November 2023 Upsc Magazine-4da7bb5c

NOVEMBER 2023
01. Polity and Governance Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 29

United Nations Security Council 31
Maratha Reservation and Indra Sawhney Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) 33
5
case 1992
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 33
Governors holding bills passed by State Partnership for Global Infrastructure and
6 36
legislatures Investment (PGII)
State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 8 Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM)
36
corridor
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral
9
Participation (SVEEP) Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
38
Countries Plus (OPEC+)
First-past-the-post voting system vs. mixed
9 Paris Club 38
member proportional (MMP) system
Electoral Trusts and Electoral bonds 11
03.
Finance Commission 12 Economy
Natural Farming 40
Appointment Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC) and Information 13
The eight core industries 41
Commissioners (ICs) India Finance Report 2023 42
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) 43
Governors can’t sit on Bills passed by
14 Double-taxation avoidance agreements
Assembly: Supreme Court 43
(DTAAs)
Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023 15
Deflation 44
Article 258 and Article 258A of the Indian Inflation – Headline and core 44
17
constitution
Climate change risk index in agrifood
45
Issue of Sub-categorization 18 systems
Electoral Trusts 20 Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of
46
The role of the Governor in legislature 20 Electric (FAME) Vehicles in India
Supreme Court Hearing on Freebies 21 Risk weights 47
Battery Waste (Management and

22 04.
Handling) Rules, 2022 Security
Special Category Status 23 Indian Computer Emergency Response
49
All-India judicial service 24 Team (CERT-In)
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 49
02.
International Relations
India-Bhutan Relations 26 05.
Geography and
Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Environment
27
(IPMDA) initiative Blue Flag Certification 51
World Biosphere Reserve Day 52 Greenwashing 73
Tantalum 73
Global Declaration of River Dolphins and
53 Climate-smart agriculture 74
their Rivers
Key terms in the climate change
74
Ecological Ripple Effect 54 conversation
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) 55 Compressed Biogas (CBG) 77
Minamata Convention 55
06.
Geoglyph 56 Science & Technology
Climate Shift Index (CSI) 57 Deep Ocean Mission 78
SunSmart Global UV App 58 White Hydrogen 80
Environmental DNA 58 Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM)

80
project
Project Dolphin 59
Gravitational Lensing 81
State of the Climate Services report by the
61 Hanle Dark Sky Reserve 82
WMO
Convention on International Trade in Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS)
83
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 61 – Kavach system
Flora (CITES) Deepfakes 84
Global Tiger Initiative 62 Euclid mission 85
Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) 62 Pusa-44 85

White holes 86
Red Sanders 63
Digital Twins and National Geospatial
Maritime Continent (MC) 64 87
Policy
Carbon fixation 64 International Space Station 89
Global-warming potential (GWP) 65 Synthetic media 90
Carbon fixation 65 Cosmic Vine 90
Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) 90
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity
66
Framework (GBF)
07.
Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (GGGW) 66 Culture
Myristica swamps 67 UNESCO Creative Cities Network 92
Archakas and Agamas 93
Self-Assessment Test and Help for
68 Hindustani and Carnatic Music 93
Entrance Exams (SATHEE)
National Disaster Management Authority 68 08.

Social Issues
Antarctic ozone hole 69
Hunger Hotspots 96
Methane and Climate Change 70
The Protection of Women from Domestic
96
COP 28: India’s equity demand 71 Violence Act, 2005
Government Schemes 10. Places In News
09.
in News Kidal, Mali 106
Krishi 24/7 98
Isthmus of Kra 107
Vibrant Village Program 98
Republic of Dagestan 108
Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Dead Sea 109
99
Tribal Groups (PM PVTG) Mission Xingu Island 109
Crop Residue Management Scheme 101 Democratic Republic of Congo 110
One Station One Product Scheme 101 Darfur 112
Central Adoption Resource Authority 102

Horn of Africa 113
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Kamchatka Peninsula 114
Employment Guarantee Scheme 103 Ben Gurion Canal and Gulf of Aqaba 114
(MGNREGS) Angkor 115
Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion Essequibo region 116
104
(RISE)
Rakhine state 117
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
104 Gulf of Guinea 118
(PMGKAY)
Avdiivka city 119
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) 105
Bab al-Mandeb 120
Priority Household (PHH) ration card 105 Syrian Golan (Golan Heights) 120
Maratha Reservation and Indra Sawhney case 1992
Syllabus: GS2: Social Justice.
Context: Maratha quota protest heats up: What SC, Bombay HC have ruled on it, what steps state govt is
taking.
About the news:
● Maratha quota protests have intensified in
Maharashtra.
● The state government has formed a panel of
three former High Court judges to advise it on
the legal battle over the issue in the Supreme
Court.
Bombay High Court Ruling in 2019:
● In November 2018, the then BJP government in
Maharashtra passed a Bill proposing 16 per
cent reservation in education and government
jobs for the Maratha community. This was
challenged in court.
● In June 2019, the Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Maratha quota under
the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018.
● The High Court reduced it to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs, as
recommended by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission.
Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission Findings:
● The High Court relied heavily on findings of the 11-member Maharashtra State Backward Class
Commission (MSBCC) headed by retired Justice G M Gaikwad.
● The Commission found the Maratha community to be socially, economically and educationally
backward.
Supreme Court Striking Down Maratha Reservation:
● In May 2021, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court struck down the Maratha quota,
which took the total reservation in the state above the 50 per cent ceiling set by the court in its 1992
Indra Sawhney (Mandal) judgment.
● The SC said that the 50% ceiling, although an arbitrary determination by the court in 1992, is now
constitutionally recognised.
● It said there was no extraordinary circumstance to cross the 50% mark, adding Marathas were a
“dominant forward class and are in the main stream of National life”.
● In November 2022, after the SC upheld the 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections, the
Maharashtra government said that until the issue of Maratha reservation was resolved, economically
weaker members of the community could benefit from the EWS quota.
Indra Sawhney judgement in 1992:
● The case, Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India, is a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court of
India that laid down the limits of the state’s powers.
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Key Judgements:
● The Supreme Court upheld the government's decision to provide 27% reservation for OBCs in central
government services.
● The Court held that caste can be an appropriate criterion for identifying backwardness, but it should
not be the sole criterion.
● The Court also held that reservation cannot exceed 50% of total seats.
● The Court introduced the concept of the "creamy layer" to ensure that the benefits of reservation are
not cornered by a few affluent members of backward classes.
o The Court held that members of the creamy layer should be excluded from reservation benefits.
● Reservation in promotions is not permissible under the Constitution.
● The government has the power to identify and notify backward classes.
● The historic Indra Sawhney decision established two crucial precedents:
o It stated that “social and educational backwardness” is a requirement for a group to qualify for
reserve.
o It upheld the 50 percent restriction on vertical quotas set in earlier judgments.
Governors holding bills passed by State legislatures
Syllabus: GS2: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies; Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
Context: Kerala Government moves Supreme Court against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over pending
Bills.
Why in the news?
● The Kerala Government has sought a declaration from the Supreme Court that Kerala Governor Arif
Mohammed Khan has “failed to exercise his Constitutional powers and duties” in holding the Bills
passed by the State Legislature for a long and indefinite period.
● Kerala raised the demand in a special leave petition moved before the Supreme Court on November 2,
2023.
● Earlier this week, the Tamil Nadu Government and Punjab Government approached the top court
against the Governors over a delay in the clearance of various bills of the state.
Constitutional provisions:
● Article 355
o This article mandates the Centre to ensure that the government of every state is carried on in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
o The general meaning and purpose of the Article was explained by B.R. Ambedkar in the
Constituent Assembly: to provide justification for the “invasion of the provincial field” which
the Union government may have to do.
● Although this Article was meant to provide justification for central intervention in the States, its scope
and range needs to be widened.
● The Constitution requires the Governor to act when a Bill is passed by the Assembly and present it to
him as per the options given in Article 200.
● Under Article 200, Governor has four alternatives:
o S/He may give her/his assent to the bill, or
o S/He may withhold her/his assent to the bill, or
o S/He may return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for reconsideration of the state legislature, or
o S/He may reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
● If he does not act in accordance with the Constitution and sits on the Bills indefinitely, he is creating a
situation where governance of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with constitutional
provisions.
● In such a situation, the government of the State has a constitutional duty to invoke Article 355 and
inform the President about it, and request her to give suitable instructions to the Governor to ensure
that the government is carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
● In case the Assembly reconsiders the Bill as per the request of the Governor under the third option, he
has to give assent even if the Assembly passes it again without accepting any of the suggestions of
the Governor.
● Since sitting on a Bill passed by the Assembly is not an option given by the Constitution, the Governor,
by doing so, is only acting against the constitutional direction.
● A judicial pronouncement on this matter is needed to eliminate the confusion.
In the United Kingdom:
● Theoretically, Article 200 suggests that the Governor can withhold assent.
● This raises the question that whether the Governor should withhold assent to a Bill passed by the
legislature.
● This can be clarified by looking into the practice followed in the United Kingdom.
● Constitutional expert D.D. Basu said that
o The position of the Governor in this respect is that of the sovereign in England.
o In theory, the sovereign can refuse to give his assent but this right has not been exercised
since the reign of Queen Anne.
o The veto could now only be exercised on ministerial advice and no government would veto
Bills for which it was responsible.
o Refusal of assent on the ground that the monarch strongly disapproved of a Bill or that it was
intensely controversial would be unconstitutional.
● Under Article 154 of the Constitution, the Governor can exercise his executive powers only on the
advice of the Council of Ministers.
o So, there is a view that the Governor can withhold assent to a Bill only on ministerial advice.
o However, some experts argue why the Council of Ministers should advise the Governor to
withhold assent after the Bill has been passed by the Assembly.
o If the government did not want to proceed with the Bill, it could withdraw it at any stage of
consideration by the Assembly. Similarly, if the government wanted to repeal it after it becomes
an Act, it could have it repealed by the House.
Governor vs. Legislative Assembly:
● The larger question is why a Governor should be allowed to withhold assent when the Bill is passed by
the Assembly.
● A Bill represents the policy of the elected government which is responsible to the people.
● When such a Bill is passed, what authority does a Governor who is an appointee of the Union
government have to reject it?
● Under the constitution, the Governor is only a constitutional head and has no real powers.
● Then, how can such a Governor veto a law brought by the government and passed by the Assembly?
● Withholding assent means the death of that Bill. Thus, the Governor can with one stroke of the pen
completely negate the will of the legislature, and thereby negate the will of the people.
● The Constitution cannot be assumed to be permitting the Governor to do that. Only the judiciary has
the right to do so by interpreting constitutional provisions.
Way forward
● The government can challenge the inaction of the Governor in a court of law.
● The Supreme Court should fix a reasonable time frame for Governors to take a decision on a Bill passed
by the Assembly in the larger interest of federalism in the country.
State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
Syllabus: GS2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Context: In FSSAI index, nearly all major states slip on food safety compared to 2019.
State Food Safety Index (SFSI):
● The State Food Safety Index (SFSI) is an annual evaluation published by the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI).
● It’s designed to encourage states and union territories to improve their performance and establish
strong food safety systems within their jurisdictions.
Major findings:
● 19 out of 20 large
states recorded a
drop in their 2023
scores from 2019.
● After adjusting for
a new parameter
included in the
2023 index, 15 out
of 20 states
recorded lower
2023 scores
compared to
2019.
● The worst drop
has been recorded
in the ‘Food
Testing
Infrastructure’
parameter, where
the average score
for all large states
dropped to 7
points out of 17 in
2023 from 13
points out of 20 in
2019.
● In the 2023 index,
a new parameter called ‘Improvement in SFSI Rank’ was added, which assesses improvement in each
state’s rank from the year before.
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
Syllabus: GS2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
Context: NCERT to add content on electoral literacy in school textbooks; EC, Education Ministry sign MoU.
About the news:
● The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will introduce and update
textbooks to include content on electoral literacy.
● This initiative is aimed at addressing voter apathy among young Indians.
● NCERT will also advise State Education Boards and other Boards to follow suit.
● The integration of electoral literacy will begin with classes 6 to 12 in all schools and extend to the
curricular framework for all colleges and universities.
● These measures are part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Election
Commission of India and the Education Ministry.
● The aim is to extend the ECI’s flagship Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation
(SVEEP) in schools and colleges.
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP):
● SVEEP is the flagship program of the Election Commission of India.
● It was launched by the Election Commission of India in 2009.
● The program is aimed at educating the Indian population about their voting rights and the voting
process.
Objectives:
● SVEEP’s main objective is to build an active democracy in India.
● It works towards preparing India’s electors and equipping them with basic knowledge related to the
electoral process.
● The program encourages all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the
elections.
Approach:
● SVEEP is a multi-intervention programme that reaches out through different modes and media to
educate citizens, electors, and voters about the electoral process.
● The interventions are designed according to the socio-economic, cultural and demographic profile of
the state as well as the history of electoral participation in previous rounds of elections.
● The Commission produces several voter awareness materials and disseminates the same through
various mediums/platforms of communication.
Impact:
● The program has been successful in turning around low turnout constituencies and polling stations.
First-past-the-post voting system vs. mixed member proportional (MMP)
system
Syllabus: GS2: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
Context: A leaf out of New Zealand’s voting system.
About the news:
● Both Odisha and Auckland exhibit the phenomenon of split voting, despite differences in socio-
economic indicators and political systems.
● India follows the first-past-the-post voting system, while New Zealand uses the mixed member
proportional (MMP) system.
What is Split voting?
● Split voting is a concept in electoral systems where voters have the option to cast separate votes for
different candidates or parties in an election.
● This can occur in systems like the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, where voters have two
votes: a “party vote” and an “electorate vote.”
● The “party vote” determines the overall composition of the parliament, where voters choose a political
party.
● The “electorate vote” is for selecting a local Member of Parliament (MP) for their specific geographical
constituency.
● For example, during the 2019 Lok Sabha election in India, the state of Odisha had a state election as
well. So, voters had to cast two votes. Research shows that many chose to cast their vote for different
parties for the state and Lok Sabha elections. This is an example of split voting.
● Benefits of split voting:
o Localized accountability,
o Policy focus,
o Improved representation,
o Enhanced democracy, and
o Flexibility.
● It allows voters to express a diverse range of political preferences without wasting their votes and
choose the best candidate-party combination based on their beliefs.
First-past-the-post voting system vs. mixed member proportional (MMP) system:
Aspect First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) system
MMP is a mixed electoral system where votes
FPTP is a voting method where the
are cast for both local elections and overall
candidate with the highest number
Definition party vote tallies. These votes are used to
of votes in a constituency is
allocate additional members to produce or
declared the winner.
deepen overall proportional representation.
In some MMP systems, voters get two votes:
Voters cast one vote for a single one to decide the representative for their
Votes
candidate. single-seat constituency, and one for a political
party.
The candidate with the most votes
MMP aims to achieve proportional
in a constituency wins, regardless
Representation representation by allocating nationwide seats to
of the overall percentage of votes
political parties in a compensatory manner.
they received
FPTP often produces
disproportional results, in the MMP ensures that the distribution of seats in
Proportional
sense that political parties do not the legislature reflects the percentage of votes
Representation
get representation according to each party received.
their share of the popular vote
MMP combines elements of constituency-based
In FPTP, the entire country is
systems and party-list proportional
divided into small geographical
Geographical representation. This allows for local
units called constituencies. Every
Constituencies representation while also ensuring that the
constituency elects one
overall composition of the legislature reflects
representative.
the political preferences of the electorate.
India, The United Kingdom, the
United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand (for the second part of
Countries that
and New Zealand (for the first part their mixed-member proportional system),
use it
of their mixed-member Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
proportional system).
Electoral Trusts and Electoral bonds
Syllabus: GS2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
Context: Electoral Bonds and Electoral Trusts: What are they, and how do they differ?
Why in the news?
● Before the controversial Electoral Bonds (EB) Scheme was introduced in 2018, there was something
called an Electoral Trusts (ET) Scheme, which was introduced by the UPA government in 2013.
● Both schemes were meant to facilitate donations to political parties by corporates and individuals. But
while the EB scheme seeks to ensure anonymity for the donor, the electoral trusts under the previous
scheme were required to submit to the Election Commission of India a report on contributions from
individuals and companies, and their donations to parties every year.
Electoral Trusts (ET) Scheme:
● Electoral Trusts are designed to bring in more transparency in the funds provided by corporate entities
to the political parties.
● The objective of an Electoral Trust is not to receive any profit or pass on any direct or indirect benefit to
its members or contributors.
● An Electoral Trust will distribute funds only to eligible Political parties.
● Under the scheme, any company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, can form
an Electoral Trust.
● Under Section 17CA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, any citizen of India, a company registered in India, or
a firm or Hindu Undivided Family or association of persons living in India, can donate to an Electoral
Trust.
● The Electoral Trusts have to apply for renewal every three financial years.
● They must donate 95% of contributions received in a financial year to political parties registered under
the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
● The contributors’ PAN (in case of a resident) or passport number (in case of an NRI) is required at the
time of making contributions.
● The electoral trusts route is transparent on contributors and beneficiaries. Where there is only one
contributor and one beneficiary of a particular trust, the public can know for sure who is funding
whom.
Electoral bonds:
● Electoral bonds are interest-free banking instruments that are used for funding eligible political
parties.
● They are issued by a scheduled bank and can be bought by any Indian citizen or company.
● Issuance: In India, the State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized to issue and encash these bonds,
which are payable to the bearer.
● Denomination: Electoral bonds are available in multiple denominations, such as INR 1,000, INR 10,000,
INR 1 lakh, INR 10 lakh, and INR 1 crore.
● Validity: These bonds are valid for 15 days from the date of issuance. They can be encashed by an
eligible political party only through a bank account with the authorized bank.
Significance of Electoral Bonds:
● Transparency: Electoral bonds aim to ensure transparency in political funding. They are designed to
keep a check on cash donations, which are often unaccounted for.
● Accountability: Since these bonds can only be encashed through a bank account, it ensures that only
registered political parties receive the funds.
● Encouraging Clean Money: Electoral bonds can only be purchased through a bank, which means the
source of funds will always be from accounted/white money.
Challenges of Electoral Bonds:
● Anonymity: The identity of the donor is kept anonymous, which raises concerns about transparency
and potential misuse. It could lead to an influx of black money into the political system.
● Favoritism: There is a risk that the ruling party could potentially have access to the donor's identity,
leading to favoritism and quid pro quo.
● Disproportionate Advantage to Big Parties: Smaller political parties may be at a disadvantage as
electoral bonds favor those who can attract larger donations.
● Potential for Foreign Influence: While the bonds are meant to be purchased by Indian citizens or
companies, there are concerns that foreign entities could use them to influence Indian politics.
Finance Commission
Syllabus: GS2: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
Context: Govt begins process of constituting Sixteenth Finance Commission.
Why in the news?
● The government has started the process of constitution of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
● The Finance Commission, which mainly decides the tax sharing formula between Centre and states, is
scheduled to be formed before the end of this year.
● Terms of Reference and members are also expected to be announced soon after state elections. States
have already given their suggestions for terms of reference.
Finance Commission:
● Article 280 of the Constitution of India provides for a Finance Commission as a quasi-judicial body.
● It is constituted by the president of India every fifth year or at such earlier time as he considers
necessary.
Composition:
● The Finance Commission consists of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the
president.
● They hold office for such period as specified by the president in his order.
● They are eligible for reappointment.
● The chairman should be a person having experience in public affairs and the four other members
should be selected from amongst the following:
o A judge of high court or one qualified to be appointed as one.
o A person who has specialised knowledge of finance and accounts of the government.
o A person who has wide experience in financial matters and in administration.
o A person who has special knowledge of economics
Functions:
● The Finance Commission is required to make recommendations to the president of India on the
following matters:
o The distribution of the net proceeds of taxes to be shared between the Centre and the
states, and the allocation between the states of the respective shares of such proceeds.
o The principles that should govern the grants-in-aid to the states by the Centre (i.e., out of
the consolidated fund of India).
o The measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of a state to supplement the
resources of the panchayats and the municipalities in the state on the basis of the
recommendations made by the state finance commission.
o Any other matter referred to it by the president in the interests of sound finance.
● It must be clarified here that the recommendations made by the Finance Commission are only of
advisory nature and hence, not binding on the government.
● It is up to the Union government to implement its recommendations on granting money to the states.
Appointment Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information
Commissioners (ICs)
● The Central Information Commission was constituted in 2005 under the Right to Information Act,
2005.
● It is not a constitutional body.
● The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and
such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary.
● They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime
Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet
Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
● Eligibility criteria and process of appointment of CIC/IC:
o Section 12(3) of the RTI Act 2005 provides as follows:
(i) The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee
(ii) The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
(iii) A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
o Section 12(5) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the Chief Information Commissioner and
Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge
and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass
media, or administration and governance.
o Section 12(6) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the Chief Information Commissioner or an
Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature
of any State or Union Territory as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or
connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.
● The members shall hold office for such term as prescribed by the Central Government or until they
attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
● The salary, allowances, and other service conditions of the members shall be as prescribed by the
Central Government (RTI Amendment Act, 2019).
● The Chief Information Commissioner is not eligible for reappointment.
● Each IC shall on vacating his office be eligible for appointment as the CIC. Further, His/her term of
office shall not be more than five years in aggregate as the IC and the CIC.
Governors can’t sit on Bills passed by Assembly: Supreme Court
● The Supreme Court has stated that a Governor cannot delay important bills that have been passed by
a State Legislature.
● This applies even if the Governor has concerns about the validity of the Assembly session in which the
laws were approved.
● These laws were supported by a large number of the people’s elected representatives.
● Supreme Court held that
o Real power vests with the elected representatives of the people in a parliamentary form of
democracy.
o The Governor, as an appointee of the President, is a titular head of the State.
o The Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers save in areas where the
Constitution gives him discretion.
o The power to make decisions affecting the governance of the State or the nation is essentially
entrusted to the elected arm of the state.
o Governor is intended to be a constitutional statesman guiding the government on matters of
constitutional concern.
Powers of speaker:
● “The Speaker, who has been recognised to be the guardian of the privilege of the House and
constitutionally recognised authority who represents the House, was acting well within his jurisdiction
in adjourning the House sine die,” the court concluded.
● Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, dictating the order in court, said it was the right of each House of
Legislature to be the sole judge of the lawfulness of its own proceedings.
● The Bench observed that a House was governed by the decisions of the Speaker on adjournments.
● It would not be constitutionally valid for the Governor to question how the Speaker exercised his
jurisdiction over the conduct of the House.
● The court said the Governor could either assent to the Bills, withhold assent and send them back with a
“message” to reconsider them or refer them to the President.
Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023
Syllabus:
● GS2: Social Justice.
● GS3: Environment - Conservation.
Context: Community rights and forest conservation | Explained
The Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023:
● The amendment primarily aims to tackle climate change and deforestation’s adverse effects, focusing
on effective management and afforestation.
● The law further aims to determine how forests can be utilised for economic gain.
● The primary method used to achieve this objective involves removing forests from the law’s
jurisdiction, thereby facilitating various forms of economic exploitation.
Applicability:
● The forest law will now apply exclusively to areas categorized under the 1927 Forest Act.
● The Act will not be applicable to forests that were converted for non-forest use on and land which
falls under 100 kilometres from the China and Pakistan border where the central government can
build linear projects.
Livelihood Improvement Initiatives:
● Initiatives like ecotourism, safari, environmental entertainment, and more may be implemented in
these areas.
● The main objective of these initiatives is to improve the livelihoods of those reliant on forest
resources.
Reason for the Amendment:
● The Godavarman Thirumulkpad case, a prominent legal dispute that came before the Supreme Court
in 1996, led to an interpretation of forest land in accordance with its ‘dictionary meaning’.
● Subsequently, all private forests were brought under the ambit of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Opposition and Debate:
● The law has faced significant opposition, especially from private landowners, individuals, and
organisations involved in forest conservation, for its perceived adverse impact on the country’s
industrial progress.
● Concerns regarding the Forest Conservation Act tend to resurface periodically, echoing the
apprehensions of indigenous communities and human rights activists.
Stipulation of ‘Prior Consent’:
● The Forest Conservation Act underwent important amendments in 2016 and 2017, which stipulated
that prior consent from the tribal grama sabha was mandatory for any alterations to forests for non-
forest purposes.
● The recent revisions to the legislation have removed the necessity for such consent.
Impact on the Forest Rights Act (FRA):
● The FRA has had notable impacts in various regions, such as the Mendha-Lekha in Maharashtra,
Loyendi in Odisha, and Malakkappara in Kerala.
● Many consider the Act as an impediment to convert forest land for non-forest purposes.
● The amendment also fails to address the growing issue of human-animal conflicts in forest areas,
particularly in the Adivasi hamlets of the Western Ghats region.
Challenges in Implementation:
● The concept of afforestation, which offers considerable financial incentives to private individuals and
institutions for afforestation projects, fundamentally clashes with the idea of forest governance.
● The law contradicts the concept of decentralised forest governance as forests in the country fall under
the concurrent list.
● Complexity in Defining Strategic Linear Projects:
o Defining strategic linear projects becomes exceptionally complex and vague.
o Unlike external security threats like border disputes and cross-border skirmishes, internal
environmental security should also be considered a significant concern, especially in States that
consistently face natural disasters.
o This priority is not guaranteed in the law.
About Forest conservation act, 1980
● This Act restricted the State governments and other authorities to make decisions in some matters
without the prior permission of the central government.
● Under this Act, the whole power was in the hands of the Central government to carry out the laws of
the Act.
● The Act also provides penalties for the infringement of the provisions of the Act.
● Under this Act, an advisory committee had to be formed for advising the Central government in
matters related to forest conservation.
About Forest conservation rules, 2003
● It talked about the composition of Forest Advisory Committee.
● It also helped in establishing a regional empowered committee specifying the term of non-official
members.
● Every user agency who wants to use any forest land for non-forestry purposes, shall make its proposal
to the central government for its approval.
Other acts related to forests
● 42nd constitutional amendment act, 1976 that listed forests in the concurrent list.
● The Indian Forest Act, 1927: The Act consolidates the law relating to forests, the transit of forest
produce and the duty that can be levied on timber and other forest produce.
● The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: It provides for the protection of birds and animals along with their
habitat and forests that sustain them.
● National Forest Policy, 1988: It aims to maintain ecological balance by conservation of forests as a
natural heritage.
● Forest rights act, 2006: To recognize the Forest rights of the forest dwellers who have been residing in
forests for generations.
Way forward:
● The way forward lies in a balanced approach that respects community rights, promotes sustainable
practices, and prioritizes both external and internal environmental security. It’s a challenging path, but
with collaborative efforts, it’s achievable.
Article 258 and Article 258A of the Indian constitution
● Articles 258 and 258A of the Indian Constitution deal with the delegation of executive powers
between the Union and the States.
Article 258: Power of the Union to confer powers, etc., on States in certain cases
● This article empowers the President of India, with the consent of the government of a State, to entrust
functions in relation to any matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, either
conditionally or unconditionally to that government or its officers. This means that the Union can
delegate its powers to the States in certain cases.
Article 258A: Power of the States to entrust functions to the Union
● This article is a mirror image of Article 258.
● It empowers the Governor of a State, with the consent of the Government of India, to entrust
functions in relation to any matter to which the executive power of the State extends, either
conditionally or unconditionally to the Union or its officers. This means that the States can delegate
their powers to the Union in certain cases.
● The purpose of these articles is to provide for a flexible and adaptable system of executive power,
allowing the Union and the States to share powers and responsibilities as needed. This is in line with
the principle of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
● Here are some examples of how Articles 258 and 258A have been used in practice:
● The Union has delegated the administration of many centrally sponsored schemes to the States.
● The States have delegated the management of certain public services, such as electricity and water
supply, to private companies.
● The Union and the States have jointly established bodies, such as the Central Pollution Control Board,
to deal with common problems.
● These are just a few examples of how Articles 258 and 258A have been used to promote cooperation
and coordination between the Union and the States.
Issue of Sub-categorization
Syllabus:
● GS2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these
vulnerable sections; Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Context: On the sub-categorisation within castes | Explained.
Why in the news?
● In an election rally in Telangana, Prime Minister promised to look into the sub-categorisation of
Scheduled Castes (SCs) to identify and help the most backward among them.
● The Madigas are the most populous of all SC communities in the State but have claimed that their
share of representation was being taken up by another SC community, the Malas.
Sub-Categorisation of SCs: Legal Aspects:
● Multiple states like Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu have attempted to bring in reservation laws at the
state level to sub-categorise Scheduled Castes (SCs).
● The Supreme Court held in 2004 that states do not have the power to unilaterally sub-categorize
communities in the list of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
● In 2020, a group of five judges led by Justice Arun Mishra made a decision related to Punjab’s efforts to
change the benefits for the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs).
o They said that if states want to change the amount of benefits for the groups already listed as
SCs/STs, it wouldn’t be considered as messing with the list. So, states have the power to do
this.
Arguments for Sub-Categorisation:
● The graded inequalities among SC communities.
● The idea is that even among the marginalised, there are communities that have lesser access to basic
facilities.
● The relatively more forward communities among them have managed to avail benefits consistently
while crowding the more backward ones out.
● The solution, therefore, is to sub-categorize the communities and provide separate reservation to the
more backward communities within the reservation meant for SCs.
Counter Arguments:
● Both the SC and ST Commissions have noted that allotting separate reservations within the categories
would not really address the root cause of the problem.
● The most backward SCs are lagging so far behind forward SC communities that a separate quota would
not help.
● Both the NCSC and the NCST had thus recommended that existing schemes and government benefits
should first reach these sections before any sub-categorisation.
Future Considerations:
● Legal experts have pointed out the necessity to have concrete data to support sub-categorisation.
● Concrete population numbers of each community and sub-community and their respective socio-
economic data are needed to provide a reasonable ground to decide how castes can be categorised
and how much percentage should be given.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC):
● The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a constitutional body.
● It is established by Article 338 of the Constitution.
● The other national commissions like the National Commission for Women (1992), the National
Commission for Minorities (1993), the National Human Rights Commission (1993) and the National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (2007) are statutory bodies in the sense that they are
established by acts of the Parliament.
● The 65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990 provided for the establishment of a high level multi-
member National Commission for SCs and STs in the place of a single Special Officer for SCs and STs.
● The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 bifurcated the combined National Commission for
SCs and STs into two separate bodies, namely, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (under
Article 338) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (under Article 338-A).
Functions of NCSC:
● To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the
SCs and to evaluate their working;
● To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs;
● To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the SCs and to
evaluate the progress of their development under the Union or a state;
● To present to the President, annually and at such other times as it may deem fit, reports upon the
working of those safeguards;
● To make recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or a state for the
effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and
socio-economic development of the SCs; and
● To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and
advancement of the SCs as the president may specify.
Reports of the commission:
● The commission presents an annual report to the president. It can also submit a report as and when it
thinks necessary.
● The President places all such reports before the Parliament, along with a memorandum explaining the
action taken on the recommendations made by the Commission.
● The memorandum should also contain the reasons for the non-acceptance of any of such
recommendations.
● The President also forwards any report of the Commission pertaining to a state government to the
state governor.
● The governor places it before the state legislature, along with a memorandum explaining the action
taken on the recommendations of the Commission.
● The memorandum should also contain the reasons for the non-acceptance of any of such
recommendations.
Powers of the commission:
● The Commission is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure.
● The Commission, while investigating any matter or inquiring into any complaint, has all the powers of a
civil court.
● The Central government and the state governments are required to consult the Commission on all
major policy matters affecting the SCs.
● The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian
Community as it does with respect to the SCs.
Electoral Trusts
● An Electoral Trust is a Trust set up by companies with the sole objective to distribute the
contributions received by it from other Companies and individuals to the political parties.
● On 31st January 2013, through ‘The Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013’, the Central government specified
the eligibility and procedure for registration of Electoral Trusts.
● The provisions related to the electoral trust are under the Income-tax Act, 1961, and Income tax rules-
1962.
● Only such companies are eligible to make an application for approval as an Electoral Trust which
are registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.
● A political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 shall be
an eligible political party and an electoral trust shall distribute funds only to the eligible political
parties.
● For administrative expenses, the Electoral Trusts are permitted to set aside a maximum of 5% of the
total funds collected during a financial year along with any surplus carried forward from the previous
financial year.
● The remaining 95% of the total income of the Trusts including any surplus from the previous financial
year is required to be distributed to eligible political parties.
● Such contributions to political parties should always be followed by a receipt obtained from the
benefiting party, along with the political party’s PAN, registration number, and name and designation
of the person signing the receipt.
● An electoral trust can accept contributions only by cheque, demand draft, or account transfer to the
bank.
● Significance:
o Electoral Trusts are designed to bring more transparency in the funds provided by corporate
entities to the political parties for their election-related expenses.
o The Election Commission had also circulated guidelines for the submission of contribution
reports of electoral trusts to submit an annual report containing details of contributions
received by the electoral trusts and disbursed by them to political parties in the interest of
transparency.
The role of the Governor in legislature
Syllabus: GS2: iIsues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.
Context: The role of the Governor in legislature | Explained.
Why in the news?
● Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi has ‘withheld’ assent for certain Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu
Legislative Assembly.
● This follows the Supreme Court expressing ‘serious concern’ over inaction by the Governor on Bills
presented for his assent.
● The court expressed displeasure on similar delays by Governors of Telangana, Punjab and Kerala.
Do Governors have powers of discretion and when can they use it?
● Article 200 of the Constitution: It outlines the four alternatives the Governor has when a Bill is
presented for their assent.
o Governor’s Actions: The Governor may give assent to the Bill, withhold assent (reject the Bill),
return the Bill for reconsideration, or reserve the Bill for the President’s consideration.
● Governor’s Discretion: The Governor does not exercise their discretionary powers while withholding
assent or returning a Bill to the State Legislature.
● Council of Ministers’ Role: The Governor is required to act as per the advice of the Council of
Ministers.
● Private Members’ Bill: The situation of ‘withholding assent’ may arise in case of a Private Members’ Bill
passed by the State Legislature.
● Return of Bill: The return of any Bill to State Legislature for reconsideration is also to be done based on
ministerial advice.
● Reservation of Bills: The Governor must reserve certain Bills, like those which reduce the powers of the
High Court, for the President’s consideration.
● No Time Limit: The Constitution does not lay down any time limit within which the Governor is
required to make a decision.
Recommendations of commissions:
● Sarkaria Commission (1987): It submitted that the Governor’s discretionary power is limited to
reserving Bills for the President’s consideration in rare cases of unconstitutionality.
● Punchhi Commission (2010): It recommended that the Governor should decide on a Bill presented for
their assent within six months.
Supreme Court Hearing on Freebies
Syllabus: GS2: Governance.
Context: Supreme Court begins hearing on ‘irrational freebies’ case.
About the news:
● The Supreme Court has begun hearing petitions seeking a judicial declaration that irrational freebies
offered by political parties should be considered a “corrupt practice”.
● The court has expressed concern about parties which form the government trying to fulfill their pre-
election promises of “free gifts” using public money.
● The hearing signified a shifting of stand by the court from its 2013 judgment in the S. Subramaniam
Balaji versus Tamil Nadu case, where it was held that making promises in election manifestos do not
amount to a ‘corrupt practice’ under Section 123 of the Representation of People Act.
Issue of Freebies:
● In the context of Indian politics, freebies refer to goods, services, or benefits promised by political
parties to the electorate without any charge, particularly during election campaigns, such as free
o Electricity and Water,
o Public Transport,
o Loan Waivers,
o Gadgets like laptops and smartphones and
o Monthly Allowances to unemployed individuals, daily wage workers, and women.
● These freebies are often linked to the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, which
obliges the state to aim for certain ideals in social order and governance.
● However, critics argue that this practice encourages vote-buying and creates an uneven playing field
between well-funded parties and those with less money to spend.
● There have even been calls for legislation to ban freebies in elections altogether.
● Freebies facilitate the growth of a country by uplifting marginalized sections of society.
● However, irrational freebies financed with public money offered before elections can be seen as a
threat to democratic values and akin to bribing the voters.
Influence on Voter Behaviour:
● Freebies can effectively increase voter turnout.
● Some studies suggest that people are more likely to vote for the party that gives them a freebie, while
other research has found no such relationship.
● Ultimately, it’s up to each voter to decide whether or not a freebie will sway their vote.
Impact on Democratic Values:
● Freebies during elections can hinder the constitutional mandate of free and fair election by creating
an undue influence on the electorates and disturbing poll process.
● It manipulates the free choice of electorates and has become an easy shortcut to tackle the
competitive attitude of being in power among political parties.
Legal and Constitutional Aspects:
● Freebies ought to be considered “expenditure defrayable by the Union or a State out of its revenues”
under Article 282 of the Constitution.
● The Supreme Court of India is hearing a PIL on the issue of freebies in elections.
● The power of the Election Commission to fight freebies has remained vague and limited.
● There have been instances where the Election Commission has exercised its power to censure a party if
its manifesto could not give a rationale for a particular promise or failed to explain how the resources
would be mobilized for it.
Way forward:
● In conclusion, while freebies can have a short-term impact on election outcomes, their long-term
effects on democratic values, state finances, and societal welfare are subjects of ongoing debate and
legal scrutiny.
Battery Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2022
● The law applies to all manufacturers, producers, collection centers, importers, re-conditioners,
refurbishers, dismantlers, assemblers, dealers, recyclers, auctioneers, vehicle service centers,
consumers, and bulk consumers.
● Producers, including battery manufacturers, importers, and automakers have an obligation of
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
● Responsibilities under EPR include collection and safe disposal of waste batteries with a system either
established directly or through third-party vendors.
● Producers are required to submit an annual record of sales and waste battery buyback to the State
Pollution Control Board (SPCB), and they are obliged to transport waste batteries safely to
authorized recyclers.
● For the first time, the rules present measurable targets for collection and recycling within a particular
timeframe:
o A recovery target of 70% by 2024-25,
o 80% by 2026,
o 90% after 2026-27 onwards.
● There's a requirement to include recycled materials in new cells:
● By 2027-28, at least 5% of the total dry weight of a cell must be recycled materials.
● This proportion will increase to 20% by 2030-31.
● If the cells are imported, the producer will have to satisfy the requirement by utilizing the same
amount of recycled material that other businesses use, or by exporting a similar amount of materials.
● The EPR registration system will be managed online on a portal by the Central Pollution Control
Boards (CPCB), which will allow producers to engage a third party or recycler to handle their waste and
to issue EPR certificates to producers.
● Producers will be required to declare how many batteries they put on the market and how many were
recycled when they file their returns.
● A fee will be charged by CPCB for the upkeep of the portal and for the registration of producers.
● The portal will allow even those producers who have surplus EPR certificates to trade them with other
producers who have not satisfied their EPR requirements.
● The Rules ask CPCB to provide guidelines for the imposition and collection of "environmental
compensation" from non-compliant producers and recyclers.
● Currently, 59 automakers and 11 battery recyclers have registered for recycling battery waste.
Special Category Status
Context: Why is Bihar demanding the Special Category Status?
About the news:
● The Bihar Cabinet led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar passed a resolution seeking the grant of Special
Category Status (SCS) to Bihar.
What is Special Category Status?
● SCS is a classification granted by the Centre to assist the development of States that face geographical
or socio-economic disadvantages.
● The SCS was introduced in 1969 on the recommendation of the Fifth Finance Commission (FC).
● Five factors are considered before granting SCS:
o Hilly and difficult terrain,
o Low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population,
o Strategic location along international borders,
o Economic and infrastructural backwardness, and
o Non-viable nature of state finances.
Benefits of SCS:
● The SCS States used to receive grants based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which earmarked
nearly 30% of the total central assistance for States to the SCS States.
● In the SCS States, the Centre-State funding of centrally sponsored schemes is divided in the ratio of
90:10, far more favourable than the 60:40 or 80:20 splits for the general category States.
● There are several other incentives available to the SCS States in the form of concession in customs and
excise duties, income tax rates and corporate tax rates to attract investments to set up new
industries.
Why Bihar is demanding SCS?
● The poverty and backwardness of the State are argued to be because of the lack of natural resources,
regular floods in the northern region and severe droughts in the southern part of the State.
● The bifurcation of the State led to the shifting of industries to Jharkhand and created a dearth of
employment and investment opportunities.
● With a per-capita GDP of around ₹54,000, Bihar has consistently been one of the poorest States.
Other States Demanding SCS:
● Since its bifurcation in 2014, Andhra Pradesh has asked for a grant of SCS on the grounds of revenue
loss due to Hyderabad going to Telangana.
● Odisha has also been requesting for the SCS, highlighting its vulnerability to natural calamities such as
cyclones and a large tribal population (nearly 22%).
● However, the Central government citing the 14th FC report, which made a recommendation to the
Centre that no State be accorded the SCS, has repeatedly denied their demands.
Justification of Bihar’s Demand for SCS:
● Bihar meets most of the criteria for the grant of SCS, but it does not fulfill the requirement of hilly
terrain and geographically difficult areas. This is considered to be the primary reason for difficulty in
infrastructural development.
Raghuram Rajan Committee’s Suggestion:
● In 2013, the Raghuram Rajan Committee set up by the Centre placed Bihar in the “least developed
category”.
● The committee suggested a new methodology based on a ‘multi-dimensional index’ for devolving
funds instead of a SCS.
● This approach can be revisited to address the State’s backwardness.
All-India judicial service

