflation had fallen from above 9% before flexible-
inflation targeting (FIT) to range of 3.8-4.3 % during Flexible Inflation Targeting, indicating
that 4% is the appropriate level of the inflation target + inflation rate of 6% is appropriate
upper tolerance limit for target.
 Digital Payments Index (DPI) = Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constructed a composite
Digital Payments Index (DPI) to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the
country + March 2018 is base period + It will be published on RBI’s website on a semi-
annual basis from March 2021 + 5 broad parameters:
 Payment Enablers (weight 25%)
 Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors (10%)
 Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%)
 Payment Performance (45%) and
 Consumer Centricity (5%)
 Financial Stability Report = released by the RBI + stress tests show that the Gross Non-
Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio of banks may increase from 7.5% in September 2020 to
13.5% by September 2021 under the baseline scenario + If the macroeconomic environment
worsens into a severe stress scenario, the GNPA ratio may escalate to 14.8%
 3rd SDG India Index & Dashboard = Released by NITI Aayog + for monitoring progress
on SDGs in the country at the national and sub-national level + Theme: “Partnerships in the
Decade of Action” + selection of indicators is preceded by consultative process undertaken in
close coordination with MoSPI, Union Ministries and stakeholders from States and Union
Territories.
 Mobilising Electric Vehicle Financing in India Report = released by NITI Aayog and
Rocky Mountain Institute India (an independent non-profit)
 India Innovation Index Report 2020 = Initiated by NITI Aayog in 2019 + is on the lines of
the Global Innovation Index (GII), which ranks countries annually + indicators include the
level and quality of education, number of highly skilled professionals, investment in R&D,
FDI inflows, internet subscribers, number of patents and trademark applications filed, etc. +
Karnataka topped major states + Delhi topped among both states and UTs + Amongst North
East and hill states, Himachal Pradesh topped
 Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) = Released by CSO + CFPI is a measure of change in
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retail prices of food items consumed by the population + Under the CSO’s CFPI, the index
gives food price level changes for rural, urban and all India basis + The base year used in
CFPI is 2012 as in the case of CPI + CFPI is based on retail price quotations as in the case of
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CPI l.c
Women and Men in India Report, 2020 = released by National Statistical Office + report
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highlighted key data regarding health, education, economy and other parameters related to
men and women in India + NSO is the statistics wing of Ministry of Statistics and
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Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and consists of the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the
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Computer center and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) + MoSPI has two wings,
one relating to Statistics and the other Programme Implementation + NSO acts as the nodal
agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country and lays down and
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maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics

 Index Monitoring Cell = Report released by Index Monitoring Cell recommended
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decriminalising of defamation and consent of Press Council of India as prerequisite before

filing FIR against media or publication + Index Monitoring Cell was set up by Ministry of
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Information and Broadcasting in 2020 and is Chaired by Principal Director General of Press
Information Bureau + It aims to improve India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index
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(of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders)

 Rural Health Statistics Report 2019-20 = released by Ministry of Health and Family
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Welfare + annual publication based on the Health Facility level data reported by the
States/UTs + It is an effort towards providing reliable and updated information on rural,
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urban and tribal health infrastructure

 Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) = released by Health Ministry + full-scale
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national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants
and consequences of population ageing in India + will provide a base for national and state
level programmes and policies for elderly population + Study is undertaken by the National
Programme for Health Care of Elderly, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
 Magnetotelluric-MT survey = By National Centre for Seismology (NCS) + Conducted in
Delhi- NCR region to accurately assess potential seismic hazards + by geophysical method
which uses natural time variation of the earth’s magnetic and electric fields to understand
geological (underground) structure and processes
 Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report = released by the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) + provides broad perspective of Telecom Services in
India + compiled mainly based on the information furnished by the Service Providers
 ‘Birds of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve’ Report = Zoological Survey of India +
Indian Sunderbans is part of the world’s largest mangrove forest + It a World Heritage Site
and Ramsar Site + mudflats and wetlands of Sunderbans act as a stopover site for migratory
flight south (south wards) and back + mudflats exposed in the low tides, rich in
microorganism, deposited during tidal activity are ideal feeding for migratory birds + some
birds like the Masked Finfoot and the Buffy owl, are recorded only from the Sunderbans +
the area is home to nine out of 12 species such as the Goliath heron and the Spoon- Billed
Sandpiper
 Status of Leopard in India, 2018 = First-of-its-kind report on leopard numbers in the
country was released recently + Depicted that the country has 12,852 leopard + India leopard
population increase by 60% in 4 years(since 2004) + Highest Number of Leopards: The
highest concentration of the leopard in India is estimated to be in Madhya Pradesh(3,421)
followed by Karnataka(1,783) and Maharashtra (1,690)
 Economic Outlook Survey = Released by FICCI + GDP to contract 8 % in FY21+ annual
median growth forecast by the industry body is based on response from leading economists
representing industry, banking and financial services sectors
 Report on Lightning Strikes = prepared by Climate Resilient Observing Systems
Promotion Council (CROPC) + CROPC is a non-profit organisation that works with the
India Meteorological Department (IMD) that works to disseminate early lightning forecasts +
Government of India and most states have not notified lightning as a disaster + the number of
deaths due to lightning strikes has reduced in 2019-20 + Lightning is the process of
occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a
cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and sound, and
sometimes thunderstorms
 “Loss of Learning during the Pandemic” Report = Conducted by Azim Premji University
+ to assess the impact of Covid- 19 induced lockdown on students + Children missed out on
regular curricular learning they would have acquired had schools remained open + They are
also ‘forgetting’ what they had learnt in previous year
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
5.1) SCIENCE and SPACE

 WASP-62b = Exo-planet + For the first time, astronomers have come across a huge planet
with about half the mass of Jupiter which is cloudless and unblocked by haze + this planet
was first found in 2012 but was not studied in detail until now + It is 575 light years away
and orbits its star in just four-and-half days
 NGC 6397 = cluster of stars, which at 7,800 light years lies in the Ara constellation and is
among the closest globular clusters to the earth + Hubble space telescope looked at this
expecting to see an intermediate mass black hole at its centre but instead found that there
were many small black holes there + This is the first measurement of the extent of such a
collection in a core-collapsed globular clusters.
 SN 2017hpa = It is a particular type of supernovae called I a supernova, which exploded in
2017 + In 2011, the Nobel Prize was awarded to three scientists for discovering that the
Universe is expanding at an ever-accelerating rate through observations of distant
supernovae. Recently, a team of Indian astronomers observing SN 2017hpa have narrowed
down the possible mechanisms of explosion of such supernovae which provide key measures
of cosmological distances + Type Ia supernovae are the result of explosions of white dwarfs
that exceed their mass beyond the Chandrasekhar limit through accretion of matter
 Wolf-Rayet Stars = Indian astronomers have tracked a rare supernova explosion and traced
it to one of the hottest kind of stars called Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars + Indian
astronomers have conducted the optical monitoring of one such stripped-envelope supernova
called SN 2015dj hosted in the galaxy NGC 7371 which was spotted in 2015 + Wolf-Rayet
stars represent a final burst of activity before a huge star begins to die + These stars, which
are at least 20 times more massive than the Sun, “live fast and die hard”
 NGC 2808 = Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has spotted rare hot UV-bright stars in
the massive globular cluster NGC 2808 of our Milky Way Galaxy + IIA is autonomous
institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India + NGC 2808 is
said to have at least five generations of stars, which exist in the late stages of evolution of a
Sun-like star + It helps to understand how stars evolve through various phases between their
birth and death
 Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxy = newly discovered active galaxy identified as
farthest gamma-ray emitting galaxy that has so far been stumbled upon + about 31 billion
light-years away
 Galaxy M87 Or Messier 87 = Astronomers working in collaboration between the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard College Observatory have obtained a
new view of the supermassive black hole at the center of Galaxy M87 Or Messier 87 + The
scientists have first time observed magnetic field around a Black Hole, some 55 million light
years away from Earth + Images of polarized light were released by the Event Horizon
Telescope (EHT) collaboration, a network of radio telescopes + In 2019 the EHT captured
the first image of the shadow dark region of a black hole, that is expected to be about three
times the diameter of the black hole’s event horizon + Now, new image from Event Horizon
Telescope (EHT) shows polarised light hence it suggests that presence of strong magnetic
fields around the black hole
 Apophis Asteroid = First detected in 2004 + Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid + now
officially off NASA's asteroid “risk list”, NASA has ruled out any chance of it smacking
Earth in 2068, and for at least next 100 years + Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun,
much smaller than planets + (Sentry System = NASA’s highly automated collision
monitoring system that continually scans most current asteroid catalog for possibilities of
future impact with Earth over the next 100 years)
 2001 FO32 = NASA has predicted that the asteroid ‘2001 FO32’ is the largest to pass by
Earth in 2021 Asteroid 2001 FO32 + It was discovered in March 2001 by the Lincoln Near-
Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in Socorro, New Mexico + designated as
“potentially hazardous asteroid” + no threat of collision
 Diamond-studded Meteorite = Researchers in US have claimed that they have succeeded in
revealing the mystery behind a diamond-studded meteorite that exploded over Sudan in 200
+ the meteorite was part of a giant asteroid, which was the same size as the dwarf planet
Ceres (largest celestial object in the asteroid belt) and had a unique mineral makeup,
including ‘amphibole’ which requires prolonged exposure to water in order to develop,
which appeared only once on Allende meteorite that fell in Mexico + It belongs to the
category of 4.6% of meteorites that have been found on Earth, which are known as
AlmahataSitta (AhS)
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 Asteroids Approaching Earth = NASA has cautioned about 6 asteroids that will zoom past
Earth, namely
 2021 AC
 2016 CO247
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 2021 AJ (smallest)
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 2018 KP1
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 2021 AU and
 2008 AF4 (largest)
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 P172+18 Quasar = most distant ‘radio-loud’ quasar was discovered with European Southern
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Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), world's most advanced optical telescope,
located at Paranal Observatory in Atacama Desert, Chile + took 13 billion years for the
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quasar’s light to reach earth + Quasars (quasi-stellar radio source) are very luminous objects
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in faraway galaxies that emit jets at radio frequencies.

 Enceladus = is a small, icy moon which has an abundance of hydrogen molecules in water
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plumes. 98% of the gas in the plumes was found to be water and 1% is hydrogen and the
remaining is a mixture of molecules of carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia + Underwater
vents present on Enceladus resemble the vents present on Earth’s ocean floors, where
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microbes and other sea life congregate + Scientists expect to find the potential for life in
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those vents as microbes flourish on Earth in hot cracks on the ocean floors, where sunlight
cannot penetrate + It was studies by Cassini + Cassini–Huygens space-research mission,
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commonly called Cassini, involved a collaboration among NASA, the European Space
Agency, and the Italian Space Agency to send a space probe to study the planet Saturn and its
system, including its rings and natural satellites
 UNICORN = Scientists have discovered what may be the smallest-known black hole in the
Milky Way galaxy and the closest to our solar system + Nicknamed ‘Unicorn’ the
researchers said the black hole is roughly three times the mass of our Sun + A luminous red
giant star orbits with the black hole in a so-called binary star system named V723 Mon
 Goldilocks zone = One thing that astronomers search for in exoplanets, in the so-called
Goldilocks zone of habitability, is the existence of liquid water and an atmosphere like that
on Earth + it is believed by many that Mars once had such an atmosphere. The mechanism as
to why it lost its atmosphere has remained in doubt + Scientists from Indian Institution for
Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata suggest that it was the planet’s intrinsic
magnetic dynamo which, by shielding its atmosphere from the sun’s solar wind, protected its
atmosphere. When the magnetic dynamo switched off, the atmosphere slowly was eroded by
the solar wind and eventually vanished, leaving the thin remnant we see today
 Reason for Saturn’s Tilting Axis = The tilt of the rotation axis of the gas giant Saturn may
in fact be caused by its moons + The current tilt of Saturn's rotation axis is caused by the
migration of its satellites, and especially by that of its largest moon, Titan
 Space Hurricane = discovered by Chinese Scientists for first time + above North Pole +
Previously, it was believed that it was theoretical phenomenon + It spun counter-clockwise at
speeds of 4,700 miles per hour + It could help scientists learn more about how the Sun affects
Earth’s atmosphere, gathering more details on how space weather might harm satellites and
other objects in orbit
 Centaur Object = any of a population of small bodies, similar to asteroids in size but to
comets in composition, that revolve around the Sun in the outer solar system, mainly between
the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune + Such objects, called Centaurs, are icy bodies found
between Neptune and Jupiter and warm up and become active as they near the Sun, looking
more like a comet
 Potentially Hazardous Asteroid(PHAs) = It means that an asteroid has the potential to
make threatening close approaches to the Earth + Specifically, all asteroids with a Minimum
Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 AU (which is about 7,480,000 Km) or less and
an Absolute Magnitude (H) of 22.0 (about 150 mt in diameter) or less are considered PHAs +
Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance is a method for calculating the minimum distance
between two almost overlapping elliptical orbits + Astronomical Unit (AU) is the distance
between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly 150 million km + absolute magnitude is a
measure of the star's luminosity i.e. the total amount of energy radiated by the star every
second
 BL Lacertae Blazer = Indian astronomers have detected one of strongest optical flares from
super massive black hole called BL Lacertae blazar + detected with help of Sampurnanand
Telescope (ST) and 1.3 m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescopes located in
Nainital(Uttarakhand) + can help tracing the events at different stages of the Universe’s
evolution + Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) had predicted that it is among 3 or 4
blazars to be experiencing flares + Blazars arefeeding super massive black holes in far off
galaxies and are one of the most energetic and luminous objects in the Universe that are
known for their complicated emission mechanism. They emit jets of charged particles
travelling at nearly the speed of light
 Evolution of a star
 Red star: Fusion reaction stops in the core of a star when its Hydrogen gets
exhausted. Pressure of the core diminishes and core starts shrinking. Fusion takes
place as some Hydrogen remains in the envelope/outer shell. It makes the star
unstable. The star Expands and turns Red.
 Dwarf star: When mass of star < 1.44 times the mass of Sun (Chandra Shekhar
limit), it ends up as a white dwarf.
 Supernova: When mass of star > 1.44 times that of Sun, there remains enough
Helium in the core for fusion reaction. The outer envelope explodes causing
Supernova Explosion.
 Neutron Star: When mass of the star is between 1.44 to 3 times that of Sun, it
becomes a Neutron Star.
 Black hole: When mass of the star is bigger than 3 times that of Sun, it becomes a
Black hole.
 Pink Moon = first super moon of 2021 has been named ‘Pink Moon’ as per a naming
convention established in USA + It is named after herb moss pink, also called creeping
phlox, moss phlox, or mountain phlox, one of the earliest spring flowers appearing in the
United States + Supermoon refers to either a new or full Moon that coincides with moon
being at the perigee (the point where moon is closest in its elliptical orbit around the Earth) +
During a supermoon, that brightness can increase up to 30 percent as a result of the Moon
being closer to Earth + Other moon events:
 New Moon is when Sun and Earth are on opposite sides of the Moon
 Full Moon is when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on opposite sides of Earth, and
100% of the Moon's face is illuminated by the Sun
 Micromoon is when a Full Moon or a New Moon coincides with apogee
 Blood Moon: It refers to red colour of moon during the total lunar eclipse. During the
total lunar eclipse, the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon
 Conjunction or Syzygy: Whenever Sun, Earth and Moon are in alignment it is called
a conjunction or Syzygy
 Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) = CME is a giant cloud of solar plasma drenched with
magnetic field lines that is blown away from the Sun often during strong, long-duration solar
flares and filament eruptions + A CME contains particle radiation (mostly protons and
electrons) and powerful magnetic fields. They cause disruption of space weather and satellite
failures, and power outages, etc
 Computer Aided CME Tracking Software (CACTus) is a software-based on
computer vision algorithm that was so far used to detect and characterize such
eruptions automatically in the outer corona where these eruptions cease to show
accelerations and propagate with an almost constant speed
 CMEs Identification in Inner Solar Corona (CIISCO): Scientists from Aryabhatta
Research Institute of observational sciences (ARIES) have developed an algorithm,
CMEs Identification in Inner Solar Corona (CIISCO) to detect and track CMEs in
lower corona + It will be placed in Aditya L1 (India’s first solar Mission)
 Black Hole’s magnetic field = A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much
that even light cannot get out + Astronomers working in collaboration between the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard College Observatory have obtained a
new view of the supermassive black hole at the center of
 Neutrinos and Star Death = Many stars, towards the end of their lifetimes,
form supernovas - massive explosions that send their outer layers shooting into the space +
Most of the energy of supernova is carried away by neutrinos - tiny particles with no charge
and which interact weakly with matter + Researching the mechanisms of Type II supernovas,
IIT Guwahati has come up with new insights into the part played by neutrinos in the death of
massive stars where a three-flavour model of neutrinos is needed to predict the dynamics of
the supernova + They have found that the fast oscillations of neutrinos decide the flavour
information of the supernova neutrinos
 Bhuvan Geospatial Portal = ISRO in collaboration with CE Info Systems Pvt Ltd., (owned
by MapmyIndia) to offer fully indigenous mapping solutions + "NavIC", "Bhuvan",
"VEDAS" and "MOSDAC" geoportals, Web Services and APIs of Mapmy India will be
used
 Bhuvan = national geoportal developed and hosted by ISRO in 2009 + provides
visualisation services and Earth observation data to users in public domain by
remote sensing
 NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) or Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System (IRNSS) is ISRO’'s own navigation system
 VEDAS(Visualisation of Earth observation Data and Archival System) = an
online geo-processing platform using optical, microwave, thermal and
hyperspectral data covering applications particularly meant for academia, research
and problem solving
 MOSDAC (Meteorological and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre) =
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data repository for all the meteorological missions of ISRO + deals with weather-
related information, oceanography and tropical water cycles.
 Indian Human Spaceflight Programme(IHSP) = Initiated in 2007 + by ISRO + to develop
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the technology needed to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into Low Earth orbit + Under it,
first unmanned mission is planned in December 2021. Second unmanned flight is planned in
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2022-23, followed by human spaceflight demonstration (Gaganyaan) + Other Manned
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Missions are:
 VOSTOK 1 Mission: 1961, Soviet Union
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 Mercury Mission: 1961, Alan Shepard was the 1stAmerican in Spcae

 Shenzhou 5 Programme: China, 2003
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 Kodaikanal Solar Observatory(KoSO) = Part of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA),

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autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST) + estimated how the
Sun had rotated over century, from digitized data extracted from old films and photographs +
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it would help study magnetic field generated in interior of Sun and predict solar cycles and
their variations in future
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 Chandrayaan-3 = Likely to be launched in 2022(was scheduled for late 2020) + ISRO’s 3 rd

mission to Moon + aims to make soft-landing in Lunar South Pole’s Aitken basin + will
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consist of only lander and rover, as orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 is still functioning and
providing data
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 PSLV-C51 Mission = It was 53rd flight of ISRO + ISRO successfully launched Brazil’s
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optical earth observation satellite, Amazonia-1, and 18 co-passenger satellites — five from
India and 13 from the U.S. — from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota + PSLV-
C51, equipped with two solid strap-on boosters, the third such launch of the PSLV-DL
variant + Sun synchronous polar orbit + optical earth observation satellite of
the Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) + first dedicated commercial
mission of NSIL, Government Company under Department of Space + The satellites from
India are the Satish Dhawan SAT (SDSAT) built by Space Kidz India, a nano-satellite
intended to study the radiation levels, space weather and demonstrate long-range
communication technologies; the UNITYsat, a combination of three satellites for providing
radio relay services; and another satellite belonging to the DRDO + This was first dedicated
mission of NSIL. Satellites from India are Satish Dhawan SAT (SDSAT), UNITYsat, (a
combination of three satellites for providing radio relay services) etc + IN-SPACe is an
independent nodal agency under Department of Space (DoS) + NSIL is the commercial arm
of ISRO with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high
technology space related activities
 AstroSat’s Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope= Astrosat is India's first dedicated multi-
wavelength space telescope. It was launched on a PSLV-XL in 2015 + AstroSat has five
telescopes seeing through different wavelengths simultaneously — visible, near UV, far UV,
soft X-ray and hard X-ray + It spots rare ultraviolet-bright stars in a massive intriguing
cosmic dinosaur in the Milky Way + Such UV-bright stars are speculated to be the reason for
the ultraviolet radiation coming from old stellar systems such as elliptical galaxies which are
devoid of young blue stars. Hence, it is all the more important to observe more such stars to
understand their properties.
 Sounding Rockets = ISRO has developed a series of sounding rockets called Rohini series,
important among them being RH-200, RH-300 and RH-560, number in the name indicating
the diameter of the rocket in mm + to study attitudinal variations in neutral winds and plasma
dynamics + Sounding rockets are one or two stage solid propellant rockets used for probing
upper atmospheric regions and for space research + serve as platforms to test or prove
prototypes of new components or subsystems intended for use in launch vehicles and
satellites
 Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera (ADFOSC) = indigenously
designed and developed by Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational sciences (ARIES)
+ India’s largest astronomical spectrograph + commissioned on Devasthal Optical Telescope
(DOT), Uttarakhand + It can locate extremely faint light sources from distant quasars and
galaxies
 Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission = Planned joint lunar mission between India
and Japan + The mission will be launched after 2023 + Japanese space agency JAXA would
be building the overall landing module and the rover, while ISRO would develop the lander
system + The mission will be launched from Japan, and the designated launch vehicle is the
H3 rocket, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries + The mission intends to obtain
data on the quantity and forms of water resources present
 LIGO-India Project = proposed LIGO-India project aims to move one Advanced LIGO
detector from Hanford to India + project, piloted by the Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST)+ LIGO-India project is an
international collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory and three lead institutions in the
LIGO-India consortium: Institute of Plasma Research, Gandhinagar; IUCAA, Pune; and Raja
Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore + The LIGO lab would provide the
complete design and all the key detector components + Indian scientists would provide the
infrastructure to install the detector and it would be operated jointly by LIGO-India and the
LIGO Lab.
 India wing of LIGO Project = Hingoli district, Maharashtra + project involves constructing
a network of L-shaped arms, each four kilometres long, which can detect even the faintest
ripples from cosmic explosions millions of light years away
 Indo-French Space Collaborations = ISRO and French space agency Centre National
D'etudesSpatiales(CNES):
 TRISHNA - Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High resolution Natural resource
Assessment (TRISHNA) + monitor water cycle to help in properly utilizing it.
 ARGOS of CNES = global satellite-based data collection and location system + to
study and preserve environment + will be integrated into ISRO’s OCEANSAT-3
satellite
 ISRO-CNES Human Space Programme (HSP) Working Group = to formalise
cooperation in field of space medicine.
 MEGHA-TROPIQUES (2011) - to study tropical atmosphere and climate related to
aspects such as monsoons, cyclones, etc.
 Satellite for ALTIKA and ARGOS (SARAL) (2013) -to study ocean from space
using altimetry
 RESPOND Programme = flagship programme of ISRO + ISRO started the RESPOND
(Research Sponsored) programme in the 1970s, with the objective of encouraging academia
to participate and contribute in various Space related research activities + Under the
Programme, ISRO provides financial support for conducting research + RESPOND is also
participating in the National Missions like IMPRINT (IMPacting Research INnovation and
Technology) programme and UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY) + Recently, ISRO announced
it will support eight joint research projects mooted by the Space Technology Cell (STC),
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi under its RESPOND programme
 Aditya-L1 Support Cell(AL1SC) = Aditya-L1 Support Cell is a community service centre
that has been set up to bring all data on board India’s first dedicated solar space mission to a
single web-based interface + It is a joint effort of Indian Space Research Organisation and
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences + It will allow every interested
individual to perform scientific analysis of the data + It is set up at the transit campus of
ARIES at Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
 NISAR= NASA-ISRO-SAR + SAR (Synthetic aperture radar) refers to a technique for
producing high-resolution images + will be launched in 2022 from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota, into a near-polar orbit + will scan globe every 12 days over course of its
three-year mission to give an “unprecedented” view of the planet + SAR refers to a technique
for producing high-resolution images
 Stardust 1.0 = USA’s Stardust 1.0 became the first commercial space launch powered by
biofuel + It is a launch vehicle suited for student and budget payloads + It has a mass of 250
kg and can carry a maximum payload mass of 8 kg + Manufactured by bluShift, an aerospace
company that is developing rockets that are powered by bio-derived fuels
 Square Kilometre Array = World’s largest radio telescope + Proposed to be built by Square
Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Council, a new intergovernmental organisation
dedicated to radio astronomy + Hq: UK + Members: 10 along with India + Unlike optical
telescopes, radio telescopes can detect invisible gas and, therefore, they can reveal areas of
space that may be obscured by cosmic dust.
 Perseverance Mission = NASA’s 4th generation Mars Rover + launched to 2020 + en route
to Mars, and is set to land at Jezero Crater, which was likely filled with water in the past +
will look for fossils or some biosignatures + will produce oxygen on the Martian surface for
the first time, using atmospheric CO2 from the Martian atmosphere + will cache rock
samples that will be returned to Earth by a subsequent European Space Agency/NASA
mission
 Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) = NASA’s + primarily designed to track
changes in ice sheet coverage but also provides topography and vegetation data
 Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) = It is a joint mission of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) +
first international space mission to demonstrate asteroid impact hazard mitigation by using
kinetic impactor to deflect asteroid + target of AIDA is a double asteroid called
Didymos(These are in orbit between Earth and Mars) + NASA is building the Double
Asteroid Impact Test (DART) spacecraft for this + ESA’s contribution is a mission called
Hera, which will perform a close-up survey of the post-impact asteroid
 First X-rays from Uranus = This is the first time astronomers have detected X-rays from
Uranus, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory + Uranus is also known as the 'sideways
planet' because it rotates on its side, unlike any other planet in our solar system + Since
Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to ever fly by Uranus, astronomers currently rely on
telescopes much closer to Earth, like Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope, to learn
about this distant and cold planet that is made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium +
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Earlier, Astronomers have observed that both Jupiter and Saturn scatter X-ray light given off
by the Sun, similar to how Earth’s atmosphere scatters the Sun’s light
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 Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment(MOXIE) = MOXIE) is a
technology demonstration on the NASA Mars 2020 rover Perseverance investigating the
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production of oxygen on Mars + MOXIE produced oxygen from carbon dioxide in the
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Martian atmosphere by using solid oxide electrolysis

