Issues in preparing CER: Permanent electoral roll absent
in Local Bodies-duplication of work; high periodic
POLITY
Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023
Provisions
1. Data Fiduciary (DF) -data processing entity; Data
Principals -to whom data relates.
2. Consent-not required for ‘legitimate uses’; parental
consent required for children.
3. Data Protection Board of India (DPBI)-monitor
compliance; hear grievances of data principles-appealable
to Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal
(TDSAT). Members will be appointed for 2 yrs-eligible for
re-appointment.
4. Rights & duties of data principals-seek correction &
erasure; grievance redressal; nominate other person in
case of death/incapacity.
5. Obligations of Data Fiduciary- build reasonable
safeguard; erase data when purpose has been met.
6. Significant Data Fiduciary (SDF)- GoI to notify based on
some factors; additional obligation of appointing Data
Protection Officer (DPO), Independent Data Auditor.
7. Cross border personal data transfer outside India
allowed except to countries restricted by GoI.
8. GoI can exempt certain activities in security & public
order interest.
Challenges: Violate FR- exemption to State;Inadequate
Safeguards- cross border data transfer allowed; No
compensation- Sec 43A (compensation to users by coy in
case of data mishandling), IT Act, 2000 removed;
Complex GR-DF’s GR→DPBI→TDSAT; RTI Exemption-
personal info (asset, liabilities) of public official will not be
disclosed under RTI Act; No provision of Data Portability
(allow individual to obtain & reuse their personal data for
for their own purpose) & Right to be Forgotten.
Check comparison of DPDPA, 2023 with GDPR.
Criminal Law Reforms
Need: High pendency in courts (4.7 Cr); timely justice
delivery (77.1% undertrials-SCOHA); low conviction rate
(~50%); erasing colonial legacy & integrating modern tech.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023→ IPC, 1860
Sec 124A of IPC removed but its provisions still penalised;
defined- Terrorism & Organised Crime.
ex-subversive activities; ⏫
Impact: Subjective interpretation of various terms,
ed
discretionary policing
powers-arbitrary action; delays in existing trials- provision
not applicable to existing trials.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023→
CrPC, 1860
Detention of undertrials-bail condition for 1st time offender
eased, conditionally releasing accused on personal bond;
Forensic investigation mandated if sentence ≥ 7
yrs;e-trials (inquiry, proceedings); timeline for judicial
procedures (judgment, framing charges); stopping political
waiver of punishment-death sentence can only be
converted to life imprisonment.
Impact:Expedited case disposal-timelines prescribed;
irrespective of place of offence; ⏫
integration of tech; Improved victim’s rights- FIR
in detention period.
Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023→ Indian Evidence
Act, 1872
Electronic records as evidence- voicemails, emails,
locational evidence; Oral evidence includes electronic info;
joint trials-trial of ≥2 persons under same offence.
Impact:expansion in use of electronic evidence; privacy
issues.
CEC & other EC Bill, 2023
Anoop Baranwal Case: Selection Committee for CEC+
EC=PM+LoP+CJI.
Provisions: Selection Committee= PM+LoP+Cabinet
Minister nominated by PM; Search Committee to
recommend person to Selection Committee; Term of
office=6/65 yr, CEC & EC ineligible for reappointment, if
EC appointed as CEC then total term ≤ 6yr;
Removal-CEC: as SC Judge, EC- recommendation of
CEC.
Concerns: Against SC order- CJI removed; dominance of
ruling party in Selection Committee; redundant Search
Committee- selection committee can suggest other than
Search Committee; CEC/EC- under control of Political
exec.
Aspects of Election Process & Reforms
Common Electoral Roll (CER):idea is to replace General
Electoral Roll (ECI) & Separate Electoral Roll (SEC) with
CER.
frequency of LegAss & Parliamentary constituencies
unlike that of local body; ©l challenge- outside Art. 325
(separate electoral roll for election to Parliament & SLA).