● President Draupadi Murmu called for the creation of an all-India judicial service to recruit judges,
saying this will help make the judiciary diverse by increasing representation from marginalised social
groups.
● Article 312 makes the following provisions in respect of all-India services:
o The Parliament can create new all-India services (including an all-India judicial service), if the
Rajya Sabha passes a resolution declaring that it is necessary or expedient in the national
interest to do so.
o Such a resolution in the Rajya Sabha should be supported by two-thirds of the members
present and voting.
o This power of recommendation is given to the Rajya Sabha to protect the interests of states in
the Indian federal system.
● The all-India judicial service should not include any post inferior to that of a district judge. A law
providing for the creation of this service is not to be deemed as an amendment of the Constitution for
the purposes of Article 368.
● Though the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 made the provision for the creation of all-India judicial
service, no such law has been made so far.
India-Bhutan Relations
Syllabus: GS2: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
Context: Bhutan’s King in India as Beijing-Thimpu speed up border talks: Why New Delhi is concerned.
Why in the news?
● Bhutan and China held the 25th round of bilateral border talks in Beijing.
● The visit of Bhutan’s king comes at a time when Bhutan is engaged in crucial border talks with China,
and the developments have led to some unease in India.
India-Bhutan Relations:
● India and Bhutan have been sharing ties since 1910 when Bhutan became a protectorate of British
India.
● The basis for bilateral relations between India and Bhutan was formed by the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of
Peace and Friendship of 1949.
● India and Bhutan share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterized by utmost trust,
goodwill, and mutual understanding.
● India has been extending economic assistance to Bhutan’s socio-economic development since the early
1960s.
● India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner.
Strategic Importance of Bhutan to India:
● Bhutan shares its borders with four Indian States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and
Sikkim.
● Bhutan serves as a buffer between India and China.
● Bhutan provides a market for Indian commodities and is a destination for Indian investment.
● Bhutan is a rich source of hydropower for India.
● A politically stable Bhutan is important to India.
India’s Concern about Bhutan-China Talks:
● India is concerned about Bhutan’s border talks with China.
● Bhutan has told China that it was ready to conclude boundary negotiations and ramp up the process to
set up diplomatic ties with China.
● There are concerns in India that such a deal could result in Bhutan compromising Doklam.
● India closely observes discussions related to Doklam, where China has proposed a “swap” of areas
under Bhutanese control with territories in Jakarlung and Pasamlung, claimed by China.
● Since the Doklam standoff in 2017, China has bolstered its presence in the Doklam plateau,
constructing underground facilities, new roads, and villages in disputed areas within Bhutan,
undermining India’s strategic interests.
● India remains cautious about China’s insistence on establishing full diplomatic relations with Bhutan
and opening an embassy in Thimphu.
Jamparlung and Pasamlung valleys:
● China and Bhutan held the first meeting of newly set up joint technical team on the delimitation of
their disputed boundary.
● India is concerned about a possible deal
between China and Bhutan that would swap
territory in the Jamparlung and Pasamlung
valleys in the north for territory in Doklam
in the west.
● Doklam is a strategically important area for
India because it is located near the Siliguri
Corridor, a narrow strip of land that
connects India's northeastern states with
the rest of the country.
● India and China were involved in a stand-off
in Doklam in 2017, and India is concerned that a deal between China and Bhutan could lead to another
stand-off or even a conflict.
Strategic signigicance of Doklam and Siliguri Corridor:
● Doklam is a
plateau located
in the eastern
Himalayas, on
the border
between
Bhutan and
China.
● It is strategically
important for
India because it
overlooks the
Siliguri Corridor.
● If China were to
gain control of
Doklam, it could threaten India's access to its northeastern states.
● The Siliguri Corridor is a 200-kilometer-long and 60-kilometer-wide strip of land that connects India's
northeastern states with the rest of the country.
o It is also known as the "Chicken's Neck" because of its narrow width.
● The corridor is strategically important for India because it is the only land route that connects India's
northeastern states with the rest of the country.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative
Syllabus: GS2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India’s interests.
Context: Quad’s IPMDA a proof of our commitment to a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific: Navy Chief.
Why in the news?
● The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative, announced by the Quad grouping, is
a testament to our commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, Navy Chief
Admiral R. Hari Kumar said, stressing that building networks and partnerships would be instrumental
in ensuring the security and stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India-Bhutan Relations:
● The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative was recently unveiled by the Quad
grouping (India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.).
● It underscores a shared commitment to uphold a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
Purpose of the IPMDA Initiative:
● The IPMDA Initiative was announced at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo, 2022.
● It primarily aims to track dark shipping.
o Dark ships are vessels with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) – a transponder system
– switched off so as not to be detectable.
● It focuses on tracking other tactical-level activities: to respond to climate and humanitarian events and
to protect their fisheries, which are vital to many Indo-Pacific economies.
Significance of IPMDA for India:
● IPMDA represents a substantial effort to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, a region of
paramount global geopolitical significance.
● Recent global events, including the border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, conflicts in Ukraine,
and turmoil in West Asia, underscore the need for resilience and readiness in the face of
uncertainties.
What is the Indo-Pacific region?
● The Indo-Pacific comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific
Ocean, and the seas connecting the two.
● In terms of geo-spatiality, the Indo-Pacific is broadly understood as an interconnected space between
the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
● Its expanse is debated to be ranging from the eastern shores of Africa to the western coast of the
United States, albeit with variations in definitions depending on each actor and their own geographic
positioning in the vast expanse.
● The two oceans are becoming more and more connected because of globalization, trade, and
changing relationships between different countries. This has broken down old boundaries and created
new opportunities.
● The Indo-Pacific Region makes up 65% of the global population, occupies 44% of the planet’s surface
area, generates 62% of global GDP, and supports 46% of global trade in goods.
Indo-Pacific region holds significant strategic importance for India:
● Geopolitical Significance:
o This region is home to some of the world’s largest economies, including the USA, China, Japan,
and India.
o India’s location in the Indian Ocean region gives it a unique geopolitical advantage.
o It allows India to play a crucial role in the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.
● Economic Interests:
o The Indo-Pacific region is rich in natural resources, including offshore hydrocarbons, seabed
minerals, rare earth metals, and fisheries.
o These resources are vital for India’s economic growth and energy security.
o The region is also a significant hub for global trade, with major sea lanes passing through it.
o Ensuring the security of these sea lanes is crucial for India’s trade interests.
● Security Concerns:
o The Indo-Pacific region has been witnessing increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly due to
China’s assertive policies.
o India has been concerned about China’s growing influence in the region.
o Ensuring peace and security in the Indian Ocean is one of India’s key interests in the Indo-
Pacific region.
● Strategic Partnerships:
o India has been actively fostering strategic partnerships with other countries in the Indo-Pacific
region.
o These partnerships are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
o India’s Indo-Pacific strategy walks on two legs — strengthening its national engagement with
the region, and stronger partnerships with like-minded nations.
● Promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific:
o India has been championing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, which is based on respect for
sovereignty and international law, free and fair trade, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
● In conclusion, the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region for India lies in its geopolitical,
economic, and security interests, as well as its commitment to promoting a free, open, and inclusive
Indo-Pacific.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Context: Xi-Biden to meet amid US-China tensions: What is APEC, the forum they will be attending?
About the news:
● The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping is meeting in San Francisco in the United States
for the Leaders’ Week will conclude with the Economic Leaders’ Retreat.
● US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping will have their first in-person meeting in a year
on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
● India is not a member; however, India’s Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, is
attending the forum.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC):
● The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to
leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.
● APEC's aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive,
sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.
● APEC has 21 members.
● The word 'economies' is used to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is
predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another
as economic entities.
● APEC ensures that goods, services, investment and people move easily across borders.
● Members facilitate this trade through faster customs procedures at borders; more favorable business
climates behind the border; and aligning regulations and standards across the region.
o For example, APEC's initiatives to synchronize regulatory systems are key to integrating the
Asia-Pacific economy. In such cases, a product can be more easily exported with just one set of
common standards across all economies.
● APEC's 21 member economies are
o Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China;
Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru;
The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of
America; and Viet Nam.
● India is not a member of APEC grouping.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Syllabus: GS2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Context: U.N. Security Council adopts resolution calling for urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors in
Gaza.
About the news?
● The UN Security Council has called for “extended humanitarian pauses” in the Gaza Strip.
● Israel, however, indicated that such a “pause” would not be possible till the hostages held by Hamas
are released.
● The resolution, prepared by Malta and adopted with 12 votes in favour, “calls for urgent and extended
humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days” to allow
aid to reach civilians.
● Three nations abstained: the U.S., the U.K. and Russia.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
● The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
● It is charged with ensuring international peace and security.
● It recommends the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly.
● It approves any changes to the UN Charter.
Functions and Powers:
● to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the
United Nations;
● to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
● to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
● to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
● to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what
action should be taken;
● to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to
prevent or stop aggression;
● to take military action against an aggressor;
● to recommend the admission of new Members;
● to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
● to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with
the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.
Membership and Election:
● Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-
year term.
● The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows:
o five for African and Asian States;
o one for Eastern European States;
o two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and
o two for Western European and other States.
Admission of New Members to the United Nations:
● The Security Council’s role in admission of new members to the United Nations is laid out in Article 4
of the Charter of the Organization, which states that the admission is done by a decision of the
General Assembly following the recommendation of the Security Council.
Security Council Reform:
● The Charter can be amended by a General Assembly decision approved by two thirds of General
Assembly membership and ratified by two thirds of Member States, including the permanent
members of the Security Council.
● As changing the composition of the Security Council can be done only by amending the Charter, Article
108 applies to the issue of Security Council reform.
Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI)
● The dimensions of governance in the WGI do not apply uniformly to low, middle, and high-income
countries.
● The WGI are based on the perceptions of a diverse group of respondents, which may vary depending
on the context and expectations of different countries.
● Moreover, the WGI do not provide a single definition or standard of good governance, but rather
reflect the views of many stakeholders on various aspects of governance.
● The WGI do not provide an annual ranking of countries, with perfect scores denoting flawless
governance.
● The WGI are expressed as estimates of governance, with margins of error reflecting the inherent
uncertainty of measuring governance.
● The WGI do not assign countries to specific categories of governance performance, nor do they imply
a simple threshold above or below which governance is good or bad.
● The WGI are intended for general cross-country comparisons and for evaluating broad trends over
time, not for precise or definitive assessments of individual countries.
● The ‘Rule of Law’ dimension in WGI gauges the extent to which agents trust societal
rules, encompassing quality of contract enforcement and property rights.
● The six dimensions of governance are:
o Voice and Accountability: capturing perceptions of the extent to which a country’s citizens are
able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of
association, and a free media.
o Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: capturing perceptions of the likelihood
of political instability and/or politically-motivated violence, including terrorism.
o Government Effectiveness: capturing perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of
the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of
policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government’s commitment to
such policies.
o Regulatory Quality: capturing perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and
implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector
development.
o Rule of Law: capturing perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide
by the rules of society, and in particular the quality of contract enforcement, property rights,
the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
o Control of Corruption: capturing perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised
for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as “capture” of the
state by elites and private interests.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Context: Why has the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor stalled? | Explained.
About the news?
● Seeking funds to the tune of $65 billion via infrastructure investment, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime
Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, on October 20, completed a five-day trip to Beijing. He was also
attempting to allay
● China’s demands regarding the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the infrastructure project
spearheaded by Beijing from 2015 that had reached an impasse due to disagreements over the
Gwadar port in Balochistan.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC):
● The CPEC — one of the One Belt, One Road’s (OBOR) largest investments — was formally launched in
2015.
● China set up the ‘Silk Road Fund’ to invest in CPEC projects planned till 2030.
● The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a substantial infrastructure project that aims to
connect Gwadar Port in southern Pakistan with China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, via a
network of highways, railways, and pipelines.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI):
● China’s Belt
and Road
Initiative (BRI)
is a strategy
initiated by
the People’s
Republic of
China that
seeks to
connect Asia
with Africa
and Europe
via land and
maritime
networks.
● It will
improve
regional
integration,
increase
trade, and
stimulate
economic
growth.
● The Belt and
Road
Initiative includes 1/3 of world trade and GDP and over 60% of the world's population.
● The name was coined in 2013 by China’s President Xi Jinping, who drew inspiration from the concept of
the Silk Road established during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago – an ancient network of trade
routes that connected China to the Mediterranean via Eurasia for centuries.
● The BRI has also been referred to in the past as 'One Belt One Road'.
● The BRI comprises a Silk Road Economic Belt – a trans-continental passage that links China with
Southeast Asia, south Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe by land – and
● A 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, a sea route connecting China’s coastal regions with southeast and
south Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East and Eastern Africa, all the way to Europe.
India's concerns about Belt and Road Initiative:

● India has expressed multiple concerns regarding China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Sovereignty Issues:
● A significant point of India's concern is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of the BRI's
flagship projects.
● The CPEC passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), a territory claimed by India.
● India perceives this as a violation of its sovereignty.
Strategic Concerns:
● The BRI's various infrastructure projects in South Asia have raised strategic anxieties for India.
● For instance, the development of ports and other assets in countries around India, has raised concerns
about China's strategic encirclement, commonly referred to as the "String of Pearls" theory.
Economic Considerations:
● India is also worried about the potential debt traps associated with China's lending for such large-scale
infrastructure projects.
● Debt trap: The fear is that countries, unable to repay the debt, might find their sovereignty undermined
or suffer economic instability. This can cause instability in the South Asia region.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability:
● The BRI has been criticized for a lack of transparency in its agreements, leading to issues related to
corporate governance and environmental sustainability.
● India echoes these concerns, advocating for a more rule-based global order.
● These are key areas of concern for India, and they have influenced India's decision to abstain from the
BRI.
Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII)
● Formation: The PGII was formed in 2022 by the Group of Seven (G7) to fund infrastructure projects in
developing nations.
● Purpose: The PGII is a shared G7 commitment to advance public and private investments in
sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and quality infrastructure.
● Trust Principles: The PGII is based on the trust principles of the Blue Dot Network.
● Counter to China’s Initiative: It is considered to be the bloc’s counter to China’s Belt and Road
Initiative.
● Biden Doctrine: The PGII is a key component of the "Biden Doctrine".
● Launch: The partnership plan was announced for the first time in June 2022 during the 48th G7 summit
in Germany.
● Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative: According to an article by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, PGII is the repackaged version of the B3W initiative which President Biden
announced at the 47th G7 summit in the United Kingdom.
● G7 Summit 2023: At the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, G7 leaders affirmed their commitment
to identify new opportunities to scale the PGII.
● Infrastructure Financing: Since its launch, G7 Leaders have, through PGII, started to work towards the
goal to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure financing.
● Focus Areas: This work is done with a real focus on advancing gender equality and equity, raising labor
and environmental standards, and promoting transparency, governance, and anti-corruption measures.
● Participation: During the Summit, G7 Leaders were joined by leaders and senior officials of Australia,
Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, and the World Bank.
● Private Sector Involvement: They were also joined by private sector executives of Citi, Global
Infrastructure Partners, Japan Foreign Trade Council, and Nokia to reaffirm their commitment to
opening a serious, sustainable channel for unlocking public and private capital for these projects in the
developing world.
Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) corridor
Context: China keen on extending China-Myanmar Economic Corridor to Sri Lanka.
About the news?
● China is “prioritising” the extension of the
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
(CMEC) to Sri Lanka, the country’s Special
Envoy told President Ranil
Wickremesinghe, in an indication that
China is looking to scale up the Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI) project in South
Asia.
● The CMEC is the newest of the six land
corridors under the BRI, and has assumed
prominence in place of the Bangladesh-
China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor
which has largely been stalled.
Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor:
● The BCIM Economic Corridor is a project involving Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar.
● It was initially a ‘track two’ initiative, which means it started via backchannel diplomacy.
● The corridor aims to improve coordination in the flow of goods, services, technology, energy,
investments, and people-to-people contacts among these countries.
Route:
● The corridor aims to connect Kolkata in India with Kunming, the capital of the Yunnan province in
China.
● The route passes through Mandalay and Lashio in Myanmar, then heads towards Kolkata after passing
through Manipur and Silchar in India.
● It crosses Bangladesh via Sylhet and Dhaka, with branches extending to the ports of Cox Bazar and
Chittagong.
Significance:
● The BCIM corridor is seen as a modern version of the Silk Road.
● It is expected to boost the development of the Kolkata port and open up the economic potential of
the northeastern states of India.
● The corridor offers India an opportunity to create a win-win relationship with China.
● It could also boost tourism and be a game-changer for the region in Asia.
● The corridor is pivotal for India’s ‘Act East’ Policy.
Economic Benefits:
● The corridor will provide access to several booming markets in Southeast Asia.
● It will lead to the improvement of transport infrastructure and the setting up of industrial zones.
● It envisages greater market access for goods, services, and energy, elimination of non-tariff barriers,
better trade facilitation, investment in infrastructure development, and joint exploration and
development of mineral, water, and other natural resources.
Challenges:
● The major constraint for the project is security issues.
● The border areas of India-Myanmar, India-Bangladesh, India-China, and Bangladesh-Myanmar are
vulnerable to ethnic insurgencies, drug trafficking, and smuggling.
● Tackling these transnational crimes will be the biggest challenge as it has the potential to derail the
project.
● There are also
concerns that the
BCIM will worsen
the trade deficits of
the other three
countries as cheap
and low-quality
Chinese goods are
likely to flood their
markets to the
detriment of
domestic industry.
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+)
● OPEC+ are meeting in Vienna to discuss if they should cut down their oil supply even more.
o This is because oil prices have fallen by 16% since late September.
o The reason for this fall is that the U.S., which is the biggest oil producer, has been producing oil
at record levels. At the same time, there are worries about whether the demand for oil,
especially from China (the biggest buyer of oil), will continue to grow.
● OPEC+ is an alliance of oil-producing nations that was formed in 2016 to stabilize the global oil market
by regulating the supply of oil.
● The group is made up of the 13 OPEC member countries, plus 10 non-OPEC oil-producing nations,
including Russia, Mexico, and Kazakhstan.
● The primary objective of the OPEC+ alliance is to manage oil production levels and keep oil prices at a
reasonable and stable level.
● The group aims to balance global oil supply and demand by adjusting oil production levels as
necessary.
Paris Club
Context: Sri Lanka reaches agreement with India, Paris Club on debt treatment.
About the news:
● Sri Lanka has reached an “agreement
in principle” with India and the Paris
Club group of creditors including Japan,
on a debt treatment plan that will help
the crisis-hit island nation tap the next
tranche of the International Monetary
Fund’s nearly-$3 billion recovery
package.
● The OCC [Official Creditor Committee]
and Sri Lanka agreed on the main
parameters of a debt treatment
consistent with those of the Extended
Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement
between Sri Lanka and the IMF,” the
Paris Club.
Paris Club:
● The Paris Club is an informal group of
official creditors whose role is to find
coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.
● As debtor countries undertake reforms to stabilize and restore their macroeconomic and financial
situation, Paris Club creditors provide an appropriate debt treatment.
● Paris Club creditors provide debt treatments to debtor countries in the form of rescheduling, which is
debt relief by postponement or, in the case of concessional rescheduling, reduction in debt service
obligations during a defined period.
● The G20 and the Paris Club have adopted a project called the "G20 Common Framework."
Permanent members:
● The 22 Paris Club permanent members are countries with large exposure to other States woldwide
and that agree on the main principles and rules of the Paris Club.
● The claims may be held directly by the government or through its appropriate institutions, especially
Export credit agencies.
● India is not a permanent member of the Paris club.
Natural farming
Syllabus: GS3: Economy.
Context: ATM agriculture: There are reasons as to why there is so much resistance to the idea of natural
farming.
What is Natural Farming?
● Natural farming is also referred to as "the Fukuoka Method” is an ecological farming approach
established by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer.
● It is a chemical-free farming and livestock based method.
● It is considered as agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and
livestock with functional biodiversity.
Components of natural farming

● Beejamrit: It is a fermented microbial solution, with loads of plant-beneficial microbes, and is applied
as seed treatment.
● Jivamrit: It acts as a bio stimulant by promoting the activity of microorganisms in the soil.
● Mulching: It is defined as covering of soil surface using both live crops and straw (dead plant biomass)
to conserve moisture and lower soil temperature.
● Whapasa: It increases water availability, enhances water-use efficiency and builds resilience against
drought.
● Plant Protection: It involves spraying of biological concoctions to prevent pest and weed problems.
Benefits of Natural Farming
● The method acts as cost effective method for the farmers minimizing the cost of investments on inputs
as well as of production.
● It curbs the health hazards and the risks posed by farming methods that utilize synthetic fertilizers.
● It supports plant growth by creating resilience among plants against weeds, pests and climate change.
● As it ensures improved agrobiodiversity and a more judicious usage of water, it is indirectly helping in
conservation of environment.
● The method generates huge employment which can also control the migration of rural population to
urban areas.
Issues with Natural Farming
● While the method can help in ameliorating soil fertility, it doesn’t contribute enough in improving
income and productivity of the farmer’s produce.
● Availability of natural inputs with all farmers is feasibly not possible which leads to disparities among
them.
● State like Sikkim who shifted to organic farming has witnessed decline in yields due to which many
farmers have reverted to the conventional farming method.
Way forward
● There should be establishment of an ecosystem where farmers interact with one another and learn
the transition from conventional methods to the natural method of farming.
● Awareness among the farmers about moving towards a sustainable agriculture is must which should
be promulgated through conferences, campaigns and social media.
● Micro-enterprises that are producing chemical free inputs should be incentivized by the government
for further promotion of natural farming.
● The method should also be promoted in rainfed areas as such areas use only a third of the fertilizers
per hectare as compared to other regions.
The eight core industries
Context: Core industries’ output slips to 4-month low of 8.1 per cent in September 2023.
Why in the news?
● In September 2023, the growth of the eight main industries slowed down to 8.1%, which is less than
the 12.1% growth they achieved in August 2023.
What are the eight core industries?
● The eight core industries are:
o Refinery products: 20.85%
o Electricity: 16.82%
o Steel: 13.52%
o Coal: 11.95%
o Crude oil: 7.6%
o Natural gas: 6.13%
o Cement: 4.92%
o Fertilizers: 3.21%
● These industries are considered core because they have a major impact on general economic
activities and also industrial activities.
● They significantly impact most other industries as well.
● These industries comprise a total of 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial
Production (IIP).
What is the Index of Industrial Production?
● The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a statistical tool that measures the performance of various
industrial sectors in an economy.
● It’s a composite indicator that reflects the general level of industrial activity.
● The IIP is calculated and published monthly by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in India.
● The base period for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is 2011-2012.
o This is the reference period against which the current period’s production is compared.
o The base period is revised periodically to reflect the changes in the structure of the industrial
sector.
● It measures the short-term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products
during a given period, compared to a chosen base period.
● The industry groups measured by the IIP are classified under broad sectors like
o Manufacturing,
o Mining, and
o Electricity.
● As well as use-based sectors like capital goods, basic goods, intermediate goods, infrastructure goods,
consumer durables, and consumer non-durables.
India Finance Report 2023
● The India Finance Report 2023, published by the Centre for Advanced Financial Research and
Learning (CAFRAL), notes a direct correlation between the growth rate of UPI (Unified Payments
Interface) transactions and fintech lending.
● The report found that a 10% increase in per capita UPI transactions usually leads to a 4.6% rise in
fintech lending.
● Furthermore, this relationship becomes stronger considering the speed of growth – a 10% increase in
the UPI growth rate associates with an almost 8.1% increase in fintech growth.
● The rise of UPI transactions has allowed fintech companies to utilize alternative sources of data to
assess creditworthiness.
● Because fintech companies primarily operate within the digital realm, they may be better equipped or
more inclined to use this alternative data compared to conventional banking institutions, making
their lending practices potentially more agile and responsive.
● The India Finance Report 2023 highlights that the pandemic has not slowed down, but rather
accelerated, the growth of UPI transactions and fintech lending.
● Specifically, the report mentions that since the advent of the pandemic, UPI and fintech lending have
grown in tandem, suggesting an expansion of digital transactions due to increased digital adoption
during the pandemic.
● The UPI platform has eased many geographical and logistical barriers to credit flow, and its upswing
has been leveraged by fintechs for growth and more nuanced creditworthiness assessments.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
Syllabus: GS3: Indian Economy.
Context: Wholesale prices remain in deflation zone in October.
Why in the news?
● India’s wholesale prices remained in deflationary mode for the seventh month in a row in October,
with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) reflecting an inflation of -0.52% from -0.26% in September.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Vs. Consumer Price Index (CPI):
Parameter Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Calculates price changes of goods and

Measures the average change in
Definition services that a consumer has to pay for
prices of goods at the wholesale level
consuming a basket of goods
Stage of Measures the initial or first stage of a Concerned with the final or last stage of a
Transaction transaction transaction
Scope Covers only goods Covers both goods and services
Focuses on goods that are traded only Focuses on goods that are being purchased
Area of Focus
between wholesalers or businesses by consumers
Published by Office of Economic Advisor Central Statistics Office
Reference year It uses the Financial Year as a

It uses the calendar year as a reference
for Calculation reference
Double-taxation avoidance agreements (DTAAs)
● Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) is a treaty signed between two or more countries.
● DTAA becomes applicable in cases where a taxpayer residing in one country earns income in another.
● India has signed DTAAs with 88 countries, out of which 85 have become effective.
Purpose:
● The main objective of DTAA is to avoid tax being paid twice for the same income.
● DTAA provides relief from double taxation by exempting income earned abroad from tax in the
resident country or by providing credit to the extent taxes that have been already been paid abroad.
Benefits:
● DTAAs can incentivize and promote the exchange of goods, services, and investment of capital by
eliminating international double taxation.
Sections in Indian Law:
● In India, Sections 90 and 91 under the Income Tax Act 1961 offer specific relief to taxpayers to avoid
double taxation.
● Section 90 deals with provisions involving taxpayers who have paid tax to another country with which
India has a DTAA.
● Section 91 is for those countries with which India does not have a DTAA.
Deflation
● Deflation is a term used in economics to describe a situation where the general price level of goods
and services is decreasing.
Definition:
● Deflation is a general decline in prices for goods and services, typically associated with a contraction in
the supply of money and credit in the economy. During deflation, the purchasing power of currency
rises over time.
Causes:
● Deflation can be caused by a decrease in the supply of money or financial instruments redeemable in
money.
● When the supply of money and credit falls, without a corresponding decrease in economic output, then
the prices of all goods tend to fall.
Effects:
● On its face, deflation benefits consumers because they can purchase more goods and services with
the same nominal income over time.
● However, not everyone wins from lower prices and economists are often concerned about the
consequences of falling prices on various sectors of the economy, especially in financial matters.
Measurement:
● Deflation is measured using economic indicators like the consumer price index (CPI), which tracks the
prices of a group of commonly purchased goods and services.
● Please note that deflation is different from disinflation.
o Disinflation signifies that prices are still rising, just more slowly than they have been. Deflation,
on the other hand, describes actual decreases in prices.
Inflation – Headline and core
Context: Food prices pose risk to aligning inflation to 4% target: RBI officials.
Why in the news?
● The only risk to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI’s) “resolve to align headline inflation with the target of
4% is food inflation”, with high frequency data showing the prices of several food items already firming
up this month, central bank officials wrote in an article in the November edition of the RBI Bulletin.
What is inflation?
● Inflation is a rise in prices, which can be translated as the decline of purchasing power over time.
● It effectively measures the change in the prices of a basket of goods and services.
● The rate at which purchasing power drops can be reflected in the average price increase of a basket of
selected goods and services over some period of time.
Inflation can be classified into three types:
● Demand-pull inflation,
● Cost-push inflation,
● Built-in inflation.
● The most commonly used inflation indexes are the Consumer Price Index and the Wholesale Price
Index.
● The consensus view among economists is that sustained inflation occurs when a nation’s money
supply growth outpaces economic growth.
● Inflation can be viewed positively or negatively depending on the individual viewpoint and rate of
change. Those with tangible assets, like property or stocked commodities, may like to see some
inflation as that raises the value of their assets.
Headline inflation and Core inflation:
Headline inflation Core inflation
Refers to the change in value of all Excludes food and fuel items from
Definition
goods in the basket headline inflation
More volatile due to the inclusion
Less volatile as it excludes food and fuel
Volatility of food and fuel prices, which tend
prices
to fluctuate
Used for formulating appropriate
More relevant for developing
Relevance monetary policy and forecasting long-term
economies
inflation trends
Calculated using the CPI, excluding volatile