 InSight Mission = part of NASA’s Discovery Program + first mission to peer deep beneath
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Martian surface + will use seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop map of
planet’s deep interior + has recorded over 500 quakes to date on Mars since its touch down
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on the Red Planet in November 2018

 Ingenuity helicopter = NASA + has been dropped on the surface of Mars + The ultra-light
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aircraft had been fixed to the belly of the Perseverance rover + Ingenuity will be attempting
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to fly in an atmosphere that is one percent the density of Earth's, which makes achieving lift
harder - but will be assisted by gravity that is one-third of our planet's + first powered aircraft
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to fly on Mars + It is solar-powered, has wireless communication system and is equipped

with computers, navigation sensors, and two cameras + will help collect samples from the
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surface from locations where the rover cannot reach + Perseverance landed at Jezero Crater
of Mars in Feb 2021 and will remain on Mars for 2 years looking for finding signs of ancient
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life.
 Parker Solar Probe = Recently Marks Seventh Successful Swing around the Sun + NASA +
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probe closer to the sun, endure heat to zoom through the solar corona to study this outermost
part of the stellar atmosphere that gives rise to the solar wind + The previous closest pass to
the sun was by a probe called Helios 2 + The distance of the earth from the sun is
approximately 149.6 million km + has done flyby of venus(done to slowdown the spacecraft
enough to avoid gravitational pull of the Sun, during its first gravity assist from the planet)
 Mission: Transporter-1 = SpaceX launches 143 satellites, breaking world space record and
beating India’s record of deploying 104 satellites in February 2017 + Launch Vehicle: Falcon
9 + marks the first dedicated mission for SpaceX’s Small Sat Rideshare Program, which
enables small-satellite customers to book a ride to orbit with SpaceX directly
 Commercial Crew Program = collaboration between NASA and SpaceX + to make access
to space easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to and
from the ISS, enabling greater scientific research + Through this program, NASA plans to
lower its costs by sharing them with commercial partners, and also give companies incentive
to design and build Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) + Boeing and
SpaceX were selected by NASA in September 2014 for this purpose
 Heliophysics Missions = NASA has approved two heliophysics missions to explore the Sun
and the system that drives space weather near Earth + Understanding the concepts that drive
the solar wind and solar explosions could help in predicting these events + Extreme
Ultraviolet High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission (EUVST) and
Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE)
 EUVST = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) leads the EUVST Epsilon
Mission (Solar-C EUVST Mission), a solar telescope + will be launched in 2026 + It
will study how the solar atmosphere releases solar wind and drives eruptions of solar
material.
 EZIE = investigation comprising a trio of CubeSats that will study the source of and
changes in the auroral electrojet (AE) + This drags out the night-time side of the
magnetosphere into what is called a magnetotail
 ChemCam Instrument = on Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp on Mars, a French–
US team of scientists has deduced that water did not disappear from Mars at one go, but that
it alternated between dry and wet conditions before drying up completely 3 billion years ago.
The rover is scheduled to climb this mountain and study deposited layers
 Tianwen-1 = Chinese National Space Agency’s first mission to Mars + carries orbiter,
lander, and rover + Unlike NASA rovers, it will orbit Mars for few months before attempting
to land in May, 2021 at Utopia Planitia ( it would possibly have ancient groundwater
deposits)
 NEO- 01 = China has launched a robot prototype that can scoop up debris left behind by
other spacecraft with a big net + The robot, NEO-01 will use a net to capture debris and then
burn it with its electric propulsion system
 Zhurong = is the name of China’s first Mars rover, named after traditional fire god + The
rover is aboard the Tianwen-1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit and is due to land in May
2021 to look for evidence of life + Tianwen-1's goals include analysing and mapping the
Martian surface and geology, looking for water and ice and studying the climate and surface
environment + The top candidate for the landing site is Utopia Planitia, a rock-strewn plain
where the U.S. lander Viking 2 touched down in 1976 + China would become the third
country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a robot rover on Mars
 Progress MS-16 Cargo Shipor Progress 77 = Unmanned Russian cargo ship launched by
Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos + delivered water, propellant and other supplies to
International Space Station (ISS)
 Arktika-M Satellite = Russia launched its space satellite Arktika-M on a mission to monitor
the climate and environment in the Arctic of Russia + It is launched from Kazakhstan by a
Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat booster + It is remote-sensing and emergency
communications satellite
 Gigaton Volume Detector(GVD) = Russian scientists recently launched one of the world’s
biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in
the waters of Lake Baikail, the world’s deepest lake situated in Siberia + It will be one of
world’s 3 largest neutrino detectors along with the IceCube (South Pole, CERN experiment)
& ANTARES (Mediterranean Sea, CERN experiment)
 “Al-Amal” (Arabic for “Hope”)/ Hope Mission = The first Arab interplanetary mission is
expected to reach Mars + unmanned space probe + underwent orbital insertion + UAE
became the fifth national space agency (after the US, EU, Russia, and India) to reach Mars +
will study the Martian atmosphere + seek to address question of how and why Mars lost its
atmosphere, which resulted in loss of surface water, and possibly the environment hospitable
to life + UAE has plans to launch an unmanned rover to the moon by 2024 and is also eyeing
future mining projects beyond Earth, as well as space tourism
 Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR)= reached an ion
temperature of over 100 million degrees Celsius for 20 seconds + By comparison, KSTAR
was able to achieve a temperature of over 6.6 times more than that of Sun + referred to as
South Korea’s artificial sun, is South Korea’s magnetic fusion device + part of joint research
conducted with Seoul National University and Columbia University of the US
 Plants Generating Magnetic Field = A recent study by scientific from Germany found that
the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) plant is capable of generating small magnetic fields
+ These plants send electrical signals to trigger the closure of their traps, to catch an insect, a
biomagnetism phenomenon was observed
 Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) = International collaboration to continue the steady long
term progress on improving the capability of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at
short wavelengths + This links radio dishes across the globe to create an Earth-sized
interferometer, to measure the size of the emission regions of the two supermassive black
holes with the event horizons + Event horizon is the threshold around the black hole where
the escape velocity surpasses the speed of light. The event horizon of a black hole is linked to
the object's escape velocity the speed that one would need to exceed to escape the black
hole's gravitational pull
 International Lunar Research Station = to be built by China National Space
Administration and Russian space agency Roscosmos + on lunar surface and/or on the lunar
orbit + will be open to all interested countries and international partners, strengthen scientific
research exchanges, and promote humanity’s exploration and use of outer space for peaceful
purpose.
 LIGO Project = The LIGO project operates three gravitational-wave (GW) detectors. Two
are at Hanford in the State of Washington, north-western USA, and one is at Livingston in
Louisiana, south-eastern USA + LIGO detectors have been joined in their search for
gravitational waves from various sources by the VIRGO detector in Italy and the KAGRA
detector in Japan. The Indian detector LIGO India is being developed and is expected to join
these in their search
 Satellite based connectivity = Rather than using an underground copper/fibre network,
satellite based broadband connection operates by sending and receiving broadband signal to a
satellite in space + Satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity is possible using Geo Stationary,
Medium and Low Earth orbit Satellites.
 Kessler Syndrome = Also called the Kessler effect, is a scenario in which the density of
objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions between objects could cause
a cascade where each collision generates space debris that increases the likelihood of further
collisions + It may lead to a situation in which orbit would become impassable in the long run
5.2) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) = well-coordinated cybersecurity attack achieved by
flooding IT networks with superfluous requests to connect and overload the system to
prevent legitimate requests being fulfilled
 NetWire = first surfaced in 2012 + well-known malware + is also one of the most active
ones around. It is a remote access trojan, or RAT, which gives control of the infected system
to an attacker. Such malware can log keystrokes and compromise passwords + Malware,
according to cybersecurity experts, essentially do two things. One is data exfiltration, which
means stealing data. Most anti-virus software are equipped to prevent this + The other
involves infiltrating a system, and this has proven to be far more challenging for anti-virus
software + NetWire is described as an off the-shelf malware, while something like Pegasus,
which used a bug in WhatsApp to infiltrate users’ phones in 2019, is custom-made and sold
to nations.
 ‘Red Echo’ & ‘Shadow Pad’= Red Echo is Chinese group which used malware called
ShadowPad + It aimed to target “a large swathe” of India’s power sector + Red Echo used
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malware called ShadowPad, which involves the use of a backdoor to access servers +
Maharashtra State Cyber Cell probe found 14 Trojan horses in servers of Maharashtra State
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Electricity Transmission Company after US-based cyber security firm Recorded Future
reported it + The US firm, Recorded Future, detected this malware attack by tracking
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AXIOMATIC ASYMPTOTE servers being contacted by IP addresses linked to critical
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Indian systems
 ‘APT41’, ‘Barium’, ‘Winnti’, ‘Wicked Panda’, and ‘Wicked Spider’ = Cyber threat
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groups in News
 Cognitive hacking = a threat from disinformation and computational propaganda + This
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attack exploits psychological vulnerabilities, perpetuates biases, and eventually compromises

logical and critical thinking, giving rise to cognitive dissonance + A cognitive hacking attack
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attempts to change the target audience’s thoughts and actions, galvanise societies and disrupt
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harmony using disinformation

 Splinternet = fusion of the words “split" and “internet". It is defined as the balkanization of
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the internet due to nationalism, as nations try to preserve their sovereign identities and
economic interests + Global examples of Splinternet are China’s Great Firewall North
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Korea’s intranet Kwangmyong (Bright Star), Iran’s National Information Network, Russia’s
internet censorship law, USA’s Clean Network Program
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 Fugaku= Japan's Fugaku with a speed of 415.53 petaflop has become world’s fastest
supercomputers (surpassing China’s Sunway TaihuLight) + Supercomputers in India: First
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Indian supercomputer was PARAM 8000, PARAM Siddhi (210 petaflop) is India’s fastest
supercomputer
 Frontier Technologies = are defined as potentially disruptive technologies that can address
large-scale challenges or opportunities + They include artificial intelligence (AI), the internet
of things, big data, blockchain, 5G, 3D printing, robotics, drones, gene editing,
nanotechnology and solar photovoltaic
 Giga Mesh = It is an innovative wireless backhaul solution, based on patented millimeter
wave wireless technology for Mesh Architecture + It is an innovative wireless product that
gives fibre like bandwidth at fraction of cost of fibre to help telecom operators deliver
reliable low-cost internet services to suburban and rural areas + It is a multi-beam E-band
product which packs 6 point-to-point E-band radios in one, thereby distributing the cost of
the device over multiple links +Developed by Women-led startup + could enable telecom
operators deploy quality, high-speed rural telecom infrastructure at 5 times lower cost
 5G = Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought inputs on sale and use of radio
frequency spectrum over next 10 years, including 5G bands + 5G is the latest upgrade in the
long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks + works in 3 bands, namely low, mid
and high frequency spectrum
 Low band spectrum: promise in terms of coverage and speed of internet and data
exchange; for commercial cell phone users
 Mid-band spectrum: higher speeds compared to the low band, but has limitations in
terms of coverage area and penetration of signals; for specialised industrial needs
 High-band spectrum: highest speed of all the three bands, but has extremely limited
coverage and signal penetration strength.
5.3) BIO-TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

 FSSAI caps Trans Fats in food products = Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) has amended its rules to cap trans-fatty acids (TFAs) in food products, just weeks
after it tightened the norms for oils and fats + Food products in which edible oils and fats are
used as an ingredient shall not contain industrial trans-fatty acids more than 2% by mass of
the total oils/fats present in the product, on and from 1st January, 2022 + In December, the
FSSAI had capped TFAs in oils and fats to 3% by 2021, and 2% by 2022 from the current
levels of 5%. + The 2% cap is considered to be elimination of trans-fatty acids, which we
will achieve by 2022. We will be reaching this goal a year sooner than the WHO deadline.
 Non-GM cum GM free Certificate = FSSAI said that from now imported consignments of
some of the major food crops will need to be accompanied with this certificate + food safety
authority also stated that the tolerance limit for “adventitious presence” of GMOs at 1% will
be permissible (Adventitious presence refers to unintentional or incidental presence of trace
amounts of GM material in non-GM crops) + According to WHO, genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) are organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a
way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination + Globally GM
crops were commercially introduced in 1996 + Bt cotton is the only genetically modified
(GM) crop that has been approved for commercial cultivation (in 2002) by the Government
of India + GM mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11 (DMH 11) developed by Delhi University
is pending for commercial release + Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), has
allowed biosafety research field trials of two new transgenic varieties of indigenously
developed Bt Brinjal – namely Janak and BSS-793, containing BtCry1Fa1 gene (Event 142)
– in eight states during 2020-23 only after taking no-objection certificate (NOC). These
indigenous transgenic varieties of brinjal hybrids have been developed by the National
Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) +
Regulation of GMO levels in imported consumables was initially with Genetic Engineering
Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry. Its role in this was
diluted with the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and FSSAI was asked
to take over approvals of imported goods + The rules governing the handling of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) were notified in 1989 under Environment Protection Act 1986
+ Two government agencies, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, are responsible
for implementation of the regulations
 Red Rice = Iron rich ‘red rice’ is grown in Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of
any chemical fertilizer + The rice variety is referred as ‘Bao-dhaan’, which is an integral part
of the Assamese food + In a major boost to India’s rice exports potential, the first
consignment of ‘red rice’ was flagged off to the USA + rich in iron + Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has promoting rice
exports through the Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF)
 PR-126 Variety = Variety of Rice + matures in 93 days after transplanting hence takes about
3-4 weeks lesser than the long duration varieties + This variety is best suitable for DSR
technique
 MACS 1407 = high-yielding and pest-resistant variety of soybean + developed by Scientists
from MACS – Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune + suitable for cultivation in Assam,
West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and North-Eastern states(because of rain-fed
conditions)
 Saguna Rice Technique = will help stop the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana + It is
Zero till technique + This method is used to cultivate rice and related rotation crops without
ploughing, puddling and transplanting rice on permanent raised beds + SRT facilitates
planting of crop in predetermined distances enabling precise plant population per unit area +
SRT insists that all roots and small portion of stem should be left in the beds for slow rotting
+ No ploughing, puddling and hoeing to be done to control weeds + SRT will get the crop
ready for harvesting 8 to 10 days earlier
 Exon Shuffling = Like Lego blocks can be rearranged, genetic elements can be shuffled to
form new genes + Researchers found that the so-called jumping genes or transposons were
added to the genetic mix during evolution to rustle up new genes through a process called
exon shuffling which generates new genes.
 Diatom Test = helps in diagnosing death caused by drowning + Diatoms are
photosynthesizing algae found in aquatic environment + If person is alive when he enters
water, diatoms will enter lungs when person inhales water while drowning. + If person
is dead when thrown in water, then there is no transport of diatom cells in the body
 Nanobodies = University of Bonn has developed novel antibody fragments (nanobodies)
against SARS-CoV-2 + Nanobodies are antibody fragments that are so simple that they can
be produced by bacteria or yeast, which is less expensive + They are recombinant, antigen-
specific and have a single variable domain on a heavy chain, called VHH domains. They lack
VL domains + They are much smaller than classic antibodies. So, they penetrate the tissue
better and can be produced more easily in larger quantities.
5.4) SCIENCE – ENERGY AND FUEL

 Furnace oil or Fuel oil = Consisting mainly of residues from crude-oil distillation + used for
steam boilers in power plants, aboard ships, and in industrial plants + Flash point is higher
than that of kerosene
 Bio Fuel = Biofuels are obtained from biomass, which can be converted directly into liquid
fuels that can be used as transportation fuels + The two most common kinds of biofuels in
use today are ethanol and biodiesel and they both represent the first generation of biofuel
technology + Ethanol, for instance, is renewable and made from different kinds of plant
materials + Biodiesel on the other hand is produced by combining alcohol with new and used
vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled cooking grease + Biofuels are generally classified into
three categories. They are:
 First-generation biofuels – First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch,
vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Common first-
generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers,
Biogas.
 Second-generation biofuels – These are produced from non-food crops, such as
cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood).
Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, bioethanol.
 Third-generation biofuels – These are produced from micro-organisms like algae
 Ethanol as an alternate fuel = Govt. has been promoting use of 20% ethanol in Petrol by
2030 + National Policy on Biofuels (NBP)-2018 under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP)
Programme + production of ethanol from sugarcane and food grain based raw-materials is
allowed + ex-mill price of ethanol from sugarcane based raw-materials and remunerative
prices of ethanol produced from different feedstock is fixed
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 Hydrogen - Fuel of the Future = most abundant element in universe + used as fuel in
Apollo I that landed on moon in 1969 + It provides 3 times more energy than fossil fuels +
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ultimate green fuel that releases pure water as only by-product + Hydrogen does not occur
naturally as gas on Earth, thus external energy source is required to isolate hydrogen +
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Currently, fossil fuels are used to isolate hydrogen, this is called grey hydrogen and it is as
polluting as fossil fuel + Hydrogen can be produced in a number of ways. One method
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includes using electrolysis, with an electric current splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.
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If the electricity used in the process comes from a renewable source such as wind or solar
then it's termed "green" or "renewable" hydrogen + current cost of green hydrogen
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production is almost thrice the cost of grey hydrogen.

 India’s First CNG Tractor = launched + farmer will save up to 50% on fuel cost, as CNG is
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only Rs. 42 / kg and is cleaner than diesel + also it has zero lead, thus is non-corrosive, non-
dilutive and non-contaminating which increases life of engine + Stubble can be used as a raw
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material for producing bio-CNG.

 World’s first Energy Island = In North Sea + By Denmark + artificial island + will be
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linked to hundreds of offshore wind turbines + will supply power to both households and
commercial users
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 Garbage-to-Power Plant = The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has

designed and patented the high rate biomethanation technology-based Anaerobic Gas lift
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Reactor (AGR) for this ₹3 crore project funded by the Department of Biotechnology and the
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Telengana government’s Agriculture Marketing Department + plant being commissioned

inside the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Agriculture Market in Bowenpally.
5.5) SCIENCE – GENERAL

 Quantum Entanglement = When two objects, say two particles of light, also called photons,
are in an entangled state, any changes made to the state of one, for example, its spin, are
reflected in the other particle, however far they move from each other without breaking the
entanglement. If developed, this property can be used to transmit a message at a very high
level of secrecy from one point to another + In 2020, China demonstrated quantum
communications technology using the satellite Micius, by conducting a secret conference
between two ground stations about 1120 km apart. They used the satellite not to transmit the
entire communication, but to simultaneously send a pair of secret keys to the two ground
stations. Each secret key is one of two strings of the entangled photons
 Quantum Random Number Generator = developed by DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory
for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT) + It has ability to detect random quantum events and
convert them into a stream of binary digits + DYSL-QT has developed a fiber-optic branch
path based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) + principle: that if a single photon
falls on a balanced beam splitter, it will take either of the beam-splitter output paths
randomly + As path chosen by photon is random, the randomness is translated to a sequence
of binary digits, also called bits.
 Dark Matterweight = Scientists have narrowed down the range of masses within which
particles that could make up dark matter may lie using Quantum gravity + Quantum gravity
is a combination of Einstein’s concepts of quantum physics and general relativity and it
attempts to explain how gravity works on the universe's smallest particles + Research shows
that the dark matter particles can neither be super light nor super heavy unless there is a
‘force acting on it that is yet unknown + Dark matter and dark energy constitute 95% of the
Universe + Dark matter is completely invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic
radiation, making it impossible to detect with current instruments
 Quark = elementary subatomic particles + believed to be among the fundamental
constituents of matter + There are six types of quarks that differ from one another in their
mass and charge characteristics that are grouped in three pairs: up and down, charm and
strange, and top and bottom + Beauty quarks (bottom quark) are much heavier than the up
and down quarks and particles containing b quarks are also unusually long-lived
 Neutrinos = 2ndmost abundant particles, after photons (light particles) + They are incredibly
difficult to detect as they have very little interaction with matter + They do not carry electric
charge + Because neutrinos are electrically neutral, they are not affected by the
electromagnetic forces which act on electrons + Neutrinos are affected only by a "weak" sub-
atomic force of much shorter range than electromagnetism, and are therefore able to pass
through great distances in matter without being affected by it + Three types of neutrinos are
known. Each type or "flavour" of neutrino is related to a charged particle- electron, muon and
the tau. They can change from one flavor to another as they travel. This process is called
neutrino oscillation and is an unusual quantum phenomenon + So far neutrinos had only been
observed originating from supernovae (exploding stars) and the sun. They also come from
the cosmic rays that come from beyond the solar system, and from the Big Bang from which
our Universe originated + Neutrinos can also be made artificially. They are produced in
radioactive decays and in nuclear reactors
 Neutrinos flavours = Neutrinos come in three ‘flavours’ or ‘types’, and each flavour is
associated with a light elementary particle + Electron-neutrino is associated with the electron;
the muon-neutrino with the muon and the tau-neutrino with the tau particle + As they spew
out of the raging supernova, neutrinos can change from one flavour to another in a process
known as neutrino oscillations + This phenomenon may generate neutrino oscillations
happening simultaneously over different energies (unlike normal neutrino oscillation),
termed collective neutrino oscillation.
 Large Hadron Collider (LHC) = worlds largest and most powerful particle accelerator at
CERN’s accelerator complex + 27-kilometre ring of superconducting magnets with a number
of accelerating structures to boost the energy + four particle detectors and ATLAS, CMS,
ALICE and LHCb + located beneath the French-Swiss border + In 2012, the researchers at
the LHC announced the discovery of the Higgs boson + Hoggs boson is an elementary
particle gain their mass from a fundamental field (Higgs field) through its Interactions
 Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb) = LHCb experiment is one of the four
large experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva + It is designed to
study decays of particles containing a beauty quark (highest mass forming bound states) +
Beauty quarks are produced during the collision of high-energy proton beams in the Large
Hadron Collider at CERN
 Muon g-2 Experiment = carried out by American particle accelerator Fermilab + muons
are exposed to a magnet and a flurry of other sub-atomic particles known as the ‘quantum
foam’ +Muon or fat electron is elementary subatomic particle similar to electron but 207
times heavier + 2 forms of Muons are - negatively charged muon and its positively charged
antiparticle + It acts like tiny magnet + When placed in an external magnetic field, it wobbles
+ g-factor is a measure that derives from the magnetic properties of the muon.
 Raman Thermometry = Recently, researchers at IIT Madras have demonstrated that power
transmission cable can be monitored by using Raman thermometry on the fibre optic cable +
Raman Thermometry is a thermal characterization technique which makes use of Raman
scattering phenomena to determine the local temperature in microelectronics systems +
When light is scattered off an object, say a molecule, two bands are observed, with higher
and lower frequency than the original light, called the Stokes and anti-Stokes bands,
respectively. By studying the relative intensity of the two bands, it is possible to estimate the
temperature of the object which scatters the light
 Raman Effect = In 1928, Raman discovered that when a stream of light passes through a
liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour + Raman was able
to show that the blue colour of the water was due to the scattering of the sunlight by water
molecules + Raman conducted his Nobel-prize winning research at IACS, Calcutta + In
1986, the Govt. of India designated this Day, to commemorate the announcement of the
discovery of the “Raman effect”
 Quasi-Resonant Amplification (QRA) = QRA is a mechanism which is caused by Arctic
warming as a result of global warming + Research has shown for the first time that heat
waves will occur in India as a result of a QRA + Strong evidence has been found that QRA
occurs in the spring season (April-May) as well, when heatwaves occur in India
 Einsteinium = Berkeley Lab’s scientists have reported some of properties of element 99 in
periodic table called “Einsteinium”, named after Albert Einstein + discovered in 1952 in
debris of 1st hydrogen bomb (detonation of thermonuclear device called “Ivy Mike” at island
Elugelab on the Eniwetok Atoll in the South Pacific) + difficult to create and is highly
radioactive + most common isotope: Einsteinium 253 (half-life: 20 days) + Most stable
isotope: Einsteinium-254 (half-life: 276 days) + Because of its high radioactivity and short
half-life of all isotopes, even if it was present on Earth during its formation, it has most
certainly decayed
 Helium = is colourless, odourless, tasteless, inert and a noble gas. Yet, it finds many
applications, mainly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, in rockets and in nuclear
reactors + Its boiling point is the lowest among all the elements + India’s Rajmahal volcanic
basin in Jharkhand is the storehouse of helium trapped for billions of years, since the very
birth of Earth from the Sun. At present, researchers are mapping the Rajmahal basin
extensively for future exploration and harnessing of helium + India imports helium for its
needs, mostly from USA + U.S. appearing set to cut off exports of helium since 2021, and
this is the problem for India + U.S. became the most important exporter of helium across the
world due to presence of Helium in large quantities under the American Great Plains
 Specialty Steel (Alloy Steel) = contains additional alloyed materials that deliver special
properties under specific conditions + Government has approved its inclusion in Production
Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme + to promote the manufacturing of 'Specialty Steel' within
the country to meet the domestic demand by attracting capital investment, generate
employment etc.
 Cadmium doped Silver Antimony Telluride = found by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, autonomous institution of the
Department of Science & Technology (DST) + AgSbTe2 is lead-free + can efficiently
convert waste heat to electricity to power our small home equipment and automobile +
Properties: high electrical conductivity of metals, high thermoelectric sensitivity of
semiconductors, and low thermal conductivity of glasses.
 Gas hydrates = Ice-like crystalline minerals formed when low molecular weight gas
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combines with water and freezes into a solid under low temperature and moderate pressure
conditions + Low molecular weight gases are methane, ethane, or carbon dioxide + Most gas
hydrates are formed from methane (CH4) + These can be associated with unusual and
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possibly unique biological communities that use hydrocarbons or hydrogen sulphide for
carbon and energy via a process known as chemosynthesis + They could also be dangerous
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as their decomposition can release large amounts of methane.
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 Osmolytes = are low-molecular weight organic compounds that influence the properties of
biological fluids. Their primary role is to maintain the integrity of cells by affecting the
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viscosity, melting point, and ionic strength of the aqueous solution