Recommendation: constitutional change; legal provision to
exclude non-citizen Adhaar holder; CER to adhere federal
principles.
False Declaration:penalised u/s 125A, RPA, 1951.
Recommendation for strict provision.
MP≤ 30 yrs. Recommendation to
age.
⏬
Parity b/w Voting age & contesting election: 2.2% LS
election contesting
GNCTD Act, 2023
2023: GNCTD Vs. UoI Case- Delhi govt. (headed by CM)
completely command all but services except land, police &
public order.
Provisions: National Capital Civil Services Authority
(NCCSA)-recommend LG on service related matter;
NCCSA- CM (Chair)+Chief Secretary+Principal Home
Secretary; Discretionary power of LG to approve
recommendation of NCCSA.
Issues:more power to GoI in controlling officers;
conferring power to NCCSA violates Triple chain of
Electorate); ⏫
Accountability (Civil Servant→Ministers→Legislature→
ed
LG’s discretion (LG to act on advice of
COM-SC, 2018+Art. 239AA).
Way forward: Community police enforce civil compliance
& Delhi Police for criminal compliance; Other models-
Washington DC, Brussels, Ottawa etc.
No Confidence Motion (NCM)
Faced by govt. in Parliament.
Implications:Political Vacuum;Administrative confusion &
policy uncertainty; Politically motivated NCM affect the
optimal time utilisation house (456 hours spent on NCM in
Parliament); Burden on Exchequer-If no other party is able
to prove the majority.
Mediation Bill, 2023
mediation; ⏬
Need of Bill: absence of comprehensive law for
court’s burden; fulfilling UN Convention on
(Singapore Convention); ⏬
Int’l Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation
online mediation in the bill.
mediation cost- provision of
Provisions: voluntary pre-litigation mediation; mediation
to be completed within 120 days, additional 60 days with
consent of parties; Mediation Council of India (MCI)
established; Mediation Service Providers to be recognized
by MCI; agreements of mediation binding & enforceable
same as Court; Mediation settlement can be challenged in
competent court.
Issues: Online Mediation (55% -internet access; 27%
device access-NITI); CoI: MCI require prior approval of
GoI for framing regulations-govt. is largest litigant; no
provision of enforcing settlement resulting 4/m mediation
outside India.
Guidelines for Celebrities, Influencers
By Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI): non-for
profit coy under CA, 2013; voluntary self-regulatory org.
Provisions:disclosure of all material connection, due
diligence of product by endorser; disclosure of Certification
of Health influencer; fin-fluencer can offer investment
related advice after registering with SEBI.
2022 Guidelines: Prohibits- surrogate ad, targeting
children; Violation penalised under Consumer Protection
Act, 2019.
Registration of Birth & Death (Amendment) Act, 2023
Provisions: maintaining Nat’l Database by Registrar
General of India; electronic birth & death certificates; data
of Nat’l Database for preparing other databases (ration
card, electoral rolls); Birth certificate used for admission in
Edun Insti.; provision of appeal.
Issues:Violates FR u/a 21A (birth certificate requirement);
Right to Privacy (consent of child b/4 linking its data not
required); only conclusive proof of age.
Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Bill, 2023
Replaces Press & Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867
Provisions: appoint Press & Registrar General (PRG) &
empowered to suspend/cancel certificate of registration;
restricts convicts to bring out periodicals; simplifies press
regulation.
Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Make act of Tout punishable.
Tout= person who either proposes to procure or procures
the employment of a legal practitioner in return of any
payment.
INTERNATIONAL RELATION Major channels in Dunable delta- Chilia, Sulina and St.
George
India-Greece Spirit of Camp David- joint statement by Summit b/w
Bilateral ties → Strategic Partnership; included in ISA. USA, Japan, S. Korea.