Includes all items in the Consumer
Calculation food & fuel prices, excise duties, income
Price Index (CPI)
tax, and other financial investments
Climate change risk index in agrifood systems

● Climate Risks: Women engaged in agri-food systems in Africa and Asia, including India, face the highest
climate risks such as droughts, floods, or shortened crop-growing seasons.
● Risk Index: The study ranked 87 countries based on the level of climate change threat faced by women
working in agricultural sectors.
● India’s Ranking:
o India stood 12th on the risk index developed by researchers from six institutes.
o These included the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Gender Platform,
International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya, International Rice Research Institute, Alliance
of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Ireland,
International Rice Research Institute, India, International Food Policy Research Institute, United
States, and Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa, Kenya and the World
Bank Group, United States.
● Disproportionate Effects: Threats posed by the climate crisis disproportionately affect certain
communities and social groups that are more exposed.
● Gender Inequality: Women’s adaptive capacities tend to be more restrained than men’s because of
underlying gender inequality and unequal access to resources.
● Hotspot Areas: The research combined insights on climate, gender, and agri-food systems to map
these areas as ‘climate–agriculture–gender inequality hotspots’.
● Impact on Policymaking: The maps could be impactful in informing decision and policymaking around
gender-responsive climate action and guide the allocation of scarce resources to populations at the
highest risk.
● Limitations: The researchers pointed to certain limitations of their study, for example, a lack of data
that has made it impossible to calculate a ‘hotness’ score for some countries, including small island
development states.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (FAME)
Syllabus: GS3: Infrastructure: Energy.
Context: EV battery recycling can give wings to India’s decarbonisation dreams but faces stiff challenges.
Why in the news?
● Electric vehicles are key to
decarbonize mobility.
India’s ambitious
electrification programme
supported by upscaled
domestic battery
manufacturing will require
a secured supply of battery
materials.
● FAME-II is a scheme
launched by the Ministry of
Heavy Industries to
promote the
manufacturing and
adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in India.
● The scheme was launched in 2015 as part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP)
2020.
Phase I:
● The focus areas were technological development, demand generation, pilot project, and charging
infrastructure components.
Phase II:
● The scheme was redesigned in June 2021 to lower the upfront costs of electric vehicles.
● The scheme aims to support 1 million Electric 2 Wheelers, 5 lakh Electric 3 Wheelers, 55,000 Electric
Cars, and 7,090 Electric Buses through subsidies.
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020:
● The NEMMP 2020 is a National Mission document providing the vision and the roadmap for the faster
adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country.
● The plan aims to enhance national fuel security, provide affordable and environmentally friendly
transportation, and enable the Indian automotive industry to achieve global manufacturing
leadership.
Objectives:
● The NEMMP aims to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 2020
onwards.
● It sets out to promote and develop indigenous manufacturing capabilities, required infrastructure,
consumer awareness, and technology.
● The plan also aims to help India emerge as a leader in the electric vehicle market in the world by 2020.
Implementation:
● As part of the NEMMP 2020, the Department of Heavy Industry formulated the Faster Adoption and
Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in 2015.
Impact:
● Under Phase-I of FAME India Scheme, about 2.78 lakh electric/hybrid vehicles have been supported
with a total demand incentive of Rs. 343 crore.
● In addition to the above, 465 buses have also been sanctioned to various cities and States under this
Scheme.
● The plan is expected to reduce India’s energy need by 64 per cent and carbon emissions by 37 per cent
by the year 2030.
Risk weight
Context: What is RBI’s latest move to increase risk weight for lending about? | Explained
About the news:
● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to
reserve more capital for risk weights.
● The mandatory risk weight requirement has been increased by 25 percentage points.
● This applies to unsecured personal loans, credit cards, and lending to NBFCs.
What is risk weight?
● Risk-weighted assets (RWA) are a measure of a bank’s assets, adjusted for their associated risks.
● Risk weight refers to the capital that banks are required to hold for a certain type of asset,
considering the risk associated with it.
Purpose of Risk Weights:
● Risk weights are an essential tool for banks to manage credit risk.
● They adjust for the risk associated with a certain asset type.
● The RBI has directed that the risk weight for consumer credit exposure be increased by 25 percentage
points to 125%.
● This applies to personal loans (and retail loans for NBFCs), excluding housing loans, education loans,
vehicle loans, and loans secured by gold and gold jewellery.
● The risk weight for credit card loans of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) will increase to 150%, and
for NBFCs, it will be 125%.
Reason for the Changes:
● The RBI had raised concerns about the growth seen in consumer credit and increased dependency of
NBFCs on bank borrowings.
● Governor Shaktikanta Das had flagged concerns about the “high growth” in “certain components of
consumer credit”.
● Ratings agency Moody’s stated that higher risk weights are intended to “dampen lenders’ consumer
loan growth appetite”.
● RBI figures show that unsecured personal loans have increased by 23% on a year-over-year basis, as on
September 22.
● Outstanding loans from credit cards increased by about 30% during the same period.
● Major concerns emerge for loans below ₹50,000 — these carry the utmost default risk.
Impact on Capital Adequacy and Profitability
● Slower loan growth and increased emphasis on risk management will likely support better asset
quality in the Indian banking system.
● The immediate effect will likely be higher interest rates for borrowers, slower loan growth for lenders,
reduced capital adequacy, and some hit on profits.
Effect on Finance Companies:
● Finance companies might be the worst affected as their incremental bank borrowing might surge.
● Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) face a “double-whammy” because of higher risk weights on
their unsecured loans and on account of the bank lending mandates to NBFCs.
● Bank lending to NBFCs remained the principal source of funding for NBFCs, constituting 41.2% of the
total borrowing of entities.
● It is expected that the increased costs would be passed onto borrowers.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
Syllabus: GS3: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Context: CERT-In, Apple teams to probe snooping alert; Opp MPs want IT panel meet.
About the news:
● Several Opposition leaders alleged hacking of their iPhones by the government after receiving an alert
from Apple warning them of “state-sponsored attackers”, CERT-In, the government’s nodal agency on
computer security, and technology company Apple are learnt to have set up teams to investigate the
exact nature of the attack.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In):
● The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (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.
● CERT-In strengthens security-related defense of the Indian Internet domain.
Establishment:
● CERT-In was established under the provisions of section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Responsibilities:
● CERT-In is responsible for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur.
● It collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on cyber incidents.
● CERT-In forecasts and alerts of cyber security incidents.
● It coordinates cyber incident response activities.
● CERT-In issues guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes, and whitepapers relating to information
security practices, procedures, prevention, response, and reporting of cyber incidents.
● CERT-In operates the “Cyber Swachhta Kendra” (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre), a
part of the Government of India’s Digital India initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY).
● The center aims to create a secure cyber space by detecting botnet infections in India and notifying,
enabling cleaning and securing systems of end users to prevent further infections.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Syllabus:
● GS2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
● GS3: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its
prevention.
Context: FATF team in India to hold on-site review meetings.
Why in the news?
● A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) team is in India as part of the process to conduct the country’s
mutual evaluations to ascertain if authorities have put in place and effectively implemented the
required legal framework against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Financial Action Task Force:
● The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1989 by the
Group of Seven (G7) to combat money laundering.
● After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the FATF expanded its mandate to include
combating terrorist financing.
● The main objectives of the FATF are:
o To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory, and operational
measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other related threats to
the integrity of the international financial system.
o To work towards identifying national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the
international financial system from misuse.
● The FATF functions by issuing a series of Recommendations, which are recognized as the international
standard for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction.
o These Recommendations are used as the basis for a peer-review process known as "mutual
evaluations".
o Through these evaluations, each member country's anti-money laundering and counter-
terrorist financing measures are assessed.
● FATF helps cut off the resources available to terrorists.
● It maintains two types of lists to identify high-risk and other monitored jurisdictions that have
strategic deficiencies in their national systems to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
o The "Black List": This is the FATF list of "Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories" (NCCTs),
also known as the "Black List". These are countries that the FATF considers to be non-
cooperative in the global effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, particularly
those that have not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies in their systems.
o The "Grey List": Also known as the "Other Monitored Jurisdictions" list, these are the
countries that are not considered fully compliant with the FATF Recommendations, but have
committed to addressing the deficiencies in their systems. They are subject to increased
monitoring by the FATF.
Blue flag certification
Syllabus: GS3: Environment.
Context: More TN beaches to vie for coveted Blue Flag status.
About blue flag certification
● The Blue Flag certification is a prestigious eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental
Education (FEE) to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators that meet a
comprehensive set of requirements.
● It is an eco-label that is recognized globally and is given based on 33 criteria and was originally started
in France in 1985.
● These criteria are divided into 4 major parameters:
o Environmental education and information
o Bathing water quality
o Environmental management
o Conservation and safety services in the beaches
● Blue flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
● It is an eco-tourism strategy that aims to give visitors and beachgoers access to facilities, clean and
hygienic bathing water, a safe and healthy environment, and sustainable development of the region.
● The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO), the Danish NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), and the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) make up the international jury that bestows the tag.
Beaches from India that have received the tag
● Golden Beach – Odisha
● Shivrajpur Beach –
Gujarat
● Kappad Beach – Kerala
● Ghoghla Beach – Diu
● Radhanagar Beach –
Andaman and Nicobar
● Kasarkod Beach –
Karnataka
● Padubidri Beach –
Karnataka
● Rushikonda Beach –
Andhra Pradesh
● Kovalam Beach – Tamil
Nadu
● Eden Beach –
Puducherry
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World Biosphere Reserve Day
Context: Biosphere reserves are evolving as pockets of hope.
About the news:
● World Biosphere Reserve Day is celebrated on November 3 each year to raise awareness of the
importance of biosphere reserves and to promote their conservation and sustainable use.
● UNESCO biosphere reserves are areas that protect biodiversity, reduce pollution, and enhance
climate resilience.
● They are land, coastal and marine ecosystems, where nature and humans coexist.
Biosphere Reserves:
● Each biosphere
reserve has a strictly
protected core
zone, a buffer zone
where people live
and work in
harmony with
nature, and a
transition zone
where communities
practice socio-
culturally and
ecologically sustainable human activities.
● Biosphere reserves are designated by UNESCO to promote the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable
development, and research.
● They are also supported by other United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development
Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
Importance of Biosphere Reserves:
● Biosphere reserves are vital for the future of our planet, providing home to countless unique and
endangered plants and animals species.
● They play a vital role in the protection of biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of natural
resources.
● Biosphere reserves have become crucial in our fight against climate change, as these areas are home
to many of the world’s carbon sinks helping to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
● The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust has introduced the concept of ‘plastic checkpoints’ and
was recognised with the UNESCO Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management 2023.
10th South and Central Asian Biosphere Reserve Network Meeting (SACAM):
● UNESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, concluded the 10th SACAM in Chennai.
● With the theme “Ridge to Reef,” the SACAM provided a platform for exchanging knowledge and
fostering collaborations in the realm of sustainable environmental practices in the South and Central
Asia Region.
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Global Declaration of River Dolphins and their Rivers
● Representatives from the 14 countries that are home to the world’s populations of river dolphins,
came together in October 2023, for the Global Declaration of River Dolphins and their
Rivers convening.
● 11 Asian and South American countries signed a landmark deal in Bogotá to save the world’s six
surviving species of river dolphins from extinction.
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● Adopted by Asian and South American range states from Colombia to India, the Global Declaration for
River Dolphins aims to halt the decline of all river dolphin species and increase the most vulnerable
populations.
● The declaration has four main objectives:
o Eradicating unsustainable fishing practices that harm river dolphins, such as gillnets, dynamite
fishing, and electrofishing.
o Reducing pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, sewage, and plastic that
degrade the water quality and affect the health of river dolphins.
o Expanding research and monitoring of river dolphin populations, distribution, behavior,
genetics, and threats to inform conservation actions.
o Increasing protected areas and transboundary cooperation to ensure the connectivity and
integrity of river dolphin habitats.
● The declaration not only aims at recovery of river dolphin populations but also to improve the health
of the rivers where river dolphins live, as they are important indicators of the ecological and socio-
economic well-being of the river systems.
● The declaration recognizes that conserving river dolphins and their habitats will benefit not only the
wildlife, but also the millions of people who depend on the rivers for their livelihoods.
Ecological Ripple Effect
● The disappearance of one species can trigger the extinction of other dependent species, leading to a
ripple effect on the already fragile ecosystem, the UN report said.
● For example, if the gopher tortoise goes extinct, the dusky gopher frog will likely follow, affecting the
entire forest ecosystem.
● The world is inching closer to six interconnected risk tipping points, describing immediate and
increasing risks across the world, according to a new report from the United Nations University –
Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).
● The six risk tipping points include extinctions, depleting groundwater, melting mountain
glaciers, space debris, unbearable heat and an uninsurable future.
● A risk tipping point is the moment at which a given socio-ecological system can no longer buffer risks
and provide its expected functions, the report defined. After this point, the risk of catastrophic impacts
to these systems increases substantially.
● Extinctions have been part of Earth’s natural process, but human activities such as land-use
change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution and introduction of invasive species have
accelerated extinctions.
● For example, more than 400 vertebrate species have been wiped out in the last 100 years and a million
plant and animal species are at risk of being extinct. Along with this, some 32 million hectares of
primary or recovering forest were lost between 2010 and 2015.
● Further, the aquifers that store groundwater are in a critical state and two billion people rely on them
as a primary source of freshwater. Also, 70 per cent of the water is used for agriculture. Some 21 of 37
world’s largest aquifers are depleting faster than they can be replenished.
● The issue is that the water stored in aquifers took more than thousands of years to accumulate and
recharging them would equally take the same time, making it essentially a non-renewable resource.
● In India, 78 per cent of wells in Punjab have been labelled overexploited, and the north-western part of
the country is predicted to experience critically low groundwater availability by 2025.

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● The other system approaching the tipping point is the melting glaciers, which act as water sources for
drinking, irrigation, hydropower and ecosystems.
● Due to global warming, the world’s glaciers are melting at double the speed relative to the past two
decades, which puts 1.9 billion people at risk. Between 2000 and 2019, glaciers lost 267 gigatons of ice
per year, roughly equivalent to the mass of 46,500 Great Pyramids of Giza, the report noted.
● In a warming world, we are projected to lose around 50 per cent of glaciers (excluding Greenland and
Antarctica) by 2100, even if global warming can be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
● The “unbearable heat” tipping point deals with “wet-bulb temperature” above 35°C. It combines
temperature and humidity. High humidity, according to researchers, hinders the evaporation of sweat
and worsens the effects of heat, causing organ failure and brain damage.
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
● It is a statutory body constituted under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
● The Board was constituted in 2003 under the WLPA, as mentioned before.
● It replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife, which was formed in 1952 as an advisory board.
● Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures
for the conservation of wildlife in the country.
● The primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and
forests.
● It has the power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national
parks and sanctuaries.
● The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist
lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat, and de-
notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
● No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without the
approval of the NBWL.
● Composition:
o The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
o Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change acts as a Vice-Chairperson of NBWL.
o It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio
members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one
from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs, and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists, and
environmentalists.
● The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of
Section 5B.
o The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) the Member Secretary and not more
than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of
the National Board.
Minamata Convention
● The Minamata Convention is an international treaty designed to limit mercury pollution from all
sources that are globally relevant.
● The Convention gets its name from Minamata, a city in Japan where serious health damage occurred
due to mercury pollution in mid-20th century.
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● Elemental Mercury:
o The Convention covers control measures across the lifecycle of mercury, including on the
supply side, which involves elemental mercury in its natural liquid form.
o To minimize releases, the Convention obliges countries to reduce and where feasible eliminate
the use of mercury in specific industrial processes.
● Mercury Compounds:
o These are substances that contain mercury in combination with other elements.
o Mercury and its compounds are extremely toxic and can cause severe health effects.
o The Convention aims to control, reduce, and eliminate, where feasible, the release of mercury
compounds from industries and other man-made sources.
● Mercury-added Products:
o These are a wide variety of products to which mercury is added during manufacture.
o Examples can include certain types of batteries, lamps, barometers, medical and cosmetics
products, etc.
o The Convention requires countries to phase down the use of dental fillings that use mercury
amalgam, and to implement measures to phase out the manufacture, import, and export of a
host of products, where mercury is added.
Geoglyph
● A 3,000-year-old geoglyph in the form of a perfect circle has been discovered on the outskirts of
Mudichu Thalapalli in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district of Telangana.
● The geoglyph spans 7.5 metres in diameter and is surrounded by a 30-centimetre-wide rim. Inside the
circle are two triangles.
● The geoglyph was dated to the Iron Age, around 1000 BCE, by professor Ravi Korisettar, a prehistoric
rock art expert. He suggested that the circle might have been used as a model for megalithic
communities in planning their circular burial sites.
● Within a one-kilometre radius of the geoglyph’s location, they discovered three prehistoric rock
shelters adorned with depictions of bulls, deer, porcupines and human figures wearing masks. These
artworks are believed to date to the Mesolithic and Megalithic periods.
● A geoglyph is a large design or motif, generally longer than 4 metres, produced on the ground by
durable elements of the landscape, such as stones, stone fragments, gravel, or earth.
● It is created by arranging or moving objects within a landscape.
● There are two types of geoglyphs:
o Positive geoglyph: Formed by the arrangement and alignment of materials on the ground in a
manner akin to petroforms.
o Negative geoglyph: Formed by removing part of the natural ground surface to create differently
coloured or textured ground in a manner akin to petroglyphs.
● There is another variation of a geoglyph that involves seeding plants in a special design. The design
usually takes years to see since it depends on the plants growing. This type of geoglyph is called an
arbour glyph1. Another type of geoglyph often referred to as ‘chalk giants’ are those carved into
hillsides, exposing the bedrock beneath.
● The most widely known geoglyphs are the Nazca Lines of Peru. Other geoglyphs from the past include
the Megaliths in the Urals, the Uffington White Horse, the Long Man of Wilmington, and many others.

56 | Page
Climate Shift Index (CSI)
Context: Last 12 months were the warmest in 125,000 years.
About the news:
● The last 12 months have been the warmest in the last 125,000 years, with temperatures reaching 1.32
degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, according to a new report.
● The team used their attribution system — the Climate Shift Index (CSI) — to map the influence of
human-caused climate change on daily local temperatures and multi-day extreme heat events across
the globe.

57 | Page
Climate Shift Index (CSI):
● The CSI is a categorical scale, with the categories defined by the ratio of how common (or likely) a
temperature is in today's altered climate vs. how common it would be in a climate without human-
caused climate change.
SunSmart Global UV App
Context: Last 12 months were the warmest in 125,000 years.
About the news:
● Outdoor workers face a large and growing burden of non-melanoma skin cancer.
● Working in the sun causes nearly one-third of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths, according to World
Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates released on
November 8, 2023.
● Outdoor workers can use a recently launched SunSmart Global UV Application by WHO, ILO, World
Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to estimate their
exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.
SunSmart Global UV App:
● This app provides localized information on ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels has been launched by the
World Health Organization (WHO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
● It highlights time slots when sun protection is required with the aim of helping people around the
world know when to use sun protection, in an effort to reduce the global burden of skin cancer and
UV-related eye damage.
● The app is based on the UV Index, which describes the level of solar UV radiation at the earth’s
surface.
● The UV Index is reported on a scale of 1 (or “Low”) to 11 and higher (or “Extreme”).
● The higher the index value, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eye, and the less
time it takes for harm to occur.
● The maximum UV Index is at the solar noon when the sun is highest in the sky.
● UV damage is cumulative and UV can be harmful when people are exposed for long periods – even at
low levels.
Environmental DNA
● Environmental DNA, also known as eDNA, is the genetic material obtained not directly from living
organisms, but from various environmental constituents such as air, soil, seawater, and snow. This
DNA is deposited and preserved in the environment during the interactions of diverse organisms with
their surroundings, emanating from many different sources.
● Environmental DNA (eDNA) comes from various sources including, but not limited to, feces, mucus,
gametes, shed skin, hair, and carcasses.
● Sophisticated high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques such as metagenomics, metabarcoding, and
single-species detection analyze these samples, providing rapid evaluation and measurement of
biodiversity.
● To better distinguish among organisms within a sample, DNA metabarcoding is employed. It uses
already-established DNA libraries, like BLAST, to identify the microorganisms present.
● A cutting-edge technique in evaluating biodiversity is eDNA metabarcoding.
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● Here, samples collected from water, sediment, or air serve as the DNA source.
● The DNA gets amplified using universal primers in a process known as polymerase chain reaction, and
later sequenced through next-generation sequencing methods, producing thousands to millions of data
points.
● Analysis of this data can establish species presence and assess overall biodiversity. This approach
bridges traditional field-based ecology with sophisticated molecular techniques and advanced
computational tools.
● The potential of eDNA analysis is enormous. Alongside monitoring prevalent species, it's capable of
genetically detecting and identifying other currently living species, effectively contributing to
conservation activities. This method eliminates the need to physically collect living organisms, thereby
reducing anthropogenic pressure while studying elusive, endangered, or invasive species. This
approach to biomonitoring also provides vital data to understand population sizes, species distribution,
and population dynamics, particularly for poorly documented species.
● Notably, eDNA analysis often proves more cost-effective than traditional sampling methods and the
eDNA method helps in biomonitoring without requiring the collection of the living organism.
● However, the integrity of eDNA samples relies heavily on their preservation in the environment.
● Exposure to UVB radiation, acidity, heat, and endo- and exonucleases can degrade e-DNA it means
eDNA can be degrade in the environment.
Project Dolphin
● Dolphins are aquatic ecosystem animals. They can be found in saltwater, brackish water, and fresh
water.
● All freshwater, brackish water, and marine Dolphins (Cetaceans) are listed in Schedule-I of the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972, giving them the most protection against hunting.
● Project Dolphin is under the Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous body of the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
● Project Dolphin is one of the activities planned under Arth Ganga, an ambitious inter-ministerial
initiative of the government approved in 2019.
● Project Dolphin will be on the lines of Project Tiger, which has helped increase the tiger population.
● The Tamil Nadu Government issued an order to implement ‘Project Dolphin’ to strengthen the marine
ecology and overall health of the marine environment under the Integrated Development of Wildlife
Habitat programme of the government of India.
● More than four types of dolphin species are found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
● Dolphins play an important role in keeping the marine environment in balance, it was noted that they
face various natural and human-induced threats which include hunting, entanglement in fishing nets,
overfishing, climate change, ship strikes, tourism activities, toxic contamination, noise pollution, oil and
gas development and habitat degradation.
● The conservation of dolphins and their aquatic habitat through use of modern technology by engaging
with fishermen and other ocean dependent populations is proposed under the project. This will be
helpful in improving the population of dolphin species and protection of their habitat at the same time
improving livelihood of the local communities.
● The project also is focused on enhancing awareness through celebration of the ‘National Dolphin Day’
with the involvement of the local community and educational Institutions, including launch of ‘Dolphin
Scholarship’ programme to enhance the understanding of their habitats.