 Alkaloids = Alkaloids are a huge group of naturally occurring organic compounds which
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contain nitrogen atom or atoms (amino or amido in some cases) in their structures + Well-
known alkaloids include morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine + The
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medicinal properties of alkaloids are quite diverse. Morphine is a powerful narcotic used for
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the relief of pain, though its addictive properties limit its usefulness. Codeine, the methyl
ether derivative of morphine found in the opium poppy, is an excellent analgesic that is
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relatively non-addictive + Among the few countries permitted to cultivate the opium poppy
crop for export and extraction of alkaloids, India currently only extracts alkaloids from
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opium gum at facilities controlled by the Revenue Department in the Finance Ministry. This
entails farmers extracting gum by manually lancing the opium pods and selling the gum to
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government factories + Recently, The Central government has decided to rope in the private
sector to commence production of concentrated poppy straw (CPS) from India’s opium crop
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to boost the yield of alkaloids, used for medical purposes and exported to several countries +
While roping in private players to partner with the government in producing CPS and
extracting alkaloids from it is likely to require amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Department has decided to appoint a
consultant to help frame the bidding parameters and concession agreements for the same
 Flue Gas Desulpurization (FGD) = It is a set of technologies used to remove SO2 from
exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants + This is accomplished through either a wet or
a dry process + In the process of dry scrubbing injection systems, limeis used as a reagent to
react and remove gaseous pollutants + In the process of wet scrubbing injection systems, A
shower of lime slurry is sprayed into a flue gas scrubber, where the SO2 is absorbed into the
spray and becomes a wet calcium sulfite and waste water + India had initially set a 2017
deadline for thermal power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units that cut
emissions of sulphur dioxides. But that was postponed to varying deadlines for different
regions, ending in 2022 + The new order dated April 1 from the environment Ministry said
plants near populous regions and the capital New Delhi will have to comply by 2022, while
utilities in less polluting areas have up to 2025 to comply or retire units
 Cobalt Rich Sea Mount Ferro Manganese Crust (SFMC) = Cobalt-rich ferromanganese
crusts occur at shallower depths of <400 to about > 5000 meters in areas of significant
volcanic activity + The crusts grow on hard-rock substrates of volcanic origin by the
precipitation of metals dissolved in seawater in areas of seamounts, ridges, plateaus and
where prevailing currents prevent deposition of unconsolidated sediments and occupy large
areas on top of these topography highs + Similar in general composition to the polymetallic
nodules, cobalt crusts are attracting investment in exploration for higher cobalt percentage
(up to 2%), platinum (0.0001%) and Rare Earth Elements (REE) besides Nickel and
Manganese
 Placer Deposit = accumulation of valuable minerals formed by gravity separation + India is
rich in Placer minerals like nickel, uranium, copper, thorium, titanium, poly metallic
sulphides, poly metallic manganese nodules, coastal ilmenite, garnet and zircon etc +
Polymetallic nodules and polymetallic massive sulphides are the two mineral resources of
commercial interest to developers in the Indian Ocean + Typically found at 4 to 5 km in
water depth, polymetallic nodules are golf-to-tennis ballsized nodules containing nickel,
cobalt, iron, and manganese that form over millions of years on the sediment of the seafloor
 Lithium deposits = Found in Allapatna area, Mandya district of Karnataka + in Preliminary
surveys of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) + It is a soft,
silvery-white metal + lightest metal and lightest solid element + highly reactive and
flammable, must be stored in mineral oil + key element for Lithium ion batteries, lubricating
grease, high energy additive to rocket propellants, optical modulators for mobile phones and
convertor to tritium for thermonuclear reactions i.e. fusion
 Nanophotonics = aqualitative, emerging field where the aim is to go beyond electronics and
build up circuits driven entirely by photons (light) + If the technique can be successfully
developed, this can achieve an unprecedented level of miniaturisation and pave the way to
all-optical technology such as pliable, wearable devices operated by light entirely.
 Spintronics = Also known as spin electronics + study of the intrinsic spin of the electron and
its associated magnetic moment, in addition to its fundamental electronic charge, in solid-
state devices + ‘Rashba effect’, a phenomenon which consists of splitting of spin-bands in an
electronic system, might play a key role in spintronic devices + It is a momentum-dependent
splitting of spin bands in two-dimensional condensed matter systems.
 Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) = An NFT, or a non-fungible token, is a digital object that can
be a drawing, animation, piece of music, photo, or video with a certificate of authenticity
created by blockchain technology + In simple terms, NFT is a unique proof of ownership
over something you can't usually hold in your hand — a piece of digital art, a digital coupon,
maybe a video clip + Recently, Indian cryptocurrency exchange, WazirX has launched a non-
fungible tokens (NFT) marketplace for Indian artists + Fungibility refers to an asset's ability
to be exchanged with a similar asset without sacrificing its value. For example, a Rs. 100
note is fungible, because if one person has a Rs.100 bill and another person also has a Rs.
100 note, they could interchange the bill and the value does not change. A bitcoin is a
fungible asset as well + NFTs are not fungible as they cannot be traded directly with each
other because they are unique
 Mini-LEDs = Mini-Light Emitting Diodes are very small LEDs (0.2 mm or even smaller)
that collectively produce the backlight on LCD panels + super ‘mini’ size of Mini-LEDs
allows backlight to be divided into many more Local Dimming zones + these are slightly
bigger in size than Micro-LEDs + These are best of both worlds between traditional LCDs
and OLED (Organic LEDs) panels + They have ease of making and can be used to construct
small displays
 Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) Technology = Tested by DRDO recently + will enable
the agency to develop long-range air-to-air missiles + Ramjet powered missiles provide
greater range and a higher average speed compared to missiles powered by solid propellants
and uses atmospheric oxygen + can also carry a bigger warhead as they do not have to carry
an oxidizer
 Advanced Chaff Technology = developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) + Chaff (or Window) is a passive expendable electronic counter-
measure technology used worldwide to protect naval ships from enemy’s radar and Radio
Frequency (RF) missile seekers + This technology is given to industry for bulk production in
large quantities
 Single Crytal(SX) Components = single-crystal, or monocrystalline, solid is a material in
which crystal lattice of entire sample is continuous and unbroken to the edges, with no grain
boundaries + used for helicopter engines + developed by DRDO + USA, UK, France and
Russia already have this capacity.
 Deep Time Project = Deep Time Project was led by the scientists of the Human Adaptation
Institute in partnership with labs in France and Switzerland + The project aimed to test how
people adapt to changes in living conditions and environments + As part of the Project, 15
participants lived in the Lombrives cave in France for 40 days with no phones, clocks or
sunlight. They slept in tents, made their own electricity, and had no contact with the outside
world
 GEMINI System = to warn fishermen of danger + It also shows fish catch probability + To
avoid communication blackouts during disasters, a slew of government departments, research
agencies (For example, INCOIS) and private companies have developed GEMINI, a portable
receiver linked to ISRO satellites + GEMINI works on GAGAN, developed by ISRO and the
Airports Authority of India, and is an India-made global positioning system. It relies on the
positioning system of ISRO’s GSAT satellites + (Potential Fishing Zone(PFZ) forecast = The
government of India has also launched PFZ forecasts, newly developed by INCOIS, which
will provide advisories on Potential Fishing Zones to fishermen 3 days in advance)
 India H2 Alliance = It is an alliance of energy and industrial firms led by Chart Industries
and Reliance Industries Ltd + The alliance will aid the government efforts towards hydrogen
based economy
 Green Hydrogen Catapult Initiative = In 2020, consortium of seven biggest global green
hydrogen project developers launched Green Hydrogen Catapult Initiative to increase
production of green hydrogen 50-fold in the next six years + aims to cut cost of green
hydrogen to less than $2/kg, which is potential tipping point that will make it competitive in
multiple sectors including steel, power generation, shipping, etc.
 Draft Blue Economy policy = Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) + The policy document
aims to enhance contribution of the blue economy to India’s GDP, improve lives of coastal
communities,preserve marine biodiversity, maintain the national security of marine areas and
resources + It highlights blue economy as one of the ten core dimensions for national growth
+ National Placer Mission is envisaged to launch to explore workable placer deposits and
evolve a roadmap for their extraction + India will also take a lead in exploration of Cobalt
Rich Sea Mount Ferro Manganese Crust (SFMC) from Indian Ocean
 Earthquake Measurements: Magnitude vs Intensity = Magnitude measures the energy
released at the source of the earthquake. It is measured using Richter scale + Intensity
measures the strength of shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location + It is
measured using Mercalli Scale which is composed of increasing levels of intensity that range
from observable quake impacts from light shaking to catastrophic destruction. Intensity is
reported by Roman numerals from I to X with a progressive increase in shaking and damage,
highest being at X
 Oldest Water on Earth = 1.6 billion years old water discovered in 2009 from Kidd Creek
mine(Canada) on the 2.7-billion-year-old Canadian Shield using mass spectrometer in the
UK’s Oxford University + It will help in understanding the origin and evolution of Earth, the
nature of water and life, as well as the possibility of finding life on Mars + Canadian Shield
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is the closest analogue on Earth to the subsurface of Mars because it suffers the least from
plate tectonic activity
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 Indian Ocean Dipole = atmosphere-ocean coupled phenomenon in tropical Indian Ocean
(like the El Nino is in tropical Pacific), characterised by difference between the temperature
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of eastern (Bay of Bengal) and the western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea) temperatures + This
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temperature difference results into pressure difference which results in flowing of winds
between eastern and western parts of Indian Ocean + ‘Positive IOD’ or simply ‘IOD’ is
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associated with cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures in eastern equatorial Indian
Ocean and warmer than normal sea-surface temperatures in western tropical Indian Ocean +
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‘Negative IOD’ is characterised by warmer than normal SSTs in eastern equatorial Indian
Ocean and cooler than normal SSTs in western tropical Indian Ocean
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HEALTH: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
6.1) HEALTH – Disease in News
 Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (Sahana Disease) = contagious bacterial disease endemic to
Asia and Africa + infects animals that come in contact with contaminated food and water or
soil or through respiratory secretions + leads to severe pneumonia + 6 elephants died
Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha due to this
 Ebola Disease = viral disease + also known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever + transmitted
from animal to human through infected fruit bats, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or
porcupines or in the rainforest + transmitted from human to human via direct contact
(through broken skin, blood, secretions, organs or mucous membranes) + Symptoms include
impaired kidney and liver function, fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting and
diarrhoea + Diagnosis can be done through RT-PCR assay, ELISA assay, Antigen-capture
detection tests, Serum neutralization test, etc + Guinea has declared an Ebola outbreak for
the first time since 2016
 Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) = Japanese encephalitis virus is major cause of AES
in India (5%-35%) + Influenza A virus, West Nile virus, Chandipura virus, mumps, measles,
dengue, Nipah, Zika are the other causes + Widely reported areas - Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, UP + Recently detected in Bihar
 Influenza A(H5N8) Virus = 1st case detected in Russia + type of Avian Influenza + highly
contagious + lethal for birds + never reported in humans + affects several species of food-
producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild
birds
 Bird Flu = or Avian influenza + caused by avian flu Type A viruses + found naturally in
wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry as well as other bird and animal species +
Human infections happen when sufficient quantity of bird flu virus enters a person’s nose,
eyes or mouth, or through inhalation + Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A viruses -
Causes mild or no disease + Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A viruses - Causes
severe infection that leads to high mortality.
 Avian InfluenzaOutbreak = The two virus types identified so far in the outbreaks H5N1
and H5N8 come under the category of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is
of major concern to those keeping birds, because it leads to disease and death of fowl and
causes economic havoc + H5N1 is a known threat to humans as well+ Internationally, the
World Animal Health Information System in December 2020 identified outbreaks of HPAI in
Taiwan, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, a dozen European Union countries,
Ukraine, Russia and the U.K + Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease, affecting
a variety of birds, including those connected with human consumption- chickens, ducks,
turkeys, quails- as well as pet birds and wild birds + The World Organization for Animal
Health, which collaborates with the WHO and the FAO, says HPAI virus strains H5N1,
H5N2, H5N8. H7N8 have been identified in outbreaks, indicating active circulation +
Infection histories point to H5N1 and H7N9 viruses posing a threat to human health as well
 Adenovirus = AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, produced from harmless
adenovirus have low efficacy. On the other hand, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which are
produced from mRNAs have higher efficacy + Adenoviruses are common viruses that cause
a range of illnesses. They can cause cold-like symptoms, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia,
diarrhoea and pink eye(conjunctivitis) + Adenoviruses are non-enveloped, double-stranded
DNA viruses. They were first discovered in the human adenoid tissue in 1953 by Rowe and
his colleagues + Some subtypes in News are Ad26, Ad5 etc
 Candida Auris = The deadly fungal infection + It is a fungus that causes serious infections +
It was first discovered in 2009 in Japan but an analysis of the fungus revealed that it was
already identified in 1996 in South Korea found remote beaches of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands + can potentially bring next pandemic + became 'superbug' as it is able to resist main
anti-fungal treatments + spreads through contact with contaminated environmental surfaces
or equipment + Candida Auris is emerging as a global threat, having spread in at least 15
countries and claimed several hundred lives
 Diphtheria = Diphtheria is primarily caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae
+ It is mainly spread by coughs and sneezes, or through close contact with someone infected
+ Diphtheria particularly affects children aged 1 to 5 years + Diphtheria is a vaccine
preventable disease + The diphtheria vaccine is among the oldest vaccines in India’s
Universal Immunisation Programme. As per data from the National Family Health Survey-4,
the coverage of diphtheria vaccine is 78.4% + As per the WHO, India accounted for 60% of
all diphtheria cases globally in 2017 + Diphtheria has started to become resistant to several
classes of antibiotics
 Meningitis = Meningitis is a serious infection or inflammation of meninges, the three-
membrane thin lining that lie over the brain and spinal cord + It can be caused by a viral,
bacterial, or fungal infection, but bacterial cases are the most dangerous + Types of
meningitis and their causal agents are:
 Bacterial meningitis - Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes,
Haemophilusinfluenzae,Neisseria meningitides
 Viral meningitis - Herpes simplex virus and HIV
 Fungal meningitis - Cryptococcal meningitis is a fungal form
 Trachoma = Gambia has become second African state to eliminate Trachoma, after Ghana +
Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease and the leading infectious cause of blindness
worldwide + It is caused by repeated infection of the eye with the bacterium Chlamydia
trachomatis + It is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, and nose or
throat secretions of infected people + WHO has set a target for global elimination of
trachoma by 2030 + India eliminated trachoma in 2017
 Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) = India has become first country in the world
to identify need for action for NAFLD by integrating it with existing National Programme for
Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)
strategies + NAFLD refers to a group of conditions where there is accumulation of excess fat
in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol + It includes liver abnormalities like
nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and liver cancer + Once the disease develops,
there is no specific cure available + NPCDCS was launched in 2010 to prevent and control
major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), with focus on strengthening infrastructure,
human resource development, health promotion, early diagnosis, management and referral +
Tackling NAFLD is a step to tackling India’s burden of NCDs which contribute to around
60% of all deaths in India
 Diabetes and its types(in News):
 Type 1 diabetes: is an autoimmune disease + The immune system attacks and
destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this
attack + About 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type
 Type 2 diabetes: occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar
builds up in your blood + This is the most prevalent one
 Gestational diabetes: is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking
hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes
 Harlequin Ichthyosis = extremely rare genetic disorder + causes formation of thickened
skin over nearly the entire body at birth + caused due to due to mutations in ABCA 12 gene +
ABCA12 protein transports fats in cells which make outermost layer of skin + Symptoms -
The skin form large diamond-shaped plates across the body that are separated by deep cracks
(fissures) + Odisha reported its first-ever case of baby born with harlequin ichthyosis +
India’s first case was recorded in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 2016.
 Anaemia = Condition of having lower than normal number of red blood cells or quantity of
haemoglobin + It can make one feel tired, cold, dizzy, and irritable and short of breath,
among other symptoms + Common Causes: A diet which does not contain enough iron, folic
acid or vitamin B12 + Among women, iron deficiency prevalence is higher than men due to
menstrual iron losses and the high iron demands of a growing foetus during pregnancies +
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Indian women and children are overwhelmingly anaemic, according to the National Family
Health Survey 2019-20.
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Breakthrough Infection = These are infections that occur in people who have been
vaccinated. Such cases are not out of the ordinary as the vaccines that have been approved so
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far the world over are made to protect against disease and not the transmission of the virus
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 Rare diseases = disease that affects a small percentage of the population + Delhi High
Court has set up a special committee to find a time-bound solution on ways to provide
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treatment and therapy options to patients suffering from rare diseases + Most common rare
disease recorded in India are Haemophilia, Thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia and primary
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immuno deficiency in children + Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has
published a national policy for the treatment of 450 ‘rare diseases’
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 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) = The people who are most affected by these diseases
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are often the poorest populations, living in remote, rural areas, urban slums or conflict zones
+ Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections which are
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common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic
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worms (helminths) + India has joined the world to Light Up Qutub Minar as a sign of unity
to combat the Neglected Tropical Diseases + 2 ndannual World NTD Day will be marked on
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30th January
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6.2) HEALTH – Drugs & Strains in NEWS

 African Swine Fever Virus New Strain = Chinese scientists have found a natural mutation
in the African swine fever virus they say could be less deadly than the strain that ravaged the
world’s largest pig herd in 2018 and 2019 + at least two new strains of African swine fever
had been found on Chinese pig farms, which appeared to be man-made. The strains are
causing a chronic form of African swine fever that is impacting production on sow farms +
The new strain, called HuB20, had a partial deletion of the CD2v gene and an adjacent 8CR
gene. Earlier research in Russia has suggested that deleting the two genes could protect
against African swine fever.
 Heparin = It is blood thinner + It can induce a condition where the platelet number dips and
blood clots form. This is known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) + After
vaccination, the vaccinated person develops specific antibodies which can bind to the
platelets or thrombocytes and activate them to form clots which could eventually block the
blood vessel (thrombosis). Hence, Herapin is being used for CoVID patients, but it could
lead to HIT
 Banana Grit = Recently, scientists at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
(CSIR)-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) at
Pappanamcode in Kerala have come up with a new product, Banana Grit or Granules,
developed from raw Nendran bananas + Banana Grit and its byproduct can improve gut
health and is an ideal ingredient in a healthy diet. The concept was introduced to utilise the
presence of resistant starch in bananas + Starch is a white, granular, organic chemical that is
produced by all green plants.It is a soft, white, tasteless powder that is insoluble in cold
water, alcohol, or other solvents + (Nendran bananas = ChengazhikodanNendran Banana,
also known as Chengazhikode Banana, is among the most popular traditional fruits cultivated
in Thrissur district, Kerala + ChengalikodanNendran banana grown in Kerala got
Geographical indication (GI) Tag in 2014)
 JNCASR team develops potential drug candidate for Alzheimer’s = Researchers have
developed a small molecule that helps disrupt and reduce formation of amyloid plaques in the
brains of mice with Alzheimer’s Disease + Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive and
irreversible disorder of the brain + The Research group is planning to take this molecule
TGR63, which is a potential drug candidate for Alzheimer’s Disease, forward for clinical
studies
6.3) HEALTH – COVID-19 RELATED NEWS

 20H/501Y.V2 or B.1.351 = South African COVID-19 variant + carries a mutation called
N501Y + more contagious + less susceptible to antibody neutralisation + Mutations in
viruses are a natural part of evolution + happens when the virus makes a mistake while it is
making copies of itself
 Double-mutant Variant of Corona = also known as ‘B.1.617’ + with E484Q and L452R
mutations + Indian SARS-Cov-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) - a group of 10
national laboratories has been conducting genomic sequencing of variants in India + Such
mutations can result in immune escape and increased infectivity + now found in 8 countries
 Infectious Pathogen Detector (IPD) = An automated computational tool + developed earlier
by researchers at the Mumbai-based ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre, to identify the
presence of 1,060 different pathogens in any genome sequence sample and perform mutation
and phylogenetic analysis has become even more useful with the addition of a module for
SARS-CoV-2 virus + IPD tool has been already designed to perform analysis of diverse
genomic datasets, which came handy while analysing diverse data sets of SARS-CoV-2
genome + D614G, more recent spike glycoprotein mutations — N439K, S477Y, E484K, and
N501Y.
 Cycle Threshold value’ (CT value) = refers to number of cycles in RT-PCR tests after
which virus can be detected + In RT-PCR test, RNA is extracted from swab collected from
patient. It is then converted into DNA, which is then amplified + Amplification takes place
through series of cycles and after multiple cycles, detectable amount of virus is produced +
Ct value of less than 35 may be considered as Covid-positive while those with Ct value of
above 35 may be considered as Covid-negative + Although it is inversely correlated with
viral load, there is no correlation between Ct value and severity of disease or mortality + it
may differ between nasal and oropharyngeal specimens collected from same individual.
 PRINCIPLE Trial = PRINCIPLE is a nationwide clinical study from the University of
Oxford to find COVID-19 treatments for recovery at home + PRINCIPLE stands for
Platform Randomised trial of treatments in the community for edidemic and pandemic
illnesses
 1DaySooner = UK is set to conduct first COVID-19 human challenge trials (HCT) + Human
Challenge Trials is where Participants upon consent are deliberately exposed to the infection
– thus are “challenged” by the disease organism in order to “speed up” the process of
preparing a vaccine
 “Emergency Use Authorization” = Vaccines and medicines, and even diagnostic tests and
medical devices, require the approval of a regulatory authority before they can be
administered + In India, the regulatory authority is the Central Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO) + In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants EUA
only after it has been determined that the “known and potential benefits outweigh the known
and potential risks of the vaccine” (or medicine) + This means that a EUA application can be
considered only after sufficient efficacy data from phase 3 trials had been generated + A
EUA cannot be granted solely on the basis of data from phase 1 or phase 2 trials + Experts
and activists say India’s drug regulations do not have provisions for a EUA, and the process
for receiving one is not clearly defined or consistent + Despite this, CDSCO has been
granting emergency or restricted emergency approvals to Covid-19 drugs during this
pandemic for remdesivir and favipiravir
 BBV154 = Bharat Biotech’s single-dose intranasal vaccine for Covid-19 + Such vaccines not
only aim to overcome barriers to delivery and administration that come with producing and
distributing injectable vaccines, they also may be able to tap an additional set of immune
cells found in the tissues lining the nose, mouth and lungs + It cuts down on the need for
syringes, needles and other components like alcohol swabs, as they are not injected
 Serum Institute`s Covishield vs Bharat Biotech`s Covaxin = Drug Controller General of
India (DCGI) has formally approved Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech vaccines for
restricted emergency use against COVID-19 in India + Neither has completed the crucial
Phase-3 trial, under which a vaccine candidate is administered to volunteers at multiple
locations across the country + approval was based on a recommendation by a Subject Expert
Committee which deliberated for two days on granting approvals to the vaccines
 Covishield: developed by Oxford University in collaboration with Astrazeneca +
Pune-based Serum Institute of India is their manufacturing and trial partner + uses a
replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a
common cold virus
 Covaxin:developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of
Medical Research and National Institute of Virology+ India’s first indigenous vaccine
against Covid-19 + inactivated vaccine developed by inactivating (killing) the live
micro-organisims that cause the disease + destroys the ability of the pathogen to
replicate, but keeps it intact so that the immune system can still recognise it and
produce an immune response.
 ‘Algel-IMDG’ & ‘TLR7/8’ = Covaxin vaccine has been formulated with ‘Algel-IMDG’,
which contains chemically absorbed TLR7/8 as an agonist or an adjuvant onto aluminium
hydroxide gel to generate the requisite type of immune responses without damaging the body
+ Agonist is a substance that acts like another substance and therefore stimulates an action +
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), a Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) lab helped in the development of this key molecule for Covaxin, the
indigenous vaccine developed by the city-based Bharat Biotech International Limited
 HGCO19 = India's 'first of its kind' mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate-HGCO19 has
received additional government funding for its clinical studies + This funding has been
awarded under the 'Mission Covid Suraksha’ + The novel mRNA vaccine candidate,
HGCO19 has been developed by Pune-based biotechnology company Gennova
Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. in collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation, USA + Mission
Covid Suraksha is India’s targeted effort to enable the development of indigenous,
affordable and accessible vaccines for the country. It is led by the Department of
Biotechnology and implemented by a dedicated Mission Implementation Unit at
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
 DuroKea Series Technology = A team of researchers from IIT Hyderabad have developed
this technology amid COVID crisis and is the need of the hour. These products will also
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combat infections acquired from the hospital by acting as a long lasting surface disinfectant
and hand hygiene product
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Liquid Medical Oxygen = Liquid Medical Oxygen is high purity oxygen used for medical
treatment. It has been developed for use in the human body. Due to its low melting and
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boiling points, oxygen is in a gaseous state at room temperature. Liquification enables
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storage in larger volume and easier transportation

 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants = Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is a
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technology used to separate some gas species from a mixture of gases under pressure
according to the species' molecular characteristics and affinity for an adsorbent material +
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Recently it was news to improve concentrated oxygen availability in India

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6.4) HEALTH – General

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 Trans-fatty acids = Industrially produced trans-fatty acids are found in baked and fried
foods, pre-packaged snacks, cooking oils + They cost less than animal fats such as butter and
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increase the shelf life of foods and oils by lowering their oxidation potential + TFA is said to
increase risk of coronary heart disease + Globally increased TFA intakes is estimated to be
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responsible for more than 5,00,000 deaths per year + TFA increases level of LDL(bad)
cholesterol and decreases levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
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 Trans Fat = India would thus be achieving the WHO target a year in advance + In mid-
2016, the Trans Fat content limit was halved from 10% to 5%, and in December 2020, the
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Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) capped it to 3% by 2021.