Significance:Greece support India for NSC & UNSC
permanent membership; Armenia & Greece crucial
against 3 Brothers (Turkey-Pak’n-Azerbaijan); ECONOMY
Geostrategic location in Mediterranean; Abundant Oil &
Credit Rating Agencies (CRA)
Gas in Mediterranean; Piraeus port (Greece) part of
Factors of Credit rating-Political risk, taxation, currency
⏫
IMEC→link to Europe; Potential market for India’s defence
ing value, labour laws, Sovereign risk.
export-Greece military expenditure.
India=Investment grade by 3 CRAs.
Challenges:lack of strong strategic connection-high-level

⏫
In India, SEBI regulates CRA.
interaction absent for 40 yrs; 60% stake of Piraeus Port
Challenge to India’s credit rating- impact of CC, of
held by COSCO Shipping coy (chinese coy); low trade &

⏫ ⏫
temp. volatility by 2030- delay in green investment→ later
investment with Greece.
cost of borrowing for nation→ debt.
BRICS
Issues of sovereign rating of India: Flawed
BRICS Summit: Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi &
“issuer-pays” model-leading to CoI; Uncaptured
UAE included; idea of trading in local currency mooted;
fundamentals of India- no history of sovereign default, high
push for UN reforms.
forex reserve, low ext. Debt to GDP ratio (20%), high
Significance: aligning geopolitical & geo-ecoc
FDI/FPI; bias of CRA towards Developed countries; global
agenda-major global oil producer included; enhanced infra
regulatory void in CRAs.
linkages like INSTC; enhancing African growth; boost to
Incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (ICRR)
BRICS & global peace- 4 major middle east nation
Temporary measure dealing with excess liquidity.
included; reform push in west dominated Multilateralism.
Similar to CRR, RBI doesn’t pay interest to bank on it.
Challenges: expansion= dilute original purpose of

⏫
10% ICRR applied by RBI.
BRICS+Chinese maneuver to China’s vision of Int’l order; ed
Need: Manage liquidity- high govt. Spending,
hinders India’s balancing interest-BRICS, SCO, QUAD;
sustained foreign inflows, banned ₹2000 notes; contain
tension b/w countries fail the group-Saudi+Iran (regional
inflation; build resilient banks.
dominance), Egypt+Ethiopia (Nile river); difficult
Other Liquidity Mgmt tools- SDF-deposit w/o G-Sec;
Intra-BRICS trade-Iran, Russia off SWIFT sys.; push to
LAF-repo & reverse repo; Open Market
Minilateralism-hinders collective action against threats to
Operation-sale/purchase of bond by RBI; Ways & Means
humanity.
Advances (WMA)- temporary loan facility to govt.
Way Forward: Strategically balance Western power;
Startups in India
check Chinese dominance-engage Russia & Iran; engage
Startup-defined by DPIIT under Startup India Scheme: age
with Global South via BRICS; push Indian Payment
≤10 yr, turnover ≤ ₹100 Cr.
System in intra-BRICS trade; define membership criteria.
India-3rd largest Startup ecosystem, 108 unicorns
Malabar Exercise
Govt. Initiatives: Startup India; Innovation for Defence
Global concern against China- Chinese domination via its
Excellence (iDEX), MeITY Startup Hub (MSH)
land and maritime disputes; questionable intent OBOR
Impact of Startups: employment(47% recognised startup
Programme; Debt Trap Diplomacy.

⏫
4/m tier-2,3 cities); women empowerment (47%
Participants: India, USA, Japan, Australia.
recognised startup have ≥1 women director); in
Significance

⏫
R&D-Deep Tech Startups (focus on S&T soln instead of
Development of strong maritime order→ sea-control
Business model); inclusivity-fintech reaching remote
(aircraft carriers/surface ships) and sea-denial
areas; attract investment 4/m MNCs.
(submarines, underwater drones, etc.) capabilities; Control
Challenges of Startup ecosystem in India: 5.18%
over navigational chokepoints; Strengthening India’s
startup in Agri-low focus; low IPR (11% startup’s
SAGAR policy.
application=patent); Flipping-registering in foreign
Global Value Chain (GVC)
country-better IP protection, access to overseas debt etc;
GVC=production network distributed b/w firms & countries
low utilisation of I-T exemption (1%) under Sec. 80-IAC;
to optimise cost.