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State of the Climate Services report by the WMO
● The State of Climate Services report is released annually by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO).
● The 2023 report focuses on the health impacts of climate change and the need for tailored climate
information and services to support the health sector.
Key findings of the 2023 report are:
● Climate change will disproportionately impact the health of vulnerable countries/populations through
extreme weather events. Africa projected to see 50% of climate change mortality by 2050.
● Less than 25% of health ministries effectively use climate services to monitor health risks.
● 74% of meteorological services provide climate data but it is not being fully utilized by health sectors.
● 85% countries lack formal data sharing agreements between health ministries and meteorological
services.
● Only 26 countries have heat-health early warning systems currently.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES)
Context: As per the 19th meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP19) to CITES, the parties have been
directed to “urgently adopt comprehensive and enforcement controls” with an aim to eliminate poaching
of jaguars.
CITES:
● CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an
international agreement between governments.
● Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten the survival of the species.
● The Conference of the Parties (CoP), which is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention
and comprises all its Parties, has agreed in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) on a set of biological
and trade criteria to help determine whether a species should be included in Appendices I or II.
● CITES is an international agreement to which States and regional economic integration organizations
adhere voluntarily.
● States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties.
● Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the
Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
● Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic
legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.
● All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has
to be authorized through a licensing system.
● The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection
they need.
o Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is
permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
o Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade
must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

61 | Page
o Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other
CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct
procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party’s is entitled to make unilateral
amendments to it.
Global Tiger Initiative (GTI)
● It is a global collaboration of governments, international organizations, civil society, conservation and
scientific communities, and the commercial sector.
● The aim of GTI is to work together to save wild tigers from extinction.
● The St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010 brought together world leaders to endorse the Global Tiger
Recovery Program (GTRP), which aimed to double tiger populations by 2022.
● The GTI Council is currently operating from three cities, i.e. Washington DC, New Delhi (GTF
secretariat) and Bishkek (GSLEP secretariat).
Global Tiger Recovery Program
● The Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) evolved under the Global Tiger Initiative in 2010.
● It was endorsed by Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) in the first Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg,
Russia in 2010.
● There are currently 13 tiger range countries - India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia,
Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
● The overarching goal adopted in the Hua Hin declaration and supported by the Global Tiger Recovery
Program (GTRP) is to reverse the rapid decline of wild tigers and to strive to double the number of
wild tigers across their range by 2022.
● The Tiger Range Country (TRCs) as a group is ready to take on this challenge although not all TRCs
individually will be able to achieve this goal.
● To solve the tiger crisis, which represents the larger Asian biodiversity crisis, the TRCs, international
organizations, and civil society have come together on a collaborative platform within the framework
of the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI).
● After a two-year process of sharing knowledge and best practices and developing a common vision,
the GTRP was developed, with the shared goal of doubling the number of wild tigers globally by
2022 through actions to:
o Effectively manage, preserve, protect, and enhance tiger habitats
o Eradicate poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of tigers, their parts, and derivatives
o Cooperate in transboundary landscape management and in combating illegal trade
o Engage with indigenous and local communities
o Increase the effectiveness of tiger and habitat management
o Restore tigers to their former range
● The foundation of the GTRP is the thirteenth individual National Tiger Recovery Priorities (NTRPs) that
outline the urgent priority activities each TRC will take to contribute to the global goal.
● Program management and coordination arrangements are built on the establishment and
strengthening, as needed, of robust national implementation mechanisms, supported by TRC-wide
and global processes to ensure mutual accountability and transparency through vigorous monitoring
and reporting of progress.

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Red Sanders
Syllabus: GS3: Environment - Conservation.
Context: Shri Bhupender Yadav says based on compliance and reporting India has been removed from the
Review of Significant Trade process for Red Sanders.
About the news:
● Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change said India was under Review of Significant
Trade (RST) process for Red Sanders since 2004.
● He said based on our compliance and reporting, India has been removed from the Review of Significant
Trade for Red Sanders.
● The development is a major boost for the farmers who grow Red Sanders.
Red Sanders:
● Red sanders also known as
Red Sandalwood, is
endemic to the southern
Eastern Ghats mountain
range of South India.
● The species, Pterocarpus
santalinus, is an Indian
endemic tree species, with
a restricted geographical
range in the Eastern Ghats.
● Red Sanders usually grow
in the rocky, degraded and
fallow lands with Red Soil
and hot and dry climate.
Uses:
● Red Sanders, known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties, are high in demand across Asia,
particularly in China and Japan.
● They are used in cosmetics and medicinal products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and
musical instruments.
● The wood has historically been valued in China, particularly during the Qing dynasty periods.
Threats:
● Illicit felling for smuggling, forest fires, cattle grazing and other anthropogenic threats are major
threats to Red Sanders.
● Due to its slow growth and rarity, furniture made from Red Sanders is difficult to find and can be
expensive.
● In India, Red Sanders is one main and lucrative market for smugglers, as a high price is paid for this
wood in China.
Protection Status:
● The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) recently categorised the Red Sanders
again into the ‘endangered’ category in its Red List.
● CITES: Appendix II.

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Maritime Continent (MC)
● Maritime Continent is a term commonly used by meteorologists, climatologists, and oceanographers to
describe the region between the Indian and Pacific Oceans including the archipelagos of Indonesia,
Borneo, New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, the Malay Peninsula, and the surrounding seas.
● The region is made up of thousands of islands of various sizes, mountainous terrain, and many
shallow seas.
● The terms maritime and continent are usually used to describe two opposite climate types. However
together, they are used to describe the extensive interaction between ocean and land occurring
across the Maritime Continent region.
Carbon fixation
● Carbon fixation is a process in photosynthesis, where atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted
into organic compounds like sugars by plants, algae, and certain bacteria types. It's also known as the
Calvin cycle or C3 photosynthesis, and it is how plants 'eat' or draw sustenance from the air and sun.
● The process involves three main stages:
o Carbon Fixation: The enzyme RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase)
catalyzes the reaction between carbon dioxide and a five-carbon sugar called ribulose-1,5-
bisphosphate (RuBP), resulting in a 6-carbon intermediate molecule. This molecule is unstable
and quickly breaks down into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate, a three-carbon compound.
o Reduction: The molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate are phosphorylated by ATP (created during
light reactions of photosynthesis) and then reduced by NADPH, forming glyceraldehyde-3-
phosphate (G3P), a sugar.
o Regeneration: Some G3P molecules are used to form glucose and other carbohydrates, and
some are recycled to regenerate RuBP, allowing the process to continue.
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● These reactions occur in the stroma, the fluid-filled area of a chloroplast outside the thylakoid
membranes, where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place. This entire cycle
makes up the "dark reactions," or light-independent reactions, of photosynthesis.
● It's called carbon fixation because "fixation" refers to the process of taking gaseous CO2 and "fixing" it
into a stable, solid form that can be used by the organism, flora, and other organisms, or stored for
later use.
Global warming potential (GWP)
● The global warming potential (GWP) is the heat absorbed by any greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
expressed as a multiple of the heat absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide (CO2).
● The global warming potential of each gas describes its impact on global warming.
● In terms of climate impact, the two most important characteristics of a GHG are:
o how well the gas absorbs energy (preventing it from immediately escaping to space);
o how long the gas remains in the atmosphere.
● The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a gas is a measure of how much energy a gas absorbs over a
specific time period (usually 100 years) when compared to carbon dioxide.
● Gases with a higher GWP absorb more energy per pound than gases with a lower GWP, contributing
more to global warming.
● CO2 has a GWP of 1. Other gases are affected by the gas and the time frame.
● GWP is used to calculate carbon dioxide equivalent. The mass of CO2 would warm the earth as much as
the mass of any other gas.
● As a result, it provides a common scale for assessing the climate effects of various gases. It is
calculated as GWP times the mass of the other gas.
Carbon fixation
● Carbon fixation is a process in photosynthesis, where atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted
into organic compounds like sugars by plants, algae, and certain bacteria types. It's also known as the
Calvin cycle or C3 photosynthesis, and it is how plants 'eat' or draw sustenance from the air and sun.
● The process involves three main stages:
o Carbon Fixation: The enzyme RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase)
catalyzes the reaction between carbon dioxide and a five-carbon sugar called ribulose-1,5-
bisphosphate (RuBP), resulting in a 6-carbon intermediate molecule. This molecule is unstable
and quickly breaks down into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate, a three-carbon compound.
o Reduction: The molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate are phosphorylated by ATP (created during
light reactions of photosynthesis) and then reduced by NADPH, forming glyceraldehyde-3-
phosphate (G3P), a sugar.
o Regeneration: Some G3P molecules are used to form glucose and other carbohydrates, and
some are recycled to regenerate RuBP, allowing the process to continue.
● These reactions occur in the stroma, the fluid-filled area of a chloroplast outside the thylakoid
membranes, where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place. This entire cycle
makes up the "dark reactions," or light-independent reactions, of photosynthesis.
● It's called carbon fixation because "fixation" refers to the process of taking gaseous CO2 and "fixing" it
into a stable, solid form that can be used by the organism, flora, and other organisms, or stored for
later use.

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The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
● It is an outcome of the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference.
● Its tentative title had been the "Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework".
● The GBF was adopted by the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) on 19 December 2022.
● It has been promoted as a "Paris Agreement for Nature".
● It is one of a handful of agreements under the auspices of the CBD, and it is the most significant to
date. It has been hailed as a "huge, historic moment" and a "major win for our planet and for all of
humanity."
● UN Secretary General António Guterres speaking at the 2022 biodiversity conference in Montreal
which led to this treaty.
● The Framework is named after two cities, Kunming, which was scheduled to be the host city for
COP15 in October 2020 but postponed and subsequently relinquished the hosting duties due to China's
COVID policy, and Montreal, which is the seat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat
and stepped in to host COP15 after Kunming's cancellation.
● Human activities around the planet have been causing a crisis of biodiversity loss around the globe.
● This phenomenon has been known as the Holocene extinction, which is the sixth mass extinction
event in the earth's history.
● The decline in nature threatens the survival of a million species and impacts billions of people.
● The GBF contains 4 global goals ("Kunming-Montreal Global Goals for 2050") and 23 targets
("Kunming-Montreal 2030 Global Targets").
● The 23 targets are categorized into three areas as:
o Reducing threats to biodiversity.
o Meeting people's needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing.
o Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.
Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (GGGW)
● Rapid international exchange of GHG observations:
o GGGW observes greenhouse gas concentrations on a global scale using both surface-based
and space-based systems.
o This term refers to the ability of GGGW to rapidly exchange these observations on an
international level.
o The rapid exchange of data enables timely and coordinated global action based on the most
recent and accurate information.
● Estimation of GHG emissions based on process-based models:
o GGGW uses activity data and process-based models to estimate the emissions of greenhouse
gases.
o This means that GGGW collects information about activities emitting greenhouse gases and
uses models that can simulate these processes to estimate the amount of gases.
o This can be useful for identifying critical emission sources and areas for intervention.
● Use of high-resolution Earth system models:
o GGGW employs high-resolution Earth system models which helps in representing the
greenhouse gas cycles more accurately.

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o High-resolution models provide more detailed and accurate representations of the Earth
system, which enables accurate prediction and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and
their effects.
● Data assimilation for higher accuracy:
o The practice of data assimilation combines observational data with predictions from
models, theoretically yielding more accurate and comprehensive results than either method
would alone.
o This is crucial in GGGW's monitoring efforts, since it helps in cross-validating the data
obtained, ensuring their accuracy and reliability.
Myristica swamps
● Myristica swamps, a rare and archaic forest ecosystem largely confined to Kulathupuzha and Anchal
forest ranges in Kollam, are facing degradation due to multiple factors including man-myristica
conflict.
● Myristica swamps are called live fossils, a biodiversity hotspot dominated by evergreen trees
belonging to the Myristicaceae family, one of the oldest flowering plants on earth.
● Researchers had earlier mapped around 60 small and large Myristica swamps with central streams in
Anchal and Kulathupuzha Forest ranges and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.
● The swamps have great conservation value due to their relic status dating back to primordial times.
● They are found in three localities in India: the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka State, the southern
parts of Kerala, and recently in village Bambarde, in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurga district.
Adaptation:
● Myristica swamps have adapted to inundation by way of stilt roots and knee roots.
● These roots help the trees stay erect in the water-logged soil and are similar to the aerial roots of
mangroves in facilitating gas exchange.
● Major species of trees found in these swamps include Gymnocranthera canarica, Myristica fatua,
Mastixia arborea, Semecarpus travancorica, Hopea wightiana, Lophopetalum wightianum, Holigarna
grahami, Sysygium laetum, etc.
Conservation Status:
● Myristica swamps are considered one of the most endangered forest ecosystems in India.

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Self-Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams (SATHEE)
Syllabus: GS2: Education.
Context: Ministry of Education asks States to encourage use of online coaching platform SATHEE.
Why in the news?
● With the Joint Entrance Examination
(JEE) to the Indian Institutes of
Technology (IIT) and other
engineering colleges only 45 days
away, officials at the Ministry of
Education (MoE) on November 21 said
they would write to all States to
encourage aspirants to utilise the
newly launched portal for exam
preparation — SATHEE (Self
Assessment Test and Help for
Entrance Exams).
Self-Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams (SATHEE):
● The online coaching platform has been launched by the Ministry of Education and IIT-Kanpur.
● SATHEE is an initiative to give students free learning and assessment platform.
● The preparation material will be available in English, Hindi and other regional languages of India to
prepare for competitive exams like JEE and NEET.
● SATHEE for Schools combines both the NCERT studies and JEE learning standards into an extensive
curriculum.
SATHEE Features:
● Preparation material for entrance exams including JEE and NEET
● Video solutions in regional languages for entrance exams
● JEE and NEET entrance exam preparation ideas webinars
● Students' stories of struggles and achievement
● Solve with me sessions
● Motivational sessions
National Disaster Management Authority
● The Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act, which envisaged the creation of
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster
Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers, to spearhead and
implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster Management in India.
● It is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
● Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the
State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
● NDMA is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management.
● India envisions the development of an ethos of Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness and Response.
● NDMA has 5 major divisions viz. Policy & Plans, Mitigation, Operations & Communications &
Information & Technology, Administration and Finance.

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Antarctic ozone hole
Syllabus: GS3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Context: Antarctic ozone hole now larger, thinner & may take longer to recover. Mesosphere has a role to
play: Study.
About the news:
● The ozone hole over the Antarctic has grown larger and thinner throughout most of the spring.
● There is much less ozone in the center of the ozone hole compared to 19 years ago, indicating that the
ozone layer has notably thinned.
Ozone Hole:
● The ozone hole is a region
of exceptionally depleted
ozone in the stratosphere
over the Antarctic,
occurring at the beginning
of the Southern Hemisphere
spring from August through
October.
● The trend continues in
2023, with the hole
averaging 23.1 million
square kilometers from
September 7 to October 13,
approximately the size of
North America.
Research Findings:
● Researchers analyzed the
monthly and daily ozone
changes at different
altitudes and latitudes
within the Antarctic ozone
hole from 2004 to 2022.
● They observed a total
reduction of 26% at the
core of the ozone hole from 2004 to 2022.
● This reduction occurred despite the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which regulates the production and
consumption of human-generated chemicals known to deplete the ozone.
Factors Affecting the Ozone Hole:
● Meteorological conditions, springtime temperature and wind patterns, aerosols from wildfires and
volcanic eruptions, and changes in the solar cycle could be responsible for fluctuations in the size of
the Antarctic ozone hole.
● Other complex factors could also be involved, such as the Antarctic ozone hole sitting within the polar
vortex, a circular pattern of wind in the stratosphere that forms during winter and is maintained until
late spring.
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● The intrusion of air from the mesosphere into the stratosphere within this vortex brings natural
chemicals that impact ozone chemistry in October.
Montreal Protocol:
● The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
● The Montreal Protocol was agreed upon on 16 September 1987 and entered into force on 1 January
1989.
● The treaty is structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons that deplete stratospheric
ozone.
● All of the ozone-depleting substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol contain either chlorine or
bromine.
● As a result of the international agreement, the ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering.
● Due to its widespread adoption and implementation, it has been hailed as an example of successful
international cooperation.
Ozone-depleting substances (ODS):
● Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are chemicals that destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer.
Some examples of ODS:
o Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): These are the most abundant ozone-depleting substance.
o Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),
o Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs),
o Halons,
o Methyl Bromide (CH3Br),
o Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) and
o Methyl Chloroform (CH3CCl3)21.
Methane and Climate Change
Syllabus: GS3: Environmental pollution and degradation.
Context: COP28 turns attention to potent methane emissions.
Methane and Climate Change:
● Methane (CH4) is a potent but relatively short-lived greenhouse gas.
● It is the second largest contributor to climate change, accounting for around 16% of the warming
effect.
● Methane’s warming effect is 28 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year timescale.
● Methane remains in the atmosphere for only about 10 years.
Methane Emissions:
● Large amounts of methane are leaking into the atmosphere from fossil fuel infrastructure.
● Around 60% of methane emissions are linked to human activity, while most of the remainder is from
wetlands.
● The exact amount of methane released in the atmosphere remains subject to significant uncertainty.
Sources of Methane Emissions:
● Agriculture is the biggest culprit, responsible for roughly a quarter of emissions. Most of that is from
livestock and rice cultivation.
● The energy sector (coal, oil, and gas) is the second largest source of human-caused methane
emissions.
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● Discarded household waste also releases large quantities of methane when it decomposes, if left to rot
in landfills.
Mitigation Strategies:
● Rapid cuts in methane emissions linked to the fossil fuel sector could prevent up to 0.1 degrees
Celsius of warming by mid-century.
● This could be achieved by repairing leaky infrastructure and eliminating routine flaring and venting
during maintenance.
● In agriculture, modifying animal diets and changes to water management in rice fields are promising
ways to reduce emissions.
COP 28: India’s equity demand

Syllabus:
● GS2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
● GS3: Environment.
Context: At COP 28, a fair share of the global carbon budget is at stake | Explained.
Global Warming and CO2 Emissions:
● There is an almost linear relationship between global warming and cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions.
● The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 noted that per
capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low.
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
Principle:
● Different states have different responsibilities and respective capabilities in tackling climate change.
● This principle has been reaffirmed in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the global average
temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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Global Carbon Budget:
● A carbon budget is a concept used in climate policy to help set emissions reduction targets in a fair
and effective way.
● It looks at "the maximum amount of cumulative net global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions that would result in limiting global warming to a given level".
● According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the total remaining global carbon
budget required to limit the world’s temperature increase to 1.5 °C (with 67% likelihood) is 400
GtCO2, decreasing to 50% likelihood if emissions reach 500 GtCO2 between 2020 and 2050.
Responsibility for Cumulative Global Emissions:
● Developed countries have appropriated a disproportionately larger share of the global carbon budget
to date.
● The contribution of South Asia, which includes India, to historical cumulative emissions is only around
4% despite having almost 24% of the entire world population.
● The per capita CO2-FFI (fossil fuel and industry) emissions of South Asia was just 1.7 tonnes CO2-
equivalent per capita, far below North America (15.4 tonnes CO2-eq. per capita) and also significantly
lower than the world average (6.6 tonnes CO2-eq. per capita).
Carbon Budget and India:
● The global carbon budget is a common global resource, but it is exhaustible and limited.
● India must recognise a ‘fair share of the carbon budget’ as a strategic national resource, which is
rapidly depleting due to over-exploitation by developed countries.
India’s Achievements and Challenges:
● According to the NITI AayogU.N. Development Programme’s Multidimensional Poverty Index Report
2023 review, India has been able to lift more than 135 million poor out of poverty in less than five years
(2015-2021).
● India has extended food security welfare measures to more than 800 million people in the country,
under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), highlighting the challenge of poverty
eradication after COVID-19.
● Development is the first defense against climate change.
o Developing countries have to divert their scarce resources, manpower, and attention to
meeting global problems created by developed countries.
o Need for Fair and Equitable Share of Carbon Budget
o It is imperative that developing countries receive a fair and equitable share of their carbon
budget alongside stronger and more fruitful commitments from developed countries.
o This includes the promised but unmet climate-specific new and additional finance.
India’s Efforts to Tackle Climate Change:
● The Indian government has led from the front to foster international consensus to tackle climate
change.
● India has set up the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and
the Global Biofuel Alliance.
● Through the ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) mission, the Indian government aims to spread
awareness of good lifestyle practices and establish that sustainable lifestyles are the best way forward.
India’s Stance at COP 28:

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● At COP 28, India must demand a fair share of its carbon budget or equivalent reparations to bring
about fairness within the global order.
● Without finance and technology as promised in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, developing countries
stare at an even more unfair world.
● The cover decision of the Glasgow Climate Pact recorded an unprecedented “regret” on the failure of
the developed countries to provide US $100 billion dollars a year, as promised at the COP 15 talks in
Copenhagen in 2009.
● There is a need for more finance and less rhetoric from developed countries. For far too long,
developed countries have had a free pass, and it is time for a new India to take them on.
Greenwashing
● Greenwashing (a compound word modeled on "whitewash"), also called "green sheen", is a form of
advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to
persuade the public that an organization's products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly.
● Companies that intentionally take up greenwashing communication strategies often do so in order to
distance themselves from their own environmental lapses or those of their suppliers.
● An example of greenwashing occurs when an organization spends significantly more resources on
advertising being "green" than on environmentally sound practices.
● Greenwashing can range from changing the name or label of a product to evoke the natural
environment (for example on a product containing harmful chemicals) to multimillion-dollar
campaigns that portray highly-polluting energy companies as eco-friendly.
● Greenwashing covers up unsustainable corporate agendas and policies.
● Highly public accusations of greenwashing have contributed to the term's increasing use.
● Many corporations use greenwashing to improve public perception of their brands. Complex corporate
structures can further obscure the big picture.
● Critics of the practice suggest the rise of greenwashing, paired with ineffective
regulation, contributes to consumer skepticism of all green claims and diminishes the power of the
consumer to drive companies toward greener manufacturing processes and business operations.
● Greenwashing has increased in recent years to meet consumer demand for environmentally-friendly
goods and services.
● New regulations, laws, and guidelines by organizations such as the Committee of Advertising Practice
mean to discourage companies from using greenwashing to deceive consumers.
Tantalum
● Tantalum is a rare metal with the atomic number 73 — the number of protons found in one atom of
the element.
● It’s grey, heavy, very hard, and one of the most corrosion-resistant metals in use today.
● It possesses high corrosion resistance because when exposed to air, it forms an oxide layer that is
extremely difficult to remove, even when it interacts with strong and hot acid environments.
● When pure, tantalum is ductile, meaning it can be stretched, pulled, or drawn into a thin wire or
thread without breaking.
● Moreover, it is almost completely immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C, and
is attacked only by hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing the fluoride ion, and free sulphur
trioxide.