 Silk-protein–based Tumour Models = Made by IIT Guwahati + An alternative to testing
cancer drugs using patient-derived cell lines or animal models, the research involves
fabrication of a bio-active composite of silk proteins from two species of silk moths and
building a scaffolding that provides a three-dimensional base for growing tumouroids +
Normally, cancer drugs are tested using patient-derived primary cancer cells, on
tumoursinduced in animal models or on genetically modified organisms. However, these
models are insufficient to reproduce the three-dimensional morphology and physiology of
human tumours and hence show inaccuracies in drug screening + The scientists mixed the
silk fibroins extracted from the cocoons of the domestic silk moth (Bombyx mori) and the
silk glands of the muga silk moth (Antheraea assama) in equal proportions and used them to
build up scaffolds on which they grew breast and liver tumour cell cultures
 Zolgensma Gene Therapy = 1 time injection that replaces defective gene with normal gene
and rectifies the disorder + In 2019, US FDA approved this therapy for children aged less
than two years + It is designed to target the genetic root cause of spinal muscular atrophy
(SMA) by replacing the function of the missing or nonworking SMN1 gene with a new,
working copy of a human SMN gene. ZOLGENSMA does not change or become a part of
the child's DNA
 Microbiome = refers to micro-organisms living inside humans and animals + There is a
balance of useful and harmful components, which If disturbed results in ill-health + A recent
study published in Journal of Experimental Biology finds that eating too much fat and sugar
as a child can alter one’s microbiome forever, even if the person later switches to healthy
food
 AEG12 Protein = strongly inhibits flaviviruses that cause yellow fever, dengue and Zika +
destabilises viral envelope & breaks its protective covering + AEG12 works by destabilising
the viral envelope, breaking its protective covering. It does not affect viruses that do not have
an envelope
 B Cells and T Cells = T cells (thymus cells) and B cells (bone marrow- or bursa-derived
cells) are the major cellular components of the adaptive immune response + T cells are
involved in cell-mediated immunity, whereas B cells are primarily responsible for humoral
immunity (relating to antibodies) + vaccines also generate memory – B and T-cells or
lymphocytes that recognise pathogen quickly on subsequent exposure and overwhelm
invaders with massive production of antibodies + Both B and T cells are structurally similar,
originate in bone marrow, are non-phagocytic and are part of lymphatic system
Differences B-Cells T-Cells
Maturity Bone marrow Thymus
Location Outside lymph node Inside lymph node
Attacks by Connects to surface of invading pathogen Connects only to outside of virus antigen
Life Span Short Long
Secretion Antibodies Lymphokines
Types Only one active type Helper and Killer Cell types
 Angiogenesis = Physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-
existing vessels, formed in the earlier stage of Vasculogenesis + It is a normal and vital
process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing and in the formation of
granulation tissue + However, it is also a fundamental step in the transition of tumours from a
benign state to a malignant one + Researchers are working to develop transgenic zebrafish
model by the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool to further study the compensatory
angiogenesis mechanism in the tumour microenvironment
 Culex Mosquito = or common house mosquitoes + breed in unclean stagnant water +
carriers of diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, West Nile Virus and Lymphatic filariasis +
bite by detecting body heat and carbon dioxide that humans exhale
 Malaria Elimination Certificate = El Salvador become 1st country in Central America to
get it from WHO + It is awarded when chain of indigenous transmission of disease has been
disrupted nationwide for at least 3 consecutive years + (Central America is a region of the
Americas. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean
Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south. Central America consists of
seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and
Panama) [Mark on MAP]
 Chimeric Research = Chimeras are organisms that are made up of cells of two distinct
species + Researchers believe that this ability to grow cells of 2 different species together
offers scientists powerful tool for research and medicine, advancing current understanding
about early human development, disease onset and progression and ageing + it could also
help in drug evaluation and address the critical need for organ transplantation.
POLITY: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
7.1) POLITY – ACTs in News
 Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act = It penalises, desecration of or insult to
national symbols, such as the National Flag, the Constitution, National Anthem, and Indian
map, contempt of the Constitution of India + Section 2 provides that whoever insults the
National Flag or the Indian Constitution shall be punished with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
 Information Technology Act, 2000 = governs all activities related to the use of computer
resources including all ‘intermediaries’ who play a role in the use of computer resources and
electronic records like providers of telecom service, network service, Internet service and
web hosting, besides search engines, online payment and auction sites, online markets and
cyber cafes and any person who, on behalf of another, “receives, stores or transmits” any
electronic record + Section 69 states that Central and State governments can issue directions
to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in
any computer resource
 The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics
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Code) Rules, 2021 = Rules 2021 has been framed by the Central Government in exercise of
powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technoloagy Act, 2000 and in supersession
of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011 + guidelines
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that seek to provide a grievance redressal mechanism for users of digital platforms of all
kinds — social media sites, messaging apps, over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, and
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digital news publishers
 Social media platforms like Google or Facebook, or intermediaries, for instance, will
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now have to appoint a grievance officer to deal with users’ complaints. Grievance Officer
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shall acknowledge the complaint within 24 hours and resolve it within 15 days from its
receipt + Rules prescribe due diligence that must be followed by social media
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intermediaries like retention of user information for a period of 180 days, reporting cyber
security incidents etc + In case, due diligence is not followed by the intermediary, safe
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harbour provisions will not apply to them + These safe harbour provisions have been
defined under Section 79 of the IT Act, and protect social media intermediaries by giving
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them immunity from legal prosecution for any content posted on their platforms + Rules
aims to Ensure Online Safety and Dignity of Users, especially Women
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Users(Intermediaries shall remove or disable access within 24 hours of receipt of

complaints) + Two Categories of Social Media Intermediaries i.e., social media
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intermediaries and significant social media intermediaries (SSMI) are defined (Additional
due diligence to be followed by SSMI) + Social media intermediary would have to
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“enable the identification of the first originator of the information on its computer
resource” as may be required by a judicial order + content which is prohibited under any
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law for the time being in force shall not be published or transmitted”, and the Programme
Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
 Significant Social Media Intermediary = (SSMI) means a social media intermediary
having number of registered users in India, above such threshold as notified by the
Central Government + an intermediary which primarily or solely enables online
interaction between two or more users and allows them to create, upload, share,
disseminate, modify or access information using its services + The threshold for SSMI
has been set at 50 lakh (5 million) registered users
 Guidelines for Digital Media and OTT Platforms: The guidelines also require
streaming services to classify content based on its nature and type(So, for instance,
content “for persons aged 16 years and above, and can be viewed by a person under the
age of 16 years with parental guidance shall be classified as U/A 16+) + Platforms would
be required to implement parental locks for content classified as U/A 13+ or higher +
Measures to be taken to improve accessibility of online curated content by persons with
disabilities + Three-level grievance redressal mechanism
o Level-I: Self-regulation by the publishers
o Level-II: Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the publishers
o Level-III: Oversight mechanism by I&B Ministry
 Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 = Regulated by the Ministry of
Finance + introduced to consolidate and amend the law relating to foreign exchange with the
objective of facilitating external trade and payments + However, Separate law the FCRA,
2010 has been enacted under the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor foreign funds donated
to NGO’s
 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) = Foreign funding of voluntary
organizations in India is regulated under the FCRA + It consolidates the law to regulate the
acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution by individuals or associations + (Please
Note: NITI Aayog has been appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose of registration and
accreditation of NGOs seeking funding from the Government of India + Aayog has been also
tasked with maintaining database systems to manage and disseminate information relating to
NGOs) + Recently, FCRA 2020 was introduced to amend FCRA,2010
 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 = New rules under FCRA 2020
have the following provisions in relation to regulation of NGO’s:
o Prohibition of transfer of funds from one NGO to another
o Decrease of administrative expenses through foreign funds from 50% to 20%
o Making Aadhaar mandatory for registration, while in case of a foreigner, they must
provide a copy of the passport or the Overseas Citizen of India
o Foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as
‘FCRA account’ in such branch of the State Bank of India, New Delhi
o Insertion of Rule 9 – which deals with obtaining registration or prior permission
 Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021 = Ministry of Corporate Affairs + by
amending the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014 + India became the first country to
legislate CSR activities under Companies Act 2013 + Every qualifying company requires
spending of at least 2% of its average net profit (Profit before taxes) for the immediately
preceding 3 financial years on CSR activities in India + Companies applicable to annual
turnover of 1,000 crore and more or net worth of Rs. 500 crore and more or net profit of Rs.
5 crore and more + CSR is also applicable to branch and project offices of a foreign company
in India + In 2019, amendments introduced, which require companies to deposit the unspent
CSR funds into a fund prescribed under the Act within the end of the fiscal year + Exclusion
from CSR activities: Activities undertaken in pursuance of normal course of business,
Activities undertaken outside India, Contribution to any political party, Activities benefitting
employees of the company, Activities supported by the company on sponsorship basis,
Activities carried out for fulfilment of any other statutory + Entities have to register itself
with the Central Government (Mandatory Registration) + Engagement of external
organizations for design of CSR projects has also been permitted
 Amendments to Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 = It will empower the District Magistrates
(DM) to issue adoption orders as well as monitor implementation of law; empower DMs and
additional DMs to monitor functioning of agencies responsible for implementing law;
District Child Protection Units will function under the DMs; before someone sets up shelter
home for children and sends their proposal for registration, DM will have to assess their
capacity and conduct a background check + DM could also independently evaluate
functioning of the Child Welfare Committee, Special Juvenile Protection Units and registered
childcare institutes.
 Flag Code of India, 2002 = It reads that the Flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form
whatsoever except in State / Military / Central Paramilitary Forces funerals hereinafter
provided + It also says that on the above occasions too, the flag shall be draped over the bier
or coffin with the saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin + It shall not be lowered into
the grave or burnt in the pyre + The flag can only be used during a funeral if it is accorded
the status of a state funeral. The state funerals are held when people from police and armed
forces or who are holding or have held office of President, Vice-President, Prime Minister,
Cabinet Minister, Chief Minister passes away.
 Places of Worship Act,1991 = was passed as a special law to freeze the status of places of
worship as they were on August 15, 1947 + The law kept the disputed structure at Ayodhya
out of its purview, mainly because it was the subject of prolonged litigation + The aim of the
Act was to freeze the status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947
 Insurance Amendment Act, 2021 = amends the Insurance Act, 1938 + It raises the foreign
direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector to 74% + from the existing 49%
 RTI Act, 2005 = It sets out rules and procedures regarding citizens’ right to information +
replaced former Freedom of Information Act, 2002 + to consolidate fundamental right of
‘freedom of speech’ under Article 19 + Section 4 requires suo motu disclosure of information
by each public authority + Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information
under RTI Act + Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under
Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served.
 Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 = These are mandatory and are not
advisories + Sellers cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds,
if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the
description on the platform + recently released under Consumer Protection Act, 2019
 Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 = Governs use of wired and wireless telegraphy, telephones,
teletype, radio communications and digital data communications + gives the Government of
India exclusive jurisdiction and privileges for establishing, maintaining, operating, licensing
and oversight of all forms of wired and wireless communications within Indian territory +
also authorizes government law enforcement agencies to monitor/intercept communications
and tap phone lines under defined conditions + Following violent protests, the Union Home
Ministry has issued orders to suspend Internet in some areas in Delhi under the Temporary
Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety Rules 2017) of the
Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals)
Rules, 2017 = The rules were framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
+ Recently, Supreme Court(SC) has asked the Centre to repeal these rules + It allowed
seizure and subsequent confiscation in ‘gaushalas’ of livestock from people, who depended
on these animals for a livelihood, even before they were found guilty of cruelty towards them
+ It allowed authorities to seize cattle on a mere suspicion that they suffered cruel treatment
at the hands of their owners or were being primed for slaughter + Because of this, a farmer, a
livestock owner or a cattle trader loses his animals before being found guilty of the charge of
cruelty.
 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 = Seeks to “prevent the infliction of
unnecessary pain or suffering on animals” + Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was
established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Act + provides for punishment for causing
unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals + In a petition by Buffalo Traders Welfare
Association, validity of the rules that allow authorities to seize vehicles used in cattle
transportation and send the animals to shelters was challenged and Centre has informed
Supreme Court about the 2017 rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960,
that there was a difference between seizure and confiscation of animals, while responding to
a petition
 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act (GNCTD) 2021 =
2021 Act amends GNCTD Act, 1991 + Centre stated that amendment brought to give effect
to the interpretation made by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Government of NCT of Delhi v.
Union of India (UoI) 2018 + Important Provisions are:
 The term “government” in any law made by the Legislative Assembly shall mean the
L-G
 L-G’s opinion shall be obtained before the government takes any executive action
based on decisions taken by the Cabinet or any individual minister
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 The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021 =
With this ordinance, Appellate authorities under nine laws have been replaced with High
Courts + Ordinance has amended the Finance Act 2017 to include provisions related to the
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composition of search-cum-selection committees, and term of office of members in the Act
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itself
 Nine Laws affected are: The Cinematograph Act, 1952; The Trade Marks Act, 1999; The
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Copyright Act, 1957; The Customs Act, 1962; The Patents Act, 1970; The Airports
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Authority of India Act, 1994; The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act,
2002; The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
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 Chairperson and Members of the Tribunals will be appointed by the central government
on the recommendation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee: Chief Justice of India, or
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a Supreme Court Judge; Secretaries nominated by the central government; sitting or

outgoing Chairperson, or a retired Supreme Court Judge, or a retired Chief Justice of a
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High Court; Secretary of the Ministry under which the Tribunal is constituted (with no
voting right)
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 Term of Office: The term of office for the Chairperson of the tribunals will be of four
years or till the attainment of the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier + For other
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members of the tribunals, the term will be of four years or till the age of sixty-seven
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years, whichever is earlier

 Regulatory Mechanism for Big tech Companies(like Google, Facebook) in India =
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 Information Technology Act, 2000 = Governs all activities related to the use of
computers resources and covers all intermediaries who play a role in the use of
computer resources and electronics records
 Section 79-II of the Information Technology Act, 2000, currently exempts online
intermediaries from liability for any third-party content shared on their platform
 Competition Commission of India (CCI) = Promote and sustain an enabling
competition culture through engagement and enforcement and determines whether a
tech entity has abused its dominant position.
 Enforcement Directorate (ED) = Look into FDI case in business to consumer (B2C)
enterprises
 Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession
(Amendment) Rules, 2021 = to amend the Minerals Concession Rules, 2016 + prepared by
Ministry of Mines + to terminate the iron ore leases of those mines that have, not started
production after lapse of 7-8 months of auction and not maintained minimum dispatch
quantity up to the level required under MCR for three consecutive quarters
 Provisions Regarding Internet Shutdown =
 Before 2017: Section 144 of CrPC (bars the assembly of five or more people in an
area) and Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 were used to handle Internet Shutdowns +
DM/SDM/ any executive magistrate empowered by state can order it + According to
Section 144: not more than 2 months &upto 6 months extension by state will be the
duration of it
 After 2017: Temporary suspension of Telecom services (Public Emergency and
Public Safety) Rules, 2017 Introduced: New rules by amending section 7 of the
Indian TelegraphAct1885+ Only the Home Secretory ofthe union or a state can pass
an order to be reviewed by a committee within 5 days under these rules + In
unavoidable circumstances the order can be issued by an officer of the rank of Joint
Secretary or above, authorised by the centre or the state Home Secretary + under
TemporarySuspensionof Telecom Services (Amendment) Rules, 2020 order
suspending telecom/internet services shall not be in operation for more than 15 days +
Please Note:Despite the 2017 rules, govt has also often used the broad powers under
section 144
 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 = sets out the statutory framework
for drug law enforcement in India + it prohibits the cultivation, production, manufacture,
possession, sale, purchase, transportation, warehousing, consumption, inter-State movement,
trans-shipment and import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances +
designed to fulfil India’s treaty obligations under Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs,
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and United Nations Convention Against Illicit
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
 Beggary Laws in India = There is no central Act on beggary, however, many States and
Union Territories have used certain sections of the Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act,
1959, as the basis for their own laws. The Act, 1959 criminalises begging + August 2018
verdict of the Delhi High Court which had decriminalised begging in the national capital and
said provisions of Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which treats begging as offence
cannot sustain constitutional scrutiny
 Anti-trust laws = Antitrust laws are those laws that prevents companies from working
together to control prices unfairly or to create a monopoly + India’s antitrust law, The
Competition Act, 2002, was fully constituted in 2009 replacing the Monopolistic and
Restrictive Trade Practices Act of 1969 + Competition Commission of India has been setup
under 2002 act to regulate anticompetitive activity in the country
 3 states, 3 anti-conversion laws = Recently, MP, UP and HP brought such laws into force +
A common feature of all three laws is declaration of such marriages as “null and void” and
the penalising of conversions done without the prior approval of the state
7.2) POLITY – Bills in News

 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Bill, 2020 = Bill proposes several
amendments, including the constitution of a medical Board in every State and Union
Territory, which will decide on pregnancies beyond 24 weeks in cases of foetal abnormalities
+ Each Board will have a gynaecologist, a radiologist or sonologist, a paediatrician, and other
members prescribed by the governments + “special categories of women” include rape
survivors, victims of incest, differently abled and minors + Requirement of opinion of
Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination up to 20 weeks of gestation and of 2
RMPs for termination of 20 to 24 weeks + Present law, permits only up to 20 weeks
 Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 = Will replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 + Aims to
make the ports world class and give the port authorities power to make their own decisions +
Aims to create Board of Major Port Authority, for each major port, which will replace
existing Port Trusts
 National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill, 2021 =
Bill seeks to set up NaBFID, a Development Financial Institution (DFI) to support the
development of long-term non-recourse infrastructure financing + NaBFID will be set up as a
corporate body with authorised share capital of 1 lakh crore rupees held by central
government, multilateral insurers, financial institutions, etc + Initially, central government
will own 100% shares of the institution which may subsequently be reduced up to 26% once
the institution has achieved stability and scale + NBFID may raise money in the form of
loans or otherwise both in Indian rupees and foreign currencies, or the issue of various
financial instruments including bonds and debentures + NBFID will be governed by a Board
of Directors and the Chairperson appointed by the central government in consultation with
RBI + central government will provide grants worth Rs 5,000 crore to NBFID by the end of
the first financial year
7.3) POLITY – Cases in News

 Prajjawala Case = In 2018, the Supreme Court (SC) in suo-moto writ petition observed that
Centre may frame necessary guidelines to eliminate child pornography, rape and gangrape
imageries, videos and sites in content hosting platforms and other applications + In October
2020, the SC had sought the Centre’s response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for
regulating Over-the-top (OTT) by an autonomous body + In November 2020 the Union
government brought OTT platforms and news and current affairs content on online platforms
under the ambit of the I&B ministry
 M. Nagraj Case, 2006 = In this case, validity of 77th and 85th amendments to the
Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged
+ Upholding the validity of Article 16 (4A), the court then said that it is an enabling
provision. State is not bound to make reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions. But, if
it seeks to do so, it must collect quantifiable data on three facets — the backwardness of the
class; the inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment; and the
general efficiency of service as mandated by Article 335 would not be affected + Also the
application of creamy layer principle to members of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
communities in promotions was also upheld
7.4) POLITY – Articles, Provisions and Concepts in News

 Article 85 = It requires that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two
sessions of Parliament + Constitution does not specify when or for how many days
Parliament should meet + The power to convene a session of Parliament rests with the
Government. The decision is taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs
which is formalised by the President, in whose name MPs are summoned to meet for a
session + India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. By convention (i.e. not
provided by the Constitution), Parliament meets for three sessions in a year
 Section 69, Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) Act = It gives power to authorities to
arrest any person if there is “reason to believe” that he has committed tax evasion + Delhi
High Court upheld its validity stating that Article 246A is “significantly wide” as it not only
empowers both Parliament and State Legislatures to levy or enact GST Act, but also grants
the power to make all laws with respect to GST”
 Section 124A of IPC = deals with sedition + law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas
Macaulay + but was inexplicably omitted when the IPC was enacted in 1860 + Section 124A
was inserted in 1870 by an amendment introduced by Sir James Stephen when it felt the need
+ first case was registered in 1891, when Jogendra Chandra Bose, editor of a newspaper
‘Bangobasi’ was booked for publishing an article criticising “Age of Consent Bill” + Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant, the Ali Brothers, Maulana Azad, Gandhi and very many
others suffered imprisonment under this law + Indian Penal Code defines sedition (Section
124A) as an offence committed when any person brings or attempts to bring into hatred or
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contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by
law in India(DO NOT cover the Constitution, the legislature and the judiciary) +
‘Disaffection’ includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity + It is a non-bailable offence +
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Punishment ranges from imprisonment up to 3 years to a life term, to which fine may be
added + A person charged under this law is barred from a government job + They have to
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live without their passport and must produce themselves in the court at all times as and when
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required + Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Vs State of Bihar (1962) upheld the law on the
basis that this power was required by the state to protect itself + In Balwant Singh v. State of
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Punjab (1995), Supreme Court had clarified that merely shouting slogans does not amount to
sedition + In its 39th Report (1968), the Law Commission had rejected the idea of repealing
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the section
 Adultery a crime = In Sept 2018, Supreme Court unanimously struck down Section 497 of
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the Indian Penal Code that makes adultery a punishable offence for men + Central
government requested Supreme Court to keep adultery a crime in the armed forces stating
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that Personnel of the Army, Navy and the Air Force were a “distinct class”. They are
governed by special legislation, the Army Act, the Navy Act and the Air Force Act + Under
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these laws, personnel can be cashiered from service on the grounds of unbecoming conduct
for committing adultery with a colleague’s wife + The matter has been referred to Chief
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Justice S A Bobde for setting up of a five-judge Constitution Bench which can clarify the
position
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 Pre-packs = It is an agreement for debt resolution of distressed company through agreement