Funding issues- fund 4/m angel investor only after proof of
Int’l trade Vs. GVC: Int’l trade involves 2 countries while
concept has been provided.
GVC trade cross borders multiple times.

⏫
CSR Spending in India
Europe is most regionally integrated (regional linkage= 4*
Data: 150% since FY15; Health (29.5%) & Edun
global linkages); South Asia amongst least regionally
(24.5%); spending on environment doubled; ≤0.1% toward
⏫
integrated.
tech. incubators.
Significance: ecoc growth; specialised industry in
Issues: lack proper enforcement; focus to avoid regulatory
⏫
countries; economies of scale in niche area; opportunity
liability; Geographical bias- Maharashtra, KN receive more
for tech transfer ; distributed environment impact.
CSR,KPMG report; low spending (52/100 largest coy
Challenges: Risk of unequal distribution of gains 4/m
failed to spend 2%); lack of community participation in
⏫
GVC-countries might get locked in low-value-added
CSR activities b/c of unawareness; no availability of well
activity; Risk of ext. Shock to local eco- ed dependency &
organised NGOs.
vulnerability to disruption; spill over of local inflation;
Way Forward: bottom up approach (ex-cottage industry);
challenge to MSME- with entry of MNCs.
priotise social welfare (equitable profit distribution to
⏫
Way Forward: Building trust in GVC; encourage
tribals); diversify CSR spending.
interoperability b/w nations; map vulnerabilities;
SHG
investment in GVC; Integrate MSME in GVCs.
SHG success stories: Kudumbashree, KL; Jeevika,
Panama Canal
Bihar; Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal, MH; Looms of
Shipping disrupted b/c of Drought.
Ladakh.
Panama is Isthmus (like Isthmus of Suez) connecting
Lakhpati Didi Schemes: aims for ₹1 lac annual income of
Atlantic & Pacific Ocean.
women in SHG by skill trg-plumbing, LED bulb making etc.
Isthmus= narrow strip of land connecting 2 large
by Rural Ministry.
landmasses.

⏫
Significance of SHG:entrepreneurship culture; finance to
Sulina Channel
members; female labor participation; build social
Sulina Channel- distributary of Danube river, connects
capital; enhanced women posn -included in family decision
major Ukrainian ports on the river to Black Sea.
making; gender equality (goal 5 of SDG); mask mfg during
COVID; asserting rights by Pressure Group.
Challenges of SHG:low fund availability- low contribution
of Pvt. bank to finance SHG; non-coherence b/w
members; Patriarchy-women used as face; poor marketing
of their product; lack of core biz values.
Govt. initiatives: Startup Village Entrepreneurship
Program (SVEP)-aid SHG to set non-farm enterprise;
SHG-Bank Linkage Program.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
₹2.7 lac Cr. saved by DBT-MoF.
Scope: Cash transfer, In-kind transfer, Others-govt. to
non-govt. functionary.
Nodal Agency- DBT Mission; disbursement via Public
Finance Mgmt Sys (PFMS); Adhaar not mandatory for
DBT; Enablers of DBT- JAM Trinity, Biz Correspondents,
Payment Banks, Mobile Money.
⏬
Significance: expedited fund transfer (PMAY, LPG Pahal
ed
Scheme); corruption; encourage ppl to open bank
a/c-finacial inclusion; better monitoring by govt.
Challenges of DBT: poor beneficiary identification- ex,
complex criteria under PM-KISAN-fund distributed to
ineligible; Operational issue- biometrics-Adhaar mismatch,
poor skilled data entry operator; low financial
inclusion-tribals don’t have bank a/c; digital divide-2.7%
computer access & 8.9% internet access amongst poorest
20% household-Oxfam; poor GR; privacy issues.