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● As tantalum has a high melting point, it is frequently used as a substitute for platinum, which is more
expensive.
● Tantalum also has an extremely high melting point, exceeded only by tungsten and rhenium.
● The rare metal is also used to make components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants,
aeroplanes and missiles.
● Tantalum does not react with bodily fluids and is used to make surgical equipment and implants, like
artificial joints.
● Tantalum is most prominently used in the electronic sector.
● The capacitors made from tantalum are capable of storing more electricity in smaller sizes without
much leakage than any other type of capacitor.
● This makes them ideal for use in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and digital
cameras.
Climate-smart agriculture
● Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a comprehensive approach to managing agriculture in the era of
climate change.
● It is built on three main pillars:
o Sustainable Increase in Agricultural Productivity and Incomes: This involves adopting practices
that not only increase agricultural output, but also ensure that this increase doesn’t come at the
expense of the environment or future productivity.
o Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change: This involves modifying agricultural practices and
systems to better cope with the changes and uncertainties brought about by climate change.
This could include diversifying crops, improving irrigation systems, or adopting agroforestry
practices.
o Reduction/Removal of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): This involves adopting practices that reduce
the emission of GHGs from agricultural activities. This could include improving the efficiency of
fertilizers, managing waste better, or sequestering carbon in agricultural soils.
● In order to achieve these objectives, CSA promotes the use of ‘smart’ practices that are tailored to local
conditions and needs. These include:
o Water-Smart Practices: These aim to use water resources more efficiently and sustainably.
o Weather-Smart Practices: These aim to make agricultural systems more resilient to weather
variability and extremes.
o Energy-Smart Practices: These aim to reduce the energy footprint of agricultural activities.
o Carbon-Smart Practices: These aim to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural activities
and/or increase carbon sequestration.
● These practices not only help in dealing with climate change but also address other important issues
like land degradation and soil health. By adopting CSA, we can ensure a sustainable and resilient food
system for the future.
Key terms in the climate change conversation
Context: COP, carbon market, loss and damage: A glossary of climate terms.
Key terms:
Conference of the parties (COP):
● COP is an international climate meeting organized annually by the United Nations (UN).
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● ‘Parties’ is a reference to (now) 198 countries that have joined the international treaty called the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
● ‘Parties’ to the treaty have pledged to take voluntary actions to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic
[human-caused] interference with the climate system.”
Kyoto Protocol:
● The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that placed obligations on the set of developed and
industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by assigned amounts.
● It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and came into effect in 2005.
● The treaty formally expired in 2020 and was replaced by the Paris Agreement as the main
international treaty for coordinating global action against climate change.
Paris Agreement:
● Adopted in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, the agreement is aimed to limit rising global average temperature.
● It’s considered a landmark deal as it legally binds (now) 195 nations, for the first time ever, to combat
climate change and adapt to its effects.
1.5-degree limit:
● Under the Paris Agreement, the world governments have agreed to keep average global temperature
“well below” 2 degree Celsius this century compared to pre-industrial levels.
● They have also pledged to pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius — an important
threshold, crossing which would unleash far more severe climate change impacts, including more
frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.
Glasgow Pact:
● Reached at the COP26 summit in Scotland’s Glasgow, the pact called for phase down of coal and phase
out of fossil fuel.
● This was the first time that a UN climate agreement explicitly mentioned coal. The pact also marked the
resolution of the deadlock over carbon markets.
Carbon markets:
● Such markets are essentially trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought.
● They allow countries, or industries, to earn carbon credits for the greenhouse gas emission reductions
they make in excess of their targets.
● These carbon credits can be traded to the highest bidder in exchange for money.
● The buyers of carbon credits can show the emission reductions as their own and use them to meet
their reduction targets.
● One tradable carbon credit is equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a
different greenhouse gas reduced, sequestered or avoided.
● Once a credit is used to reduce, sequester, or avoid emissions, it becomes an offset and can no longer
be tradable.
Greenhouse gases:
● The gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases (GHGs).
● They allow sunlight to pass through the atmosphere, but obstruct the heat the sunlight brings from
leaving.
● The main source of GHGs is the burning of fossil fuels like coal, diesel, gasoline or petrol, kerosene and
natural gas.
● Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are among the most prominent GHGs.
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Net-zero:
● Also referred to as carbon-neutrality, net-zero doesn’t mean that a country would reduce its
emissions to zero.
● Rather, it is a state in which a country’s emissions entering the environment are equal to the
greenhouse gases being removed from the atmosphere.
● The removal can be done by creating more carbon sinks such as forests or by implementing futuristic
technologies such as carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
● In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) marked 2050 as the deadline by
which the world must reach net zero if it wants to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS):
● CCS is basically a process that captures carbon dioxide and traps it beneath the earth.
● It’s usually used at fossil fuel plants and factories, where it prevents the gas from escaping into the
atmosphere.
● CCS is different from carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which involves sucking out carbon from the
atmosphere.
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS):
● CCUS goes a step further than CCS and uses the captured carbon in the production of goods such as
alcohols, biofuels, plastics or concrete.
Geo-engineering:
● It is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s natural systems to tackle climate change.
● There are numerous proposed geo-engineering techniques, including CDR.
● Their effectiveness and potential side effects, however, remain widely debated.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
● The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
● It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP).
● IPCC’s main activity is to prepare Assessment Reports, special reports, and methodology reports
assessing the state of knowledge of climate change.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):
● The Paris Agreement requires each country to prepare an outline for their efforts to reduce national
emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
● These commitments are known as NDCs.
● They are submitted every five years, and successive NDCs are supposed to be more ambitious than
previous ones.
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs):
● The NAP helps countries develop plans to respond to climate change’s present and future impacts.
● They are aimed to reduce vulnerability to the severe effects of climate change and strengthen
adaptive capacity and resilience.
● NAPs also play an essential role in updating and improving the adaptation elements of the NDCs.
Global stocktake:
● It refers to a five-year review in which countries assess where they are in the fight against climate
change, and what needs to be done in the next five years to make this fight more effective and potent.

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● COP28, which will take place from November 30 in Dubai, will witness the presentation of the findings
of the first stocktake exercise.
Triple Renewable Energy:
● In 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published its ‘Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050’ report,
which said that if the world needs to meet the net zero goal, it has to commit to tripling global
renewable capacity by 2030.
● If met, this single step could avoid carbon dioxide emissions by seven billion tonnes between now
and 2030, the agency said.
● This would be equal to eliminating all the current carbon dioxide emissions from China’s power sector.
Just transition:
● The term describes a shift to a low-carbon or net-zero economy without jeopardising the rights of
workers and the needs of communities, which could be affected due major changes to industries like
fossil fuels.
Common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR):
● It is a principle of international law which states that different countries have different capabilities and
responsibilities to address cross-border environmental problems such as climate change.
● One example of the CBDR principle is the 1989 Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to
protect the ozone layer. It gave a 10-year grace period for ‘developing countries’ to implement the
control measures.
Loss and damage:
● There is no agreed definition of ‘loss and damage’ in the international climate negotiations, according
to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In broad terms, it refers to the unavoidable
social and financial impacts caused by extreme weather events.
Compressed Biogas (CBG)
● CBG is produced by processing organic waste such as agricultural residue, municipal waste, and
sewage sludge in a process called anaerobic digestion.
● CBG is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases and vapors consisting mainly of Methane in gaseous form,
which has been produced by the decomposition of animal and plant waste, purified and compressed
for use as an automotive fuel and industrial application.
● The bio-gas is purified to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor and
compressed as Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), which has methane (CH4) content of more than 90%.
● CBG has calorific value and other properties similar to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and hence can
be utilized as green renewable automotive fuel.
● CBG can replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial areas, given the abundance biomass
availability within the country.
● CBG and its by-products hold the chance for circular economic growth.

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Deep Ocean Mission
Syllabus: GS3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life;
Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context: Inside India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’, a challenge harder than going to space.
Deep Ocean Mission:
● The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Ministry of Earth Sciences’
(MoES) proposal for the “Deep Ocean Mission”.
● The mission aims to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for
sustainable use of ocean resources.
● The Deep Ocean Mission is a mission-mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the
Government of India.
● MoES will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.
● The aim of the Deep Ocean Mission is to help India achieve a target of over Rs. 100 billion “Blue
Economy” through its ocean resources.
Major Objectives:
● Addressing issues that arise from long-term changes in the ocean due to climate change.
● Developing technologies for deep-sea missions to explore living (biodiversity) and non-living
(minerals) resources.
● Developing underwater vehicles and underwater robotics.
● Providing ocean climate change advisory services.
● Identifying technological innovations and conservation methods for the sustainable utilization of
marine bioresources.
● Developing offshore-based desalination techniques.
● Developing renewable energy generation techniques.
● Providing clean drinking water and exploring avenues for desalinating water as well as extracting
minerals from the ocean belt.
Components of Deep Ocean Mission:
● Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible:
o A manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6000 metres in
the ocean with scientific sensors and tools.
o An Integrated Mining System will be developed for mining Polymetallic Nodules from 6000 m
depth in the central Indian Ocean.
o This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of exploring and harnessing deep-
sea minerals and energy.
● Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services:
o A suite of observations and models will be developed to understand and provide future
projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales.
o This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of coastal tourism.
● Technological Innovations for Exploration and Conservation of Deep-Sea Biodiversity:
o The focus will be on bio-prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and
studies on sustainable utilization of deep-sea bio-resources.
o This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Fisheries and allied
services.
● Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration:
o The primary objective is to explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal
sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
o This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of deep-sea exploration of ocean
resources.
● Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean:
o Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
powered desalination plant are envisaged.
o This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of off-shore energy development.
● Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology:
o This component
aims at
development of
human capacity and
enterprise in ocean
biology and
engineering.
o It will translate
research into
industrial
application and
product
development
through on-site
business incubator
facilities.
o This component will
support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Biology, Blue trade, and Blue manufacturing.
Samudrayan:
● The underwater vehicle was launched on 29 October 2021 from Chennai.
● With this launch, India joined the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France, and China in
having underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
● The vehicle will facilitate the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in carrying out deep ocean exploration
of non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides
and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 metres.
● The preliminary design of the manned submersible MATSYA 6000 is completed.
● The realization of the vehicle has started with various organizations including Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) supporting the development.
● MATSYA 6000 will be ready for trials by the second quarter of 2024.
White hydrogen
● White hydrogen, also known as “natural,” “gold,” or “geologic” hydrogen, is a naturally occurring form
of hydrogen found in the Earth’s crust.
● It’s discovered in various source rocks beyond the sedimentary basins where oil companies typically
operate.
● Recently, a vast reservoir of white hydrogen was discovered in northeastern France by two scientists,
Jacques Pironon and Phillipe De Donato.
● This discovery has amplified the interest in this form of hydrogen, which is now seen as a potential
solution to the climate crisis.
Why White Hydrogen?
● Hydrogen, when burned, only produces water, making it an ideal clean energy source.
● Industries with high energy demands, such as aviation, shipping, and steel-making, could benefit from
hydrogen as an alternative to renewables like solar and wind.
● However, most commercially produced hydrogen is derived from energy-intensive processes powered
by fossil fuels.
● White hydrogen has several advantages over other types of hydrogen, such as green, grey, brown, or
black hydrogen, which are obtained from different sources and methods.
● White hydrogen causes no CO2 emissions when used as a fuel.
● It is compatible with existing infrastructure and technologies for hydrogen production and utilization.
● It is cheaper and more efficient than steam reforming or electrolysis.
Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM) project
● Introduction:
o The Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM) project is an initiative launched by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States.
● Objective :
o The project's fundamental objective is to locate and map subsurface water ice on Mars.
o It aims to support future human exploration missions to Mars.
o Knowing the location of sufficient water resources could aid in providing necessary supplies for
maintaining life, deriving oxygen, and even producing fuel for spacecraft.
● Implementation:
o The project uses data from multiple Mars-orbiting instruments.
o This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Shallow Radar (SHARAD) and Mars Odyssey's
Gamma Ray Spectrometer.
● Focus Areas:
o SWIM's primary focus is on the mid-latitudes of Mars, particularly in uncharted terrains that
could pose potential landing sites for future explorers.
● Collaborations:
o The SWIM project is in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey's Astrogeology
Science Center.
o This project also includes participation from researchers at universities and other institutions.
● Outcomes:
o The findings from SWIM are expected to not only bolster future exploratory missions but also
enrich our understanding of Mars' climate and geological history, leading to broader insights
about the Solar System's evolution.
● Recent developments
o Nasa's Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM) project has released its fourth set of maps,
providing the most detailed view of Mars' subsurface ice since the project's inception in 2017.
o The maps are crucial for future Mars missions as they identify the most likely locations to find
Martian ice that can be accessed from the surface.
o This ice will serve as a vital resource for astronauts, providing drinking water and a key
ingredient for rocket fuel.
● Significance:
o The SWIM project is expected to serve as a foundation for a proposed Mars Ice Mapper
mission, an orbiter equipped with a powerful radar custom-designed to search for near-
surface ice beyond where HiRISE has confirmed its presence.
Gravitational Lensing
● Gravitational Lensing is a
phenomenon that
is directly predicted by
Albert Einstein’s Theory
of General Relativity.
● This theory describes how
mass concentrations
distort the space around
them, and how light from
a distant source is bent as
it travels through this
distorted space.
● Gravitational Lensing can
bend the path of light
from distant galaxies,
thereby distorting the
way we view these
galaxies.
● This effect can create
multiple images,
magnified images, or
ring-shaped images of
the background galaxies, depending on the alignment of the source, the lens, and the observer.
● Gravitational Lensing can only occur when a significantly massive object is present between the
observer and the light source.
● The gravitational field of the massive object acts like a lens that refracts the light rays from the
source.
● The more massive the object, the stronger the lensing effect. Examples of gravitational lenses include
stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters
● Gravitational lensing does not suggest that heavier objects emit more light.
● It merely describes the bending and distortion of light from a distant object due to the gravitational
field of a foreground massive object.
● The mass of the object, however, does significantly influence the extent of lensing observed, but it
does not affect the amount of light the object emits itself.
● The light emission from any object depends on a variety of factors like its temperature, chemical
composition, and the nuclear reactions occurring in its interior (in case of stars for example), not
merely on its mass.
Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
● Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the world's highest
altitude observatories,
● Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle is located at the altitude of 4,500 meters (14,764 feet) above
sea level.
● The high location and remote, clear skies make it an excellent site for cosmic observation.
● But The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is situated in the Hanle Valley within India's union territory of
Ladakh, not Arunachal Pradesh.
● Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is significant for astronomical studies.
● The site is located in a remote region with minimal artificial light, leading to low light pollution.
● Additionally, the air above Hanle is free from airborne dust, providing clear skies for astronomical
observation.
● Observatories require such conditions for the best observations of celestial bodies.
● Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located in Hanle Valley, in the Ladakh region of India.
● The Reserve is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, which is among the world's highest
altitude observatories, situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,764 feet).
● The Indian Astronomical Observatory located here houses several state-of-the-art astronomical
instruments, including a high-altitude Gamma Ray Observatory.
● The Reserve is India's first dark sky reserve, dedicated to unpolluted, clear, dark skies.
● The Reserve is recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization that promotes
the preservation and protection of night skies across the globe from light pollution.
● The geographical location and climatic conditions of Hanle, with over 250 cloudless nights a year,
make it an optimal location for astronomical observations.
● Being a remote location, it also promotes eco-tourism providing a unique experience of star gazing for
tourists.
Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) – Kavach system
Syllabus: GS3: Science and Technology.
Context: What is the status of Kavach installations? | Explained
About the news:
● The deadly collision between two passenger trains in southern India’s Vizianagaram district in Andhra
Pradesh which killed 14 people and injured fifty persons could have been averted if Traffic Collision
Avoidance Systems (TCAS) were in place.
● East Coast Railway officials indicated that the indigenously developed TCAS called ‘Kavach,’ was not
installed on the route where the Visakhapatnam-Palasa and Visakhapatnam-Rayagada trains collided.
What is Kavach?
● Kavach is a cab signalling train control system with anti-collision features.
● It was developed by the Indian Railways Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
● Kavach is designed to give out warnings to the loco pilot in case he does not notice the ‘red signal,’
and instead of stopping, is going to overshoot the signal.
● After giving warnings on the locopilot’s display, if the pilot does not slow down below 15 kilometres
per hour, the Kavach system automatically applies brakes to bring the train to a halt.
How is Kavach Deployed?
● In the Kavach set-up, the railway stations along the route where this tech is sanctioned to be deployed
are provided with three components:
o Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the tracks.
o The locomotive, which is the driver’s cabin, is provided with RFID readers, computer, and brake
interface equipment.
o Radio infrastructure which are towers and modems are installed at railway stations.
Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS):
● TCAS, also known as a traffic alert and collision avoidance system, is an aircraft collision avoidance
system designed to reduce the incidence of mid-air collision (MAC) between aircraft.
● It monitors the airspace around an aircraft for other aircraft equipped with a corresponding active
transponder, independent of air traffic control, and warns pilots of the presence of other transponder-
equipped aircraft which may present a threat of MAC.
● It is a type of airborne collision avoidance system mandated by the International Civil Aviation
Organization to be fitted to all aircraft with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM).
● TCAS operates independently of ground-based equipment to provide pilots with guidance on how to
avoid a potential collision.
Deepfakes
Context: After viral video, IT Ministry issues warning to social media sites on deepfakes.
Why in the news?
● After a so-called ‘deepfake’ video clip of actor Rashmika Mandanna went viral on social media
platforms like Instagram, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has now sent
notices to “all social media intermediaries,” reminding them that impersonation online is illegal, said
a press release.
What is a Deepfakes?
● Deepfakes is a term that refers to a video of a person in which their face or body has been digitally
altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously or to spread false
information.
● The term “deepfake” is a combination of “deep learning” and “fake”, and it uses a form of artificial
intelligence to create images of fake events.
● Cybersecurity company Norton said that the videos were doctored with a technique known as face-
swapping. The user “Deepfakes” replaced real faces with celebrity faces.
● It is now being used for nefarious purposes like scams and hoaxes, celebrity pornography, election
manipulation, social engineering, automated disinformation attacks, identity theft and financial fraud.
● It has been used to impersonate notable personalities like former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and
Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Hollywood
celebrity Tom Cruise, among others.
What are other countries doing to combat deepfakes?
● The European Union has an updated Code of Practice on Disinformation to stop the spread of
disinformation through deepfakes.
o The revised Code requires tech companies including Google, Meta, and Twitter to take
measures in countering deepfakes and fake accounts.
o They have six months to implement their measures once they have signed up to the Code.
o According to the updated Code, In case of non-compliant, these companies can face fines as
much as 6% of their annual global turnover.
● The U.S. created Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
counter deepfake technology.
o The measure directs the DHS to conduct an annual study of deepfakes — assess the technology
used, track its uses by foreign and domestic entities, and come up with available
countermeasures to tackle the same.
Euclid mission
● Euclid is a mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) designed to explore the composition and
evolution of the dark Universe.
● The mission aims to create a 3D map of the Universe’s large-scale structure across space and time by
observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years, across more than a third of the sky.
Objectives:
● Euclid will explore how the Universe has expanded and how structure has formed over cosmic history.
● The mission will reveal more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter.
Pusa-44
● It is a paddy variety that was developed in 1993 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
● By the end of 2010s, it had gained widespread popularity among farmers across the Punjab, covering
approximately 70 to 80% of the area under paddy cultivation.
● Farmers claim that PUSA-44 yields nearly 85 to 100 quintals (34 to 40 quintals) per acre, while other
varieties’ yield average is 28 to 30 quintals per acre.
Concerns:
● It is a long-duration variety, taking around 160 days to mature.
● This is around 35 to 40 days more than other varieties, requiring 5-6 extra cycles of irrigation.
● With Punjab facing severe groundwater depletion and the availability of short-duration paddy varieties,
the government aims to conserve one month of irrigation water by banning the variety.
● Moreover, this variety is also known to exacerbate the long-running issue of stubble burning in the
state.
● This variety generates around 2 percent more stubble than short varieties, which becomes a
significant concern when cultivated on a large scale.
White holes
● White holes are hypothetical celestial objects that are the opposite of black holes, which is intensely
bright, and from which matter gushes rather than disappears
● They are predicted to exist by the laws of physics, but no direct evidence of their existence has been
found yet.
● According to the theory of general relativity, white holes are the time-reversed version of black
holes.
● They are predicted by Einstein’s theory of gravity, and are most often mentioned in the context of
‘wormholes’, in which a black hole acts as the entry point to a tunnel through space and time, ending
in a white hole somewhere else in the Universe
● While black holes are known for their immense gravity that pulls everything in, white holes are
predicted to repel everything away from them.
● In other words, they are the exit points of black holes, and nothing can enter them from the outside.
● However, energy, matter, light, and information can escape from them.
● White holes are also believed to be the sources of the universe's creation, as they are the opposite of
black holes, which are the endpoints of the universe's destruction.
● White Holes cannot be entered from the outside, which means nothing can go into a white hole, but it
can emit matter and energy, which is the opposite behavior of a black hole that swallows matter and
energy and lets nothing escape.
● Black holes do indeed attract matter into an infinitely dense singularity due to immense
gravity, but white holes, as theorized, would do the opposite.
● Statement 3 combines properties of black holes (inability to be entered from the outside) and white
holes (allowing energy,
matter, light, and
information to escape),
but it does not accurately
represent either
theoretical object.
● While white holes are
considered to be the
opposite of black holes,
they are not theorized to
attract matter into an
infinitely dense
singularity due to
immense gravity. That is a
property of black holes.
Digital Twins and National Geospatial Policy
Context: Supreme Court begins hearing on ‘irrational freebies’ case.
About the news:
● The Survey of India (SoI), the custodian of India’s maps, has signed an agreement with a Mumbai-
based private company, Genesys International.
● The initiative is to prepare three-dimensional maps of several cities and towns, called ‘Digital Twins’.
o These maps are three-dimensional representations of cities and can be used in a variety of
planning applications when coupled with high-resolution images.
● So far, the company has built digital twins of Ayodhya, the Dharavi slum cluster in Mumbai, Kochi, and
Kanpur, among other applications.
● Aligned with India's National Geospatial Policy 2022, which emphasises self-reliance in geospatial data
production and usage, the partnership aims to create digital twins of major cities and towns.
Digital twins:
● A digital twin is a virtual representation of a real-world entity or system.
● It spans the lifecycle of the object or system it represents.
● It is updated from real-time data.
● It uses simulation, machine learning, and reasoning to help decision-making.
● It can be used for practical purposes such as simulation, integration, testing, monitoring, and
maintenance.
● The digital twin can exist before there is a physical entity.
● It can be used to run simulations, study performance issues, and generate possible improvements.
● It is designed around a two-way flow of information: object sensors provide relevant data to the
system processor, and insights created by the processor are shared back with the original source
object.
National Geospatial Policy:
● Geospatial technology uses tools like GIS (Geographic Information System), GPS (Global Positioning
System) and Remote Sensing for geographic mapping and analysis.
● These tools capture spatial information about objects, events and phenomena (indexed to their
geographical location on earth, geotag).
● The location data may be Static or Dynamic.
● The technology may be used to create intelligent maps to help identify spatial patterns in large
volumes of data.
● The technology facilitates decision-making based on the importance and priority of scarce resources.
Vision and Goals