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between secured creditors and investors instead of a public bidding process +government
may amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to introduce pre-packs as a
resolution mechanism + In India, such a system would require that financial creditors agree
on terms with potential investors and seek approval of the resolution plan from the National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) + process would be completed much faster than the
traditional Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) + In 2020, the government
formed a committee led by MS Sahoo, chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board
of India, to look into including pre-packs as a resolution mechanism under the IBC
 Pardoning powers of President = Article 72 + to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or
remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person
convicted of any offence + wider than the governor + it extends to punishment awarded by
Martial courts + shall be exercised on advice of advice of Council of Ministers + constitution
does not provide for any mechanism to question its legality + SC in Epuru Sudhakar case has
given small window for its judicial review for the purpose of ruling out any arbitrariness
 Pardon: completely absolves offender from all sentences and punishment and
disqualifications and places him in same position as if he had never committed
offence.
 Commutation: exchange of one thing for another i.e., to replace punishment with
less severe punishment, like for Rigorous imprisonment-simple imprisonment.
 Reprieve: temporary suspension of death sentence, like pending a proceeding for
pardon or commutation.
 Respite: awarding lesser punishment on some special grounds, like Pregnancy of
women offender.
 Remissions: reduction of amount of sentence without changing its character, like
sentence of 1 year may be remitted to 6 months
 Fugitive Economic Offender = A person can be named an offender under the law if there is
an arrest warrant against him or her for involvement in economic offences involving at least
Rs. 100 crore or more and has fled from India to escape legal action + investigating agencies
have to file an application in Special Court under Prevention of Money-Laundering Act
containing details of properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s
whereabouts + Special Court will issue a notice for person to appear at specified place and
date at least 6 weeks from issue of notice + Proceedings will be terminated if the person
appears. If not, person would be declared as Fugitive Economic Offender based on evidence
filed by the investigating agencies + Such proclamation can be challenged in High Court
within 30 days
 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP) = more than 90% of political parties are
unrecognised + Newly registered parties or which have not secured enough percentage of
votes in Assembly or General Elections to become State party or which have never contested
elections since being registered are considered unrecognised parties + DON’T enjoy all
benefits of recognised parties like exclusive allotted symbol, need of only 1 proposer for
filing nomination, 2 sets of electoral rolls free, get broadcast/ telecast facilities over
Akashvani/ Doordarshan and travel expenses of star campaigners are not to be accounted for
in expense accounts of candidates + Please Note: associations can also contest election
without getting registered with ECI. However, they will not be eligible for availing of
benefits under Representation of the People Act, 1951
 Registration of political parties = Governed by provisions of Section 29A, Representation
of the People Act, 1951 + party seeking registration has to submit application to Election
Commission within 30 days of its formation as per guidelines of EC under Article 324,
Commission of India and Section 29A, Representation of the People Act, 1951 + ECI
registers political parties and grants them national or state parties on the basis of their poll
performance + A recognised political party shall either be national party or a state party if it
meets certain laid down conditions + It shall be treated as a recognised political party in a
state, if such party has been engaged in political activity for a continuous period of five years
and at least 1 member to the Lok Sabha for every 25 members of the house or at least one
member to the Legislative Assembly of that state for every 30 members of that Assembly
 For being National Party = It secures at least 6% of the valid votes in 4 or more
states, at a general election or, in State Legislative Assembly + Also, it wins at least 4
seats in Lok Sabha from any State or States + It wins at least 2% seats in Lok Sabha
elected from at least 3 different States.
 For being State Party = It secures at least 6% of votes polled in State at general
election, or in Legislative Assembly of State + Also, it wins at least 2 seats in
Legislative Assembly of State + It wins at least 3% of total number of seats in
Legislative Assembly of State, or at least 3 seats in Assembly, whichever is more.
 Floor Test = Term used for the test of majority enjoyed by Govt. + if there are doubts
against chief minister, governor can ask him to prove his majority + In case of a coalition
govt, chief minister may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win majority + In
absence of clear majority, there is more than one individual staking claim to form
government, governor may call for special session to see who has majority to form
government
 Leader of Opposition (LOP) = leader of the largest party that has not less than one-tenth of
the total strength of the house + statutory post defined in Salaries and Allowances of Leaders
of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 + referred to as the ‘shadow Prime Minister’ as they
are expected to be ready to take over if the government falls
 Electoral Bonds = financial instrument for making donations to political parties + issued in
multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any
maximum limit + State Bank of India is authorised for this purpose + bonds are redeemable
in designated account of registered political party + Eligibility for purchase: by any person
who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India + available for ten days each
in January, April, July and October as may be specified by Central Government + could only
be brought with cheque or digital payments + given to political party for fixed period of time
+ political party using their notified bank account can convert these bonds into money + all
political party are required to notify their bank accounts to EC + bonds will be like bearer’s
cheque which will facilitate donor’s anonymity
 How the Terms of Reference (ToR) of Fifteenth FC were different from previous
commissions?
 Commission was asked to review the current finances of both state and central
government and recommend a fiscal consolidation roadmap for sound fiscal
management
 Commission was asked to evaluate the impact of the GST, including the need for
payment of compensation for possible loss of revenues for 5 years, and abolition of a
number of cesses
 Commission was asked to consider proposing of measurable performance-based
incentives for States, at the appropriate level of government in areas like deepening
of tax nets, population control, power sector reforms etc.
 Commission had to use the population data of 2011 while making its
recommendations (against 1971 population data)
 Other unique demands include analysing the possibility of creation of a non-lapsable
defense fund and reviewing the present arrangements on financing Disaster
Management initiatives.
 Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) = Partnership in which some or all partners have
limited liability + one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner’s misconduct or
negligence + body corporate and legal entity separate from its partners, perpetual succession
+ Corporate Affairs Ministry is planning to decriminalise 12 offences and omit provision
entailing criminal liability under Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act, 2008
 Judicial Appointments = Supreme Court urged the central government to set a fixed
timeline for clearing appointments of judges to apex court and high courts, after receiving the
recommendations of the collegium + For Supreme Court, collegium comprises Chief Justice
of India (CJI) and four other most senior Supreme Court judges + For High Court, collegium
comprises Chief Justice of India (CJI) and two other most senior Supreme Court judges + In
2015, it struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the
99th Constitutional Amendment, which sought to give the executive a say in the appointment
of judges
 Appointment of the CJI = The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court
(SC) are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution. As
far as the CJI is concerned, the outgoing CJI recommends his successor
 System of Judges appointment in India = Constitution under Article 124 states that, the
President shall make SC Judges appointments after consulting with the Chief Justice of India
(CJI) and other SC and HC judges as he considers necessary + While for HC judges
appointment, President (under Article 217) should consult the CJI, Governor, and Chief
Justice of the High Court concerned
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 Collegium system = It is a system where a committee of the Chief Justice of India, four
senior judges of the Supreme Court and three members of a high court (in case of
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appointments in the said high courts) take decisions related to appointments and transfer of
judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts
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 Ad-hoc judges in HCs = Article 224A allows the Chief Justice of a High Court to allow a
retired judge of any High Court to sit and act as the judge of the High Court for that State +
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Previous consent of the President is necessary + The acting retired judge would be entitled to
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such allowances as the President may by order determine and have all the jurisdiction,
powers and privileges of, but shall not otherwise be deemed to be, a Judge of that High Court
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+ This Article was not part of the Constitution of India, 1950. It was inserted by the
Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963
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 Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) = Recently, NITI Aayog has planned to launch a new
first-of-its-kind Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) handbook in India + ODR is the resolution
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of disputes outside courts, particularly of small and medium value cases, using digital
technology and techniques of alternate dispute resolution (ADR), such as negotiation,
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mediation, and arbitration

 Copyright regime in India = In India, the copyright regime is governed by the Copyright
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Act, 1957 and the Copyright Rules, 2013 + Recently, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry
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has notified Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 + A Copyright is a form of intellectual

property protection granted under the Indian law to the creators of original works of
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authorship such as Literary works, Dramatic, musical and artistic works, Cinematographic
films and sound recordings
 Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute = Civil court in Uttar Pradesh asked Archaeological Survey of
India to conduct survey at Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi to determine whether it was built
over Kashi Vishwanath temple + difference between this dispute and Babri Masjid dispute is
related to Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 + This Act excluded Babri
Masjid dispute from its ambit.
 National Population Register (NPR) = database containing a list of all usual residents of
the country + A usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place
for six months or more, and intends to reside there for another six months or more + NPR
was first collected in 2010 and then updated in 2015 + It is generated through house-to-house
enumeration during the “house-listing” phase of the census, which is held once in 10 years +
NPR is being prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 + It is mandatory
for every “usual resident of India” to register in the NPR + Unlike the NRC, the National
Population Register will not only include citizens but also foreigners as it would record even
a foreigner staying in a locality for more than six months. The NPR database would contain
demographic as well as biometric details
 National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) = compulsory for every citizen of country to
register in National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) as per Section 14A of Citizenship Act
1955 as amended in 2004 + As per Rule 3 of Citizenship Rules 2003 framed under the
Citizenship Act, 1955, the Registrar General of Citizen Registration shall establish and
maintain National Register of Indian Citizens and prepare Population Register.
 Uniform Civil Code (UCC) = UCC refers to a single law, applicable to all citizens of India
in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, custody, adoption and inheritance + A
UCC is intended to replace the system of fragmented personal laws + Article 44 of the
Constitution lays down that the ‘State shall endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the
citizens’+ Goa is, at present, the only state in India with a uniform civil code as Portuguese
Civil Code of 1867 continues to be implemented after India annexed Goa in 1961, applies to
all Goans, irrespective of their religious or ethnic community
 OBC Reservation = Supreme Court ruled that reservation for Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) is only ‘statutory’, unlike ‘constitutional’ one for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes + if reservation for SCs and STs were to consume entire 50% of seats of
SCs/STs/OBCs in concerned local bodies, question of providing further reservation to OBCs
would not arise + quantum of reservation for OBCs ought to be local body specific
 Overseas citizen of India (OCI) cards changes = Currently, OCI card is required to be re-
issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50
years of age, in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant + This has been
dispensed with and now OCI card has to be reissued only once when a new passport is issued
after his/her completing 20 years of age For others reissuance is not required + OCI is a
person registered as OCI cardholder under section 7A of Citizenship Act,1955 + Eligibility:
A foreign national who was eligible to be citizen of India on 26th January, 1950 is a child or
a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen is a spouse of citizen of India or of an
OCI Cardholder with certain conditions etc + Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh or other
country notified by Central Government are not eligible
 Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) = Launched in 2019 by Nagaland
+ to prevent outsiders from obtaining fake indigenous certificates for seeking jobs and
benefits of government schemes + It will be the master list of all indigenous inhabitants of
state + It is being prepared in lines with National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam
 Greater Tipraland= ‘Greater Tipraland’ is essentially an extension of the ruling tribal
partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura – IPFT’s demand of Tipraland, which sought a
separate state for tribals of Tripura + it seeks to include every tribal person living in
indigenous area or village outside Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council
(TTAADC) under proposed model + it will spread across Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and
bordering areas of neighbouring Bangladesh
 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups = total 75 in India + highest number is in Odisha
(13) + All the 4 tribal groups in Andaman, and 1 in Nicobar Islands, are PVTGs + Largest
population: Saharia people of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan + Smallest population:
Sentineles + Characteristics of PVTGs:
 PVTGs have declining or stagnant population,
 Low level of literacy,
 Pre-agricultural level of technology,
 Economically backward,
 Generally, inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative
support.
 Critical Infrastructure (CI) = CI describes the physical and cyber systems and assets that
are so vital to a country that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact
on national security and the economic and social welfare of a state + Chemicals, Dams,
emergency services, Power & Energy, Banking & financial services, government facilities,
healthcare, information technology, transportation, nuclear reactors etc. are considered parts
of CI of a country + CIIs, as defined by the Information Technology Act of 2000, are vital
computer resources that, if incapacitated or destroyed, will leave a debilitating impact on
national security, economy, public health or safety across both public and private sectors+
Steps for Critical Infrastructure protection in India:
 National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): In
2014, India established the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection
Centre (NCIIPC) to regulate and protect the nation’s Critical Information
Infrastructures (CIIs) + created under Sec 70A of the Information Technology Act,
2000 + National Nodal Agency in respect of Critical Information Infrastructure
Protection
 Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): National nodal agency
for responding to computer security incidents + CERT-In is an office within the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India + It
is the nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing
 National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC): under National Security Council
Secretariat coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security
matters
 National Cyber CoordinationCentre: to generate necessary situational awareness of
cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing for proactive, preventive
and protective actions
 Cyber Swachhta Kendra: Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre has been
launched for detection of malicious programs and provide free tools to remove the
same + part of the Government of India's Digital India initiative under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
 Other Initiatives: A new Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs for Cyber and
Information Security + Guidelines have been issued for Chief Information Security
Officers (CISOs) regarding their key roles and responsibilities for securing
applications / infrastructure and compliance
7.5) POLITY – Bodies in News

 Exim Bank of India = established under Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981 + apex
financial institution for financing, facilitating and promoting India's international trade +
Bank primarily lends for exports from India including supporting overseas buyers and Indian
suppliers + It is regulated by RBI
 Institutional Body for Bond Market = Government has proposed the establishment of a
permanent institutional body + It will purchase investment-grade debt securities both in
stressed and normal times. Thus, it will help in the development of the bond market + This
would bring confidence among participants in the corporate bond market during times of
stress and will improve the secondary market liquidity
 Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority = set up under Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) + statutory body under Companies Act, 2013 + aims to administer Investor
Education and Protection Fund to promote Investor’s Education, Awareness and Protection +
Its various initiatives: Investor Awareness Programmes Print, Electronic, Social Media, and
Community Radio etc. + Secretary of MCA is Chairperson of the Authority and Joint
Secretary is CEO + amounts such as dividends, applications money, matured deposits etc,
which have remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of 7 years are required to be
transferred to the IEPF + The Amounts credited to IEPF are maintained under the
Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266 of the Constitution)
 Bank Ombudsman (BO) = quasi-judicial authority which is an Alternate Dispute Redressal
mechanism for resolution of disputes between a bank and its customers + RBI in 1995
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introduced the BO scheme under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 + It is
fully funded by the RBI and virtually covers all banking transactions + It covers grievances
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of the customers against Commercial Banks, Scheduled Primary Cooperative Banks and
Regional Rural Banks + One can file a complaint before the BO if the bank rejects the
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complaint or the satisfactory reply is not received from the bank within a period of one
month
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 National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) = Minister for Commerce & Industry has
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chaired the first meeting of NSAC + It was set up by the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to advise the government on measures needed to build a
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strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country + Members (both ex-
officio and non-official) are nominated by the central government + Members include
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concerned Ministries/Department, and founders of successful startups etc+Central

Government has decided to nominate the non-official members on the National Startup
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Advisory Council, which would represent various stakeholders such as founders of startups,
veterans who have scaled companies in India, persons representing investors into startups,
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etc., for 2 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier

 Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) = Established under the Trade Marks Act of
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1999, its jurisdiction was later extended to hear patent cases after the Patents (Amendment)
Act of 2002 + Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) established in 2003 + It aimed to
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specifically deal with matters of intellectual property including copyright, trademarks,

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patents, and geographical indications + However, the IPAB stands abolished after the
passage of Tribunal reforms (Rationalisation and condition service) ordinance 2021
 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) = National Standard Body of India working under the
aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution + established by the
Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 + responsible for the harmonious development of the
activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto
 Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) = It is the national regulatory
body for Indian pharmaceuticals & medical devices under Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare + responsible for approval of New Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down
the standards for Drugs
 Drug Controller General of India(DCGI) = head of Central Drugs Standard Control
Organization (CDSCO),under Ministry of Health + responsible for approval of licences of
specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera
in India
 Stop TB Partnership Board = It was established in 2001 and is mandated to eliminate
Tuberculosis as a public health problem + Recently, Union Health Minister for Health and
Family Welfare has been appointed as Chairmanof this board for 3-year term + international
body with mandate to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) as public health problem + Secretariat -
Geneva, Switzerland + It launched Global Plan to End TB 2018-2022 + It is independent of
WHO + The Kochon Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals or
organizations that have made a significant contribution to combating TB
 Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) = Launched by Government with
aim to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a
multi-laboratory network + INSACOG is coordinated by Department of Biotechnology
(DBT) along with MoH&FW, ICMR, and CSIR + It comprises 10 labs namely DBT-
NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-
CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS
Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi + Recently, Genome sequencing of a section
of virus samples by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG),
revealed the presence of two mutations, E484Q and L452R together, in virus samples from
states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat
 National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) = It was established by
an order of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2001 + It is an advisory
committee consisting of multidisciplinary groups of experts + As India’s apex advisory body
on immunization, the NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the MoHFW on provision of
vaccination and immunization services for the effective control of vaccine preventable
diseases in the country + The overall objective of the NTAGI is to provide advice to the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the strategies to control the burden and
appropriately evaluate the impact of immunization on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs)
in the country + NTAGI is chaired by the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare (H & FW),
Ministry of Health
 National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) = It was
set up in August 2020 under the chairmanship of Niti Aayog member VK Paul, to
conceptualise a strategy for coronavirus vaccine delivery in India + NEGVAC constituted by
the government is providing guidance on prioritisation of population groups, procurement
and inventory management, vaccine selection and vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism
+ NEGVAC in consultation with State Governments and all relevant stakeholders have
prepared and presented a detailed blueprint of vaccine storage, distribution, and
administration
 Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) = Statutory + multi-disciplinary body established
under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 + to combat organized wildlife
crime in the country
 National Water Development Agency (NWDA) = set up in 1982 as Autonomous Society
under the society’s registration act 1860 + It functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti +
Functions
 Manage the 3 components of National River Linking Project (NRLP).
 Completion of water resources projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
(PMKSY)
 Act as a repository of borrowed fund or loan from Banks/ other institutions for the
execution of projects
 State Election Commission (SEC) = Constitution of India vests in State Election
Commission, superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for,
and conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities (Articles 243K, 243ZA)
+ State Election Commissioner is appointed by Governor under Article 243(C3) +SEC
enjoys has the status, salary and allowance of a Judge of a High Court and cannot be
removed from office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High
Court + In Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad, Supreme Court
directed that state governments should abide by orders of SECs during the conduct of the
panchayat and municipal elections + Andhra Pradesh Recently High Court striked down
SEC order that Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Minister be confined to his residence, to
prevent him from vitiating process of gram panchayat elections
 National Safety Council = Set up by Ministry of Labour in 1966 + to generate, develop and
sustain a voluntary movement on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level
 Skill Development Centre (SDC) for Fire Safety Training = Pilkhuwa, Uttar Pradesh +
created by the Delhi-based DRDO laboratory Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment
Safety (CFEES) + for developing trained human resources, fire safety technology and
products to save precious human lives and valued assets
 Modernisation Fund for Defence and Internal Security (MFDIS) = Union Government
may constitute in the Public Account of India, a dedicated non-lapsable fund + It was
recommended by 15th Finance Commission + This will help in military modernization
 National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) = Headed by the National Security Advisor
(NSA) + set up by the government following the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests + It operates
within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India, liaising between the government’s
executive branch and the intelligence services
 Various Intelligence agenciesin India=
 IB = Created in 1887 + reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs + responsible for
India’s domestic intelligence, internal security, and counter-intelligence.
 Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) = Country’s foreign intelligence agency
formed in 1968+ comes under the direct command of the prime minister + R&AW is
a wing of the Cabinet Secretariat.
 National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) = Established in 2004 +
technical intelligence agency of the Government of India + NTRO comes under the
National Security Advisor and is part of the Prime Minister’s Office.
 Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)=Tasked with anti-smuggling
intelligence + set up in 1957 + falls under the Ministry of Finance + The “norms of
conduct” of the IB, R&AW and NTRO are governed by the Intelligence
Organisations (Restrictions of Rights) Act, 1985
 Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) = objective is to ensure that data quality is uncompromised
and free from flaws + launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs + Straight-through
processing is a method used by financial companies to speed up financial transactions by
processing without manual intervention + It will primarily scrutinize the filings made by
users under straight through processes (STP), identify data quality issues and irregularities
etc + Straight-through processing is a method used by financial companies to speed up
financial transactions by processing without manual intervention.
 Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence = established by National Informatics
Center + for innovative new solutions in AI space, a gateway to test and develop solutions
for projects undertaken at central and state level
 Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) = set up by Ministry of Communications + Nodal agency to
deal with unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and financial fraud related
complaints, especially in the digital space + to coordinate with various Law Enforcement
Agencies, Financial Institutions & Telecom Service Providers to investigate any fraudulent
activity involving telecom resources
 Civil Defence Volunteers = also known as Delhi Civil Defence (DCD) volunteers + work
under the command of the district magistrates + overall command lies with the divisional
commissioner, to which the DMs report + governed by the Civil Defence Act, 1968 + During
pandemic, they assumed role of frontline workers by way of participating in screening
hotspots and distributing food for needy. In recent months, they have also been deployed to
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ensure social distancing in markets and other crowded places and also at vaccination sites
 Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) = It has been established under the
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Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) to act as a nodal point at National level in the fight against
cybercrime + set up in 2018 @ New Delhi + Various States and Union Territories have given
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their consent to set up Regional Cyber Crime Coordination Centres
 National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation(NATMO) = subordinate department
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under Department of Science & Technology + Hq: Kolkata + sole national agency with the
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responsibility to depict national framework data in the form of thematic maps and atlases to
cater the various needs of different sectors
 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) = AHIDF has been set
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up with an outlay of ₹15,000 crore. As per the provisions of AHIDF, a project will be eligible
for a loan amount that covers up to 90% of the estimated cost – with an interest subvention of
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3% for all eligible entities. Applicants can submit the proposal with a complete Detailed
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Project Report through the Udyami Mitra Portal + major fund launched by the government
that includes a diverse set of stakeholders such as FPOs, private dairy players, individual
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entrepreneurs, and non-profits within its ambit

 Sagar-Manthan: Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Centre = India has launched the
“Real-time Vessel Tracking System” in order to help the seafarers and fishermen as and
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when they need. This system has been named as “Sagar-Manthan: Mercantile Marine
Domain Awareness Centre (MMDAC)”
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 Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) =

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chaired by the government’s Principal Scientific Advisor +Council acts as a coordinator

between several Ministries to work on projects and missions + scheduled to meet once a
month + 21-member advisory panel(9 members and 12 invitees) + headed by Principal
Scientific Advisor to the government of India + It replaced earlier Scientific Advisory
Committee to Prime Minister and to Cabinet
 Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) = statutory body under Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting + established in 1983, under Cinematograph Act, 1952 + to
hear appeals filed under Section 5C of the Cinematograph Act, by applicants for certification
aggrieved by the decision of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) + Hq in New Delhi
+ Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation And Conditions Of Service) Ordinance, 2021 (came
into effect on April 4) abolished it and now all such matters will be heard by “High Court”
 Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers = non-profit organization,functioning
under NIXI + previously known as National Internet Registry (NIR) + provides allocation
and registration services of IP addresses and Autonomous System (AS) numbers, and
internet-related information to its Affiliates at national level + NIR is an entity under the
Regional Internet Registry (RIR) which is Asia Pacific Network Information centre (APNIC)
+ NIXI was recognized by APNIC in 2012 to become the NIR for India.
 National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) = not for profit Organization under Section 8
of the Companies Act, 2013 and was registered in 2003 + for peering of Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) among themselves to route the domestic traffic within the country, instead
of taking it all the way to US/Abroad + will offer free Internationalized Domain Name (IDN)
in 22 official Indian languages along with every IN domain (India’s Country Code Top Level
domain) booked by the registrant
 Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development
(MGIEP) = UNESCO's category 1 Research Institute + established by UNESCO in
cooperation with the Government of India in 2012 + support member governments, provide
advocacy, commission research and enhance capacity buildingfor Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) and Peace Education + Both MGIEP and UNESCO will play a major
role in the implementation of the National Educational Policy -2020
 Spices Board = Body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry + Constituted in
1987 under the Spices Board Act, 1986 by merging the Cardamom Board and the Spices
Export Promotion Council + autonomous body responsible for the promotion of the 52
scheduled spices and the development of small and large cardamom
7.6) POLITY – POLICIES and Codes in News