Bharat New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)
Similar to Global NCAP- by ‘Towards Zero Foundation’
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will test
Bharat NCAP.
Voluntary test, though authority can select particular
⏫
variant to test.
Significance: aid consumer making informed decision;
⏬
tech adoption-air bags, parking sensors; cost saving for
manufacturer; export worthiness; healthcare &
insurance cost.
Udan Scheme
About: Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-enhance
regional air connectivity; MoCA; Implementing
agency-AAI.
Features-concessions to airlines by govt.; Viability Gap
Fund; Regional Air Connectivity Fund- by a levy on
passenger.
Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)
On lines of RIDF. Funded by use of PSL shortfall.
Cover Tier 2/3 Cities.
Aim: Loan by GoI to State/UT govt. to finance their infra
projects (sewerage and solid waste management, water
supply & sanitation).
Infra not covered: Housing, power and telecom, rolling
stock (buses and trams), urban transport, health, &
education institutions.
Principal loan repaid in7 yrs (including 2 yr moratorium),
Interest Rate= Bank Rate-1.5
Other Infa scheme for Tier 2/3 Cities-SMART Cities
Mission, 2015; AMRUT Mission, 2015; HRIDAY, 2015
BharatNet
About: CS Scheme to provide broadband connectivity to
Gram Panchayats; funded by Universal Service Obligation
Fund (USOF); Implementer- Bharat Broadband Network.
Major Ports in India
Ports- Major (#12, under centre), Minor (concurrent list)
Legislation for Major Ports- Major Port Authorities
Act,2021; Indian Ports Act
⏫
Data: Turnaround time (52 hrs, FY24); Container traffic
(796 mn tonnes); 10% in Cargo handling; Operating
Ratio (₹48, i.e. ₹48 is spent to earn ₹100).
Facts: Oldest Port= Shyama Prasad Mukherjee/Kolkata
Port (only riverine port); Largest Natural port= Mumbai
Port; Only port registered as coy= Kamarajar Port.
Challenges:financial constraint (₹13,000 Cr pension
liability of Mumbai Port); non-opitimised capacity utilisation
(49%); lack of transhipment hubs (25% Indian
transhipment cargo handled in India); lack of multimodal
transport infra; Lack of Mega Ports (5 Major, 2
Non-Major≥100 MTPA); Rigid tariffs by govt. Ports.
Govt. Initiative:Sagarmanthan Dashboard- project
monitoring; Sagar-Setu App- real time traffic mgmt; Nat’l
Logistical Policy (NLP); Sagar Unnati- measuring
performance of Major Ports; 101 road/90 rail project under
Sagarmala Project;
Recommendation: Integrated port development planning;
Port modernisation & mechanisation; PPP investment for
Mega ports, transshipment hub; port-led industrialization.
6th Census report on Minor Irrigation Scheme
Classification of Irrigation Projects- based on Cultivable
Command Area (CCA, area fit for cultivation physically
irrigated)- Major (CCA> 10,000 ha), Medium (2,000 ha),
Minor (<2,000 ha).
Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation)
Amendment Bill, 2023
For development & regulation of Offshore Mineral
Resources (territorial waters, continental shelf, EEZ &
other maritime zones).
Offshore minerals regulated by GoI.
Offshore Minerals: EEZ (2 mn km2); Lime mud (Guj &
Mah),Construction-Grade sand (Kerala), Phosphorite
(Eastern and Western continental Margins), Polymetallic
Nodules (PMN) (A&N Is, Lakshadweep).
Changes: Composite licensing for exploration &
production (earlier different licenses); prodn lease of 50yrs
(earlier 30yrs); competitive bidding of operating rights;
mining lease in reserved area to govt./govt. Coy; mining of
atomic material only to govt. Coy; creation of Offshore
Area Mineral Trust-to explore in offshore area.
Significance:Utilize offshore wealth- unutilized b/c of lack
of transparent legal framework to allocate operating
right;encourage pvt. Participation- auction; On the lines of
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act,
1957-for onshore mineral wealth.