● To make India a World Leader in Global Geospatial space with the best in the class ecosystem for
innovation.
● To develop a coherent national framework in the country and leverage it to move towards digital
economy and improve services to citizens.
● To enable easy availability of valuable Geospatial data collected utilizing public funds, to businesses
and general public.
● To have a thriving Geospatial industry in the country involving private enterprise.
Targets
● 2025
o Put in place an enabling policy and legal framework that supports liberalization of Geospatial
sector and democratization of data for enhanced commercialization with Value Added Services.
● 2030
o High resolution topographical survey & mapping (5-10 cm for urban & rural areas and 50 cm-
100 cm for forests & wastelands).
● 2035
o High resolution/accuracy Bathymetric Geospatial Data of inland waters and sea surface
topography of shallow/deep seas - to support Blue Economy.
o National Digital Twin of major cities and towns. The Digital Twin is a virtual replica of a physical
asset, process or service that lies at the core of the new digital revolution.
o National Digital Twin would be an ecosystem of smart, dynamic, connected Digital Twins,
enabled by secure and interoperable data sharing, to facilitate better decision-making.
Geospatial sector in India
● Geospatial Sector in the country has tremendous potential in creating employment, development of
industry, and dissemination of knowledge while contributing to its social and economic progress.
● The contribution of the geospatial sector to the Indian economy as per industry estimates is around
INR 20,000 crores including INR 7000 crores in terms of export of geospatial services.
● The Geospatial sector in India, however, has not realized its true potential and registered around 15%
per annum growth whereas it has the potential to grow annually at 25% and more.
● It can contribute to the economy to the tune of INR 1,00,000 crores and employ nearly 10 lakh people
in this field by 2029-2030 by making optimal use of business capabilities in both the government and
private spheres.
● The National Geospatial Policy aims to provide an enabling environment in which the Indian Industry
can flourish and minimize its dependence on foreign data and products, thereby contributing to an
Atmanirbhar Bharat.
International Space Station
Context: 25 years of the International Space Station: Why it was launched, what it does.
International Space Station:
● The ISS is the largest
modular space station
in low Earth orbit.
● The project involves
five space agencies:
NASA from the United
States, Roscosmos
from Russia, JAXA
from Japan, ESA from
Europe, and CSA from
Canada.
Purpose and Function:
● The ISS serves as a
microgravity and
space environment
research laboratory.
● Scientific research is conducted in various fields including astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology,
physics, and others.
● The ISS is suited for testing the spacecraft systems and equipment required for possible future long-
duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Structure and Orbit:
● The ISS maintains an orbit with an average altitude of 400 kilometres (250 mi) by means of reboost
manoeuvres.
● The station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) and the United States
Orbital Segment (USOS).
Synthetic media
● Synthetic media, also known as AI-generated media, refers to the artificial production, manipulation,
and modification of data and media by automated means, especially through the use of artificial
intelligence algorithms.
● This can include deepfakes, text synthesis, music generation, image generation, and more.
● It is characterized by a high degree of realism and immersiveness.
● Furthermore, synthetic media tends to be indistinguishable from other real-world media, making it
very difficult for the user to tell apart from its artificial nature.
● Potential hazards of synthetic media include the spread of misinformation, further loss of trust in
institutions such as media and government, the mass automation of creative and journalistic jobs, and
a retreat into AI-generated fantasy worlds.
● Despite these challenges, synthetic media has the potential to radically accelerate the process of
content creation and delivery, ushering in an exciting new era of digital media.
Cosmic Vine
● Recently, the discovery of the Cosmic Vine, a vast structure spanning 13 light years and encompassing
20 galaxies, was made using data from the James Webb Space Telescope.
● The Cosmic Vine is situated in the early universe at a redshift of 3.44, indicating its ancient age of 11
to 12 billion years, offering insights into the early stages of the universe.
● Notably, it houses two of the most massive galaxies, Galaxy A and Galaxy E, both in a quiescent state,
suggesting reduced star formation.
● Researchers believe the Cosmic Vine could be a precursor to a galaxy cluster, providing valuable
information on the formation of such clusters and the emergence of massive galaxies within them.
● A light-year, a unit of distance, is defined as the distance light travels in one Earth year, approximately
equal to 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers).
● The study sheds light on enormous cosmic structures and offers significant implications for
understanding the universe's early evolution.
Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
● AWE is a first-of-its-kind NASA experimental attempt aimed at studying the interactions between
terrestrial and Space weather.
● Planned under NASA’s Heliophysics Explorers Program, the $42 million mission will study the links
between how waves in the lower layers of the atmosphere impact the upper atmosphere, and thus,
Space weather.
● AWE will be launched and mounted on the exterior of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station
(ISS).
● From the vantage point, it will look down at the Earth and record the colourful light bands, commonly
known as airglow.
● Significance :
o AWE will measure the airglow at mesopause (about 85 to 87 km above the Earth’s surface),
where the atmospheric temperatures dip to minus 100 degrees Celsius.
o At this altitude, it is possible to capture the faint airglow in the infrared bandwidth, which
appears the brightest enabling easy detection.
o AWE will be able to resolve waves at finer horizontal scales than what satellites can usually see
at those altitudes.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Syllabus: GS2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Context: Gwalior, Kozhikode join UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
About the news:
● The United Nations General
Assembly designated 31
October as World Cities
Day.
● On World Cities Day, 55 new
cities, including Gwalior and
Kozhikode from India, have
joined the UNESCO Creative
Cities Network.
● These cities were
recognized for their
commitment to using
culture and creativity in
their development
strategies.
● Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh)
was added in the ‘Music’
category, while Kozhikode
(Kerala) was added in the
‘Literature’ category.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN):
● The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a program launched by UNESCO in 2004.
● It aims to promote cooperation among cities that have identified culture and creativity as strategic
drivers of sustainable urban development.
● The network includes almost 300 cities from around 90 countries.
● The UCCN helps unlock the creative, social, and economic potential of cultural industries held by local
actors, thereby promoting UNESCO’s goals of cultural diversity.
● The cities in the network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural
industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the
international level.
● The network represents seven creative fields:
o Crafts and Folk Art,
o Design,
o Film,
o Gastronomy,
o Literature,
o Media Arts, and
o Music.
● It offers unparalleled opportunities for cities to draw on peer learning and collaborative initiatives, fully
capitalizing on their cultural assets for sustainable, inclusive, and balanced development across
economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions.
Archakas and Agamas
Archakas:
● Archakas are priests who perform rituals in temples.
● The appointment of Archakas is governed by the Agamas, which are post-Vedic scriptures conveying
ritual knowledge.
● There has been a legal dispute in Tamil Nadu, over the appointment of Archakas.
o Some petitions allege that the Tamil Nadu government was attempting to appoint “non-
believers” as Archakas, contrary to the Agamas.
● The Supreme Court of India did not vacate or modify its interim order issuing status quo in the
Archakaship in temples governed by age-old Agamas in Tamil Nadu.
Agamas:
● Agamas are a collection of several Tantric literature and scriptures of Hindu schools.
● The term literally means tradition or "that which has come down", and the Agama texts
describe cosmology, epistemology, philosophical doctrines, precepts on meditation and practices,
four kinds of yoga, mantras, temple construction, deity worship and ways to attain sixfold desires.
● These canonical texts are in Tamil and Sanskrit.
● The three main branches of Agama texts are Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Shakta.
● The Agamic traditions are sometimes called Tantrism, although the term "Tantra" is usually used
specifically to refer to Shakta Agamas.
● The origin and chronology of Agamas is unclear. Some are Vedic and others non-Vedic.
● Agama traditions include Yoga and Self Realization concepts, some include Kundalini Yoga, asceticism.
● The Agama texts of Hinduism present a diverse range of philosophies, ranging from theistic dualism to
absolute monism.
Hindustani and Carnatic Music
Hindustani Music:
● Origins:
o Hindustani music is a form of Indian classical music that emerged from the northern regions of
India. It carries strong influences from the ancient Indian culture, Persian culture, and Middle-
eastern music cultures.
● Components:
o The essential components of Hindustani music are Ragas (musical modes) and Talas (rhythmic
cycles).
● Ragas:
o Each raga forms a specific melodic structure, with a distinctive combination of notes that give it
a unique identity.
● Talas:
o Talas set the rhythm for the melody. They consist of rhythmic cycles of beats and consist of at
least three elements: the 'vibhag' (measure), 'matra' (beat), and 'bol' (stroke).
● Improvisation:
o Hindustani music has a high emphasis on spontaneous creativity and improvisation within the
given framework of a raga.
● Two Sub-genres:
o Hindustani music is divided into two main sub-genres: "Khayal" and "Dhrupad". Khayal is more
recent and dynamic, while Dhrupad is older and more traditional.
● Instruments:
o Common instruments used in Hindustani music include Sitar, Sarod, Tanpura, Bansuri, Shehnai,
and Tabla.
● Performance:
o It often starts with the slow and gradual development of a raga, followed by increasingly lively
improvisations.
● Oral Tradition:
o Hindustani music is traditionally taught through an oral tradition known as Guru-Shishya
Parampara, in which knowledge is passed on directly from teacher to student.
● Notation System:
o It uses a version of the Swara system of notation involving syllables such as 'Sa','Re', 'Ga', 'Ma',
'Pa', 'Dha', 'Ni'.
● Gharanas:
o Gharanas, or houses, represent the lineage of music families and the distinctive styles they
follow. They indicate the method of teaching, interpretation of ragas, and presentation by the
teachers of the successive generations.
Carnatic Music:
● Origins:
o Carnatic music, also known as Karnāṭak music, is a system of music associated with the
southern part of the Indian subcontinent.
o It's one of the two main subgenres of Indian classical music, the other being Hindustani music.
● Components:
o The structure of Carnatic music is based on a system of Ragam (musical modes) and Thalam
(rhythmic cycles).
● Ragam:
o The Ragam in Carnatic music is similar to the Raga in Hindustani music, forming a melodic
structure with a characteristic ascending and descending scale.
● Thalam:
o Thalam is the rhythmic cycle of Carnatic music. It is more complex than the Tala of Hindustani
music, with up to seven beats in a cycle.
● Kriti:
o The seminal form in Carnatic music is the Kriti, a musical composition with specific structural
components.
● Improvisation:
o Carnatic music also emphasizes improvisation, but typically to a lesser degree than Hindustani
music.
● Composers:
o The Trinity of Carnatic music - Saint Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Shyama Shastri - are
highly respected and their compositions are still sung in concerts today.
● Instruments:
o Typical instruments used in Carnatic music include the Veena, Violin, Mridangam, and Ghatam.
● Vocal Focus:
o Carnatic music is typically performed by a small ensemble with a vocalist as the central
performer, accompanied by a violin and rhythmic instrumentation.
● Oral Tradition:
o The teachings and learnings of Carnatic music follow the Guru-Shishya Parampara tradition
similar to Hindustani music, in which knowledge is passed on directly from teacher to student.
● Notation System:
o Uses specific syllables (Sargam notation), similar to Hindustani music, includes 'Sa', 'Ri', 'Ga',
'Ma', 'Pa', 'Dha', 'Ni'.
● Devotional and Spiritual Context:
o Carnatic music often is performed in a devotional or spiritual context, such as worship services
or religious festivals.
● Concerts:
o Usual concerts, known as "Kacheri", start with a Varnam, followed by several shorter pieces
and then one or two major Ragam-Thalam-Kriti pieces.
● Musical Disciplines:
o There are various distinct disciplines in Carnatic music, such as Manodharma sangeetham
(improvisation) and Kalpitha sangeetham (pre-composed pieces).
Hunger Hotspots
● The Hunger Hotspots report by FAO and WFP identifies 18 hunger “hotspots” in a total of 22 countries
where food security is expected to significantly deteriorate, and the outlook for the next six months
from November 2023 to April 2024 is concerning.
● The countries with the highest level of concern are Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan, as
well as newly assessed Palestine.
● The hunger hotspots are concentrated in a few regions.
o Over half of the people facing acute food insecurity in the hunger hotspots live in Africa.
o Other regions with significant numbers of people facing acute food insecurity include the
Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.
● The main drivers of acute food insecurity in the hunger hotspots are conflict, climate change, and
economic shocks.
o Conflict is the primary driver of acute food insecurity in 10 of the 18 hunger hotspots.
o Climate change is a major driver in 12 of the hotspots, and economic shocks are a major
driver in 11 of the hotspots.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Syllabus: GS2: Social Justice.
Context: Supreme Court to decide whether transgender woman can claim maintenance under Domestic
Violence Act.
About the news:
● The Supreme Court of India is set to examine whether a transgender woman who has undergone sex
reassignment surgery can be an “aggrieved person” under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and has
the right to seek interim maintenance in a domestic violence case.
● The Bombay High Court had previously ruled that a transgender person who has undergone surgery to
change gender to female can file a complaint under the Domestic Violence Act.
o It held that a person who has exercised their right to decide their self-identified gender as a
woman is an aggrieved person within the meaning of Section 2 (a) of the Domestic Violence
Act, 2005.
● This case is significant as it could potentially broaden the scope of the Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Act, 2005, making it more inclusive and providing legal protection to more
individuals.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005:
● The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is a legal framework in India that
recognizes domestic violence as a serious problem.
● It provides legal remedies and protection for women who are victims of domestic violence.
● The Act recognizes the rights of women and aims to prevent and address domestic violence.
● By establishing legal protections, remedies, and support systems, the Act seeks to empower survivors,
hold perpetrators accountable, and create a society that is free from domestic violence.
● Any woman who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges to
have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent, or any person related to her
may file a complaint on her behalf.
o A child is also entitled to relief under the Domestic Violence Act.
o The mother of such a child can make an application on behalf of her minor child (whether male
or female).
Definition of Domestic Violence:
● Section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 defines domestic violence.
● Domestic violence definition includes not only physical violence, but also other forms of violence such
as emotional, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse.
● It is a civil law meant primarily for protection orders, rather than criminal enforcement.
Krishi 24/7
● Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) in collaboration with Wadhwani Institute
for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI) developed Krishi 24/7, the first-ever AI-powered solution for
automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis.
● With support from Google.org. Krishi 24/7 will aid DA&FW to identify relevant news, generate timely
alerts, and take prompt action to protect farmers' interests and promote sustainable agricultural
growth through improved decision-making.
● The introduction of Krishi 24/7 addresses the need for an efficient mechanism to identify and manage
agricultural news articles of interest to aid timely decision-making.
● The tool scans news articles in multiple languages and translates them into English.
● It extracts essential information from news articles, such as headline, crop name, event type, date,
location, severity, summary, and source link, ensuring that the ministry receives timely updates on
relevant events published on the web.
Vibrant Village Program
Syllabus:
● GS2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out
of their design and implementation.
● GS3: Security challenges and their management in border areas.
Context: 168 villages along China border will be connected in one year, says Amit Shah.
About the news:
● Union Home Minister said on November 10 that 168 villages along the China border that did not have
any connectivity yet would be connected by road and other forms of communication in the next one
year.
● The vibrant village
programme (VVP) would
ensure that all facilities and
infrastructure reached there.
Vibrant Village Program
● The Vibrant Villages
Programme is a centrally
sponsored scheme launched
by the Union Home Ministry.
● Under the scheme, holistic
developmental works are to
be undertaken in northern
bordering villages.
● This will help in improving the
quality of life of people living
in identified border villages.
Key Areas of Intervention:
● The programme envisages focused areas of interventions in the select villages for creation of
opportunities for livelihood generation through promotion of tourism & cultural heritage, skill
development & entrepreneurship and development of cooperative societies including
agriculture/horticulture, cultivation of medicinal plants/herbs etc.
● The interventions also include providing road connectivity to unconnected villages, housing & village
infrastructures, and energy including renewable energy, television & telecom connectivity.
Key outcomes that have been attempted are
● Connectivity with the all-weather road,
● Drinking water,
● 24×7 electricity – Solar and wind energy to be given focused attention,
● Mobile and internet connectivity,
● Tourist centers,
● Multi-purpose centers,
● Health and Wellness Centers.
Significance:
● The scheme aims to reverse the out-migration of people from border villages.
● It will help encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reverse the
outmigration from these villages adding to improved security of the border.
● The scheme aids to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local natural human and other
resources of the border villages on the northern border.
Implementation:
● Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district administration with the help of Gram
Panchayats.
● 100 % saturation of Central and state schemes will be ensured.
● In the first phase, 663 Villages will be taken up in the program3.
● The scheme will provide funds for the development of essential infrastructure and the creation of
livelihood opportunities in 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks 4 states and 1 UT along the northern land
border of the country.
Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM PVTG) Mission
Syllabus: GS2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and
the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Context: PM Modi launches ₹24,000-crore project for development of vulnerable tribal groups.
Why in the news?
● Prime Minister launched the ₹24,000crore PM-PVTG Development Mission and a Viksit Bharat
Sankalp Yatra focused on government scheme saturation to the last mile in tribal districts.
PM-PVTG Development Mission:
● The Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission was announced in the budget of 2023-24.
● The mission aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs).
● The mission envisages availability of Rs.15,000 crore from the Development Action Plan for the
Scheduled Tribes.
Key Features:
Basic Facilities:
● The mission will saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean
drinking water and sanitation.
● It will also provide improved access to education, health and nutrition.
Connectivity:
● The mission will ensure road and telecom connectivity.
● Infrastructure facilities including road and internet connectivity will be improved.
Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities
Implementation:
● The mission will be implemented through the convergence of 11 interventions of 9 Ministries.
● Some scheme norms will be relaxed to cover these remote habitations.
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra:
● The Viksit Bharat Campaign, one of the largest ever outreach initiative to be undertaken, eventually
aims to cover over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats and over 3,600 urban local bodies by 25th January 2024
touching every district of the country.
● The entire campaign is being planned and implemented with `whole of Government’ approach with
active participation and involvement of the State Governments, District authorities, Urban Local
Bodies and Gram Panchayats.
● On the occasion of the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, marking the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa
Munda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from Khunti,
Jharkhand.
● 5 specially designed IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Vans carrying messages of the
Government’s flagship welfare programmes moved to various Gram Panchayats with significant tribal
population located in Khunti district and nearby areas.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):
● Tribal communities are
often identified by some
specific signs such as
primitive traits, distinctive
culture, geographical
isolation, shyness to contact
with the community at large
and backwardness.
● There are a total of 75
PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled
Tribes.
Criteria for identification of
PVTGs:
● Pre-agricultural level of
technology
● Low level of literacy
● Economic backwardness
● A declining or stagnant population.
The characteristics of PVTGs:
● In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who
are less developed among the tribal groups.
● In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
● PVTGs have some basic characteristics:
o They are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social
institutes cast in a simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology
and a slower rate of change etc.
Crop Residue Management Scheme
● The objectives of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme includes:
o Protecting environment from air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-
organisms caused by burning of crop residue;
o Promoting management of crop residue by retention/incorporation into the soil or collection
for further utilization through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs;
o Promoting Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of crop residue management machinery to
offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of
individual ownership;
o Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration, capacity building activities
and differentiated Information, Education and Communication strategies for effective utilization
and management of crop residue.
● To support the efforts of the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to
address air pollution caused due to stubble burning and to subsidize machinery required for
management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management (CRM) has been
introduced w.e.f. 2018-19. Under this scheme, financial assistance @ 50% is provided to the
farmers for purchase of crop residue management machinery.
● The Scheme promotes the usage of machines such as Super Straw Management Systems, Happy
Seeder, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, zero till seed cum fertilizer drill, Mulcher, Paddy Straw Chopper,
hydraulically reversible mould board plough, Crop reapers and Reaper binders for in-situ management
of crop residue and Balers & Rakes which are used for straw collection in the form of bales for other ex-
situ uses of straw
● To promote the use of bio-decomposer technology, the Operational Guidelines of the CRM
Scheme have been revised in August 2022 and provisions have been made for conducting large-scale
demonstrations of bio-decomposer on farmers’ fields by way of utilizing flexi funds under the scheme.
● With the problem of farm fires being taken up by the Supreme Court, a machine that facilitates ex situ
(off site) stubble management has been in demand in Punjab.
● ‘Baler’ machines have been around for a decade, and currently around 2,000 of them operate in
Punjab. Of these 1,268 are highly subsidised (50-80%) under the Centre’s Crop Residue Management
(CRM) scheme.
One Station One Product Scheme
● The “One Station One Product” initiative by the Indian Railways, which provides uniquely
designed sale outlets for locals to sell indigenous products, is now operational at 1,037 stations
nationwide.
● The scheme, designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, provides distinctive outlets that
give high visibility to indigenous products, benefiting local craftsmen.
● Ministry of Railways launched this scheme in March, 2022.
● The objective is to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ vision of the government, providing a market for local or
indigenous products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalized sections of
society.
● Under the scheme, OSOP outlets at railway stations are allotted for showcasing, selling and giving high
visibility to indigenous or local products.
These OSOP stalls are designed through National Design Institute for uniformity.
● Under the 'One Station One Product Scheme', 15 Ranchi Railway Division stations will be selected
where stalls have been opened to promote local arts and craftsmen.
o This is the second temporary stall at Ranchi Railway Station under the 'One Station One Product
Scheme'. Earlier, a 15-day temporary stall of Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development
Corporation Limited (Jharcraft) was set up.
● Through the stalls, the passengers will be able to get information about the particular product at the
railway station and will be able to buy it easily. This will increase local employment and promote the
product.
● It is noteworthy that given the important role of Railways in promoting local products of different
places, the 'One Station One Product' scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
● This scheme was launched on March 25, 2022 at 19 stations of Indian Railways.
Central Adoption Resource Authority
Syllabus: GS2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Context: Supreme Court calls for collaborative efforts to bring children into the adoption pool.
About the news?
● The Supreme Court said that children living in childcare institutions whose parents had not visited them
for over a year or had “unfit” parents or guardians should be identified and brought into the adoption
pool.
● The court defined an “unfit guardian” as someone who is “unable or unwilling for parenting, indulging
in drug or alcohol abuse, known to have abused or neglected the child, having a criminal record, in
need of care themselves, mentally unsound, etc”.
● A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India turned its focus on a finding by the Central Adoption
Resource Authority (CARA) that many children were living in institutions for over a year with
undetermined legal status.
● The Bench highlighted the “huge mismatch” between children available for legal adoption and the
number of prospective adoptive parents according to CARA’s online portal, the Child Adoption
Resource Information and Guidance System or CARINGS.
Central Adoption Resource Authority:
● Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child
Development.
● It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and
regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
● CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with
the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of
India in 2003.
● CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its
associated /recognised adoption agencies.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Syllabus: GS2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising
out of their design and implementation.
Context: MGNREGS audit crosses 50% local bodies in just six States.
About the news:
● Of the 34 States and
Union Territories,
only six have
completed social
audit of works
done under the
Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural
Employment
Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) in more than 50% of gram panchayats.
● Kerala is the only State to cover 100% gram panchayats.
● A high rate of corruption is one of the primary complaints against the scheme and social audit is the
inbuilt anti-corruption mechanism in the Act.
MGNREGA:
● The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) legislation enacted on
August 25, 2005.
● The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial
year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual
work at the statutory minimum wage.
● The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in
association with state governments.
● This act was introduced with an aim of improving the purchasing power of the rural people, primarily
semi or un-skilled work to people living below poverty line in rural India.
● Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.
Key facts about MNREGA:
● MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year, to a rural household whose
adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
● Right to get unemployment allowance: Within 15 days of submitting the application or from the day
work is demanded, wage employment will be provided to the applicant.
● Variety of permissible works which can be taken up by the Gram Panchayaths.
● MGNREGA focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.
● Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which lends to accountability and transparency.
● The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands. It is
the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fix
their priority.
Social Audit
● Social Audit is the examination and assessment of a programme/scheme conducted with the active
involvement of people and comparing official records with actual ground realities.
● Section 17 of the MGNREGA has mandated Social audit of all Works executed under the MGNREGA.
● Social Audit is different from Financial Audit.
o Financial audits involve inspecting and assessing documents related to financial transactions in
an organization to provide a true picture of its profits, losses and financial stability.
o Social audits focus on the performance of a programme in fulfilling its intended social
objectives and ethical vision through consultation with a range of stakeholders including social
programme beneficiaries, community members, government officials and verifying the
information obtained with documents and physical evidence. Thus social audits examine and
assess the social impact of specific programmes and policies.
Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE)
● The India - Australia RISE Accelerator is delivered in partnership between CSIRO, Australia’s national
science agency, and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the Government of India’s flagship initiative to
promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
● This initiative focuses on startups and small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India and Australia
working on circular economy technologies and solutions.
● Focus Themes: With a focus on Environment and Climate Technology, the program will be tailored to
accelerate start-ups working on a range of areas:
o Climate Smart Agriculture
o Clean Energy
o Circular Economy and Waste Management
o Climate Smart Mobility
● The RISE Accelerator program will help startups navigate early steps in a new region, fast-track
connections to the right partners, customers, and talent, and build credibility to succeed in
international markets.
● The accelerator, in its first round, will focus on supporting startups and SMEs working on technologies
and solutions for the waste and circular economy
● Participating startups may also be eligible for up to INR 40,00,000 in non-equity grants.
● Circular economy:
o A circular economy means products are designed in such a way that they can be used again, or
even multiple times, to maximise their value.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
● Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to
supply free food grains to migrants and poor.
Benefits:
● More than 81.35 crore people will be provided 5 kg free wheat/rice per person / month along with 1
kg free whole chana to each family per month.
● Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs, - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat
and rice has been provided to the remaining States/UTs.
● This is over and above the regular monthly entitlements under the National Food Security Act, 2013
(NFSA).
Eligibility:
● Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line - Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households
(PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
● AAY contemplates the identification of one crore poorest of the poor families from amongst the BPL
families covered under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) within the States and providing
them food grains at a highly subsidized rate of Rs.2/ per kg. for wheat and Rs. 3/ per kg for rice.
● The States/UTs are required to bear the distribution cost, including margin to dealers and retailers as
well as the transportation cost.
● Thus the entire food subsidy is being passed on to the consumers under the scheme.
Priority Household (PHH) ration card
● There are five different types of ration cards in India provided under the National Food Security Act
(NFSA) and the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS):
● Priority Household (PHH) Ration Card: This card is given to households that meet the eligibility criteria
set by the government. Each household is entitled to 5kg of food grains per person per month.
● Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Ration Card: This card is issued to households that are identified as
Antyodaya families by the government. Each household is entitled to 35kg of food grains per month per
family.
● Above Poverty Line (APL) Ration Card: This card was issued to households living above the poverty
line.
● Below Poverty Line (BPL) Ration Card: This card was issued to households living below the poverty
line.
● Annapurna Yojna (AY) Ration Card: This card was given to older people who are poor and above 65
years.
● The APL, BPL, and AY ration cards are no longer issued in India. Currently, only the PHH and AAY cards
are issued under the NFSA.
Kidal, Mali
Syllabus: UPSC Prelims: Places of International importance.
Context: UN Peacekeepers Leave Strategic Camp in Northern Mali.
About the news:
● U.N. soldiers left a camp in the strategic town of Kidal in Mali’s volatile north, which has been affected
by jihadist and separatist violence.
● Following a coup in 2020, Mali’s new military rulers ordered the peacekeepers out, declaring their
mission a “failure”.
● The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which has
around 15,000 soldiers and police officers, has seen 180 of its members killed.
Kidal:
● Kidal is a town and commune in the desert region of northern Mali.
● The region is bordered on the west by Tomboctou Region, to the south by Gao Region, to the east by
Niger, and to the north by Algeria.
● Kidal has a desert climate with day-time temperatures that reach as high as 45 °C.
Mali:
● Mali, landlocked country of western Africa, mostly in the Saharan and Sahelian regions.
● Mali is largely flat and arid.
● The Niger River flows through its interior, functioning as the main trading and transport artery in the
country.
● Sections of the river flood periodically, providing much-needed fertile agricultural soil along its banks as
well as creating pasture for livestock.
● Mali is bounded on the north by Algeria, on the east by Niger and Burkina Faso, on the south by Côte
d’Ivoire and Guinea, and on the west by Senegal and Mauritania.
Isthmus of Kra
Context: A ‘land bridge’ across Thailand’s Kra Isthmus: What is this centuries-old idea, resurrected again?
About the news:
● Recently, PM of Thailand has been referring to is a centuries-old Thai dream: to reduce the sailing
distance between the Indian Ocean Region and the waters of East Asia during Belt and Road Summit.
● The proposed route would cut across the Isthmus of Kra, and would provide an alternative to the
longer and congested shipping route through the Strait of Malacca — the narrow sea lane that passes
between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, and carries 25% of the world’s traded goods.
Isthmus of Kra:
● Isthmus of Kra, narrow neck of southern Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand, connecting the Malay
Peninsula to the Asian mainland.
● The isthmus lies between the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west.
● Since the late 19th century the Isthmus of Kra has frequently been proposed for canalization, with the
aim of decreasing travel and shipping time between Europe and East Asia by eliminating the voyage
through the Strait of Malacca, Singapore.
Republic of Dagestan
Context: Dagestan: Mob storms Russian airport in search of Jews.
About the news:
● Russian police said they had arrested 60 people suspected of storming an airport in the Muslim-
majority Caucasus republic of Dagestan, seeking to attack Jewish passengers coming from Israel.
Republic of Dagestan:
● A mountainous territory in the
eastern part of the North Caucasus,
Dagestan is Russia's most ethnically
and linguistically varied region and
home to at least 40 different
ethnicities.
● A republic within the Russian
Federation, Dagestan's population is
about 3.2 million, according to
Russia's official figures.
● The majority of Dagestanis are Sunni
Muslims.
● It is sometimes known as the
Mountain of Languages, or Mountain
of Nationalities - with some national groups occupying no more than one or two villages.
● The capital, Makhachkala, on Russia's Caspian Sea coast, was conquered by the Russian Imperial army
in the 19th century and served as a major pre-revolutionary trading port.
● Today, Dagestan is a conduit for major oil and gas pipelines, which go from the Caspian Sea to the
Russian heartland.
● For almost a decade until 2017, Russian security forces were battling an armed insurgency conducted
by an array of Islamist militant groups in Dagestan, neighbouring Chechnya and Ingushetia.
Dead Sea
Context: Iran-Backed 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq' Claims Attack against Israeli Target on Dead Sea Coastline.
Dead Sea:
● Dead Sea, also
called Salt Sea,
landlocked salt
lake between
Israel and
Jordan in
southwestern
Asia.
● Its eastern
shore belongs
to Jordan, and
the southern
half of its
western shore
belongs to
Israel.
● The northern
half of the
western shore
lies within the
Palestinian
West Bank and
has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
● The Jordan River, from which the Dead Sea receives nearly all its water, flows from the north into the
lake.
● The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation and is the lowest body of water on the surface of Earth.
● Israel and Jordan began diverting much of the Jordan River’s flow and increased the use of the lake’s
water itself for commercial purposes.
o The result of those activities was a drop in the Dead Sea’s water level.
Xingu Island
Context: Local resistance builds up against private port project in Amazon.
About the news:
● Inhabitants of the Xingu Island say U.S. grain-trading giant Cargill never should have been able to
acquire the 6,680-acre land used to source farm and forest products such as prized acai berries for the
planned grain export terminal as it was part of a community agricultural and forest reserve.
Xingu Island:
● Xingu Island is located in the northeastern part of the State of Mato Grosso, in the southern part of the
Brazilian Amazon.
● The Xingu Indigenous Park is an indigenous territory of Brazil, first created in 1961 as a national park
in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
● Its official purposes are to protect the environment and the several nations of Xingu Indigenous
peoples in the area.
● The headwaters of the Xingu River are in the south of the park.
Democratic Republic of Congo