 Single Security Market Code = Government has announced the setting up of a Single
Security Market Code + It will consolidate the provisions of SEBI Act,1992, Depositories
Act, 1996, Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act,1956, and Government Securities Act,2007
+ This move will improve the ease of doing business in the country’s financial markets
 ‘Sustainable Development of Little Andaman Island - Vision Document’ = NITI Aayog’s
proposal to leverage the strategic location and natural features of the island + The proposal is
pivoted along three development anchors and zones + Zone 1 — spread over 102 sq km
along the east coast of Little Andaman — will be the financial district and medi city and will
include an aerocity, and a tourism and hospital district + Spread over 85 sq km of pristine
forest, Zone 2, the leisure zone, will have a film city, a residential district and a tourism SEZ
 Guidelines for Geo-spatial Sector = released by Ministry of Science and Technology +
deregulates existing protocol and liberalises the sector to a more competitive field + Under
current policy regime, there are strict restrictions on collection, storage, use, sale,
dissemination of geo-spatial data and mapping + deregulation would eliminate the
requirement of permissions as well as scrutiny, even for security concerns + Geospatial data
is data about objects, events, or phenomena that have a location on the surface of the earth +
It involves information of public interest such as roads, localities, rail lines, water bodies, and
public amenities.
 Geospatial data policy liberalised= by Ministry of Science and Technology + deregulates
existing protocol and liberalises sector to more competitive field + easing of norms + boost
innovation in sector and create level playing field for public and private entities +
deregulation eliminates requirement of permissions as well as scrutiny, even for security
concerns + Geospatial data is data about objects, events, or phenomena that have a location
on earth surface
 Draft National Science Technology and Innovation Policy = Recently, the draft of 5th
National Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) was released by the Department
of Science and Technology (DST) + This Policy will replace the Science Technology and
Innovation Policy, 2013 + It envisions centralised database platform National STI
Observatory to provide access to scientific data, information to everyone in the country (One
Nation, One Subscription) + Higher Education Research Centres (HERC) and Collaborative
Research Centres (CRC) will be established to provide research inputs to policymakers + STI
unit will be set up in each department/ ministry in the central, the state and the local
governments, public sector enterprises, private sector companies and startups with a
minimum earmarked budget to pursue STI activities + Advanced Missions in Innovative
Research Ecosystem (ADMIRE) initiative for creating hybrid funding models to support
distributed and localised collaborative mission-oriented projects + STI Development Bank
will be set up to facilitate a corpus fund for investing in direct long term investments in select
strategic areas + Research and Innovation Excellence Frameworks (RIEF) will be developed
to reorient research culture to recognize social impacts along with academic achievements +
Advanced tools based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be used for
curation, preservation and maintenance of heritage knowledge + The policy will promote
technology self-reliance and indigenization + Technology Support Framework will be
created for facilitating International engagements to gain essential know-how towards
creation and development of indigenous technologies + Strategic Technology Board (STB)
and Strategic Technology Development Fund (STDF) will be constituted for collaboration
and funding + An India-centric Equity & Inclusion (E&I) charter will be developed for
tackling all forms of discrimination, exclusions and inequalities in STI + Science Media
Centres will be established at national and regional levels to connect scientists with media
persons and science communicators [FOCUS ON Underline Words for the Exam] Evolution
of Science and Technology Policies in India:
 Scientific Policy Resolution (SPR 1958): 1st such policy
 Technology Policy Statement 1983 (TPS 1983) = Led to the establishment of
Technology Development Fund and Technology, Information Forecasting and
Assessment Council (TIFAC)
 Science and Technology Policy 2003 (STP 2003) = Aim at increasing investment to
2% of the GDP in R&D sector
 Science Technology Innovation Policy 2013 (STIP 2013) = Aimed at promoting a
science and technology -led innovation ecosystem. Resulted in India’s increased
participation in global mega science initiatives such as LIGO, Large Hardon Collider
(LHC-CERN), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) etc.
 Iron-ore Policy 2021 = approved byMinistry of Railways + governs the allocation of rakes
and transportation of iron-ore + provisions will be updated in the rake allotment system
module by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) + scrutiny of documentation
by Railways has been removed + Executive Director Rake Movement of Railway Board
(EDRM) office, Kolkata will have no regulatory role in the new policybut will be
undertaking an analysis of various iron-ore traffic for further improvement of Railway freight
loading.
 New Commercial Coal Mining Regime = Commercial mining allows the private sector to
mine coal commercially without placing any end-use restrictions. The private firms have the
option of either gasification of the coal or exporting it. They can also use it in their own end-
use plants or sell them in the market + Now, No previous mining experience is required for
participating in bidding + 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic rule is
allowed for coal mining + The revenue sharing will be on an ad valorem (the value of the
transaction) basis and not on the basis of afixed amount + The present bidding terms also
allow other minerals to be extracted from these blocks + The Ministry of coal will help the
private sector in getting statutory approvals like environment and otherapprovals
 Digital Payment Security Controls Directions = Reserve Bank of India directions, 2021
has been published to strengthen India's digital payments architecture + Applicable to
Regulated Entities (REs) scheduled commercial banks, small finance banks, payment banks
and credit card-issuing NBFCs + It is also applicable to third-party payment applications,
payment operators and gateways
 National Strategy on Blockchain = Ministry of Electronics and Information and
Technology (MeitY) + A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions (DLT) that
is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain
+ Blockchain is a specific type of DLT in which blocks are linearly connected to each
other(This may not be the case in other types of DLT). Thus, all blockchains are DLT;
however, all DLT platforms are not blockchains + Copy of each transaction along with its
hash is stored in the ledger shared across all participants of the network + Blockchains create
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trust by acting as a shared database + Blockchain can be used in Permissioned and
Permission less models + Salient properties of the Blockchain technology are user
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anonymity, cryptography based security, immutability (i.e., an entry cannot be changed
without recreating it), shared read & write, accountability, transparency and distributed
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ownership + Blockchain was first introduced in the design and development of
cryptocurrency, Bitcoin in 2009 allegedly by a Japanese entrepreneur named Satoshi
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Nakamoto + Potential Blockchain application can be Transfer of land records, Digital

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certificate management, supply chain, farm insurance etc + Global Efforts for Blockchain
Technology use are:
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 European Blockchain Partnership (EBP): aims to use blockchain and distributed

ledger technologies and develop a trusted, secure and resilient European Blockchain
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Services Infrastructure (EBSI)

 Keyless Signature Infrastructure (KSI): Blockchain technology designed in Estonia to
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prove the authenticity of the electronic data (records) mathematically.

 “Smart Dubai” Initiative: UAE aims to become the “first city fully powered by
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Blockchain by 2021,” and enhance everything from health care, education etc.
 Efforts in India: MeitY has supported a multi-institutional project titled Distributed
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Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology

 Humans in Space Policy for India -2021= Released by Department of Space + The
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guidelines are applicable to activities presently postulated under Indian human space
program (IHSP) and for those activities which shall be defined and carried out in future in
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conjunction with IHSP + It envisages undertaking demonstration of human spaceflight to

LEO (low-earth orbit) in the short-term and lay the foundation for a sustained exploration in
the long run that will enable presence in LEO and beyond + (Do You KNOW: Department of
Space comes under which Ministry?)
 National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 = notified by Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare + it offers financial support for one-time treatment of up to ₹20 lakh, introduces a
crowdfunding mechanism, creates a registry of rare diseases, and provides for early detection
+ Rare diseases are broadly defined as diseases that infrequently occur in a population, and
three markers are used — the total number of people with the disease, its prevalence, and the
availability/non-availability of treatment options + WHO defines rare disease as having a
frequency of less than 6.5-10 per 10,000 people + As per an estimate, there are 7,000 known
rare diseases with an estimated 300 million patients in the world; 70 million are in India +
According to the Organization for Rare Diseases India, these include inherited cancers,
autoimmune disorders, congenital malformations, Hirschsprung’s disease, Gaucher disease,
cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophies and Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) + Policy has
done 3 categories + Those who are suffering under Group 1 will have the financial support of
up to Rs. 20 lakh under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi + Groups under the
Policy are:
 Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment.
 Group 2: Those requiring long term or lifelong treatment.
 Group 3: Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to
make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost and lifelong therapy
 National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016–2030 = was launched in line
with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016– 2030 (GTS) + The goals of
NFME are: Eliminate malaria (zero indigenous cases) throughout the entire country by 2030;
and Maintain malaria–free status in areas where malaria transmission has been interrupted
and0to prevent re-introduction of malaria
 National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (2017-25) = approved by Union Ministry
for Health and Family Welfare in 2017 + goal of Ending TB by 2025
 High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Strategy = catalyzed in 2018 by WHO and the RBM
Partnership to End Malaria + has been initiated in four high endemic states i.e., West Bengal,
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in July 2019
 Draft Arctic Policyof India =It has 5 pillars:Science and research activities,Economic and
human development cooperation,Transportation and connectivity,Governance and
international cooperation, andNational capacity building + Aims to better understand the
scientific and climate-related linkages between the Arctic and the Indian monsoons;To
harmonise polar research with the third pole (the Himalayas); To advance the study and
understanding of the Arctic within India + India already has a research station in the Arctic,
Himadri, for the research work + Also, India has an ‘Observer’ status in the Arctic Council,
an intergovernmental forum established by the eight Arctic States through the Ottawa
Declaration of 1996
 M-sand Policy = ofRajasthan government + it would be a “game changer” for the
construction industry + M-sand is produced after crushing hard granite stones and rocks
extracted from quarries + It would give industry status to the units producing it for
construction work + It would reduce the dependence on natural bajri (riverbed sand) + It will
enable investors to set up M-sand units by utilising the incentives and facilities offered by the
State government.
 National Strategy on Additive manufacturing (AM) = Released by Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MEITY) + Strategy aims to promote various verticals of the
AM sector, including machines, materials, software etc. + Its objectives include: Ensure
creation of a sustainable ecosystem for the AM industry to compete globally, Position India
as a global Innovation and Research hub for Additive Manufacturing and Promote creation of
Indian IPR + Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is defined as the technology that
constructs a three-dimensional object from a digital 3D model or a Computer-aided design
(CAD) model by adding material layer by layer
7.7) POLITY – Summits/Conferences in News
 Aero India 2021 = Biennial international military and civil air show + provides an
opportunity for the exchange of information, ideas and new developments in the aviation
industry + It gives a fillip to the domestic aviation industry furthering the cause of Make in
India + Every year since 1996, Yelahanka air base, Bengaluru, has been hosting it in
February + organised by Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence
 Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) = flagship geo-economics conference of Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) + jointly convened by MEA and Pune International Centre (PIC) +
focuses on trade and finance dynamics in Asia and its extended neighbourhood + Theme:
“Post Covid-19 Global Trade and Finance Dynamics”
 World Immunisation& Logistics Summit 2021 = Recently, the Union Minister for Health
and Family Welfare of India digitally participated in the twoday virtual Summit, hosted by
Abu Dhabi, UAE + The summit was organised by the HOPE Consortium + HOPE
Consortium is a UAE-based public-private partnership, launched in 2020
 Techbharat 2021 = e-conclave + brings together stakeholders from Health Tech & Edu tech
sectors + 2nd edition + organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati and the IMS Foundation.
 Leaders' Climate Summit = The United States will convene a Leaders' Climate Summit on
Earth Day to bring together leaders of major economies + It will be a virtual meet + Indian
PM will participate in this
 Maritime India Summit 2021 = Organised by Ministry Of Ports, Shipping And Waterways
(Mopsw) + Summit will visualize a roadmap for India's Maritime sector for next decade
 Hydrogen Roundtable = Theme: Hydrogen Economy- The Indian Dialogue-2021 + recently
organised by Energy Forum (TEF) and Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), under
the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas + To discuss about the emerging
hydrogen ecosystems and exploring opportunities for collaboration, cooperation and coalition
 Annual Raisina Dialogue = It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi, India
+ Since its inception in 2016, the conference has emerged as India’s flagship conference on
geopolitics and geo-economics + The conference is hosted by the Observer Research
Foundation, an independent think tank, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs
of India + It also welcomes major private sector executives, as well as members of the media
and academia + It is designed on the lines of Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue + Theme for
the 2021 Edition is "#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control”
 Toycathon 2021 = jointly launched by the Ministry for Women & Child Development,
Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Education + aimed to conceptualize innovative toys
based on the Indian value system which will inculcate the positive behaviour and good value
among the children + School and college students and teachers, toy experts and startups will
get together to crowd source ideas for developing toys and games that are based on Indian
culture and ethos, etc + 80% toys are imported currently
 Bharat Parv 2021 = Mega event organized every year since 2016 to coincide with the
Republic Day Celebrations + It envisages generating patriotic fervor and showcases the rich
and varied cultural diversity of the country + 2021 edition will be organized by Ministry of
Tourism + (For the first time, a 122-member strong contingent of the Bangladesh Armed
Forces participated at the Republic Day celebrations + This is significant as New Delhi and
Dhaka celebrate 50th anniversary of 1971 Liberation War)
 ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’=Largest Startup India International
Summit organized by the Government of India since the launch of the Startup India Initiative
in 2016 + Prarambh is expected to bring together top policy makers, industry, academia,
investors, startups etc. + being organized by Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry + Over 25 countries and more
than 200 global speakers including members of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries participated in the inaugural
event.
7.8) POLITY – General

 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Residential Schools = Ministry of Education will rename
residential schools and hostels funded under Samagra Shiksha Scheme as "Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose residential schools" + They follow same norms as followed by Kasturba
Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) + found in hilly terrain, small and sparsely populated
areas for children without adult protection who are in need of shelter and care + Preference is
given to Educationally Backward Blocks (EBB), Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected
districts, Special Focus Districts (SFD), and the Aspirational districts identified by NITI
Aayog
 Institutions of Eminence(IoE) = University Grants Commission, has nominated 20
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institutions for Institutes of Eminence tag (IOE) which were nominated on the
recommendations of Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) headed by N Gopalaswami
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+Institutes with IOE tag will be given greater autonomy and freedom to decide fees, course
durations and governance structures + Indian universities and colleges with the Institutions of
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Eminence (IOEs) tag could now set up campuses in foreign countries + can setup maximum
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of three off-campus centres in five years, but not more than one in an academic year + For
private institutions with IoE tag, there will be no financial support + But they will get entitled
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to more autonomy as a special category Deemed University

 Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan Prachar-Prasar Exam = Announced by Rastriya Kamdhenu
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Aayog + for raising mass awareness about Indigenous cows among young students and all
citizens + will also help make study materials about cow science available in 4 categories,
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primary, secondary, college and general public levels + No fee and will be conducted in
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Hindi, English and 12 regional languages

 Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) = a Certificate Program in Public Policy
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and Management offered by IIMs + It has been designed at the initiative of Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) + MGNF, first launched as a pilot, is now
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expanding to all districts in the country + MGNF fellows will understand overall skill
ecosystem along with being attached to District Skill Committees (DSCs) and help them
manage the skill development planning at district level through formulating District Skill
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Development Plans (DSDPs).

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 Pugalur-Thrissur HVDC Power Transmission Corridor = Kerala’s first High Voltage

Direct Current (HDVC) inter-connection with national grid + country’s first system to use
voltage source converter technology
 Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor (DVHSR) = will connect Delhi with major
cities like Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Lucknow, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Varanasi and
Ayodhya + With the start of Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) Survey, HSR
work gathered momentum for DVHSR Corridor + LiDAR survey technique will be used for
ground survey in all the corridors to provide the ground details faster + Ground survey is a
crucial activity for any infrastructure project as the survey provides accurate details of areas
around the alignment + This technique uses a combination of Laser data, GPS data, flight
parameters and actual photographs to give accurate survey data
 Flood Management Mechanisms in India = subject of flood control does not figure as such
in any of the three legislative lists included in the 7th schedule + However, Drainage and
Embankments, are two of the measures specifically mentioned in entry 17 of List II (State
List) + thus the primary responsibility for flood control falls within the purview of the states
+ Central government enacted National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and setting up of the
NDMA, which has been assigned to deal with all types of disasters including the floods
 Advanced Antiquities Management System (AAMS) = Directorate of Archives and
Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the Advanced Antiquities
Management System (AAMS) + It has claimed that it is the first such system in India for
storage of antiquities + It is placed at Goa’s DAA in Panaji.
 Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) ended recently = under which one telecom operator
paid a charge to another on whose network a subscriber’s voice call was completed + the
measure was delayed by a year by regulator TRAI due to concerns that not all operators
were ready, and the shift to more efficient 4G networks and compatible subscriber handsets
was slower than anticipated + not that the need to monitor call termination data and make
IUC payments no longer exists, and a spectrum auction is also scheduled this year, the focus
should shift to giving the users a better deal- reliable call quality and competitive tariffs
 Coal in India= India has the world’s 5thlargest reserves of coal, yet it is the world’s
2ndlargest importer + Currently, India’s 83% of the production coming from Coal India Ltd
(CIL) + Coal reserves are located mainly in states of: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West
Bengal, Madya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra + Indian coal reserves are primarily of
Lignite and Bituminous types (other two types are Peat and Anthracite + Indian coal has
lower calorific value and high ash content
 3rd Bodo Peace Accord = Tripartite agreement between the Centre, Assam Government and
the banned Assam- based insurgentgroup National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) +
signed on 27thJanuary 2020, for bringing a lasting peace in Bodo-dominated areas in Assam
+ Bodo Territorial Areas District (BTAD) was reorganized by including new Bodo-
dominated villages contiguous to the existing BTAD and excluding villages with a
predominantly non-tribal population + BTAD renamed as Bodoland Territorial
Region(BTR) with more executive, administrative, legislative and financial powers + A
commission, headed by a neutral person and represented by stakeholders, will be constituted
by the central government for the demarcation and reorganisation of the BTR + Number of
seats in Bodoland Territorial Council will be increased from 40 to 60 + Bodo with Devnagri
script would be associate official language for entire Assam + A Special Development
Package of Rs. 1500 crores over three years were provided
 Bodos = Bodoland is a state demanded by a tribal community called Bodos in Assam, who
comprise of 5%-6% of the state’s population + single largest tribal community in Assam +
consists of regions located extreme north of north bank of Brahmaputra river in the state of
Assam
ECONOMY: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
8.1) Economy - General
 Indian Energy Exchange = First and largest nationwide energy exchange platform in India
+ started in 2008 + automated trading platform for physical delivery of electricity,
Renewable Energy Certificates and Energy Saving Certificates + enables efficient price
discovery and increases accessibility and transparency of power market + regulated by
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) + Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company
sold power to Arunachal Pradesh through IEX
 Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions (OSDT) = RBI launched OSDT in 2019
under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 + cost-free and expeditious complaint
redressal mechanism relating to deficiency in customer services in digital transactions +
Ombudsman for Digital Transactions is a senior official appointed by the RBI (appointed for
a period not exceeding 3 years at a time)
 Integrated Ombudsman Scheme = Lunched recently by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) + an
integrated ombudsman scheme “One Nation One Ombudsman” to improve grievance
redressal mechanism for bank customers + Currently, there are three separate ombudsmen for
banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and non-bank prepaid payment issuers
(PPIs) that are wallets. These are operated by the RBI from 22 ombudsman offices located
across the country
 Internal Ombudsman (IO) Scheme, 2018 = launched by the RBI to strengthen the internal
grievance redressal system of banks and ensure the complaints of the customers are redressed
at the level of the bank itself + All Scheduled Commercial Banks having more than 10
banking outlets (excluding Regional Rural Banks), are required to appoint IO in their banks +
Banks’ internal audit mechanism is required to monitor the scheme apart from regulatory
oversight by RBI
 Tax on EPF interest = Finance Minister announced a decision to tax interest incomes on
annual Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) contributions
of over Rs 2.5 lakh
 Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) = mandatory for any company with 20 +
employees to comply with the EPF schemes of the government + employer, as well as
the employee, are required to contribute some part of the monthly salary of the
employee (generally 12%) into the EPF investment account.
 Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) = Voluntary scheme which allows employees to
voluntarily contribute to their PF account after contributing 12% as per the EPF
guideline + interest rate is similar to EPF and employees can contribute up to 100%
of their salary
 Products excluded from GST = Alcohol used for human consumption, Petroleum, Petrol,
Diesel, ATF, Natural gas and electricity [Use these to eliminate Options] [The Hindu
Newspaper – Major News]
 New Umbrella Entity(NUE) for Payment Systems = NUEs for payment systems is an idea
floated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) + The aim is to create an alternate mechanism to
the existing National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) + NUEs will be a non-profit
entity that will set-up, manage and operate new payment systems, especially in the retail
space such as ATMs, white-label PoS; Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services +
NUE will be authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and shall be a
company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 + Eligibility criteria for NUE is:
 The promoter or the promoter group for the NUE should be ‘owned and controlled by
residents’ with 3 years’ experience in the payments ecosystem
 The umbrella entity shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 500 crore
 No single promoter or promoter group should have more than 40% investment in the
capital of the entity
 Foreign Investment is allowed in NUEs as long as they comply with the existing
guidelines
 Regulatory Review Authority 2.0 = set up by RBI + will review regulatory prescriptions
internally as well as by seeking suggestions from regulated entities on their simplification
and ease of implementation + RBI acts as the regulator and supervisor of our financial
system as well as of Payment and Settlement Systems. RRA plays the role of revisiting this
regulatory framework + In 1999, first Regulatory Review Authority was set up for a period
of one year to streamline its procedures for increased effectiveness and simplifying
regulatory prescriptions in banking systems + With new developments in regulatory
functions of the RBI in the last two decades, RPA 2.0 is setup recently.
 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority(PFRDA) = statutory body
established under Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Act, 2013 + regulates
the National Pension System (NPS), and also administers the Atal Pension Yojana +
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performs function of appointing various intermediate agencies like Pension Fund Managers,
Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) etc.
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Retail Direct Portal = RBI allowed retail investors to participate in government securities
(G-Sec) market through ‘Retail Direct’, an online portal for trading + It auction long-term
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dated securities (G-Secs, State Development Loans) and short-term instruments (Treasury
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Bills) to retail investors + They fare better in terms of safety, and offer higher yields than
fixed deposits (FDs) in banks, but they provide lower after-tax returns compared to other
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small savings instruments.

 G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 1.0) = Through it RBI will purchase government
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securities worth Rs 1 lakh crore in first quarter of FY 2021-22 + Periodically, RBI purchases
the government bonds from the market through Open Market Operations (OMOs) + G-SAP
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is an OMO but there is an upfront commitment to the markets that it will purchase bonds
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worth a specific amount + It aims to reduce spread between repo rate and the yield on 10-
year G-Sec and reduce aggregate cost of borrowing for the centre and states in fiscal year
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2022
 Wholesale Price Index (WPI) = it reflects changes in the average prices of goods at the
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wholesale level + It does not consider the price of services and does not reflect the consumer
price situation in the country + Released by: Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce
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and Industry + Base year: Its base year is 2011-12 (revised in 2017 from 2004-05) +
Components of WPI: The index is based on the wholesale prices of a basket of 697
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commodities categorized under three groups — Primary articles, Fuel and power and
Manufactured products
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) = average change in price at retail level paid by the consumer
+ both goods and services + 2011-12 + Released by national statistical office (ministry of
statistics and programme implementation)
8.2) Economy - Terms in News