Concerns:Environmental Impact- marine ecosystem,
PMN mining -threat to seabed specie; big pvt. Player
threat livelihood of ppl like fishermen; expensive tech for
offshore mining; operating right only to govt. In reserved
area.
Medical Tourism
Visa for foreigners for treatment under AYUSH systems of
medicine allowed.
Significance:India attracts Medical Value Travellers; long
waiting period in developed countries; Improved regional
connectivity; demand 4/m ageing population countries; low
cost high quality treatment in India.
Challenges: competition 4/m Malaysia, Thailand etc.; less
Joint Commission Int’l (JCI) accredited hospital (US based
non profit int’l accreditation org.); overseas medical care
uncovered by insurer; exploitation by Medical tourism
middleman; lack of uniform fee structure for foreigner.
Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 2023
Act extended to J&K.
Indian Pharmacy sector: 3rd largest by volume; dominate
in- Generic drugs, Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicines,
low-cost vaccines.
Challenges: dependence on China for API, bulk drugs;
expensive domestic API (20% expensive than China);
poor R&D; fake drugs (25% of domestic market,
ASSOCHAM); poor IPR protection.
Govt. Initiatives:PLI for Pharma Sector-KSM/API/Drug
Intermediaries; Bulk Drugs Park; 100% FDI in medical
devices; Nat’l Medical Devices Promotion Council- for
MedTech industry.
Way forward: diversify export market to China, Japan
etc.; create independent Pharma Ministry; edun insti for
R&D & attract global talent.
⏫
Railway Finances
Operating Ratio=107.39% in FY22; in Gross Traffic
Receipts & CapEx;Cross-subsidised passenger fares by
profits of freight ops.
Inflation Targeting
Retail inflation (CPI) =7.4% despite tighter monetary
policy.
RBI’s inability to curb inflation: short-term supply-demand
mismatch; White Fly disease & erratic monsoon; ext.
Supply shock due to geopolitical uncertainty.
Goldilock Scenario
In eco, refers to an ideal situation where there is steady
growth. Growth is neither too high (to trigger inflation) nor
too low for slowdown.
Features: low-unemployment, inflation, interest rate;
steady growth rate.
UDGAM Portal
By RBI to enable bank customers to find their unclaimed
deposits across multiple banks in one place.
Fair & Remunerative Price
Minm price to sugarcane farmers by mill owners.
Recommended by Commission on Agril Costs & Prices.
Issues of FRP: mills mandated to pay FRP within 14 days
else 15% pa interest rate charged; mill owner have no say
in FRP; Sugar Commissioner empowered to attach mill
property; Cooperative mills pay more than FRP due to
State Advised Prices (SAP).
Regulation of Online Ads
Amendment of Allocation of Biz (AoB) rules, 1961: Ministry
of I&B as administrative authority for regulation of online
advertisements.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)
For redevelopment of railway station.
Initiatives for railway modernisation: Vande Bharat Trains;
Electronic interlocking system; KAVACH- train collision
avoidance; Dedicated Freight Corridors; Net Zero by 2030
Stalled Housing Project
4.12 lakh housing units (44% in NCR) are stalled; lack of
financial viability-main cause.
Way Forward: mandatory developer’s registration with
RERA; SWAMIH Fund-financing stalled projects
RERA, 2016: RERA; protection against builders fraud;
registration of project with State RERA.
Insurance Surety Bonds
3 party contract by which one party (the surety)
guarantees the performance of a second party (the
principal) to a third party (the obligee).
Replaced Bank Guarantees.
Rail Sea Rail Transportation
multimodal transportation system that transports the coal.
PUSHP Portal
By Ministry of Power to ensure greater availability of
power during peak demand season.
Namoh 108 Lotus
Discovered in Manipur, only lotus variety in India to have
had its genome sequenced.
Lotus Mission, part of horticulutre mission to promote
Lotus Cultivation.