Context: The massive displacement in Congo | Explained.
About the news:
● On October 30, the UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) reported that the number of
people who have been internally displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 6.9
million.
● In the eastern province of North Kivu, nearly a million people have been displaced due to the ongoing
conflict with the rebel group, Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23).
● The conflict in the DRC dates back to the 1990s when it went through two civil wars in 1996 and 1998.
o The conflict erupted in the wake of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where ethnic Hutu
extremists killed nearly one million minority ethnic Tutsis and non-extremist Hutus.
Democratic Republic of Congo:
● It is the second-largest country in Africa, after Algeria.
● It is one of six African states that straddles the equator.
● Congo is bounded to the north by the Central African Republic and South Sudan; to the east by
Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania; to the southeast by Zambia; and to the southwest by
Angola.
● To the west are the country’s short Atlantic coastline, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and Congo
(Brazzaville).
● The DRC's topography:
o The Congo Basin
o The Rwenzori Mountains
o The Mitumba Mountains
o The Albertine Rift Valley
● Congo is rich in natural resources. It boasts vast deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt, and copper;
one of the largest forest reserves in Africa; and about half of the hydroelectric potential of the
continent.
Darfur
Context: Darfur refugees report new spate of ethnically driven killings.
About the news:
● People fleeing to Chad have reported a new surge in ethnically-driven killings in Sudan's West Darfur
as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over the main army base in the state capital, El
Geneina.
Darfur:
● Darfur is a historical region in the westernmost part of Sudan, near the border with Chad.
● It lay between Kordofan to the east and Wadai to the west and extended southward to the Al-Ghazāl
(Gazelle) River and northward to the Libyan Desert.
● The volcanic highlands of the Marrah Mountains dominate the central part of this plain.
● Arabs have long constituted the majority of the population in the northern part of Darfur, while Arabs
and Fur have predominated in the southern portion.
Horn of Africa
Context: Horn of Africa facing deadly floods due to El Nino-linked ‘above average’ rains.
About the news:
● Several people in the Greater Horn of Africa are feared dead, property worth millions destroyed and
populations displaced due to heavy rainfall in the region, according to officials.
● The ‘above-average’ rainfall, predicted to keep affecting the region for the next three months with
varying intensity, is attributed to a combination of the El-Nino phenomenon / climate change and the
Indian Ocean’s Dipole (IOD), according to climate experts.
Horn of Africa:
● It is the easternmost extension of
African land.
● It is the region that is home to the
countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
and Somalia, whose cultures have
been linked throughout their long
history.
● Other definitions of the Horn of Africa
are more restrictive and exclude some
or all of the countries of Djibouti,
Eritrea, and Ethiopia.
● There are also broader definitions, the
most common of which include all the
countries mentioned above, as well as
parts or all of Kenya, Sudan, South
Sudan, and Uganda.
● Part of the Horn of Africa region is also
known as the Somali peninsula; this
term is typically used when referring to
lands of Somalia and eastern Ethiopia.
● The Horn contains such diverse areas
as the highlands of the Ethiopian
Plateau, the Ogaden desert, and the
Eritrean and Somalian coasts and is
home to the Amhara, Tigray, Oromo,
and Somali peoples, among others.
● Its coasts are washed by the Red Sea,
the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian
Ocean, and it has long been in contact
with the Arabian Peninsula and south-
western Asia.
● Islam and Christianity are of ancient
standing here, and the people speak
Afro-Asiatic languages related to those of North Africa and the Middle East.
Kamchatka Peninsula
● The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the Russian Far East and extends 1,250 km.
● Its eastern coast borders the Pacific Ocean while the western coast borders the Sea of Okhotsk.
● Off the Pacific coast lies a very deep trench in the ocean floor.
● The peninsula along with some islands makes up a territorial division of Russia.
● The vast majority of the over 300,000 inhabitants are ethnic Russians, with a small population of
indigenous people.
● The peninsula contains many volcanoes and is recognized as a World Heritage Site.
● It is known for its natural beauty, volcanic activity, glaciers, geysers and diverse wildlife.
Ben Gurion Canal and Gulf of Aqaba

Context: A plan to join the Red Sea with Mediterranean — an alternative to the Suez Canal.
About the news:
● It has been speculated that one of the reasons behind Israel’s desire to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza
Strip and completely control the Palestinian enclave is to give itself the chance to better explore a
dramatic economic opportunity that has been talked about for several decades, but for which peace
and political stability in the region is an essential prerequisite.
● The idea is to cut a canal through the Israeli-controlled Negev Desert from the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba
— the eastern arm of the Red Sea that juts into Israel’s southern tip and south-western Jordan — to
the Eastern Mediterranean coast, thus creating an alternative to the Egyptian-controlled Suez Canal
that starts from the western arm of the Red Sea and passes to the southeastern Mediterranean
through the northern Sinai peninsula.
Alternative Shipping Lane - Ben Gurion Canal project:
● The project aims to cut a canal through the Israeli-controlled Negev Desert from the tip of the Gulf of
Aqaba to the Eastern Mediterranean coast.
● This would create an alternative to the Egyptian-controlled Suez Canal.
● The project was first envisioned in the 1960s.
● It faces significant logistical, political, and funding challenges.
● The West would ideally prefer a shipping lane through Israel.
● The first concrete plan for the alternative was suggested in a declassified 1963 US government
memorandum.
● The memo called for the use of nuclear explosives to dig the canal through the Negev Desert in Israel.
● This canal would connect the Mediterranean with the Gulf of Aqaba, providing an alternative to the
Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal:
● It connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas through the Isthmus of Suez.
● Despite being widened and deepened over the years, it remains perennially congested.
● Egypt’s control over the waterway has been a source of conflict for almost 70 years.
Angkor
● Mass evictions affecting thousands of families at the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site violate
international human rights law, Amnesty International said.
● The Cambodian authorities began evicting a reported 10,000 families from the sprawling temple park
in the town of Siem Reap, citing the need to protect the roughly thousand-year-old site from damage
that could imperil Angkor’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
● Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia.
● Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer
Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.
● They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its
countless sculptural decorations.
Essequibo region
Context: Venezuela told the UN's top court Wednesday that nothing could prevent it holding a referendum
over a contested oil-rich region administered by Guyana.
About the news:
● Guyana has filed an "urgent" plea to the International Court of Justice, asking it to stop Venezuela's
popular vote planned for December 3 on whether to annex the Essequibo region.
● Venezuela has dismissed the court's jurisdiction.
● Essequibo is administered by Guyana, making up more than two-thirds of its territory and home to
125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.
● The dispute over Essequibo dates back to 1899 when an arbitration tribunal fixed the border between
Venezuela and Guyana -- a former colony of both Britain and the Netherlands.
Essequibo region:
● Location: The Essequibo region is located in western Guyana.
● Disputed Territory: Essequibo, also known as Guayana Esequiba, is a disputed territory of 159,500 km²
west of the Essequibo River that is administered and controlled by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela.
● Essequibo River:
o The region is defined by the Essequibo River, the largest river in Guyana and the largest
river between the Orinoco (Venezuela) and Amazon (Brazil).
o It rises in the Acarai Mountains on the Brazilian border and flows northward through
savannas and forests to the Atlantic Ocean.
o The Essequibo is navigable by small ocean vessels to Bartica inland, and by boats for long
reaches between rapids.
Rakhine state
● Myanmar’s military shelled a town in western Rakhine state and used helicopters to attack fighters
from an ethnic minority there on
● Arakan Army (AA) fighters have launched attacks on security forces across Rakhine this week, opening
another front as the military battles opponents in the north and east.
History:
● Rakhine State is the most western state in Myanmar and has a population of three million.
● 100,000 predominantly ethnic Rakhine people were displaced in 2020 when conflict between the
Arakan Army and the Myanmar Armed Forces intensified.
Gulf of Guinea
Context: INDIAN NAVY COMPLETES SECOND GULF OF GUINEA ANTI PIRACY PATROL INS SUMEDHA
FURTHERS INDIA’S NATIONAL INTERESTS.
Why in the news?
● INS Sumedha is on an Extended Range Operational Deployment and is currently operating in the
Atlantic Ocean along the West Coast of Africa.
● During this period, INS Sumedha operated in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) undertaking a 31 days anti-
piracy patrol.
● The region is critical for India’s National Interests as it is an important source for India’s energy
requirements.
● Sumedha’s deployment also ensured enhancing Navy to Navy connect with regional navies including
Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Angola and Namibia.
● The deployment was
also used to further
the capability of the
regional partners
through joint training
undertaken by the
ships’ crew
reiterating India and
Indian Navy’s focus
on helping our friends
and the philosophy of
‘Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam’ (The
World is One Family).
● Another highlight of
the deployment was
the ships
participation in the
maiden India- EU
Joint Exercise in the
GoG.
Gulf of Guinea:
● The Gulf of Guinea is part of the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean off the western African coast.
● It extends westward from Cap Lopez, near the Equator, to Cape Palmas at longitude 7 degrees west.
● Its main tributaries include the Volta and Niger rivers.
● The Gulf of Guinea has three oceanic islands (Príncipe, São Tomé, and Annobón), one land-bridge
island (Bioko), and two seamounts, which together comprise the offshore part of the Cameroon
Volcanic Line.
The Gulf of Guinea is bordered by the following countries:
● Angola
● Benin
● Cameroon
● Congo
● Democratic Republic of the Congo
● Equatorial Guinea
● Gabon
● Ghana
● Ivory Coast
● Liberia
● Nigeria
● São Tomé and Príncipe
● Togo
Avdiivka city
Context: Russia steps up attacks on Avdiivka in east Ukraine.
About the news:
● Russia has stepped up attacks on the shattered eastern Ukrainian frontline town of Avdiivka.
● The industrial town near the Russian-held regional stronghold of Donetsk has faced a fierce onslaught
for more than a month.
Bab al-Mandeb
Context: Why have Houthis seized an India-bound ship, how this is linked to the Gaza war.
Why in the news?
● The Yemen rebel group of Houthis seized an Israel-linked ship bound for India, raising fears of
another dimension being added to the ongoing Gaza conflict.
● The hijacking is in line with the Houthis’ earlier statement, where they had said they would attack
Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea and the crucial Bab al-Mandeb, a narrow strait that connects the Red
Sea to the Gulf of Aden, if Israel continued its bloodshed in Palestine.
Bab al-Mandeb:
● Bab el-Mandeb Strait, strait between Arabia (northeast) and Africa (southwest) that connects the Red
Sea (northwest) with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean (southeast).
● With the building of the Suez Canal, the strait assumed great strategic and economic importance,
forming a portion of the link between the Mediterranean Sea and East Asia.
Syrian Golan (Golan Heights)
Context: India votes in favor of UNGA resolution that expresses deep concern over Israel not withdrawing
from Syrian Golan.
About the news:
● The United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted a
resolution expressing concern
over Israel’s continued
occupation of the Syrian
Golan, a region in southwest
Syria occupied by Israeli
forces since June 5, 1967.
● The resolution, introduced by
Egypt, was passed with 91
votes in favor, eight against,
and 62 abstentions. India,
along with countries like
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal,
Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
and the United Arab Emirates,
voted in favor of the
resolution, while Australia,
Canada, Israel, the U.K., and
the U.S. voted against it.
● The resolution criticizes Israel for not complying with Security Council resolution 497 (1981), which
declared Israel’s decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian
Golan Heights as null and void.
Golan Heights:
● Geographically, the Golan is bounded by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee on the west, Mount
Hermon on the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād (a north-south branch of the Yarmūk River) on the
east, and the Yarmūk River on the south.
● The Sea of Galilee is situated in northeast Israel, between the Golan Heights and the Galilee region, in
the Jordan Rift Valley.

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NOVEMBER 2023

01. Polity and Governance Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 29

Supreme Court Hearing on Freebies 21 Risk weights 47

Battery Waste (Management and

SunSmart Global UV App 58 White Hydrogen 80

Environmental DNA 58 Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM)

Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) 62 Pusa-44 85

National Disaster Management Authority 68 08.

Crop Residue Management Scheme 101 Democratic Republic of Congo 110

One Station One Product Scheme 101 Darfur 112

Central Adoption Resource Authority 102

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Kamchatka Peninsula 114

All-India judicial service

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

India's concerns about Belt and Road Initiative:

Components of natural farming

Parameter Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Calculates price changes of goods and

Scope Covers only goods Covers both goods and services

Published by Office of Economic Advisor Central Statistics Office

Reference year It uses the Financial Year as a

Headline inflation Core inflation

Calculated using the CPI, excluding volatile

Climate change risk index in agrifood systems

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COP 28: India’s equity demand

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Vision and Goals

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ben Gurion Canal and Gulf of Aqaba

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