 Green Bonds = These are debt instruments issued by an entity for raising funds from
investors and the proceeds of a green bond offering are used towards financing ‘green’
projects + In 2017, SEBI issued guidelines on green bonds including listing of green bonds
on the Indian stock exchanges + The launch of green indices such as S&P BSE CARBONEX
(2012), MSCI ESG India (2013), and S&P BSE 100 ESG Index (2017) allows passive and
retail investors to invest in green companies + These bonds are often unpredictable, and, at
times, unreliable.
 G- Secs = Tradeable instrument issued by the central or state govts + It acknowledges the
govt’s debt obligations + can be both short term (treasury bills —of less than one year)
or long term (government bonds or dated securities —of one year or more) + central govt
issues both treasury bills and bonds + state governments issue only bonds or state
development loans + risk-free gilt-edged instruments + Now, Retail investors can directly
open their gilt accounts with RBI, and trade in government securities
 Debt Funds = Debt funds are mutual funds that invest in fixed income securities like bonds
and treasury bills. Gilt fund, monthly income plans (MIPs), short term plans (STPs), liquid
funds, and fixed maturity plans (FMPs) are some of the investment options in debt funds.
Apart from these categories, debt funds include various funds investing in short term,
medium term and long term bonds + Debt funds are preferred by individuals who are not
willing to invest in a highly volatile equity market. A debt fund provides a steady but low
income relative to equity. It is comparatively less volatile
 Bond Yields = Bond yield is the return an investor gets on that bond or on a particular
government security + The major factors affecting the yield is the monetary policy of the
Reserve Bank of India, especially the course of interest rates, the fiscal position of the
government and its borrowing programme, global markets, economy, and inflation + A fall in
interest rates makes bond prices rise, and bond yields fall — and rising interest rates cause
bond prices to fall, and bond yields to rise. In short, a rise in bond yields means interest rates
in the monetary system have fallen, and the returns for investors (those who invested in
bonds and govt securities) have declined
 Anti-dumping duty = In international trade practise, dumping happens when country or firm
exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market +
Dumping impacts price of that product in importing country, hitting margins and profits of
local manufacturing firms + Anti-dumping duty is imposed to rectify situation arising out of
dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect + Directorate General of Trade Remedies
(DGTR) has initiated probe to review anti-dumping duty on steel products imported from
China
 Capital Gains Tax (CGT) = a tax on growth of value of investments incurred when
individuals and corporations sell those investments + tax doesn't apply to unsold investments,
so stock shares that appreciate every year will not incur capital gains taxes until they are sold
+ Capital gains treatment only applies to “capital assets” such as stocks, bonds, jewelry, coin
collections, and real estate property among others + Capital gains are not applicable to an
inherited property as there is no sale + CGT framework divides the tax in two types:
 Short-term Capital Gains Tax (STCG): When an asset is held for a period of 36
months or less, it is termed as a short-term capital asset (24 months for immovable
properties such as land)
 Long-term Capital Gains Tax (LTCG): An asset that is held for more than 36 months
 On Tap Licences = universal private bank licences and small finance bank licences + given
by RBI Groups or companies applying for such licences must have assets of Rs 5,000 crore
or above and the non-financial businesses don’t account for 40% or more of these assets and
must have at least 10 years of experience in banking and finance at a senior level or private
companies or groups with at least 10 years of successful track record
 Open Market Operations(OMOs) = Sale and purchase of government securities and
treasury bills by RBI + to regulate money supply in economy + through commercial banks
and does not directly deal with the public + quantitative monetary policy tool + When RBI
wants to infuse liquidity, it will buy government securities in open market + when it sells
securities, it curbs liquidity. + 2 kinds: Outright Purchase (PEMO) – permanent and involves
outright selling or buying of government securities & Repurchase Agreement (REPO) –
short-term and are subject to repurchase.
 Accredited investor = Also called qualified investors or professional investors + those who
have understanding of various financial products and risks and returns associated with them
+ can take informed decisions regarding their investments and are recognised by many
securities and financial market regulators globally + SEBI mooted the concept +
accreditation once granted shall be valid for a year + may be carried out via ‘Accreditation
Agencies’ which may be the market infrastructure institutions or their subsidiaries.
 Equalisation Levy = In India, Equalisation Levy was introduced in 2016, at 6% on
payments received by a non-resident service provider from an Indian resident in respect of
online advertising, provision of online advertising space and related services. It was limited
to Business-to-business transactions and compliance was required to be carried out by the
payer + Purpose of Equalisation Levy is to ensure fair competition, reasonableness and
exercise the ability of governments to tax businesses that have a close nexus with the Indian
market through their digital operations + Finance Act 2020 has further expanded the scope of
equalization levy to non-resident e-commerce operators by introducing a new levy of 2%.
This levy is effective from 1 April 2020. Both Business-to-business and business-to-
consumer transactions are covered
 Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) = A NBFC is a company registered under the
Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of
shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other
marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit
business etc + NBFCs do not include any institution whose principal business is that of
agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) +
NBFCs are categorized into Deposit and Non-Deposit accepting NBFCs + Major categories
of NBFC include Asset Finance Companies, Investment companies, Loan companies,
Infrastructure Financing companies (IFCs), Systemically Important Core Investment
Company (CIC-ND-SI), Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs), NBFC-Micro Finance Institution
(MFI), NBFC-Factors, Mortgage Guarantee Companies (MGC) etc. + These companies get
NBFC License with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). But they are regulated by different
agencies based on the role they play + Recently, RBI has proposed four-layered regulatory
framework to move from m a general approach of light touch regulation to one that
monitors larger players almost as closely as it does banks.
 Fixed Term Employment (FTE) = FTE is a contract in which a company hires an employee
for a specific period of time + The employee is not on the payroll of the company + Their
payment is fixed in advance and is not altered till the term expires + Such contracts are given
out for temporary jobs + It cannot be used to replace existing employees who are on a long
leave + Such workers are entitled to all statutory benefits (work hours, wages etc.) available
to a permanent worker. However, other benefits such as Provident Fund is not available to
them + The employers can terminate the contract on certain grounds (fraud, non-
performance, etc.) even before the due date
 Non-Price competition = Competition between companies that focuses on benefits, extra
services, good workmanship, product quality – plus all other features and measures that do
not involve altering prices + It contrasts with price competition, in which rivals try to gain
market share by reducing their prices + often adopted by the competing players in a sector in
order to prevent a price war, which can lead to a damaging spiral of price cuts + Data
privacy can take the form of non-price competition and abuse of dominance can lower
privacy protection, a study by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has said
 Green tax = Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has approved the proposals:
to levy a “Green Tax” on old vehicles which are polluting the environment + The Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways will levy a green tax on transport vehicles older than eight
years at the time of renewal of fitness certificate at the rate of 10% to 25% of road tax +
Vehicles like strong hybrids, electric vehicles and those running on alternate fuels like CNG,
ethanol and LPG and vehicles used in farming, such as tractor, harvesters and tillers will be
exempted + revenue so collected to be kept in a separate account and used for tackling
pollution, and for States to set up state of-art facilities for emission monitoring
 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) = SOFR is a secured interbank overnight
interest rate and reference rate + It is based on the Treasury repurchase market (repo),
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Treasuries loaned or borrowed overnight + SBI does deals using SOFR as benchmark
 Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) = Recently, Discussion paper on setting up new
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stock exchanges was issued by SEBI on review of ownership and governance norms to
facilitate new entrants to setting up new stock exchanges and depositories, otherwise called
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as market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) + key proposals: resident promoter MII may hold
up to 100% shareholding, which will be brought down to not more than (either 51% or 26%)
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in 10 years + foreign promoter from FATF member jurisdiction MII may hold up to 49%
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shareholding, which shall be brought down to not more than (either 26% or 15%) in 10 years
+ Foreign individuals or entities from other than FATF member jurisdictions may acquire or
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hold up to 10% in an MII + Any person other than the promoter may acquire or hold less
than 25% shareholding.

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Section 301 of the US Trade Act = It Empowers the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) to investigate a trading partner’s policy action that may be deemed unfair or
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discriminatory and negatively affects US companies and take action, including tariff-based
and non-tariff-based retaliation + A report published by United States Trade Representative
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(USTR) found that India’s DST (Digital Service Tax, referred as Equalisation Levy in India)
is discriminatory to US companies, and thus, is actionable under Section 301 (of Trade Act,
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1974)
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DEFENCE: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
9.1) EXERCISEs
 YudhAbhyas 2.0 = Annual + bilateral joint military exercise between India and USA
 Vajra Prahar Exercise = Recently, the 11th edition of Indo- US Joint Special Forces
Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2021 was conducted + It is conducted alternatively between
India and the United States.
 Exercise Desert Flag-VI = Annual multi-national exercise + hosted by the United Arab
Emirates Air Force + Indian Air Force participated for the first time
 Dustlik II = Joint Military Exercise of Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army + held in India +
based on counter-terrorist operations
 Operation TEMAN = Indian Navy dispatched its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel
(DSRV) to support the Indonesian Navy in search and rescue efforts for its submarine KRI
Nanggala that went missing with 53 personnel onboard
 Exercise ShantirOgroshena 2021 = multinational military exercise in Bangladesh + Indian
army will take part this year + Military observers from USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore also participated + ‘ShantirOgroshena’ 2021 means “Front
Runner of the Peace” + It was a UN (United Nations)- mandated counterterrorism exercise +
Other Exercises involving Bangladesh: SAMPRITI (Army), TABLE TOP (Air), IN-BN
CORPAT (Navy) and SAMVEDNA (Multinational Air Exercise with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and UAE)
 Exercise LA PEROUSE = Exercise led by France + Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura and
INS Kiltanalongwith P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating, for the first
time in multilateral maritime exercise La Pérouse, being conducted in the Eastern Indian
Ocean Region + The first edition of La Pérouse joint exercise, initiated by France in 2019,
included ships from Australia, Japan and the US
 Exercise Varuna 2021 = Indo-French naval exercise + held annually + 19th edition was held
in Arabian Sea recently.
 Desert Knight 2021 = India – France air exercise +A first-of-its-kind bilateral exercise, Rafale
aircraft from both sides along with SU-30 MKI and Mirage 2000 aircraft of the AFI undertook
complex missions
 Exercise Kavach = Joint Military exercise involving assets of Indian Army, Indian Navy,
Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard + being conducted under aegis of Andaman and
Nicobar Command (ANC), only Joint Forces Command of the country + aims to fine tune
joint war-fighting capabilities and SOPs towards enhancing operational synergy
9.2) WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

 Asmi = India’s first indigenously developed 9-mm machine pistol + jointly developed by
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) lab of the Defence Research
and Development Organisation and Indian Army’s Infantry School + 3D printing technology
has been used in designing and prototyping of the pistol, including trigger components made
by metal 3D printing
 Helina(Army) and Dhruvastra(Airforce) = Anti-tank guided missiles designed and
developed by DRDO + 3rd generation, Lock-on-Before-Launch (LOBL) fire-and-forget +
can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode + all-weather day and
night capability.
 VL-SRSAM Missile System = Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile +
designed and developed by DRDO, along with Research Centre Imarat, and Pune-based
Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) + will be force multiplier for
the Indian Navy
 Python-5 = maiden trial was conducted by DRDO + Air to Air Missile + can engage enemy
aircraft from very short ranges and near beyond visual range + built by the Israeli weapons
manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
 Akash-NG Missile = DRDO conducted the successful launch of Akash-NG (New
Generation) Missile+ It is new generation Surface to Air Missile meant for use by Indian Air
Force + aims at intercepting high maneuvering low RCS aerial threats + Multi Function
Radar was tested for its capability of integration with the Akash-NG system
 S-400 Triumf = mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia + Can
launch 12 missiles on 6 targets + considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High
Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD)
 Babur cruise missile = Pakistan + short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of
hitting land and sea targets with “high precision” up to 490 km away.
 SPICE-2000 Bombs = very first product of Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) +
used by Indian Air Force (IAF) to strike terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot in 2019 + have
electro-optic seeker that makes it intelligent weapons system.
 Smart Anti Airfield Weapon = DRDO successfully tested it + developed by DRDO’s
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad + high precision guided bomb that is light weight
as compared to weapon system of the same class.
 Arjun Main Battle Tank = Initiated in 1972 by the Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO) with Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment
(CVRDE) as the lead Laboratory + computer-controlled integrated fire control system with
day-cum-night stabilized sighting system and 120 mm calibre rifled gun + All round
protection from anti-tank ammunition achieved by newly developed KANCHAN armour
 INS Utkrosh = Indian naval air station under joint-services Andaman and Nicobar
Command of Indian Armed Forces + located near naval base INS Jarawa, on Port Blair in
Andaman & Nicobar Islands + 1 st naval air station in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
 INS Sarvekshak = It is a hydrographic survey ship, and on a deployment to Mauritius for
undertaking joint hydrographic surveys along with their Mauritian counterparts + Recently,
This ship commenced the hydrographic survey of ‘Deep sea area off Port Louis’
 PS Zoroaster = It is fast patrol vehicle gifted to Seychelles by India to carry out anti-piracy
operations + The vessel, built by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineering Limited
 Type 052C destroyer Jinan and Type 054A frigate Changzhou = belongs to China
 Su-30s/Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft = twin-engine, two-seat super-maneuverable fighter
aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation + It is a multirole fighter for all-
weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep prohibition missions + India tied up with Russia
for Su-30s, made by HAL at its Nashik plant since 2004 + Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
(HAL) has manufactured the last two of the 272 Su-30MKIs aircraft on contract from Russia
and is all set to deliver them to the Indian Air Force + India had got the contract for the Su-
30s from Russia in batches, and of them, 222 were assembled by HAL at its Nashik plant
under transfer of technology (ToT) since 2004 + Last July, the Defence Acquisition Council
approved the procurement of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia to be licence-produced by
HAL at an estimated ₹10,730 crore
 Kamov -226T utility helicopters = Agreement between India and Russia for 200 such
helicopters + 60 helicopters will be imported from Russia and at least another 140 will be
built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with technology transfer + 600 Km
range + top speed at 205km/h + can land safely even if one engine fails + total indigenous
content of the Ka-226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and
Russia with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is between 27%-33% + The Ka-226T is meant to
replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and Air Force and the
total technical life of these will start finishing from 2023 onwards + In 2015, India and
Russia had concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for at least 200 Ka-226T
twin engine utility helicopters estimated to cost over $1 billion with 60 helicopters to be
directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally. The first helicopter would be
delivered within 36 months from the signing of the contract
9.3) Defence - General

 SAGARIKA = India's first full-fledged international cruise terminal being set up at Cochin
Port in Kerala + It will bring personnel of customs, Bureau of Immigration and CISF under
one roof
 PP15 and PP17A = Patrolling Points in Ladakh + PP15 is located in an area known as the
Hot Springs, while PP17A is near an area called the Gogra post + Hot Springs is north of the
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River Chang Chenmo in the Galwan sub-sector + Gogra Post is east of point where the river
takes hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest + These lies
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close to Kongka Pass, main passes, which China claims to marks boundary between India
and China + India’s claim that international boundary lies significantly east, as it includes the
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entire Aksai Chin area as well.
 3rd Joint Logistics Node (JLN) = The Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has
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operationalised the third Joint Logistics Node (JLN) in Mumbai + Other operationalised
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JLNs are in Guwahati and Port Blair + These JLNs will provide integrated logistics cover to
the armed forces for their small arms ammunition, rations, fuel, general stores, civil hired
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transport, aviation clothing, spares and also engineering support in an effort to synergise their
operational efforts + Defence Ministry
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 COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) = is a specialised unit of the CRPF
(Central Reserve Police Force) that was formed to counter Naxalism in India + It’s one of the
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few Indian Special Forces, that’s exclusively trained in guerrilla warfare + It was raised in
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2009 + In 2021, for the first time, women were inducted in this force.
 Grey Hounds = Andhra Pradesh + In 1989, Andhra Pradesh set up Greyhounds, an elite
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force trained in jungle warfare and counter-Maoist strategy that carried out pinpointed
operations with great success + This was coupled with a surrender-and rehabilitation policy
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and setting up of the Remote and Interior Area Development Department to ensure that
welfare schemes and infrastructure projects were tailored for Maoist areas
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 South Asia Terrorism Portal = It is India's leading terrorism think-tank + SATP is the
largest website on terrorism and low intensity warfare in South Asia, and creates the database
and analytic context for research and analysis + (Please Do Not Associate this with any
renowned International or national Body)
 Nano Sniffer = world’s first microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) +
developed by Nano Sniff Technologies, an IIT Bombay incubated startup + 100% ‘Made in
India’ product in terms of research, development & manufacturing + can detect explosives in
less than 10 seconds and it also identifies and categorizes explosives into different classes
 Rakshita = Bike-based casualty transport emergency vehicle or ambulance + Institute of
Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi based DRDO laboratory, handed
over Rakshita to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) + Will help in overcoming the
problems faced by Indian security forces and emergency healthcare providers
 SAHAYAK-NG = India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable
Container + GPS aided air dropped container with the capacity to carry a payload of up to 50
kg and can be dropped from a heavy aircraft + SHAYAK-NG was designed by Defence
Research Development Organization (DRDO) and Avantel, a private company. The other
entities involved in the development of SAHAYAK-NG are NTSL, Visakhapatnam and
ARDE, Agra
CULTURE: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
10.1) Personalities In News
 Govind Ballabh Pant = established Prem Sabha that started working towards several
reforms in Kashipur + the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in Independent India + India’s
home minister from 1955 to 1961 + It was during his tenure that states were reorganised on
linguistic lines + also organised a massive salt movement in the United Provinces + was
awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1957 + His statue that was
removed from the Parliament premises recently would be unveiled at its new location
 Lala Lajpat Rai = Founded the Indian Home Rule League of America in New York City in
1917 + elected President of the Indian National Congress during its Special Session in
Kolkata in 1920, which saw the launch of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-cooperation Movement +
became a follower of Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj + Rai, Tilak, and
Bipin Chandra Pal (called Lal-Bal-Pal) fervently advocated the use of Swadeshi goods and
mass agitation in the aftermath of the controversial Partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord
Curzon + established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Lahore and remained a
committed educationist throughout his life + His important works include: ‘The Arya Samaj’,
‘Young India’, ‘England’s Debt to India’, ‘Evolution of Japan’, ‘India’s Will to Freedom’,
‘Message of the Bhagwad Gita’, ‘Political Future of India’, ‘Problem of National Education
in India’, ‘The Depressed Glasses’, and the travelogue ‘United States of America’.
 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose = cleared the Indian Civil Service examination in 1920 +
served as the President of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) + was inspired by
Bhagvad Gita and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh + started his
newspaper ‘Swaraj’ + authored the book ‘The Indian Struggle’ + President of Haripura
session of INC in 1938 in Bardoli district of Gujarat + In 1939 at Tripuri session, he was
again elected as the President but resigned in 1939 and organised All India Forward Bloc a
faction within the Congress in Bengal + He formed an Indian government-in-exile ‘the Azad
Hind Government’ in Singapore. The Indian National Army drew ex- prisoners and
thousands of civilian volunteers from the Indian expatriate population in Malaya (present-day
Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar) + he started ‘Azad Hind Radio’ and established ‘Free
India Centre’ in Germany + unfurled the Tricolour in Port Blair on 30th December,
1943,after Japan handed them over to his Azad Hind government
 Sri Ramanujacharya = Born in 1017 CE in Tamil Nadu + most respected Acharya in
philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism + also referred to as Ilaya Perumal which means radiant one +
famous as chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita sub-school of Vedānta + wrote influential texts,
such as bhāsya on the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, all in Sanskrit + his 1004th
birth anniversary was observed on April 18, 2021.
 Sant Ravidasji = Poet-saint of Bhakti movement in northern India + Founder of Ravidassia
sect + against caste-based discrimination + some of his devotional verses are part of Guru
Granth Sahib
 AyyaVaikundaSwamikal= great thinker and social reformer of the 19th century + lived in
princely kingdom of Travancore + first to install a mirror for worshipping in South India +
exponent of new path of spiritual thoughts named ‘AyyaVazhi’ + led an agitation known
as the Mel MunduSamaram + proponent of ‘One caste, One religion, One clan, One world,
One God’
 Mannathu Padmanabhan = Indian social reformer and freedom fighter from Kerala + lived
from January 2, 1878 – February 25, 1970 + took part in anti-untouchability agitations and
advocated opening temples for people of all castes + participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha +
founder of the Nair Service Society (NSS)
 Maharaja Suheldev = Eldest son of King Mordhwaj of Shravasti (north-eastern Uttar
Pradesh) who defeated and killed the Ghaznavi general Ghazi in Bahraich + finds mention
in ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’, biography of SalarMasud, written by Abd-ur-Rahman Chishti during
emperor Jahangir + PM will foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and
development work of Chittaura Lake in Uttar Pradesh.
 Sri Krishnadevaraya= emperor of Vijayanagara Empire of Tuluva Dynasty + earned
titles Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Andhra Bhoja and MooruRayara Ganda + Domingo
Paes and FernaoNuniz visited during his reign + defeated Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda,
Bahmani Sultanate and Raja of Odisha + great south Indian
mathematician NilakanthaSomayaji also lived in his empire
 Tomar king Anangpal II = Tomar dynasty ruled parts of present-day Delhi and Haryana
between 8th and 12th centuries + AnangpalTomar II was succeeded by his grandson
Prithviraj Chauhan, who was defeated by Ghurid forces in Battle of Tarain (present-day
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Haryana) after which Delhi Sultanate was established in 1192 + Tomar dynasty shifted its
capital in 8th century), to Dhillikapuri (Delhi) during reign of Anangpal II + He built Lal Kot

fort and AnangtalBaoli l.c
Bir Chilarai = 1510 – 1571 CE + brave warrior and general of Assamese Koch royal
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dynasty + younger brother of Nara Narayan, king of the Kamata Kingdom
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 LachitBorphukan= commander of Ahom kingdom + Known for 1671 Battle of

Saraighat that thwarted Mughal forces under the command of Ramsingh I + it was fought on
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banks of Brahmaputra in Guwahati + National Defence Academy (NDA), confers best

passing out cadet with LachitBorphukan gold medal
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 Ahom Kingdom = Sivasagar (formerly known as Rangpur) was the seat of the powerful
Ahom dynasty, who ruled Assam for six centuries (1228-1826) + Ahoms migrated to the
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Brahmaputra valley from present-day Myanmar + Ahom kingdom was founded by first
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Ahom king Chao Lung Sui-Kha-Pah in 13th-century + During the 16th century, they
annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas (1523) and of Koch-Hajo (1581) and subjugated
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many other tribes + Kingdom laid the foundation for present day Assamese culture, tradition,
art and architecture + founders of the Ahom kingdom had their own language and followed
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their own religion + Ahom society was divided into clans or khels who controlled several
villages + Ahom state depended upon forced labour (workers known as Paik) + Ahom
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kingdom had very few castes of artisans, so artisans in the Ahom areas came from the
adjoining kingdoms + The peasant was given land by his village community and even the
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king could not take it away without the community’s consent + Almost all adult males served
in the army during war + Ancestor worship was and still remains a very important part which
is reflected in the elaborate maidams (burial tombs) that the Ahoms built in the sacred city of
Charaideo.
 Pala dynasty and Buddhism = Pala dynasty ruled Bihar and Bengal from the 8 th to the 12th
century + Its founder was Gopala a local chieftain and other important rulers were
Dharmapala, Devapala, Mahendrapala and Mahipala I + Pala rulers were great supporters
and admirers of Buddhism + Under the Palas the Vajrayana form of Buddhism became a
major intellectual and religious force + They made monasteries (viharas) and temples in
eastern India to promote Buddhism + Dharmapala, the second Pala ruler, founded the
Vikramshila University in Bihar and revived Nalanda University + Other important Buddhist
centers of learning were Odantapura, Vikramashila, and SomapuraMahavihara + Pala’s sent
missionaries and Buddhism was established in Tibet + At Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya,
many of the sculptures in the temple are dated to the 8th century Pala Period.
10.2) HISTORICAL EVENTS

 Gurdwara Reform Movement = Sikhs’ long-drawn campaign between 1920 to 1925 for the
liberation of their gurdwaras or holy shrines from the preists (Mahants) who had asserted
property rights over Gurdwaras + It was an offshoot of the Singh Sabha Movement (1873) +
The properties of places of worship of Sikhs were transferred and given over to the Udasi
Mahants by Britishers + Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) came to
existence in November 1920. It started gurdwara reform movement which was aimed at
taking possession of historical Sikh Gurdwaras + Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was also
founded in December, 1920 + Other campaigns like Guru Ka Bagh Morcha (1922),
JaitoMorcha (1923) etc were also held which ultimately led to enactment of Gurdwara Act,
1925 + British government finally passed the Gurdwaras Act in 1925, making SGPC a
democratic body for better administration of Certain Sikh Gurdwaras.
 Chauri Chaura Incident = 1922 + happened during Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) in
Chauri Chaura village ,Uttar Pradesh + In response to the violence at Chauri Chaura in 1922,
Gandhi called off the NCM unilaterally and thus, on 12 February 1922, the Non-Cooperation
Movement came to an end + Despite withdrawing from the movement, in March 1922
Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison, but was released in February 1924 on health
grounds
 PagdiSambhalJatta Agitation = In 1906-1907, Ajit Singh (Bhagat Singh’s uncle) started it
with Lala Lajpat Rai, Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father), Ghasita Ram to get agrarian
laws repealed which were Doab Bari Act, Punjab Land Colonisation Act, Punjab Land
Alienation Act
 Bhima Koregaon Battle = Fought in Bhima Koregaon, Pune between Peshwa forces and the
British on January 1, 1818 in which Britishers won + it was taken as victory against caste-
based discrimination and oppression and sense of identity as British army comprised mainly
of Dalit soldiers, fought the upper caste-dominated Peshwa army
 Patharughat Uprising = Before the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre, in 1894, more than a
hundred peasants fell to the bullets of the British in Patharughat village of Assam + The
unarmed peasants were protesting against the increase in land revenue levied by the colonial
administration + After Britishers annexed Assam in 1826 and conducted land surveys, in
1893, the British decided to increase agricultural land tax by 70 - 80% + Despite these
gatherings being democratic, the British perceived them as breeding grounds for sedition and
came down on them heavily
 Chipko Movement = non-violent agitation in 1973 against the felling of trees by contractors
+ Chipko Movement was initiated by Sundarlal Bahuguna, in 1973 + resulted in a 15-year
ban on chopping of green trees in 1980 + Champions of the movement were local women -
Gaura Devi, Sudesha Devi and Bachni Devi + Chipko Movement followed Gandhian
philosophy of peaceful resistance + However, the original Chipko andolan dates back to the
18th century and It was started by the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan. A group of villagers
led by Amrita Devi, laid down their lives while protecting trees from being felled on the
orders of the then King of Jodhpur
10.3) Monuments and Architecture in News