One Week One Lab (OWOL) by CSIR: every lab to
showcase history & scientific achievements for a week.
Bhagwa Pomegranate
High antioxidant content.
APEDA facilitated export of 1st trial shipment to USA.
SECURITY
DRDO
DRDO=R&D Wing of MoD.
Achievements: Agni & Prithvi (missile series); BrahMos;
Tejas (LCA); Akash (air defence system); Pinaka
(multi-barrel air launcher); Arjun Mk-1 (battle tank)
Issues of DRDO:failed to complete mission mode project;
working on obsolete tech; bureaucratisation; monopoly
Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control &
Discipline) Bill, 2023
Ex of Inter-Services Org. (ISO)-A&I Command, Space
Defence Agency, NDA.
Provisions:Defined ISO-body of troops including JSC
subjected to Air Force/Navy/Army Act; GoI can constitute
ISO & Joint Service Command (JSC); Empowers
Commander-in-chief to take action against personnel of
other service in ISO with respective Act; Supritendence of
GoI over ISO.
Mobile User Protection
Sanchar Saathi’s Portal: to find mobile connections
registered in their name, & report stolen/ lost mobile
handsets & block them etc.
Acoustic Side Channel Attack (ASCA)
Cyber attack where sound of keystrokes of keyboard used
to decode passwords using AI.
Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) Anti Tank Guided
Missile
6th gen missile capable of destroying enemy targets
hidden behind mountains.
Swathi Weapon Locating Radar-Mountain (WLR-M)
A radar which can locate hostile artillery- mortar, rocket
launchers etc. in mountains.
Astra Missile
Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile, by DRDO for
Tejas LCA.
Candy Bombs
3-D printed bombs to tackle ammunition shortage by
Ukraine.
ENVIRONMENT
Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF)
GBFF aims to finance Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
KMGBF adopted in COP15 (Montreal, 2022) replacing
Aichi biodiversity targets (expired in 2020).
It has been ratified @ 7th Assembly of GEF.
Unregulated Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)
Vulnerabilities of IHR: Geophysical: tectonically active,
unconsolidated deposits, under-cutting by river currents in
Alaknanda Valley etc, hill washing & percolation causing
land subsidence (Joshimath); deforestation (lead to
avalanches, land slide); obstructing river flow (Tehri dam);
Rising tourism; waste generation; construction activities
replacing eco-friendly aesthetic infra; seasonal tourism.
Shimla Case Study: Indira Gandhi Medical College-
constructed over substantial water springs and channels;
Shimla Development Plan subjudice in SC.
Way Forward: implement Solid/Plastic Waste Mgmt
Rules, 2016; levy Green Cess.
Water Trading
⏫
Treating water as commodity instead of public good.
Need of treated wastewater (WW): ing urbanisation
(40% WW treated); unequal water distribution (80% rain in
4 month); WW- major water pollution source (80%
wastewater to enter water bodies, UN World Water Report
2023); tackle water scarcity (80% of people under water
stress in Asia, UN World Water Report 2023); low water
use efficiency in Indian agri.
Challenges:Cost of treated WW>fresh water; storage of
WW- uncontinuous demand; plant maintenance, sewage
network disruption challenges assured supply; Essentiality
of water=fundamental human right.
Way forward: form statutory Independent Regulatory
Authority (IRA)- determine water allocation & treated
wastewater price; fix reuse targets to municipal, industrial
and agricultural sectors and issue tradeable Water Reuse
Certificates (WRCs); identify demand; Social Impact
Assessment by IRAs.
Best Practice: S. Africa’s sys enables existing water
rights to be reallocated.
Govt. Initiatives: Crop Diversification Programme; MSP
to Oilseeds; incentive by state to use Direct-Seeded Rice.
Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Act, 2023
Provision: defn of Coastal Aquaculture broadened-
Shrimp farming, seaweed culture, cage culture etc;
decriminalised illegal coastal aquaculture activity; certain
aquaculture activities allowed in CRZ (hatcheries, nucleus
breeding); prevent use of antibiotics in coastal
aquaculture; Additional role of Coastal Aquaculture
Authority- standards of i/p, effluent discharge, regulate
units etc; Registration under Coastal Aquaculture Authority
Act to be treated as valid permission under CRZ
Notification, 2019.
Significance: sustainable growth of coastal area; EoDB;
employment; enhance export.
Govt. Initiatives: MPEDA under MoCI; Blue Revolution;
PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
Agroforestry
Combination of agriculture & forestry together.
Components= crop+trees+livestock
Significance: Farm profitability (combined o/p of
agroforestry/unit area > o/p of any 1 component);
It is a methanotroph (methane-eating microorganism)
bacterial strain.
Consumes methane & produces biomass.
Fujiwhara Effect
When 2 hurricanes/cyclones spinning in same direction,
come close to each other, they begin ‘an intense dance
around their common center’.
If 2 cyclones are intense, they may merge to form a mega
cyclone.

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Resource sustainability (pollution, managing soil erosion,
establish wildlife habitats); i/p cost (mulch/leaf litter=

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manure & bio-pesticides 4/m tree components);
Biodiversity conservation; Food security; ing Farmers’
income; Carbon sequestration
Challenges: lack of superior quality seed; trees interfere
with crop yield; low R&D; long tree gestation period; lack
of market for trees grown; less remunerative tree
cultivation.
Govt. Initiatives: Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (Har medh
par pedh) Scheme; Mission for Integrated development of
Horticulture (MIDH); Bamboo removed as tree-encourage
large scale cultivation; Nat’l Agroforestry Policy, 2015
Way Forward: R&D on agroforestry models; availability of
certified seed; improve market access for trees cultivated;
Social Impact assessment of agroforestry; extension
services to such farmers.
Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG)
SATAT Scheme: set up CBG Plants & make CBG
available as automotive fuel.
Challenges of SATAT: Multiple regulatory approvals
(MoPNG, MoEFCC, MoNRE); Discontinuation of Central
Financial Assistance (CFA); disinterest among Oil PSUs;
Unregulated bio-mass supply chain; inefficient solid waste
segregation; differential tax of CNG & CBG.
Other initiatives:Nat’l Biofuel Policy, 2018; GOBAR-Dhan
Scheme (effective mgmt of rural bio-degradable waste);
PSL for CBG projects etc.
FloodWatch Mobile Application
By Central Watch Commission (CWC).
To monitor real-time flood situation in country.
Plastic Overshoot Day (POD) Report
POD= day when the amount of plastic waste > capability
of waste management systems to effectively manage
waste.
Indian categorized as ‘The Waste Sponges’ (low
consumption yet a high level of plastic pollution).
Belém Declaration
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Org. (ACTO)=Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador etc.
Members of ATCO signed it which calls for including
indigenous people in decision making.
Debt-for-Nature Swap
An agreement where creditor forgoes debtor’s debt in
exchange of debtor’s commitment to invest in environment
specific project.
Dhaulpur-Karauli TR (DKTR)
NTCA gave its approval for DKTR, notification by State
govt. remaining.
54th TR of India.
State of India’s Birds Report
By Wildlife Institute of India (WII) + Zoological Survey of

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India (ZSI).
in bird richness in India.
Endangered: Indian Skimmer & Black-bellied Tern (both
around Chambal, Ganga, Mahanadi, Yamuna, and Son).
Critically Endangered:Great Indian Bustard; Bengal
Florican; Baer’s Pochard (Wetlands of Assam & Manipur)
Report on Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI)
Report by GEF & Conservation Int’l (CI).

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Findings:Indigenous people owns 40% of protected area;
Indigenous land mgmt has equal or greeter impact to
deforestation than state mgmt.
ICI: to support Indigenous People & Local Community
(IPLC) to secure their rights; endorsed by GEF in 2022.
Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C