 11th century Lingaraj Temple = Located in Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar + dedicated to
Shiva + Built by king JajatiKeshari of Soma Vansh + built in red stone + Kalinga style of
architecture + north of the temple is Bindusagar Lake + Indian National Trust for Art and
Cultural Heritage (INTACH) stated that irreparable damage had been done to the temple and
ancient shrines around it due to undergoing construction + The Odisha government’s
EkamraKshetra beautification project is aimed at creating space adjoining the Lingaraj
Temple to accommodate around two lakh devotees expected to visit the temple for the
festival of Shivaratri in March
 Khajuraho Temples = in Vindhya Mountain rangein Madhya Pradesh + Built between 950-
1050 AD by Chandela Dynasty + Hindu and Jain temples + known for their erotic sculptures
+ first recorded mention is in accounts of Abu Rihan al Biruni in AD 1022 and Arab traveler
Ibn Battuta in AD 1335 + got status of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1986 + famous
for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism + Reported for the first time by Abu Rihan al
Biruni in AD 1022 and Ibn Battuta in AD 1335
 Ancient Buddhist Monastery = 900 years old Ancient Buddhist monastery was recently
unearthed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Sitagarhi Hills, Jharkhand + It is a 10 th
century structure resembling a small ‘Buddha Vihar’ (Buddhist shrinecum-monastery) +
Discoveries around the site + Four statues of deity Tara in ‘Varad Mudra’ (gesture of hand
showing dispensing of boons) + Six statues of the Buddha in ‘Bhumisparsa Mudra’ (gesture
of hand showing five fingers of right hand towards the earth symbolising the Buddha’s
enlightenment) + Discovery of the statue of deity Taara shows that the region was an
important centre of Vajrayana sect of Buddhism (Tantric Buddhism) + Nagri script (a
previous version of Devnagri script) on a Tara statue was found + Sculpture similar to
Shaivite deity Maheswari (with a coiled crown and chakra) indicates cultural assimilation in
the area.
 Charminar = Built by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, in 1591 to commemorate the end of
plague in city + Each minar stands on lotus-leaf base + Recently, responding to a Right to
Information query, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said that no records of chilla (a
small shrine) adjacent to Charminar were found
 World’s Oldest Cave Painting = Recently found in limestone cave of LeangTedongnge of
Indonesia + red ochre pigment depicts a wild boar endemic to the Sulawesi island of
Indonesia + dated using a method called U-series isotope analysis
 AnubhavaMantapa = Recently, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has laid the foundation
stone for the ‘New AnubhavaMantapa’ in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet-
philosopher Basaveshwara lived for most of his life + It will showcase the 12th Century
AnubhavaMantapa (often referred to as the “first Parliament of the world”) + The building
will adopt the KalyanaChalukya style of architecture + Basaveshwara (1134-1168) was an
Indian philosopher, social reformer and statesman who attempted to create a casteless society
and fought against caste and religious discrimination. The tradition of Lingayatism is known
to have been founded by him
 Visva-Bharati University = Public research central university in Santiniketan, West Bengal,
India + declared Institution of National Importance in 1951+ founded by Rabindranath
Tagore
10.4) Festivals In News
 Bhagoriya Fair = Madhya Pradesh + Annually celebrated by Tribes like Bhils
 Kumbh Mela = Generally, it is celebrated once in 12 years and the previous kumbh in
Haridwar was held in 2010, while next one was to be held in 2022(However, held early than
the date because of some auspicious dates) + geographical location for the Kumbh Mela
spans across four cities within India + Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh)- confluence of Ganga,
Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati + Haridwar (Uttarakhand)- Ganga river + Ujjain
(Madhya Pradesh)- Shipra river + Nasik (Maharashtra)- Godavari river + Kumbh Mela
comes under the UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
 Shigmo Festival = celebration of harvest of paddy by tribal communities of Goa + by
agricultural communities like Kunbis, Gawdas and Velips + also marks onset of spring +
Folk dances like Ghodemodini, Gopha and Phugadi performed
 Rongali Bihu Festival = Assam + also called Bahag Bihu + it marks the beginning of
Assamese new year
 Vaisakhi (Mesadi-vaisakhadi) Festival = harvest festival celebrated in Punjab + it also
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have historical significance for the Sikhs as in 1699, guru gobindsingh (10 th spiritual guru of
sikhs) chose the festival as the moment to establish Khalsa
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 Naba Barsha Festival = celebrated in West Bengal + also called PailaBaisakh + it is
celebration of the new year as per the Bengali celender
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 Puthandu (Puthuvarsham/pirappu) Festival = Tamil Nadu as new year + also mentioned
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in sangam literature
 Vishu Festival = celebrated as Kerala as new year + festival involves worship of lord Vishnu
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and lord Krishna by the devotees

 MahaVishuva Sankranti Festival = Odisha + special pujas are conducted at Sri Jagannath
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Temple, puri
 Shigmotsav Festival = Goa + signifies change in season from winter to summer and
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celebrates paddy harvest + traditional folk dances like GhodeModni (dance of equestrian
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warriors) + Gopha and Phugadi are performed along with processions

 Joor Sheetal Festival = Bihar + also called Maithili new year + In this festival people donate
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earthen pitcher containing water to priests in Temple

 Makaravilakku festival season = Annual festival held on Makar Sankranti in Kerala, at the
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shrine of Sabarimala + includes Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments ofAyyappan)

procession and congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.
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 Cherry Blossom Festival = Manipur + marking the beginning of pink season in the district +
Mao area is known for Cherry Blossom, popularly known as Sakura in Japan + celebrated
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since 2017 + it featured the picturesque landscape of Mao town adorned with Cherry
Blossom flowers
10.5) PRODUCTS & ARTS IN NEWS

 Tholpavakkoothu Robots = Tholpavakkoothu is Kerala’s famous temple art, in which
shadow leather puppets are used to tell stories from the epic Ramayana + also known as
Nizhalkkoothu and Olakkoothu + performed in the Bhadrakali temples of Palakkad +
confined largely to Pulavar families + First-ever robotic shadow leather puppet was installed
at the Palakkad District Heritage Museum
 Channapatna Toys = particular form of wooden toys (and dolls) that are manufactured in
the town of Channapatna in Karnataka + This traditional craft has GI tag + As a result of the
popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as GombegalaOoru (toy-town) of Karnataka
+ Only vegetable dyes are used on these toys + had a history of over 200 years old + made by
lacquering the Wrightia tinctoria wood (Aale mara or ivory-wood) or sandalwood or
rosewood+ origin can be traced to reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to
train local artisans + BavasMiyan is known as father of Channapatna Toy, he used Japanese
technology for toys making.
 Pochampally Ikat = Pochampally Ikat or resist dyeing + sequence of tying and dyeing
sections of bundled yarn before weaving + During the Nizam era, they were exported to
Burma (Myanmar) and West Asia and east Africa, where they were known as Asia rumals +
term `Ikat’ stems from Malay-Indonesian expression, mangikat, meaning to bind or knot +
granted Geographical Indication (GI) status.
 Nirmal Art = 400-year-old rich tradition that encompasses wood toys and attractive duco
paintings (Shiny paintings) as well as furniture + has GI tag + Telangana + flourished due to
the legacy of Hyderabad Nizam + These toys were made of finely carved softwood called
Ponkichekka or white sander
 Khadi Prakritik Paint = India’s first cow dung paint + developed by Khadi and Village
Industries Commission + eco-friendly, cost-effective, non-toxic paint + first-of-its-kind
product, with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties + free from heavy metals like lead,
mercury, chromium, arsenic, cadmium etc. + certified by Bureau of Indian Standards
 Risa = used as a head gear, stole, female upper cloth or presented to honour a distinguished
recipient + Tripura’s tribal attire + Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given risa to wear in an
event called Risa Sormani. The event involves prayers to a Lampra god
10.6) EXCAVATIONS IN NEWS

 Thotlakonda Buddhist Site = on Hill in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh + devoted to
Hinayana Buddhism + discovered in 1976 during helicopter survey by Indian Navy and
subsequently entire hill was declared as an area comprising a protected monument under the
Andhra Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act, 1960
 Archaeological Excavations in Tamil Nadu = Central Advisory Board for Archaeology
(CABA) has given permission to excavate seven sites in Tamil Nadu for 2020-21 + Sites are
 Korkai (Tuticorin)
 GangaikondaCholapuram (Ariyalur)
 Mayiladumparai (Krishnagiri)
 Keeladi cluster
 Adichanallur
 Sivagalai and
 Kodumanal
Korkai excavation will reveal more about Thamirabarani river valley civilization because
excavations are already on in sites such as Adichanallur and Sivagalai in the same region
10.7) GENERAL
 Mythical Saraswati river = Originated from Kapaltirith in west of Mt. Kailash + flowed
through Haryana, Rajasthan, North Gujarat and Pakistan + met Arabian Sea through Rann of
Kutch + Sutlej represents the western branch and Markanda and Sarsuti represents the
eastern branch called Tons-Yamuna + confluence of branches was near Shatrana, Patiala +
finds mention in Book 6 of Rig Veda in a hymn called ‘NadistutiSukta’
 Masang-fung Tree = is a local tree that causes irritation. Social offenders of Naga
customary laws dread this punishment due to humiliation within the community. Such itchy
cages are referred to as khujlighar in Nagamese — a pidgin lingua franca — but each Naga
community has its own name
 Ayambil Fast = generally related to Jainism faith
 Prabudha Bharat or Awakened India Journal = Recently,celebrated its 125th anniversary
+ English-language monthly journal of Ramakrishna Mission + "longest-running" monthly
English magazine of the country + Luminaries like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, Sister Nivedita, Sri Aurobindo, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan etc. wrote in the
journal
 Jallikattu = Traditional bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu + competitive sport as well as an
event to honour bull owners who rear them for mating + contestants try to tame a bull for a
prize; if they fail, the bull owner wins the prize + Its legality is in question in a petition
pending before constitution bench of Supreme Court which opposes the ordinance passed in
its favour by Tamil Nadu Govt
 Kalaripayattu=considered the oldest surviving martial art of the country, with a legacy of
more than 3000 years + Kalaripayattu, also known simply as Kalari, is an Indian martial art
that originated in modern-day Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India.
Kalaripayattu is known for its long-standing history within Indian martial arts. It is believed
to be the oldest surviving martial art in India
MISCELLAENOUS: PRELIMS 2022| Sunya IAS
11.1) AWARDS in News
 National Technology Awards (NTA) 2020 = given by the Technology Development Board
(TDB) + TDB seeks applications for NTA for commercialization of technologies under three
categories: National Award for successful Commercialization of Indigenous Technology,
National Award for MSMEs and National Award for Technology Start-ups + TDB is a
statutory body, under Department of Science of Technology and provides financial assistance
to Indian industrial concerns and other agencies, attempting development and commercial
application of indigenous technology, or adapting imported technology to wider domestic
applications
 Gandhi Peace Prize = father of nation of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former
Sultan of Oman, late Qaboos bin Said Al Said, will be awarded Gandhi Peace Prize for 2020
and 2019, respectively + selected by jury, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
comprising Chief Justice of India, leader of single largest Opposition party in Lok Sabha,
Lok Sabha Speaker and founder of Sulabh International + Instituted in the year 1995 on the
occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
 Pritzker Architecture Prize = Awarded annually to honor a living architect + Founded in
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1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy + funded by Pritzker family and sponsored by
Hyatt Foundation + considered to be one of world’s premier architecture prizes, and is often
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referred to as Nobel Prize of architecture + 2021 awardees: Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe
Vassal, founders of French studio Lacaton& Vassal
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 Dadasaheb Phalke Award = India’s highest award in cinema + presented annually at
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National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals (under Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting) + since 1969 + first recipient: Devika Rani, “the first lady of
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Indian cinema.” + 2019 recipient: Rajinikanth

 Padma Awards = highest civilian honours + since 1954 + Given in 3 categories: Padma
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Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service); Padma Bhushan (for distinguished
service of higher-order); Padma Shri (for distinguished service) + does not amount to title
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and cannot be used as such + Total number of awards cannot exceed 120 in year
 Gallantry Awards = to honour acts of bravery and sacrifice of Armed Forces + Param
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Vir Chakra, MahaVir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted on 26th January, 1950 +
Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra were added later + announced twice in
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a year - on Republic Day and on Independence Day + Precedence - Param Vir Chakra,
Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra
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 Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar = Earlier called National Child Award for
Exceptional Achievement + instituted in 1996 + to recognise children with exceptional
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abilities and outstanding achievements in various fields

 Bal Kalyan Puraskar = Earlier called National Child Welfare Awards + instituted in
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1979 + to recognise those who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of Child
Development, Child Protection and Child Welfare + 2 categories - Individual and
Institution
 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize = The Prize, created in 2013, aims to reward
outstanding civil society action in defending human rights in Europe and beyond
11.2) IMPORTANT DAYS IN NEWS

 World Wetlands Day = 2nd Feb + marks anniversary of the signing of Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran + Theme:
‘Wetland Water’ + 42 Ramsar sites are there in India
 International Day of Forests = March 21 + Organised by United Nations Forum on Forests
and the Food and Agriculture Organization + Since 2012 + aims to emphasise how
restoration and sustainable management of forests can help address climate change and
biodiversity crisis
 World Pulses Day = February 10 + recognizes and emphasize the importance of pulses and
legumes as a global food + adopted by UN General Assembly in 2016 + Theme:
#LovePulses + Proposed by Burkina Faso, West Africa + India is biggest producer and
consumer of pulses in world and has almost achieved self-sufficiency in pulses + India
accounts for 62% of world’s total pulses production
 World Health Day = 7th April + to mark the formation of World Health Organisation
(WHO) in 1948 + Theme: “Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone”.
 World Radio Day = Feburary 13 + since 2011 + by UNESCO + to promote the medium,
increase accessibility, and encourage more people to use it
 International Mother Language Day = 21 Feb + Since 1999 + by UNESCO + to promote
awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism + Theme:
“Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”
 National Girl Child Day = Jan 24 + initiative of Ministry of Women and Child
Development + to raise awareness on the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) +
mark the anniversary of BetiBachao, BetiPadhao (BBBP) scheme
 11th National Voters’ Day (NVD) = 25th January 2021 + Theme: ‘Making Our Voters
Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed’ + since 2011 + to mark the foundation day of
Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950
11.3) GENERAL
 Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (ICAS) = is an institute of higher
learning in Kolkata, India. Established in 1876 by Mahendra Lal Sircar, a private medical
practitioner, it focuses on fundamental research in basic sciences
 India Science Research Fellowship(ISRF) = given to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand researchers to work in Indian Universities
and Research Institutions + launched by Department of Science and Technology (DST) +
acts as platform to establish research cooperation with countries neighbours of India.
 Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) = is an Indian non-governmental organisation that
conducts advocacy on digital rights and liberties, based in New Delhi + IFF files petitions
and undertakes advocacy campaigns to defend online freedom, privacy, net neutrality, and
innovation
 Council on Energy, Environment and Water, commonly known as CEEW = is a Delhi-
based not-for-profit policy research institution
 ‘G-23’ = Section of Congress of Dissenters in Jammu
 Washington Consensus = A British economist named John Williamson coined the term
Washington Consensus in 1989 + The Washington Consensus refers to a set of free-market
economic policies supported by prominent financial institutions such as the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank + basically aims for macroeconomic stability + The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, both flag-bearers of the
Washington Consensus, have been urging a departure from fiscal orthodoxy in the wake of
the pandemic. Both these institutions used to be wary of any increase in the public debt to
GDP ratio beyond 100%. Today, they are urging the advanced economies to spend more by
running up deficits even when the debt to GDP ratio is poised to rise to 125% by the end of
2021
 Intertemporal Budget Constraint = means that any debt outstanding today must be offset
by future primary surpluses + Economist Olivier Blanchard stated that If the interest rate paid
by the government is less than the growth rate, then the intertemporal budget constraint
facing the government no longer binds + Blanchard was saying that this is not true if the
Interest Rate-Growth Differential (IRGD), the difference between the interest rate and
growth rate, becomes negative + Recently, In the advanced economies, as interest rates have
turned negative, Blanchard’s condition has been met. So, governments there do not have to
worry that deficits will render public debt unsustainable.
 Agriculture Voltage Technology = developed by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research
Institute, Jodhpurunder Kisan Urja Suraksha UtthanMahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme + It can
increase income of farmers by generation of electricity and growing of cash crops
simultaneously on the same land + Agri-voltaic system is designed and developed at Central
Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur through which electricity can be generated, crops can
be cultivated at interspace area and rainwater can be harvested from top surface of PV-
module
 Artificial Photosynthesis(AP) = Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
(JNCASR) Scientists have developed an integrated system that can capture carbon dioxide
(CO2) and convert it into solar fuel + It also generates oxygen from water
 Efficient Removal of Heavy Metals = Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has
developed reusable fibrous membrane filter using biopolymer-based material (Chitosan) that
helps to separate out the heavy metals from water samples + Chitosan is derived from crab
shells that are mixed with a synthetic polymer, Nylon + membranes contain adsorbents that
attract and hold metals + Recovery of adsorbed metal in a metal-hydroxyl nitrate form is easy
+ Heavy Metals like Arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, copper, aluminium, etc.
are released into water through anthropogenic activities such as manufacturing,
electroplating, mining, etc. and could lead to several neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
 Seechewal Model = It is model of waste water management.
 Immunity Passports = or “Risk-free Certificate” would enable individuals to travel or return
to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection. It attests that bearer is immune
to a contagious disease + to ease travel restrictions amid pandemic, countries like Denmark,
Israel, UK have announced ‘digital corona passport’ + It would attest one of three things: that
the holder has been vaccinated; has tested negative for the virus or has recovered from it
 Vaccine passport = Vaccine passport functions as proof that the holder has been vaccinated
against COVID-19 and is, therefore, “safe” + Vaccine passports in different regions:
 Digital Green Certificate – (by European Commission)
 Virus passport – (Launched by China)
 Vaccine passport – (Israel)
 Seechewal Model = It is model of waste water management.
 MethylobacteriumAjmalii - Bacteria found on ISS = 4 species of bacteria have been
discovered onboard International Space Station (ISS), one of which has been named after
Indian biodiversity scientist Seyed Ajmal Khan (Methylobacteriumajmalii) + These bacteria
aid in plant growth.
 Self Regulation For Online Curated Content Providers = IAMAI announced adoption of
self-regulatory ‘toolkit’for OCCPs + Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in
line with ‘Universal Self-Regulation Code’ aims to set out guiding principles and code of
ethics for online curate content providers (OCCP) + The tool kit aims to equip the OCCPs to
adhere to the self-regulation code firmed up by the body + IAMAI is not-for-profit industry
body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its mandate is to expand and
enhance the online and mobile value added services sectors + OCCPs are online platforms
that curate a range of content and present it on a singular platform. Examples of these
platforms include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar etc.
 Right to Repair electronics = refers to government legislation that is intended to allow
consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices, where
otherwise the manufacturer of such devices require the consumer to use only their offered
services + Recently, European Union has made it mandatory where companies that sell
refrigerators, washers, hair dryers or tele-visions in the European Union (EU) will need to
ensure that those appliances can be repaired for up to 10 years
 ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’= European Parliament has symbolically declared the entire 27-
member bloc as an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” + Out of 27, 23 countries recognise same-sex
unions, with 16 legally recognising same-sex marriage + As per the resolution, LGBTIQ
persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their
om
sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or
persecution
 "Tampon tax" = or period tax + is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and
l.c
other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax or sales + Recently,
United Kingdom abolished 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on women’s sanitary products,
ai
referred to as the tampon tax + India abolished it in 2018
m
 Siras Act = ‘Siras Act,’ is a proposed as similar to the Alan Turing bill, to make amends for
past and current abuses towards the LGBTQ+ community + Alan Turing law (formal title-
2g
the Policing and Crime Act 2017) was passed to correct a historic injustice. The law
pardoned gay men convicted in the past because of their sexuality
u1
 Impeachment of US President = Impeachment is a provision that allows Congress to

remove the President of the United States + House of Representatives (Lower House) has
ur
the “the sole power of impeachment” while the Senate (Upper House) has “the sole power
to try all impeachments” + Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court has the duty of
ng
presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate + Grounds: treason, bribery, or other high
crimes and mis-demeanours + Democrats in House of Republicans introduced article of
eo
impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in the attack on the
Capitol recently
lm
 Houthi = Formed by Zaidite scholars, a Shia sect who had lived in Yemen for over a
thousand years and also ruled the country for several centuries + Their rebellion against
ai
the Saudi-backed government began about a decade ago + U.S. is about to review Houthi
m
terrorist label
 Pakistan Gets Geographical Indicator Tag For Basmati Rice =Laws require that
before applying for registration of any product in the international market it has to be
protected under the geographical indication laws of that country + And Pakistan is
fighting a case in the 27-member European Union against India’s move to get Basmati
rice registered as its product + It is believed that a GI tag would strengthen Pakistan’s
case in the EU + In May 2010, GI status was given to basmati grown in Punjab, Haryana,
Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu &
Kashmir + A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured
product(handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical
territory
 ISL dictionary = Prepared by Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre under
Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry + Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,
2016 recognizes Sign Language as a means of communication + 3rd edition launched recently
 eCNY= China has floated its own Central Bank backed digital currency + in selected cities
on a trial basis + a digital currency is a form of currency that is available only in digital or
electronic form, and not in physical form. It is also called digital money, electronic money,
electronic currency, or cyber cash + China's digital currency is called Digital Currency
Electronic Payment (DCEP)—it is also commonly referred to in China as “e-CNY” or
“Digital RMB.”
 Povcal Net Database = developed by World Bank to allow users to replicate the calculations
made by the World Bank's researchers[The Hindu, 22-Mar-2021]
 Saffron Revolution Myanmar = was a series of economic and political protests and
demonstrations that took place during 2007 in Myanmar + Please Note: In India, Saffron
revolution has been used to refer Solar Energy Production.
 “We must win” Revolution = Current ongoing revolution in Myanmar against military
crackdown
 Indian monsoon 25 million years ago resembled present day Australia’s = The
researchers analysed the morphological characters of fossil leaves collected from Deccan
Volcanic Province, East Garo Hills of Meghalaya, Gurha mine in Rajasthan and Makum
Coalfield in Assam + The results indicated that the fossil leaves from India were adapted to
an Australian type of monsoon and not the current Indian monsoon system during its voyage
 Kamalam = Gujarat govt decided to rename the Dragon Fruit as ‘Kamalam’ + The word
‘Kamalam’ is a Sanskrit word and the shape of the fruit does resemble the lotus flower

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Segregated Prelims CA Compilation

Coverage: January 2021 till April 2022

Please Note: Compilation of May 2021 Till January 2022 will be

available at the end of February 2022 in Hardcopy Format.

- Address for above hardcopy will be collected in February 2022.

WARNING : This COPY is ENCRYPTED and FOR PERSONAL

7.6 POLITY –Policies in News ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 125

7.8 POLITY – General -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------130

8.2 ECONOMY – Terms in News --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 133

9.2 DEFENCE – Weapons and Ammunitions --------------------------------------------------------------137

10.2 HISTORICAL EVENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 143

10.5 PRODUCTS& ARTS in News -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145

11.2 IMPORTANT DAYS in News --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 148

 BIMSTEC = Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic

trade agreement is under negotiation + Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country

1.2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – UN Releated International Organisations

committees of the UNSC, namely Counterterrorism Committee in 2022, Taliban Sanctions

 Committee on World Food Security (CFS) = Established in 1974 as an intergovernmental

Guidelines to end hunger

1.3) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Agreements, Conventions and Deals

 SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF): It was adopted by the UN Statistical

accounting in 2012. It looks at “individual environmental assets”, such as water

and the economy

knowledge in ecosystem accounting + India is one of 90 countries that have

 SEEA Applications and Extensions: It illustrates the users of SEEA Central

 GloLitter Partnerships Project = Project is implemented by the International Maritime

1.4) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Conference, Meeting and Summits

1.5) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – India and Bilateral Relations

preferential tariffs to imports from developing countries + Tariffs may be reduced at

1.6) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Health Related

1.7) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – International Places in News

1.8) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – Miscellaneous

 Global Youth Mobilization Local Solutions Campaign = Launched recently + to involve

from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60% and globally by 10%

2.1) SPECIES in NEWS

elephants grow tusks

 IUCN of Asian Elephant: Vulnerable

 Indian Star Tortoises = Schedule IV of WPA,1972 + Vulnerable + Prohibited from export

2.2) NEW SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS

 Pit-Viper Snake (Arunachal Pradesh);

 Punitus Sanctus, freshwater fish (Tamil Nadu)

 Aloe Trinervis (North-western India)

 Eriocaulon parvicephalum and Eriocaulon karaavalense (Western Ghats)

 Portulaca laljii, Wild Sunrose (Andhra Pradesh)

carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry

2.3) ANCIENT SPECIES /DISCOVERY in NEWS

2.4) INVASIVE SPECIES in NEWS

2.5) CYCLONES in NEWS

2.6) ISLAND, VALLEY and LAKES in NEWS

2.7) RIVERS in NEWS

2.8) PROJECT in NEWS

+ Joint Venture Company (JVC)will be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power

developed by NTPC in reservoir of thermal plant Peddapalli district, Telangana + Generation

TapovanVishnugad Hydro Power Project = 520MW run-of-river project + on

2.9) PARKS AND SANCTUARIES in NEWS

 Karlapat Sanctuary = Odisha + 6 elephants died here of haemorrhagic septicaemia +

and rehabilitate elephants that were held captive

It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as

(the collection of seeds and timber)

tribe + 2nd in State after Similipal Biosphere Reserve (in 1996)

2.10) TRIBES and ETHNIC GROUPS in NEWS

2.11) ENVIRONMENT and INDIA

India & included in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) -1

nose and humpback dolphins